Chapter 16: The Factory Fire
The night air was thick with tension as Buck, Abilene, and their allies from the Sand Vipers and River Tribe made their way through the shadows. The factory loomed ahead, a massive structure nestled in the heart of Boone’s empire, its smokestacks belching out plumes of black smoke that darkened the sky.
“This is it,” Buck whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of machinery. He turned to the group assembled behind him, their faces barely visible in the dim light.
“We hit hard and fast. No room for mistakes.”
Serpent, the leader of the Sand Vipers, nodded in agreement. His eyes were cold and calculating, a reflection of the man who had survived countless battles in the desert. “We take out the guards, set the fires, and get out before they know what hit ’em.”
Beside him, Hawk, the chieftain of the River Tribe, gripped his bow tightly. His people were skilled hunters, their knowledge of stealth and survival unmatched.
“My warriors are ready. We’ll cover your retreat.”
Abilene, her revolvers holstered at her hips, glanced over at Buck.
“You sure about this, Buck? We’re walking into the lion’s den.”
Buck’s eyes hardened, his resolve unwavering.
“We don’t have a choice, Abilene. Boone’s got his claws in this town, and we need to start tearing them out. This factory’s the first step.”
Abilene nodded, her expression steely. “Then let’s make sure we send him a message he won’t forget.”
The group moved silently through the underbrush, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. As they approached the factory, Buck raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. He scanned the perimeter, noting the positions of the guards patrolling the area.
“There,” he whispered, pointing to a gap in the fence where the undergrowth had grown thick. “We slip through there, stay low, and take out the guards quietly. Once we’re inside, we split up. Serpent, you and your men handle the eastern wing. Hawk, you and your warriors take the west. Abilene and I will cover the central area and set the charges.”
Serpent’s lips curled into a grim smile.
“Don’t worry, Buck. We’ve done this before.”
Hawk nodded in agreement.
“We’ll move like shadows.”
Buck took a deep breath, then motioned for them to move. One by one, they slipped through the gap in the fence, the underbrush rustling softly as they passed. The factory loomed ahead, its walls a forbidding mass of brick and iron.
Buck and Abilene led the way, their movements slow and deliberate as they approached the first guard. The man was oblivious to their presence, his attention focused on the dim light of his lantern as he patrolled the grounds.
With a swift, fluid motion, Buck moved behind him, clamping a hand over his mouth and dragging him into the shadows. The guard struggled briefly, but Buck’s grip was unyielding. A moment later, the guard slumped to the ground, unconscious.
“Good work,” Abilene whispered, her voice barely audible. “Let’s keep moving.”
They continued on, dispatching the guards with practiced ease until they reached the main entrance. Buck crouched beside the door, pulling a small bundle of dynamite from his pack.
“This’ll take care of any reinforcements,” he said, setting the charges against the doorframe.
“Once we’re inside, we split up and plant the rest of the explosives. We need to be quick.”
Abilene nodded, her expression tense.
“I’ll cover you.”
Buck lit the fuse and stepped back, pulling Abilene with him as they retreated to a safe distance. The explosion was deafening, shattering the silence of the night and sending a shockwave through the factory grounds. The door blew inward, a cloud of dust and debris billowing out into the night air.
“Move!” Buck shouted, leading the charge as they rushed into the factory.
Inside, the factory was a maze of machinery and conveyor belts, the air thick with the smell of oil and metal. Workers scrambled in all directions, their shouts of alarm echoing through the cavernous space.
Buck and Abilene moved quickly, weaving through the chaos as they planted charges along the main production line. Serpent and his men could be seen in the distance, their silhouettes barely visible through the haze as they set fire to the eastern wing.
Hawk’s warriors were already at work, their arrows igniting barrels of oil and setting off a chain reaction of explosions that rocked the factory to its core. The fires spread quickly, licking at the walls and ceiling, turning the factory into a blazing inferno.
“We’ve got to hurry!” Buck shouted over the roar of the flames.
Abilene nodded, her face set in determination as she set the last of the charges.
“That should do it. Let’s get out of here!”
They turned to leave, but just as they reached the entrance, a group of Boone’s guards burst into the factory, their guns blazing. Buck and Abilene dove for cover, bullets whizzing past their heads as they returned fire.
“Damn it!” Buck growled, firing off a shot that took down one of the guards. “We’re pinned down!”
Abilene fired off a few rounds of her own, her shots precise and deadly. “We need to get to higher ground! There’s too many of them!”
Buck scanned the area, his eyes landing on a set of stairs leading to a catwalk above the factory floor.
“Up there!” he shouted, grabbing Abilene’s hand and pulling her toward the stairs.
They raced up the steps, the metal clanging beneath their boots as they reached the catwalk. From their vantage point, they could see the full extent of the destruction. The factory was ablaze, the flames consuming everything in their path. Smoke filled the air, making it difficult to see, but Buck could make out the figures of their allies fighting their way toward the exit.
“We’re almost out!” Buck called out, firing down at the guards below as they tried to regroup.
Just then, a deafening explosion shook the factory, the shockwave nearly knocking Buck and Abilene off the catwalk. The floor below them buckled, sending debris crashing down into the flames.
“We’ve got to move!” Abilene shouted, grabbing Buck’s arm and pulling him toward the exit.
They raced along the catwalk, the heat of the fire searing their skin as they made their way toward a set of windows on the far side of the factory. Serpent and his men were already there, smashing through the glass and leaping to the ground below.
“Hurry!” Serpent called up to them, waving them over.
Buck and Abilene reached the windows just as another explosion rocked the factory. The catwalk beneath them began to give way, the metal groaning and twisting as the flames consumed it.
“Go!” Buck shouted, pushing Abilene toward the window.
She hesitated for only a moment before leaping through the shattered glass, her body twisting in midair as she landed in a roll on the ground below. Buck followed close behind, his heart pounding as he hit the ground running.
“Everyone out!” Serpent shouted, waving his men toward the fence.
They sprinted across the factory grounds, the heat of the fire at their backs as they made their escape. Behind them, the factory was a blazing inferno, the flames lighting up the night sky as the building collapsed in on itself.
As they reached the safety of the trees, Buck and Abilene paused to catch their breath, their clothes singed and their faces streaked with soot. Hawk and his warriors were already there, their expressions grim as they watched the factory burn.
“It’s done,” Hawk said quietly, his voice tinged with satisfaction. “Boone’s lost another piece of his empire.”
Serpent nodded, his eyes fixed on the flames. “We hit him hard tonight. But this is just the beginning. He’ll come at us with everything he’s got.”
Buck nodded in agreement, his gaze steely as he watched the factory burn.
“Let him come. We’ll be ready.”
Abilene stepped up beside him, her hand slipping into his. “We’ll take him down, Buck. Together.”
Buck turned to her, his expression softening as he squeezed her hand.
“Together,” he agreed.
As they stood there, watching the flames consume Boone’s factory, they knew that this was only the beginning of their fight. But with allies like the Sand Vipers and the River Tribe by their side, they were more determined than ever to bring Boone’s empire crashing down.