Роберт Уилсон - Days Since... - Thomas - Day 758

“The boss said you and your friend need to leave. You’ve worn out your welcome, so better not come back, or you’ll end up hangin’ from a tree next to your friend.” He snatched the badge from Thomas’s shirt. “Grab any shit you’ve got and go.”

The plan was set, rehearsed, and nearing perfection as the fall of darkness banished any natural light from within the library. Several hours had passed as Thomas and the others on his team maneuvered colored pushpins and paperclips across the map of Burnet Woods. Balled up paper represented the tents—pieces of a broken ruler into barricades.

Nothing was held back. Thomas encouraged participation, and any concern or what-if scenario was addressed. He noticed their eyes tracing the projected movements, following along as he touched on the finer details in one last go-round.

“Again, from this position here”—Thomas amassed the majority of the pushpins into positions encircling the gazebo—“we end it. This is it. We hit them hard, and we hit them fast.”

No reply—each face illuminated by the soft glow of the candlelight was frozen deep in thought. Everyone remained focused on the importance of eliminating another evil from the region. Everyone in the room knew the stakes. With humanity’s fragile society constantly on the verge of further collapse, the potential these women held was wasted. Not enough people existed in the world for this to continue.

“Are there any questions?” Thomas asked, as he scanned the room, looking to each man that stood around the map—not the slightest hint of uncertainty upon the Soldiers’ faces.

Blaine broke their silence. “I’m confident we’ve produced the best plan possible for this encounter. We’ve acquired as much intelligence as we can at this point and can’t run the risk of him slipping away again. Tonight’s the night, gentlemen.” A round of nods circled the table. “All watches are synced, correct?”

Thomas tilted his wrist. “Should be 21:35 and 10… 11… 12,” he said. “Bravo, Charlie, Delta teams?”

“21:35 and 15… 16… 17,” the team leaders confirmed.

“Synced to perfection. Excellent.” Blaine gave Thomas a stiff pat on the back. “They’re all yours. Get everyone back safely.” He clasped Thomas’s elbow as the two shook hands. “22:30, right? I’ll be listening.”

“What about the woman and kid?” Thomas asked in a hushed tone for only Blaine to hear.

“We got it. You need not worry about me and my obligations.” Blaine raised his eyebrows and smirked while looking down at his watch. “You have your own operation to handle now.”

“I just don’t want anything to go wrong.”

“The kid’s handcuffed and masked, and the woman is still resting. It’s not your concern, and so there aren’t any misunderstandings, nothing I do will ever be the cause for anything to go wrong.”

Thomas waited for Blaine to crack—C ome on —but his expression was steadfast, serious in what he had presented as fact. “I trust you.” It was all Thomas could muster together as an appropriate response.

“It’s your trial.” Blaine opened the door to leave, but before allowing it to shut, he spoke again. “It’s all on you.”

Thomas crossed his arms and took a deep breath. The room looked back with a dead, awkward silence, all eyes on him as he stood there thinking to himself, replaying it once more. He’s right. This is on me.

He looked to the map—its features seemed to rise from the paper the longer he stared. He ran the back of his hand down the side of his face. This is my chance for a better life. For Joseph. For Kate. For all these women. He slid the pieces back into their starting locations, glancing over at each individual they represented. They dipped their chins in return. We can’t fail.

A hand gripped his shoulder. “Ready?” James asked.

Thomas gave him an emphatic nod. “It’s time. Everyone… get your gear.”

He looked on as each Soldier in the room worked over their equipment. One last check and then another for good measure. Each and every one of them methodical in their preparation—loading ammunition, adjusting their gear—anything that could go wrong would not today. No room for failure. It simply wasn’t an option.

Thomas took his rifle from where it leaned against the wall and worked the action. “Hey, man,” one of the Soldiers interrupted him, “unless you’re absolutely partial to yours, I’m pretty sure you’d be better off with this.” He passed a Colt AR-15 to Thomas. “I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but with you on the ground, this’ll make more sense.”

Thomas brought the rifle into his shoulder. “Name’s Cooper, right?” The Soldier nodded as Thomas took a peak through the mounted scope while keeping it pointed toward the ground. This will be more appropriate than my bolt-action. “Does this do night vision?”

“Auto-shut off if you get hit with something too bright, or if you need to”—Cooper pointed out the switch on the scope—“you can manually drop it here.”

“You sure you’re good with it?”

“I wouldn’t have offered. Mission comes first. Always.” Cooper took several loaded magazines from his pack and laid them on a computer desk next to Thomas. “Try not to use it all, but it’s there if you need it.”

“Thanks.”

“I remember my trial. Take a breath. We have your back, Ricard.”

These are my men now. He paced the office as the Soldiers continued to sort through their equipment. I have to get these guys home safe. They’re trained and ready for this, but it all falls back on me. Sound judgment will get me through this. Stop the threat. Rescue the victims. In that order. Don’t get wrapped up in saving them right off the bat. If you don’t take down the Butcher, then he’ll just start over.

He noticed they were looking to him again. “Fall in!” They lined up, shoulder to shoulder with their backs against the wall. Thomas moved down the line, taking an additional onceover of their rigs. “Bravo team. Cooper and Snape.”

“Ready!” The two men spoke simultaneously.

“Head up to the roof. Just keep watch over that southern edge. Once it hits 22:30, go ahead and pop the two guards there, and then maintain that edge. Don’t let anyone get away.” Thomas rapped each one of their shoulders with his fist. They broke from formation and disappeared into the back portion of the office to gain access to the rooftop.

“Charlie team. Mitchell, Davis, Thompson.”

“We got this!” Davis blurted out. “When the snipers hit the guards on the southern side we move in on that back edge.”

“Be patient out there,” Thomas reminded them. “Don’t rush to get on the inside.” He made his way to the very end of the formation, turning toward the last team and the medics. “Delta team. Krenshaw, Martin, Greene.”

“Ready!”

“Make sure you get into position on that western side. Same thing as the snipers,” Thomas reiterated. “Once the time hits, you’ll make your move. Now, medics Davidson and Smith.” He stood in front of the two men. “Stick with your assignments. Davidson you’re with Charlie. Smith you’re with Delta. We are all relying on you if anything happens.” They signaled with a quick nod. “Nothing else to hold you up, so head on out.”

As Charlie and Delta teams shuffled out of the room, Thomas looked to James and their other team member, Riley. “We’ll be jumping this whole thing off,” Thomas said. “The good thing about them being in the park is they’ll never be able to handle all that real estate.” He worked his hands over his gear once more as he spoke. “We’re heading right for the heart. You got the cocktails, right?”