Strike Force Five Part 16
Plan B
One final distinctly audible POP reported across the clearing then nothing. No shrill bending of metal, no scraping as the corner brace gave way under the strain. A stiff breeze swirled up dust from the gorged ground around the pitted base support. The currents spawned a modified "twister" that spun up until its bumping into the first crossbeam section broke it apart.
Duo and his stunned teammate stared in a state of speechless astonishment. The tower, although blackened from fire and half hidden in smoky haze, stood fixed in place. There was only a slight shudder and that was only when the still functioning cannon recoiled catapulting another brilliant fireball somewhere within its vast target range.
Well I'll be damned." Heero finally spoke up in unbelieving amazement.
"SHIT!" Duo exclaimed angrily throwing down his helmet.
Heero shook his head, "I guess we go to Plan B." he declared with a halfhearted shrug.
Duo studied his comrade's statement for a moment then, with eyebrows drawn together until they touched, voiced his puzzlement. "What Plan B?" he snorted.
"I don't know," Heero admitted, "it seemed like a good idea to say something."
Duo lifted his head, his braid swinging over his shoulder and stringing bangs falling over one eye. "Maybe if we went over and pushed?" he surmised.
Another long moment of silence. Again the cannon's firing shook the quite stable platform. Suddenly Duo scooped up his helmet and slapped his hand on the silver stripe running across the curved top.
His unexpected animation made Heero flinch but before he could verbally respond to his comrade's angry action Duo pivoted on his heels to face the unyielding tower. "I'll give you Plan B dammit." he growled with a tightness in his voice.
"Give me that SR42!" he exclaimed poking his open palm at Heero.
"What?"
"The rifle you took from that soldier."
The snub-nosed weapon was removed from Heero's SCAT and placed in Duo's impatiently outstretched hand. Even though Heero had no idea of Duo's intensions, he was immediately certain that he was not going to like what Duo was about to do.
Heero knew that Duo's impulsive temper often overrode his sensibly. "What are you thinking?" he asked shaking his head in a negative fashion.
Duo took no notice of Heero's questioning attitude or misgivings concerning his impending actions. "Get your SCAT!" he began shouting out orders, "We're going in again."
"And do what?" Heero sternly inquired. He was not going to be drawn into any frustration-provoked plan without knowing all of the details.
Duo whirled around bringing his helmet with him. Heero jumped back as the black and silver headgear launched a direct assault at his head. "You just cover me and I'll do the rest." Duo hissed, clearly upset by Heero's cautionary stance in the matter.
"Duo!" Heero yelled this time determined that he was not going to be ignored.
Duo placed his hand on Heero's arm. "Something has to be done." he proclaimed tensely tightening his grip. "As long as that cannon continues to be operational Quatre, Trowa and Wufei will be in danger." he stated hoping that Heero would understand his reason.
Duo's hand slowly slid away then a single finger brushed across Heero's gritty cheek. " Together we can do this." he stated without a doubt in his mind.
Heero leaned into the fleeting touch then reluctantly nodded in agreement. "You stay close to me all the way." he established the mission rules.
Duo pulled on his helmet cinching up the chinstrap. Heero tucked his tousled bangs under his helmet and secured his trusty crossbow on his bike. Duo, with the SR42 slung over his shoulder, gunned his engine. "Let's bring down that bastardly tower and go home."
*********
Dusty haze swirled and parted on either side of two SCATs as they made a single-minded run for the tower. Midway to the steel leviathan a troop transport carrying a squad of soldiers sped along the narrow road leading from the flaming compound. The truck bounced over the road's rutted surface as the driver's goal was to reach the tower in minimum time.
"Over there!" the soldier sitting beside the driver yelled pointing at the twin bikes racing across the clearing.
The driver, not daring to take his eyes off the road, nodded his head in the SCAT's direction. "Those must be the traitors." he shouted back being fooled by the OZ windsuits and helmets.
"Yeah," he soldier agreed, "those are the ones we came here to eliminate." he declared as the driver pushed the transport's engines to their limits.
*********
Duo and Heero sped passed the damaged storage units just as the transport and its enemy passengers skidded sideways to a haul. The vehicle's black-clad contents spilled out using its horizontal placement as cover.
