AN: I do not own any characters portrayed in this chapter except Yellow Fire. He is mine and mine alone. Now I sound just plain selfish -.-' but it's true.
Yellow Fire Chronicles
Book 4: The Truth
Chapter 1: The Wait
"She's been pacing for hours," Sly said worriedly, "I still say we go find him."
"You know how she is about the kid, Sly," Murray said through a mouthful of salami, cheese and bread.
"Murray's right, Sly," Bentley added. "Besides, he should be fine."
Carmelita had been pacing the room since they first arrived at the Cooper Hideout. She had not been able to sit and relax, knowing that Yellow was supposed to have been right behind the Cooper Gang as they broke away from the police blockade several days ago.
Sly was just as nervous as Carmelita but for a different reason. Bentley had informed Sly and Murray that Yellow was last seen being assaulted by military personal. This of course meant that Yellow could unwittingly lead the military to the Cooper Gang's front step.
Apparently Yellow had obtained some new abilities as well. The reporters were talking about him releasing some horrible power to escape. There were no deaths but a large number of people were seriously hurt. Some of that number were still in hospitals throughout the country.
The room was deathly quiet for hours and when a sudden knock came from the front door, Murray stood up and nearly knocked over the table, Carmelita had her trusty shock pistol in her hand, Sly had his cane, ready for a fight, and Bentley ran to the computer to check video surveillance.
The guest at the door continued knocking. Bentley soon returned with an excited smile on his face. As Bentley walked up to the door, Murray, Sly and Carmelita all had confused looks on their faces.
"What's going on, Bentley?" Sly asked suspiciously.
"You'll see," Bentley responded as he began unlocking the door.
"Hurry up," called the voice from outside. "Do you have any idea how cold it gets out here?"
Chapter 2: The Truth Revealed
Everyone in the room except Carmelita laughed. Carmelita's eyes had widened when the voice spoke.
"Hold on," Bentley said between fits of laughter as he finished the last lock on the door. "Come on in," he said after opening the door.
"About time," Yellow said as he walked through the door. "Those idiot military-types held me up."
He was wearing a long dark brown trench coat, the typical choice for someone who wants to stay hidden.
"So it's true, then?" Sly asked.
"Yeah," Yellow responded grimly. He averted his gaze from Carmelita. "I have bad news for you," he said with solemn in his voice. "There's rumor of a World War III."
Sly, Murray and Carmelita's eyes widened, Bentley was the only one who scoffed at the statement.
"Why on earth would you say that?" Bentley asked jokingly.
Yellow sighed heavily and pulled out a folder from the trench coat he was wearing. "Read that and tell me what you think afterwards," he said bitterly.
Carmelita beat Bentley to the punch and began reading the contents of the slim file. "There's only one paper inside," she said, somewhat disappointed.
Yellow ignored the statement and sat down at the table with Sly and Murray. Carmelita read what was on the paper aloud to the room.
"A new possible terrorist group known as the Vigilante Army has been discovered and is at large. All attempts to isolate and contain the group have so far been futile. With every attempt, however, we find that the group is in fact stronger, cleverer and more unpredictable than anticipated. We have evidence that suggests that this militant group is currently hiding somewhere in the Middle East or France. A moderate suspicion is that Bruce Alan "Yellow Fire" Bivens is somehow connected. According to intelligence, the militant group has no connection with Alkaida. If the Vigilante Army has any of the major countries that are in alliance with the United States, then God have mercy on us all. We must take action before another World War erupts."
When Carmelita had finished reading the file, she looked over at Yellow and asked, "What does this mean, Yellow?"
The Cooper Gang turned their attention to Yellow, whom everyone in the room remembered that he had brought an attack helicopter to aide in the Cooper Gang's escape back in the city.
"Let me get this straight," Sly said irritably, "You're involved with some terrorist group called the Vigilante Army?"
Yellow sighed. "That's incorrect, but you're pretty close."
Before Sly could retort, Carmelita asked angrily, "Then what the hell is the right answer, Yellow?"
