Welcome, Guest. Please Login.
YaBB - Yet another Bulletin Board
May 13th, 2025, 11:12pm
News: Welcome to the Cabin! If you want to register send me an e-mail. you can link to my e-mail under the welcome page.


Pages: 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 ... 15
GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times. (Read 78447 times)
Fernando
YaBB Administrator
*****
NY City




Posts: 2380
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #90 - Feb 13th, 2011, 1:45pm
 
(The Girls' Meeting)
 
Tammy goes upstairs and gathers the mission dossier from Fernando's desk. She then walks out the room, closing the door behind her, and heads to Hondo's room. She knocks on the door softly, like she is used too. Valentine barely heard it as she held on to one of Hondo dirty t-shirt, giving it a sniff for his scent. She decides to check on the door and hope it was a false alarm. Still holding onto the t-shirt, she opens the door and finds Tammy on the other side.
 
Valentine (holding back on her nervousness): Uhm, Tammy is it? Something wrong?
Tammy (looking at her and the t-shirt she held): Is that Hondo's T-shirt?
Valentine (quickly folding it up and putting it behind her back): I... I was.. uhm.. just sorting the laundry. Uhm... Come inside.
 
Tammy walks into the room, following Valentine. Valentine drops the t-shirt into the pile it was in. She then turns to Tammy who was just a few feet from the door.
 
Valentine: So... what does brings you here?
Tammy: I need you down stairs immediately.
Valentine: Uhm, OK. Something going on?
Tammy (showing the folder of papers and things): We need to go over this information.
Valentine: Alright, I'll be down.
 
Tammy leaves the room and walks to the steps, going down to the dining area. She sets up an area to work on at the table, seeing Jeanie in the kitchen. Though she was cooking, she was waiting on things being cooked and paying attention on them.
 
Tammy: Jeanie. I know you are not on this mission, but I would like you to be a contingency plan. Want to join?
Jeanie: Contingency plan? You beginning to trust me?
Tammy: The jury is still out on that, but since my husband seems to like you more than I am comfortable with, I could use you and your team if there is an emergency.
 
Jeanie walks over around kitchen and service island to the dining area. At the same time, Valentine joins in from up stairs. They take chairs opposite to her. Tammy sorts out the papers of maps, building diagrams and pictures of those involved.
 
Tammy: This is the warehouse, third building in from the corner of the block. It trails down to a dead end street, the front side is facing the dock, the back side, the streets. We'll be walking there from where we parked 3 blocks away. Fernando says that the landlines will be taken out. We'll be approaching the buildings from the block behind and climb to the roofs, he says. Any guards we see , we silently take out. Head shots only.
Valentine: Head shots only. Got that.
Tammy (glancing at her): Only the guards that we find along the way. Everyone else is to be left alone so we observe them and gather any information they may have. In other words, according to Fernando, if you see El Jefe Grande, Laurie, Annie, any mob or terrorist leader, they and their entourage are to be left alone.
Jeanie: Alone? Why?
Tammy: First off, they might not be there when we get there. Secondly, if they are there, we are not to engage but to observe and take notes. We are to only engage any guards we run into and they are to be taken out as quietly as possible. We don't want a fire fight, we wont be prepared for it.
Valentine: But if we find them, a round or two to the head will end our problems.
Tammy: So you would think.
Valentine: So I would know. You don't come back from the dead.
Tammy: Annie was shot dead and somebody brought her back to life, using cybernetic technology that is only privy to this nation. Now she is unstoppable. Shoot her in the head and the bullets bounce off her metal skull.
Valentine: You're joking.
Jeanie: She is not. See the little girls here? They too have that same technology, brought back from the dead, made into government killing machines. Annie became one from stolen technology. So if you think you can take her on, by all means, go ahead. She is 5 times faster and 10 times stronger than you will ever be. The only person who could has a chance against her is Fernando.
Valentine: Why? Because he is one of them?
Jeanie: Maybe he is. Maybe he is not. Its not my place to say.
Valentine: And you? You're his wife. Is he one of those things?
Tammy: What my husband is, is none of your business. He is still a loving and caring man.
Jeanie: He sure is.
Valentine: What? You sound like you're his lover or something?
Jeanie: Is, was, it does not matter. What does is what he says, goes. Tammy, if its fine by you, I'll have my crew parked 5 blocks away in a bee's line to the mission warehouse, so if there is an emergency pull out, I can be there in under a minute.
Tammy: Good. Take the med kit with you from under our bed.
Jeanie: I will.
Valentine: You ladies make him sound like he's superman. Any chance he can fly?
 
Tammy and Jeanie look at each other.
 
Both: Yes.
Valentine: Now I know you're lying.
Tammy: He's a flying squirrel. From that he can fly. But that's besides the point. He's leading this mission, to gather information only. When we get the information, any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may be, then we can feed it to the computers and extrapolate data for the final mission: Hondo and you take out El Grande Jefe and Fernando and I take out Annie. Any shooting we do to them tonight will be from cameras. Any questions?
Jeanie: None.
Tammy: Valentine?
Valentine: I disagree on observing. I say we taken them on and kill them before they kill us.
Tammy: Talk to Hondo and you will find out why.
 
Valentine does not say a word for then moment.
 
Tammy: What will dinner be ready?
Jeanie: Around 6 or so.
Tammy: Good. You two can go do what you need to do, then we eat and prepare for the mission.
Jeanie: Sounds good.
Valentine: If I need to find you, where will you be?
Tammy (putting the papers away): Hopefully in the arms of my husband in our room.
Valentine: Alright.
 
Valentine sighs, then puts her face into her hands. Jeanie gestures to Tammy, pointing at Valentine.
 
Tammy: Valentine, what's going on?
Valentine: How do you get a guy to like you?
Jeanie: Show'em the goods.
Tammy: Jeanie!
 
Jeanie just smiles at her.
 
Tammy: What do you mean by getting a guy to like you?
Valentine: You know, saying thanks for saving your life?
Jeanie: Oh, drop your panties for that.
Tammy: Jeanie!
Jeanie: What? It almost worked for Fernando.
Tammy: Look. Don't say a thing. OK?
 
Jeanie sticks her tongue out at her before heading back to the kitchen.
 
Jeanie: I got a meat loaf to watch.
Tammy: Good. Now Valentine. I can not say what it is you are looking for or if Hondo is the right guy. But I can tell you that there is a danger for emotions being pushed and twisted from the pressures of a mission like this. You might just like a guy but the pressures and the situations of the job might make you want to drop your panties for him, and end up in a sexual relationship with no feelings or emotional substance to it. Sex without Love, some may like it but its not fulfilling. Also, from what I know of Hondo, during missions he can be a bit cold and uncaring. Its not that he does not care but he's too focused on doing the job and taking it to completion. After the mission, the whole mission, not just this one tonight. If you try to do something to push what you have of him, you could scare him way.
 
Valentine looks up at Tammy.
 
Valentine: How can he be scared, when I saw him stand up to several men shooting at him to rescue me?
Tammy: Some guys don't like to be pushed into a relationship, especially when they have their minds on other important matters. It makes them feel like they are being cornered and no man likes to be cornered.
Jeanie: You can say that again.
Tammy: What do you mean by that?
Jeanie: When Fernando saved my life the first time, I did everything in my power to try to win his heart, but all he did was wrong. Even if I would have sat on his desk, lifted up my skirt and dropped my panties for him, he would have ran as if somebody set his tail on fire. Anyways. You could test it on Hondo if you like. Whatever it is you're wearing, make it easy to take off and then take it all off, including your panties and tell him how much you want to have his puppies. If he runs or says no, then there maybe a chance in a having a relationship with him now or in the near future.
Valentine: What if he makes some excuse about being tempted and how the important the mission is?
Jeanie: Then he is not interested.
Tammy: Not true! Valentine- has he thrown you out the room?
Valentine: No.
Jeanie: If he don't run, he might throw her out, and that is more than of a 'No' than any sign he could give.
Tammy: I should not say anything but Hondo is recovering from a relationship gone bad. It was one of those Mission Crushes and for a while things looked great for them but all the of sudden near the end of the mission, she turned on him and went for her captain. I would not rather speculate on anything about that but he was badly burned by her.
Valentine: What about his wife?
Tammy: Wife? I never knew he was married.
Valentine: He told me that Laurie was his wife but years ago there was a gunfight with El Jefe Grande and he thought she was killed. Now she is back and she is on the other side.
Jeanie (beating Tammy to it): He still has feelings for her?
Valentine: I don't know. There is something or he would not have mentioned it.
Tammy: I don't think Hondo is ready for anything, not until after this mission.
Jeanie: You could throw him a little nookie.
Tammy: Jeanie!
Jeanie: I'm serious. Whether he wants it or not, he is so wound up tight and pressure building up inside, he's going to explode on the inside and start making mistakes in judgment. You don't want that in a mission. The pressure has to be released somehow.
Tammy: Hondo is more than capable of handling the pressures of a mission and make the right judgment calls on it.
Valentine (turning to Jeanie): You think so?
Jeanie: I know so.
Valentine: So what should I do?
Jeanie: I'm not you, but what ever you willing to give him, give it to him and don't take 'No' for an answer.
Tammy: Don't!
Valentine: Why not?
Tammy: You do that, he is going to be so twisted around from what you would do to him, he will make bad judgment calls from that alone! If anything, let him know how you feel, and what you want and see where it goes from there.
Jeanie: Then drop your panties.
Tammy: Jean...ie...
Jeanie: I'm just saying it like it is. Why should we ladies wait for our men to give us some loving when we are more than capable of giving it as well. They will give back what we give them. Believe me, he is not going to lay there if he has something of a heart beat beating inside him.
Tammy: I swear Jeanie, that is just going to cause problems.
Jeanie: Maybe there is something wrong with Hondo? You know the only ones who wear that cowboy get up in New York are gays and homosexuals looking for an easy lay for the night? And that dark handkerchief sticking out of his left pocket is a flag as to how he likes it depending on what color it is!
Tammy: Maybe its because New York City, there are no farms, cows or those thing that cowboys do. I can assure you that Hondo is not gay.
Jeanie: Slept with him?
Tammy: Grrrr... Jeanie! Stop making insinuations! Where he came from he lived the cowboy life! Then he ended up in the cafˇ and helped with the last two missions! He went out with some girl in the last mission and was engaged to marry her but she ended that relationship in a hurtful way! He is what he is and not some gay guy pretending to be a cowboy in Uncle Charlie's Bar! Understand that! OK?!!
Valentine: Then what do I do?
Jeanie: Throw him some nookie and see what happens.
Tammy: No! Do nothing! Just talk to him! Nothing more!
 
If Valentine was not confused as to what to do before, she is now. She looks at them individually, running the ideas through her head before making a decision.
 
Valentine (slowly getting up): I'll be in my room, I'm getting a headache.
 
Tammy and Jeanie watch her leave and go up the stairs. It does not take too long for her to get into the room she shares with Hondo, where she takes her clothes of and puts on a robe before lying on the bed and holds onto to the pillow that he slept on, taking on his scent from it.
 
Back downstairs, Tammy has a staring contest with Jeanie.
 
Tammy: If Hondo and Valentine end up arguing and it interferes with the mission, I'm cutting your tail off, Missy!
Jeanie: If they are meant to be then they should be more intimate. What's going on now is a lot of suffering between the two! You know, you people in this spy game would #$@! on a drop of a hat from orders from above. But when it comes to interpersonal relationships, you people fail. So what gives?
Tammy: I don't have sex because my supervisor orders me to seduce some target. I find it disgusting and I wont do it!
Jeanie: You know Fernando has for god and country.
Tammy: So? He's a man and its his job to do so when called upon. I can deal with that because he is honest with me about things like that!
Jeanie: So its OK for a man to do it and not a woman?
Tammy: For me it is because it I wont do it. I am not getting some disease or worse- pregnant for the sake of a job! My body is for that one person I love. And if Fernando had to bed some floozy hoe to get information out of her, I can trust him that he would use protection when with her and then get himself checked out to make sure he aint giving me anything from the mission.
Jeanie: Who know how many women he has been with over the years?
Tammy: That's his business, not mine. (looking at her watch) We still got plenty of time before dinner time. I'll see you then.
 
Tammy gets up of the chair and puts it under the table. She then picks up the folder with the papers inside it and heads upstairs. Not happy with the results and the characters both Jeanie and Valentine later, she thinks to herself to leave it a lone and have a talk with Hondo later about it. Jeanie on the other hand Right now she wants to takes of what she had on and lay on the bed to wait for her husband to return. She does not understand how Ferro can handle such stress but can see why she is named 'The Iron Lady.' But at least she understands why Fernando sleeps so much of the time, leading and making decisions for the group can be very tiring.
Back to top
 
 
View Profile   IP Logged
Hondo I. Sackett
YaBB Administrator
*****
Behind you!




Posts: 1349
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #91 - Feb 13th, 2011, 6:17pm
 
(continue Fernando/Hondo discussion)
 
Fernando: I wouldn't say too much here and now, as the may have this place bugged now for all we know, but what is it that's bothering you about Marco.
 
Hondo: Ehh, I don't know, Jefe. Just a gut feelin'.  
 
Fernando: They think you overheard them talking.
 
Hondo: I did. I didn't get a clear picture of what they were sayin' but whatever it was it didn't sound good for us. I got the distinct impression that they would like us all dead an' buried. An' there's Marco, heh. Ya know we kept in touch after the first mission in a friendly way. He'd call to see how things were goin', no personal questions or questions that made me think he was tryin' to keep tabs on us, but that all changed after you were shot. He's been gettin' more surrly an' stand offish. It's like he has a guilty conscience 'bout somethin' he has done or has yet to do. I can't say I have ever fully trusted the fella, but I thought he was one of the better eggs in that SWA basket. Now, I'm not sure.
 
Fernando: We can talk more about this later as I need to think on some of this as I'm not sure what to tell you on some of this, but let me tell you this, you know Annie is now a cyborg, right?
 
Hondo: Yeah, from the SWA's own technology, or so I have been lead to believe.
 
Fernando: That is correct. She is going to be hard to kill. The SWA would take more losses than they could afford if they went against her head to head. They might hope we get killed off, but only after we defeat Annie. Tammy and I will be taking care of her. Not that you couldn't. Even though I'm faster than you are, you are one f the few that I believe could do the job as well, But you have El Grande and Laurie to take care of. Annie is our problem. No offense, and I do appreciate your help, but she is our, my and Tammy', problem.  
 
Hondo: No offense taken. But remember she had me slated for death as well. El Grande an' Laurie would never have gone after me as I had no clue Laurie existed an' I hadn't heard a word 'bout El Grande in ages. Annie put them on me. I figure she thought if I proved to be a hard target it wouldn't harm her too much, but ifin I was easy it'd not be a waste of her time. Tammy was a personal vendetta 'cause of you. I was just in the way.
 
Fernando: I understand and your right. Annie is just as much your problem as mine. I kind of don't always think about that as I love and worry about Tammy, despite what others say, and I just take it for granted that you can handle yourself.
 
Hondo: No worries, Jefe. An' ya won't hear me sayin' ya don't love her. I know all too well that ya do. You an' I are too much alike in that way. We focus hard on a mission an' try to place personal feelin's an desires to the side. I tried to go against my nature with Rose an' ya know how that ended.
 
Fernando: yeah. I know all too well. For now I'm asking you to let us handle Annie.
 
Hondo: No problem. I know ya two can handle her. Maybe this will help Tammy get over her fears an' freezin' up in battle. She gets over that, no tellin' what you two can do when ya stand side by side.
 
Fernando: True. And I figure that you would care to handle your old enemies on your own as well.
 
Hondo's face went blank of emotion which did not go unnoticed by Fernando. It actually worried him some, not that he didn't think Hondo could handle it, but he felt his fried was goin' through somethin' that he didn't want to talk about, but was hurtin' him none the less.  
 
Hondo: Yeah. Old enemies die the hardest they say. I'd rather handle them myself. Thanks.
 
 Hondo tried to conceal any emotions. He emotions were confused an' his mind conflicted with his heart. He liked Val very much, yet was afraid to fall in love with her for both of their sakes. HE also felt the pain of goin' against the body that once held a woman that he had loved an' married, even more so now as the time drew near of which he would face her alone. He knew he could kill her but he didn't know how he would feel after it was all over. What he did know is that he could not allow these feelin's to get in the way of the mission, so as fast as his emotions attacked him, he resealed them deep inside himself allowin' his mind an' cold hard facts to take over.
 
Fernando: Well, by any rate, The SWA will want us alive until it is all over. That is not to say they won't blow up the area around us, after we kill our target off, to hide what happened but until we take them, or at least Annie, out they will try to keep us alive.
 
Hondo: That's comfortin'.
 
Fernando: Well it will have to do for now. We will handle the SWA after our mission is done if we have to. We took them down once, don't think we can't again.
 
Hondo: True. We're a better team now as well.
 
Fernando: Yes we are. well, I'm done down here. I'm going up to my room for a bit. I'm sure supper will be son, but if you have everything you need to heave ready ready, then I'd rest up for a bit. We have a long night ahead of us.
 
Hondo: Alright.
 
Fernando went up the stairs first an' Hondo followed. Once upstairs Fernando asked Jeanie, who was in the kitchen about supper and where Tammy was. She informed him that supper would be ready around 6:00 maybe a bit later, but not much an' told him Tammy had gone upstairs a little bit ago. Fernando went up stairs without sayin' anything else.
 
 Hondo stood at the top of the stairs an' looked 'round for a bit. He didn't see Marco or Hillshire 'round.
 
Hondo: Jeanie, You seen the SWA guys recently?
 
Jeanie: They went to their rooms right after Marco came up to get ready and to rest before supper.
 
Hondo: An' Val?
 
Jeanie grinned to herself: She went up to your room. She's probably waiting for you.
 
Hondo: Alright. thanks.
 
Hondo thought 'bout goin' upstairs but his mind told him not to at the moment. "She'll just hafta wait," he told himself as he went into the livin'room. Hondo sat down on the recliner an' draped one leg over the side of the arm rest. He didn't turn on the TV, but just sat there. His eyes appeared to be fixed on the blank screen, but his mind was hard at work thinkin' over what was to come, an' preparin' himself for what could happen. He had nerves of steel as was, but others lives could depend on his actions an' he would not allow his actions to be found wantin' for lack of plannin'.
Back to top
 
 

Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out
View Profile WWW   IP Logged
Fernando
YaBB Administrator
*****
NY City




Posts: 2380
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #92 - Feb 17th, 2011, 12:08am
 
When a couple if together long enough, the individuals that make up the 'couple will start to copy each other. With Fernando and Tammy, it was Tammy who is copying Fernando's lying in bed with as little as possible on. He has always felt uncomfortable in pajamas and assorted sleep wear, even as a child, but in his underwear he was just fine. Tammy on the other hand was raised on wearing sleep wear to bed but has started picking up this habit from him.
 
Thus when he entered his room, Tammy was already in bed with nothing on but her white bikini panties and matching bra, staring at the ceiling if she did not have her arm covering her eyes. Fernando closes the door silently and walks about the bed, taking off his outer layers of clothes before crawling onto the bed to join Tammy.
 