"KEEP GOING!" Heero shouted as he fishtailed his SCAT behind what was left of the units. Duo did not look back at his comrade nor gave any reply but to open the throttle as far as it would go.
Heero's knees hit the ground as the first volley of shots sprayed all around the twisted plexi-form that barely provided adequate cover. He jerked off his helmet giving up its protection for a clearer view of his adversaries. Heavy hair fell over his face making him wished that he had gotten a haircut. "No matter now." he thought pushing the tangled tresses out of his eyes.
Most of the enemy's hurried shots loss velocity striking the ground well short of their target. Some hit the units harmlessly defusing their "punch". A few, however, did manage to make a full run. One shot struck the middle unit's warped side, the bowed curve causing it to ricochet. Heero felt the bullet's heat and heard the hiss as it whizzed by his cheek. For a brief moment he reconsidered putting his helmet back on.
Heero crouched keeping a steadying knee centered and his shoulder braced on the side. It was clear that his "camouflage" no longer supported his impostor deception. He figured the longer he could draw the soldier's fire, the greater separation span Duo could put between their weapons range and the tower. And to insure that none of his foes would be tempted to lose interest in their killing quest, Heero would occasionally show his face just to keep the game on track.
He also knew that the taunting would, sooner or later, build up enough frustration that its prodding would lure one or more troopers to break formation. If they could be baited to leave the transport's shielding then he could pick them off one by one.
It wasn't long before Heero's seductive behavior bore fruit. A figure rose from behind the transport, paused, then straightened to get off his best shot. Heero's crossbow once again sang its lethal tune as the man crumpled over clutching his chest. The bringing down of one of their own would probably have a temporary reverse effect on Heero's tactical sparring session but knowing the OZ employee's short attention span they would soon be back in the game.
Two men pulled something from behind the transport's rear seat. A handheld pulse missile launcher balanced on one man's shoulder. His partner loaded a slender silver cylinder and stood aside. As the friction-charged shell was propelled through the hollow tube a shrill whistle announced its departure. The bright ignition flash and a yellowish "tail" whipping behind the screaming projectile made it easy to trace its flight path.
The missile struck just beside Duo's SCAT. A muffled pop was heard as the grainy soil muted the blast impact. The explosive contact gorged out the ground throwing sizeable chunks of dirt on both man and machine. The near miss caused Duo to flinch as he leaned closely over the gas tank. A fine spray of grit hit his helmet but the SCAT's speed quickly carried him beyond the flinging debris.
The pair's failure to hit the speeding bike pushed their willingness to endure such shame to the breaking point. The launched dropped off the man's shoulder and in unison both soldiers stood amassing their combined firepower at the fleeing SCAT.
Heero stuck two arrows in the ground by his boot, locked the third in place and let it fly. The "ammo-man" grabbed at his throat and disappeared behind the transport. Heero shoved in the next arrow. Its path copied the first's and the other ambushing soldier was laid low.
The last razor sharp arrow was loaded but Heero barely had it snapped down before it took flight. This time his hurried aim was off and the steel-tipped shaft stuck harmlessly in the transport's padded seat. Heero cursed curtly under his breath blaming his anxiousness for Duo for his failed shot.
Then for the first time Heero felt the weight of his pistol on his hip. "The hell with this." he growled laying the crossbow at his feet.
The pistol fit oddly in his hand but with a firm grip Heero folded a long supple finger over the trigger. Heero knew that his aim would not be perfect but like Duo had said that night in the helicopter, "Aim it in someone's general direction and watch them scatter."
Heero let loose a rapid set of shots. The zip and muzzle flare, replacing the silence of his crossbow, took the remaining soldiers by surprise. Caught the most off-guard was one trooper who had become too brave for his own good. Too late did he realize that his exposed position had opened up too much space between himself and the transport's refuge. A painful cry wailed with the wind. The trooper dropped to his knees bent over at the waist. The bowed posture was held momentarily then he pitched over face first in the dirt. A second man standing nearby took two faltering steps toward his last hope of sanctuary then stumbled once before going down with a bone crunching thud.
