Chapter Seven The Rescue
Some background information... Kimberly left the power ranger team to pursue her dream of training for the Pan Global games. The letter was written and eventually the team transfered their powers on to new rangers. This story won't have the active rangers or atleast not much with them.
***Iraq***
Mark awoke the next morning ready to start the day. He was hoping today was the day that he would get the news on the rescue mission. He had kind of been surprised that the general hadn't sent for him last night but he knew the officier was busy. He did afterall run things here. Mark got out of bed and got ready and dressed. I guess I better get to the chow hall he thought.
As soon as he walked through the front doors of the building he noticed the captain from yesterday walking towards him. Mark stood at attention and said "Sir"
"Specialist the general would like to see you right away" the captain said. He didn't believe in beating round the bush. He didn't know what had been said between the two men but the general had been busy the day before because of it. "If you would follow me" he said as he turned away from Mark and headed towards the officer tent. Once they entered the tent the captain told Mark to go right in as the general was expecting him.
"General" Mark said as he walked inside and saluted him. "You wanted to see me."
"At ease soldier" the general replied "Have a seat. We have a lot to talk about."
"Sir" Mark said as an agreement. Marks heart was beating so fast out of excitement as he hoped about what he was about to hear.
"Well specialist while I took under consideration what you said I do agree the idea has merit. I don't grant your request to join the rescue mission but to lead it. This is a big responsibility as some of the soldiers who will join you will out rank you. I believe though you will be the best person for this as you seem to know SGT Hart best." The general then handed him a folder and said "You will need to take this with you."
"What is it general? Is it directions?" Mark asked confused
"No, it's orders. She will be immeaditely taken to the airfield where we have a plane ready with her belongings inside. Yours will be moved there soon."
"Mine? Where am I going?"
"You are going with her to the states. You know her best and if she has no family to speak of I think it best if she has someone she knows for the start of her recovery. Now a doctor will travel with you so that he can start treatment and monitor her through the travel. The only reason why we are agreeing to this is because it is true that Germany has little room for any more soldiers but also because if SGT Harts injuries are to bad this Kwan doctor will be the best qualified to treat her. We haven't been able to reach her yet but we have time to do so. I have already arranged this with her boss and it is a go. Now go ahead and get ready your departure time is in twenty minutes. Good luck, God bless, and stay safe." the general said as he shook Marks hand.
"General" Mark said after he stood up "Is she still alive right now?"
"Yes, but we don't know much else" the general said
Mark nodded and then walked out of the generals area. As he passed by the captain he gave him a respectful nod as he walked passed him. He quickly made his way to the chow hall, got some food, and hurried and ate it. I guess it is truly one of those eat it now and taste it later moments, he thought. He didn't care though he got what he wanted and in a few short hours he would have Kimberly with him once again.
Twenty minutes later he met at the rally point. He saw five other soldiers there and waiting for him. "Hey guys are we all ready to go?" he asked
~~~3 hours later~~~~
They had made it to the enemy camp that the intel said Kimberly was being held at. They had just agreed to the game plan of go in and if they try to shoot at you shot them first. They were going to go in, get Kim, and get out. They and 2 other soldiers would take one vechile to the airstrip where they would be dropped off and the other soldiers would follow and then all head back to base camp.
"Okay guys" Mark said "lets go in, get her, and get out. We want this to be as quick as possible. We don't know how many they have inside or anything like that. All we know of for sure is that SGT Hart is the only American soldier being held here. There are no other captives so we won't need to worry about that."
The men looked a bit relieved. "Lets go" Mark said
The men moved quickly and quietly towards the building with their weapons at the ready. Once they reached the front door they pulled the doors open and stepped inside they quick took a quick look around and noticed two hallways. Mark quietly said "you guys go that way and us two will go this way. Meet in ten back here."
They all nodded their agreement and went off in their respective areas. Five minutes later Mark and the other soldier came across what appeared to be holding cells. Looking inside each one they were careful to inspect the area fully. It wasn't until the last one that they came across a female laying on a cot. Marks heart jumped in his chest as he knew that he had just found Kim. After a minute they were able to get the door open and get inside. Mark quickly made his way over to her so that he could check her pulse. The other soldier stood as guard at the door to make sure no one came. When Mark felt the pulse under his finger tips he quickly picked Kim up bridal style and carried her out to the rally point at the front doors.
Back at the rally point Mark noticed the other soldiers were already there. "Meet with any trouble?" he asked
"Nope one of the men said "it was almost like they knew we were coming and left."
Mark looked down at Kim and said "I guess I don't mind but lets go before they decide to come back."