Fernando: Everything went well?
Tammy: No.
Fernando: Care to tell me what happened?
 
Tammy sits up on the bed and turns to him.
 
Tammy: That Valentine, I swear.
Fernando: Who's Valentine?
Tammy: Hondo's friend.
Fernando: What about her?
Tammy: She wants to 'do the termination mission now, and not 3 days from now. She thinks that it can be done even with what little to go by. I had to argue with her not too, that this is an observation and information gathering mission. But you know what the damnedest 'thing is?
Fernando: No. What?
Tammy: Whether Hondo knows it or not, she is in love with him and wants to thank him for saving her life.
Fernando: Nothing wrong with that. Everybody goes through that once in a while. From my teen lifeguard years to present day Spy Work.
Tammy (interrupting him): She wants to drop her panties and have hot action puppy making sex to thank him. And Jeanie was not helping, urging her on to actually drop them!
Fernando (holding back from laughing): Oh. OK. Nothing wrong with that I guess.
Tammy: You guess? What's wrong with maintaining one's virtue? With holding onto one's virginity until one's wedding day?
Fernando: Because it is not for everybody. Marriage is just an institution by where government, society and community recognizes that a couple is united by what ever systems they used. But Tammy, signing a couple name in a hotel registry in Mobile Alabama and in other states will be recognized as a marriage and that recognition will be extended to the rest of the nation. But it is not for everybody because not everybody believes in it.
Tammy: But, it legalizes that the couple can have sex.
Fernando: Couple have been having sex without having some government since before there was a government. Like who on God's earth married Adam and Eve?
Tammy: God did.
Fernando: Nope, he created Eve, not married them. And according to Jewish and Muslim beliefs, Eve was the second woman God made. The first, created from the same dirt as Adam was Lilith. And they were not married either. Not until did man made cities and laws did man not married woman through some civilized set of laws. So tell me, Tammy, if there no set of laws to follow, would you agreed to be my wife?
Tammy: I'm married to you, aren't I?
Fernando: I meant, going back to the beginning, when did you think that I was the one for you?
Tammy: I was falling for you since you helped in reuniting me with Bink almost a year ago because 'it was becoming apparent to me that even though people say that they want to help you, that they would charge for the service and let you hang high and dry if you cant pay. Even the Rescue Rangers were showing their ugly side of this, but you? You asked for nothing in return. You did what you could with the few who helped out to the end, and 'you did not asked for anything. When I saw you disappear in that bright ball of light after the jet blew up, I cried for the next couple of hours. But in all honestly, Fernando, you won my heart when you rescued me from the kidnappers in that tiny helicopter. Seeing you hovering outside the room window, I could not believe it that it was you there, taking care of those who tried to do the same to me. Don't know where you got that from but it would only be you who would kill all their arm guards without being caught or being inside the building. You came in like some avenging angel and rescued me.
Fernando: I had help from Hondo.
Tammy: You may have had help from Hondo, but it was you who was flying that thing, it was you shooting those thugs, and it was you who cut me loose and carried me out of the hotel. Only you could have done that and it is you that I fell for. So no excuses from you about having help or not, because if it were that you were alone in doing this, only you would have done the same with no one there to back you up.
Fernando: I never meant for you to fall in love with me.
Tammy (interrupting him): You mind not saying a thing? What happened, happened, and here we are. As man and wife. (she puts her hand behind his head and leans towards him, giving him a momentarily kiss) I would not have it any other way.
 
Fernando does not say a word as he is a loss for them as she puts her forehead against his, giving a slight smile.
 
Tammy: You gave me more than just your life. You have given me almost everything a man could give except one thing.
Fernando: What would that be?
Tammy: A baby.
Fernando: A baby? Why?
Tammy: Because we're married? Because I want a family? Because I want to be a house wife to a loving husband and a wonderful father with the 2.6 kids?
Fernando: Why are you asking?
Tammy: Because, I can not demand that from you, but hope that you would oblige to what is it to be a loving husband.
Fernando: But, squirrel mating season is not for another 5 months.
Tammy: I know, silly. But we have to start somewhere. And I know the first time will be painful for me, but I can take it. All I ask is that you try to be gentle with me as possible when it happens.
Fernando: What about, I mean, you wont get pregnant until then, but what about birth control? I mean'
Tammy: Having you implant your seed in me? I would not mind. In fact, I think I would grow to love it. We love each other in that we share everything we have so far, sharing each other's body fluids would be just another thing we share. It is something I am going to need to make our children, so anything you could give I would appreciate.
Fernando: Then, about us and sex... what would you allow or want to allow and not allow?
Tammy: We would do anything you want, but no anal stuff. That is an exit back there, not an entrance.
Fernando: Anything else?
Tammy: Don't force me into anything, I'm not happy with you forcing that immortality pill down my throat but I understand why you did it. You could have asked me to take it, and I would have decided to do so. Also, don't hurt me, don't hit me, don't abuse me. Love me and I will love you back unconditionally. And one more thing.
Fernando: What?
Tammy: I'm not wearing fairy wings for you. I know you and Tinkerbell has had a long relationship so if you want a fairy fantasy, it aint going to happen.
Fernando: I don't expect it too. 'You are Tammy, not Tink. You're my wife, she's a friend. You are not replacing her when we share a bed. Its just me, you these pillows and the blankets. I would not do that to you, I married you, not Tinkerbell or anyone else.
 
They both stare at each other, but Tammy wants to see his eyes. She reaches over to take his glasses off but he holds her hands as they hold onto his glasses.
 
Fernando: Its too bright in here.
Tammy: I'm sorry. Would you want to be under the blankets where it is dark?
Fernando: Do I need an invitation?
Tammy: Its your bed silly. I am the one who should be asking.
 
Fernando lifts the cover from his side and crawls under it. Tammy joins him from the other side and both meet midway on the bed. She slowly reaches over to his face and puts her hands on the side stems of his glasses. She takes them off slowly his face, drawing them close to her as she folds them up. She crawls back towards the edge and stick her arm out of the blanket, putting the glasses on the night stand by the bed before returning to him.
 
Fernando: Its your bed too. Has been for quite a while.
Tammy: Lets not discuss who's bed is it, and discuss about us two making a family.
Fernando: Discussing? How many boys and how many girls would you want?
Tammy: I don't know, primarily because it is all due to chance. But...
 
Tammy slides over the remaining few inches and puts her lips against his. It only lasts for a few seconds.
 
Fernando shifts over and lays back against the pillow. Tammy crawls over to him and straddles him like before and both begin kissing, touching and feeling again. Like before time speeds up on them, minutes becoming seconds. Their intimacy increases with the passing of time. Without interruption, they go past where they were before they were interrupted hours ago, taking off the last bits of their clothing, she lays down for him, offering her virginity for sacrifice to him. He prepares to take it as he kneels up between her legs, her hand taking him and aims it to her prize as he slowly lowers onto her. She holds onto him, making sure she is in control, despite his chipping away at it with kisses to the sensitive side of her neck. With her other hand, she pushes him off her by chest and shakes her head.
 
"No... no... no...", she says to herself. Fernando slowly gets out of top of her and lays by her side.
 
"You OK?", he asks with concern.
 
"No... Its not right...", she starts to say but does not finish.
 
"Its OK, if it is not. When ever you're ready.", he tells her, unknowing interrupting her.
 
She does not say anything for a while, just holding back her emotions as she slowly sat up and put her hands into her face.
 
"Its not alright.", she says to herself, finishing what she had to say.
 
"Tammy. Its OK. Don't worry about it.", Fernando says to her, keeping his eyes closed from the perceived brightness of the room, sitting up and then holds onto her wrists to take them off her face.
 
Eventually she allows him to takes her arms away from her face. And looks at him, tears rolling down her face.
 
"Its whenever you are ready, Tammy. Not because you think you can for me.", he tells her.
 
She yanks a hand away from him and uses it to wipe away the tears.
 
"It can wait. I can wait. If it bothers you, then we shouldn't.", Fernando explains as he lets go of her other arm. She does not say anything. "I need to wind down from this.", he says as he lays back down and takes the blanket to cover himself with. Finding his briefs from under the blankets, he puts them back on.
 
She crawls over to him and gives him a kiss on the cheek, 'I'm sorry...' She then finds her panties under the covers and puts them on before getting off the bed, then starts to put on her clothes. For a second she goes into the closet, adding something to what she was wearing. She was zipping up her skirt when Fernando turns over and starts feeling around the nightstand for his glasses. He knocks them down onto the floor as he feels for them. Tammy picks them up for him and sits on the bed as she puts them into his hands. He sits up behind her as he puts on his glasses.
 
"You leaving?", he asks.
 
"For a drive. Can I have the Porsche keys?", she says and then asks.
 
"And if I don't want you to leave?", he asks.
 
"Please... Don't do that to me.", she answers.
 
"Right side suit jacket pocket.", he tells her.
 
Tammy gets up and goes to the table where his clothes were and searches the suit jacket. She finds the keys and puts them into her jacket pocket. She then walks out the room. Fernando gets up and gets dressed 'as he can hear her go down the stairs. Once in his clothes, he runs to the balcony and watches her drive away, taking the right turn to the gate. He jumps off the balcony and flies over garage door and runs inside after punching in the code to open the door on the outside keypad. Going past the assorted cars, trucks and vans, he go the far end to the garage where a set of motorcycles were: A Yamaha V-Max 2000, A Honda Ninja CX-R 1800, A Kawaski Katana 1800, and a Harley Davison Fat Boy- former Police motorcycle.
 
He takes the V-Max, putting on a black helmet he took from a peg on the wall. The 2000cc engine roars to life as he puts on the helmet. Putting the motorcycle into gear, he puts the motorcycle on its rear wheel until he drops the front wheel at the gate. Making the right turn out the gate, Fernando pulls back on the accelerator handle and shift through the gears. Tammy could only be going to one of two places from this direction though Fernando follows her when he finally sees his Porsche a couple hundred feet in front of him.
 
She drives to Rome, find a parking space on one of the Coliseum side streets and walks the rest of the way to a farmer's market. Fernando parks his bike a couple of spaces away from the Porsche and follows Tammy. She seems nervous as she makes her way from food displays to food displays. She has yet to buy anything, just walks aimlessly about. Fernando look at his watch, seeing her wasting 10 minutes with nothing happening. He senses something was not right and decides to approach her, opening his suit jacket and pulling out his gun from behind. Closing in on the 20 or so feet that separates them, she notices another individual also heading to her direction. A red-headed mouse.
 
At 15 feet, red-headed mouse goes into her purse and pulls out a large Berretta 9mm pistol, Tammy has yet to register the threat that approaches her. Fernando takes running steps towards Tammy. At ten feet, Tammy starts to pull out her SiG P239 but an arm goes by her shoulder with a much bigger American Arms 1981/84 .45ACP pistol in it's hand. Her body falls back a couple of inches against something hard and a thick layer of material wraps in front of her. Fernando yells at the red-headed mouse.
 
Fernando: Go Ahead Annie! Shoot And I'll Drop You Where You Stand!
 
Tammy tries to recompose herself as nervousness sets in. But at the same time, several men with guns drawn make themselves known. Fernando shifts his eyes and counts 8 of them. Those around them who were around for shopping, run away from the immediate area.
 
Anne: I brought friends.
Fernando: I have enough bullets to give each of you two of them.
Anne: You shoot one and the rest will shoot you dead.
Fernando: I don't care about them. I kill you and they wont get a pay check. Its that simple. Do the math, bitch. You dead equals no money for them!
 
The men momentarily look at each other, seeing that some of them shrugged at the prospect of not getting 'paid. It was enough of a distraction for Fernando to release a fast volley that drops all with a single shot to their heads but Anne and the one next to her. He looks at Fernando with his eyes wide open and his jaw dropped. Fernando has his gun aimed at Anne.
 
Fernando: Yo punk! Run and tell your bosses that her money is no good when it means you are going to lose men on jobs she offers.
 
He just stands there visibly shaking. Another shot of gun fire echoes across the farmer's market. The gun from his hand flies out with visible damage to the sliding mechanism and a sudden shock of pain hits his hand. Fernando aims his gun back at Anne.
 
Fernando: Punk, I said run or I drop you where you stand.
 
He runs away but Anne turns and shots him in the back of the head. He falls dead just feet from a farmer's food display, ruining an otherwise good scene.
 
Fernando: That was uncalled for!
Anne: When you work for me you work or you die!
 
Fernando spins Tammy around and behind him, wrapping the suit jacket around her. Unfortunately, she falls as he walks to Annie. He closes the distance between them, 8feet, 6 feet, 5 feet, 3 feet. 'His gun was aimed at her right eye just out of her range of her reach, a cyborg's weak point. Tammy tries to unravel herself from his suit, but the heaviness of the anti-ballistic resistant layers seem to hold her down. He pulls the hammer back on his gun.
 
Fernando: Think you're faster than me? Try something stupid and I'll blow that baby blue-green out of its socket and repeat it to the other one before your brain shuts downs and your body hits the floor, still breathing because it has not registered that your brain is dead.
 
Anne thinks, moving slowly to put away her gun.
 
Fernando: Walk away and enjoy the next couple of days. There will not be anymore for you after that!
 
Tammy manages to sit up, with the suit jacket covering backwards on her from the neck down. She manages to get her SiG 239 but she could not get out of the suit as she was sitting on the pleats of the jacket. The more she struggled with it, the more it held her down.
 
Anne: Just one question. You two ever married?
Fernando: Wouldn't you like to know. You broke her heart when you killed me.
Anne: About that. Explain yourself. Aren't you supposed to be pushing up daisies.
Fernando: So should you.
Anne: I had some help. You?
Fernando: I go better.
Tammy: SHOOT HER ALREADY!!!
 
Anne slightly raises her gun at Tammy but Fernando pushes it away.
 
Fernando: This is between you and me. You leave my wife out of it.
Anne: All I wanted was her cyborg sister to take care of her. Now I'm one of them!
Fernando: #$@! you, Anne. You never wanted Bink to take care of her. You wanted her to dissect her and figure out her secrets to sell to Padania and other terrorists you work for. Now you are one, how about selling yourself instead.
Anne: I'm not a whore.
Fernando: Funny. Franco told me you were easy. Half a bottle of wine and you were taking off your clothes.
Anne (raising her gun at him): YOU KILLED FRANCO!
 
Fernando takes a half step 'forward and leans in, shoving the barrel of his gun into her mouth. With his other hand he grabs her wrist with the gun in her hand and keeps it away from anyone. Finger pressure on her tendons ensure that she does not pulls the trigger on anyone.
 
Fernando: Drop the gun and then take a step back and run. Any funny moves and you're getting the remaining 9 bullets I have.
 
Anne drops the gun from her hand, it falls to the floor with a bounce. She then takes a step 'back, as does Fernando. The gun pulls out of her mouth, she continues to 'take a few more backwards steps before turning around and running away. He picks up her gun and puts it in his pants pocket while putting his own weapon into its holster in the back of the pants. Not far away there is a wallet, which he goes for and picks up. Inside he finds several ID Cards complete with addresses and a hospital patient card. Several credit cards fills empty slots and along with various paper notes inside with numbers and information, a large ward of 100, 200, and 500 euro notes fills the cash slot. The surname Savonarola shows up in several places, including 'Emergency Contact: Christiano Savonarola' on both the driver's license and the hospital patient card. He puts the wallet in his other pocket.
 
He takes several steps takes him to Tammy and helps her up off the floor. Connections are made in his head, connecting Anne Rossellini and billionaire industrialist Christiano Savonarola. 'Cousins? Uncle and Niece?", Fernando thinks to himself.
 
He reaches behind her, grabbing the suit jacket by the lapel and pulls it off her. In a smooth single motion, he puts on the suit as it spins about him.
 
Tammy walks up to him as if to hold him, but instead starts banging the sides of her fist against his chest.
 
Tammy: WHY DID YOU LET HER GO! WHY! WHY DIDn'T YOU KILL HER! OR LET ME DO IT! DAMN IT! WHY!
Fernando (grabbing her wrist and pulling her away from the scene): Lets go before the police come. I do not want to spend the rest of the day answering their questions.
 
Tammy was near hysterics, before a slap to the face calms her down. Fernando stops and pulls out Annie's wallet, opening it and showing off the various ID cards inside. Tammy looks at it, unsure what to say.
 
Fernando: She'll be coming for this. Lets make sure that we have the appropriate welcoming for her.
 
Tammy remains in silence, before Fernando puts away the wallet in his suit pocket. He continues to 'pull her to find the Porsche by the Coliseum. He opens the door and pushes Tammy inside.
 
Fernando: Aisapi, Emergency passenger transport to Home Location. Pursuit Chase Mode, Target is the passenger inside. Protect her at all costs and do not accept no further orders until you get to the designation, and only from me.
Tammy: Now wait a minute!
Aisapi: Orders understood.
Fernando: Good.
 
He checks Tammy and the doorway to make sure that nothing was in the door's way. He slams door and they lock into place. The Porsche's engine roars to life as he takes several steps away towards the rear of the car, watching It pull out of the parking lot and go down in its own. Tammy fights with the controls of the car, but nothing responds for her.
 
Fernando walks over to the V-Max Motorcycle just a few feet away. He takes the helmet and puts it on while pressing on a button between the handle bars, bringing on the 2 liter engine to life. Getting on the bike, he slowly pulls it out of the parking spot it was in and rides off after the Porsche. He catches up with the 928 at the entrance of the expressway. Aisapi-Porshe senses the V-Max and after several miles declares it as a hostile, its engine revs into the red zone and the gears shift through until the Porsche was pushing 175 wherever possible it was safe do so. Fernando does his best to keep up with the Porsche. They get home within 5 minutes once getting on the highway, at ten after six.
 
Walking to the Porsche, Fernando releases its controls and allows Tammy to exit the vehicle. She was not too happy about being forced to go home, or the whole incident at the farmer's market. Nonetheless, Fernando pushes her towards the house and shoves her through the rear door. He continues to forcibly guide her to the dining area and pushes her to sit onto a chair. Jeanie, seeing this whole thing, does not say a word. As having known his temper against others, she knows to watch, remain quiet, and not to interfere. Fernando looks about the living room, finding it empty.
 
Fernando (yelling out): MARCO! HILLSHIRE! GET OVER HERE! NOW!!!
 
It was loud enough for even Hondo and Valentine to hear, as it was supposed to be. Marco and Hillshire arrive immediately with their girls from upstairs. The girls had their guns raised, just in case. Instead he gives them a stern look. Hondo steps out of the room and stands by the staircase to listen in. Valentine steps out the room and stands by Hondo, he signals to her to keep it quiet.
 
Fernando: Did you in any way, shape or form gave an order for Tammy to act on her own?
Marco: No.
 
Fernando pulls out Annie's wallet and gun from his pockets. After emptying the wallet from its cash, he puts it on the table with the gun. Marco picks it up and looks inside.
 
Marco: Where did you get this?
Fernando: From Tammy acting on her own to find her and almost getting herself killed in the process.
Tammy: I would not have gotten killed!
Fernando: And why not!
 