The squad, their numbers now cut in half, hid cowardly behind their wheeled fortress telling Heero that any more enemy reduction would not be easy. Resting his back on a shattered unit he took in a quick breath then exhaled with a hard puff hoping that the forced air would help carry away some of his tension.
Pushing damp hair from his smoke-reddened eyes Heero turned to watch Duo travel through the wind-blown dust stirred up by his bike. The billowing trail plainly showed his comrade's path as the last of the gray clouds filtered away just short of the tower's still intact base.
As the last traces settled Heero could see Duo sitting at the ramp's entrance. His helmet was tilted upwards as he surveyed the imposing height looming above him. Duo's head turned quickly, his shielded eyes looking back at Heero then he centered his sight on his objective.
"Duo be careful." Heero whispered taking in another hard breath before letting the expelled air blow slowly over his dry lips. "You have to come back."
*********
Duo's tires spun skipping over the grainy soil before they caught hold with a lurch. The bumpy ground was rapidly replaced by the ramp's smooth surface. The firmer grip sent the SCAT and it rider forward at full speed.
"I guess I'm about to find out if this machine can do what its name implies." Duo told himself as he reached the first turn.
A low horizontal railing made up of three evenly spaced metal pipes was all that would keep Duo from a nasty spill over the edge should the bike not live up to all of its manufacture's advertised hype. As Duo leaned over to the inside to use every bit of the ramp's minimal banking his knee barely floated above the gray surface.
Keeping his power level at the maximum Duo put his trust in the machine vibrating beneath him. Without any adjustment on his part the SCAT's computer lived up to its reputation. Duo felt a slight cut back in power as he reached the turn's pivot point. The rear tire braked, ever so slightly, then with a quiver the engine's digital counter climbed back to its highest setting.
One curve successfully taken. Eight more lay ahead each gradually growing shorter and sharper as the spiral tightened about the tower's tapering frame.
All the while the cannon continued to hurl out metered blasts. Each release shook the tower's very foundations and each time the shock waves cause both the SCAT and its rider to fight for control. Leaning over the handle grips as far as he could Duo tried to cut the wind resistance and maintain as much balance as the tower's fitful shivering would allow.
In some spots the wind-whipped clouds of dust and smoke completely obscured the ramp. Duo reminded himself each time he entered the hazy visual obstructions that, "If he didn't keep alert." the term "dead end" could very well be applied to any split second of inattention.
The second turn was conquered. The third and the forth. The fifth called on the SCAT's computer to do some extra duty but once more it delivered Duo safely through the ever-tightening curves.
*********
A glint of yellow tinted light was all Heero saw as he opened his eyes. Before he could analyze the brief reflection a dazzling streak soared upward on a collision course with the tower's midsection. Another trooper had taken up the missile launcher directing its explosive charge at the distant spot where Duo and his SCAT climbed the ramp's steep grade.
The launcher fell from the shooter's grip as his hands clutched his eyes there were blinded by Heero's shot. With blood soaking through his clawing fingers the man screamed in agony. The anguished shriek rose to an ear piercing pitch then became suddenly silent.
Heero had exacted punishment for the soldier's despicable deed but the payback changed nothing...the missile stayed to its deadly route. All Heero could do was watch in horror and pray that the racing projectile would veer off course at the last moment.
*********
Just short of the sixth curve the pulse missile's yellow flare flowed in shimmering waves across Duo's helmet's face shield. Even with the darkened film's screening the flash stabbed at his eyes.
Considerable potions of the ramp blew apart. The ruptured invasion channeled out a fissure almost punching all the way through. Still blinded by the flash and pelted with the ramp's expelled material, Duo never saw the pit open up before him.
The SCAT's front tire hit dead center catching with such force that Duo felt the bike's rear end begin to pitch forward. Shifting his weight to stop what would be a fatal somersault, the rear end's loss of traction tipped the bike off-center. The tire's sidewall struck the ramp and bounced once sending the out-of-control machine into a sideways skid.
