(Valentina
Mendoza)
US Army Field
Base - Somewhere in Iraq
Afternoon
?
It was
supposed to be a random Op, nothing out of the ordinary. The
recon team would have been gone for just a couple of days.
Valentina enjoyed moments like that. Less people in the camp,
more time to focus on the maintenance issues that needed to be
addressed. There was still a sense of routine and camaraderie
off course, but less of the pressure, less of the noise and
the macho bravado.
?
She wasn¡¯t
quite sure what happened to fuck that all up. There had been
no telltale signs, no nothing. One minute she was working on
the engine of a truck and the next, there was nothing but
chaos, fire and hell. Everywhere around her there was ash and
smoke. People were screaming but she couldn¡¯t hear them,
couldn¡¯t hear anything but that insistent ringing in her ears.
?
It was
strange, the things you tended to focus on in moments like
that. There were a lot of casualties, without a doubt. So much
death and destruction. The kind that should have paralyzed her
but instead she tried to move, mind jumping into focus,
training kicking in. She tried to get up, tried to move but
then realized she couldn¡¯t. It didn¡¯t make sense at first. Not
understanding why something that seemed so simple before
couldn¡¯t be done now. She just couldn¡¯t do it and that was
frustrating. Running on nothing but sheer adrenaline.
?
It wasn¡¯t
until the second explosion went on that everything went dark
again.
?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had all
gone to ratshit so damn fast.
?
Coming in,
the scene below them had been utter devastation, there was now
a crater where tents used to be, he could see clear and overt
areas of fire damage and mass destruction. As he would find
out later, all caused by explosives inventively hidden and
successfully deployed before anyone had time to discover them.
?
Clearly
people were still alive down there, they could be seen
fire-fighting and hauling ass down below as the two HH-60M
Medevac Blackhawks flew in to the rescue. Jack watched the
soldiers move as the hello¡¯s landed and he tried to assess the
situation as best he could until given permission to put boots
on the ground.
?
There was
still fighting going on, the enemy insurgents having taken
advantage of the initial chaos, but the core center of the
small base of operations (what was left of it) was protected
now. They had a safe place to land, and a team already
assessing casualties on the ground. They were ready, and the
worst of the wounded were waiting.
---
Six
casualties fitted into the Blackhawk, only two of those
inbound were still conscious, and one of those was howling
like a wolf. Jack settled him down first, checked his wounds
were all patched and set him a morphine drip. When he was
quiet, only then did he move over to his other waking patient.
?
Fuck. He knew
this one. Hadn¡¯t seen her for a good while, but he remembered
her well enough. Valentina Grace Mendoza. Daughter of the
renowned Captain Elias Mendoza, though that wasn¡¯t why Jack
knew her. They¡¯d been through Boot together, nearly eight
years previous.
?
¡°Hey,¡± he
said, gifting a smile to the woman who was strapped securely
into a stretcher and totally immobilized. ¡°You¡¯re gonna be
okay, Vali. I got ya.¡±
?
He rested a
calm hand on her forehead lightly, checked all her straps were
tight and solid, and ensured she wasn¡¯t moving anywhere when
they took off. Then he set up the IV, morphine for the pain
and checked her over carefully.
?
¡°You¡¯re gonna
be okay.¡± Her leg looked seriously fucked, there was blood
soaked into every part of her and her face was charred, but
yeah. She¡¯d survived this far. Jack was confident she¡¯d make
it home, one way or another, and his voice implied the same.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present Day
This trip had
been meant as an escape. A way out. Valentina was used to
travelling, she was used to seeing the world, but all of this?
It was not her usual way of living. Staring out at the open
water the young woman couldn¡¯t help but wonder what the hell she
was doing here, right now, in this very moment. Running away
from her problems wouldn¡¯t solve. It wouldn¡¯t change how fucked
up her body still was, even after all these months.
?
She wasn¡¯t the
same anymore and would never be the same again so why even
bother trying? It wouldn¡¯t amount to anything and would end up
making her even more unhappy. Without a purpose, a real goal.
Before she had been trying to save her country, before she had
made a difference. Going on holiday it didn¡¯t mean anything. It
was random.
