Otunga ordered carpet bombing of all the areas in Maltayka where Matt Cutter was bound to go to. The town where Cutter Unlimited was, Kali's village, Sheena's old cave, all were getting hit with bombs.
President Otunga was getting fed up by the uncaptured and undeath of Matt Cutter and Cheryl Peterson. His army was suffering a massive blow as his troops began invading the Maltaykan border just to find a full, larger army meeting him and nearly decimating his troops. The Maltaykan army was catty corned to where Matt and Cheryl were previously running and assaulted the Rzeworian army as soon as troops were following them.
"It's time to release my secret squad!"
Otunga left his desk and went into his personal military room. He pressed a button and pulled out a darker military uniform. Dangerous people got the word in the Rzeworia. They met up secretly and flew a silent helicopter into the Maltaykan region. They were silent, but deadly. They went ahead of where Cutter and Cheryl were heading.
Cheryl stopped crying after an hour. She saw her tears stain the couch and Matt's shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Matt said, not minding his wet shoulder.
"I think so."
Matt held her on his lap.
"Cheryl, I need to talk to you about something."
Cheryl wiped her last tear and began to listen intentionally.
"Cheryl, we aren't far from where we started, in fact, we are almost there. But, there is a war around the vial you have, and there is a stronger chance of us getting separated from each other."
"Yes, you told me to run in those circumstances."
"I still want you to do that. No matter what happens to me, I need you to protect and save yourself."
"Why are we talking then if that's the plan?"
"Because we may be separated longer than what we've previously experienced. I could be held captive, you could be held captive, and we might not have a way to reconnecting."
Cheryl hugged his neck with sudden fear.
"I don't want to think about that, Mr. Cutter."
"You have to know what to do, Cheryl. I'm telling you so you'll know. Now, if you are held captive, I need you to use my knife to free yourself, however you need to," Matt gave his knife to Cheryl. "Also, I need you to give me the vial."
"My parents entrusted me with this. I need to see that it will get through."
"I know, but I'd rather you give me it to hold onto. It's the vial they are looking for. They want to kill you because they believe you are carrying it, and I don't want you to be killed."
"So, you will?" Cheryl had fresh tears in her eyes.
"I've managed to get us this far."
"Mr. Cutter, please, I don't want you to get killed."
"I can't promise you. I have many skills that merit survival, but it's your survival that needs to be the top priority, not mine."
"Can I think about it?"
"I don't know how much time we have before we have to get out of here and get going."
"I just need time to think."
"Okay. Just remember, I want you alive, reunited with your aunt, and away from this warzone. I'll leave you alone, but don't go outside."
"Okay."
Matt got up and went to the kitchen. The wind was blowing through the doorway. Matt looked over a sink into the window to see of any danger. He tried turning on the faucet, but it wasn't working. He figured as such. Maybe the water was turned off. He walked upstairs to the room he stayed in briefly when he and Sheena got stranded. He saw a white tank top on the nightstand that looked untouched, albeit some holes from dust and rust. He grabbed it and thought about putting it on, but instead, he put it in his back pocket.
"Mr. Cutter?" Cheryl asked from downstairs.
"I'll be down shortly."
Matt went down the stairs, which remained sturdy even after all this time. He met Cheryl in the living room.
"I've decided I should give you the vial, but only until we get back to your place, because I need to make sure it goes to the World Health Organization as my parents wanted."
Cheryl handed Matt the vial, which he put in his pocket. She then gave him a big hug.
"I hope we don't get separated."
Cheryl was about to speak when Matt shushed her. He thought he heard something.
The plane that was going through the previous warzone survived and flew over Matt and Cheryl's tracks. It hovered over the house they were in. It elevated above visibility, and was dropping a carpet bomb. The noise grew louder and louder as the bomb fell.
Matt heard the bomb falling closer and closer. Matt grabbed Cheryl and he bolted out the front door and ran as far as he could away from the house before the bomb fell and obliterated the house in a fiery blitz. Matt fell down on the ground on top of Cheryl as a rush of debris fell on them.
Matt got up, and Cheryl was still holding onto him.
"Cheryl? Are you okay?"
"Yes." Cheryl said.
Matt got up holding Cheryl and he ran into the jungle.
Diane and Mendlesohn went into the makeshift bomb shelter in Cutter Unlimited as bombs pummeled the near empty town. More property damage was done to Cutter Unlimited as Matt's office caved in, windows were blown, and the car port was destroyed entirely.
