to let him join the mission.
So much for taking care of my team.
I heard the sharp inhalation of the President behind me and I understood his shock. So many people within this room and he'd had no idea. And worse, more arriving, just appearing out of thin air.
The Jotunn dropped their glamor too, no need since we could see exactly where they were, and when I turned my head to size them up I saw the weapons. Large, black and threatening. So familiar to the ones we'd seen in Loki's hideout in St Petersburg a few days ago. The thought of the weaponized black goo made my ears ring and my head grow hot.
A low grinding drew my shocked attention to the area around the President's desk. Seems he'd finally realized the danger too.
The Jotunn closest to us spun on his heel and opened fire. Pulling the President with me, I ducked behind the desk, trying to keep him out of the line of fire even as bullets whizzed by just inches above our heads. The glass shields were taking far too long to rise from the floor, but at least the prospect of some semblance of safety for him was imminent.
Not so for my team. I peered around the edge of the desk. Armed with swords, bows and the guns Derek had developed, my team fought back slowly mowing down the first wave of Jotunn. Those bullets of Derek's worked incredibly well, felling one after the other of the invading Jotunn force, sending satisfaction surging through me. At last we were on even footing with Loki's army when it came to weapons.
Bullets flew around the room and one hit the drapes behind the President's desk. It plunged right through and I wondered if I should take one of them to study Loki's ammunition.
I tapped my comm and said, "Somebody get me a bullet. We need to know what ammo they're using."
Someone grunted in my ear and I heard Thor growl with pain. "I have one for you."
"Thanks," was my only response.
The glass panels had moved into place around the desk and a whooshing sound spun around us as air was sucked out, then new canned air funneled back in. Up above our heads, a small area of the ceiling had slid open to reveal a grate that injected the fresh air into the enclosed box.
When I peeped out from behind the desk, Thor was a few feet from me, leaning against the wall beside the door to the President's private study. He had his hand on his thigh and when he caught my eye he gave me a cheery smile, pointed at his thigh and gave me a loose thumbs up.
I snorted. Trust Thor to think bringing me a bullet inside his flesh was a success.
Shifting back behind the desk, I heard a buzz as a bullet sang just outside the glass panel and plunged into the window paneling. I winced at the close call. The President cowered beside me, since he seemed okay I got to my feet and focused my attention on the mayhem around me.
My chest constricted as I watched the last Jotunn fall, knowing there would be reinforcements. A-Team had done a good job, all the warriors were alive though five were injured, holding arms or legs and wincing during the small reprieve. The tension in their faces confirmed they too knew the window was short and that Jotunn reinforcements would be arriving soon.
So much for in-and-out-in-a-few-minutes.
Derek was huddled between the two sofas, crouching beside the low coffee table and I could see Suri holding her arm. Black leather made it hard to identify injuries but I was glad to see everyone looked okay and that there were no mortal wounds.
Then Derek's voice cut into the air. "Bryn, there's more coming. The helicopters are closing in but I can also see a second team on the infra-red. They're heading this way."
I gritted my teeth then spoke into my comm, "Stay alert people, and be safe." Then I turned to the President. "We have to get out of here."
"Why? Aren't we safer here?" He scowled.
My gaze shifted to the warriors outside, now all alert, guns and swords at the ready. "I have to get you to safety. And this box is not going to be safe much longer."
"What the hell are those things?" he asked, his expression of distaste making me want to laugh. Frost giants were scary to look at but they weren't exactly orcs.
"Jotunn.