Rock and a Hard Place: Chapter 11
Author's Notes: Happy Holidays everyone! We meant to give you an early Thanksgiving present by loading the new chapter early, but obviously had other ideas. And we weren't about to let them either lose or garble our hard work into unrecognizability. So hopefully the extended wait was worth it as the latest installment appears complete with a few more twists and turns as we near the end of the first Saga. As always, thanks for all the reviews and keep them coming!
A few days later Scott organized the team for what would hopefully be the final briefing.
"Alright we now know the location of VENOM mineral depositories, thanks to Buddy's contacts. Apparently they were shipping their supplies down the Colorado River towards an Indian Reservation. At this very moment they've taken up residency in an abandon facility on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation."
"Make sense," Matt added, "The United States has no legal jurisdiction against Native Americans on an Indian reservation, instead the habiting tribe makes the laws. Contra World must have made a deal with the locals; that would allow them to work in secret."
"Well that's nice," Jess remarked sarcastically, "That automatically means we don't have jurisdiction to run VENOM out of their territory."
"Not necessarily Jess," Matt had a crookedly smiled on his face, " believe it or not Nevada Rushmore is currently in negotiations with the tribe. I'm pretty certain we can find away to out bid Contra World's generous offer."
"Nothing like the backdoor approach," Dusty joked.
"Which leads us to our up coming battle," Scott reminded boldly, "The reports I've been getting indicate our trial runs with combining both Phoenix fire power and Thermic's temperature increase have been a success. We just need to implement those same results when we meet VENOM face to face. Since Annie, Dusty, and Jess will be busy melting VENOM's defenses, it will be up to the rest of us to shield them and distract VENOM." Scott eyed everybody around the table expecting them to give it their 110.
Annie glanced over at Scott confused. I can't believe he's letting Roxanne go back out after what she pulled. I'm suppose to trust her to protect me out there, you got to be kidding!
Scott continued, "Before we get ready to move out, Alex you have something else to share with us."
"Yes Scott," Alex stood up to address the team, "Annie, Jess I realized that during training we focus on land attack strategies. Of course we all know Manta and Switchblade will be difficult to get at, if their flying high above your heads. After analyzing the previous battle data, Switchblade weakness was made apparent." Roxanne smirked lightly knowing she was the one who fired the first missile directly damaging Switchblade. "I've managed to load up a special heat seeking missile in Rhino's missile launcher, but you can't knock out two birds with 1 stone. I'm suggesting you save that missile for the perfect opportunity to get Mayhem, and keep Manta firmly on the ground."
"We heed your warning Alex," Annie replied after Jess and Annie nodded with an understanding of how critical timing is, "Well use it wisely."
"Alright then," Scott clapped his hands together, "Get your gear together, Nevada ensured me negotiations should be completely by the time we reach the reservation area."
Annie hung back to talk to Scott as the other agents filed out of the briefing room. She had some definite concerns about Roxanne being let back out on the field that she needed to express to him before the upcoming battle. He caught her look and walked around the table to stand beside her, and it was obvious he could tell something was on her mind.
"Problem?" Scott asked her calmly, waiting to see what his second in command had to say.
"Are you sure about sending Roxanne back into battle so soon after the last stunt she pulled in the field?" Annie bluntly questioned, not bothering to try a smoother approach.
"Annie are you questioning my judgment?" Scott looks at her slightly hurt, "She knows very well what will happen if her act doesn't get cleaned up. She's my concern not yours."
"Well, your well being, and the well being of this entire team are MY concern," Annie replied hotly, "and as your second, it's my job to question any actions that might have an adverse effect on this team. But it's obvious that you have it under control…SIR."
She snapped off a sarcastic salute as she stormed away from him, slightly angry at his reply. Her anger fueled her quick pace down to the locker room, and she quickly opened the combination to her locker without much conscious thought, slamming the door open.
"Why the HELL," Annie asked no one in particular, "do I even bother sometimes?!"
