Cheryl Peterson was an intelligent girl. She knew more about pharmaceuticals than anyone at her age, because she paid attention to her parents, who took her with them to trips developing cures. However, she picked up that this recent trip was going to be different. Her parents explained to her that she has to stay with her Aunt Diane because they were going to do something illegal that will benefit everyone. The Rwenzoir plant was discovered to hold the cure for many ailments, but the country's government from which it was from forbade the exportation of the plant on any ground. They had worked with people all over the world, and the extract they received would be the one to send to the World Health Organization.
"Honey," Dr. Jan Peterson said, "Sometimes you have to do what is wrong to make the world right sometimes."
"Is leaving me with Aunt Diane wrong?" she said.
"No, because she's family and she'll protect you."
"But I haven't seen her much at all during this trip."
"She needs a vacation too, and we've spent time with her." Dr. Michael Peterson interjected.
"Mommy and Daddy need to operate away from you to protect you. There are people who want to hurt us by any means necessary and we don't want you to be a target. Having Aunt Diane take care of you for a while is for your own protection. Now, we are taking this safari trip together in the hopes we can enjoy every moment, and I assure you, every moment we have will be returned when we see each other again."
Dr. Jane Peterson and Dr. Michael Peterson gave Cheryl a hug.
"Now, we need to head to Cutter Unlimited, that's where our safari adventure awaits!"
In the present, Dr. Michael Peterson and Dr. Jane Peterson lay dead outside of their tent. The array of bullets killed them onsite, and their tent remained unscathed. Cheryl Peterson hid underneath the cot her parents had, in fear of the guns and bombs she heard around her.
"Mommy, why are you crying at the random dead body that was found not far from our last hotel?" Cheryl asked as her family was riding on a bus to Cutter Unlimited.
"We knew him," Dr. Michael Peterson said, handing his wife a handkerchief, "He was helping us."
"Why would someone kill someone for helping you?"
"Because people in power don't want certain people to help people." Dr. Jane Peterson said.
"That's wrong!" Cheryl said, "I love helping you!"
Michael signaled to Janet. Janet signaled to Michael.
"You can help us. Can you hold onto this for Mommy and me?" Dr. Michael Peterson handed her a lanyard with a small vial with green liquid inside.
"What is it?" Cheryl said, grasping the vial.
"Something that will help many people."
In the present, the guns and bombs wouldn't stop. Cheryl thought she heard her Aunt Diane screaming and sounding further and further away. She heard gunfire from the ground. She feared the worse.
Earlier that day, she was getting up and saw her mother and father frantically packing.
"What's wrong?" she asked, wiping away sleep from her eye.
"I didn't think we'd be seafaring so close to this country. We have to leave and get out before no one sees us. That's why we camped so far up." Michael said.
"Cheryl, you remember that lanyard I gave you?" Jane said, realizing her child in front of her.
"Yes."
"Hold onto that one. I need you to hold onto this one," Jane pulled out another vial with a lanyard. "Put it in your protective pocket."
Cheryl did that. All of them heard a plane overhead.
"Oh no!" Michael said, running out of the tent.
"Michael!" Jane shouted, starting to run. "Honey, practice safety okay, hide under our bed."
Cheryl did what was asked.
"Michael!" Jane left the camp. Cheryl heard gun shots very close to her, she shut her ears.
In the present, Cheryl was crying. Her parents never came back. She felt no one heard her. She found a granola bar and a banana on the ground and ate, but the tears wouldn't stop falling. She felt unsure her parents were dead.
The paramilitary helicopter from the eastern mountain flew onto the river shore and a general and several troops came to inspect the damage.
"How many escaped?" The general asked, "There is not many here."
"What will we say when someone accuses us of killing tourists?" A soldier asked while walking out of the helicopter.
"These tourists were harboring our goods. They are stealing. If anyone is found alive, they are to be taken to our prison camp." The general said.
A soldier saw Cutter laying on the ground. The soldier flipped him over to identify his face.
"Matt Cutter from Cutter Unlimited." The general said, "of course he'd chase millions to put tourists in a warzone!"
The soldiers looked at him briefly before descending through the camp. As soon as they were a little more than farther away, Matt opened his eyes. The helicopter pilot saw him get up. The pilot turned off the copter and started running towards him. Matt suckerpunched the pilot to the ground and punched him a couple of times before grabbing the pilot's military grade gun. Matt noticed the soldiers didn't notice the scuffle, so he stealthily followed them until they got to the Peterson tent.
Cheryl heard voices outside of the tent. She didn't move. The general came into the tent with two soldiers and started ransacking it looking for the plant.
"Look what I have here!" A soldier pulled Cheryl out from under the bed.
