Separation, Anxiety

[notjustaface]

It hadn't been a particularly hard mission, at least not by comparison to some of the stunts they've managed in the last ten years, but there was one fatal point where it could fall apart. Face had approximately sixty seconds to make it from tunnel to the next - a journey that shouldn't take more than forty-five seconds - before enemy's defensive explosion went off leaving him not only trapped but pinned down and unable to escape assuming he survived the event.

An unexpected sniper cut thirty seconds off the time he had. He was four seconds too late... just behind enough the blast didn't take him out - but not out. He was trapped behind the line, and utterly fucked.

"Put her in the air, Captain." Hannibal says softly, staring at the plume of dust and debris for any sign that Face had made it through last second. There was none.

Comments

[notjustaface]

The drive is mostly silent, BA's normal fiddling with the radio while he's in the driver's seat subverted by the grim look on Hannibal's face. From the cave entrance it's another half mile of silence between the pair with clear alarm raised. There's not really any way of knowing if they'll find soldiers around the next bend or not.

Thankfully, if they even know about the security breech they don't seem to think it's worth guarding as nothing bigger than a rat seems interesting in slowing their trip. Just shy of the cave in, Hannibal makes a point of crouching down behind a large boulder, gesturing for Murdock to do the same. It might be the last rest they get today.

"Ready for this?" He whispers, as though either of them could be prepared for the worst.

[notthatcrazy]

He takes a deep breath. "Ready as I can be."

It's not like any of them can be sure of what they're dealing with until they're in the thick of things. He's pretty secure in his promise that he won't lose it on the spot, but beyond that... it's pretty much anyone's guess.

[notjustaface]

Steeling a deep breath, Hannibal nods before pushing back up and taking point to the site of the cave in. It doesn't look like much as been moved, but there's a decent amount of blood. Near the opening to the tunnel leading deeper toward the camp three men wearing castoff fatigues seem to amount for the majority of the blood present.

Hannibal's not sure if it's better or worse, but at least they know he wasn't there when the blast went off.

[notthatcrazy]

He tries not to think about the blood as he moves as stealthily as he can to the mouth of the tunnel. He gives Hannibal a silent nod as he gets into position, BA bringing up the rear.

[notjustaface]

As ordered, BA gets to work setting up for the extraction - under duress more likely than not.

The base is small, but the militia is well trained and getting around them isn't easy - however, the deeper they go the more of them they have to get around. Without words, he gestures to Murdock and points toward a pair of armed guards at a steel door; they'll each take one.

[notthatcrazy]

There's no turning back now, even if he wanted to.

On Hannibal's signal, they move in to take out the guards as quickly as they can. He hasn't had time to think about what's behind the door yet.

[notjustaface]

There are four more alerted when they fall, and likely more coming after that.

"Get that door open, I'll hold 'em." Hannibal barks the order, looking behind his shoulder at the lock.

"Deep breaths."

[notthatcrazy]

He nods at him, already breathing heavily. "Yes sir."

He grabs the keys from where he'd spotted them on one of the fallen guards, quickly finding the one that looks like it fits the door. It opens on two more guards, startled by their entrance. He incapacitates one with an elbow to the face and slams the other one into the nearest wall.

[notjustaface]

Hannibal is much less forgiving, taking down every guard in sight before backing into the room before shooting both guards in the chest.

"Well, either we're about to break into the best guarded armory in the country or they've got a prisoner in there." He takes a deep breath and slams the butt of his rifle against the knob before introducing his boot to the wooden door.

"Going in hot, Captain."

[notthatcrazy]

It's hardly forgiving in his eyes. He's a bundle of raw nerves and he's a little afraid of what they might see behind the door.

He gulps in a breath of air as he follows, weapon at the ready. "I got your six."

[notjustaface]

He needs it, there are only three men in the room - one of them unconcious and strapped to a chair - but seeing Face limp and battered is a crush to the gut neither of them could be ready for.

"I'll get him."

[notthatcrazy]

He's honestly not sure if it's better or worse than what he'd been imagining. His first instinct is to run to him, but the subtext to Hannibal's words steadies him. We've got this, don't do anything reckless now...

Instead, he keeps his rifle trained on the nearest guard, ready to put a bullet in him at the moment it becomes necessary.

[notjustaface]

"I believe this man belongs to us." He glares at the remaining two guards, rifle trained at the other man. But when he makes a move toward the chair, the guard makes it clear a clean way out is no solution - going for a radio at his belt.

"Bad move. See, this man here with me... he's a little unhinged right now, and if you want anyone in this base to survive, you better let me take care of my soldier."

[notthatcrazy]

The man hesitates, hand hovering at his waist, and Murdock lets out a feral-sounding growl.

"Just give me the excuse, you miserable piece of shit."

He's really, really not kidding here.

[notjustaface]

Hesitant, steady, Hannibal leans close again - checking Face for a pulse.

"He's alive. Barely. We've gotta move."

There's an audible click as a third guard enters from behind.

"Five o'clock! Down!"

[notthatcrazy]

With an angry yell, he hits the deck just before the sound of gunfire rings out.

"You assholes just had to make this difficult..."

[notjustaface]

There's a split second before he realizes their protocol - kill the hostage, then then intruders. Turning his gun on the shooter, it's only two pulls of the trigger to send bullets whizzing over Murdock's head as he pushes back toward the chair.

It's a fine line between probably taking a bullet and just being stupid - if they want Peck they'll have to go through him and hopefully Murdock wasn't about to let that happen.

[notthatcrazy]

Definitely not, if he has anything to say about it.

As quickly as he can get to his feet, he's opening fire himself, covering Hannibal as he works to get Face free.

[notjustaface]

It's easier said than done, but between sheer adrenaline and the barest hint of panic Hannibal gets him free of the straps holding him in and hoists the younger man over his shoulder.

"We better get out of here fast, we don't have much time."

[notthatcrazy]

He nods, not wasting time with excess words as they make their escape. He calls to BA, who's standing his own ground.

"Got that medkit ready?"

[notjustaface]

Crouching down beside them as Face is laid out on the ground, Hannibal manages an unsteady breath and nods to BA; "Go get the truck, we don't have time to walk him out."

His eyes flash to Murdock and he lets out a soft sigh; "Start clearing rock, we need a door to get him out quick. Go. Fast."

On his own part, he wastes no time ripping open what's left of Face's shirt - his armor and weapons long gone. It doesn't look good - a network of small punctures and slices crisscrosses his chest, nothing individually lethal but he's clearly lost too much blood. "I'll do what I can here."

[notthatcrazy]

Swallowing hard, he does as he's told, digging his way through the rubble. If it's true what they say about adrenaline boosting strength, he should be freaking Superman right now.

Part of him wants to ask how bad it is, but he knows he'll find out all too soon.

[notjustaface]

It's not exactly Hannibal's first time dealing with wounded - but there isn't much deep enough to stitch. All he can really do is clean up the blood and watch the peroxide fizzle with each swipe over the wounds.

"Come on, Face..." he whispers in a low growl, smacking him on the cheeks. "Come out of it... you can do this... just keep breathing a little longer."

[notthatcrazy]

It takes a while, but eventually he clears away enough crumbled stone to make a sizable opening. He turns and watches, keeping an eye out in case of another surprise attack.

He can hear Hannibal's quiet coaxing, but he can't bring himself to add to it. Not yet.

[notjustaface]

For a moment, he feels Face's body seizing up underneath him and panic strikes hard - but it's nothing more than proof he's still with them.

"Help me get him up, BA will be here soon." He has to be, he's the strongest and fastest of them - even going through the tunnel he shouldn't take half the time they did carefully making their way in.