Chapter 11

Darjeeling did not like this. Not one bit. It was bad enough that she missed the window to escape but now these brutes were occupying the courtyard of her school. Her School! these animals were defiling her school and making it into their playground.

Darjeeling could only watch with distain and disgust at the sight of the men below making a mess of the place. She was just lucky they hadn't thoroughly searched the campus otherwise she would have been found. Her office was locked tight, and she was safe, but if the men below ever saw her they would simply lob a bomb or something and that would do away with her. Darjeeling sighed while she sat down in her chair, she didn't want to be here, she wished she was off and away with the rest of her faculty and students, but she couldn't complain. The evacuation was successful, and she was the only one left behind. That fact, however, didn't alleviate the loneliness she felt.

A picture on her desk caught her attention and she picked it up. Its wooden frame felt comfortable in her hands, as did the people in the photograph. It was a picture of a wedding, a joyous occasion that Darjeeling would never forget, especially since the wedding was between two of her best friends.

Davis and Alisa had married three years ago, and in all her honesty Darjeeling was jealous. She hadn't ever admitted it, but she grew feelings for the previous Commander of Virginia Academy of Arts Tankery Team. She saw it in Alisa's eyes as well, but Darjeeling surmised Alisa knew nothing of her own growing feelings for Davis.

Darjeeling had decided to by her time. She would be patient and win Davis over in the long run. It hadn't worked. Alisa was a very assertive go getter and she beat Darjeeling to the punch on the third anniversary of the End of Sensha-Do. Davis accepted her feelings and the two began dating. Darjeeling hadn't even known until the next day, and while she was happy for the two, she herself, felt heart broken. She hated seeing them together, as much as it pains her to, but she just couldn't stand seeing the two of them together. Not since she also loved Davis.

Darjeeling shook her head at the thoughts. It had been five years since then and she had moved on. The two were happily married and, although childless, Alisa brought up children more often.

Gunfire brought Darjeeling from her thoughts, she nearly jumped from her seat and rushed towards the window forgetting she was hiding away. her luck happened to stay strong as a Military Humvee rushed into the courtyard and took the attention of every single one of the vagabonds lazing about. One man drove the Humvee while another manned the machine gun on top. The gun had opened fire upon the ruffians, and they had started returning fire. The Humvee was hit multiple Dozens of times before it veered to the right and crashed inside one of the first-floor classrooms. Darjeeling's breathe caught her throat and she silently prayed for the safety of the two men inside.

Movement from the Humvee relieved her of her fright. The two men were alive, and they moved further into the classroom in order to escape the gunfire that hadn't even ceased upon the crashing of the Humvee. Darjeeling took a heavy deep breath and moved to her office door. She needed to find those two men and help them hide so they could get her out of the school.

Johnson exhaled as he finally caught some of his breath back. Taylor and he had just barely managed getting turned into Swiss cheese by his quick hands on that steering wheel. Granted they didn't know the courtyard would be the hideaway of many of the Terrorists, but the two of them could work with it.

"Coast is clear. Come on Sarge." Taylor was already up and about making sure none of the Terrorists saw them.

Johnson stood up and moved into the hallway. It was long and doors marked every other twenty-some yards.

'Classrooms.' Johnson thought. This was a school after all.

"Clear the rooms." He ordered. Taylor took the right side of the hall and the two opened and scanned the rooms. The room Johnson scanned had it all. Chairs, desks, a whiteboard, and surprisingly a projector. Johnson thought all newer schools had computers for their showing projects but, to each their own.

"Clear." Taylor said.

"Clear." Johnson replied. The two moved to the next two doors and did the same. Again both empty, so were the next two rooms Johnson checked, but as he reached the fifth room footsteps ahead of him caught his attention. He turned and raised his rifle only to pause as he saw a blonde-haired woman wearing the faculty uniform for the school. Her hair tied in a French Braid tied at her nape, and her blue eyes had both fear and relief in them.