"There was no intelligence on a child." The general said.
"She has the vial!" the same soldier said. The soldier dropped Cheryl on the ground and she stood up.
"You are coming with us." The general pulled Cheryl, but Cheryl resisted and started crying for help.
The two soldiers that accompanied the general subdued Cheryl without hurting her and escorted her out of the tent. She saw the corpses of her parents and started to cry again.
"That's what they get, and you will get worse." The general said.
"Not on my watch" a voice said.
The general turned around and Matt Cutter punched the general in the face, knocking the general out. The soldiers started attacking him. Cheryl, who didn't recognize Matt Cutter at all, ran behind a boulder in fear. Matt Cutter, all the while, was knocking out every soldier in sight. He kicked, punched, butted, and everything under his military-grade fighting skills and knocked every soldier out. He was sweatier than when he laid on the shore.
"Cheryl?" Matt asked.
"What do you want? Who are you?" Matt heard a voice behind the boulder.
"I'm Matt Cutter, remember?"
"You said you'd keep me safe, but my parents are dead and people are after me." Cheryl tried making herself somewhat visible from the boulder.
"I'm sorry, Cheryl," Matt said, going behind the boulder and seeing Cheryl's tear-soaked face. "I broke my promise, but you are still safe and I want to get you to safety. That's why I came back for you."
Cheryl smiled a little and hugged Matt's neck. Matt hugged back.
"I'm sorry what happened to your parents, why is the army after you?" Matt said in the hug before putting her down and both of them sitting on the boulder.
"My parents were trying to help people with this." Cheryl showed the vial she had on her neck.
"What is it?"
"It's an extraction of a root native to this region. My parents were going to give it to the world. But, the country where its from doesn't want that."
Matt looked at her as if he understood why her parents were killed.
"Is there a way to bury my parents?" Cheryl asked.
"We can try, Cheryl." Matt got up and tried to find the beginnings of a hole.
Both of them heard a noise, and saw countless planes going in all directions. Matt picked up Cheryl and ran into the northwestern part of the jungle. While he was running, Cheryl asked.
"Where are we going? What's going on?"
Cutter, while panting: "The planes are coming for you and now for me. We have to get you out of here. I told Mendlesohn I'd meet him at River's Turn. We're going through the jungle to get there."
Matt ran as far as he could. The two stopped 50 miles from the campsite. The planes were nowhere near where they were.
Matt, for the first time since this morning, stopped to compose himself. He was a dirty, soaked in sweat mess. Ther e was a ring of sweat on his pants. He put Cheryl down, with some of his sweat on her shirt.
"I think we're away from those planes," Matt said, wiping the sweat from his brow, as if that helped, "But we need to keep walking towards the River's Turn."
"Mr. Cutter, why can't we go back and bury my parents?"
Matt looked at Cheryl and realized this girl was intelligent, but had no idea they were in a warzone, and maybe never experienced war as he had.
"Cheryl, the planes and the bombs," Matt started saying, "They are coming after us to kill us."
"They wanted my parents dead." Cheryl said, looking for something on the ground to give to Cutter.
"Why? You said something about a native root." Matt sat down on a rock in the jungle.
"I don't remember what it's called, but my parents explained to me that certain people didn't want us to have it, but they also explained that it would help people."
"Do you know how it would help people?" Matt said, feeing the sweat drip from his hair down his back.
"No, but my parents before they left the tent wondered why we were camping out so close to the country that wanted them dead."
"When they booked the trip, did they see where we were heading?"
Cheryl realized her parents might have made an unintentional, grave mistake. She started to cry.
Matt walked up and crouched down to her level.
"I'm so sorry, Cheryl."
Cheryl cried but slapped Matt's face and started walking further in the jungle without him.
"Cheryl! Wait!"
Matt wiped his forehead and ran after her. He ran in front of her and stopped her.
"Cheryl, we have to stick together."
"No, we don't. How do I know you didn't put my parents in harm's way on purpose?"
"Cheryl, I was just as shocked as you were when the planes flew low."
"Why would you insist on setting us out in a country about to go to war?"
"One million dollars," Matt said, looking down and touching the back of his neck with his right hand, "if you are blaming me for your parent's death, it's not my fault. I didn't know your parents were world renowned scientists. I didn't know they were carrying a cure. I didn't know."
"Why didn't my Aunt Diane come and save us before the guns fired?"
Matt felt he was on trial, and the judge was ten years old.
"She tried, but the bombs and the guns. She came running to the boat and told me you were missing."
"Why wasn't she in her tent?"
"She was in mine last night."
