Afghanistan. February 2002.
It's night around the rocky mountains of the Central Asia country. A military camp. Some trucks and jeeps are parked. In the middle, a big tent, with lights on. A meeting takes place inside.
The young Ranger looks at the photo of her sister, with a thoughtful expression. The soldier of blond hair is sitting together with other American soldiers like him. Besides them, a group of Japanese soldiers talk in their native language.
A redhead woman, with a ponytail, tall, with an athletic body, wearing camouflaged military fatigues enters in the tent and goes in front of a white board. She is beautiful and with some freckles in her face. She is in her early twenties. She is accompanied by an older officer, in his forties. He is shorter and with a stocky body. He has gray hair and moustache. He is also wearing camo fatigues.
- Good evening, soldiers. My name is Colonel Malthus. You know that I am the Coalition Special Ops Commander in this region of Afghanistan. If I'm here it's because it's an important mission.
The Colonel turns to the woman and introduces her to the crowd:
- This is Special Agent Shana O'Hara from Military Intelligence. She will run this operation. Agent, they are all yours.
- Lights, please? - The Agent asks.
The lights go out. While Agent O'Hara is preparing to start her briefing, behind the young Ranger with blond hair, one American soldier whisper to another:
- I've heard she is kind of a wonder girl. Graduated at college in her teens. IQ to the roof. Enlisted at 18 and with 20 was already in a command position inside MI.
Ignoring the gossip that was being said about her, the Military Intelligence Special Agent begins her explanation. A projector is turned on and an image of a Stealth bomber fallen in a rocky valley appears in the white screen.
- Two days ago, one of our Stealth airplanes suffered a breakdown and crashed in a Taliban controlled valley. We managed to sent a Search and Rescue team in time, but what we feared the most happened: one of the nuclear missiles is gone.
An archived image of a nuclear missile, similar to the one lost in the accident appears in the screen of the projector.
- And to get things worse, one of the pilots was also kidnapped. We think he might have been tortured to reveal the missile safe code.
An image of a Taliban terrorist appears in the projector.
- We know that this man, known only as Ahmed is behind of this missile heist. We think he is negotiating the sell of this artifact for a more important terrorist.
Agent O'Hara turns to the group of Japanese soldiers and continues:
- The Sergeant Tomito Arashikage platoon has found Ahmed in a recon mission yesterday and find out that he was heading to a refugee camp. It's likely the transaction is going to happen there.
The young Ranger looks to Arashikage, whom returns the look with an ironic smile, as if he was bragging about the deed. The Ranger smiles back, with a certain disdain, but deep down reflects the camaraderie between the two soldiers. Tomito salutes the Ranger. He salutes back.
- The Sergeant Arashikage team will assist this operation because they are very familiarized with this region. A Ranger platoon will help us as well.
O'Hara presses a button in the projector and a picture of a man of noble face in his late thirties appears on the screen.
- The refugee camp is managed by the Baron Eugen DeCobray. He is a famous humanitarian and has concentrated his efforts here in Afghanistan to help Taliban victims. Tomorrow the camp will receive a large shipment of supplies and we are going to infiltrate it as volunteers.
The lights go on again. The Colonel speaks
- Gentlemen, I don't need to say how much important is this mission. Our priority is to retrieve the missile at any cost and we have to do it before the world knows about it. It would be too dangerous for the USA if this information leaks. Rest well today because tomorrow at Five-Hundred in the morning we will be heading to the refugee camp. All dismissed.
The Japanese soldiers and the Rangers get up and leave the main tent. O'Hara gets closer to the Colonel and talks to him discreetly:
- Colonel, are you sure this is the best way? We are risking a lot using this volunteer disguise...
- There's too much at stake here, Agent O'Hara. We can't afford to lose any time. If we don't act quickly, we are going to lose this opportunity.
The Military Intelligence Agent gets apprehensive but eventually she ends up agreeing.
At night, in a hill next of the coalition soldiers camp. In the back, the tents, with dim lights and some vehicles. The young Ranger is taking guard, holding his M4 Assault Rifle, with a telescopic sight. The hill gives a panoramic view of the entire camp.
The Sergeant Arashikage gets close, also carrying his M4. The Ranger stands up, looks the Japanese in the eyes and says:
- Congrats, Tommy, for the lead.
The soldier from Japan sports a smile and then they both hug each other.
- Long time no see, huh, buddy? - Tomito Arashikage speaks in an english with a strong Japanese accent.
