Ah, chapter 8. Didn't think I'd make it this far, but what do you know.
Kim will be reintroduced in this chapter, and its not going to be the romantic get together everyone hopes for. How romantic could a POW camp be? Not very.
Also going to throw in one of the hated situations a soldier wants to be in, you should figure it out, hopefully.
This chapter is going to get very disturbing later on, if you are sensitive I'm giving you fair warning, as even I can't believe I've made someone this vicious.
KP and characters associated with the show are still owned by Disney, as my cue has failed.
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Horrors of War
Chapter 8
Painful Reunion
BOOM!
Ron was stirred from his dream by a massive explosion that occurred somewhere in front of him, dirt rained down on the foxhole.
"God dammit! Can't a guy get some damned sleep?" Ron cried
Josh was still asleep; he stirred slightly and rolled to his side.
Ron heard gunfire coming from his left, the rest of his squad opened up into the jungle.
It became very clear that the NVA was trying to ambush them, and it pissed Ron off.
"I did not come this far, to be this close to her, to have you fucking monkeys take it all away from Me!" Ron screamed as he grabbed his M16.
Ron kicked Josh in the leg, hoping to wake him up. Josh just moved over, so Ron kicked him harder, bringing Mankey out of his dream
"Uh, what is it? Can't it wait another hour?" Josh asked sleepily
"Yeah, I'll be sure to tell the North Vietnamese Army to come attack us in an hour when you're refreshed, Now Wake Up you Jackass!" Ron said
Josh looked around, and was immediately brought back to reality when another explosion rained down more dirt on the two.
"Son of a Bitch!" Josh moaned as he grabbed his rifle.
"Enjoy your nap Corporal?" Ron asked mockingly
"Shut up Ron" Josh grumbled
Ron couldn't help but laugh; he rested the barrel of his rifle on the edge of the foxhole as he peered down the sights.
Ron could see the silhouette of 5 figures; all dressed in black come running towards them
Oh this is just too easy, are they even trying anymore? Ron thought as he squeezed the trigger.
Click
"What the?" Ron asked, he ejected the clip and examined it. It was full, he checked the safety, and it was off.
Ron slid the clip back in and recocked the rifle, bringing it to his shoulder he squeezed the trigger again,
Click
Oh Shit, Ron suddenly realized what was happening; he squeezed the trigger again,
Click
"Shit" Ron said aloud, the figures were drawing closer. He turned to Josh but he was taking care of his own figures.
Ron was stuck in a pickle, he had 5 figures moving in on him, and his rifle jammed.
What the hell caused this?
Then Ron remembered the explosion that woke him up,
The dirt
The Dirt that fell on them got into his rifle causing the jam.
"Fucking-A!" Ron screamed as he threw the rifle aside, it was useless now.
Ron suddenly remembered that he had Dobson's shotgun.
Ron frantically grabbed for the weapon off of his shoulder, it hadn't been fired the entire 2 weeks there but it was his only hope.
The figures were within 40 feet of him, in close proximity to each other. Ron aimed the shotgun and pulled the trigger.
Blam!
Ron saw the buckshot leave the gun as if in slow motion, the pellets spread out and struck each of the five figures, bringing them to the ground.
"BooYah!" Ron cried as he ejected the spent shell.
Three of the figures started to move around, Ron didn't give them a chance to get up. He fired 2 more rounds into the group, being that they were so close to him the full effects of a close range shotgun blast were shown.
At least 2 limbs were severed from the shells, letting them die in extreme pain. The third somehow got the second shot directly to the face; it wasn't a pretty sight to behold.
But Ron was unfazed by the ruthlessness of it all, for nothing would stop him. Not now, not when he was this close.
After 5 minutes of the firefight, all of the attackers lay in front of the two foxholes, either dead or dying. Those who were dying were put out of their misery when Ron ordered Josh to go 'possum hunting'.
"That's enough rest squad, we are almost home free. We take PBR 10 miles up stream, and walk a remaining distance to the camp. After we liberate the camp, Jacobson you call for an evac from the Air Calvary and we napalm the area." Ron said to his squad, all agreed.
Ron saw something he never really seen on all of his men's faces, it was joy. Joy that they will be going back after this, Ron couldn't help but be happy himself.
For 3 weeks he has been away from the one he loved, he risked everything just to get here. Yet Ron was afraid, of what shape she would be in, and if she would recognize him after all the atrocities he committed.
