Well I might get another 2-3 chapters before the story is officially over; hope you readers are enjoying it.
The whole demoting thing did happen in the field, but it officially had to go through a superior officer to be Ok'd. At least I think so
I still don't own KP as it is still property of Disney
Now lets continue
Horrors of War
Chapter 11
Twists and Turns of War
Jim watched the whole ordeal, it was tough at some points as he seen Kim's expression.
He saw her run down towards the river and quickly started towards her. He didn't even stay to see Ron demote Josh; he was too focused on getting to Kim.
She has to know the things a war like this could do to people you love
Jim saw Kim sitting on a log in a secluded part of the camp area. Her hands were covering her face, and Jim could clearly hear her.
Christ, this is going to be tough, not only for her but for me
Jim knew he had to tell her of the things he has seen and the acts that he has committed. He wasn't proud of them, but if it saved her relationship with a man who she clearly loves than what the hell.
Jim slowly made his way to her
Kim's head was buried into her hands as she cried, not hearing Jim approach.
"Kim?" Jim asked
Kim looked back at him, tears were running down her face and her eyes were brimming with them.
"Are you going to be ok?" Jim asked sitting next to her on the log.
"How?" Kim managed to whimper
"How could he become so ruthless towards these people?" Kim sobbed
Jim opened his mouth but couldn't answer, for he didn't know
Instead Jim put his hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down.
"It's the situation we're in Kim; the NVA does some pretty shitty things to kill us. This war has effected everybody, and not in a positive way"
Kim looked over to him, still sobbing
"I can only imagine the pain Ron has gone through this past week, having to live with that horrible choice he made that day we rescued you."
Jim knew by the way Ron was acting the past week that his choice was eating him up inside. Something Jim was all too familiar with.
"How do you know he is grieving over what he did?" Kim asked wiping her eyes
"Because" Jim took a deep breath "Because I've made the same choice he did"
"What?" Kim managed to blurt out
"It was 6 months ago; I started out on patrol around a US held village with two buddies
Of mine Mike and Rich. It was a routine patrol of the parameters on shotgun duty when
We came across what we believed was a class trip around the village. One of the kids ran
Up to Rich and gave him a small box and then ran back to join the class. Rich put the box
On the ground, we were not supposed to accept anything they gave us, and so we
Continued our patrol. The box held an explosives device, and after Rich stepped over it, it
Went off throwing Rich 20 feet away. Both Mike and I rushed to his side, he was a mess.
He died in our arms,"
Jim's eyes started to water as the memories came back
"Losing someone who was a close friend like he was that close to you really effects a
Person Kim. When he passed on, Mike stayed there with him hoping he'd come back. I
Felt this rage build up in me and I stormed out after the class. I stopped them and started
Looking for the kid that gave him the bomb, but he was moving through the group of kids
And I couldn't get to him. So in a state of pure rage I started firing the shotgun into the
Mass of kids."
Jim closed his eyes, letting the tears flow as the horrible images came back to him
"I emptied all 7 buckshot rounds into a group of 10-15 kids, at the time I didn't care as I just wanted some payback for what was done to my friend. But when it was all over, I looked out over the carnage and mayhem I caused. 'My God what have I done?'"
Jim rubbed his eyes, wiping the tears away. He never told anyone about what had happened that time, and talking about it was like reopened an old wound.
"Jim, I'm so sorry" Kim said as the tears started to flow from her face again.
"Don't be Kim, you didn't know. It took me almost 2 months to get over what happened there, it wasn't easy. Just like what Ron is going through isn't easy, but having someone there with you helps with the pain"
"Was Mike there to help you after that?"
"More or less, shortly after what happened to Rich he started to lose it. He never got over Rich's death, they known each other since kindergarten and losing a friend like he did make him go insane."
"That's how you knew about Josh, from Mike" Kim said seeing it all come together.
Jim nodded in agreement "Your friend Josh had the same look in his eyes Mike did after Rich's death. He's not the person you once knew, he is something far worse."
Jim hung his head as the memory of his friend came back into his head.
"What happened to Mike?"
Jim didn't want to say, he didn't want to tell her how cynical Josh will become. But he had to, so they know what he's capable of.
"He lost his mind on another patrol, he started killing everything. NVA, villagers, children, dogs, cows, he even came after the squad. He killed 3 members of the squad and then came to me, I tried to plea with him to remember me, tried to calm him down. But those eyes of his, he was completely insane and out of control. He shot me in the leg before me and the remaining squad opened up on him."
Kim's jaw dropped, Jim started to cry again.
"Over the course of 3 days I lost 2 of my friends and murdered Vietnamese children. I don't want the same to happen to you and Ron."
Kim was speechless.
Jim, a person she met a week ago was, giving her advice to try to keep her and Ron together. This was a man who cared for the two of them.
Kim did not want to lose Ron; that she knew. And she had to remember that he came here for her, he put his life in danger for her. He was willing to die, for her.
She loved him, and even though what he did was horrible, she still loved him and she would make sure that she never loses him.