Cheryl pushed past him and continued walking. Matt started to follow her, trying to swat bugs off his still bare chest. Cheryl turned around.
"Why did you come back?"
Matt paused. Cheryl came closer to him and pushed on his belly button.
"Why did you come back?!" Cheryl kept pushing on his lower abs.
Matt grabbed her by her arms and knelt down to her level.
"I said I'd never leave anyone behind. I know someone, also by your name, whose parents were killed in the jungle, and I didn't want the same thing that happened to her to happen to you."
Matt and Cheryl hugged. She felt the muscles on his neck, traps, and shoulders.
"My Dad was just as strong as you." Cheryl said.
The two stopped hugging and Matt extended his hand to her as they walked in the jungle.
Back at the bombed encampment, another helicopter landed, and more soldiers came out. They saw their peers still knocked out. Their general just came to.
"What happened?"
"I thought we killed a safari businessman on top of the Petersons," the general said, "but the businessman survived, knocked me and my troops out, and he and the little Peterson girl must have fled."
Soldiers scouted the area looking for Cutter and Cheryl Peterson.
"Found footprints, but leading south!" one soldier said.
"They are headed toward Maltayka."
"President Otunga wants the root and will stop at nothing until those taking it pay with their lives." Another soldier said.
The recovered general reported to the government headquarters as the rest of his unit awoke from their previous states.
A fleet of planes ascended from fields in Rwenzoiria, and flew into Maltayka. Bombs were dropped on villages, towns, and cities. The town where Cutter Unlimited was bombed. Kali's village was bombed. People unexpected were fleeing from these attacks, as only President N'Gama sensed war was about to start.
"War!" the sudden broadcast erupted on the television screen at the Keegan Laboratory in Mitubi.
Sheena stopped her research and looked up.
"War has broken out between Rwenzoira and Maltayka," the news reporter commented, "Countless cities and villages were attacked, including a tourist encampment on the Maltayka/Rwenzoiran border. While we are still counting the injured and the dead from these present attacks, Dr. Michael and Jan Peterson were found dead in the encampment. No whereabouts to where their daughter, Cheryl is, though she is believed to be alive."
Sheena noticed a tent rattled with bullet holes that had Cutter Unlimited branding on it. Without saying a word, Sheena got up and started packing the truck. Chris, who just came in from an experiment, saw the news on, and wondered where Sheena was. He didn't say anything, but saw her carry a load of blankets to the truck.
"Sheena, what are you doing?"
Sheena glanced at him and rolled her eyes.
"There are going to be refugees on the Mitumbi/Maltayka border, we need to get ready for them." Sheena said.
"I saw the news."
"Yes, I did too."
"What do you want to do?"
"Chris, I want to turn into a hawk and fly over where that campsite was. I want to find Cutter."
"The baby."
"I know, that's why I am thinking about refugee relief. I hope Cutter is alive, I hope Mendlesohn is alive."
"If they didn't find them, maybe they are alive."
"I hope Kali is also alive. I hope Otunga doesn't penalize Mitumbi for potentially harboring refugees."
"We won't know until we know."
Sheena went back inside to pack more things. She pulled out the blanket on her and Chris's bed, and an old photo pulled out from under the bed. It was a picture of her, Cutter, and someone they rescued ages ago. It didn't matter to her that Cutter was shirtless in this photo, it mattered that she hoped he was alive.
"I hope you are, Cutter." She said, as she put the photo in her nightstand.
Mendlesohn had a rough morning. Not only was he thrown out of his bed by rapid gunfire and bombs going off, but his boss jumped into the river to save three more tourists and left him to manage the rest and float down the river. He could still see plums of smoke rise as he moved the boat further and further away from the shore. He wasn't hopeful Matt Cutter was alive, but in the chance, he was, he was still going to move the boat to River's Turn and hope Cutter and the Petersons would be there.
Diane Peterson was in absolute shock as she still saw Matt Cutter dive into the river to save her family. She beat herself up for not going to her tent sooner. She beat herself up for being unable to make it up the hill to find her sister, brother-in-law, and niece in time. She hoped Matt Cutter was still alive and her family was still alive.
Mendelsohn and Diane looked at each other as the planes moved away from the boat and the boat moved further and further away from the river. Mendlesohn looked toward the destination of the boat on the river. Diane looked at the tourists in front of her. Half of them were decently dressed, the other half were disheveled.
"When we get back to land, I'm gonna sue," one tourist said, "I asked Matt Cutter whether or not we were going to be in any warzone and he flat out lied to me."
Diane shot up from that comment.
"Don't blame him," Diane started raising her voice, "He didn't know war would begin on our campsite."
"Oh, and I suppose you knew?" the same tourist chided.
