Part V: The Knight Sabers' Sortie
In the following weeks, the Knight Sabers have proven themselves in combat. In one mission, Dagger was able to get close to hold her sword to Cobra Commander's throat, but he slammed the back of his helmet into Dagger's face to escape. Vipers ran in fear for their lives after being in a firefight with Wolf, she fought like a women possessed, with an M-16 in one hand, an M-4 in the other and plenty of ammo to boot. God help Cobra, with Wolf, they're gonna need it. Grey Fox wrote in an after mission report, which the finding were verified and vouched by both Duke and Flint, who thanked god for not being on her bad side. Cypher even on a mission caused a little playful mischief, like activating a virus into the Cobra computer network which showed a happy face with the words have a nice day or a doodle of her giving the 'evil eye' and sticking her tongue out. Grey Fox didn't really encouraged nor stifled the personality quirks of her Knight Sabers, because those made them unique, if you make someone too GI, they cease to being human.
Three weeks later, finally caught up on her paperwork, Sylia took the rare opportunity to relax by watching a Chicago Cubs game on a TV in her office, at the commercial break; she stepped to refill her coffee cup. When she returned the final score was showed: Cubs 6, Dodgers 1. Lousy Dodgers, they really need to start winning ballgames, if they want a shot at the World Series. She sighed as she picked up the remote and changed the channel to Fox News, just in time for 'Your World with Neil Cavuto.'
But the show was stopped for breaking news, "This is a Fox News Alert. A hostage situation has broken out by a radical eco-terrorist group on the campus of MIT, taking students and faculty as hostages and overpowered campus police. We're also getting unconfirmed reports that the terrorists may have a thermo nuclear device," a reporter said during footage of Boston PD and Massachusetts National Guard were being deployed. Sylia watched in stunned silence, hoping Mackie was all right; she did not want to see another member of her family buried. Then her cellphone went off.
"Stingray here," She answered.
"Sis?" A voice whispered in obvious fear of being discovered.
"Mackie? What's wrong?" Sylia calmly asked, she was starting to get worried but she can't succumb to her emotions.
"I'm in big trouble, Sis. All hell just broke loose so fast. I'm a little scared," Sylia hear her brother nearly breaking down.
"Mackie listen to me, and stay calm," Sylia softly spoke, "Everything is going to be all right. I won't allow my little brother to get hurt."
"Hey what are you doing?!" Someone yelled on Mackie's end.
"Shit! I'm spotted…" Was all Mackie could get out. Sylia could overhear the struggling and two individual attacking her brother.
"Mackie? Mackie!"
"I'm sorry, but communication with criminals is forbidden."
"Identify yourself!" Sylia ordered.
"Who I am is unimportant. The criminal you were talking with has been charged with raping the environment and crimes against nature," The man said before hanging up.
Shit! Turning off her cellphone, Sylia was left with a sense of dread, her brother was a hostage. Walking out of her office she headed for General Hawk's.
"Yes sir, I understand, thank you sir," Hawk was on the red phone, finishing up a call as Sylia entered.
"Who was that, sir?"
Hawk hung up the red phone, then turned to Sylia, "The Secretary of Defense, by the authorization of the President, the GI Joe team has been ordered to mobilize. The President deemed the situation at MIT a terrorist action."
"I understand sir, when do we leave?"
"I have some bad news, Sylia. Assuming your brother is a hostage, I want to keep you on the sidelines; seeing this would be a direct conflict of interest for you, I'm sorry."
Sylia looked at her CO, there was a conflict of interest. Her brother was important to her. "Clayton, you can't do this. You can't sideline one of your field commanders for something so petty because," the emotional mask that hid her true feelings began to crack under the stress of the past couple months and the strain of the situation, it all took a toll on her; Sylia began to cry, "Because he's all I have left in a family!"
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Hawk guided Sylia to a couch. She buried her face into his shoulder and wept. Hawk was the only the person who ever saw Sylia cry, usually she kept a tight reign on her feelings to where she was cold and distant; there was the side her friends saw caring and compassionate; and her private side, the one Hawk was seeing where she was worried and concerned about her brother's welfare. She sobbed for a few minutes more before regaining her composure, Hawk handed her a box of Kleenex so she can dry her eyes. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to breakdown," Sylia said as she dried her eyes.
"It's okay, I know you're worried about your brother. I'm planning on using your Knight Sabers and a few Joes as an insertion team. I want you to promise me that you will keep your personal feelings out of the mission."
