10:00pm
The night cloaked the landscape around the Enforcer facility in a veil of deep shadow. Rex and Aurora's team hunkered down in a dense thicket of overgrown shrubs and thorny bushes, the rough foliage scratching against their stealth black attire. The facility itself loomed in the distance, a stark, rectangular structure of reinforced concrete and steel, bathed in the harsh, unforgiving glare of floodlights. High walls topped with razor wire encircled the perimeter, and the occasional patrol car snaked along the access roads, its headlights cutting through the darkness.
A tense silence hung in the air as Idris lowers his binoculars and pointed to the main entrance, a set of heavy steel doors flanked by two figures in grey uniforms. They had been observing the guards for the past hour, noting their patrol patterns.
Idris: Two guards at the main entrance.
Rex: (He nodded, his gaze fixed on the guards. He spoke, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic coldness that made Ender, positioned slightly behind him, subtly narrow his eyes in silent observation.) Ender and I will take care of them. The rest of you, stick to the plan.
Aurora, her purple visor reflecting the distant lights, nodded slowly as Ender and Rex rose from their hiding spot, moving with a coordinated stealth towards the main entrance.
Ender positioned himself behind a large concrete barrier a short distance from the gate, raising his sniper rifle, its suppressor adding to the silence of the night. He peered through the scope, his breath held steady as he focused on the first guard standing watch. With a soft exhale, he squeezed the trigger.
A moment later, a barely audible thwip was heard before the guard on the right slumped forward, a small, dark hole appearing in bacm of his head.
The second guard, startled by the sudden death of his comrade, whirled around, his rifle raised, his breathing heavy with fear. He scanned the darkness, his eyes wide and darting. "Who's there?" he stammered, his voice trembling. He tried to bring his radio to his lips, but before he could utter a word, Rex emerged from the side, with brutal swiftness swinges his rod in a horizontal arc, connecting with the guard's temple with a sickening crack. The guard fell instantly, his rifle clattering on the concrete. But Rex didn't stop, his rage still simmering. He brought the rod down twice, against the back of the guard's skull, the heavy thuds echoing in the otherwise silent night. He then turned to the others, a grim look on his face, and gave a curt nod, signaling that the entrance was clear.
Ender watched Rex's brutal efficiency with a silent unease, a stark contrast to his usual impulsive nature.
Ender: Jesus, Rex... you didn't have to- (Ender started, his voice low and eyes wide with shock at the violence.)
Rex: (He turned to Ender, his voice dangerously low, the uncharacteristic coldness still present.) We have a job to do, Ender. Focus on that. Not on how I do it.
Without waiting for a response, Rex moved towards the entrance, his powerful build cutting a stark figure in the darkness. Ender watched him for a moment, a flicker of concern in his eyes, before shaking his head and following.
From their concealed position, Jasper and Idris watched Ender and Rex move towards the entrance. Once the guards were down, Jasper turned to Idris, adjusting the ill-fitting grey uniform.
Jasper: Ready? Remember, act like you belong. Eyes forward, no talking unless necessary. Let me do the talking.
Idris nodded nervously, his hand instinctively going to the sidearm concealed beneath his borrowed uniform.
Jasper took the lead, moving with a confident stride towards the now unguarded entrance. Idris followed closely behind, trying to emulate Jasper's demeanor. They reached the steel doors and, without hesitation, Jasper swiped a keycard he had procured from one of the downed guards. The lock clicked, and the heavy doors slid open, revealing a dimly lit corridor within the facility.
They stepped inside, the air immediately feeling colder and more sterile than the night outside. The only sound was the hum of fluorescent lights overhead. Jasper moved with purpose down the corridor, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
Jasper: Security room should be just around the next corner. Remember, stay quiet.
Jasper: (Lowering his voice, glancing at Idris) You seem pretty young to be mixed up in all this, kid. How old are you anyway?
Idris: (Nervously adjusting his uniform) Twenty-one.
Jasper: And how'd you end up here, working with this crew?
Idris: My brother... he worked for D.E.I.S.T.R. back in 2018.