"No, I figured Cutter and Mendlesohn would have factored in safety measures before putting us where we were. That mountain was a designated safe zone."
"That's easy for you to say, " a disheveled woman tourist said, "You were sleeping with him!"
"People!" Mendlesohn said abruptly, to everyone's focus, "Cutter and I thought we were in the safe zone. Diane was right that it was designated. I didn't expect war to break out, let alone on a tourist site. Matt will hopefully join us later, as well as the other tourists. Mr. Pendergrast, you can sue all you want to, but we didn't think we'd be affected. Cutter has military background, as do I, so in his absence, I suggest we all sit down and figure our way out of this jungle and away from this warzone. Now, sit down, and let me steer this boat so we can pick up Cutter and the Petersons."
Everyone put their heads down. Mendlesohn pulled out a metal box, opened it, and threw it to the tourists.
"If any of you want protection, I suggest you grab a gun. We might need it as we navigate back to Cutter Unlimited."
The majority of the morning was quiet as they went along the river. The tourists were comforting each other, as most of them did grab a gun. They saw military grade planes fly by and ducked together, but saw they were going in another direction.
"They are going towards the shore!" Diane said, in sheer panic. "I hope Cutter, Jan, Michael, and Cheryl are okay."
"We'll know when we get to River's Turn." Mendlesohn said.
More planes started flying in all directions as they took their third curve towards the majority of the river. They mostly flew away towards the boat, but the tourists and Mendlesohn ducked in cover with people holding onto their guns just in case.
There was a moment where an entire fleet of military grade planes flew past them heading northeast. From the distance, they could hear bombs going off.
"Oh, Frederick," one of the female tourists said, "I'm so scared. What if Maltaka gets blown up to smithereens?"
"We'll find a way out," Frederick said, "at least we have each other, and Mr. Cutter will come back soon with the Petersons. We're an hour from River's Turn."
The female tourist pulled out her own gun and filled it with bullets.
"I hate this."
"Welcome to the club." Mendlesohn said.
"Where are you Cutter?" Mendlesohn whispered under his breath.
Matt Cutter was walking with Cheryl Peterson in the jungle. They walked in silence as he was glad, he regained Cheryl's trust. The sun was shining fierce and it occurred to him that he was shirtless the entire time.
"Cheryl."
"Yes, Mr. Cutter."
"I don't have a shirt, and haven't had one since we flew the camp. I'm sorry, an adult male shouldn't be shirtless around children unless they are at the beach."
"Mr. Cutter, it's okay. You told me that your only focus was making sure everyone was safe and you didn't have time getting everyone in the boat and then coming back for me and my parents."
Matt walked in front of Cheryl and kneeled down to eye level.
"Cheryl," Matt started, "I need you to know that since people are after you like they were after your parents, I'm going to have to do lots of things you might not be comfortable with me doing to protect you."
Matt showed Cheryl the gun he had in one of his exterior satchels.
"I may have to use this to protect you," Matt also pulled out his knife from his other satchel. "I have a knife too."
"Okay," Cheryl said, looking afraid, "I understand."
Matt saw Cheryl's childhood innocence on her face. He knew her parents were just killed by guns and she saw war as she never saw it before.
"I will never hurt you myself with these. I know how to protect you." Matt said, touching her chin.
Cheryl still had her ten-year-old feelings about the adult world she just didn't understand. She didn't understand why people protected people with guns and knives when they could talk about it like she always did with her parents. She'd rather give people medicine than fight with them.
"Also, I am sorry for grabbing you earlier. We were in the line of fire and I run faster than you."
"I understand, Mr. Cutter," Cheryl hugged him and she felt his neck and chest muscles. "I just wish people wouldn't kill me over this."
Cheryl pulled out the vial from her neck and showed it to him. Matt put her down. A plane flew past them.
"What is it?" Cheryl asked, putting the vial away.
The plane circled around and started firing on Matt and Cheryl. Matt grabbed Cheryl and the two ran as the bullets kept flying. Matt dove into a bush on the jungle floor and told Cheryl to hide in it. Matt pulled out his gun and shot at the airplane. The plane flew around Cutter and getting lower and lower. Matt shot at the plane, knocking out it's window and causing a small fire from one of the wings. The pilot spun around and took his arm out of the side, broken window. Matt fired at the exposed arm, but the arm dropped a grenade. Matt saw the grenade fall and he went under the bush with Cheryl, pulled her out, and ran away from the bush as the grenade fell and exploded, throwing Matt and Cheryl to the ground. The wing of the plane that had the fire on it grew bigger as the plane swirled and fell into a large tree before falling to the ground and exploding. Matt collected himself and Cheryl and ran away from the site.
