Chapter 27

Present – Jack – At the cabin

SHIT! It sure as hell is pouring here! We finally get the main cover off the air access for the tunnels and there's something that looks like a machine gun in there. One of the Marines shoots it (typical Marine) then it begins spraying the tunnel with rounds and even gimbals up toward us! We dive to the ground just in time. I need to have a serious fucking talk with Jennifer if she's still alive - her fucking killer cabin bullshit needs to end!

Then one of the perimeter Marines states, "Sir, you need to see what's going on."

I roll over and see that the fox and Masha are in a fucking standoff. I take an aim at the fox then Masha looks toward me and I can't believe it...

Present – Masha – At the cabin

I approach Jennifer's injured dog as a fox has dragged it away from the truck bomb. The fox releases the dog and then turns toward me, snarls and feigns an attack. I am sure she doesn't understand that I just want to help. I do know if Jack sees this he will shoot the fox so I look back toward the ventilation system, see my Jack aiming his rifle and I wave him off.

I begin to talk to the fox, "Girl, I am just trying to help."

She continues to feign attacks and snarl so I get angry at her, pick up a rock, throw it at her and then...

Present – Jack – At the cabin

I about laugh my ass off! Masha picked up a rock and bounced it right off the fox's nose! Damn, where did she learn how to throw like that? The fox shakes its head, looks like it sneezes three or four times and then takes off running for the hills while Masha continues toward Jennifer's dog. With her problem taken care of I turn my attention back to the killer cabin.

I slowly slip my head over the edge of the ventilation tunnel access and son of a bitch! The fucking machine gun swings toward me and begins firing again!

I motion to the rest of my team, they crawl beside me and we begin to make some plans...

Present – Glen – At the cabin

After my announcement doesn't do any good, I decide I'm going to take care of the fucking fake Marines myself. Most seem to be distracted by the twin's brother anyway as he's kicking some major ass!

I start shooting some of the fucking false Marines with my sidearm but quickly realize that I've made a huge fucking mistake...

Present – Linus – Rescuing the survivors

I get some Marines to help me lift a heavy as hell table, and under it we find Mabel. She's looking pretty damn good for all she's been through. When we move the table out of the way she begins to stir and demands, "Where's my spoon?"

I answer, "I don't have any idea. How do you feel?"

She complains, "Like I was ran over by two buses and a Cadillac! What happened?"

I reply, "Someone blew up the armory tent and it also destroyed your tent. You're luckier than the others in the mess tent since most of them have major burns."

I look up and I see something happening to Glen that I sure as hell don't like...

Present – Alexi – At the cabin

As I continue to eliminate the charlatan Marines, I notice something troubling. A large contingent of charlatan Marines have surrounded General Donaldson. He fires at them with his sidearm. However he discovers, as many others have discovered, their body armor is impervious to pistol rounds.

I find myself confronted with a rock and hard place decision to make: Turn my attentions to the General's predicament, or continue to protect my sister Mira. Naturally, family issues prevail and I continue to protect Mira. My decision unfortunately has negative repercussions for the General...

Present – Glen – At the cabin

My pistol won't take down the fake fucking Marines, so I change my strategy and begin to shoot them in the legs and feet. Unfortunately, that only works as long as I have ammo. As I fire my last round, the 1911 slide locks open, one of the fake fucking Marines runs up and fires at me. The last thing I remember is...

Present – Mira – At the cabin

After Todd falls on top of my sister Ira, I maneuver him to the side of my sister, roll my sister on top of him to provide protection with her superior armor and to inspect his work on her wound. His work is of the utmost quality and is a close approximation to what I would have done. However, it is obvious my sister is extremely exsanguinated but not to the extent of being terminally threatened. I am not concerned overly because of our twin enhanced consanguinity.

I translocate Ira and turn my ministrations to Todd. He has received multiple projectile wounds to his posterior torso but he is fortunate that none have seemed to transect any major organs or arterial pathways. I commence placing pressure dressings on the wounds, then rotate him onto his back to aid in the function of the dressings.

I need fluid replacements for both of them however there are no sources available other than myself. I am not sure of Todd's blood type, however because I am type O negative (the universal donor) this is not a concern. I begin to set up a bifurcated autologous transfusion device. Then Alexi arrives and states, "My sister, it appears the charlatan Marines are finally retreating, however there is one impending issue."

I question, "What is this issue?"

He replies, "They have captured the General and are removing him from the battlefield as they retreat."

Deciding I could do nothing to intercede on the General's behalf, I resume my medical task. I briefly consider using Alexi as an additional source to aid in the transfusion, but I need someone to stand watch so I order, "Alexi, I am going to transfuse both Ira and Todd. When I become unconscious, please discontinue the blood transfusion."

He wonders aloud, "Mira, isn't that dangerous for your continued wellbeing?"

I inform him, "I have no other acceptable choice. I must deplete myself so they will live..."

Present – Zarika – Escaped

Because of my future husband Ben's excellent training, I exactly recall the route to Yasmeen's hospital and realize it is not very far away. I find the road used by the car which brought me to this evil facility and begin to run toward the hospital...

Present – Yasmeen – The Hospital

I cry in my pillow. This was never supposed to happen, not until ... I say a silent prayer begging that Zarika is doing better than I am...

Present – Ben – On the road

I can't believe how badly things have turned out for me! I'm depressed as hell and say, "Great, that is all that I need. You need to stop and drop me off here."

Fearless Freep comments, "If that's what you want, that's what we'll do. But I would warn you that we have three or four carloads of groupies following us. If we drop you off, then you will need to deal with them."

Yosemite Sam adds, "You can bet they all know about you spanking Stacy and are going to expect you to do the same to them."

I think and whine, "I don't know, it might be better to take my chances with them."

Fearless Freep suggests, "Listen, I know you're pissed, but we didn't have anything to do with it. In fact we tried to stop you from calling. Now why don't you sit back and enjoy the ride until we reach Albuquerque?"

Yosemite Sam reminds me, "Don't forget, Destiny is waiting there for you."

I think to myself: This is great! And all that I need is some half-baked, psycho, hippy chick that thinks she's some sort of bullshit shaman...

Present – Stacy and Samantha – On the road

I look at Bill and decide, "Bill, Samantha and I are taking the helicopter with you. I want to get to the cabin site as quickly as possible."

Bill answers, "I wondered when you would figure that out, that's why I have two helicopters coming."

I reply, "Bill, that's one thing I always like about you: You anticipate what I'm going to do. Now I need to go say goodbye to Patches and Bo. Come on Samantha..."

Wow, we're going to take a chopper to Ben's cabin site! This will be great because then I can cover the rescue of Jennifer Donaldson and Liz Morgan. Even though I am Stacy's friend, I am still a reporter and I need to do my job. I got huge ratings on the phone interview between Ben and Stacy and the first meeting of Jennifer and Stacy might even be better (I secretly hope Stacy kicks her ass!).

We walk to the horse trailer and go inside. Stacy hugs Patches and explains, "Patches, Samantha and I are going to be gone for a little while, but we will be together again soon." She then hugs Bo and says, "Okay big boy, you need to take care of Patches until we're together again."

Bo snorts and nods his head so I question, "Did he understand what you said?"

Stacy answers, "Well, Ben seemed to think he understood many things and I'm not going to question Ben."

I hear the sound of approaching choppers and get excited about our trip. On our way to the choppers Stacy surprises me with what she says...