Chapter 14

"Harper. Harper! Do you copy?" Torres cocked her head as she tried to listen for any response from Harper. She shook her head, "Nothing,"

"Dammit! Something's wrong." David tapped in, "Kraken, Linebacker two. Engaging enemy forces en route to downed bird. Push available video of crash to my HUD."

"Taking enemy fire from the rooftops!" Torres pointed out.

David got on the minigun and turned to aim and fire. They had to deplete the enemy enough to get in and assess damage. He also kept an eye on the camera footage. He spotted Menendez on the run. "Kraken, we got eyes on Menendez. Moving to capture."

"Hickam, ISR is your gig. Keep an eye on HVT," Torres added as she aimed out to fire at enemy combatants.

Copy that. Target acquired and tracking. Information is sent to yours and the Commander's HUDs.

"Thanks, Hickam," David said as he fired the minigun to clear the area near the downed bird.

My job, Commander.

Nothing was said as the ropes were dropped. It never occurred to David to ask if Torres knew how to rope in. It was a little late now, but it turned out that he didn't have to worry. She followed him down like she had done it before and had her rifle up ready to cover and took point towards the bird where they spotted Harper lying there.

"Harper," Torres went down on her knee to check him. "Come on and show me that ugly face."

Harper responded, and it would have been a funny moment. It did help though, and he looked at his team, "Menendez… The son of a bitch is headed for the Citadel."

David nodded and signaled, "Arrange medevac extraction to get Harper back to the Obama."

"Section, the bastard is wounded," Harper added as he grabbed onto Torres' sleeve. "Sniper."

Torres tapped in and asked, "Hickam pull up surveillance when bird was downed."

Got it. Feeding it to you now.

David took a moment to study the vid. He watched as the shot came in and zeroed in. "Oh my God. Spectre."

Looking around, they saw the damage caused by an RPG. David swallowed, holding back the worst thought that was rolling in his mind. And after he told Torres that Spectre saw things differently. "Spectre was here."

Torres had seen the damage and started replaying the footage. "I got nothing. No sign if they are alive." She swallowed and said, "We have to stay on target objective, Section. Capture HVT."

David took a couple of breaths. Torres was right, and he knew that it had to be just as hard on her. It was the job. Spectre knew that and he had to hold on to the thought that she had contingency. He nodded, "Right. Salazar. Sombra, with me." He signaled for the medic to get Harper out.

Torres nodded and locked and loaded. She didn't really think Spectre was dead. After that pep talk on the Obama, she was ready to think that Spectre planned it to give Menendez a certain kind of impression. "Copy, that."

Salazar on primary SAT. Multiple Eagles down. Request immediate medevac. LZ Sparrow.

"Kraken, I need to assume OPCON of the drone fleet in support of capture of Menendez," David issued as he and his team pushed towards the Citadel. There would be time later to investigate and find his friend. He was not looking forward to that call if he had to make it.

Sending codes to your display. Drones re-tasked to your objective.

"Kraken allow AI Hickam access to secondary drones. Authorization Sierra Papa 0-6-4 beta," Torres called. Normally Hickam would assume control, but this time it paid to play nice.

Authorization accepted, AI is OPCON.

Torres nodded and said, "Hickam, maintain surveillance of Menendez with secondaries."

Copy that. Maintaining surveillance and ready to engage on say so.

Torres signaled the go for David and he nodded. He used his display to direct the quad drones to attack Menendez' men as they pushed towards the Citadel. They ran up some stairs and came to a courtyard like area. They were taking heavy fire from Menendez' men.

"Split up. Take the high ground!" David signaled at Salazar.

Torres took cover and peered around the edge. She sighed and shook her head, trying to shake off the fact that Spectre might be dead. She had to be firm for David's sake, but she felt like she was faltering. Taking a deep breath and pushing it back she came out and fired.

Sombra, I need you on overwatch.

Torres glanced over to where David was positioned. He turned and gave a harsh nod to confirm his order. She gave a return nod and looked for a position that would be advantageous. Of course, she would have to fight her way there, but it would help out with the quad drones. Seeing a path, she maneuvered to have the best way of making a break for it and took off.

She managed to get into one of the buildings and make her way to the top floor. From there she would be able to gain roof access. It appeared that some of Menendez' men had the same idea. She pushed forward and took out anyone that tried to stop her.

The whole street is a kill zone.

