Rock and a Hard Place: Chapter 7
Author's Notes: Well, after a week long wait, Chapter 7 is here, and with it a couple more reviewers! Thanks so much to Harry2 for sticking with us from the beginning, Football Girl 11 for adding her input, and a very special welcome for our newest reviewer Anknara Skysurfer. I especially appreciated all of your comments about how much you enjoy Annie's character. Lisa is convinced that most people like Roxy best, so it's nice to see that Annie's fan club has grown by one... hehe. Thanks also go out to the lurking member who has me on their author alert list, but hasn't reviewed yet. You know who you are, and we appreciate you paying attention to our stories. Lisa and I are happy to know that you all enjoy reading these stories as much as we enjoy writing them. With that said, I'll let the Saga move on... please keep reading and reviewing
Scott rubbed his brow feeling like he let Roxanne trample all over him, "I don't know what to do with her. I've given her two orders today and she disobeyed both of them."
"I take it she's a selective listener," Julio replied understanding Scott's frustration, "I get that a lot with patients who are too stubborn for their own good. Most of them," his eyes shift to Matt, "I work with."
"Ok maybe I am too stubborn when it comes between your orders to stay in bed and helping my team fight VENOM," Matt admitted with a sly smile, "but this is an entirely different issue. I think maybe she's testing you Scott. You're her brother, she's trying to find out how deep she can get under your skin before you crack."
"Actually I thought that first, when we form this new team a year ago, but she still hasn't changed," Scott stood there lost in thought. "She was told to do this mission as a team, and I know putting Roxanne and Annie together was risky, but I didn't think she'd be so shallow to leave her teammate behind and injured!" He spoke with an added harshness to his tone.
"Scott maybe you're blowing this out of proportion," Julio suggested. "I think if Roxanne had really left her behind, you'd hear Annie bickering about it as soon as she step foot in that garage. There are two sides to one story and for all you know Annie might of chosen herself not to come back with her due to personal differences."
Scott let out a breath of air to subside his tension, "Your right Julio I shouldn't assume I know what happened, but she still prefers to work solo then as a team."
"Reminds me of Brad," Matt put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "He never listen to me either, but that just kept me on my toes."
Brad Turner entered the front door and raised a brow as he heard his name, "Somebody talking about me?"
"Guilty as charged, "Scott admitted with a smirk towards Brad, "Thankfully the inability for teamwork doesn't run in your family, just mine."
"What's that suppose to mean? Oh wait...never mind I'd rather not get involve," Brad quickly change the subject, "Where is she? She ok?" Matt tilted his head to the side indicating the open door to the lounge. Brad bolted towards the door and opened it a few more inches to glance at his daughter resting peacefully. Before he could stop himself, he walked inside the lounge and covered Annie up with one of the extra blankets on the back of the couch. He would have felt more satisfied if she had been awake to talk to him, but she didn't even stir as he pushed a few stray hairs away from her face, so he left her to her rest.
"Satisfied?" Scott continued to smirk as Brad left the lounge and closed the door, remembering to leave it open a crack.
"No, you forgot something," Brad admonished with a small smile before he turned back to drill the guys for more answers, "Well?"
"It's not serious Brad," Julio reassured him, "Just a deep scratch. The blood lost has just made her a tad weak, she'll be better in the morning."
"Are you sure?" Brad looked at Julio quizzically, "She's a very active girl just riding that bike of hers in the morning could reopen..."
Julio put his hands up his air in disbelief, "I'm feeling a sense of déjà vu like I already had this conversation," He pointed at Scott and Brad," Both of you are unbelievable, and if I ever tell Annie what just transpired she'd chew you both out."
"Don't worry Brad...Annie's off duty for a few days doctor's orders," Scott smiled wickedly.
"That's a relief," Brad replied.
Matt shook his head, "Julio's right your both asking for it. I'm sure you remember when Gloria ended up in the hospital for a few days after you crashed into Shark." The look on Brad faced showed he hated it when anybody reminded him of that god awful night. "When she finally received an ok from her doctors, I recall you, Dusty, Buddy, and couple of the other guys suggesting maybe Gloria needed to take her vacation time. She wasn't stupid to figure out we were all worried about her and plotted that little unsuspected vacation. The moral of the story is...they always find out...how I don't know, but be thankful she won't make you volunteer to be a demonstration in front of a martial arts class."
