[Electric Camper, 6:30 AM]
 
Fernando wakes up though the others do not. It was not a restful sleep as the girls kept tightening their embrace against him at every flash of light, roar of thunder or both, either near or far. But the storm passed into the early morning hours before the sun rise, though there were some light showers to deal with. Just another grey day to deal with.
 
He manages to get out of the bed without waking them up, though Meeshie was tenting up her side of the blanket as she got up and stretched. She gets out of the blankets and goes to the end of the bed and looks at him as he puts on his clothes on. He puts on his pants, shirt and boots before picking up the cats’ food and water bowls to clean up and fill. In a couple of minutes as he puts down the food by the driver’s seat, Meeshie goes under the blanket to get Kitty and wakes her up. Kitty can be heard protesting in a series of mews but is eventually pushed out of the blankets. Before Meeshie could push Kitty off the bed, Fernando picks up the cats off the bed, placing Meeshie on the floor first and then Kitty.
 
As the cats ate their food, Fernando finished getting dressed and put on his hat and jacket last. He then opens the sliding door and steps outside, closing the door behind him. The fog was thick and the rain was a heavy drizzle. For some reason he finds the medical jeep in the front of the camper, but is not caring how it got there, who took it or where it went. He gets in the medical jeep and starts the long drive to Maddie’s place.
 
Visibility was low, less than 100ft. He had to take slow, paying attention to his surroundings more than usual as he drove at a poultry 15mph. It takes him over a half hour to get to the restaurant. Once there, he parks the Medi-Jeep in front of the restaurant and walks in. Seeing one of the few people he does not want to see at the counter, Fernando continues to go to the counter, ignoring Clara. He takes a seat furthest on the counter from her.
 
Maddie walks out of the kitchen area, about to say something to her sister but heads to Fernando when she notices him.
 
“Hello Fernando! How are you? Would you need a large order?” Maddie tells him in asking.
 
“Well, I’m fine. The Wessens in my group are a bit high strung though.” Fernando begins. He adds, “But yes, this is a large order – 100 sandwiches, 50 salad sandwiches for my Wessens that cannot eat meat, and the other 50 egg, meat and cheese sandwiches, mix and match them but label them please. One group of 15 of Ham, one group of 15 of bacon, one group of 15 of sausage and one group of 5 of just egg and cheese. And a large coffee for myself.”
 
Maddie writes it all down and repeats the order, “100 sandwiches: 50 no-meat salad sandwiches; 15 Ham, egg and cheese sandwiches; 15 bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches; 15 sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches, and 5 egg and cheese sandwiches. And a large coffee for you. Anything else?”
 
Fernando thinks before he adds, “Add 2 tubs of oatmeal, if you can.”
 
“Can do!” Maddie tells him.
 
“He nods before he asks, “How much?”
 
“Make it $900 for everything.” Maddie tells him.
 
“Sounds a bit low but I’ll pay it.” Fernando says almost to himself. He pulls out the sack of coins from his pocket and takes out five (5) $100 gold coins from within, putting it on the counter. “Here is half for now. I need to step out for a second.”
 
Maddie nods as she gives him the receipt for the deposit of $500. He takes the receipt and steps out of the restaurant.
 
Clara leans over to her sister, “Why is he here and why are you so happy to see him?”
 
“He comes here with a large order that covers my expenses for the month, and he has been making several orders this past week. Unfortunately he is going to be leaving soon and I will not be seeing orders like this for a very long time if not ever. Didn’t he get to see you about flight lessons?” Maddie says and asks.
 
“He came and I gave him a test, one that he cheated on and got a perfect score on. He also showed off some old world flight license which is faked. So I got rid of him and threatened him with arrest.” Clara boasts.
 
“Wait. How you know he cheated?” Maddie asks.
 
“It’s a two hour written exam and he did it in less than an hour. He had to have cheated.” Clara points out.
 
“CLARA! Only a licensed and experienced pilot like us can do that test in less than an hour! He told me that he is experienced but have not flown in a long time!” Maddie tells her.
 
“I do not know what makes you think he is special. He’s just another passerby who is trying to scam everyone out of what he can get from them before we find out what is going on and he leaves us after robbing us blind.” Clara tries to argue.
 
Maddie puts the five (5) $100 gold coins in front of her, “A Scam man? This and the contract he got me with the army say differently. It says he is supporting the community, which includes our businesses. If anything, I am scamming him, as the army is already paying for this food he has ordered but he wants to pay himself and make sure that it is I who gets paid.”
 
“Heh... that is how they operate. They let you think that you are having the advantage and then – BAM! (She smacks the counter with her hand hard!) You lose it all – the money, the services, the supplies, everything!” Clara lets out.
 
“So you are not going to help him with his flight training? Looks like you are going to lose a contract with the army and a lot more people.” Maddie tells her.
 
“I almost lost it all with that Wessen attack that night! I know he had something to do with it! Set things up, set up a disaster and tae what is left! That is how they operate!” Clara throws in.
 
“We were attacked by those Hector Followers from Wessen Town, not from the army. And from those I trust told me that they seen him out there fighting and taking down Wessens and all their power weapons they had. He saved us, he saved our town, and all I got was a bullet hole through my sign when this whole place, this whole area could have been burnt down to the ground. Furthermore, they put a million dollar reward for the capture and arrest of Hector and his men. You do not see any of them around and making demands anymore.” Maddie tries to explain.
 
“That hamster girl is still around and she was with him at my flight school.” Clara complains trying to prove a point.
 
“She, like many other girls before her, was tricked to be part of Hector’s gang. How she survived when the others disappeared or were found dead, I do not know. But if she is with him, and I have seen her with him, she is trying to get help for those kids she takes care of. But no one wants to help them. And from what I hear, many of them died.” Maddie tries to point out.
 
“Of course they died. Who knows what diseases they were carrying? They were selling themselves as hookers and whores. Good that they died so they would not be spreading their filth and illness anymore!” Clara tells her.
 
Maddie just shakes her head in hearing this. Not wanting to continue this, she walks into the kitchen area and does an inventory of the order he made. Most of the salad sandwiches are done, but the egg and cheese sandwiches are taking longer to do as the eggs and meat needs to be cooked but in the least the five (5) egg and cheeses were done and half of the ham, egg and cheese were done as well. She lends a hand to the staff to speed up the order a bit by assembly and wrapping the sandwiches that are done. Just a few minutes and they were done with the salad sandwiches; the egg and cheese sandwiches; and the ham, egg and cheese sandwiches. She sets up two large cardboard tubs and fill them the oatmeal order he added before he left. Her kitchen staff begins to pack up the order into large paper bags for him to carry out with ease.
 
Fernando walks back into the restaurant, taking the counter seat he had before furthest from Clara. But Clara has other plans as she moves close to his seat. He gets up and goes to the other end of the counter. Clara follows him and takes the seat next to his. He gets up to move his seat but she gets up to get in his way.
 
Fernando looks down at her, “Look lady. Do not mess with me. I did nothing to you and if you touch me, you will regret it. As is, you just lost a lot with me.” He tries walk around her.
 
“Yeah, I’ll get the Lawmen on you!” Clara tells him, poking her finger in his chest.
 
He pulls out his wallet and opens it t show his EMT and old NYPD shield, “Lady, I am the law. Those idiots you call ‘Lawmen’ were eliminated as they were not law men but bribe taking bounty hunters. Now poke me again and I will throw you on the counter or the floor and arrest you myself.”
 
“Bullshit!” Clara shouts at him, putting her hands on his chest to push him away. She quickly found her face being forced onto the ground and her arms pinned behind her back and her wrists being handcuffed.
 
Fernando shouts at her as he puts his knee to her back, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in the court of law. Anything you say, can and will be used against you! Do You Understand What I’m Telling You, Asshole?!!”  
 
“LET ME GO!” Clara yells at him.
 
“Nope. I gave you one warning, you failed to heed that warning, and now you have to suffer the consequences.” Fernando tells her. He throws in, “This is the price you pay for being STUPID!”
 
“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!!” Maddie shouts from her side of the counter.
 
“She under arrest for assaulting me, Maddie.” Fernando says to her as he gets up and then lifts Clara up by her bounded arms to get her stand up. He then bends her over the counter, growling at Clara, “Bitch, you messed with the wrong man.”
 
“Fernando,” Maddie pauses, “Please let her go.”
 
“Sorry I can’t. She harassed me, then repeated poked at my chest with her finger. I warned her not to touch me and she tried to push me to the ground. I threw her against the ground and cuffed her, telling her she is under arrest for assaulting me. I’m taking her to see the major and have her detained until the major decides what to do with her.
 
“Clara! Apologize to him right now!” Maddie tells her.
 
Clara just growls.
 
“Fernando, let her go and you can take the meal for free!” Maddie tells him, putting the five gold coins he gave her on the counter.
 
“I cannot be bought or sold, Maddie.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Look, please let her go and I promise she will never cross your path ever again.” Maddie almost pleads.
 
“Look, Maggie. If she would have done this to a ‘Lawman’, she would he hauled away in chains like she is now. General Jastrey’s army is now the law and I am one of her officers, and she assaulted one of the officers. Furthermore, she is not apologizing, you are. And you are to never apologize for somebody else’s actions – even if she is related to you.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Clara! Apologize to him so maybe he can let you go!” Maddie tells her.
 
“Never!” Clara lets out.
 
“CLARA!” Maddie tries to out volume her.
 
“THIS IS NO WY TO TREAT A LADY!” Clara lets out.
 
Fernando throws at her, “The only ‘lady’ here is Maddie. You, however, are a raid bitch. And rabid bitches get their day, and today is your day.”
 
“ARGH!!!” Clara lets out like a wounded beast out in the wild.
 
“Fernando, please let her go. You can have your money back and the food will be free, I’ll make sure she will never bother you again.” Maddie says.
 
“You have no control of her outside your place. If she starts up with me outside, I will defend myself accordingly, and use lethal force if I have no options.” Fernando tells her.
 
“You going to let her go?” Maddie asks.
 
“I do not care about the money as I like to be able to say ‘I owe no one not a thing.’ But assault on an officer is still assault but the crime is that much more severe in punishment. And I have orders to kill anyone that interferes or disrupts my work as a rescuer, medical officer or law man. I have only used those orders a few times including that battle that stupid Fox Wessen Hector and his followers. And if I run into them again, I will show them no mercy as their blood and rotting dead bodies will fertile the soil where they lay. May the vultures, rope dogs and land scavengers feast on their bones.” Fernando tells her. He pauses for a second to let that sink in before he continues, “What guarantees do I have that she will leave me alone? As is, she lost a lot with possible contracts with General Jastrey’s Army and the chance of bringing the air races. I’m sure there are other flyers in this town willing to take my offer of money for those services.”
 
“Let her go, and I will make sure that she will not cross your path. I do not want to lose it all because of one person.” Maddie replies.
 
Fernando puts the key to the handcuffs on the counter for Maddie to take and use. Maddie steps up to the key on the counter, taking it. She then puts her hand on Clara’s shoulder, telling her, “Calm down and don’t move so I can get you out of those things.”
 
Fernando takes a couple steps back from them as Maddie steps around the counter to Clara and puts the key to the handcuffs and opens them. She then takes them off her sister’s wrists and takes a step back to behind the counter. Clara slowly gets up and rubs her wrists as the handcuffs were on tight. Putting the handcuffs and key on the counter and slides it to Fernando to take.
 
Looking at Maddie but aware of Clara’s position and distance from him, he reaches over to get his handcuffs and key. Clara thinks she is being ignored as he gathers his things to pocket them, she reaches into her hip pocket to take hold of something before lunging at him while swinging her arm holding something within its hand towards his face. He manages to catch her arm by the wrist in mid swing, finding a small, about four inch, open switch blade in her hand. He clamps down on her wrist to pain her but not to break it.
 
She yells “LET ME GO!” before she manages to slap him with her other hand.
 
Fernando clenches his right hand into a tight fist and draws it behind him before arcing it upwards towards his face, striking her jaw. Her eyes seem to bulge out before she passes out and crumples to the floor.
 
“Stupid bitch.” Fernando says to himself. He then bends down and picks up her knife, putting it on the counter.
 
Though she had seen it all happen, Maddie could not believe what happened. She goes over to her sister to check her out, finding her unconscious on the ground.
 
“CLARA! CLARA!” Maddie calls to her as she lightly but rapidly slaps her.
 
Clara moves slight and moans in pain.
 
One of the kitchen worker places the last bag of food next to the others on the counter. Fernando reaches into his pocket and puts down another 5 gold coins on the counter next to the 5 gold coins Maddie put down in trying to refund him. He takes the bags and walks out of the restaurant. He open the medi-jeep doors and puts the bags on the passenger seat before getting into the driver’s seat and drives away.
 
The fog had lifted a bit, making visibility less than 1000ft. Fernando was able to drive a bit faster to his way home. But unaware of the time, it has been over an hour that has pasted and by the time he returns to the camp, it is approaching 8:00.
 
He parks the Medi-Jeep in front of Ruth’s camper and takes the bags of food to her camper food. Esther opens the door.
 
“Oh, Mr. Fernando. Ruth is not in, she is at Hondo’s camper helping make breakfast over there.” Esther says.
 
“Oh. Thank you. I will go there then and give her these.” Fernando tells her as he hefts the bags to show them off. He then nods at her and says “Thanks” before he walks away.
 
Walking around the rear of the campers, he makes his way to Hondo’s camper. He then knocks on the rear door. As expected, the one person he did not want to see opens the door.
 
“What do you want?” Val almost growls at him.
 
“I heard Ruth was here. I have something for her, and only her. If she is not here I will be on my way.” Fernando tells her.
 
Val just scowls at him before closing the door on his face. Fernando lets out a sigh and was about to step away before the door opens again. Ruth calls to him.
 
“Mr. Fernando. You wanted to see me about something?” Ruth asks.
 
He walks back to the camper door where she stood. Lifting the bags to her, he says, “Here. This is breakfast for everyone. I had trouble getting it but it should be able to feed everyone in the convoy.”
 
Ruth takes the bags and asks, “Anything else?”
 
“I do not know or care, but Macey and Zoey are not with me. But I need one Wessen meal and two regular meals. Ichigo will be in my camper to receive them. I will be out and about with the Major.” He explains.
 
