Chapter 23: Lexa
The next morning, when we got up, I showered and put on my new body armor shirt and pants before walking out of the bathroom. Ash looked up from her phone, and her mouth dropped open, and she said, "Wow, Lexa, you look amazing in that. Too bad you have to put clothes on over it."
I laughed, "Thanks, I'm sure you will look amazing in yours as well."
While she showered, I began getting dressed in my battle gear. I first put on my tactical vest and add ammo. Then I add my shoulder holster, two leg holsters for the Sig Sauer P226's, and two boot holsters for my Beretta Nano. Next comes the knives, the K-bar attached to the shoulder holster opposite one of the Sig Sauer P226's. Next, I add my belt with a holster for two daggers. The other two blades are strapped to the inside of my forearms in their holsters. Finally, I attached the throwing knives to my tactical vest and strapped some to my legs. I will add my sword and big guns later.
Once Ash was dressed in her gear, we grabbed a quick breakfast and bought some sandwiches and drinks for lunch. It only took about two hours to get to the overlook, where we would watch the compound for the day and get a better idea of what to expect. The day was long and uneventful, mostly laying on the ground and watching. There wasn't much activity within the compound, and there was only one truck that left the compound the entire day.
Around dusk, we hiked back up to the Hum-v and discussed what we had seen throughout the day. Ash then begins laying out our plan. She says that she can only see one entrance into the compound, but Zaher probably has tunnels like Ahmed if she had to guess. There were only two lookout towers, one at the southeast corner and the other at the northeast corner. Both had two lookouts. This means that we will have to take out the two in each tower at the same time. Ash said she can take out one but that I would have to take out the other one simultaneously so they can't warn anyone. Then we would have to do the same to the second tower.
I shook my head and said, "Ash, I don't know if I can do that. It's a long shot, and it has to be timed perfectly."
She smiled and simply said, "You can do it. I know you can." Then she continued with the plan. Once the towers were taken out, we would drive down to within about 500 yards of the gate. We would then grab our gear and breach. Reed and Jose would go left once inside and clear the two smaller buildings, and Ash and I would take the main building.
Ash looked at everyone and said, "Now remember the goal is to take Zaher alive. Everyone else is expendable. Once we have cleared the compound and secured Zaher, we will load up anything useful and head back to Ahmed's. Got it?" We all just nodded. Ash told Reed once their buildings were cleared to get the Hum-v and be ready.
Ash grabbed the sniper rifles and handed me one, and told me to follow her. We went about a hundred yards from the vehicle and sighted in the first shot. Ash counted to three, and we both squeezed the triggers, both guards fell. The next shots found their targets as well. Now it was on to breach the gate. Once inside, Reed and Jose went left, and we headed to the main building.
As we entered the building, there were a couple of guys but nothing we couldn't handle. We cleared all the rooms as we went and continued through the building. Finally, in the last room, we found Zaher. As we secured him, he started babbling in Urdu. Ash looked at me and asked if I knew what he was saying. Luckily, I did. So I translated as Ash recorded the conversation with her phone. He said that Omar was the one who told him when to hit the valley and which vehicles to hit. He went on to say Omar paid him to do it because he wanted to take over Azan's business, and he knew Ahmed would give it to him if Azan was out of the way. He also said that he would've gotten paid extra if he could've taken out the two people on the ATV.
I looked at Ash and said, "Well, that is information that Ahmed will really want to hear. But why would Omar tell Ahmed where to find Zaher if Zaher had this information. It doesn't make sense. Omar should want Zaher dead so that Ahmed doesn't find out. Something doesn't feel right."
Ash replied, "I agree. We need to get out of here quickly. I bet Omar was banking on us killing Zaher. It wouldn't surprise me if he has men watching right now waiting to see what happens, and if he sees us taking Zaher alive, he will probably attack. So we need to be careful. Let's go meet up with the guys and get Zaher loaded in the Hum-v."
When we exited the building with Zaher, Reed, and Jose had the Hum-v waiting and a truck loaded with equipment ready to go. We told the guys what we found out about Omar, and they couldn't believe it either. So we head out on high alert. Just as Ash and I pass through the gate in the Hum-v, my world explodes. The hummer flips and rolls, then Reed is pulling me out of a burning vehicle. He gets me out just before it explodes.
