บท 2: The Turn.
Since childhood, Ari's been molded to be cold and calculating killing machine. If the several speculations and allegations around Ari were true, he was an unapologetically evil and sadistic man.
From the unverified rumours, his upbringing was a harsh regimen of discipline and indoctrination designed to strip away any semblance of empathy or compassion. Raised in an environment where strength was paramount and weakness was unforgivable, Ari was taught that emotions were a liability. His father, a formidable figure in their community and their country, ensured that Ari understood the importance of loyalty to the cause above all else.
'Not a combo you want in an enemy.' thought Alex.
By then, they had reached the place to where the call was traced;
"McGee, intercept the channel and reroute the damned missile." said Gibbs.
"Got it, boss."
Agent Tim McGee set up his station and started typing.
"Locator beacon is set."
"You figured it out?!" asked Gibbs.
"I did," said McGee
"The, uh, drone is on one of three radio frequencies. It'll take a few minutes to jam each of them, but when I hit the frequency, it's on, and the drone should go off-target."
While this was happening, Alex was done assembling his assault rifle that was in his bag pack. It was a custom-built Navy-issued M4 Carbine AR.<<30 round double mag, .223 calibre with a suppressor; it had 2 firing modes 1. Semi-automatic 2.Three-round burst>> He took a deep breath and concentrated on his hearing.
'5 assailants.3 inside, 2 on the roof;'
"Rather than jamming 3 radio frequencies, I can get your agent to the missile controller faster, Agent Gibbs." said Alex.
"There are 6 buildings here in total; you do not even know which one has the controller, not to mention what floor and how many enemy combatants," said Gibbs sternly.
"It's the building on the righ..". Before Alex could complete, the missile was launched from the said building.
"Tony, Kate through the fire escape, Lieutenant, Tim with me."
They entered the abandoned building swiftly and quietly, and Alex went into action mode. Time almost came to a standstill. With his AR set to semiautomatic, he aimed and fired.
The silence of the dusk was suddenly shattered as the whip sound of Alex's AR echoed through the abandoned building. His shots were precise, each one finding its mark with deadly accuracy. Gibbs and McGee followed close behind, their movements synchronized and careful. The mission was clear: neutralize the threat and prevent any or all damage.
Alex led the way, his senses on full alert as they ascended the stairs. He paused briefly at each landing, listening intently for signs of the enemy. They reached the third floor when Alex raised his hand, signalling them to stop.
"Two on this floor," Alex signed.
Gibbs nodded and gestured for McGee to stay close to Alex while he moved to flank the enemies. Alex steadied his rifle, and with a quick nod to Gibbs, they burst into the room.
Chaos erupted. The enemies inside were caught off guard but reacted quickly, drawing their weapons. Alex moved precisely, his shots silencing the threats before they could fully comprehend the situation. Gibbs took out the remaining enemy with a swift, well-placed shot.
"Clear," Gibbs said, his voice steady.
"Clear," Alex echoed, scanning the room.
They continued their ascent, reaching the rooftop where the final two assailants awaited. Alex motioned for McGee to stay low as they approached the access door. Gibbs gave a final nod, and they stormed the rooftop.
The sounds had alerted the remaining troops. The two enemies were ready, their weapons trained on the door. Alex let Gibbs know that. He and Gibbs split, moving in a coordinated dance of lethal force. The exchange of gunfire was brief but intense. Within seconds, the rooftop was secure, and the enemies neutralized.
"McGee, get to the controller," Gibbs ordered.
McGee rushed forward, locating the missile control unit amidst the scattered equipment. He quickly set to work, his fingers flying over the controls as he attempted to disable the missile.
"Come on, come on," McGee muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"How long?" Gibbs asked, his eyes never leaving the perimeter.
"Almost there," McGee replied, his voice tense with concentration.
Alex stood guard, his eyes scanning the surrounding rooftops and alleyways for any signs of additional threats. His mind briefly drifted back to Ari, the man responsible for all this chaos, his training, ruthlessness, and ability to stay one step ahead. Even though the place looked secure, Alex had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right.
