(note: read Hondo and Val's history to understand. any questions PM me)
Hondo and Maria Valentine packed the last few items they needed into the camper.
Valentine: I didn't think this day would ever come!
Hondo: I know! Finally we are our own bosses and my life long dream is coming true. I've always wanted to start a rescuing operation that could take on real missions and actually help folks.
Valentine: And being able to hide it under the business keeps our family and customers safe from revenge.
Hondo: Yup, between this and having you by my side, I don't know if I could be happier. Hell, even if this never worked out as long as I have you with me I'll be the luckiest man alive.
Valentine: You're sweet. I'm lucky to have you. You don't know how much it means to me.
Hondo (with a sly smile): Well, you can always try to show me.
Valentine grinned and smacked him on the arm: Now, stop that! We hafta get rolling here soon or we'll not make it by night fall
Hondo sighed: you're right. Lets get moving
Hondo turned and smacked Valentine on the ass which made her jump and squeal. She was going to scold him untol they were interrupted.
Kathy: You need a few minutes alone to finish this or are we good?
Mack: You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye at least I hope.
Kathy was Hondo's sister and Mack her new Husband though Hondo had known him since he moved to North Dakota.
Valentine: It's alright. We'll finish this tonight.
Hondo: I hope that's a promise, sexy.
They all chuckled at Valentine turning red after that comment.
Hondo turned to Mack: No we wouldn't have left without sayin' adios. Once we get the place fixed up you two should come and see it.
Kathy: I won't have time off again for a while but maybe next year.
Mack: If there's beer I'll be there straight away.
Kathy Smacked Mack on the shoulder.
Mack: Ouch! Why you hurting me, babe? See I told you she abuses me!
Hondo: and you don't deserve it?
Mack: that's not the point!
Kathy smacked him again and every chuckled again.
Hondo: well looks like you two need some time to finish somethin' now. Anyway we need to hit the road.
Kathy: Call us when you get there.
Valentine: we will.
They finished saying their good byes and headed to their vehicles. Hondo climbed into the camper truck and Valentine climbed into the Bronco Centurion with the off road trailer.
They hit the road and were off. They turned off of Ward County Rd 14 onto HWY 83 south. 70 MPH speed limit. The winds were light that day so they both set their cruise controls to 75 mph, turned up their own favorite country music stations and rolled on. about and hour 15 minutes into the trip, just as they enter the small town of Washburn, Hondo calls to Val on the CB.
Hondo: How's it looking back there?
Valentine: everything still good. I'm surprised how well that trailer pulls. forget it's there from time to time.
Hondo: good. We should be in Bismark in a half hour or so at this rate. We'll stop for an early lunch at Cracker barrel before we hit I 94 west.
Valentine: Ok sounds good.
They roll through the town easily enough and head on down the road. about 10minutes later a flash of light disorients Hondo for a moment. He didn't even have time to wonder where it came from. The sight threw the windsheild made him slam on his breaks,shut off the truck and get out. Valentine squealed to a stop beside him and jumped out.
Valentine: What the hell was that light? and for that matter what happened here?
The road was messed up, there was a couple dead cars rotten with rust beside the road. there was no readable signs and the corn fields that had been there a moment ago were replaced with over grown prairie land. There had never been a lot of trees in North Dakota but now there were none to be seen.
Hondo: I don't know what happened but somethings not right here.
Life lessons and Fernando's training kicked. They had been through weird shit before. Observe, listen, collect data and stay out of sigh until you figure out something reasonable. Unfortunately there was no out of sigh here. the hills were they could hide were another 30 minutes away on a good road. it would be another 45 minutes or longer on the current roads.
Hondo turned to Valentine: Val, you pack that special purpose computer Fernando and I built?
Valentine: uh, yeah. I'll get it.
Hondo: thanks.
While Valentine dug out the computer Hondo went to the truck, strapped on his pistols and grabbed a couple rifles. When Valentine got back he gave her a rifle and told her to get her pistols on.
Valentine: Whats wrong.
Hondo: all of it. Until we figure out what the hell happened we need to be ready.
Valentine: and after we figure this out?
Hondo: we might need to get more ready.
Valentine just shook head head in understanding and trotted over to the jeep. Hondo flipped open the lid on the laptop and as it booted looked at his cell phone. No reception. He looked in at the GPS in the truck and it showed that they were where they should be, so what happened? Valentine trotted back over just as the computer finished it's booting.
Computer: User voice ID pleace
Hondo: Hondo Israel Sackett.
Computer: Pass phrase please.
Hondo: just open, you piece of crap!
Computer: Pass Phrase excepted.
Valentine gave Hondo a look of not being impressed. Hondo ignored her.
Hondo: Computer, run time scan program.
Computer: Running . . . .
The computer beeped a couple times and the screen lit up with fake gauges that showed different numbers. Only two Hondo cared about right now. One was time line. They were on the right timeline. the other was time itself. that number made Hondo frown.
Valentine: Whats wrong?
Hondo: You won't believe this but we are about 55 years in the future!
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After Chaos (Read 186489 times)