Ron shook the thoughts away, he couldn't answer them. He would just have to wing it and hope for the best.
Navy PBR 'River Rat'
Vietcong River
Josh sat against the front bulkhead of the PBR, looking out on the river they were traveling.
The 'River Rat' as the crew called it consisted of a chief, a bow gunner, a rear gunner and a cook. Johnson, Jacobson and Wilson were at the back watching the rear gunner water skiing off the back of the boat.
Ron sat on the Bow, looking out the same way Josh was. But something was different about him, and Josh couldn't tell what it was.
He had witnessed Ron change drastically over the course of the past 2 weeks, going from a supportive figure, to a crazed maniac and back again. That had to have a serious effect on his subconscious, but part of Josh wondered of Ron was actually afraid of seeing her again.
I wouldn't really be surprised, I wouldn't want the ones I cared about to see what War has made me.
Ron slowly got up and walked towards the bulkhead, plopping himself down next to Josh.
"Nervous?" Josh asked, the question caught Ron off guard
"What-? Me? Nooooo, Nervous? Noooo" Josh could hear Ron start to breathe really shallow, and he avoided eye contact as he rubbed his nose.
Josh chuckled "Cute Ron, I can see you are nervous"
"Was I that obvious?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow
"Ron, I can understand why you're nervous, but you have to let it go. Hopefully she will see past what you've done to get to her, and realize why you went though this."
Ron was shocked; Josh just summed up his feelings in about 2 sentences, and did a really accurate job of it.
Ron sighed, "Yeah, I guess you're right. I hope she remembers me"
Josh turned curiously to Ron
"For Christ's Sake it's only been 3 weeks! I don't she how she could forget you, you are the one she loves! She has probably been thinking about you every day, like you thought about her every day."
Josh stopped his rant; he realized that he could actually make Ron feel worse about this than he already was.
Smooth move Josh, now he is going to start picking the past 2 weeks apart to see if he could have gotten here any faster. Good friend you are you jackass.
The next few miles the two sat there in silence, wondering exactly how they were going to handle the up coming reunion, one thing was certain.
It wasn't going to be pretty
River Rat Drop off point
1 mile south of POW camp
The squad stood on the banks of the river and watched the PBR speed off back the way they came.
They had surprisingly little resistance on the way up, just a local or 2 that threw a spear at them but nothing serious.
Ron decided to check with Wade, all his worries were to be answered and he wanted to know exactly what they were up against when they hit the camp.
"Ron, the Camp is also coupled with a small village. It appears that the families of the officers stay with them while they carry out their work" Wade finished.
"So does that mean that the prisoners are treated better than at other camps? I mean, I wouldn't want my families see me inflict suffering on someone" Ron said, trying to make himself believe it,
It wasn't working
"Sadly that isn't very likely, Prisoners were often displayed as trophies and paraded around the village so the locals could throw objects at them"
"Great, that's encouraging" Ron said dejected.
"I've located the camp; there are 3 other US POWs in the camp. And two others that have, passed on."
Ron felt his heart sink, he felt that rage he had that night he heard the news from Wade that Kim was in a camp.
He kept it under control as he turned back to the screen.
"I'll contact you when we are at a base Wade" Ron said switching the communicator off.
Josh jogged up to Ron's side
"Any leads?"
"None good, Wade said there are three others in the camp. And two that have died, Get Johnson on point." Ron said, the coldness struck Josh as no real surprise.
"Johnson, you got point. The camps northeast of here, shouldn't be too far of a hike" Josh called back.
"You got it Corporal!" An enthusiastic Johnson said as he jogged northeast of the squad
Ron ordered the men to fall out behind Johnson, the area where the camp was located was virtually barren compared to the jungles they trudged through.
Few trees and vegetation were around, and rice patties were surrounding the narrow path the squad walked on, their only means of cover being the small stretch of vegetation that was on the paths right, leading all the way to a large birm.
Ron saw some smoke in the distance, he figured that was the camp. He could see the rooftops amongst the tall trees that enclosed the area, isolating the camp from prying eyes.
Josh looked back towards Ron, they were getting close, and Ron was showing it.
Josh noticed that his hand was starting to shake as it clasped his new rifle tight, involuntarily causing the butt of the rifle to jump about.
"Ron" Josh whispered
Ron looked at him, worry filled his eyes
"Just Relax" Josh whispered, hoping Ron would heed his advice.