Matt and Cheryl had no time to collect themselves, and Matt's sweat, the dirt, and the leaves left marks on Cutter and Cheryl, but they had to keep going. They came across a small ravine that signaled they were getting closer to the River's Turn. They walked down, lower and lower until almost river level.
"Mr. Cutter, why are we walking along this ravine like this?"
"Because they won't be able to shoot us if we aren't visible to them" Matt said, feeling the dirt on his bare back.
"They might have something that can trace us from ground level."
"They might, but I'm just."
"Trying to protect me, I know."
Cutter thought he saw something in the distance.
"Cheryl, try to walk faster, I think I might see the boat."
The two walked faster along the ravine. Matt didn't want this boat to be a military boat. Cheryl just wanted to get out of the warzone.
Mendlesohn was actually a few miles farther than where Cutter and Cheryl were. But he was keeping the boat and its passengers steady. He felt it would be another half hour before the two-hour mark was reached.
In the meantime, unbeknownst to either of them, a slew of soldiers representing Otunga's government were stationed around the River's Turn. They were commanded not to raid the boat, but to fire the minute they see Cheryl. There were planes at the ready on the mountain near where Matt and Cheryl walked to bomb them out of existence as necessary.
In the meantime, Kali was going around the village, to see if anyone was hurt. No one was, but huts were destroyed and animals were dead. Kali summoned the village and they began the long journey to the Mitumbi border, where they knew they would be safe. Kali sent word to all villages in Maltaka to follow suit, but unsure of what other casualties there were and if her message would be received in time. It would be a treacherous journey.
Matt and Cheryl got closer to the boat, but in the distance, in clear sunlight, it was just a destroyed boat floating in the water. The two continued until they got closer to River's Turn.
Mendlesohn arrived at River's Turn a few minutes before Matt and Cheryl did. He dropped the anchor and told everyone with a gun to be ready, and those without to duck in cover. Matt and Cheryl turned a corner on the opposing side and saw the boat. Matt waved and showed Mendlesohn Cheryl. The two of them rushed towards the river's edge closest to the boat when a gun shot was fired from the hidden soldiers. It grazed Mendlesohn's arm. The other tourists with guns shot in the direction of the initial gunshot. Matt grabbed Cheryl and the two went running into the water. Planes flew by from almost nowhere and dropped bombs into the river, causing explosions around the boat. The tourists ducked down clamored as the other ones fired more shots. Matt and Cheryl tried going towards the boat, but a bomb fell and exploded, sending Matt flying into one part of the river, and Cheryl to another. When Matt got up, he looked up to find Cheryl. He swam to where he thought her fly to, and she came up and grabbed Matt by the neck. Matt could barely get his gun to shoot at the plane.
All the while, Mendlesohn's sleeve was torn off and Diane had an herb on her that she wrapped his arm in as another tourist pulled up the anchor as the other tourists were firing the guns in all directions .
"Cutter!" Mendlesohn shouted.
"Here!" Matt said, swimming with Cheryl on his back. They were farther from the boat, but the shooting and the bombs kept dropping.
"Here!" Cutter kept shouting.
The tourists wasted no time to get the boat running.
"Cheryl!" Diane hollered as two more bombs fell and rocked the boat almost to point of capsizing.
"Aunt Diane!" Cheryl screamed into Matt's ear, as Matt was trying to find the boat, but the boat was farther away. Matt saw an opening in a little cave and he swam Cheryl there.
Mendlesohn had to get the boat going, but felt that Matt and Cheryl would not be retrieved. Diane briefly saw her niece amid the battle. She barely saw Cutter.
The bombs and the gunfire stopped. Mendlesohn and the boat was now ten miles from River's Turn. Cutter and Cheryl were underneath the tributary in an underground cave. Matt placed Cheryl up on the crevice of the opening before he got out of the water, soaking wet. Cheryl was wet too. He knew he had to go deeper in the cave to attempt for them to get dried off. He also wished he had firewood lying around to make it easier on them both. As Matt looked around at the space to make a plan, he saw Cheryl crying in the corner.
"Mr. Cutter, I'm never going to see my Aunt Diane again."
Matt got to her level after wiping off his face.
"Yes, you will."
"But they are just going to keep shooting at me and you. We won't be saved."
"Cheryl, I promise you that I will get you to her. She's heading back with the others to Cutter Unlimited. We're going to have to find a way to get there ourselves. I still have what I need to protect you."
Cheryl smiled some through her tears, as she was still crying.
"I wish my parents never came here. They'd still be alive and I wouldn't be here." Cheryl angrily cried.
