Hondo drove back to the hanger quickly and half slid to a stop in front of the half open hanger door. Valentine and four soldiers, two men and two women, came trotting out to see what was up. As they approached Hondo rolled down his window.
 
 
“Something wrong, sir?” One of them asked.
 
 
He shook his head, “Not at the moment, but that could change quickly. Had a run in with some of the bikers at one of the diners where we went to order food for the camp. The bikers were sent away an’ dealt with, but they left several motorcycles that we are claimin’ as spoils of war. Need to get as many as we can before the other bikers try to retrieve them. Was hopin’ to take two of ya an’ leave one to watch. Wasn’t expectin’ four of ya an’ Va, er Maria.”
 
 
Hondo stopped, almost calling her Val in front of the soldiers, which he knew would raise questions. As far as the army knew she was Val’s older sister Maria and he figured to keep it that way.
 
 
“We came to trade off duties so they could get a break, but we can all go with you or one of us can stay, if you want her to go along.” One of them said, nodding towards Valentine.
 
 
“I’d not mind one, since my jeep was blown up.” Valentine replied.
 
 
“Half figured you were takin’ the dirigible.” Hondo replied.
 
 
She shook her head, “No, I think you all will need it more.”
 
 
Hondo shook his head, “Not sure what in the hell we’ll do with it, but that’s the least of our problems right now. You can come grab one an’ I’ll take three soldiers. Need to do this fast, though as I don’t want to leave security short here.”
 
 
“Rico, you stay here. Angel, Glen, and I will go with them.” One of the female soldiers said.
 
 
The larger of the men nodded and headed back to the door as the other three and Valentine climbed into the jeep as Hondo fired the engine back up. Once everyone was in and the door shut He took off back towards the diner.  
 
 
At the diner, Fernando was still looking for some of the motorcycles as they drove up. Hondo shut off the jeep and climbed out, followed by the other four. Fernando glanced up at them briefly as they approached but said nothing.
 
 
“Everythin’ look alright, Jefe?” Hondo asked as he walked up to him.
 
 
Fernando nodded, “No explosives or remote switches in the ones I have checked so far, just gear, guns, money and other personal items.”
 
 
Hondo nodded, “Got enough to grab four of them.”
 
 
Fernando nodded, “Have them take the best four on that end and help me finish checking the others. Not sure when the others are going to get here, but would like all of them checked first.”
 
 
“Do you want us to hand in anything from the saddle bags, sir?” The soldier referred to as Glen asked.
 
 
“That is up to your commanding officers. I do not care about the guns, gear, or money, personally. There are some papers in the bags that might should be looked over. I would turn those into the Major, at least, otherwise I do not care.” Fernando said flatly.
 
 
Valentine was looking them over as they talked and stopped at one all black bike and looked it over. It was an Indian Chief Vintage Darkhorse, from before the happening, that had been modified to get rid of the electronics, had added storage and a second fuel tank in the form of an old beer keg on the rear rack.
 
 
“I’ll take this one, if that’s alright.” She said to them in general.
 
 
Fernando raised an eyebrow at Hondo and gave him a look that Hondo found hard to read. He knew Fernando was telling him non-verbally to make the call on that, but there was also something else about the look at seemed to question him about what she was doing there as well as that he knew she was not his Val. Hondo glanced at him, and sighed before turning back to Valentine, as he wondered it there would be further conversation on this later or not.
 
 
Hondo nodded at her after a moment before turning to the others.
 
 
“Maria has that one, so you three pick from the others an’ get back quickly. Wouldn’t mind all four of ya hangin’ out there for a bit if you can, in case they trail ya back.” Hondo said.
 
 
The one female soldier, of whom he had not caught a name, nodded, “We can stay there for an hour or two, or until you return at least, sir.”
 
 
Hondo nodded, “That’ll work, thanks.”
 
 
She nodded to him then motioned for the others to follow her. They all picked out smaller, lighter bikes than what Valentine had grabbed, looking mainly for fast bikes that would traverse rougher country for scouting or the like. Once they had all grabbed one they took off, leaving Hondo and Fernando alone once more.  
 
 
They checked things over for a while before Fernando spoke.
 
 
“How long has she been here?” He asked.
 
 
“For a while.” Hondo replied flatly.
 
 
“We will talk about this once we get through this.” Fernando said a bit firmly.
 
 
“No need. She’s my problem an’ will be gone soon.” Hondo replied.
 
 
Fernando looked at him and frowned, “I have tried to stay out of the problems between you and Valentine because she is your wife, but that woman was not Valentine, at least not yours.”
 
 
Hondo scowled, “Not sure the other is even mine anymore.”
 
 
Fernando sighed, “Listen, I know this has been hard on you and we have not talked about it. There has not been time with all that has happened, but as my number two I rely on you to keep it together until there is time. We can talk about it, if you need to, after we get through this hell we are facing now.”
 
 
“Nothin’ to talk ‘bout as I’m not sure there’s anythin’ left to salvage there. Molly has been pretty supportive to an’ carin’ ‘bout me an’ the girls, so why fight with Val?” Hondo replied.
 
 
“That is a conversation that will have to wait.” Fernando said.
 
 
“Has she apologized to you?” Hondo asked after a moments pause.
 
 
“Valentine? No, she has not, and frankly I have been avoiding her as I do not have the time or patience for drama from angry women.” Fernando replied.
 
 
“She lash out at ya again?” He asked
 
 
Fernando shook his head, “Not really, other than she glares and acts disgusted every time I see her, though I really do not care, as I have other things that matter more right now.
 
 
 “Then I’m throwin’ her out of camp.” Hondo replied in almost a sad tone.
 
 
“I do not see a reason for that, yet.” Fernando said
 
 
“I told her if she didn’t apologize to you, beg for your forgiveness, an’ get rid of that attitude when ‘round you she was gone! We have too much goin’ on, too many people countin’ on us, to deal with her shit attitude!” Hondo replied angrily.
 
 
“Just leave her be for now.” Fernando said.
 
 
“No, she needs to know I don’t give out empty threats an’ really don’t give a #$@! if she is terrified of you!” He snapped.
 
 
“Listen, beyond not wanting you to do something you might regret and maybe even still caring slightly about her despite her being such a hate filled bitch, anymore, she, like you, me, and Jeanette, do not belong in this time. She needs to stay with us until we complete what we were brought here for and find a way back.” Fernando said.
 
 
Hondo sighed, “Damn it… Reckon I didn’t think ‘bout that.”
 
 
“She said she is afraid of me?” Fernando asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
 
 
Hondo nodded, “Terrified, supposedly, but not enough to act like the decent woman I thought she was instead of the bitch she’s been actin’ like!”
 
 
About then the sound of approaching jeeps drew their attention as some of the army folks approached.
 
 
“We will talk about this later, in private.” Fernando said.
 
 
 “Alright.” Hondo replied, though he really rather not wanting to discuss it further.
 
 
Talking about it only made him feel the hurt more and made it harder to ignore. It also reminded him of regret and his impending death, that he tried not to think about. He had work to do and working through his pain and emotions was not among the important items. He was doing better at hiding all of that from others as well as himself, but, as Fernando glanced at him once more, he felt as if he saw through it all somehow. He knew he would most likely avoid a confrontation for now, as the anti-wessen biker threat made personal issues of little to no consequence, but he knew it was not the end of it.  
 
 
Not much was said when the Major arrived, though she did make a comment about them needing to have a discussion later. She seemed a bit tense and out of sorts with them, though it was more in her attitude than what she said. it took only a few minutes for the troops with her to grab up a dozen bikes and take off back towards their camp.
 
 
"We will talk about what happened here, as well as other things back at camp, gentlemen." She said quickly before stepping back into her jeep
 
 
She did not say more nor give them time to say anything either before she took off, following the others back to their camp.
 
 
Hondo turned back to the nine remaining bikes and looked at them, "Well, what do we do with these?"

As Fernando drives back to the convoy camp, he can see several yellow piper cubs circling above the biker gang at their encampment, noticing that every once in a while a plane would leave the group at the same another plane inserted itself into the empty slot of their flying circle. This says to him that their base was nearby, at least within 50 miles, 100 miles at most. But flying planes is rather fuel consuming; so they either make their own fuel (Ether alcohol or Vegetable oil based fuel) is constantly buying large amounts of it.
 
