Enhanced

by Ben Brown

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just — well — small. It hardly looks big enough for the three of us.”

  “Don’t worry, luv; it’s big enough, I promise ya. I haven’t had any complaints about the size of me chopper — until now that is.” Oscar smiled and turned on his heels.

  Once again, the three headed for the tiny, insect-like chopper.

  Once buckled into the cramped bubble of the aircraft, Oscar quickly lifted the tiny machine into the air and headed for the village. He stayed only a few hundred feet from the ground for the whole flight. Normally, his passengers liked this; it gave a good view of the wild life. However, his two passengers on this trip seemed very disinterested.

  20

  Zac and his companions sat concealed in the tree line, just above Dominic’s camp. Zac listened while Martinez and Jacobson talked quietly. However, much of their conversation drifted past him — he just couldn’t get Lea out of his head. Zac pondered his options. He played out different scenarios in his mind; in most of them things went bad for either Lea or his team. He couldn’t see a way out, at least not without the use of force.

  “Zac, are you eating that?” Jacobson asked.

  Zac looked at the half-eaten ration pack in his hand.

  “No, I’ve had enough — why, do you want it?”

  “Pass it here man, ‘waste not, want not’. You should never give up a chance to eat, not when you’re in the field. This might be our last opportunity to taste this crap for a while.”

  Zac crept over to Jacobson, and passed him the remains of the tasteless pulp. The description on the packet said ‘beef stew’ … it tasted more like dog food, or at least what he imagined dog food would taste like.

  Jacobson took the pack and began to shovel the dark and lumpy contents into his mouth.

  “Damn, James, slow down — you’re making me feel sick,” Martinez said as he turned from Jacobson in disgust.

  “You two ladies are too fussy! As for you, Martinez, you’ve been out of action for too long. You would’ve loved this shit back in the day. Now you’re more used to cappuccinos and Danish pastries; you’ve gone soft.” As Jacobson spoke, a dark, half chewed lump of food shot from his mouth and landed on the side of Zac’s face.

  Zac reached for it. “Damn it — didn’t your mum teach you any manners? Keep your bloody mouth shut when you’re eating that shit!”

  Jacobson laughed, spraying even more of the contents of his mouth in Zac’s direction.

  Martinez and Zac both began to laugh. It was hard to believe that even in a situation as critical as the one they were in, childish things could still make them laugh.

  The waiting was beginning to grind on Zac. He just wanted everything to be over. But for that to happen, things needed to start.

  His two companions were clearly more used to playing the waiting game. Zac guessed that the years of military service, in which they had both served, had prepared them for situations such as this. For him, this was all new.

  Then, in the distance, Zac could hear the hum of a chopper’s engine. He sat up and cocked his head, trying to pick up the direction of the sound.

  “Do you hear that?” Zac said almost in a whisper.

  “Of course we don’t,” Martinez replied. “What is it?”

  “I can hear a chopper heading this way.” Zac shaded his eyes with his hands, straining to see the distant aircraft. Then, sure enough, a small helicopter came into view.

  “This is it fellas — here they come,” Zac quickly assembled his gear.

  “Right. Let’s check our radios and go over things one last time,” Martinez said quickly, as he too did a weapons check.

  Martinez and Jacobson took it in turns to key mikes. Zac simply hit his neck implant, double-checking that they could all hear each other.

  “Right, you two will head for the Koreans; I’ll go for Dominic. If either target is taken out then assistance will be given to eliminate the remaining target. If any of us ends up separated or pinned down without hope of escape, it’s every man for himself.

  “Matt, and Jason, you’ll supply cover fire, but mainly for Martinez and Jacobson, they’ll need it more. If you get a good kill shot on either target — then you are to take it. Is that clear?”

  The two cousins’ response came in loud and clear. “Yes sir.”

  “Martinez, you and Jacobson head to the second holding point and wait for my go ahead. We don’t want to make any kind of a move on the base until I’m sure we have Dominic in our sights.”

  Martinez nodded. “Sure thing, Zac, and listen — don’t do anything stupid. If Lea’s with him, getting yourself killed won’t help her.”

  All three men shook hands, then quietly headed off to their next holding points.

  It took Zac less than a minute to reach his pre-chosen location. He hid among a small thicket of bushes and waited for the chopper to land. He watched as the aircraft drew closer to the base; the combination of anticipation and fear was almost too much to take. Zac just wanted it on the ground and its passengers in clear view; he desperately wanted to see if Lea was among them.

  “We’re in position, Zac, awaiting your orders — Martinez out.”

  “Received,” Zac replied as he watched the tiny helicopter touch down on what looked like an old football field. A second later, Dominic stepped out of a small door on the side of the bubble-like body of the aircraft. He instantly began to stride quickly towards the Koreans’ quarters.