"I know," Matt said, "You're alive though, and I will keep you alive. Your parents would have wanted me to."
"Was Aunt Diane wearing your shirt on the boat?"
Cutter said nothing. He knew she was hurt. He knew he had to keep her alive. The two rested.
"Is there a chance the soldiers will come for us down here?" Cheryl asked, wiping away the last of her tears.
"Yes, we have to get out of this cave. They don't know if we're here or not."
Cheryl reluctantly got up and extended her hand to Cutter. He was feeling some relief from the dirt and sweat he was experiencing before this river incident. Cutter took it and the two started walking.
"Mr. Cutter," Cheryl said as they descended down further into the cave, not knowing where it was going to lead out of, "I'm hungry."
"The minute we find food, we're eating. We just have to get out of this cave and avoid the planes and guns."
Cheryl wasn't very hungry, but knew when her stomach would start growling. Her and Cutter walked steadily through the cave.
President N'Gama was having a rough morning. Three major cities were bombed and countless tribal villages were as well, displacing thousands. He didn't quite tell the army to go to war yet, even if Ortunga's soldiers were all over Maltayka. He was awaiting his intelligence unit to tell him how best to proceed, as Ortunga would not talk to him anymore.
N'Gama was trying to find meaning in Ortunga's words. He walked all over his palace. He saw people injured in the streets, but there were no reported causalities. His garden wall had a massive hole in it, thinking that Ortunga was showing no mercy.
No mercy except for two World Health Organization doctors, whom were the only causalities but on Ortunga's land, and the tourists. If Maltayka had a decent global reputation, he would have an international crisis on his hands, but the world only cared for those doctors. News reports were painting Africa as a war-torn continent when it just two countries at war with each other, with the one advancing winning. N'Gama hated to lose.
"Where is he?!" N'Gama shouted to the empty room.
A spiffy looking man with a military hat ran from the garden to President N'Gama's chamber.
"Took you long enough." N'Gama said.
"President Ortunga bombed the tourist site on that mountain range because Drs. Michael and Jan Peterson were carrying a vial of concentrated Rwenzoiran root and were planning on reporting its benefits to the United Nations. Our intelligence concluded that Drs. Michael and Jane Peterson died from bullet wounds from the attack. They had their daughter, Cheryl Peterson, with them, but she must've disappeared with the tourists from Maltaykan based Cutter Unlimited tours who fled in enough time and are trying to get back to Cutter Unlimited. Our intelligence dug further, and found that Matt Cutter came back for Cheryl Peterson, and the two are making their way back. President Ortunga was accusing you of harboring, aiding, and abiding people who are after the root, which, by his government's law, is forbidden access. One of his former health ministers was killed by unnamed sources three days ago."
"Unnamed source?"
"Ortunga has secret militias who kill political prisoners anywhere in the world. They are second only to the CIA regarding their operation and execution. Ortunga has even gotten U.N. protections for them. They have since joined their countrymen to make sure this war reaches it's result."
"And, what is this result?"
"That Cheryl Peterson dies and the root extract is destroyed. If Matt Cutter is with Cheryl Peterson, then that root extract will go to the United Nations."
"Then, our soldiers need to prevent Cheryl Peterson and Matt Cutter from being killed. It would be nice to be good with the United Nations for once."
"Yes, but sir, we barely have an army, let alone the equipment. We also don't know how many of our troops were impacted by the last bombings."
"We can at most see to it that the tourists who are fleeing that site make it safely back. I want ground assistance for them and I want our security units around Cutter and Peterson. We'll send relief assistance to currently affected areas."
N'Gama felt better having known the reasons why, but he knew his army stood nothing against Ortunga's.
All the while, Mendlesohn was moving the boat further down the river. He knew Cutter was alive, and Diane knew Cheryl was. The tourists were more wet but not as shell shocked. Diane was beside herself. Another tourist went to where she was to comfort her. Mendlesohn gave the steerage to a tourist who was glad to relieve him.
"Diane, are you okay?" Mendlesohn said, sitting next to her and the other tourist. The other tourist gave him a look.
"No, I'm not okay. My sister and brother-in-law are dead. My niece is roaming the jungle with Cutter in a war and it's all my fault."
Mendlesohn didn't know how to respond. Diane continued.
"It's all my fault because I chose my needs over my family's. I should have moved my tent closer to them. I should have spent more time with Cheryl. Instead, I spend it with Matt Cutter, and now him and Cheryl's lives are in danger because of me."
"Matt Cutter isn't all that bad," Mendlesohn said, "I didn't know your brother-in-law and sister much, but you telling Cutter to go back and get them and him and Cheryl almost making it on the boat with us means you are doing what you need to."
