It was late morning of the previous day and Chris was alone in the house. Erica had left much earlier taking Lisa to school. She had said she will be going to see her mom and they both will be going to the hospital for Erica’s appointment. The lawn had been mown by him though at a difficulty with some neighbors watching while he wrestled with the lawnmower. Though he just ignored them. Having taken his bath and reclining on the sofa in the living room, the ringing bell had broken his reverie. At the door were two men, one of them was familiar to him. The familiar one was a marine officer on a green and khaki service uniform. The other person was unknown to him but was putting on a crisp ash colored plain business suit with a white starched shirt and gold colored silk tie.


The suit couldn’t hide the military like stance of the stranger. He may be presenting himself as a business type person but Chris could see that he has a military background.
After the greeting, the one in the uniform asked. “Please may we come in? “
Allowing them in and offering them a seat , he brought out three chilled can beer, which the marine officer declined but the man on suit accepted with a silent thanks.
“To what do I owe this pleasure, Captain Brant Rolland. “ Chris joked as he took a long sip from his beer, addressing the uniformed marine who was sitting beside the business suit on the sofa. “I thought the marine was through with me. “


“The marine was never through with you. You were a fine soldier, you distinguished yourself in your service record and was dully recognized. Your injuries made it inevitable that you will be honorably discharged. “ the marine captain said fixedly as if on a remote control. He had removed his hat and his hair was military regulation cut. Squared jaws, blue eyes, tight lips and blonde hairs and eyebrows. A typical picture of a marine commissioned officer.
“That was a joke sir, I’m sorry it wasn’t funny. “ Chris couldn’t help going back into his role as a marine. His injured leg probably stopped him from standing at attention. “All I’m just asking is why you are here. “

Evold:

Is this the way these war mongers think. What about the so called rebels they killed on their home soil?
I never been this annoyed by a fictional story.

Well Chris is not a war monger, just a simple soldier who love being a marine. He was referring to his motivation for fighting for his country. This is the justification be gives to himself. Now we see most men on uniforms with guns fighting and we tend to forget they are humans too with human problems. Chris may be a marine but he is also human with a love life, a wife and daughter. He loves peace and not war. I don't think he has done anything worth condemning in this story so far. Even the fighting at Ghor, he went there on a rescue mission to save his fellow marines . Like he said being in the marine is just a regular job for him.
BTW wonder why you should be angry this is just a fiction story.

He couldn’t tell how long he sat brooding when the front door opened suddenly and Erica stepped out of it, yawning covering the open mouth with her hand.
“Hi hon, you tired of sleeping in a warm house and preferring the muddy tents and open air of the battle field? “ She teased, coming to join her husband on the bench, who made a room for her and crossed his hand over her shoulder causing Erica to rest her head on him.
“Well being a marine is more than just joining a group. To some it has became the definition of who they are or will become. To others , it’s like their family. “ Chris spoke without holding back a beat as if it’s a speech he is being programmed to give. “Most marines find it difficult to adjust to life outside the fold. “


“That serious? “
“Yeah, it is. There have been several cases of suicide and attempted ones by those who has been out of the corps for one reason or the other. “
“What do you think could be the cause for that? “
“Personally I feel there’s a flaw in the combat training of the marine. Don’t get me wrong, they have one of the best military combat training in the world. The problem is they train the marines to be good soldiers and fighters or killers-Espirit de corps and all that but nothing else. While in the corps under going training, you are made to believe, unconsciously that it’s all about war. But war can’t last forever. How do the soldiers fit back in to civilian lives after all the fighting is done? “


“Ain’t we all moody and mushy this morning. “
“I’m sorry hon, “ Chris kissed her cheek. “Just that too many things on my mind today.
Erica took some seconds to look at her husband before speaking. “Something is wrong. What’s the problem? “
Shaking his head after a few seconds silence, Chris answered. “I had a visitor today, actually two visitors. “
“Hmmmm that’s interesting. “
“Yes hon, it is. “

Erica stirred slightly beside him, turning her body under the covers as she mumbled some words incoherently. Chris raised his hand and brushed it lightly across her cheek. Which made her settle down quietly again. A quick look further, showed the huge baby bump that had increased tremendously since he returned back. She is due any day now. The doctor had given them any time between a week and two weeks. She is carrying another bundle of joy for him that he will be the luckiest man alive to witness when it happens. Throwing the covers slowly and carefully from his body, so as not to wake his wife, he stood from the bed. Watching her briefly as she lay back, he walked to the other end, bent and kissed her forehead lightly.


He was on his stripped pajamas as he stepped out of the bedroom then headed for Lisa’s room. She was sleeping too but her covers had been thrown off her and on a tangled lump on the floor as she turned during her sleep. Chris came in, picked the thick cloth up and covered her again. He smiled when he saw what was held tightly by her arms before her chest. The story book he had been reading from for her earlier in the night. A story about a medieval soldier all complete with dragons, knights, witches , kings, queens, princes and princesses. After the reading, she had refused to let the book go claiming that he might be called to go for war before the night was over and take the book with him. Then she will never read about the story again. Chris had laughed then and assured her that his days of fighting wars were over, still she didn’t let the book go. As stubborn and strong willed as he is but as beautiful as her mother.


Closing his daughter’s bedroom door as quietly as possible, he limped slightly, refusing to use his crutches within the passage of the bedrooms area so they don’t create loud thuds. He walked down the stairs with little difficulty to the living room. Over the months, walking has become easier still there is the little limp when he walks and the doctor had maintained he continues to use the crutches a little more. Getting to the porch at the entrance of his house he closed the door and sat on a wooden bench kept there. He looked at the well kept lawn before his house.


A Honda Odyssey mini van was parked at the side curb in front of his house. His wife had driven it out the previous day, then complained of feeling nauseous when she got back and couldn’t drive the car into the small garage. Chris had promised to help her do the parking but had forgotten. The road on their street is small, so some other drivers would have complained about the minivan occupying a part of the road. Chris determined to move it first thing once the day breaks. The stars above where winking in and out of slowly moving clouds and the air has started to take on the cold character that warns of the approaching Autumn.


Chris lay the crutches aside trying severally to pinpoint a particular thing bothering him but failed repeatedly. He just felt restless almost confined. He doesn’t want to blame his knee injury for this nor his present lack of job, but it was hard not to. He would have yelled at the universe and cursed severally why life is so unfair if not for his wife, daughter and oncoming son. With these life has been good. His restlessness isn’t all that his life has to be.