She pulled her uniform out of her locker and pulled it on detachedly, still thinking about Scott's somewhat harsh reply. Ninety nine percent of the time they were in agreement on leadership of the team, but she was getting sick of the 1 percent they butted heads being 99 about Roxanne. Why can't he just admit how dangerous she is to the rest of us, instead of covering for her because she's his sister? I know I'd never be able to act like that, Brad's daughter or not. Annie sighed deeply and reached absently for her weapons belt and knives, then froze. She cut off her train of thought and stared in concentration at the inside of her locker where her favorite knife with the phoenix hilt should have been, but it was nowhere to be found. The inside of the locker wasn't big enough to lose something that noticeable, and she continued to stare in surprise, waiting for the knife to magically reappear. I wasn't that spaced out when we came back the first time, I know I put it in here. I can't lose that knife, not after the trouble Jesse and the Rangers went through to have that special made.
Scott's voice barked out from the locker room entrance. "Annie…get your gear and let's go."
She peeked around the corner and locked gazes with him. "When you were in here with me earlier, did you see my special knife? The one the Rangers got me at my initiation?"
"It's a knife, Annie, it'll turn up." Scott sighed deeply at the distraction. "We've got an entire terrorist organization to worry about, so let's go."
Annie glared at him for a moment then shoved a spare pair of twin long knives into her belt before she forcefully shut the locker door and stalked out. "It isn't JUST a knife, Scott, it was special made, and the sentimental value alone makes it nearly irreplaceable."
"Aww, what's the matter, wittle Annie can't go into battle against big old VENOM without her special wittle knife?" Roxanne sniped as Annie entered the garage bay.
Annie's anger nearly reached the boiling point as she said coldly, "What do you know about it?"
"Oh we accusing me of something now, the only thing your good at. Besides do you really think I'd touch that infested locker of yours?" Roxanne snapped back.
"I wouldn't put it past you." Annie started toward Phoenix as she added, "And speaking of being around me, try and stay the hell out of my way."
"Kinda hard when I'm supposed to be backing you up."
Annie started Phoenix in one swift pump as she placed Firewall on her head. "I've seen your idea of backup…please don't do me any favors."
"Cut the crap, you two, I want a FULL team effort this time around," Scott snipped at both girls. To everyone else he said, "All right team, let's move out."
Rhino, Thunderhawk, Gator, Chameleon, Phoenix, and Condor waited along the Colorado River just outside the Indian reservation in Arizona. Scott looked down at his watch still expecting to hear from Nevada any minute now. The radio crackled slightly before Nevada Rushmore responded, "Scott you there?"
"Yeah Nevada, how did the negotiations go?"
"Very smooth. Your all set to clear out the vermin just see to it the mess is dealt with accordingly."
"You got it. Alright team let's move out!" Scott finalized his orders and the vehicles took off towards VENOM's depository.
At VENOM's depository station Mayhem observed an inventory checklist of their current stash of the unknown ore. He shouted, "What the hell happen to all of it?"
Nash pulled out his calculator then looked up, "Well you see we used 1/5 to cover Jackhammer, Piranha, Manta, and Switchblade. Then Contra World got 2/5 as our generous contributions to the terror network, and I believe your son, I mean Jon stopped by just last night to claim the remaining amounts."
Mayhem clutched his fist, "Damn that boy…always getting in on my operations. Did he say what for?"
Nash shook his head and gulped slightly, "Well um...Sir I didn't think to ask since he was nice enough to show me the end of his shot gun."
"Gutless worthless slime. That's all I have to work with!" Mayhem cursed, "Several months down the drain, and we have yet to complete the armor change on the remaining vehicles."
"What would you like to do sir, re-start the mining operation?" Nash asked.
"It's pointless MASK probably sealed up the mine, until the PNA brings in their geological team in. Looking for another source will waste more time and money."
"Well depending on how long it takes them to refine additional ore from the site, we could steal it from them," Nash reminded.
"Spoken like a true criminal," Mayhem twitched his mustache.
Rax burst into the station, "Boss we've been found!"
"Fine let them come. We'll give them a reminder of whose on the weaker end of the food chain." Mayhem laughed, then quickly changed to barking out orders. "Nash order an evacuation and head back to headquarters, this place is worthless to hang on too."
"Hey it looks like VENOM decided to roll out the welcome mat," Dusty shouted as he noticed Jackhammer, Piranha, Manta, and Switchblade heading straight towards them.
