Chapter 1 (edited)

Chapter 1

A moments reprieve and the spy prepared his nerve for what was next. A resounding shriek of laser scything into metal shot through his ears. Commander John Henson could not halt a lurch forward into his partner who huddled beneath his protective embrace. He heard Salome squeal as his jolted weight bore down upon her. Henson quickly collected himself and unburdened her and raised his head into a noxious mist of laser fumes. The spy snorted and spat out the smog but it had already embedded a sour taste in the back of his throat. Henson craned his neck up above the mist and found himself scowling at the quarter moon as it hung smugly above them.
They had to move soon. He and Salome were being effectively pinned down behind their overturned truck. Hardly a situation he was accustomed to. As the gunfire intensified, John buried his face in Salome's hair, catching a faintly sweet scent that still lingered around her neck. The aroma immediately served to calm and rationalise him. Clarity of mind under fire was a essential tool in any spy's armoury and he could always find it in her. He winced as another hopeful blast ricocheted inches above his head. They were almost out of time. The enemy would soon be brave enough to surround them, after all they were only two and as good as they were together, it was not enough to fend off the rest of the base's security forces. Searching over her shoulder for options, he noticed a small building about twenty meters off, that was being frequently highlighted by the bright crimson beams. With the cover of the night, Henson liked his chances of getting there unscathed. After several more jolting blasts John regretfully broke the embrace, amid her grunt of disapproval and gazed into her sharp blue eyes, satisfied that the sultry look on Salome's face told she still hungered for more of him.
"Watch my back? He asked, teasing her lips as he brushed against them with his own. His question could have been an order, but despite his superior rank and formidable reputation, it was meant as a request, conveyed from lover to lover.
"Always, she assured, then grabbing his neck, she bolstered her promise with hard kiss.
Then John Henson ran. slung around his shoulder he carried their equalizer. His knees ached at the sudden exertion and he cursed the whole situation through quiet panting. They had so nearly made it out of the base undetected. Their mission, to destroy this altogether unimpressive enemy base, was so nearly complete. Now the sound of increased fire told of even more soldiers joining their pursuit. John shot a quick glance at source of the threat. The emanating beams were betraying the enemy position, allowing him to estimate just how much he and Salome were outnumbered. Henson guessed as many as he dared before refocusing on his destination, worried even the burden of a stare would alert them to his current vulnerability.
As loud as his heart beat in his chest, another sound suddenly cut through his senses. He turned to them once again and smiled as a blast from Salome's weapon incinerated one of the soldiers with either reckless abandon or deadly precision.
John dove the final few feet and settled behind the solid looking outhouse with a smooth forward roll. Sucking at the humid night air reminded him of another reason he so detested this Area. Not only was it the remaining opposition to his own nation's global dominance and reason for the continuing war, but it was a dry, barren and empty land with every day as searing and uncomfortable as the last.
It had been a month since Henson and his task force had infiltrated Area 43 and still he hadn't witnessed a single drop of rain. He felt clammy inside his dark jump suit, and squirmed within, trying to separate the close smooth material from his sticky wet skin. Such a mundane irritation spurned him to refocus. Now he was safe, his only concern had to be for Salome, and he tried to find her through the laser lit darkness.
Her lithe image pained him, as blast after blast rocked her cover, that being the enemy transport they had stolen some time ago in order to aid their infiltration. The battered truck was now paying a heavy price for its treason. John was loathe to leave Salome alone, but now he was now in a far more comfortable range to launch the avenging grenades that clanked together excitedly in the shoulder bag he was now opening.
The gunfire suddenly ceased. Henson stopped what he was doing and dared a peak at the hanger entrance where the enemy had congregated. Tearing off the sweat rimmed hat that covered his thick brown hair, John imagined that this moments silence foretold a deadlier intent. The not so distant figures moved swiftly, voices issued hasty instruction and there was laughter.
Never good.
Henson could make out the clatter of metal upon metal as the group worked in unison amid the telling noise of construction.
John suddenly had to avert his eyes as the piercing glow of a powerful searchlight sent out a probing beam which came to rest on the smouldering wreck that Salome continued to cower behind. The only benefit of the light was that he could now see her clearly as she hid away from the luminosity, wedging her body tightly to the vehicle. John traced the beam back and felt his stomach tighten as the searchlight gleamed over the barrel of a freshly assembled cannon!
A frightening calm hung over the newly lit compound of the base. The artificial light was such, that he had to glance up at the star studded sky to realise it was still night.
"Intruders surrender!
The voice, male, sounded neither anxious nor even concerned whether his order was obeyed.
John could see Salome searching for him and imagined the desperate look on her face, dependent on him to deliver them both. A subtle whir could be heard as the cannon's aim was adjusted. He expected no other quarter from his enemies.
The Cannon erupted sending it's lethal rays towards the fallen truck, the impact began to jerk the sizable transport backward. John watched on painfully as Salome's slender frame was rammed back in turn from the force of the blast. Keeping her feet, she retreated with the vehicle as the scarlet beams kept coming. He had to act now. Tipping the bag open, Henson grasped the first grenade to hand and set the detonator switch. The charge would give him a launch time of about seven seconds before it exploded, more than adequate from this distance. Leaping from his sanctuary, he launched the cylinder, his powerful throw carrying it easily into the midst of their oppressors. Not waiting to hear it land, he quickly dived back into cover and awaited the imminent chaos.
The ongoing roar of the cannon muffled any cries of alarm, but it too was silenced as the charge detonated, releasing a satisfying resonant of carnage that finally replaced the thudding of his heart in his ears.