- Yes, since that last mission... - The Ranger answers with a depressed expression on his face.
- I've seen that you haven't get over it...
- All our squad dead, Tommy! On my first assignment! What did you expect?
- You saved my life that day, my friend. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. - Tomito "Tommy" Arashikage says, tapping on his American comrade's shoulder.
- Yeah, you'd probably right.
- And the rumors, are they true? You are everyday more closed, shutted? I've heard some comments from your new colleagues?
- They don't understand. I'm not a shutted person. I'm only doing my job. This is not a walk in the park.
- I know what this is about. It was not your fault what happened. Don't let the ghosts of the past keep you from the flesh and blood of the present.
- Tommy, I can't do it. I can't make the emotional investment in these guys, because I know the moment I let myself feel like I have some semblance of a family out here, they are going to disappear, just like the others!
- I didn't disappear. I'm here, just like your new colleagues. Don't be afraid. Let us help you carry the weight of the world from time to time, okay?
- You're a good friend, Tommy. You know that? - The blond hair soldier declares with a big smile.
- Of course I do - The Japanese answers, smiling as well - And I always will be.
Inside one of the coalition's camp tent. Colonel Malthus sits besides his bed and gets a global communication device. It looks like a mobile phone, only bigger. He presses some buttons and stats to talk:
- Tomorrow we will start the operation, Senator Hagel.
Someone answers in the other end of the line.
- Yes, you can rest assured that we will not fail. Of course I know the problems we would have if the media knows of the loss of this artifact. You don't have to worry. Over and out.
Refugee camp. The next day.
The camp spreads for a big high plane surrounded by large rocky mountains. Everything has a grey color. Lots of dust. Lots of poorness.
Two men get close to a tent. They are tall, strong and have an aristocratic demeanor. Both of them wear a proper outfit for a safari, high black leather boots and shirts and trousers in khaki color, with a style very similar to a military fatigue. The man who comes first is older, in his sixties with his hair is already grey. The youngest comes a little behind, and is in his thirties, with light brown hair.
They come in the direction of Baron Eugen DeCobray. He is standing in front of his tent. Beside him, two tables with sun umbrellas. The tent is an high ground place that gives a good view of the entire camp.
The Baron is accompanied by a young woman, in her twenties. She has long and very dark black hair. Her skin in white and she wears horn-rimmed glasses. Her face is very beautiful and she has a great body as well. She is sit by the Baron. Her expression is proud, arrogant even. But she also shows sensuality and bit of naïveté.
The older man shake hands with the Baron and says with a heavy scottish accent:
- It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Baron DeCobray.
- The pleasure is mine, Mister McCullen - The Baron answers, revealing with his accent, to come from some Eastern Europe country.
- Please call me James.
James McCullen turns to the younger man who accompanies him, and then introduces them to the Baron:
- I want you to meet my son: James McCullen XXIV. He is already joining me in my business. Very soon he will be in front of it all.
The son of the James McCullen XXIII shakes hands with the Baron:
- Nice to meet you, Baron.
- Let me introduce you to my sister, Baroness Anastasia DeCobray.
The Scottish father kisses the hand of the Baroness, who keeps sit. James McCullen XXIV does the same. In this moment, the eyes of the scottish young man and Anastasia meet and a spark of sexual attraction appears in the air.
- Enchanté, Baroness.
- The pleasure is all mine, Mister McCullen.
- Please, call me James - He return the greetings to the Baroness with a smile.
The Baron and James McCullen Senior sit down at one table and start to talk. In the other table, James McCullen Junior sits besides Anastasia.
- So is it true that you came to bring a donation to my brother's work? - The Baroness asks, showing a bit of pride in her commentary. She also has a strong Eastern Europe Country accent.
- The company of our family, M.A.R.S. dedicates also to humanitarian causes. We try to give back some of the money we make for the people who need the most. Which better investment that helping the innocent people that suffers with the misguided use of the weapons we sell?
In this moment, a photographer takes a picture of James McCullen XXIII giving a check to Baron DeCobray.
- You rest assured that my brother and I are very thankful with the donation of your family's company, "James" - The Baroness answers, stressing well the end of the phrase, suggesting a little flirtation.
- We are more than happy to help, Baroness, or I can call you Anastasia? - The Scotsman asks, wasting charm.
