The day had been a long one; the smell of blood, death, and gunfire hung in the air. Near the end of the day, a cease-fire had been called as the sun began to set, and the injured were attended to while each side sent people to remove the dead from the field. Looking across the field, one would mistake this for being a scene depicted in one of the movies about war or perhaps a documentary.

"When do you think those reinforcements will be joining in?" a watchful man asked as he glanced around the area and took in the various activities.

"Dawn," a tall brunette said as she cleaned her sidearm, "we'll have much more to deal with when the sun rises. That is if we're permitted to rest tonight, which I still think will not happen."

"We have guards," the man said, keeping his voice low, "... if the Calderone arrives here ..." he shook his head, "... there will be no mercy."

"There is a rumour her enforcer has changed sides," the woman said, immediately gaining the man's attention. "If that is so, the Calderone will need to get into the fray."

"From what I've heard," the man sighed, "that won't be a problem."

"We need her leverage taken away," the woman said, assembling her weapon. "I still believe that all of this will dissolve into a manageable puddle once she no longer holds things over other's heads."

"Puddle?" the man frowned at the woman.

"Puddle," she nodded, leaning on the table, "no more incoming forces ... no more people hiding from or scared of what will happen to them or their families."

"A normal life," the man whispered, "I don't know what that feels like."

"Me neither," she sighed, turning her head as a young man clattered to a standstill in the doorway, "what is it?"

"Jake and Josiah," he panted, trying to catch his breath.

"What about them?" asked the man.

"Here," the young man panted, vaguely pointing at the operational tents in the middle of the camp, " ... in there ... talking about authorisation given to level the industrial compound."

"What?" the man and woman said in unison, the woman pushing to her feet and pushing her weapon into its holster.

"Which tent?" she asked.

"Main one," the young man said, finally catching his breath, "and they're not alone."

"Who is with them?" the man asked, moving behind the woman as they left the tent.

The young man moved with them, matching their long strides, "You'll never guess."

"Don't make me, and you won't be cleaning all the weapons for the next three years," the woman said, glaring at the young man who grimaced.

"Oh, fine," he shook his head, "they arrived here with The Nissim and the bodyguard."

The pair stopped, looking at each other before taking in the young man's shining eyes. They silently turned and walked on, leaving the young man standing where he stood.

Slowly, he followed, a grin spreading over his face, "That will teach you for always thinking I'm ignorant."

"What do you mean the action is underway?" the question came loudly over the hum of the voices in the tent as they entered.

The addition of three bodies didn't draw anyone's attention. At the heart of the people gathered, a group sat around a circular table that seemed to be a slash from every sector of life. The man and woman glanced at each other as they took a place in the group and did their best to listen.

"Can you give real-time information?" a young man asked as he glanced at a young woman across the table.

"If we can make contact, Jake, then real-time information can be acquired," the young woman said, "where is my laptop?"

"What makes you think I have your laptop, Chels?" Jake asked, glancing away before making eye contact.

She pointed at the bag on the table beside him, "That's my laptop bag."

"Oh, so it is," he chuckled, pulling out a laptop, "... I have no idea what communication devices they are using ..." words trailed off as the computer was pulled across the table and long, slender fingers flew over the keyboard. He glanced at the older man beside him, shrugging, "... I guess she either knows or can connect them."

"It is her laptop," the older man said, grinning. I'm sure she knows what is on it and what it can do."

"Probably," Jake nodded, glancing across the table at the focused, working woman and grinned, "but it feels good to push buttons, Dad."

"We have open communications," Chelsea called, "Eitane, you're audible to a room full of people. Go ahead."

"We landed a few minutes ago," Eitan said, his voice coming across slightly breathless. "We are working our way to ..." there was a pause as gunfire was exchanged, "... the main building where we can find the tunnel."

"What is your team's status? Josiah asked.

"We're all functional and mobile," Eitane Snr said after hesitating, "as far as I know, we're all unharmed at this point."

The woman glanced at the man before murmuring, "That doesn't sound like the Calderones enforcer."