"Yes, but…"
"If Matt Cutter wasn't a man of his word, chances are your niece would be dead too."
Diane raised her head and looked immediately at Mendlesohn as if it dawned on her he was right. She got up and slapped him across the face.
"What was that for?"
"For not giving me the idea of getting out to find them myself and bring them back." Diane got up, put a long gun around her shoulder, and started dipping her toes in the river water.
"That's not a good idea." Mendlesohn said.
Diane looked at him again in a hint of rage.
"Why? If I continue with you, they aren't going to be found sooner."
"But if you continue with me, Cutter will have a place to go to to meet us. If he can get to River's Run, he can get back to Cutter Unlimited."
Diane sat back down.
"By the way, where are all of you from? Those gun skills were amazing back there!" Mendlesohn told the tourists.
Sheena and Chris were at the border, awaiting refugees. They were helping preparing food and water. The news was glaring in the back. Sheena was stressfully stuffing bags with rice. Chris was helping with certain transportation vehicles when he saw his wife frantically prepare rice bags.
"Sheena?" Chris walked over to her. She didn't look at him.
"Sheena, put the scooper down." Chris said, more understandingly. Sheena kept going.
Chris walked over to her and held her hand gently. He helped her place it down on the table. Sheena turned around and looked at him.
"If Kali and Cutter are dead, I will never forgive you!" Sheena said, tears in her eyes.
"I don't believe they are dead."
"Mendlesohn too. If I could just find a hawk and fly over Maltayka, but no, I'm pregnant and you don't want me in a warzone so I am stuck here shoveling rice into bags so I can convince myself that I am doing something all the while Cutter, Mendlesohn, and Kali are fleeing for their lives from an army not even the CIA can take down." Sheena slammed the scooper on the table and angrily dropped the bag on the floor.
Sheena didn't look at Chris as she walked away to the break area.
"Sheena, I'm sorry if I'm overprotective of you right now," Chris raised her head, "I know you can do anything you put your mind to, and I know you are thinking of so many things. I feel feeling stuck where you are and wanting to do more but can't."
"I don't know if you do."
"I couldn't stop my father from joining the Gulf War. My mother was pregnant and in the military herself. She didn't want him to go. He left her without even discussing it with her. My mother was so upset she never responded to his letters from the base and when he died a month later, it wasn't until after the funeral, did she break down and cry. She couldn't stop him. Even in his letters, he never admitted he was wrong to do that. My mother gave birth to my sister two months into being a widow. I never left her side."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"So you can understand why I don't want you to leave and why I am protective of you."
"This is different, Chris, I'm sorry it just is."
"How?"
"I'm not your father nor your mother. I am not going to do anything I wouldn't normally do just because of this war I don't already do for my people. The Kaia is spiritual. If I were to turn into a bird tomorrow and my entire body changes into one, the baby will not be an egg forever. Also, I would come back."
Chris realized what was his work to do and what was her's.
The television was blaring in the background:
"N'Gama sends out miliary response to Rwenzoirian escalation!"
"I hope Kali is at most, close to the border." Sheena said, going back to scooping rice for relief bags. "I hope Cutter is still alive too."
Matt Cutter was feeling the dirt and the damp coagulate on his back and chest. Cheryl was past her tears as she was glad, she was underneath the ground and not visible. But the two were starving when they got near the end of the cave. It felt like they traveled more than 10 miles. There was sun light and an open field when they got to the end of the cave. Unfortunately, though, it was the evening hours and they still couldn't find anything. Cheryl wanted to keep going.
"Cheryl, we have to stay in the cave tonight."
"Mr. Cutter, why?"
"Because of the risks," Matt took out his knife and gave it to Cheryl, "Now, I am going to find us some food. I won't be far away and gone too long, but I need you to do two things for me. I need you to find firewood and guard yourself."
"Okay."
Matt walked away looking for food. He found dead soldiers close by a turn from where he walked. Apparently, the soldiers were all bullet ridden. Someone must have fired on them, but he didn't see anything close by. He saw an open crate, and looked into it. He saw food. He saw canned survival rations galore. Before he could even touch one, a soldier came behind him and lockjawed him.
"Who are you?!" the soldier said.
Matt grabbed the man from the back and threw him down to the ground. Matt grabbed the soldier by the collar.
"A hungry refugee." Matt then punched the soldier out cold.
Matt grabbed a bunch of cans and went back towards the cave.
When the soldier got up, he reported what he saw. Ortunga sent bombers out to the entire Maltaka region for overnight effect.
Matt got back a little after dark. Cheryl had sticks in a pile.
"Did anything happen?" Matt said, sitting down next to her.
"No."
