I entered the building that would serve as our home, and base, for the time being while we are trapped on this planet.
"Bring it in." I said as I entered the kitchen.
"What did you learn?" Sam asked, followed by Callen.
"Something good, I hope." Kensi said.
"I have good news, and I have bad news." I said, after everybody gathered around.
"You know what they say about dessert." Callen said.
"What?" I asked.
"Life is uncertain, so eat dessert first." Sam said, quoting whoever coined the phrase.
"I found the signal that led us to this planet." I said.
"But…" Sam said.
"We have to help the locals spring some of their own from the town we saw north of here." I said.
"And there it is." Callen said.
"They surely didn't waste anytime with the tit-for-tat dance." Kensi said.
"That they did." I said.
"Thoughts?" Sam asked, getting my opinion on the whole situation.
"Personally, or professionally." I said.
"Both would be good." Callen said.
"Basically, it would be quicker to help them. Could I find the signal without the locals? Yeah, but it could take a week, or longer, before we could get anywhere going that route." I said.
"So, what you're saying is that, both personally and professionally, it would be prudent to work with the locals." Sam said.
"In a word, yes." I said.
"How long until they get what they want?" Callen said.
"They're prepping for the raid as we speak." I said.
"Oh, goodie." Sam said.
"Deeks, let's take a walk." Kensi said.
"Lead the way." I said.
Kensi and I stepped outside and climbed stairs up to the roof to speak more privately. But when we got up there, all we could do was stand in silence. Not really enjoying each other's presence but unwilling to speak.
"Deeks." Kensi said, after a time.
"Yeah." I said.
"Can we trust the people that detained us?" She asked.
"Probably not, but they have more to gain by having us help them." I said.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because we aren't the first group of outsiders to come here." I said.
"And they just came out and told you that." She said.
"Yep." I said.
"You seem proud of everything." She said.
"I'm not." I said.
"Why?" She asked.
"I have no reason to believe that everything is going to go as planned, let alone if we get jumped by the outsiders." I said.
"Any clue on who they might be?" She asked.
"No. It could even be the Aeons, their sympathizers, or other number of problem organizations." I said.
"That sounds like it could complicate things." She said.
"The raid has to go as planned so we can get out of here in case that happens." I said.
At that moment, we heard whistling, but my sensors picked up something approaching from a distance. Kensi and I walked back to the stairs, and saw that Callen and Sam were waving for us to follow. In the distance I could see Lady Rothais and some men approaching.
"We got company." Sam said.
"That's Lady Rothais and some bodyguards coming to collect us or coming to explain the details of the coming raid." I said, as Kensi and I were stepping off of the stairs at ground level.
"You got an assessment of the coming op." Callen said.
"I'll give you my opinion after the briefing." I said, as Lady Rothais and her entourage were approaching.
"Lady Rothais, her bodyguards, as well as her ladies in waiting, how may we be of service?" I asked.
"Mr. Deeks, we come to tell you the details that have been finalized at this junction, but may I ask the name of your companions." Lady Rothais said.
"My name is Callen." Callen said.
"My name is Sam." Sam said.
"My name is Kensi." Kensi said.
"Nice to finally know your names, now I will explain what we have discussed." Lady Rothais said.
While Lady Rothais was discussing the coming raid, or least what Lady Rothais' people came up with, in the distance my scanners picked up a signal coming from the East.
The strange signal originated from the West, so what is coming in from the East? Or Who? I thought.
"We have company coming in from the East." I said, out of the blue.
"That's not possible." Lady Rothais said.
"What's not possible?" Callen asked.
"The meeting for the raid isn't supposed to take place for another day or two." Lady Rothais said.
There was a moment of silence before anybody spoke.
"Red alert." Sam said.
"Red alert." Callen answered back, and then the four of us took off running to the east gate.
