Finality

“Got through to the director yet?”

“Lika, don’t you think you’d be the first person to know if I’d managed to get a hold of her?” Russ says while still trying to establish a link to the agency’s matriarch. For the… he’s lost count to be honest but he’ll settle on fifteenth, for no apparent reason, time the line dead ends. There isn’t a service issue, at least from his end and according to diagnostics there are no coverage issues anywhere in the city. It’s making him quite concerned and Lika’s questioning of an update, as well meaning as it is, does nothing but help add to the feeling he has that something is wrong. More accurately that something has gone wrong and it claws at him like a finger picking at a scab. He hates it but try as he might he can’t shove the thoughts aside.

“I’m only asking because it’s not like…”

“I know. But please stop asking. You’ll know when I get through, if I get through.” The last part he utters under his breath. Sadly not quiet enough for Lika queries, “What do you mean, if?”

“Lika, please I need to concentrate.” Is the statement Russ offers in hopes of not having to answer.

“No Russ. There’s something you’re not telling me, spill.”

At first he says nothing and continues to tap away at his keyboard. That has to remain his focus; regardless of the fact that what he is undertaking is not in any way legal. Hence why it is best Lika knows as little as possible about what he’s doing.

“Answer me!” The woman with bright hair demands once more than a minute has passed without Russ having uttered a reply of any kind.

It hasn’t escaped her notice that his monitor is angled more than usual away from her to stop her seeing whatever is on it.

If he doesn’t respond I swear I’m going to grab that monitor and find out what he’s doing. That is the promise Lika delivers unto herself and she means it.

“You don’t want to know what I’m doing, trust me.” Her colleague assures without daring to take his eyes off his monitor.

“What does that even…?”

“How’s Warren? Is everything holding up OK in there?” Is the interjection Russ delivers.

If I change the topic maybe she’ll let it go. His attempt fails instantly as is proved when she exclaims, “Oh no, you’re not changing topic on me. I know your game and that you are fully aware Warren and the fragment are perfectly fine. So tell me the truth, what is going on?”

A brief glance from Russ is all Lika gets. She reaches for his monitor. Before she gets chance to grab a hold and take a look at what he’s doing he blurts, “I’m hacking the city’s comms grid.”

“Are you serious? why?”

“I told you that you didn’t want to know. As for why, well that’s simple, because the director has dropped off grid.”

“But that’s illegal, even for agents. You could end up in…”

“I’m fully aware of what could happen, Lika. But I didn’t have a choice. Plus…” The man’s voice trails off.

“Plus what?” She urges.

It’s not good news, not at all. In fact it’s what Russ feared most. Someone is blocking the director and Sanjiv. He can’t get through to either of them. It’s as if they have fallen off the grid. There are no pings, no traces. The last he has of them… Answer Lika! Is the demand he shout inside his own head.

A turn of his monitor is as much as the man has to do so that the bright haired woman can get the answer she so desperately craves.

A period of silence follows. Then Lika’s jaw drops. When next she speaks her voice is distant, “You have to be kidding me. Is this right? This can’t be right Russ.”

“It’s right, trust me. They were both on grid, much like everyone else in the city, in the world. Then… poof, they vanished. Haven’t been able to get a thing from them ever since. It’s like they ceased to exist.”

“When was this?”

“Maybe thirty seconds after that call we placed. The one where we informed the director that Warren Thewlis is safe.” The man’s tone of voice is not at all confident which worries Lika who cannot convey anything for the words are stuck at the back of her throat because so severe is her disbelief.

“I know. And I’ve tried everything to…”

A heavy pounding trio of knocks slam against the door of Lika and Russ’ office. Both of them jump out of their seats from the sudden fright.

Russ is the first to recover, rises to his feet without saying a word and begins to move toward the door eliciting a “What are you doing?” from Lika.

The man stops and stares at the young woman he shares an office with, he’s confused. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m going to see who’s…”

“It could be anyone, you can’t…”

“Relax, we’re in agency HQ nothing is going to…”

Right then is when gunfire rings out. Lika shrieks and Russ curses, ducking low as if he expects to be hit by any one of the loud booms which have reached his ears. If that were the case it would already be too late. No such thing has dawned on him and if it did it would not alter his response for it is instinctive, based upon a need for survival.