Then it suddenly hits him, in sending those biker gang members back to their camp from high above and crashed down to their deaths that they would look up and think that the flyers above them had something to their friends’ demise. Then again, he does not care and thinks that their attention will be now onto the flyers that they would not care about the rest of Flight Town.
 
He continues driving back to the convoy camp, taking a few minutes to do so. The camp seems to be normal but quieter without the kids. Being allowed to drive in, he parks the medical jeep in front of his camper. He looks at his watch, seeing the time is slowly approaching 5:30, dinner should be ready to carry out to the hanger within the next half hour. He decides to check the vehicles of the camp. Knowing that the Den Mother and her brood is at the hanger, no one should be by her large bus camper. But he hears noise from around its far side. He knows that all of the external storage bay doors are welded shut and moved to indoor. He looks under the large camper and count the number of people who might be behind on the other side, counting 3 pairs of legs for 3 people.
 
He steps to the rear wheel of the oversized camper to hide his legs from being seen. He readies his gun and cane. He thinks and plans, thinking he needs to take two steps to the rear of the camper, turn right and another four to six steps to the opposite corner where he can confront those back there and see what they are doing. He takes a deep breath before executing his plan. One, two, turn, one, two, three, four, five, turn, less than a couple seconds to assess the situation, a fourth person was found to be there with their legs hidden by the rear wheel. They are all from the biker gang, one was trying to siphoning fuel from the gas tank, another was trying crowbar one of the welded panel doors.
 
“#$@!ing freeze or die!” Fernando yells at them with his gun aimed at the fourth one.
 
Instead of freezing, the third and fourth draw their guns to shoot at Fernando but he was already drawn and ready to fire. They try to shoot anyways, only to be out maneuvered and out shot.
 
Within the span of three seconds: “BANG!” The fourth one misses Fernando; “BANG!” Fernando nails him with a shot to the forehead; “BANG!” The third one shoots at Fernando and misses; “BANG!” Fernando hits him in the shoulder; he then swings his cane and clocks the first one trying to siphoning the fuel tank on the head. The one remaining slowly turns around with his hand up in the air.
 
The gun fire has gotten the attention of the army and convoy guards, who come running to the area. With weapons drawn, they surround the camper.
 
“What is going on here?!!” A Sergeant yells out.
 
“Arrest and hog-tie these three and let Doc Marcos deal with this dead one and patch up that one.” Fernando says as he points them out.
 
“Arrest them, on what charge?” The Sergeant says.
 
“Theft of fuel, attempted breaking and entry, and attempted murder of yours truly – me.” Fernando tells him as the troops frisk the criminals, confiscate their weapons, and handcuffed them before taking them away. He then throws in, “Are there the guards that cover this area?”
 
The Sergeant looks at his men and then shouts out, “Where are Jones and Wolenski?!!”
 
The men look at each other, all of them shaking their heads.
 
“Go out and find them!” The Sergeant yells at them.
 
The troops go out onto the grassy field to search for the missing men. They were not paying attention to the parked motorcycles almost 100 yards away in the middle of the field between the main entrance road and the convoy parking area. It would not take them long to find their bodies a few feet away from the motorcycles.
 
The portable radios squawk into life with a random soldier’s voice sounding in, “Jones and Wolenski are found, sir!”
 
The Sergeant yells over the radio, “Then get them over here!”
 
The voice returns over the radio, “They are dead, sir.”
 
The Sergeant stands there in silence. Fernando takes his radio, “This is the Medic. What are their conditions?”
 
The solider explains, “Smith’s shirt uniform has holes in it and covered in blood. Wolenski has his shirt ripped and a large gash from the front to the back of his neck. Their firearms are missing.”
 
“What is your location? Get up and wave your arms so we can see you.” Fernando explains.
 
Out in the distance, they can see a solider get up and wave his arms not far from the motorcycles. The men in the grass searching starts heading towards them, soon the area is surrounded with about a dozen men around the bodies of the fallen soldiers and the motorcycles. Fernando slaps the sergeant in the back and begins to head to the gathering. They get there in under a minute. Fernando looks over the bodies, finding them cold to the touch meaning they have been dead for quite a while. He then turns to the troops.
 
“Search those motorcycles and confiscate them.” Fernando tells them. He then tells a couple men to get some stretchers from the medical tent. They do as they are told. As they head to the medical tent, there is a call on the radio from the Major, who is going on her bitch fit again.
 
“This is Major Moynihan, what is going on out there?!!” The major yells on her radio.
 
Fernando looks at the sergeant and the other men before taking the radio and answers, “This is Medic. We have a situation here. Two guards have been killed, caught four trying to break into one of the campers. Shot two of them, killed one. Hit the other in the head and the last one simply surrendered and had them arrested. Had them arrested and that is when the guards gathered on this side started a search for the missing guards, they were found dead in the grassy field.”
 
There was silence for a moment.
 
“Don’t move anything until I get there.” The major then says in a foul tone.
 
“Whatever you say...” Fernando says to the men about demand but not keying up on the radio. He then looks around the area before saying, “Men, I’m just a civilian and you are not obliged to take my orders. But I would like you all secure the area, secure the vehicles (the motorcycles) and secure the bodies. Nothing moves until after the Major inspects the area.”
 
They all look at him and then at each other before snapping into attention and saluting him. “Sir, YES SIR!” They all say before going off to do as Fernando told them to do.
 
It takes the Major to get to the group by escorted jeep, though their assembly was easy to view and quick to reach by foot.
 
She steps out of the jeep and demands an answer, “What happened here?”
 
Fernando arcs his finger about to the other to answer but they all shook their heads. He then points to himself, “Major Moynihan, sir, I arrived a few minutes ago after dropping off Hondo at the hanger and heard some noises behind the last camper of the convoy. I found that odd as that there should be guards posted here keeping the peace. I found four individuals trying to steal fuel from the camper and trying to break into one of the welded panels.  Two of them drew their arms to shoot me but missed and I managed to shoot them, killed one with a shot to the head and wound the other with a shot to the shoulder. Then I took out a third a swing to the head with me cane. The fourth one surrendered without a fight. The both the convoy and army guards came to this area and I told them to arrest them. The Sergeant here asked about the guards that were supposed to be in this area, and the men here were told to search the area and the guards were found here dead by these vehicles – presumably owned by those who were arrested. After checking for life signs, you called us to report on the situation. A couple minutes later, you arrive and here we are.”
 
“Sergeant, care to add to that?” The major asks him sternly.
 
“It is as exactly as he stated.” The sergeant stated.
 
The major seems angered by the comment. She then says to Fernando “We are taking heavy casualties in this place. Unnecessary casualties.”  
 
“You listen here, Major. You were not around at the time of The Happening or the years before it. I was. And I had seen many good men die in the name of law enforcement and protection of people and property both domestic and international because there are evil people out there willing to hurt others for their fun and profit. The men and women of the army are doing a thankless job, people are not going like them, and some will try to do things against them. But they are doing a job that nobody else will, and I commend them all for it. Unfortunately good people will die in trying to stop evil men and their minions from killing, hurting, enslaving and indoctrinating the innocent. That includes humans and Wessens. Now if you think this mission is too hard for you, we can discuss it with General Jastrey and see what she has to say. But I say, your men are doing an exceptional job, and I am honored to have had them beside me and behind me in the fights we had during the days we are here. And I hope they will continue to help me while we go through town to town. And if we have to separate and go on our different ways, it has been an honor to have served with such great and brave people. I wish them the best. But for those who bitch, whine and complain about how hard the job is and afraid of giving their life for the life of another, should go out to find another less demanding job, like making sandwiches at the sandwich shop. Now, what are we going to do with this situation?” Fernando tells her.
 
The Major bows her head down for a moment and then shakes it.
 
“If they were wounded I would give them some of my Old World medicine to help heal them, but I do not have the power to bring back the dead. I cannot do anything for them.” Fernando tells her.
 
She looks up at the men before giving them their orders, “Get them to the Medical Tent for Dr. Marcos to examine, and confiscate these vehicles.” She then looks at Fernando and the sergeant, “Where are the criminals that did this?”
 
“They were arrested and taken to detainment.” Fernando explains.
 
