I don't own anything. Wish I did but I don't.
The sun was just starting to peak over the horizon. The sky was set a fire like this inside of a locomotive's firebox with reds, orange, yellow, even a little bit of pink and purple outlining the few early morning clouds. The echo of an early morning passenger train rang through the village.
Colby was up out of bed but just starting to actually wake up and changing his underwear when Ino rolled over and opened her eyes just in time to see half of his ass as he finished pulling up a fresh pair of underwear. Ino shut her eyes and rolled over in surprise towards the wall and slammed into it with a thud. Colby looked behind him to see Ino with both of her hands covering her face.
"Jease Ino, you always smack into the wall in the morning?" he said jokingly. Ino took her hands off her face and glared at him.
"Wasn't expecting the first thing I would see this morning would be your ass. Did not need to see that." Ino grumbled.
Colby smiled. "What you don't like seeing the crack of dawn first thing in the morning?" Ino glared at him again, as he laughed. Ino got up and started to put her purple clothes back on. Colby watched as he shook his head.
"What? You don't like purple?" Ino asked with a smirk.
"Normally I don't care but today purple might get you killed. There's an extra set of camo and armor in the duffle bag for you." he said flatly as he put on a green camo t-shirt and started to put on a pair of green camo paints. When he finished he put on the boots he wore the day before.
"Armor? Why we need that?" Ino asked. She was quickly finding out that this was going to be a new kind of combat she would be experiencing.
"Trust you are going to want the armor. It's strips of high strength, light weight, steel pates that are hinged together, no shurikin, kuni, or any other weapon thrown by an opponet can penertrate it. It will dent but so far nothing can perice it. Also make sure you put on the rest of it." Colby said as he put on the steel armor. It had padding on the inside and was covered in cloth that had a green camo pattern on it The armor covered his front and back, sides, and shoulders, and extended to his belt line. Ino started puting on the camo clothing that was left in the bag. It fit her pretty well though the t-shirt was a little tight but not too tight. The she spotted a pair of boots at the bottom of the bag. She took them out and looked over at Colby. He was putting on shin guards that went from the top of his boot to his knee. He looked up to see Ino looking at him, holding her pair of boots.
"What? They don't fit?" he asked.
"They are my sized but really? You guys are more like walking forts than soldiers or ninja." Ino said. Colby smiled and laughed as he finished puting on his shin guards and sat on the bed as she sat down next to him and put the boots on.
"Exactly, because we want to make sure we have a fighting chance to make it back alive on S and A ranked missions. We train with this armor on in our spare time so it doesn't slow us down. It works a hell of a lot better than that fish netting crap." Colby got up and grabbed a camo hat from the bag and loosely plopped it onto Ino's head. She took it off, turned it around backwards and threaded her single long bang through the hole in the back before putting it on. Colby laughed as he stuck out his hand, Ino took it and Colby pulled her up and wrapped her in a hug. There was a knock at the door as they kissed. Colby went over and opened it.
"Hey cous! Long time no see!" Ino heard a girls voice say.
"Like-wise. Come in." Colby said. A girl about Ino's height walked in. She had long brown hair that was pulled back into a pony-tail like Ino. She was the same age as Colby.
"Ino this is my cousin Jasmine. Jasmine this is Ino." Colby said introducing the two. Ino and Jasmine shook hands.
"You can call me Jazz for short. So you are the girl Jason and Denny were talking about last night." Jazz said with a smile as she glanced at Colby. Ino and Colby looked at her questioningly. "Jason and Denny were talking about how you had a new girl friend, Colby."
"Gaww, they would say that." Colby said as he covered his face with his hand trying to keep Ino from seeing him blush. Ino smiled and hugged him. He half heartedly hugged her back but as he looked to her Ino planted a kissed right on his lips. Jazz started laughing as Colby gave into the kiss and blushed.
"Haha, yeap you got yourself a new girl friend cous. Oh and you are going to need this." Jazz laughed. She handed Colby an M60 machine gun and a couple ammo belts. Then the sound of little kids screaming could be heard from down the hall. The three of them rushed out of the room to find out what was going on. Four little kids, two boys and two girls came sprinting down the hall way and hid behind Colby, Jazz and Ino.
