Broken
The overhead fluorescents blinked once, then died. Complete darkness filled the space as gunfire echoed through the metal corridor, Jaxon’s ears buzzed with the repercussions, as pinpricks of light reflected off the smooth surface chasing the blasts. “Shots fired, over.” Dropping back a foot he put a wall between him and the shooter.
“What the HELL…” Alex shrieked, falling to the floor.
Sheltering his earpiece, Jaxon whispered urgently. “Do you have a visual? Over.”
“I have audio, but I’ve lost visual. Over.” Jr., the team’s communication specialist sat in a van a few miles from the site. He tapped the keyboard watching the monitors for anything but static. The display of the plants security feed had been playing a moment before the black-out, showing clear hallways and corridors. “I’m blind, over.”
“What’s going on? Over.” Getting only static in return, he waited a moment. “What’s happening, over.”
“Say again, over.” Jr. turned towards another set of controls and typed out commands, but he could not find a signal. The team inside was on their own. Static filled the monitors and now all audio was corrupted as well. “Say again, over.” But only static answered back. “Say again, over.” Checking the frequency and band he tried all channels. “Anyone, over.”
Jaxon’s earpiece emitted static followed by a high pitched squeal. Yanking it out, he shoved it into his pocket.
More gunfire erupted from the far end of the hall, the walls and ceiling reverberating from the blast. Flattening himself against the wall Jaxon closed his eyes, completely focused, he picked up the sound of muted footfalls, a soft tap, several yards ahead disappearing around a corner. Listening only a moment he lowered himself to the floor bellying crawling, his gut tight from what he knew he’d find. Reaching Alex, he searched for a pulse, the smell of blood turning his stomach. Shaking his head he paused to swipe his damp eyes.
Not Alex, not after all they had been through. All the years they had known each other, all the times he had had his back. College, ROTC, Basic, Hell Week, all came flooding back. Even after being assigned to different corners of the world, the two of them had kept in touch through other friends and the occasional letter. When Jaxon had left his family business behind to start a security consulting company, Alex was the first person he called. He also had been the first he hired.
Working with Alex had been uncomplicated and effortless. They could almost read each other’s thoughts and through all the years that had been enough to keep them alive. When they had lost Shaw, the only causality of all the missions his security team carried out, the two of them had actually shed a tear. Something neither of them had done, before or since. Jaxon had always taken point, yet tonight he had stepped back to let Alex have his moment and that had killed him.
Biting his lip to keep from swearing, he caught the soft tap return. Slithering back behind the wall, he waited struggling with the thoughts of what had happened. This mission was a simple one. Find the generator room, set the charges, arm them and get the hell out. Mick had run reconnaissance and there had been no indications of an inside guard or alarm system. Jr. had tapped into the security feed and having watched the last few nights had seen nothing more than the one-man guard post outside. The facility was lacking in security for the simple reason that no one suspected it of being more then it appeared.
Jaxon shoved a hand through his sweat soaked hair, his breathing ragged, as he tried to work out his next move. The soft tap got closer; taking a deep breath he charged out. Squeezing the trigger, he swept the space. A short moan and thud told him he hit his mark. This was no time for stealth, it was too late anyway. Someone had known they were coming before they stepped one foot in the facility. Blocking everything from his mind except the goal, Jaxon pressed through the darkness.
Finding the generator room was simple. He and his team had memorized the blueprints of the facility and could find it even in the dark. Placing the charges, he set the timers, intentionally shortening the time by five minutes. Once he activated the timer, a small beep to their wrist units should alert the rest of the men to the change. If his team was infiltrated, then the enemy would also know. He wasn’t going to give them time to stop the demolition of the facility. Not after the high price that destruction had come at already.
Running back the way he came he grabbed Alex’s body, hauling him up and over his shoulder, he never left a man behind. Pushing his body to its limits he exited the large facility and minutes later the ground rumbled as the first charge exploded. Another charge rung out, followed by several smaller ones, then the generator itself. That blast punched a hole in the roof, illuminating the darkness. Seeing his shadow cast against the fire, Jaxon pushed Alex further up his back and plodded towards the extraction point.
What had happened? Jaxon flogged his mind during the hike, the sandy, uneven ground made the trek long. His thoughts flew every direction as he tried to sort out the nights events. Why had the lights gone out? Who were the shooters and what were they doing there? Why all the static? Cursing under his breath, he knew the truth. His team had been compromised, there was no other explanation.
Reaching the extraction spot, he paused several yards away, concealing himself in the underbrush. Alex was dead and maybe more members for all he knew. His body ached, his head throbbed and what was he going to tell Alex’s family. Concealed for another moment he watched the rest of his team arrive safely, finding the area clear of hostels, he stepped out.
“Damn it Jaxon, what the hell shortening the timers, what if we hadn’t all been able to get out. What were you thinking?” Striker, a short Italian built like a bull, stepped up to Jaxon his dark eyes glaring. Stopping in his tracks, Striker cursed again the anger gone this time. “Not Alex?” Stepping back, he slumped hard to the ground. “Sorry Man, I just thought … I don’t know… I should have known.”
Leo, a tall Nordic blond, strode forward taking Jaxon’s pack shaking his head. “Let’s get going, we’re not out of the woods yet.” Turning back towards the men, he paused. “What happened anyway?”
“Jr. reports that the static started as soon as the lights went out.” Gunnar, a wide shouldered dark haired man called out. “He’s trying to locate the source.” Leaning forward he cupped a hand to his ear. “He wants a full report.”
Striker tossed his pack in the jeep. “Tell him to hold his horses. We’ll fill him in on the ride back. Zeke any pursuit?”
Zeke, a tall broad shouldered black haired man, studied the horizon with a scope. His dark blue eyes strained to find any sign of a tail. “Negative.” Keeping the scope up, he scanned the trees and the surrounding brush.
Mitchell rubbed his face with his hands, his dark hair sticking to his forehead. “We need to pack up.” Throwing the rest of the gear in the jeep, he made a spot of Alex.
Laying Alex’s body in the back of the jeep, Jaxon covered him with a blanket before grabbing a man by his vest and shoving him forcefully against the vehicle. “What happened back there Mick? You reported no guards and no alarm. What the hell was that?” Fuming, his hands tight, he stepped back letting his fist fly.
Seizing Jaxon, Striker and Mitchell could barely stop him from pummeling Mick again. “Damn it Man, we’ve had enough.” Striker’s muscles strained just as Jaxon’s body slackened, crumpling against the side of the jeep.
“Sorry, sorry…I don’t… know what… happened. Something went wrong…” His head pounded from the adrenalin still coursing though his body. His shoulders drooped; rubbing the back of his neck he shook his head. Gazing up, he rose to his feet and climbed sluggishly into the jeep. “We need to go.” Waiting only a few seconds, for the rest of the men to get in, Jaxon pushed the gas shooting gravel out behind the wheels.
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