"I promise Clayton, you have my word."
"Then assemble the troops, Lt."
Assembling in the main auditorium, the GI Joe team took their seats and talked until General Hawk took to the podium and Sylia stood next to him. "You're probably wondering why you were called on such short notice?" Hawk asked
"If it about that peephole in the women's locker room, Clutch and I are innocent," Shipwreck interrupted, "Steeler, you can have your drill back."
"Shut up Shipwreck! I'm certain you've heard the news that MIT has been taken hostage by a group of eco terrorists who claim to have a thermo nuclear device. By order of the President and the Secretary of Defense, the GI Joe team has been ordered to mobilize and provide support for Boston PD and the National Guard. But our orders do allow us to send in an insertion team to assess the possibility of a nuke and take whatever action necessary to insure the safety of the hostages." With that Hawk turned the briefing over to Lt. Stingray.
"As Hawk stated, we are sending in a 12 person insertion team composed of the newly formed Knight Sabers and members of GI Joe; we'll need a Medical Tech and an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) specialist, Zap, Lifeline you two are drafted. The rest will be on a volunteer basis," Sylia stated. Standing to their feet, Duke, Flint, Scarlett, Lady J, Snake-Eyes and Grunt volunteered for the mission.
Before leaving the base, Sylia had her team assembled in the armory, her entire team was dressed in black, since this was going to be a night ops. For Lifeline, since he was a Med Tech, a red cross was displayed on the side of his left arm. Sylia armed herself with a SOCOM, an MP-5 and an M-4; with the SOCOM in hand she equipped it with a flash/sound suppressor and an LAM, then placed it into a shoulder harness. Taking an M-16 and an M-9 Lady J also handed Scarlett her crossbow and quiver of arrows. With an almost certain smile of delight, Priss took a Desert Eagle, an M-4 and a pump shotgun; Let's light this candle! Priss chuckled to herself, she was ready to party. Nene just took a SOCOM with a flash/sound suppressor and an LAM. Rather than using firearms, Linna had two long swords.
An entire squadron of Tomahawk's took off from the base for Boston. Carrying VAMPs, AWE Strikers and APCs. Two hours later, Boston PD and the National Guard held a defensive line along Albany Street, the standoff went for the 5 hours. Things were tense and worse with the thought of a thermo-nuclear device. "Okay, send in the negotiator," Colonel Weissman of the Mass. National Guard ordered, "What the hell is this?" He asked as the GI Joe team arrived.
"General Hawk, GI Joe. What's the situation Colonel?"
"The situation is under control, sir. Frankly, we don't need the GI Joe team, you'll just get in the way," Weissman told Hawk. Weissman's opinion of the GI Joe team was so low, Hawk would have to work real hard to disappoint him. Weissman considered GI Joe a waste of tax payer dollars
"Unfortunately, the President and the Secretary of Defense don't share your opinion. Washington and the Pentagon view the situation serious enough to mobilize GI Joe. If you have any concerns Colonel, fine. Take it up with the necessary superiors and let us go to work," Hawk told Weissman.
"Very well," Weissman seethed through clenched teeth and stormed off.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Hawk headed to a make-shift staging area, Grey Fox was currently going over plans for her insertion team. "What do you have planned, Fox?" Hawk hunched down on one knee, noticing the maps of MIT and the local sewer system.
"Dagger, Snake-Eyes; I want you two to sneak in, locate the hostages and the nuke."
"Got it, Fox," Dagger replied, Snake-Eyes gave a thumbs up. Then headed for the campus.
Grey Fox continued to brief the rest of her insertion team, "The bulk of the insertion team will go through the sewers…"
"The sewers?! Isn't there another way?" Wolf complained
"No, the sewers are our best chance of getting in without being detected. Now Flash, Sci-Fi and Breaker; I want you three to be ready to take down the local power grid for MIT at my signal. My guess is we have a small window of opportunity before back-up generators kick in. Any questions?" Grey Fox looked around and no one had questions, "Very well, you have your assignments, let's move out."
Wolf, Duke and Flint worked on opening a man hole, while the rest of the insertion team put on their night vision goggles and air filtration masks, since it was going to be dark and musty down there. "I want to wish your team good luck, Grey Fox," Hawk told Grey Fox as she made final preparations.
