The closer the whooshing sound from the chopper blades got, the more hyped up I got. My heart beating faster in antisapation of what was about to happen.
Li had done an admirable job preparing me mentally, but no amount of prep prepares you for the actual. I hated the fact that others were putting their lives on the line. But Li's gaslighting had worked. I wouldn't fight it.
Knowing him, we would all be wearing bulletproof vests as well. Li didn't like to take risks. Maybe I knew him better than I thought I did. Three years is a long time, I must have paid closer attention than I realized.
I knew when the choppers made touch down. Something in the subtle shift in the air around us, the sound or the energy that intensified with the presence of six fighters rushing towards us.
Sure enough six, very organized people in full cargo military gear, entered the house in a hurried but orderly fashion. They came to a halt in front of Li and each gave their own sign and saluted.
Why the salute? Who exactly was Li? He didn't salute back but examine each one closely. I couldn't find very many things to differentiate these people from each other.
The beauty was in their uniformity.
"Clothes" He demanded when he was satisfied.
The last woman in the row handed her backpack to me.
"Form a shield."
In quick succession each member of this group formed a semicircle with their backs facing in. In essence forming a privacy wall. I could feel tears prickle the side of my eyes at the thoughtfulness of this curtesy.
"Th…Thank you." I choked out.
Behind the privacy wall I took out the change of clothes, thankful and relieved they had remembered under garments. I striped off everything I was wearing tossing them to the side in disgust . My old clothes felt contaminated to me now.
I joined Li, who had also changed without me being aware of it. He was much quicker at it than me.
I was horrified to realize I only felt safe at his side now.
We were, of course, also in the going fashion of matching military gear, and as I suspected, I felt the added weight of the flapjack protecting my vital organs.
The female decoy at the end retrieved her back pack and started stuffing my old clothes into it. Why was she bothering to save them?
"Another Decoy. They come with me." The woman answered when she saw my confused expression. Her voice was warm and deep for a woman.
Li handed my emergency bag, once again with my laptop in it, to one of the other female decoys. Wow. Plans within plans. I was starting to feel I was a Frank Herbert book
I had been very obedient to Li's instruction. I had let everything go, even somethings I had a sentimental attachment to.
The second hand watch my Aunt had gifted me last month. My very first earrings I got when I pierced my ears. The cheep gold necklace I liked to wear because it was light and looked good on me.
They were not worth a life.
"Jones and Sherman are on ground. Move in unison. No risks. Miss Sounder won't appreciate any heroics" Li barked out his orders.
"We go on the count of thirty."
It must have been an internal count down because everyone stayed silent as they waited.
One man and woman separated themselves out, stepping to a side door at the back of the house.
Li followed my line of sight.
"We are replacing them. They will find another route back to base." He explained.
Li turned to me fully.
"Do everything I do. Where my foot goes yours follows. How I place my arms; you imitate." I knew I must have looked nervous.
"Think of it as a game of simon says. You guys loved playing that. You should have no problem with this." Li reassured me.
Yes, I always won, but I wanted to remind him I had never had to play while worrying about snipers. I said nothing though. I did, however, gave Li the most sarcastic expression I could muster.
He ignored it. He held up five fingers to me using them as a visual countdown.
When he reached zero, he turned, trusting that I would follow him and do as I was instructed.
I did.
Out the door, keeping my head down, placing my feet where Li's had been. Dispite my curiousity about what the others were doing, I didn't look up, but stayed focused on Li's back.
He didn't look back to check on me once. Even knowing it was the smart move, I still felt at a loss not having his gaze to reassure me. Another feeling to examined at a later date. When did I become so dependent on another person.
Like Li had explained he was headed to the furthest chopper out.
So far no shots had been fired. It seemed this was going to work. I even started to think maybe Li had been wrong about the sniper.
...And than everything went wronge….
Li hadn't planned on a ground assault. He underestimated how much they wanted Angie dead, and how much man power they had.
"Change of plan. Ground team, circle back." Li commanded as a dozen men charged them from the side.
Li had issued the order through the mics they were all equipped with, including Angie. It almost raddled her. She almost broke cover. Li broke out in a cold sweat.
"Ange, don't give yourself away. I know you can do self defensive moves." Li had taught her himself.
"Don't aim to injure, just defense. The sniper wont be able to pin point you that way,"
Li heard a light whimper but she responded by blocking a blow headed her way with ease. She was always a quick learner. He stayed as close as he reasonably could without giving them away.
His team was good. This ground assault wouldn't last long.
"Get all the female operatives in the choppers."
This was, of course, his way of getting Angie under cover without giving her location away. The ground combatants might not be a threat but that sniper was.
He quickly assisted her into the chopper knowing his crew were simultaneously, doing the same with the other female operatives.
Angie went willingly but she threw him a concerned glance. She wouldn't be the only one concerned. His female compatriots wouldn't be happy being left out of the fight. But they would follow orders. Now there were four against twelve.
'Not for much longer.' He smirked internally.
After they quickly dispatched the last of the combatants on the ground, he ordered them back to mission priority.
One by one, they all followed the original plan, boarding their own choppers, and taking off in three separate directions.
The ground crew, was to continue on land to their original destination.
In the chopper Li check Angie over thoroughly. She had her eyes closed, taking deep breaths, but she was alive and unharmed.
'She's alright.' He reassured himself with overwhelming relief.
He could finally breath again.