That spurred her to move faster. She needed to be up high to take out the threat. She managed to make it to the top of one building and switched her rifles. She almost wanted to laugh since Harper and Salazar made sure that a sniper rifle was part of her loadout. It said a lot about them and their acceptance of her on the team.

Taking a position, she spotted some enemy and commed, "Section, target the drones to the tall building at your three. Large group of tangos."

Copy. Deploying now.

Torres shifted her attention to the rooftops and started picking off the men that were firing downward towards the street. She signaled, "Salazar, take the left and Section take the right. Use the drones and watch crossfire."

Who died and made you boss?

"The guy who said he needed overwatch," she muttered with a grin as she took out another tango. This one was wielding an RPG launcher. Didn't need that.

And you got the easy pickings. Right Sombra?

"Oh, I'm in the thick of it Salazar," she replied as she took a shot. "Looks like they're pulling back."

David had made his way into one of the buildings that the enemy had holed up in and cleared it. There was a lot of firepower there and it was clear that they were out for blood. He turned when a shot rang out and saw a body fall forward. He looked around and thought he saw the glimpse of a rifle on the rooftops. He gave a hand signal and kept going.

Pushing forward, he saw what Torres was reporting. He relied on it since she was up high, and he was groundside. She had a good view and he was impressed at her ability to call out tactical positions. Looking he saw Menendez' men moving back towards the Citadel. "Kraken, we believe Menendez is heading for the Citadel. Push all available assets to that grid. Establish blocking positions cutting off their escape."

As an afterthought, David commed, "Hickam, use secondaries to help with blocking. You have control of drones in your sector."

Copy that, Commander. HVT is on the move and it looks to confirm target is the Citadel. Moving into position now.

They continued to push forward. David kept an eye out for Torres since it seemed that Menendez' men got wise to the fact that they were being picked off from the rooftops. At one point he heard her curse when a rocket got close. He asked, "Torres?"

Sonofabitch. I'm good. I'm okay.

A shot rang out and David looked around before ordering, "Change positions. They're targeting you."

They're targeting all of us, Section. I'm good. I got the bastard anyway.

David rolled his eyes. "Fine. Don't do anything stupid."

Of course. We don't deal in stupid.

It was meant to be a pep talk and David knew it. Spectre was the same way. She didn't tolerate stupid and made it clear. It wasn't pretty when she did. David shifted his focus to pushing forward. By then Salazar had joined with him and they made their way to the gate that led to the Citadel. "Hickam, I need updates on the blocking positions and Menendez."

Enemy forces have formed a perimeter around the Citadel.

Confirmed, sir. They're dug in.

The HVI appears to be inside the downed command VTOL. We are receiving heavy fire from its minigun.

"Maintain eyes on, but do not engage. We need him alive."

"If he's still alive."

David jumped when he heard Torres close by. "Dammit, Sombra."

Torres gave a halfhearted apologetic shrug. She lifted her gun and fired at a combatant that was coming through the door. He went down like it was nothing. She teased, "Yeah you need a shadow to watch and save your ass."

David wanted to scowl at her but didn't. It was spur of the moment and he rolled with it, "Didn't know that my ass entertained the little shadow. See something you like?"

Torres snorted and was glad that the flush of her cheeks from battle hid the blush. That was completely out of the blue and she was surprised he did that. Then again, she supposed she deserved that since she said something about watching an ass. She decided to play, "Maybe… maybe not."

David snorted a chuckle as he followed her. He knew he unnerved her. It was completely out of nowhere for him and he couldn't resist. She set it up and he took it. He walked right by her and muttered loud enough to hear, "At least my view is pretty good."

Nothing more was said as they started breaking through the perimeter. David knew he was going to get it later from Torres. She would expect that kind of thing from Harper not him and no doubt she was going to make him pay.

Commander, enemy has quad drones inbound. Re-tasking quad drones to engage.

"Hickam, without the drones we have no support to cover our advance." Torres had her head twisted to hear the response over the coms as she pointed out the obvious.

Kraken is chopping a containment team to support. They'll fast rope insert and link up at the bridge.

Torres looked at David and Salazar, "Better than nothing."

It was, and David nodded before signaling for them to move forward. They made it to the bridge just as the VTOL with troop support moved in. He could see the men fast roping in and Salazar confirming they were on deck and moving in. The three of them followed suit and started pushing across the bridge to the target area.

Sir, five man team to cover your movement to HVT.

David was on the ground, taking cover by a rock. Salazar was on his left flank and he could see Torres on his right. She was wincing from the debris flying up as she looked for targets to take a shot at.

