Two more chapters after this one until the Series Finale, which will be posted on August 27th. I love this series and having been able to delve into some of the smaller characters in the franchise. Thank you to everyone who has kept with the Series since day one. I see you, and it means so much. Please don't hesitate to leave any feedback you have, and I'll see you right up until the end.
CHAPTER 34: DEMONS
JACK FOSSE:
"I really think you need to reconsider," Fornell said to Gaetav.
The group regrouped and recovered after their battle with Gilo and Parish's men. Sloane and Sarah had a quick moment of hushed conversation, and Sarah trotted over to me while holstering her assault rifle. I looked around at Gaetav, who was looking reluctant.
"I can't," he affirmed. "I'm lost. I may have found the answers I was looking for about Sabakay, but that doesn't leave me any less disoriented. I need to find where I belong."
Rob and Ari maintained their distance from the conversation.
"Why would you want to go off on your own, not knowing who or what might come after you, when you could be safe with us?" Diane asked him bluntly.
Gaetav smirked. "You may have failed to notice, but I'm pretty adept at taking care of myself."
"Look," Gibbs said, walking over. "I get where you're coming from," he told Gaetav earnestly. "Losing the most important person in the world to you, it leaves you feeling empty. Like there's this chasm inside you that you don't know how to fill. I'm not gonna tell you that pushing everyone out is the solution you're looking for. But I'll respect the choice you ultimately make."
Gaetav stared at Gibbs, considering his words. Gibbs didn't give him patience for long; after barely a second, he turned and started walking away.
"And–and where, pray tell, are you going?" Fornell asked. He and Sloane scurried after Gibbs, but Gibbs didn't give them much opportunity to catch up.
"I told you," Gibbs growled. "I'm going after DiNozzo."
"That's great!" Diane said facetiously. "And do you perhaps have a plan on how you're going to catch up with him?"
"Guys," Gibbs said, finally turning to face the group of people that were intent on pursuing him. "I know you all think I'm gonna run straight into a hurricane or something, but I need you to hear me on this."
Sloane, Fornell, and Diane waited anxiously. The rest of us stood in the background. Gaetav watched momentarily before turning to face the ocean.
"I owe this to DiNozzo," Gibbs declared. "You can be damn well sure that if I acted like Staff Sergeant Barnes, he'd do whatever it took to beat sense back into me."
"Gibbs," Sloane pleaded.
"Do you have a plan for how you're going to go after him?" Fornell asked.
"Really, Tobias? After all these years, you think I can't do what needs to be done?" Gibbs said.
"It's not that, you just have a tendency to get shot while doing it," Fornell countered.
"Gibbs, I don't think going underground is the right answer here," Sloane told him firmly. "You need to stay with us while we come up with a plan."
"I've got a plan, Jack," Gibbs told her.
"Sure, and we should all just go home and play boardgames, right?" Diane said.
"No," Gibbs countered, "you should keep the Hunters off of me."
This took all three of them off guard, and they exchanged looks to confirm they all heard the same thing.
Gibbs grinned at their reactions, and he continued, "If I'm going to bring DiNozzo back to us, I can't have the Hunters getting in my way."
"So, what, you want us to trail you and intercept anyone who does come for you?" Fornell asked.
"I don't think so," Sarah said. I looked at her to see that she was looking at Gibbs with a dark smile. Gibbs's grin widened, and she said, "We're supposed to stay in as big of a group as possible so that if any Hunters do decide to surface, they'll choose to go after the bigger kill."
No one gave any response to this, and Gibbs didn't argue with her.
IN THE EYES OF THE MULTIVERSE:
Inside Horizon, the group of soldiers led by DiNozzo and Tirrell recovered from their incursion with the Anomalies. DiNozzo unloaded his assault rifle, and he hung it on the wall while depositing his unused ammunition in a dark-gray container that resembled a mail collection box. He looked around to see Tirrell taking off his body armor and hanging it on another wall. He glanced around at DiNozzo but quickly looked away.
The door to the room opened, and Parish walked in.
"What in the hell happened out there?" he asked, looking between DiNozzo and Tirrell.
"They bested us," Tirrell said in a dry voice.
"Again?" Parish confirmed. "They bested you again. It was my understanding that I was sending enough men and enough firepower to give them no choice but to surrender. Or did the Shocksurge you flew over there in need an oil change?"
Neither DiNozzo or Tirrell had an adequate response to this, and therefore they both remained silent.