'This isn't over yet. Ari would have more tricks up his sleeve.'
"Got it!" McGee exclaimed, his voice breaking through Alex's thoughts.
The missile's trajectory altered, veering off course and away from the crowded ship. Relief washed over the team as the threat was neutralized.
"Good work, McGee," Gibbs said. "Let's get out of here."
By then, Kate and Tony had also caught up with the group. There was a cheerful expression on everyone's face. They essentially prevented a second Pearl Harbour. Well, everyone except for Alex. Then he noticed a flash almost 600 meters away. He realised had exactly 1 second to make a decision: Kate or Gibbs.
Alex recalled every single detail in Ari's files that he received. A Sadistic Chauvinist. That was the most adept way to describe him. Ari wasn't cruel for the sake of being evil; his every action was calculated and had a purpose. During the call earlier, even though Aris's demeanour was calm, Alex detected a tinge of venom in his tone. Such a person rarely goes for the easy route. Ari wanted to hurt Gibbs for reasons Alex still couldn't understand. There is an 80/20 chance that this bullet is for either Kate or Gibbs in; favour of Kate.
While processing all the info, Alex had already started moving, running with all his might towards Kate and pushing her.
**Whisp**
All of them heard the sound of sniper bullet at the same time and then came the scream. Kate was on the floor, holding her hands against her ear. The bullet had hit her ear. A blood pool was forming on the ground. The team immediately gathered around Kate, alarmed. Tony tore his shirt, balled it up and held it against her ear to stop the bleeding.
Gibbs was looking around with his gun stretched out, trying to find the shooter.
"Ari."
Alex set his AR to a 3-round burst and shot at the location from where he saw the flash. The bullet hit the scope of the assailants' SR. Caught off guard, Ari immediately took cover around the corner and started slowly retreating. Through his scope, Alex could clearly see a slender man running away with a scowl on his face. His scope view never left Ari's forehead. He saw that the scope had shattered and cut Ari's face. But Alex was given strict orders not to hurt Ari fatally.
Something way more sinister was happening behind the scenes, and Ari was directly involved. His death could lead to a National safety breach. He switched to semiautomatic and fired a few rounds, intentionally missing.
The team became disorganised. They knew they had to take Kate to the hospital immediately but were unclear about the enemy sniper situation.
"I will cover you, get Agent Kate to the hospital," called out Alex.
Gibbs nodded, taking charge. "Tony, get the car ready. McGee, help Kate."
Tony and McGee immediately sprang into action, Tony rushing to get the car while McGee supported Kate, helping her to her feet. Kate winced, clutching her ear, but managed to stay upright with McGee's assistance.
"We're not leaving you here," Gibbs said, his tone brooking no argument.
"I'll be fine," Alex replied unwavering. "Just go. I'll hold the position to ensure someone else doesn't circle back."
Gibbs gave him a hard look but finally nodded. "Stay safe, Lieutenant."
With that, Gibbs, Tony, McGee, and a wounded Kate hurried down the stairs, leaving Alex on the rooftop, scanning the horizon for any sign of Ari. He watched as the team disappeared from view, his senses on alert for movement.
'Better safe than sorry, I guess. Besides there's something I wanna check.'
.
.
.
Back on the ground, Gibbs and the team moved swiftly, getting Kate into the car and speeding towards the hospital. The tension in the car was palpable, each member of the team lost in their thoughts about the close call and the danger they were still in.
"Hang in there, Kate," McGee said, trying to keep her focused and conscious.
"I'm fine," Kate replied through gritted teeth , though the pain was evident on her face.
Tony drove like a madman, weaving through the streets. "Tony, keep an eye out for anyone following us," Gibbs ordered.
"On it, boss," Tony replied, scanning the rear view mirrors and windows for any suspicious activity calming himself down.
At the hospital, they rushed Kate inside, and doctors and nurses immediately took over. Gibbs, McGee, and Tony waited in the emergency room, the adrenaline from the mission still coursing through their veins.
