Blaze

Into the Fire

The silence in the room swept over them like magical fairy dust.

"All right," Donghae responded, "lets get a move on. I'll hand out specifics as we leave, there's no time."

Everyone shuffled out of the room in single file. Ahead of him was Donghae busily barking orders to Namjoo about what vehicle they should take and if extra ammunition should be required.

"Anyway, stock up on some more Glock 27's and get me a M24," Donghae went on, "I'll be on the lookout in the outer ring. Victoria will lead the move-in. Lay, you know shoot-and-scoot?"

"Yes sir."

"You'll be in the frontlines. Kris, you'll be following by approaching from the opposite end. You ever done this before?"

"I think I can handle it." He replied.

"Ever had a shoot off? Standoff?"

"I've had a fair share of brawls."

A bemused smile crossed Donghae's face, "This'll be on the next level." Then turning his head, "Namjoo, we'll meet you outside."

Suho watched her disappear off into an intersecting hallway. Everything was suddenly moving so fast compared to that morning's parade. The day was just zipping by his eyes and in no time they'd be out on the battle field fighting with Hyukjae's men. Already he could hear shots being fired into the air; that high pitched scream fluttering with it before dying out in decibels. The struggle between men and men would ensue.

He was nervous, yet not nervous.

This would be his first time joining them officially at the frontlines under Donghae. Suho's palms were sweaty, but he couldn't back out now.

The team needed him.

Chorong needed him.

"You're really going out there?" Tao's voice perked up from beside him as they stepped out of the elevator then into the lobby. "Didn't you say you haven't held a gun in a long time?"

"What do you think I've been doing recently?" Suho glanced at him, wondering if Tao was meaning to belittle him or if he was being genuinely concerned.

"I bet you're nervous."

The sunlight outside blinded Suho upon stepping outside and he stopped in step to stare into the parking lot where Namjoo would soon be arriving with that military van built from fireproof material. He'd only been in it once. It was like an office inside with a desk and a chair made available behind the driver's seat. Once computers were hooked up and communication gadgets wired in, it was as good as any military station anywhere, capable of sending out radio signals and scanning surroundings.

It was dawning on him more and more that this was a high end mission that required a lot of arms and action. Unable to suppress the gulp going down his throat he tightened his hands into a slight fist; perhaps, in a small effort to maintain his cool. Memories of going readily into the field way before his days with the Military Intelligence Unit began to fluctuate into his head. Without consent, his mind began concocting the worst possible scenarios.

"Yea," Suho confessed, "but I'll do what I have to do."

~_____~

Namjoo would be driving the fireproof van with Tao while the rest were packed into a 12-seat van. They were already on envoy back to Yeongwol.

Tao had been on numerous adventures of self-defense before, but this was the first time on one with tactics and heavy arms involved. He wasn't sure what to expect, but from the looks of how serious Donghae had been earlier he was sure this would become a new experience to him. With the numerous vocabulary Donghae had spit out one right after another, Tao had been unable to catch on.