“I will be interrogating them.” The major says before going to her jeep and orders her driver to leave the area.
 
“Whatever.” Fernando says as he sees her drive away. He then turns to the sergeant, “Sergeant, sir. I would want this area well guard with a three man crew on this side, a three man crew around the front side of this camper and another three man crew on the rear of the camper. As the patrols make their rounds, make sure they can see each other from the distance. I am not telling you how not do your job, but this is how I want it done.”
 
“Anybody who fights along with us is somebody I would follow to every battle as have to face. And anyone who puts Major Bitch in her place is one whose orders I will follow. I’ll get the men in order and in place once we clear the area.” The Sergeant tells him.
 
“Thank you.” Fernando tells him, adding, “I have to see the status of the convoy meal and get it ready to send to the hanger. I’ll see you and the men later.”
 
“Laters.” The sergeant replies before Fernando starts to walk away. The sergeant begins to order his troops to take the confiscated vehicles and to take the bodies of the dead soldiers to the medical tent for an autopsy. The troops execute the given orders.
 
Fernando walks back to the camp and puts the removed fuel back into the tank of the Den Mother’s camper and then securing the tools they were trying to use to break into the camper inside his Dub Box Camper. He looks at his watch, seeing that it is just a few minutes past 5o’clock. Look over to Hondo’s camper; it seems that they are not done with the meal. He goes back to his camper and opens the sliding door before going in.
 
Ichigo is lying on the bed staring at the ceiling.
 
He takes off his jacket and hat, placing them on the sink counter. His gun holster is next before walking to the jump seat of his camper and sits down to take off his shoes. His shirt and pants are next to follow before he steps over to the bed.
 
He puts his knee on the bed as he looks down at her. She turns to face him.
 
“I see you took your clothes off, except for your t-shirt and panties...” He says to her.
 
“What is there to do? It is not like you are taking me out to a date with dinner and entertainment. And I am little more than just your ‘bedwarmer,’ so why have my clothes on for that?” She says to him
 
“Sorry I do not have a house and yard for you to tend to as my housewife. This is all I got.” He tells her holding back the anger that has been boiling all day.
 
She looks down on herself for a moment, sensing that he was angry at her. “I’m sorry, I did not mean it that way.” She says to him.
 
He climbs onto the bed and lies down next to her, also staring at the ceiling. He says, “No. Don’t be sorry. We need to deal with each other when times are tough and this is as bad as things can get.”
 
She turns to him, putting her hand on his groin and starts tracing the imprint of his male organ against his underwear with her finger, saying, “If the stress is getting to you, I’ll do anything you want to deal with it.”
 
“Heh...” He lets out, adding, “As much as I want you to suck my dick or give up that pussy of yours, now is not the time. I sometimes wonder how things are going to happen if and when they do.”  
 
“Hey, I’ll admit that it is going to be a very tight fit between us, but you are not going to break me. I do have to ask for you to take it easy with me until things get go smoothly.” She tells him, wrapping her fingers about his shaft through his underwear.
 
“You should not be doing that.” He says as he puts his hand on hers, “How would you like it if I touched you down there?”
 
“I am hoping that you would.”  She tells him, adding, “And I’m hoping that you take me and do me lovely as the little woman that I am.”
 
“Then you start acting like a woman then I will do you like one.” He tells her.
 
She sits up and looks at him, “What do you mean by that?!!”
 
“Look, you are every creep, pedo and jerk with Jungle Gym Fever’s dream – a full grown woman in little girl’s body. It also hints an enticement on a normal man’s mind who is tired and mentally weak and would fall for a little girl who wants a big daddy to take care of her in exchange for her taking care of him - sexually.” He begins to tell her.
 
“I know that, having dealt with that for all of my life. But with you, I can trust you with what I got, and I know that it bothers you because like you said before, that it would entice that part of you though you resist. But if you do want a little girl fantasy, I would be glad to be that little girl for you because I need that too. I mean, have a big daddy type guy to take care of little old me like a big daddy type would. But again, I’ll be the best wifey for you that I can be, and as a couple we do what we can for each other and I owe you a lot for saving me.” She says to him as she leans against him.
 
He lets sigh.
 
She adds, “I’m sorry if it bothers you, but I do not know what to do because it is how I have been all my life.” She then lets out a sigh. “I do not mean to be demanding, but long ago you gave me half a pill to heal on and said that when we meet again you would give me another half to complete it.”
 
“I’ll give you one before we leave this place. But if I gave you half a pill long ago, it should have cured you of what you got; a half a pill takes longer to heal you than a whole pill. And for you in your size, half a pill should be more than enough as a full pill is for a full grown adult but a child size person like you only needs a half a pill. I will give you a pill to cure you of what you may have gotten after the many years you had that half pill.” He tells her.
 
She inches up onto him, kissing him on the cheek before saying “Thank you.”
 
“Yeah...” He replies.
 
She leans against him while continues to grope at his groin though his briefs. After a few seconds she lets out a sigh.
 
“What’s wrong?” He asks.
 
“I’m just thinking...” She starts.
 
“About?” He asks.
 
“Well, you know on the past couple times, you, well, kissed me and, you know... what you did down there?” She asks.
 
“What about it?” He asks, knowing where it is going to lead.
 
“I would like to return you the favor.” She says.
 
“If I say yes, how far are you going to take it?” He asks.
 
“As far as I am allowed, as far as you would want me to. Like you did to me, maybe a little bit more.” She says.
 
“Now, I dare ask why would you want to do this?” He asks.
 
“Because I can see you’re stressed out and need some sort of release. I could help you in that release if you like.” She tells him.
 
He lets out a sigh before he reaches down and takes her hand off his groin and with his other hand he takes the waistband of his briefs and tucking them behind his testicles before putting her hand on his bare groin area. She grabs onto his bare shaft and wraps her tiny fingers around it before she starts pumping it lightly. He leans over to her and plants his lips against hers for a quick second.
 
She says and asks, “Wow... this is change of heart...”
 
“Just do as you say you would.” He says to her.
 
She looks at him for a moment before looking down onto his male organ and biting on her lower lips in trying to hide a smile.
 
“Before you begin,” He begins, making her to face him. He sits up before saying, “You first.”
 
“Huh?” She replies before he puts his hands onto her shoulders and pushes her down to lie flat on the bed. This make her let go of his male organ, which he outs back into his briefs and then climbing over her, positioning himself to lie down on his stomach while his head is between her open legs. He looks up at her before lowers his head and starts rubbing his tongue against the smooth material of her silk panties that covered her clitoris and labia.
 
She moans softly as he licks her a bit lower and then back up, teasing her by not pulling her panties to the side that would give her total flesh contact for the moment. Continuing for a few more minutes, she trusts her pelvis to his face as he licks her silk covered sensitive areas. She puts her tiny hands on his head to push it down harder against her as she trusts her groin to his mouth. In a couple of minutes she was in ecstasy has she climaxes from his lingual-labial massage.  
 
He lifts himself up on extended arms and looks up to her. She was breathing heavy from what he had put her through.
 
“Too much for you?” He asks.
 
“Yeah.” She manages between breathes. He reaches over to her breasts and feels them lightly for a second, finding them hard and erect. He then sits up on his legs as she asks, “What was that for?”
 
“Just checking to see if you are faking it or not. And you’re not from the looks of it.” He explains.
 
“Why would you do that?”  She asks.
 
“Just making sure you’re being honest with me on all things. Even sexual ones.” He tells her.
 
“But...” She tries to say.
 
“But nothing.” He interrupts her, adding, “I will trust you up to a point. But now I can trust you some more. And each day I will trust you more with every test you have. I know that this world has little to offer unless you take it from someone else, which is why I’m testing you to make sure you do not take from me and run away with it. I will tell you that no matter how much we will tell each other how much we love each other, all that goes to hell when one lies to the other and uses them to obtain their objective. In that with you, to have me protect you, you will say those things I want to hear in order to keep protecting you, including lie about how you feel for me. That is all.”
 
