The island was approximately one square kilometer of rocky terrain and was surrounded by a hilly coastline, giving it a bowl-like formation. To the average person, it was nothing more than a deserted rocky island. There weren’t any trees or grass, the coastline was too rocky and too hilly to be of any use. However, the Soviets had exploited it several years before, during the Cold War. It housed one of several secret bunkers that were built to protect Soviet political leaders in the event of a nuclear war.
Its mountainous surroundings made it a natural barrier against the most devastating weapons which would have to penetrate several hundred feet below the rocky surface to do any damage. Along the shoreline, big waves crashed against the shores, sending a salty mist into the air, making it difficult for ships to sail too close. The island had never been used, and no one in the Russian military or the government would ever admit that the bunker even existed.
Roaring from the sky came five Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk civil transport helicopters. This version of the H-92 seated nineteen passengers comfortably in an airliner-type cabin. They were painted gray on the exterior with a single horizontal blue stripe across the middle with the Hexagon company name written in bold white Japanese and English characters along the stripe.
Clouds of dust formed as they touched down in a clearing within several feet of the blast tunnel. All of the necessary equipment for their planned takeover was inside the bunker, where a team of scientists had spent the previous day setting up. A task force dressed in traditional black ninja jump suits leapt from two of the helicopters. They were each armed with Russian AK-74s and a few throwing stars.
The recruits rode together in one helicopter with a few ninjas, while Marx, Hashimoto, and Tanaka were in another. They emerged from their helicopter and led the way towards the bunker.
As they walked, Hashimoto shook his head. “Shouldn’t we have heard from Dr. Parris, by now?”
Marx turned to him. “Don’t worry. Whether she’s found Ares or not, won’t make a difference at this point.”
“But there’s still the issue about Fox?” Tanaka looked at Hashimoto. “When I last checked with headquarters, his isotope tag wasn’t transmitting. Secondly, your man was supposed to report back when Fox had taken the bait. Why haven’t we heard anything?”
Hashimoto stopped before both Tanaka and Marx did the same. He then looked at both of them. “He’s right. How do we know that he sent Fox in the wrong direction? What about the CIA? We should’ve just killed him when we had the chance.”
“And in doing so, Ares would’ve been more difficult to handle.” Marx then walked up to Hashimoto. “As for the CIA, I doubt that they’ll know where to start. Their unit’s suffered some casualties. They’ll never be able to scramble another one in time.”
“To add to that,” said Tanaka, “headquarters reported that no calls have been made by either one-”
“Then how do we know where they are?” Hashimoto’s eyes widened as though he were agitated. “We should call Commissioner Yushida to have him send out his entire force to locate Fox and shoot him on sight.”
Marx sighed. Goddamnit, does he have to be this paranoid? “It doesn’t matter at this point. What’s important is that they’re not here.” Marx accentuated this by pointing to the ground. “We’re less than an hour from inheriting the Earth. Think about it. All the problems in the world which you preach about will soon be gone. My Pandora will see to it.”
The first staccato shots from the hills dropped five ninjas to the ground. Screams erupted from the teenagers and young adults. Some ran for their lives, others were so frightened by the sounds of bullets ricocheting that they were immobilized.
The ninjas went on the defensive, unloading several shots from their AK-74s toward the hills. Those that did not take part in the gunfight rounded up the entire group and whisked them behind a nearby set of boulders. Marx, Hashimoto, and Tanaka, each led by a ninja, were herded with the others. Once they were safe, the ninjas rushed back out and joined in the fight.
The attackers streamed down the hillside in beige camouflage, blending into their surroundings. Marx looked over at the tunnel entrance several feet away. There was no chance of her making it over there without being shot. At that moment, she heard a body slam into the boulder on the other side of where she was. She crawled around and saw it was the ninja who had escorted her to safety. He stared back at her pleading with an outstretched arm, his chest and stomach torn open.
It was time to end this. She reached out and grabbed his AK-74.
“Dr. Marx, what are you doing?” yelled Hashimoto.
“What does it look like? I’ll be damned if I am going to lose Pandora again!”
“This is insane. Come back, please.”
She ignored him and took aim at two Ares soldiers on the slopes, fired, and dropped both of them. Why should they be surprised that I know how to use a gun? I grew up with bombs exploding around me for God’s sake.
With each side intent on annihilating the other, no one noticed the Sikorsky S-76 Hexagon helicopter that had landed on the coast. Fox and Parris took advantage of the chaos to reach the summit of the hill that bordered the coastline.
As they crouched and watched the gunfight from the opposite side of the canyon, Fox looked over at the pumps that Parris held in her hands. “Tell me. How did you manage to climb with me up this rocky hill so quickly barefoot?”
“You’d manage, too, if you had the calf muscles.”
