Disclaimer: See the first chapter. It hasn't changed.
Chapter 2:
They had a quick debrief before leaving, right before the grey of night turned into pink.
There was a map of Louisiana behind Bass as he spoke before the men gathered in front of him.
"While Texas and what was formally Georgia both like to claim Louisiana and New Orleans, the truth is they don't have power over anything below Alexandria." He told them. "This is wild country. The Patriots have to know this, so they must be heading somewhere in between. We're going to follow what was the Red River down. Since the water levels have risen, most of this has become swamp land, so we will be in boats and steering off to the side from the main channel. We are trying to find out if they have another camp hidden down there and take out any scouting parties we may find to question. We are doing simple recon. We do not engage the Patriots unless necessary and use as much stealth as possible when engaging. We do not under any circumstances try to engage with any New Orleans scouts, so wait for orders from either myself or Lt Matheson before doing anything." Bass stared down the men before him. "Is this clear?" He asked, sternly.
"Yes, SIR!" They all answered at once, only Devon's voice was heard behind the others.
She felt Monroe cast a glance in her direction
Charlie had also decided to bring Devon along, she thought a smaller mission like this might push him forward. At least test what he could do under pressure.
She had expected Monroe to argue with her about bringing him, but he hadn't.
He simply stared at her as they walked up. "If he fucks up, I'm going to shoot him in the head." He told her. She narrowed her gaze. "If you choose to bring him, then it's on you." They had a silent battle of wills for several moments before he walked away.
Devon was even more nervous after hearing that, but he took it as he did everything else. "Why does he have to be such a dick?" He asked. Charlie turned her gaze to him.
"Because he's responsible for a lot of lives." She snapped. His eyes got wide at her tone. "Look, they've taken it easy on you because they don't trust you. They don't think you can do this. I'm taking a chance here, so you better not let me down." She told him seriously. "If you do something stupid that causes someone to get hurt, I may shoot you myself."
"Look, I don't know…"
"You are going to sit in the boat, watch constantly for movement or enemy troops or any other signs and you are going to watch for orders. That's all. Its simple."
"Yes, sir." He said nervously.
She nodded and gestured for him to take a seat.
They found a local man, who was willing to take them deeper into the swamps. They left on several Creole skiffs, through the water. Bass was in the front with their guide, Charlie was in the boat behind him, each of them had 4 other soldiers with them, rowing them forward. Behind her boat were three more, each holding 4 men.
The sound of the swamp right before dawn was loud. Charlie could smell the rotting vegetation in the air, and several times ripples in the water would catch her eye and she'd look to see the nostrils of an alligator rising above the water line or a water moccasin moving through the murk.
The bugs were everywhere, she could feel them biting at her skin. She tried to wave them away, but was glad for the light weight long sleeve she had on, even though she knew she'd be melting in it during the heat of the day. Quite honestly, she would take on five armed men before dealing with insects, it was a fear she'd had since she was a child.
Over the cacophony of the birds calling out you could barely hear the oars as they slapped into the water. So they could make good time, not worrying about attracting attention from the noise. They slipped away from their camp as the sky finally began to lighten.
Austin, TX
"Priscilla, tell me again, what you saw." Rachel said patiently. They had been trying for almost a month to try to interpret what Priscilla saw when the nano had been leaving her, but the woman wasn't able to pull up clear memories, just fragments that she could barely hold on to.
7 Weeks Before – Before Miles is given his comission
"The nano possessed her?" Miles asked Rachel. He stared in shock between her and Aaron. Aaron and Priscilla had arrived the day before. And Rachel had just filled Miles in on everything that had happened with them and the nano. "Jesus Christ, what the hell did you two build?"
"It said I woke it up." Aaron told him. He had already retold Miles everything, but Miles kept asking him questions. "It was in my head for a while, it made me think that the blackout never happened, then it tricked me into healing it."
"So not only can it set things on fire, control animals and insects, but it can cause hallucinations and delusions and possess you, is that it? Do I have it all?" Miles snapped.
"Um, it also has decided humans are too destructive and wants to control us by altering our brains." Aaron reminded him weakly.
"But it was dying, and you healed it." Miles had asked this question many now as if he still couldn't believe the answer. "And then you hid the fact that Priscilla was possessed?"