In the opposite side of the refugee camp, several heavy trucks pass by the entrance gates. The vehicles are loaded with supplies. In the wheel is the blond Ranger, and besides him, Tommy Arashikage, both disguised as volunteers. In the body of another truck, Shana O'Hara, with a khaki outfit and a Red Cross arm band observes the mission development with apprehension.
The sun is setting and a small helicopter get ready to land. Baron DeCobray shake hands with James McCullen father and son.
- Thank you very much for your donation, Mister McCullen. I'm certain I will give good destination to your contribution.
- The M.A.R.S. Industries are always willing to help you with your excellent work.
- Forgive the brevity of our meeting, but today is arriving a very important supply shipment and I must overview it personally.
- There's nothing to forgive about, Baron. It's part of the job. I know this very well. Besides, our ride is already here. We will meet again in another occasion.
The oldest Scotsman kisses the hand of the Baroness
- Goodbye my dear. I'm very pleased to meet you.
- The pleasure is all mine, Mister McCullen.
The youngest Scotsman also kisses the hand of Anastasia.
- So long, Anastasia. I was very pleased to meet you as well.
- See you later, James - The Baroness answers, giving him a "will meet again soon" smile.
The two Scottish men get near the chopper that is already on the ground spreading a world of dust in the arid terrain of Afghanistan. The two embark and the helicopter takes off. It's almost night in the Central Asia country.
The helicopter travels through some kilometers. McCullen 23 talks to his son:
- You already know what to do, right?
- Yes - The son answers.
- This weapon must be ours. It's too important. It will be a great milestone for our family's company.
- I won't let you down, father.
The chopper lands down in a valley, a little distant of the refugee camp. James McCullen, the son, takes a dark briefcase, a night vision goggles and jumps from the helicopter, while it keeps itself one meter, more or less, above the ground. The son of the M.A.R.S. C.E.O. crouches as he touches the ground. The chopper then takes off. After the dust settles, walking rapidly, crouched, as in a stealth operation, McCullen goes towards the camp as the night falls in.
In her bed, inside her tent, Anastasia, restless, tries to read a book to calm herself down. Something, she doesn't know exactly what, is robbing her sleep that night.
Near there, in the central warehouse, Baron DeCobray inspects personally the medic and food supplies that are being unloaded. Among the Red Cross volunteers are some soldiers in disguise. Some of them are Shana O'Hara, Tommy Arashikage and the blond Ranger.
Not too far of the camp, in a small valley, two Ranger platoons and Japanese soldiers wait inside two Humvees, ready to engage in combat. Inside of the of cars is Colonel Malthus. He waits anxiously for some news to start action.
Shana, while putting some medic box in the floor, seizes the moment to whisper to Tommy:
- Let's split up discretely and walk around the camp searching for leads. Tell the others.
Tommy nods and looks to the Ranger of blond hair. He gives the look back, indicating that understood the command. One after another, they leave their work in the main warehouse and start the mission of finding the terrorists that have the nuclear device.
It's already late of the night and the young Ranger, dressed as a local muslim, with his face hidden by a dark cloth, walks around the camp looking for clues. As he passes by a tent, he listens to an Arab men calling some other to go with him to some place. Both are nervous and edgy.
The Ranger notices that this may be a lead. He looks to his communicator and then to the two nervous guys walking right beside him. He turns his back to the men, concealing his real motives and decides to follow them, discretely.
In one of the far parts of the camp, there's a pickup stationed, with its cargo back inside of a tent. The light is very dim inside the shelter. In the car front cabin, two Arab terrorists wait distracted.
At a dimmed light, James McCullen, with his face covered with shadows asks to the terrorist, called simply Ahmed:
- Do you have what I want?
- Yes, as it was settled with your boss, Destro. - The Arab answers with an English with a strong Farsi accent.
Behind him are two other terrorists armed with AK-47 rifles posing as his bodyguards. They are the Arabs that were discussing near the blond Ranger.
- And the code? This serves nothing to me without the code.
- Of course I have it. The American pilot tried to resist but it was in vain. He suffered for nothing. - The Arab terrorist says it with a little smile in his lips. - What about the money? - The Arab continues.
- It is all inside this briefcase. But first the code.
- Calm down, my friend. We are here to do a fair negotiation. - The terrorist walks towards the pickup.
In the cargo back of the vehicle, there's an object of great volume, covered by a heavy cloth. James tries to accompany Ahmed, but he is stopped by one of the Arab bodyguards.
