“It never hurts to have a plan B in your back pocket.” B. E. S.

“You’re nearly there,” said Hack. “I count two.”

The team rounded a spire and the compound came into view. Two dark brothers guarded the single entrance into a bunker built against a cliff. They readied staff-like weapons at the approach of the team. Simone signed to them, Early change. You may go.

The brothers raised their weapons and took aim. The compound wall exploded behind each guard as they fell where they stood. Startled, Besh clenched his fists. Simone moved immediately to the door, and Olaf pushed Besh along behind Heaven.

Hack said, “They seem a bit edgy. Be careful.”

With her hand on the entrance handle, Simone said, “Handguns only.” She peeked inside and turned to the team. “Clear.”

They stepped into a semi-circular foyer with a door at either end. The unknown lay beyond, and clearly a decision had to come soon. Simone waved Besh and Heaven to the right while she and Olaf stood ready at the left. She put two fingers to her goggles, informing Heaven to look only. Heaven took a quick peek and gave Simone the thumbs up. The team of four split in two. Each new team slid stealthily into the corridor beyond their door.

Heaven placed her back against the wall. As Besh followed suit, he kept his hand on Warrior’s head. The corridor was an extension of the semi-circular foyer. The outer wall was chiseled rock. The inner wall was rough concrete. Heaven was happy she saw no surveillance cameras; that made her job much easier.

She peeked into the open door to her left and quickly turned back to Besh. She raised two fingers, and Besh understood there were two brothers inside. Heaven returned her handgun to its holster, then bent to pull a large knife from her boot. She motioned for Besh to hold his position. As she slipped through the door, Besh knew exactly what would follow.

Heaven called Besh into a small storage with mechanical parts sitting on dimly lighted shelves. Warrior sniffed curiously around the two corpses as Heaven stooped to search them. Besh noticed that the brothers did not wear masks. It was the same for the front guards, and perhaps, he thought, that was the detail that gave them away. The dead brothers had ashen skin, bad teeth, and small dark eyes. Besh bent to whisper through his mask.

“We should remove our masks,” he said.

In the opposite corridor, Simone passed a locked door and moved warily toward a second door. Dim light played out into the hall. She peeked inside. Simone turned to Olaf with five raised fingers. Olaf exchanged places with Simone and quickly peeked inside. He reached under his robe and withdrew a zit. Simone shook her head in the negative. Olaf nodded singular approval, then casually tossed in the grenade.

The room dampened the concussive report. Olaf turned to Simone with his hand over his mouth. “Oops!” he said softly.

Simone stepped around Olaf to look inside. She saw one brother crawling, reaching for a wall alarm; she shot him. The room was a small barrack with cots, lockers, and a stained wall urinal. Staff weapons lay scattered among corpses and overturned cots, but Simone saw nothing of import. 

Simone stepped into the corridor and immediately jumped back, as an energy discharge barely missed her head. Olaf rolled a zit down the hall and stepped boldly from the barrack after the report. Three brothers lay in a collective pool of gore. Simone peeked around the curve of the hall and turned back to Olaf.

“All out?” she asked.

Olaf agreed. “All out.”

Heaven and Besh stood with their backs to the concrete wall. A small barrack had been empty. Now, they stood by yet another room. Heaven peeked into a mess hall. She saw concrete tables and benches. She saw concrete support columns. At the far end of the circular room was a door. At the back wall were a sink, heating unit, and a refrigerating box. Directly across from Heaven was an open doorway. Simone peeked in and recognized Heaven.

Simone said to Olaf, “It’s Heaven.”

Heaven said to Besh, “It’s Simone.”

Seeing Heaven and Besh without their masks, Simone and Olaf removed their masks and let them dangle. Simone turned to Olaf with a frown of disgust on her face.

“It wasn’t me,” said Olaf.

Heaven walked to Simone and said, “Barracks and storage so far.”

“Same,” Simone replied.

They had not come far. The mess seemed safe enough until the far door opened and drove the team behind support columns. Eight brothers entered quietly. They closed the door behind them before continuing into the mess. Simone, Heaven, and Olaf stepped out of hiding. Besh watched the handguns fire and the brothers fall.

Olaf said in a cocky alto, “Easy peasy.”

Simone countered, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. That door is our path forward.”

“If you’re worried,” said Olaf. He held his gun in a braggadocios manner and walked to the refrigerating box, leaving his comment unfinished. He raised the lid and looked inside. “Ah!” he said. “Gourmet carrion.”