Scott added with slightly humor, "Well then lets give them a proper greeting."
"Smoke 'em, Phoenix," Brad prompted Annie over the communications link.
"You got it, boys!"
Annie revved Phoenix's engines as she brought the bike up to the minimum speed of 60 mph for Fire-Flight to kick in. Thunderhawk lifted up in the air circling around Switchblade and firing its lasers to keep Mayhem occupied. Rhino charged straight towards Jackhammer to distract Cliff Dagger. Condor and Chameleon ganged up on Piranha resulting in Rax to maneuver between them. Finally, Phoenix and Gator both joined forces to trail Manta.
Vanessa laugh, "What is this a repeat from last week? You got to be kidding me."
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Annie asked maliciously, coming within inches of Manta's back bumper.
Vanessa ignored Annie's comment. "Fine you amateurs want a lesson in battle, we'll see how well you take a beating when I'm up in the air." Vanessa began the initiation sequence to make Manta go airborne.
Annie shouted over the com-link, "She's converting to flight mode."
"Well then lets ground her," Jess shouted.
"Oh, I have been waiting for this for a LONG time!" Annie replied with an extra burst of speed.
Phoenix drove up right behind Manta as it rose a few inches above the ground. Annie locked target on the left wing, then flew around the front of the car and initiated Phoenix fire-flight mode. She keyed in the appropriate protective radius and made a few last minute adjustments.
"Get ready, Dusty, the heat is on!" Annie flipped the final switch as she activated her mask. "FIREWALL, ON!"
The afterburners kicked outward, sending the flames rippling harmlessly around Phoenix and Gator while still emitting a constant stream of fire on a focal point of Manta's wing.
Vanessa laugh, "Do you need marshmallows to roast as well?"
"Ha, ha," Annie answered dryly. "You've managed to fry my ass so many times, I just thought I'd return the favor."
Dusty drove Gator right next to Phoenix. Jess stood up holding on to the roll bar, "THERMIC ON!" Jess's thermic mask increased the temperature of the fire about 200 degrees.
Within a matter of seconds a huge hole developed on the wing, resulting in the armor to crack around it. Vanessa panic slight, "What the heck is going on?" Manta started to tilt to the left since the wing was heavily damage. To prevent a crash, she instantly converted Manta back into car mode.
"YES IT WORKS!" Jess shouted cheerfully.
"Yeap it did…now we just need to burn a few more holes to get our point across." Dusty reminded.
"With pleasure!" Annie circled around the hood and the front of the car, still trailing flames to weaken Vanessa's armor.
"Mayhem…they burned a hole in my wing!" Vanessa yelled over the radio way. "Take out the black bike with flaming stripes and the orange jeep!"
With that order VENOM's full attention fell on those two vehicles alone.
"Head's up, team!" Scott radioed through the communications link. "Vanessa just ratted Annie out to Mayhem!"
"Pfft, that's nothing new!" Annie commented as she hunted for her next target. "She's been trying to get rid of me my whole life!"
"We aren't going to make it that easy," came a cool retort from Brad as he took a few more potshots at Rax in Piranha.
Dagger replied as he sent Jackhammer towards the backend of Gator, "I'm on them!"
"Well I'm on you," Bruce replied happily as Rhino front end rammed into Jackhammer side causing it to slide to the side.
"Looks like Dagger just volunteered to be next," Annie remarked as Phoenix and Gator headed towards Jackhammer.
"Everyone's always saying how people should volunteer more," Jess quipped snidely. "How nice of him to make our job easier."
"I think you should aim right for the engine girls," Dusty suggested, biting back a snicker from Jess' comment as he concentrated on following Annie.
While Rhino continue to drag Jackhammer in the wrong direction, Phoenix again fired a stream of fire directly at Jackhammer hood. Jess activated Thermic again; causing a hole to burn through Jackhammer's hood and engine. Shortly after Jackhammer was a sitting duck.
"THEY JUST BURNED A HOLE IN MY BABY!" Cliff Dagger shouted with anger and hit the steering wheel.