“What do you know about my legs? You have been checking me out after all.”
“Sure, fine, whatever.” Parris looked at the helicopters below. “From what I see, I don’t think that they’re carrying much cargo. The new variant of Pandora could’ve been brought here earlier, but we can’t know for sure. If Ares succeeds in this battle, they’re sure to get it.”
Fox looked towards the blast tunnel. “It would’ve been easier for them to wait inside the bunker instead of trying to ambush them out here.”
“Unless the access codes to the bunker were changed. They’d need someone alive to give them up.”
“And then execute everyone else.”
“Exactly. Any ideas as to how we sneak around them and get into the bunker?”
Rocks and dust flew up all around them with a backdrop of staccato noises nearby. Instinctively, Fox grabbed Parris by the arm and pulled her up with him until she was able to run on her own. The shots bit at their heels as they bolted along the top of the hill with Fox leading Parris down into a crevice that took a sharp turn to the left. When Fox whipped around the corner, he got a big surprise-there was nothing but a huge drop.
He skidded to a stop. However, he heard sliding behind him seconds before he felt Parris crash into him. Being unable to grab onto anything in time, Fox plummeted over the side with her. Although he leaned slightly forward as he dropped, he managed to keep his feet below his center of gravity. It was then that he realized that the drop was less severe than he previously anticipated, his feet hitting the ground seconds later. Fox tumbled down a rocky incline until it leveled off. He rolled onto his back as Parris came sliding behind him. She too managed to get on her back and Fox caught her with both his legs, wrapping them tightly around her, under her arms. He released her and drew his Sig from its holster just as an Ares soldier appeared at the top of the drop.
Fox fired three shots into his kneecaps before he emptied the Sig’s chamber-but another four shots plugged the soldier in the chest. Like a chopped tree, the soldier’s legs gave way beneath him as he fell sideways and then head first over the edge. He didn’t cry out as he fell, but Fox heard a distinct snap as he hit the rocks below, headfirst. His head was twisted more than ninety degrees. It was then that Fox noticed Parris had her HK drawn. “I still can’t believe I dated you.”
Parris lowered her gun and got out from between Fox’s legs and looked at him as though she was ready to kick him. “You’re a mess.”
She reached out to help him stand. Fox tossed the Sig to the side and walked over to the man, frisked him, and removed an M-11 Bayonet along with its scabbard. He then looked at his boots. “You think those will fit you?”
Parris glanced at them. “Forget it, they’re too big. I’ll be fine for now.”
Fox picked up the AK-108 assault rifle that lay beside the soldier, walked over to Parris, and handed her the M-11. “Take this, we’ll have to split up.”
“Why?”
“While we were running I saw two men with a rocket propelled grenade launcher. I’m going after them. Do you think you can find a way down below into the valley?”
Parris nodded. “It shouldn’t be a problem. Just keep them from firing any grenades at me.”
“I’ll try to. One more thing.” Fox extended his hand to her. “Let me borrow your sat phone. You still have it, don’t you?”
Parris removed it from its belt clip and handed it to him. She had the same issue satellite phone that the technicians at the Office of Science and Technology developed. It was smaller than most satellite phones and could easily pass for a regular cell phone.
Fox dialed the number for headquarters. The phone rang once and then he heard the recorded greeting: “Welcome to Spade Insurance. Please listen carefully for our menu options have changed.” Fox dialed in his code, 062176. The voice recording ended and there was a short pause. He then heard Marie Vasell’s familiar voice.
“Fox, where are you? You’ve had us all worried.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t use my phone for the time being. Go ahead and track the SIM card on this phone and get some backup over here ASAP, ‘cause Parris and I are going to need it.”
“I’ve zeroed in on the location of Dr. Parris’s sat phone. Military assistance should be on its way. Be careful, both of you.”
Fox turned it off and dropped it back into his pants pocket. “You don’t mind if I hold onto this, do you?”
“As long as I get it back,” Parris replied.
Fox smiled. She’s actually showing a sense of humor, another good sign.
“I can make my way down this slope.” Parris walked to an edge that overlooked the blast tunnel entrance to the bunker. “Hopefully, I should be able to slip into the blast tunnel unnoticed. I just hope the entrance access codes weren’t changed from the ones in the notes.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure that wouldn’t stop someone like you from finding another way in, would it?” Fox extended his hand to hers. “Good luck.”
“Same to you.” She didn’t want to dwell on a farewell. She immediately proceeded to the edge and knelt down when he said something else to her.
“Dr. Parris.”
She looked over her shoulder, up at him.
“I expect to see you when this is all over.” And Fox meant it.
Parris smiled and hopped off the edge. Fox bolted along the top of the hill. If he was quick enough, he could still get the drop on the two men he had seen. Once done, he would even out the odds.