Scott started snickering slight remembering good and well that his father was sore for weeks after he volunteered to help Gloria with her martial arts class. "Well if we all keep a tight lip...we might get lucky. If you don't mind dad, I have some important business to discuss with Brad."
Matt nodded with understanding, "I'll walk you out Julio, and Scott I'll call Alex in the morning. I'm sure he'll be interested in that sample you've collected."
As soon as Scott lead Brad into the study, the first words out of Brad Turners mouth was, "Who did it?"
"Sly Rax, he hit her with a stiletto dart while she was running away, but that's not what's tormenting Annie."
"What do you mean tormenting her, what happen?"
"The bastard started hitting on her, said she was a Vanessa look-a-like."
Brad could feel his veins boil with a surge of hate, "No sewer rat is going to hit on my little girl. Just because she happens to resemble her mother, doesn't give him the right to even attempt to seduce her."
"You said yourself he's filthy rat, who's going to be exterminated when I get my hands on him. Anyways since Annie is on sick leave, I need you to cover for her. In a few hours the analysis should be complete, then were going to Death Valley to clean up their operation.
"Then you got me Scott," Brad smiled happily knowing he'd be returning to the battlefield, and his daughter will be safe and sound back at base.
Buddy sat in his chair with his hat down over his eyes and his feet up on the desk fast asleep. He practically jumped out his chair when a hand clamped down on his shoulder, "Whaaaa?"
"It's done," Scott reminded him as he handed Buddy a steaming cup of coffee.
"Sorry must of drifted off," Buddy apologized as he sipped the coffee and slowly awoken his senses.
Scott looked at the report printed up by the super computer, "This isn't good. According to the computer it has a combination of several possible metallic alloys, but also unidentifiable elements that haven't been discovered yet. The only answer this computer is giving me is this stuff is nearly indestructible."
"Well I guess the computer doesn't have an answer for everything." Buddy remarked sharply with humor, because the computer always managed to produce specific answers to every problem in the past.
"I guess I should permit Roxy to do that upgrade on the system it is slightly outdated. Computer, select agents suitable for Death Valley mission involving mysterious mineral ore. Brad Turner is acting as Annie Turner's replacement."
An hour went by and Scott, Alex, Brad, Jess, Matt, Bruce, and Buddy were present around the meeting table. Scott eyes met each agent with the gratitude for their attendance, but his pride was short live when his eyes fell upon an empty chair. He tapped his fingers on the table impatiently. I knew it was too good to be true; she probably slept thru her alarm. No point in waiting for her then.
Matt glanced at his watch as well. When is that girl ever going to learn to be responsible? He couldn't hide his disappointment, "She's probably on her way.... I guess you can fill her in on it later."
Scott nodded in agreement, "As you all know VENOM has been doing a secret mining operation in Death Valley. The exact substance is still unknown, but the computer has identified some of its partials. One thing that is certain is this ore is..." He stopped speaking as he noticed his sister Roxanne slowly making her way towards her seat yawning, "highly indestructible."
"That doesn't mean there isn't away to over come it," Alex reminded.
"I'm in no way assuming they're invincible with this metal, but the question is what could they be using this stuff for?"
"I might already know the answer to that," Buddy spoke up, "Contra World has been blackmailing some engineers in the automobile industry. I guess their intending to use the stuff to boast their vehicles armor."
"Then all the more reason to shut down their operation as soon as possible," Matt encourage.
"Exactly what I was thinking," Scott smiled noticing the understanding had spread throughout the room, "We need to seal up that mine and destroy any depositories they may have, before they even get the chance to incorporated it into their armor. Dad, Alex I want you to continue analyzing the sample. We need to know its weaknesses. Buddy get in contact with those engineers, we need to find out where VENOM is storing their stock. The rest of you will accompany me on an all out assault on the mine."
"According to the data Roxy and Annie brought back there is a massive amount of civilians around the mine," Jess reminded, "We can't just go in their guns ablazing."