We'll pick up rear security. Once you locate Menendez, we'll make the grab.

The downed VTOL was just up ahead and there was a lot of heavy fire going on. David could make out the other SEALs taking position around the VTOL, taking cover and returning fire to draw it away to allow others into position. He relayed, "Surround the VTOL. Wait for the go."

Understood.

It was a final charge as David took the lead up the path. It was probably stupid since there were a bunch of tangos there, but he was covered. Torres had stuck close and added support fire until they were down. The only thing left was getting into the VTOL and the door was slowly opening.

Torres watched with concern as David marched forward shouting, "Menendez!"

The man was sitting there, like he was expecting them. Immediately, she thought about this whole operation and an uneasy feeling came over her as David ordered his men to secure the prisoner. He was bleeding from the shoulder and it was a nonfatal. So, it looked like Spectre got a shot off after all.

"Thank you, David," Menendez was saying. "Help me seek a newer world."

From Torres' view, it looked like David was going to take out his anger and pain on the man. Maybe it was rightly deserved, but she knew that it wouldn't change things. She couldn't help but blurt out, "A enemigo que huye, puente de plata."

It caused David to shift and look at her and it drew the attention of Menendez. Torres didn't flinch and looked straight on at the man. Something compelled her to not back down and she let him look at her as if he were trying to place where it was from. Silence filled the room as Menendez was taken for extraction. Torres watched with a tense expression as if daring the man to challenge her. Her gaze then lighted on David and he was staring at her and it didn't look good.

"Interesante que digas eso, pequeña." There was a clink of metal as the cuffs clinked from being moved in an almost nonchalant manner.

Torres didn't say anything, but she could understand every word. She was fluent in Spanish among a few other languages. It was her primary along with English. Family get togethers were always in Spanish. English only allowed if her brothers brought along a friend who didn't know. They claimed it was to keep her in practice since she had only been four when the family left Panama and headed stateside.

She knew Menendez was talking to her since he wouldn't dare call David a 'little one'. The pet name made her feel uncomfortable and she did what she thought was best. And that was to ignore the man.

"Recuerdo a un hombre que solía decir eso," Menendez kept speaking, his eyes never leaving Torres. "Pensé que ere leal a su país. Pero estaba equivicado." He peered at her. "Te pareces a él."

Torres swallowed at that. She looked at Menendez and found him staring at her. To most people it would have been intimidating. To her, it looked like he was searching for something. Recognition maybe. She couldn't let that surface because she wasn't even sure what the man was insinuating.

David watched Menendez and came to the conclusion that he didn't like the man staring at Torres. He didn't like the way he was staring and hated that Torres looked so jumpy that she might do something rash. His Spanish wasn't the greatest, it sucked really, but he picked up the interest and familiarity that Menendez was using with her.

"No cometas el error de pensar que encontrarás un amigo," Torres was saying with a firm look.

David would have liked Salazar to ask for a translation and no doubt the man would give it to him if he asked. He didn't like being kept out of the loop on this especially since it agitated the woman that held his interest.

The HVT has been stating that SPS064B reminds him of someone he once knew and that she looks like him.

David moved his head slightly when he heard Hickam in his earpiece. He watched to see if anyone else had heard and it became clear that he was the only one. He subvocaled, "Are you spying on us, Hickam?"

Listening in. I have access to your comms and can talk to whoever and whenever I want. An upgrade from my predecessor who is still a child.

"Solo alguien que sea comprensivo hubiera dicho lo que acabas de hacer."

"Solo para evitar que alguien haga lo incorrecto."

David watched as Torres spoke firmly to Menendez before getting up to pace. More likely it was to get away from Menendez. Taking a breath, he told Salazar, "Keep an eye on him."

"Got this Section. He got to Sombra," Salazar whispered.

David wasn't too sure about that as he got up and walked in the direction that Torres had taken. She was leaning against the bulkhead and looking deep in thought. There was no easy way to say it so he went with it, "You shouldn't let Menendez get to you."

Torres looked at David and replied, "I just don't like insinuations."

"You mean like him saying he might know you or… your father?" David took a guess since Hickam didn't give a full translation. He gestured at his earpiece when he saw the look on her face, "Hickam."

Torres growled slightly, "That AI is a fucking busybody."

Only when it comes to your family background.

David rolled his eyes slightly at that and saw Torres look like she wanted to rip the AI's throat out. If he had one. He gave a dismissive gesture saying, "Don't worry about it. I was wondering what was going on. My Spanish is shit and couldn't really ask Salazar without making it obvious."