Lady Rothais and her group followed us as well, which is good because we're going to need their knowledge of the coming interlopers. I spent some time watching the people practicing earlier, so I scoured the net that my body can still access and started running programs as we climbed to the overlook.
"Friends of yours?" Sam asked.
"Maybe." One of the watchmen said.
"Nope." A lady in waiting said.
"How can you be so certain?" Callen asked, as he, Sam, and Kensi turned to look at her.
"She knows." Lady Rothais said.
"How do you want to handle this?" I asked.
"I want the three of you to stay up here, while you come with me." The captain of the guards said.
"Are you serious?" Kensi asked.
"Hey, easy babe. This is the best play we have." I said.
"What's that?" Sam asked, turning to look at me.
"This." I said, and then handed Callen, Sam, and Kensi a small drive.
"Thanks." Kensi said, as the three of them inserted the drive into their neck.
"What was that all about?" Lady Rothais asked.
"That's a something for us to worry about, okay." I said.
"Still…" One of Lady Rothais' personal guards said.
"It's something you don't need to worry about…unless you travel beyond your world." Callen said.
"What does that even mean?" The captain of the guard asked.
"That's a question for a much, much later time." I said.
"Whatever." A guard said.
"Deeks, was it." The captain said.
"Yes." I said.
"Come with me. We're going out to greet these interlopers." The captain said.
"Lead the way." I said, and then fell in line with the rest of the guards.
I followed the guards down to the gates, and then out once the gate was partially opened. Once the gate was closed, I noticed that the newcomers weren't slowing down.
"Callen." I said, into the earpiece.
"Yes." Callen said.
"Is there anything in the distance that we can't see?" I asked.
There was a moment of silence before Callen said. "Off in the distance I see a bigger group that is pushing a cart of sorts." Callen said.
"Battering ram, possibly." I said.
"Now why would they need a battering ram for?" Callen asked.
"Do I even have to answer that." I said.
"Answer what, and who are you talking to?" One of the guards asked.
"That is a moot point, off in the distance is a larger group pushing, possibly, a battering ram." I said.
"The must be on to their second half of their plan." The caption said.
"Heading back in is a bad idea with the first group almost on top of us." I said.
I looked over my shoulder to see Callen and Sam running away, while Kensi was still with the archers. If I had to guess Callen and Sam are going to deal with that second group, while Kensi and I deal with the first. At that moment, I saw a huge shadow on the ground appear out of nowhere starting behind me as I heard. "Fall back!"
"Are you crazy!" I exclaimed, and then I saw a boulder land two feet in front of the attacking group.
I didn't hesitate. I turned around and ran for the gate, as more boulders were being launched off of the surrounding cliffs. I was the first to reach the gate, but I waited for the rest of the guards to enter before I entered, and I did so as the gates were closing.
One of the men on horse back was reaching the gate as it was closing, but they weren't able to make; instead, they fired an arrow in a vain attempt to injury…anybody. One of the ladies in waiting would back been of the receiving end, but one of the guards jumped in front of the arrow. I see the arrowhead exit out the guards back. I watched as the guard was placed on a stretcher and taken to the infirmary. I followed at distance, and I signaled for Kensi to follow. We got to the doctor's office, albeit it looked more like a morgue. We were forbidden from entering, but Lady Rothais granted us access.
"May I?" I asked if I could examine the injured guard.
"Be my guest." The doctor said.
"Don't leave, please. Also grab some bandages." I said to the doctor. I looked at Lady Rothais and Kensi and said. "Please remove all nonessentials from the room." I said.
I turned to see the doctor standing next to the table with the necessary bandages.
"Leave the bandages there." I said, pointing to the side table next to me.
I turned to see Lady Rothais and Kensi coming back, with a nod from Kensi. I turn my attention to the patient, and then my scanners boot up and see the extent of the damage. While I was scanning the wound, the door opened, and two women walked in. Kensi got Lady Rothais attention, and then nodded to the two women.
"The guard's mother, and older sister." Lady Rothais said.