?
Better make the
best of it right? Use this as an opportunity to get her solid
ground back again. But that was hard to do and while she was
trying as hard as she possibly could, it wouldn¡¯t be easy
though. It never was.
?
(Stan Kelley)
¡°This had better
be the best fucking vacay I ever took,¡± Stan muttered to
himself. ?¡°Can¡¯t be worse than the trip here¡¡±
The last 24 or so
hours had been hell.
?
His manager,
after she had nagged him to take a break from the nonstop
touring and promoting, finally arranged a cruise¡of sorts.? This
wasn¡¯t one of those ginormous building sized monster ships that
was part hotel and part shopping mall.? No, this was an actual
sailboat.? It had room for only 24 passengers.? There was no
shuffleboard, no casino, no high-end stores selling overpriced
garbage.? This was a real ship.? Cool.? Sounded great.? Right up
his alley.
?
Everything fell
apart as soon as he hit Montgomery, Alabama.? There was a
computer glitch on their end, and suddenly they had no record of
his flight.? Fuck!? He checked around, and there was no other
flight available to Miami, from where he¡¯d transfer to a sea
plane to get to Nassau.? Fuckity fuck!
?
With no other
option available, he called his agent.? It was godawful at
night, so she answered with a garbled ¡°Hello?¡±, which sounded
more like ¡°Dude what the fuck?¡±.
?
¡°I¡¯m stranded in
Montgomery,¡± he had said. ?¡°There¡¯s no connecting flight to
Miami, and there won¡¯t be one until later.? What do I do?¡±
?
After the longest
pause (where he had assumed, she was plotting his demise), she
finally said ¡°Okay, gimmie an hour¡I¡¯ll see what I can come up
with.¡±
Fine.? An hour,
he could do.? He tooled around a bit, got a cookie from the
airport knock-off of Starbucks, got some water to wash it down a
little after that, scribbled some lyric ideas¡ªhis phone went
off.? He answered.
?
¡°³Û±ð²¹³ó?¡±
¡°Okay, I solved
the problem, I think,¡± his agent started. ?¡°There¡¯s a chartered
flight company that can make the trip on short notice.? One
question: ?How do you feel about single engine planes?¡±
?
Everything in
Stan¡¯s body seemed to drop into his crotch.? From what he had
heard, single engine planes were as INTENSE as it got in the
world of flying short of fighter planes.? Not wanting to sound
like a wimp, he of course had said ¡°no problem.¡±
?
So, he went to
the part of the airport where you waited for chartered flights.?
No metal detectors, nothing.? Just a ¡°hey there¡±, and they took
his name down, and confirmed his flight.? At least this sounded
okay, so far. Then he met Daryl the Pilot, and his wind-up
prop-plane.
?
Daryl the Pilot
was in a leather jacket, and wore a baseball cap with the word
¡°Zildjian¡± on it.? Zildjian was a name familiar to him.? They
made cymbals.? So, this dude had a friend in a band, right?
?
Wrong!? He was in
a band, as a drummer.? A cover band¡lowest form of life on the
rock & roll food chain, and the first red flag Stan had
about this guy.? Danger!? Danger!? Danger!
?
Then there was
the plane¡what was best described as a canoe with wings.? The
door, unlike the vault-like seal-you-in ones real airplanes had,
looked like it belonged on a golf cart, and would fall off the
moment he opened it.? There was barely room for his duffel and
backpack in the cargo bay.? He squeezed himself into the seat,
and shut the door with a pitiful ¡°click¡±.
?
The engine
started with a cough, and it spun up to a lethargic buzz, as the
plane started to tool around the airport.? Daryl looked like he
was lost in midtown as he peered out of the cockpit.? Finally,
after dodging larger passenger planes, they lined up behind some
other small planes.? When it was finally their turn, they began
their run.? Stan swore that he could walk faster than this plane
was going, yet somehow¡ªperhaps a stiff breeze at the right
time¡ªthey were airborne.
?