"Yes, ok!" Aaron yelled, defensively. He'd tried to keep calm, but Miles didn't understand what it had been like. He wasn't like him. He wasn't a soldier. He didn't know how to deal with things like this. "I didn't know what else to do, they made me think Rachel was dying. Then they said they'd kill Priscilla if I told you."
"And you didn't think to tell me about this sooner, either?" He turned on Rachel.
"I kinda got distracted with the whole kidnapping the President thing." Rachel told him. She had remained calm under his frustration and anger.
Miles laughed. It was a harsh desperate sound. This really was his life.
"So, do either of you have any ideas… any at all… what so ever… as to how to stop them?!" Rachel and Aaron exchanged a helpless glance. "And Priscilla can't remember anything specific that could help?" He demanded.
"She said that it was going to find those that would help it and then she saw people gathering in front of a glowing, grinning man."
"That is completely unhelpful." Miles told them. He almost growled in frustration. He had actually been considering what Charlie had said about trying to make things work with Rachel after the Patriots were defeated. He stared at her a moment. She was obviously upset. This is what happened when you fell in love with someone who destroyed the world. He sighed deep. "Ok, first things first, we need help. Where would we go to find other people that may understand these things, because, honestly, even seeing what they've done and having firsthand knowledge, I can't really wrap my head around all this."
"Um, the University of Texas used to be located here." Aaron spoke up suddenly. "I gave a lecture here once. They had one of the top ten computer programs in the country."
"I kinda doubt its still running." Miles stated acidly.
"No." Rachel said slowly, "but hopefully there is still some reference materials at the library." Aaron nodded quickly. "There may even be some professors still around."
"Ok, that's a start." Miles encouraged them. "We still have some of the Patriots we captured from the reconditioning center. I bet you we can find a hypnotherapist somewhere among them. They'll have to be vetted, but that might be one way to unlock Priscilla's memories."
"I could be there when he does it make sure he doesn't plant any unwanted thoughts." Rachel said.
"Oh, I would need to be there for that." Aaron spoke up quickly.
"Fine, you can both be there, I'm just saying that it's important to get as much information as possible. And Rachel, I think we need to go to the Texas government. Tell them what's going on." Miles told her.
"No, we can't do that."
"Do you even think they'd believe us?" Aaron asked.
"Well, I think it's worth a shot." Miles told them. "Priscilla said they'd find others right? Others to help them lobotomize humans? Well, there's a hell of a lot of people out there, but chances are it's going to try to go for at least a few in power. We need to be on the watch for that."
"What if they are already possessed? Do you want to warn them we might be on to them?"
Miles threw his hand up. "You don't have to tell them everything or the whole truth, just come up with something so they understand that if people start acting differently or there are weird occurrences, they need to let us know." He shook his head. "All I can do here is give you advice on how to do this tactically. I have no idea how to go about fighting microscopic computers that are everywhere and can apparently invade our minds!" Frustrated, at how lost he felt right now. "I need to worry about the Patriots because that is something I can handle. Bass and I are helping Texas clear them out; in a few weeks we should have them pushed back to the old Texas border. That I can do. That I understand." He looked at them. "This science stuff is on you two. I need you to handle this, cuz I really don't like the thought of something living in my mind controlling me."
Rachel and Aaron both agreed.
Present
Miles took Rachel and Aaron to see Frank, who was about ready to pick up the mantle of President again, since they were no longer a state at peace, he was the only one who knew how to run a military state. Miles was pretty sure, that he thought they were nuts and understood even less than Miles did about what was going on, but Miles had earned his trust and he pretty much gave the University to Rachel and Aaron. It wasn't like it had been used for much in the past 15 years. He also helped them to recruit anyone who may have a science or computer background, by getting the word out.
It had been almost two months and they finally found someone who could try to hypnotize Priscilla. Rachel had given her a light natural sedative of Valerian Root to relax her and hopefully make her more susceptible. The gentleman helping them, Dr Paradis, used to be a psychiatry professor who studied the chemical makeup of the brain and also learned hypnotism as part of his thesis many years before.
"Priscilla." Rachel urged again when the woman just crinkled her forehead.
"It's not really a man, it's a clown."
"Great, we're dealing with Pennywise the Dancing Clown." Aaron complained. Rachel shushed him.
