Charlie looked between Miles, Bass and her Mother. She couldn't believe there will still debating what to do. To her the answer was simple, so why the hell were they still talking?
Fed up she yelled out. "We can't leave him!"
Miles looked at her with regret in his eyes. "Please," she pleaded. "Please Miles," then she looked at Bass. "Please Bass, we have to get him out of there."
"I know kid, I know, just give me a minute to think?" Miles sighed.
"What's to think about, nothing has changed. It's suicide to in there and you know it." Bass stated simply.
And they were back to where this debate started in the first place. They had gone around and around for hours, ever since they saw Gene ride into the compound on that prison wagon. Miles stayed silent for a long while, then he cocked his head to the side and ran his hand through his hair. "Well not necessarily…" Miles trialed off.
"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?" Charlie asked feeling hope for the first time today.
"Well originally we wanted to get in, cause maximum damage, blow up a building or two and get out. That's impossible, but sneaking in to get one guy, that might be possible. It won't be easy, but it could be doable."
"And you all call me psychotic." Bass muttered.
Miles gave Bass a "well yeah" look and continued talking. "Think about it Bass, remember Boston?"
"Oh no, you guys aren't going to talk in cities again." Charlie yelled, beyond frustrated.
Bass smiled, remembering the situation well. "Yeah that might work." He said, ignoring Charlie completely.
Miles and Bass stared silently at each other for several moments. Charlie's gaze flew between them, waiting for them to speak. When they didn't, she couldn't contain her frustration. Giving up, Charlie threw up her hands and finally asked. "Will one of you please tell me what happened in Boston?"
Miles nodded at Bass, silently giving him permission to tell the story. "We used the sewers to get in behind enemy lines." Bass informed her. "We went in and slaughtered them all." He then turned to Miles. "But I didn't see any underground access points for this place."
Miles grabbed a stick and started to draw a rough diagram of the compound on the ground. "I did, it's a culvert on the northeast corner. If we can get in there, we'll come out right next to the prisoner area. We can get Gene and get out. It will take 5, 10 minutes tops."
"That's a little optimistic isn't it?" Bass asked sarcastically. "Plus, that culvert is right under a machine gun nest. We'll never get close enough to get in."
"True, but if we have a diversion…" Miles trailed off and looked up at Charlie and Rachel.
"What kind of diversion?" Rachel asked warily.
"It's been really dry around here lately, and there's a lot of dead brush over on the other side of the compound."
Rachel understood where is line of thought was going. "You want me to start a brush fire? Isn't that kind of dangerous?"
"So is going in there."
Rachel nodded. "Okay so I'll start a fire, then what?"
"Then you and Charlie get your asses out of there and wait for us." Miles said as he stood up.
"Like hell," Charlie yelled. "I'm coming with you."
"No!" Miles and Bass said in unison.
"I can take care of myself, and you'll need my help."
Miles gave her his shut up before I smack you stare.
"Miles this all sounds great, Butch and Sundance ride again, but count me out." Bass said.
Charlie couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Why the hell are you even here?" She yelled. "Every time we actually need you to help you try and cut and run. It's what you do best. Run Bass, just run. We don't need you."
Charlie's statement bothered him more than he wanted to admit. But he didn't want her to know that. "Miles is downplaying the risk and you know it. The chances of us getting out alive are slim and none. You want us to risk our lives, for what, a man who betrayed his own family to those assholes?"
Before Charlie could respond Miles pulled Bass aside. "As much as I hate to admit this but I need you on this Bass, because if we don't go in there to get Gene, then Charlie will."
Bass looked over to see Charlie standing defiantly with her arms crossed over her chest. He knew Miles was right. If they didn't go in there, she would, and she would die. He couldn't allow that.
"Do this for me and I'll not only tell you about your son, I'll take you to him."
Bass could see the desperation in his friend's eyes. He knew Miles thought this was a long shot, and he also knew that Miles would slit is own throat if it meant keeping Charlie safe. And it said something that at this his time of need, he was asking Bass to watch his back. The significance wasn't lost on him. "Fine." Bass nodded.
As night fell Miles and Bass crouched at the edge of the woods, waiting for Rachel and Charlie to get their "distraction" started. Bass looked over at Miles, "Smoky the Bear is taking her sweat time."
"Don't worry about Rachel, she'll get the job done, just be ready."
On queue the alarmed voices from the compound floated through the air.
"Go." Miles hissed.
They made their way across the clearing and to the culvert.
"We're in luck, it's not closed up." Miles noted.
"Yeah that's one thing in our favor. Let's hope the rest of this crazy scheme goes according to plan." Bass muttered.
"Hey, it's me." Miles almost smiled. "Now move your ass. That fire will only keep them occupied for so long."
They moved through the cramped space and came out on the other side of the wall. Silently they took care of a two person patrol walking the grounds between the wall and the next building. They stashed the bodies and spied the prisoner holding area.
"I only see two guards, let's move fast and quiet." Miles whispered.
"Let's just get gramps and get out."
As they stepped around the corner bullets peppered the ground by their feet.
"Back, back, back." Miles yelled.
As they turned around they were greeted by 20 Patriots and their guns.
"I think our 5 to 10 minute timetable just got blown to hell." Bass muttered.