“That dump? “ Chris snorted. “It will take a miracle to get that place working again. “
“Yes it will and the miracle could be us. Come join me and let’s put that place up together and give it the miracle it needs. “
“With my limping self? “
“I’ve seen a cripple who does good work fixing truck engines. You can do better than that. At least you did few grunt work in the marine on vehicle engine maintenance. “
Chris was quite, taking his time to think about the offer.



2.09am EST

Multiple thoughts blasting through his mind had kept Chris awake several hours after his wife had kissed him good night. He didn’t know the time had really gone that far until when he turn his eyes towards the LED digits on the electronic clock on the side table beside the bed. Though his mind had been in deep thoughts, his body had remained still, something that has been part of his hard military training in the marine. Even unconsciously, his body has adapt to no movement until actively urged to do so.


He turned to his right, looking at the face of his sleeping wife by his side on the bed. The room was semi dark, even with the overhead light switched off, some light was spilling in through the window from the street lights. With the poor light he looked at her face. Little had changed about that over the years though now he can detect the subtle changes that the lines of age and worries has wrought on her face. But still the most beautiful woman Chris has ever known. Even with weeks and months away from her, it has never crossed his mind once to try another woman, despite his stations in oversea countries demanding it and which was a norm among his fellow marines to sample the flesh on foreign soil.


It just can’t work, no other woman can hold his fancy like his wife does. He enjoyed rather staying alone with the perfect image of his wife in his mind. Some had called him childish or being delusional over a perfect image of a person he carried with him to his place of assignment. The wife won’t look that perfect when you get back to her they had said . But that had been proven wrong time and time again. Each time he had come back to his wife, she had fitted perfectly with the image he had of her in his mind. This is the best decision he has ever made, to marry the perfect wife. And leave the marine, he chuckle inwardly as he thought about that, though his career change was forced on him.

“This is all I want. A happy family with lovely friends around. This is why I fought in the marine to give other people a chance to have this. “
“Makes all the shits we took worth it. “ Jay added.
“ Yeah but I’m out of it now. “ Chris touched his injured knee unconsciously. “No regret whatever on both sides. I love the marine but I also love my family. I’m happy I didn’t loose both. Though been out of the marine, I got my family to fall back to. Erica has been a wonderful partner, I can’t ask for a better wife. She kept the home together while I was away. You know I always feel I don’t deserve her. “


“Hey I heard that man. Good you confessed because now I get to ask for a raise. “ Erica said from the other side which got them all laughing.
“I got to say this man, “ Jay stood pointing at his friend getting the attention of both women. “This man here is my savior, my personal Jesus Christ. It’s because of him I'm still sucking breath. He made sure my beautiful wife didn’t become a widow and almost died in the attempt. Can’t thank you enough for that bro. “
Chris didn’t like the sensitive mood that speech was bringing into their midst. “It was nothing man. The marine already thanked me for it by giving me a trinket medal and kicking me out. “


That cracked everyone up. Jay sat back down close to his friend. “So what will you be doing now? “
“I haven’t thought about that yet. Me and Erica haven’t had time to piece things together. There are still opportunities for a semi crippled man to get something doing. For the moment though, we have enough saved that cash won’t be our immediate problem. “
Jay was silent, a far away look on his eyes.
“And what about you, when is your leave ending? “
“No leave for me bro, “ Jay said. “I was given an option to remain or withdraw from the service. I went through a psychological evaluation after the whole episode. The psychologist concluded that my chance of been an effective marine is now just 50%. That it will depend on whether I won’t to continue or not. “


After a short pause he continued. “The truth is after my close encounter with death, things changed for me. I stopped thinking about myself but more of Sena and the kids. Besides with you off the marine, it was never going to be the same again. So I opted for a discharge. Presently I’m a civilian. “
“So what are you going to be doing from now on? “
“Well I’m going to reopen my late father’s auto shop. I still know my way around car engines and hardware. “

Pheezie:
Incredible.
Another Update?
Are you back fully now, Apollux?

Lol can't say but updates will be coming in daily from now on...hopefully.

“I didn’t give her the eye, Jay, she was the one who gave me the eye. “ Chris replied his friend with a smug upper twist of both ends of his lips. “And she did that because she loves me better than she does you. “
“That ain’t true flat head. “
“You don’t believe me, ask her yourself. “
“Hey babe, “Jay called out loudly to his wife, circling his hands around his mouth. “ Is it true you love this whity flat head better than I? “
“Sure thing babe, I love him better than I love my turkey face. “ Sena’s reply caused every other person to laugh except for Jay who has an odd look on his face.


“Now how the hell did you get to know about turkey face? “Jay said in a voice the sounded like a high pitched whine.
“Women don’t keep secrets from each other, especially not these two. “ Chris nods towards the two women who has resumed their low voices discussion.
Jay been called a turkey face goes back to his early days as a recruit in the military. That was where he and Chris had met for the first time and heated each other on sight. That led to a brutal fisticuff which had Jay smash a wooden chair on Chris’ head, which elicited the nickname ‘Igbo’ that became what he was popularly known as in the marine.



But Chris had flatten Jay in the flight, bursting his lips and given him swollen eyes which the other recruits had swore made Jay’s face look like a turkey. Hence that has turned out to be Jay’s nickname. Jay still carriers a scar on his jaw below his lips as a reminder of that fight. They had been punished for that scuffle and made to do shit duties for weeks. Both of them had been forced to spend more time together than they wanted. With time they had grown to like each other. They came out of shit duties the best of friends.
“What’s up with Sena, she seems unusually excited. “ Chris asked his friend as he watched their wives still conversing lowly.



“Your quick eyes and wits never disappoints.” Jay chuckled as he continued to look at the women conversing . “We have decided to have another baby, hopefully a girl this time. “
“Nice one though. “
“It was all her idea. Guess what happened in A’stan scared her. “ Turning away a bit, his face took on a pensive look. “She said, with a girl around, she won’t feel intimidated again with her being the only woman among three men. “
The screaming of children caught everyone’s eyes, as Lisa was chasing both Jacen and Chris down the stairs. Sena called out to them to play carefully. They stopped and chased themselves back to the room upstairs.