"HOLY SMOKE!" Annie couldn't help but take the opening as she buzzed Jackhammer one more time, laughing at Dagger's predicament.
Roxanne rolled her eyes under Medusa as she continued to badger Rax. "Annie, that was just lame…"
"Sorry, couldn't resist."
As Phoenix speed towards its next target, Switchblade locked a missile onto it. Brad's eyes lost focus on the field as he saw a missile heading straight towards his daughter, "ANNIE!"
"Yeah, Dad, I know!"
Annie speed up Phoenix already being alerted of the missile. Her heartbeat increased as the guidance system told her the missile was within range, and there was no significant topography to send the missile into. The missile missed the bike as Annie put on a second burst of speed, but instead it hit the ground right next to Phoenix, sending both the bike and its rider in the air. Annie few a couple feet and landed hard on the ground. She laid there still stun and grunted lightly in pain.
"She's mine!" Rax said excitedly and speed up Piranha straight towards Annie.
Annie sat there on the ground, disorientated, yet knew she was going to get ran over if she didn't get cover. Condor and Thunderhawk both changed directions, but knew deep down they wouldn't make it time. Get up, get up, get UP! Annie's mind screamed at her, but her still stunned and shocked reflexes wouldn't get the message. Oh Lord, I am going to die…
Roxanne growled irritable with Rax's sudden change of direction. It didn't take long to notice Annie was now his new target. Chameleon sped up topping Piranha's speed. Roxanne gave Rax a crooked smile under her mask as she passed him. As she drove by Annie, Roxanne hooked a forceful right arm around her waist, then skid the bike to the ground on her left side. "SHELL ACTIVATE!" She cried holding onto Annie for dear life, to ensure the tough black outer shell of the bike protected them both. The girls could hear Piranha drive right over the shell causing hardly any damage.
Annie just starred at Roxanne in complete shock. "You Ok?" Roxanne asked in a concern voice.
"Uh yeah…. " Annie blinked once, then twice, wondering if Switchblade's missile had sent her into some Twilight Zone-ish alternate reality where Roxanne Trakker was actually a nice person. "You saved me?" She asked dumbly in pure disbelief, feeling more confused then ever.
"Don't look so surprise you need to get it together. I'll get you back to Phoenix." Roxanne deactivated the shell mechanism and pulled the bike upright. Annie hopped onto the back holding tightly to Roxanne as she maneuvered her way towards Phoenix. I hit my head too hard or somethin' this is way too surreal.
Both Scott and Brad sighed with relief, once they notice Annie was still alive. Brad opened a private and secured channel directly to Thunderhawk as he continued to drive toward Annie's fallen bike to give his daughter and Roxanne some cover.
"That was a little too close for my liking, Scott."
"Yours and mine both, Brad," Scott replied sympathetically. "Looks like she's okay, thanks to Roxanne."
"Well, don't expect any miracles," Brad cautioned. "There's still a lot of bad blood between those two, and Annie's one to hold a grudge."
"Yeah, I know," Scott sighed in reply.
Brad slowed Condor down and pulled up beside Chameleon just as Annie leapt off and righted Phoenix, checking for signs of significant damage. Roxanne didn't wait for to Annie hop back on Phoenix; instead, she race towards Manta, which was currently running an offensive against Rhino.
"You okay, Red?" he asked quickly, looking her over carefully.
Annie had shaken off most of her shock on her little ride on Chameleon and restarted Phoenix confidently. "Oh, I'm fine, but Rax isn't going to be." She radioed through to Gator, "Come on, Dusty, we've got one more fish to fry!"
"Scott," Bruce radioed in just after Annie, "If we take out Mayhem now they'll most likely retreat."
"Good idea," Scott replied, radioing back to Annie, "Negative on the fish fry, but feel free to keep him occupied for the time being." He switched back to Dusty and Jess in Gator, "Jess get ready for a pick up!"
Dusty got slightly nervous, "Can't you just land not do this in mid-air."
"Dad I'll be fine." Jess reminded as she held tightly to the roll bar waiting for Thunderhawk's passenger side door to come down low enough for her to jump in. Dusty decreased the speed on Gator and watched closely as Jess made the transition to Thundherhawk.