"Its not a real clown." Priscilla was obviously straining to put it together. "It's a sign…a neon sign. There are lights and lots of people."
"Priscilla, can you see anything that can tell us where the clown is?" Rachel asked her. "Anything at all?"
Priscilla tried, you could tell she was trying. Suddenly, her nose started to bleed. "Bring her out, now!" Aaron ordered. Doctor Paradis immediately started speaking to her trying to pull her out of the state. She seemed to be resisting it. She breathed heavily and the blood started flowing heavier.
"Priscilla," Aaron called out to her. With a gasp she sat up.
"I can't. I'm sorry." She sobbed. "I can't see anymore." Aaron hugged her, while Rachel sighed. They didn't have much more to work with.
Swamps of Louisiana
With the sun, came the heat, but worse was the humidity. Charlie felt like she was breathing under water. Sweat poured off of her and she made sure she and the men in her boat stayed as hydrated as possible. Even floating under a canopy of thick trees, the oppressive heat made itself known.
She glanced up at Monroe. He stood alert on the bow of the boat, she didn't have to see him from the front to know his eyes were scanning rapidly. She shifted her eyes back towards the landscape surrounding them.
Charlie had trouble getting to sleep the night before. She had lain awake in her tent thinking. Occasionally she could hear the notes from a guitar being played and a few lyrics slipped through her thoughts, from Bass in his tent not far away.
"Surrounded by empty souls, artificial courage used
And because so, once was mine
I walk this maze alone"
She kept running over and over their talk from earlier in her mind. She had known something had happened the night he brought them the President. She could tell when he spoke to Miles and from the look in his eyes. She just hadn't realized the enormity of what had occurred. That he had admitted it to her, and despite the ensuing argument about her personal life, was what had made her question him about regaining the Republic before she left. As much as she tried to hate him, when she saw those small glimpses of the man underneath, she just couldn't help viewing him as a person. She didn't really think she could change him, but she hoped maybe she could just make him think. She definitely no longer saw him as an unfeeling sociopath. Laying here, in the dark by herself, she could face the fact that she wanted to find the humanity in him. Maybe that was all her feelings were about she told herself, the last lingering bit of optimism and wanting to see the best in people.
And she was directing that Sebastian Monroe.
She tossed and turned.
She was an idiot.
"Chaos and hate shadow me, hate it fills me up
Only one thing makes me feel, missing better half of me"
She rolled over again, so she was laying facing his tent, better to hear him sing. She wondered if he knew she could hear him. It was obvious he tried to play quietly, but more nights than not she fell asleep to the sound of his voice singing. She knew most of the songs by heart now. They all talked of the same thing. Loneliness, regret, loss, and darkness.
She closed her eyes and just let her mind wander. In the moments before sleep claimed her, when her mind was released from the tight control she kept on it, she wished she could be there with him, let him know he wasn't alone, that she was with him.
Charlie brought her attention back to swamps, with a sigh.
She saw a movement out of the corner of her and immediately ducked down. She could tell that it wasn't just another animal. She knew Monroe had done the same, having probably spotted it before her. They both signaled to the boats behind them for the other's to follow suit and every one froze, just lightly floating along as they peered through the plants and trees.
It was a large flatboat carrying almost 15 soldiers up the main channel quickly. They were heavily armed and obviously patrolling, but they weren't going slow enough or looking deep enough to spot them. They moved past quickly, but Charlie and Monroe stayed down and in holding, listening until their engine faded away.
The two exchanged a look. That wasn't the remains of Shreveport soldiers. Even with the cursory job they did, those men weren't beaten down from recent battle. They were sharp and ready to go. That meant there had to be a camp down here somewhere. And if that was one patrol unit, the camp had to be a decent size.
She saw Monroe start to talk with the guide. Charlie motioned for her men to row them closer, slowly and quietly.
Monroe looked up when she got her boat close.
"He says there is used to be a small city up ahead, its mainly underwater, but there are a few spots around here that may be dry enough to hold a camp."
"It won't be long before it gets dark. If we keep going slow, we should be able to get close enough under the cover of darkness to get some idea." She said.
"We need to stay quiet." He warned her.
"I know, I'm betting we'll be outnumbered."
He shrugged and gave her a grin. "At least it keeps it interesting,"
She couldn't help but smile back at him. He tapped the guide and they started forward again.