“Oh. OK then.” Ruth says before looking at the bags he gave her, “Thanks. I’ll see you later then...”
 
“Yeah, laters.” He replies before he starts to walk away. It takes him a couple minutes to get to the Medi-Jeep, and drives it back in reverse to the front of his camper.
 
Parking and locking up the Medi-Jeep, he walks over to the front of the Medi-Jeep and leans against the hood and fender as he looks over the camp. The teens from the Night Patrol walk up to him.
 
Madison asks for them, “What is the situation with the morning meal?”
 
Fernando answers, “I bought something for our meal, Ruth is preparing it now in Hondo’s camper. Go there, knock on the door and asks.”
 
“Thank you.” Madison says as he signals to the others to follow him towards the back of Hondo’s camper.
 
As he leans against the Medi-Jeep, Fernando hears a knocking noise behind him. He turns around to see Ichigo with the front window curtain of his camper on the passenger side partly open. He gets up and walks over to the passenger front door and opens it.
 
“Yeah?” Fernando tells her, seeing her dressed in polo shirt and skirt, looking like one of the early teen girls on the Wessen group.
 
“What is going with breakfast? We eating with the army or what?” She asks.
 
“Ruth should be here after she serves everyone else.” Fernando explains before seeing Ruth opening his Dub Box trailer to set up breakfast distribution there. The four Bunny ring girls were there with her helping out with the set up. He then looks at Ichigo, “In fact there she is setting up. Tell Minerva to call her friends and get the kids ready for lineup.”
 
“Alright.” Ichigo says.
 
“I’ll be around.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Alright.” She replies before closing the camper door.
 
Fernando sighs as he walks to the Medi-Jeep. As he steps to the Medi-Jeep and lean against it, Minerva comes out of the sliding door of the camper and half jogs to the Kharkovchanka the children are in. In a couple of minutes three of the four adults there get out before the children and start to line up by the large vehicle. The fourth adult of the group, presumably Minerva, steps out of the vehicle, holding onto the entry ladder, closes the door and then leads the group in a single file line to Ruth’s camper then behind the campers and to Fernando’s Dub Box camper/trailer where Ruth gives them a salad sandwich, a cardboard bowl of oatmeal and a juice drink. They all gave thanks to Ruth and the Bunny Girls serving them before heading off to be by the space between the vehicles to gather and have their meal.
 
The clock moves towards 9o’clock when Hondo and the group at the hanger comes in on the other Medi-Jeep and a couple of barrowed Army Jeep with the Army Drivers. The army drivers park their jeeps by army mess tent. Hondo drives towards the convoy campers, seeing the last of the children getting their meals from there. He opens the doors and tells Macey, Zoey and the Wessens to go get their meals from where it is being distributed. He then cautiously walks up to Fernando.
 
“Wuz up?” Hondo says as he steps up to him.
 
“Nothing much.” Fernando looks up at him.
 
“This army chow or somethin’ the ladies made?” Hondo asks.
 
“I bought most of it from Maddie’s place, Ruth and Val added to it.” Fernando answers, adding “but if you want Army Chow, I think the army mess tent is open.”
 
“I’ll see ‘bout wha’ the ladies have to offer.” Hondo replies. He then asks, “Where’s Val?”
 
“I think she is in your camper. I have not seen her outside.” Fernando replies.
 
“Alrigh’ then.” Hondo says. He begins to walk to the Dub Box Camper to get his share but several army men surround him and Fernando. “Heh?!!” He reacts, thinking he is being set up. Turning around he sees that Fernando was surrounded too.
 
“What’s going on?” Fernando asks.
 
A few seconds later the Major and her closest officers walk up to them. She says to the both of them, “Gentlemen, we have a problem.”
 
“What kind of problem?” Fernando asks.
 
“The mayor of Wessen town and the elder preacher have been found murdered; hung naked by their necks on a tree by the main road and signs saying ‘TRAITOR!’ tied to their feet. They were bound and gagged. Our doctors say they were killed during the early hours of the morning.” The Major explains.
 
“Any suspects?” Fernando asks.
 
“I was hoping you would know. Our patrols say they saw or heard nothing.” The Major says.
 
Fernando picks up his cane and concentrates, an observation glowing ball appears above the cane as he concentrates on the Mayor’s final hours.
 
Seeing the mayor at his home, having checked on his children (two twin girls: Sally and Laura) and later his wife (Gloria), he did one last round before going to bed. After the lights in the house goes out, the shadows around the house move in, The girls were gagged and tied up before they had a chance to scream, and a burlap bag placed over their heads with hands and feet hog tied, followed by the Mayor and his wife who received the same treatment. They were taken outside and the females were put into a vehicle and taken away. The vehicle went to meet with another and both drove off the road where the mayor and the preacher were stripped of their clothes and beaten, though it was to get their attention and not to cause too much damage. Then they were dragged to a large tree near the highway and strung up to dry.
 
Voices were heard in taunting them, a couple of faces are seen, ‘Night-Hawk’ and ‘Big Chief’ are names mentioned to Bat Wessen and a Jaguar, as the others seen were: owl, wolf, bull and bear Wessens. They stayed around until the hung bodies stopped struggling. They then walked to their vehicles and quietly drove away.
 
Fernando concentrated on the vehicles leaving the area and followed them towards the stream where they crashed wreckage of the Globemaster used by the children Wessens as their base, but much further down river, to another set of pipes drainage pipes large enough to drive their vehicles through, but continue onward downstream to what one would call as a “Park Ranger Cabin on a tower, parking the vehicles underneath. They climb up the ladders and stairs to the Ranger Cabin on top of the tower and remain awake with the lights on.

 
Fernando says, “Where they children had their base in a crashed airplane by the river, you can see the fire house from there, it is about half a mile away.”
 
“Got a plan, Jefe?” Hondo asks.
 
“Major, I need 4 of your best sharpshooters or snipers and 10 of your commandos or storm troopers.” Fernando requests.
 
“I only have a defense group. No special forces, though there are a couple of good marksmen in the group.” The Major explains.
 
“Then I’ll take what you have – 2 marksmen and 8 or so combat soldiers. Have them meet me by the blue buggie in three jeeps.” Fernando tells her. He then pats Hondo’s chest with the back of his hand, “Come with me. Hope you are used to close quarter combat.” He then walks into the side of his bus, and with the girls on the bed, he lifts up the bench seat back upright and then the seat itself, putting out two Samurai blades, Wakazaki and a Katana. He gives the Wakazaki, the longer of the two blades, to Hondo, keeping the Katana to himself. Closing the bench, he tells Hondo, “Let’s go meet the major’s men.”
 

 
-To Be Continued-

Fernando and Hondo head past Karl’s and Marvin’s SUV and campers and the teens Dune buggies and campers into the open area of the parking area. Four jeeps roll up to them, with three filled with 4 men each and the last one with a driver and a single soldier, bringing a count of 12 men plus themselves. Fernando and Hondo get into the rear of the jeep with the driver and passenger, Fernando gives the orders to go through the blimp parking area and stop by the run way. They do as they were. Fernando gets out.
 
“Let me ask, which two are the marksmen here?” Fernando asks. The two the jeep with them raise their hands. He looks at them and then the others. “Now listen. We will park at the top of the ravine and leave the jeeps a few yards back so they are not seen. You two will take cover in the grass and aim your guns at the house of the ranger tower. The rest of you will be hidden but surrounding the base of the tower. You marksmen will shoot at any Wessen that comes out from the top of the Ranger Tower house. You others at the base of the tower will shoot any Wessen that leaves the Ranger Tower from the bottom. Give them time to get some distance from the tower before taking them down. Hondo and I will take on those inside the tower house. Any questions?”
 
The soldiers all shake their heads.
 
“Alright. Turn off your engines. I’ll get you there myself.” Fernando tells them. They look at him oddly but do as he says in shutting off the engines. He then takes his cane, spins the crystal on the cane before pressing it down onto the cane. In a flash of light they disappear from the end of the runway to 50 yard from the top of the ravine. He order to them, “Arm up, secure the vehicles and follow me hunched down.”
 
In under a minute they walk to the edge of the ravine and look down the small valley where the tower is in. It was fairly close, about 250 – 300 yards. They all look down at it from their vantage point. Vehicles are parked around the base of the tower. Fernando points them out, telling the men, “Anyone getting into the vehicle, take them down.”
 
They continue looking about, seeing that there is somebody walking about the town but not looking out the widows or walk out on to the outdoor deck. It seems that they are looking for something before continuing to walk around while eating something. Though the vehicles are parked downstairs, there are no other signs of life that can’t be seen but might be there.  
 
Fernando tells the soldiers, “Marksmen, hide and set up here. Men, I’m taking you all down to the bushes and vegetation around the base of the tower. Hide yourselves there while Hondo and I storm the house on the tower. Turn on your portable radios and keep radio silence unless somebody escapes or one of you men get hit or hurt. Hondo or I will give the call to end this mission when the end comes. We move when the marksmen are set up. So let’s go.”
 
The marksmen place themselves within the bushes of the ravine, lying down and having their rifles out and ready to fire. Fernando spins the crystal on his cane before pressing it. The other soldiers get teleported around the bushes at the base of the tower while Fernando and Hondo stand on the roof of the tower house. Hondo puts his Samurai Blade to his left hand while taking his firearm in his right. They both look at each other and nod, before taking a careful slide down the roof to the balcony deck around the tower house. Hondo’s side had one of the doors next to him; Fernando was far from the door closest to him. The one walking about the house turns out to be Jaguar type Wessen, looks like he’s eating his morning meal while the others are sleeping on the floor in various sleeping bag gear. He was looking out through the door where Hondo stood and was about to react when a bullet goes through his head from behind him.
 
Fernando crashes through the broken window, though not made from glass but plastic plexi-glass. Hondo crashes through the door as Fernando swings his sword across and through the neck of an Owl-Bird looking Wessen who was getting up. Hondo shoots at a Bat-Wessen who was also getting up. A Wolf Wessen tries to sit up and reach for his weapon only to have Hondo shoot him in the head. Fernando swings his sword at a Bear Wessen also getting up from his sleep. A Bull Wessen tries to play dead for the moment until things got quiet for a bit, seeing Hondo just feet away from him. He jumps up and charges at Hondo, almost gourding him as he sends him through a plexi-glass wall and pinning him against the outside balcony rail. He takes a half step back to lift and throw Hondo over the rail but is met with two high power rounds from the marksmen’s rifles, one going through his temple and another through the side of his chest hearing his heart apart. Fernando runs over to Hondo.
 
“You alright?” Fernando asks.
 
“Nothin’ but another set of broken ribs, but I’ll be alright.” Hondo says. He looks at the dead bull before he asks, “Your handi-work?”
 
“No – theirs.” Fernando says as he points to the ravine where the marksmen were. Hondo nods. Fernando then asks, “Did you see the mother and girls on your side?”
 
Hondo shakes his head.
 
Fernando picks up his radio, “All hostiles in the area have been neutralized. Repeat! All hostiles in the area have been neutralized. BUT! The females are not on the premises. Repeat! The females are not on the premises. Men at the base of the towers, be on the lookout for anyone coming but search the area for the females. Marksmen, keep an eye out for anyone coming. Repeat! Men at the base of the towers, be on the lookout for anyone coming but search the area for the females. Marksmen, keep an eye out for anyone coming.”
 
The replies were short and few.
 
Fernando bends down to grab the bull by the horn and drags him back into the tower house. Hondo follows him in and they look over their handiwork.
 
“What a senseless waste.” Fernando says to himself but loud enough to be heard.
 
“They deserved what they got.” Hondo throws back to be heard.
 
On one of the several tables of the single room house tower, Fernando finds a radio set up similar to the ones confiscated before from the mayor and Hector’s place. He goes up to it, finding them turned off. He reaches for the On/Off/Volume knob, giving it a twist to turn it on. He takes out a pad from his hip medical pack and writes down the frequency on the two dials. He takes out his portable Yaesu radio and turns it on before tuning radio on the table to the military frequency on his radio. He then picks up the radio.
 
“This is the medic calling for the Major. (Repeats) This is the medic calling for the Major.” Fernando says as he presses the microphone.
 
A few moments of silence passes before a reply.
 
“This is Com Officer Smith. The Major is out making her rounds.” A voice replies.
 
“Thanks for the intel, Com Officer Smith. Please get this message to her immediately...” Fernando says on to the microphone.
 
“Ready to receive message.” The Com Officer says.
 
“Target found and known hostiles are eliminated. Unknown hostiles are still unknown and the missing females are still missing. Need some troops to clean up and secure the area, and secure all vehicles, weapons, and resources here.” Fernando says on the radio.
 
“Message received. Sending to the message to the major by private courier.” The communications officer replies.
 
“Thank you.” Fernando replies.
 
As Fernando talks on the radio, he does not pay to attention to Hondo who has taken his little metal box of pills and takes one. He puts it back into his pocket. Fernando puts down the microphone before looking at the mess of the room. Looking at Hondo putting away his gun, he shakes his head as he looks down at the mess.
 
“Wha’s on your mind?” Hondo asks.
 
“When will it end?” Fernando asks.
 
“Maybe nevah.” Hondo replies.
 
“Yeah.” Fernando replies.
 
The radio squawks loudly into life with a voice on it calling out for Fernando, “Medic, this is Ground Unit One.”
 
Fernando picks up the radio microphone to answer, “This is Medic, go ahead Ground Unit One.”
 
There was a longer than necessary moment, the radio comes to life again, “This is Ground Unit One, reporting the female adult has been found, dead.”
 
“What’s her condition? How is she found?” Fernando asks.
 
“She looks beaten, bruised, gagged and bound. Looks like a gunshot to the side of the head.” Ground Unit One reports.
 
“OK then Ground Unit One leave the body where it is, and do not let the local wildlife or unauthorized individuals scavenge the body.” Fernando orders.
 
“Will do, sir.” Ground Unit One replies.
 
A few seconds later another voice enters the radio’s speaker. “This is the Major, what is the situation Medic?”
 
“Due to Ground Unit One’s position in the valley, I doubt you heard his report: The adult female has been found dead – bound, beaten and shot in the head. The younger females have not been found yet. Also as reported before, the area has been secured, and hostile targets have been neutralized. We need a clean-up crew to recover the bodies, vehicles, weapons and various resources like this radio I am on.” Fernando explains.
 