Mendlesohn pulled out rifles he kept there and gave one to Diane.
"For when the Rzerworians descend." He said.
Diane nodded in fear, trembling, awe, and purpose. She silently prayed:
"I hope Cheryl and Matt make it through this storm alive."
All the while, Matt ran deep into the jungle and found a quiet, dark place. He put Cheryl down next to him, but she didn't want to let go and he had to pry her off of him.
"I'm sorry to do that, Cheryl, but I need you to stay beside me. You're a big girl. You can do this."
"Do you think there are more bombs coming our way?"
"Possibly, but we need to keep going."
Otunga found a former torture chamber near the geysers to plant his team, and he sent the team out to find Cutter and Peterson.
All the bombings and military victories and failures were on the news on the Maltaykan/Mitumbi border. Sheena, Chris, and Kali watched in fear for the worst.
"I have to go to Maltayka." Sheena said, turning to Chris and Kali.
"You have my support." Chris said. Sheena kissed him.
"Come, Sheena," Kali said, "We need to go to the wildlife sanctuary close by. There are no lions around here for you to change into."
"Thanks, but I already have someone." The same hawk Kali used flew in. Sheena turned into the hawk and flew away.
"I pray she finds them."
Matt and Cheryl were walking side by side. The rifle Matt had was destroyed with the house bombing, but he would find the next rifle to get them through, he told himself. He had the vial in a tiny pocket in his pants, which, now looked as war torn as he did.
They came across a minor, in jungle clearing. Matt checked all around for anyone. Cheryl clung onto his belt.
"It's okay, Cheryl, there's no one here but us."
They walked cautiously but quickly. They came to the other side. They walked for a few minutes to see downed trees around them. Matt gripped Cheryl's hand.
An assassin jumped from behind Cutter and shoved him to the ground. He got up.
"Run!" He told Cheryl, as he sucker punched the attacker in the stomach before striking him again in the face.
Another attacker ran behind Cutter, ready to attack him before Matt grabbed the attackers sides and threw him over his back, knocking him out.
Cutter couldn't see Cheryl as another attacker put his arms around Matt's chest and rammed both of them into a tree. Matt stepped on the attacker's foot before freeing his right arm and punching the attacker with his elbow repeatedly before the attacker was knocked out. A big burly attacker came, grabbed Matt by his waist and threw him sliding on the ground into the trunk of the tree. As the attacker came towards him, Matt pulled out his hand gun and shot.
Cheryl did run but not very far as branches and sticks blocked her view. One attacker did grab her, but before he could go, she stabbed him in the legs. Another attacker grabbed her and lifted her up towards his face. She stabbed him in the face and shoulder before she fell on the ground. This was happening while Matt was fighting the other attackers.
Two more attackers came for Matt as he got up from the moist ground. One attacked Matt by whacking him in the face with a gun, knocking Matt to the ground. Matt sucker kicked his attacker immediately to grab the rifle from him. Before Matt could grab the rifle, a clawed attacker came and tried to attack him. The sucker punched attacker punched Matt in the face before the clawed attacker jumped on Matt and scratched the top of Matt's chest, causing a little bleed. Matt was already sweating from the attack as a whole. Matt kicked the clawed attacker in the stomach and punched him in the face as Matt grabbed the rifle and knocked out the other attacker. Matt heard Cheryl scream and started running towards the shout. The burly attacker threw Matt on the pile of branches and sticks before Matt pulled out his handgun again and shot the burly attacker in the head, causing him to fall next to Matt on the bed of branches and sticks. Matt got down and side knocked the last attacker with the butt of the rifle he grabbed. Five more swarmed Matt, and Matt was ready to attack them.
"Enough!" A commanding voice shouted.
Two men grabbed Matt, shoved him on the ground, and then lifted him up. He saw a SWAT-like soldier in front of him, with Cheryl on his shoulders.
"Matt Cutter, we finally meet." President Otunga said.
"Let her go." Matt said, trying to fight off the entrapment of his arms and hands around his back.
"She has the vial, and she saw what I do with my enemies."
"She's just a girl. She has not harmed you. Let her go."
Matt got restless as Otunga moved Cheryl from his shoulder and held her by her hair. Cheryl was crying in fear. Otunga pulled out a bloodied knife. It was Cutter's.
"She almost did. Take them away."