"Colby! Jazz! Hide us, Denny is trying to get us." The four of them giggled. Ino and Jazz laughed as Denny came from around the corner acting like Godzilla.
"OH gease is Denzilla! Run!" Colby shouted, playing along as he scooped up all four kids and started to jog down the hallway. Ino and Jazz laughed even harder as Denny started laughing while trying to act like Godzilla. Jazz then playfully pushed Denny against the wall as Ino faked punched him in the gut. Denny started to slide down to the floor making exaurated dying noises inbetween laughing fits.
"I think Jazz defeated Denzilla. You guys wanna go make sure?" Colby asked.
"YES! YES!" They shouted. Colby put them down and they sprint to Denny. Ino and Jazz laughed as the kids started shaking Denny. "YAY! Denzilla is dead! Thanks Jazz you did it!"
"Morgan, Taylor, Zeek, Joe. Come over here" Colby said as he walked up to them and knelt down on a knee. The kids were all 8 years old, Morgan looked like a mini-Ino only with brown eyes insted of blue. Taylor was Jazz's younger sister and looked alomst like a spitting image of her. Zeek and Joe were twins that some of the family swore they look like Colby when he was younger. They were Jason's kids. "What you little tikes been up too? Why are you here?" he asked.
"I told them we are on a working vacation." Denny said as he sat up. Morgan, Taylor, Zeek and Joe yelled thinking Denny was still Denzilla. Colby wrapped all of them in a hug with his long arms. They stopped screaming as they got squished together.
"SHHH. Quiet down, Denzilla is gone. It's cousin Denny." Colby said as he let them go. "Nice, but why did you bring them in the first place?"
"We got the whole family here so there is nobody back home to watch all the little kids, so we are having Jazz and a few others watch them while we go off and rescue Steve and Suzanna." Denny said. Morgan truned around and looked at Denny then to Colby.
"You mean Suzanna, my big sister!" Morgan said. Colby smiled as did Jazz and Denny.
"Yeap. That's right Morgan, I'm going to rescue Suzanna, and you see her?" Colby said pointing to Ino. "She is going to help get Suzanna too." Morgan looked at Ino in wonderment as Ino knelt down to Morgan's level. Then Jason walked around the corner.
"Denny, Colby and Colby's girl friend time to roll. Oh hey Jazz." Jason said then he walked back around the corner. Morgan, Taylor, Zeek and Joe started giggling.
"What you giggling at?" Colby asked. Ino moved next to him.
"Colby's got a girl friend! Morgan and Taylor shouted. Jazz laughed as she scooped up her sister.
"Yes he does and she is right next to him too." Jazz said smiling.
"OOOHH! GIRL COOTIES!" Zeek and Joe shouted as Ino kissed Colby on the cheek. All of them laughed.
"Alright you two are next" said Ino as she stood up and started to walked towards them. Zeek and Joe yelled as they bolted down the hallway in scearch of a place to hide. "Aww." said Ino smiling at Colby. Taylor and Morgan giggled as Colby hugged Ino from behind.
"Put the armor on. I don't want to lose you. What happened last time was too close for cumfort for me. I love you Ino, and I want to make sure you are safe." He whispered into her ear. Jazz smiled as she listened to what he said. Like Suzanna, Jazz also had above average hearing abilities. Ino went back to their room and put on the armor. Colby went to help her, as Jazz stood in the doorway and put down Taylor.
"What did you do to your shoulder?" Jazz asked. Colby looked at her surprised.
"How did you know?" Colby asked as Ino finished putting the armor on.
"Your charka flow has increased to that shoulder." Jazz said. Colby grabbed the M60 and they walked out of the room and down the main lobby of the hotel. Jason was waiting for them.
"Alright Jazz wish us luck." Jason said as he turned and walked out the door. Ino followed Jason, Colby was just about to walk out when Morgan spoke up.
"Colby?" Morgan asked. He stopped and truned around.
"Yes, Morgan?" he said.
"Please bring back my big sister." Morgan said.
Colby smile and nodded. "Don't worry I will. Promise."
"You love Ino don't you?" Jazz asked.
