AN; hope you like the first little bit I posted. This is going to be a short story, not much more than 4 or 5 chapters if I can help it. Legal bit; I don't own any of Mr Reilly's characters blah, blah although I think his books would make AWESOME video games.

Chapter 2

It was the mid semester break and Alby Calvin was at his best friend's house in the middle of the barren Australian outback. He had been friends with Lily West for just over 4years now. They went to school for gifted pupils in Perth and they had been through a lot together, 4 years ago in 2008 he had helped her and her adopted father Jack West Jr no less than save the world for sure destruction and got shot in the process. Since then life had been quiet since then, he had been on a few trips to Ireland to meet Zoe West's (Lily's adopted mom and Jack's wife) Parents, he'd been to America and the UAE. But best of all he loved Jack's farmhouse mainly cause he could spend a lot of time with Lily without many prying eyes that were at school or at his house with his family.

He loved Lily, really loved her. She was his closest friend, confident and hopefully she'd be his girlfriend... that is once he plucked up the courage to ask. During this visit most of Lily's extended 'family' where here to see her. There was Sky Monster Jack's personal pilot from New Zealand; no one knew his real name, Sean Miller AKA Astro, a US Force Recon Marine, Zahir al Anzar al Abbas AKA Pooh Bear, the second son Sheik of the UAE, Anzar al Abbashis. Finally there was Benjamin Cohen AKA Stretch, he was formally part of Mossad but now despite religious differences he being Jewish and Pooh Bear being Muslim they are the best of friends. The farmhouse was pretty crowded. He'd have to plan it right, the often went for walks together around the farmland, he'd ask her then.

But alas even that plan had back fired when a fierce sandstorm kicked up and forced everyone inside. They went about doing other things around the farmhouse such as making dinner and catching up on reports for school.

In the kitchen Jack, Zoe and Pooh were making dinner; Pooh was making a speciality from home. If it tasted half as good as it smelled, they were screwed as it smelt pretty damn nasty. 'So has young Alby popped the question to Lily yet?' Pooh asked.

'No he hasn't Pooh, he's very nervous. I had a feeling he was going to do it today when they went for a walk but well this damn sand storm kicked up.' Jack answered.

'Bless him, they really are good friends, I hope they can keep going no matter what.' Zoe chipped in, 'I think she likes him back will never admit it. She's like her dad, puts on a hard bastard act but really is as cuddly as a teddy bear inside.'

Jack glanced at his wife, 'Thanks hun, I do have a reputation to maintain. Anyway Pooh Bear, Son of the Great Sheik, you finally asked the special person in your life to marry you?'

'Yeah he did, but I said no, wasn't my type' Stretch said walking in to the kitchen taking a bite out a juicy apple. Zoe and Jack burst out laughing, Pooh was furious.

'Stretch I should have left you in that damn tank with the Old Master.'

'You wouldn't have. You love me far too much.' He continued to tease.

'Your right I wouldn't have,' Pooh admitted, 'I love you too much, come give a kiss!' and Pooh started chasing Stretch around the kitchen and farmhouse everyone resumed laughing again.

Lily and Alby were in Lily's room catching up on school work. Her room over looked the front of the farm, she could make out the shapes of the 4x4s parked out front, anything beyond 100m was just a red blur, the thick sand being blown past at speed. She was staring into space, into the storm. Alby was sitting on her bed 'Erm Lily...' he stammered a little.

'Yeah?' she answered still staring out the window, lost in thought.

'Well we've been friends for a long time and we're really close. You're my best friend and I love you to pieces...' Lily cut him off.

'What was that?' she said aloud staring out the window intently.

'Lily I said I...' She cut him off again.

'Oh shit that's a helicopter!' She watched through the red dust a black shadow form in it about 100m away, it swooped in and turned to its side, several people jumped out and fanned out forming a lose circle around the chopper all dropping to one knee, guns pulled up into their shoulders.

'What?' Alby blurted, joining her beside the window, 'oh crap,' Lily leapt to her feet and sprinted out her room, 'I have the feeling I'm gonna get shot again.' He grumbled running after her.

Outside with the Blackhawk

The chopper flew into the sandstorm, it was like flying into a wall of red, first you could see and then you couldn't, just swirling red sand. It blasted the windows and somehow wasn't clogging the engines. Adams fully wrapped himself up in his Shermagh fully around his face. 'Get ready we're going in, lock and load and no shooting unless you have too!' He ordered. The rest of the 'drop' team wrapped themselves up in their shermaghs. Schofield and Mother pulled their goggles over their eyes and pulled the USMC version of a shermagh over their faces. Adams stood at one side door and the one with the LMG went to the other door, he appeared to be Adam's no2.

Ellie the pilot swung the Blackhawk into land, she flew directly towards the farmhouse swung it through 90degrees and settled in a low hover. Everyone jumped out as soon as Adams and his no2 opened the doors, sand poured in and started to fill the rear cabin... and the pilot's cock pit. 'Get the fuck out and shut the damn doors! I'm getting blinded in here!'