"Remember the verse in a certain song, sir, 'We are America's best,'" Grey Fox gave Hawk a wry smile.
Confused, Hawk wondered what she meant by that remark, until he remembered the song, 'Ballad of the Green Berets,' what she meant was that the job will get done regardless of being wished good luck or not. "Go 'em soldier!" Hawk smiled
"Yes sir!" Grey Fox exclaimed enthusiastically then turned to her team, "You heard the man, let's go to work people!"
"YO JOE!" exclaimed Duke, Flint, Scarlett, Lady J and Grunt.
Climbing down the manhole Grey Fox activated her night vision goggles and the spill light on her M-4. Then she pulled on her air filtration mask. Moving along the narrow walkways on the side of the sewer, the insertion team had walk through god knows what that has built up down here. One thing is for certain Grey Fox was not going to come out of this mission smelling like a rose.
"Damn! It reeks," Wolf complained, then she glanced at her boots, "Aw shit! In more ways than one."
"Well, we don't have much further to go," Flint replied
Top side, Dagger flatten herself against a side of building, she peered around the corner. There were two sentries approaching her position. She was able to get a good look at the eco-terrorists. An M-4? An AN-94? Kevlar? For environmentalists these nuts are packing the latest military hardware. Dagger wondered, this raised a lot questions no one has the money for or the access to military grade hardware. But Dagger's black-ops experience reminded her that Russia was so fouled up that someone could sneak a nuclear ICBM, launcher and all, right out of the country without any one knowing about. But US military arms? Usually security is very tight around armories, so there might be an inside job on this. This also reminded Dagger of a black-ops mission, she helped shutting down a black market ring of nuclear arms; she remembered slicing several people with her sword. "Grey Fox, come in."
"Grey Fox here,"
"Fox, I noticed that some of terrorist are armed with up-to-date US and Russian equipment, like M-4s and AN-94s."
"Probably black market."
"That was my guess."
"Dagger, just locate the hostages and the nuke. I don't know how much time we have left."
"Roger that," Dagger closed her channel.
With a small Mag-light flashlight strapped to the shoulder of her flak jacket, Grey Fox looked at the map of the sewer system to determine her team's position.
"So where are we?" Lady J asked wiping the sweat from her brow.
"I'm betting we're near the center of the campus,"
"If I see any turtles walking upright and eating pizza, shoot me!" Wolf remarked sarcastically, she had been down in the sewers too long she was starting to smell like shit. But her comments fell on deaf ears.
"Fox, why hasn't there been any demands? Don't terrorist take these kind of actions for some kind of gain?" Cypher asked, she'd seen those movies where the terrorist always had a demand.
Cypher's question actually made Grey Fox stop and think. "Cypher, there are several possibilities; the terrorists may not have made demands, or the leader of the group or the entire group might willing to die and become martyrs for their cause," Grey Fox explained, in her experience terrorists were willing to die for their cause perhaps to inspire other people to their cause; good example would be middle eastern terrorists. "Right now we can not stand around and rationalize this, we've got a job to do." Grey Fox climbed up the ladder, lifted the manhole cover.
Emerging from the sewers, the insertion team took up a defensive position. Removing her air filtration mask, Wolf took a whiff of air, the stench she smelled nearly made her puke. "God damn! Smells like something died in that building!" Wolf frantically pulled her mask back on. Heading towards the building east of her position, Wolf turned completely pale when she looked inside. The hallway was covered in blood, "Grey Fox, you may want to see this," Wolf called out, she just wanted puke.
Entering the building, Grey Fox was not prepared for what she saw. "Oh my god!" She whispered, moving down the hall, she discovered these were classrooms, bodies just lied all over the room, and the walls were pocked marked with bullet holes.
"How can anyone be so inhuman?" Lifeline pondered, disgusted by the carnage.
"Ever heard of Hitler, Lifeline?" Wolf responded. She looked at one of the bodies, it was a young blond woman, just a year younger than Wolf. A look of abject fear permanently etched the young woman's face. These people never had a chance. Seeing this, Wolf fought herself from crying. She was not weak, she had to remain strong.
"Marquée De Sade would have loved a front row seat to this," Grey Fox said with a hint of cynicism in her voice.
"Who?" Cypher asked, her voice was quivering, she just wanted to shut her mind off, just feel nothing, but she could not.
"Marquée De Sade was a Frenchman who got his kicks by seeing people suffer. That were where the words sadist and sadistic originated."