Matt and Cheryl were taken to the repurposed torture center that wasn't too far from a dangerous geyser. Cheryl was put in a room where she couldn't see Matt, and Matt was put in a room with one skylight and was very dark. He was roped to the wall. His handgun and the rifle were taken from him. Neither him nor Cheryl were searched. The vial was still in Cutter's possession.
Cheryl was thrown in. There was nothing but a hole near the ceiling. Neither one of them knew it was President Otunga they were being held captive of. Both could hear a geyser exploding in the distance. Cheryl heard the hole pop open. She got up and ran towards it. As she ran towards it, a stream of sand fell down. At first, she thought it was harmless. She looked around. There were no windows. The door wasn't visible. The sand kept streaming down.
"Mr. Cutter!" Cheryl screamed. "Mr. Cutter, help me!"
Matt couldn't hear her screams. The soldiers Matt didn't kill were taking turns punching his face. His torso was extremely wet. It wasn't enough to slip but was coagulating the dirt and blood on his body. Otunga told them to back away.
"Where's the vial?" he said, menacingly holding a hunting knife.
Matt didn't budge. Otunga touched Matt's lower chest with the hunting knife.
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. You know where it is. It is either on you, or on Cheryl Peterson. Cheryl won't tell, she's only ten."
"Age has nothing to do with not complying to a war criminal." Matt said, defiantly shaking his shoulders.
"Yes, and we must be gentle with the children."
Cheryl was knee deep in sand as a brick exploded from another side and more sand kept falling into the room.
"Mr. Cutter!"
Matt was still unable to hear her, as the sand grew higher and higher. Cheryl tried moving until she couldn't anymore.
"As I was saying, Matt Cutter, since Cheryl won't tell, one of you have to," Otunga gently slided the hunting knife from Matt's lower chest and held it in his right hand almost ready to stab Matt. "I'm tempted to kill you right now."
"You've already killed everyone you needed to get the vial." Matt said, shaking the ropes and feeling a minor slip of his left hand. He kept nudging.
"But that just leaves you and her. She will tell me in due time. However, you will tell me sooner." Otunga lifted a curtain, and Matt saw Cheryl, even if Cheryl couldn't see Matt. Cheryl was shoulder deep in sand.
"Mr. Cutter, help me! Help me!" Cheryl screamed as the sand was getting closer and closer to encasing her.
Matt was violently shaking.
"Tell me where the vial is."
"Let her go and I will." Matt said.
Otunga nodded to the other assassins. Two of them pressed buttons. Once the buttons were pressed, more sand was pouring over Cheryl as two other sides popped. Cheryl's mouth was covered by sand.
Matt slipped out of his ropes and started attacking the assassins. Matt knocked each of them out in similar matters to how he was tortured by them. He swatted the rope against most of them, headbutted them, used the rope against three of them, choking them, and knocked a couple out with a rifle. Otunga threw his hunting knife at him, grazing his left shoulder. Matt had no time for injuries.
Matt grabbed a knocked out assassins rifle just as Cheryl was encased in sand and wasn't visible. Matt smashed the glass and sand poured out of the room and covered the assassins as Matt grabbed Cheryl as the sand pushed them out the door and down into the geysers, causing more hot energy to burst from the ground. Matt jumped as the building they were in crumbled. Cheryl opened her eyes and coughed up some sand as she was in Matt Cutter's strong arms again.
"Mr. Cutter?"
"Cheryl."
Otunga came behind Matt and knocked the back of his head, causing him to drop Cheryl and lay on the ground.
"Mr. Cutter? Mr. Cutter?!" Cheryl was terrified as she saw Otunga come and grab her and run towards the geyser.
Matt wasn't too severely injured, even if there was a minor blood wound from the back of his head when he got up. Matt saw Otunga hold Cheryl up over the geyser. Matt ran and stood there.
"Let her go!" Matt said.
Otunga slipped his hand as Cheryl's right leg was lowering.
"Mr. Cutter!"
Matt pulled out the vial from his pocket.
"Put her down on the ground. It's me you want. I have the vial."
Otunga moved Cheryl away from the cliff at the geyser's edge and plopped her on the ground. Cheryl ran towards Cutter. Cutter partially hugged her.
"Cheryl, run. Whatever you do, just run!"
"But the?"
"Run!"
Cheryl started running away. She ran past the crumbling building and hid in the jungle. She was able to retrieve Cutter's knife. She checked her pocket. He returned the vial to her as promised.
Otunga charged towards Cutter and the two men started boxing with each other. They fought until Otunga grabbed Matt, swung him towards the edge and kicked him. Matt fell but grabbed a rock. Matt started climbing when Otunga stepped on his hand.