Johnson motioned for her to approach him and then put his finger to his lips. The universal sign to be quiet. The woman approached him when an explosion at the rear end of the hall took off the door of the room he crashed the Humvee in. Johnson was about to turn and raise his rifle but his eye caught Taylor rushing towards him and he was surprised when he was bodychecked into the room he was about to clear.

Before Johnson could stand, or even give Taylor a stink eye, the woman was thrown into the room and landed on top of Him. Instinctively his arms wrapped her up, but Johnsons eyes went to Taylor who had his rifle pointed above and in his direction, albeit in the air above him towards the classrooms windows. Shouting came from the hallway as Taylor turned to where the explosion came from and opened fire. The gunfire was returned, and Johnson saw the bullets rush past Taylor as he slowly backed up, never letting up on his own attack.

Johnson began dragging himself, and the woman, further into the classroom and hide behind the teachers desk in the corner. After he was settled he peeked past the desk corner and saw several men, armed with guns, move passed the door, keeping their fire on Taylor, where ever he was.

Soon enough the gun fire stopped, and Johnson patiently waited for Taylor to approach the room and call out to him that it was clear. Johnson waited one minute. Two minutes. Three and then five. After six minutes Johnson closed his eyes and sunk his head. He didn't need to see it to know Taylor had most likely been killed.

"We need to move. They might come back." The woman said. Johnson opened his eyes and saw the blue ones of the woman he still held in his arms. Johnson sighed and let her go before standing up, raising his rifle, and proceeding towards the door.

The hallway was a massacre. Over a dozen bodies of the Terrorists lay dead strewn all across the hallway. Johnson moved towards the direction Taylor was moving but stopped when he saw the boys body. The Terrorists had riddled him with holes but even still, as he laid there in blood and bullet casings, Taylors grip never left his weapon, nor his finger the guns trigger.

"Defiant to the end. Thank you Taylor, you just saved my life." Johnson said as he knelt down and grabbed the boys tags. They felt heavy. Johnson's grip would have snapped them if he wasn't still aware of their situation. They were in dangerous territory, and he now had a civilian to extract.

"I'm sorry your friend died." The woman said, her head bowed.

"Not your fault. Besides he knew the risks. We best be getting out of here. Had you seen any other of the Terrorists?" Johnson asked the woman. She shook her head in denial before answering.

"I only know of the ones that were in the courtyard. That would be these men though." The woman said pulling out a handkerchief and covering her mouth and nose.

"Whats your name?" Johnson asked.

"I'm Darjeeling, Dean of this institute." Darjeeling reached her hand forward in an effort to shake Johnsons own.

"Like the tea?" Johnson asked as he shook her hand. After she nodded in affirmation Johnson spoke again. "I'm Sergeant Henry Johnson, United States Army, let's get out of here."

Darjeeling needed not be told twice. She followed behind Johnson as he took one last glance at Taylors body, shaking his head and saying a silent prayer. Johnson wasn't religious, Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, it was all the same to him. Although his mother would have spanked him so hard if she ever heard him say that, however, even for one with suck a lack of faith, he did find a comforting solace and reassurance when he silently prayed for those who died In battle.

"Why is a United States Army Sergeant here on Friend Island, if you don't mind my asking?" Darjeeling asked. Johnson shook his head and answered.

"I was chosen to lead a joint squad of American and IDF soldiers. Taylor, like myself, was from America. The rest of my squad is split up trying to save some other people and keep surveillance on the leader of this attack." Johnson said.

"Joint squad? Do the names Austin and Mark have any resemblance?" Darjeeling asked again.

"Yes. You a friend of theirs?" Johnson said.

"I was the Commander for St. Gloriana's Sensha-do team back in the day. I've had my run ins with them." Darjeeling said surprising the Sergeant.

"You were a Tankery Commander?" He asked. Darjeeling nodded, not bothering to correct him remembering that Americans had held their Tankery and Japanese Sensha-do in the same light.