Jasper: What happened to him?
Idris: He... he and his team were killed by a mutant in Mexico in 2019. I joined... to try and get some answers, maybe even some payback.
Jasper's gaze flickered to Idris for a moment, a flicker of surprise in his usually stoic eyes.
Jasper: Well, you picked a hell of a way to do it. Just remember what I said – stay focused.
They moved stealthily, pressing themselves against the wall as they approached the corner. Jasper peered around, confirming the security room was indeed there, the door slightly ajar. He signaled Idris to stay put and moved silently towards the door.
He carefully pushed it open further, revealing a lone guard sitting at a desk filled with monitors. Moving with the swift, lethal precision he had honed in his past, Jasper silently approached the guard from behind, his hand covering the guard's mouth before a sharp, swift twist of the neck ended the threat. He gently lowered the body to the floor and then gestured for Idris to enter.
Idris stepped into the security room, his eyes widening at the array of monitors displaying various parts of the facility. He moved quickly to the main console, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he bypassed the security protocols.
Idris: Okay, let's see what we got here... Cameras… showing different sections… prisoners… standard holding cells.
Through the comms, Idris's voice echoed in the ears of the waiting team outside.
Idris: This is Idris. I'm in the security room. Seeing multiple holding cells with a WIDE variety of prisoners. No sign of our people yet.
Ender's voice crackled back, his tone urgent.
Ender: Any sign of an elf girl? Long blonde hair?
Idris's fingers danced across the keyboard, switching between camera feeds.
Idris: Standby… Yes! I see her. Small cell, looks unconscious. Section Gamma, Cell Block 4.
A sigh of relief went through Ender outside. Idris continued scanning the monitors.
Idris: I've got Maya. Strapped to a bed in what looks like a medical bay. Section Beta, Room 12. Arthur… Arms tied above his head in some kind of interrogation room. Big, stone-skinned inhuman is… roughing him up. Section Delta, Room 8. And Jaxan… hanging upside down in what looks like a storage room. Another figure is with him, also hanging upside down. Section Epsilon, Room 5.
Relaying the information, Idris felt a sense of urgency.
Idris: They're spread out.
Back outside, Rex listened intently, his earlier anger now focused on a plan.
Rex: Alright, here's the plan... Jasper, Idris, you two listen up too. (Rex continued, his voice a low growl, his focus sharp despite the simmering rage within him.) We're gonma split into teams. Ender, Selena, you're with me. We're heading for Ivy. Ender, you know her, seeing your face might not get her to kick our asses...
Ender nodded, his initial unease from Rex's earlier violence now masked by a determined focus on rescuing Ivy. Selena simply gave a curt nod, her hand instinctively moving closer to the metallic orb she carried.
Rex then turned his attention to Aurora, Allison, and Vanessa.
Rex: Nova, you take Allison and Vanessa and head for Maya. Medical bay should have some nasty surprises, so be ready for anything.
Aurora met Rex's gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. She nodded firmly, her visor glinting in the dim light. Allison and Vanessa positioned themselves behind her, their movements coordinated and purposeful.
Rex: Jasper, (he continued,) you and Idris head for Arthur. We need to get to him as quick as possible so be quick on your feet.
Jasper nodded grimly, his usually stoic expression clouded with concern for Jaxan. Idris, despite his earlier nervousness, seemed more focused now that he had a direct objective.
Finally, Rex looked at Willow and Claire.
Rex: Willow, you fast... take Claire and head for Arthur.
Willow smirked, a flicker of excitement in her eyes. Claire nodded, her medical bag already in hand.
Rex: Everyone clear on their targets? (He asked, his gaze sweeping over the group. A chorus of nods and quiet affirmations answered him.)
Idris: (Nervousness flickered in his eyes as he spoke up, his voice barely a whisper.) What about t-the inhumans inside? What if we get caught?
Rex's gaze hardened, his uncharacteristic coldness returning.
Rex: Then you better not miss your shots.
Ender, who had been silently working, finally clicked the last piece of his sniper rifle into place, the suppressor now securely attached.