“I’m not lying when I say that I’m I love with you. Saving my life is a big part of that, but that is just a tiny reason as to why I love you. Needing you to protect me is only another tiny part as to why I love you. If Fight Town did not fall and went to hell like it did, I still would have ran away to be with you. My days there were over the moment I saw you come in. I am sorry as to what happened to Val and why you were looking for her, but that is none of my fault. All I was told is that the Grey Lady was involved and she would be there to watch the fight you were in. Because it all happened like you said it would so long ago.” She explains.
 
“Remind me when I meet my older self to eat the crap out of him for foretelling you the future. I do not want to hear of what could happen or what may happen from some idiot’s mouth, even if that idiot is me, for the future can change because somebody tells he and everyone acts differently to not allow it to happen.” He tells her with a growl in his voice.
 
“Please, forgive me...” She pleads.
 
“Forgive you? I’ll do that. Just do not do it again.” He tells her.
 
“I promise that I will try.” She tells him.
 
There is a heavy “Thud” not far from their camper, Fernando looks out from the curtain that covers the rear window. Ruth, Val and the Bunny Girls got the 55 gallon drum outside and are starting to pack it with food. He then hops over to the edge of the bed and starts putting on his clothes.
 
“Where are you going?” She asks.
 
“Getting ready to get the food over to the hanger to feed everyone there.” He explains as he gets dressed. He adds, “Do not worry about going out, I will get dinner for us when I return from the hanger.”
 
“OK then.” She says, gathering the blankets together to get under.
 
It takes less than a minute for Fernando to get dressed and to get out of the camper. Looking at his watch, it is just a few minutes to 6o’clock. He starts walking to the front of his camper to the Medical Jeep instead of walking between the camper trailers to Hondo’s camper where the metal drum canister was being filled.  Looking about, he opens the driver’s door to the medical jeep, puts it into neutral, releases the break and pushes the vehicle to the front of Hondo’s camper and his Bronco. He sets the brake, closes the driver’s door and opens the passenger door, leaving it open before going to the back of the Hondo’s camper.
 
He has started to walk to the back of Hondo’s camper when another Jeep drives up to his medical jeep and its horn it honked. Fernando turns around to find Hondo stepping out of the Jeep.
 
“Jefe, are the meals ready?” Hondo asks as he walks up to him.
 
“I was going there to find out.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Then we go together.” Hondo says.
 
Fernando signals to him to come before he starts walks the short distance to the rear of the camper. A few short steps later they were all in the rear of Hondo’s camper. The Bunny Ring Girls were putting the food in place with Ruth and/or Val looking over to see if it is being stacked right. The men step up to the corner of the rear of the camper, looking at what is being done. Fernando looks into the drum, only seeing 50-percent of the drum being filled.
 
“What you looking at?” Kiah throws at him.
 
Fernando looks up at her and then at the others before answering, “Just wondering how we are going to pick this up to put into the jeep when it is finally filled.” They all look at him blankly before he adds in, “Hondo and I will figure something out.”
 
“Well you better figure something.” A voice says loud enough to be heard. Val steps out of the camper, handing parts of the armful of the wrapped up sandwiches to the Bunny Ring Girls to put into the drum. “We’re working like slaves making food to feed these kids who done nothing but eat, sleep and play all day.”
 
Ruth steps out to hand over more wrapped up sandwiches for the Bunny Ring Girls to put into the drum, shaking her head at what she just heard. In seeing this, Fernando decides to keep his peace of mind.
 
“No rush, but when do you think you ladies will be finished? Hondo and I need to check out a few things.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Don’t know. We’re done cooking. Just got to pack it all up.” Val says in a more peaceful tone.
 
“OK. We will be back in fifteen minutes or so.” Fernando tells her. With the back of his hand he then taps Hondo on his chest and points to the grassy field behind the campers, “Hope you got your boots on. We’re going to check out the grassy area behind here.”
 
Hondo can see that there are troops patrolling the area but the distance between them were great. If one group needed help, it would have half a minute for the other group to arrive and provide assistance. They begin their walk over the knee-high fence and onto the grass field. As they walk through the field, they keep track of the troops’ movement. They continue on their way to the entrance roadway where they see several bikers there on the far side of the roadway including the Elder Leader. They were looking about the area with binoculars, including down the camp.
 
“As I thought...” Fernando says. He then says to Hondo, “Let’s go.”
 
Hondo follows him as they cross the road to the bikers.
 
“What’s going on?” Fernando asks them.
 
“None of your business.” One of the bikers (not the Elder Leader) tells him.
 
“Anyone spying on my camp is my business. Now what the #$@! you want!” Fernando growls at him.
 
The Elder Leader steps up to Fernando, “Why the Army arrested my people?”
 
“The Army did not arrest your people. I arrested your people... for trying to break into one of my convoy vehicles and stealing fuel from it. Furthermore, they shot at me, so I had to shoot back, killing one of them and wounded the other. So what of it.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Release them.” The Elder Leader tells him.
 
“What for? “ Fernando tells him, “They get caught doing the crime, they do the time.”
 
“Release them and we won’t bother your camp again.” The Elder Leader tells him.
 
“I’ll think about it. Until then they will have a warm bed and 3 square meals a day on our behave. If I release them, they will be coming with your bro. Not before then.” Fernando tells him.
 
The Elder Leader scowls back at him.
 
Fernando tells him, “If you or your people need something, ask and maybe if we have it we can make some deal. But steal from us, then you face with our laws. It is that simple – respect me and I’ll respect you back. Disrespect me, and you be disrespected back.”
 
The sound the Piper Cubs flying over head gets louder as they fly lower. One of the bikers bump into the Elder Leader and points up. They all look up as the airplanes fly over their heads. Fernando and Hondo looks up and see what they see.
 
“What of them?” Fernando asks.
 
“Those Assholes dropped our peoples from the skies. I want to know who they are.” The Elder leader says.
 
“I warned you not to mess with the Wessens.” Fernando tells him.
 
“They’re Wessens?” The Elder Leader asks.
 
“I told you that they are Wessens and not to mess with them.” Fernando begins, “They got tech that you can see lets them fly. They also got tech that can make you disappear. Now if your people messed with them, consider them lucky that they died and you got their bodies to bury. Normally, they make people disappear, never to be seen again. Now, stop messing with the Wessens here. Even if you win a battle with them, you would lose so much that losing the battle would be a better option. In short, fight them with a thousand men, you will walk away with 200. Can you afford such a loss?”
 
The Elder Leader pokes his onto Fernando’s chest, “You said that you fought them and won!”
 
“No. I said we fought the group: Os Animes. These Wessens are not part of Os Animes. They are a separate group sworn to protect the Wessen Town. They came to us after the battle with Os Animes out of respect but more like to see what had happened and what was our losses. But they said that we are not to blame them for what Os Animes did as they are not part of Os Animes. They go by the name ‘Death From Above.’ Like I told you, I told them – respect me, and I respect you back. Need something, ask and if we have it, we can make a deal for it. We are not friends or in league with them but we have that mutual respect. If your men went to mess with them, they got what they deserve.” Fernando explains to him.
 
The Elder Leader looks at Fernando and then at his men. They all had questions on their faces, but are not willing to ask them. Fernando continues with his deceit.
 
“They are the ones that are willing to pay for Hector and his friends – a million for him, one-hundred-thousand for each of his pals. But consider this as a warning, do not go to them with empty hands. They already consider you and your people as a detriment for whatever your men did. See them with Hector and his friends in chains, they will be happy to deal with you.” Fernando tells them.
 
The Elder Leader scowls at him before letting out a sigh. Then one of his men whispers in his ear. The Elder Leader then asks, “We will be needing supplies. Fuel and food mostly.”
 
“As you know – you got money, they got supplies. They accept coins in gold or silver, and old world money but not everybody accepts old world money.” Fernando tells him.
 
“We do not have much money.” The Elder Leader points out.
 
“Some are willing to barter for services, or pay you for jobs. I can ask around, maybe somebody needs protection escort services or something you guys can do. I will ask around. How many days of food do you have?” Fernando says and asks.
 
“We have enough for a few days.” The Elder Leader answers.
 
“Then what is the problem?” Fernando asks.
 
“There is no problem – yet.” The Elder Leader says to him, trying to show some teeth.
 
“You and your people are up to something. But mark my words, go against us, get anyone one of us hurt in any way, and it will be the last thing you and your people will ever do.” Fernando tells him. He throws in after a second of silence, “If you want your brother and your people to walk to camp – let me do my job as a medical healer and leave my people and my vehicles alone.”
 