Kensi looked at the two women, and then turned back to Lady Rothais and said. "Kind of strange that girlfriend or wife isn't present."
Lady Rothais shared a glance with Kensi, and then everything clicked. "Oh, you have my condolences." Kensi said.
I didn't miss that. I looked at the man on the table and realized that he was Lady Rothais' lover. My mind goes in multiple directions. My attention is divided: I can see that the guard is going to survive. The arrow followed a clean trajectory, through and through without hitting any necessary organs or arteries or vessels. That's not what blew my mind, the thing that has my attention is that the guard is having a tryst with his charge. Or is he tasked with protecting one of the ladies in waiting and is having an affair with said lady's boss.
Kensi and I made eye contact, sharing a knowing look, and then nodded at each other.
"I have good news, and bad news." I said.
I scan everybody present, and to my great relief, none have been affected by the Aeons.
"What's the good news?" The guard's mother asked.
"Your son is going to survive his injury, with minimal detriment to his duties." I said.
"And the bad news." Lady Rothais asked.
I mean, yeah you could ask seeing as how he's your lover, or paramore, but don't you think his family should ask that question. I thought.
"It's going to be very painful when I pull the arrow out." I said.
I didn't see what happened next because I looked at the doctor and said. "This is going to be split into two parts." I said.
"Tell me how this is going to proceed." The doctor said.
"I'm going to break the arrow and remove it from his back section. When I do, I need you to plug the wound with a small section of bandage. After that…"
"Never mind. Let's just do one thing at a time." The doctor said.
"Mi' lady, what is the name of you son?" I asked.
"Corbin. My name is Corbin." The man said.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners. I'm going to be real with you Corbin, what's about to transpire going to be very painful. But with rest and some exercise, you should be back to protecting you charge in no time." I said.
"Please wash your hands before working on the patient." The doctor said.
I walked away to wash my hands, and as I was drying them, Kensi gave me a rolled-up towel, and judging by the size I knew it was for the guard to bite down on.
"Okay." I said, rolling my eyes as I took the towel from Kensi.
"Corbin, I want you to bite down on this towel." I said, as I approached the table.
"Why?" Corbin asked.
"It might seem odd, but it will help with the pain." I said.
Corbin looked at me sideway like I was crazy, even sharing a look with the doctor. One glare from Lady Rothais, and Corbin opened his mouth to accept the towel.
"Brace yourself." I said.
I saw Corbin tense up, as if readying for what's to come as I removed the arrow from his body. I placed my hand as close to Corbin's back, while still having a sturdy grasp on the arrow, and then broke it. We all heard Corbin gasp, and then I nodded to the doctor, who had placed the bandage in the exit wound.
"Here comes the worst of it." I said, and then yanked the arrow out of Corbin's chest.
Corbin was in so much pain that he passed out. I heard the mother and older sister start crying and Lady Rothais almost fainted.
"Everybody relax. Corbin is still alive, he just passed out from the pain." I said.
"How can you be so certain of that?" Corbin's mother asked.
"Doctor." I said.
The doctor stepped forward and checked for a pulse.
"He's still alive." The doctor said, as his aid was packing the wound.
"I take it you can handle it from here." I said, looking at the doctor.
"Yeah, we can handle it." The doctor said, and then Kensi and I made ourselves scarce.
We barely got outside before Lady Rothais came calling. "Deeks."
Kensi and I turned as I said. "Yes, mi' lady."
But I wasn't expecting to see Corbin's mother and sister accompany her as well.
"Ah, Corbin's family, how many be of service?" I asked.
"Thank you for helping my son." The mother said, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Thank you for helping my brother." The sister said, tears streaming down her face.
"It's the least I can do for a man doing his duties." I said.
The mother kissed my cheek, while the sister gave me a hug, and then the women walked away.
Kensi, Lady Rothais, and I walked back to the home we were borrowing for the time being. And in relative silence I might add.