Tammy thinks for a moment, then she unbuttons her blouse and opens it.
 
Tammy: I took one of your bullet-resistant t-shirt! That's Why!
 
Fernando gives her a stern look.
 
Fernando: That Don't Protect You from A Bullet To The Head!
Hillshire: So that melee in the Farmer's Market...
Fernando: That was Anne, and if it were not for my actions, Tammy would be dead!
Tammy: How Would You Know!
Fernando: She Had Her Gun Out 10 Seconds And 20 Feet Before You Even Saw Her! Girl! I Swear! By The Time You Were Pulling Your Gun Out, She Was Already Aiming At You!
Tammy: She's A Cyborg! She's Faster Than I Was!
Fernando: Yeah, right.
Tammy: If she would have shot me, she would have hit me in the chest and I would have returned fire!
Fernando: And if she would have shot you in the head?
 
Tammy does not answer.
 
Fernando: You Don't Think! That is the problem! At Close Range You Are More Likely To Get Hit With A Head Shot Than With A Body Shot! Especially Now That People Are Walking Around With Bullet Proof Vests!
 
Tammy continues to not say a word.
 
Fernando: You Think That T-shirt Would Have Saved You? You Think That After You Get Shot That You Can Fire Back? Do You How It Feels To Get Ht By A Shot?
Tammy: No.
 
Fernando points his finger and puts it to her chest. He feels the thickness of the anti-ballistic layers besides her opened blouse.
 
Fernando: First you feel a hard poke followed by a very hard punch 1/2 a second later.
Tammy: A poke and then a punch?
Fernando: Yes. Like this.
 
He draws his finger back about an inch back and sends it back onto her chest below her breasts, followed by an Inch Punch, a devastating blow in Marshal Arts. Tammy falls back on her ass, clutching at her chest, breathing hard.
 
Fernando: That is what is what its like to be shot, but being shot is a lot more harder.
 
Then he turns to Hillshire and Marco.
 
Fernando: Take that and copy it for your records, then fax it to your intell staff. And be prepared, Anne will be coming to get that back. Since she wants it, I'll give it back to her...
Marco: You are going to give it back, just like that?
Fernando (as he walks to the kitchen): I said that I'll give it back.. after we are done copying its contents and sending them to Section 2, I'll give it back. Now prepare for war. She will be coming with friends.
 
Marco gathers the wallet and the money off the table and heads to the stairs with Angie behind him. Hondo hears and then sees Marco heading to the stairs and takes Valentine back to their room. 'The door can be heard closing as Marco makes it 1/2 way up the steps. Fernando prepares a sandwich or himself. Jeanie complains.
 
Jeanie: Dinner is almost done!
Fernando (putting his sandwich together): I'll eat later. Take Tammy upstairs and check if she is alright. Then feed and prepare your crew to defend the second floor.
Jeanie (wiping her hands on a nearby towel): Alright. Fung, finish up here, serve something and bring something upstairs for us all.
Fung: Yes Mistress. It shall be done.
 
He finds a miniature serving table, mainly for serving one in bed, and starts to prepare 4 separate meals on it. Jeanie walks over to Tammy and helps her up, then takes her upstairs to Fernando's room. Marco comes down with Angie, tossing the wallet back at Fernando.
 
Marco: I faxed the information to Logistics. The chief called. He and Public Safety Director Petris want to come and talk with you. They are on their way.
Fernando: You notified them of the impending danger?
Marco: They are aware of it. But they are still coming. All available fratello teams will be arriving before they do.
 
The sound of a very large, very fine tuned engine arrives at the gate and drives past the house.
 
Marco: That must be Ernesto and Pia in the Dino.
Fernando: A 40 year old Ferrari?
Marco (walking to the rear of the house and its exit there): That's their style.
 
Fernando follows him. They both wait outside as Ernesto and Pia walk out of the fancy car, looking about the house and the area as they approach the rear. A couple of white squirrels, his white hat and suit and her white hair and dress makes them a site to be seen. They stop by Marco and Fernando. Ernesto extends his hand to 'Fernando. Fernando takes it and the shake hands.
 
Ernesto: You must be Fernando. This is my cyborg, Pia. Nice place you have here.
Fernando: Its just like any other secret government safe house.
 
They both laugh.
 
Ernesto: So, you're the one who married Tammy?
Fernando: What of it?
Ernesto: Hey- don't take so negatively. Just saying. What does she sees in you? And aren't you supposed to be dead?
Fernando: Rumors of my death were premature. Hillshire's inside.
Ernesto: Thanks.
 
Ernesto walks in with Pia behind him.
 
A Blue and White Stripe Smart car drives up the driveway and finds a parking space in the rear. Allessandro and Petrushka step out of the tiny vehicle and head to the rear entrance where Fernando and Marco remained.
 
Allessandro (approaching them): You must be Fernando. Heard so much about you.
Fernando: Yeah, what ever. Excuse me. I need to move the motorcycles out the way. Marco, want to help with the other?
Marco: Yeah, sure.
 
Fernando steps to the V-Max and pushes it to the garage. Punching a code on the key pad, the garage door opens. Marco follows him, pushing the old Harley behind Fernando into the garage. 'Fernando points to an empty spot on for Marco to place the Harley at. As they walk out, the garage door closes. A Mercedes 500 SEL pulls into the parking area as they walk across the parking lot. Jean and Rico step out of the car and walk into the house without even saying a word.
 
A fancy stretch 'modern Rolls Royce pulls into the driveway and circles the parking lot, paring itself in front of Jeanie's Rolls Royce. A driver and a couple of body guards set out of the front of the car and opens the rear door, helping a rather well dressed woman to step out. Chief Lorenzo gets out of the car after her.
 
Fernando: Who's the dame?
Marco: That is Public Security Director Monica Petris. I would not call her a dame, at least not to her face.
Fernando: HMPH.
 
They walks up to Marco and Fernando, stopping for a brief moment. Director Petris holds out her hand to Fernando. He thinks its to help her step into the house but she clamps down on his hand like a vise-grip pliers and shakes it.
 
Director Petris: You must be CIA Operative Fernando G. I heard so much about you and your wife Tamy. Nice place you have here. I would like you to consider working for us if possible.
Fernando: I'll consider the offer but do not take it against you if I refuse.
Director Petris: Oh I'm sure that we can make a deal that you cant refuse.
Fernando: Yeah. I'm expecting trouble, so if you don't mind, take to the safety of the place and make yourself at home. Marco, go get Tammy and Hondo from upstairs.
 
Director Petris walks in with Chief Lorenzo behind. He gives Fernando a nod as he passes by. Marco follows and goes ups stairs to retrieve Tammy and Hondo. Everyone comes down and gathers themselves around in the living room. The chairs from the dining room were moved to the living room to make sure everyone had a seat. Everyone except Fernando, Tammy, Hondo and Valentine. Chief Lorenzo starts.  
 
Chief Lorenzo: So, you're Fernando. Aren't you supposed to be dead?
Fernando: That was an agency double who was killed, sir.
Chief Lorenzo: And where is his body? We had your grave exhumed and found it empty.
 
Before Fernando could answer, Chief Lorenzo tosses a ring at him. Fernando catches it.
 
Chief Lorenzo: Empty, except for that. Isn't that your wedding ring?
Fernando (giving the ring to Tammy): That is where it was? I have been looking for it for months!
Chief Lorenzo: Heh... seems like you have all the answers.
Director Petris: Let me say something.
 
Chief Lorenzo nods.
 
Director Petris: I can understand this mission against Anne Rossellini but that is what my people are for. I must ask you to stop this mission and let it alone.
Fernando: With all due respect, director, it is she who has been hunting us down. We only defended ourselves and now that she left her wallet in her last attach, she will be coming here for it. I or my staff has never gone out and deliberately hunted her down. She is the one following us.
Director Petris: You have any proof on that?
 
Fernando walks about the room and finds the tv remote. He turns it on and punches in a code. The screen lights up. On the screen was a Fernando or who he claims as his agency double and Anne. Fernando walks around the service island into the kitchen and gets out a clean glass for her. He fills it with ice and then water. Anne had found his gun neatly holstered away on the table. She quietly removes it from the holster and takes aim to him. He turns to put the glass on the service island, seeing Anne having his weapon already aimed at him. The date and time was of the wedding day, several months before.
 
Fernando: You don't want to do that.
Anne: I don't? Understand where I am. You killed my lover and then you tried to kill me.
Fernando: If he did not pull out his gun, then I would not had killed him.
Anne: You had your gun between my breasts, he was trying to defend me!
Fernando: All I wanted was answers, I did not wanted to shoot you. But since your kind of people only listen to ideas at the end of a gun, I had little choice.
Anne: You want those answers? Yes, it was one of our bombs. We wanted to blow up that plane with the SWA personnel in it. We wanted to end the Frankensteinian work that they do. It is not fair what they do to those girls. They had to be stopped, their work had to end.
Fernando: At the price of innocent lives?
Anne: Innocent people always get hurt when opposing sides clash.
Fernando: You knew that I was to pilot that plane back, didn't you?
Anne: The cockpit would have remained intact in the explosion, you are a flying squirrel, you would have survived.
Fernando: But not my daughter.
Anne: Daughter?
Fernando: Dr. Aiesha G. She was part of the group trying to undo the conditioning and cybernetic implants of the girls.
Anne: She would have survived.
Fernando: How so?
Anne: She's a flying squirrel like you, she would have flown like you would have.
Fernando: She is only 1/2 flying squirrel. She would have landed too hard in the water and be killed from the impact. That is if she would not have been killed or hurt by the initial explosions that would have taken out the fuel tanks, spilling flaming fuel into the passenger section.
Anne: You lie.
Fernando: And you're letting yourself be blinded by your own actions.
Anne: Like you know what it is like to be blind. You just wear those glasses just for show.
Fernando: Think what you like.
Anne: Think what I know.
Fernando: What about Tammy?
Anne: What about her?
Fernando: She would have been on that flight too. All she ever wanted was to recover her sister Bink.
Anne: Innocent lives have to pay the price when they agree with the guilty.
Fernando: At the time, she did not side with them. She only wanted to recover her sister Bink from them. Now you are going to deny her a marriage, a family, and happiness? If you are going to kill me then go a head and just do it. You are no better than the terrorists you build your bombs for. Or you can be better than them and put the gun down.
Anne: You denied me those things when you killed Franco. Now tell me, Fernando. Are you afraid to die?
Fernando: No I am not.
 
Anne pulls the trigger on Fernando's American Arms Model 1984 .45 automatic, hitting him square in his chest. He falls flat on the floor where he is later found dead in a pool of his own blood.
 
She goes over to him and checks him out for any signs of life, finding none.
 
Anne: With you gone, there is no one left to be in the way for me to kill that red-headed squirrel for her cyborg.
 
Fernando pauses the video after that. He repeats the last thing Anne said.
 
Fernando: With you gone, there is no one left to be in the way for me to kill that red-headed squirrel for her cyborg. She was talking about Tammy. She has been hunting her down and now that I made myself known to be alive again, she is hunting the both of us down. Furthermore, when I took her down the first time, somebody brought her back using cyborg technology.
 
He walk to her and pulls his gun at, ejecting a bullet onto her lap. She picks up the bullet and looks at it.
 
Fernando: No one gets hit with that twice and lives, let alone get up from the impact. (pointing at the screen) Yet there she is, killing my body double. Being able to handle the kick back the sister of this gun gives. Your people failed in arresting her several times. They gave her the means to live again like these girls in this room. You people allowed your medical staff and created a cyborg, one who is hunting down my family and friends. And she has allied herself with the likes of a South American Drug and weapons dealer who have started to 'flood the market with drugs and has armed themselves like a small army. I challenged your staff that since they failed, give me 7 days to succeed on that failure. There are 3 days left to that challenge.
 
Chief Lorenzo: Why was I not informed of this challenge.
Marco: It would be our fault for accepting it, but we have kept an eye on their activities for the most part.
Director Petris (to Marco): Well, this is not excuse for messing up a job. (to Fernando) I can see the problems you have stated and would like to offer you a solution. But I want to know, how certain are you that she will come here to attack this place?
 
Fernando looks at the others before answering.
 
Fernando: This place was attacked this morning by her people. She just attacked us less than an hour ago at the farmer's market because I had to chase my wife in argument.
 
He takes out Anne's wallet and hands it to Director Petris. He continues talking.
 
Fernando: I found that after she was chased away. Its her wallet, it contains all her personal information an contacts. I had Marco copy it and fax it over to Section 2's logistics. But mark my words, she will be coming, and (turning to Hondo) she wont be coming alone.
Hondo: So this evening's mission is scrapped?
Fernando: Maybe. Maybe not. If she comes, like I think she will, she will not come alone.
Director Petris: What such pettiness for so little to be achieved.
Fernando: Marco, mind telling her what was in that wallet?
Marco: Madam Director, contained in that wallet is Franca's true identity. Her name, Anne Rossellini, and possible connection to Christiano Savonarola, a ranking leader in Padana's infrastructure. It seems to me that according to the papers inside, they are related, perhaps Uncle an Neice.
Director Pertis: Christiano Savonarola? He was the one who escaped from his termination mission, right?
Jean: No body was found after we pull his car from the river.
Marco: I know my Angie scored a kill from that. The car was riddle with holes from Angie's Styer. Blood found on the seats say that she scored hits when they tried to escape.
Director Petris: But without a body, one can not say that they are dead. They could have been rescued. Or their bodies buried in secret so we'll never know.
Fernando: I better not that somebody from the agency cyborg'd him too.
Jean: Now that is enough out of you!
Fernando: Hillshire, Marco, and I know Ferro and the Logistics crew went to Nemi General, where Anne was held there. Less than 2 weeks later she is walking around and shooting a big gun like nothing happened. Getting shot with a .45 will put you in a hospital bed for months of recovery. If she was not given cybernetic parts to recover so quickly, I don't now what miracle of god did this! Now, Marco or Hillshire- who was Anne's attending physician?
 
Marco wanted to answer but delayed. Hillshire answers for him.
 
Hillshire: Dr. Fernando Bianchi. Head of Psychiatry at Section 2.
Fernando: And who signed her out?
Hillshire: That is where we have a problem.
Fernando: How so?
Marco (jumps in): The signature was that of Christiano Savonarola.
Jean: NO WAY!
Fernando: Looks like you doubly failed.
Director Petris: Looks like you have a problem, Signor Lorenzo.
Chief Lorenzo (looking at his staff): We do have a problem.
 
The sounds of several cars' tires screeching comes to a halt at the front gate. Then for a while there was silence until a voice from a bullhorn made its self and its intentions clear.
 
Loud Voice from Bull Horn: FERNANDO! I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE AND I'm GIVING YOU ONE MINUTE OR YOU TO COME OUT WITH YOUR WIFE AND HAND OVER WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!
 
Fernando looks at the others.
 
Fernando: Its Party Time. Hondo, get the rocket launchers and hide at the right rear of the house. Marco- get your VIPs to the basement interrogation area, you been there before. Everyone else, cover the house. The windows are bullet and shatter proof so don't try anything stupid. I need to reload. Tammy, you are with me.
 
Fernando takes the wallet from Director Petris grasp. When he takes his first steps to the stairs, everyone runs around and takes their position. He runs to his room and opens his desk draw, finding 4 of 6 M1981/84 magazines loaded. He takes them into his pocket. Tammy only has her SiG 239 with a spare magazine. He takes Tammy by the waist and gives her a kiss on the lips.
 
Anne : 30 seconds!
 
Fernando lets go of Tammy but Tammy still holds on. She takes his hand and take the ring he gave and puts it on his finger. Then she stands on her toes and gives him another kiss. Then she steps out of the room, almost guiding him downstairs.
 
The first floor seemed deserted as they walked past he stairs. They take the route to the back of the house. Hondo and Valentine were ready with the rocket launchers at the basement stairway.
 
Fernando: Don't shoot unless they shoot first.
He then walks out of the house. Hondo follows and sees Fernando pointing to his right, where the house has a blind spot of trees and bushes. Hondo takes Valentine there. Fernando takes Tammy to the driveway, seeing Annie out of the sunroof of a large black sedan, one hand with a bull horn, another with a rocket launcher of her own. She sees them and the hands guns they carry aimed at her.
 
Anne (from the bull horn): You two finally came out. Now give me back what is mine!
Fernando (yelling and holding up a wallet): You want this? Come get it!
 
He tosses the wallet about 20 ft in front of him. Twenty feet too close for Anne's comfort. They remain in silence for a while.
 
Fernando: You walk over, pick up your shit and walk away with your friends and no one needs to get hurt!
Anne (from the bull horn): How can I trust your word!
Fernando (yelling): When have ever lied to you? Right now I have the whole of the Section 2 in the house- some 20 or so cyborgs and their handlers waiting for my safe return or your dead body on the morgue slab to dissect. The Choice Is Yours!
 
Anne remains silent for a moment.
 
Fernando (yelling): Angie- Where Ever You Are, Take Out The Door Mirror!
 
A single shoot is heard and the door mirror explodes into pieces. Anne looks at the shattered 'mirror.
 
Fernando (yelling): 40 some guns, rifles and assorted weapons are now pointed at every head you brought in here, Anne. Come pick up your shit and leave quietly or you are not going to survive this blood bath.
 
Anne does not say a word.
 
Fernando (yelling): You What Your Shit, Bitch? Come And Get It!
 
Anne stills does or say nothing.
 
Fernando: If I Wanted You Dead, Bitch, You Would Be Dead Now! Come Get Your Stuff!
 
The door on her car opens and she manages to walk out carrying her rocket launcher on her shoulder. Fernando walks with Tammy closer to Anne and her wallet. He and Tammy stops just steps away from it. Anne adjusts the rocket launcher on her shoulder only to see Hondo come out of the corner with his rocket launcher aimed at her. The situation got tense as they stood facing each other.
 
Anne slowly bent down 'and got her wallet. She looks inside and finds the money missing.
 
Anne: Where's my money!
Fernando: Considering that you have an allowance large than most Caribbean Island nation budgets, you would not miss the 30-thousand euros we found. By the way, Father Amedeo gives his thanks for the donation to the orphanage, if you want to know where your money went.
 
Anne gives him a sour look.
 
Fernando: Think of the smiling little faces your money brought them!
 
She just stares at him.
 
Fernando: its not like you need to eat. Do cyborgs eat by the way? I would not know. Now how about you turning around and GET THE HELL OFF MY PROPERTY!!!
 
Anne decides to take her looses and starts to leave. Fernando follows her to the gate with Tammy behind him and Hondo some 10 steps behind them. Annie gets into the car she came out of. The others begin to leave as hers is the last one to pull away last. Fernando yells at her.
 
Fernando (yelling): COME BACK TO MY HOUSE UNINVITED AGAIN AND YOUR WONT LEAVE ALIVE!
 
As they drive away, the SWA members come out of hiding as does Valentine who was in the front bushes aiming her RPG at the first car of the group, and Director Petris and Chief Lorenzo with Marco from inside the house. Jean walks up to Fernando.
 
