The Katipunan: The Monsters Inside Us

Chapter 16: The Next Move

[Imperial Mansion Chambers, Boy Scout Circle]
[August 5, 2016]

As the elevator doors open to the Ground Floor, emitting a loud ring upon arrival, Linrov goes first to the outside and checks his corners with caution, holding his M4 tight as the ambient silence creeps him up. Left to right, he assesses the lobby to be just the same as how they came through... albeit with a few bodies now lying in an organized manner.

"Area's secure." he voices with an assured whisper, lowering his assault rifle down and twirling his finger in circles. "Let's move!"

Hearing the coast is clear, Fighters 3 and 4 exit as well and tag behind him as they go towards the exit, stepping on shattered glass along the way. As they step outside, they spot 3 police cruisers surrounding it, with the third's roof being crushed in force by the late Vasil Glaskov - a fate that the former agent put him in.

Based on the opened doors, it seems that the response was rushed, indicating them to be first responders and not a full force. In other words, they have time for an exfil.

Getting closer to the road to make a full stop, Linrov connects his comms and looks to the monument on the left, spotting the van in the distance.

"Driver, Nasa labas kami. (we're outside.) Gonna need an exfil."

...

Near the statue of Tomas Morato, the engine of the group's van ignites into a roar, popping off smoke from the exhaust as it prepares to drive. Having remained inside due to the conflict, Darius Well - the Katipunan's expert driver - is on standby to keep the vehicle primed, making sure he doesn't waste seconds.

Upon hearing the Ex-Accord's voice on comms, Darius places a hand on his rearview mirror and tilts it to see his own face, smiling to himself before putting a pair of shades over his eyes.

"Roger that, Sergeant. Standby..." he replies calmly, shifting the stick back and stepping on the gas pedal with force, moving the vehicle in reverse.

The process wasn't much of a hassle for an experienced driver.

Once he gets back on the road, he makes a swift drift to the right and lets go of the pedal to switch the stick into "Drive". From there, he steps the pedal again and moves forward with a burn, driving hastily to the hotel. The van then circles around and finally arrives to its destination, ramming a police cruiser in the process and causing the ground team to back away before stopping in front of them.

Driver rolls the window to his right and inquires, "Need a lift?"

None of them reply. Instead, Linrov runs to the back of the van and opens the doors, hopping inside and lending a hand as he gets the other two in. At the same time, Driver adjusts his rearview mirror to look at the back, feeling excited in wanting to get all the details. But as he finds just the three of them, his eyebrow raises in confusion.

"Where are the other two?" he asks the Ex-Accord, causing him to glance back with a look of disappointment and shake his head, signaling an indication that they didn't make it.

Hearing the news broke a sense of enthusiasm in him. He quickly slams his fist against the steering wheel and mutters a curse... not until Fighter 4 reminds him.

"Darius, aalis na tayo! (we gotta go!)" He stresses as just out of the distance, a police chopper reappears to the scene, having circled around after witnessing Vasil's fall.

Hearing those propellers get closer by the minute, Driver quickly snaps out of his sorrow and pushes his feet against the gas. Tires burn leather against the asphalt. Engine roars louder under the hood. As Linrov and Fighter 3 prepare to close the doors behind them, the car picks up speed and drives off, causing the two to lose balance and slip out of their seats as the driver zigzags through the clutter.