Just then Josh heard the sound of rushing footsteps, like someone was running.
He quickly spun back around to see Johnson in a full run coming towards the two.
"Sergeant, Corporal!" Johnson called, he was breathing heavily trying to catch his breath.
"Johnson, what is it? What did you see?" Josh asked
The squad had come and huddled around Johnson, patiently waiting for him to catch his breath.
"Sir, I saw the camp. There weren't any guards there, it was the cage" Johnson paused to catch some more air.
Ron felt the color drain from his face
Josh didn't like where this was going but he had to know
"Cage? What about the cage? Was there someone in the cage?" Josh asked, his voice raised slightly
"The cage, yes someone was in the cage. But Sir," Johnson stopped and looked into Josh's eyes
"It was a Woman in the Cage"
Oh no
Josh thought, the concern on his face grew when he looked over at Ron. Ron's face was blank.
NVA POW Camp
Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't I've protected her?
Ron's mind was racing with thoughts, he didn't have time to answer any of them, and they just kept coming one after another after another.
Ron peered through the Binoculars, He had the squad lay out on the birm overlooking the camp while he checked the situation.
There were about 5 officers in the camp, and they had their respected families with them.
How could they live with these monsters
Ron scanned back to the camp area, he spotted the two dead men right away. They were shackled to the outsides of the buildings, their bare bodies were covered with open wounds from whippings, and they were basically skeletons covered in skin.
Their bodies had started to decompose, flies buzzed around them.
Not Kim, Where is Kim?
Ron scanned some more, he came to a large cage close to the center of the camp. Inside were the three survivors Wade told him about.
They were badly beaten, they looked like they had been starved, whipped, and cut and then left in the cage disrobed.
Kim where are you?
Ron then came to the center of the base, there stood another cage about the same size as the one holding the three prisoners, only there was only one.
It was a female, with long auburn-red hair. It was Kim.
"Kim" A quivering Ron whispered, the only one to hear him was Josh, who saw the same thing he was.
She was bound by her wrists to the top of the cage, left to hang there. She was disrobed but still had her underwear, or what was left of it on.
She was thinner than she normally was, and she was covered in welts. She'd been whipped, like the others.
Ron's hands tightened around the binoculars, his knuckles turned white as he cracked the lenses of the binoculars.
"Dammit!" Ron mumbled as he threw the binoculars behind him. Josh stopped and turned to him
"You alright?" Josh asked
Ron just glared at him, Rage was in his eyes as the feeling started to grow inside of Ron.
Josh saw a hint of blue in Ron's eyes and started to worry, he quickly thought of something to say.
"We'd better hurry and get her out so we can get the hell out of here." Josh hoped Ron saw what he was alluding to.
Ron took it.
"Johnson, Jacobson" Ron called, soon both men were by his side.
"I want you two to go secure the village, gather up all the residents and bring them to the camps center. Wilson, Mankey and myself will free the prisoners, got it?"
The three men nodded
"Alright, let's go"
With that Johnson moved out, sweeping to the camps left, Jacobson went around the right. Once they were out of sight the remaining three moved in.
Ron stayed low and sprinted toward the camps center, towards Kim. He signaled for Josh to take the guys in the other cage, Josh went without a word.
Wilson began to sweep the barracks surrounding the prisoners; muffled yelling came out of one of the buildings he entered.
Ron looked towards Josh, motioning for him to assist Wilson. Josh ran towards the barracks where Wilson entered.
"KP!" Ron cried as he closed in on the cage
Now he saw her up close, the welts, the lashes, and what appeared to be cut marks covered her entire body.
Ron felt tears in his eyes as he smashed the lock on the cage off, Kim stirred.
"Kim!" Ron screamed, the tears flowing from his eyes.
"Ron…" Kim whispered, it was barely audible but Ron heard it.
"Hold on Kim, it'll be alright" Ron said as he grabbed his bayonet and sliced the ropes around her wrists.
She fell into his arms, she was thin.
They were trying to get her to talk through torture and starvation
"What have they done to you?" Ron whispered into her ear.
Josh and Wilson emerged from the barracks; they had 5 NVA officers in front of them, hands in the air. Johnson and Jacobson soon came around with about 15 family members, they screamed when they saw the officers being lead out of the barracks.
Josh ran over to Ron,
"Get a blanket on her!" Ron barked
Josh stopped where he was and pulled a blanket out.