“Hi Sena, glad you are here. “ Erica hugged her friend.
“Wouldn’t miss it for anything. “Sena replied looking past her to Chris who stood up and was hopping towards the door. “And who do we have here? A living breathing marine monolith. “
Chris threw his arms round the black woman placing soft kiss on her cheek. “Good to see you again Sena, it’s been too long. “
“Yes it is. “ She whispered into Chris ears. “Please don’t scare us again like you did this last time. Erica couldn’t deal with it when the news of your near death experience came . It wasn’t a good mood for her to be in her present condition. “


“I know. Will never do that to her again. “ Chris said.
“And how is our next newest family member doing today? “ Sena said looking at Erica’s protruding tummy. “Any hard kicking yet ? “
“No, he is been quiet most of today as if he knew his father is around. “
“Aunty Sena, “ Lisa squealed in glee as she ran to Sena and jumped on her.
Sena caught her, held her to her chest as the little girl threw her hands round her neck.
“So how have my little princess been doing? “
“I have been a good girl Aunty Sena. Done my homework on time and didn’t cry. Ask mummy. “ the excited girl said.


“Now that’s how a princess should behave. “
“Jacen, Chris, “ Lisa screamed as she saw two young negro boys of the ages of six and four came in behind Jay. She jumped down from Sena’s arms and ran to them. “My dad bought me some new stuff, come let me show you. “
“Cool, “ the boys said together as they ran with her upstairs.
“How’s the leg, Chris? “ Jay asked as they sat down on the sofa together, while Sena took a single chair by the left and Erica was standing behind her husband, her arms thrown over his shoulders.


“Well it’s mended. They had to use wires to stitch the pieces of my knee cap together. “ Chris replied looking at the affected limb. “Healed badly even after several attempts at corrective surgery. The tendons there almost got chewed away by the shrapnel, so no hope of complete cure. But there is hope that I can do a limited unaided walk with it in the future but don’t expect me to run or jump with it. “
Taking a look up suddenly, Chris noticed his wife and Sena were discussing in low whispers. Curiosity held his attention bound on them as his wife never turned about to look at him. Sena however looked up and gave him a wink followed by a conspiratory smile.
“Hey did I just catch you now giving my woman the eye? “

“Yes ma’am, I will get on with it right away. “ Chris made an awkward salute causing her cold face to broke into a broad smile which she quickly dispersed by clamping her lips tight.
“I’m out for my Yoga class ‘Rica, will be going home from there. “ Turning to Chris with another stern look. “No mushy stuff with my baby, soldier boy. “
“C’mon mum you are embarrassing the gentleman. “ Erica told her mother laughing.
“Nothing gentle about this soldier here. “ her mother replied her, giving Chris another look then smiled again opening the door after taking her coat.


“Bye ma, “ Chris said as his mother in law stepped outside.
He joined his wife on the sofa and they watched their daughter silently for a while. Chris bent his face and his lips sought that of his wife’s, found them and held them.
“Hmmmmmmm, hey time to hit the showers and scrub that battle field smell from your body. “ Erica said as they broke from the kiss.
Light laugh responded and Chris said. “I left battlefield weeks ago hon, I have taken several baths after that. I’m sure no smell of gun powder or oil still remains on me. “


“Well if my mum says you smell of battlefield, that means you smell of it. To the showers with you soldier boy. “ She did the best mimicking of her mum’s voice.
Chris got to his feet, heading for the stairs and slowly climbed them awkwardly. “Will the pretty lady mind escorting a weary soldier? “
Erica giggled with a glint in her eyes. “Not at all, if the soldier boy will learn to behave himself in the bathroom. “
“Oh no lady, I intend to misbehave. “
“In that case I believe we can work something out. “ Erica said coming to her husband’s side as he climbed the stairs. She called out to her daughter. “Lisa come with us upstairs.”


Erica and Chris were back on the sofa in the living room about an hour later when the bell rang again.
“Any three guesses on who that will be? “ Chris asked as his wife got up to see who was at the door.
“I think you will be right from the very first guess. “ Erica opened the door and in stepped a pretty looking dark skinned woman, with an oval shaped face, sharp chin, kite shaped eyes and well carved big lips. A shoulder length dark silky wedge hair style covered her head. A gray Tuttle necked woolen long sleeve sweatshirt was worn over a tight fitting light blue jean pants. Behind her walked in Jay, dressed in a stripped short-sleeved polo t-shirt over a brown colored chinos trousers.

“Yeah, I’d have had to bring the severed stump and offered it as a welcome present to you.“
“And I’d have made you eat it whole. “
The couples burst out laughing loudly.
“Laughter? Now when was the last time I heard that in this house? “ An elderly woman, with rounded face, a curly hair in silver and a thick rimmed glasses covering her eyes walked down from the stairs leading down to the living room. “That was months ago if my memory still serves me right. “
“Ah Mrs. Harvey, I didn’t know you were in. “ Chris turned his head backwards to face the new comer. “Wasn’t expecting such an August visitor. “


“You call me ‘Mrs. Harvey' one more time and I’d turn your flat head to a chicken paste. “ The elderly woman growled.
Chris got up on his fit, hobbled to her, relying on just one of the crutches and held her in a strong hug. “I miss you ma, thanks for always being there for my family. “
Mrs. Susan Harvey struggled and succeeded in clamping down on the soft emotional outburst that threatened to shatter her cold impassive face. “I didn’t do that for you soldier boy, just looking out for my babies. You are lucky you got married to my daughter. “


“Love you too ma, you’re the best mother-in-law in the whole world. “ Chris said after breaking the embrace, holding her two hands and smiling at her face.
Grunting, Mrs. Harvey wrinkled her nose. “Flattery won’t get you on my good side today. And you boy smell of mud, oil and gun powder. “
“That’s the smell every battle hardened marines carry with them. No amount of washing can wipe that away. “
“Give me just a week in your marine camp and I will show you boys a thing or two about proper hygiene. “ She walked past Chris heading for the door. “And don’t let me catch you kissing my daughter until you have washed all that from your skin. “ She warned.

A single drop of tear fell from Erica’s eye unbidden and without thinking she grabbed Chris in an embrace, crushing his body to hers fiercely, holding on strongly as if by letting go she will be loosing him forever. Then the tears had run freely from her eyes and she had sobbed into her husband’s ears. Chris has held on to her too, though the crutches under his armpits made it awkward. He staggered a bit trying to maintain his balance on his one steady leg which Erica didn’t seem to notice or mind. After like forever, Erica broke away from the embrace when a tiny voice called from the living room.