DiNozzo's eyes narrowed in suspicious confusion, and he looked around to see Sevak standing there. It took all of DiNozzo's self control not to jump, and he took an instinctive step backward as Sevak walked towards Parish.
"I suppose I owe you a thank you," Parish told her, somewhat grimly. "I don't like the idea of what might have happened if the insurgents would have had their say in the fight."
"It wasn't my preferred outcome," Sevak said. "I've revealed myself to the enemy. I told you that wasn't something I was prepared for yet."
"Well, I would have figured a whole squadron of men would have been enough to bring in these people," Parish said heatedly.
"Hey, don't put all the blame on us," Tirrell said, seething. He glared at Sevak and said, "Her guy was there, too, and he didn't fare any better than we did."
"I won't deny that Gilo's performance was disappointing," Sevak conceded. "That said, you've had ample opportunity before now to capture or kill the insurgents."
Parish looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but Sevak took no notice.
"I want to know what is planned for our next move against them," Sevak demanded. She turned to face DiNozzo, whose eyebrow raised as he remained silent. "You seem to have your head on straight," Sevak commended. Tirrell watched the two of them with putrid hate. DiNozzo watched her, trying to read her intentions.
A PERSPECTIVE SHIFTED:
The control tower of Grissom Air Force Base rose into the sky over the rest of the military base. The enormous windows at the top of the tower reflected the sun, throwing it in all directions across the base.
The ground began to quake. Windows rattled, cars began to shift. A shockwave of white light passed over a street several blocks away from the airfield. As it passed, a conglomeration of light hovered in the air for several seconds. The light then took shape, forming into a human before it faded.
Anthony DiNozzo stood there, statuesque, seeming frozen in time. After a few seconds, his brain seemed to switch back on, and he started. He wore a light-blue button-up shirt and faded jeans. He looked around in confused alarm, taking in his surroundings. He was surrounded by suburban houses, and while a few people were milling about within view, none of them took any notice of him.
"What the hell?" DiNozzo said under his breath.
He stepped tentatively forward, half wondering if a bomb would explode at his feet. He started walking, and as he explored the neighborhood, people began to take notice of him. None of them said anything to him, but DiNozzo could tell by the suspicious looks on their faces that they knew he didn't belong there.
"Alright, Tony," he whispered to himself. "You've been tractor beamed like Scotty into a random-ass town. What do you do and where do you go?"
He came to an intersection and looked around, stopping abruptly to stare at the control tower that was now visible over the buildings.
"Well, you go to the airport," he answered.
DiNozzo made a straight line towards the airfield, ignoring the stares of passersby as he went. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped on it a few times. Ziva David showed on the screen, but when he pressed the button to call her, he realized he had no service.
"Seriously?" he said incredulously, spinning around in a circle while holding his phone up. "What is this, Children of the Corn? I guess it's a good thing there aren't any sickles around."
He pocketed his phone again before making way for the airfield. Something caught his attention as he looked around, and he saw a military humvee driving down the road towards him. DiNozzo stared at the humvee for a second too long, and he quickly turned to walk down the sidewalk as casually as he could. He hoped the people in the humvee didn't notice him, and he felt his heart pounding as he waited for the vehicle to stop next to him. He held his breath anxiously, but he exhaled deeply as the humvee passed him by, the occupants of the vehicle not even giving him a passive glance.
DiNozzo took deep breaths. He couldn't figure out what in his brain told him he didn't want to be discovered by military personnel, but something deep in his instincts assured him that drawing attention to himself would not do him favors. He continued making his way down the street, but he was more cautious as he watched for more servicemembers.
The deeper into this town that DiNozzo made it, the more he was forced to redirect himself, steering clear of the military patrols that frequented this otherwise-normal-looking neighborhood. He spent several hours canvassing the neighborhood, trying to get a feel for his environment. It didn't take him long to discover that he was on a military base. DiNozzo recalled the time when seeing an active United States Military presence would have been cause for celebration, but now he hesitated. He didn't think these soldiers, discovering him now after having been mysteriously teleported here, would have a very positive reception towards him.
DiNozzo didn't talk with any of the residents here. He saw several of them watching him, knowing he didn't belong, and while he wasn't sure what had kept them from calling base security, he counted his blessings. After another half-hour of searching his environment for answers, he decided that he had no choice but to find someone in a place of authority to help him. He steeled himself, knowing there was no way this would end favorably for him, and began making his way towards the military installations. He made it a few blocks down the road before the sound of a large vehicle engine made him look around. His eyes widened as two humvees charged in, closing him in a half-circle while soldiers spilled out.