Stan was grateful
he had used the men¡¯s room before takeoff.? This was
terrifying.? The plane shook every time they took a course
correction, and he was wondering what kind of pilot Daryl was,
as he TOOK HIS HANDS OFF THE CONTROLS TO LOOK AT A MAP.? Then,
about an hour or so into this nightmare trip, Daryl the Pilot
uttered the one phrase you never wanted to hear from the
pilot¡¡°Uh-oh.¡±
?
That sinking
feeling was back. ?¡°What do you mean ¡®uh-oh¡¯?¡±
¡°Well¡it¡¯s like
this,¡± Daryl said sheepishly. ?¡°I forgot to fuel up the plane
back in Montgomery, and now we¡¯re near empty.? We need to set
down ASAP.? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m on this.¡±
?
¡°Sure¡¡± Stan said
externally.? Internally he was whimpering ¡°ohgodi¡¯mgoingtodie¡±.?
And with that, Daryl the Pilot got onto the radio to cry for
help.
?
Real passenger
planes gently descended into airports.? Not this single engine
suicide machine.? He swore that they went 90¡ã straight down and
came to a stop in the span of two parking spaces.? His stomach
was somewhere else at that moment¡ªprobably still going to
Miami.? He was now in some remote airstrip called Carabelle
Thompson Airport in the town of Carabelle.? Population: ?2,700.
?
They had to wait
for someone to come down to open the airport (I shit you not!)
before Daryl could refuel the plane.? Of course, there was no
cell signal, so he had to wait for some lady to come down in her
pickup and unlock the pump.
?
Stan took the
time to go into this lady¡¯s office and call up his agent with
what had been happening all night.? Then she hit him with a
bombshell¡
?
¡°Stan¡Daryl isn¡¯t
a pilot.¡± Well, that explained a lot, he thought.
?
¡°I made a
terrible mistake,¡± she admitted. ?¡°I didn¡¯t call the charter
place, but an aircraft maintenance depot.? Daryl has a training
license, and he worked there.? He¡¯s a groupie fanboy, Stan.? He
must¡¯ve heard your name dropped when I called, grabbed a plane,
and¡well, he didn¡¯t even properly log the flight, and he¡¯s in
deep shit.¡±
¡°So¡what now?¡± he
asked. ?¡°You have a plan, right?¡±
¡°Yeah, I most
certainly do,¡± she said. ?¡°Stay put.? Definitely do NOT get back
on the plane with Daryl¡ª¡±
¡°No shit,¡± Stan
confirmed.
?
His agent
continued with a sigh. ?¡°I¡¯ve already contacted a real charter
that can take you to Nassau directly.? They can be there in an
hour.¡±
¡°°¿°ì²¹²â.¡±
Shortly
afterward, Daryl came in, pleased as punch that he had managed
to refuel the winged canoe.? He
was rather crestfallen when Stan told him he wasn¡¯t going
anywhere with him anymore.
?
Four hours later,
after a more comfortable two engine seaplane ride.? He was at
the slip of the Seven Sisters and ready to board.? The scene
looked idyllic¡ªalmost like an Andy Warhol portrait.? After everything that
happened to get here, he thought.? Well¡at least the hard part¡¯s
over.
?
(Maya Mononobe)
When Maya
received a letter from the Seven Sisters cruise line, it was
first picked up and examined by her guards.? Once opened, it had
gone through several safety tests.? Was there any kind of powder
on it?? Knock out scents?? Was the paper or the ink poisoned??
Who sent it, fake or real persons?? Any and all fingers prints
that touched the paper in anyway were investigated, peoples'
identities pulled up, all to ensure that it wasn't someone out
to get Maya.? And oh, she had plenty of competitors who would've
loved to be in her seat, so one could never be too careful.? In
any case, being the Mononobe clan leader's only granddaughter,
nothing was too far to ensure the safety of their baby girl.?
So, when the message finally reached her, it was one of Maya's
guards who entered her room, only after Maya allowed them to
come in, knocking with two heavy raps and three light ones.
?