“Daddy? Daddy! “ the little girl screamed running to the door. Chris moved away a bit from his wife as he scoop up the girl and held her to himself. “Daddy you are back. I and mommy have been waiting for you to come back. “
“Lisa don’t worry daddy is back now. “Chris said, his mind over flowing with joy.
“Daddy did you buy me a doll? Daddy they said you will come in a plane. Where’s the plane? “ Lisa stretched her neck trying to see the parking lot if a plane was there. Then she noticed the crutches on her father’s armpits. “ Daddy why are you holding a stick? Daddy what happened to your leg? “


“Honey allow your daddy to rest for now, he is tired, ok? “
“Ok mommy, “ Lisa said as she ran back into the living room and continued playing with her toys.
Chris hobbled into the living room leaning on the crutches for support followed by his wife as she closed the door.
Sitting together on the sofa, it was hard for Chris to read the emotions on his wife’s face. She was still sniffing, though the tears had stopped dropping after wiping them away severally with here hands.


“I didn’t know what to expect after I got a call and visit from the marine. “ She said finally.
“Visit? “ Chris chuckled.
“I will tell you about it later. So tell me, what happened?”
.”Nothing much, we were just on a support mission. It was something minor. A group of marines escorting a drug supply convoy had been ambushed and surrounded by Islamic rebel militia. We were to go rescue them. While we engaged the enemy, a rocket grenade exploded close by, some shrapnel cut through my knee guard and burst my knee cap. “
She took a look at her husband’s swollen knee covered by his trousers and the pad that holds it together, she grimaced. “At least it wasn’t totally chopped off.

3.14pm EST

Erica sat down on the sofa in the living room feeling restless. Her heart rate was beating very fast and her mind was filled with too many conflicting things to settle on any one of them. Her hand moved unconsciously to the rise of her swollen tummy. Her baby bump that had given her both joy and a certain kind of sadness. She was putting on a free flowing gown with flowery designs on it. Turning her head, she looked at the little girl of three who was sitting down on the floor of the living room playing with some toys oblivious to anything else. Her world was perfect. She is not old enough yet to start to concern herself with the problems that troubled adults.


It’s been hard raising up Lisa alone most of the time not that there was much job to it but just that she misses him and wished he was always around. Especially now. There are days she had cried alone and other times with Sena who was also in a similar fix as she is, both married to marine soldiers. Today tears seem far away from her eyes as they wouldn’t have given any kind of release to the pend up feelings churning in her heart.


The door bell rang pulling her off her deep thoughts. At first she wasn’t sure she heard correctly, as her heart raced faster than it ever had in all her life. Then the bell rang again, a little longer than at first. She struggled to her feet, sniff as her mind weighed down with likely possibilities. The sight before her as the door opened shocked her for some few seconds.
“Chris? Chris? “ She asked suddenly when her mouth got unfrozen from its paralysis.
“Hi hon, “ Chris said slowly as he stood at the door on his marine uniform. Both his hands holding on the crutches on which he was resting his armpits.

Jay was up, with his rifle, as soon as the APC was taken out, firing at human targets. The rebels were taking hits from him and other marines and going down. Chris heard that rough voice he has heard before. That seem to be the rebels’ leader. He said something loudly which caused Chris to look up. He saw a rebel carrying an RPG tube on his shoulder targeting the general area where Jay his friend was.
Chris screamed and was on his feet racing towards his friend. He heard low puff sound behind him but didn’t care. He pushed his friend away and just them there was a blast that took them both off their feet.


Jay had turned briefly to see what the problem was as Chris screamed his name. There was no time to explain before pushing him out of the way of the coming rocket. Shrapnel and pieces of sharp rocks hammered their body as they fell. The new ballistic vest added to their body armor protected them from most of the damaged only their exposed skin got tiny cuts. Chris eardrum was blanketed by a huge hum sound. He saw Jay running to him and holding him, saying something. His friend’s lips were moving as if he was screaming but Chris was hearing no sound. As he tried to move that was when he noticed his left leg was feeling numb.


A quick look showed the knee guard had been ripped apart, slashes had torn his camo off that area and blood was pouring from his knee. He couldn’t feel pain yet, just the numb. Then two rebels took that very time to come over the lip of the rise they were in. One of them is the harsh voice speaker, the other was the one who fired the RPG. He had exchanged the tube for an AK 47. Both rebels had their guns pointed down, not really expecting to see anyone surviving the explosion. Before they could remedy that, Chris hand was up and it was holding his M16.


While the explosion had knocked him down, his hand has held on to his gun. His finger squeezing the trigger, he emptied the magazine on the coming rebels, cutting them both down with a blistering rain of 5.56mm bullets. Both dropped down weltering in pains before finally laying still.
Slowly the whining humming sounds in his ears began to dwindle and sounds around him started to filter in as if from a great distance. All he could hear from Jay was “You saved my life, you are a hero. “ However it was mixed up with a confusion of other sounds. He saw the marines that survived coming around him, forming a perimeter with guns pointing outwards.


Just then sounds of vehicles arriving could be heard by him dimly. Turning, he saw Humvees and APCs with marine troop carrier trucks coming along the road, surrounding them. They have won. That was when Chris brain started to register the pain. Jay tore the uniform away from his shredded knee, applying field dressing. Few minutes after that, the medics came in with the red cross patch on the arms, they put him on a stretcher and air lifted him. Jay stayed with him all through. The last thing in his mind before he passed out due to the sedative given to him was that they won.

Hi guys, it's been a long time. Sorry fir the delay... Too many things taking me away from updating. Well let me throw in a few updates today.
* * * * *

Just them the 155mm gun opened up. The marine Corporal watched in amazement as the boulder that served as cover for a marine fire team got chewed into pieces by the heavy duty gun fire. And before they could react another burst of fire scythe through them. Three marines where cut to ribbons as if put through a meat grinder.


Chris wailed loudly and was shocked as he saw Mark stood from hiding, his M203 already loaded and ready to fire. Before he could say no, Mark fired. But his shot was jerky and the 40mm shell fell short of the target and exploded harmlessly before the APC. That was when Chris saw that Mark was hit by gun fire from and AK 47 trotting rebel before he took the failed shot. As he was seeking for the shooter, Lance Corporal Jay already has his rifle up firing. Chris saw two rebels collapse under the impact of his attack . Jay jumped away from his hiding place seeking another one as a rocket from them blew his former hiding place to a pieces of fiery explosion and rocks.


The Corporal was glad that his friend took the quick decision to move. At the moment Harry is the only one that has what it takes to stop that APC. Chris looked around, saw that Harry has moved away from his former handing place. A quick search shows that he was now at the same cover as his friend. A quick look at him showed Harry what the Corporal wanted from him. Chris spoke into the throat mic again.