The men nodded their agreement and made their way to their vechiles. On the drive to the airstrip he kept checking on Kim. He couldn't believe he was finally with her. By the looks of her though she was going to have a rough recovery. There was dried blood all over her, she looked like she hadn't been bathed in weeks, and she had brusing over every area of skin he could see including her neck. He shivered at the thought at what happened to her while in capture. He knew she did it for him. In all honestly though he would have done the same for her if the situation had been reversed. It made him mad that he had such minor injuries compared to hers. She didn't deserve this. She was such a good person, like sunshine. In this place they could use it. It was hard being away from home and they took whatever joy they could.
Once to the airstrip Mark and the driver quickly go out and loaded Kim onto the plane. The doctor immeaditely started hooking IV's into her so that that would be done before the plane took off. Mark went back, thanked the troops, grabbed the folder containing his and Kim's orders, and reboarded the plane. The voice on the intercom told them that they were to take off in two minutes. So Mark and the doctor went to their seats and buckled in. Kim was okay as she was already strapped in the medical bed that the plane had. It was one of those beds that were built on the plane so it wasn't like a lose cot. Two minutes later the take off begain.
***Back at base camp in Iraq***
"What do you mean you can't find her" the general said into the phone
"Her mother said that she took vacation time off of work and is staying in Reefside right now." the voice on the phone said
"So get the good doctor some medical priviliages at the hospital there and get her on her cell phone. We need her to be there and ready once that plane lands. It should be landing within the next few hours. I will get a hold of the pilot and let him know that he needs to travel to Reefside instead of Angel Grove."
"Yes sir" the voice said
"Call me back once you have called and talked with Dr. Kwan" the general said. With that he hung up the phone and went to talk with the captain
***In Reefside***
Tommy was beat. He and Jason had been sparing every chance they got and they finally had reached the tiredness that they both were hoping to get to. He actually felt as if he closed his eyes right now that he would actually be able to sleep. Thinking sleep was a good thing he closed his eyes.
The gang watched Tommy fall asleep. They were all so worried about him as they knew he was taking this very hard. They didn't like to see their friend this way. About an hour later Trini's phone rang. Tommy's eyes shot open right away. Old habit he thought. The littlest things have been waking him since he found out about this whole thing. He sat and watched Trini on the phone she kept standing up and then sitting back down. After the tenth time of doing this she paled, said okay, and ended the phone conversation.
Trini didn't know what to do. She was going to be Kim's doctor. Apparently they were able to rescue her and she was less than an hour away from landing and meeting her. Knowing she needed to tell the others she stood back up, walked to the center of the room, and said "Okay everyone I have news and I need everyones attention for this."
Immeaditely she had all eyes on her... even Tommy and Jason sat straight up and listened. "I just got news that the military was able to go in and get Kim out." With this everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Tommy smiled. "She was immeaditely taken to an airstrip where she was put on a plane. She is on her way here guys and in less than an hour she will be at the hospital. I am to be her doctor."
The action taken was instant. Everyone got their stuff together and made their way out to the vechiles. They were all going to be there waiting for her.
***Reefside airport***
The plane landed and Mark got out. The ambulance was already waiting for them and as soon as the doors opened they made their way inside and got Kim. Once she was loaded Mark climbed into the back with her. It appeared that a whole convoy was going with them to the hospital. Twelve trucks and eight police cars. Mark knew all the security was necessary but it still kind of felt strange.
He was deep in thought when he felt a tug on his sleeve. "You're alive" Kim said in a whisper
Marks attention went to her right away and he leaned his head down so tha this forhead was touching hers. "Of course I am. I had my best girl save me" he joked
"You better not tell your wife I'm your best girl. She might get mad"
"Of course I won't. I was trained better than that" he joked again. Kim just smiled and enjoyed the contact with him.
"Where are we? Germany?" she asked
"Nope Angel Grove" Mark said
"What are we doing there" she asked surprised
The paramedic heard this and said "Actually you both are wrong. We are in Reefside and we are taking you to the best doctor there is."
"Who is that" asked Kim
"Trini Kwan" Mark said
Kim's eyes widened but said nothing. If nothing else she was happy it would be someone she knew and maybe, just maybe she could find a way to see Tommy and thank him. She knew he didn't do anything but the memory of him kept her going and she felt like she owed him for that.
***Reefside hospital***
Trini and the gang were all waiting out front for her. Once they saw the big convoy pull up they knew this was it. Once all the vechiles stopped soldiers, police, and paramedics all started getting out of the vechiles. They saw Kim being pulled out and a man get out with her. Tommy was a bit jealous when he saw this but he knew that he would have time with her later. She needed to be taken care of first and he didn't really care about the rest. As they were almost by Tommy, Kim saw him right away. She grabbed his shirt with her left hand. "Stop" Kim said. Once they stopped she pulled Tommy closer to her and said in a voice full of tiredness and pain "You kept me alive." As soon as she said the words to him the paramedics pulled her hand off of him and continued to wheel her inside the hospital to the trauma center.
Note from author: Extra points to anyone who can guess what movie I took Kim's comment to Tommy from. I also apologize for any bad spelling. It's late but I wanted to post this as soon as it was finished.