- You better stay right there, friend. - The terrorist warns - Only I know the code, and it will be like that until you give me the money.
The tent has a little side entrance, next to the cargo back. Hidden in the shadows, the blond Ranger, stands holding a 9mm suppressed handgun. He observes how the negotiation is proceeding, waiting for the right moment to act.
The Arab takes of the cloth of the cargo back of the pickup, revealing the American nuclear artifact. The weapon has a little more than one meter of length and appears to weigh several kilograms. The metal body shines in the dimmed light of the tent.
James get out of the shadows for a moment and it's possible to see the sparkle on his eyes as he sees the so desired ordnance.
The Arab stands in front of a console that projects itself out of the weapon body. The interface has an electronic display and a group of numeric keys. Ahmed types a set of sixteen algarisms. The blond Ranger, outside of the tent, observes the sequence typed down. The weapon display panel activates itself, lightning the face of the Arab terrorist. In the artifact console display, a message appears in phosphorous green letters: Nuclear Weapon Activated.
James realizes the terrorist has the code and gets apprehensive and anxious. Rapidly, the arab types again a key sequence and the weapon disarms itself. He turns to James:
- OK, my friend, you already saw that we have the correct code. Now the money, uh?
In this moment, the blond Ranger breaches the tent by its lateral entry. He points his gun to all: the terrorist, his bodyguards and James McCullen:
- Freeze! All of you drop your weapons - Speaks the young soldier, trying not to raise his voice so he wouldn't alert the drivers of the truck
James immediately takes a step back and stays again with his face in the shadows. The body guards continue to hold their assault rifles. The terrorist shows he will give a command to the driver and then the Ranger shoots the arab dealer with his suppressed pistol.
James seizes the opportunity and in a split second raise his black briefcase until the height of his head and position it like a video camera. He presses a button in the valise and a small piece moves out of the briefcase. A muzzle of an integrated submachine gun is revealed inside. A volley of bullets rips the tent. The Ranger throws himself on the side entry where he went. The two bodyguards are down, but not before they fire their assault rifles. The arab terrorist leader, even hurt, manages to get inside the truck rear. In arab, he screams something, and the car starts running at high speed.
In different places of the camp, far away from there, Shana O'Hara and Tommy listen to the shots fired.
In the main warehouse, the Baron also listen to the shots and run to see what's happening.
In her tent, Anastasia tosses her book away, wears some clothes and starts preparing to check things out.
James notices that another truck, similar to the one carrying the Nuclear device and two motorcycles are coming fast in high velocity. The truck and the bikes bring more arab soldiers towards the tent. The Scottish hides in the shadows and escapes the scene discreetly.
The Ranger see the cycles approaching, faster than the second truck. He shoots one of the bike riders making him fall from his two wheeled vehicle. The motorcycle swirls on the ground and almost hit the Ranger in the feet. With a rapid movement he takes the bike of the floor, rides it and starts chasing the other chopper that was already following the first truck with the nuclear weapon. The second truck comes right behind them.
Shana O'Hara holds a radio communicator and yells:
- Colonel Malthus, there's something happening here. I've heard shots, but I don't have any strong intel yet.
- I doesn't matter, agent. This is our cue. - Replies the Colonel. He turns to the driver sitting next to him in the HumVee and orders: - Engage, soldier!
- Colonel, it could be too risky to attack that way… - The Military Intelligence agent tries to convince the US officer.
- Continue the operation and give us more intel. We're coming. Over and out.
The Ranger, riding the bike he stole from one Taliban rebel, is almost hit by the second truck that was coming right behind him. He talks in a communication device:
- Agent O'Hara, I'm chasing a Toyota truck with the nuclear warhead. It appears they are heading towards the main warehouse.
- All units - Orders the Colonel - head to the main warehouse!
The Colonel's humvee and the other vehicles turn in a curve at high speed in the outer rim of the refugee camp, rising sand and dust all over the place.
The Ranger continues to pursuit the two trucks and the bike that is escorting them. One of the trucks is carrying the nuclear device.
The arab riding the bike hits the breaks and gets side by side with the Ranger. The choppers pair themselves. The Ranger tries to unholster his pistol but the Taliban rebel hits him with a kick making his bike to lose balance a bit. The Ranger manages to pull himself together and stabilize his motorcycle.