. “Everyone still with a grenade, arm them and get ready to throw. “ Chris brought out his grenade, primed it and threw it. “ Grenade. “ he said in a loud voice which was echoed by several others. Just then several explosions sounded. Some of the grenades taking out rebels still standing in the open. Others exploding around the APC, doing some damages but not much. The APC 155mm gun turned around with a mechanical whir seeking targets firing short burst to flush out hiding marines. Just then Harry adjusted the target of the mortar, firing it and jumping down to hide. A short burst of fire took him off his feet to drop him carelessly with several huge holes appearing on him bleeding his life away in a crimson flow. But the mortar shell was on target as it hit the APC and exploded. It tore open the armored shell apart like a cheap tin in a blowout of flame taking all within it to the world of the dead.

Sorry guys, I'm really having serious problems with light. Bear with me I'm sourcing alternate solutions

As the machine gun shooter died, the marine came up again firing. A rebel that stood to shoot got drilled by 5.56mm metal jacketed bullets from an M16 and he staggered backwards with hands flying up, his dying finger twitched on the trigger of the AK 47 rifle with him, blowing the bullets into the air.
Several roar came from the settlement showing that the rest of the rebels had seen that the marines cavalry were becoming dangerous. The marines were forced into cover again as two heavy duty machine guns raked the areas they are. This time, two marines got cut up in the sudden return of fire.


“Harry, Mark, see if you can take out those wagons. “ Chris screamed to be heard over the loud sounds of the gun fire.
Harry brought out the mortar, armed it. As he was behind a wide boulder, he wasn’t immediately worried about being hit. He took quick glance behind the cover so he can gauge the target a then set the trajectory. He fired and the round from the mortar shot up in an arc trajectory and came down on one of the wagon obliterating it in a sound of heavy explosion and fire which simply tore the vehicle into tiny pieces of scrap metals and burnt wood.


Those rebels standing beside it were kicked away by the force of the explosion. Mark took advantage of the split second lull the explosion will cause in the fire to roll out of his cover, a 40mm grenade already loaded into the M203 launcher attached to his M16 rifle. He lifted it, gauged the target, and pulled the second trigger. With a low puff, the grenade launched from the tube and hit the wagon at the hood and exploded. The power of the blast kicked the machine gun shooter backwards to deposit him roughly on the rocky floor. With a low crunch, the shooter hit his head on a stone as the force of the descending body followed fiercely, the neck broke and death came instantly.


With the two wagons down, the marine resumed their blistering fire. Chris saw Mark take a hit to the chest. He didn’t wait to see if it was a fatal wound but quickly looked around for the shooter and saw him laying flat on the ground, his hands holding the AK 47, his head wrapped about with a thin turban. The gun seem to have ran out of bullets, as he tried to eject the spent magazine, Chris brought his rifle online and filled the rebel with leads. The man twisted severally with each hit of the metal jacket round. And soon he was down for the count.
A unique sound filled the battle ground. It was the APC standing guard at the entrance to the settlement. It had turned and was heading for the marines. It is a GTK Boxer model armed with a 155mm/52 Artillery Gun Module and a rocket pod too.
“Oh shit every one take cover. “ Chris yelled as he dropped down too.

The marine Corporal noticed dead bodies around the attackers, most were the rebels but few of them were in the us marine uniform. Chris cursed when he noticed that. Then cursed again as he saw that their coming and the blasting away of some of the wagons had attracted unwanted guests.
“Alright marines, here they come. Lets give them proper welcome of heavy dose of lethal lead poisoning. Poisoning. " Chris yelled.


The marines turned as one, assault rifles posed and they fired. The sounds of gun fires were deafening. Some of the attacking rebels fell to the combine attack of the marines while others scattered to take cover behind rocks and returned fire. One of the rebel said something loudly in an Afghani dialect. He was speaking into a hand held radio. With a spurting roar, one of the wagon with the gun stand at the back turned away from the town heading to the marines. The machine gun behind it releasing heavy leads chipping huge chunks out of the boulders and blowing out any one not under cover.


A marine had strayed too far away from cover while shooting. He tried getting back to a boulder cover but was too late as bullets from the machine gun took him away from his feet. He fell briefly, twitched and lay still as blood poured out from his body been soaked by the dry sands.
“Shit. “ Chris cursed as he dropped his head quickly after witnessing what happened. And not a moment too soon as bullets chipped the edge of the rock his head was above seconds ago. “Rick, take out that machine gunner, we will cover you.”


Speaking into a throat mic, Chris ordered. “ Squad one, two and three, concentrate fire on that wagon and keep the shooter occupied. “
The marines responded, pouring heavy fire on the wagon. Soon deep holes started to pock mark the wagon’s body. The windshield shattered as holes punched through it, the driver took several hits and his blood was splashed on it. The shooter didn’t get hit as the gun was covered by twin heavy metal shield but the fire forced him to drop down. Rick quickly brought his sniper rifle into target position.


His eyes was on the scope of the M39 EMR Enhanced Marksman Rifle. Taking careful aim, he saw the long line of parting in the armor which allowed for the placing of the gun and view port. Part of it gave a small access were the machine gun shooter was exposed as he crouched behind the cover of the gun. Rick fired, and the machine gunner’s head erupted as the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge the rifle was chambered for plowed through the skull and brains. It splattered every thing behind the shooter with brain matter and blood.

Chris followed his own advise and joined his own fire team. They are four in number, Rick, Mark, Harry and him. Harry is their heavy hitter, with the M224 60mm mortar. Rick is their sniper and Mark was the rifle man like him, only that his M16 was attached with an M203 grenade launcher for 40mm grenade. Falling in to place, they dropped down from the helicopter, which lifted up under the swirling of heavy dust. Going back and still followed by the twin Apache. The marines spread out, each fire teams looking for cover. They are five fire teams in all. Chris looking ahead saw first that several 4x4 wagons lay on their sides burning furiously.


They may have been the targets firing at the Chinook as it was about coming for a landing. That was good, as the smell of burning flesh, shows that the Apache had cleared their land zone of enemies. Chris and his team were an advance support team for the hard pressed marines standing their ground defending the small settlement. A heavy support motorcade, made up of Humvees, APCs and troop carrier trucks are coming behind, but the bad road around this mountainous region will slow them down and delay their getting here on time. Most of the roads leading to the town are not even paved.