“And if we don’t?” The Elder Leader asks.
 
“Then your brother rides the highways alone, because you and everyone else will be gone.” Fernando tells him.
 
The Elder Leader inflates himself and stretches his back to make himself look bigger than he actually is. He steps up to Fernando and pokes his chest, “Wipe your mouth, you’re talking shit again.”
 
Fernando raises his arm, parrying his poking finger away from this chest. He men step up drawing their firearms but are met with a Colt revolver to each of their faces while their hands were still on the holster. Hondo pulls the hammers back on the revolvers, getting them ready to fire.
 
Fernando glares at the Elder Leader, “Don’t ever touch me again. Touch me again and I’m taking that hand off like I did with Hector.”
 
The Elder Leader shifts his eyes from Fernando to Hondo, then back to Fernando. He then turns to his head to Hondo. “You... I never forget a face. Yes, the Cowboy. It’s been what – 10 years?”
 
“Don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout.” Hondo tells him.
 
“Yes, it is you...” The Elder Leader says. He then signals to his men to let go the holstered guns and to step back. He then steps back, grabbing the handle bars of his motorcycle, and gets on it as did his men. He tells his men, “Let go.”
 
They turn on their engines, revving their engine up and down to make them sound like barking dogs before putting them into gear and ride away to their camp. As they ride away Hondo puts away his guns and Fernando puts down his cane.
 
“Know what that fool was talkin’ ‘bout?” Hondo asks.
 
“As you may or may not know, our older selves are somewhere on this world doing what they can to fix it. My conclusion is that your older self had some kind of dealing in the past. Ichigo told me of my older self’s past and you were part of it but no details are given in that.” Fernando explains.
 
“Think we would ever run into our older selves?” Hondo asks though he already knows the answer through his interaction with the older Val.
 
“I doubt it.” Fernando answers.  
 
“HMPH...” Hondo replies.
 
“Let’s go back to get dinner to the kids. It should be ready by now.” Fernando tells him.
 
{Lost Text from system crash}
 
Hondo nods before they turn around and start to head back to his camper where the ladies were assembling the food within the drum.
 
“You had a chance to see what that major wanted to talk ‘bout?” Hondo asks as they walked back to his camper.
 
“We had a talk, and I told her off, giving her the choice to pack up and leave or stay and take the heat like a soldier should.” Fernando explains to him.
 
“What was she needed to be told off for?” Hondo asks.
 
“According to her ‘there are too many losses’ with the battles the army had to do with Hector’s men and now she does not want another war with the bikers, though we found a couple of dead soldiers killed by few bikers which I killed one of, wounded another and he and his two surviving friends were arrested. I had to tell her off on that the army has to defend the weak and those unable to fight back, and that as an officer in charge that she has to be in line with the troops during the battle. She literally walked away crying. Thing is though the sergeant of the guards agreed with me and basically said, ‘I’ll stand by any officer that is willing to fight alongside their men.’” Fernando explains.
 
“Hmph... bitch wants the power but not the responsibility.” Hondo replies.
 
“You know it.” Fernando replies in turn.
 
 
{Mid Morning Hours, Mitsuminejinja Shinto Temple Shrine – Japan}
 
The girls Min and Ichi gathered a few personal belongings and wore a bikini under their robes before leaving for the temple’s public bath and showers. The lone figure is going over his notes and logs. After pacing around a like a nervous bird in a cage with a large cat looking in close to it, Raven leaves the joined rooms after Min and Ichi. Hondo steps up to The Lone Figure and looks at what he is going.
 
“What’s going on, Jefe?” Hondo asks
 
“Be careful in saying my title or name, you do not know who is listening though I can trust this place. It’s some of the people I do not trust. But I am looking at my notes and see what is going on. The notes about Flight Town are in Temporal Flux and entries being rewritten, primarily with the Biker Gang. And The Red Tojo will want to meet with me within the week and you will be there out of view.” Fernando explains.
 
“What you want me to do when we get there?” Hondo asks.
 
“We walk in together, you sit at the bar, I’ll go to Tojo’s booth. You listen in and be ready to shoot first and ask questions later while we make our escape. I’m hoping it will not get to that and we just walk out unbothered.” Fernando explains.
 
Hondo nods. He then asks “We riding into town for this meet?”
 
“It’s in Tokyo, so we - you and I - will ride into the border of the town, park at a friend’s place, teleport into an alley behind the bar and walk in. Then if all goes well, we repeat all that in reverse.” Fernando explains.
 
“Tokyo is the heart Spirit Central.” Hondo throws in.
 
“Like you taught me long ago, ‘walk in like you own the place, and no one will question you being there.’ Tojo The Red is a member of the royal house, and in correspondence with him, they are tired of the Spirits telling them what to do and how to do it. Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan are also in the same boat but no one is willing to act unless somebody makes the first move. They have the ‘Seven Little Dragons’* in line with them as well but somebody got to make that move first.” Fernando explains.
 
“Heh... The Dragons want a revolt but no one is willing to make a move, the Time Lords tell us to fix it or they will break it, and we cannot help our younger selves. Damn the Spirits to heck.” Hondo says.
 
“We will have to see what happens next.” Fernando replies.
 

---

Note:      *’The Seven Little Dragons’ are the lesser Oriental Nations like Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Miramar when unified as an economic force can be very powerful in manufacturing, agriculture and shipping.

Hondo returned with the jeep full of food and stopped at the door. The two soldiers, who had replaced the other two came out quickly at the sound, seeming tense and ready for action until they saw I was Hondo and relaxed. This was something he did not miss.
 
 
“Everythin’ alright? You two look jumpy.” He said.
 
 
“Well, I can tell you, right about now we wish they had sent more of us, or that the other two had stayed.” The one younger male said.
 
 
The older female scowled and shook her head, “Sorry sir. I hope my companions worrying does not make you question our abilities.”
 
 
He raised an eyebrow, questioningly, as he looked between them.
 
 
“I don’t trust much of anyone’s abilities until I see them prove themselves. Sense of danger I do trust, though. So, what’s the worry ‘bout?” HE asked firmly.
 
 
The female signed slightly, knowing words would not work with this one.
 
 
“Sir, there has been at least four passes by different motorcycles from that group of anti-mutant bikers. They did not seem to just be passing by, as they slowed down as they approached. We believe they might be scoping out the area.” She said.
 
 
“Any ideas why? None of the wessen’s have been out and about, I hope.” He said.
 
 
“No sir! But we think they are looking for easy targets or targets of some value away from town, since those in town you and the medic have been handling.” The younger man said.  
 
 
Hondo sighed and nodded, “Understood. We will hafta keep on our toes. More of you folks would be nice, but will draw attention. I’m afraid we will just have to do with what we got for now. Also, I’d call your commander an’ tell them not to switch out until after dark, an’ only durin’ dark for the next few days. You can eat with us, but we need to not let them see that the military is too interested in this place or they might try to find out why.”
 
 
They both nodded.
 
 
“Understood, sir! It is a good plan!” The female said, snapping almost to full attention.
 
 
Hondo frowned, “Knock it off with the sir bullshit! You might be assigned to me, for now, but I’m a civilian operative. I’m no soldier an’ besides you listenin’ to me an’ givin’ me an’ my words the respect due, I do not expect military officer protocol.”
 
 
She relaxed a bit and sighed, sounding a bit defeated, “Yes sir … I mean yes… er… yes?”
 
 
“Just call me Hondo.” He said.
 
 
“Can we help you with something, then, sir, uh, Hondo?” The male soldier asked.
 
 
“Yeah, I got a barrel of food for everyone. Help me unload it an’ bring it inside. I’ll have a couple of the ladies set things out an’ have them come down in shifts to eat.” He replied.
 
 
They nodded and moved to the vehicle to get the food barrel.  
 
 
The barrel, not only fairly heavy and awkward, was also slightly wedged into the jeep. It took a bit of effort but once out, the two soldiers got one end and Hondo got the other and they carried it inside.
 
