11

Theo's POV:

"You've been surrounded, there is no escape. Surrender!" Detective Fonnegra repeats as we surround the whole place and go in through drifted conners.

"Sergeant on your right," Captain orders as I go right while he goes left.

Walking through the right conners with three of my men at my back, all following orders given to us by the Major.

We are out here trailing a terrorist gang who has been AWOL since about a year ago, but they decide to show up terrorizing a lab company (Astec) and holding on hostages. After being invincible for about a year now, why attack a lab company, it doesn't make sense.

"What's your go Sergeant?" Captain asks.

"End of block B," I repeat. We already had the blueprints of the company before coming here, so everything is familiar.

We continue to follow the stairs not wanting to draw any attention as we head into the block where the hostages are kept.

"I repeat, surrender this is not a negotiation," Fonnegra repeats. I know you must be thinking why we are interfering in an hostage situation? But we've been trailing these guys for months and here they are. They are known worldwide as Pravi’t’ Mirom, a Russian group that always seem to get away every time we become very close.

Fonnegra's voice echoes all round using it as a distraction for us to get in unnoticed.

Captain and the other members of our team take the other conner to attack as it is the only way to ambush them.

"Targets in sight," Captain whispers in his comm, as I also repeat the same thing.

I hit the door with my combats boots forcing them to open as we didn't want to use explosives because these people are crazy anything can happen.

"Guns down, you've been surrounded!" Captain alarms.

"Well well, if it isn't the army. To be honest I expected better from you people, I thought you were all smart but I overestimated you all as you are all bunch of idiots coming in here," The leader of their gang who is known as Vladimir says.

"This is not a friendly fire Vladimir, put the guns down," Captain says as all of us are on alert.

"Come on, you can't say this isn't nice, all of us being here, together, talking. I've been waiting for this,"Vladimir speaks in his Russian thick accent.

Vladimir phone rings as he picks it up and talks to someone on the other end.

Captain signals for us to release the hostages as Vladimir and his boys have been surrounded.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you Captain. You know, their seats are connected to less than two bombs each so you know what happens when they get up, this place goes kaboom," Vladimir describes.

Why do terrorist have to be crazy?

We remain where we are as we didn't want to Tigger the bombs after checking that he is indeed telling the truth.

"Okay time to go boys pack up," Vladimir speaks, as his boys close in on one another.

What is going on here? They kidnap hostages, plant bombs under them and then they're leaving? No No No there something else we're missing. These people can't just leave like that, except they came here for something.

"And you believe we're just going to let you go?" Captain says as a matter of fact.

"Oh yes you will because if you don't, hmm should I start with the bombs Under them or the rifle that is about to blow this place up if I don't return with my boys or the..."

"The other bombs kept in all the labs, or the rescue mission you have prepared. See Vladimir we got you this time so save yourself the trouble and go down," Captain cuts him off as he stares bewildered, but not just him.

I also.

Why didn't I know about any of these? The rescue team?

The only thing I was briefed about was about them attacking Astec and the blueprints, why didn't Captain tell me about the rescue mission prepared for him?

"I see you do your assignments now Derek, but let me break this to you, you can never get me," How the hell does he know Captain's name?

There's something I don't know.

I stare at Captain and back to Vladimir in confusion, but hide it on my face, while they give each other a hard glare.

Before I know what is happening they begin firing bullets as we shoot back. This is eventually turning into a blood bath.

All the while we shoot, my mind runs back to the hostages that are now lying on the floor dead, while we hide for cover before shooting again.

"Just stop it Derek, we've won," Vladimir speaks from a corner. We continue to shoot as we get closer and closer to Vladimir.

"Cover me," I talk to Caleb who is at my back. He does as I say as he begins to shoot in order to create a decoy so I can go further.

As I move further sighting Vladimir holding a box while as he talks to someone. I engage further making him notice as he smiles then winks at me before shooting, to which I take cover shooting back, but it becomes useless because as they are already gone, through a window glass they broke.

How?

Everywhere remains quiet as gunshots dies down. "Is everyone okay?" I ask and they all responded except for Caleb who has been shot in the arm while Josh attends to him.

"Sir we need to get out of here, he's losing a lot of blood." Josh says as I

nod before looking for Captain.

"Captain!" I call and call but no response and the only thing that comes to my mind is we've been played. These people knew exactly what they were doing and they took Captain with them.

Shit!

***********

"Damn it, look everywhere," Major yells making the staffs creep in fear.

Ever since we came back from our unaccomplished mission we've been looking for our Captain, but it’s like they just disappeared, nowhere to be found. We searched the entire city but nothing.