Christ was taking cover behind a rocky boulder. He looked around it to view what the situation is. The place is dry, with clumps of brown grasses and shrubs. Short stubby trees were few all around. Ahead of them are scattered boulders which other marine squads have taken cover behind. Just beyond that is the small groups of houses that had made up the settlement. It is build along the side of a winding unpaved road heading to the town of Firozkoh further backwards. The place the Chinook had dropped them was a high rise gently sloping down into the settlement which gives Chris a wider view.


He could see wagons and trucks parked few meters away from the settlement. They were in a circular formation which covers every escape parts of the place. Three of the wagon have gun stands wedded onto their backs which held heavy duty machine guns firing steadily into the settlement. Beside those are Islamic rebels dress in the normal clothes of local Afghani with their prominent turban. They are armed with assault rifles, adding their fires into the place.

The land area called Afghanistan has been inhabited as far back as the middle Paleolithic Era, so the archeologists say. Historians had added that its strategic placement along the Silk road had connected to cultures of the middle east and parts of Asia. This land had been claimed as home to several groups of people and witnessed lots of wars by empire conquering armies. As far as Alexander the Great to Genghis Khan. The Muslim Arabs and Mongols had left there marks here . Even not too long ago, Britain and Russia had joined the long list of would-be conquerors of this piece of earth. It is a place that doesn’t know peace, a land of war whose inhabitants have been hardened by constant battle.


This time it seems America had join the fray. A land that had been nicknamed “Unconquerable” or the “The Graveyard of empires” had seen the mountainous harsh terrain of the place a difficult huddle for invading armies to overcome.
With a sad shake of his head, Chris turned away from the window. He doesn’t feel like a member of an invading force, just a simple soldier that has a job to do. Just going to rescue fellow marine colleagues surrounded by enemies. Looking again before him, he saw Jay checking out his weapon like he had done earlier. Unlike him, Jay was cradling an M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR).


Well he was not the only one dealing with the waiting uncomfortably. Just then there was a loud shriek as a high velocity bullet struck the armored body of the Chinook.
“We are at the landing zone. Get ready to debark. Be advised, we are under heavy fire. Just then Chris saw through the side of his eye the escort Apache AH64 helicopter spew rockets from the weapons pylons on its stubby wings. Dull sounds of explosions followed after that. Just then the Chinook settled on the ground and the back ramp rumble open.
“Out out out, “ Corporal Chris screamed at his fellow marines . “Split up into your squads and fire teams. “

“ETA to drop zone is five minutes. “ the voice of the helicopter pilot came over the speakers overhead. Chris felt a bit uncomfortable in the new type of uniform he was wearing. It is the normal marine combat camouflage but a ballistic vest has been added to the body armor worn over it. It was a new invention, though having been successful lab tested, they will be the first group to use it in direct field combat.
Looking up directly, Chris faced the marine sitting opposite him at the other side of the Chinook cabin. The marine there was a negro who when he saw Chris’ probing eyes broke out into a broad smile showing perfect white teeth in contrast to the dark skin surrounding it.


“Join the marine and see the world, eh mate. “ He said looking back at Chris as he chuckled.
That’s Lance Corporal Jaylen Brandon Celeb, Chris closest friend in all of the marine corps.
“Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of the world, they all look the same s.hitty way to me. “ Chris replied his friend. “One place I’d rather continue to want to see though. “
Jay nodded in understanding looking round at the eighteen other combat ready marine with them in the helicopter. The tandem rotors sound coming from the top of the Chinook made a steady conversion difficult. “How’s she? “


Chris didn’t answer at once but dipped his hand into a front pocket and pulled out a small picture, with a beautiful woman’s face on it. Her hair was deep honey brown, smiling at the camera with thin red lips. A little girl of two years was with her in the picture facing the camera too.
“Erica’s fine. Leaving her the last time was the hardest thing for me. “ Chris voice grind in mild frustration as he recalled the memory.
“Sena told me she was already pregnant then. “ Jaylen said bringing out his own picture too. Sena, his wife and Erica , Chris wife are good friends too and don’t live far from each other. They act like sisters, never hiding anything from each other.


“Yeah it was just a couple of weeks old. “ he kept the picture carefully back in his pocket. “At this rate, I may not be home to see her before delivery. Four months’ past already. My princess is growing up steadily without having her dad always around. I dread to think what that will do to our father-daughter relationship when she grows up. “
“C’mon she will understand. You’re fighting the good fight to keep good folks everywhere free and safe . “ Still chuckling Jay added. “ ‘sides Erica is a good mom, she will always make sure she remembers her father in good light. “
Sighing, Chris looked at one of the small round windows of the Chinook. He saw one of the Apache AH64 helicopter that flies in protective support of the CH47. The shadow of the second one was moving at the uneven floor of the mountainous region of Afghanistan.

Chapter Three


Five years ago

Near Firozkoh, Ghor Province, Afghanistan

1.07pm AFT (UTC+4:30)

Chris checked his weapon again for something like the hundredth time that day. This is the problem with a combat situation, the waiting is always the hardest. To pass out the time, he had checked and cross checked his weapons unnecessarily. The weapon he was on now is the M16A4, standard issued rifle for the United States Marine Corps. He had pulled out the 30 round magazine box, looked it over again before snapping it in. No need to pull back the cocking lever, he had already done that a while ago the first time he laid hand on the weapon slamming a round into the firing chamber.


He was sitting on a bench with a lot of others too all dressed in desert camouflage pattern of the MCCUU like himself, full with helmet, combat web belt and rifles. Chris was in the gut of a US marine Chinook CH47 helicopter being ferried in response to a request for back up from a unit of marine troopers who were on an escort duty. They were going along with a supply convoy to take needed medical supply to the town of Firozkoh. The small lightly armed squad of marines had been ambushed on their way to the town. They had managed to fend off the ambushers long enough to move the supplies to the safety of a small settlement some meters away from the town of Firozkoh before more reinforcements had come to the aid of the ambushers.


The marines are hold up in the settlement been surrounded by enemies. They couldn’t tell who the enemies are but they obviously belong to one of the rebel militia that has been carving out territories from there. Since the fall of the Taliban after the intervention of the US military , smaller rebel Islamic militant groups have sprang up, being supplied and supported either by the Taliban, Al-Qaeda or Pakistan, just to keep the democratically set up government busy. And the government in Afghanistan is stretched so thin that most militia group just operate unhindered in the outskirt Provinces far from the capital Kabul. From the reports the besieged marines had sent, the enemies are armed with weapons of the grade of light infantry. There are reports of heavy duty machine guns and RPGs in use.