“Just need your 20*; will be there ASAP!” The major says.
 
“Get your Com Officer to triangulate on this signal to give you my 20.” He pauses his words for a second while still transmitting for the Com Officer to get a fix on his signal as he holds down the key on the microphone. He adds a few seconds later, “Word of caution, Major. The main road leads to a ravine and then the men need to climb down the ravine to get to the tower. Then recovery of the vehicles will be done on an auxiliary road to the town that parallels the ravine and the main road above the ravine before they meet near a drainage ditch and then continue to back to Flight Town.”
 
He lets go of the microphone.
 
The Major answers, “We got you located. We will be there in 15 minutes.”
 
“Thank you.” Fernando answers. He then goes to ordering the men on the same frequencies, “Gentlemen, the Major will be sending back up and a clean-up crew in less than 30 minutes. Let’s secure the area and inventory what we found. Anybody finding the two missing girls, report immediately and secure their locations. If they are bound and gagged, release them from their bindings. Any unknown and unidentified persons coming into our area are to be caught and detained unless they try to retaliate first, then shoot first and ask questions later. Stand your ground and defend your spot to the best of your ability. I’m not taking any prisoners home, only surviving victims.”
 
“Will do!” One of the ground units replies.
 
“Good.” Fernando says to himself but not on the radio. He looks at Hondo as Hondo looks over one of the long arms the group has – a Browning M2 Machine gun modified in the Vietnam and Korean War fashion with a shorten muzzle, welded ammo box and a carry handle, to be used as an “area sweeper.” This alone can make short work of troops moving in to the area, thankfully nothing like this was found from what was found in the Flight Town battle field. He then looks around and finds a box with the label “M1 Garand” and “Count: 10” on it. Opening it he finds what is said on the box, set of 10 M1s with clips, cleaning kits, and a 500 round ammo box. He picks one up and checks it out. It is in excellent condition, almost new for a weapon that maybe over 100 years old. He arms it, filling a clip with 7 rounds into it and slips it into its arming chamber. It goes in smoothly. He then waves his cane over it and teleports the box of rifles back to his camper to deal with later.
 
In a couple of minutes as Hondo and Fernando searched the house, there was an odd engine sound. Though before The Chaos this sound would be normal for this area, but for the here and now, the sound of a propeller powered aircraft would highly unlikely, but it is there. Since the radio on the table has to VFOs (Variable Frequency Oscillators), basically making it as two radios in one, he sets the other VFO to its former frequency. A voice comes up on it.
 
“Hawk Five to base. Got the camp in sight.” There was a brief pause, followed by “Everything is in place but there is no sign of life.”
 
Another voice comes to the frequency, “They’re nocturnals. They are probably sleeping right now.”
 
“I’m going in for a closer look.” Hawk Five says as Fernando and Hondo look about the windows and into the skies for the aircraft.
 
“There!” Hondo says as he points to out to a direction above the ravine.
 
Fernando steps to the window and sees the plane, an orange-yellow piper cub with some strange fixings on the struts that he can see, diving towards the tower house. He picks up his newly acquired M1 Garand and takes aim. The trigger is slowly pulled before the shot rings out loudly within the house. With less than 1000 yards of closing distance and a couple hundred yards of altitude (compared to the ravine), the Piper noses up and then pitches hard to its right before nose diving into right into the group. A lucky shot at best for many, even for him.
 
The ground troops and marksmen turn to see the Piper cub crash, but luckily it does not burst into flames. The radio remains quiet.
 
Hondo speaks his mind, “His friends will be lookin’ for him when he does not report in aft’ah a while.”
 
“Yeah, I now. And the Major and her back up are probably half way over there, only able to receive radio calls.” Fernando says. He walks over to the radio and uses the side with the military frequency, “This is the Medic. Do not reply; we just shot down an aircraft. Repeat, we just shot down an aircraft. It was not a blimp, but a winged flying machine. Chances are there will be others looking for it in a matter of time. It crashed some 500 yards from the ravine by the main road. Secure it and camouflage it as best as you can. We will be waiting for your arrival.”
 
As expected, silence on radio is only heard.
 
A few passing seconds a voice comes up on the radio, “Ground Unit Four to Medic! We found the girls alive! Repeat: We Found The Girls Alive!”
 
“Good. Release them from their situation and carefully bring them to the tower house and hide in the bush. The major is on her way if you did not heard. Give any medical treatment, field rations food, water and clothes they need before transporting them.” Fernando explains.
 
Hondo says to himself, “Too bad, it would be better if they were found dead.”
 
Fernando turns to Hondo, “What makes you say that?”
 
“Both their parents are dead, who is going to support them? My life is full with Zoey and Tonya. And you have Macey and that adult brat Ichikoo to deal with.” Hondo explains.
 
“I trust the general in creating an orphanage for the kids here. But you are right in that. They probably were beaten and raped by these assholes, so who knows what state of mind they are in. Scared shitless would be just the surface of it. But the kids at the camp would help them as they went a similar thing in having parents killed and being beaten and raped. With these two, I’m going to teach you how to heal others with your cane and the bio pills so you can heal others when I am not there.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Awfully generous of you to do that. But, isn’t there any animosity between us for what happened yesterday?” Hondo asks.
 
“If there was any animosity between us, you would not be here with me. I need to trust you through our good times and bad, and though I have not said it, I forgive you for what you did. I’ll admit I deserved it and you do not need to apologize for it. There are more important things than you and I, and that is getting this damn world right one way or another while we try to find our way home, cause this planet is not our home. As far as I can tell, it is a parallel world where the shit hit the fan in a major way and that needs to be fixed. Only you and I have the power to do it. And it will be done.” Fernando tells him.
 
“I see.” Hondo says. He steps to the window as he hears a faint sound of several engines.
 
Fernando joins him by the next window.
 
Hondo asks, “You think that’s his friends looking for him?”
 
“I think that is the major and clean-up crew coming in.” Fernando says as he looks at his watch.
 
Then the radios come to life, “Medic, this is the clean-up crew, we have arrived!”
 
Fernando replies on the radio, “Marksmen, verify.”
 
A few second of silence passes before an answer comes “This Marksman One – it is the clean-up crew!”
 
“Good. Secure the area and hide the vehicles before starting the clean up.” Fernando tells them. He then calls to the ground units with the girls, “Ground Unit Four, do not bring the girls to the tower house until after clean-up crew secures it!”
 
“Rodger that, Medic.” The Ground Unit Four replies.
 
On the other side of radio, a voice comes on. “Hawk Five, this is Base. Report on your situation.” It is followed by a long pause of silence before it repeats itself “Hawk Five, this is Base. Report on your situation.”
 
Fernando and Hondo look at each other for a moment. Fernando picks up the microphone, and in a squeaky voice says, “Hawk Five crashed into the reever.”
 
“And who are you?!” The voice on the radio says.
 
“Dees is San Miguel, Hector’s right hand Fox.” Fernando pretends.
 
“If you are Hector’s Right Hand Fox, then what is the password?” The voice on the radio demands.
 
“I Ain’t no singing and dancing Da Leettle Tee Cup Song for you. Only for Hector!” Fernando shouts back on the radio.
 
Hondo had to step away from not wanting to be heard laughing in the background.
 
Silence passes for a long moment before the voice responds “Not the personal password you have with him, the group password everyone uses with each other, you idiot!”
 
“You cawling me an idée-ot? #$@! Dat! No Password for you! I’m gonna tell Hector about this!” Fernando continues to rant on the radio.
 
A disgruntled sigh can be heard over the radio. The conversation changes, “Alright enough of that! What happened to Hawk Five?”
 
“Like I Sed... It crashed into the reever and is floating down stream. I can’t see it now, it probably at the rap-eds by now.” Fernando continues.
 
“How did it crash?” The voice demands,
 
“I saw it coming down to is, and it up before it crashed into the reever.” Fernando lies.
 
“Let me ask, it is windy there?” The voice demands.
 
“It is very weendy here, trees are moving as the weends blows.” Fernando explains.
 
“Alright then. We will be there this afternoon to look for the plane and picks up the girls.” The voice explains.
 
“Forget the girls. We had to keel them. They tried runnin awey.” Fernando says.
 
Silence comes from the radio.
 
Fernando picks says in the microphone, adding, “Wee be leeving from heer soon, getting soup-lise and mooving to the next campo.”
 
The voice replies, “Got that.”
 
Fernando puts down the microphone and shakes his head. “What an idiot...”
 
“Who you tellin’” Hondo replies.
 
Several soldiers come up from the staircase and onto the door on the balcony. One of them knocks on the door frame, making Fernando and Hondo turn to that direction. Several soldiers come in followed by the Major and her officers.
 
“Good morning, sirs.” She tells them as she looks over the bodies and the objects about the room, eyeing the radio on the table.
 
“Good morning major.” Fernando begins. He asks, “Your men recovered the girls from the ground units?”
 
“They have, and our medics are looking them over before we take them to them to the medical ward.” The Major says.
 
“And the aircraft?” Fernando asks.
 
“Being recovered as we speak.” The Major replies.
 
“Good. Some ‘Base’ called out for the pilot. I pretended to be one of these bastards here, and told them that the airplane stalled and crashed in the river and floated away downstream. But just in case we need to quickly clean up, take what we can and get out as fast as possible.” Fernando explains as he points to the radio. He adds, “If they call again, do not answer. I told them that ‘we’ are leaving the camp. But who knows what intel might come up.”
 
The Major nods.
 
Fernando tells her, “I’ll be checking one of the captured vehicles and will be leaving with Hondo in it. I have not eaten and I think neither has he. We’ll see you at the camp. I will want to see the girls after the doctors look them over.”
 
“We’ll see you there and then.” The Major says.
 
Fernando gives a final nod before stepping up to Hondo, “Come on. We’ll take one of the recovered vehicles. Want a SUV or a jeep?”
 
As they walk down the stairs in the tower, Hondo answers, “Let’s see what is there.”
 
Fernando nods as they get to the outside, looking over the vehicles. There were pluses and minuses as what is there: 3 jeeps, 2 with a small trailer of how knows what inside; and 2 SUV similar to what Karl and Marvin drives, both with trailers with who knows what is inside them. He says to Hondo, “What do you think?”
 
“I think this (SUV) would be the best. It smells the least.” Hondo says.
 
“It’s this trailer that worries me. Who knows what is in it?” Fernando replies.
 
“We’ll find out when we get there.” Hondo replies.
 
“Then you’re driving.” Fernando tells him.
 
Without saying a word, Hondo gets into the driver’s seat. Fernando gets into the passenger seat and takes out his Yaesu Radio on the military frequency.
 
Fernando calls to his men, “Marksmen and Ground Units who were in the raid, mission is complete. Fall back into the major’s troops and keep a constant eye out for aircraft and other boogies. Hondo and I are leaving for camp. See you men when you return.”
 
One of the men replies on the radio, “It’s been a pleasure serving with you.”  
 
Hondo puts the SUV into gear and begins driving it. Unlike Karl’s and Marvin’s SUV which runs on Gasoline, this SUV runs on Diesel, and it shows in its ability to two and climb up the uneven terrain of the valley before the drainage pipes where roads meet. From there they get to the main roads and ride back to town. Not much is said between them until they get to the camp.
 
As Fernando exits the vehicle, he tells Hondo, “Consider this the spoils of war. Take what you can from it and give the rest to the major. I teleported a box of Garands to my camper, so it you want one or more, see me later.”
 
Hondo nods before Fernando closes the door. Hondo then drives off to look for a parking place for this truck and trailer before he begins to take from it what he wants and can.
 
Fernando walks into his camper, only seeing Ichigo there.
 
“Where did Minerva go to?” He asks as he locks the sliding door.
 
“She’s outside with the children.” Ichigo answers.
 
“Alright. I’m going to eat and then rest for a while. Then I will deal with the bunny girls.” He tells her before opening the camper top. “I will bring them here for a bit so you will be up there while they are here. So you better keep quiet while up there.”
 
Ichigo just nods.
 
Fernando goes over the wrapped up food and goes for a sandwich and cold coffee. He sees that Minerva’s meal has not been touched but decides not to say anything about it. As he sits on the bed and eats, Ichigo gets on her knees and starts taking off his shoes.
 
“What are you doing?” He asks her.
 
“Just taking off your shoes...” She replies.
 
“No. Don’t do that. Just get on the bed and get down to your underwear under the blankets, and maybe we can have some alone time together.” He tells her.
 
Ichigo did not need to argue and just did what she was told quickly and immediately.
 
Fernando took his time eating his meal. He then cleaned up and put away his sword under the bench seat. He takes off his out layers and goes under the blankets. Ichigo climbs onto him and straddles him.
 
“I’m not going to ask where you went too. It is not my place to do so.” She tells him as she looks down on him.
 
“You should know – Hector’s men went and killed a few allies, we hunted them down and did to them as they did to our allies.” Fernando explains.
 
“I see.” She says.
 
“I just need to come down from this experience. Just too much, too fast for so little.” He replies.
 
“I know how that is.” She replies.
 

---

NOTES:
 
“Just need your 20*”
20 is short for 10:20, which is Radio 10-Code for “location.” So the statement made is “Just need your ‘location’.”
See: https://www.topmarkfunding.com/cb-codes/
Two receiving radio stations can locate a transmitting station by triangulation on the receiving signal. The more radio stations used in receiving and triangulation, the more accurate the signal can be traced to its source but a minimum of 2 stations are needed for triangulation.

Once they got back and parted ways, Hondo tried to settle down from it all by getting on going through the SUV. The vehicle had been heavily modified, most of the interior was removed for more rugged parts, seats, and roll bars. The roof was mostly cut out but covered with a snap on canvas cover, but seemed to have pockets for removable pivoting gun rests when not covered up. The rear had a single seat in it, with the rest of the space open for gear and supplies. The rear trailer was made for off road, like the one behind his camper, but was half the size.  The rear and side door were locked with padlocks, but he found a key on the SUVs keyring that opened the rear lock. Once unlocked, he opened the rear door to the trailer and it was stacked to the ceiling with food, camping gear, body armor, weapons, and ammo.  
 
 
As he stood looking at it, and trying to figure out where to start, Molly trotted over to join him.
 