"Ahya" Colby said with a nod and he walked out the door. Outside there was a line of Humvees waiting, he hopped into the one with Ino and Jason. The sun was bright as he put on a pair of sunglasses that was similar to what professional baseball players use that had a single lens that streatched across. Colby had a camo hat like the one to Ino on and he turned it sideways and bobbed his head like he was groving to a beat. Ino laughed and Jason rolled his eyes.
"Quit trying to impress the girl. You already got her, you don't need to impress her anymore." Jason said. Ino laughed.
"Not yet, he doesn't" Ino said. Jason laughed.
"This is Trigger Happy, radio check." Colby said into the radio mic. The code names of the Humvees started to call in over the radio
"Rino, radio check"
"Blue 1, radio check"
"Red 1 radio check"
"Shark, radio check"
"Loco, radio check"
"Bandit, radio check"
"Snowman, radio check"
"Smokey Bear, radio check"
"Alright everyone, hammah down, stay sharp and let's roll." Colby called over the radio. Jason pealed out and kicked up a cloud of dust.
"Jason, ya think we should blast a little bit of Jerry Reed for this one?" Colby said.
Jason shurrged "Long as it aint that damn rap crap. I'm fine with it"
"Ok." Colby said. "Ino, you ever listened to Country Music before?"
"I really don't like Country all that much." Ino said.
"Well, you are going to have to learn to like if you are going to be his girl friend" Jason said. Colby popped in a cd and cranked up the volume. Jerry Reed started playing "East Bound and Down"
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'
a'we gonna do what they say can't be done
We've got a long why to go and a short time to get there
I'm east bound just watch ol'Bandit run
Keep your foot hard on the peddle...son, never mind them brakes
let it all hang out cause we've got a run to make
The boys are thirsty in Atlanta,and there's beer in Texarcana
and we'll bring it back no matter what it takes
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'
a'we gonna do what they say can't be done
We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there
I'm east bound just watch ol'Bandit run
Old Smokey's got them ears on, he's hot on your trail
and he ain't gonna rest 'till you're in jail
So you gotta dodge him... you gotta duck him
You've gotta keep that diesel truckin...
just put that hammer down and give it hell
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'
a'we gonna do what they say can't be done
We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there
I'm east bound just watch ol'Bandit run
Suzanna, Kiba, Akmaru and Steve's situation had not changed much from the previous day. They were still chained up, in a cold, dank, hole in the ground. Suzanna and Kiba were listening for any sound that could even remotely sound like gun fire, but what they heard surprised them.
"Suzanna, you hearing what I'm hearing?" Kiba said confused.
"What you hearing?" Suzanna asked.
"Music, and it's that god awful country music too" Kiba said. Suzanna and Steve death glared at Kiba.
"Shut up I want to listen." Suzanna said. As she listened it was Johnny Cash playing she couldn't make out the words but the tune was deffinately a Johnny Cash tune. "Hey dad, does our family use music as like a signaling tool?"
"Yeap, and you are hearing one of the songs we use. You heard Johnny Cash right?" Steve asked smiling.
"Yeah, wait now it's stopped. I'm hearing... Air raid sirens? Oh, never mind. Indestructable; Disturbed. Why they playing that?"
"Because the assault it just begining. They are letting us know they are coming." Steve said then the cave shook and dust and small rocks fell from the ceiling. "See.. Mortar rounds."
LET EM' HAVE IT!" shouted Colby over the radio as Jason put the gas pedal to the floor and charged ahead towards the entrance to the cave. "Shark, Red 1 on me and get read to head in. Blue 1 I need covering fire." Rock music was blaring from speakers that had been set up in the trees earlier that morning. The music motivated everyone except the ninja trying to defend the bunker compound. They couldn't hear the roar of the Humvee's engines or tell where the attack was really comming from. Jason made the Humvee drift and pull a 180, threw it into reverse and drove it backwards into the opening and into the under ground bunker. Mike, Denny and Tallus went in after them on foot.
The sound of .50 cal machine guns and Mini guns spewing lead kept the enemy ninja in their hiding spots, with thier heads down... or at least until the rounds started to fly through their cover and hit them. In mere minutes the ground above the bunker were secure and the music was turned off.