Torres looked at David and a slight smile tore at her mouth. She really couldn't blame him, and she teased, "And you call yourself a SEAL."

"Not all of us come from other parts of the world," he teased back. He sobered as he pressed, "But really Torres, what did he say that is getting to you. Did it have something to do with what you said when we caught him?"

Torres looked downward and pressed her tongue to her teeth. She replied, "It started it." She cleared her throat and explained, "I was quoting a Spanish proverb. Papa used to say it all the time when he had trouble because of the color of his skin and his accent. It simply means that in order to get rid of something or someone, you… help them."

"And Menendez recognized it."

"Claims it." Torres looked at Menendez, who was looking down at his hand. She then looked back at David and added, "I don't like this David. I am somehow getting the feeling that Papa knew things and Menendez knows it and I didn't know. This whole thing bugs me."

David didn't miss the fact that it was twice that she called him by name instead of his call sign. He didn't know if she was aware of it or it was slip of the tongue. It sounded nice even if the first time she was kind of yelling at him. He replied, "We got him, Torres. It should be enough."

Torres shook her head. "I don't know." She looked up at David. "I don't know anymore."

David had a few ideas what to do next and none of them were appropriate. So, he went with the next best thing. He put a hand on her shoulder and patted it. "Maybe he's just messing with you since you know a proverb that he would know."

"And the fact that I do have a resemblance to my father?" Torres looked at him, blinking slowly. "That much is true." The slight shaking and announcement that the Obama was close took her attention for a moment. She looked at Menendez and then back at David. "Just be on your guard, David. And I hope you prove me wrong."

David let her go as she left him to go back to her spot and get ready for disembarking. He thought that maybe she was turning a bit into Spectre, but he wasn't going to discount it. He didn't want to admit to the possibility that her father may have had a part in what happened in Panama and to his father. She did admit both her parents worked in the State Department among other things and it looked like she was still in the dark about it. Sighing, he turned to get ready as the announcement came in that they were landing.

Waiting on deck was Admiral Briggs and Secretary Petraeus. David knew that this whole operation was big. It spanned thirty years and thousands of lives; it was no wonder that they were there. David turned to see that Torres had fixed her hair to give some presentability and gestured her to follow. He exited first and held out his hand to Briggs, "Sir," and then Petraeus, "Secretary."

Torres did the same and received a knowing look from Petraeus. He had seen her before since she had been on presidential detail. She gave a respectful nod and stepped back as David signaled Salazar to bring out the prisoner. She watched as Menendez stepped down the ramp in leg shackles and looked like he was having trouble with it. His left shoulder was padded from the through and through he took and yet he was looking at her like a kind old soul would. It disturbed her.

Secretary Petraeus stepped forward, "President Bosworth sends her regards."

Menendez studied the people staring at him. He gently smiled and looked at Torres, noting how David seemed to bristle as he said, "For those souls who have toiled, and wrought, and thought with me…" He shifted to glance at David, before looking back at Torres even though he was facing the others, "… some work of noble note may yet be done."

David was trying hard not to overreact. He didn't like how Menendez was looking at Torres and he didn't like that she was trying to put up a brave front, but he could tell she was uncomfortable. It startled him because it wasn't like he would do for other teammates. He was acting like… He banished the thought, but it lingered.

Briggs had stepped forward and looked at Menendez before saying, "Get this cocksucker off my flight deck."

"Gladly, sir," David replied and pushed on Menendez to get a move on.

Torres took a step back to let them pass. She watched as they led Menendez down to where the interrogation room was. Her attention was brought back to Secretary Petraeus when he held his hand out to her saying, "Good work, Agent Torres. Spectre said that you would be a big help in this."

"Spectre?" Torres frowned.

"Yes. Spectre said something about you fitting pieces together. President Bosworth was proud to hear it since she misses you on her security detail."

Torres gave a polite smile, "Tell President Bosworth that it was an honor."

"I will. Keep up the good work."

Torres watched as the secretary left with Briggs. She followed at a turtle's pace trying to process everything that had happened. She still hadn't even confirmed if Spectre was dead or alive. And yet she had to deal with Menendez. She could almost hear her mentor laughing because her sayings came to mind. Sighing, she started towards interrogation. If Menendez decided to continue their conversation at least she would translate for David.

A/N: They captured Menendez but it looks like he knows a few more things and it bothers Torres. Stay tuned for next time on Waves on the Shores...