"This will teach you all not to mess with the Rzeworia government!"
Before Otunga could kick Matt, a hawk flew in Otunga's eyes and started attacking him. Matt gripped tightly to the rock and the heat from the fighting and the geysers below were started to make things slippery. Matt felt something slip off of him. His white tank top fell into the geyser, causing a tiny eruption as the gas released went up to Cutter, who was sweating wholeheartedly. Otunga was struggling fighting the hawk until he lost his balance. He saw Cutter as he fell into the geyser, screaming. Otunga fell into the geyser and screamed mercifully as he was dying.
Matt was gripping with both hands as the rocks started to slip as an even bigger eruption was going to take place. He tried climbing but his right arm didn't catch the swing and he was half swinging on the rockly edge. The hawk transformed to Sheena, and she gave Cutter her hand and pulled Matt up. Matt briefly saw her.
"Thank you." Matt said.
Sheena smiled, saw a hawk, and turned back into one and flew away. The geyser exploded again and smoke marks were visible on Matt's wet torso.
Matt got up and looked down at the charred remains. He walked away from the edge. As he was headed towards the jungle, Cheryl saw him and ran up to him. He held her as though she was his own child.
A surviving assassin looked away as Cutter and Cheryl walked away.
"President Otunga is dead. The war is over!" The assassin smiled.
Word traveled fast as the Rzerworian army stopped its advance into Maltayka. The Maltaykan army hugged the Rzerworian army. When word got to the Rzerworian capital, people were relieved. Otunga's wife packed up her things and left. When President N'Gama heard, he commanded an end to the military's participation and the beginning of the restoration of his country from the ground up. He moved the remaining defense money into the economy and started surveyors out to damage.
Sheena returned to the border just as the news of the war's end was getting out. Kali and Chris were there to meet her as she transformed back into a person.
"Did you see Cutter?" Kali asked.
"Yes, him and Cheryl are okay." Sheena smiled.
"The war is over!" Chris said, "Otunga died."
Diane and Mendlesohn came out of the bomb shelter to see Cutter Unlimited about 50% destroyed.
"Well, we are still insured." Mendlesohn said, picking up items not destroyed.
"I just hope Cheryl and Cutter are okay." Diane said, going towards the back porch.
Cutter and Cheryl were at the town's edge. Cheryl was resting in his arms. He saw the bombings and devastation all along the way back. He hoped Mendlesohn would still be at Cutter Unlimited, if not, his plan was to go farther to the Mitumbi border.
Diane was on the back porch for a while. The sun rose, and she saw someone holding something walking towards them. She looked closer.
"Cheryl? CHERYL!" Diane screamed as Cutter and Cheryl moved closer and closer. Mendlesohn came out.
Matt walked up to the porch and acknowledged them.
"Cheryl's asleep. She's been through a lot in the past week," Matt said, "Is there a bed we can put her on?"
"No, but the couch in your office will do."
Matt took Cheryl into his office He sat with her as she slept. When Cheryl woke up an hour later, she saw Matt Cutter and smiled.
"Mr. Cutter? Where are we?"
"We're at Cutter Unlimited."
Cheryl got up from Matt's arms. She looked around and saw the war damages. Then, she saw Diane.
"Aunt Diane!" Cheryl ran out of Cutter's arms and she ran into Diane's.
"Oh honey, I'm so glad you're alive and here! I was so scared for you." Diane was crying. "I promise I will never leave you ever again."
Diane carried her away to the other room. Mendlesohn walked into the office.
"What happened to the other tourists?" Matt said, standing up from the couch.
"Well, after they fought the Battle of River Bend, we returned here and they got safely to the border. Diane and I almost went, but she insisted that we stay."
Matt found a small towel to wipe off his face.
"Her and Cheryl are reunited. I did my job." Matt said.
Diane came back to the office.
"I'm going to find your clothes. Some were destroyed in the bombing. Bathroom still works, oddly." Mendlesohn said, slipping away.
"How can I ever thank you?" Diane said, coming close to him.
"Matt Cutter never leaves anyone behind." Matt said. She touched the center of his still bare chest and put her head on it.
"I'm sorry I put you in this position. I should have taken better care of my niece. Now, we have to go and identify her parents, and fly back to the United States for the funeral."
Matt raised her chin up.
"She has the vial. Don't forget to get it to the United Nations too."
"Bless them, Jan and Michael thought of everything." Diane had a tear in her eye.