Chelsea glanced across the space toward them, locking eyes with the woman before the sounds of a scuffle drew her attention back to the laptop screen. The sounds stopped abruptly, and a younger man's voice was heard whispering something she couldn't quite catch. She frowned before looking at Jake and Josiah, also staring at the laptop screen.

The sounds of a hushed conversation came to the waiting silent room. Then rapid gunfire followed, ending abruptly in sudden silence.

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"Eitane, what happened?" Josiah asked.

"Looks like our presence is known," the older Eitane whispered. "We are going in through another entrance ... or so we are led to believe."

"How secure is this other entrance? Chelsea asked.

"Fairly secure," the younger Eitane answered, "... we will have less opposition, and we'll be able to get to the tunnel more easily. It will be done, fear not."

Chelsea's eyebrows rose at the words, and she turned to look at the laptop screen. Something about those words and how he said it made them more of a vow than a promise. Jake and Josiah looked at each other before looking around the room at those present. Their gaze settled momentarily on the man and woman and then continued. Chelsea noted them, taking in every face, and wondered why that man and woman drew their attention and hers. She didn't want to consider any ramifications and focus on the current task.

The sudden loud shouts and thuds of close combat drew everyone's attention. The silence sat heavy and thick as we waited. Gunshots sounded rapidly, and the sudden silence was filled with heavy breathing and a few grunts. Finally, urgent, hushed whispers came to their ears as commands to breach were given.

"I think they're about to enter the tunnels," Chelsea said, narrowing her eyes.

"Correct, we are now in the tunnels," the older Eitane said, "we will let you know when we get to the destination."

Sinking into the chair, Chelsea stared at their communications software, waiting. What would they find at the end of that tunnel, more opposition or the leverage that The Calderone is well known for?

Eitane glanced at his son. Would he be able to follow through with this? Although he was blood, these people had been his family. They had raised him, worked with him, eaten meals together, and now he was fighting them.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" Eitane whispered, as they paused at a tunnel junction, "Is there something you want to tell me, say, or are you curious?"

"Just wondering if you're okay with what we are doing here," Eitane Snr whispered.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Eitane Jnr asked, looking at this man who had sired him and was now shrugging, "Oh, you think I may view them as family, people I know. Hmmm, if I had more contact with them and didn't work solitary, then yes ... I probably would. But I don't. These are her people, not mine."

"Fair enough," Eitane Snr said, suddenly alert, "did you hear that?"

The men nodded and silently moved toward the growing loudness of voices. A cacophony of noise raised voices, all calling, shouting, some crying, and others pleading.

"Something sinister is happening, and we'd better hurry," Eitane Jnr said, increasing his pace as he came to the grate that would take them the last few paces to these people.

The team moved quickly, getting the grate off and leaving it against the wall; they hurriedly entered the smaller tunnel, running toward the urgency of the voices and the now loud noise of running water. Determining what was being said was difficult, but they realised whatever it was, it was life-threatening. Kicking out the grate, they burst into the basement area filled with cages and dirty, ragged people; the grate exited onto a stone platform, raising them above the cages surrounding them. Looking around, they took in what was happening; men stood on stone ledges above the cages, silently watching as the area filled with water.

Eitane Snr shot commands to engage and terminate the enemy while his son shouted for the people to move away from the bars. Aiming at the locks, keeping the cages closed and firing at them until they sprang open. He and two others quickly waded through the deepening water, opening the cages and directing the prisoners toward the open grate. The scene was enough to cause Eitane to feel ill; that he had been a part of this, even indirectly, was not something he would quickly forget or forgive himself for. A noise above one of the cages drew his attention to the opening of tiny slits in the stone wall. Squinting into the mirky darkness, he made out the faint outline of a gun barrel easing through one of the gaps. Following the line of fire, he felt his blood run cold. They were aiming at his team and his father.

"Not going to happen," he said, pushing through the water toward his father and men, "typical cowardly ... thing to do ...." he muttered, reaching his father as a gunshot rang out; he felt the hot metal slamming into the back of his body armour. The impact sent him hurtling forward into the arms of the team, covering them from any further attack.