"Fox," Cypher could only say, before crying uncontrollably, never had she seen such horror in her life.
"Cypher," Grey Fox said soothingly, cupping the redhead's cheek with her hand, "Perhaps this has been too much. We're in the middle of a mission, I can't have you succumbing to your emotions."
"That's pretty insensitive, Grey Fox!" Cypher spat, "You can't tell me you're not the least bit horrified by this!"
"What I feel, I control. I will not have myself going to pieces at the first sign of blood. Cypher, I would like you to get back to the staging area." Grey Fox said, then she called for Scarlett to escort her back. Cypher just gave her CO an ashamed look.
"Hawk, this is Grey Fox,"
"What is it, Fox?"
"Sir, we haven't located the hostage yet. But we're in what maybe the math/computer science building. And sir…"
"What is it?"
"These classrooms were used to kill large groups of hostages and we're finding more bodies."
"Damn!"
Retracing their steps through the sewers, Cypher and Scarlett headed back to the staging area. "I bet I let the Lt. down, I wasn't strong to control my emotions."
"Nene, something else was bothering her. It could be her brother is a hostage or among the dead."
"Her brother?" Nene asked, then glanced towards the ground, "I feel like an idiot, I accused her of being insensitive and she was worried about her brother."
"He's all she has left in a family. I'm certain she didn't mean to take it out on you. You want to know something?"
"What?"
"I felt like breaking down myself back there and I'm a professional soldier; I've seen my share of death, but I'm still human."
"Does it get easier?"
"No, anyone who can look at a dead body and not feel anything is not human."
"Thanks Scarlett. I feel a bit better," Nene said with a hint of a smile.
"Anytime, kiddo, anytime."
At the athletic area, Dagger and Snake-Eyes crept around on the roof of the locker room near the gym. Nearing the edge of the roof, Dagger gauged the distance. It must have been at least 5 feet between the two buildings. "Wait here," Dagger told Snake-Eyes. With a running start, Dagger leaped off the roof, and barely made it across. Moving towards the nearest air vent, she removed the vent cover and pulled a directional microphone when she heard some chatter.
"When do we make our demands?"
"Soon, the government will rather give in than see their precious school turned into a crater."
"I've heard that there may be a military insertion team on the grounds."
"They must be stupid. Conduct a sweep of the surrounding area."
Placing her directional microphone back into its holster, then Dagger contacted Snake-Eyes, "Snakes, link up with the rest of the insertion team and get them to the gym, and I've found the hostages and the nuke."
"What are you doing?" One of the two eco-terrorists ordered as they approached Dagger. Three more appeared from behind her.
Rising to her feet, Dagger drew her long sword. As she assumed a fighting stance, Dagger was like a tiger ready to strike. Dashing for the two terrorists in front of her, she slashed upward and gave the other a hard kick to the head nearly breaking her neck. The three behind her fired carelessly at her, but Dagger dodged the gunfire. Getting behind a tall air vent, Dagger pulled out two large combat knives. Emerging from her hiding place, she launched a knife. The hurling knife landed into the back of a terrorist. She threw the 2nd one, striking the shoulder of another terrorist.
The 3rd terrorist was able to shoot Dagger in the shoulder
20 minutes later, the darkness lifted from Dagger's eyes, "I glad you're awake," someone said to her. Dagger looked around, she was among the hostages, a lot of the huddled in fear some were praying. Trying to get up, someone gently pushed Dagger back down. "Easy you've been shot."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Mackie Stingray."
Stingray? Could he be related to Sylia? Dagger thought. The young man next to her looked like he was beaten a few times and had a nasty gash on the side of his head. "I'm Dagger."
The terrorist leader approached the wounded operative along with two guards. "I knew the government would be stupid enough to conduct either overt or covert operations. Now who are you?"
"Dagger."
Mackie bolted to his feet in defense of the wounded operative. "Look, if this woman does not get medical attention she will die!"
"Quiet criminal!" Barked a guard slamming her AN-94 into Mackie's back. Dagger frowned at the fact she was wounded, even though she could kill most or all of the terrorists in the room, she can not put the hostages in danger with any overt actions. She had wait for Grey Fox and the rest of the insertion team.
"Snake-Eyes!" Grey Fox called to the commando expert as her unit linked up with him. "Where's Dagger?"
Snake-Eyes shook his head as a response.
"Captured?"
