AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you seems so inadequate. So many of you have read Shady's adventures, commented on the stories, followed them, favorited them and asked for more of them. So, in response to your kindness, here's her latest tale. And, as Shady's humble scribe, we believe we've got at least one more after this one! But, whatever the outcome, know how honored and appreciative I have been at your reception. Please enjoy!
Why was it when he was told that the job would be so very easy, Barney Ross always had doubts? They were in a hell-hole in Oaxaca, Mexico called Santo Domingo Tonala or, as it was known by the locals, Tonala. Oaxaca bordered the Mexican state of Guerrero, home to the armed wing of the Knights Templar drug cartel known as la Resistencia. Their job was, basically, a hit. The team was to get in, dispose of the two main leaders of the group and get out. Their intel was sound; the location was spot on. Only problem, when they had attempted to take out their targets, the world around them collapsed. Apparently, Barney's team was a decoy or a better description, a homing beacon. Before they could take a shot, the entire area was set upon by the local police force and their targets were captured. And, the problem with that was, the Expendables were caught in the round-up; unable to identify themselves as the so-called good guys because of their original mission. What a cluster fuck!
The team was on the run, trying to get away from the local policia. So far, Ross, Toll and Gunnar had all made it back to the rendezvous point but there were still three to go. The rest of the team continued to lay low, hiding in wait and avoiding their new adversaries. A rustle in the grass nearby had three weapons immediately pointed in the general direction as Yin's head popped up. Now, they only needed two more.
Barney picked up static on his headset and motioned for the others to listen.
"Yeah," Jensen confirmed, "it's Hale. Sounds like he's yelling for us to..."
"Get the hell out," Caesar was now close enough to be heard, running full out and motioning for the team to get going.
Ross nodded and jumped on their plane that was hidden in the nearby brush. Yin and Toll started yanking at the vines and other foliage they had used to camouflage the transport. Gunnar had weapons ready to lay down cover fire but there didn't appear to be anyone following their running man. He also looked very much alone. All the men entered the plane quickly and Barney began to slowly taxi, yelling as he did, "Where's Christmas?"
"Get us in the air and I'll tell you," Hale responded.
"Not without him," Gunnar argued.
Caesar sat in the floor of the cargo hold, shaking his head, "They caught him. We've got to go."
Except for the sound of the rotors, it was eerily quiet. Toll responded, "We'll have to figure a way to get him. Was he okay?"
Again, Caesar shook his head, "He got clipped. That's how they got him. He was fighting them as only Lee can, in order to buy us the time we needed to get away."
Barney nodded, "Yeah, okay. We get back to San Francisco and regroup. We'll make the return in twenty-four hours."
Yang voiced the unspoken question, "Who's going to tell Shady?"
"These are the types of jobs we never allowed her to participate in," Toll added.
Shortly after Shady had joined the team, Barney and the others had made the decision that missions like these – the ones that were basically assassinations – didn't really require her participation. She was, after all, a formal Federal Agent and it didn't seem right to involve her. Then, when she and Christmas got serious, he certainly didn't want her involved. After the marriage and kids, well, there was no question and Lee didn't even tell her about these types of jobs. All the information he ever gave Shady was that it was another assignment and he'd be home when it was done. Now, the Expendables leader was going to have to go to that wife and tell her that her husband had been captured and was, most likely, being interrogated using methods that the United States had outlawed somewhere around the early 1800's. Too bad Mexico hadn't caught up yet.
"I'll tell her," Ross finally answered, "I'm the boss. It's my job."
Gunnar responded, "I'll call Shadow, see if he can meet us at the hangar. You at least deserve backup."
Barney thanked him and then flew as if the hounds of hell were on his tail. His second in command and best friend was in trouble. The sooner they could get back and rescue him, the better it would be – for everyone.