Kim heard footsteps behind her; she quickly spun around getting into a fighting stance.
It was Ron.
"Ron?" Kim said surprised
"Yeah, it's me KP" Ron said, his head was down and his voice was barely audible.
"How long where you listening to us?" Jim asked turning around.
"Long enough" Ron said,
Ron looked up, first to Jim and then he turned to Kim.
"Kim," Ron started, his eyes filling with tears
"Kim, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Kim"
Kim rushed over to Ron and embraced him in a hug; Ron wrapped his arms around Kim and buried his head into her shoulder crying.
"Ron, its ok. I know now, it will be okay." Kim reassured
"I don't know what came over me, I don't know what possessed me to do that, I never wanted to become what I am" Ron cried
Kim was starting to tear up again
He thought he lost you for good this time
The two of them stayed that way for a good fifteen minutes, just embraced in a emotional hug.
Ron finally broke the hug; he looked into Kim's big green eyes and gave her a kiss.
"Now what do we do with Josh?" Kim asked as she started cracking her knuckles
"For now we have to keep a eye on him, the old Josh might still be in there and if we get back to our time then maybe he can get the help he needs." Ron said.
"But he is your second in command; he's going to be close to you on every step of the way! He might try to kill you Ron!" Kim was getting upset.
"He's not my second in command, not anymore" Ron held up the Corporal insignia in his right hand.
"He is no longer going to be close enough to attempt anything on you or me Kim." Ron smiled a little as he handed the insignia to Kim to look at.
"But now you have to get another Corporal" Jim said
"No worries, I've got him right here" Ron said, looking over at Jim with a big smile.
"What?" Jim was confused; he didn't believe what he was hearing.
"Jim, you've been by mine and Josh's side throughout this entire mission. You were on our side when the others decided to plot against us, you are a true friend." Ron said.
Kim walked over to Jim and handed him the insignia, Ron soon came to her side.
"It's the least I could do for you; after all you've done for us. Especially after what you just did." Ron said.
"Ron, Kim, thank you. Thank you so much" Jim was on the verge of tears again.
Kim and Ron just smiled
"I must say it might take a while for us to get it right, Corporal Jim Wilson." Kim joked.
Jim just smiled
"Why don't you go and sew it on, make it official" Ron said
"Yes Sir, Sergeant" Jim laughed as he headed towards the barracks.
As Kim and Ron watched him leave the Kimmunicator went off.
"What's the story Wade?" Kim asked as Wades face came on the screen.
"Kim, Ron, I found out where Drakken and Shego are" Wade said
"Spankin' Wade, how'd you find them?" Kim asked
"I checked all documents and reports at your point in time and found this"
The screen filled with a picture of a ancient temple in a jungle environment.
"This temple was the headquarters of a vigilante army, compromised mostly of Vietnamese men. Their leader was supposedly a American traitor with bluish skin and a green lady that spewed fire from her hands."
"Drakken and Shego" Ron said clenching his fists.
"Right, the reports go on to say that this small group of soldiers did the traitors bidding until one day they decided to mutiny and defected to the NVA, who latter attacked the temple. The report shows that a small squad of American soldiers stormed the temple just before the NVA attacked; there was only one survivor out of the whole ordeal. A Corporal, Jim Wilson"
Kim and Ron's jaw dropped,
"Wade, a member of the squad is Jim Wilson, and I just made him a Corporal" Ron said as he put his hands on his knees, trying to calm himself down.
"Of course! It makes sense now!" Wade cried
"What? What is it?" Kim asked
"The date of the attack is two days from now, you guys will storm in and have Drakken fix the Time Travel device and you'd get out of there!" Wade cried
"But what of the other squad members? And what happens to the temple?" Ron asked as he regained his composure.
"After a helicopter rescues Wilson a group of Navy fighters comes in and napalms the area, it doesn't say what happens to the rest of the squad" Wade finished
"Can you send us the location of Drakkens temple lair?" Kim asked
"I'm uploading it to the communicator now, it appears to be 15 miles to the Northwest of your location, and reports show a large clearing 500 feet from the temple, you should be able to get a helicopter in there no problem"
"Thanks Wade, if all goes well we should be home in 2 days." Kim said
"Good luck guys; hope you get back" Wade said.
"I'll go inform the squad; you go and get us a pilot and a chopper. Got it?" Kim said.
"Let's tell the squad together, I still don't trust Josh and the other two" Ron said.
"I see your point" Kim said.
"But before we do that, lets go get some grub" Ron said smiling.
Kim sighed as she put her arm around him
"Same old Ron, always putting food above everything else"
"Well, not everything else" Ron said
"Really? What don't you put above food?" Kim asked whimsically
Ron leaned over and kissed Kim on the cheek
"You, of course" Ron said as a sheepish grin came on his face
"Awww, that's so sweet." Kim said smirking
Together they made their way towards the mess hall.
Not one of my better chapters (writers block was in full effect on this one)
Next chapter or two and this story is officially done
Sorry for the wait and all, hopefully I'll be able to get another chapter done by tomorrow.
Read and Review.