Page 84 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part two
The goodbyeto Kira and Jason was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It didn’t help that they were both crying when they climbed into the car with Blaze. We waited until we got the message from Kane that they made it safely to the tarmac and their plane was getting ready for take off. I just wanted to sit and wait to make sure they landed in New York, but that would take hours, and we needed to go to the first safehouse.
No one says a word as we get dressed, grab everything we can, and load into the SUV. Tivon takes all backroads to ForestGrove and parks behind the first cabin we ever hid out in. He runs in, grabs the gear, and is back in the car five minutes later. We already have a plan, and we just hope like hell it actually works. We just need to grab someone that looks close enough to our body type, and swap out with them without getting caught. If we do, the whole thing is blown to shit.
“I think that’s the bravest thing I’ve ever seen someone do,” Tyler says, finally breaking the silence. “They were gutted to leave, but they still did it so we can concentrate on the matter at hand.”
Tivon nods and squeezes Ari’s thigh. “No one wanted them to go, but they’ll be safer in New York with Kane for now. When this is done, we go and bring them home. For now, we have work to do, so get changed into your gear.”
Keon, Tyler, and I strip out of Savior’s gear and into the gear that the guards wear. It feels weird as hell to tuck my mask away, and I hate every second of it. We go over the plan several times before Tivon pulls over into a wide spot to hide the car. Ari pulls out his phone and dials Nolan.
“Give us a lead in,” Ari says when Nolan answers.
“They switch who's guarding from outside to inside every thirty minutes like clockwork. From my count, there’s thirty guards on rotation and four more in the towers. Two in each one. The left side has a blindspot toward the back of the fence. The guards can’t see you there, but you have to be quick.”
“Axel?”
“He’s waiting for your signal to storm the place.”
“Abraham?”
“He’s in there. Back office, to the right of the entrance, with four guards.”
“Have you seen Cryptic?”
“Yes. He gave me access to the camera in the office he’s in. You guys are going to help him?”
“Yes,” Tivon answers. “Who are we looking for?”
“Curly brown hair, a little on the heavier side. You can’t miss him. He stands out. White shirt, black jeans. His office is closer to the back of the prison, where the cells are. Four guards outside his door at all times.”
Tyler slaps Ari on the arm. “We’ve got this, Gramps.”
“If they catch you…” Ari lets that thought trail off as he turns around in the seat.
“I know,” Tyler says softly. “We’ll be fine. We have you and Tivon on the outside waiting. One word, and the place explodes with our guys. We have to end this.”
We take a second to collect ourselves, and Tivon finally gives us the go ahead. We slip from the car and go the way Nolan told us to, putting the helmets on before we get any closer. “Comms check?” Keon whispers.
“We hear you, loud and clear,” Axel responds.
“Same here,” Ari answers. “If this goes sideways, start shooting. Fuck the payback. Get yourselves out of there. We’re ten steps behind you.”
“Ten-four,” I answer.
We cut a hole in the fence with bolt cutters, and it takes us almost fifteen minutes for Tyler to be able to grab the first guy after slipping through the hole. Before long, we’ve infiltrated the prison, and we follow Nolan’s instructions for their rounds. We nod when someone says anything, and keep our heads down. My heart is pounding in my chest each time I encounter a different guard.
“Ace, Cryptic is in that office,” Nolan says when I walk down the hall with cells. “To your left.”
I glance out of the corner of my eye and subtly nod so Nolan knows that I heard him.
“We’re all in place,” Ari says after what feels like an eternity. “We need to—” There’s a grunt on the other end, and then silence.
“Ari?” Nolan calls out. “Ari!”
“I’m circling back around to check,” Axel says, and I can already hear him moving. “They’re fucking gone. Weapons are still here.”
“Shit, shit, shit,” Keon mutters quietly. “Have we been made?”
“I don’t know if you have, but they have been. Stay the course, keep your head down, and we’ll keep you updated until we can get you out. Don’t make a scene.”