"She'll be okay," McGee said, more to reassure himself than anyone else.
Gibbs called Director Morrow gave a brief account of what happened and got Alex's mobile number.
While this was happening, the MC finished a basic disassembly of his AR, put his weapon in the backpack and got on a bus en route to the nearest hospital. And just then, he got a call.
"Lt. Bishop, what's your status?" Gibbs asked as soon as the call connected.
"All clear for now," Alex replied. "No sign of an assailant. How's Agent Kate?"
"She's in ICU," Gibbs said. "We'll be back for you soon. Stay sharp."
"No need, Sir. I'm on my way to you. "
"How do you....Never mind, We will talk when you get here, Lt."
<<scene break>>
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit safehouse, Ari Haswari nursed his injured face. The bullet from Alex's AR had shattered his scope, and fragments had grazed his face. His expression was a mix of pain and anger but also a hint of satisfaction. He had managed to escape and saw the fear and chaos he had caused.
Ari knew he had failed because of an unknown factor; because of the agent that injured him. but it wouldn't happen again. He would adapt, plan, and strike when they least expected it. The game of cat and mouse had just begun, and Ari was determined to come out on top at any means necessary.
Back at the hospital, the team regrouped. the attack had left them all on edge. They knew Ari wouldn't stop until he had achieved his objective, whatever that might be. Gibbs, Alex, and the rest of the team must be prepared for anything.
.
.
.
At the hospital, Gibbs, Tony, and McGee anxiously waited for news about Kate's condition. The tension in the air was palpable, each of them lost in their thoughts and concerns. Thinking what could have done differently to avoid this mess.
Tony, the most agitated among them paced back and forth, frustration evident on his face. "I can't believe this happened. If Alex hadn't pushed her, maybe she wouldn't have—"
"Tony, enough," Gibbs interrupted his voice firm. "Alex saved her life. Ari was aiming to kill."
Tony clenched his fists, struggling to contain his emotions. "..... Boss. It's just... I can't stand seeing her hurt."
McGee, sitting quietly, looked up at Tony. "We're all worried, Tony. But blaming Lt. Alex isn't going to help. We need to focus on stopping Ari."
Gibbs nodded in agreement. "McGee's right. Ari's still out there, and we must be ready for his next move."
Just then, a doctor approached them, and the team immediately stood up, their attention focused.
"Agent Todd is stable," the doctor said calmly. "The bullet punctured her ear, but she'll make a full recovery. She's asking to see you."
Relief washed over them, and they quickly made their way to Kate's room. Inside, they found her lying in bed, a bandage around her head, but she was smiling albeit weakly.
"Hey, guys," Kate greeted, her voice a bit weak but steady.
"Kate," Tony said, "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," she replied with a small chuckle. "But I'll be fine."
Gibbs placed a hand on her shoulder. "We're just glad you're okay. Ari won't get away with this."
Kate nodded, her expression turning serious. "We need to stop him. He's not going to stop until he gets what he wants."
Just then, they heard a knock; Alex entered the room with an Orchid Bouquet.
"Lieutenant," Gibbs greeted, acknowledging him with a nod.
"Gibbs," Alex continued.
"How are you feeling, Agent Todd?"
"Better, thanks to you," Kate said, smiling at him. "You... saved my life, Alex. Thank you."
"It's all good, Agent Todd," said Alex, giving her the Bouquet. "If anything, I didn't do a good enough job."
Tony felt a mix of emotions at that statement.
Gibbs stepped forward, his expression determined. "We must regroup, gather evidence, analyse the intel, and plan our next move. I have a feeling Ari's just getting started."
The team nodded. They knew the battle against Ari was far from over.
As they left Kate's room, Gibbs turned to Alex. "You did good by my team, Lieutenant."
After saying that, Special Agent Gibbs left.
"I think that's the closest to a thank you Boss has ever said to someone I've heard," said Tim McGee.
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