I start to look for Ash, but I can't find her. I was freaking out. I asked Reed what happened. He said he thought that the wall beside the hummer was hit with a rocket launcher which caused it to flip and roll. He said that they could get out of their truck and return fire long enough to see that it was Omar's guys. As Omar approached, Reed heard him tell them to make sure Zaher was dead and if Ash was alive to take her but kill everyone else. At that point, Reed said that Omar threw a grenade at their truck, and the explosion's force knocked them out. He went on to say that when he woke up, he saw they had set fire to the hummer with me still inside, and now here we are.
What the fuck! I have to find Ash and quick. There is no telling why Omar took her. I look at Reed and say I'm going after them. I have to get Ash back. I need you and Jose to go back to Ahmed's and tell him what happened. Tell him I will return once I find Ash. Did you find any more vehicles when you were clearing the buildings? They showed me to the garage where I found a dirt bike, and they took a truck. Reed tries to talk me into letting them come with me, but I say no. I need them to let Ahmed know about Omar. Plus, they will only slow me down, and every second counts when they already have a head start. The last thing I do before heading out is to ask Reed about the layout of Omar's place. After all, he helped set it up while I was in the hospital.
I hit the road. It takes me four hours of nonstop riding to get to Omar's place, and I have no idea how far ahead of me they were. I'm so tired, and it's the middle of the day, but I can't waste any time, but I can't go in guns blazing without a plan either. After all, I did promise no heroic acts, so I at least need a plan. So I walk the perimeter of the compound to get a lay of the land. While also counting how many guards and whatnot. Luckily, Omar's security was lacking. I was able to get inside no problem, where I used my swords and knives to take out anyone I came across.
I had cleared the entire compound but still hadn't found Omar or Ash. Then I remembered Reed said there was a basement in the garage, but the door was hidden behind an eight-foot toolbox. I will have to thank Reed for being so detailed with the layout. I pushed the toolbox out of the way and see a set of stairs leading down. I knew this was going to be difficult, but I had to try.
I stood at the top of the stairs and listened. I could hear Omar shouting at Ash, I assumed. I could hear four other people breathing. It sounded like there was one on each side of the bottom of the stairs, but I can't tell where the other two are. I am trying to figure out the best approach when I hear the popping of a whip and Ash screaming. That's when the switch is flipped, and the darkness takes over. I flashback to being chained to the ceiling and being whipped and cut… At that point, I didn't care if I lived or died as long as I could save Ash. That's all that mattered to me. I couldn't let what happened to me happen to her. I charge down the stairs, swords drawn. As soon as I step through the door, I swing both blades decapitating both men guarding the entrance. What I didn't expect is for the other two guys to be standing beside them. They stepped over the dead men and grabbed my hands, making me drop the swords.
Omar turned to look at me and said, "I knew I should have put a bullet in your head to be sure you were dead." As he talks, I look at Ash. She looks terrible and is hanging from chains attached to the ceiling, naked. Her eyes are almost swollen shut, and she can barely stand. Her breathing is labored, and she has a few cuts on her stomach. At that moment, all I can think is that I will not be that weak girl again. I would not let him do to her what he did to me if he hadn't already. Looking at her hanging there turned the darkness into a monster of red hot anger, and it began to consume me. I knew I would free Ash or die trying at that moment, no matter what promises I had made to her.
I laughed maniacally, "Yeah, you should have, but you're sloppy, which is why it was so easy to get in here. Now I'm going to kill you!"
He replies, "You really think either one of you is getting out of here alive. You really are a stupid bitch. Ash, I told you your new girlfriend was an idiot and that she was going to get you killed."
I hear Ash mumble, "Lex, is that you? I told you no heroics."
I say, "Yeah, babe, it's me. But, don't worry, it's not heroics if you have a plan. I'm going to get you out of here."
Omar shakes his head and laughs, "You are living in a dream world, Lexa. Before I kill you, I think I will let you watch me have my way with your girlfriend like I used to with you. I've already had plenty of foreplay with her. She has the softest skin and perfect boobs. Oh, this is going to be fun. Have you had her yet? I hear she is amazing in bed? When I'm finished with her, I'm going to have you one last time before I kill you both."
