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Riggler stepped out of the bathroom with a clear heart and eyes. He had a mission to complete. He pulled out the Glock 22 and headed up the aisle. A few of the other agents had drifted off, lulled to sleep by the engine's quiet hum. Riggler hoped their guests did as well.
"You okay, Rigs?" Orroye asked.
Riggler didn't respond. He tightened his grip around the Glock and kept approaching Cassata. He would not be distracted.
"What're you doing, Rigs?"
"Turn around, Orroye," he said as he started to raise the Glock.
"Shit! He's got a gun!"
Orroye jumped out of his seat and charged into the aisle. Despite his thick stocky frame, the former all-state nose guard moved much quicker than most people realized. Orroye drove his shoulder into Riggler’s stomach, knocking him to the floor. He failed to dislodge the gun from Riggler's hand though.
BAAANNNGG
The gunshot rang out. At once, the rest of the agents were awake and on their feet. The bullet hit Special Agent Angel Gross in the chest. She slumped from her seat to the floor. Gross never had the chance to wake up.
"Grab the gun!" Nashida shouted.
Three more agents jumped on the pile.
BAAANNNGG BAAANNNGG
Riggler's shots ripped across the cabin, striking two more agents as Orroye tried to wrestle the gun away from his friend.
"What are you doing?!” Nashida shouted.
"He's gonna kill my boy! He's gonna kill my baby boy!"
The first shot woke Parker Cassata. With his hands cuffed, he unlatched the seatbelt and crawled over the seats towards the cockpit.
Jericho unlatched his belt and went backward over the seat, taking cover behind it. The last thing he needed was to be hit by an errant bullet.
BAAANNNGG BAAANNNGG
Another agent was struck. Riggler somehow managed to pull himself back to his feet and kicked Orroye in the face on his way up. Cassata tried to open the door to the cabin.
Nashida drew his gun. "Get behind me!"
"Outta the way, Nashida!" Riggler screamed.
Jericho saw the crazed agent aiming toward the cockpit. Whatever was going on with this dumbass had to be stopped before he shot the pilot. On his hands and knees, Jericho quietly and stealthily crawled behind Riggler.
BAAANNNGG
Jericho kicked Riggler in the knee as the shot went off. The bullet barely missed Nashida's face and went through the cabin door. It exploded through the back of the pilot's head.
The plane immediately dropped, swooping to the left. Three of the agents crashed into the walls. Riggler stumbled and toppled over a row of chairs.
BAAANNNGG
Another shot rang out. This one was from Nashida, striking Riggler in the throat.
"Take cover!" Nashida screamed.
Nashida thought about running into the cockpit and taking the controls, but there wasn't time. He grabbed Cassata and pushed him into a chair, making sure the prisoner was safe before buckling himself into the seat next to him.
In the commotion, Jericho crawled back through the aisles and pulled his way into the last row of seats on the plane, where he secured himself into his chair. He closed his eyes and whispered a quick prayer. They say that in the moments before certain death, even an atheist will try to find God.