September 6, 2017

2.27 am, Cancun, Mexico

“We are coming, Chief!” Quake shouts as he charges to the main door leading out of the prison. Aviator, armed with an AK47 rifle, is hot on his tail while Spectrum delays to unlock the door from the back office. The door slides open.

Standing in the hallway with an AK47 gun pointing at Quake is Wave.

“I’m glad to see you too, honey.” Quake says with his hands in the air.

“Where’s the Old Man?” Wave asks, lowering her rifle.

“Probably below.” Aviator says, “We think that was his voice.”

“Oh no!” Wave says in a panic, “We have to get to him now!”

“Why?” Spectrum says, having joined the group.

“There is an incinerator!” Wave shouts.

Quake, Aviator, and Spectrum all stare in shock. Shade steps out from behind Wave with an angry glare. She was replacing her sidepiece with the recently deceased guard’s handgun.

“First, we need a plan.” Spectrum says, “There is still the mission and all these people”

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“Screw the mission!” Wave says, “The Old Man is in danger.”

“You know the Chief would say save everyone…” Quake says, attempting to temper Wave.

Wave sighs then nods. Shade also nods yet her glare remains tense. She squeezes the handle of the knife in her right hand tight.

“Let’s go with the Sokoto maneuver.” Aviator says, “Two teams. Wave and Spectrum will evacuate the twins alongside the civilians then call in for reinforcement. The rest of us will proceed downwards to rescue the Chief.”

“There should be no guards above.” Wave adds, “Most of the enemy forces should be concentrated within the facilities in the next three floors according to my source.”

“Facilities?” Spectrum asks.

“In order, the incinerator, storage, labs, offices, barracks, and escape tunnels.” Wave responds, “And the mastermind behind this trap. Some duffer who calls himself Mad Scientist.”

“An office might have a control room with a communications system.” Spectrum speculates.

“Then Spectrum will come with us.” Aviator says, “We’ll use their comms to call in the cavalry.”

“Expect about a dozen hostiles.” Wave adds, “They should be in the middle of moving.”

“I bet our ruckus has em angsty.” Quake says, “So, I’ll come back once the surface is secured.”

“Agreed.” Aviator says raising his AK47 in the air, “Spectrum, let’s go. Shade, take point.”

Quake and Wave watch as Aviator, Spectrum, and Shade disappear into the stairwell.

“Alejandro!” Maria shouts from the women’s prison. She’s running to the hallway.

“Mama!” Alejandro shouts back. He is racing from his open prison to the hallway.

Alejandro and Maria embrace in the middle of the hallway. Tears fall from Maria as she squeezes Alejandro. Alejandro’s brave facade melts into a puddle of tears.

As Quake witnesses this moment, he is thrown into his memories with his own mother. Kamila Ewald was bipolar. When she was good, she was too good. When she was bad, she was too bad. Stabilizing medication barely existed so throughout his childhood, Quake grew to serve as her smiling bedrock of stability. Despite her mood swings, her hugs were always the warmest. Quake shakes his head, forcing his mind out of the reverie. A mob is forming.

The flood gates open as multiple families reunite. Tears are shed amidst the general rowdiness.

“Everyone! There’ll be time for hugs later.” Quake says, “Right now, we need to escape.”

Juan, who is holding back tears watching Alejandro interact with his mom, steps up to translate.

“Men with guns, stay behind everyone and watch our backs.” Quake adds, “We will lead everyone to the top.”

“Alright, lovelies. Form two lines and follow us!” Wave chimes in.