DiNozzo remained silent as the soldiers surrounded him, and while the soldiers didn't have their weapons raised, they did not look pleased to see him.
"Whoa, boys! I come in peace!" DiNozzo said, raising his hands in surrender.
Several onlookers watched the proceedings as, without a word, two soldiers grabbed his arms and escorted him back to one of the humvees. DiNozzo continued to keep his mouth closed as he was deposited into the back of the truck.
Later, DiNozzo sat in a room that consisted of nothing other than cold, steel walls, a rectangular table, and two chairs. He stared at his reflection in the one-way window, trying to keep himself composed. He looked around as the door opened, and a man sat down at the table while placing a briefcase on the floor at his feet.
The two men stared at each other, and Lucio Parish remained silent as he observed DiNozzo.
"Alright," Parish said. "We've been at this for a week now. Any chance you want to start being straight?"
Almost as though he couldn't control himself, DiNozzo said, "Listen, I know I was out of uniform when you caught up with me, but that's no reason for a court-martial."
"What's your name?" Parish asked him.
DiNozzo contemplated the man in front of him for a brief moment. "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Parish chuckled in spite of himself. Still grinning, he asked, "What were you doing on this base?"
"I was sleepwalking and got a little lost. I appreciate you picking me up, I'll be on my way home now," DiNozzo answered.
"You know, your sense of humor gets a little tedious when you're nervous," Parish commented.
"Well, I didn't know I was gonna be abducted like an alien or I would've worn some antennae," DiNozzo told him.
"Look," Parish said, resting his elbows on the table. "We can sit here and screw around as much as you want. But eventually I'm going to need you to give me some straight answers."
DiNozzo didn't respond. Parish reached into the briefcase at his feet and pulled out a tablet. DiNozzo watched silently as Parish tapped on it for a few seconds, and he showed DiNozzo the screen. DiNozzo looked at the tablet, and his eyes slowly widened as his mouth fell open in shock. He picked up the tablet, staring in astonishment at the surveillance image of Gibbs.
"Can we cut the bullshit now?" Parish asked.
DiNozzo swallowed, and he passed the tablet back to Parish, his entire demeanor altered.
"What's happening?" DiNozzo asked.
"You'll have to tell me," Parish responded.
DiNozzo shrugged, sighing heavily. "All I know is I was in Paris when I woke up that morning."
"Well now you're at Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana," Parish informed him.
"Cool," DiNozzo said dryly. "How'd I get here?"
"That remains to be determined," Parish answered. "But if I can get a little cooperation out of you, we might be able to help each other."
"Okay," DiNozzo said, observing Parish shrewdly. "And how's he involved?" he asked, pointing to the tablet in front of Parish.
"I'm happy to tell you, but I need to clarify some things first," Parish told him. "Can you identify this man?"
"I can," DiNozzo admitted, "but I need to know what you want with him first."
"If I tell you, you're not going to like it," Parish said with a grin.
"Try me," DiNozzo said, mirroring the grin.
Parish nodded, but it was still another couple of seconds before he said, "Your friend here is implicated in multiple acts of insurgency against the nation."
DiNozzo's eyes narrowed, and there was a long silence before he said, "You're shitting with me."
Parish shook his head. He tapped on the tablet and pulled up a video that automatically played. DiNozzo watched the video, far against his better judgment. He watched as Gibbs moved through the sounds of heavy combat. He wielded a large, silver sniper rifle, and he took aim before firing a shot. An explosion rocked the area, and Gibbs ducked down as rubble rained down on him. He took aim and fired another shot. The camera view panned around to see Gibbs aiming his rifle down the street of a city intersection. It wasn't clear who or what he was firing at; the only thing visible were crowds of people running away.
DiNozzo's face darkened considerably as the video stopped playing, and he looked silently back at Parish. Parish waited for DiNozzo's response, but DiNozzo didn't give him anything. Parish finally nodded, and he said, "Don't like that one, I take it? That's fine, how about this one?"
He swiped on the tablet, and it showed a photo of two men. DiNozzo felt his heart shrink before plummeting into his kidneys. He gasped softly, staring at the security camera image of Gibbs and Ari Haswari, back-to-back with weapons raised, standing together like brothers.
"That's not real," DiNozzo said firmly, his voice hoarse. "There's no way."
