September 6, 2017
2.28 am, Cancun, Mexico
"YES! I love that scream." Mad Scientist says, "Turn up the heat slowly. I want him to suffer for as long as possible."
Mad Scientist observes the live burning of Fire from behind the safety of the heat-resistant glass window of the incinerator's control room. His obvious glee at Fire's pain is unhindered by his state of chronic aches. Standing behind the wheelchair of the deranged Mad Scientist, whose laughter is like a mechanical grinding, is his Head of Personal Security, Vladimir Prokop AKA Vlad the Shot, operating the Incinerator's controls. It's just the two of them in the small room.
Insanity, Vlad thinks to himself with a neutral face as he observes the Mad Scientist. His eyes dart beyond the glass to the burning man in the incinerator who has stopped screaming.
To think that the General's most respected rival would die in such a disrespectful death, Vlad says in his head. His head gradually swivels to the Mad Scientist, The General's watching this too but I bet he's not happy. All thanks to this disrespectful сука.
Vlad's thoughts are interrupted by a buzzing ear radio. He listens in, his face changing to shock.
"Herr! We have a problem." Vlad says with a subtle Russian accent.
"I've told you, you stupid General lackey," Mad Scientist says, "Call me Mad Scientist!"
"Mad Scientist, there is an ongoing prison break in the women's prison." Vlad says.
"Then take your guards and secure my test subjects!" Mad Scientist barks mechanically.
"My duty is to guard you but I can-" Vlad begins to respond before his earpiece interrupts.
"What is it?" Mad Scientist asks.
"Both prisons are now in disarray." Vlad responds, "We have to move before they come."
"Are you suggesting I run away?" Mad Scientist asks, all traces of laughter long gone.
"I recommend that we abandon this facility early and bury whoever is left." Vlad responds.
Just agree, you insane piece of-, Vlad thinks to himself but gets interrupted.
"Set the autodestruct for 2.45 am." Mad Scientist says with little thought, "Add a drone strike."
Vlad starts nodding but stops in confusion, asking "Isn't that overkill?"
"Don't question my brilliance, lackey." Mad Scientist says, "Using their drone to strike will serve as cruel irony for those pesky Americans and their annoying toy planes."
It will at least cover up the underground wreckage, Vlad thinks as he radios the orders.
"It is done." Vlad says.
"Sigh, it's a pity that I can't check on the corpse now." Mad Scientist says before begrudgingly turning his wheelchair to face Vlad, "Let's go."
Vlad nods. He reaches to turn off the incinerator.
"Leave it on." Mad Scientist says, "No. Set it to max and leave it on. Just to be sure he is dead."
Vlad nods, turning up the dial marked temperature.
"And cut the feed." Mad Scientist says reaching the automatic sliding door, "Adieu, Fire."
The door slides open and Mad Scientist rolls into a well lit hall. Vlad sighs as he looks at Fire's charred corpse still being baked in the incinerator. He ends the security feed and exits the room.
7.33 am, London, UK
SMASH!
The glass mug that held vodka a short second ago impacts the concrete floor, shattering.
"HE DARES CUT THE FEED?!" The General's voice rumbles through the underground room as he stands up in force. Darya remains seated and silent, opting to let the General rant.
The guard standing at the door, the only other person in the room, gulps yet maintains his standing-at-attention stance even as sweat drips down his chin. Don't poke an enraged bear.
"It is not enough that he disrespects a man greater than he will ever be." The General says then continues, "He then brags like a two-bit villain therefore dragging us into the light."
The General sighs, finally catching his breath. The big screen that had showed Fire's execution by incineration still flashes a "Lost Feed". This spacious room is the regional HQ for Skull Reich's military activities in the UK. Large monitors hang on the walls above with many workstations below, much like NASA's mission control room. Although it is currently deserted due to the General's orders. This is all part of a complex right underneath the Devil's Tears pub.
"What are your orders, my General?" Darya asks as she reaches for his hand.
The General calms down then says, "Convene an All-Heads meeting."
Then he adds as he sits down, "For 9 am."
"Your will be done, my General." Darya says as she shoos the guard. The guard salutes and leaves the room, glad to not be another unwitting victim of the General's infamous wrath.
September 6, 2017
2.40 am, the White House Situation Room
"Good news, Ma'am." Director Don Bridges of the FBI says as he puts away his phone, "Our birds are now en route."
"How soon can they get there? Who are you sending?" President Gertrude Pond asks.
"ETA is 10 mins." Don adds, "There's a full HRT inbound on two Black Hawks."
"HRT?" President Gertrude asks.
"Hostage Rescue Team, Ma'am." Director Don clarifies, "They are even more elite than SWAT."
"I hope they are enough to save my granddaughters." President Gertrude responds.
"They are the best of the best, Ma'am." Director Don retorts.
"I thought that was Jonathan's team?" President Gertrude asks as she eyes Don.
Don silently puts his head down. He hates to admit it but she is right. Team Six is the best.
"At least now I don't have to invade Mexico." President Gertrude says with a sigh, "Continue."
"Yes, Ma'am. The HRT will be about 10 minutes ahead of the Federales." Don says finding his words, "That's the Mexican Feds. They will get to the site by armoured convoy."
Don stands and walks to the large screen on the wall that has a map of the area of the barn. He then points and says, "The Mexican Feds will secure the wider area while our agents will swoop in to neutralize any hostiles then recover your granddaughters and Team Six."
President Gertrude nods just as a knock is heard on the door.
"Enter." President Gertrude says as she notices the time, 2.43 am.
In walks Director Nick Jones of the CIA saying, "It was all a trap."
"Explain." President Gertrude says.
Director Nick Jones makes his way to the big screen, displacing Director Don. He right swipes back to the live drone image of the barn. It now looks far different than earlier with a lot of heat signatures signifying people. Further, the image shows deeper levels underneath the barn.
"Where did all these people come from?" President Gertrude asks.
"From underground, Ma'am." Director Jones says, "There is an entire underground complex that our scans hadn't picked up until a moment ago."
"My God!" President Gertrude says as she stands, "It's an entire operation."
"I don't think that this was a spur of the moment kidnapping." Director Jones says. "It was too well-orchestrated for a split-off fringe cartel group. Something with deeper pockets is involved."
"But who and why?" Director Don asks.
"That's what we have to find out." Director Jones responds.
Suddenly his phone rings and he checks on it.
"Excuse me." Director Jones says.
"Go." President Gertrude says as she turns to Director Don, "4 minutes until your agents are on-site, correct?"
"Yes Ma'am." Director Don responds, checking his watch. 2.46 am.
"WHAT!?" Director Jones shouts, "Reboot the systems and get that drone under control NOW!"
President Gertrude and Director Don both turn to look at Director Jones. He, in turn, points at the screen that now shows flashing text "Weapons Online. Arming. Four Hellfires Armed. Targeting."
"What's happening?" President Gertrude asks.
"The drone has been hacked and the weapons system is armed." Director Jones says as he walks to the screen.
"Shut it down!" President Gertrude says.
"They're trying but they've been locked out, Ma'am." Director Jones responds.
The screen then shows "Target Acquired. Firing Solution Calculated. Launching Four Hellfires."
President Gertrude, Director Don, and Director Jones can do nothing but watch helplessly as 4 missiles propel to their designated target, the barn, at full speed.
BOOM.
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GOT IT