"Enter," an
elegant, feminine voice called out from the inside.? The
Mononobe daughter's room was lavish, a suite that was big enough
to house a small office.? Her windows faced out into the ocean,
the silken and gossamer like curtains gently swaying in the
breeze.? The space was divided into several sections, one for
private bathing with a hot tub tucked into a corner and hidden
by a tall, bamboo privacy divider.? Another as an office with
multiple computers and electronics expertly arranged in a
semi-circle.? Third contained a library of sorts where various
high-level education and business books were neatly arranged by
type, topic, and lastly by author.? There were volumes in
multiple different languages, a par due course for someone who
was internationally desired.? Then, yet another chunk of the
room was set aside as bedroom space, like the bathing room, it
had its own bamboo screens containing a king size bed with tons
of pillows and cloudy, puffy blankets.? Aside from the cut and
dry items, Mara's room was filled with natural bamboo, plants of
various types, its greenery providing a type of serene-ness that
the cresting ocean waves could not.? When the guard entered the
room, however, that's where the fantasy began and ended.
?
Maya was
absolutely domestically challenged.? Her floor was littered
about with clothes left where they were dropped.? Stuffed bears
and various other plushies were strewn about as if a battle took
place and one was now looking upon a place of utter carnage.?
The bed was a mess, blankets falling off the sides, pillow
likewise on the floor and throw into a corner, sheets in
disarray.? To say the least, there was not a care in the world
nor a thought spared in keeping anything in a nice orderly
fashion, that is however, unless the matter involving said
neatness had something to do with business and of that, she kept
everything in a meticulous, OCD-like manner.? Not a single page
was out of line when it came to documentation and business
contracts.
?
So, there she
stood, arms crossed, looking through the windows in the ocean.?
One could tell that Maya was tired, but only one who had the
most intimate knowledge of Maya's life and guarded her with
theirs.? She always stood rigidly straight, her head held high
and shoulders back, her chest jut out in a full display of sex
appeal and elegance, and of course, maximum level of
confidence.? She seemed so focused on something outside that
when the guard entered the room, closing the door, she didn't
even flinch nor acknowledge their presence in any way except a
side eyed glance in their direction, then back to the ocean.
?
"Mayasama, you
have a received a letter from X brand make up, giving you a
complimentary seven-day cruise in the Bahamas from your last
modeling session," the woman guard said, one of Maya's most
trusted confidantes.? She read off the rest of the letter, with
Maya saying not a word nor moving until the woman finished
speaking, finally turning around as a smirk made its way onto
her face.? The woman took a deep bow, stretching out her hands
above her head as she offered her charge the letterhead.
?
"Hmph, took them
long enough.? It seems they finally realized how much business
the Mononobe name can bring to their business," she huffily
said, running her right hand through her long, luscious locks,
letting the strands fall back down like a waterfall.? Delicately
taking the letter out of her guard's hands, Maya examined it,
her eyes moving back and forth as she reread the contents.? The
woman then offered her some pamphlets, as thoroughly examined as
anything else, as Maya too scanned them through.? "This is the
best they could offer?? A tiny "schooner?"? How do they expect
that canoe to travel on the ocean?? Ridiculous.? My smallest
cruiser is twice is big.? Insulting.¡±? It wasn't until Maya
finished that the guard raised her head and straightened out.?
She stood at attention, her eyes unblinking and unwavering from
her charge's form.
"What shall I
send back as your answer, Mayasama?"
?
Maya sighed and
rolled her eyes, loosening her fingers as she let the letter
fall down to the floor.? She stepped onto it with her Stuart
Weitzman diamond studded heels and rubbed it in, ripping and
tearing the letterhead in several place.
?
"What else?? If
they weren't as reputable as they sell themselves as, I wouldn't
even look twice," the heiress scathingly answered, harrumphing
as she turned away from the guard and looked back out into the
ocean.? "You know what to do.? Now get out of my sight."
--------------------
A day and a ride
on the Mononobe private jet, Maya finally landed at the Lynden
Pindling International Airport in Nassau.? The wealthy socialite
had stepped out into the sun, her Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses
resting faithfully upon her nose.? She was clothed in a
turquoise, short sleeveless charmeuse dress with gold printed
flocked leaves.? On her feet, she wore diamond studded wicker
woven D&G wedges, with a single 5 carat sapphire over each
ankle strap.? Her hair, which she typically wore loose, cascaded
over her back like a black diamond waterfall, its luster was
thanks to various deep conditioning creams and masks that she
used on a daily basis.