A louder roar of gunfire flares to life. It can only be a response to the first. Alongside it are screamed orders and then a fresh pounding on the office door which is accompanied by, “This is Strike Team Seven, open up!”

Staring at her colleague, Lika shakes her head slowly from side to side begging him not to risk opening their office door. If they don’t surely the ‘strike team’ as they are claiming to be will pass by. Sadly, the man who is technically her superior doesn’t feel the same and goes for the door once again. The woman with bright hair leaps after him but she is too far away to reach him before he is able to unlock and open the door.

Immediately, the strike team commander barges in. Lika’s eyes go wide, panic strikes her hard and then realisation pulls her back. The man is no threat at all; he is in fact who he claimed to be.

“We’re evacing, building is under attack. Follow us. We’ll get you clear.”

“We can’t leave.”

“Orders say different.” The strike team commander assures unwilling to listen as to how the man before him works out he and the woman with bright hair alongside who looks like a deer caught in headlights might be exceptions to the rule. Truthfully, he doesn’t care. He has a job to do. Those are his orders and yet whoever it is that is laying siege to HQ are far better equipped than any of them would have liked to believe were possible. To make matters worse there is no inclination as to who these grey masked figures are. What can be said is that they are relentless and have so far taken the front entrance, lobby and most of the upper floors.

“The director…”

“She isn’t here. We don’t know where she is. Her team went dark. But that doesn’t change my orders to evac the building, now move!” The commander’s tone is formidable in a, don’t try and argue because I will beat you to the ground and then carry you out of here if I have too, kind of way.

Throughout this exchange bullets from both the strike team and their attackers continue to be fired. It results in the conversations background sounding about as close to being in a war as Lika thinks she ever wants to get. To her surprise Russ does not relent.

“We’re staying; director’s orders.”

The commander considers Russ’ words for a few seconds, mulling over the claim that has been delivered. The commander cannot say he believes it.

Just as he is about to give an answer, which would have involved him not giving a damn what order the director has given and that if they don’t conform he will drag them out of here kicking and screaming if he has too, one of his team screeches about incoming explosives. The commander, on instinct, pitches and throws himself forward. In doing so he knocks both Lika and Russ to the floor roughly. Just as well he did because a few short seconds afterwards a massive explosion rips a large section of the corridor outside of the office to shreds.

In the immediate aftermath, dust and debris clogs the air. Alas that is not the worst of it for injured screams and cries for orders soon fill the void left by the detonation of whatever explosives were used.

The commander, having hastily checked himself, springs to his feet. It’s quite the impressive task while clad in such heavy and bulky armour. Following that performance he demands a return fire and then offers his hands to the downed pair.

“We’re staying.” Is the assurance Russ delivers for a second time. He shouts it for his eardrums are ringing and painful.

“They’re overrunning our position, commander we need to withdraw.” One of the strike team informs.

“Fine, I copy.” The commander spits defeated. He doesn’t like the idea but if this pair are hell-bent on staying and potentially risking getting themselves killed, who is he to stop them. “Withdraw!” He bellows right after only to turn and stride out of the small office.

“Good luck, we’ll barricade the door. You should do the same.” The head of Strike Team Seven advises only to slam the door closed behind him. That is the last Russ and Lika see of the man and his team. Yet, they hear drilling. Proof the commander is a man of his word.

“What are they doing?”

“Barricading, just like he said. It’s standard procedure. It won’t hold forever and he’s right we need to do the same.” Is the explanation and agreement with the commander’s advice that Russ delivers in response to Lika’s question.

“With what, we don’t have drills and whatever else they’ve got?”

“Using anything we are not going to need. If you can work without it then pass it here.”

“Are you serious?”

“Deadly.” Is the succinct reply Russ offers with a hard expression upon his face. It doesn’t suit him at all but he is back on his feet and urging Lika to get to passing him whatever they aren’t dependant upon.

Following a few nervous seconds of doubt she complies. That is not to say she thinks this is a solid idea, she doesn’t, but it is clear Russ isn’t kidding, messing around or willing to debate the issue.