"Rescue team this is Jerris. Everything is secure up here, becareful and go get em'' Jerris said. Jerris was a tank of a man. Standing 6'-3" at 225 pounds. He was usually the leader of any rescue operations the Miles family did.
"Jerris this is Rescue Team. We copy" Colby replied over the radio.
"The music stopped playing" Kiba said. "Finally, now what happens next?"
"We wait. When the music stops it means the rescue party is in and everything topside is secure." Steve said. Suzanna signed with relief, now she just hopped that the rescue party gets them out of there fast.
"Suzanna. They are coming. Colby, Jason, Ino, Mike, Denny and Colby's father. Ha-ha looks like we will be riding out of here Humvee style." Rensha chuckled.
"Nice! How are things looking topside?" Suzanna thought. It was been quiet and all Suzanna could here was the roar of the Humvees motor as it echoed through the caves.
"Wow. They make quick work don't they? Everything is secure up top." Rensha said surprised.
"Hey, I hear em coming!" Kiba said. Suzanna and Steve smiled, things were going to get interesting.
The roar of the Humvee got louder and louder soon it stopped and foot stepswere heard running towards them.
"COLBY, INO!" Suzanna shouted. Voices could be heard coming from the corridor but then the cracks of gun shots echoed through the cave.
"Suzanna, Kiba, Steve!" Colby's voice echoed down the corridor soon his head appeared in little window of their cell. Ino, Jason, Mike, Denny and Tallus soon joined him. "You guys ok?"
"Yeah we are fine." Steve said. Jason tried to bust down the door but it wouldn't budge.
"Tallus, fire up that chainsaw." Jason said. Kiba's mouth dropped open. A chainsaw? What kind of ninja uses a chainsaw to rescue somebody? Tallus fired up the chainsaw and it roared to life. He stuck the chain end through the window and started cuting through the wood door. The chainsaw went through it like a hot knife through butter. In under a minute the door fell open and the group walked in, Denny took a pair of rather large bolt cutters off of his back and cut the chains as if they were string.
"Can you guys stand up?" Ino asked. Suzanna, Steve and Kiba nodded. Jason helpped Steve up, Ino helpped Suzanna up and Denny helpped Kiba up. Their legs were stiff and sore but they worked and that was all that mattered.
"Rescue team this is Jerris. Hurry up and get out now! We got charlies inbound."
"Jerris this is Rescue team were have the objective and are coming out." Colby replied. "Guys time to move"
"Colby, don't try delaying the enemy this time." Suzanna said glaring at him.
"I won't. I got the M60 this time. Now go, we also got our gear back it's in the Humvee." Colby said as all of them filed out through the hole in the door and headed towards the waiting Humvee. The piled inside, it was a tight fit but they all managed to get it. Jason fired up the engine and peeled out leaving two streaks of black on the ground and a cloud of blue smoke as he floored the gas peddal, and even ran over a couple of ninja.
"Speed bumb!" Jason called out each time he hit one. The Humvee would bounce a little bit each time. In no time flat they could see daylight. Colby was on the radio calling out that they were coming out, Jason was pushing the Humvee to it's limit and everyone else was hanging on to deal life as they shot out of the tunnel like the bullet out of a gun. They were flanked on either side by the other Humvees as they booked it back to the tree line.. .50 Cals and Mini guns were blazing through out the entire mad dash to the tree line as the music started to blast again this time Travis Tritt: T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Well, I play an old guitar from a nine till a half past one
I'm just tryin' to make a livin' watchin' everybody else havin' fun
Well, I don't miss much if it happens on a dance hall floor
Mercy, look what just walked through that door
Well, hello T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Tell me what in the world
You doin' A-L-O-N-E
Yeah, say hey, good L double O-K-I-N-G
Well, I smell T-R-O-U-B-L-E...
Yeah
I was a little, bitty baby when my papa hit the skids
Mama had a time tryin' to raise nine kids
She told me not to stare cause it was impolite
She did the best she could to try to raise me right
Cause mama never told me 'bout nothin' like Y-O-U
Bet your mama musta been another good lookin' honey, too
Yeah
Hey, good L double O-K-I-N-G
Well, I smell T-R-O-U-B-L-E...