As the SCAT hydroplaned on a cushion of air Duo held tight hoping, at the last minute, to regain at least some degree of stability. His hip hit hard as the SCAT folded over. Thankfully the leather windsuit's insulation protected his leg from the slid friction. The tall boot kept his ankle in line saving Duo from a badly broken bone, or worse, a severed foot.
Somewhere in the milliseconds between the skid's beginning and his sideways slide, Duo decided that holding on was rapidly becoming a mistake. Pinned under the bike's weight he was quickly being carried along to whatever fate awaited the machine.
Amidst the screeching of scraping metal and in a shower of blue-white sparks Duo let loose of the careening mechanical "missile". The SCAT flew one way. Duo helplessly thrown backward, went the opposite way. His body slammed with a smart jolt that was powerful enough to expel his breath as he tumbled into the tower's inner brace-works. His head followed suit with only the helmet saving his skull from being split wide open.
The SR42's strap slipped from Duo's shoulder and wound about his upper arm. Pulling tighter the constriction caused some part of the rifle to smack across his face shield. The blow punctured the plexi-plate. Fine-lined spider web cracks etched ragged scars over the curved covering.
Black dots danced over Duo's vision. His deflated lungs fought painfully to refill with air. Sweat ran in soot-mingled streams over his face. It took several choked wheezes before his chest caught and he began to breathe again.
*********
As badly as Duo was battered by the crash his bike took the brunt of the collision. It struck the outer railing raising up on its front wheel. The snagged handle grips caught, twisted the frame and spun it around. With a groan of tortured tearing it wavered, suspended in midair.
The gas tank hit the uppermost pipe with a spray of sparks and a dull clang. A thin line opened along the tank's side as the mangled machine teetered, rocking precariously on the rail's top. For a fractured moment of time a hushed silence fell over everything then, as if in slow motion, the front end gave into gravity. Duo's faithful motorized steed tipped at an acute angle then flipped over the edge taking a large piece of the railing with it.
The racket of its bouncing and crashing could be heard distinctly even above the cannon's report. Friction set off the leaking fuel adding a dramatic touch to the SCAT's final moments of freefall. The flaming twisted form's solid contact with the ground finished the tank rupture. The ignited fuel broiled in an orange fireball shooting smaller fiery orbs into the wind. Black smoke curled from burning tires joining the thick haze drifting from the compound.
*********
Clumsily Duo unhooked his chin strap. His hands shook, stiff fingers were slow to respond. With extra effort he pulled off his helmet. A knot coiled in his stomach as Duo saw a wide breach in the helmet's shell, the crack going all the way through to the inner lining.
*That could have been your head!* his internal voice proclaimed as his gut tensed once more.
*********
The glowing combustive remains of Duo's demolished SCAT hurdling from the tower's dizzying heights shone in stark contrast in the gray haze. Heero spun around at the sight of the plummeting machine and sank back at the terrible din of its collision with terra firma. His eyes frantically strained to see a body tangle among the warped metal. He couldn't pick out anything resembling a human form but, from his distant site, he could not be sure.
Desperately Heero redirected his sight up at the misshapen railing. Putting his hand above his eyes to soften the glare, he squinted through the fire-tinted haze for some sign that his comrade was on the high ramp and not mangled among the blazing wreckage.
Heero's frantic need to know of this partner's state, whether living or deceased, tore at his gut. Then the thought of Duo injured but alive, perhaps barely as his life force rapidly bled away, invaded Heero's mind so strongly that he momentarily forgot where he was. But why Heero had taken the position behind the ruined units was rudely brought back to mind as the soldier's fire jogged him memory.
A bullet skimmed some part of the top unit sending sparks and shattered bits of plexi-form scraping over Heero's face. He poked the pistol around the unit returning the favor as he pondered his next move. Maybe on the SCAT he could outrun the bullets. Maybe.
"The range is not that huge." he told himself, "I can cover that." he continued the self-debate running his thumb over the raised welt on his cheek left behind by the stinging material. With a worn sigh Heero rested his head on the unit's side. "This is making me crazy." he whispered lowly.
*********
Flinging the useless helmet aside Duo untangled his braid then pushed against the framework's bracing awkwardly grabbing a spanning cable. His body ached from the overextended stretch it had to endure just to get his feet under him again. Knees wobbled, his vision jerked wildly spinning and blurring everything into wavy images.
