Kung Fu Panda: Apocalypse Now by
Mitchicus
Chapter 4: Camp Chun
A/N: I'm back with another chapter! This story has OCs from SilverTigerDirector (Koru and Yunwei, Jiu-Ne, and Tigress' real name, Hei-Wa), Racin Mason 24 (Xueren), The Mysteriouswatcher (Kajirn), taskarrthetwisted (Kann), Gravidal The Dragon (Gravidal Bian), Psychic ninja (Jiraiya), The. Anyone that has a loose stomach should skip to the end of this chapter after the beginning part, just saying. And now to the chapter.
December 24, 1965.
Christmas Eve. Her birthday. Ryu sat in a chair, watching the news as the reporters displayed footage of the front on the television. She turned in her chair uncomfortably, seeing the soldiers trekking through the leech infested waters and watching out for enemy snipers and booby traps. Mitch was going through the same things, she knew. It was another year when Mitch had not been with her on her birthday or Christmas Eve.
Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door. She jumped up and turned off the television, seeing a military car in front of her house. She froze. She had seen the same kind of car before, and knew that it brought to many families the news that their loved one had perished. She took a deep breath and slowly walked to the door, freezing there once again. Finally, she put her paw on the doorknob and opened the door, coming face to face with a colonel in full military uniform, holding an envelope.
"Ma'am, you are Ryu?" He asked.
She nodded slowly. "Don't tell me…he's…"
"We don't know ma'am." He said. "Captain Merindus placed you as the first person to know if anything happened to him. While on a secret mission…we believe he was captured."
"What do you mean, 'believe'?" Ryu demanded.
"We did not find any bodies, and we believe that he is now a prisoner of war." The colonel said.
"Are you going to search for him?" She asked.
The colonel sighed. "I shouldn't be telling you this, because it is top secret, but we know where they are; exactly where they are. The only problem is that they are in Cambodia, which is 'neutral' in the war. We are still seeking approval from President Johnson on whether to act, since they are high value soldiers."
"Will…will I be informed if you get them back?" She asked.
The colonel nodded. "You will be the first to know. Here is mail that he sent you before he went on the mission." The panther handed her the envelope, Ryu holding it tightly.
"Good day, ma'am." He said before leaving, Ryu closing the door behind him.
She was glad that he wasn't dead, or so she was told, and slowly sat back down, opening the envelope. She pulled out a small photo of Po and Mitch in color, as well as a letter. She smiled at seeing his face, Po and Mitch having their arm around the other's shoulder and smiling for the camera, each holding up their M-16. Ryu read the letter.
Dear Ryu,
I'm really sorry about not being able to write to you all this time! Please don't be mad at me! We've been going on so many missions that I haven't really had the time to write a letter like this, but I HAD to write this now because I wouldn't not wish you a happy birthday (I'm writing from a helicopter)! I was thinking of what to give you as a present from here in 'Nam, but I didn't know what you wanted! So I got you this picture of me and Po. We took this only a few days before I wrote this, just wanting to show you that we're happy, healthy, and of course, alive! Charlie's a real pain in the ass these days, but we've learned to outsmart him. When we're not on missions, we wait for our next one as we listen to The Beatles! Now you see that Vietnam isn't that bad after all! The only thing that I regret about joining the forces Ryu is not getting to see you, and damn it, I lost my only photo of you in a rice patty! Can you send me another please, babe? My tour of duty is GREATLY extended thanks to being a Green Beret, but I'll be fine. Besides, we still get three weeks military leave every year (I can't wait to see you next November)! And guess what? 'Nam is just like California in at least one way! We can surf! Me and Po ruled the waves, and all the other GIs had to sit on the beach and watch! To calm you down and let you feel that I'm safer, I'll keep my head down more and watch my back. Po already does the second part though (a little too much honestly). I'm sorry I'm not there for your birthday, CE, and Christmas Day. God will watch over me and I'll be fine. Take care of yourself, and be careful with all of those riots going on, now I wouldn't want YOU to get hurt now would I? Stay safe, and may God be with you.
Your boyfriend,
Mitch
Mitch's arms were bound to the top of the bamboo cage, his head slumped against the top of it while he was submerged in the cage up to his shoulders. Po was beside him in another cage, in the same way. For nearly two weeks they had rotted in those cages, receiving little rice a day. They were Tai Lung's "special guests", and were not tortured or killed sooner. Anger filled their minds at Koru, who they believed to have betrayed them. However, he was their only hope of escape. They were in Camp Chun, in an underground part of the camp.