"Good." Matt pulled out some of the food rations.
Cutter made a fire and the two cooked pork and beans and had a worthwhile meal.
"Mr. Cutter, how long do you think it will take for us to get back to Cutter Unlimited?"
"I don't know if we are by River's Run from where we are now, Cheryl," Matt said, resting his back against the cave wall sitting down. "But if we aren't too far from where we were, it would be three days."
"Three days?"
"Yes."
Matt saw the disappointment in her face.
"Come here." Matt extended his hand.
Cheryl walked over and held it.
"Look, I'm just trying to get you back to your aunt so you can go home. I want to make sure you're alive too. This wasn't what you were expecting. We're gonna be together until you get reunited with your aunt. I'm sorry today didn't go well."
"It's not your fault, Mr. Cutter," Cheryl was resting her head on Matt's chest. "I'm sleepy. Thank you for dinner."
"You're welcome" Matt said, putting his chin on her head, "It's okay to go to bed. I've got you."
Cheryl fell asleep on Matt's chest. Matt watched the fire, making sure there was nothing around them threatening them in any way. Eventually, he closed his eyes while the fire still roared. He laid down on the ground, with Cheryl still on his chest. He held her close, like a father and a daughter.
The next morning, Matt Cutter woke up and saw Cheryl still sleeping.
"Cheryl," he whispered, "we got to get up and go."
Cheryl just moved her head to the right from the left.
"Okay, I'll carry you until you wake up."
Matt slowly stood up and saw he had ash on his skin. It wasn't horrible, but noticeable. He carried Cheryl into the jungle north of them and then moved west, where he believed Maltakya was in distance. Cheryl woke up after the sun was in the sky.
"Mr. Cutter," Cheryl said, touching his chest, "when did we start moving?"
"As soon as the sun rose. We had to."
"Okay." Cheryl wiped her eyes and watched Cutter as he walked. He did remind her of her father. It was hard to believe nearly a day went by since her parent's murder and she was bound to Matt Cutter who insisted on getting her home.
"Mr. Cutter?"
"Yes, Cheryl?"
"I think I can get down and walk now."
Cutter put her down and the two walked together.
"I'm sorry for everything I said yesterday," Cheryl said, "it was coming from grief and anger."
"I know," Matt said, smiling from the side so she'd notice, "I knew you were hurting. I hope I didn't seem too rushed for you."
"No."
The two were about to turn a corner, and a soldier came out and pointed a gun to them both. Matt recognized the soldier from yesterday.
"We meet again. I know who you both are."
"It's me you want," Matt said, trying to negotiate, "I stole your food."
"Yes, but your daughter has the root extract, and that's much more valuable."
Cheryl trembled not knowing what to do. She clung onto Matt's pants, nearly gripping the knee.
"What do you want?" Matt said, "She's just a child. I'd rather you kill me."
"Mr. Cutter, no!" Cheryl said, holding onto him tighter.
The soldier walked closer to the gun, this time pointing it directly on Matt's chest.
"If you say so."
Matt pushed the gun to the ground as it shot and a pile of dirt flew into the air.
"Cheryl, run!" Matt said, as he began to scuffle with the soldier.
Cheryl ran further west into the jungle. She heard what sounded like a fight with heavy punching. She also heard Matt being thrown. She kept running. She came to a cliff of a piece of water she didn't recognize. It was a waterfall but the river seemed not the same as the one she was previously on. She turned around in fear to find another soldier behind her. He lifted her up and took the lanyard off of her.
"Please, please don't!" Cheryl cried.
In the meantime, Matt knocked out the soldier completely and bashed the soldier's head in with the rifle Matt stole from him. He then ran in the direction where he thought Cheryl ran. He saw Cheryl being held from her feet and the lanyard being held in the other hand.
"Don't hurt her!" Matt said, butt of the gun in the air.
"What of the vial?"
"You can have that."
"No, Mr. Cutter!" Cheryl screamed, "That vial will save lives. You need that as much as you need me."
"Mr. Cutter, what will it be?"
"Don't hurt her!"
Matt tried advancing before a soldier came from behind him and knocked the gun out of his hand. The soldier then restrained Cutter by the neck and held his hands behind him.
"I think the vial is more valuable to me than to both of you."
The soldier held Cheryl over the cliff.
"No!"
"Mr. Cutter, please tell him to let me go."
"Let her go!" Matt said, trying to fight the restraints of the strong soldier.
Matt elbow punched the soldier in the head and the grip loosened with each punch. Matt was still restrained by the neck.
"Fine."
"Mr. Cutter!" Cheryl screamed as she fell off the cliff.
"CHERYL!" Matt yelled.