More stress-produced sweat trickled over his forehead and flowed down to cloud his eyes. Wiping away the encroaching stream Duo found that the exerted moisture left a reddish tinge on his fingers. A long gash above one eyebrow stung as the wiping forced the salty mixture into the cut. Duo took in a shallow gasp at the stinging pain then another hard breath to chase away the dizziness from his head.
Swollen hands and numb fingers threatened to lose their grip. It took all the internal balance that Duo could summons to stay upright. The cannon let go again but Duo somehow managed to hold on. Another feeble gasp for air pounded in his chest.
In the past Duo had always found some reserve resource and arrogantly flaunted it squarely in his adversity's face. Now he had to believe that his inner reservoir had not been totally drained. Untangling the rifle's strap Duo centered his scattered thoughts on his goal to silence the cannon.
*********
Heero lifted his gaze once more to the ramp's lofty section where Duo's SCAT had flown free. With a heavy sigh he pushed aside his continually intrusive hair that seemed determined to vex his vision.
*Duo was not on the bike.* Heero's internal council stated with certainty. *Duo cannot do this alone.* it spoke again with an urgency that stabbed through Heero's heart.
"But..."
"GO NOW!" the voice ordered then whispered before it faded away. "Do it for love."
With his inner voice's anxious urging Heero decided with all swiftness to conclude his part in the OZ standoff. Something deep in his gut shoved him toward the tower. He centered his weight and checked the clip. "I think it is time to call their hand."
With resolved conviction set firmly in his mind Heero took in a steadying breath and stepped from the unit's shelter. The hidden intruder's sudden appearance must have taken the last of the soldier's by surprise but their indecision lasted only an instant.
Muzzle flares burst from behind the transport. Like angry bees the buzz of bullets could be heard well above the crackling of fire and the cannon's booming. Unflinching Heero leveled his pistol seemingly completely impervious to the lethal fire raining all about him.
One trooper thought that the lone man, standing flagrantly in the face of danger was either insane or had a death wish. "In the latter case," the trooper told himself, "that was one wish I will be more than happy to grant."
One shot from Heero's pistol threw bright sparks close to the trooper's head. The next shot blew out the transport's windshield. The soldier still studying Heero's surprisingly bold comportment reconsidered his role in the "wish" granting as he ducked behind the vehicle's cover. Now the odds had been reduced to one against one.
A loud click from the crouching soldier's rear sent a chill coursing through his gut. The OZ employee had mistakenly discounted his opponent's speed and agility. At the familiar sound of a hammer being cocked the sole survivor shivered once more then turned, weapon his hand, to find Heero aiming his pistol at the startled man's head.
"Don't try it." Heero warned as he read the soldier's body language.
As uneasy pause followed as the soldier was offered the rare opportunity of deciding his own fate. Wisely the "last man standing" chose surrender over what would have been a futile act had he not heeded Heero's advice.
"Drop it." Heero ordered nodding at the gun. The discarded weapon flung up gritty soil as it hit the ground.
Heero stepped up to the disarmed man. A thin lipped smile flickered across his face. "Good decision." he stated sarcastically. "But I probably can't trust you to walk away." he declared, "What should I do about that?"
The soldier shifted nervously as he debated whether he should have "gone for broke" and challenged the rebel with the gun. Now he was beginning to believe that his giving up had not necessarily insured his continued existence.
The pistol leveled off. The soldier swallowed hard. But this time Heero chose mercy over malice. His free hand curled into a tight fist that suddenly came around the soldier's blind side contacting his jaw line. The fist slammed hard sending the unconscious man to the same spot on the ground where his weapon had gone before.
Heero craned his neck searching the area under the platform where the broken railing left a gaping hole. "Duo where are you?" he sighed finding the space empty of everything but swirling vapors.
As he squinted through the airborne dust and fire-tinged smoke he could just make out a small speck of humanity that was silhouetted in the red-orange glow tinting the skyline.
"Duo!" he called as the cannon belched out its deadly discharge. "Hold on Duo I'm coming."
TBC...
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