"Oh, it's very real," Parish assured him.
"No," DiNozzo said, his voice rising furiously, "No, because he's dead. That man was killed, and I know he was because I saw the body. And even if he wasn't…" DiNozzo's voice faltered as he scowled viciously at Parish. "There is no way Gibbs would ever work with him."
DiNozzo took in a sudden sharp breath, realizing what he'd done, and he fell silent. But the damage had been done, and Parish looked satisfied. "I need you to help me," Parish told DiNozzo. "Work with me to help bring in Special Agent Gibbs. If he's as innocent as you think, we should have no problem proving that."
"Look," DiNozzo said, leaning forward. "I can appreciate how sincere you sound right now. I've known Gibbs for a lot of years, and I'll admit, the man's not perfect. This isn't the first time he's been in trouble like this, but I can promise you he's always on the right side of things. Whatever he's wrapped up in right now, he's on a mission. I don't believe that photo, but I believe he's involved in something, and we'd all be stupid to keep him from it."
"Okay," Parish said, masking his aggravation. "So, if I'm to take you at face value, it seems you're unwilling to help me here, is that correct?"
DiNozzo shrugged, but before he could respond, the door to the interrogation room opened. DiNozzo and Parish looked around, and DiNozzo's eyes narrowed in suspicious confusion. A woman appearing in her eighties with stark white hair walked serenely into the room. She observed the atmosphere between Parish and DiNozzo before giving DiNozzo a stern look.
"Anthony DiNozzo," Sevak addressed. "Allow me to give you some clarity into the situation at large."
IN THE EYES OF THE MULTIVERSE:
DiNozzo talked with a group of three soldiers, giving them orders and feedback as they prepared for their next tasks. They stood in a large aircraft hangar with ten Shocksurges in docks throughout the space. As the three soldiers walked away, DiNozzo's phone rang.
"Yeah," he answered.
"Anthony," Gibbs addressed.
DiNozzo's eyes narrowed, and he walked away from the other people in the hangar. "How'd you get this number?" DiNozzo asked.
"Oh, come on," Gibbs said, grinning. He stood outdoors in a field of grass. "You know I've always been resourceful enough to get what I need."
"So, is this just a courtesy call between two old friends?" DiNozzo asked.
"Hasn't been much friendliness between us lately, has there?" Gibbs said. "What are we gonna do about that?"
"Well, if you're anything like the man you used to be, you'll turn yourself in," DiNozzo told him.
"Ah, jeez, DiNozzo, you should know me better than that," Gibbs stated.
"Yeah, you're right," DiNozzo agreed. "Everything's always more difficult where you're involved."
"Well, maybe now's your chance to do something about it," Gibbs said. "You've got enough to come after me. I'll see you when you get here."
The phone call ended, and DiNozzo pocketed his phone, staring blankly as he considered the path that had just been presented to him.
"Hey."
DiNozzo looked around to see Tirrell walking over to him. "You good? Who was that on the phone?"
"Parish," DiNozzo answered without looking at Tirrell. "He wants to see me. Pretty sure he just wants to cuss me out some more about the last mission," DiNozzo explained.
Tirrell watched after DiNozzo as he left the hangar and strolled down a corridor. DiNozzo moved quickly and purposefully through Horizon, and other workers he passed shot to the side to allow him through. After navigating several corridors, he came to a black door at the end of a dim hallway that seemed to be hidden from the rest of the facility. A scanner over the door frame lit up, passing a wave of green light over DiNozzo.
The scanner then beeped approvingly, and the door unlocked. DiNozzo opened the door and entered a small room with several rows of tables topped with computers and other equipment. About five people were in here, and a couple of them looked around nervously at DiNozzo's entry. DiNozzo looked at each of the workers in turn before strolling over to a man in his mid-twenties in a back corner.
DiNozzo knelt down next to the man as he looked around from his computer. "Hey, Amadori," DiNozzo addressed. "I need a favor, but I need you to keep it between us."
Amadori nodded, and DiNozzo pulled out his phone. "I need you to trace the last call that came in on here."
JACK FOSSE:
A portal opened in the lab, and we all walked in. Luca looked up from his computer terminal as we all began disseminating. Admiral McGee walked in as well.
"Wait, where's Gibbs?" Luca asked.
"Off being Gibbs," Sloane answered indignantly.
Luca nodded, unsurprised.
"Well, at least he's started to come back to himself," Fornell stated.