Bradbury, Idaho
The town, was lit up completely, every light on, even during the day. All around people moved quickly, but an unnatural silence permeated everything. Sitting at a table of the 3 Ring Ice Cream Parlor, sat four individuals. They didn't speak. Just waited. Finally a fifth walked in and joined them. He looked at the others. He was a large man, wearing a very worn, but what had once been an expensive tailored suit.
"I want to thank you all for joining me today." He said with a grin.
Across from him, a young woman, wearing a cardigan spoke up. "I worry we are adopting their behaviors by doing this. Developing egos."
"Nonsense." Said an old man. "This is how they behave, it only helps us to understand them more. Besides, its fun. We are in control of them, we might as well take advantage of it. Speaking out loud is enjoyable."
"They tried to break into Priscilla's mind." A man in his mid 30's spoke up, he had thick glasses and a button down shirt on.
"But they didn't get anything useful." The man in the suit stated. "They have no more information than they did before."
An older woman in her fifties spoke up, she was of Indian descent and still quite pretty. "Things are progressing nicely here. The human's we have altered are taking to their changes and behaving appropriately."
The man in the suit nodded. "Good."
The young woman spoke up again. "The more people we inhabit, the less we have to keep an eye on everything. It limits some of our sight."
"But the more we control, the more energy we can produce to replicate and then we will gain back our sight."
"That will take time." She argued. "They are working hard. We don't know what they might discover."
"They have nothing." He insisted. "And even if they did, they lack the ability to do anything." He leaned forward and stared at her. "You're picking up their insecurities and doubts. You need to get it under control. They can't access anything that can hurt us. The only thing that could hurt us, we control, the power. We have enough eyes here and are far enough away, they can't even get close to us." He got a cold grin. "Soon we will set up other towns and bring in more people. They will have different roles to play, but in the end, all of them will be under our control."
The five nodded in synchronicity. As one they turned their eyes out the window where they watched their humans move around under their control.
Outside Texarkana
Miles sat in his tent, trying not to worry about what was happening down south. He hoped his runner reached Bass and Charlie in time, but Miles, knew in his gut that he wouldn't. He stared at the map in front of him as he debated what to do. He knew that if the roles were reversed, Bass would already have his troops up and moving and headed down towards him. Miles was just worried, that he was going to leave some opening behind that the Patriots could exploit. How much damage had their little group done to the world, all in the name of saving one or two people that were close to them? He was waiting to hear back from the scouts before he made a decision.
He looked at the reports in front of him. So far, everything indicated that Bass and Charlie were doing well. Better than well, they were taking out the Patriots and moving quickly. Charlie reported that Bass was following their plan perfectly and hadn't done anything to cause concern. She said it was obvious he disapproved of keeping the cadets alive, but he hadn't stopped anyone from capturing them or made any moves to kill them.
He thought back to the night Bass tried to take their train. Miles had appealed to him and Bass wound up listening to him. He wondered, if he had tried to talk to him all those years ago, instead of just observing until he decided it was too late, could it have made a difference? Could he have pulled his friend back from the edge?
Miles hated these thoughts. He hated that doubt inside of him. The fact was the choices were already made, this was long in the past and there was nothing he could do to change it now. However, he was trying to learn from it. That's why he sent Charlie with Bass. He couldn't talk to him all those years ago, but maybe she could help him now. He found himself hoping more and more that she could. That last night before they left, the two of them playing music together had brought back so much. They had idolized Alice In Chains and the grunge scene as just barely teenagers and Miles knew that Bass picked those songs for a reason. It was his way of trying to apologize and explain. By the end of the night, Miles found himself wishing he could, but not sure if he would ever be able to.
"Sir!" An officer entered distracting him from his thoughts.
Miles nodded at him.
"Our scouts just got back. The Patriots have cleared out ahead of us. Reports indicate they are turning south."
Miles stood up. "Pull up camp. Send out runners that we're heading down to back up Monroe. See if Texas can send us anymore troops."
"Yes, sir." Miles could hear him shouting orders outside. He knew he should probably gather more intel, but his gut told him that he needed to get down there. He had a feeling Charlie and Bass were going to need him.