They constantly heard yells and screams from the torture room, and then dead silence as they were killed or their tongue and vocal cords were cut out. The two were fucked and they knew it.
They heard Vietcong laughing, and Mitch's ears perked up.
"Po?" Mitch whispered, and Po slowly turned to him. "I think it's our turn. Stay strong, don't give them anything; remember what we trained for."
Po bit his lip and nodded nervously. Four Vietcong walked into the room, pulling the two out of their cages and throwing them to the ground. They laughed, pulling out knives. The Vietcong began cutting off the leeches latching onto the Americans, taking flesh with it. The Vietcong laughed again and kicked them in the face, beginning to taunt them.
Tai Lung walked in, ordering them to stop in Vietnamese. Luckily for Mitch, he knew Vietnamese and spoke it fluently. He knew everything they were saying, and would say. Tai Lung ordered them to take them to the torture room and they obeyed, following the general with the two Green Berets being dragged behind them. They saw the room, seeing cells going into the wall holding Po and Mitch's men from the team they went on the mission with, as well as additional GIs.
In the corner was a bloody square, where Kann was on his knees and was being hit over and over again with a club by a large White Tiger. Kann was grinning through the pain.
"That all you got? Your grandmother could hit harder than you!" Kann said as blood rushed down his head, laughing.
The White Tiger held the bloody club and raised it. He wore no shirt and had on Russian combat boots, with camouflage pants. An AK-47 with a strap was over his shoulder, as well as two sheathed machetes, and two belts of ammo went around his shoulders. He was much larger than Po or Mitch, and one could argue much stronger as well. He snarled and began to hit Kann again and again, still receiving the same response.
"Is that seriously all you got? I've been tortured by Vietcong before, I have experience!" Kann said, and the White Tiger raised the club again but was stopped by Tai Lung.
"Stop, Devastator." Tai Lung growled, and the monster obeyed.
"It is clear that he will not speak, so put him back in the cell!" The general commanded, and the tiger did so.
Towards the other corner of the room was a table with two chairs, and a GI sat between two Vietcong soldiers, standing and pointing their weapons at him. The American was bloody and tattered, and had given up. Tai Lung grinned and went over, pulling out a knife and slicing open his throat, letting the blood pour onto the table and letting his body fall to the ground.
"You fucking son of a bitch!" Mitch roared, making Tai Lung laugh wickedly.
"Captain Merindus, I pray that you talk." Tai Lung said laughing. "Otherwise…well, we'll turn up the voltage even more."
Mitch turned back to Po and nodded, accepting what would happen to him next. They picked him up and placed him on a table, tying him up and strapping cords onto him. Tai Lung laughed as he came over to him, noticing his necklace.
Tai Lung pulled out the bloody blade and pulled up the necklace to his eyes, grinning at the cross as it was connected to Mitch's neck from the dog tag beads.
"Religious, are you?" Tai Lung asked, hearing a growl from Mitch. "I assure you that once you feel what this does to you, you will denounce your maker in order to escape the pain and suffering this brings. I will break your faith!"
Tai Lung cranked up a knob, sending electricity into the tiger. Mitch gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, his hands clenching into fists as he tried to remain silent during the pain. Tai Lung turned the knob back down, laughing evilly. Mitch was panting, but never said a word.
"Let's see if we crank it up a little." Tai Lung said, twisting the knob much farther than before.
Mitch shook violently, still trying to make not to say a single word.
"Come on, captain. All you have to do is denounce your maker." Tai Lung said, laughing evilly as he suffered.
Mitch did nothing, knowing that he would rather die than denounce God.
"Stop!" Po yelled, Tai Lung turning and switching off the electricity.
"Captain, do you wish to take his place in torment?" Tai Lung asked, grinning.
Po nodded, and Tai Lung ordered Mitch to be taken back. Mitch fell unconscious, and the Vietcong dragged him back to the other room where his cage lay.
Stay strong, Po. The panda told himself as he was not taken to the shock table, but to a hook hanging from the ceiling. Tai Lung thrust it into his shoulder, making the panda grunt in pain and lifted the hook up, making the panda hang from the ground. Po kept grunting, beginning to pant as he grasped the hook and tried to pull himself up to relieve some pressure on his flesh.
Tai Lung laughed evilly and walked around Po, pushing him and making him sway from side to side.
"Why did you and your team come here, captain? What is your purpose?" Tai Lung demanded, receiving no response.
For ten more minutes Tai Lung questioned him, receiving no response. Koru rushed in.
"General Lung, he has had enough; let him live." Koru said in Vietnamese.
Tai Lung snarled. "What makes you give the orders?" He roared.