Remorsefully, he nodded.
"Snake-Eyes, lead us to where the hostages are. We maybe running out of time if they've got Dagger."
Reaching the gym Grey Fox and her insertion team positioned themselves to breach the door and storm the gym. "Grey Fox to Breaker, is your team in position?"
A block away from the staging area, Breaker, Flash and Sci-Fi were finishing working on a transformer box, making sure that the power for MIT was only killed. "Ready to go Fox, just say the word!" Breaker replied into his headset.
Grey Fox signaled to her team to activate their night vision goggles and have weapons ready. "All right Breaker, kill it," Grey Fox ordered, then pulled out her SOCOM.
Pulling the switch, Flash turned off the power. With the lights out, the insertion team stormed the gym.
"What the hell?! Get someone to get the backup generators on!" The eco-terrorist ordered unable to see anything. Enraged by his plan falling apart, he searched his pockets for the remote for the nuke.
"Drop your weapons!" Grey Fox ordered as she navigated her way through the hostages. "Put your hands behind you heads!" Suddenly power was restored and Grey Fox lifted her night vision goggles. "You're under arrest! You better comply, my friend with the shotgun has little patience and her finger on the trigger." Grey Fox gestured to Wolf.
"If you all don't back off, I'll activate the nuke!"
Grey Fox narrowed her eyes and took a few steps forward, "You won't activate the nuke. You would rather live then have your life snuffed out by a nuclear flash."
"Stay back!" He demanded his hand with the detonator trembled, unable to control as Grey Fox approached closer.
"You don't have the guts to become a martyr. I've faced terrorists with more backbone, you're rank amateur. You're used to strapping yourself to a tree than using paramilitary actions," Grey Fox continued to goad him, raising his hand, he was ready to push the button.
Quickly, Grey Fox shot his detonator rendering it useless. "Stay back!" Throwing open his over coat, there was a couple pounds of C-4 strapped to his body.
"Everyone back off!" Grey Fox ordered as she stepped back.
Running for it, the eco-terrorist leader grabbed the first hostage he saw. "Somebody help!" screamed the hostage.
Grey Fox recognized the voice, her brother. There was no time to think, Grey Fox just ran after him with Wolf following.
Exiting the Gym, a green Saturn blew right past them. "Wild Bill, I need you to track a green 95 Saturn, license number Bravo-X-ray-Charlie-Sierra-2-5," Grey Fox told the chopper pilot over her headset as she ran to the staging area.
A few minutes later, Hawk glanced at two of his operatives running in. "General, I have Wild Bill tracking the suspect. Request permission to initiate pursuit, sir."
"Permission granted,"
Hopping on a pair of Silver Mirage motorcycles, Grey Fox and Wolf sped off after the terrorist leader. Contacting Wild Bill, he gave Grey Fox the terrorist's location; he was speeding down Vassar Street turning left on Memorial Drive.
With the on set of early morning traffic, the terrorist's driving became erratic and reckless; he would gun his car into oncoming traffic and used the sidewalks to get away.
His erratic driving only slowed him down and allowed Grey Fox and Wolf to utilized short cuts and his behavior to their advantage. "I see the bastard, Boss. Damn! The fucker's all over the place!" Wolf commented. The two Knight Sabers had to swerve and weave through traffic and pile ups caused by the terrorist.
One motorist nearly crashed into Wolf, called her a crazy bike riding bitch. Wolf gave him the international sign of friendship* as she sped off
Seeing her quarry dead ahead, Grey Fox had a death grip on the throttle and twisted it hard squeezing every last ounce of speed. Even though she would never show it, due to her façade of professionalism, Sylia was very protective of Mackie, but she would not smother him. She did not want to bury her brother, not to lose him like she lost her mother, her father and Uncle Robert. Mackie had too much going for him, only to have the Grim Reaper make a house call. Grey Fox could not and will not imagine losing Mackie; she would rather burn in hell.
Coming along side the terrorist's car, Grey Fox pointed her MP-5 with her free hand. "Pull over!" She demanded, and she was determined to see her brother out of harm's way. "I said, pull over or I'll shoot!"
Jerking the car, the eco-terrorist slammed the front left side into Grey Fox knocking her off her bike. Slamming onto the pavement, she could hear her left arm breaking with a sickening crunch. The spinning back wheel of her motorcycle came into contact with her right leg as the two objects skidded across the road. The wheel ate away at the back of her knee chewing away muscle and cartilage.