Diane gave Cutter one passionate kiss.
"We'll have to leave soon. I understand what you meant saying this was just a temporary thing between us. Thank you for saving my niece."
Diane kissed him one last time. She put her arms around him as the two near made out. Matt saw Cheryl in the corner and stopped.
"Cheryl." Matt got to ground level.
"Mr. Cutter, thank you for saving my life. You're my hero."
Cheryl gave him a big hug. Matt hugged her back.
"Come now, we need to get out of these clothes and into clean new ones." Matt said, directing her leave with her aunt to get fresh clothes.
Matt got out of his clothes and showered the war-torn week away. He changed, but on fresh pants, a clean belt, a tank top, and a safari hat. He accompanied Diane and Cheryl to the coroners. Cheryl clung to him as she saw her parents already prepared bodies for the funeral. Diane called the United Nations and told them the vial is still intact. The United Nations paid for their airline tickets back. President N'Gama's order to rebuild was already underway as construction work was being done to the war-ravaged town.
Sheena and Chris drove Kali back to her village, which was considerably damaged, but her hut was still intact and other villagers were already rebuilding theirs. They then drove to Cutter Unlimited. Diane and Cheryl were preparing to leave as President N'Gama sent them a car to get back on. President N'Gama also recovered clothes from the campsite he personally mailed back to the tourists affected. Diane gave Matt back his shirt. Sheena and Chris came out of the car.
Sheena ran over to Cutter and gave him a big hug.
"I'm so glad you are okay."
Cheryl saw this and recognized her face. Sheena gave Mendlesohn a hug too. Chris just shook hands with them both.
"Cheryl, Diane, this is Sheena." Matt said.
"Very nice to meet you." Diane said.
"Yes, its' very nice to meet you." Cheryl said. Cheryl looked at Matt, who winked at her.
"I am sorry we can't stay to talk further with you both, but we really have to head back to the United States," Diane said. "Our family there is desperate to bury Jan and Michael and be reunited with Cheryl."
"We'll be at the bar." Chris said, escorting Sheena and Mendlesohn inside.
Matt got down to ground level as Cheryl gave him one last hug.
"Thank you for saving my life, Mr. Cutter."
"It is my pleasure, Cheryl."
"I'll write you." Cheryl said.
"I look forward to it."
Cheryl hugged him again and wouldn't let go.
"Now, now," Matt said, feeling the squeeze on his back, "Your Aunt Diane is determined to get out of this war torn country and back home."
Matt put her down and Cheryl let go.
"Go wait in the car, Cheryl."
Cheryl smiled and went to the car.
"I understood why you wanted our relationship to be short," Diane said, "I know Jan and Michael were thinking only positive things when they wanted me to take care of Cheryl. I cannot thank you for keeping her alive and reuniting us. I may never express how honestly I feel about you, because the minute we get back to the United States, we are going to be busy."
Matt was about to say something when Diane kissed Matt one last time. They both leaned into it. Diane caught herself and stepped back.
"Thank you for saving Cheryl's life."
Diane got into the car. Both Cheryl and Diane waved.
Matt walked back into the bar area as Sheena, Chris, and Mendlesohn met him with a drink.
"Why did Cheryl look at me funny?" Sheena said.
"I told her about you when we were making our way here," Matt said, "And she might have recognized you from the geysers."
"I see."
The television was on.
"Cheryl Peterson is found. Before leaving the country and the continent, Diane Peterson spoke to reporters waiting at the airport.
'Cheryl and the Rzeworian root medicine my sister and brother-in-law were working on were both found intact after a daring rescue mission. We have Cutter Unlimited and the amazing heroics of Matt Cutter and Franklin Mendlesohn to thank.'
Reports from the United States are that the tourists who fled the country sooner have raised more than $73,000 towards Maltaykan relief efforts and sending a grand check to Cutter Unlimited for saving their lives.
'Thank you, Matt Cutter, for saving my life. Now, we can continue my parents' legacy and use this medicine to save the lives of countless others as my parents intended. I will miss them, but I am grateful for my Aunt Diane for believing in my survival and Matt Cutter for risking and sacrificing a lot for my own survival.'
President N'Gama's administration is proud to have supplemented the rescue of Cheryl Peterson and the Rzerworian mountain tourists. As President Otunga was found dead in a geyser field, the Rzerworian people are scheduled to have their first presidential election in 14 years."
"You're alright, Matt Cutter," Sheena said, patting his shoulder. "You're alright."