Jean (shoving Fernando and yelling): Why in Hell Did You Let Them Go!
Fernando (shoving back): None of Your business why I let them go!
 
Jean steps up about to punch Fernando in the mouth only to have a face full of American Arms 1981/84 up close and impersonal. From the group, Chief Lorenzo yells at him.
 
Chief Lorenzo: Jean Croche! Back Down Right Now!
 
Jean looks at his boss and takes a couple steps back. Director Petris and Chief Lorenzo walks to them. When they were close enough for Jean not to interfere, Fernando puts away his gun.
 
Director Petris: I'm sure you had your reasons, but why did you let them go?
Fernando: My team is going to observe them and take note of what they have in their warehouse. Marco and Hillshire know about it, they are to observe what we do.
Director Petris: And after this mission, are you going to capture or terminate them?
Fernando: Terminate them, 3 days from now.
Director Petris: Why 3 days?
Fernando: That would put it on a Friday. People are too busy partying and not worrying about having a termination squad pounce on their heads.  
Director Petris: Interesting. You taking this down Signor Lorenzo?
Chief Lorenzo (nodding): Already did.
Fernando: Good. Now if you don't mind, we got clean up and dinner waiting, then observation tonight.
 
Before anyone could say a word, Fernando starts to walk away.
 
Everyone starts to walk away back into the house. Fernando goes with Tammy back in their room and he flops back in the bed.a
Back to top
 
« Last Edit: Feb 17th, 2011, 6:37pm by Fernando »  
View Profile   IP Logged
Hondo I. Sackett
YaBB Administrator
*****
Behind you!




Posts: 1349
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #93 - Feb 18th, 2011, 11:48pm
 
(before Tammy leaves)
 Hondo sat in the liivin'room starin' at nothin', for a spell, thinkin' 'bout the mission, his past, an' what his future could be. He wasn't sure if he loved Val or not, but he knew he liked her 'round, though he dreaded that she might try somethin' again. He wasn't sure if she really liked him an' didn't know how else to show it, or ifin she was doin' to him like Jeanie had with Fernando, feel like she owed him for savin' her an' thinks givin' herself in whole was the only way to even start to repay a debt that could never be repaid. 'Hondo wasn't sure how to deal with that as Fernando might be used to it, but he wasn't. It's not that he was ugly or anythin' but women just didn't flock to him.
 
 'The house was quiet an' allowed Hondo to think. The only sound was that of Jeanie movin' 'bout in the kitchen. After a while Hondo stopped thinkin' 'bout Val an' started goin' over the area the mission was to take place in his mind an' just enjoyed the peace that was rare in this house lately, but was now present.
 
 'Unfortunately for Hondo the peace was soon broken. How long he had been there he did not know, thinkin' an' restin' had made him loose a sense of time for a bit, but Tammy rushin' out the back door brought him back to reality. Hondo stood up an' as he did so he heard Fernando's car start. He found that odd so he watched out the window for it. Sure enough Fernando's car drove off with Tammy at the wheel.
 
Hondo muttered to himself: That's odd.
 
Jeanie: You say something?
 
Hondo: Just talkin' to myself.
 
Jeanie: About what?
 
Hondo: Tammy just left in Fernando's car an' we haven't much time left until we got to go tonight, so where in the hell could she be goin'?
 
 
 Jeanie set down what she was workin' on an' looked over at the cowboy at the window. She hadn't liked him at all when she first got there. 'He seemed rough an' unmannerly to her at first, but she saw as time went on that it could be more of a disguise to hide past pain an' loneliness. She began to see at times more of what Fernando saw in him. Though they were far from friends she knew they could work together for the time for a common good. That good as she saw it right now was for Fernando.
 
Jeanie: That is a bit strange. I can't see Fernando letting her go on her own after all that has happened lately.
 
 Just then a motorcycle screamed by the window an' shot off down the street in the direction Fernando's car had gone.
 
Hondo: Damn!
 
Jeanie: What was that!
 
 Hondo turned an' headed towards the stairs.  
 
Hondo: That was a motorcycle. One of Fernando's. I couldn't see a face 'cause of the helmet, but from the dress an' build I'll bet ya double or nothin' it was Fernando on it.
 
Jeanie: After Tammy?
 
Hondo: I reckon.
 
Jeanie: You going after him?
 
Hondo: No
 
Jeanie: Why not?
 
Hondo: Ifin he'd have wanted us he'd have asked, not that I only go with him on invite, but ifin they attacked the house once they could do it again. I go chargin' out there it'll only complicate things. We just need to hold the fort. When Fernando's gone this place is in my care an' all those in it. It's my responsibility.
 
Jeanie: I understand, though me and my guard can handle ourselves. But just the same, you want us to do anything?
 
Hondo: Just have supper done an' have yur men on alert. Who knows what might go down when they get back. I'm gonna go make sure Val is ready.
 
Jeanie: I'll right. If anything happens my guards will help out.
 
 'Hondo didn't say anythin'. He just walked upstairs to his room. Jeanie got busy to make sure everythin' was ready. She didn't think badly of him for not answerin'. She realized it was just his way.
 
 Hondo knocked on the door but there was no answer so he opened the door. The room was fairly dark as the curtains were drawn an' the lights were off. Hondo flicked on a lamp on the dresser.
 
 Earlier Valentine had gone up to the room she shared with Hondo after her talk with Jeanie an' Tammy. She had drawn the curtains, stripped down to her panties, put on a robe an' climbed into bed. In the dark she lay there for a moment. She found Hondo's pillow an' held it to her face, breathin' in his scent. She pulled back from it for a moment then as if a dam had busted she started to cry. She buried her face into the pillow to hold back the flood. She did not know why or for whom she cried. 'She felt confused, lost, alone, an' even a bit scared. She was away from the country she knew, without money, in the middle of all or nothin' mission against some deadly outlaws, in a country that didn't welcome what good their mission could do for them, an' now this. She had lost almost everyone she cared 'bout but then came this cowboy an' his friends, at a point she thought her life was to end, at a point she didn't care if it did or not. She had welcomes death for so long now, but now she wanted life. Life with Hondo, not life alone again. She rather die than to live alone, but she wasn't sure what to do. She knew now that Hondo had a broken an' crushed heart. He had felt much bodily pain she was sure, but it was the inner pain he didn't know how to deal with. She knew she had lost a lot, but through all her loses she had never seen it happen. Hondo had seen sorrow start before his eyes. She felt guilty now. She had been goin' 'round for almost 2 years actin' like a martyr. Hondo had lost a lot more an' had been carryin' it 'round inside him for much longer than she had. She had no idea how long, an' could only speculate. But through it all Hondo functioned. He made a difference in the world the best he knew how. He didn't mope an' feel sorry for himself, nor did he tell people his troubles or expect them to feel sorry for him. Valentine doubted that even Fernando knew his whole past, though she was sure he knew Hondo had suffered. She figured Fernando an' Hondo were much alike in that aspect. 'Both had suffered in the past, both probably only brought it up to make a point once push, neither would offer the info even to those they cared 'bout an' both had probably saved each other's life several times, though neither would keep count an' neither would talk 'bout it. They were loyal to few, but to those they were loyal to it was for life. Their own lives meant little to them compared to those they cared 'bout but those they cared 'bout had turned on them far too often. 'Val stopped cryin' long enough to muse on how different they looked an' talked, but how much they were alike. She thought of Fernando an' Tammy. Though Val had only been there a short time she knew that Fernando had found someone again to love, an' he'd fight to the death for her. She also knew there was a lot more to Fernando an' Tammy's relationship then met the eye. They had gone through a lot too. Maybe in those Missions Hondo had talked about. That made her think on Hondo all over again an' she started to cry softly again. She didn't want to lose him, but Tammy an' Jeanie confused her so much. She almost wanted to talk to Fernando on the subject, but it scared an' embarrassed her at the thought. She knew she couldn't talk to Hondo about it. What to do, though? She was still a virgin, an' the thought of droppin' her cloths an' makin' love to him scared her, though she had thought of it before, but what if Tammy was right? What if it scared him away? But what if she was wrong an' not doin' anythin' for him sexually an' just talkin' to him would make him dump her out the door 'cause she didn't fulfill his needs? How could she make him understand that she loved him with all that she was an' not scare him? She cried an' pondered on it, but nothin' made any sense to her. After a bit she could not think anymore an' cried herself to sleep. When she actually fell asleep she did not know, but she still cried softly even in her sleep.
 
Hondo turned on the lamp on the dresser an' the room filled with a soft light. Val was still asleep, but she sniffled in her sleep, an' her face an' the pillow were wet with tears. Hondo walked up to the side of the bad, but she did not wake, as she had still be exhausted from her injuries an' Hondo, though large in size, moved very quietly when he wanted to. Hondo sat down on a chair by the bed an' looked at her for a moment. He brushed some hair from her face as smiled a bit, somethin' he wasn't known for these days. She looked so sweet to him, layin' there in the robe she had on, curled up with that pillow, but at the same time she looked very sad an' it almost broke through the carefully placed barriers he had placed 'round the ruin that used to be his heart. Hondo looked at her an' whispered, more for himself than for her as she was asleep still.
 
Hondo: What is the matter little gal? I hope those tears aren't 'cause of me. Wish I could make your pain go away, but I don't know how. I know ya seem to want to be with me, to pay me back for savin' ya, but I'm no good for ya little gal. Those that get too close to me get hurt. I'm bad medicine. Please don't love me or try to make me love ya. I don't know if I could survive losin' someone else that I care 'bout, an' you'd never survive me. Some are allowed happiness, others aren't. Fernando an' Tammy can take it. They are immortal. I'm just flesh an' blood. Nothin' more Find someone else that can make ya happy in a safer lifestyle. I'm gettin' too old to change. I don't know how to live any different. Besides, I actually make a difference with my life here. It's all I can do. You can do so much more. Don't waste your future on me.
 
 Hondo stood back up an' walked over toward the dresser. He coughed, slammed a dresser drawer an' messed with a gun of his, intentionally makin' noise to wake her. It worked.
 
 Valentine sleepily stretched an' quickly wiped her face an' flipped the pillow to hide that she had been cryin' though her red eyes spoke volumes all of their own.
 
Valentine: Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I was just restin' for a bit.
 
Hondo: Ya probably need all ya can get, but I could use ya up an' ready.
 
 She sat up on the edge of the bed an' rubbed her eyes. Hondo looked over at her then adverted his gaze quickly. She noticed this an' looked down at herself. Nothin' was showin' yet, but it was close. She almost wanted to make a move now, but ifin Hondo wanted her ready for somethin' it'll only make him mad if she tried, that much she knew. She secured the robe an' stood up.
 
Valentine: What's wrong?
 
Hondo: Tammy just left in Fernando's car an' He went after her on one of his motorcycles.
 
Valentine: Fernando has Motorcycles?
 
Hondo: Yeah, don't be surprised at what he digs up. Ifin he needs it he has it.
 
Valentine: What are we goin' to do?
 
Hondo: Get ready in case trouble follows him back.
 
Valentine looked at Hondo then at herself: You mind if I change here?
 
Hondo: Didn't bother ya before, so I don't see why not.
 
Valentine frowned a bit. She just didn't know how to read him. Was this good or bad?
 
Hondo checked over his guns an' added a couple on his person as he only had 2 presently. Valentine turned her back to him an' dropped her robe. She closed her eyes for a moment an' imagined him comin' up behind her, grabbin' her by the shoulders, turnin' her 'round an' kissin' her, but his voice snapped her out of it quickly.
 
Hondo: Ya alright? You've stood there for almost a full minute.
 
Valentine: OH, Sorry. I was just thinkin'.  
 
Hondo: 'bout what?
 
Valentine looked sadly down at the floor. She wanted to just tell him so badly, but what if Jeanie was right.
 
Valentine: It's not important right now. Maybe after this is over I'll tell you.
 
Hondo: alright, just get ready . We might need ya ifin things go south.
 
Valentine got dressed an' ready quickly after that, but she didn't make any eye contact with Hondo the whole time. Hondo explained 'bout the equipment down in the basement an' they talked 'bout the mission some more.
 
Valentine: I don't like this observe an' let them go. We need to kill them when we get the chance.
 
Hondo: No, that won't work.
 
Valentine: Tammy said the same thing an' when I questioned her she said to ask you, why?
 
Hondo: 'Cause I understand the reasonin'. No, I'm not happy we can't do it in one move, but there are good reasons to do it this way.
 
Valentine: What reasons?
 
Hondo: Well the 2 most important reasons are these: First Fernando said this is the way we do it. Now I an' I alone reserve the right to go off on my own against his orders ifin no one else will be endangered, but you are to follow his orders to a 'T' unless I say otherwise as I'm responsible for ya while yur here. Fernando has been at this game a long time an' he knows what's best usually. I'm not sayin' for you to commit suicide to keep a mission objective nor to not think on yur own, but ifin Fernando says observe, ya observe an' avoid shootin' at all costs short of innocent lives an' yur own life.
 
Valentine: I can live with that, but what's the second reason?
 
Hondo: Second, we don't know all of who is involved yet, nor ifin they will all be there. We shoot without bein' sure that we can take them all then we'll be in big trouble. They all have connections an' such. We shoot one an' miss the others , then the others will go underground an' do everythin' in their power to kill us all. They may wait weeks, months, even years, but they will try to kill us an' they will wait until one of us is alone an' shoot us in the back, one at a time. They will win. I hate waitin' too, but I'll wait over take a chance at messin' this up an' endangerin' my friends, of which yur one.
 
Valentine hung her head: I didn't think of that. I feel stupid.
 
Hondo: Yur not stupid, just inexperienced, but ya can make up for the inexperience by trustin' the experienced.
 
 Valentine just nodded.
 
They talked for a few more minutes before they heard the cars come back into the drive. Before they could get out of the room Fernando's voice boomed through the house.
 
Fernando (yelling out): MARCO! HILLSHIRE! GET OVER HERE! NOW!!!
 
 Hondo steps out of the room and stands by the staircase to listen in. Valentine steps out the room and stands by Hondo, he signals to her to keep it quiet. They listened to the conversation for a while then after things settled down Hondo went to the balcony with his sharps rifle. Valentine followed behind. Valentine stayed on the balcony to watch from there an' to listen for anyone that was lookin' for them, as Hondo asked her to an' he climbed up on the roof to keep watch.  
 
 'Hondo watched as the SWA folks arrived one by one. It made him a bit uncomfortable, but ifin trouble came they might make good backup. After a while Marco came to search for them. He told Valentine to get Hondo an' come on down at Fernando's orders. Hondo slid down onto the balcony an' walked towards the livin'room, stoppin' at his room only long enough to leave his rifle there.
 
 Hondo an' Valentine stood back away from the group, but close enough to hear an' be spoken to ifin they were needed. Fernando did most of the talkin' with the SWA officials only addressin' Hondo once.
 
Fernando: I found that after she was chased away. Its her wallet, it contains all her personal information an contacts. I had Marco copy it and fax it over to Section 2's logistics. But mark my words, she will be coming, and (turning to Hondo) she won't be coming alone.  
 
 
Hondo: So this evening's mission is scrapped?  
 
 
Fernando: Maybe. Maybe not. If she comes, like I think she will, she will not come alone.
 
The director of the SWA asked a few more questions then everythin' was disturbed by a voice outside on a bull horn.
 
Loud Voice from Bull Horn: FERNANDO! I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE AND I'm GIVING YOU ONE MINUTE OR YOU TO COME OUT WITH YOUR WIFE AND HAND OVER WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!  
 
 
Fernando looks at the others.  
 
 
Fernando: It's Party Time. Hondo, get the rocket launchers and hide at the right rear of the house. Marco- get your VIPs to the basement interrogation area, you been there before. Everyone else, cover the house. The windows are bullet and shatter proof so don't try anything stupid. I need to reload. Tammy, you are with me.
 
The first floor seemed deserted as they walked past he stairs. They take the route to the back of the house. Hondo and Valentine were ready with the rocket launchers at the basement stairway.  
 
 
Fernando: Don't shoot unless they shoot first.  
 
 He then walks out of the house. Hondo follows and sees Fernando pointing to his right, where the house has a blind spot of trees and bushes. Hondo takes Valentine there. Fernando takes Tammy to the driveway, seeing Annie out of the sunroof of a large black sedan, one hand with a bull horn, another with a rocket launcher of her own. She sees them and the hands guns they carry aimed at her.
 
Some words are exchanged between Fernando an' Annie before she starts forward.
 
The door on her car opens and she manages to walk out carrying her rocket launcher on her shoulder. Fernando walks with Tammy closer to Anne and her wallet. He and Tammy stop just steps away from it. Anne adjusts the rocket launcher on her shoulder only to see Hondo come out of the corner with his rocket launcher aimed at her. The situation got tense as they stood facing each other.
 
After a few more words are exchanged Anne takes her wallet an' retreats.
 
At this time Hondo noticed that Valentine wasn't 'round close. As Anne's mob drives off Valentine comes out from the bushes where she had the first car dead in her sights. She looks for Hondo for a moment in the crowd then trots over to him.
 
Valentine: Did I do alright?
 
Hondo: ya did fine. That was a good spot an' a good target. Had they tried anythin' ya'd have messed them up bad.
 
 Valentine Smiled at the comment. Hondo nodded for him to follow an' they slipped through the crowds an' made it back inside. Once inside Jeanie called down from upstairs.
 
 
Jeanie: Everything alright?
 
Hondo: Yeah, their gone for now. Y'all can relax for a bit.
 
Jeanie: Supper is done. You might want to get some before the other get in.
 
Hondo: We'll wait. Want to make sure there's enough an' I don't know who all is stayin' Once ya find out let us know. We'll be in the basement.
 
Jeanie: Alright.
 
Hondo went down into the basement an' unloaded the RPG launcher. Valentines followed an' did likewise.
 
After they finished Hondo sat down on an old loveseat that was in the basement. Valentine stood beside him for a moment unsure of what to do.
 
Hondo: Come on, sit down. I don't know 'bout you but that stress like that can wear ya out fast! That high adrenaline rush then the low after . . .
 
Valentine: You mean you still get like that in a fight?
 
Hondo: everyone does to some extent. Just some of us know how to control it better an' after time they get less, but they never go away. I'm always worse when Fernando is up there an' I'm coverin' him. Guess 'cause I know ifin I mess up it could be his life.
 
Valentine: I can understand that. You facin' that woman down with that RPG, you scared me for a moment as I was sure she was gonna fire on you.
 
Hondo: no, she knew ifin she did I'd fire too an' she'd not make it either. She'll not risk her own life. She'll only do somethin' like that ifin she's sure she'll get away.
 
 Valentine sat down beside him but as far to the other side as possible. This confused Hondo some. First she wanted him to take her bodily; now she acted like she was afraid to touch him. It didn't make sense. But Hondo didn't have time to think on it right now. He left the door upstairs open a crack an' listened to the voices upstairs while he waited for things to settle down
Back to top
 
« Last Edit: Feb 19th, 2011, 11:49pm by Hondo I. Sackett »  

Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out
View Profile WWW   IP Logged
Fernando
YaBB Administrator
*****
NY City




Posts: 2380
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #94 - Feb 22nd, 2011, 12:41am
 
Tammy climbs on the bed with Fernando and crawls over to him.
 
