A few bullets tore through the air, striking Sohel, Naomi, Jacob, and Mitali—but their Kevlar-lined clothes absorbed most of the impact, saving them from serious injury. Still, the force sent them stumbling backward as they dashed to the side and took cover behind sturdy concrete walls.
Jacob grunted through clenched teeth, wincing as he pressed a hand to his ribs. "These bullets hit like a freaking truck. I might've cracked a rib or two."
Naomi shook her head firmly. "No, you didn't. This kind of force isn't enough to break bones through Kevlar. Get ready — we're going to have to fight."
Sohel's hand flicked instinctively, flipping the safety off his pistol. "ARIA, why didn't you warn me about these people?"
The calm female voice came through his earpiece. "They were listed as security employees, Lieutenant. Additionally, I lost connection with the UAV moments ago. I've lost all network links."
Sohel clicked his tongue sharply. "Tch. They've set up a jammer... ARIA, scan the area. Search for the jamming frequency and its source."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
Sohel turned to his teammates, voice steady and commanding. "The enemy's jamming our comms. Once ARIA pinpoints the jammer's location, Mitali and Jacob, you're on it. Disable the jammer and call for backup. Naomi and I will continue the search for evidence inside."
The three of them responded in unison, "Roger."
By that time, the gunmen had reached the café window, peering inside with cold, calculating eyes. Sohel cautiously peeked out from cover and fired three precise shots. Three attackers dropped, their bodies hitting the ground with sickening thuds.
Mitali stared at Sohel, awe shining in her eyes. She caught the fierce mix of sadness and ruthless determination blazing in his gaze.
Naomi whispered, "So you've made your choice, huh?"
Sohel nodded, voice low and unwavering. "I won't hesitate anymore. Not when it comes to those who mean to harm innocent lives."
Naomi smiled faintly and stepped out of cover. Four shots rang out; only one bullet caught an attacker, grazing his arm. Sohel followed quickly, two bullets finding their marks in the heads of the remaining gunmen.
Jacob chuckled from behind. "Naomi, maybe you should leave the shooting to me and Sohel. Don't want you accidentally hitting us."
Naomi frowned in mock annoyance, while Sohel let out a brief chuckle. Mitali was struck by the ease with which they joked, even amid chaos.
Sohel stood, eyes scanning the bloodstained café. "That takes care of this area."
Seven or eight bodies lay scattered, the survivors crouched with hands over ears, trembling. Sohel's blood boiled at the scene of such brutality.
ARIA suddenly spoke again. "Lieutenant, I've located the jammer—a high-power signal tower atop the south building. Also, multiple heat signatures detected in the control room, north building, and reactor room."
"So, assault mode, ARIA," Sohel ordered.
Turning back to his team, he said, "Jammer's on the south building roof. Jacob, Mitali—go disable it. Naomi, you and I head to the control room for evidence and hostage rescue."
The team responded crisply, "Understood."
Sohel and Naomi headed toward the control room, while Jacob and Mitali made their way toward the south building.
---
South Building
Jacob and Mitali entered the south building lobby and immediately neutralized two armed guards posted there.
Mitali approached the building's wall map. The south building was six stories tall. Jacob came beside her.
"We need to get to the roof," he whispered. "Fire escape stairs are our best bet."
Mitali frowned. "Why not use the elevators?"
Jacob smiled wryly. "Because if we did, we'd be sitting ducks."
"Got it."
Carefully, they ascended the stairwell—Jacob leading, Mitali close behind.
"So," Mitali asked, catching her breath, "what's the deal between Naomi and Sohel?"
Jacob hesitated. "Complicated. Naomi likes Sohel. But understanding Sohel is like reading a book upside down in a foreign language. One moment he's hilarious; the next, deadly serious."
Jacob shook his head. "When Sohel first heard about Naomi, everyone told him to stay away from her. I was one of them. But he ignored us and brought her into the squad. She's known as the Medusa — a fierce fighter no one messes with. But Sohel saw past that — he saw the lonely girl behind the reputation. Since then, they've been inseparable."
Mitali sighed quietly. "Ooh."
Reaching the rooftop, they spotted four gunmen guarding the jammer tower.
Jacob whispered, "On my count, you take out the two on the left. I'll handle the two on the right."
Mitali nodded, heart pounding.
"Three... two... one..." They emptied their magazines in perfect synchronicity, taking down all four enemies.
They sprinted toward the jammer.
"How do we shut this down?" Mitali asked.
Jacob smirked. "Simple—we blow it up."
He pulled a small rectangular device wrapped in wires and tied to a rope from his pack. Securing the rope to one of the tower's supporting pillars, he retreated back to the stairs.
Mitali followed, adrenaline surging.
Jacob tapped a few commands into his phone, then pressed a button.
The device detonated with a muffled blast. The tower's base cracked and weakened until the whole structure lurched and toppled, crashing down onto the yard below.