The rebel pair his bike again and draws a big and sharp knife. He deals a strike against the Ranger. The young soldier with blond hair stops the blow holding the arab's pulse very tightly. The terrorist tries to let go but can't do it. The bikes are glued together by the arms of their pilots. Just ahead, on the side of the afghan rebel's bike stands a parking truck. The American pushes the arab's arm away making his bike to lose direction. In the next moment the rebel's bike shocks itself with the truck. The motorcycle twirl in the air tossing the arab rebel several meters away. The Ranger continues to purchase the trucks.
In the truck that is closer to the American pursuer, an arab soldier draw his AK-47. He points his assault rifle against the bike riding Ranger and fires a continuous burst of bullets, ripping the floor making dust to rise. The blond soldier is able to dodge the shots in the last second. He was on one side of the road and makes a total inversion to the other side while the shots of the AK-47 continue to chase him. He then draws his 9mm pistol, now without the suppressor and fires. The shot hits the body of the truck. He fires for a second time. The shot hits right in the Taliban's soldier chest. He drops his assault rifle and falls from the truck.
Before the Ranger could shot another time, another taliban soldier, in a crouched position points a RPG launcher and fires against the American's bike. The projectile fires in a straight line leaving a smoking trail. The Ranger jumps for his bike in the very moment the grenade will hit him. The explosive ordnance reaches the bike making it to explode in a huge ball of heat and fire. Still in the air, the Ranger is tossed away by the explosion's shockwave.
The American soon recovers from the setback and is already running after the truck. Pointing his pistol, he makes a lot of fires, all in vain, against the truck that is disappearing behind a downhill. The Ranger, while running, looses an empty clip of his gun and reloads with another one full of bullets. When he reaches the top of the downhill he can only see one truck. Right ahead, the central warehouse.
- I'm still on pursuit. The truck is heading to the main warehouse. - The Ranger informs using his communication link.
The afghan rebel onboard the truck prepares himself to fire another shot of the RPG launcher that he holds. He aims to the Ranger. The American soldier, still running, points his 9mm pistol with laser sights against the terrorist and fires. The shot hits right in the head. The rebel falls from the track as he was a ragdoll, carrying with him his RPG launcher.
The American shoots one few times against the truck, with no success. As the afghan vehicle gain speed towards the main warehouse, the Ranger is being left behind.
The warehouse is nothing more than a group of high tents. Its ceiling is covered by a thick and waterproof fabric. There's no walls or doors, it is wide open and sustained by some columns and cables from the ceiling to the ground. Inside the tents there are several boxes of food piled up. The warehouse has a wide open area. Inside, among the wooden boxes, is the Taliban pickup truck. In the cargo bed, a thick cloth cover its loadout.
The Ranger assaults the warehouse, holding his 9mm pistol. He is still wearing local muslim clothes, without the cover of the face. The terrorist leader Ahmed is holding Baron Eugen DeCobray hostage. Pointing a handgun against the face of the European noble, the rebel shows a nervous expression of rage. Two other rebels are beside the hostage, each one holding an AK-47 assault rifle, both aiming against the American soldier.
- Freeze! Drop your weapons and let the hostage go - Orders the young Ranger.
- You drop your weapon, or else we are going to kill him - replies the Afghan rebel.
The attack troops of Colonel Mathus are next to the warehouse. The humvees move in high speed. They accelerate when they get near a curve. Right next to them is their target: The pickup truck with the nuclear device.
Shana O'Hara runs from the other side of the camp towards the main warehouse, but she knows she wouldn't make it in time. She tries to warn the Colonel about the hostage situation:
- Colonel, we have a civilian hostage in the warehouse. We must abort the attack - Screams the MI agent.
- Continue the attack - confirms the Colonel - We can't miss this opportunity to retrieve the weapon back. Prepare to engage!
Right in this moment, a strong thud happens in the top of the jeep where the Colonel is. Something has hit the roof.
- What the hell is that? - Asks the Colonel astounded to a Ranger that is driving his humvee.
When he looks through the window he see a person, dressed in typical afghan clothing jumping from shed to shed, from roof to roof.
- What are you waiting for? Use your .50 in him! - Orders the Colonel.
A Ranger that was in the top of one of the humvees points his .50 caliber mounted heavy machine gun against the suspect that is hoping through the sheds of the refugee camp. The machine gun is fired and spits a burst of bullets. Yellow lines light the night and also the face of the American soldier while the projectiles fly towards their target. A bunch of capsules are tossed in the air passing right in the front of the Ranger's face.