"Eitane," he heard his father's hoarse whisper against his ear, "... no ..."

An explosion of activity followed as pain racked his spine. "In the wall ..." Eitane gasped, "above the last cage ..." forcing his gaze to focus past the pain racing through his back. Eitane stared at his watch, "Is everyone out?"

"Affirmative," one of the team answered, "we're clear to leave."

"Must hurry," he pointed at this watch, "going to blow."

Pulling his arm over his shoulder, the man moved Eitane to the exit tunnel as other teammates covered their exit. Glancing to the other side, Eitane felt surprise race through him as he locked gazes with his father's worried eyes.

"What are you doing here? You should be with the prisoners," he hissed as he manoeuvred into the tunnel.

"They are covered and protected," Eitane Snr said, "you are my concern now."

Gritting his teeth, Eitane moved as quickly as possible through the tunnel and exited where some team members waited with a thick plank they had found.

"Sit," one of them ordered, gently pushing him toward it, "we can exit quicker this way."

Easing his aching body onto the plank, he draped an arm around one of their necks while holding his gun in the other hand.

"I have you covered," he whispered, nodding they could move.

The bigger group silently moved through the various tunnels toward the exit. Eitane kept glancing at his watch, worried they wouldn't make it in time.

"Stop worrying," his father said as his hand signals flew in the air, "we'll make it."

Sudden gunfire from the exiting team sharpened their attention as they burst into the fresh air. Eitane scanned the area, raised his weapon, aimed and squeezed the trigger, seeing the bodies fall where they stood. The attackers saw who was among those escaping and became intent on aiming at Etiane.

"It looks like you made a name for yourself, son. Cover and move to the exit point," Eitane Snr shouted as they protected the men, women, and children pouring from the tunnel.

Rapid gunfire filled the air as Eitane did his best to remain conscious, focused and alert while covering his teammates as they got him to safety. The sound of rotating blades beating the air thudded into Eitane's senses as he eased off the board and followed his teammates up the ladder they had used to penetrate the area. The pain raked like hot coals down his spine and over his senses, blurring his vision and making every movement feel like it was pealing his skin from the point of impact. Finally, pulling himself over the edge onto the roof, he sank to a crouch, catching his breath to move to the helicopter. Raising his aching, thudding head, he blinked quickly, shook his head and wondered if the injury had been worse than he thought. There were four helicopters on the roof. The team hurried the prisoners on board, and the birds took off. Gritting his teeth, he pushed to his feet and stumbled toward a relatively empty helicopter. The sound of metal being scuffled by metal came to his ears; turning and raising his weapon, Eitane found himself facing three attackers coming onto the roof.

Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger, hitting the first two before they could fire any rounds into the remaining prisoners entering the helicopter. A gunshot was heard as he shot at the third assailant. He watched as the man went rigid and then fell backwards over the edge of the building as searing heat tore into his leg, sending him backwards to the concrete; groaning at the ripping pain throughout his body, Eitane drew in a deep breath, bracing himself to move, but his body refused to comply.

A shout rang across the rooftop as running feet headed toward him. In the blur of activity, Eitane felt hands moving over his leg, tying something around it before lifting and racing him toward the remaining helicopter. It felt surreal to have others care about him, extract him, and ensure his safety even as he swam in a sea of bone-racking pain.

The stretcher they had him on was slid onto the floor of the helicopter as they scrambled in, and orders to leave were given. He felt alone. Solitary as oblivion pulled at him.

In the sucking darkness, he heard a voice in his ear commanding him to remain awake, to stay with the owner of the voice, to know that the owner would be there with him right through whatever needed to be done. Suddenly, he didn't feel so alone; lifting his hand, Eitane tried to reach for something to cling to and anchor him in the sea of uncertainty. Who was he kidding? He never had anything to cling to; suddenly, someone gripped his floundering hand, grasping his firmly as that voice whispered, "Rest now ... I've got you."

Trying to nod as the sucking darkness slowly won the battle, and he trusted his safety to someone else for the first time in his life.