[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Chapter 6: Endgame

Athlete's Village, Eastfield Lodge
Hours after Semi-Finals

Tom woke with a start as his phone buzzed on his chest. He didn't need to read the text, he knew what it would be saying. Methodically, he pulled a sweater on over his t-shirt and slowly ventured out into the hallway.

Eventually, he had had no choice but to let Luke in on the true nature of his plan. Luke wasn't a nosey guy by nature but anyone would want to know why their room was being used as a surveillance room. Tom had explained it all to him and also realized, since this was the teams final night before the team went back to Ethane. This night would be the one where, if he ever did, Rob would get rid of the remaining sedate tablets.

Tom had fixed up the camera so that its shutter would be loud enough to wake Luke up. He could then notify Tom via text and they would both move in for the "kill," phone cameras at the ready.

Tom met Luke already out the door. They both looked to the end of the hallway where they saw Rob Bridgman round a corner out of view. They took up pursuit very stealthily. They tailed him for about two minutes before he reached the cafe and went to the nearest trash receptacle. Slowly, his to tales to refuge behind a half wall, turned their phone cameras on, and began to watch Rob's proceedings.

Bridgman retrieved a large orange vial from his sweater pocket, opened it, and proceeded to dump its contents into the trash.

*CLICK!*

The noise of Luke's cell phone camera broke the silence. He had forgotten to turn the noise off. Luke said quietly a word one shouldn't ever repeat.

"Who goes there?" said Bridgman out loud. "I am armed, reveal yourself or I will shoot"

Before Tom had a chance to motion for Luke to re-consider, Luke had jumped up and approached Rob.

"Rob, I don't believe you are armed, what I can say is that you are about to go to prison for a long while!"

Bridgman retrieved a revolver from his sweater pocket and smiled nastily. "Oh... I really doubt that. You are going to hand over your phone or I will shoot you dead."

Tom realized with a start that Rob didn't know that he was there, just Luke. Tom immediately began to army crawl past the half wall and to the hallway. He meant to take the cafe's back exit.

"You wouldn't shoot me. I know that. You are a softy who wouldn't kill a fly."

"Don't try me. Just give me the damn phone or I will blow you to hell."

"I don't think you will" Every time Luke said it, he sounded less sure of himself. Tom had to act now or Luke was going to die.

"AHHH!" Tom charged through the back door. Rob rounded on him only to be kicked in the back of the head by Luke. He was out cold immediately.

Luke and Tom stepped back and viewed the carnage. Poor Rob was bleeding a bit and would have a master head ache when he awoke but would clearly be fine. Neither player was scathed.

Luke embraced Tom in the most "Luke-like" of Bro-hugs, nearly breaking all of Tom's ribs.

"Mission Accomplished." Tom said aloud.