 
“Wow! That’s a haul load! Where did you get that?” She asked
 
 
“Seems like some Os Animas thugs of Hector’s made a hit last night to make an example out of anyone who didn’t fall in line with his ideals an’ might be workin’ against him.” Hondo said flatly.
 
 
“What happened?” She asked in a worried tone.  
 
 
Hondo sighed, “The Wessen town Mayor an’ thet old preacher who warned us ‘bouot the attacks were stripped, beaten, lynched  an’ had signs on them labelin’ them as traitors.”
 
 
“What?!” She exclaimed. “When did that happen??”
 
 
“Sometime durin’ the night. The Major sorta commandeered us to look into it. Jefe, I, an’ a few soldiers went lookin’ for them… found them an’ took care of the problem but…” He paused
 
 
“What?” She asked
 
 
“They.. they took the mayors wife an’ daughters too… We weren’t in time… The girls are alive but.. they went through hell… They were used an’ abused physically an’ mentally, poor little things. Their mother was dead already. Raped, beaten an’ her throat was cut! … Not sure we did them any favor’s by savin’ them after what they went through.” He said in a quiet, angry tone.
 
 
Molly gasped at first and had to hold herself back from throwing herself at him and holding him, as she knew he was bothered by it all. She instead put a hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze, letting him know she was there for him. They stood in silence for a while, as he processed everything to keep his emotions in check, but though she did not know it, her standing with him quietly helped him a lot.
 
 
He sighed after a while and shook his head, “Standin’ here doesn’t get this done, I reckon.”
 
 
“Are you okay?” She asked hesitantly.
 
 
“I’m fine… Just getting’ sick of this world.” He said, purposely neglecting to tell her about his ribs
 
 
She nodded, “I understand, somewhat. It’s not an easy place to live, especially for a wessen, but we only usually have to look out for ourselves and maybe a couple other. You and Fernando take way too much on your shoulders.”
 
 
He frowned and gave her a look that to her seemed almost sad and angry at the same time.
 
 
“Who else will try to fix things if we don’t?” He asked
 
 
She sighed, “I don’t know… I.. I just hate seeing either of you so burdened.”
 
 
“Can’t walk away an’ no one else to take over. I don’t like it all either but I’ve gotta try.” He replied quietly.
 
 
She nodded and squeezed his arm again, “I.. I don’t completely understand, but I know it’s who you are and.. and its part of the reason I love you.”
 
 
He shook his head, “You’re better off findin’ someone else to care ‘bout. This life chews up an’ spits folks out… You see what it did to Val. I can’t walk away an’ if you’re with me I can’t protect you from its effects… Don’t want you hurt because of me.”
 
 
She gave him a soft smile, “I knew what you were about when I signed up to be your partner, for now at least.”
 
 
He raised an eyebrow at her, “Signed up? Hell, you marched in an’ told me ya had the job before I was sure a position was open!”
 
 
She grinned and shook her head, “I’d not have pushed if I didn’t think you needed me as much as I needed you.”
 
 
He nodded, “Well, you were right… Just hope this hell doesn’t overwhelm you.”
 
 
“We just take it one day at a time, that’s all we can do… Now, are you hungry? We saved a sandwich and a Danish for you.” She said
 
 
He shook his head, “I.. I don’t think I’m ready to eat, honestly.”
 
 
“You need to eat, though.” She pushed.
 
 
He sighed, “As long at there’s not ketchup or the like on it… had my fill of seein’ red today.”
 
 
“Sausage egg and cheese sandwich and a cherry cheese Danish? Can put some mustard on it like you like.” She offered
 
 
He chuckled lightly, “Heh, figurin’ me out already are ya? Well, I reckon I could try a bite of that.”
 
 
She nodded and smiled at him as she started to leave him and head for Ruth’s camper. She stopped short, though, and looked back at the trailer with a curious look. Her ears twitched as she seemed to listen intently for a moment.
 
 
“You hear that?” She whispered.
 
 
He shook his head, “Hear what? I didn’t hear anythin’. My ears are still ringin’ a bit from shootin’ guns inside a buildin’.
 
 
She frowned and shook her head, “I.. I’m not sure. It’s almost like I though I heard someone or something whimper in the trailer.”
 
 
He looked at the trailer where she still stared and after a moment he thought he heard something but was unsure until Molly spoke up.
 
 
“There is was again! You hear it?” She asked.
 
 
 “I think so… there’s a side door on this thing.” He said as he nodded and walked around the side.  
 
 
The side was locked by a padlock, like the back had been, but none of the keys seemed to fit it.
 
 
He shook his head, “Damn, I think my bolt cutters are in the Bronco, along with most of my hand tools.”
 
 
“Maybe the soldiers have one.” Molly suggested.  
 
 
“One what?” A familiar voice asked.
 
 
They turned to see the major standing there, though they were both so concentrating on the task at hand they had failed to hear her approach.
 
 
“We think we heard something whimper in there, but it’s locked.” Molly said before.  
 
 
“We should have some boltcutters that will handle that lock. I’ll have some brought over.” The major replied.  
 
 
As she walked back to her jeep to ask for some to be brought over they waited by the trailer. She joined them again a minute later.
 
 
“I have a couple men coming with bolt cutters and a tranquilizer gun. If they have some animal locked in there that’s loyal to them we might need to deal with it and possibly put it down.” She said.
 
 
“Put it down?! What do you think it is?” Molly asked
 
 
“It’s not unheard of for these special assassin groups to have tracker attack dogs. Unfortunately, they are trained to fear only their masters and there is nothing you can do but put them down.” The Major replied.
 
 
“So, you’ve dealt with their ilk before?” Hondo asked.
 
 
She shook her head, “No, not personally at least, but I’ve read reports on others who have.”
 
 
As they talked another jeep squealed up, with two men and one woman soldier. The woman carried a tranquilizer gun and one of the men had a pair of bolt cutters. The major pointed at the door in question, which the one man walked up to and cut the lock off before putting the cutters into his back pocket. The other two got in position, one with the tranq gun and the other with a pistol, standing ready for the door to be opened.  
 
 
“You might want to stand back.” The major said.
 
 
Hondo shook his head, “I’ll be fine… Molly, you step back a bit.”
 
 
Molly nodded and stepped back quietly, though she wanted to argue, but knew it was not her place to do so.
 
 
The man on the door held up three fingers and slowly counted down. On one he yanked the door open and stepped back as the other pointed their guns at the opening.
 
 
“Don’t shoot!” Hondo called out as his eyes focused on the sigh in front of him.  
 
 
What appeared to be a young wessen boy, of some canine lineage, huddled in the back of a small cage built into the front of the trailer, cowering away from them. He had on only tattered cutoff jeans and what appeared to be a shock collar, which was locked around his neck. His hair was long and unkept, his finger and toe nails all long, dirty, and jagged, he was dirty from head to toe and stank like shit.
 
 
Hondo stepped forward carefully and held his hands out non-threateningly.
 
 
“Easy now, boy. We aren’t gonna hurt ya. We want to help.” Hondo said quietly.
 
 
The boy growled at him so he stopped in his tracks.
 
 
“We won’t hurt you… You understand me?” Hondo said.
 
 
The boy just stared at him with a terrified look as he growled softly.
 
 
“Somethin’s wrong, here.” Hondo said to the others after a moment.
 
 
“He might not be right in the head… looks like he was abused.” The major said.
 
 
Hondo nodded, “Yeah, so stay ready with that tranq, but put the other guns away.”
 
 
The two men holstered their pistols and put on gloves. Once ready Hondo started forward again.
 
 
“Now, boy, we can’t help if you don’t trust us. I reckon it’s hard to after what’s happened to you, but ya have to try.” He said as soothingly as he could.
 
 
The boy stopped growling for a moment and then without warning launched himself at Hondo. Hondo took a step back quickly to get a better stance but he twisted wrong and his hurt ribs reminded him that they were there. He winced at the pain and lost a half second of concentration, which cost him as the boy hit him and knocked him to the ground. The boy weighed next to nothing, but was wiry. Had Hondo been ready the boy wouldn’t have knocked him down, but his footing was bad and he half stumbled from the pain that shot through him, so he fell. The boy tried to take advantage or this and tried to bite his neck, but Hondo’s reflexes were fast enough to push him away. Two of the soldiers leapt at the boy and tried to grab him. They had him almost off Hondo when he slipped out of their grasps, lunged forward and used his long, jagged fingernails to slice through Hondo shirt and cut jagged lines down his chest and onto his stomach. The soldiers leapt forward and grabbed him again, pulling him off Hondo enough to let him scramble to his feet. He stood there holding his side and panting as the soldiers struggled to hold the thrashing, growling bot on the ground.
 
 
“Shoot now, corporal!” The major commanded at which the woman with the tranq gun shot the boy in the ass with a dart.
 
 
The boy froze up suddenly and looked up at Hondo with a look of pure terror as he whimpered pitifully before passing out.
 
 
The Major bent down and checked the boy’s pulse, giving off a sigh as she nodded after a moment.
 
 
“He’s alive, but his vitals are weak… Get him to the medic now!” She ordered.
 
 
Yes, major!” One of the men said as they grabbed the boy and carried him to the jeep as the woman soldier climbed into the drivers seat and fired the machine up.
 
 
After they left the major walked up to Hondo, who stood watching the jeep retreat off in the distance.
 
 
Are you alright?” She asked
 
 
“What the hell was that?!” He asked, ignoring her question for the moment.
 
 
She shook her head, “I don’t know. I’ve heard of certain wessen being used for tracking but… I have my theories on it but I’d rather not say until we’ve checked the boy over.”
 
 
Hondo sighed and shook his head, before saying something he would later regret, “I’m not sure this day could get more #$@!ed up.”
 
 
The major sighed, “You look like you need to see the medic and then get some rest.”
 
 
“I’ll be fine… I can fix up these scratches on my own, an’ restin’ is out of the question at the moment… Now, I’m sure this sin’t what you were here for originally.” Hondo said trying to change the subject.
 
 
She nodded, “I just wanted to let you and Fernando know that we have gathered all the flying machine parts, vehicles, and bodies, and they are on their way back. We’ll go through everything, catalogue all the supplies, and try to figure out who we fought out there. You and Fernando have first pick of the gear and we will let you know if we figure anything else out about the assassins.”  
 
 
Hondo nodded, “Sounds good, Major, and.. thanks.”
 
 
She nodded, “It’s my pleasure. It’s dirty work, but with your and Fernando’s help, we’ve fixed more problems in a month than we have since I became a soldier. All of this makes my choice to be a soldier worthwhile.”
 
 
He nodded, “I’m glad we can help.”
 
 
“Well, if you need anything else, let us know, but for now I will leave you to it.” She replied with a snappy salute before turning and heading back to her jeep.  
 
 
Once she had gone Molly walked up slowly and carefully took his hand as she looked at him with a worried look.
 
 
“You sure you’re okay?” She asked.
 
 
“I’m fine! These are just … “He paused as he looked down at his shirt that now was fairly wet with blood, “just look worse than they are… Honestly, I’m more worried ‘bout what I saw here… what the hell did they do to him?”
 
 
Molly shook her head, “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense for them to use other wessen like that.”
 
 
Hondo almost nodded in agreement but a thought popped into his head, “It doesn’t unless he’s not full blood wessen.”
 
 
She raised an eyebrow at him, “What does that have to do with anything?”
 
 
“Somethin’ Jefe said ‘bout that hamster girl he’s with. She was beaten by hector an’ used as a #$@! toy by Hector’s men ‘cause she’s a half breed an’ not pure. I guess Hector wants her back, but not sure why.” He said flatly.
 
 
“He’s insane! How are part wessen any less than the rest of us?” Molly exclaimed.
 
 
“It is insane, an’ there’s no other word for it.” He replied.
 
 
The stood silently again for a moment, in the damp, drizzle, both thinking about it all, before Molly broke the silence.
 
 
“You should get those scratches cleaned up… You want me to help?” She asked.
 
 
“No, I’ll take care of them. Need you to look after Tonya an’ the girls for me. Getting’ close on to lunch time, I reckon. Maybe see if y’all can help with that an’ then we’ll meet up at the hanger after so I can talk with the girls.” He said.
 
 
“You want that sandwich still?” Molly asked.
 
 
“No, I don’t …” He paused his has stomach growled at him, reminding him that it still was unsettled,” … Maybe I should eat it… Just don’t worry ‘bout lunch for me.”
 
 
She nodded and let go of his hand before trotting off to grab his late breakfast.
 
 
After she left he sighed and leaned back against the trailer. He tried to pull the fabric away from the wounds but he grimaced at the pain and left it alone, fearing they were worse than he thought and he did not want to worry Molly further.
 
 
She returned shortly and handed him a small bag with the sandwich and Danish in it. He grabbed the bag but she did not let go at first, but gave him a worried look.
 
 
“You sure you’re okay? You wouldn’t lie to me about it, would you?” She asked timidly.
 
 
He sighed, “They are just flesh wounds. I’ve been hurt worse before.”
 
 
“And you weren’t hurt going after those assassin?” She asked
 
 
He frowned a bit more as he worded his answer carefully, “Got tossed ‘round by this bull wessen a bit, so I’m a bit sore and stiff, but other than movin’ a bit slower I’m alright.”
 
 
She sighed, looked at the ground, and spoke very softly, “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
 
 
He shook his head, “I don’t know… Guess I didn’t want you to worry.”
 
 
Her head snapped up as she gave him a worried look and spoke in desperate but quiet tones, “But that’s what I’m supposed to do!”
 
 
“I don’t want anyone worryin’ ‘bout me!” He half growled back.
 
 
“But I want to! Don’t you understand that not knowing and worrying something is wrong is worse than knowing even the bad truth!” She exclaimed.
 
 
He looked away and sighed, “Molly…”
 
 
“No, don’t Molly me! We said we’d not lie to each other! Omitting the truth is the same!” She exclaimed in a whisper.
 
 
He nodded, “You’re right… I’m sorry. I used to do the same with Val to. Always bothered me when she worried an’ I thought tryin’ to keep it to myself would help.”
 
 
She shook her head, “It doesn’t. We women know when our man is hurt or bothered. We know we can’t always help, but our minds always go to the worst possible problem when we don’t know! Please, please don’t hide these things from me… I know we might be only temporary, but I need to be able to trust you and I can’t when you hide your hurt from me.”
 
