1 Chapter 1: Gunfight
Los Angeles
The bright sunlight scattered from the sky, decorating the roadside green grass with a few blooming wildflowers, attracting bees to hover around.
Everything seemed so peaceful and serene until the piercing sound of sirens shattered the tranquility.
The ground subtly vibrated, and soon three chasing cars zoomed past.
On Franklin Avenue, a black Cadillac sedan led, followed by two flashing Ford police cars. The three cars weaved through traffic, overtaking others, creating a thrilling chase scene.
In a stretch with fewer cars, a police car accelerated to catch up with the Cadillac. The police officer over the car's loudspeaker issued a warning, "LAPD, I command you to stop immediately, or... oh, shit..."
Before he could finish, a gun emerged from the Cadillac's window.
Dadadada... dadadad... Boom...
Whether it was the tires being shot or an attempt to evade the shooter's bullets, the police car collided with the barrier, flipping and rolling on the ground.
The following police car swerved to avoid the accident, letting the involved police car pass, and resumed the pursuit. An officer on the passenger side started shooting back at the Cadillac.
However, the police had handguns, while the Cadillac had long guns. Bullets hit the front hood, forcing the driver to keep a distance, trailing behind.
"Damn it! Bang, bang, bang!"
The Cadillac's gunman extended half of his body outside the car and shot towards the rear. However, the clever police car quickly maneuvered to stay out of the shooter's line of fire.
Unable to target the police car, the gunman found a way to counter. The Cadillac overtook once again, but this time, it targeted a Ford pickup.
The police car assumed it was a routine overtaking, but to their surprise, the Cadillac changed its aim this time.
Bullets caught the pickup off guard. "Bang!" The pickup's front tire was shot, and at high speed, it swayed uncontrollably, colliding with the nearby police car.
The Cadillac didn't stop, leaving chaos behind. The two involved cars affected more vehicles, turning the entire road into a mess.
...
On 11th Street, Carlos drove a Chevrolet at a leisurely pace, while Owen sat in the passenger seat, scanning the surroundings. He knew that a group of small-time thugs who sold illegal firearms often operated in this area, hoping to gather useful information from them.
Earlier in the morning, a bank on Lyons Street was robbed. The robbers used heavy firepower, resulting in the deaths of four security guards and one staff member. Additionally, over ten people were injured, and the bank suffered a loss of approximately five million dollars.
The robbers had clearly planned meticulously, choosing the moment when the bank and the cash transport vehicle were exchanging money. The entire robbery took less than three minutes, a swift and decisive operation.
Although the surveillance cameras captured the entire process, the robbers wore masks, and the license plate was fake. The weapons used were unregistered black-market firearms.
As of now, the police had no substantial leads. George, the senior detective, had dispersed the entire special investigations unit to gather information.
Carlos had been driving with Owen for over an hour, but the usually trouble-making thugs were surprisingly elusive today—none could be found.
Suddenly, a voice came over the radio.
"Emergency alert, all officers, be advised. Two armed individuals driving a black Cadillac with license plate NZ81J have turned from Franklin Avenue onto 11th Street. Nearby units, intercept immediately. Caution, armed suspects with heavy firepower. Repeat, two armed individuals driving a black Cadillac with license plate NZ81J."
"T-7 received, en route to the 11th Street exit for interception."
Owen grabbed the radio and began fastening his seatbelt. Knowing Carlos for years, he was sure he wouldn't miss the chance for a legal car chase.
As expected, Carlos abruptly turned the steering wheel and pulled the handbrake. The Chevrolet's tires screeched, and the car performed a perfect drift, blocking almost half of the road with the black Chevrolet SUV.
As soon as the car stopped, the two rushed to the trunk. There, they found the complete set of equipment they needed.
Detectives in the special investigations unit always worked in pairs, and each car's trunk was equipped with a full set of weapons and gear: two bulletproof vests, an M4 rifle, a Remington M870 shotgun, flashbangs, handcuffs, tire spikes, flashlights, and more.
The radio mentioned armed suspects with heavy firepower, so they couldn't take any chances.
Owen and Carlos quickly suited up, and Owen picked up the M4, taking cover behind the engine. This area, with the engine and various mechanical parts, provided reasonable protection from bullets.
Carlos grabbed the Remington M870, tucking himself behind the car door. American police cars had reinforced front doors, with steel plates and Kevlar lining for added protection.
As they were preparing, the Cadillac's silhouette appeared. Seeing the roadblock ahead and with about a hundred meters remaining, the Cadillac opened fire.
"Bang, bang, bang... Ping, ping... Boom..."
Owen remained hidden behind the engine, not exposing himself. Judging by the sound, the opponent's weapon seemed to be a modified M4.
Bullets hit the car, producing explosive pops. The Chevrolet was hit, swaying slightly. Glass windows shattered as bullets penetrated, and one of the front tires was blown out.
During a pause in the gunfire, Owen returned fire, firing a few short bursts. The M4 provided to the police was the fully automatic version, matching the opponent's firepower.
However, Owen's marksmanship was average, especially in shooting moving targets. Several shots missed the driver.
Owen's bullets struck the Cadillac's body, creating sparks. The gunman inside the car extended his body out of the window and returned fire towards Owen.
"Bang, bang, bang... Boom, crack... Boom, crack..."
At a distance of a hundred meters, which was nothing for a Cadillac speeding at over a hundred miles per hour, Carlos joined the firefight. The gunshots intensified.
No need for verbal communication; Owen and Carlos had an unspoken understanding. Owen focused on the gunman, while Carlos consistently aimed at the driver.
As the car got closer, Owen hadn't managed to neutralize the gunman yet. At such proximity, the opponent's continuous firing posed a significant threat.
Owen concentrated, searching for that feeling, and then, a subtle chemical change occurred in his body.
His heartbeat accelerated, surpassing 400 beats per minute. A surge of adrenaline flowed through his bloodstream, enhancing his vision and reaction speed significantly.
The surroundings seemed to slow down, creating a bullet-time-like effect. Owen forced himself to stay calm, not immediately firing. Instead, he calculated the car's movement, adjusted the gun's direction... aimed...
Now!
Owen decisively pulled the trigger. Sparks flew from the muzzle as another short burst of bullets flew through the air, accurately piercing the gunman's body.
Hit!
Owen closed his eyes, and everything returned to normal. His heart pounded wildly, as if about to explode.
Carlos, still firing beside him, seemed to be saying something about Owen hitting something.
While Carlos continued shooting, reloading between shots, the windshield that was already resembling a spider web suddenly turned bright red. The car swerved and crashed directly into the midsection of the Chevrolet.
A deafening boom echoed, and the police-modified Chevrolet, weighing over two tons, was hit by the rapidly approaching Cadillac, causing a violent shake.
The entire front of the Cadillac embedded into the Chevrolet. The gunman, who had been shooting from the window, was thrown out of the car.
Owen felt a tremendous force and then slipped into unconsciousness.