Yeah
Yeah
Well, you're a sweet talkin', sexy walkin', honky tonkin' baby
The men are gonna love ya and the woman gonna hate ya
Remindin' them of everythin' they're never gonna be
May be the beginning of a world war three
Cause the world ain't ready for nothing like Y-O-U
I bet your mama musta been another good lookin' mama, too
Hey, say hey, good L double O-K-I-N-G
Well, I smell T-R-O-U-B-L-E...
I said hey
I said hey
I said hey
I said hey
I said hey (Hey)
Oh, I smell T-R-O-U-B-L-E...
Yeah
"Really you guys? We are retreating to Travis Tritt?" Suzanna shouted in wonderment.
"Hell yeah! Why not?" Denny laughed. "We don't run with out tails tucked between our legs, we run with our tail up so the enemy sees nothing but our ass when we run." Suzanna rolled her eyes, when Ino nudged her and pointed to the top of the bunker. Suzanna's eyes narrowed as she saw her 'mother' standing on top of the bunker watching them disappear into the forest.
"Colby, did you tell Suzanna about her sister yet?" Jason asked.
"Nope, between seeing her for the first time in months, the mission, being captured, escaping and the rescuing didn't cross my mind to tell her that she has an 8 year old sister that she thought was an orphan my dad and I adopted. So no I haven't told her" Colby said. "Hey Suzanna"
"Yeah?"
"You remember Morgan right?" he asked as he turned around in his seat.
"Yeah! How's she doing?" Suzanna said excitedly.
"She fine, and umm... well she's your sister. Half sister techincally but she's your sister." Colby said as Suzanna's mouth dropped open as she looked to her father. He nodded confirming what Colby said was true.
"I had an affair 8 years ago with another woman cause your mother was getting out of hand. Morgan was the result of that affair, everyone in the family knew except you and your mother. You even met her a few times, but when Morgan was born she lived with Colby and Tallus because I didn't want her to stay with us, and she couldn't stay with Nichole either. That's why you were told that Morgan was an orphan that Tallus adopted." Steve explained. Ino looked at everyone confused.
"Why did you have an affair with another woman? I know the one you were with was a bitch and all but why?" Ino asked.
"Because, he likes to chase all the mini skirts that he can" joked Colby. Jason, Denny, Tallus, Kiba and Steve all cracked up laughing. Suzanna and Ino glared at Colby as they rolled into town. Jazz and the wives were waiting for them along with all the little kids. There were almost two dozen kids ranging in ages from 14 all the way down to just a few months old.
"Ino, Kiba you are looking at the entire Miles family right here." Said Tallus as they rolled to a stop. "Is Akmaru good with kids?"
"Yeap, he good with kids" Kiba replied as Akmaru jumped out and started sniffing all the kids. They giggled and laughed as the petted him, Suzanna and Ino laughed as they watched Akamaru lay on the ground and rolled onto his back as some of the kids rubbed his belly.
"Morgan, come over here." Steve said as he scooped up Morgan and brought her over to Suzanna. Colby had the door open to the Humvee and he was sitting with his legs out the door with one boot off trying to get a rock out of it. Ino and Suzanna jumped down from the back of the Humvee and Suzanna took Morgan from Steve.
"How's my little sister been?" Suzanna said. Morgan smiled cutely.
"Good, how's my big sister been?" Morgan said back. Ino walked over to Colby as he finally got the rock out of his boot and put in back on.
"I've been good, Colby helped save me and daddy today." said Suzanna grinning over at Colby. He didn't notice Suzanna grinning at him as he and Ino walked over to mingle with the rest of the family.
"Of course he did! I told him to bring you back" Morgan said. Suzanna and Steve laughed as Suzanna put Morgan down. Zeek and Joe came running up to Suzanna yelling as they tackled her. Kiba sat on the side of Humvee's bed and watched. Akamaru was enjoying all the attention he was getting. Colby and Ino sat on a bench in front of the hotel.
"Today was exciting wasn't it?" Ino said.
"Yes, yes it was." Colby replied as he leaned back and rested his head against the side of the building and pulled his hat down over his eyes. "You that rescue went a little too well. We should start thinking about get out of here asap. You saw Suzanna's mom didn't you?"