Tammy: You know there are people here.
Fernando: Send them home before they start knocking on doors and asking for food.
Tammy: I'm serious.
Fernando: Those are your people, from the SWA, you need to take care of him.
Tammy: And if they wont leave?
Fernando: You need to make sure that they do leave.
Tammy: I swear, Fernando.
Fernando: They are your employers, your supervisors, your chief and your director. They may want to talk to me but they will listen to you. I'm asking you to get rid of them so we can have a peaceful dinner and rest up for the mission. OK?
 
Tammy does not answer for a time that seemed longer that it actually was. And though Tammy does not answer, they get one as someone knocks loudly on the door. A voice yells through the door.
 
Voice through the door: Tammy! Fernando! Open The Door! We Need To Talk!
 
They both recognized it as Marco. Tammy got off the bed and walks to the door. She opens it once she saw Fernando sitting on the edge of the bed. She uses her foot to stop the travel of the door. Behind Marco, Tammy saw Jean, Chief Lorenzo, and Director Petris.
 
Tammy: Yes, Marco?
Marco: We need to talk.
Tammy: Downstairs in 15 minutes.
Marco: Here. Now.
Tammy: I need a moment of privacy with my husband if you don't mind. Besides, where are your manners, this is my house. Do not order me in my house.
 
Fernando steps up behind her, tapping her on the shoulder. She lets go of the door and Fernando opens it fully.
 
Fernando: You heard her. This is our house, and we wish to be left alone to discuss matters.
Jean (to himself, starting to walk away): I bet. You just want to have mad puppy making sex.
 
Fernando steps out of the door around Tammy. Marco blocks his way. They stare at each other for a moment.
 
Fernando: Jean, disrespect me in this house one more time and not your men or your cyborgs are going to save you from the as kicking I will give you.
 
Jean turns around and steps back to Fernando, standing behind Marco.
 
Jean: Is that so?
Chief Lorenzo: Jean. Back down.  
Jean: Tell him to respect his guests.
Fernando: Tell him to respect the host and the house or else I will kick his ass out the premises.
Jean: I would like to see you try.
Chief Lorenzo: Jean! I said for you to back down!
 
Jean and Fernando exchange stares.
 
Director Petris: Mr. Croche. Cease and desist your emotional outburst and wait for us down stairs.
 
Jean leaves the immediate area and goes down the stairs. All eyes and faces turn to Fernando and Tammy.
 
Marco: You going to let us in the room or what?
 
Fernando turns to face Tammy. She nods yes, he shakes his head no. She nods her head one more time. He turns around and starts moving the chairs around. Tammy turns around to see what he was doing, then reaches to the light dimmer and increases the light in the room to 75 percent. She signals everyone to walk in when Fernando pushes the room table off to a side wall. Tammy sits on the end of the bed as the others walk in and take a seat. Marco makes himself the last one to come in, closing the door behind him. Fernando stands at the side of the bed, with his arms crossed. Tammy pats on the bed to signal to him to sit by her. He refuses for the moment, but walks over to her and leans by the bed. She takes his hand and gently pulls him and sits him down next to her. Fernando lets out a sigh as she leans against him.
 
Marco: Why you let them go?
Fernando: Cutting off the head of a snake does not kill it depending on it. A cobra or any other poisonous snake, yes. But King snake or Boa Constrictor- then you have a problem is its wrapped around your neck. Killing Anne or any of the other members of her entourage would have not done anything to the rest of the group. Its better to let her go and follow her to wherever she goes.
Marco: Follow her. No body is following her.
Fernando (pointing up to the room's ceiling): I have a KH-17 satellite above our heads in space tied to my computer access following anyone who enters and exits this place. It has a resolution of 3 inches for a 50 mile radius and 1 foot for another 200 miles.
Director Petris: You willing to share that technology?
Fernando: If it were mine to share. But its not, so I cant. Don't ask because I wont.
Chief Lorenzo: What about the results of that technology, the intell it generates?
Fernando: That I can give you in an email. But that is not the problem, now is it?
Director Petris: What are you talking about?
Fernando: Now that I'm not dead, you would want Tammy back in Section 2 with her cyborg.
Chief Lorenzo: We gave her a generous mourning package, if that is what you man.
Fernando: What about a honey moon package?
Chief Lorenzo: As far as I remember, 3 months was it.
 
Fernando turns and looks at Tammy.
 
Fernando: I only returned a week ago, all this time Tammy was mourning and I came back from hiding to finish this job and she hears that I have returned somehow and goes out to follow me. I don't think no apology for such a government secrecy on my part being held against her to where it hurt I could ever say to make it up to her.
Tammy: I already forgave you when you returned.
Fernando: As much as it may hurt you, it hurts me a whole lot more. It still does.
Director Petris: So, what you two been doing since your return?
Tammy: Running for our lives.
Fernando: Have you ever been hunted? I mean, aware of being hunted. Knowing that out there somewhere is a group of people would rather see you dead than to negotiate terms because that is how they operate.
Marco: It part of our job.
Fernando: You kill Annie and five of her friends replace her. Kill them and 5 for each one replaces them, and 5 for each of them and so on and so forth. We don't know how many they are and that we need to find out. From the lowliest area guard to the head honchos- Anne and her friends.
Marco: You make it sound easy.
Fernando: You're going to have a problem if it turns out that Christiano Savonarola is also involved.
Marco: How so?
Director Petris: It means that you, as a group, failed on your mission in terminating him.
 
Fernando: Their failure in terminating Mr. Savonarola is the least of their problems. Those Anne has involved herself with are major South American Drug Cartel Bosses. If you think that the drug problem in Italy is bad now... you wait when the major source of supply take root here like they have in America for the past several decades. Nancy Regan declared war on drugs back in the 1980's, they are still fighting that mess of symptoms of the disease and not the cause some 40 years later. Want Italy in that shit? Want Crack Cocaine in the streets which will increase crime, which will flood your jails, which will make the poor poorer and the illegally rich richer? This has to be done as a surgical strike, just like the last mission. Collateral damage to innocents kept to zero as much as possible. The smaller the crew, the more likely they will succeed. So Marco, if we fail, all this will thrown onto your lap. If you think the cyborgs are over worked and over stressed from the last mission and you tired of chasing leads, wait until this is added to you work.
 
Chief Lorenzo: I seen your mission proposal and consider your 75 percent chance of succeeding too low to allow it if it were my own staff...
 
Fernando (interrupting): You want your streets to flow in blood from drug cartels enforcing their rules like Mexico? Want your police taken over in bribes and malfeasance? Want elementary school age girls to be whoring with their older sisters or even their mothers for a hit of crack? This is your future in less than a year if this is not stopped now. Only way the drug cartel will leave Italy alone is like what was done with Slovania's LSD Drug dealers. They have to learn that doing business in Italy will be too expensive to be worth it. We need to send not only El Jefe and his friends back to South America in pine boxes but also his whole crew down to the lowly security guard. Same applies to Anne and her Padania and Mafioso pals.
 
Marco: Brave words for a dead man.
 
They all look at him.
 
Marco: Its true. He was supposed have been killed in the last mission.
Fernando: That's besides the point. Now, Chief Lorenzo, Director Petris, I have 3 days to complete this mission. I wish I had more but I'm not one to break promises or cry that its not possible. I'll have to do with what little I got and if I managed to do something out of nothing then I have pulled a miracle from out my ass. In all honestly, sir, madam, I do not want to be disturbed by your people. This mission requires the utmost cooperation from your staff and I'm not getting it. To them, finding out why I am still alive when they saw me dead months ago is second to the Elvis Sightings at the Piazza di Spanga by the tabloid reporters and the paparazzi. I'm here, I'm going to do this self imposed mission and I expect nothing out of it. If I get a reward for my actions, then so be it. I don't work for nobody in this country, no one here signs my pay check. All I care for is a little cooperation between you staff and my group. Nothing more.
 
Director Petris: Lorenzo. Can I see you outside for a moment.
 
Chief Lorenzo nods, and walks out the door with Director Petris. The door closes behind them, as they begin their conversation outside. Meanwhile Marco makes his points known.
 
Marco: Unless they say otherwise, you are going to be escorted back to New York and pick up Bink, and then brought back to here where you are going to report to your office and write up everything that has happened in your absence.
Tammy: And If I refuse?
Marco: You have no choice in the matter. You will do as told.
Fernando: And if I wont let her?
Marco: Don't get in the way, Fernando.
Fernando: That's my wife and family you are talking about. I will do as I think she needs fit. If I want her working here in the SWA with you, she will work in the SWA with you. If I want her downstairs preparing dinner and washing dishes, she will be downstairs preparing dinner and washing dishes. I have the final say in what is said in this family. Not you.
Marco: Don't push your luck. This is Italy we are in.
Fernando: This, and all other agency safe houses, is the extension if the US Embassy, thus making this US Soil in Italy. You are in my nation right now, not yours. So just smile for the camera and say hello to Agent Watson for me. Anything else happens here, they will be coming. The reason why they have not before is because they are on my orders not too. Now they are. You don't want to have a battle with the Embassy guards when they arrive to check up on me.
 
Tammy: Fernando?
Fernando: What?
 
Tammy: Let me do the things I need to do. Husband or not, I can only get your blessings, not your demands though I appreciate your concerns. Really. Marco. I have one thing to say to you. #$@! you an the horse you rode in on. You people at the SWA promised not to endanger my life yet your missions have on more than several occasions. I thought I would never put into a situation where I would have to take a life to save my own- OK, I'll give it that my husband did that to me first, but you- the SWA have put me through ordeals and situations where I had to defend myself to that extreme. You promised to keep me safe, yet there is a killer out there with a lot more resources and man power than the agency who is willing to kill me for what little I have and you- the agency is not doing anything to help defend me. So excuse if I don't agree with you, your agency, your policies because they frankly stink. My husband has done more for me, including die for me than anyone of your people would have.
 
Tammy pauses for a second but is kept from continuing when there is a light knock at the door. It opens with Director Petris and Chief Lorenzo reentering the room. Director Petris makes her thoughts known.
 
Director Petris: What we had to discuss only took 2 minutes, but then we heard your discussion through the door. To that I have to say several things. First of all, Marco, though you might be her field supervisor, this is still her home and as they say it, American soil on the Italian nation. To my knowledge no one in the SWA has ever went to some co-worker's home and gave orders to the fact of what you stated. Tammy G. Squirrel is still under her time of leave and is to be left a lone during this time until she returns from that leave. You are to respect her, you husband and their property accordingly, and remember that you are on another nation's jurisdiction by their invitation. Any disrespect to that and you and any other involved staff member will be in my office . Alert the rest of the staff of that notice.
 
Marco: Yes, director, sir.
 
Director Petris: US Agent Fernando G., I can not stop you on what on going missions you may be under, but when it involved the public safety of the citizens and visiting tourist of this nation, I'm going to have to warn you to cease such activities or face possible criminal charges. I can understand you acting in self defense, but it can not happen in the view of the public eye or within their vicinity. In short, I don't want any of the people I swore to protect to get hurt. Do you understand what I'm telling you?
 
Fernando: I do. And for what its worth, I'm sorry.
 
Director Petris: Don't apologize. I understand that you were defending yourself. But furthermore, I am requesting that you take the resources of Section two with you and use them to the best of your leadership abilities and get this situation out of my country. I don't want my precious Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan or any part of this country to be a drug depot for some drug smuggling South American nor will I accept Italy to be a shipping point for illegal drugs to the rest of Europe, Do I make myself clear on this?
 
Fernando: Yes Ma'am.
 
Director Petris: Marco, inform the rest of them downstairs of the new orders to be followed and the change of leadership personnel. Secondly, they are ordered to stay down stairs until new orders and rules of conduct while in this place can be reestablished. Anyone coming up to question my decisions can remain behind their desks writing mission reports for the rest of their career. Now, go and tell the others. What I have to say is for their ears only.
 
Marco: Uhm.. OK. I'm going to tell them, though I doubt they are going to like it.
 
Marco gets up walks out the door, closing it behind him. Chief Lorenzo and Director Petris turns to Tammy.
 
Chief Lorenzo: Now Miss Squirrel, when we stepped out, we had a discussion about you. And this is what we have decided. Monica?
 
Director Petris: We have considered what you have been through, going through the murder of your husband and going through a period of mourning and then only to be wretched away from that by having your husband back. We know about the actual marriage days before the ceremony, we recognize the union. But you never had a chance to take all this and swallow it. Thus, Pieri and I have decided to end your current standing Inactive Status and start a new one for 3 months. Consider it is as your Honeymoon period.
 
Tammy: Honeymoon?
 
Director Petris: As a married woman, I know that what happens now during your first few months of marriage depends on what happens to the rest of it for as long as it lasts. But, during this time, though your status is inactive, I must warn you that what actions you take with your husband in this mission might be taken as criminal actions against you if you continue on this course.
 
Fernando: Ms Director- #$@! you! How dare you try to take away Tammy's only hope of defending herself against a cyborg threat that certain members of your medical staff created illegally? Mark my words, if either of us does not terminate this threat, your precious little cyborgs will have much more of a problem in dealing with her than they did a bunch of normal living targets, including a 50-something year old arthritic man by the name of Christiano Savonarola, who by admission of your own staff don't know where he is but he managed to sign out Anne from a hospital days after his termination. You can go ahead and take Tammy's gun and agency credentials, they will be replaced by what I can give her through my agency, and when we leave this misbegotten nation of yours, don't think of looking for us. You will not find us and you will fail if you try to hunt us down. We are not the enemy, so stop treating us like one or else I can shut down this agency and charge this nation with illegal use of child soldiers in domestic and foreign disputes.
 
Director Petris: Is that all you have to say?
 
Fernando: No. Get the #$@! out my house and take your DAMN people with you. And you better pray to god that we should succeed, because if we don't, it means the fall of Italy in ways you never would have wished it to happen. Now get out.
 
Chief Lorenzo (as he got up): Miss Squirrel, I need you to surrender your agency identification and service weapon.
 
Tammy gets up and take her purse from the night stand by the bed. Taking out her service weapon, Identification card and shield from her purse and hands it to Chief Lorenzo. He was the first to walk out the door, heading down stairs. Director Petris remained behind for a moment.
 
Director Petris: It is not that I want Agent Tammy not to defend herself, its that I have concerns about the public safety.
 
Fernando: You go find Anne and tell her to stop the hunting and the shooting at us and all this end right now. But knowing her, she will falsely promise you that before putting a bullet through your head. We never fired a shot at anyone without somebody putting that show of force to us first. We never had to defend ourselves unless we were attacked first. You have missed that point. Now get out of here before I start to get ugly.
 
Director Petris: You already are... ugly.
 
She leaves through the door, closing it behind her.
 
Fernando (to herself): That #$@!ing bitch.
Tammy: Fernando, could you please calm down?
Fernando: How could I? Those assholes took your rights to defend yourself away as a person!
 
The faint sounds of car engines turning on and revving can be heard. A couple of the vehicles leave while others wait.
 
Tammy: No they didn't. They can not take away what you gave me. Now.
 
Fernando walks over to the door, opening it.
 
Fernando: Lets go and see who left. Maybe I can still kick out those who remain.
 
He walks out of the room with Tammy following right behind him. Going down the stairs he sees that everyone had left, but a couple of car engines were still running in the rear parking area. He walks to the rear of the house and steps out a couple of steps to the parking area. A silver Mercedes 500SEL station wagon leaves the area as soon as he steps out. A bright yellow Fiat 612 with Ferrari components pulls over to Fernando and Tammy who was just coming up behind him. Its window rolls down, showing Marco at the controls.
 
Marco: Hope you reconsider.
Fernando: What for? To be humiliated by your people and agency? No.
 
Marco extends his hand out the window, in it was Tammy's shield, agency identification and service weapon. Tammy retrieves her property from him.
 
Marco: Despite what you think, some of us care about that red headed squirrel you call your wife. You better take care of her in this mission or else if she gets hurt or killed, there will be a lot of angry people hunting for your tail.
Fernando: I would die first before letting her get hurt.
Marco: Make sure you live up to that promise.
 
Marco revs the engine of his Fiat, sounding more like a Ferrari engine under the hood than a Fiat one. Putting the car in gear, he slowly drives away as the window rolls up. Tammy looks at her stuff as she held it, slowly realizing the importance of what each items means.
 
Fernando slowly around, taking Tammy by the arm, then sees Hondo and Valentine at the doorway.
 
Fernando: How much of it did you hear?
 
Hondo: To be honest, bits and pieces of it, but putting those pieces together, its an ugly picture to look at.
Fernando: Enough of that. Lets eat, and rest up. At a quarter to eight, we get ready and leave.
 
Hondo nods slightly, before taking Valentine by her arm and escorts her to the dining table. Fernando does the same with Tammy. At the dining table, Jeanie serves up the meal for everyone to eat. She had made more than enough for everyone to have first and even seconds.
Back to top
 
 
View Profile   IP Logged
Hondo I. Sackett
YaBB Administrator
*****
Behind you!




Posts: 1349
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #95 - Feb 25th, 2011, 9:21pm
 
Hondo held Valentine's chair for her an' seated her at the table. She started to refuse, but realized that he was tryin' to be a gentleman to her. Was this a good sign?
 Fernando did the same for Tammy then sat down as did Hondo. Hondo made note of Fernando's seatin' Tammy for later thought. Hondo was an' still tended respectful of all women folk unless they proved first that they didn't deserve it. It was his upbringin'. 'Fernando acted like he had no respect for women, but Hondo now could see that at times he acted that way against what he'd prefer to act like, but he had a job to do an' at times Fernando went overboard to make a point to Hondo, but 'round the ones he trusted an' cared for his true nature showed through, Hondo also wondered ifin the stress of it all was bringin' it out now as well. This was the first time that Hondo, Fernando, an' Tammy had sat down to eat together in a long time. Hondo an' Fernando had been together to eat an' talk just as friends after the first mission, but they had not done so in a long time. Te last time he remembered eatin' a nice dinner together was when Fernando, gadget, Hondo, an' Rose went out together, but that time there was too much interpersonal stress. 'Hondo realized that there had been no rest, peace, or settlin' time for any of them since the beginnin' of the last mission. It was always eat on the run, eat under stress, even talk under stress.  
 
 'Jeanie set on the food an' they passed it 'round takin' their fill as there was more than plenty. The food looked good, an' reminded Hondo of home.
 
 At that moment Hondo wished all 4 of them were out at Wyomin', eatin' fresh American beef steaks 'on a front porch of a ranch house, watchin' some horses snort 'round in their pen while the sun goes down. Maybe even go into town on Friday night to go 2-stepin'. He wondered whether Tammy an' Fernando would enjoy it as much as he would though. He knew Valentine would. That thought startled him for a moment. She had barely been with them one day, yet he was thinkin' of her as one of the group. That almost scared him that he'd let his guard down to her so fast. He wanted to love her, 'as he did like her an' respected her, more than she knew, but he had too many obstacles in the way to love her. The two biggest were the mission at hand an' Laurie Ann. He was sure he could kill her ifin he had too but, as much as he wouldn't admit it to himself, seein' her again stirred the old love he had for her. He could not love 2 an' until this mission was over he could not permit himself to love even one. He knew the end of the mission would solve part or all of his problems. Either Laurie Ann would die an' he could let her go again, though the feelin' wasn't strong like it use to be nor was he even truly aware of it, or he would die which would solve all of his troubles, but would it be best for his friends?
 