 
He nodded, “I am sorry, Molly. .. I reckon I try to treat you like I did Val at times, an’ forget you’re two different people.”
 
 
She let go of the bag finally and put a hand lightly on his arm.
 
 
“She left you in her darkest time and made your life dark. We found each other at our darkest and tried to make light together. I know this world is horrible and your work will cause you pain mentally and physically. I knew and accepted that before I told you that we needed each other. I don’t want to be protected from your darkness. I want to be let in so I can try to help make the darkness flee. After all I’ve seen alone and we’ve seen together, can you begrudge me that?” She asked.
 
 
He shook his head, “No.. No I can’t.”
 
 
She gave him a soft smile, “Then, please let me in and be honest... Now, are you okay?”
 
 
“I hurt like hell, have busted ribs, feel tired, my guts are churnin’, an’ these scratches burn like hell! On top of that I’m wound up from fightin’ an’ killin’ those assassins an’ fightin’ that boy, angry at how I found him an’ the mayors’ daughters, an’ a bit depressed that for all that killin’ we did little good! Now, I know you want to help but I need some time alone in my head to sort things out, an’ dressin’ these wounds an’ goin’ through this trailer at the hanger for a while, without help, I reckon to be the best way. Does that work for honesty?” He asked in a slightly exasperated tone.
 
 
She smiled and him and took a step forward, speaking softly to make sure she was not heard, “If we weren’t in camp I’d kiss you so passionately that I’m sure I’d accidently hurt your ribs.”
 
 
He stared at her for a second before chuckling and shaking his head, “Woman, you’re somethin’ else, you know that?”
 
 
She grinned and nodded, “I know… Now, you go eat and take care of yourself. We’ll be back this afternoon, maybe I’ll pick something up and we can cook at the hanger tonight and not worry about having to come to camp.”
 
 
He shook his head, “Get breakfast instead. That way we can sleep in an’ the others can get fed.”
 
 
She nodded, “I like that idea better.”
 
 
She then gave him another grin, turned and walked away, giving her hips an extra swish and her tail and extra flick as she retreated.  As he stood there looking and smiling a bit a voice behind him made the good feeling flee.
 
 
“You love her, don’t you?” The woman’s voice asked.
 
 
He turned to see Val standing there, rather timidly, in a sweatshirt and old pair of jeans, with a flask in her hand. She gasped a bit as she saw his shirt all red with blood and torn.
 
 
“Are you okay?!” She exclaimed.
 
 
“I’m fine.” He replied coldly.
 
 
“You sure? I can get the med kit and…” She started to say.
 
 
“I said I’m fine!” He said in a frim growl.
 
 
She swallowed hard and took a step back, I .. I’m sorry.”
 
 
HE cocked his head a bit and gave her an appraising look, “ ‘bout what?”
 
 
“About bothering you.” She replied hesitantly.
 
 
“But you still hate me?” He asked
 
 
She looked down at the ground and nodded timidly.
 
 
He sighed and shook his head, “Val, I’m not sure how much more of this between us I can take.”
 
 
She nodded, “I.. I understand. … Do.. do you love her?”
 
 
He half turned away, “If I did, why would it even matter to you?”
 
 
“Because.. because I want you to have someone you love.” She replied quietly.
 
 
“I had someone I loved an’ she spurned me.” He muttered.
 
 
She turned away from him and looked at the ground as she tried not to cry, “I.. I never meant for this to happen.. I never wanted this.
 
 
A strong hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, where she found herself face to face with Hondo.
 
 
“What do you want then?! I didn’t want this!! I loved you! You think I wanted another woman? To get out an’ spice up my sex life with some hot, wild number? To have an angry ex who hates me?! Yeah, I care about her deeply, cause she’s the only one who tried to keep me from fallin’ apart!! I might have hurt myself savin’ many of the folks here, but I tore myself to pieces tryin’ to find you! Even then I wasn’t as broken an’ lost as I was an’ am since you turned on me! Jefe’s right, I’m a broken man, an’ you did this to me. What did I do to deserve it?? I laid my life, health, an’ mental well bein’ on the line to try to find you! I mercilessly killed anyone who dare stand in the way of getting’ you an’ I can never get the blood of those souls off my hands! The problem is, I’d do it again an’ again, an’ again if needed to save the woman I love! I could stand that darkness on my soul, mind, an’ body if I knew she loved me back! That’s all I asked! I never expected you to be perfect or unscarred or even the same as you were before! I just wanted to be included in your pain, receive your love, an’ love you back, woman, so don’t you make excuses! You tell me what you want, an’ I’ll make it happen so you can leave happily, ‘cause I know I still love you despite it all, but I can’t deal with you an’ all this shit, especially alone. I.. I can’t deal without Molly, right now. So, until you make up your mind, just leave us alone! We have enough on us just tryin’ to protect this camp, my friends, and what’s left of my family. … I’d have been there for you but you’d not let me in. If you blame me for not understandin’ you, that’s on you as you’d not let me understand. Molly’s right an’ maybe I should have told you more of my pains, but I’m not sure you ever loved me enough to share in those burdens.” He replied harshly, not caring who heard at this point.
 
 
She trembled before him, unsure of what to say. She had never seen this side of him before, and though she could not get rid of the hate, it still tore her apart that he was hurting so and that she caused it.
 
 
“Hondo, please..” She whispered.
 
 
He shook his head, “No. No more. I can’t take more today! … have you been helpin’ Ruth?”
 
 
She nodded.
 
 
“Have you apologized to Jefe an’ tried to find out how to make things right?” He asked firmly.
 
 
She shook her head, “I.. I can’t… I’m terrified of him.”
 
 
“Be terrified of me, instead! … Now, I don’t care what you have to do, you go to him an’ make things right. If you have to suck him off or spread your damn legs, I don’t care! It’s not like things will ever be the same with us, anyway… Do it or leave. I’ll not tell you again.” He said angrily, sounding angrier than he meant to, to cover his own sadness.
 
 
He spun on his heals and marched to the SUV, throwing the bag with the sandwich in it in through the window into the passenger seat before climbing in and slamming the door. He started the vehicle up. Slammed it into gear, and spun the tires, throwing dirt as he tore off to the hanger. As he drove most would think he was furious from the expression on his face, though it was all betrayed by a single tear that ran down the stubble on his cheek.
 
 
Val shakily got up and looked down as she walked back to the camper. She knew she had brought this out of him, it was all her doing. It scared her as she had never seen him so distraught before. He usually hid his emotions, getting quiet when angry. She had never seen him go beyond that until today and it left her feeling more torn than before. She knew the camp was staring at her and judging her as she walked her walk of shame back to the camper. Once inside she collapsed to the floor sobbing. She had broken him and she knew there was no one to blame but herself. The fact that he’d even suggest she have sex with Fernando for forgiveness shattered her to her core. She knew the Hondo she knew would never tell her to give up someone so sacred that she had only shared with him. What had she done to him to make him lose himself like this? She could not process it all, though as her heart was too broken to even let her mind think.
 
 
-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,
 
 
Hondo nosed into the hanger, shut off the SUV and just sat there quietly for a while. He had not meant to lose control like that, and normally would not have, but Val’s timing was terrible these days. HE was mad at himself for showing his ass like that and for being so hard on her. He had tried to bear her anger alone and quietly, but he was starting to slip more often and worse each time. There was something about that woman that drove him mad! He felt it more than ever that they were suppose to be together, as if it was the will of the Almighty himself, yet he found himself fighting the feeling more and more as he just did not want to deal with her anymore. He wanted someone who cared for him and tried to make his life less complicated, like Molly had. He wanted Molly, and denying it now was impossible, his conscience be damned!
 
 
He was not sure how long he sat there but he soon got out and headed upstairs. As he walked he saw a military jeep pulling up for water and Valentine briefly glance at him from over the railings before going back to work.  He had a feeling that the dirigible would be like new by the time they left, at this rate, but frankly he did not care about it one way or the other.  
 
 
Once upstairs he shrugged out of his coat, vest, and shoulder holster before heading to the bathroom. Once there he gingerly pealed off his shirt and then stood looking at himself in the mirror. Jefe was right, he looked haggard, and on top of that his ribs were black and blue and the gashes down his chest were jagged and would not heal easily. As he stared at himself, wearing nothing but his jeans and a bandana tied around his neck, he wondered about what he had done so wrong to lose Val like he had and what Molly could possibly see in a walking corpse like him.  
 
 
He walked back and looked out into the hanger. The two soldiers were filling water still but seemed busy talking between themselves. He walked down to the bronco and grabbed his med bag, and the sandwich and Danish from the SUV before trudging back up the stairs. He set the med-bag on the bed and then plopped down into a chair to eat his food. The Danish by now was cold and dry, and the sandwich was similar, with the sausage and egg now seeming more like rubber. He ate them fairly quickly before standing up and going to the med-bag again to find the supplies he needed, sighing and muttering to himself almost incoherently the whole time. He growled as he sorted through stuff, as half of it was missing, which only frustrated him more. He was not sure why at first then it hit him that they must have used it to patch him up after the fight with the cold-bloods and Hector that one night, and neglected to tell him they were so low on med supplies.
 
 
He shook his head and grabbed some bandaged before heading to the bathroom again to stand in front of the mirror. He found that even without the wounds, he was not liking the reflection he saw more and more every day. He growled a bit as he looked between the wounds and their reflection in the mirror, trying to figure how best to clean them out and patch them, when a thought occurred to him suddenly. He held out his hand and the time cane appeared out of thin air again. Though he had a lot to learn and still forgot it was there at times his control of it was improving. He remembered what Fernando said about teaching how to heal wounds, which meant it could be done and by him. He did not want to go to Fernando and ask how now, feeling a bit embarrassed by it all and still feeling a bit uneasy about how things stood between them yet. He figured practice made perfect and Fernando said it’s controlled by thought, so how hard could it be? He figured he just had to see his wounds heal in his mind and it would happen.
 
 
He sighed as he looked at his own reflection for a moment before giving himself a nod as he decided definitely to try. He flicked the crystal with his thumb, causing it to spin and as it lit up he tried to focus his mind on his wounds closing up, his bruises fading, and his bones mending as he slammed the cane into the floor, depressing the crystal several clicks as he did so. A greenish orb of light engulfed him and his body instantly started to change. The bruises did indeed vanish, the bones knit, and the wounds closed up, but something about it all felt wrong, terribly wrong.
 
 
As the last wound closed the light got brighter then in a flash disappeared. He shook a bit, feeling more tired and weak than he had before. He looked into the mirror and the wounds were closed but his eyes looked almost slightly yellow and more bloodshot. He trembled a bit  and leaned against the sink as the cane disappeared from his grasp.
 
 
“What the..” He started to mutter but was cut short by a sick feeling him his stomach.  
 
 
He stumbled to the toilet and fell to his knees before bringing up the contents of his insides along with a little blood. Even after his system was empty he dry heaved more.
 
 
“Wh.. what have I done?” He asked himself before dry heaving a bit longer.  
 
 
Unbeknownst to him, an unknown poising lingered in his system, a poison made in the labs and instructed to be injected into Hondo, Fernando, and their help, by the spirits, when they breached the lab. The injections had missed every one, save Hondo. Though his system was strong and the bio-pill gave his body the power to fight it longer than most, his attempt at healing himself had only sped time up for his body, allowing the wounds to heal and the poisons effects to increase and its tendrils to dig deeper into his system.
 
 
After a while he managed to stagger to his feet, dress, and, with a double dose of energy pills some pepto-tab and whiskey to dull his gagging, managed to walk to the SUV, unhook the trailer and drive towards the camp. He was not afraid to die, but he was not ready yet, nor wanted to die like this. He could not tell Fernando, not yet, so he decided to make one stop first to be sure.
 
 
(To be continued…)

It is getting to be lunch time as it gets closer to the 12o’clock hour. Though he said he would check on the girls, and deal with business with Hondo, the mayor’s daughters and the rest of the group, he just wants to be left alone. But he knows that the camp does not have enough supplies for the campers and there is a lot to do. He slowly gets up and nudges a napping Ichigo.
 
“Huh?” Ichigo reacts.
 
“You sure go to sleep at a drop of a hat.” He tells her.
 
“I’m tired and I feel safe when I am with you.” She tells him.
 
“Well, you have the option to stay here or go with me. I need to go to town and buy some bread and other things for lunch for the ids and others.” He tells her.
 
“I’ll stay here for now. I just do not want to deal with the outside world yet.” She replies.
 
“You do need to get dress though. After lunch I will be bringing in the Bunny Ring Girls and have a talk with them before giving them the keys to the camper I got them. You will be hiding up in the pop-up space while they are here.” He tells her.
 
Ichigo just nods as he begins to put on his clothes. It takes him a couple of minutes to get dressed again. He steps out of his camper through the sliding door and closes it behind him. It seems normal and peaceful despite the crap that is going on. He goes into his dub box camper and pulls out his pull cart to take into town. He walks through the parking lot, going around the children at play. Minerva seeing him walking through the parking lot, trots over to him, wearing her EMT Jacket, hat and pants like her friends and sisters do. It was a bit chilly for them to be in shorts and short sleeves.
 
“Where are you going?” She asks.
 
“I need to go to town and buy some items for lunch to feed everyone. If you want to come with me, that is on you.” He tells her.
 
“Alright then. Meet me at the gate. I need to tell the others before I go.” Minerva says before she runs to her friends.
 
Fernando walks to the gate of the parking lot before waiting for Minerva. She arrives to him in under a minute.
 
“What are you getting?” She asks as they walk out of the parking area.
 
“I need to get bread, meat and salad vegetables for everyone lunch and dinner today. I know we have the army to help out in feeding the kids, I prefer for us to use them as a last resort when needed.” He explains as they enter the Merchant area. He walks to the first baker at the merchant area. “Good day kind sir. I’m looking to buy a large amount of your bread and pastries.”
 
“About how many are you willing to buy?” The merchant asks.
 
“Over 100 loaves of bread...” Fernando begins to say.
 
“Wait. 100 loaves of bread? This is for the Army in the parking lot?” The merchant asks.
 
“No, it is for the convoy campers we are sharing the parking lot with.” Fernando explains.
 
“I can’t give you 100 loaves of bread.” The merchant throws at him.
 