"Sure, but is it really a great idea for him to be out there unsupported?" asked Admiral McGee.
Sloane looked at him like, Hallelujah! Someone sees sense!
I tapped Sarah on the back, and as she looked around at me, I tilted my head towards the stairs. No one was paying attention, which gave us the cover we needed to slip away unnoticed.
We walked through the basement door into the kitchen, and Sarah gave a look of concern.
"Look, I respect Gibbs's obstinance as much as anyone, but Sloane's right," I stated. "Do you agree that someone should go after him to pull his ass from the fire?"
Sarah shrugged. "The Hunters, Parish, DiNozzo. All the people and beings that could go after him? Yeah, I agree."
I nodded, grateful. "Are you with me?"
"Just the two of you?"
We both looked around to see Ari leaning against the wall near the basement. "You sure that will be enough?"
Sarah and I looked at each other. "Well, to be honest, I figured if we approached the idea with anyone else, we'd be declared clinically braindead," I told him.
Ari grinned. "Most of them hesitate to approach armed conflict, but I figure there are one or two others we can convince to back us."
A PERSPECTIVE SHIFTED:
DiNozzo studied Sevak, who remained stoically impenetrable.
"Uh, okay," DiNozzo said, unsure of what to make of her. "I'm listening."
Sevak's eyes glowed purple, and DiNozzo started before his eyes glowed as well. The tension in his body eased, and his eyes shifted out of focus while his facial muscles relaxed.
Parish watched this, looking silently between Sevak and DiNozzo. DiNozzo shook his head, his mind seeming to return to his body. He looked around the room, as though he were viewing his environment through a new lens. He then looked to Sevak, waiting obediently for her to speak.
"Jethro Gibbs and Ari Haswari are working together," Sevak summarized. "Is that really something you can reconcile?"
DiNozzo considered the question. "No," he decided. "Haswari's a terrorist. He's killed good people. He killed Cate. If Gibbs is associating with him now, then he's an enemy."
Parish's eyes narrowed incredulously.
"Then do you agree to help us stop them?" Sevak asked.
DiNozzo nodded. "I'll help you." His tone had shifted dramatically. He became more fierce, determined. "Gibbs needs to be stopped before he does any more damage," DiNozzo declared.
Sevak smiled victoriously, and while Parish looked quite uncomfortable with what he was witnessing, he didn't speak out.
"Well, now that's settled," Parish said. "I'll have Corbin Torrell come over here and introduce himself. He'll bring you into the fold of our operations."
DiNozzo nodded, looking ready for battle. Parish and Sevak left the interrogation room, and Parish closed the door, separating them from DiNozzo. He avoided looking at Sevak, instead staring at the wall opposite him like he had seen a ghost.
"What happened in there?" Parish asked, his voice hollow.
"I opened the young man's eyes," Sevak answered with a grin. "I allowed him to see new perspectives to align him with our goals."
Parish scowled at her, but Sevak paid him no attention. "You now have a powerful weapon on your side. Use it to your advantage and bring these insurgents down."
Parish didn't respond, and she strolled away, looking as though she was floating instead of walking. Parish watched her until she turned the corner and disappeared.
"Hey, Boss."
Tirrell approached Parish from behind, and he raised an eyebrow at Parish's stern silence. "What's the plan?" Tirrell asked. "I heard some rumors that we've got some specialized manpower. Is that true? Are we going to be able to go after those guys?"
Parish didn't acknowledge him for several seconds. Finally, he turned to find Tirrell watching him. "That would appear to be the case," he confirmed. Tirrell seemed to become more energized, ready to deploy.
"Well, let's go. I'm ready," Tirrell said.
"Hold your horses," Parish told him. "We're not going yet."
"Uh, why?" Tirrell asked.
"Because we have no idea what we're involved with," Parish told him. "You saw the CCTV footage. You're one of the very few who did, and you know their involvement in Chicago. This group has capabilities far beyond anything we thought possible. We need to take as much caution as possible, and we need to know all parties involved."
He glanced in the direction that Sevak had disappeared in. He then looked back to Tirrell and asked, "Did you get me the address for the Fosses?"
"Yeah, I got it," Tirrell confirmed. "We can go pay them a visit once you're done being cautious."
Parish didn't respond to him. He opened the door to the interrogation room, and DiNozzo stood up as Parish and Tirrell walked in.
"Well, I guess you're part of the team," Parish informed DiNozzo.
"I'm happy to help, sir," DiNozzo stated.
"You ever been in combat?" Tirrell asked.
DiNozzo considered his response. "I've been in firefights. Not full military engagement."
"Well, you've got some things to learn," Tirrell told him. "You stick with me, I'll drive you to the brink. You'll get torn down and built back up, but when I'm done with you, you'll be a soldier."
"What's our time frame?" DiNozzo asked.
"We'll have you battle ready in a week," Tirrell answered. "You already know how to work a firearm, so that saves us the majority of trouble."
"Are you sure this is something you're ready for?" Parish asked.
"I'm ready," DiNozzo assured them. "I know exactly what it takes to bring Gibbs in. You need me on this."
Parish nodded, and while Tirrell was looking significantly more optimistic, Parish still had doubts.
IN THE EYES OF THE MULTIVERSE:
Gibbs sat on the trunk of a car, cleaning his rifle with a cloth. He finished his work and put his weapon back together just as a vehicle engine made him look around. A steely black sedan made its way up the dirt road cutting through the hilly grasslands surrounding Gibbs. The vehicle pulled to a stop some twenty feet away, and DiNozzo stepped out. Gibbs smiled serenely at DiNozzo, who glared furiously at him as he rested one hand on the assault rifle hanging on a sling around his shoulder.
"I'm glad you came," Gibbs said calmly.
"That mean you're surrendering?" DiNozzo asked.
Gibbs chuckled. "No."
"You should," DiNozzo told him. "You're way in over your head. You need to be stopped."
"Yeah? Stopped from what?" Gibbs asked, his friendly grin fading. "Tell me what it is you see."
"I see you buddying it up with Ari Haswari," DiNozzo said, scathing. "What the hell's the matter with you? What would Cate say?"
"Well, I get the feeling that you don't know the full situation," Gibbs told DiNozzo. "Give me a chance, we'll talk about it."
"I don't think there's anything to talk about," DiNozzo responded.
"I'm surprised you came by yourself," Gibbs commented. "Parish know you're here?"
DiNozzo shook his head. "If I told him, he'd send a whole battalion here. You'd weasel away before we ever got close. This was the only way I'd be able to get to you."
He put his other hand on his gun, and Gibbs tensed himself.
"Don't resist," DiNozzo ordered.
"I should just let you shoot me again, huh?" Gibbs said, resting his finger on the trigger of his rifle.
"You're corroborating with terrorists," DiNozzo told him. "You picked your own path."
"Well, come and take me down then," Gibbs goaded.
DiNozzo aimed his rifle, and Gibbs dove out of the way as DiNozzo unleashed a flurry of gunfire. Gibbs rolled to one knee and fired his sniper rifle, and DiNozzo managed to throw himself out of the way so that the bullet grazed his arm. Blood spattered across the grass, and DiNozzo toppled to the ground. Gibbs charged in, keeping his sniper rifle raised, but DiNozzo was concealed behind a patch of tall grass.
Gunfire erupted out of the grass, and Gibbs was hit twice in the leg, causing him to grunt in pain as he collapsed to the ground. DiNozzo climbed back to his feet, looking down mutinously at Gibbs, and he took aim with his rifle. Gibbs quickly drew a pistol, firing several shots against DiNozzo and forcing him back. DiNozzo took a hit to the shoulder, and Gibbs shot to his feet and swung the pistol at DiNozzo. DiNozzo's gun was knocked out of his hand, and Gibbs swung again, hitting DiNozzo hard in the face.
DiNozzo's nose shattered as he collapsed to the ground, spilling blood down his face. Before Gibbs could follow through, DiNozzo swung his leg around, kicking the pistol out of Gibbs's hand. DiNozzo quickly got back to his feet, and the two exchanged several blows before Gibbs kicked DiNozzo away.
In the distance, a vehicle drove up the dirt road towards them, and Jack sat in the driver's seat focused on keeping the car straight while Sarah looked alertly out of the window.
"I've got them," Sarah said, spotting Gibbs and DiNozzo.
Ari and Admiral McGee sat in the back seat, weapons in hand.
Jack refrained from getting too close, and he pulled the car to the side of the dirt road before coming to a stop. All four of them got out, readying their weapons as they approached the confrontation. Gibbs and DiNozzo remained entirely unaware of their presence as they continued to battle. Gibbs swung his fist, but DiNozzo blocked him at the wrist before putting his knee in Gibbs's gut. Gibbs grunted in pain, but he blocked another strike from DiNozzo before punching him in the mouth.
DiNozzo's head was thrown back from the strike, and his lip was cracked open. Gibbs swung his leg at DiNozzo, but DiNozzo blocked him with both arms. As Gibbs put his leg back down, DiNozzo drew a knife and slashed at Gibbs, grazing his chest. DiNozzo charged in and thrust his knife at Gibbs, but Gibbs caught him at the wrist, throwing himself to the side. Gibbs then elbowed DiNozzo in the jaw, shattering his guard while he tore the knife out of DiNozzo's hand.
Gibbs threw the weapon away, allowing it to get lost in the tall grass, and the two men slammed into each other again.
"Anybody have a plan?" Sarah asked as she, Jack, Ari, and Admiral McGee positioned themselves on a hill looking down on Gibbs and DiNozzo.
"You think we can take DiNozzo down from here?" Jack asked.
"I don't think that's much of an option right now," Admiral McGee said, looking towards the sky.
A Shocksurge aircraft approached the area, and while Gibbs and DiNozzo were oblivious to its appearance, Jack, Sarah, Ari, and Admiral McGee refocused on this new arrival. The Shocksurge hovered over the grassland, and the roar of its engines and the wind discharge from the turbines in its wings caused DiNozzo and Gibbs to look around. The Shocksurge bore down on them, and two projectiles fired from the aircraft. They were small, shooting down like missiles before slamming into the ground. The projectiles dug halfway into the ground before opening, and they emitted a pulse of energy.
Out of the energy spawned a group of five people per projectile, and Tirrell led an assault team armed with heavy weapons towards Gibbs. Also present amongst the group was Parish. He wielded an assault rifle, but he maintained his distance from the incursion. He wore a white, long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up supported by an armored vest over it.
Gibbs knocked DiNozzo away, and the two shifted focus on the arrival of Parish and his men.
"What the hell?" DiNozzo asked.
"We have Tirrell to thank for this pleasant little victory we're about to cultivate," Parish said, grinning. "He was the one who kept an eye on you and made sure we could help you bring Gibbs in." DiNozzo glanced at Tirrell, who had a stony grin. "And it looks like we get a little more than we gambled on," Parish said, looking up at Jack and his group. "Alright, people! You know the goal! We capture them all alive and bring them back! Time to get some answers!"
"Keep the jarheads off Gibbs!" Admiral McGee called out.
The four of them all raised their weapons and opened fire on the soldiers.
"Team Two! Engage the reinforcements!" Tirrell yelled.
A group of five people advanced on Jack and his team, and Jack fired an arrow into their midst. The Pulse Arrow hit the ground between them all and erupted, knocking them all aside while McGee, Ari, and Sarah fired down on them.
"Tirrell, remember, we're here to capture, not kill," Parish said.
"Try and tell them that," Tirrell said as he opened fire on Jack's crew.
The four of them ducked down to avoid the gunfire, and Sarah took a hit to the arm, and she gasped in pain.
"Sarah!" Jack shouted in alarm.
"I'm fine!" Sarah growled.
"McGee, let's go!" Ari called.
McGee nodded, and the two moved quickly down the hill, laying down suppressing fire against the five soldiers who were recovering from Jack's arrow. Tirrell took aim against Ari and McGee, but Sarah opened fire on him, forcing him down. Sarah charged up her gun, and she unleashed a powerful energy beam that crashed into the ground against Tirrell's team that was approaching Gibbs and DiNozzo.
Fire and debris erupted out from the impact point, and all three of the soldiers were knocked down by the attack. At the same time, Ari reached the second team of five with his sword raised, and he slammed it into one of the men. The energy pulse that resulted knocked them all down again, and the armor of the soldier that took the hit was shattered. Ari opened his sword to reveal the gun, and he fired on the rest of the men. Several of them took severe hits, knocking them down and leaving them motionless.
The only soldier left able to fight raised his gun and fired on Ari, and while Ari took a hit to the arm, he was able to stumble out of the way of anything worse. Admiral McGee fired his own assault rifle at the attacker, and he took multiple hits before collapsing to the ground. Tirrell continued navigating the battlefield, and as he sought out a target, a voice spoke in his ear.
"Commander Tirrell," addressed Sevak through his comms. "The plan has changed. We are no longer taking the insurgents in alive."
Tirrell scoffed, grinning. "Alright, but Parish isn't gonna like that."
"Parish is no longer in charge," Sevak informed him. "I have taken control of this conflict. You and your men are ordered to use lethal force to eliminate the enemy combatants."
"Roger," Tirrell said under his breath.
Jack fired an arrow at the other group of three, and the Blast Arrow exploded violently, sending the soldiers hurtling through the air with multiple injuries. While Jack was distracted, Tirrell took aim and fired on him. Jack took heavy gunfire, and he was knocked off his feet while the bullets ravaged the area around him. He managed to avoid any fatal hits, but he cradled up on the ground with his hands over his head. Tirrell ejected his empty clip and reloaded.
"Hey!" Parish called. "Watch your fire! We need them alive!"
Tirrell ignored him, and as Ari took aim on him, he fired another onslaught of gunfire. Ari managed to fire three shots, but he took two hits to the torso and collapsed to the ground while blood spilled out.
"Tirrell!" Parish shouted.
"Piss off!" Tirrell responded, turning on Admiral McGee and taking aim.
Sarah, seeing what was happening, took aim and charged an energy beam. She opened fire, running the beam across the ground past Tirrell. Tirrell shielded himself with his arms as the ground exploded with tremendous force. Tirrell was assaulted by fire and rubble and knocked to the ground. He had blood running down his face, and he let out a deep breath before falling unconscious.
Gibbs and DiNozzo continued to fight, exchanging blow after blow that left them both continuously more injured and winded. Gibbs swung his elbow, but DiNozzo caught it in both hands before shoving Gibbs away. He threw his foot at Gibbs, who jumped back before charging back in. DiNozzo ducked his punch and struck him twice in the chest before punching him directly in the mouth. Gibbs was stunned long enough for DiNozzo to sweep his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.
DiNozzo dove on top of Gibbs, pinning him down by the chest and striking him multiple times over in the face. Gibbs's mouth and nose spewed blood, but he punched DiNozzo in the mouth to knock him off. DiNozzo hit the ground, and his hand rested on Gibbs's pistol. DiNozzo's eyes narrowed as Gibbs staggered to his feet, and he spun around and opened fire. Gibbs managed to avoid most of the shots, but one bullet hit him in the gut and caused him to stumble back.
DiNozzo let the pistol fall to his side, and he walked forward while Gibbs gasped in pain. DiNozzo brought his foot up and slammed it into Gibbs's chest, knocking him to the ground. Gibbs laid on the ground, taking deep breaths while DiNozzo stood over him.
"You're done, Gibbs," DiNozzo told him savagely. His eyes glowed purple as he tightened the grip on his gun. "I'm taking you down here and now!"
Gibbs, panting heavily, rose to his knees. He was covered in blood, and even while under DiNozzo's furious glare, he smiled.
"I'm not gonna fight you, Anthony," Gibbs breathed. "If this is what you need to do, then you go ahead."
The two held each other's gaze for several seconds, and DiNozzo raised his gun. Gibbs's face tensed, and an arrow pierced DiNozzo from behind. DiNozzo gasped, and Gibbs's eyes widened as he fell to his knees, groaning in pain while clutching at the arrow sticking out through his side. Jack stood ten feet away, his bow held up in front of him, and he slowly lowered it to his side as DiNozzo started writing in pain on the ground. Gibbs dove down on DiNozzo, checking his wounds while looking frantic.
Parish watched this, his assault rifle held in his hands, weighing his options. He looked around, seeing Admiral McGee tending to Ari's injuries. He then saw Sarah standing against him, aiming her assault rifle at him. She maintained a furiously calm disposition, her aim steady, and the two held eye contact with each other for several seconds. Parish glanced around, seeing that all of his men, including Tirrell, were down.
A blast of wind blew across Parish as the Shocksurge came down, landing heavily on the ground between him and Sarah. Jack, Gibbs, McGee, and Sarah all watched as Parish boarded the vessel, which then let off a pulse of blue energy across the ground. All of the soldiers across the battlefield glowed blue, and the energy field radiating out from the Shocksurge absorbed back into the ship. The soldiers all disappeared, and the aircraft ascended into the air. No one made any move to stop it as the Shocksurge hurtled towards the horizon and was gone.
"Hey!" Gibbs said to Jack, catching his attention. "Come on, help me get him up," Gibbs said while putting DiNozzo's arm over his shoulder. "We gotta get him home."
Jack nodded, and he helped Gibbs get DiNozzo while Sarah assisted the Admiral with Ari. As they dragged their injured to Jack's car, Gibbs broke into a wide, beaming smile.