?
"Ah, we are
finally here...at last.? Now, where is this canoe that I am
meant to board?"? Without further ado, Maya's bodyguards took
their place beside her, each at her side, tons of luggage in
convoy behind them.? The same woman who first presented the
letter to Maya just a day ago, came out from behind and handled
Maya's entry to the port, as well as arranged transportation to
the schooner that was awaiting its passengers.? A couple of
hours, after having to hire a single car for her carry-ons
alone, the entourage had arrived at the dock to the Seven
Sisters schooner.? As the socialite once again stepped out from
the cool interior, she froze in place, one arm lowering her
glasses as she peered at she was meant to board.? Just as she
lifted her sunglasses back up, a ship stewardess had promptly
arrived, immediately greeted by Maya's confidante.
?
"Good afternoon,
and welcome to our port city of Nassau, Ms. Mononobe!? We are so
blessed to have been graced with your presence.? Do you have
your boarding passes in hand so that we can get you quickly
checked in?"? Maya elegantly smiled, taking out the golden
ticket out of her clutch, as the confidante and the two
bodyguards presented theirs in tune.
?
"I am ready and
prepared, Ms. Turner, and I am very happy to be here.? With so
much business to take care, I felt it that I was overdue for a
bit of a vacation.? Don't you think?" Maya answered in fluent
English, handing the woman her pass.? "Ms. Saotome here will
take over handling all of our check-ins.? Would it be possible
to be shown to my cabin now?? I've had a long flight and I would
love to settle in before we depart."? The stewardess, now
revealed as Ms. Turner, smugly smirked as she snapped her
fingers twice and two bellboys appeared by her side, as
impeccably dressed as she was.
?
"Boys, please
show Ms. Mononobe and her lovely entourage to their cabins.?
Make sure that she is settled in proper, and give her anything
that she needs to be comfortable.? Now, hop to it!"? The youths
bowed to Ms. Turner whose face returned back into a relaxed
smile as Saotome started the check-in process for everyone.?
Another several hours later, Maya was settled in whatever meager
settings that they called a luxury cabin, having to spread her
clothes out in all 4 rooms that she and her guards have occupied
due to the sheer amount of clothes that she had taken with her.?
One could never be too careful for any kind of event that could
occur, even one that she was meant to relax in.? Once she was
done, she stepped onto the deck, walking up to the bow of the
ship, gripping the steel barrier as she looked out into the
water.? As she turned her head to look over the port, a soft,
warm breeze passed through, ruffling Maya's tresses as if they
were curtains, like the ones in her Japanese home.
?
"Well, I suppose
we could learn to enjoy this trip.? It is, after all, paid for
by the X brand.? Isn't that so, Higashisan?? What's the worst
that could happen?"? Maya looked to the bodyguard that was with
her, a thuggish looking man with a scarred face and freshly
shaven head.? He looked as if he could snap a tree trunk in half
with his bulging muscles.
"Yes, Mayasama.?
I am sure that this is going to be a pleasant trip.¡±
?
(Cat)
Cat and Cece had
finally arrived at the harbor and the small schooner.? Cat took a moment and
reread the letter.? ¡°They
have all of this on that?? This
is going to be interesting.? Must
be more below the water line than we see¡.¡± She paused in her
speaking when she saw a few of the passengers.? ¡°Cece, is that the lead
of the Primitives or am I seeing things?¡±? Cece looked, ¡°nope, that
looks like him.¡±? Cat
had to stop herself from squealing and running over to him.? ¡°He is just like everyone
else, he¡¯s just like everyone else.¡± She kept repeating as they
made their way to the dock and the waiting attendants.
?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short time
later after their belongings were stowed in their small cabin,
the two gals made their way to the top deck and waited to see
what was going to happen next and who else they might see on
board.
Tag:?Marco, Valentina, Stan, Maya
Scott