Minerva steps in, “But we need to feed the children!”
 
“I was wondering when you were going to say something.” The merchant tells her. He throws in, “I can’t give you 100 loaves of sandwich bread.”  
 
“I do not want you to give them, I am willing to pay for them. Offer me a good price for them.” Fernando tells him.
 
“I cannot give you 100 loaves of bread because I do not have 100 loaves of bread. At most I can give you 40.” The merchant explains.
 
“OK, then. We can use 40 for now to feed the children and the campers. Can you make another 60 for an afternoon pick up?” Fernando says and asks.
 
“I can make another 40. My oven is not that big and I need to make other things with it as well.” The Merchant tells him.
 
“Alright then. Make 30 of them and I’ll send somebody to pick them up at around 6o’clock this afternoon.” Fernando says. He then looks at the counter of pastries. He sees a large flat layer cake about 18 inches wide, and 24 inches long with about 6 X 8 square cuts to it, giving 48 servings. “How much for this whole cake?” he asks.
 
“For the whole cake? $50.” The merchant replies.
 
“And for the 40 loaves?” Fernando asks.
 
“$80 for the loaves.” The merchant says.
 
“That’s a bit high for a small loaf of bread.” Fernando points out, showing about 6 inches between his pointed fingers.
 
The merchant looks at him oddly before showing off a 24 in long Italian loaf with sesame seeds on it, “I’m taking about this kind of bread. What kind of bread are you talking about?”
 
“Oh. I was taking about a loaf this big... usually for a small sandwich.” Fernando says as he holds out his fingers 6 inches apart. He then says, “I’ll take them. So, $130 for the whole thing?”
 
“I have never seen a bread load that small, but yes, $130 for them all. It is going to take a while for us to wrap them up.” The merchant tells them.
 
Fernando gathers his money together and places 3 $50 gold coins on the counter, “That’s for the bread and cake for now and half payment for the afternoon loaves. I want a paper receipt saying that it is paid for and who much is owed.”
 
The merchant nods as he gets his staff to get the bread and cake packed up and hands over the bags over to Fernando and then the paper receipt. Fernando places the bags of bread and cake into the pull wagon. They continue shopping. Fernando finds a couple cooked pork shoulders and cooked giant mutant breasts to purchase and put into the pull cart. He then finds several heads of lettuce, carrots, onions, celery and a jar of sour pickle spears. He then found 5 pounds of beans, rice, potatoes, beets and sweet potatoes. There were other things he could have bought but the pull cart was getting full and heavy, and what they had was more enough for lunch and to start on dinner. It takes them a few minutes to get them back. He is not counting his money and he did not care either, but he spent about $800 on the food, which is a bit over priced compared to other towns.
 
They walk back into the parking lot where Minerva gives him a kiss on the cheek before leaving him to deal with the kids. He continues on his way to Hondo’s camper, in hope that Ruth would be there. He knocks on the door. Val answers it, looking like a mess.
 
“What do you want?” Val asks.
 
“I was hoping Ruth would be there. I bought supplies for Lunch and dinner today.” Fernando tells her.
 
Val changes her expression of anger to dejection. “I’m sorry she is not here now.”
 
“Well, would you take these supplies for her?”  He asks as he points to the pull cart of supplies, adding in, “This is making lunch for feeding us in the convoy and the children, what is left is for dinner.”
 
“We’ll take it!” A voice says behind Val. Fernando looks around Val to see who it was. It was Kiah, though he did not recognized her in her bunny suit at first.
 
Val turns back to see Kiah behind her. “Fernando, you remember Kiah? One of the bunny girls you gathered to be rescued.”
 
“Oh, yeah.” He replies.
 
“Maybe I should change into my Bunny Ring Girl outfit to show him some skin so he can truly remember me.” Kiah lets out.
 
Fernando shakes his head.
 
Another voice chimes in, “Kiah, you should respect your elders!”
 
“Oh hush up, Mae! I ain’t stealing your boyfriend!” Kiah shouts back.
 
Val just shakes her head.
 
“Anyways, as I was saying...” Fernando tries to restore order to the chaos. “I bought supplies so Ruth does not have to use her supplies or spend her money. Half of it is for lunch, the other half is for dinner.”
 
“I’ll go get her!” Kiah says before jumping out from the camper exit, deliberately landing on Fernando and forcing him to catch her. They look at each other for the while before He puts her down on the ground. Kiah then looks around like a lost kid at the supermarket.
 
Fernando points to his left, “She is in the brown camper that way. It only has one door in it on the side by the front. Knock first and wait. Somebody will open the door.”
 
“I know, I might be a bunny ring girl but I do have manners.” Kiah complains.
 
“Just be careful... and look on the ground before you take a step. The Rope Dogs are big and poisonous here.” Fernando points out to put a bit of fear in her.
 
“Rope dogs? What are rope dogs?” Kiah asks.
 
“It’s a snake...” Fernando begins.
 
“A snake?” Kiah asks.
 
“It’s one of those long creatures with no legs the Lizard Man has used in the ring!” Mae shouts from behind Val.
 
Hearing that made Kiah wrap her arms around his waist, those things freaked her out.
 
“What? You scared of snakes?” Fernando asks.
 
“No!” Kiah tries to prove her bravado, “It’s that... how something with no arms and no legs can move so fast!”
 
“Oh relax yourself.” Fernando tells her while trying to get her off him.
 
Kiah tries to remain latched onto him and not saying a word.
 
“Alright. You relax.” He tells her, reaching behind her and grabbing the back of her shirt and lifting her onto his back. She latches on like a little kid holding onto their father. “Val, put everything inside but keep the bread separate. We will discuss about the bread later. I’ll be back.”
 
Before Val can say a word, Fernando walks away behind their trailer. He makes his way to Ruth’s camper from the rear with the grassy field a couple feet from the rear of the vehicles, passing his Dub Box camper, Joann’s camper behind her truck and Ruth’s Dub Box Camper connected to her Camper. He turns right to walk along the camper to its door. He knocks on the door as Kiah did not want to get off his back.
 
Ruth opens the door, seeing them both of them, “Oh... Uhm... what can I do for you Fernando?”
 
“For me, nothing, well, not really. Anyways, I bought some supplies for lunch and dinner. As for the bread, they did not have small loaves, so I had to buy long ones but you can cut them into 4 parts to make a decent sandwich. I also got a special treat for the kids for behaving well under such circumstances. There is enough for everyone however.”  Fernando explains.
 
“Oh. OK.” She says as she looks around him, “Where is it?”  
 
“I gave it to Val to sort things out and put them away.” Fernando explains.
 
“Alright. I’ll be right over... Uhm...” Ruth replies before asking, “Why is Kiah on your back?”
 
“She’s afraid of the local wild life, you know, the snakes.” Fernando tries to explain.
 
“Oh... well... you took care of the area and got rid of them...” Ruth says.
 
“Well, I did. But like some things, that was days ago and they might have returned.” Fernando winks at her.
 
“Oh... then I will have to watch out for them...” Ruth plays along. She adds, “I’ll be there after I take care of things over here.”
 
“I’ll see you later then.” He tells her, before walking away.
 
“Yeah, see you later.” Ruth says before she looks at the ground around the camper.
 
Fernando walks back to Hondo’s camper in the same direction from which he came from. He walks up to Val and the bunny girls going through the pull cart and taking out the bags of food, taking them into her camper for sorting. Once by them, Fernando flips Kiah off her back and onto her feet on the ground. Kiah climbs into the camper and hides somewhere in the back.
 
He reaches to the bag next to the bread, which contains the cake squares and holds it out to Val. He tells her, “Inside this bag are treats for the children when lunch is served. There is enough for all the children of the camp including Ruth’s sisters and cousins, Jeanette’s girls and the Den Mother’s children. What is ever is left over, give them to the Bunny Ring Girls and to Ruth. Be careful with them, they are delicate.” He then gives her the bag.
 
Val looks at the bag and then nods without looking at him. She then walks into the camper, taking the bag inside and puts them away in the oven for safe keeping. She comes back to help empty out the pull cart. Fernando then takes the bag of bread and pulls out a loaf half way.
 
“They did not have small sandwich loaves, only these big ones. Cut them up into 4 equal pieces about 6 inches each and it will be enough to make sandwiches for everyone.” Fernando tells Val before giving her the bag. She takes the bag and nods at him before taking it inside and placing it on the stove for immediate preparation after the food is stored away and they are ready to make lunch.
 
Ruth arrives at Hondo’s camper a couple of minutes later, with most of the bags of food put away and being sorted through. Once the pull cart is empty, Fernando tells Val, “I’ll be back. Hopefully with some eggs, spices and canned foods. Is there anything do you think we need?”
 
“No... maybe some butter, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and other condiments.” Val tells her.
 
Ruth steps to the door of the camper, “We need salt, white and brown sugar and honey.”
 
“Alright then. I’ll see what I can find.” Fernando tells them before taking his pull cart and walks back into town.
 
As he walks away, he can hear Ruth say, “Let’s get these things into the ‘Food Camper’ (Fernando’s Dub Box Camper), and let’s start making lunch for everyone...”  
 
He takes the same path as before, Minerva walks up to him.
 
“Going back to town for more?” Minerva asks.
 
“Need to find and get a few other things.” Fernando answers.
 
“I’ll go with you then.”  Minerva says before turning around and yelling, “I’ll be back!”
 
Miniya can be heard yelling back, “Go ahead!”
 
Minerva then leaves the parking area with Fernando and his pull cart. They go back to the merchant area nearby the parking area. They go past the bakeries and meat, vegetable and fruit sellers as he looks for various items. The giant mutant chicken eggs were easiest to find, and he managed to get regular large non-mutant chicken eggs but they were very expensive at almost a dollar an egg. He gets two dozen & half egg cartons containing 18 eggs each. He gives Minerva the bag with smaller eggs so they do not get crushed by everything else to be placed in the pull cart. But in the wheeling and dealing, Fernando notices that everybody here is angered about something. He thought that it is Minerva’s presence with him but in listening in with other customer/merchant interactions, things seemed to be heated up with everybody for some reason. At least it eases his mind that he is not alone in this.
 
He finds a few spices and salt in one pound or smaller bags, spending about $20 for the haul of salt and spices. Brown sugar was easy to find, white cane sugar was harder and much more expensive, having to spend five times more for it than the brown sugar. Condiments varied by the complexity, ketchup was more expensive than mayonnaise, but he managed to get them and some salad dressings. Pickle spears were the cheapest item he found as everyone was selling them and a few giving out free samples to try out. Looking at his pull cart, he decides to find some canned foods. He finds some dry and freshly prepared pasta (spaghetti-like pasta and macaroni noodles), and some soups canned in jars. He also found some pet food for cats, which he was a bit wary about but buys two cans to try out. He also finds some ground meat and sausage hanging on a hook, buying 5 pounds of each. At the very end of the merchant area, he finds somebody wearing some overly protective clothing and bees flying about the area. On his seller’s table were large jars of honey of varying color densities (light see through golden brown to opaque dark brown). At least Fernando thought it was a ‘He.’
 
“Finally, I found it.” Fernando says.
 
“How can I help you?” The one in the protective gear says in a deep female voice.
 
“How much for your honey?” Fernando asks.
 
“Honey? Sir, I do not what you are talking about.” The woman in the protective gear says.
 
“Wait.” Fernando tells her. He then points to the jars, “Where I come from we call this honey. What do you call it?”
 
“It’s Essence of Bee Vomit. Essence of Bees for a short more attractive name.” The woman says to him. She then asks, “Where are you from? I never heard anyone call this as ‘honey’. If anything, I heard it as Bug Molasses, but bees ain’t bugs. ”  
 
“I’m from the East before the Chaos happened. And over there we call it ‘honey’.” Fernando says, pausing for a second and then adding, “It is better than essence of bee barf.” The female in the protective gear nods before Fernando asks, “How much for a jar? I might buy two or three, and send my friends over to buy more.”
 
The woman in the protective gear points to the gallon jars, “$50 for these.” Then she points to the smaller 8 ounce jars, “$5 for these.”
 
Fernando can immediately see that that buying the larger gallon jars is more economical than just buying the smaller jars. He tells her “I’ll buy three of these big ones, in this color if you have it.”
 
“They are all the same, actually. It is the older it gets, the darker it gets.” The woman in the protective suit says.
 
“Well... If you do not want for your honey to turn dark, don’t boil it out of the honey comb.” Fernando points out.
 
“If you don’t boil it out, it takes forever for it to come out of the honey comb.” The woman in the protective gear says.
 
“That I know. My friends on the east side are bee keepers and yes, we know that it takes a long time to let the honey pour out. But it makes for a better honey that does not turn dark over time.” Fernando tells her. He then reaches over to her to shake her hand, “Name’s Fernando by the way.”
 
The woman in the protective gear reaches out and takes his hand to shake it, “Amanda.”
 
Fernando nods at her as they shake hands. He looks around and then asks, “Looks like you do not have Mead.”
 
“Mead? What is that?” Amanda asks.
 
“It’s a liquor drink made from honey. Never heard of it?” Fernando says and asks. Amanda shakes her head. Fernando then continues, “Then listen carefully. If you have a notebook and a writing tool, write these notes.”
 
Amanda goes about and gets a pad and pencil. She returns, “OK. Go ahead.”
 
“OK. Get a large vessel to boil water in. This is one jar of water for one jar of honey. Turn off the fire when the water boils and take this dark honey and pour in as much that will come out into the hot water. Then when you empty as much honey as you can out of the jar, pour some water into the jar to melt the left over honey out of the jar, and once it is melted off the sides of the jar, pour it into the vessel with the honey and hot water. Stir it about until it is a thin even liquid and let it sit to cool down. Once it is cool down, it would be like sweet water without the fruit flavor. Then get some baker’s yeast, about a pound of it, prepare it as if you are going to make bread, and then pour the yeast mixture into the honey water mix. Cover it and let it sit for three days, letting the yeast do its thing.” Fernando explains.
 
“Three days?” Amanda asks.
 
