That Saturday morning was the calm before the storm. The streets were virtually empty thanks to a martial law curfew. Helicopters patrolled the skies and riot busters roamed the streets.
At about eight a.m., the Ensuringcare© insurance corporation office building was invaded and commandeered by the insurgents that had taken the agents hostage. Before police could swarm it, trained insurgents attacked several police stations. This disconnected the headquarters from the patrollers, essentially cutting off everyone. In response, state militia came out of makeshift command posts in droves. They swarmed the streets, ready for attack.
Then all hell broke loose. Rioters came from almost everywhere, forming mobs wherever possible. The rioters clashed with police and militia in the streets as if it were Mardi Gras or a Canadian hockey game. The remaining teams of agents aided the police. All except the remnants of Team 13 and Team 11.
***
Agent Johnson and Bionic were in one of the agency’s helicopters. They were headed toward the massive Ensuringcare© skyscraper to free their comrades. Team 11 was already holding down that building with the aid of a few SWAT team members, but no real progress had been made with the guerillas.
Agents Johnson and Bionic would have to infiltrate that building with the help of Team 11 and liberate their fellow agents. A dangerous undertaking with no law enforcement backup. But they had to do it.
Once on the ground, Agent Johnson met with Special Agent Paul Deeter to discuss tactics. Deeter was the leader of Team 11, and thus knew the surrounding area quite well. He even had the schematics of the Ensuringcare© building.
“We need to attempt to fight our way into the underground parking garage. From there, you and Bionic can sneak to the elevator and climb up the shaft. We’re assuming they’ll cut the power to the elevator, so you two will have to climb,” Deeter informed.
“I got it!” Bionic exclaimed in compliance and understanding. He stood up and pulled Agent Johnson outside of the military tent. “We can do this,” he said to the agent.
“I am confident in our abilities,” Johnson reassuringly replied, “And if we encounter anything we are unable to handle, federal troops will soon arrive.” the agent gazed across the river behind the tent, staring at the riot scene on the street level and then the peaceful city scape skyline above. “Let’s move out,” Mark quietly said.
***
Inside the building, Ramo slapped a hostage agent across the face. “Y’all is stupid! Dupes! I can’t believe you fell for that.” He shouted. The agent made an attempt to move, but the guard holding him punched him out.
Ramo enjoyed torturing these “good-guys.” They deserved no better. “Bring in anotha one,” he barked at a thug.
The anarchist had refilled his gang’s ranks. Now Ramo had power once again. He just didn’t have the agent that cost him half of his gang. Just then, a lackey rushed into the room and alerted, “Boss, we’ve got agents bustin’ in through the garage. They’ve got grenade launchers and ‘autos.”
“And?” Ramo hated this thug’s impudence.
“Well, what should we do?”
“Kill ‘em, stupid! We’ve got like, what, a hundred guys? Shoot ‘em.” Ramo already hated this hood.
“Alright. I’ll tell the boys to get ‘em,” responded the goon.
“You do that. Now.” What an halfwit this guy was.
***
“Go for the elevator!” screamed Agent Deeter as he emptied his automatic machine gun. Agent Johnson and Agent Bionic responded and ran for the middle elevator. Bionic blew open the door with his grenade launcher, taking out a few insurgents as well.
As the ran inside, Johnson spun around and looked back at Deeter’s team. Three men were already down. Quite the sacrifice.
Bionic dropped his grenade launcher and pulled out his shotgun. He blew a hole in the top hatch and jumped up to it. It was a spectacular feat, considering Bionic’s body armor. Johnson followed suit.
When the agents got on top of the elevator, it began to move up. Johnson decided that they should ride the lift for now and climb the rest of the way up when it stopped.
The ride was peaceful until around the fifty-seventh floor, when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Four insurgents ran in without noticing the hole in the roof. Bionic motioned to be quiet, and grabbed onto the side ladder. Agent Johnson did the same. When the elevator slowly descended, Bionic dropped a fragmentation grenade though the hole. He and Johnson then quickly climbed up the shaft.
Soon enough, the agents heard screams of terror and an explosion. The lift itself dropped in a fiery ball beneath them. The agents had to dodge the snapping suspension cables and fried electrical wiring.
It was a difficult climb, even though they had hand and footholds. By the time they reached the hundredth floor, their collective stamina was completely exhausted. Bionic was hardly able to pry open the doors and fall on the floor.
Johnson, although definitely tired, would show no sign, and walked slowly toward the regional manager’s office. Deeter had informed him that this would most likely be the insurgent’s headquarters.
“Agent Bionic,” Johnson whispered, “Do you still have that shotgun?”
Bionic slowly rose to his feet and produced the sheathed weapon. He aimed wearily at the door and fired.
The wooden door flew open, a hole gaping in its center. Johnson walked calmly in and announced, “You are in violation of approximately thirty-one local laws, twenty-seven state laws, thirteen federal laws, and two city ordinances.” The agent looked across the floor and spotted a dead cat. “Actually, three city ordinances.”
The terrorists stared, surprised and confused. Then Ramo rapidly drew his sidearm and fired twice in succession. He never missed with his pistol.
Agent Johnson amazingly dodged the two shots. He drew his Berreta and fired several times. By this time, the insurgents were reacting. Most pulled out machine guns and fired. As Johnson dodged, Bionic strolled in with his shotgun and fired, taking out several terrorists in a few shots.
Ramo saw that he needed more men to win this fight, so he ran to the stairs in the back of the office. Johnson emptied his gun at the man, dropped it, and then chased after him.
“I’ll get the assassin,” Johnson told agent Bionic, “You free the hostages.”
“Oooookay!” Bionic wildy yelled as he continued firing. He was constantly being hit, but his adrenaline and stalwart constitution kept him going.
The next floor had the building’s systems and equipment, so they would be lots of cover. Agent Johnson knew that his battle would be one of physical strength and agility, not bullets.
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