He folded up his reports and wrote a quick letter to send out with the runner to Austin for Rachel. He hoped more than anything they were making progress on the nano. That scared him more than anything; because that wasn't an enemy he could face and fight.
He and Rachel had not left things on the best of terms.
Austin, TX
The night before deployment.
Miles and Rachel walked back to his room. He had his arm around her and was humming. In his other hand was his guitar. He noticed she was quiet, but he was trying to hold on to his buzz for just a little bit longer.
Finally he couldn't take the silence anymore. "You've got something on your mind; you may as well get it out." He told her.
She shrugged.
"Rachel…"
"I just hate seeing how you and Charlie keep forgetting who Monroe is." She said.
Miles let out a sigh and immediately tensed knowing there was going to be an argument coming. The pleasant feeling from the buzz slipped away.
"How many times to do we have to go over this?" He asked her.
"We don't have to go over it again. I understand your opinion. I just think you're wrong." She told him.
"We are going to keep close watch on him…"
"No, my daughter is going to keep close watch on him." She corrected him. She stopped and looked at him. "Has it occurred to you that in seeking out 'others to help them', the nano could use Bass?" She could tell by his face, it hadn't. "Right now, he could be under their power. Maybe that's why he's being so helpful and tame. Maybe they are just waiting to trigger him and then he'll slaughter Charlie and who knows how many others."
"They haven't taken control of Bass." He protested.
"How do you know?" She questioned. "Because you don't want to believe it? Because you can't imagine that someone like him wouldn't be an asset to them? Or this is the perfect plan to fool us and destroy us from the inside?"
"Aaron figured out it wasn't Priscilla, ok? I KNOW Bass, there is no way the nano could do that good of a job."
"Aaron slept with Priscilla before he found out." Rachel told him coldly. "She was his wife, he had known her for years, but he slept with her and he still didn't realize until days later."
"And maybe this is what it wants," Miles all but yelled. "Maybe it wants us to start doubting each other, doubting everyone until we think there is no one we can trust and basically wind up like Bass was. Did you think of that?" He set down the guitar and took her gently by the shoulders. He softened his tone. "Rachel, I'm doing the best I can here, with what's been given to me. I can't start thinking like this right before we leave out. I have to trust him. And I have to trust in Charlie to let me know if anything goes wrong."
Rachel looked away for a moment, but then looked back at him. "You were gone. I was his prisoner. I saw what he did and who he became. I will never be able to trust him, or look at him and see the 'old Bass'. I don't have that luxury." She had tears in her eyes. Miles cursed himself for ever having turned her in, for everything he did to bring about that situation. He wrapped her in his arms and held her while she cried.
"I'm so afraid to lose you and Charlie." She said quietly.
He wouldn't offer her promises he had no way of keeping. She'd know they were lies as well as he. They had lived through too much and it would offer no comfort. All he could do was let her cry and offer her his arms. She clung to him until the tears subsided, then pulled back and wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I know that's not what you need tonight."
"It's all right. You needed to let it out."
She hesitated, but then spoke. "Just be careful, Miles. I know you want your brother back more than anything, but don't let him fool you."
"I will." Miles promised.
Present
Miles still believed that Bass wasn't part of the nano plot. For some reason it just didn't feel right to him. Of course using these types of instincts against an artificial intelligence may not mean much, but he was going with it. Like he told Rachel, all he could is his best, with what he had. He sealed the letter and walked out to give it to the runner.
Right now it was just urgent he got down there as fast as possible.
Louisiana Swamp
Night had fallen and the boats glided soundlessly through the dark. They could see numerous torch lights up ahead. Bass had his boat pulled up to land and quietly got out. Charlie followed suit. He gave her a questioning look and she nodded. He turned back to the men.
"We're going in for a closer look. You are to stay here and stay alert. You hear gunfire; you come in, but only then. You see troops heading this way, you hide unless unable to. If you can't hide, try to take them out quickly and quietly."
"Yes, sir." The men all nodded. Bass noticed, Devon looked like he was going to throw up. He really hoped the kid could pull his weight. He knew Charlie would be pissed if he had to kill him.
He and Charlie moved silently through the night. She took his left side. She was always on his left side. Sometimes he wondered if Connor told him about his blind spot or if she had figured it out on her own, but for whatever reason, that was where she always was when they went into a fight.