Josh handed Ron the blanket who proceeded to wrap it around Kim as he carried her to a small clearing where he gently put her down.
"Ron, I knew you'd come" A dreary Kim whispered, tears appearing in her eyes as she wearily looked up at Ron.
"It'll be ok Kim; we'll get you to a medic. You'll be just fine" Ron was visibly crying as Josh looked on.
Josh stayed back by Wilson, watching the guards.
"I don't like this Josh, I got a bad feeling" Wilson said
Josh knew what he meant, Ron and Kim just reunited and to say Ron wanted some payback would be putting it mildly.
"I feel it to Wilson, I feel it too"
"Ron" Kim weakly said, lifting her hand to Ron's face
"I never stopped believing. I knew in my heart you'd save me." Kim was crying, Ron's hands started trembling as he brought his hand upon hers.
"Ron, I love you" Kim managed to say
"Kim, I" Ron stopped, Kim was unconscious.
No
Ron brought his hand to her neck, feeling for a pulse
Please God No, not like this
Ron felt a pulse, she passed out but she needed medical attention.
"WILSON! GET OVER HERE!" Ron screamed, he could feel his powers circulating through him, starting to take over.
Josh angled himself to see Ron while still watching the guards as Wilson ran over.
Josh saw Ron's hands clench as a light blue glow started emanating from them.
Oh Shit, he's letting it take over
Josh remembered that bad feeling Wilson told him about, and this was it.
"Sergeant, what is i-AAHH!" Wilson cried as he came to Ron's eyes, Ron's eyes were bright blue flames, his hands had a similar blue glow.
Ron glared at Wilson as he tried to scramble back in fear.
"Keep an eye on her, Make sure she is ok" Ron said, the tears still running down his cheeks, Wilson nodded slowly still not believing what he was saying.
"What the Fuck is going on with the Sergeant?" Jacobson asked glancing nervously over at Ron
"No fucking clue Shaun, What about you Corporal?" Johnson asked, fear was in his voice.
"Hate" Josh said, the two privates looked at him with puzzled looks on their faces
"He has allowed Hate to totally control him, God help us all" Josh said
Ron held his glowing arm out and in a blue flash the lotus blade appeared, a white flame surrounding the blade itself.
"Jacobson, get on the horn to command and call in a dust off on our location, they call in the Phantoms. We are going to Napalm this place."
Jacobson slowly agreed and stepped back.
"I want all of you to step away from the prisoners, we need to talk" Ron growled, Johnson after looking into Ron's eyes backed away, but Josh stayed.
"Don't do this Ron, please. Fight it off" Josh pleaded.
Ron wasn't listening as he grabbed Josh and threw him back.
"Sergeant!" Johnson cried, Ron didn't turn as he walked over to the guards.
Ron started speaking in a dialect no one could understand at the guards, his voice was raised as he swung the blade around, pointing it under each of their chins.
"What the hell is he saying?" Johnson asked, Josh shrugged his head
"Vietnamese" Jacobson said. "He's talking to them in their own language" Jacobson still had a petrified look in his face.
"Well Private, what in Fuck's name is he saying?" Josh demanded, he wanted to know what Ron was planning to do to them.
Jacobson was pale and started to shake as he told them
"He wants to know who was responsible for this, and if no one answers….." Jacobson took a nervous breath
"If no one answers WHAT?" Josh was screaming at him, he needed to know, to try and stop it.
"If no one answers for their actions, they will watch their family die" Jacobson finished.
"Christ almighty" Johnson muttered, moving his hand forming the cross across his chest.
Josh was stunned
He wouldn't go that far would he?
Josh turned to Ron and his question was confirmed.
Ron held the lotus blade in his left hand, his right hand pulled his Colt .45 out of its holster.
Ron walked over to the row of family members and pointed the gun on the head of a 10 year old boy.
"Jesus, he wouldn't" Josh said.
Ron yelled back at the guards, they said nothing.
Ron cocked the hammer back on the gun, steadying it on the boys head.
"Sarge, what are you doing?" Wilson screamed
"He's fucking lost it man! Can't you see that! No one can get him out of that state" Jacobson cried.
Josh couldn't take it, he wasn't going to sit idly by while Ron starts executing children, and he had to stop this.
"Ron, don't do it!" Josh said, getting within 5 feet of Ron.
