NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 9- WATCH MY BACK

         The corridor was clear of guards so it was easier getting to the dining area but she was careful not to lose her guard. These people didn't understand  that she was on their side so she could easily get shot on sight.

                  Diane carefully kept walking sideways until she got to the dining area. No doubt he should be death by now. There were six guards in that room earlier. There's no way he wasn't dead by now. Either by a stray bullet or a well-aimed one.

              She reached for the door knob and tried to open it but it was jammed from the inside. Taking a few steps back she lurched at it with her right foot and broke it open! Dead bodies...blood.

          And there stood Russo in the midst of all the chaos. He had only his white sleeve on. His suit, tossed aside. She had no idea what he was leaning over one of the men and searching for but with the amount of blood on him, he looked seriously hurt.

"Where are the others?" He asked, not looking back.
"Ryan's down, sir."
"Bloody hell." He cussed, underneath his breath but loud enough for her to hear.
"How serious is this?"
"A bullet wound to the chest. He might survive."
"Might?."
"I'm not totally sure. It depends if he doesn't bleed too much."
"And the Colonel?"
"He wanted me to get you out of harm's way as soon as possible." She said.

             Russo got up and turned around and that was when she realized that the blood on his sleeve was not his. So he single handedly took down six men on his own? Well, guess the scumbag didn't need rescuing afterall.

"We need to get back to them." He said.
"No. What we need to do is get off this ship."
"By the look of things," Russo began. "We're approaching land but not the kind that gives you relief."
"What do you mean?"
"We're heading for a forestial habitat. It would take approximately seven minutes to get up to the deck and while we have no idea how many more men we would face...." He took a rifle from one of the dead men and tossed it to her. "....we'll be needing better ammunition."
"What's the plan, Commander?"
"I need to get to the control room and turn this bloody vessel around."
"What do I do?"
"What you're here for, Major. Watch my back." Russo said as he pulled out  a handgun from another corpse lying on the floor.
"Let's go..." He said, making his way out of the room.
"Let's back each other while we walk." Russo suggested as soon as they were both out. "We'll be able to take down more oppositions that way."
"I understand. We're heading left?"
"Mmm"

                 With guns outstretched and eyes wide open and at alert for any sign of danger, they both kept moving in that same position, backs against each other's. It wasn't one before footsteps could be heard.

"Wait...." Russo whispered.
"They're coming." She whispered back.

          They were coming and they were moving with hurried steps. Diane couldn't tell which direction. Hers or His? Or both? Almost immediately, two armed men could be seen approaching Russo.

            He gunned them down in a split second but before victory could be celebrated, Diane could see three of the same men, approaching her. Clutching firmly to her rifle, she pulled the trigger severally on each and every one of them.

"Let's keep moving."

          She heard him say as he brushed passed her shoulder, heading forward. They were close to the control room now. The northwell stairs downward would take them there in a matter of seconds. They came to get another passageway and then by the left a white door with the inscription;
AUTHORIZED PERSONELS ONLY.

"This is it." Diane said.

          Russo reached for the door handle. Locked! As expected. "There could be more men in there." He said. "Be ready. She only nodded as He held onto the door handle and with enough force with his right arm, he was able to break it open.