 Valentine looked at Hondo several times as he ate but Hondo didn't look at her, nor did he eat fast. It was more slow an' thoughtful, but with a distinct look of not wantin' to talk at the moment as thought was more important. Tammy looked at Fernando but he wore a similar look. Valentine caught Tammy's eye an' looked back an' forth between Hondo an' Fernando. Tammy just shrugged her shoulders an' shook her head. Valentine sighed a bit an' went back to eatin'. She remembered what Fernando an' Hondo had said 'bout eatin'. Though she wasn't as hungry as she was earlier she definitely had gotten most of her appetite back.  
 
 They took about 30 minutes to eat an' they did so in silence the whole time. Once Done Jeanie took over to clean off the dishes before anyone else could move. Fernando told her that everyone could still take care of their own dishes, but she argued that they had a mission to prepare for. Fernando gave that up fast an' turned to Hondo.
Fernando: We should get the equipment ready.  
 
Valentine: I can help.
 
Fernando: Hondo and I can get the equipment ready. You and Tammy get the maps and get yourselves ready. You're wearing fairly dark cloths already. Just make sure they are quiet and fit tight enough to not snag on anything.
 
Valentine (lookin' a bit dejected, but tryin' not to): Alright. I'll be ready.
 
Fernando: Good.
 
Fernando turned and headed towards the basement an' Hondo followed without bein' told.
 
Once in the basement they grabbed 7 silenced 1911's (2 for each of them, one for each of the women an' a spare to leave in the car) six 2-way radios (one for each of the 4 on the team, a spare to be left in the car, an' one for Jeanie) '21 full ammo clips, (enough for 2 reloads for each of the 1911s) 2 mini cameras, and a RPG launcher with 4 RPGs.
 
Fernando an' Hondo went over plans again for the mission just to be sure each understood their own part as well as everyone else's for smooth operations. They had almost everythin' ready an' carried upstairs 'an' had only one more load to get When Fernando looked at his watch.
Fernando: We will need to be leaving soon to get into positions
 
Hondo: Yeah
 
Fernando: You alright?
 
Hondo: I'm fine.
 
Fernando: Listen I know you probably didn't get all of what happened earlier, but I'll tell you in the car, but don't worry. It's nothing we have not handled before.
 
Hondo: Well, I'll be glad to hear what that was all 'bout but I knew ya'd tell me in your time ifin I needed to know.
 
Fernando: So then what gives? Having second thoughts about the mission?
 
Hondo: Don't we all at times? But no, I'm not. I'm just poderin' over everythin'. I feel like I've left the coffee pot on at home while on vacation, ya know?
 
Fernando: Yeah, I get that feeling every once in a while as well. Don't worry about it. We will make it through.
 
Hondo: But if we don't?
 
Fernando: Hondo, this is recon only the big mission date is still 3 days away.
 
Hondo: Yeah, but we're not ready for battle. What if the shit hits the fan?
 
Fernando: We'll take care of it if it does.
 
Hondo: No.
 
Fernando: No?
 
Hondo: I will.
 
Fernando: Nonsense!
 
Hondo: Listen to me, Jefe. I'm just a co-pilot here. I'm expendable. I've been doin' a lot of thinkin' lately. Today proves my thoughts right even further. This mission must be completed within the set dates or none of us will survive. I can be replaced. Ifin things go to hell, get the girls, get out an' leave me.
 
Fernando: Damn it, Hondo. Don't even think like that.
 
Hondo: But we must. We can't go into this without a plan B. This one is too delicate of a matter. We screw this over and don't get out it's over. Even ifin some of us live they will scatter then hunt us down. No, 'If it comes to it leave me there.
 
Fernando: Hondo, I'm immortal, you know that. I can come back . . .
 
Hondo: an' put Tammy through all that again? No sir, not ifin I can help it! Besides, don't think I'm stupid, Jefe. You might be immortal to a point, an' you came back this time, but what 'bout next time? I've seen you get hurt. Is it not possible for you to get hurt beyond the scope of yur bio-pills an' yur immortality?
 
Fernando: I plead the 5th.
 
Hondo: I thought so.
 
Fernando: Hondo! Don't worry about me.
 
Hondo: Damn it, boss man. Of course I worry 'bout you, but not just you. Tammy an' Val worry me too. You can take care of them an' make Tammy Happy. All I could do is bury you again. I did that once, remember? Even knowin' you'd be back do ya think it was easy? Hell no! 'sides, it's easier for one to escape that mess than for all of us. Just let me handle plan B.
Hondo didn't wait for a response but scooped up the last of the stuff an' waled up the stairs to load the extras into the trunk of Fernando's car.
Back to top
 
 

Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out
View Profile WWW   IP Logged
Fernando
YaBB Administrator
*****
NY City




Posts: 2380
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #96 - Feb 27th, 2011, 5:56pm
 
Fernando thinks that he has to make a decision that he was saving for when the mission was over. At least part one of two of it. Perhaps now is the better time, especially when Hondo gets like this. Suicidal Plan Bs are not in Fernando's Options. He goes upstairs and waits for Hondo to return for more stuff to pack. It only takes a Hondo a minute as he does not have the keys to the Porsche, Tammy still does. He returns, placing the box of stuff to be packed by the door way.
 
Hondo: Mind giving me the keys to the Porsche.
Fernando: No.
Hondo: No? Why not?
Fernando (pulling his pants pockets out): I don't have them. Tammy does.
Hondo: OK. I'll get them from her then.
 
Hondo starts to walk around the steps to the kitchen where Tammy and Valentine were studying the maps but Fernando steps in his way.
 
Fernando: Actually, that can wait. I got a couple of things upstairs to bring down and need your help with.
Hondo: Oh. You do?
Fernando (walking to the stairs to the second floor): Yeah...
 
Hondo follows him up the stairs and to his room on the second floor. Fernando opens the door and turns on the light to 50 percent intensity. He goes to the laptop, turns it on and types on it.
 
Fernando: Excuse me. I have to unlock a few electronic locks to get them.
Hondo: Alright. Sure.
 
A bright light flashed in one of the lower desk drawers. Hondo did not see it as Fernando's body was in the way. Fernando reaches over and pulls out a couple of ring jewel boxes and places them on the desk next to the laptop.
 
Hondo: What are those?
Fernando: I would be lying if I said they were engagement rings. Now. I need to talk to you.
Hondo: About?
 
Fernando pulls out a funny looking bottle where the next folds back into the main body, and hands it to Hondo.
 
Fernando: If I can save time in a bottle, well, if it were possible, but its not. Know what is that in your hand?
Hondo: No. Is it important for the mission?
Fernando: It's a physical metaphor for Time Traveling if it can be shown as a physical object.
Hondo: What does this have to do with the mission?
Fernando: If it were to fail, and you do a Plan B, I'll go back in Time to pull your shot up hyde out of danger. We can always start over again, as Time Travelers, you should know that or at least learning it.
Hondo: You would go back in time and... what about your headaches?
Fernando: #$@! the headaches. I'm not letting a friend die out there for nothing. Understand that.
 
Fernando takes one of the jewel boxes and opens it. He then closes it and opens the other, closing it and giving it to Hondo.
 
Hondo (taking the tiny box and opens it): What's this?
Fernando: Living as a Time Traveler is not a good thing to do with a normal lifespan. You will quickly waste away your years and die in a life of a few years looking old and stressed out. Misao is going to learn that the hard way.
Hondo: And you're saying?
Fernando: Its an immortality pill for you. The other is for your friend if you trust her. Don't mix them up or one day you might turn into her and she into you as the pill energy matrix tried to set things as to its genetic programming.
Hondo: But why?
 
Fernando: Aren't you listening? Living as a Time Traveler is not a good thing to do with a normal lifespan. After we take care of the world's problem as it pertains to Tammy, you and I, what you do after that depends on what you have. I know you have the time travel parts from the Delorean in your truck, but its not working because there are some things missing. Besides, running around at 88 miles per hour is a very bad thing as you don't know what you are going to hit when you get to the other side. Why you think that Delorean became a pile of junk after a while? I have a slightly better solution for time travel but like I said, Living as a Time Traveler is not a good thing to do with a normal lifespan. Now, the choice is yours. Until then, talk with the girls about the weapons and devices.
 
Hondo (looking at the small box in his hand): If I refuse?
Fernando: Give it back so I can recycle its energy and reprogram for somebody else who is worthy of this.
Hondo: Worthy? Now wait a minute.
 
Fernando: Worthy, as in you are now to me to give you this. But if you refuse, then I will have to give it somebody else after you have been long since and gone. I'm not saying that I'm giving you god's gift, but maybe it will help you understand who god is and why he allow things to happen. While you're at it, you should go to the Time Traveler's Convention in a little town of Bethlehem in what is now Israel in the year zero and watch a miracle happen. Until then, you should not take this pill for granted. You can still get hurt, you can technically die but death only happen when 92 percent of your body is destroyed. Having a stake through the heart or your head chopped off will not kill you as you think it will. You will go through a stasis period where you will be unconscious while your body heals. The larger the damage to your body, the longer it will take to heal. A bullet to the brain will take you 1000 years to recover from, and you might lose some memories from it as well. Idiot doctors performing an autopsy on your will create more damage to your body, so get into a habit of wearing a medical alert wrist band stating no autopsy is to be performed on your body. You also have a lot to learn about the Science of Time. Time Travel is not to be taken lightly. Any event you were involved with you can never interfere in- Einstein's Laws of Conservation says so. If such laws were to be broken, my first wife Cathy would be here with me and Tammy would be in the cafˇ still crying about what happened to her family because no one would have taken that mission without either of us to help her. It is cold for me to have said that but it is also true and because I have tried. Thanks to Gadget, the death of Tammy's mother and Bink's indoctrination into the SWA became inevitable.
 
Hondo: So you are saying that all this is Gadget's fault?
 
Fernando: No it is not. Tammy's mother and sister were attacked because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Tammy's mother married the wrong guy who put up a convincing good-guy act and won her heart. It is this asshole who led a double life, his activities and his so-called friends that killed them. Killed them along with everyone in the house- other family members, servants, house staff and field workers. It was what the bloodiest murder scene since the Charles Manson murders of the 1960s. Gadget's interaction of trying to stop it made sure that we cant go back for another try for we were already there. Got that?
 
Hondo could only give a blank stare, gears in his head running faster than their bearings would allow.
 
Hondo: Then how about I go.
Fernando: The more people that get involved, the more target rich the area becomes and you will be part of the carnage. It was already been calculated that the more people go the least likely that they would return alive, there was only one chance to do the rescue and Gadget screwed it up and it failed though it is unfair to put all the blame on her. Besides, you go rescue Bink and Tammy's mother then, none of this would happen, we would never have gone to Italy, Tammy and I would never have gotten married and everybody lives happily ever after you could say. Those of us involved would now have two sets of different and possibly conflicting memories, and most of you would go insane from it. The immortality pill protects you from going over the edge but is wont be a pleasant ride, that I can tell you. Tammy would go insane as one memory would have her thinking she's immortal and in actuality she is not. You would have never taken that pill as here you are now thinking about it and go into screaming insanity from it. So, the choice is yours.
 
Hondo stands there taking this in. Fernando gets up and walks over to the closet, going on and pulling out a couple of t-shirts. He hands them to Hondo.
 
Fernando: Those are bullet resistant t-shirts. Along with a shirt or jacket with the same protection, it should stop most things fired by guns and rifles. Think of it as another layer of protection.
 
He reaches in and takes out a couple of shirts but does not give them to him.
 
Fernando: Three layers of protection- you'll survive what Plan B throws at you except for a head shot. Lets go and lets see if these things fit your friend.
 
Hondo was about to say something but Fernando interrupts him from saying anything as they walked to the door. For a moment, they stop by the doorway
 
Fernando: My suit jacket is a layer of protection, as is the shirt and then t-shirt under it. When Anne got me the first time earlier this week, I was only wearing one layer of protection- the t-shirt. The suit did not help because it was open, trying to protect Tammy behind me. So, if you think I will allow another hit to this body or have Tammy go through another hospital stay or funeral, you must be crazy. Then again, even though I may be immortal, I am still me- full of attitudes and mistakes. Hell, I can't see half the time. I am far from perfect, but if I have to do something to help somebody from some evil doer then may god help them because I'll do what it is that I can eliminate that evil for now on. In short Hondo, immortality as I have it versus how you see it is just an illusion. One can live for the next 900 years and still do nothing, while another can live 33 years... well we know what Jesus Christ did here on earth.
 
Hondo just nods during Fernando's pause.
 
Fernando: You have a lot to learn. Most importantly, those who make change in this world don't do a Plan B. And like the Marines, I don't intend to leave a man or woman behind- dead or alive. If we fight, then we all fight. If we run then we all run. Then we gather ourselves and return to kick ass. I cant do that if I lose a man out there. Understand that.
 
Hondo gives him a sour look for a moment.
 
Hondo: I'll think about it.
Fernando: Don't think- do, as a one of my karate masters once said. Now lets go and lets see if this stuff fits you and your friend.
Hondo: Why do you refer Valentine as my friend? Haven't you accepted her into the team yet?
Fernando: The team, maybe. But my life and friendship with her, that depends on her. Right now her only interest as I see it is in you. She wants your attention and not do wrong by you. But like I keep telling you, Hondo. Women are not equals to men. They might be able to do things as same or even better than we do, but they are not our masters. Nor are they our slaves. They are to serve us as we serve them, and that is where the differences lies. Now you got a wife out there that does not remember herself being as such to you, and prefers to see you dead. Who knows maybe she was performing those wifely duties to El Jefe, thinking that she belongs to him. What ever. She is not going to return to you and will kill you if given the opportunity. So the choice is made, she wants a divorce by hot lead. I say you give it to her, and give it to her and with personal interest added to it. Only then are you going to be freed of this wretched existence of exes and bad mojo. Now lets go.
 
Before Hondo could say a word on edge wise, Fernando steps through the door and heads to the stairs. It was something he did not liked but Fernando did lot in the worst of times. Hondo was right behind him a couple of steps away as Fernando walked quickly down the stairs. Once by the girls, Fernando puts the shirts on the table for them to look at.
 
Tammy: What's this?
Fernando: Something you already have and she is going to need.
Valentine: Huh?
 
Hondo steps from behind Fernando, putting the t-shirts next to the shirts. Fernando nods at him.
 
Fernando: Added ballistic protection. Bulletproof shirts and t-shirts.
 
He takes one of the smaller t-shirts and tosses it at her.
 
Fernando: Take off what you got and put that on. Don't worry about being seen in the dark, that's what the trench coats are for. Protection is needed more than camouflage. Remember, this is observation only. If guards get in the way, only guards will be taken down quietly as possible. Valentine, is it?
 
Valentine nods.
 
Fernando: Valentine, you watch and guard Hondo's back. Tammy will be watching mine.
Hondo: Now wait a minute.
Fernando: What's the problem, Hondo.
Hondo: I thought we were all going in at once.
Fernando: We are. But we will be taking different directions.
 
Fernando takes the map from between the girls. He points at specific locations.
 
Fernando: We will walk here, where the phone line junction is at. A crowbar and a launched RPG will make short work of it. Then we split off, taking the remaining 2 blocks in separate directions. You and Valentine take the left side of the block, we take the right. Taking the adjacent buildings, climb up to the roof, Take the fire escapes but be on your guard. Check the area before continuing. Once the area is clear, we will meet at the warehouse sunroof, take pictures, record what is being said and hide until they leave. Then we take the warehouse, study what they got. If the SWA wants action in this place, they can take over after we get what we want. If not, we burn the place down. Since there are no land lines in the area, the place will burn for quite a while before any attention will be brought in to take care of it. Do I make myself clear?
 
They all nod to what he had to say though they don't necessarily agree. Each one has their own point of how things should be done, and believe that they can step up to the plate when called for. For Hondo, its 'Plan B'. Valentine still wants to charge in and take out everybody in the room. Tammy just wants to prove to everyone that she can take out Anne. But none adds up to a mission with set goals and objectives as what Fernando has. They all look over the assorted maps and satellite imagery.
 
Fernando: Valentine- put on the t-shirt and shirts. Hondo you too, and show'em how to use the radios and cameras. There is only 2 hours left before we go.
 
Fernando starts to walk away. After disappearing around the corner, Tammy looks a the others before going after Fernando. She finds him heading to the rear exit of the house carrying the box Hondo left in the hall and follows him into the back yard and calls out to him.
 
Tammy: Fernando?
 
He stops for a moment, half way to the Porsche from the house. She trots over to him.
 
Tammy (as she turns around him and faces him): Fernando?
Fernando: Yes?
Tammy: is it me or does this feel like the last mission?
Fernando: It's the last mission if it fails and we end up in a gun battle with them. If everyone stays within the orders, we will succeed for the final mission in three days.
 
Tammy leans against him and sighs.
 
Fernando: Look. I have no worries about this as long as everyone stays within given orders.
Tammy: I know.
Fernando: Two hours and nothing to do.
Tammy: I would not say that there is nothing to do.
Fernando: I'm mission ready as are you.
 
Tammy inches up on her toes and plants a kiss on his lips. Going back down, she sighs.
 
Tammy: Not even for a quick chase under the blankets?
Fernando: I would love nothing more than to do that. But I'm too focused on the mission to be a loving husband right now. Nothing says that I can't still be a caring one.
Tammy: I would not want you to stop caring.
 
After a few moments of silence, Fernando steps back from Tammy.
 
Fernando: I need the keys to the Porsche.
Tammy: Keys to the Porsche?
Fernando: Yes. You did drive it last.
Tammy: Its in your suit jacket pocket.
Fernando (going in to both pockets): How?
Tammy: I put them where they belong in our last attempted undercover blanket mission, when Marco interrupted us.
Fernando (pulling them out from his left pocket): Oh.
 
He steps away from Tammy and opens the rear of the Porsche's hatch and puts the box of assorted items in the trunk space.
Back to top
 
 
View Profile   IP Logged
Hondo I. Sackett
YaBB Administrator
*****
Behind you!




Posts: 1349
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #97 - Mar 1st, 2011, 10:15pm
 
Hondo walked up to his room and Valentine followed. She looked at him to start a conversation but he didn't. His mind seemed to be elsewhere, or was he deciding he didn't like her? This bothered her. She wasn't sure about the whole team yet, but she really liked Hondo and wanted him to like her. Jeanie's suggestions haunted her an' made her question her actions, she wanted to believe Hondo was good; she wanted to talk to him, tell him what she felt like Tammy had said, but she was afraid, afraid of rejection mostly. She didn't like the recon mission, but she trusted Hondo to know what was best an' she saw how they had worked earlier. They may look odd as a team, but they were a well oiled machine for the most part. So very different in styles, backgrounds, an' ways of thinkin', yet under a common goal they worked better together than any of the set, professional groups. She did not understand why, but even so it made her want to be a part of it, yet without Hondo's love she was not sure she could do it. To work beside a person you love but not have it returned she thought might be more than she could bear, yet it would allow her to be close to him an' give her hope of someday. She told herself that she didn't know that he'd not reciprocate her love after it was all over, but Hondo's words rang in her ears as well. What if it was merely mission stress? What if she only felt this way 'cause she owed him? What if after it was all said an' done they didn't feel anythin' for each other? What would be left for her then?
 