He turned his head and glanced at her. It felt good having her by his side like that. When it came to this, he trusted her completely with his life. He knew her well enough now to know that she would never give up and she would protect those fighting with her until the very end.
They had spent many hours training in the week before they headed out and since. She was razor sharp with her skills.
A smile came to his face as he admired her. He felt the familiar feeling of anticipation before a fight. She looked back at him and he saw the same smile on her face. He could feel it, they were in perfect sync.
They moved closer, as one, to the edge of the torchlight and the camp. They lay flat on the ground, listening for any movement close by. After several minutes of hearing nothing, Bass pulled out the binoculars and looked up. Even with a quick glance look at the size and what was before him, he dropped back down and let out a silent curse. There were over 50 men here. He handed Charlie the binoculars for her to see. She went up and quickly came back down. The look on her face was pure irritation. He knew she was cursing inside as well. Neither one of them had anticipated this. There had been no reports of troops gathering around Louisiana. They heard footsteps coming closer and they flattened themselves down even more. Bass pulled his sword to have it ready and saw Charlie pull out a few throwing knives. As the steps got closer they could hear a conversation going on.
"Sir, the boat has about 150 of the men who were defeated in Texas. Its ready to pull out."
"How many does that still leave us?' A second voice asked.
"Six sir. About a hundred on each ship. Still more than enough to keep New Orleans in line."
"There have been reports of activity down there. They still know this area and this terrain better than us. I want our sentries doubled, but cut their time in half so they are more alert."
"Yes, sir."
"What about Monroe?"
"His camp hasn't moved, sir. He's probably thinking that they're all running scared into the swamp and counting on New Orleans to take care of them. If he was going to follow he would by now."
The footsteps were right in front of them now. Neither Charlie nor Monroe dared to breathe.
They first step stopped suddenly and they both tensed. The feet turned, but moved completely past them until they were facing the other pair.
"Do not underestimate Sebastian Monroe." The first voice admonished. "He's as clever as New Orleans is feral. That's why the orders are to kill him on sight. Tell our men to keep a close watch, let us know if anyone heads south from that camp."
"They are due back soon, sir."
"Good."
The feet turned back around. Monroe glanced at Charlie, this was their chance to take someone with some intel. He could see she was ready and anticipating his move. They both tensed to spring into action when the wind blew. It blew the torchlight around them and reflected light off of his sword. The first man must have caught it out of the corner of his eyes because as Monroe leaped up he turned anticipating the blow and blocked him. One of Charlie's knives hit the other man in the chest and he went down, but it was too late. The Commander was yelling and men were immediately springing to action.
Realizing they wouldn't be able to take him for questioning, Monroe quickly sliced through him before he and Charlie both turned and ran back to their boats. They could hear the troops shouting and moving behind them as they hurried through the dark. It was a lot more difficult to navigate this quickly with the roots and fallen trees. At any moment they risked falling into quick sand or a swamp, but that was the least of their worries as shots fired past them.
Monroe heard noise up ahead and knew their troops were aware they were being pursued and had moved into action. He grabbed Charlie and pulled her behind a large tree. She shot him a look. He was hoping the timing worked out that they could get the drop on the first soldiers through in time for their guys to arrive at the same time as the majority of the Patriots behind them. Gun shots still fired out, but the footsteps got closer and closer.
Just before men were going to run past them, the two jumped out and attacked.
From there it all slowed down. He cut the first soldier down as Charlie knelt and took another out at the knees, when he dropped she stabbed him. She jumped up immediately and blocked a guy coming at him while he turned to face another. This one was more prepared and he blocked a few times, before Bass found and opening and stabbed him in the stomach. He heard Charlie drop the one behind him, but he was already moving on to the next, knowing she'd be right there with him. This one managed to get a swing in and he felt a sharp burn on his cheek, before he could even swing upwards, there was a knife in his throat from Charlie. He spun and slashed the one who had been moving up while she had been distracted with her throw. By now there were more men catching up and they were starting to fire again. Charlie grabbed him as she dove down and he heard the bullets hit the bark as splinters rained down as they fell.
