“Any idea the number of attackers we’re looking at?”
She shook her head. “None, but I hope to God we have enough ammo to get out of here alive without needing backup,” she said, and we turned down an empty hallway where a few of her men were already assembling.
Daiyu collected a strap-on communication radio from one of her guys, tossing it to me. “Put that on.”
I caught it, hooking it onto my vest. “Where are we going?”
“Engine room,” she said. “We have the element of surprise so Team A will cover Team B while they go find the level twos and get them out.”
“I’m guessing we’re Team A?” I said.
“You guessed right,” she said with a grin before turning to her people. “Spread out, everyone in position.”
We scattered, some of the guys running down the opposite hallway—after studying the layout of theCelestial, I knew they were going to charge from behind while we attacked from the front, covering them while they got ahold of the kids.
Daiyu, a few others, and I ran down an empty narrow hallway, guns outstretched before us as we took the stairs that led down to the engine room. The air was thick with smells of old oil and sea salt, but my breathing remained calm.
Voices and laughter reached us from inside the engineroom, and I watched Daiyu silently signal to the guys with us, and they each spread out to different aisles in the engine room.
The smell of metal, and the sound of pipes clanging and hissing covered the sound of our footsteps, the thrum of the ship causing a trembling that masked any vibration our presence would have revealed if we were on land.
I slipped behind a large compartment, the heat from whatever was inside burning through my clothes as I peeked behind, catching at least eight men standing around with drinks and cigarettes in hand, laughing and talking about God knows what. There were other voices coming from different areas that told me there were more than eight people here.
My gaze met Daiyu’s at the other side where she was leaning against another metal compartment. She gave me a subtle nod, and I returned it as we both sharply left our hiding spots, and chaos erupted.
The blast and echo of our gunshots had my ears ringing and my heart racing. We managed to take down four of the guys from that circle before they brought out their weapons, shooting back at us. Their bullets blasted through steel pipes, white-hot steam bursting out and fogging the air as I quickly rushed to take cover.
Shouts and gunshots filled the space around us.
I was hot, and my heart was pounding. A bullet slammed against the compartment that was my cover, rattling the metal. I moved to fire shots at the guys shooting at me. A sharp grunt told me I’d hit someone. But it was hard to see, everywhere was clouded with steam.
I got at least two other guys before my gun gave a click and I threw it aside, slipping my hand into the small of my back to take out my second gun, now smeared with sweat.
More gunshots filled the air, drawing nearer, and I knew they’d called in their caval—
“Argh!” Daiyu yelled from my side, and I snapped my head to see her crouching over.
No…
Without thinking, I ran toward her, shooting blindly to cover myself as I dropped to my knees, skidding the remaining way over to her, and dragging her body away from the line of fire, behind the compartment she’d used as cover.
“Are you hit?” I asked hurriedly, my voice shaking as she fussed with something behind her.
“Just below my vest.” Her chest heaved. “I’m fine.” Her breathing sounded strained. “Head to Team B. They need help.”
“Like hell I’m gonna lea—”
She pulled out a flash grenade. “I’ve got this, Zahra. Go, I’ll cover you.”
I shook my head. “Daiyu, there’s many—”
“You need to go.” She breathed. “I already knew what I was signing up for.”
My stomach turned. “Daiyu…”
“The kids, they’re the ones that matter now,” she said. “We gotta get them out, Zahra.” Her eyes were bright with a determination that hit me square in the chest.
I swallowed, clenching my jaw hard, looking away.