“Three days is the minimum, the longer you keep it sitting, the stronger the drink it will be, but no more than 10 days. But for now, start with this batch for three days. When done it will have a white foam on top. You can stir it in and then pour it all out through a cloth filter to take out the yeast and other things that is in the liquid. Then you can pour it into bottles, cover them and serve them in a mug. It is almost like beer but it is not beer, and it is a bit stronger than beer. Then you can sell each bottle. If you are going to sell it as liquor, you need to take a longer time with the yeast doing its work, I say 5 to 8 days to make it stronger.” Fernando explains.
 
“Will you be around in 3 days?” Amanda asks.
 
“I’ll be in the parking area outside of the blimp parking lot in the next few days.” Fernando tells her.
 
“I’ll come by with a sample of this ‘Meed’.”  Amanda says.
 
“I’ll see you then.” Fernando tells her. Then he says. “Oh. Yes, three of these large jars, please.”
 
“Oh yes. I will get them for you.” Amanda says before turning about to her stock pile. She comes back with the jars carrying them one at a time.
 
Fernando makes room on the pull cart to place the jars within. He then gives her three $50 gold coins. “Thank you.” He tells her.
 
“No. Thank you!” She tells him.
 
Fernando starts to walk away with Minerva beside him. As they walk back to ‘home’, he says to her, “I need you for a few seconds before you go back to the children and get them ready for lunch.”
 
“Alright.” Minerva replies.
 
They continue walking for ‘home’. They get there in a few minutes, making a stop at his camper first. He opens the sliding door, putting the bag of regular non-mutant eggs first, the two cans of cat food, two of the three jars of honey and a few jars of canned soup. A jar of pickles was also put into the camper.
 
“Ichigo, put these thing away for me.” Fernando says to her inside the camper.
 
Ichigo replies, “Will do.”
 
“Thank you.” He tells her before closing the sliding door. He looks around and sees Ruth preparing the Dub Box for preparing lunch. He takes the pull cart to the Dub Box. “Hello Ruth. I got a few things for you for the camp.” He tells her as he points to the pull cart.
 
Ruth looks at him and then to the pull cart. She tells them, “Thank you. Leave it there, I will take care of it from here.”
 
“Thank you.” Fernando tells her. He then asks, “You seen the bread and the treats for the kids?”
 
“Oh yes. The bread is large. And the kids will like the treats.” She replies.
 
“Don’t give out the treats with the meal. Let them eat lunch first and then come back for the treat. This way kids will not throw out their lunch for the treat.” He tells her.
 
“Oh. OK. I’ll do that.” Ruth says.
 
“Thanks.” Fernando tells her. He then adds, “I’ll be in my camper and will come to get my lunch last. I’ll need two meals with meat and one without.”
 
“I’ll do that for you, sir.” Ruth says.
 
“Thanks. I’ll see you later.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Laters.” Ruth replies before Fernando walks to his camper. He opens his door and signals for Minerva to go inside before he does. She goes in followed by him and the sliding door closes behind them.
 
Fernando sits on the edge of the bed, as Minerva sits on the other side of the bed near the sink counter and Ichigo lies further back on the bed midway between the edge and the rear door. He takes off his shoes to be comfortable but then gets up to open the pop-top of the camper. He sits back down on the camper bed.
 
“Why do people have to make things so difficult at times?” Fernando complains.
 
“What happened?” Ichigo asks.
 
“I spent more than 10 minutes asking about buying bread only to get a final answer that he did not have the amount that I wanted to buy or the kind of bread, so I had to adjust my purchase accordingly.” He explains, adding, “If he would have said what he had instead of playing 50 questions, the purchase would have gone faster.”
 
“People are funny like that. They want something from you before they can give you something back and most often they do not have what you want but try to see how long you are willing to hold out for what you want from them.” Ichigo explains.
 
“I always found at confusing. And these merchants were being nice to you, because when I used to buy things for the children, I would have to pay twice as much from these people than I would at Wessen town.” Minerva tells him.
 
Minerva’s radio comes to life, “Bruce Lee, you out there Bruce Lee?” It was her twin sister calling her.
 
“Go ahead Bruce Li.” Minerva answers.
 
“Where are you?” Miniya asks.
 
“I’m in the electric camper after helping the Medic getting supplies for the meals for the kids. What’s up?” Minerva replies and asks.
 
“Just want to know when lunch is going to be served?” Miniya asks.
 
“Ask Ruth, she is behind the Medic’s camper setting up for lunch.” Minerva answers.
 
“OK.” Miniya replies.
 
Minerva throws in, “After you see her, knock on the Medic’s camper door three times so I can tell you something before the kids get their lunch.”
 
“Can’t tell me over the radio?” Miniya asks.
 
“No.” Minerva tells her.
 
“You better not want me to join in an orgy with him.” Miniya tells her.
 
“That’s all you ever think about?” Minerva throws at her.
 
“You think about it as much as I do. I’m just more vocal about than you are.” Miniya tells her.
 
Minerva does not say a thing as she blushes from embarrassment, if it could be seen though her facial fur. She eventually replies, “Go see Ms Ruth about lunch for the kids.”
 
 
{1:30AM, Mitsuminejinja Shinto Temple Shrine – Japan}
 
A motorcycle approaches the Shinto Temple from the South West, and shuts its engine off while it coasts down the mountain road to the temple complex in silence. The Temple guards were expecting them, a male driver and a female passenger who they stated they had travelled some 1500 miles and acquired a boat ride from the Sea of Japan from Korea and then another 200 miles on Japanese soil before getting to the temple.

 
The temple monk guards surround them but the motorcycle riders gave no hostile intent or sudden movement. Soon a Temple Priest steps to them, surprisingly speaking in English.
 
“Hondo-san, we have been expecting you. Hope your journey was, how do they say(?), uneventful.” The Temple Priest tells him.
 
“You speak English?” Hondo asks.
 
“Who doesn’t?” The Temple Priest replies.
 
“I see.” Hondo replies.
 
“We have your place set up, meals will be simple and served at 7AM, 12:30PM, and 5PM. The Monks have a vow of silence, you and your companion and friends can speak to each other but no one is to disturb the peace or the monks. Speak with your friend about the services we have for your needs, though we can only provide services. You are to keep and maintain a clean and quiet environment of the space we provide. You have free range of the temple except for certain areas which are marked, and you can leave and enter as needed. When inside the temple grounds, you cannot run your motorcycle as it will be too noisy, so you must push it through the temple grounds. If you cannot abide by the temple rules, you will be requested to leave. Do you agree to these terms?” The Shinto Priest explains to him.
 
“I agree.” Hondo tells him.
 
The Temple Priest nods before saying, “Hondo-san, I must warn you. Spirits might be too relaxed on our island but they are here. Keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open at all times. Most in Japan are not happy with their presence on our homelands as we are working on possible ways to eliminate them. But we are few and small compared to some of them. Do you understand?”
 
Hondo nods, keeping his vow of silence in respect to them.
 
“Then follow us. Your motorcycle will be stored in safe place you have 24/7 access too.” The Temple Priest tells him.
 
Hondo follows him while he pushes the motorcycle by the handlebars, Raven remains seated on the rear seat. They are taken to an underground vehicle storage areas, where for the immediate area one can see a few pick-up trucks, a couple of school buses, and a couple of personal vehicles. Down a long corridor he sees a wall partially blocking a much larger area there he can see the gun and front treads of a tank, and can only speculate how big the area is and what else is inside.
 
He parks his motorcycle by another all too familiar motorcycle with a side car. Raven gets off the motorcycle and grabs a couple of bags while Hondo takes the majority of their bags. They follow the priest and monks into the living quarters of the temple, one reserved for special guests.
 
They walk down the building’s hall and stop at a wall. One of the monks grabs onto the side of the wall and slides it over, revealing a large area living quarters, the wall panel being the door to the room when the lights are turned on. There was a closet, table chair, chair and large futon mattress bed with a couple pillows and several blankets on the middle of the floor.
 
“I hope this meets your needs. Word of warning however, since we are in the mountains, it gets very cold here at night. The blankets should be enough to keep you and your companion warm while you sleep. A monk will enter your room and place your daily meals on the table. He will not knock, just enter and do his job. Do not argue with him, let him do his job in peace which is feeding you and making sure you are OK. He will not say a word as he works, just observe the area, not your interaction with your partner unless either of you are sick or injured. Any questions before we leave?” The Temple Priest explains and then asks.
 
“Where is Fernando and his group?” Hondo asks.
 
“He and his companions are asleep in their room.” The Temple Priest explains as he points to the adjoining wall panel to his room.
 
“Thank you then.” Hondo tells him.
 
The Temple Priest nods and then leads the monks out of the room with the wall panel sliding closed. Hondo puts his things down at a corner of the room as he explores the space, looking for wires, bugs and electronic cameras, finding none. He then begins to take his clothes off, looking at the futon bed on the floor. It is not the Hanoi Hilton but at least it is better than sleeping outside in a sleeping bag.
 
He thinks about what he was told, of the monk coming into the room to put their daily meal on the table at certain hours and observe for the moment while he is there. It is a little better than prison, he thinks. But if they are as they claim, hating the spirits that has claimed their lands, then the price of freedom goes out the window until the war is over.
 
His mind goes to what was said during the past days, of how the other Time Lord saying if they are not able to fix this mess in one year’s time, then this world is slated for destruction. A war with the Spirits that is to last less than a year that bothers him. It may not be enough time, and they cannot do it alone though until now they mostly have.
 
Raven walks about the room, taking off her clothes and looking about the place in utter confusion of not knowing what is going on but much relieved that she is not in some lab or prison and in a way not outside in a sleeping bag. Eventually she kneels down on the bed and crawls under the blanket, trying to get comfortable, which Hondo finds odd as she would wait for him to get into the bed first then get in to be with him. Also he finds it odd that she does not want to be held while they lie in bed to go to sleep. It is as if she is a totally different Raven to the one he has been with all these years.
 
Hondo thinks about time, and that around seven in the morning the monk will be arriving to put their morning meal on the table. He thinks Japanese morning meals are usually a small amount of rice, fish, egg, Miso Soup and something to drink, usually juice or tea. Not his favorite but it is better than the field rations and power bars he and his companion have been eating while on the road in mainland Asia.
 
Sleep does not come easy but it eventually does. As the room does not have windows or doors that face outside, Hondo slept longer than he thought possible, passing by the 7o’clock meal delivery by another hour. He gets waken up a series of pats to the side of the face. He goes into ‘flight or fight’ mode for a second but calms down when he recognizes who is waking him up.
 
 
{8:10AM, Mitsuminejinja Shinto Temple Shrine – Japan}
 
“Oh, Jefe...” Hondo slowly gets up, shaking his head as if to shake off a hangover from a drinking contest party. “What time is it?”
 
“It’s 8o’clock.” The lone figure tells him, “You should get dressed and have your breakfast before I take you around and show off the facilities to shit, shower and shave.”
 
Hondo looks at the room, finding door panel from which he came from is closed but a door panel perpendicular to it is open leading into another room.
 
“Wait... I remember, that’s your room?” Hondo asks.
 
“Yeah, it is.” The lone figure asks.
 
“And they are connected?” Hondo asks.
 
“Yeah. Now go get dressed and eat. The girls will take care of your friend.” The lone figure tells him.
 
Hondo sits up, seeing Raven curled up in a fetal position separate from his place in bed. Eventually he replies, “Alright. Give me a couple of minutes.”
 
“I’ll be in my room. Come inside when you are done.” The lone figure says before walking across to his room and slides the door panel half way to allow entry and partially connect the two rooms.
 
 
{Convoy Camp; Flight Town, USA – 12:30PM}
 
Outside of Fernando’s camper the children can be heard being gathered together and lined up to be given their food for lunch. Expected, there was three knocks on the side door. Minerva gets up from the bed and opens the sliding door. Miniya was there with her arms crossed as Minerva steps out of the camper.
 
“What’s going on that you need to see me about?” Miniya complains.
 
“Just make sure the kids eat their lunch. There is a treat for them after lunch for them to have. But they have to eat their lunch first. Some of the kids are hiding their meals so they can eat it later. There is no need for them to hide food anymore.” Minerva explains.
 
“What kind of treat?” Miniya asks.
 
“A cake and some sweet-water juice.” Minerva answers.
 
“How will they get it?” Miniya asks.
 
“Talk to Ruth about it, but after the kids are finished eating and cleaned up, they are to get their treat.” Minerva says.
 
“And what about you?” Miniya asks.
 
“I’ll be in here discussing about what needs to be done to prepare to get out of here. We’ll be getting our own car and camper and need to fill it with supplies and get out in a few days. There are other things going on which I will tell you when I get the details of them.” Minerva tells her twin.
 
“I see.” Miniya says to herself. She then adds, “I’ll be back after I talk with Tracey and Abi.”
 
At this point the major walks in with her officers in her usual inspection. She stops by the twins, “Good afternoon ladies. How are things?”
 
They both turn to face her but Minerva answers, “Things are better than expected. Thank you for all you have done!”
 
“Glad to hear of it.” The Major says to her before asking, “Is Fernando around? I need to have a talk with him about a few things.”
 
“He should be inside his camper resting.” Minerva replies.
 
“Alright then...” The Major says, adding, “Tell him that it is urgent that I need to see him as soon as he recovers. It is something of importance.” She then signals to her officers and together they leave the area.
 
Minerva and Miniya wait until the Major was out of hearing range before Miniya asks, “What is that about?”
 
“I don’t now but I need to tell Fernando that the Major wants to see him.” Minerva says before reaching for the sliding door latch. She slowly slides it open and goes inside. Miniya stops her from closing the door and goes in after her.
 
The door closes after Miniya had entered the camper. Minerva takes a seat on the bed by Fernando, Miniya stands and leans against the sink counter.
 
Miniya flatly throws out, “You two starting #$@!ing yet?”
 
“Miniya!” Minerva responds loudly.
 
“I Just want to know, so if is #$@!ing you, he can be #$@!ing me as well.” Miniya throws at her.
 
“And #$@!ing Tracey and Abigail as well, and who knows who else wants to drop their panties and bend over to get some dick from behind.” Fernando tells her.
 
Miniya looks at him and then at Ichigo behind them, “I knew it, he’s into little girls!”
 
“I ain’t little!” Ichigo lets out.
 
“How about everyone relax!” Fernando lets out to silence the room. Everyone looks at him for the moment before he begins to explain, “First of all, Ichigo is not little, and she is 35, not 10 years old. Second, none of us are #$@!ing as you like to put it. Third of all, if things are to succeed, we need to trust each other. And that means what we do for each other in our relationship, is more important than who is getting dick from me. Sex is easy, Love is hard. Understand that.”
 