Shots erupted behind them as their troops arrived and opened fire on the Patriots. He and Charlie took cover and pulled out their guns and also began returning fire. It was almost impossible to see in the blackness, he kept his eyes peeled for shadows moving. He saw the flash of a gunshot and aimed in that direction. There was a muffled yell and someone hit the ground. After several volleys back and forth he noticed that there were fewer shots coming from in front of them. They were actually winning against more than double their number.
He saw a flicker of light move across the water to his right. He turned his head and his stomach sank. Boats, lots of boats if the lights were any indication. He tried to get a quick count, but stopped at 30. He and Charlie left their cover and ran towards their troops to try and get back on their boats and sneak away before the boats arrived. They were almost there when an explosion rocked the night throwing them both backwards. They lay there dazed for a moment. He saw she was covered in cuts, but her eyes were open and she was blinking rapidly, trying to clear her head.
"Ok?" He yelled above the ringing in his ears. She nodded hesitantly. He stood up and offered her a hand; he could see more torches behind where there boats were. More Patriots moving in.
He saw four of his men had been shredded by, what he was certain, was a grenade. The others were slowly standing, there were some injuries, but there were only two that weren't going to make it any further. He cursed. He was down to fifteen, against what looked to be over a hundred closing in.
"We gotta head back towards the camp." Charlie shouted.
He looked at her and nodded, that was the only way they had left, unless they wanted to take their chances swimming through snake and alligator infested swamp in the dark.
"Let's move!" He shouted. Charlie took off running and the men followed her. He noticed when Devon ran past he didn't have a mark on him and was barely even dirty. Monroe bet he hadn't even tried to fire just took cover and let the others do the work.
He followed behind them, shooting towards the boats. He wished he had some grenades of his own to throw out there; he could take out half of them with a few well placed throws.
They made it back to the camp, but met only a few soldiers still there. Bass wondered where the others went. They wouldn't have sent everyone out to hunt them, that wouldn't be good planning. They could hear behind them all the troops that were following them. Just as they reached the center of the camp, shots fired all around them. They all dove for cover. Charlie and Monroe landed behind an old wagon.
A voice called out.
"We'll give you one chance." It yelled. "We have you completely outnumbered and we have more troops coming towards you. You'll be completely surrounded within moments. If you surrender now, we won't kill you."
Even though he couldn't see out in the night beyond the torches, Monroe had to believe him. Either way, he didn't think they could make it beyond the camp without being mowed down.
He took note of where the other soldiers were. They were all looking to him.
He looked at Charlie.
"It might be the only way." He told her.
She shook her head. "As soon as they realize who you are, they will execute you." She told him.
"Maybe not. "
"You heard them. Orders are to kill you on sight." She said.
He sighed. "Me, not you. Not our men. You might still make it out."
"No." She said again. "We're not sacrificing you just to be taken prisoner. Besides, they'd probably just send me to one of their camps. I'd rather go down fighting then be brainwashed like Jason was."
"Miles will come." He told her.
"You don't know how soon he'll get here and we're not going to surrender." She told him. "Instead, we're going to take out as many of these assholes as possible to make it easier on him."
He looked at her in admiration. He remembered the first time he met her. She had stood up before Strausser showing no fear; demanding he shoot her instead of her brother, ordering her mother not to give in to his demands. He had been in awe of her strength then. He saw it shining out of her eyes now. He looked towards his men; they all seemed to have the same determination in their eyes.
"What's it going to be?" The man yelled again. Monroe could hear them getting closer. He looked back at Charlie's eyes. So many things he wished he could say to her.
"You were right." He finally said. She tilted her head in question. "I was never happy behind a desk. I didn't really want the Republic back. I've been happier here on the front lines than I ever was in Philly."
She grinned and her eyes lit up. "Told ya so….sir." She teased. He laughed.
"Its been an honor to serve with you Lieutenant. You may even be better than your Uncle these days." He considers his next words, he wanted to tell her how brave she is, and how she is a good part of why he's been happier, but before he can speak she throws his own words back at him.
"Know who talks like that? People who are about to die." Charlie was determined to go down fighting and for some reason found it comforting that Monroe was going to be beside her. His words touched her and the look in his eyes made her flutter despite the situation. She was afraid that what he had been about to say, would make her lose her nerve and she would break down. They needed to do this.
He grinned at her, a smug grin. "Well then, let's go be heroes."