 
Once inside and the door closed, Hondo got Tonya and Molly to come down and lay things out. When the food was laid out the kids were brought down in two shifts to eat, and once they were done, Maggie, Molly, Marvin, Tonya, Zoey, Macey, Karl and the sheep girls came down and ate, with Hondo and the soldiers eating last as Maggie and the sheep girls cleaned up. The meal went off without a hitch, though the mood was definitely more solemn than usual, as everyone felt the weight of possible doom on their shoulders. The kids were used to hardship, so they seemed the least effect, though about all wessens had known some sort of hardship in their lives, to them this was still better than life had been. Maggie, Marvin, Karl, and the sheep girls seemed to be the most effect, having tasted some of the good life with Hondo and Fernando and now fearing it may be over. Tonya did her best to not make eye contact with anyone, especially Hondo, and Macey seemed to do the same, though Zoey worked at trying to keep her friend’s spirits up. Molly gave Hondo a couple worried looks, worried more about him than herself, but she said nothing as she knew this was not the place to talk.  
 
 
Once done eating, Hondo gave the soldiers each a hat and coat to borrow to look less military, as the three of them traded off sitting outside the door to watch and pairing up at change intervals to do a once around the building. A couple more motorcycles came past and slowed up before moving on, but no one stopped. The biggest fear was they would wait until dark, try to bust in when everyone was asleep, shoot everyone that moved, and take whatever they could get their hands on. If they did not move before dark it would be a long night.
 
 
Thing stayed fairly quiet, through the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, which everyone was happy for, as it had been a stressful day.  
 
 
(to be continued … )
 
**sorry, very short post. Trying to get back into it.**
 

As the afternoon played into evening, Hondo made rounds checking on everyone. He stopped first by the room Macey, Zoey, and Tonya were staying in. As he popped open the door and looked in, he found Tonya was not there, as she was upstairs with Molly at the moment, but the younger two and the cats were there. Macey lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, as Zoey sat on the floor playing with the kitten as Meshie sat by watching.  
 
“You two alright?” He asked.
 
“Yes papa.” Zoey said as she looked up at him from where she sat.
 
Macey just lay there saying nothing, obviously ignoring him.
 
“Macey?” He called out to her in a firm, but kind tone.
 
She sighed and nodded.
 
“I’m alright, Uncle Hondo.” She replied softly.
 
“Papa, we need to take Meshie and Kitty outside before bed time.” Zoey said.
 
He looked down at her and nodded, “I reckon we should get that done, but it’s not safe for you outside…. Macey, you’re gonna hafta do that.”
 
Macey sighed as she sat up, “Do I have to? Meshie hates me!”  
 
Hondo chuckled lightly, “I don’t think she hates you, little lady. She just knows you were mean to Kitty an’ doesn’t trust you yet.”
 
“I said I was sorry, though!” Macey complained
 
“Well, Meshie is smart for a cat, but she is still a cat an’ it will take time for her to trust you. Really, it’s not that different with people, when you think about it. When you do wrong by someone, sayin’ your sorry doesn’t make them trust you again right away. Sayin’ you’re sorry an’ provin’ that you know you did wrong an’ will do your best to not do that again, to be a better person, they aren’t the same thing. It’s part of the reason we hafta think ‘bout our actions, how they will affect others. We can’t always be right, but we have to try, as once ya do somethin’ wrong, you lose trust. Trust is a sacred thing, that is not easily obtained.” He replied.
 
Macey nodded, “I understand but… she still hates me.”
 
He shook his head, “Well, she doesn’t hate me, so how about I go with ya an’ help this time?”
 
Macey looked up at him and nodded slightly.
 
“That would help… thank you.” She said timidly.
 
Hondo turned to Meshie and held out a hand to her and when she came up to him and stopped. He scooped her up and held her against him with his left arm.
 
“Grab Kitty an’ let’s go.” He said to Macey, who quickly got up and gently grabbed up kitty before falling in behind him.  
 
They walked out into the main hanger area and back around behind the dirigible to a side door that was barred shut with a large iron cross bar. He hefted the bar and opened the door, letting Meshie to the ground as soon as they were outside. He walked over to the side of the hanger and sat in the grass, leaning up against the building wall as Macey set Kitty down and walked over beside him. She said nothing as she sat down beside him and hugged her knees to her chest, seeming to watch the cats and nothing at the same time.  
 
After a few quiet second Hondo broke the silence first as they set there, waiting for the cats to do their business and get in a little exercise.
 
“You gonna tell me what’s botherin’ you, little lady?” He asked sort of flatly.
 
Macey sighed and just sat there saying nothing.
 
“I know somethin’ is. I’m not a warm, fuzzy person, I know, but you can always talk to me.” He said after another few quiet seconds.
 
She sighed again and wiped a tear from her eye that threatened to fall down her cheek.
 
“I.. I’m sacred.” She whispered.
 
“Scared? Of what?” He asked.
 
“I’m scared Daddy hates me.” She whispered again.
 
“He doesn’t hate you.” He said, trying to reassure her.
 
“I .. I think he does… I know he loves that cat more than me… I .. I know if I mess up again he will throw me out or.. or send me back to momma to be a whore. … I .. I always thought that’s what I would be someday … I thought that was what love was… You, Daddy, Zoey … you all have really loved me and I didn’t have to be a whore to be loved.. I .. I can’t lose that.” She said softly as tears flowed down her face.
 
Hondo found himself a bit surprised. She somehow sounded older at the moment, but also more terrified than he had heard her before. He slid closer to her and pulled her against him. At first, she sort of resisted, but then she laid her head against him.
 
“He doesn’t hate you an’ you’re not goin’ back.” He said.
 
“If he doesn’t he should.” She whispered.
 
“Why?” He asked.
 
“Because I’m a bad girl.” She said, her voice trembling.
 
“You’re not a bad girl.” He replied.
 
“I am! And  .. and I know I’ll mess up again! Momma always said I was good for nothing, born bad, and only useful for #$@!ing! I can’t be a good girl, I can’t!!” She exclaimed before she broke down sobbing into his side.
 
He held her close and rocked her gently as he held her.
 
“Shh, now. It’s alright… I don’t see a bad girl at all. A bad girl wouldn’t have her heart breakin’ like this. I know you are afraid to mess up an’ have your dad angry at you. A bad girl isn’t worried ‘bout doin’ bad. A good girl is one who wants to do right an’ tries her best. Good girls fail at times, they do bad things, but their hearts hurt when they do wrong an’ they do their best to do better an’ make things right.” He said softly to her.  
 
 
“I.. *sniff* I.. *sniff* don’t know if I can do better.” She said after she had settled down a bit.
 
“Now, that is horse shit. I’d spank ya if I thought you truly believed that!” He said a bit firmly.
 
He breath shuttered a bit and she sniffed off her crying.
 
“I.. I am just *sniff* so sc.sc.scared that it’s too late. I.. *sniff* I want daddy to love me. I want .. *sniff* want him to trust me. If.. If I *sniff* I mess up again, he will throw me away.” She replied slowly.
 
“No one will throw you away. You may get your butt whooped next time, an’ I might do it myself, but as long as you know you did wrong an’ are tryin’ to do better we will never throw you away.” He said.
 
“N.n.next time? *sniff* So you know I will be bad again?” She said, trembling as she leaned against him.
 
“I reckon you aren’t any better than the rest of us an’ will fail again. We all do, even as adults at times. When we do, though, we take the consequences an’ move on, learnin’ from what happened.” He said.
 
She looked up at him slightly, “Is.. is that why you punched Daddy, because he failed too?”  
 
He chuckled slightly, “Let’s just say I care a lot ‘bout Zoey, you, an’ your dad an’ I did what I felt I had to for all of you. I didn’t like havin’ to do it, an’ maybe I failed an’ should have done somethin’ else, but that’s how things are. Even when we help those we care ‘bout do better, we can fail.”
 
“I understand, I guess but… *sniff* what if he does throw me away?” She asked.
 
“Listen, you are always welcome to stay with me, if things go bad, but the thing is I know your dad an’ he won’t. You need to understand, he an’ I have a lot goin’ on helpin’ folks right now. I know we haven’t been the best fathers or uncles, but right now we are tryin’ to save lives. Your life is one of those lives. Thing is, we rescued you already, but others still need rescuin’ an’ protectin’. We want to protect you, Zoey, Tonya, everyone, but we need you to do what we tell you an’ get along with everyone. When you don’t, you take time away from us helpin’ others an’ sometimes cause others to get hurt that would not have otherwise.” He said.
 
