Chapter 55

Present – Jens – Zarika surgery

I still can't fucking believe it! We – Masha and I - are operating on Zarika who is laying on my fucking kitchen table! Masha looks at me, pulls out a hypodermic needle, inserts it into the port on the IV and advises, "This will make Zarika fall asleep so we can repair her arm."

Masha continues, "Ms. Donaldson, please monitor her vital signs."

I check her blood pressure, pulse and respond, "Masha her vital signs are normal."

Mabel brings the warmed blood over, Masha setups up the IV and makes sure I know how to change the bags. And then Masha begins the surgery..."

Present – Byron, Thom and Inga – on a special mission in Venezuela

We fire the 12 gauge Xrep Taser shells at the damn Jeep with the fifty on the back and son-of-a-gun! The shells do more than expected: Yeah, they stop the Jeep and somehow even set it on fire.

Thom looks at me, smiles and declares, "I love it when a plan comes together, now let's get these bastards!

We jump up and finally go on the offensive. Yeah, it's time to kick ass and take names!

Present – Linus, Matt and Jim – Firefight at the Not OK corral

I couldn't stand these fuckers hurting civis even if the civis were trying to kill us! I knock the bastard out, take his weapon and then the three of us are not only fighting the truckers, we're fighting whomever the fuck this Truth Network team is.

I grab the bastard I knocked out, hold him up as a shield and taunt, "Fire all you want fuckers this is your own man!"

I notice them hesitate and know I have their asses so I order, "Now, you're going to stop shooting the civilians, we're all getting in your van and getting the hell out of here - or your buddy takes one to the head."

They comply and we get the hell out of Dodge before we get into more trouble than we already experienced...

Present – Stacy – At the vets

I relent and let Samantha and her damn horse-shooting husband stay in Bo's stall with me, but I'm sure as hell not happy about it! Samantha is fine but you all know my feeling toward her bastard husband. Then I get a hell of an idea and decide to turn the tables on Samantha.

I look at her and begin to question...

Present – Yasmeen – Zarika surgery

I cannot believe it! The Masha lady has put Zarika to sleep and now she is ... It is almost too gruesome to believe! She has made Zarika's injury larger, blood is flowing everywhere and the lady is busy trying to connect two pieces that look like tubes to each other. She is ordering the Jennifer lady around like she is a queen boss and the Jennifer lady ... surprisingly is not upset. I turn away because this is most terrible! It is even worse than the first time when I started my monthly bleeds...

Present – Ben – Austin Texas – After Eugene Onegin rehearsals

Yeah, this Tatiana is much smarter than my Tatiana in Russia. She knows that Pavel Chekov was from Star Trek and somehow even figured out I was their new benefactor. I gulped and said, "Well, my passport says I am Erast Petrovich Fandorin."

She gives me a funny look and says, "Pavel or Erast it doesn't matter. What does matter is you're my Knight in shining armor and now you can claim your prize."

She starts to strip as I begin to pull gear from my bag and update my tactical vest. She gives me a funny look, puts her hands on her hips and questions, "PavErast (a combination of Pavel and Erast), where are you going."

I reply, "Tatiana..." She corrects, "PavErast my name is Margarita but all my lovers like you call me Rita."

I continue, "Margarita, I have some things to do tonight!"

Spreading her arms she questions, "Are they more important than this?" She shows me virtually everything!

I turn and say, "Unfortunately Margarita, they are."

I finish loading up my tactical vest and sprint out the door before...

Present – Jens – Zarika surgery

I watch Masha in amazement: I am humbled by this incredible woman. Her hands fly over Zarika and she orders all of us around like ... Well, like a conductor conducting an orchestra. I continue to make sure Zarika's arm is clear of blood, her vital signs are stable and the blood in the IV continues to flow as Masha connects the two pieces of artery together and with the most incredible fingers ... stitches them together!