He starts to unbutton his pants, and the guys holding me begin to laugh. I scream, "No, do not touch her!"
I hear Ash mumble something about don't worry, Lex, it's okay. I deserve this for what I let happen to Callie. I have no idea what she is talking about or if she knows what she is saying, but I know that there is no way I'm letting him touch her. Everything becomes still and deathly quiet as I see what is about to happen unfold in slow motion. Omar has his cock out in his hand approaching Ash when I take a deep calming breath before ripping my arms straight down and out of their grip. I immediately squat down, pull the Beretta's from my boot, shoot them in the knees, and then stand and shoot them in the head. Unfortunately, Omar is faster than I think, and when I step toward him, he is mid-draw on his gun, aiming at Ash. Without thinking, I throw two daggers in quick succession. The first hit him in the hand with the weapon, making him drop the gun before getting off a shot and the second piercing his dick.
Omar screams and grabs his hand, then his dick. I know I should just shoot him and be done with him, but where is the fun in that. So instead, I take a quick step and jump toward him, landing a superman punch to the side of his head. He goes down, and I jump on top of him, landing punch after punch to the face. I'm about to finish him off when he grabs my gun from my shoulder holster. I dodge to the right just as he fires. I grab the gun and shoot him in the head just as Ash screams.
Shit! I ran to her and saw the shot hit her in the thigh. She is just hanging limp from the chains in the ceiling. I grab her around the waist and lift her up while I untie one wrist and then the other. She falls into my arms. Her breathing doesn't sound right, and I feel welts on her back as I hold her. Finally, I sit her on the ground and grab her face and say, "Ash, stay with me. Can you hear me? Ash, babe…"
She can barely talk but says, "You shouldn't have come."
"I told you I wouldn't leave you, and I meant it. Now I need you to hang on and not leave me. I'm going to get you out of here." She nods, then passes out.
I frantically look for something to stop the bleeding from the bullet wound. I finally find her clothes and use her shirt to tie off the injury. Next, I search her pants pocket for her phone, but it's not there. I move on to check Omar's pocket, Bingo. I need to call Blake. I scroll through the contacts until I see the one I need. I dial his number. He picks up on the first ring.
He answers, "Fletch is that you? What happened…"
I interrupted him, "Blake, I need a medivac now. I'm sending you my location."
"Lexa, what happened? What's going on…."
"Blake, I will explain later. Get me a chopper here now. I can't lose her!" with that, I hang up the phone. I shove the phone in my pocket and look around. I see two backpacks in the corner and grab them. I then walk over to Omar's body and pull out my sword. With one quick swing, I cut off his head, and the next swing severs his dick. I then cut off his balls and shove them down his throat. On the table by Ash's clothes, I find a plastic bag and duct tape. I put his head and dick in the bag, tape it up, open one of the packs, and drop in the head. I see two more bags full of money in the corner while looking for something to cover Ash's body with. I find blankets as I hear the approaching chopper. I wrap her in the blanket, scooping Ash up then the bags, running up the stairs and outside.
Once outside, I pull out the flare gun and fire the purple flare. Minutes later, the chopper lands and Blake runs toward me, followed by two medics with a backboard. Two minutes later, we were loaded up and in the air. The medics begin evaluating Ash when she stops breathing. They have to shock her three times to bring her back.
I yell at Blake, "How long until we get to Abby?"
He says, "Too long, we will have to take her to the closest base."
I reply, "No, we have to get to Abby. Only Abby."
"Lexa, the nearest base is only five minutes out. Abby is fifteen. Unfortunately, I don't think she will make it."
"Blake, she will make it. Tell them to take us to Abby and call ahead and tell her we are coming."
He shakes his head but does as I ask. I move so that I am next to Ash's head. I lean down and kiss her forehead and whisper to her, "Ash, I need you to hang on. Do you hear me? You promised we would both come back alive, and I'm holding you to it. So you have to hold on."
The next fifteen minutes are the longest of my life. As soon as we land, Abby is running out. She yells at me, asking me what happened. I tell her I will explain later right now she needs to save Ash. She nods and tells Blake to take me to get cleaned up. I want to stay with Ash, but I know that I can't and that Abby will take care of her, so I follow Blake into an examination room.