“You mean what Daddy said about killing people to save us?” Macey asked
 
Hondo sighed and nodded, “Yeah. I know you don’t understand now, an’ hope you never do, but … We would readily kill anyone who tried to hurt you, but when we do we have to live with takin’ those lives. I know you didn’t run away, but in leavin’ the camp an’ gettin’ kidnapped we ended up killin’ several people who stood in our way in tryin’ to get you back. That blood is on his an’ my hands… We did it willin’ly for you, but when we have to do it because you did not listen … well … those are deaths that maybe we should never have had on our consciences.”
 
“But… they were bad people, … right?” She asked timidly.
 
“Even good people fail at times, are pushed to do bad things in bad circumstances. Maybe they were bad, or maybe they were in a bad place an’ you two bein’ there gave them an opportunity to do bad. Maybe they had families an’ felt forced to do what they did to protect or provide for their families. Problem is we can’t know that. We have to be judge, jury, an’ executioner in a moment… If you think there isn’t the blood of good people who failed at the wrong time on my hands then you’re probably the only one.” He said softly, his voice giving off the edge of regret.  
 
Macey shuttered for a second as a partial understanding started to fill her mind. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
 
“I’m sorry, uncle Hondo. I … I didn’t know… I didn’t understand…  I’m sorry I did that to you and daddy.” She whispered, trying not to break down sobbing again.  
 
“I know, an’ I forgive you. … I don’t want you to blame yourself, but I want you to think. Both of you need to think an’ to trust us.” He said.
 
“Does.. does it mean since you had to kill them for us that.. that their deaths are on us too?” Macey asked very quietly.
 
He sighed, “Unfortunately, little lady, … it does. That’s what your dad was tryin’ to say at the grave side. Our actions have consequences. Sometimes it’s life.”
 
“James died because of us… right?” Macey asked again, her voice quiet and trembling.
 
He sighed again, “Maybe. He might have died anyway. Val maybe got messed up because of you two, or maybe she would have been taken anyway. I don’t know. What I know is, that we all have to live our lives the best we can so we have as little guilt on our consciences as possible. Had you girls not have fought, had you not been mean to Kitty, had you not hurt Zoey, had Zoey not ran off an’ Val still got taken an’ James still died, you would never have questioned it. But those things all did happen an’ you have to live with questions ‘bout if your actions caused those events.”
 
“You must hate me, then.” Macey said, her voice trembling more.
 
“No, little Lady. I love you, as does your Dad.” He replied softly.
 
“But… you and Aunt Val hate each other now, and people died and maybe it is all my fault! How can you not hate me?” She asked through her tears.
 
He sighed and stayed quiet for a moment before responding, “Because I love you an’ know you had a bad past, need to learn, an’ didn’t mean to cause problems. If you had tried to cause this trouble then, well, you aren’t the young lady I’m gettin’ to know.”
 
“But you and Aunt Val do hate each other because of me… right?” She asked softly.
 
“Maybe your actions started it, but maybe it was bound to happen. Yeah, we hate each other right now, though I miss who she used to be greatly… truth is, we are adults an’ you cannot be blamed for how we take things, for our attitudes, or for how we treat each other. Val… she treated me an’ several other folks badly, after all we went through to try to find her. No matter what she has been through, it was her choice to treat us like she has… her choice to push me away… Your responsibility is how you let your past an’ all of this effect your attitude an’ how you treat people. Will you be upset? Bitter? Push people away? Or will you learn from it? Try to be a better person? Love those who love you? Work to fix relationships you hurt? I know you are scared, but you can’t let that rule you. You made some bad decisions. Own what you did, learn, and move forward, becoming a better young lady because of the lessons.” He replied.
 
She sighed and held him tightly and buried her face into his side, “I’m sorry, *sniff*, I really am, uncle Hondo!”
 
“I know. All I ask is you do better.” He said softly.
 
“How? What should I do?” She asked
 
“Be the better person, like I said, an’ try to repair relationships. The one with your dad, included. Also, be mindful to not cause drama, or unneeded excitement. Trust us, listen to us, and even if it is borin’ or you are worried ‘bout us, stay where we put you so we don’t worry. Just bein’ where we won’t worry ‘bout you is the biggest help we can ask of you girls.” He replied.
 
 
“Will.. *sniff* will it always be like this?” She asked softly.
 
He shook his head, “No. It will get better. Someday we will take you girls home an’ things will get better.”
 
“Where is home?” She asked.
 
He chuckled softly, “It’s hard to explain exactly. Let’s just say, home is a long way from here an’ is so different you’d swear it was a different world.”
 
She sat sniffling for a few moments, calming herself down before replying.
 
“I.. I’d like to see that.” She replied.
 
“Someday you will, little lady. Someday.” He replied softly.
 
They sat there for a few more minutes in silence before Meshie and Kitty came up to them. Kitty climbed into Macey’s lap, mewed at her, then rubbed against her and purred. Meshie just sat close by and watched them.
 
“Looks like someone has forgiven you.” He said.
 
She smiled softly, picked up Kitty and held her against her face for a moment before pulling her to her chest to hold her and scratch her lightly between the ears.
 
“Well, its comin’ onto dark. Time to go in, I reckon.” He said as he stood to his feet with a groan.
 
 His whole body still ached like he had the flu, but he pushed through it the best he could. Several drinks sounded really good right now, but, though he could drink a several without being noticeably effected, he was not sure what the night would bring and was trying to stay even more alert and ready than normal.
 
Once up he reached down and helped Macey up, before scooping up Meeshie again. Macey went back in first, waiting for Hondo to come in and close and bar the door before continuing on. Once back at the room Hondo set Meshie down and Macey set Kitty down and they both trotted over to their water bowls. Zoey looked up as they came in with a smile that quickly turned into a frown of worry as she saw Macey’s eyes were red.
 
“You okay?” she quickly asked her friend.
 
Macey gave her a weak smile and nodded, “Yeah, I think I am now… Sorry I’ve been such a bad friend.”
 
Zoey did not hesitate, but launched into Macey, giving her a big hug, leaving Macey to look at Hondo with this look that almost seemed to beg him to help her. He just shook his head and chuckled to himself.
 
Zoey held onto her friend tightly and shook her head, “Don’t be sorry anymore! We both messed up and now we are more than friends. You are like my sister now, and I don’t want to ever fight with you again!”
 
“Friends and sisters both fight occasionally. The difference is, even when mad you still have each other’s backs.” Hondo said to them.
 
Zoey let Macey go, much to Macey’s relief, and ran up to Hondo and hugged him.
 
“Love you, papa.” She said.
 
“Love you too, kitten. Now, you both should get washed up an’ ready for bed. But, wear some clean day clothes to bed tonight, alright?” He said
 
“Why?” Zoey asked.
 
He frowned a bit, “I need you to just obey me right now, an’ not question, kitten.”
 
Zoey sighed and nodded, “Yes papa…. is it because of the people that hate wessens like me?”
 
He nodded, “It is. Regardless, I need you to obey without askin’. You can ask later an’ we can talk about why we did things, but when I say it I need you both to act without questions. Questions are for later, alright?”
 
She nodded, “Yes papa.”
 
He turned to Macey, “Understand, little lady?”
 
Macey nodded, “Yeah, Uncle Hondo. We’ll obey.”
 
He smiled at them, “Good. Now get to bed soon… love you girls.”
 
“Love you papa!” Zoey exclaimed
 
A slight smile crept to Macey’s face and she nodded.
 
“Yeah, love you to.” Macey said softly.
 
He kissed Zoey quickly on the forehead, but left Macey be as he knew she struggled with showing affection in front of others, before heading out and shutting the door behind him.
 
Next stop was the two rooms with the kids in it. The doors were already open and Minya and Minerva were busy getting the kids ran through the bathroom and ready for bed, so he did not stay long other than to make sure they knew to be ready to move out at a moment’s notice.
 
Next was the room with Marvin, Karl, and the other ladies. He knocked first and was asked to come in, very happy to find them playing cards and not in the middle of some wessen orgy. He chatted with them a bit, talked about what they were up against a little more, which the sheep girls seemed the most terrified by, but both Karl and Marvin assured them they would protect them is it came down to fighting, and then told them to just be ready before bidding them a good evening and moving on.
 