"Stay out of this Josh" Ron's voice was cold and emotionless.
"Jesus Christ they are innocent people Ron! They were not involved in this! Please don't do this!" Josh pleaded
"No one here is innocent! They knew what they were doing, and they did nothing to stop them! They are as guilty as they are!" Ron screamed.
The families were crying, pleading with Ron to put the gun down.
"Last Chance to talk you gook fucks!" Ron cried back to the officers, they remained silent.
"Ron DON'T!"
BAM!
The .45 jumped in Ron's hand as the bullet soared out, ultimately destroying the 10 year olds head, his body crumpled to the ground, never to get up again.
"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST RON, YOU SICK SON OF A BITCH!" Josh screamed at him, Ron maintained his cold expression.
Josh rushed Ron, trying to grab the gun
THWACK!
Josh reeled to the ground, his face sore and he felt blood coming from his nose.
He looked up and saw Ron standing over him, the butt of the gun was bloodied.
"Sarge, come on! Snap the fuck out of it!" Wilson pleaded.
"Try that again Monkey and you'll join the boy here" Ron said as he rubbed the gun on his pants, whipping the blood off.
Josh scrambled to his feet.
I can't believe the son of a bitch just hit me!
What kind of a monster did this war unleash?
Ron turned back and brought the gun to the head of a woman, in her arms was an infant.
Ron cocked the hammer back again, when one of the guards spoke up.
Ron turned to face him, the guard told him everything. From their finding Kim, to their orders from another leader of a smaller NVA unit.
Ron asked for a name, the guard didn't have a name. He had a description, a man in a blue lab coat with blue skin, by his side was a green and black woman with glowing hands.
Drakken and Shego Ron clenched his teeth, the Lotus Blade glowed a blinding white hue.
Ron asked how the man got into power,
The guards did not know, but his main base was 10 miles north in an abandoned temple.
Ron walked back, he held the lotus blade out and in a flash of light it vanished.
The blue glow dissipated around him, Ron came back to his own self.
"Jacobson, eta on the chopper?" Ron asked, gripping his rifle tightly
Jacobson hesitated, "A yes sir, should be here in 3 minutes, and the Phantoms will commence their run after we are up and out"
"Good. I want Johnson and Mankey to start tying up the prisoners and their families" Ron turned to head over to Kim.
"Sir? What do we tie them with?" Johnson asked nervously.
"Tie them to the barracks, none of them are leaving here" Ron coldly said, he still wanted them to suffer.
"Ron, no I am not going to allow you to barbeque these people!" Josh protested, getting up into Ron's face.
"You don't have a fucking choice Monkey! Now tie them to their own buildings, or I tie you here to burn with the rest of these pieces of Shit" Ron's voice told Josh all he needed to know.
Do what he told you, or he will kill you.
No matter how immoral it is.
Josh sadly got started tying the families with the guards to the buildings, Ron stayed by Kim's side the entire time, with Wilson hovering over.
They soon heard the unmistakable sound of an approaching Huey.
It set down 50 yards from the men, its rotors flattening the tall grass around it
"Our rides here! Let's move out!" Wilson cried
Ron picked up Kim and slowly carried her to the chopper, the rest of the squad helped the other prisoners onto the chopper.
As the chopper lifted off, all sets of eyes were on the camp, watching the people there struggle to get free before they met their fiery doom.
All eyes accept for one, Ron's. His eyes were on the only person other than his family that mattered to him, he watched Kim as they flew towards the medical base, not even looking away when the F4's napalmed the camp as the others watched with disbelieving eyes that they effectively sentenced innocent people to die.
All because their Sergeant would have killed them if they didn't comply.
The men had a new feeling for their commander, a feeling that was shared by Josh who watched Ron most of the flight back.
They felt fear, there was an uneasy feeling that their serving with him on this mission would be their last.
That their Sergeant was going to get them all killed, and they didn't want to be held at the whim of a mad man.
They wanted answers, and they wanted them now,
Who was this girl? Why go to save her? Why us?
They couldn't ask the Sergeant themselves, so they decided to ask the one who always accompanied him, and never left his side.
Their Corporal, Josh Mankey
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And there is Chapter 8
Dark and disturbing enough for you? I actually toned it down too.
The Squad wants answers on this whole mission, and while Ron is occupied by Kim now that leaves Josh wide open.
Will he talk?
Stay tuned, for Chapter 9
Read and Review, as always