Chapter 112

Flashback – Masha – The mission

I came out of the bedroom, Louise took one look at me and laughed, “Masha, how many bars have you been to here in America?”

I replied, “None. Why, am I not dressed correctly?”

Louise continued, “Masha you look too good. If you go into the bar looking like this no one will talk to you because you look like a cop. The only part of you that works right now are your high top boots. Why don’t we see what I have in my closet that might fit you?”

We walked into Louise’s empty bedroom and she began to pull out some clothes. She finally found a very short dress and said, “I think this one will fit you.”

I felt uncomfortable about the lack of length so I stated, “Louise, I’m not sure I could wear this. It is too short and I would feel like a prostitute.”

Louise commanded, “Masha put this on, now let me find a top for you.”

I uncomfortably squeezed into the short dress, and began to pull on it trying to make it longer. Louise ordered, “Masha, leave the dress alone you - look great.”

She handed me a top and said, “Now put this on and let’s see how you look.”

It was a stupid tube top so I was forced to remove my bra. I put it on and felt worse than ever. Louise continued with the laughter, “Masha, you need to look more comfortable than you do right now.”

I complained, “Louise, I can’t! It feels like everything is hanging out of the clothes.”

Louise suggested, “Let’s have a little wine and you will feel better.”

I refused, “No, not tonight because I need to keep all my wits about me. However, I would like you to help me put on some fingernail polish.”

Louise said, “Good, that will give you a chance to learn to enjoy your clothes.”

We began to put on the fingernail polish and Louise commented, “This is interesting polish, what type is it?”

I smiled at her and replied, “I brought it from Russia with me. When I dip my fingernail in a drink the polish will indicate if it’s been drugged.”

Louse remarked, “Wow! They should make that available for everyone.”

I was beginning to feel more comfortable in my clothes and even started to flirt a little with Louise. She giggled and said, “Now that’s my bad-assed Auntie Masha. You’re going to knock ‘em dead tonight.”

I smiled at her and agreed, “That is the plan.”

Louise hugged me and asked, “How are you getting to the bar?”

I knew I had forgotten something but Louise offered, “Don’t worry, I will drive you in the car.”

I countered, “No Louise, you need to stay home and take care of Linda. This is my job so I will call a taxi cab.”

Louise cautioned, “Make sure you call me with the license number of the cab.”

I smiled at her and said, “Of course, you don’t want me to get raped in the cab.”

Louise worried me when she laughed, “Yeah, looking like you do that could happen.”

She wrote down directions to the bar and said, “If the driver deviates from this route you will know something bad could happen and call me immediately.”

I smiled and replied, “Or I could just shoot the driver.”

Louise said, “With an outfit like that, where do you hide the gun?”

I reach into my right boot pull out a pistol then reach into my left boot and pull out a dagger. Louise said with some awe, “You’re not messing around!”

I replied, “Of course not, this is war!”

I called the taxi, he arrived at the house, even opened the door for me and asked, “Where to Miss?”

I replied, “The Dew Drop Inn.”

I felt better about the driver when he tried to talk me out of it, “Miss, that’s not a very nice place are you sure that’s where you want to go?”

I replied, “Yes, I’m meeting someone there.”

He replied, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I smiled at him and said, “Thank you very much for your concern over my destination.”

Flashback – Ben and Jack – At the hospital

We finished with Michael and the suicide vest mission then he came inside the new Stryker and swore, “Those fucking M1 jockeys damn near got me killed! I can’t believe they fired the cannon while I was moving the vest.”

The driver of the new Stryker tried to appease him, “They were just keeping the towelheads away from this Stryker and we sure as hell don’t want two disabled Strykers out here.”

I laughed, “I guess you showed them when you belted the M1 with a rock.”

Michael cheered up with that comment and said, “Yeah, that got the tank commander’s attention.”

Michael said, “Banzai, it was a great time working with you - thanks for all your help. But unless I’m wrong, the CIA agents and the mercs are coming so it’s time for you to leave. Thanks for giving me some time alone with the bomb maker since I got more information out of him than the CIA agents did.”

I was surprised and asked about it, “How in the hell did you do that?”

Michael replied, “It’s simple. They tortured the hell out of him so he told them anything to make them stop the torture. I sat down with him and talked to him, bomb maker to bomb maker. Hell, he told me everything.”

I bailed out of the new Stryker as the CIA agents and mercs showed up. The main agent made a new offer, “How about if I double what we offered before?”

I pointed to the mercs and swore, “And have to work with these fuckers? Not no, but hell no!”

He continued, “Well if you ever reconsider let me know, here’s my card.”

As I left the Stryker, and it began to pull away, I tossed the card in the dirt.

Now with all that over I still had to deal with the fucking sex crazed nurses. I made it back to the hospital where Jack met me and said, “Banzai I have it all figured out.”

I glared at him and demanded, “What the fuck did you figure out?”

Jack replied, “The nurse problem. It was easy because we assigned them their own room with a shower and then I posted guards on the door.”

I paused and asked, “Wait, when did we get showers in the rooms?”

Jack said, “Some Cpl. with a busted up nose who also fixed the electrical system is a repairing genius. He was able to restore water to the building, made sure all the lights are working and even fixed the elevators.”

I asked, “I hope you instituted unsafe water protocols.”

Jack replied, “Banzai, I wasn’t born yesterday! Of course we’re boiling the hell out of any water for human consumption.”

I asked, “What about the water for the showers?”

Jack answered, “Most people don’t drink that water.”

I complained, “But some do, so we need to issue the command not to let the water from the showers get into your mouth.”

Jack said, “Well, go on and do it.”

I laughed and reminded him, “Until I sign the reenlistment papers, you’re still the ranking Sgt. You can do it your-fucking-self.”

Jack asked, “Just when do you plan on signing the papers?”

I teased the shit out of him, “Possibly tomorrow, but only if I’m not attacked by any of the nurses tonight. I’m going up on the roof to make sure the snipers have cleaned their rifles, then I’m cleaning my rifles and taking a nap. I was up more than half the night keeping the fucking towelheads away.” I began to walk away and added, “By the way, you might want to recall the Marines I posted guarding the blown to fuck Stryker.”

It was good having Jack here so I didn’t have to do all the work...

George came up to me and said, “Sgt. Reynolds, Colonel Maggie is on the com and is asking for you.”

I wondered what the hell she wanted so I went to the com room, picked up the mic and Colonel Maggie immediately asked, “Sgt. Reynolds, did you get Sgt. Blaine to sign the reenlistment papers yet?”

I replied, “No Sir! He’s sort of pissed off right now and said he would sign them tomorrow.”

Colonel Maggie practically screeched, “What’s he upset about now, we gave him everything he asked for?”

I replied, “Sir, the nurses that you sent have started to annoy him again. I gave them their own rooms and assigned guards for the doors.”

Colonel Maggie demanded, “Let me speak with the Lieutenant.”

I handed the mic to George and could hear as Colonel Maggie yelled, “Lieutenant. I expect you to keep those nurses from annoying Sgt. Blaine. They practically killed him when he was here and from what I understand they are starting on it again.”

George replied, “Yes Sir! I will talk with them immediately.”

Colonel Maggie continued, “You’d better Lieutenant. Make sure they know that any fraternization with Sgt. Blaine will be prosecuted.”

George glared at me and said, “Thank you Sgt. Reynolds for getting me in trouble with the Colonel!”