“Alright. I get where you are coming from.” Miniya throws out.
 
“Hey! I ain’t 35 either, I’m almost 30!” Ichigo lets out.
 
“Anyways... Miniya. I do not expect you to be like your twin Minerva, as you are your own person and I’ll respect you as such. But I demand that you are to give back that same respect I give you. I do not play games, I do not dish out drama, and I do not accuse anyone of allegations just to see them get into trouble and see how they squirm. I want peace, I want quiet and many might see that as a boring life. But I rather live 1000 boring days and know that I can go to sleep without worries of being attacked in my sleep and wake up the next day to repeat the process again instead of living 100 drama filled days wondering when somebody will come and try to stab me in my back, not being able to sleep wondering if they would attack me in my bed or set my camper on fire while I am in it and then in the end to be found dead on the side of the road somewhere.” Fernando throws at her. He then pauses for a second before continuing, “You will hear about it from others later, but thanks to Hector and his men, there are two young girls in the medical ward, their parents and friends of their parent attacked them and killed the adults, and were about to put them into slavery. We found out who they were and where they were hiding, attacked their hideout and did to them as they did to the girls’ parents. These girls were beaten, raped and who knows what else was done to them. They have no home to go to, no family to take care of them. As I see it, they have no place in this world like your kids have – that is unless somebody gives them the space and opportunities to make something of themselves while I go out hunting for the people who did this to them – Hector and his friends. Hector wanted excitement and drama in his life – he has it through me, and like I say - living 100 drama filled days wondering when somebody will come and kill him. I will have 1000 days of peace after he is gone. So do the math in your head, and in the end, which one do you want.”
 
“What is going to happen to the girls?” Minerva asks.
 
“They have nowhere to go. Unless somebody in the group adopts them, they will probably join the group of kids outside after they had healed.” He explains.
 
Miniya opens her big mouth, “That’s fine and dandy – all of the kids have had their parents killed, their homes burned and they themselves were beaten, raped and almost sold to slavery because of Hector. He’s been doing it for years, longer before when we were kids. No one is going to put a stop to that since it’s been happening for so long, just like that slave ship (blimp) out there – no one is going to put a stop to that. As long as slave ships (blimps) come in and out of Flight Town, many of us Wessens are going to be hunted and taken into slavery.”
 
“Isn’t that Giovanni’s Blimp?” Fernando asks.
 
“Yes it is.” Miniya points out.
 
“Any slaves in it?” He asks.
 
“Maybe, but I do not know.” Miniya answers.
 
“OK. I’ll talk to the major and the general about raiding it and confiscating it. If there are any slaves in it, to set them free, probably have the army to take them in, train them and take care of them.” Fernando explains.
 
“But slavery is a big business in Flight Town.” Miniya tells him.
 
“Technically, you and Tracey are my slaves to do as I wish as I won you two from Giovanni, so if I tell you to get on your knees and suck my dick – whether in private or in open crowded public where all can see, you and her will do it, do it without question, and enjoy doing it.” He tells her.
 
There is silence in the camper for a few seconds.
 
He looks at her, “You going to get on your knees and suck my dick?”
 
Stunned, Miniya slowly walks over to him, gets on her knees in front of him and reaches out to do the deed. He places his hands over her, making her look up at him. He is shaking his head to say silently “No.”
 
He tells her, “Get up.”
 
“But...” Miniya interjects.
 
“Just get up.” He tells her. She does as she is told. He looks up at her. “Look, Ichigo is in the same boat as you are, as technically she is my slave as well. But I do not force her to do things as I will not force you to do things. You all are free as people are to be, but if anything happens like the Lawmen coming down on you – you are my slave and I will do all in my power and beyond to keep you safe from them. That is the only time I will use the ‘You Are My Slave’ against you. All I ask is that you do things that need to be done for the camp like taking care of the kids and helping out with food, clean up and travelling from town to town that we would go through. If we end up in a relationship where we end up sharing our bodies and emotions to connect to some higher level, then so be it as long as it is something you want to happen and not because I tell you to do as a master demands his slave. Now if you agree to that, let’s seal that deal with a kiss.”
 
Miniya looks at her twin, unsure what to do.
 
“Don’t look at me, we already made that deal days ago. You want the same treatment, then you need to kiss him; Tracey and Abigail too.” Minerva tells him.
 
“What kind of kiss?” Miniya asks.
 
“Right on his lips. How intimate you want to take it is on you.” Minerva tells him.
 
 Miniya looks at her twin sister as if she was speaking some unknown language.
 
“Well, kiss him!” Ichigo throws from behind them on the bed.
 
Frustrated, Miniya leans over to him, eventually leaning enough to plant her lips on his and gives a short kiss only lasting a couple seconds long. She gets up and stands up straight in front of him as if like she accomplished something.
 
“Gee. My little sister kisses better than that.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Ewe, you kissed your sister?!!” Ichigo lets out like some grossed out little kid.
 
“First of, it was when we were kids and long before the Happening would have happened.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Wait! How old are you?” Miniya asks.
 
“I’m 35 and thanks to those stupid spirits – 35 forever. But I did not live out all that time, the spirits took me out of my time, and took Jeanette out of her time and brought us here, thinking that if we knew each other well enough that we would marry and do those things that married couples would. But some other Time Walker – not me and not the me I would become – but another by the name of Wilbur interfered with Jeanette and made her 10 forever. The Time Walker I would become stopped him in the last stage of the transformation, and now she a 13 or so year old teenager. Wilbur needs to be stopped two more times in order to get Jeanette to the adult she used to be and not the adult in the child body that she is.” Fernando explains.
 
“35? What about the time you were here?” Miniya asks.
 
“Understand one thing. The Time Walker I will be will be walking across The Chaos and its lands for the many years not has happened yet. For me, because the Spirits took me and put me here, I have been only around for about two months. And in those two months I cause many changes across the land, and frankly I am rather tired of it.” Fernando tells her.
 
Ichigo crawls over to him and puts her arms around him from behind and rests her head on his shoulders before she says, “You have us to help you when you need us, need us in any way.”
 
Minerva leans over to him, “Yeah. We are here for you. Just tell us what you want us to do, and we’ll do it.”
 
“Be careful with those words. Though I try to be the nicest and good person I can be to others, I can be downright evil at times. That I can turn on you if you push that point.” He tells them
 
“What can you do that so-called men would not do in such evil?” Miniya asks.
 
“Since the day I came here: got my daughter Macey out of a whore house; rescued a few biker gangs from an accident and freed up the highways up to this point; with Hondo’s help stopped a group of slavers from taking people, mutants and Wessens as slaves and ending a purge; stopping a second purge and rescuing some who had joined us; had a war with Lord Biggus and destroyed Slavian; reestablished General Jastrey’s Army in control  of the area; killed a couple of Lab Town Drones that were hunting for people to turn into Wessens; destroyed a couple of Lab Towns along the way and rescued those inside from being turned into Wessens; fought the Lich and caused the downfall of Fight Town that General Jastery is cleaning up, and everything that happened here so far.”
 
“You rescued me from the burning of Fight Town, and you rescued almost everyone in the convoy except for Hondo and Jeanette, and you make sure that we get to the next town safely and get us food and supplies. So what you killed over a hundred men – they were all evil and good things come when they are gone.” Ichigo says to him.
 
“Yeah, you need to find and kill Hector. He and his Os Animas friends need to be eliminated or they will continue to harass Flight Town to no end.” Minerva says to him.
 
“Hector will be taken cared off in his time. Right now, it is just his friends, and they are being taken cared off one group at a time. But it slow process. Right now we got to take care of those whose lives they have nearly destroyed.” He tells her.
 
“Wait… you killed the Lich?” Miniya asks.
 
“In front of my eyes.” Ichigo gets up to show herself from behind him.
 
“So, you’re the Time Walker?” Miniya asks.
 
“Weren’t you listening? No I am not, but one day I will be. And there are other Time Walkers like Wilbur who are causing trouble.” Fernando tells her.
 
Silence fills the room for a moment.
 
Ichigo Steps between Fernando and Minerva and points at Miniya, “That is a secret you are taking to your grave. Anything happens to Fernando before he becomes the Time Walker, then we are all dead. All of this, not just us or this convoy or the army that travels with us – but the whole world as the Spirits take over and do with it and us as they please.”
 
There is a knock on camper door.
 
“Open it all the way, Miniya.” Fernando tells her.
 
Miniya does as she is told, finding Ruth on the other side with a bag of food.
 
“Oh!” Ruth says as she looks inside, seeing all them inside.
 
“Miniya, take what she has to offer and put it on the sink counter for now.” Fernando tells her. He then switches to Ruth as Miniya takes the back to put it on the sink counter, “I’m sorry Ruth, as this was unexpected. I need one more no-meat meal for her and in about a half hour after the kids ate and cleaned up, give out the treats. Miniya will be bringing them in. Thank you.”
 
“Thank you for bringing in the food. Without it we would be starving.” Ruth tells her.
 
“I bring what I can when I can get it. I think there is enough for a bean, vegetable and pasta soup and rice to pour the soup on for everyone, one with meat and one without. You can use the sink and stove in my rear camper if you need it.” Fernando explains. He then remembers, “Oh, I almost forgot. I need to speak to the bunny girls after treats are given out and the food distribution area cleaned up and tables put away. Make sure they get a treat if any are left over. If you need anything for dinner, let me know.”
 
Ruth nods before she says, “I’ll get it done. Thank you.” She then starts to walk away.
 
 
- To Be Continued. -

One a lone highway connecting the towns rolls a raising cloud of dirt and a constant roar of thunder. Within the cloud are grouped together are almost a hundred vehicles, mostly motorcycles – some with a side car, but there were about a dozen vans and a couple of large school buses in the rear. They each were all packed with large saddle bags, back packs, and extra fuel canisters. The motorcycles riders wore leather, with a large embroidered patch on the back, saying “Men Of War” with what looks like a battle scene in jungle terrain with soldiers’ silhouette into the background.
 
But this was only the beginning, looking into the group, nearly every rider on the motorcycles were human of various races. Many wearing an army helmet, all have some kind of long arms strapped to their bags and smaller fire arms on their persons. There were some animals, dogs with spiked collars mostly. But what few Wessens, mostly females, there were, were chained spread eagle to the front and sides of the larger vehicles in no more than they were born with.
 
Communications between them as they rode along is being done by hand signals. They had a destination to go to but it will take them another 2 hours to get here.
 
 
[Convoy Camp at Flight Town; Fernando’s Electric Camper]
 
Fernando takes his Yeasu radio signals to Ichigo to remain quiet. She nods back at him before he begins to call on the radio.
 
“Righteous Cowboy, this is Medic...” Fernando calls on the radio. No answer for the moment. Fernando tries again, “Righteous Cowboy, this is Medic...”
 
Eventually Hondo answers in almost an annoyed tone, “Wuz up?”
 
“The Major wants us to confer to her about something. Don’t know want but she said you would know about it.” Fernando replies.
 
“Oh. That...” Hondo replies.
 
“What is it about?” Fernando says. Then he adds, “Never mind. Tell me when you get here.”
 
“Alright. I’ll be there in half an hour.” Hondo says.
 
“I am in no rush...” Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo does not answer after this.
 
Fernando looks at the radio before shutting it off and putting it away in his pocket. He then turns to Ichigo, “I’ll be out dealing with things. Don’t dress down as I might need you outside later.”
 
Ichigo looks at him and nods before he leaves. He walks over to sliding door, opens it and steps out, closing the door behind him. He takes the short walk to the medical jeep and leans against it with his arms crossed. Time passes as he waits.
 
 
[Some Highway Midway Between Two Towns]
 
The rolling cloud comes to a stop though they block the width of the highway, including the side with traffic on the opposite direction. Many steps off their mechanical horses and stand in front of them as another group approach them in the opposite direction; green jeeps and pick-up trucks with a star on the side of the vehicle with “Law Men Services – Flight Town Division” around the star. They slowly come to a halt just a few yards from the larger group outnumbering them four to one. Men dressed in black, with a black Stetson Hat, a metal badge on their left chest and a belt holster with their firearm inside the holder step out of their vehicles and step up to those on black leather. The older men, supposedly the leaders look at each other, eying one another from head to toe.
 
“If you and you men can move over, we can all be on our way.” The Elder Lawman tells the other.
 
“And who are you to tell us what to do?” The Leader of larger group tells the Elder Lawman.
 
“We’re asking you nicely to move aside so we both can go through the road together.” The Elder Lawman tells him.
 
The Elder Mob leader looks to his men, some who have positioned themselves behind the lawmen and their vehicles, hiding in the ditches beside the road. He then asks of the Elder Lawman, “Just humor me, where are you and your men going?”
 
“We are on our way to Fight Town to capture and collect on a Bounty for a woman named IchiKow Moreno. There is a large price on her head for those wanting her alive.” The Elder Lawman tells him.
 
“You do not want to do to Fight Town.” The Mob Leader tells him.
 
“Why not? The price on her head is more than enough for us to go.” The Elder Lawman says.
 
“We just left Fight Town. Word on the street is that she was killed when her crew was killed.” The Mob Leader tells him.
 
“They got a body?” The Elder Lawman asks.
 
“Don’t know of no body. Just know there is a big reward for a Wessen named Hector and his people at the next town.” The Mob leader tells him. He then throws in, “You’re in our way.”
 
“If you want to chase that smelly Fox Wessen - that is on you. But if you move over, we could moo-*!” The Elder Lawman begins to say before rifle goes through his chest and cuts him down dead where he stood.
 
Another couple hundred rounds are fired and nearly all the Lawmen are killed before they realized that they were being ambushed, only two remained alive as they hid behind their vehicles. They were found and taken to the group, stripped of everything they owned and chained naked spread eagle to the school buses in the rear of group. The dead lawmen are stripped of their belongings and clothes, their naked bodies dragged out far onto the fields beside the highway where the wildlife can feast on their bones and flesh but not before a few of the mob went in with sharp knives and removed the bullets from their bodies where they can. Another group goes over the lawmen’s vehicles and turns them around, driving them towards the ditch for the group to go through and then drive onto the highway following them.