“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.
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 would mean they’re leaving most of their strike team behind.”
“There’s an experimental weapon installed in that helicopter, Jack. It called Malignant Wave and it’s a real bitch. If the Chinese escape with the prototype, it would be worth any sacrifice.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Then we have to get inside that hangar. Stop that helicopter from taking off.”
“That’s going to be tough,” sighed Tony. Dr. Reed heard their words and stepped forward. “There’s a back door to that hangar…”
“I tried it, doc,” Tony said. “It’s locked, and it’s made of reinforced steel. If we try to break in, they’re going to hear us.”
“Beverly Chang gave me a copy of the key,” she replied. “It’s over there, in my locker…”
The airman guarding the door interrupted them. “Someone’s coming,” he hissed. “Two soldiers with a prisoner.”
“Everyone get down,” Tony cried, racing for the entrance. Jack was already there. They positioned themselves on either side of the open doorway, waiting to pounce the moment the soldiers entered.
When the commandos reached the narrow door, they shoved Stella through first. Then the first commando stepped over the threshold. Tony seized the man, pummeled him to the ground with the butt of his Glock.
Stella recognized Jack.
“Jaycee!” she cried, stepping between Bauer and the commando he was supposed to take down. Jack thrust the woman aside, but it was too late. The soldier turned and raced across the tarmac, screaming a warning. Jack aimed his Glock with both hands and fired once. The commando’s cries abruptly ceased.
Jack stepped away from the door. “They know we’re free now,” he shouted. “Everyone who isn’t armed, take cover!”
Stella Hawk wrapped her arms around Jack Bauer’s neck, tight as a boa constrictor. Mascara ran down her cheeks and her face was swollen and bruised. But her lush lips rained kisses on his lips, his cheek, his neck.
“I knew you’d rescue me,” she sobbed.
Jack’s eyes met Tony’s. “Get her off of me,” he snarled.
Outside, commandos burst from Hangar Five when they heard the warning cry. Tony picked up the dead soldier’s AK–47 and fired on the men as they scurried across the runway. Three commandos dropped, the others turned around and bolted for cover.
Tony heard shouted commands, saw the soldiers begin to regroup outside of Hangar Five.
“Here they come,” Tony warned. Legs braced, he stood in the doorway and fired another burst.
Nina rolled the sandrail into a prefabricated storage shed hidden among a sea of aviation fuel tanks. She and Curtis climbed a steel ladder to the top of the tallest tank, to observe the situation at the hangars.
Before they finished their ascent, they heard the sound of gunfire in the distance. Scrambling to the top of the tank, Nina focused her mini-binoculars on the hangars.
“It’s a firefight, not a massacre,” Nina said, squinting through the lens. “It looks like some people are holed up in one hanger. They’re putting up a good fight, but the raiders are rallying for another attack—”
“Another attack?”
“I count four dead men on the tarmac,” Nina said, handing Curtis the binoculars. “The Chinese have tried to take that hangar at least once before.”
Curtis frowned. “The commandos just drove a tow tractor out of the hangar with the weird aircraft inside. I think the Chinese are planning to use the tractor for cover in an attack on the other hangar.”
Nina moved to the ladder. “We’ve got to get down.”
Curtis followed her to the edge. “What’s your plan?”
“I haven’t got one,” Nina replied.
“Look over there,” Curtis said, pointing to a small tanker truck parked about a hundred yards away. “I think I have an idea…”
24. THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11 A.M. AND 12 P.M. PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME