Chapter 10

The hot sun of Urzikstan beat down as the pair of motorcycles came to a halt. The riders looked at the highway below. Gabriel David peered through the sunglasses he wore to observe the convoy traveling the highway. "Right on time," he said. He looked at his companion.

Farah lowered her mouth covering and raised her goggles just as the transmission from her fighter reported AQ in the area. She confirmed it and ordered them to go to the rally point to wait. She looked at David, "You haven't lost your touch."

"Comes from having my merry band of spies around," David said as he adjusted his position on the motorcycle. "Ryan came through with everything."

"She is desperate," Farah said.

"She and Laswell parted on bad terms. They are trying to repair the relationship," David offered. At the look he got, he explained, "I had a conversation with her."

"There is more going on," Farah said as she studied the horizon.

"You noticed too?"

"Of a different sort."

David chuckled at that. He turned when he heard the telltale sound of a chopper. He followed it with Farah. "They are here," he said.

Farah didn't say anything. It had been three years since Barkov was killed. Things had been going well. They were continuing the fight and her relationship with David had progressed. They were still careful about showing affection, but they learned how far to go. He still stood by her and offered advice when she needed it, and she reminded him how important he was to her. Time allowed them to become stronger together.

Seeing the chopper, Farah called, "Captain- It's Farah. It's time."

Rog. Wheels down in one.

"Just like old times," David said as he adjusted his keffiyeh to protect his mouth and adjusted his sunglasses. He revved his motorcycle just as Farah did and they made their way down to the rally point.

Nik, convoy inbound. We're on.

Copy that.

They raced to the rally point and arrived just as Nikolai touched down. David pulled up on Farah's right and shifted to see Price approach them. Farah lifted her goggles and greeted Price, "Hey, old man."

"Farah. Thanks for the assist," Price replied.

"We share a common enemy," Farah replied.

"And a common friend. One in need and one to help," David added. He greeted Price, "Captain."

"David. Looking good," Price replied with a nod. He felt better about this mission. Of course, it usually was when Farah went out, David was not too far behind. "Are you ready?"

Farah nodded, "All set. See you down the road!" She took off.

David took a moment to give a sharp whistle to indicate that they were moving out. Price watched them head out. He radioed, "All stations, we're on the move." He headed to the truck that he would be riding in.

The plan was to thin the herd. Get rid of the vehicles protecting the convoy and make their way up to Laswell before they reached Al Mazrah. Gaz would be with Nikolai on overwatch. It wasn't without risk, but it was the best plan to get Laswell back.

David looked at Farah and when he got the signal radioed, "All stations, radio check."

Everyone checked in their comms. He gave the signal to Farah and moved into position. She would take the lead and he would do what he did best. Just be there when their people needed it. It usually was the way and it worked.

The Al-Qatala convoy just passed us. We'll be right behind them.

Copy. Nik, use the ravine for cover. We've got one shot to rescue Laswell.

Roger that.

What vehicle is she in?

David answered that, "Black SUV near the front of the convoy."

We hit the escort vehicles first. Then we secure Laswell before AQ can reach the border.

David chuckled as he adjusted his speed for the highway. He asked, "Is that all, Captain?"

Unless you got something better.

David chuckled. He missed the captain. Even though it had been a difficult time when they worked together, he respected the man and liked him. He knew S64 liked working with him too. Helping him get Laswell back, he considered it the least they could do. Ultimately, it was Farah's decision, but he made his case. He followed behind Farah, ready to get creative on the plan.

Watch your fire. There're civilians on the highway.

Captain, we are in range.

All stations, weapons free.

David reached behind and shifted to put his rifle into position. He opted for standard issue for military, the M4A1. It was lightweight and easy to maneuver. The AK-47s that had been pilfered from raids on Russian based would work as well, but he liked this one better. It was also a bit of nostalgia on his end. Memories of his past life. He sped up and leveled his weapon ready to fire.

The open bed trucks were the target since they had armed AQ that would be firing on them. David maneuvered to the right and pulled out his rifle and took a few shots. He knew that Gaz was in the air with Nikolai providing overwatch. Between them and the boots on the ground, they would be able to thin the herd. He moved forward to take out the next truck.

He pulled up alongside one of the trucks after shouldering his rifle and pulled out a rope and hook. He noticed that some were wearing armor. Time to get creative. He made himself ready and swung the hook ready to throw. "Throwing hook."

Throwing Molotov!

David threw it and it wrapped around his guy. He hard braked and the inertia yanked the AQ fighter out the back of the truck where he landed with such force. At the same time, Farah had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the truck, setting it on fire and making it crash. David just followed, knowing that he was dragging an AQ fighter along the road. He glanced behind him and let go of the rope, leaving the AQ fighter to end up getting run over by LF vehicles.

Missed you and Farah, David.

David chuckled under his bandana and replied, "Just doing what I do Nik."

Da. Seems you've gotten creative.

"Plenty more."

They pushed on, taking out AQ trucks whenever possible. David also threw a couple of Molotov cocktails whenever possible. He had a limited number of rope and hooks to use so he had to make them count. He had more room for cocktails and spare ammo. He didn't flinch when one of their people's vehicles was hit. It pained him yes, but that was what they were there for. They all knew what they were getting into with the fight.

Things became dangerous when AQ started shooting anti air at Nikolai. One of them hit and it caused Gaz to fall out of the chopper. The only thing that was saving him was the safety rope. The problem was he was upside down. David heard the explosions and risked a glance. Seeing what happened, he signaled to Farah that he was going to help and hit the brakes.

Status.

Captain, Gaz fell out!

Say again?

The Sergeant! He's gone!

I'm not dead Nik! I'm hanging from a bloody rope!

David chuckled as he maneuvered to try and help Gaz. He added, "And seems you're having a lot more fun than I am."

Fuck you, David!

David laughed as he adjusted. As he could see, because Nikolai's bird was wounded, he was trying to stay in the air. Gaz was like a pendulum and physics and weight were at play. He adjusted his speed. "Gaz, I'm alongside, but I'm not sure I'd be able to get you."

Just try to keep me from getting hit!

"Will do." David maintained his speed. He heard Nikolai swear in Russian and tried something, "Nik, shift when I say. Let's try to keep the Sergeant from becoming roadkill."

Da. On your mark.

David could see Gaz firing his pistol since he had lost his rifle. He saw Gaz heading to oncoming traffic. He moved and gave Gaz a hard push to knock him out of the way. "Pushing the sergeant."

David!

"Just keep shooting. We'll handle the rest," David said.

David called out when to shift and would push Gaz when he could. He did try to get Nikolai to pull up, but it was not possible. It didn't stop Nikolai from trying.

Gaz, what's you're status?

A little busy right now, Captain.

"He's hanging around," David said as he grabbed Gaz' belt and pulled him out of the way of a truck that had been disabled by LF. He knew they couldn't keep this up forever. He managed to tap Gaz to get his eyes on the truck while signaling Nikolai, "Nik, there's a covered truck up ahead. I need you to get the Sergeant over it!"

Hang on.

David stayed with Gaz as Nickolai maneuvered the bird. He told Gaz, "You're there. Now or never!"

He watched as Gaz but himself free and land on the truck. "He's free, Captain."

Get back in the fight, Sergeant!

David waited until Gaz hijacked one of AQ's trucks before speeding up. He sent a signal to Nikolai that everything was okay. "Now are you having fun, Gaz?"

Go fuck yourself.

"Just proves you're still with us. See you on the other side," David said after laughing at Gaz' response. He maneuvered his bike and got back into the fight. They still had several vehicles to pick off if they were going to get to Laswell.

The convoy's gaining distance. We have to move forward.

"Copy that." David accelerated.

Further up, AQ deployed mines on the highway. It was apparent that they didn't care as long as they got away with their prize. It was the kind of thing to boils his blood.

They're going to burn for this.

I'll bring the matches.

"And I'll skin and gut them for roasting," David added. He didn't care if it sounded barbaric to his companions. LF knew his capabilities. He had been showing more of them the last few years. They even called him by a new name that was similar to his old call sign.

I'll lend my knife, habibbi.

David felt his lip curl in a smile as he sped forward. "I'm caught up with the Sergeant. Providing cover while he takes out the miner." He pulled out his rifle and commenced firing.

The tactics changed eventually. AQ did an about face to try to box them in. David moved to be in sync with Farah as she relayed that AQ was coming their way. He braked and moved when they tried to ram him and Farah. He accelerated and kept going. They were desperate, but then again so were they. Sometimes desperate got you the win. He was determined that it was their side was going to win.

At one point, the convoy turned left to take a shortcut to the border. They followed, clearing out the last of heavy armor and an APC. Nikolai was able to get ahead and cut their escape off. David pulled up and got off his bike and started shouting orders to LF fighters. It became now a firefight to the black SUV. It was slow because some AQ had heavy armor and they had to be circumspect in their shots.

David decided to go with the direct approach. He maneuvered so his kukri blade was ready. He spotted a heavy armor firing on Gaz' position. While Gaz took cover, he sprung out and grabbed the AQ. He stabbed under the armor and twisted the neck to break it for good measure. That was last of them. The only vehicle was the black SUV.

David followed Gaz. The sergeant barely had the door open when Laswell and her AQ captor spilled out. He stood there calmly while Price tried to get Laswell to back off. He stepped forward to help her up after she killed her AQ captor while Gaz checked the vehicle. "Nice moves, Laswell."

There wasn't a whole lot of time to waste since they were near the border and needed to get back into Urzikstan. David and Farah led the convoy back into country. When they had a safe spot, he went with Farah to say farewell. He lowered his keffiyeh and lifted his glasses. He shook hands with Laswell after she did the same with Farah.

"Farah, thank you." Laswell looked at David. "Thank you, David."

"I owed you one," Farah said.

"It was the other way around," Price corrected.

"We're even then," Farah said. Things had gotten better after what happened. She looked at Price and Laswell, "And we can thank a common friend. Tell, Ryan thank you. Until next time."

David shook hands with Price. He paused to shake Gaz' hands. "See you're none worse for the wear, Sergeant."

Gaz shook his head, "Thanks, David."

"Still have that soldier mentality," David said with a smirk as he tapped his temple. He turned to join Farah and the others for them to head out.

Alejandro was looking at the city if Las Almas. It looked peaceful from his base. You wouldn't think that there was a problem. It had its beauty. It's why he loved it. It was why she loved it. She loved it like it was in her bones and she was willing to die for it. He smiled at the memories as he fingered the delicate petals of the hair piece in his hand.

"Nice view, hermano," Nicolette said as she came up and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Being here brings back the good memories of when we met and the years after. Makes me wish where I'm from was like it."

"You always have a home with mi familia, Angelita," Alejandro reiterated. "If you ever decide to retire from what you do, you would be welcome at my ranchero. Be a treasured sister and daughter."

Nicolette smiled at that, "You are too good to me, hermano." She looked at the city and sighed. "Mendoza and I just got back from scouting around. There is a big to-do going on because of us. The where and when, you might be able to find out."

"Knowing you, you already know."

"Hey, I gotta let you shine." Nicolette smiled at him. "Besides, I wanted to see how well Rodolfo trained his intel scouts. Very good."

"Learned from the best."

Nicolette made a sound. It was then she noticed what Alejandro was holding and gestured at it. "You have everything ready?"

"Sí," Alejandro replied and turned to look at her. "But you don't have to do it. I know the others don't understand."

"But if I don't, the Vaqueros will feel like they are cursed." Nicolette sighed and added, "I don't mind in front of Ghost and Soap. Graves, I am unsure about. I've never worked with him directly and I'm at a disadvantage being a woman."

"And I won't let anyone insult you."

Nicolette patted Alejandro to calm him down. "I know. Just as I know the same with Ghost and Soap. It will be okay and… it is one of the reasons why I come back." She smiled and turned so her back was facing Alejandro. It was her cue to fasten the flowers to her hair near her barrette clip.

Alejandro took her cue and fastened it to her hair. "Alright, hermanita. Marigolds and roses and your alebrije, the jaguar." He chuckled at the snort she made. "It is true. No arguments." He finished fastening it. "Perfecto."

Nicolette took a breath and smiled. She looked at Alejandro and wrapped her arm around his elbow. He escorted her to where there was a sort of altar that has been a part of the base since forever. The Vaqueros were religious men and there was a bit of superstition as well especially when it concerned Nicolette and her help with the cartel. Their approach caught the attention of their guests as the guitarists started playing the familiar tune.

Alejandro escorted her and presented her much like it was a party. Nicolette gave a smile as she listened to the guitars play. The rich sounds of the ranchero style were soothing, much like listening to the string orchestras she had a partiality for. They tended to calm her troubled soul at times and center herself. This time she felt like she was back when she first sung the song. She traced her fingers on the altar as she listened before she started to sing, "Salías de un templo un dia, Llorna Cuando al pasar yo teo vi. Salías de un templo un dia, Llorna Cuando al pasar yo teo vi."

She continued the song, letting what was around her fade away. She went back to the memory she had of singing this song for the first time. She had been walking through the city with Alejandro and she had heard it being sung. She hummed with the music and started singing the words. She knew what the lyrics were saying, and she could feel what they meant.

Later she told Alejandro what she felt about it. He looked at her thoughtfully when she told him but accepted it. He wasn't even upset when she sung it for some of his men. They commented, saying that she was like Llorona, searching, but luring bad men to their destruction. Not long afterwards, came the bloodiest of confrontations with the cartel. It was what forced her to leave even though there was no evidence the cartel knew about her. The fortuitous timing of her help needed by a friend was what prompted her to leave even though Alejandro was ready to take her to the border himself and dump her on the other side.

She left, but she also found out that Los Vaqueros had been doing well against the cartel. She came a year later and sang the song, mostly as a joke, but took it with polite seriousness. Again, the Vaqueros did well in their campaign. There were losses yes, but they made a dent in the cartel operations. Since then, she came back the same time to sing it and it was the holiday tradition for them.

Walking around the altar, she continued, "Ay, de mí, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona De un campo lirio. Ay, de mí, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona De un campo lirio. El que no sabe de amores, Llorona. No sabe lo que es martirio. El que no sabe de amores, Llorona. No sabe lo que es martirio," putting her heart and feeling into it.

It was hard not to dance to the gentle chords. Nicolette couldn't resist. It wasn't overly flashy, just gentle swaying. She also moved a few flowers to a better position on the altar. She paused to look at the candles and the picture of the unit when she first met the Vaqueros. She kissed her fingertips and brushed the photo as a sign of respect.

She sang the next verse of the song and did a dance during the musical interlude. The third verse went smoothly as well. Her movement put her to face the city of Las Almas. She looked at the city like she longed to be there as she sang, "El último de mi madre, Llorona Y el primero que te di, ay."

She looked at the horizon and began to vocalize the last of the notes that were being played. She undulated her voice to the point that it seemed that the notes just died into the wind. She heard the final chord and gave a slight sigh of contentment. She turned to see the Vaqueros were murmuring their approval and giving her a bow of respect.

Soap looked surprised and like he was the cat that caught the canary. No doubt he would be asking her about her singing. He knew she was a polyglot but speaking a language and singing it were two different things. Ghost, she could tell wasn't surprised. He shouldn't since he had seen her sing for children at Christmas not too long ago. His posture though said that he was thoughtful.

Graves looked like he was a bit bored but also intrigued by her. It was a bit disconcerting, but she was not going to make a fuss about it. She shifted her gaze to Alejandro who was smiling at her and saying, "Bien, Angelita."

"Gracias," she replied. She shifted and turned to the Vaqueros and said something in Spanish that earned a few approved murmurs before they started getting up to go about their business.

Nicolette smiled as it seemed to break up and everyone went back to work like nothing happened. She took a few steps forward towards her companions. "Well, I better get on that analysis that I've been working on. Plus a few sources need to be confirmed," she said with a smile and walked to head to the CRC of the base.

A/N: The song Nicolette sings is La Llorona sung by Angela Aguilar. If you listen, you really hear the feeling behind it even if you don't speak Spanish. Wonderful song.