"I don't give orders, but I do know when someone is not going to talk." Koru said, crossing his arms.
Tai Lung ordered Devastator to take the panda off of the hook, and he did so, dragging him back to his cage. Tai Lung looked at Koru.
"It will not matter; one of them at least will die in thirty minutes in a game of Russian Roulette." Tai Lung said and stormed off into another room.
Devastator walked out of the room that Po and Mitch were being held in and Koru passed him, ordering the guards there to leave while he "interrogated" the prisoners there. He kneeled in front of Po's cage.
"Po," Koru said, the panda looking up.
Blood was reddening the murky water that Po was being held in, and Mitch was still unconscious, blood dripping out of his nose. Koru awoke Mitch, the tiger glaring at him as well as the panda.
"Traitor," Mitch murmured.
"I am not a traitor; I am a double agent that provides Lung with false information and the Americans with the true secrets." Koru whispered. "I apologize for not telling you sooner; it was supposed to be a secret. Tai Lung will have the two of you play Russian Roulette in thirty minutes, and that is your only time to escape." Koru said.
"How?" Po asked.
"I have hidden all of you and the GI's weapons near their cells, and you must begin fighting the Vietcong around you and I will take care of the rest of them. Then we move out of the camp, freeing all live GIs and getting out of here to a landing zone ten miles from here, where evac will meet us, since I already radioed in to them." Koru said.
Po nodded, and Mitch said nothing. Koru wished them luck and left, bringing the guards back in to avoid suspicion. When the time came, the guards pulled them out of the cages again and brought them to the table and chairs that the GI had been slayed by Tai Lung at, and were forced to sit down. Koru stood in the corner of the room, and Tai Lung left to meet his new…allies.
Mitch was breathing heavily, guns pointed at him and Po.
"How do we do this?" Mitch asked Po.
"No talk, play!" A Vietcong soldier said and placed a Python revolver on the table.
The gun was loaded with one bullet, and Po and Mitch were to be forced to put the gun at their own head and pull the trigger until one was killed.
"Shoot now GI, or you die anyways!"
"You can't kill me!" Mitch roared, being hit with the butt of an enemy rifle for his disrespect.
"Mitch, no." Po said.
The Vietcong soldier picked up the gun and spun the chambers three times, then set it in front of Mitch.
"Shoot GI!"
Mitch growled and grabbed the gun, pointing it at his own head.
"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" He yelled before pulling the trigger.
He heard a click as the bullet was not in that chamber, and dropped it onto the table. The Vietcong hit him with the butt of their rifles and now ordered Po to take the gun. He knew it was now time to act. He pulled it to his head, his heart racing.
Mitch nodded, and took a deep breath. It was a gamble for Po, betting that the next chamber of the six chamber revolver held the bullet. He suddenly pressed the gun to the chest of a Vietcong and fired, driving the bullet through his heart and pulling out a Russian CZ-75 pistol from his holster and beginning to shoot Vietcong around the room and Mitch broke the neck of another. Koru downed seven VC, saving both of the Green Berets lives.
They heard shouts down the hall as more Vietcong were coming into the room.
"The weapons are to the left of the cells, dig them up!" Koru yelled as he picked up an AK-47 and began fighting the Vietcong back down the tunnel, stopping at the start of the tunnel and holding the line.
Po and Mitch jumped up and dug into the dirt, finding sniper rifles, M-16s, pistols, and even two M60s. They busted open the cells and found Kann, Kajirn, Xueren, and Jiraiya. Another American, a wolf who was a lieutenant, named Gravidal Bian picked up his scoped M21 and dusted it off. The other warriors picked up their weapons and Mitch and Po found their pistols and rifles.
Po and Mitch assumed command, leading them all down the tunnel with Koru behind them. They found VC charging the other direction at them and shot them down, determined to avenge their fallen comrades. They went up and got out of the underground, ending up in an open area surrounded by huts. The Americans engaged the Vietcong, managing to defeat them with few deaths. Suddenly, they heard the roar of a helicopter.
Americans cheered, believing it to be their extract, but Po and Mitch knew otherwise.
"Everyone get down!" Mitch commanded, and everyone dropped to the ground as a Russian Hind Gunship opened fire with its rockets and miniguns, spraying the Americans and killing those that were not able to drop down.
The helicopter banked and went to a high hut, dropping a rope and Siberian Tigers beginning to slide down it.
"Russian special forces!" Po yelled, shooting a Russian in the back and making him fall to his death.