The Don took almost five minutes to calm down, within that time he had been tempted to smash the cellphone on the ruged floor of his study but he had subdued that sudden craven too. The caller maintaining that Brooklyn is out of his hand shows definitely that someone is out to take over his turf. The caller was just using a revenge talk to cover his real intentions which is he wants to take over Nestore’s business empire or someone is paying him to do so. Dealing with this will need some finesse, experience and smart thinking. But who could have set this man after him?


Could any of the other Dons be behind him? Who will stand to benefit from his fall? All of them of course. But could they all join forces together to take him down and divided his business holdings among themselves? Possible but highly unlikely. None of the Dons trust themselves. The fear and suspensions they have against each other coupled with their greed will never let that happen. So this lone attacker, with others under him have decided to take him out of his domain. Well it’s about time he teaches someone that Nestore is still fully in charge and hasn’t gotten soft or weak.


Still the caller has accused him of killing his family. That doesn’t narrow things down in anyway. Nestore knows he has killed several families while consolidating his hold on this city and at times when he needed to teach some erring people lessons not to mess with him. So it will be impossible to pinpoint the identity of the caller from that angle. Well that won’t stop him from going through the enemies in the past especially those whose family he had killed. Well the consigliere is still recuperating, if not, Lorenzo would have compiled the list quickly and would have brought out likely suspects.


For now since he is on a sick bed, the Don will have to do the investigation personally himself. Besides getting hold of police records which will be very helpful. Time to get across to his police contact, time for him to be worth the regular tips sent to his account.
For that man to have called him shows a level of confidence and must be having reliable support behind him. That won’t rule out the involvement of a rival Don. Well he will have to start investigating his fellow Dons too.
Turning to Claudio he spoke curtly. “We have a lot of work to do. “

“What? That was you? “ the head of the Nazzareno family screamed at the speaker from the other end. “You were the one that attacked my dock, killed my men and destroyed my merchandise? “
“Just wanted to get your attention and I believe I have. “ said the caller.
“Who the hell do you think you are that you feel you will get away with what you did? “ The Don tried to bring down his voice when he realized he had started shouting.


“Like Odysseus said, I am no man. Just giving you a heads up that you are about to get an unexpected guest. “
“You are a fool. You know what, you are a dead man. You won’t get away with what you did. You cost me greatly and you will pay back with your life. “
“Save the threat Nestore, I am already dead so you can’t kill me. You owe me a debt in blood repayable by only the same. You killed my family, took away all that I have, every single thing that made meaning to me. So I’m going to make you pay. I will take away everything that belongs to you first before I come for you personally. “


“Damn you. Come on then, I’m waiting for you. It doesn’t matter who put you up to this, I will find you and kill you. I won’t show you the mercy of an easy or quick death. I will capture you, personally rip your balls and eyes out. Roast you slowly over a burning fire. You will beg me for mercy before the end. A pity that I already whacked your family like you said. It would have been quite a show to kill each member of your family before your very eyes while you hang on a spit over hot coals. “


The voice on the other side snorted in derision. “You don’t know it yet, but Brooklyn is out of your hands. Your grip on this city is coming to an end. “
The last word shocked the Don but he hid it well. “You can try but you will fail. Brooklyn is tightly held in my palm. You cannot escape me. No where to run, for I now have this city under lock down. My eyes are watching every where. Soon you will be caught and then you will reveal to me the people who put you up to this. “
“Goodbye Nestore and good luck, but that won’t save you. “
“F.uck you wimp, I’m going to get you soon and show you just how powerful and vicious I can be. You won’t get away with this, I will… “ the beeping sounds from the phone shows the Don he was speaking to himself, the caller had dropped the call.

Today had been a busy one for him. He had made compulsory calls to his contacts in the south about the death of Bill. He had to cement that relationship and keep the pipeline open. He had tried reaching his contacts in Africa and Syria with no success. All his field commanders had been called for a meeting here earlier and he had given them their others. All of them are to take armed men with them and secure all his business sites. He had also received several calls from the other Dons of New York sending their condolences at what happened, expressing sorrow and promising their support.


Nestore had politely responded as required but in his heart, hatred burned as he was still certain that one of them might be responsible for his misfortune. Well he had taken time off to eat and rest. A glass cup with red wine was on the table with the bottle of wine. He had been in deep thought when someone knocked the door and stepped in. Claudio came in holding the Don’s cellphone.


“Boss someone is on the phone and wants to talk to you. “ He was putting on a sport coat with buttons open displaying his chest holster holding a huge handgun. He has a short deep scar under his left eye that runs to top of his lip.
“Who’s it? “ The Don asked absentmindedly, his mind occupied. Besides the number to his personal cellphone is only known to few people that has business with him and should be known by Claudio who is the head of his triggermen.


“He refused to give his name to me and he ain’t anyone I know. “
“Tell him to talk to you, I’m not available. “
“Already did that boss but he still insisted to speak to you. That it’s in your best interest to listen to him. “ Claudio was cautious as he speaks knowing his boss has been in a foul mood all day. “He insisted he has a message for you. “
Taking the phone, he spoke angrily. “Who’s this? “
“Someone you are about to get acquainted with more intimately than you’d like. “ the voice said calmly from the tiny speaker of the cellphone.


“What the hell is this meaning of this trash? “ As he spoke he looked up questioningly at Claudio who shrugged uncomfortably. The voice at the other end was silent for a few seconds before speaking again.
“Did you get my message? “
“What message? Who the f.uck are you and what’s going on? “ Nestore was getting angry and almost throwing the phone back at Claudio when the next words stopped him dead.
“Seems the consigliere must be a poor messenger if you didn’t get my message. Maybe I should’ve just killed him and write the message on his lifeless corpse using his blood. “

Dr. Jed had been a highly profitable asset to the company. He was that one that had brought about the breakthrough of the Bio-regen research which led to the Bio-regen technology which had put D.R.I.V.E at the number one spot on the cutting edge field of genetics, how ever secretly. The considerable resources spent on that research has paid off with the brilliance of the doctor. With his help they had finally had eight successful human candidates for the Bio-regen program. But much later, as Dr. Jed got older, he might have had a crisis of conscience and was turning out to be an albatross.