Hondo broke her out of her thoughts.
 
Hondo: Somethin' wrong? Ya need somethin'?
 
Val stopped for a moment. Hondo didn't have his shirt on. She didn't realize until then how broad his shoulders were or just how well muscled he was. He had a little extra weight, but it didn't detract from his appearance any. She could also see scars on his chest, sides an' abs. In the mirror behind him she could see several on his back, of which some could have been whip marks, as well as all the bruisin' on his body from where the bullets had hit him this mornin'. She didn't realize how much it had hurt him, yet he didn't show that he had been hurt nor had he complained. I made her feel a bit guilty as well. She stared at him with a look like a goat starin' at a new fence may have. She stuttered for a moment as her brain spun its wheels then she looked down at the floor to get her speech center re-engaged.
 
Valentine: uhh . . aye, ah. . . I, umm, no . . . NO! I'm fine. Just thinkin'.
 
Valentine turned red with embarrassment. Hondo grinned at it at first as he realized what was up, though he didn't know what she was thinkin' on, but he raised an eyebrow as well. She had tried to get him into the shower, she had slept with him, yet havin' his shirt off could lock up her mind. He shrugged it off as that she had just been thinkin' on other things an' it surprised her was all.
 
Hondo: Alright. Put both of those shirts on an' make sure ya still wear that vest I gave ya.
 
Valentine: But both of these are already bullet proof. Why should I wear another layer? It'll only weigh me down.
 
Hondo: Every little bit helps, believe you me. I had just a vest an' coat on this mornin'. You don't wanna get hit like this. I'm used to a rough life.
 
Valentine: Are you sayin' . . .
 
Hondo: I'm not sayin' yur weak, believe you me. I'm sayin' yur a woman, an' I'm sure a very able woman, but yur smaller than I am, an' I doubt yur as used to bein' tossed 'round. I don't want ta see ya hurt, alright? Just trust me. I'll be wearin' mine too.
 
Valentine: I'm sorry. I shouldn't question you. I've just always lived in a man's world, but I've always been treated different. 'I always hated that. I just wanted to be accepted for who I am an' not discriminated against 'cause I'm a woman. I guess I let that get to me sometimes an' question what I'm told to do.
 
Hondo pulled on his bullet resistant t-shirt as she talked.
 
Hondo: Question anythin' that doesn't sound right to ya, but make sure ya have a real reason to question it.. Val, Ya said ya trust me, so hear me out. Men an' women are different. Women are built different than men an' have different roles. I'm not sayin' women are stupid or unable. I'm sure yur just as able as I am, but we each have our own place. You can live in a man's world iifn ya accept that you're a woman, an' wll be treated like one. Ya can work on cars, kick ass, fly planes, ride broncos an' such in a man's world ifin ya act like a woman, let me treat ya like a woman, an' accept that ya are. Ya can't make it in that world ifin ya expect ta be treated like a man an' try ta act like one.  
 
Valentine: But I don't like to be treated different.
 
Hondo: but ya are different. Val, you are a woman; a very beautiful, able woman. Ya have a lot to learn, but you can learn them, an' ya can be one of the best there is out there ifin ya want to be in whatever ya want to be as long as ya except whom ya are. Ya want to be on this team an' work with us?
 
Valentine: Be on the team? Me?
 
Hondo: For now ya are. I'm not offerin' a permanent position at the moment, but after this is all over, ifin things work out I'll talk to Tammy an' Jefe an' maybe there will be a spot for ya. But ta make it work on this team ya hafta understand an' accept that ya are a woman. You said that yur a Christian an' from a Baptist background, right?
 
Valentine: Yes, but . . .
 
Hondo: No buts. You know what is taught an' what the bible says, right?  
 
Valentine: That we are weaker vessels.
 
Hondo: Emotionally yeah, but none of it says that women are weak or unable. Think 'bout the Proverbs 31 woman. She was strong, able, an' respected. Why? ''Cause she was wise, worked hard an' could still be a woman. Ifin you can't accept who God made ya, how do ya expect others to except ya?
 
Valentine: I never thought 'bout it like that.
 
Valentine sat down on the bed as she let it soak into her mind. IT made perfect sense to her, but why hadn't anyone told her this before or why hadn't she thought of it on her own. She was considered a genius, though she had never told Hondo or any of them there. Not only did this make her think about herself, but it made her love Hondo all the more. She was now confused all the more on how to show this. Should she drop her panties for him, make love to him to pay him back an' show what she could do for him? Or should she just tell him? She knew what her faith dictated she should do, but was that enough? Hondo spoke again breakin' her out of her thoughts once more.
 
Hondo: By the way. I was talkin' to Jefe a bit ago. He now knows that I was married to Laurie Ann. He is intuitive an' knows more than I care for him to at times, but I know I never told anyone here 'bout this an' I don't know how he could know. Well, I shouldn't say I didn't tell anyone, as I did tell you. You didn't say anythin' did you.
 
 Valentine was surprised to see Hondo already fully dressed. He must have finished dressin' while she was thinkin'. He didn't look at her when he spoke an' he seemed a bit hesitant as he spoke.
 
Valentine: I thought everyone knew already. I was talking to Tammy an' said somethin' 'bout it. She seemed surprised at first, but I didn't realize until then that they didn't know. Should I not have told?
 
Hondo looked over at her with a hurt expression covered in a glare.
 
Hondo: I don't go 'round tellin' everyone 'bout your faults or life, damn it. So don't do so to me. I told ya 'cause I knew ya were hurtin' inside. Your eyes spoke volumes 'bout yur heart bein' broken, an' yur feelin' alone, but I didn't broadcast it! Don't assume next time.
 
Valentine: I . . .
 
Hondo: I'm goin' to the basement. We have to leave in a couple hours. Be ready in one hour.
 
Valentine: Can I go with you?
 
Hondo: No. I need time alone to think.
 
Hondo picked up a small ring type box off of the dresser an' placed it in his pocket. 'He started to walk out the door when Valentine stood up an' placed a small hand on his shoulder.
 
Valentine: 'Hondo, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean anything by it.
 
Hondo: Don't apologize, Val. It's a sign of weakness.
 
Hondo walked off without looking at her. Had it not been for his great sense of hearin' he'd never had heard her whisper in a quaverin' voice: 'I love you, Hondo.'  
 
He didn't stop or act like he heard her but kept walkin'. He just had too much on his mind to deal with that right now, an' had too much pain that he needed to bury that had been brought up again.
 
Valentine went back into the room. She took off her over shirt an' t-shirt an' laid them on the bed. She tried to hold back the tears but they came on anyway. She fell onto the bed face first an' topless. She cried softly into a pillow. 'What have I done?' she asked herself. 'Finally I find someone I can love an' trust, then I hurt him! He's so wise an' kind, though he tries to hide it, an' I only 'cause him more pain! Why can't I stop hurtin' those that I love?...
 
 
 Hondo walked down to the basement an' sat down on an old sofa he had saved down there from the reconstruction. He didn't mean the not apologizin' thing that he told Val, but he just needed to get out of that right then an' didn't know how else to. He was fallin' for her too fast an' it scared him a bit. He had fallen for Rose fast an' look where it got him. The same with Laurie an' Red. He was a damned softhearted romantic underneath it all an' it pissed him off at times. He shook his head at it all. He wanted to talk to Jefe 'bout her, but he knew what he'd probably say. It just helped to hear it from the horses mouth at times.
 
 That brought on the thought of immortality. Hondo pulled the small box out of his pocket an' opened it up. The light was dim where he sat, but the pill seemed to light up the room. It glowed with many swirlin' colors an' patterns. Was it so easy? One pill an' bam! Immortal? Yet he argued with himself that God's gift of salvation was that simple. Just acceptin' it was all ya had to do, no works involved. 'Course God was far greater an' perfect a bein' than any of them were. 'Hondo knew salvation had to be free an' through God's grace alone as he could never have earned it. Even his good works were soiled. They were nothin' compared to what God was an' did. Even on his best day Hondo knew he didn't always think the best, he cussed, 'got angry at things he shouldn't, drank too much from time to time, an' probably had shot folks with the wrong motive as well as other things that he'd rather not bring up even in his own mind at the present. Hondo Sackett was far from perfect. So why had God allowed him to be saved? Why did God forgive his sins? Even as unfathomable as that was Hondo sill had trouble with why Fernando had found him worthy to have this. He knew Fernando was a good friend, but it awestruck Hondo to think that Fernando cared 'bout him as a friend enough to want him 'round for eternity, as a team, kickin' ass. Hondo knew it was a rare friend that would do that. IN his life Hondo had been a loner, sometimes by choice, sometimes not. Mostly he just didn't find folks that could be more than acquaintances. Too many folks had called themselves his friends to only run off when he needed them most. That's why he tried to trust no one an' rely on no one. Fernando was different. He wondered ifin Fernando had talked to Tammy 'bout this. She might not want Hondo 'round that long.
 
 Eternity is a long time, an' this bothered Hondo a bit. He knew Fernando had a pill ready for Valentine, but why? Had Fernando gone forward in time an' saw them together? Did he know they would work out? To be alone forever would be too much of a burden to bear. Fernando had someone now, someone to care for, an' share with, but Hondo had not been blessed with good relationships. What if he an' Val's relationship ended like all the others? What if she turned on him after she was turned immortal an' came after his friends? The last thing he wanted was to be locked into an epic battle for eternity with someone he had loved, someone that would remind him over an' over of his broken heart until there wasn't a heart left in him. They say if there's not love in your heart, you have nothin', no song, no story, and no life. Hondo's grandfather once told him, 'Son, if you don't have love in you your worse than dead. Sure you may be alive, but your dead an' hollow inside. That's not liivn' son. That's pure hell for as long as you're alive... But what if they did work out? An' even ifin they didn't... maybe he would find someone else. But one other thing perplexed him. How is this all possible?
 
 Hondo stared at the pill. He didn't believe in magic, though he had seen things that would make your hair stand on end, turn white, an' promptly fall off. IT was not that he didn't believe in the supernatural or miracles, but magic is none of that. There are more things in heaven and earth then that can be explained by man, this he knew, but what was this glowin' pill? Be it of Satan or of God, this he did not know. Fernando could be odd at times but not for one instant would Hondo believe he was in pact with the devil over this nor would he try to give Hondo somethin' that was demonic based. 'Not only that, but Hondo didn't believe Satan had the power over man's lives to lengthen them, so what is it? A bible verse from a Sunday school class long past comes into his mind. John 1:3 'All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.' 'So God made all things. Hondo believed the bible to be true in all points, but sometimes interpreting what exactly was meant at times was hard as the bible is not all historical facts. Sometimes it is lessons that must be thought on. That verse made sense to Hondo. All things that are made were made by God. Nothing that exists was made without him. So what was this pill? If God had made it why Did Fernando seem to have a corner on the market??  
 
 Hondo sat for quite a while pondering this. He had been there for almost 45 minutes when the answer finally came to him. He almost shouted it to himself, but kept silent. He leaned forward on the couch an' grinned. FERNANDO WAS A TIME TRAVALER! Hondo remembered the passage in Genesis that talked about the Garden of Eden. In the middle of the garden sat the tree of life. The only 2 trees specifically talked about in the Eden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. When Adam an' Eve were driven from the garden the tree of life was guarded by an angel to keep sinful men from eatin' of it an' livin' forever. It was believed to be destroyed in the great flood of Noah's day, but it was created by God. As such the fruit that it bore would have had a chemical makeup. All that would be needed was one piece of fruit to be taken before the fall of man by a time traveler. Once analyzed it could be broken down to be specialized for specific DNA to keep it out of the wrong hands an' could be altered to heal a person's body as a temporary effect instead of the long term immortal life.
 
Hondo mumbled to himself: So that's how he did it!
 
 Hondo knew God had kept it from man for a reason, but he allowed this to happen. Maybe it was his will that a few could have this opportunity. Not that God needed them, but he allowed it as God gave men free wills an' as such he allows men to correct problems of their own makin'. Was Hondo Sackett chosen to be a warrior for God on earth? To right some wrong of man against their fellow man until Jesus comes back to rule an' reign? Or was Hondo Sackett given the choice to be so if he chose to be?
 
 Hondo weighed many of the options He held the pill in his hand an' stared at it. He heard the chime of a clock upstairs. One hour until they left. If he chose to take it no matter what happened tonight he'd be back sooner or later. If he chooses to wait an' think more it could be too late to choose later, though Fernando had promised to save him even if it meant personal pain to him. No the choice must be made now. Either he would walk up those stairs immortal or he'd walk up those stairs mortal. Either way he would not allow his choice to change his action. Even the immortal should live life as if they were mortal.  
 
Hondo prayed for peace on a decision. He found that peace in his heart as he prayed. He closed the lid to the box. His decision was final.
 
Valentine laid on the bed cryin' for a good 30 minutes. At the end of that time she lay on the bed snifflin' as she looked over at some of Hondo's stuff that was in the room. She then looked over at the clock. She did not realize that she had been layin' there that long. She looked down at herself.
 
Valentine (thinkin'): what if Hondo came in an' saw me like this?
 
 She wondered for a moment that maybe she wanted him to see her like that. Maybe he would find her sittin' there topless in a pair of jeans sexy. Maybe he'd see her cryin' like that an' he'd feel sorry for her an' open his arms an' take her up in them? But maybe he'd be upset with her as he was focused on what lay ahead. Maybe he'd find her cryin' to be a weakness. What is she offered her body to him an' he took it without love but only in lust? What if she was not pretty or sexy to him? What if he found her ugly? She wasn't sure what to think, but she knew she could not take his rejection right now. She also knew that she had hurt him. Tammy an' Jeanie had confused her, but maybe Fernando would talk to her. Maybe he could tell her what to do. She was still a bit scared of him, but if Hondo trusted him could she give him any less trust? No, she could not. She wiped her tears off the best she could, got dressed in the 3 layers of bullet resistant clothin' that was given to her, an' set off to look 'round the house for Fernando. She hoped he was 'round somewhere an' not in his room. For ifin he was she knew she couldn't get up the nerve to knock on the door. Ifin what Jeanie said was right 'bout nerves, which from personal experience she knew she was nervous, Tammy an' Fernando might be tryin' to sooth each others nerves. She knew she'd not be forgiven if she interrupted that at a time like this.
 
Back to top
 
« Last Edit: Mar 1st, 2011, 11:18pm by Hondo I. Sackett »  

Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out
View Profile WWW   IP Logged
Fernando
YaBB Administrator
*****
NY City




Posts: 2380
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #98 - Mar 3rd, 2011, 6:55pm
 
Mortal or immortal, the passing of time is different for everybody under different circumstances. A man with a orange on his lap would sense a minute as an hour, but the same man with a beautiful woman on his lap would sense an hour as a minute. Thus time pasted differently for everyone. Leaning against the Porsche as he held Tammy time seemed to have stood still as it rapidly passed by in relative peace and serenity. No doubt Tammy felt the same way, as the hour went by. The only thing that denoted the passing of time was the darkening of the Spring sky.
 
Valentine makes it down the stairs first and checks the first floor, finding it empty. She then makes her way to the rear of the house, finding the rear door open. She finds Fernando and Tammy holding each other by the Porsche as she walks to the door. She thinks to herself, 'There they are. Happy as any couple can be.' She spends a couple of moments to gather up courage to confront them with her problem. Holding on fast to her emotions, she steps out of the doorway and head to their direction. They notice her approach them but choose to remain quiet and see what she has to say.
 
She arrives just a few steps from there before stopping.
 
"Uhm... I hope I'm not interrupting anything important.", Valentine says to get their attention. They both look at her, noticing that she's wiping a tear that had gotten away.
 
'something wrong?", Tammy asks.
 
"I'm not sure anymore.", Valentine says.
 
Tammy breaks away from Fernando and steps over to her.
 
"What's the matter?", Tammy asks.
 
"I'll go see Hondo.", Fernando says as he started to step away. Valentine steps towards his direction.
 
"No. I need you to hear this too.", Valentine says, holding back what she could.
 
"Well, I think what ever you should say, you should say it to Hondo.", Fernando says as he points to the doorway behind her. Valentine turns around and looks at Hondo and then at the floor. Fernando signals for him to come closer. As he walks to them, Tammy walks to be besides Valentine.
 
"You want to say what is bothering you?", Tammy asks.
 
She nervously looks at each one of them, Tammy, Fernando and then Hondo lastly. She wanted to run but couldn't. She then finally breaks down and apologizes.
 
She takes a couple of steps to him, managing to be in the middle of everyone, 'I'm sorry Hondo! I really am!...
 
'sorry for what?", Fernando asks. Valentine turns around to face him but did not say a word for a moment, Hondo beat her to the explanation.
 
'she told you about my wife when I wanted it to be private.", Hondo tells everyone.
 
"Is this what its all about?", Fernando asks.
 
"Yes. She told Tammy and Tammy told you so you can tell me about what to do about it.", Hondo says in an angered tone.
 
'she told me but I did not tell Fernando.", Tammy says to defend her.
 
"You didn't?", Hondo asks. 'Then how did you know?", turning to Fernando.
 
"When I found you shot up on that bluff over the police surveillance area and brought you back to take care of your injuries, you were mumbling some strange things about names, an ex-wife, an ex-girl friend and some guy named El Jefe. Observing your actions, especially when they are mentioned in any way, you gave a stronger than necessary reaction for it. I just did the math and confronted you about it.", Fernando tells him in just an angry tone.
 
Hondo was not sure what to say, but Fernando says it for him. 'Its been a very hard week for all of us. Things are being said that should not be said, especially when the pressure is high strung about the place. We need to apologize for making things harder than necessary and start making things easy for each other.", Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo thought about it for a moment. Fernando was right in what he said but like most men, he don't like being proven wrong. But it was beginning to eat at him along with other things.
 
"Alright. I'll apologize but first I want some answers.", Hondo says.
 
"Answers to?", Fernando asks.
 
"Where did you get the pill from?", Hondo asks.
 
"The pill has a long history to it.", Fernando answers.
 
"We got time.", Hondo tells him.
 
"Alright. Simply put, the pill comes from another world around the Sirius Star System, you may know it as The Dog Star that follows Orion. They have been in war with the Orions over many thousands of years because the Siruians discovered Time Travel and the Orions had it first. Because the Orions had it first, they made themselves out to be the Time Police, and they try to set back other star system civilizations that discovers it. If they cant, they would try to destroy them. When Earth discovered Time Travel in several forms, the Orions went to attack Earth. The Siruians helped in defeating them but the plan almost backfired unless somebody had to sacrifice themselves to make sure the Orions were destroyed in a Time Vortex. The original Fernando was the one who scarified himself many years ago. The problem with Time Travel is that you quickly grow old and would die relatively young. The other problem is that you could be killed while time traveling. The Surians had created this bio energy pill for time travelers to solve these issues. The side effects are as you know- immortality and healing from any injury as it works on your DNA to rebuild your body constantly. In short you do not die unless much of your body ends up getting destroyed.", Fernando explains.
 
