P2X-395, or Redwall

Chapter 5 – Trouble Brews on Both Fronts

While SG-1 packed their gear and Brother Maynard recounted the tale of the talking silver wheelbarrow, kind old McGurney was dying. He could barely walk, and his breath wheezed in and out of him. Blood oozed from the gashes that ran down his back and legs. Dirt and grime covered him and blisters formed on his wrists and ankles. He so dearly wanted to sit down and rest, but that meant death for him. At this point, he gladly welcomed Death into his life, but when he looked at the frail, breaking body of his grandson, Jonah, he knew he had to hold on a little longer.

Trudging along, he thought of his old life. It was a good life, but he barely remembered it now. He grew up along the southern shores in a tiny town called Horcrux with his parents. As he grew up he grew restless, as all teenagers do. Longing for excitement and adventure, he set out, wandering around and generally enjoyed himself. He met new friends, traveled through beautiful countries, had some great adventures (and not-so-great ones), and even found his wife. Although she died a long time ago, her face was the only face he could clearly remember and it brought a smile to his withered face. He and his wife traveled the world together with their close friends, but when Aurora became pregnant with Marilyn, they settled down in the forest with other woodland creatures.

Time passed and little Marilyn soon had little ones of her own. It seemed that life would continue on forever. All good things, however, must come to an end, and end it did for McGurney and his family. The end came in the form of Lyrac.

No one knew her real name, but Lyrac sparked fear into every living creature. She plundered the world, raiding towns and villages, killing those who opposed her and enslaving anyone else. Marilyn and her husband were part of the force who tried to stop her, and McGurney and Jonah were captured. She would stop at these villages; force the slaves to build enormous castles and forts, and then march off to find a new town and more slaves. If there was already a castle, the slaves were forced to destroy and then build it again. In each town she captured she left a few slaves and generals to guard the place until she came back. She would never go back, however, and the castle was left to rot.

This brought McGurney back to his current predicament. He, his grandson, and thousands of other mice and woodland creatures were chained together, shuffling to their doom. In his weakness, McGurney tripped over a loose rock and fell. A weasel captain ran up and began mercilessly whipping him. Jonah turned around and began fighting the captain, but the chains weighed him down. As the captain and Jonah fought, a fellow slave pulled McGurney away and tried helping him up.

McGurney grabbed his hand saying, "No, fellow creature, it's my time." Looking into the mouse's eyes, he whispered, "Please watch over Jonah." With that, McGurney went to live with Aurora, who was waiting for him at the Gates.

The Diner For 24 Hour Eaters, which hadn't been redecorated since the 1950's, was practically empty except for a few truckers who came in for a cup of joe. The lunch crowd hadn't found their way in yet. The truckers flirted with LeeAnne the waitress and she coyly flirted back while teasing them about the heart attacks they would get if they ordered the pancakes. The only other patron in the diner was a lone man who sat with the shadows in a booth at the very back.

He appeared to be a youthful 40, lean and fit, his brown hair graying at the temples. He wore a Versace black suit, but no tie. Many found him attractive and handsome, but shivers ran down people's spines if they happened to look at his sinister, icy, blue eyes. He kept glancing at his Rolex and it is obvious he is not a patient man.

Another man walked in the diner and headed towards the back. This man appeared to be 23 and was also very handsome in his camouflage pants, combat boots, and a black T-shirt. No one was curious about his dress. Many soldiers from the Cheyenne base came for some chow. The newcomer would be more handsome, however, if he wasn't so jittery and jumpy. Obviously, he knew he was late.

"You're late," the older man sneered.

"Yeah, whatever," replied the younger man. His tough façade might have passed had his voice not cracked out of fear. Passing over an envelope, he cleared his throat and said, "Here are the photos of the new mission. They leave this afternoon."

The older man accepted the envelope and added, "Don't be late next time."

The other man hissed, "There won't be a next time! I'm done playing in your sick little game and there is no way in hell I'm going against SG-1. I want my money and I want out."

The suit pursed his lips and his eyes bored into the younger man's brown ones. "I urge you to reconsider."

"I want out now," replied the soldier.

The older one sat back in the booth. This was a problem, but luckily, easily solved. "Very well," he answered back. He got up, pulled another envelope out of his jacket, handed it over and walked out.

The soldier was pleased, yet rather surprised that it was that easy to quit. He walked to the front bar and signaled LeeAnne for coffee. He nursed two cups and then headed out. Getting into his blue Chevy, he didn't notice his "former boss" in the black, unmarked car. The blue Chevy pulled out of the parking area and onto the highway, the black car following every move.

Whew! What a dark chapter... sorry to break up the good times, but I have to spice up the story somehow, hmm? "Lyrac" is pronounced "ly-rak". If you're confused about the bad guys now, I'll get into their heads in later chapters. I'm big on psychology.

Also, thank you so much for your feedback. It really inspires me to write more. Renka and Baneblade, my two latest reviewers- thanks!

Personal note to Cuiasodo: You bring up a very valid point and I thank you for saying it. The reason I said I wouldn't write more if people didn't reveiw was because when I started this story, I had a lot of trouble going on at home and at school I was very busy. P2X-395 was forced on the backburner until life straightened out. Luckily it did for now and I picked it up. You're right, people are reviewing and I love them for it. I also started reviewing other stories more often because of what you said. Now I'm going through another big bump in life, which may delay my writing some more, but I hope to give it more focus than last time.

I must also thank Victor Hugo for Les Miserables and the people who turned it into a musical. It inspired me to write the slave scenes. Look down, look down, you'll always be a slave . Look down, look down, you're standing in your grave.

Chapter 6 coming soon! luv, Witch.