"Yeah I did." Ino said.
"All the more reason we should go. I got a bad feeling" Colby said.
"Colby good job today. " Shinkasen voice spoke in his head.
"Thanks but I don't think we are out of the woods yet." Colby though as a replay of the morning's event played in his mind.
"Same here. We should tell the others we need to get going. "
"We should but I doubt they would go with it." Colby thought.
"What the hell!" Ino yelled. Colby lifted up his hat and saw and black bear with a white V shaped marking on it's chest staring at him. Colby jumped in surprise. Everyone turned around to see what Ino was yelling about.
"You freaking dink, Shinkasen! You could have told me you were going to make a surprise appareance." Colby shouted.
"If I had told you then it wouldn't have been a surprise." The bear said. "Anyways now that everyone's attention is on you, you should tell them."
"If you think we are leaving you would be wrong." Tallus spoke up. "We will be going back and blowing that place to kingdom-come"
"Well their's your answer." Colby said to Shinkasen. "Hey dad, so umm when are we going to have lunch?" Tallus looked at his watch.
"In about an hour when we get things set up." he said. "Jason, Denny, Jerris, Jazz, George. Come with me, lets get lunch started."
The family was setting up lunch up in the town park. The train tracks ran straight through it. Suzanna, Ino, Kiba, Colby, were in charge of watching all the kids while the adults got lunch ready. None of them had any idea on what to do with all the kids. Shinkasen had gone back into Colby's head. Colby and Kiba were locked in a heat arm wrestling match and all the kids had crouded around and were rooting for Colby. Kiba's and Colby's arms were buldging as the flexed and strained trying to force the other's hand down onto the picknick table. Their faces were beat red as the contest dragged on. Colby smiled as he surpised Kiba and used his other hand to help and using both arms forced Kiba's hand to the table. The kids started cheering as Colby and Kiba started laughing.
"Hey let's get some music going here." Suzanna said walking over to the group wiht Ino.
"Sounds like an idea to me" Ino said. Colby and Kiba shurgged, they didn't care just as long as it was good music. Suzanna went and drove one of the Humvees over to them, parked it and put in a cd, opened up all the doors and cranked up the volume. Colby smiled as the song started to play, all the kids started dancing to it.
"Sweet, Six Days on the Road! Love this song, it's been a while since I heard this one!" Colby said as he and some of the older kids sang along with Colby singing in the lead. Suzanna laughed as she and Ino sang along too.
Well I pulled out of Pittsburgh rolling down the eastern seaboard
I've got me diesel wound up and she's running like a never before
There's a speed zone ahead but all right, I don't see a cop in sight
Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight
I got ten forward gears and a Georgia overdrive
I'm passing little white lines and my eyes are open wide
Just passed a Jimmy and a White, I've been passing everything in sight
Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight
Well it seems like a month since I kissed my baby goodbye
I could have a lot of woman but I'm not like some of the guys
I could find one to hold me me tight,
But I could not make believe it's right
Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight
Colby kissed Ino and Suzanna kissed Kiba during the guitar solo, to the cheers and hoot n' hollars from the entire family as they watched them.
Well the ICC is checking on down the line
I'm a little overweight and my log books are way behind
But nothing bothers me tonight, I can dodge all the scales all right
Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight
My rigs a little old but that don't mean she's slow
There's a flame from her stack and the smoke's rolling black as coal
My home town's coming in sight, if you think I'm happy your right
Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight
Almost as if it were planned a hot shot freight came roaring through with black smoke blowing from it's stack, there was an occasion flash of flame that poked up out of the stack. There were four wheels on the lead truck, six main driving wheels and four trailing wheels. The engine was all black and it's age showed through it's faded paint job. The brass numbers on the side of the cab hardly reflected the noon sun. It's tender was a rectangle with four wheeled truck at the front and rear of it. It looked old and beat up but it was flying.
Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight
Six Days On The Road and
I'm gonna make it home tonight
When the song ended it was time for lunch. It was a fest of just about everything that could be found at the local food store. Everyone was enjoying themselfs, eating joking, telling stories. It was all fun and games until an uninvited visitor showed up.