The Forbidden Trilogy(236)

Lucy turned the knob, but it was locked. "Crap. Luke, you want to unlock it from the other side?"

He dashed through the door. Time ticked by so much faster as they stood, vulnerable.

"Shit. It's jammed." Luke's muffled voice came through the door.

Hunter pulled out his sword. "Let me try. Move away."

Lucy heard Luke step aside, and Hunter shoved his blade into the door knob, all the way through it. He pulled open the door and grinned. "Ladies first."

"Impressive."

Inside, one man slept on a bunk bed, murmuring as he turned on his side. Hunter pulled a cloth from his pack and covered the man's face for three seconds, then released. "That should knock him out for a few hours."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't I get one of those?"

Hunter shrugged. "I don't think Simmons likes you."

Well, no one can argue with that, Lucy thought.

They shrugged out of their wetsuits, and Lucy set up her laptop on the small desk. She plugged into the local intranet and hacked into the facilities' programs.

First, she looped the cameras. "Luke, go get that guy outside and bring him in here. Take Hunter to help carry him."

As they left, she checked the main gate access. It would be tough, but she could open it from here if she had to. That would help Simmons's agents get in faster—or get out faster, if it came to that.

She flipped through the live camera feeds and found the main ventilation system, a centralized plant located in the main building. For such a small compound, they had a big system. She shuddered when she realized it probably helped control certain experiments, which made her think of Mr. K and what they'd done to him here.

They'd hit all their objectives, but Lucy couldn't help but feel that she'd missed something obvious. She looked at her computer, examined all the feeds, and everything looked fine.

The guys returned with the guard and laid him on one of the beds. Hunter shrugged off his extra-large pack and dropped it beside the desk. He must have used his para-strength to swim with that thing. He strapped his sword to his back and a pistol to his hip, and slung his rifle over his shoulder.

"Packing enough heat?"

"Can never be too prepared." He winked.

She grinned like an idiot, then focused back on the computer.

Luke stood over her. "Did you find the ventilation system?"

"Yep. I'll guide you using the cameras. Just do as I say."

Luke rolled his eyes. "This isn't exactly my first rodeo, Sis. I think I know what I'm doing by now."

Before they walked out the door, Hunter kissed her again. "You going to be okay?"

"I can handle myself. Don't worry. Now go! And be careful."

The boys left and made their way to the main building.

A buzzing filled Lucy's head, and she felt another presence settle in. 'Sam?'

"Hey, Luce. Status report?"

'We're in. Won't be long before the guys set off the sleeping gas in the vents. As soon as they do, I'll open the gate so you guys can drive straight in, okay?"

"Thanks. I'll be in touch."

As Sam shut the connection, Luke's voice came through the headset. "We're in the main building."

She checked the cameras. "Go right... keep going... now stop. There are two guards down the next corridor."

"Got it covered, Sis." Lucy watched the screen as Luke walked through a few walls and popped up behind the two guards, then knocked them out with chops to their necks. He grabbed their IDs and started undressing them.

"Hunter, Luke needs help."

Hunter rounded the corner, and together they secured themselves two uniforms and IDs. Hunter looked good in the form-fitting black clothes.

"I like these. We need some at IPI," he said.

Lucy chuckled. "Fashion later, boys. Keep going down the hall. You're getting close. Shortcut through the hangar to your left."

The guys entered the hangar, and Luke pointed to something. "Wow. Did you see this, Luce?"

She saw what looked like a cross between a tank and a helicopter.

"It's an AH-64 Apache," said Hunter.

Luke whistled under his breath. "Seriously badass."

Lucy noticed rocket pods and cannons hanging from what looked like a pair of stubby wings. That thing looked dangerous. "I hope we never have to go up against it. If they'd sent that in to rescue Beleth, we'd be mincemeat right now."

She scanned the rest of the hangar, which held a much bigger plane, probably the one they used for Beleth, and another helicopter with less armor, but still big.

Hunter showed off more of his knowledge. "The other chopper's a Boeing CH-47 Chinook. It's used for transport."

Luke looked up. "Hey, that's a pretty fancy roof. Looks like it might open."