He tells me to wait here while he finds a doctor. While he is gone, I look in the backpacks and discover that they are full of money along with Omar's head and dick. I close them up and put them in the corner of the room. I proceed to take off my tactical vest and body armor. When the doctor walks in, I have stripped down to my sports bra and boxer briefs. Blake walks in behind the doctor, sees me in my underwear, and turns to leave. He says that he will come back, but I tell him to stay.
The doctor does an exam and says that I am mostly just bruised, but I will need stitches in a cut in my eyebrow, one on my forearm, and a slight concussion. Once he stitched me up, he left. Blake then bombards me with questions about what happened. I replay everything that happened, well, almost everything. I left out that Omar's head and dick were in a bag in the corner of the room. Now there is nothing to do but wait.
I am not a patient person, especially when it comes to not knowing. The waiting is killing me. It's been almost three hours. Finally, Abby comes into the room but without Ash. That's when I have a meltdown and fall to the floor crying. Abby runs to me. Sitting beside me, she says, "She's alive, but barely. She has a collapsed lung from a broken rib, a lacerated liver, a bullet wound in the leg, and numerous cuts. I was able to reinflate her lung and close up the bullet wound and repair her liver. What has me worried is that she hasn't woken up yet, so I sent her for a CT scan. Once I have the results of the scan, I will know more. I will bring her in here as soon as the scan is finished."
I can't speak, so I just nod. Blake helps me up and into the chair. When I regain my composure, I look at Blake and tell him I plan to take down Ahmed. I explain that once I know Ash is okay, I'm going back to Ahmed's to say to him what went down. I tell him that I will take Ash's phone with the interview of Zaher and use it to get in to see Ahmed.
Blake tries to interrupt me, but I keep going. I'm going to need you to get me a tranquilizer gun to take Ahmed down. You are going to have a team ready to come in twenty minutes after I go in. This will give me enough time to get Ahmed subdued. Once you deliver Ahmed to your Commander, Ash and I will be free to go, right?
He looks at me and says that I am crazy. Then asks me about my cover. He says it is blown now that he came in with the chopper. I tell him no, that there wasn't anyone alive to see the helicopter pick us up. I say maybe I am crazy, but I'm doing it with or without your help. I'm tired of Ash being put in harm's way, and this is the only way to be done with her deep cover assignment. Besides, Ahmed will be expecting me to report back. He trusts me now, so I will be able to walk right in without anyone thinking anything is wrong. I will go to his office, show him the video on Ash's phone, and while he is watching the video, I will shoot him with the tranq gun. At that point, your guys will come in and get him.
He asks me about my plan to take out an entire compound of Ahmed's people and tell him that all of them are not loyal to him. I know at least two that will have my back. Reed, Jose, and I will take out any that come for Ahmed. Then your team will come in and clean up the rest. I will draw you a detailed map. They won't be ready and shouldn't cause much resistance. I only ask that Reed and Jose be allowed to walk away. Blake agrees that it is a good but crazy plan but says he will have to talk to Jared, but it shouldn't be a problem with all the intel on Ash's map plus what I have told him about the compound. One more thing Blake, I want the jeep and dirt bikes from the compound. He laughs and says he will pass my request on to Jared.
He says that he will be back shortly after he speaks to Jared. As he opens the door to leave, Abby rolls Ash in. She looks worse than I remember, if that's possible. I feel the tears begin to flow as I pull the chair over to the side of her bed and take her hand. I look at Abby and ask her what the scan showed.
She said, "It's not good, Lexa. Her brain is swollen, and that's why she isn't waking up. She is in a coma. We won't know the extent of the damage until she wakes up if she wakes up."
"Abby, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that there is a chance that she may never wake up, and if she does, she could have brain damage. We just don't know at this point. I'm sorry that I can't tell you more, but we just have to wait and see. I'm going to give you some time with her, and I'll be back shortly. I need to ask the Commander whether or not I can call her mother to let her know what is going on. Let me know if you need anything."
I kiss Ash's hand and say, "Ash don't you leave me, do you hear me? I need you. Please come back to me. I will wait for you as long as I have to."