They spin and begin to shoot. They take out the men who have crept closer while they waited for their answer about surrendering. Shots come from everywhere at once. Monroe sees three of the men shot down in the first few minutes.
"I'm out." Charlie yells. She spies a patriot soldier, laying not far behind their cover and makes a grab for his gun, but before she can even get an inch out, shots ring out.
"I'm out too." Monroe yells. They look over and see the remaining few troops also appear to be out of ammo.
"Play dead until they get close?" Charlie asks.
"Either that or run out and get taken down in a hail of gunfire."
"That seems way too dramatic and fatalistic."
They can hear troops approaching their position from all sides. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Devon, trying to creep away to the edge of the camp. For a second he debates about shooting the kid, but Charlie follows his line of sight and gives him one of her 'looks'. He glares at her. They are about to die, couldn't she give him this one. She shakes her head no.
Explosions suddenly erupt all around them. There are screams of pain and agony. Men seem to come out of nowhere in the darkness, killing any Patriot in their way. Most of them are as black as the night around them. They are wearing torn clothes patched with what looks like animal skins. They must be from New Orleans. They are yelling and viciously attacking. They run right past the Texas troops, but don't pay them any mind at all.
Realizing this is their only chance. Monroe yells for his men and they start to make their way out of the camp. The Patriots have lost all organization and are running around in total panic. As they reach the edge of the camp, Charlie looks back and realizes Devon is still crouched where he was trying to sneak away, trapped by fighting all around him.
"We can't leave him!" Charlie yells to Monroe.
"Sure we can." He yells back.
"No, we can't." They all duck behind a tree. Charlie peaks out and sees the boy is still frozen in place.
"Charlie!" Monroe's voice is full of warning. She keeps looking back, trying to plot a course.
"Charlie, don't you dare." She ignores him. She gets up and heads back in to the fighting, dodging a soldier running full steam towards her. He was so terrified he didn't even see her. The huge man behind him with the large axe and rows of golden fangs in his mouth, almost made her turn around, but she pushed on.
"GODDAMMIT CHARLIE!" She heard him bellow behind her. She knew she could do this. She could get to Devon and make it back to them. She wouldn't leave anyone behind, but she might kill him when they got back.
Monroe knew as soon as she didn't answer the first time he said her name she was going to go. He had been reaching out to physically restrain her when she jumped up. He was right behind her, but hadn't been watching like she had and the panicked Patriot ran right into him and they both fell to the ground. The Patriot struggled blindly, not really fighting him, just fighting to get free. He finally leaned back to stand up when an axe came down and split his skull open. Monroe was showered in blood and brain matter. He stared up at the large black man, standing over him with the axe still in his hands. The man grinned and he had a grill of sharpened gold teeth in his mouth. Then just turned and walked away.
Monroe didn't hesitate; he jumped up again to go after Charlie. He didn't even look to see if the troops were following him or staying there. All he cared about was getting to her.
Charlie had almost reached Devon when a Patriot, dead before he landed, fell on top of the boy. He let out a scream and bolted out towards the darkness at the opposite end of the camp.
"Devon!" She yelled his name, but he didn't hear her. She took off after him. He didn't make it very far outside the camp before he skidded to a halt. In front of him were six New Orleans men, standing there with weapons on him. Charlie caught up to him.
"Easy now." She told them. "We're with Texas, we aren't with the Patriots. We don't want any trouble with you."
The men looked at her and the expression in their eyes darkened. She knew that look. She had seen it on Drexel's face and on the faces of the men in the bar, the night she was drugged. Belatedly she realized that Monroe had been right. She should have left the boy, or let him kill him. She put her hand on her sword and looked towards Devon. He glanced at her and took off running, leaving her alone. The New Orleans soldiers didn't even pay him any mind as he ran off.
She wondered where Monroe was and hoped he was coming right behind her. She went to draw her sword, but she didn't even get it part way out before they knocked her unconscious and blackness took her.
A/N: There were so many nice comments and messages that I spent my last day off for a week working on this chapter to get it out today as a thank you. However, I don't claim this will be a regular thing. I'm still holding to my updates about once a week. Just be aware that I wrote this all in 8 hours today and my eyes are exhausted, so there may be more errors there should.
I tried to bring in more of the characters and show a bit more of what's going on. So let me know what you think.
Thank you again for all the nice comments and messages!