Perilous

Chapter 21

We entered the main meeting room, black paint covered the walls with computers aligned all the way in the front of the room right in front of a huge screen big enough to cover the entire wall. The lights were dimmed and everybody from different departments were here, some seated while other standing in deep thought and ready to write any notes the commander - Marshall, says. Tristan was typing away on the computer with his other colleagues next to him doing the same, a view I somehow have got used to. The screens looked different than what I've seen before, some black with small numbers and letters combined together and others with grids on top of grids about god knows what. 

The room was quiet enough that you could hear the person next to you talk until Tristan angrily pushed himself from the table standing up quickly and rubbing his hands over his curls back and forth. I couldn't see his face - only the back of him but I knew his eyebrows would be furrowed with creases aligned all over his forehead. 

"Tristan?" Marshall spoke out from beside me, unclasping our hands to walk closer to the screens. 

Tristan turned around, "They're fucking playing games with us! I know what I'm doing and I can't seem to crack the code to get into the main frame because somebody his changing the code every 60 seconds once they noticed we calculated the movements on Jamal." 

I knew we were keeping track of him, but I didn't know how close we actually were. The uneasy feeling hit me like a train. And having seen how Tristan just rushed the sentence out so quickly, didn't help the feeling at all. I've only seen him like this a couple times, he usually has everything together - he's well put. 

As Tristan finished the outburst he went back to work as it never happened, with Marshall right behind him watching every move. Marshall knew this wasn't his fault, so he didn't back fire at this. Though if it was anyone else, the bullet would be straight through his temple already. I knew this because I've seen it one too many times. 

I hate that side of him. 

My thoughts were lost as I heard him begin to speak, somebody once again breaking the silence in the room. 

"Brian, anything more specific on his current location?" Marshall asked. 

Brian, one of the higher ranked officers in the army replied back immediately. "We don't know what facility but the thermal indicator is showing that he's most definently inside one right now, still somewhere out west, sir." 

As the image popped up on the larger screen for everybody to see, it showed he was right. There was a figure - orange and a bit red moving around inside a building standing out more than the other green objects. People from the other facility I suppose. 

"Asshole knows he needs more soldiers." Marshal hissed out. "Aight. How much longer until we get to him if we leave right now?" 

My heart fell into my stomach. The plan wasn't to engage with him this early especially now. We had months and more planning until it was time to go in.  

"70 minutes tops, if he doesn't keep moving that is." Brian said. 

Marshall didn't look puzzled at all. He knew what he wanted, and whatever he wants, he gets. Usually I'd applaud him fo this, but I didn't like the feeling of this. At all. 

"We don't need too many of ours out, Jamal doesn't know we're coming and he sure as hell isn't getting those recruits today either so they'll be least expecting us. Easy targets. Grab 10, and only 3 newbies, they need training somehow." Marshall said in a confident voice. 

"Yes sir. I'll radio when we're out and ready." And the man walked out, boots thumping the ground, taking me back to the loud boots that hit the pavement as they stormed into Jamal and I's room only a few months back.  

"Amira! Everyone get into hiding! Now!" Jamal yelled.

Everything was happening so fast, bombs and gunshots were everywhere. This was not a raid, but something much worse.

"Jamal! What's happening!" I screamed.

He took me by my forearm dragging me up the apartment steps to the second floor. He was sprinting to our door, and once we were in the apartment he shut the door quick and locked it with all 5 locks. 

"..... It's Perilous, they are coming for us." 

I was stuck in this memory, the terror replaying in my mind. I didn't have a clue what I would be getting into and to this day theres still things I don't understand. But I somehow looked past everything and into his eyes instead. Just maybe it was worth it. 

"Amira?" I felt a nudge at my arm, releasing me from my thoughts. 

Tristan was starring at me, concern in his eyes. "Are you alright? you seem worried, scared." 

"I'm okay, just remembered something is all." I sighed out to him.

"How do you feel about this? They're bringing Jamal in I know that's a big deal for you." 

"It's fine, wheres Marshall?" I looked around to find Tristan, his entire team and I the only ones left in the room. 

"He left with Brian I guess he's going with them. He kept calling your name but I guess he figured you were talking to me when I kept nudging your arm." His words rushed, accent thick, and eyes popped out as he saw the expression on my face. 

He knew what I was going to do. 

Before he could utter another word, or give me another nudge, I slightly jogged away to Marshall. No way in hell is going without me.

---

Two trucks were lined up ready to move, engine growling and 5 soldiers in the back trunk of each truck. I saw Marshall in conversation with Brian again, then they both started to head out in different trucks, Marshall going to the drivers side. 

Why would he go alone? Brian had somebody else in the passenger seat with him. 

I ran up to the truck and got just close enough for Marshall to notice before he left, his face was confused but so gentle. I wanted his face against the palm of my hand badly.  

He got out the car and walked up to me. We met right by the passenger door, "Baby what are you doing?" He said softly, both hands cupping my head. 

"I could ask you the same thing." I said catching my breath while looking into his crystal eyes. I continued, "You're not going without me, you shouldn't be going anyway, alone at that Marshall. We didn't agree on this." 

"Amira plans changed fast once we got target on him this early. And I can handle myself baby, you should know this." 

"I'm coming with you." I said, standing my ground. 

"No you're not. It'll be too much for you." He tried explaining, concern in his eyes. 

"You don't think I can handle it?" I challenged him. I knew he was just trying to protect me, but I can't be without him right now. 

"Fuck Amira not right now. You can't go." He said sternly, his eyes getting darker. 

I was debating it, but I chose to ignore his tone and comment. I opened the door for myself, letting myself in the truck. I know he hated it, I watched as he stood there for a second, fist clenched. But he finally turned around and walked into the car, slamming the door shut. 

The truck started loudly and we were on our way to Jamal. Marshall looking straight ahead not saying anything to me for the first 5 minutes of the car ride, his hands still clenched onto the wheel with his knuckles turning white. 

He broke the silence, yet again. 

"I swear to god Amira you're not getting out of the car once we get there. I'll die before I let that happen. I don't want him hurting you." He said, without meaning to I'd guess by the sudden change in his expression. He moved his right hand off the steering wheel and put it on my thigh. I couldn't help but smile at the gesture, butterflies almost flying out of me. 

"We're something Bonnie and Clyde then, huh?" He sighed out, less angry,  with a smile playing at his lips. 

"Yeah, something like that." I smiled back.