The ship groaned under the weight of the gunfire, the metal deck rattling as bullets slammed into the sides, the deafening whine of helicopter rotors above them. Grimm's heart raced as he pulled Volkova further into the shadows. The mercenaries on the dock would be following them soon, but for now, the ship's layout provided some semblance of cover.
"Stay low," Grimm muttered, keeping his eyes on the shadows of the dock. "We need to figure out where the hell this ship's headed."
Volkova was already scanning their surroundings, her sniper rifle held at the ready. She moved fluidly, like a predator, every muscle in her body tuned for action. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she studied the incoming helicopter.
"They'll land soon," she said, her voice low but urgent. "We don't have much time before they send in ground forces."
Grimm nodded, eyes flicking toward the ship's bridge—a tall, isolated structure at the ship's bow. If they could reach the bridge, they might be able to hijack the ship, take control, and escape. But getting there would be tricky. Mercenaries would be swarming every access point, and the chopper's gunners would be on high alert.
"We make it to the bridge, we take command of this ship," Grimm said. "If we can't control it, we use it to buy time. Just like old times."
Volkova met his gaze, a brief, knowing glance shared between them. They had been in tight spots before, and they always made it out. It wasn't luck. It was skill, precision, and survival.
"Let's move," she said, and in the same breath, she darted forward, moving like a shadow across the deck.
Grimm followed, staying low and silent, his rifle at the ready. They passed a series of cargo containers stacked high, using them as cover to avoid being spotted. Each step felt heavier as the helicopter's growl grew louder, and the mercenaries on the dock began moving closer.
The wind howled, carrying the scent of saltwater and diesel fuel. The world felt too loud, too exposed. They needed to move faster.
Reaching the base of the bridge, Grimm signaled for Volkova to take the left side. They knew the layout of the ship, but that didn't make it any easier. As they neared the stairs leading up, Grimm paused, listening. The sound of boots on metal echoed from above—mercenaries. More of them.
"On three," Grimm whispered. "One… two…"
He didn't need to count to three. Grimm burst into motion, taking the stairs two at a time, his boots slamming against the metal as he reached the first landing. He caught a flash of movement—a mercenary on the bridge, weapon raised, but Grimm was faster. He fired twice—once to the chest, once to the head—dropping the man in an instant.
Volkova was close behind, her rifle raised, eyes darting for threats. They moved quickly, pushing through the narrow hallways of the bridge, reaching the central control room.
Grimm kicked the door open with a swift motion, and they both flooded inside. The room was dim, lit only by the harsh glow of control panels and a few scattered monitors. There was a crew member inside, frozen in terror, his hands hovering over a console. He hadn't seen them yet.
Grimm acted without hesitation. "Move and I'll put a bullet in your head."
The man's eyes widened, and his hands shot up, the fear evident in his gaze. Grimm could see the panic in his eyes, but he didn't care. He needed answers.
"Where the hell are we headed?" Grimm demanded, his tone low and lethal.
The crew member stammered, his voice shaky. "I—I don't know. I just… I'm just the engineer. We're headed to an oil platform off the coast. I'm not part of this. Please, I'm just following orders!"
Grimm took a step forward, his rifle trained on the man's chest. "Orders from who?"
"Helix… Helix Dynamics," the engineer muttered, his voice cracking. "They… they said the ship was going to be used for some kind of operation. I don't know the details, I swear."
Grimm's blood ran cold. Helix. Of course. Kessler's network had its fingers in everything. The mercenaries, the ship—it was all part of a larger scheme. A scheme Grimm had to dismantle.
Volkova stepped forward, her voice cold. "Can we stop the ship? Get control of the navigation?"
The engineer nodded quickly. "Yes… but it'll take time to reroute. I can't just stop it on a dime. It's a massive vessel. We'll need to divert it manually."
"Do it," Grimm ordered, stepping back to cover the entrance. Volkova moved to the console, her fingers flying over the controls, her focus razor-sharp.
As she worked, Grimm's mind raced. They were headed to an oil platform. That could mean a dozen different things, but none of them were good. They had to get control of the ship before it reached its destination.
Outside, the helicopter hovered, casting its searchlight over the ship. Grimm's senses went on high alert. He could hear the distinct whine of the helicopter's gunners preparing for another assault.
"They'll be here soon," Grimm said, his voice grim. "We don't have long."
"I'm trying," Volkova muttered, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Almost there… just need another minute."
Suddenly, the door to the bridge slammed open, and a squad of Helix enforcers stormed in, weapons raised.
"Get down!" Grimm shouted, diving behind a console as the first burst of gunfire ripped through the room. Bullets shredded the walls, and the engineer screamed, diving for cover.
Volkova returned fire, her shots precise, but the Helix enforcers were well-trained. They moved in tight formations, pushing forward.
Grimm's pulse quickened. They couldn't afford to lose here—not now. The stakes were too high.
He glanced at Volkova. "You get the controls, I'll hold them off."
With a nod, she pushed forward, her fingers dancing over the console as the sound of gunfire filled the bridge.
Grimm didn't wait. He pulled a grenade from his belt and tossed it into the center of the room. The blast threw the enforcers off their feet, disorienting them for a moment. Grimm seized the opportunity, spraying gunfire at the remaining mercenaries as they scrambled to regain their footing.
The room was chaos, but Grimm thrived in it. This was what he was made for.
Volkova's voice cut through the madness. "I've got control. Re-routing the ship now."
Grimm's heart skipped a beat. "Get us to safety."
The fight wasn't over. But for the first time in a long while, Grimm felt like he might just have a chance to win.