"Sir, may I have a word with you?" I ask requesting an audience with the Major. "McCall what is it? We have a search party going on," He answers brutal.

I don't know if I should tell him about Vladimir knowing Captain or not, as it may put Captain in a lot of trouble but at the same time it might help find him and that's what we're trying to do here.

"It’s about the Captain," I say and Major nods for me to continue."While we were over there, Vladimir knew Captain. What I mean is, I think they knew each other before and the way he spoke also contributed," I say looking at him as his expression changes.

"What are you saying Sergeant?" Major questions.

"I'm not proving anything Sir, I just thought it might help find him if we know where to look," I stare at him as his expression reads a kind of emotion I couldn't tell, but one thing is for sure, he is scared for Captain.

Pravi't' Mirom is known as a very dangerous gang and them taking Captain has something hidden which I don't know what it is.

"I understand McCall, is that all?" Major asks.

"No sir, I also saw Vladimir holding a box with him when going which was not with him when we went in." I tell Captain as his eye widens.

"If this is true then these people are up to something and I have a feeling it’s not anything good," Major says shaking his head.

We knew Parvi't' Mirom was up to something right from the time we were there and the Major knew also since we communicated through the comms.

"I think so too sir," I tell him.

"Thank you sergeant, I would like you to write a report on that, you've just been promoted to acting Captain McCall," Wait what?

I don't want to take Captain's place. I believe Captain will come back and we'll make that happen.

"But sir..." He cut me off.

"Shut up McCall and do the damn work, someone has to take over for the time and no one is going to take care of your team if not you, also you're the next in line so don't give me any excuses," Major orders.

"Yes sir." I reply instantly as Major gets going.

"Oh and Captain, Alpha team report for briefing in twenty minutes." Major turns back saying.

"Yes sir," I replied like a soldier that I am, after all it's a temporary position and we'll find Captain.

We have to.

I leave as soon as the Major left and walk to see Caleb who was in the infirmary, while the guys are with him.

"Thank you Serena, but I would like to have a word with them," I tell the doctor, Serena to give me some space to talk to my team.

"How's he doing?" I ask and see Caleb sitting perfectly well.

"Brand new," Caleb says smiling and I smile, but as soon as it reaches my lips it leaves.

"I have something to tell you all, " I tell them as I start about how Captain has not been found yet, I also tell them about the box I saw while we were on mission.

One thing I learned during all these is never keep secrets from your team, it only leads to trouble. We talk and theyall feel the absence at the fact that our Captain is just gone like that without any trace.

I also told them that Major appointed me acting Captain and to my surprise they're pretty cool with it.

"Although, we will definitely still look everywhere for Captain, but no one will play a better role while he's not here than you Theo." Mathew says making me smile.

They all say nice things which makes me appreciate what a team I have. "Thank you guys, for accepting me." I tell them honestly.

"You're welcome Captain!" They say in unison as we chuckle.

This is what family is called, they stick to you through thick and thin.

I leave them as I head back to my room to take a shower and change my clothes. Today has been an unpleasant day. How I wish there was something I could use to take my mind off it.

Haula.

Just thinking of her makes me feel very bad and how much of a douche I am. Immediately we got back to America we were ambushed by a mission immediately, we had to disengage all our phones and Sims because it was heard that we might have been followed all the way from the U.S.

I really wanted to call her but even if I did what was I ever going to tell her, will I start with my number one lie which is being a soldier or where would I start to explain all these.

I love Haula so much and all the time I've been here she has never left my mind. I just want to hear her voice, to touch her hands, kiss her lips and bite her ear. I really miss her but I know I can't risk it, I can't call her nor talk to her because who knows who's watching and might be a danger to her or even the force.

I can't jeopardize it, it’s just too risky, I will find a way to talk to her one way or another, I know I will and I know it isn't fair keeping her this way without hearing a word from me, I know how heartbroken I would be if I was in her shoes.

She must be thinking I was just using her all along, she must be thinking all kind of scenarios.

But right now as a soldier, my duty comes first, Captain is missing and we have a terrorist at large that we need to find. I can't let anything be in the way.

At the moment I may be acting like an emotionless bastard, but when I decided to become a soldier I swore an oath to protect my country.

But that doesn't mean I have to make promises I can't keep, promising someone I would come back when I didn't know if I would. I say I'm a soldier to the country, but I'm not a soldier to the woman I love.

Right now only one thing matters, only one thing has to be in my mind all for the safekeeping of everyone.

Which is to protect the people and country I swore to protect which leads me back to Captain.

By the way where the hell is he?