"I often over heard the two tell stories of when they were in that Wargame. Some nasty stuff happened if I remember." Johnson said. Darjeeling nodded again but added onto it.

"It's not some topic we like to discuss. Many of our friends were hurt. Even Austin had grown accustomed to the odd injury here and there." Darjeeling realized that was an understatement, the blonde-haired Texan was lucky he hadn't died during his time in the Year Long game.

Johnson immediately put his hand up signaling silence. Darjeeling froze in place not daring to so much as breath. She strained her ears and heard the barking of dogs coming from directly behind them.

"Run!" Johnson said grabbing her hand and running down the hallway. Darjeeling regretted wearing the long skirt she had set up for her Deans uniform. She had grown up with shorter skirts, but the longer ones felt more mature in a way. Plus its what women wore back in 1920's England.

Johnson body checked the door that led to the outside. His hand still grasping Darjeeling's as he made his way to the rear of the school. The barking had increased in volume indicating that the dogs were gaining on them. Johnson saw no car or other vehicle to hide in or escape, but he did see a tree not to far ahead. He made his way to it before signaling towards it.

"Climb!" he ordered. Darjeeling didn't question him and grasped the lowest branch she could. In her effort to climb the tree her shoes, not exactly built for climbing trees, didn't grip onto the bark and had Darjeeling not make it up far. "Hurry!"

"I cant get a grip!" Darjeeling responded hearing the barking get louder.

Johnson aimed his rifle in preparation to fire but faulted. An idea came to him, but it wasn't one he knew Darjeeling would be completely comfortable with. The ever louder barking solidified Johnsons resolve as he shouldered his rifle and turned to help Darjeeling.

"Sorry for this ma'am." He said as he placed his hands on her butt and gave her a push up the tree.

Darjeeling let loose a shriek at the contact but figured that she could have used the help, and since the dogs were closing in, having Johnson push her by her behind rather than have her coordinate with her foot would be faster. Once Darjeeling got up into the tree Johnson joined her with effortless ease. Only then did three dogs come out of the same door they used earlier. The dogs jumped and snapped their jaws trying to get their teeth into the succulent flesh of the two people just out of reach.

Shouting in Spanish caused Johnson to unsling his rifle and aim it at the door. After a minute three armed men, dressed the same as all the other Terrorists, exited the school and were immediately met with bullets from Johnsons rifle. The first man was hit in his chest and dropped just as quick. The second man took two hits to his chest and shoulder before falling and the third man took one shot to his head killing him instantly.

Johnson took a breath and looked back down at the three dogs still trying to sink their teeth into him. He aimed down and with three quick pulls of the trigger put down all three dogs. Once the noise had died down Johnson strained his ears and listened for anything more that would give away the location or efforts of the enemy. He heard nothing, so he risked a slump and sighed in relief.

Darjeeling had watched the whole thing. Johnson aiming his rifle, taking down the three men, then shooting the attack dogs and putting them down. He seemed completely in his element, like he was born to do this. It reminded her of Davis and how easily he had worked on his M6 near nine years ago. This Henry Johnson seemed to have the focus and determination that Darjeeling admired.

"Are there any more people in the school?" Johnson asked bringing Darjeeling out of her thoughts.

"No. I was the last one to attempt to leave but those men showed up before I could." She explained. Johnson sighed again before asking another question.

"You have a car by chance?" Darjeeling nodded and pulled out a key from her vest pocket.

"Its on the west side of the school but we're close to that." Johnson nodded before hopping down from the tree and turned to raise his arms to aid Darjeeling in her descent. She lowered herself as far as she could and felt Johnsons hands grasp her waist. She let go of the tree and Johnson placed her on the ground. "Thank you."

"Once we get under way I'll call the General and tell him about you. He'll get you somewhere safe." Johnson said. Darjeeling nodded and led the way to her where her car was parked.

Johnson glanced at his watch and scowled. He needed to regroup with his men and take the fight to Kai Adachi, rescue the Lieutenant, and save the island. Just another day at the office.