Wolf brought her bike to a screeching halt, then ran to the injured Lt. When she saw the banged up Grey Fox; her fatigues nearly covered in blood, her left arm looked like a pretzel. Wolf nearly threw up when she glanced at Fox's right leg twisted in an unnatural angle. "Fox! Come on wake up!" Wolf pleaded trying to keep Grey Fox conscious. Feelings were being stirred up inside of Wolf, some she never felt towards another person. The feelings for her CO transcended the friendship the two had forged; it was something more what she did not know. "Hawk, this is Wolf! Come in!" Wolf spoke into her headset.
"This is Hawk, go ahead Wolf,"
"Hawk, Grey Fox is down and requires immediate medical attention."
Hawk was silent for a minute or two, obviously stunned by the news about Grey Fox, "I'll dispatch a medical evac chopper for her ASAP."
"Roger that."
"Priss…" A near silent groan called out to Wolf, "Priss…." The groan was a little louder.
"Easy Fox, take it easy," Wolf said soothingly, "Help is on the way."
"Priss you don't understand you have to save my brother."
Her brother?! No wonder Sylia took off after that bastard like a bat outta hell!" Wolf realized that Grey Fox had a personal stake in this mission. "All right Boss, I'll save his ass."
"Thanks. Thank you Priss.
Wolf hopped on her bike and sped off after the terrorist. "Wild Bill, are you still tracking this SOB?"
"Yeah, I'm on the varmint like a bloodhound. He's currently at the intersection of Mass. Ave and Hancock Street, about 4 klicks from your position."
Within minutes, Wolf caught up with the eco terrorist; not wasting time, she pulled out her Desert Eagle and shot out the front left tire. Swerving out of control, the getaway car slammed into a hydrant. Climbing off her bike, Wolf still kept her handgun ready. "Get out of the car and put your hands behind your head, NOW!" Wolf barked.
The driver side door burst open, the terrorist jumped out, his arm wrapped around Mackie's throat. "If you take one more step, I'll blow us up," he warned, showing the C-4 strapped to his chest.
An old fashion Mexican standoff, huh? Wolf thought about the situation. This had her thinking back to one of those Clint Eastwood westerns or the Dirty Harry movies. I love it when the petty robber with a shitty Saturday night special goes against Dirty Harry's .357 Magnum. Wolf mentally laughed.
"I said back away or I'll take this kid with me!"
"Then you better ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well dumb fuck, do ya'!"
Looking at Mackie, Wolf could see he was extremely scared of what could happen next. "Please just let me go. I beg you," Mackie pleaded, he just wanted to live, and see his sister again.
"I said shut up!" The terrorist slammed his fist into Mackie's face.
Driving his teeth into the terrorist's arm, Mackie made a last ditch attempt to break free. Screaming in pain the terrorist broke his hold around Mackie, allowing him to run.
Wolf fired a shot into the terrorist's crotch. He fell to his knees in extreme pain, the terrorist collapsed to the ground. "That was for Grey Fox," Wolf coldly remarked. Then she made her way towards Mackie while Boston PD arrived. "Mackie Stingray?"
"How… How do you know my name?" He asked, still in a bit of shock.
"I'm Wolf, your sister sent me to save your ass," Wolf smirked placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Is Sylia here?"
"Yes," Wolf gestured to her Silver Mirage motorcycle, "Come on I'll give you a lift back to the campus."
Returning to the campus, Wolf just seemed to disappear in the flood of students, teachers, police, military personnel and reporters. Mackie tried in vain to locate his sister, but everyone seemed too busy to give him the time of day. All he wanted was to see his sister, and it frustrated him that no one seemed to know or care.
"Hello Mackie," a gravelly voice spoke from behind him. Turning around, Mackie faced an older man with jet-black hair, a leather aviator's jacket; he held his helmet under his left arm. There was a kind, fatherly smile on his lips.
"General Abernathy?"
"I'm pleased you still remember me. It's been a long time."
"I know sir. But Sylia has spoken about you to me and very highly."
The smile on Hawk's face grew a little wider, "I think very highly of your sister too. One of the best officers who ever served under me."
"General, where is Sylia?"
A sad expression came to the General's face and Mackie had a right to know. "Mackie, Sylia has been seriously injured, last time I checked she was being taken into surgery."