Yellow stood up. "I'm the creator and leader of the militant group known as the Vigilante Army," he said grimly. "I got caught in the middle of a battle back in Iraq and the U.S. troops were pinned down." He walked over to the door, as if about to leave.
Carmelita grabbed Yellow's arm. "You're staying here."
Yellow chuckled. "I'm sorry, Carm, but you have very little authority over me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Carmelita growled.
Yellow merely pulled his arm out of Carmelita's grip and said, "Those soldiers that I rescued. They became my followers and spies in the U.S. Military, National Guard, Marines, Air Force and Navy. However, word got out about a militant group in Iraq that had U.S. tech. All the U.S. defense offices where swept for intruders, spies, viruses and unknown links. By the time they had reached the staff, they were too late. All of my spies had fled their bases and eventually met with the rest of the group here in France."
"That explains the attack helicopter," Sly said, somewhat coldly.
"At least they saved your lives," Yellow growled.
"Knock it off," Carmelita intervened, "Both of you."
The room's anxiety, anger, and suspicions were felt throughout the whole room. Murray, for once, was unable to eat.
After several minutes had gone by, Bentley broke the silence.
"What exactly is the goal of the Vigilante Army?" he asked.
Yellow shrugged. "Don't have one."
Carmelita stood up and asked angrily, "Don't know or won't tell."
"Carm," Yellow said, hurt.
"No, Yellow," Carm cut him off, tears in her eyes, "You can't do this. Do you know what will happen if you do?"
"I am well aware of what will happen!" Bruce roared with such ferocity that Carmelita was forced to sit back down. "The U.S. thinks I'm here to start the third god damn World War! These soldiers that deserted their respective defense organizations just to follow me? I told them to go back. None of them listened. They saw me as a better defense organization."
All was silent in the room except for Yellow's sudden heavy breathing. Murray managed to stomach what was left of his meal. He stood up and walked to the kitchen to put his plate away. By the time he had returned, Bruce had regulated his breathing and sat at one of the empty chairs at the table.
Murray sat back at his seat, looked up at Yellow, and asked, "So…what now?"
Yellow sighed. "I'm not sure."
There was a minute's pause.
"You could try the U.N.," Bentley suggested.
"What are you talking about?" Yellow asked.
"He means the United Nations," Carmelita answered.
"I could but what would happen?" Yellow asked. "Hell! Why would I go there in the first place?"
"You could petition them for you to be free of all war crimes," Bentley suggested.
Everyone in the room gave Bentley a questioning look.
Bentley sighed. "I know its farfetched but it might actually work. If not then the public will know that Yellow is, in a way, innocent of almost every crime he's committed."
Yellow nodded. "I get it now. The first they're going to do is broadcast this on every news channel throughout every country that is part of the U.N."
Sly couldn't help but grin. "That's some devious thinking there, Bentley."
Bentley nodded and smiled with pride. "I pride myself on many things, Sly, and deviousness is one of them."
"But there's one problem," Carmelita mentioned. "How're we supposed to get to U.N. Headquarters?"
"I'm with Ms. Fox on this one, guys," Murray said.
Bentley sighed. "I'm not sure there, Murray. We need to get into Washington, D.C."
Yellow chuckled loudly.
"Something apparently seems funny," Sly remarked, starting to chuckle himself, "and I'm laughing."
Carmelita looked between Sly and Yellow. "What is so funny?" she asked, glad that the tension in the room had lifted.
"I've got an idea but we need to get somewhere far off from here," Yellow said, standing up.
"And how exactly are we going to do that?" Sly asked.
Yellow sighed. "Just trust me."
The Cooper Gang looked at each other with expressions of hesitation. Even Carmelita looked away.
Yellow sighed. "Fine, I'll do it alone." He walked to the door and opened it to step out. Sudden pressure on his shoulder made him stop.
"We'll do it," Carmelita said.
Yellow turned to see that the Cooper Gang wore different expressions of surprise. Carmelita stood just to his right.
"Then lets go," Yellow said. He turned for the door and walked through. Carmelita followed with the Cooper Gang following right behind.
AN: sorry it took so long to get this chapter up....i've been busy with skool....then again....who isn't busy with skool right now