The last stop was his room where Tonya and Molly were.
 
(to be continued …)

[At the Harris-Layton Ranch]
 
Russell works hard on finding supplies in terms of food, fuel, blankets and other necessities for their trip he knows is going to take more than a couple of days to get to the nearest Indian town for help, and to do so without being caught by the slavers rampaging through the area. As far as he can tell the Churchill Farm and Ranch was still smoking in the distance like the Harris-Layton Ranch did a day or two ago. There were a couple other plumes of smoke rising in the background, at least 20, 30, 50 or more miles away. Thus he searches the farm and ranch area, finding what few weapons and remaining ammo that fits them.  What remained of the Harris-Layton mansion was little shelter for the weather in the area. At least they had water to drink and wash from an old antique hand pump behind the house, though it was put there for looks it was functional.
 
Though the vehicle shop was ransacked and totaled, he did find a small 3-wheel ATV, which they were probably not interested in as they are too slow to do anything with (though by itself it is faster than tractor pulling the hay cart). It has a half a tank of gas, enough to scout about the Churchill Farm Ranch; maybe he can find some more fuel, food and weapons. But that would take away time from protecting the girls and leaving them alone for at least a couple of hours.

 
Talking with the girls, they agree that the girls would hide in the wine cellar while he was away, and if he does not return by night fall, that they should start walking west bound along the road to where the Indian villages were. At best it would be a four to five day walk for them to get there, less if they walk both day and much into the night with a few hours rest in between.
 
With the girls secured in the wine cellar, Russell gathers a few canvas bags, some rope and a shotgun with a couple of rounds before going out and taking the three wheeler to the road. He looks around finding the road empty and eerily quiet. There is thunder in the distance, and dark far away clouds moving North, away from his location. Other than the smoke from the burning houses and barns, the area is as solemn and quiet as a Sunday morning though it is more like a Thursday afternoon. He gets onto road and starts the ATV.
 
Having been at the Churchill Farm Ranch many times before, he knows the lay of their farm ranch. But it would be at least 20 minutes for him to get there, with constant looking back to see if he is being followed. Within a half mile from the property, he slows down and looks over the property as he approaches it. No signs of life. The barn behind the house was a soldering heap of burnt wood with the corners still standing. The house was at 50-percent standing, with the west wing semi intact but the rest of the house burned down. He rolls in on the main road to the house. Tracks of several vehicles and foot prints line all over the sand and gravel trail to the house. It was less than a minute for him to get to the side of the building though it seemed more like an hour had passed.
 
The wind makes the smell of death hits his nose at first, hitting it hard like a rolled up newspaper striking the nose of a bad dog. The bodies were all over the place, left to rot where they lay. Most that were dead were either older men or older male teens and their Wessen counterparts; their firearms empty except for spent shells. A few of the older women were also found dead outside in the open or nearby the burnt out shells of their house or barn. The animals they kept seemed to be gone. The horses, the cows, the pigs, the chickens, the cats – all gone. The dogs, those that he found, were killed. He continues to look around until he stumbles upon one of the smaller bodies in the field between the barn and house, smaller than those around it. He thought maybe it is one of the teen boys as the jeans, flannel shirt and revolver in its hand would say it would be. But before he can flip the body over, its red hair tells him immediately who it is. Not wanting too but needing too, he carefully flips the body over. The front of the shirt and its undergarment ripped to shreds from a shotgun blast at close range to the chest. Its freckled face only verifies who it was: Sally Leslie Churchill, Tammy’s friend and playmate, same age as Tammy herself. Only good out of this death is that she will not be someone’s sex slave or turned into a Wessen, nor did they violated the body with sexual intercourse with the dead body as some would do. They probably thought it was a boy, and left her alone to rot with the others. But it hurts to see one so young and full of promise to be dead in the field like some discarded animal carcass. He vows that they would have to take his life before they would do the same to Tammy, Jenny, and Jessica.
 
He kisses Sally on the forehead before letting her down gently on the floor. “If I can bring you back somehow, I would. At I can do it that I will make those who did this to us pay dearly.”
 
He then gets up and start exploring the farm ranch, finding little that he can use. At least the half filled 5 gallon jug of diesel that he found can be of some use. Unfortunately, the vehicles there were all destroyed, as if someone went to them to deliberately disable them. Wiring ripped out. Windows and lights broken. Tires slashed. Tools were scattered about but the important ones were missing, but taking what he could use including some open end wrenches, an old hand drill and a few bits. He does not see nor understand that the Churchills did this destruction so their vehicles would not be taken, but thinks it was the purgers who did it. He searches about the house soon afterwards, finding what is left over for the winter stash of food, something that Grandma Churchill created and maintained long ago for the long winter months of the area. Most of it is gone but there were a few cans he can gather and use. Maybe there is enough for a day or two, maybe long enough for the ride, he thinks but there are too many maybes for his small Wessen mind to handle. He manages to find a small gallon sized gas can with some fuel in it. It has motor oil in it, but it is perfect for the 3-wheeler he is riding.
 
Searching the bodies he gathers a few revolver type handguns and takes the gun holster belts with bullets on them. They did not had the time to reload, but taking the items back to the Harris-Layton Farm Ranch, he will. Feeling back about it, he searches and takes from the older members of the family, taking what papers and money he found. He takes the things he had gathered to the 3-wheel ATV, packing them all into the bags he had bought. The belts he put on to save room in the bag, and the guns into the available holsters, with what was left going into the bag.
 
Looking at the sun he can see that it will soon be night fall. He fills the remaining fuel from the small gallon jug into the ATV’s tank. The rope he found and gathered he used to secure the bag and diesel fuel tank to the back of the ATV. Soon he gets on and rides the ATV back to the Harris-Layton Farm Ranch and gets the girls out of the wine cellar. They have a small meal, sharing a couple of cans of vegetables and water before going to bed. While they sleep, he works on the tractor and hay cart, and reloading the revolvers. He then takes some scrap metal boiler plating and makes some personal body shields for them to put on.
 

Working into the night, he prepares the hay cart when he thinks he is done, lining cart with what hay bales and loose hay he could find and then putting a blanket on the loose hay surrounded by the surrounding hay bales. As he finishes his work, he hears an odd sound. He goes out to look outside. His night vision being greater than a humans’, he can see nothing on the ground, but notices that the noise is coming from above. He looks up and sees a large dark object blocking out the stars, with lights running along the bottom: A Slaver’s Blimp. He’s heard of them but never thought he would see one as it travelled by the property following the road in an Easterly direction towards the Churchills. He cautiously walks to the road and hides in the ditch, looking up and down the road. He can see or hear nothing on street level but only the blimp above it all as it made its way Eastward to down the road in the direction of the Churchills and beyond. He waited and watched as it keeps going, making a slight turn as it reaches the Churchill ranch but continues onwards leaving it behind.
 
It is said that the human eye can see the light of a candle 10 miles away against the darkness of the night. An animal’s eye is more sensitive depending on its biological needs and reason for its superior or inferior eyesight. But regardless on the condition of his eyesight, he can see a glow against the mountains many tens of miles away to his left – opposite to the Churchill Ranch. In his mind he thinks it is the Indian village he wants to get too, and thinks that it is closer than it actually is. His concern is running into the purgers and slavers that created this carnage. If he had the time and supplies to waited them out until they leave the area, it would have been safer to move out on a later date, but panic and impatience tells him to get them going as soon as he can.
 
With little to think and plenty to do, he goes about the ruins of the house and gets some left over outerwear clothing for him and the girls. It is just a few shirts, but more than enough in his mind as he wants the personal body shields covered to give unseen protection. Though the front and back are protected, the sides are not totally with a gap between them held together with thin rope and rags. At least in his mine, it is more than enough protection if they shot in the chest or back.
 
He also thinks about the escape. Running on the main road may lead to a trap. The tractor can be driven off-road but it would slow their travel and take longer to get to their destination.  But he thinks that it would be safer to go through the ranch fields, farm lands and the grasslands to the mountains and stay off the main road. But he is tired and needs his rest, and it is too dark to check things out and make plans.
 
[To Be Continued...]