For the next couple of hours Mackie and General Hawk sat in the waiting room while Sylia was still in surgery. "You think Sylia is going to pull through, sir?"
"Yes, she is going to pull through. Your sister is as tough as they come. A real trooper," Mackie could see the confidence in his statement; leaving Mackie wondering if there was more to Sylia and Hawk than a work relationship.
"General, you seem to care a great deal for Sylia, do you regret sending her into combat?"
"Mackie, one of the hardest parts of being a commander is sending young men and women to their deaths; especially if you're very fond of them. I highly respect your sister and I do care about her, but I have to let her do the job she was trained to do, regardless of my personal feelings. I try to act as a mentor and as a surrogate father to her, something I owe your late Uncle Robert, God rest his soul, but I don't give her special treatment nor does she want it."
Dressed in surgical scrubs covered with blood, Doc entered the waiting room. "Doc how's the Lt.?"
"She's going make it."
Mackie was relieved to hear the good news, Hawk silently thanked god. "Can I see her?"
"She needs her rest,"
"I'm her brother, I want to see if she okay."
The black doctor smiled warmly, "Okay maybe a few minutes wouldn't hurt."
Entering Sylia's room, Mackie nearly backed into Hawk, seeing his sister in the hospital bed. Tubes fed into her right arm carrying drugs, blood and IV solution. Her left arm was completely in a cast up to her shoulder. Her right leg had bandage around the knee and was rendered immobile. Sylia was also on a respirator to support breathing. Usually a very strong woman, Sylia looked very frail lying in that hospital bed. Seeing his friend in her condition, Hawk had a hard time holding back his tears; he cared about Sylia, maybe more than he was ready to realize.
"Sis?" Mackie said to his sister, not really expecting a reply. He took her right hand into his hands. "It's me, Mackie and I'm here with General Abernathy. Sis, I'm proud of what you tried to do for me and I love you. Please get well."
"Come on son, Sylia needs her rest," Hawk quietly ushered Mackie out. In the hall, Nene just came out Linna's room. "Specialist Romanova," Hawk called out.
"Yes sir?"
"Can you give the Lt.'s brother a ride back to MIT?"
"Okay," Nene replied very happily, then turned to Mackie, "Come on, I'll drive you back. You don't mind if I pick up something to drink on the way?"
"I don't mind Specialist Romanova."
A very cute smile spread across Nene's lips, "Please, call me Nene."
"Okay Nene, I'm Mackie," Mackie chuckled as the two headed for the elevator. Hawk just smiled and shook his head at Mackie and Nene acting like two young people should when they meet. To quote Casablanca, this look likes the start of a beautiful friendship. Hawk mentally noted as he left to grab himself some coffee.
Sneaking into Sylia's room Priss summed up the courage to approach her friend's bedside. Placing a chair next to the bed, Priss clasped Sylia's right hand with her hands. "Why? Why am I having these feelings for you? Feelings I cannot understand. Damn it! I barely know who you are or anything about you! It doesn't make any sense! I wish you could help make sense of this, Sylia. I don't understand the feelings I have for you." Priss reached out and ran her hand through Sylia's hair she couldn't understand these feelings. Was it respect? Priss highly respected Sylia as a fighter. Was it loyalty? Sylia earned the loyalty of her subordinates because she was willing to risk her life for her friends and put their well being ahead of her own. Was it something more like love; as a friend, possibly; but some deeper form of love? They were both very lonely, very angry individuals with little family or friends. Sylia seemed to care about not only for Priss but also for the rest of Knight Sabers; she stuck up for her when Beachhead was acting like an asshole and gave her a second chance in the military. Through out her life, Priss never had a person who gave a damn about her. Priss could entrust Sylia with her fiery heart, her undying loyalty and possibly her feelings. Running the back her of hand against her friend's cheek, Priss couldn't get over how beautiful Sylia was; it was an elegant, graceful beauty combined with an athletic physique from years of running, swimming and the hours in the gym in between. Also Sylia was one of the most intelligent people she ever met; she was knowledgeable in many things, but she didn't talk down to her or used words that were hard to understand. Sylia was also street smart due to her Army training; she learned the skills she needed to survive.
Rising from her chair, Priss looked at Sylia one last time. "Please get well, Lt." Priss whispered. You might mean more to me than I'm ready to realize. Priss mentally sighed as she walked out the door.
After Priss left, a small single tear ran down Sylia's face.