At first, she believed the explosion was her end. But as she lifted her head out of her hands, Salome realised it had been her enemies. Like a vision of relief itself, John was running back to her, still crouching in case of the odd vengeful survivor. She took the time to admire his body at work as he sprinted. Within moment she felt the bliss of his smooth handsome features as they met hers in a quick embrace.
"We're leaving," he whispered. "We need fifty yards at least. Lets go!
Nodding obediently, She held out a black gloved hand for him to raise her to her feet. In fact all Salome's attire, hat included, were of the same stealthy dark shade. His too. Their garments hid the now useless disguise of their enemies uniform that had lent them the limited success they had enjoyed upon gaining entry. Her body was matted with sweat underneath the double layers and the common heat of this Area did not make her any more comfortable. No matter, the charges were set. They had infiltrated deeply into the base as was necessary. The whole structure would soon erupt, bringing stage one of their mission finally to an end. Then she would free, for a while at least, to build up a more satisfying sweat with him.
Despite the bedlam around her, Salome was still moved by their last kiss. The excitement and danger added to her passion for the man she raced after. Though at times like these she wondered just how close they would one day come to disaster.
It had not been the first time they had blasted their way out of detection but it was certainly not a regular occurrence. Their missions were usually so precise and painstakingly planned, that they would regularly slip in and out of installations more formidable and heavily guarded than this one without arousing suspicion.
As they sprinted through the neat holes in the perimeter fence that the cannon had so conveniently tore for them, Salome wondered just what it was that had set off that damn alarm. Possibly they had planted a charge in a restricted area, thus setting off an automatic siren. John could hardly have predicted that.
He was just ahead of her as she was struggling a little with the heavy boots that scuffed the dust of the desolate landscape mapped out before them. To her right she saw the beginnings of a woodland that seemed so out of place in this parched setting. A planned means of hiding they had agreed on, should they need it.
John was slowing, she did likewise. It was time! Salome was panting only a little as she watched him pull out the receiver wire from the watch strap he had attached to his left wrist.
"Ready? he asked. She moved in close, feeling John's arms wrap around her, his hands still busy with the detonator. Salome's eager lips once again collided with his in savage fervour, her rapier tongue flicking in his mouth allowing only a little focus on the looming devastation.
John broke from her again. She stared up at him a little hurt as his arms retracted from her waist. Then she realised, no explosion.
"What's the problem? she asked, trying not to sound as concerned as she was.
"I don't know," he muttered back.
Salome peered over his arm as he tapped the detonator button impatiently. "John come on, stop fooling me around.
"Shut up a minute! He snapped back. His edginess only made her worries increase and she fell silent.
"Must be some interference, he concluded. "We're definitely not out of range.
She didn't question him. Salome knew, as he would, the hard choice they now faced. He looked sombrely towards her, though not at her, past her, towards the woods. His deep brown eyes flashed in the moonlight. "Go hide, he said. "I'll catch you up.
She felt nauseas at the thought and did nothing to mask her fear. "John no! You are not going back there, there's too many! Even as she pleaded, the sound of reinforcements to the fallen soldiers could be heard behind them.
John stared now at the source of the disturbance, and then back at her. "You know we haven't got time to argue.
"Then I'm coming! She demanded.
He smiled warmly at her defiance. "That's an order Agent.
Salome observed through mounting tears as the only man she could ever love, stooped down to retrieve another grenade from his bag. "I'm gonna loose you. She started to sob, placing a hand to her mouth to try and suppress her anguish. Stuffing a couple of charges in his pockets, John grabbed her forcefully by her arms and pulled her close.
"Just find somewhere safe. I'll find you. I promise.
Salome couldn't bare to let him leave, yet there was nothing she could say or do to stop him. The enemy had be swarming the compound by now. The moment she had dreaded for the last three years seemed to be finally upon her. "You better be back real soon honey, she sniffed, trying to sound a little more confident for him. But she couldn't shake the feeling his eyes were giving her, the cold hard feeling of goodbye.
Even as he gave her a final kiss, Salome already had started to grieve for him.