Tomito "Tommy" Arashikage, pounces from one roof to another. Behind him the trail of .50 bullets destroy the zinc tiling of one shed. Showing an incredible agility, he jumps, makes a somersault in mid air and falls into another roof, avoiding another volley of bullets. Rapidly he makes a straight line, from where the Colonel humvee was, towards the main warehouse as he is becoming out of reach of the friendly fire.
At the same time Tommy is taking his shortcut through the shed roofs, the Colonel's jeep convoy makes one last curve before they reach the warehouse. In different speed and paths, both get to their destination almost at the same time.
The Colonel's humvees breach the warehouse with much speed and violence. Both of the vehicles make a handbrake turn and at the same time the side doors open. At the Colonel's command, everyone is firing their assault rifles and light machine guns. American and Japanese soldiers firing as one against the terrorists that hold the Baron as hostage. Without distinguishing friend and foe, the bullets fill the warehouse space. One shot hits the leg or the blond Ranger, while other two hit his chest and stomach.
In this exact moment, Tommy breaches the warehouse by a passage open in the ceiling. He dives towards the American friend, hammering him on the ground. Arashikage's movement is magic of being so certain. He avoids any friendly fire and save his comrade of earlier battles.
The terrorists and the Baron don't have the same luck. Several rounds hit their bodies making them shudder as if they were convulsing. For a few moments they stay up, but soon they kneel over without life.
The Baroness Anastasia DeCobray arrives at the place at the exact moment that his brother is killed by the friendly fire of the American Army. She sees the scene with horror. Her eyes are filled with pain and anger. Her brother is dead.
Near the floor of the warehouse, still gliding in the air, next to all the dust raised by the gunfire, the picture of Theresa, sister of the blond Ranger, is stubborn in not falling into the ground.
Colonel Malthus, escorted by some American and Japanese soldiers, removes the thick fabric that was covering the bed cargo of the Afghan terrorist's pickup truck. It was only conventional ammo. The nuclear device was in the other truck. They were fooled.
The Baroness tries to enter the warehouse, but she's blocked by an American soldier. She cries and struggle, but can't pass the barrier the soldier imposes to her. She then gives up, falls on her knees in shock with his brother death.
Bagram Air Force Base. Afghanistan. February 2002.
In a sunny day, filled with dust, typical for the Central Asian country, a C-130 Hercules lands in a concrete airfield.
In a far area of the base there's a building, all white, with a red cross painted on its roof. The hospital of the base, in one of its rooms, accommodate the blond Ranger. The American soldier is laid down in a hospital bed, with intravenous cannula and monitors attached to several parts of his body. Medical equipment monitor his life signs.
An image of an arid mountain appears. Right above it a sizzling sun stands in the sky. The horizon blurs as it was underwater, showing that is a very hot day. Over this whole landscape there's a graphic symbol. It has the color red. A set of horizontal tiles. As it was bricks on a wall: Two tiles, side by side, in the first row. Then one tile of double size in the next one. One more row of two tiles and then another of one double tile. Then for the third time: one row, two tiles. One more row: a double tile.
At the background, the Ranger hears the voice of Tommy Arashikage:
- There's fire within, there's fire without, but you will not feel it burn.
The Ranger now sees himself meditating in the Lotus position. He has his eyes closed and feels the drops of heavy rain hitting against his bare naked body. Again, Tommy whispers:
- There is peace within, there's peace without and it shall embrace you as the mother does her child.
- Terri… - whispers the blond Ranger, slowly opening his eyes.
His face is filled with bandages, because of the injuries he suffered during the ill succeed attack at the refugee camp's warehouse.
Tommy is sit by the side of the bed of the American soldier. Standing up is the agent Shana O'Hara.
- Now try not to move just yet. You took some hot fire out there… - says Tommy trying to comfort his friend.
...Until mister Arashikage here jumped to save your life. I haven't seen nothing like that in my life and I doubt I will again. Tommy pounced by several shed roofs to get just in time to save you. - completes agent O'Hara - I've got a lot of paperwork to do, but I wanted to be here when you woke up. Good to see you, soldier.
- Thank you, ma'am - replies the Ranger.
- You can call me Shana - answers the Agent, smiling.
The Military Intelligence agent gets out of the room. The young Ranger and the Japanese friend continue the conversation:
- Tommy, what did.. how did you… ? When I was there in the warehouse, facing the terrorists, everything went black and then I… saw things.. but it was like you were making me see them, like you were in my head somehow.