The Spetsnaz dropped down to the hut and engaged the Americans, beginning to kill some of the outmatched Americans. Po and Mitch charged while the rest held the position, dodging bullets as they drew closer and opened fire, killing most of the tigers with that burst. They jumped onto the hut and began to fight with close quarters combat, Mitch breaking the jaw of a Russian with the butt of his gun while Po thrust a knife into a foe's chest.
Soon the Spetsnaz were all dead, proof that the Berets were a stronger force (even with fewer numbers at that range as well). The helicopter was still active, however. Po picked up an RPG as he and Po jumped off of the hut, rolling to the ground as it exploded. The helicopter banked and was returning for an attack run when Po aimed down the sights and fired, the helicopter exploding and its wreckage falling to the ground.
The Americans cheered and ran to a garage camouflaged with leaves on it. Po picked up the RPG and several rounds from a dead Vietcong and went to the garage. Mitch got into a Russian jeep, armed with a machine gun on the back. The tiger sat in the passenger side and Po got into the back, manning the gun and handing the RPG and spare ammo to Mitch.
Koru got into the front and drove out of the garage, the rest of the Americans following in a large truck, and the Americans sped down the road, the jeep going behind the truck to defend it as Vietcong appearing at the camp began to open fire back at them. Po fired a burst of the machine gun, dropping five dead quickly.
The jeep went behind the truck, speeding as fast as it could go down the road. Suddenly, two Hinds were seen in the rear view mirror Koru noticed.
"We've got company." He said coolly, Po and Mitch turning around as the ground behind them began to be pelted by bullets and rockets.
Po opened fire on one Hind, and Mitch at the other. Mitch's rocket was inaccurate and missed its target, though Mitch was clearly aimed right at it. Po was piercing through the armor of the Hind slowly, and finally the helicopter exploded. Mitch's target drew too close and the tiger fired another rocket, blowing it to hell.
He laughed and high fived Po, just as more bullets began to whizz around them. Behind them was a convoy of jeeps, Vietcong driving and firing from them. Po and Mitch fired back, Po blasting a jeep into the air and the wreckage slammed into another jeep. Mitch fired his last rocket and destroyed two jeeps, and began firing his M-16.
They came to a flat field; the evac zone. Po and Mitch jumped out of the jeep as Koru parked it behind trees and he himself jumped out, assisting the two as they fired at the Vietcong. The other GIs formed a line in the tree line and pushed the Vietcong back, until they heard an unholy rumble. Now in front of the Vietcong transports was a Russian T54 battle tank, and behind it was even more Spetsnaz.
The tank fired, blasting trees into the air. They didn't have weapons to beat that. This is it, Po thought. Suddenly, they began to hear music in the distance. Mitch grinned as the beginning music of "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival played. The tank and its convoy began to back up, just as a rocket slammed into the T54, blowing its turret clean off.
Po turned and saw the air filled with hueys, firing rockets and miniguns at the convoy. The Russians and their Vietnamese allies retreated, being shot as they did so. The panda saw the familiar teeth on the front of Red' s helicopter as it landed, he, Mitch, and Koru piling into it.
"We thought you two were gonners!" Red said grinning.
"VC can't kill us." Po said, panting.
Mason and Chase laughed.
"Glad to have you back!" Mason said, shaking the hands of his two superiors.
Koru just sat on the bench, checking his M21. The helicopter lifted off, leading the others into the air as they escaped the clutches of the Russians and Vietcong.
"Say, was that a fricking T54?" Red asked.
Po nodded. "And Spetsnaz; it looks like they really are involved, much more than we thought so."
"Aye," Chase said.
Mitch glared at Koru. "Give me your weapons."
"Excuse me?" Koru asked.
"I said give me them, dammit! That's an order!" Mitch roared, and Koru obeyed.
Mitch set the weapons on the other side of him, out of Koru's reach.
"What are you doing?" Koru asked.
"I don't trust you." Mitch said.
"Why?"
"A lot of good men died because of what you did. You could have broken us out sooner, thus taking away such bloodshed!"
"I broke you two out when I got my only chance!" Koru exclaimed.
Mitch shook his head and looked out the side of the helicopter, still thinking of the Russian interference. The Russians were not supposed to be here. This could mean that war could spread past Vietnam; a war that would be known as WWIII if not stopped.
A/N: Po and Mitch escape the evil clutches of Tai Lung and the torture camp! I'm sorry if that chapter bothered you with the realism there, but that's what really happened to US and South Vietnamese soldiers. That's why I respect 'Nam vets especially! Anyways, I'll have the next chapter out by the end of the week probably. Next chapter: Back to Tigress. Po returns to see Tigress before he and Po go on military leave to the United States. Please review, share, comment, and please, no flames!