Simone answered, “Let’s move.” 

The area beyond the mess was a warehouse stacked with odd crates. The team immediately took cover behind crates and carefully assessed the situation, Simone quietly pointing here and there for group attention. Loading machines sat idle. Hoists depended from closed hatches in the ceiling. There were double doors ahead, and single closed doors in a side wall. Simone led her team judiciously from cover to cover, with a wary eye on the open double doors.

They slipped quickly through the nearest of the two closed doors. They found themselves in a long dark tunnel. The damp smell of mildew was overpowering.

Simone whispered, “Masks on.”

With their masks set to night vision, the team inched cautiously toward two doors halfway down the hall. They sat across from one another and were locked. The door on the right was plated iron. There was a small window high in the door meant for viewing. Olaf worked to loosen it, while Simone checked the opposite door.

Simone’s door was locked from the other side; she returned to Olaf as he opened the window. Beyond was another dark hallway. They continued down the hall until it ended. At the end was another solid door, this one sealed with a solid bar. Olaf lifted the bar and set it quietly aside. The door opened on yet another dark hall. At the end, they found stairs and followed them down. They saw caged animals of various sorts. None of them were pleasant to the eye. Besh held Warrior back, and Olaf pointed out a butcher’s table and tools. They returned to the door with the window.

Besh asked, “Should we split up again?”

Olaf said, “We don’t know how big this place is, and time is not on our side.”

“Alright,” said Simone. “Olaf and I will check out the second door in the warehouse.” She turned to Heaven. “Force the lock and check the hall beyond. Call if there’s trouble.”

Simone left, pushing Olaf ahead of her. Besh moved Warrior out of Heaven’s way. She took a small device from an inner pocket and attached it to the lock. The device whined, and a red light turned green. Heaven opened the heavy door and ushered Besh and Warrior through. She closed the door behind them and pulled Besh close.

“Stay close,” she said and walked down the hall.

Following, Besh asked, “Do you think we’ll get lost?”

Heaven answered, “Stay focused.”

The hallway was long, and night vision showed no doors. Besh was overcome with feelings of finality; his anxiety spilled forth as nattering concerns.

“I’m just feeling really nervous,” said Besh.

Heaven replied, “Take a deep breath.”

Besh took a deep breath and continued. “I would give my life for any of my friends, but this all feels so dark and final.”

“It’s good to be scared,” said Heaven. “That’s the edge that will help you survive.”

Besh asked, “Are you scared?”

“Terrified,” said Heaven.

Besh said in surprise, “You don’t seem the type. You always have it together, even under fire.”

Heaven sighed and said, “When I’m scared, I see farther, I hear more. Every sense is primed to execute my training.”

Heaven stopped and placed a hand in front of Besh. With a whine in his throat, Warrior stepped ahead of them.

Heaven said, “There is a single door at the end. Are you ready?”

Besh answered, “I’ll follow your lead.”

Starting forward, Heaven said, “Then let’s go through it scared.”

The door was locked. Heaven used her device to unlock it. She carefully cracked the door and peered inside. It was a square room with four barred cells. Heaven opened the door; Warrior ran in.

“Wrist lights,” whispered Heaven.

Besh and Heaven switched on their wrist lights and switched their views to enhanced. The room lit up. Four barred cells had been installed in rough-cut rock. A plain table stood in the center, and Warrior stood before the cell, second on their right. When Heaven joined Warrior, Besh heard her gasp and ran forward.

Inside the cell were two figures huddled on a bare cot. Heaven used her device, threw the cell door open, and Warrior pushed inside. Besh heard terror in the voices of the dark figures as Warrior went close to investigate.

Besh followed Heaven into the cell and watched her crouch by the figures. Besh was holding his breath in anticipation. The unrecognizable figures could be anyone, but his heart flew into his throat as he heard Heaven speak.

“Your Majesties,” said Heaven.

Heart pounding, Besh eased toward the figures.

“Who is it?” It was David’s voice, his response stammering and fearful.

Heaven answered, “Detective Langley, Your Majesty. We’re here to get you out. Can you stand?”

Elizabeth whimpered as Heaven pulled the King and Queen to their feet. Besh stepped forward to assist the Queen on unsteady legs.

Heaven said, “I brought a friend. Besh is here.”

The Queen gasped and turned. Besh lowered his mask and defied the stench of the cell to speak. “It’s me. Besh,” he said.

The King and Queen wept as the three of them embraced. Heaven ran to peek through the door; all was clear. Returning, she said, “We need to hurry.”