- Let's just say I made sure you had the right mindset, OK? I'll tell you all about it when you're kicking around a little better, I promise.
Tommy takes out from a pocket of his military uniform a photo and then show it to the blond Ranger.
- I think you dropped this - says the Japanese soldier showing Terri's photo the Ranger had lost in the gunfire.
Thank you, Tommy - replies the Ranger, holding the sister's photo with cherish.
- Listen, I guess I'd better say this now: whatever happens… wherever we end up in the world… just remember that you always have a friend.
Tommy stands up, adjust the American friend in the bed and gets ready to leave.
- Now make sure to get some rest, because as soon as you're feeling up to it, the Colonel and agent O'Hara…
- Shana - interrupts the blond Ranger, grinning.
Shana - continues Tommy - have a lot to discuss with you.
Debriefing room, a few days later. The young Ranger is sitting in a wooden chair, in front of a also wooden table in a very tight room. In the ceiling the fan spin very slowly. On the table, a set of photos and documents. In the other side of the table is Agent O'Hara.
- Colonel Malthus was supposed to be here having this debriefing routine with you, Soldier, but I convinced him to take his place - The agent starts the interrogatory - It's not necessary to say that he is anything but happy about his situation.
The young Ranger listen to all quietly, but very focused.
- The operation was a failure. We couldn't retrieve the nuclear device and even resulted in the death of a very important European philanthropist. Unfortunately we will have to cover all up in the media..
The agent O'Hara makes an expression of frustration and disappointment and continues:
- As in your report, you stated you saw the nuclear weapon being activated and know the activation sequence, didn't you?
Affirmative. The sequence is…
- Don't. Don't tell me - interrupts Shana - It's better I don't know. The less people know it the better. As your report you also claim that at the moment of the activation, the criminal buyer didn't get to know the code and who knew died, correct?
- Yes, ma'am.
- OK - answers the Agent. - She gets thoughtful for a while and then continues - I've already spoke with the Colonel about this and we both agree: You will be put under a special status, soldier.
The young Ranger makes an expression of surprise and confusion. The agent starts the explanation:
- Let me explain: Your name and record inside the Army will be classified. "Top Secret" status. All will be deleted from the systems. For all effects you were never been in the armed forces.
- But that's not fair! I mean, I fought bravely for my country!
The Agent makes a serious expression, look in the eyes of the Ranger and finalizes:
- I know, soldier. But it's needed. In this moment I ask you to continue fighting for your country a little more. The nuclear weapon is still at large, God knows with which terrorist group and as far as we know you might be the only person in the world to know how to activate it. We must avoid at all costs that the enemy finds you and discover the code.
Shana stands up and gets next to the Ranger:
- Don't worry. You will be very well paid by the government, as you were an special agent of some sort and besides you'll get to go home and see your family again.
The Ranger frowns his eyebrows in discontent, but he seems to understand the gravity of the situation. He stands up as well, shakes the Agent hand, salute her and leaves the room.
JFK Airport, New York, USA. February 2002.
The young Ranger arrives in a civil flight, wearing everyday clothing, with sunglasses, incognito after his unconventional leave from the US Army. He picks his baggage and sit down at the airport lounge, waiting for his family to get there and pick him up.
His father comes driving a car in a highway towards the airport. His mother and sister are in the vehicle as well. Terri picks, from a pocket in her blouse, his brother's photo and touches it gently. Hanging in the rear mirror support are the loaded red dice. The lucky charm of Ranger's father.
The young Ranger checks his watch for the umpteenth time. He is very anxious so he could meet his family again. The people which were with him at the airport are already leaving.
In an intersection of the highway, a runaway car, in high speed, crosses the lane and hits hard the Rangers family's vehicle. Terri and his parent's car roll over in the road. Everyone inside are shaken like ragdolls, like madmen agitated trying to get out of their cells. The crooked dice are tossed away in the concrete. The dice roll and turn up, each, with the number one on top: Snake-Eyes.
The Ranger checks his watch again. His family is way too late. He starts to get worried. At the background he sees a well dressed military, with badges and medal. He looks like a high ranked officer.
Colonel Abernathy gets near the Ranger with an expression of extreme sorrow. The blond soldier worries about this meeting. Abernathy speaks something and hands over to the Ranger the pair of loaded dice which belonged to his father. The young soldier gets an expression of much sadness and shock. He falls on his knees, devastated with the news. The Colonel crouches to comfort him.
