Chapter 204: Extraction Part 2

They all turned to see a young boy, no more than twelve, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. He stared at the heavily armed men before him, his small body tense as if ready to bolt.

Saber Three reacted instinctively, placing a finger over his lips, signaling the child to keep quiet. His expression softened, trying to communicate reassurance through his eyes, the only part of his face visible beneath his tactical gear.

But the child's panic overrode any understanding of the silent plea. Instead of staying silent, he backed away, bumping into a metal shelf that clanged ominously in the quiet of the warehouse.

"Intruders!" he screamed. "Intruders!"

In an instant, the stealth of the mission collapsed under the weight of the boy's cry. Shouts answered from various parts of the building, and the faint sound of scrambling feet grew louder as the alerted hostiles mobilized.

"Move!" Saber One hissed. The team instantly switched from stealth to rapid withdrawal, guiding Dr. Villanueva with one hand and gripping their weapons with the other. They sprinted towards the pre-planned exit, their path now compromised.

Behind them, the warehouse burst into chaos. Lights flickered on, casting harsh shadows as figures emerged from doorways and behind boxes, weapons drawn. The sound of gunfire erupted, bullets pinging off metal surfaces and thudding into wooden crates.

Saber One led the charge,

"This is Saber Actual, we are blown, heavy contact, requesting immediate support at the exfil point!" he called into his headset, the sound of his breathing heavy in the confined earpiece.

Saber Two and Three flanked Dr. Villanueva, returning fire when necessary but primarily moving as quickly as the doctor's shaky legs could carry him. Each corner turned and each doorway passed brought them closer to safety or to a potential firefight.

Carter signaled the two Special forces sitting on the driver and passenger seats to

exit the vehicle and assist. Without hesitation, the two operators, their gear already strapped on and weapons ready, swung the doors open and moved out. Their boots hit the ground, and they dashed towards the sound of gunfire, ready to reinforce their team.

"Your backups are en route to your position, just get here to the extraction point. Avoid gunfights as much as possible. We are going to get out of here the moment you arrive here," Carter spoke into the comms.

Saber and his team got out of the warehouse.

"No injuries on our side," came the response from Saber Two, his voice steady over the comms.

Saber Three chimed in, "Area secure. Ready for exfil."

Saber One gave a quick nod. "Okay everyone, let's go back to the van."

The team moved out in a tight formation, covering each other as they retreated towards the extraction point where Carter and the van awaited.

Each member kept a watchful eye on the shadows and corners of the area, ensuring no surprises awaited them as they made their final egress.

As they approached the van, Carter stood by the open door, scanning the perimeter one last time before giving his team a subtle nod of approval.

"Good job everyone, looks like everyone is getting paid. This is what I like, no casualties," Carter chuckled.

"Thank you, guys," Villanueva, who was sitting inside the van said weakly.

"Saber Four, you drive, I will contact Mr. Reyes about the result of our operation," Carter commanded.

Saber Four nodded and slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine with a smooth rumble. The rest of the team piled in, securing their gear and settling in for the ride back to the safe house. The tension in the van gradually subsided as the adrenaline of the mission ebbed away.

Meanwhile, Carter was on the call with Mr. Reyes.

"Mr. Reyes, I have some good news. We have successfully extracted Dr. Villanueva. We are taking him to our safe house so we can treat his wounds and any injuries during his time in captivity," Carter reported.

Carter could hear Michael sighing in relief. "Thank god. Okay do what you must but I need to see him. His family has been calling me."

"Understood, Mr. Reyes. We'll make arrangements as soon as he's stabilized and it's safe to do so," Carter assured him. "I'll keep you updated on his condition and any further developments."