'so, it is not from the Tree of Life in Eden?", Hondo asks.
 
"If you want to be a Time Traveler, you need to understand that there are certain times and certain places you are not allowed to go. Events that you are involved and manipulated is one of them. Events by a greater power is another. But I will tell you this much, the pills must get their power from somewhere. The Surians and other star systems claim that they had god send their son there with similar results but gained a stronger belief. They say that their scientific discoveries were made by help from god. That includes the pill. So the Surian race is more in peace with themselves and accepts god in their world and live happily like some of other worlds. The Orions did not. You could call it a Intergalactic Holy War, but the Orions were destroyed when they attacked Earth, defeated with help from the Siriuans. Earth got God's message but it is not fully understood. They are willing to help us. But this planet must figure out that message on its own. Given time, it will. Now, the pill did not come from tree of life from our Eden, but it may have came from theirs. I'm not going into the semantics of religion. You believe what you want to believe, but this is what I know from what I was told and shown to see. Anything you want to know?", Fernando explains.
 
"No. Not from you at least.", Hondo starts to say. 'Somebody needs to explain herself of her actions....
 
"No, she doesn't", Tammy gets to Valentine's defense.
 
"Why? You set up her up to this?", Hondo asks in almost a demanding tone.
 
"I don't know what's in a girl's mind, but I'll back up Tammy in what she has to say.", Fernando says. He then nods at Tammy.
 
"I don't know what is on your mind, sir, but in having talked with her in those few moments we had, she has shared her innermost feelings she has for you. Yet she does not know what to do about them because you have not acknowledged her in any way. To her, you have been cold and being cold hurts a woman in ways you could not comprehend as a man.", Tammy tells him.
 
Hondo could only turn to face Valentine. She breaks the silence between the two.
 
"When you left the room an hour ago, I said that I love you. I don't know if you heard me or your ignored me, but not returning even a look, and that hurt Hondo.", she begins to say, 'I don't care if you think that I owe you or that I am paying you back, but the love I feel for you in here, in my heart is real. If you do not want to return that not even in the slightest bit, then I don't belong here in this group....
 
"If you want El Jefe either pushing up daisies or floating in the river, then you are going be part of this group and you are going to help gather information tonight so we can take them out later in a couple of days. You are not going to walk out on me on a mission this important, nobody does.", Fernando tells her.
 
"But...", Valentine tries to say but is interrupted.
 
"No Butts. What personal issues you have with Hondo, you are to deal with it during the time you have free. Once a mission starts, you are to do as required. Period. Hondo. Like I said, what you do with your relationships is your business. But when it interferes with the team and the mission at hand, then it becomes my business. You got somebody out there who you once loved that's wants you dead- that is an Ex-From-Hell. Exes-From-Hell do not return asking for forgiveness and wanting back in the relationship. They want to destroy your life and anyone associated in it. They prefer to stand over your grave and pee on it. If you make Valentine as your insignificant other then your ex will want her as dead as much as she wants you dead. That puts the both of you in danger. Valentine, you're bent over backwards on some vendetta and they know you are here. They want you dead as much as you want them, and they will take you out as with everyone else around you. That includes Hondo. That includes Tammy. That includes me. I am not to be some asshole's target because I hang out with you. So the both of you have more problems than what personal and emotional shit that is going on in your stone cold broken hearts. Deal with it. Or they will pick you off while the both of you are either arguing or kissing during the mission. I trust you to do this mission, I expect it to be done without problems. There is a time to be professional and there is a time to be emotionally interpersonal. The time to be professional is fast approaching. The time to be emotionally interpersonal is leaving. You two have 30 minutes to put your business in order, or I'm leaving to deal with the mission with Tammy alone.", Fernando tells them in the most demanding and authoritative tone as possible without being showing anger though it was heavily hinted.
 
"Yes sir.", they both say, one after the other.
 
"Now get back in that house and deal with it.", Fernando says as he points to the doorway. 'And don't come back until you two are ready to do this mission or I and Tammy drive away alone if you two are not done....
 
He continues to point at the door until they start to walk in.
 
"That was a bit harsh.", Tammy says as she stepped up to him. She leans against him and puts her arms around him as he replies to her comment.
 
"Don't care. I'm not going to have emotional instability endanger a mission or even endanger us. One #$@! up on their part, one word about their interpersonal relationship said out loud and every guard in the area will be alerted to us being there. If we end up in a gun battle and we get caught, I am going to kick both their asses for being stupid.", Fernando tells her.
 
Jeanie and her crew walk out long after Hondo and Valentine had walked in. They pack up their limo with the emergency medical stuff from Fernando's room. Jeanie walks up to Fernando and hands him his eyeglass case with the night time pair inside.
 
"You're going to be needed these.", Jeanie tells him.
 
"Thanks.", Fernando says as he switches the pair.
 
A car can be heard rolling up on the driveway, a yellow Fiat 612 pulls around the corner and stops several feet from the Porsche. It was Marco's car. He, Angie, Hillshire and Triela step out and walk to Fernando and the others. The girls had their guns drawn and looked around the area by turning their eyes and heads. Fernando could not be anymore annoyed at the situation.
 
"You came back to try to stop us?", Fernando says as Marco and Hillshire walks up to them.
 
"I thought we have an intell mission to do.", Marco says.
 
Fernando shakes his head at hearing this.
 
"Look. The chief had to put up a convincing act for the director. In turn they had to put up a convincing act for Jean. That's why Marco gave Tammy back her gun, shield and agency identification.", Hillshire explains.
 
"The others will be hidden in the area as back up. You know, Allessandro, Ernesto and their girls.", Marco stated.
 
"A Pizza Van will also be nearby for technical support as well.", Hillshire added.
 
"Why are you doing this?", Fernando asks.
 
"Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, we help our own.", Marco says, pointing to Tammy.
 
"You guys ready?", Hillshire asks.
 
"Not quite, but we will be leaving in 30 minutes whether we are ready or not.", Fernando answers.
 
"Alright. In 30 minutes we go.", Marco says, signaling to the girls to stand down.
 
Fernando goes into the box inside the Porsche and start taking out various items from it. First he hands Tammy a wrist-watch.
 
"I already have a watch.", Tammy says.  
 
"It's a two-way radio disguised as a watch.", Fernando tells her, pressing on its buttons to turn it on. Tammy takes it and puts it on. He then hands her a wiring harness.
 
"What's this for?", Tammy asks.
 
"It connects the radio to an ear-bud microphone for silent communications.", he tells her as he shows off the jack and ear bus/mike ends. "Put it though your sleeve and out the collar to your ear and out the wrist to the watch." He does the same to himself, though a lot faster that she does.
 
The next to be checked and given out are the guns with their holsters, silencers, and extra magazines. They were put together, made ready and put away. One of the RPGs is made ready, followed by a bright yellow box with 3 rubber shafts sticking out off it.
 
"What's that?", Hillshire asks.
 
"It's a cellphone jammer.", Fernando answers as he plays with the switches. An LED turns on at the top of the box. "Go call the chief.", he then says.
 
Hillshire and Marco look at their cellphone, seeing full bars on them which is odd because of the isolation of the place they could get 2 maybe 3 signal bars at best. Hillshire tries to make a call, but nothing happens when the number is dialed out. He shakes his head as he puts away his cellphone. Marco nods and smiles. Fernando turns off the unit.
 
"What's the range on that thing?", Marco asks.
 
"One hundred yard maybe. Don't know, it's a small unit but it also works on walkie-talkie cell phones too.", Fernando answers.
 
"What's the RPG for?", Hillshire asks.
 
"Its to take out the landlines with.", Fernando answers.
 
"You going to blow up an underground junction?", Hillshire asks.
 
"Why not? No phones, they cant call for help.", Fernando.
 
"Let us take care of the infrastructure without leaving a flaming mess.", Marco says. Then he makes a call on his cellphone. 'Hello Ferro. Yes. We are going to need the land lines taken out for the area. The crew can do that? Thanks.", Marco says before ending the call and putting away his cellphone. 'Now you are not going to need the RPGs....
 
"Why?", Fernando asks.
 
"We don't want a mess too big to clean up. We don't need the attention the media might bring with it.", Marco explains. Fernando nods at his words.
 
Fernando reaches into the box inside the Porsche and pulls out an Infra Red viewing mask and hands it to Tammy. He turns it on and points to the tiny screens on the inside of the mask, showing the area lit up as if it was daylight.
 
"I don't need one, but put that on and adjust it to your size.", Fernando explains. Tammy does as she was told.
 
"The cyborgs don't need that. They have IR built into their artificial eyes.", Marco says.
 
"Lucky them. So do I.", Fernando tells him.
 
"30 minutes is almost over.", Hillshire tells him as he looks at this watch.
 
"I'll leave when I'm good and ready. Right now I am not good and ready.", Fernando tells him.
Back to top
 
 
View Profile   IP Logged
Hondo I. Sackett
YaBB Administrator
*****
Behind you!




Posts: 1349
Gender: male
Re: GSB III: A Normal Life In Abnormal Times.
Reply #99 - Mar 5th, 2011, 12:19am
 
Hondo went inside the house an' Valentine followed close behind. The house was empty, as everyone else was outside so Hondo walked to the livin'room an' motioned for Valentine to sit down. She did so reluctantly as he stayed standin'. He paced for a moment. It was only a minute or two, but to Valentine it seemed like ages an' it was unbearable. Hondo just shook his head as he paced as he was tryin' to think of what to say but the words just weren't comin' to him. Valentine finally broke the silence, but in a small unsure voice.
 
Valentine: Please forgive me.
 
Hondo: 'Val, it's not that. There is nothin' to forgive.
 
Valentine: But. . . but your angry with me.
 
Hondo sighed: Val, I'm not mad at you.
 
Valentine: But earlier . . . .
 
Hondo: I wasn't mad at you. Yeah, I'm a bit annoyed that ya told Tammy, who I thought told Fernando, an' I admit I was wrong 'bout it.
 
Valentine: So, you're not mad?
 
Hondo sat down beside her but not too close: No, I'm not. But you disappoint me.
 
Valentine: How?
 
Hondo: You said you trust me completely yet you haven't been completely honest with me. 'Why don't ya tell me what's on your mind.  
 
Valentine: I'll try but I'm not sure how to say it.
 
Hondo: just speak from your heart. Straight out. That's how it's best. Too many folks waste time sayin' fancy things or playin' word games an' never actually say what they want or need ta say.
 
Valentine: Alright. Well, I told you 'bout my past, but I didn't tell you that , . . Uh. . . I planned on dyin' when I faced El Grande.
 
Hondo: What? Are ya sayin' ya want to kill yourself?
 
Valentine: No, I couldn't kill myself. I never could, but I was so alone 'an' so angry. I just wanted to kill them an' die. I had nothin' to live for.
 
Hondo: Val, you have plenty to live for.
 
Valentine: I do now, but I didn't then. You don't know what it's like.
 
Hondo: I thought we talked 'bout this? I do understand.
 
Valentine: I don't mean just that. There are other things I just can't talk 'bout raght now. I'm ashamed an' embarrassed 'bout it. Maybe someday I can talk 'bout it, but not now.
 
Hondo: Ya don't hafta.
 
Valentine: Thanks. Anyway, you were the first good thing that's happened to me since I lost Pa. I owe you so much. I owe you everythin' that I am.
 
Hondo: Ya don't owe me anythin', Val.  
 
Valentine: Yes I do.
 
Hondo: Val, No. You don't. I help those that need it an' I don't expect payment. I do it 'cause it's the right thing to do.
 
Valentine: That's why I owe ya all the more. 'Cause ya don't ask for it or expect it. Anyway, I found myself fallin' in love with you. Not right away as much as after ya turned down all my advances to pay ya back. You were not like other men that I knew that would take me, but at the same time I worried that it was only 'cause you didn't like me. You don't know how scared I actually was when I tried to make advances to you. 'I was told that I should get undressed for you an' offer you my body in no uncertain terms an' not take no for an answer, but I was too scared to.
 
Hondo: Who the hell told ya to do that??
 
Valentine: I can't. .
 
Hondo: Valentine, who?!
 
Valentine: Jeanie.
 
Hondo: I'll hafta talk to that one.
 
Valentine: Please don't. I don't want my words to hurt anyone else's trust.
 
Hondo: Alright, I'll leave off for now.
 
Valentine: Thank you. 'Well, when you seemed mad earlier I was afraid I was losin' all chances to get you to love me. I don't know if ya heard me but I was sure ya did, but I finally worked up the courage to tell you that I love you, but you kept walkin'. Tammy was right. You've been cold to me, not mean, but cold, an' it hurts so bad. I can't explain how badly it hurts. It's like losin' Pa all over again every time your near an' I want you to love me an' hold me but all I get is a cold feelin'. I can see in your eyes that you don't have a heart of stone, so why do you shut me out? Ifin you don't like me tell me an' I'll leave. Just please, don't leave me wonderin' anymore. My heart can't take it anymore.
 
 By now tears were rollin' down her face an' her voice was quiet an' shaky from tryin' to hold back the emotions. Hondo stayed silent for a moment as she stared into his eyes with a beggin', pleadin' look that spoke more volumes 'bout how she felt than her words could ever say. Wiped a tear off of her cheek an' she grabbed his hand an' held it against her face for a moment, then let it go. Hondo looked down for a moment then back up at her before he spoke.
 
Hondo: Val, don't think I don't like you, please but . . .
 
Valentine: You don't want me as any more than a friend right?
 
Valentine tried to look tough an' hold it in but she was obviously on the point of cryin' inconsolably.
 
Hondo: 'Val, please don't cry. I don't want you hurt. An' I'm not sayin' that I couldn't love you. I'm sayin' I can't right now an' please hear me out. There are several reasons I can't right now. Part of it is I need to focus on this mission. Part of it is you don't understand the stress one can be under. You no doubt feel somethin' for me 'cause I saved ya. It's normal. But a mission is no place for a relationship to start. I did that once. The last Mission Fernando an' I was in I fell in love with a gal that was workin' with us. We even got engaged, but in the end she left. We both ended up getting... hurt, though it was more on my side as I truly did love her at the time. It didn't affect the mission but it could have ifin we had broken up sooner. Not on my part though, which is another reason I can't. I don't let my personal life affect me when on a mission. I'm sorry for it, but I am colder, harder, an' more calculatin' on a mission. That is just me. Ifin ya truly love me you'll hafta learn to understand that an' accept it the best ya can. Ya also know what I hafta face out there this time. Now I know what Fernando said, but he doesn't know what I'm thinkin' or what's in my heart. Partly it's my fault as I don't even communicate with him like I should, but he understands me to some degree an' knows not to press it. Val, I'm not in love with Laurie anymore nor do I expect to get her back. I lost her several years ago. It was part of my past I wanted to stay buried. Her comin' back brought up old pains that I hafta deal with. Unfortunately I can't deal with these fully until she is dead. Once she is I can let the past be the past again. You don't understand what it's like to have what you thought to be past come an' haunt you like this. I just need some time an' understandin' from you.  
 
Valentine: so what 'bout us now?
 
Hondo: For now we can be friends an' mission partners, but nothin' else, but I'll promise ya this, ifin ya still want ta try for a relationship after the mission then we can try it.
 
Valentine: you really mean it?
 
Hondo: Yeah. I'll leave it up to you to decide after the mission. Ifin ya decide ya don't want anythin' with me, no hard feelin's, but ifin ya do we'll try an' make it work an' go from there.
 
Valentine: Thank you. I wish we could be more now, but I'll take what I can get.
 
Hondo: Ok. Good. Just understand, part of this is for your good too.
 
Valentine: How so?
 
Hondo: you heard Fernando an' I know what he says to be true. Ifin you an' I decided to try a relationship now an' were to show it outside these walls the enemy would see. Ya gotta believe they are keepin' an eye on us. One slip up, on guard or spy finds out an' they will target one of us to flush the other out. They are cruel, Val. They want you, I, an' those with us to suffer, ifin they can get heart an' soul to suffer as well as body they just get even more joy outta it, believe you me.
 
Valentine: So this is to protect me as well?
 
Hondo: yeah. It is. Honestly, ifin it was just my will I'd take ya up on a relationship here an' now. All the stress an' pain I've had this last year, I could use someone to love an' hold, but that would be selfish an' it's not the right reason either. That's part of the reason I want some of this junk outta the way first, so we both can think clearly.
 
Valentine: alright. I can live with that, but what 'bout us now?
 
What do you mean? We'll work together as planned.
 
Valentine: No, I mean the room.
 
Hondo chuckled: oh that! Well, we're both adults, an' not that I'll peak, but I have been married before so I know what a woman looks like. We can still share it.
 
Valentine: but I'll take the chair.
 
Hondo: No you won't you'll sleep in the bed.
 
Valentine: But what 'bout you? You need good sleep too.
 
Hondo: I plan on getting... good sleep.
 
Valentine: you can't in that chair.
 
Hondo: well, I figured to sleep in the bed.
 
Valentine: but you said . . 'oh. You mean?
 
Hondo: Well, ifin you don't mind. We managed to sleep together without any hanky panky. 'Like I said, were adults an' we are plannin' on sleepin' anyway.
 
Valentine: I'm fine with that I guess, but . '.
 
Hondo: But what?
 
Valentine: can I sleep close to you? I slept better that way an' I haven't sleep that well in a long time.
 
Hondo: Yeah, I guess that'll do. Now how 'bout wipin' yur eyes an' getting... outside? Jefe will be rarin' to go. We don't wanna be late, an' we want him ta know we can handle ourselves, though I thinks he knows we can.
 
Valentine: alright, but why did he get upset then?
 
Hondo: 'cause he's careful an' doesn't take chances. Even though he trusts certain folks he'll always be harder on ya in a mission ta keep you an' himself sharp.
 
Valentine: Oh, by the way, what were you talkin' 'bout with him. It made no sence to me.
 
Hondo: What was it 'bout?
 
Valentine: A pill an' the tree of life, an' other worlds.
 
Hondo: Oh, that. Honestly I don't understand it all an' I should never have brought it up. I was wrong. I didn't want to let Fernando know what I truly felt an' just kinda funneled my frustration through that. I was wrong. As far as what it was 'bout. You'll hafta trust me that it'll just hafta wait until a later date as it'll take a lot of explainin'.
 
Valentine: Alright. Maybe. after the mission.
 
Hondo: yeah, maybe. Come on.
 
Hondo stood up an' held out his hand to help her up once up Valentine used a tissue to wipe her eyes then threw it away as Hondo stood by. Then together they walked out the back door to meet Fernando. To their surprise they had company again.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Back to top
 
 

Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out
View Profile WWW   IP Logged
Pages: 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 ... 15