I saw them fall down. Some did so to take cover, while others fell forward by the impact of the bullets. .h.i.tting them.

"Crawl out of the way!" I ordered them. It would be just a matter of seconds before the target would change. I knew it. That was what I was trying to do. I felt the adrenaline rush through my veins as I screamed b.l.o.o.d.y murder and pulled my gun up. I had no time to take aim, but I shot blankly in their genuine direction. Two fell, to my relief. Others just scattered. I saw the tech guys crawling away and taking shelter behind cars. I sighed in relief and barrelled forward, moving closer to the attackers so that I could aim better.

They shot at me, but I ducked every time. I was glad.

Taking shelter behind one of the cars in the outer circle of the base, I reloaded the gun and waited for any indication of the a.s.sailants coming closer. Sooner than I had expected, I heard the sound of their foot hitting the ground and smiled. I had a chance.

From what I had seen, there were five of them. There was one of me. I had gotten two already, so I had to take our three more. I had no one to cover me. These scared little boys couldn't hold a gun for their lives... or could they?

My eyes widened as I saw one of them peer out from behind one car, and a bullet flew at him. Fortunately, he moved his head back and was spared from facing an untimely death. Again, he peered out but seemed to be spared from the attention of the shooters. I signalled him to look at me, and he gasped as he stared. I recognized him as the boy from earlier, who had checked me out in Michael's office. I held my gun up and tried to send a message across. I didn't know how much I succeeded, but I think I saw him nod just a bit. I was glad that I had the rea.s.surance that he had understood.

I saw him move back into safety and then come back again. This time he had a gun in his hand. I smiled. He nodded at me and tried to aim ahead of the car I had taken shelter behind. His hands shook violently, but he kept trying. He breathed in and out until his hands shook less. He aimed and then shot.