While on a field research and testing in West Africa, the doctor had disappeared. Initially it was assumed that a rebel militant group around the Niger Delta region of that place may have kidnapped him. But after no ransom demands were made, no group taking responsibility and his dead body not found, Bloodworth had started seeing it from another light. After months, it had been discovered that a foreign doctor has set up a medical clinic deep within the rebel held territory. The Director had sent subject number 5 of the Bio-regen program to go after him and take him out discreetly. But he had followed that up with a back up plan, which he initiated.


The aftermath of the back up plan had consumed both the doctor and subject 5,he was sure of it. That loose end had been clipped off. But Hank’s suggestions is beginning to raise doubts. Bloodworth was sure that issue was closed and done with. Though Dr. Jed was very valuable, taking him out was a huge loss, still something valuable had come out of it. That is another potential dangling loose end, that at the moment is slightly valuable but under close watch. Well the Director feels he might need to do a thorough cross checking again, reactive all his dormant surveillance assets. Oh and it just crossed his mind, there is something he had neglected for years after but still on his sight. He just need to check on a certain teenage high school girl. An evil grin crossed his face, the same grin that always comes up any time the potential of committing evil comes to his mind.


5.12pm EST

Don Nestore sat back on his plush chair in the private study of his house that somehow serves as an office too. The Don’s personal residence is in Dyker Heights. The building is housed within acres of enclosed land with a golf course, a small ranch and a race field. The house itself is a large two story mansion. The study is wide but feels tight because of the oakwood shelves of thick volume books on two parts of the wall, the other parts have the mummified frozen heads of animals the Don had claimed he killed personally during hunting expeditions.


The head of an elk with huge antlers, a black jaguar and the rare pelt of a white tiger, an animal which is illegal to kill. The full skin and fur of the white tiger covered one wall with the head on a frozen snarl, fangs protruding, still attached. A wooden semi circular heavy desk was before his chair, with few sheets of reports he had been going through. The Don had taken off his hat and white coat, his white shirt appeared rumpled.

“Yes sir. “ When the Director said no more, Hank knew he was dismissed. He stood up from the chair to leave but his boss’ voice stopped him.
“Do as much as you can to find the identity of the attacker. A loose cannon we don’t need at this time. Not someone carrying a grudge of revenge and upsetting carefully laid out plans. “
“Will do just that. “


Stepping outside the office building, Hank’s mind was working extra time to figure out where to start from. He is a field agent and a good one. He has lots of contacts on ground that will be helpful in figuring this whole mess out. Damn he might have to stay back in New York longer than he should. He just remembered that the Director never said anything about their South American gig. Things are heating up over there and getting ripe for D.R.I.V.E ‘s ultimate control. Well maybe as soon as this small issue is dealt with, he will be ordered to go down south and wrap things up.


Director Bloodworth took few minutes watching the monitor showing Hank as he walked out of the building heading to the parking space. The CCTV cameras picked up the images from several angles. As Hank drove out of the parking space, getting cleared by the security and moving beyond the sights of the camera pick ups. The Director brought up another image which showed the tracker place on his car and him. The Director doesn’t trust anyone. As loyal and valuable an employee as Hank is, he is always under full surveillance. After getting satisfied with what he had seen, Bloodworth stood from the chair, heads for a cabinet, pulled out a bottle whiskey.


Poured the amber liquid into a glass cup, sipped the alcohol a little. He went to the settee and sat down on the comfortable furniture. Hank has brought up a thought that is highly disturbing and he got worried that the thought hadn’t come from him but his underling. The Director has always believed he has better insight into every matter than everyone else, he knows he is intelligent than most people. So he got worried that Hank had seen an angle to this that didn’t enter into his mind. But that is trivial compared to the issue raised.

“So… “
“Could it be possible that one if our enhanced operatives was responsible for the attack? No. We have eyes on all of them. They are always kept within our secured bunker when they are not on any mission. Monitored every hour. None has gone out of their cubicle after their last assignment. “
“But I still can’t help shaking the feeling that the attacker was an enhanced person. “ Just then something seem to flash across his mind. “Sir what about that one enhanced operative that got killed in Africa?”


“ That’s OP5. He was consumed in the massive explosion that rocked the compound the target he was supposed to take out was at that time. We thoroughly investigated the site. None survived, neither the target nor our enhanced operative. Every one within the blast radius was consumed. “
“Sir is there not the slightest chance the operative escaped the explosion and survived? “


“No, the chances are next to none. The explosion was arranged in such a way to kill all within its blast radius. So he was incinerated instantly. “ the Director paused a bit squeezing one palm of his hand with the other, he continued. “Even if he had escaped the conflagration in any way or form, he would have died twenty four hours after as we made all the operatives dependent on the regenerative drugs that has to be administered to them every day else their regeneration capabilities will spill out of control producing cancerous growth instead of well ordered tissue regrowth. “
“Good to hear that sir. “ Hank said finally.


“Still you have raised good questions that needs to be answered. “ the Director reached for a plastic bottle of water on his table, drank a little from it. “The motivation of the attacker will be our first insight. Who ever he is, he will unbalance the delicate balance and control we have over the New York underworld. Having Nestore run things in Brooklyn is still to our interest, so we have to supply him with support but in a discreet way. We may have to use some political measure to reduce the pressure law enforcement bodies will mount when they want to investigate him on what just happened. At least our support for him will go on as long as he is still useful to us or when he out lives that we will replace him. But Hank I want to you on the streets for this. Make sure this is not a turf tussle between the mafia families. We need to know ahead and step in on time to stop matters from spilling out of control. “

phoenixchap:
..i hate to say this but it's the truth... Your work is top notch but the updates are short and whenever I'm reading is like I'm at the theater and it just wet my appetite and that's when I have to start checking per min for update

Im sorry guys, just that I have other things to do. And where I am at the moment, getting power to charge my device is a huge challenge. These are the things limiting the updates from coming steadily. ✌

Pheezie:
Apollux.
No Update Tonight?

Lol
Let me see... Maybe if the power comes on later.

Nostradamus:
I have a feeling penance was one of D. R. I. V. E enhanced soldiers who managed to escape their custody before they wipe his memory,he decided to seek revenge but he knows he can't take the organisation head-on so he decided to attack those that depends on them to cripple the organisation's business.




Apollux nice one man.


Please when is the next update?

Well that's the general gist of the story... But there are twists within that are less obvious. His revenge motivation is far from escape

Pheezie:
This Penance nah baddo oo.
But who is he?

Lol, you will have to wait to find out. And what makes you think that Penance is the hero of this story?