The side doors slammed shut and the sand stopped, Ellie poured on the power and shot straight up trying to punch through the ceiling of the storm, 'will stay at prearranged staging point Boss, have fun.'

'Have that Ellie, stay on the line I may need you here faster than you think.' Adams said into his radio. The farmhouse was only 100m away, from their circle they formed an extended line and slowly advanced through the red haze.

Farmhouse

'Dad! Dad! We've got company; a chopper has just dropped off a group of people. All armed.' Lily screamed.

Jack didn't waste any time he looked out the front window and caught a glimpse of the shadows in the red haze. 'Oh shit.' He headed back to the kitchen, Zoe had already opened up the emergency stash and was pulling weapons out. Jack dashed into his office and pulled on his trademark dual Desert Eagles and miners jacket. He returned to the kitchen everyone had kitted up and started taking up defensive positions. Lily was still hanging about, 'get somewhere safe, you and Alby go with Sky Monster and get ready to get out of here quickly.'

'Dad I can help! I can shoot, Zoe has been teaching me a little.' Lily pleaded.

'She's what?' Jack reeled shocked, 'you've been teaching her how to shoot?'

'Only enough to get herself out of trouble, steal a weapon, run and only use it if necessary, nothing serious.' Zoe answered.

'For fuck sake. Doesn't matter you're not helping your getting out of here with Alby and Sky. You can help him prep for takeoff.' Jack ordered.

'But dad!' Lily tried pleading again, Jack just glared.

'Come on Lily, let's go. We'll be of more use in the plane, your one hell of a pilot. Better than Sky Monster I bet.' Alby grabbed her hand and pulled her away, following Sky Monster. He looked at Jack all but saying I'll take care of her even if it kills me.

Outside in the storm Adams and his team advanced on the farmhouse. Adams took the centre of the extended line. He had his no2 on the far left flank, the girl called Cassie on the far right. Schofield was also on his right and Mother on the left, the girl with cat ears between her and Adams.

'Boss I got movement at the rear of the property, a technical, 3 occupants heading south towards the hanger.' Cassie reported in.

'Let them go. It's to be expected. Focus on the farmhouse. Keep it tight, stay frosty.' He ordered and lit up a cigarette, his Zippo struggled to stay alight in the strong wind. Forward they pressed.

Everyone had a window. Stretch had jumped up into the roof with a sniper rifle. 'Jack I can see six guys. Lily was right they are all armed. One just lit up a cigarette, looks like the leader. He and 3 others wearing British Desert camo, got 2 wearing USMC desert BDUs... customised Force Recon style.'

'Take out the leader. You have a green to fire.' Jack ordered.

'Ok Jack taking aim.' Stretch answered tightening the grip on the rifle.

At the point of hearing Force Recon style Astro perked up he stole a slight peek out the window trying to see the ones in the Recon gear. It was hard to see through the billowing sand, eventually he caught a glimpse of one Marine and then the other. He looked hard at them, studying them, trying to see if he recognised either of them. Stretch was finishing taking his aim on the leader when a single silver glint in a wall of read caught his eye.

'Cease fire, cease fire!' Astro yelled.

'Astro what the hell?' Jack asked.

'I know the two Marines. If it is who I think it is he won't be here to harm us. Let's wait it out a little Jack, trust me.' Astro looked at Jack, who nodded.

'Stretch keep him in your sights but do not engage.' Jack agreed eventually, 'I hope your right Astro.'

The 6 outside advanced closer, relaxed almost careless. They held a tactical spread but they had no outward aggression. They came within 30meters and the leader (Adams) let go of his rifle and flicked his cigarette away. He left his rifle hang on its sling his arms out stretched to his side like he was nailed to a cross. 'Captain West! I know you're in there. We mean you no harm, in fact I'm here to help.'

Jack peeked up through the window, he studied Adams carefully. 'Astro, who do you think the Marines are?'

'Capt Schofield aka "the Scarecrow" and judging by the height and build of the other one, I'd say he's brought his Mother along with him but left his favourite Book.' Astro explained.

'How do you know its them?'

'I've worked with them before and they know me.' Astro said confidently.

'Ok cause that is the only thing me from opening fire on them.' Jack said coldly.

Adams came to halt, 25m out. 'Captain West. I am here to help you. I know about the pillars and how many people you pissed off in the process of laying them.'

'The Marines with you are they Scarecrow and Mother?' Jack shouted out above the wind.

'Yes.' Adams replied.

It was Astro who spoke up next; 'Scarecrow, it's Astro! Remember from Hell Island, the gorillas?'

'Yeah I remember Astro. How's it been, you went off radar for a bit, left the Corp.' Schofield commented.

'Yeah well fell into playing with this bunch, they are mad.' He chuckled, 'Listen Scarecrow, you brought your mom with you?'

'You better fucking believe it.' Mother shouted.

'Right in short, the guys with you in your opinion, are they good?'

'They are good. They brought me along to make up the numbers.' Schofield answered confidently.

Jack took over; 'Ok who the hell are and what do you want?'