"Well then we'll have to lure them away from the mine shaft. Roxanne," She lifted her head up to actually pay attention, "I'll need you to get VENOM to follow you away from the mine workers."
"Yeah no problem," She gave him a thumbs up, yet retracted back to yawning.
"I'll get in touch with the PNA Peace Forces, they should be able to evacuate the civilians after VENOM leaves the area." Matt added.
"You do realize that their just going to kick them back over the boarder, with a little care in the world," Roxanne reminded with questionable judgment, "Why can't we just tell them to pack up and leave, then forget we ever saw them."
"It doesn't work like that, right now your priority is the seal off the area," Matt reminded trying not to embarrass his daughter.
"Yeah whatever," She smirked with an attitude, "Some people never get breaks in this world."
Scott ignored her last comment, "Alright lets move out!" As everybody headed out of the room, Scott clamped a hand on Roxanne shoulder before she could escape to change, "You went out last night didn't you?"
"I stepped out for a moment, if that's what you mean and made it home to crash out on my own bed. I was only 5 minutes late. You know I'm not a morning person, so cut me a bit of slack."
"It seems like I keep giving you a little bit too much slack," Scott reminded harshly. "Just don't let me down out there, k?"
"Have I yet?" Roxanne gave Scott a reassuring smile, "I'll go drink some black coffee and be ready to move out in 20."
Scott watched as his sister left towards the locker room. Your right, you haven't let me down, yet.
Annie walked into Boulder Hill that morning on a pain free leg, only to discover a nearly empty docking bay and no sign of Scott or the rest of the team. "Well, good morning to you too, Scott," she snorted derisively. "Please do continue the mission without me, oh, and make sure to leave me behind without the benefit of an update or even a goodbye. Stupid Jerk."
Annie immediately stepped over to the computer terminal and sat down, activating the communications link with the vehicles and the radar/tracking system with a few keystrokes. She opened another window with the list of active agents and compared it to the current radar image, her temper flaring at the comparison. "Oh, now...NOW I see how it truly is. Just wait till you get back here, MAVERICK," she spat Scott's code name like an insult, "No wonder you completely avoided me, because it took a lot of nerve to replace me with my own father!"
Buddy heard Annie's voice from where he stood inside his office and quickly poured a second cup of coffee for her, walking back to the garage just in time to hear her finish raving. "I personally couldn't think of a better replacement for ya, Red," he commented soothingly, adding with a grin as he handed her some coffee, "It could have been worse...rumor had it they wanted to put your leg in a cast."
"Overprotection at its finest. If those two had it their way, I'd have to wear padded and bullet proof armor every time I went on a mission. I don't even think the other Rangers are that overprotective."
Buddy just shook his head as Annie turned back to her computer station, sipping her coffee as she closed out the window of active agents and opened up the current mission report log. She scanned through its contents and grimaced at the sight of what VENOM had planned for the ore she'd recovered. "Oh, isn't that lovely? A nearly indestructible super metal that VENOM plans on using to beef up their vehicles, as if the snake didn't have enough bite."
"'Nearly' being the operative word, there," Buddy replied. "Alex is busy as we speak looking for a weakness."
Their conversation was interrupted by the crackle of radio static, then Scott's voice issuing from the console. "Problem, Clutch?"
Buddy looked slightly puzzled before replying, "No, no problem. Why?"
"I just noticed the tracking system came online."
"Oh that," Buddy shot a wink at Annie as he replied, "our communications expert is just doing a few tests on the system and making sure everything is in working order for our boys and girls in the field."
"Uh huh," The amusement was evident in Brad's voice as he broke in over the link. "Monitoring progress live and living vicariously through us, no doubt."
Annie couldn't hold back from commenting after that remark. "For the record, I find that cosmically unjust and resent the hell out of it."
"The record's been noted, but it doesn't change anything, you're still off duty." Scott paused a moment before adding, "But I'm glad you're feeling better. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a mission to coordinate. Maverick out."
"Jerk," Annie muttered for the second time that morning, but she continued to monitor the mission's progress alongside Buddy.