Vanishing Point - Marc Cerasini [98]
"The jamming ceased approximately one hour ago," the woman reported in whispered Chinese. "I was able to re-send the emergency message to our base in Mexico. They acknowledged receiving it, but offered no timeline for our extraction."
Jong Lee frowned. He'd suspected the truth, but only now did he know for certain that he'd been abandoned by his own government. It was a stinging blow, but not unexpected after their setbacks. If Jong Lee were back in Beijing, he probably would have issued the same command.
"Very well," Lee said, his voice grim. "We still possess the only prototype of the Malignant Wave device, and the Blackfoot helicopter to carry it. It is time to retreat with what we have, rather than mourn what we have lost."
Lee called Captain Hsu to his side. "I believe an American counterattack is imminent. We will depart within the hour."
Pizarro Rojas watched the exchange, Stella Hawk by his side. The Colombian pulled away from the woman and strode over to the Chinese agent.
"You're leaving us, then," Rojas said bitterly.
Jong Lee did not reply. His face remained impassive.
"I don't need to understand Chinese to see what's going on," the Colombian continued.
"I must surrender to expedience," Lee replied. "Many valuable assets have been lost. There is only one way to achieve victory from this morass."
"You're not going run away without me," Rojas cried. He yanked the pistol out of his holster and waved it at Jong Lee.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Stella cried.
"This pig thinks he's going to fly away in that damned helicopter and leave us behind," Rojas cried. He pointed the pistol at Lee's head. "But if he thinks..."
His words were cut short. Pizarro Rojas suddenly grunted, and the gun tumbled from his grip. Stella screamed when she saw Yizi's three-bladed sai sticking out of the Colombian's throat, the dark, thick blood bubbling out of the wounds.
She rushed to the man, cradled Pizarro's head in her arms as he fell. With manicured fingers she tried to stem the tide of blood that flowed from a punctured carotid artery. Pizarro managed to smile up at her before life faded from his eyes.
"You bitch!" Stella screamed.
Fingers curled, she clawed at Yizi's throat, raking the Asian woman's cheek, drawing blood. Yizi slapped Stella several times, until the woman sank to the ground.
"Put her with the other hostages," Jong Lee ordered.
Two commandos grabbed Stella Hawk under each arm. Wailing loudly, she tried to cling to the dead man even as they hauled her away.
* * *
10:15:11 a.m. PDT
Hangar Six, Experimental Weapons Testing Range
Groom Lake Air Force Base
When she saw the stranger emerge from the shadows, Dani Welles cried out. Everyone turned. Dr. Bascomb moved quickly to shield the woman while he aimed a captured AK-47 at the intruder.
"Don't move or I'll shoot," the scientist snarled.
Untangling himself from the clinging Dr. Reed, Tony jumped to his feet. "Wait, Doc. Don't shoot. This man is on our side."
Dr. Bascomb lowered the assault rifle. Tony stepped between them.
"Hello, Jack," he said. "You look like hell."
"I made it."
Jack Bauer's clothing was torn and scorched. Most of the hair on the right side of his scalp had been burned away when the helicopter exploded. He walked with a discernable limp, and Tony spotted a bloody bandage torn from his shirt wrapped around Jack's right calf.
It took a few minutes for Tony to bring his boss up to speed on recent developments. Bauer didn't exhibit surprise when he heard the Air Force was willing to blow the base up.
"It's a smart move. I'd do the same thing," Jack declared.
"Right now, the Chinese think we're still prisoners. But as soon as someone comes through that door they're going to find out the truth."
Jack nodded. "On the way over here, I noticed a lot of activity in the next hangar."
"That's Hangar Five," Tony said. "There's an experimental stealth helicopter in there, designed to elude radar. Once it takes off, the Air Force won't be able to find it."
"It's a two man craft," said Jack. "That