  A second after Dominic disembarked, the pilot clambered from his seat and headed off in the same direction. Zac still couldn’t make out the other passenger. The glare of the sun on the chopper’s glass canopy made it impossible to see who was still inside.

  Why was that person taking so long to get out?

  “Zac, we have a clear shot on both targets — do we have a green light?”

  Zac replied in a whisper, “Hold your position until I give the order, we still have an unknown target in the chopper.”

  “Roger that — Martinez out.”

  Then she appeared from the helicopter, swaying a little. She reached for the side of the chopper to steady herself, her other hand shaded her eyes. Zac’s heart rate increased slightly at the sight of her.

  Dominic stopped dead in his tracks. He was roughly half way across the compound; the Koreans, led by General Jin-Ho, headed towards him. The General’s hand was already outstretched, ready for a handshake.

  Dominic looked straight up in Zac’s direction. His momentary lapse of control had given him away. Dominic had clearly sensed his presence.

  “Go! Go! Go!” Zac screamed as he sprang into action.

  The heads of Jin-Ho’s guards instantly began to explode as the Platt boys tried to clear a path to the General. His men formed a human shield around him as the rest of his platoon poured out of the hut to engage the unseen enemy.

  Martinez and Jacobson were now on the edge of the village; they too began to lay down heavy gunfire on the Koreans’ position.

  Zac looked over in their direction — the two had relatively good cover behind a large truck. He returned his attention to Dominic. Three subjects were hurrying him away, while a large group headed straight for Zac.

  He drew his weapons, ready for the onslaught.

  The lead subject in the group began to shoot. Zac ran at the first of his attackers — at the last moment he threw himself into a slide, like a baseball player trying to steal home base.

  He took the first man’s leg with his sword — he fell hard, screaming with pain. The next two got bullets to the chest. Zac was back on his feet and running again.

  Dominic stopped and turned back to see Zac rushing in his direction.

  “I want him taken alive! If any of you kill him — they’ll have me to deal with!” Dominic screamed.

  He had just made Zac’s job much easier, a decision which Zac hoped would cost Dominic his life. Dominic’s subjects outnumbered Zac many times over. However, with the restriction
of not being able to use deadly force, they did little to hinder Zac’s attack.

  “Zac, Captain Jacobson and Martinez are pinned down and we can’t offer enough support to keep their position secure.”

  Zac turned on his heels — he saw the Koreans advancing on the truck. Martinez appeared to be injured.

  “Roger that … I’m on my way.”

  Zac broke off his attack on Dominic’s position and headed for the truck.

  Dominic simply watched, making no effort to either hide or aid his people. He seemed oblivious to the mayhem erupting around him.

  Several Koreans turned in Zac’s direction and opened fire. These men had no problem with trying to kill him, or anyone else who endangered their leader.

  An old jeep sat between the Koreans and Zac, and he headed for it at a full sprint. He hit the ground hard and slid to a stop behind it, just as a barrage of bullets ripped its rusted bodywork to shreds.

  Zac stood quickly and fired four shots in quick succession, then ducked down again. Four of the Koreans fell to the ground, killed by his deadly precision.

  Zac hit his implant, desperate to hear his friends were okay. “Martinez, what’s your situation?”

  The jeep was taking a pounding as more Koreans directed their gunfire in his direction.

  “I’ve been hit in the leg, but it’s minor — just a graze. We’re pinned down and can’t move; it looks like we have no chance of acquiring our target. He’s been moved back into the hut, and it’s too far away for us to reach.”

  Zac stuck his head out from the side of the jeep so he could get a look at the hut. He felt a bullet graze the side of his ear; instinctively, Zac reached for the side of his head, but felt no blood. Things were beginning to look bleak.

  To make matters worse Dominic’s subjects were moving in on his position.

  Then an idea popped into his head. “Martinez, Jacobson, get ready to move on my mark.”

  Let’s see if these subjects really want to keep me alive. Zac stood and walked into the main line of fire. Bullets started to rain in his direction as the Koreans opened fire again.

  As if on cue, Dominic’s people engaged the Koreans. The subjects had orders to keep him alive and they weren’t going to let the Koreans get in the way of that.

  “Move!” Zac shouted as he hit his implant.

  Zac headed at full pelt towards the timber hut. Martinez and Jacobson did the same. However, their advance was being hindered by gunfire from a window on the side of the hut.

  A bullet tore into Jacobson’s arm — he spun in midair and then hit the ground.

  Martinez dropped down by his side and returned fire.

  Zac increased his speed and ran at the wall that divided him from the men shooting at his companions. Zac blasted through the wall and came to a stop in the middle of the room, timber and debris flew in every direction.

  The two men who had been shooting at Jacobson and Martinez from the window, turned to see what had just rammed its way into the room.

  Zac pulled his gun and fired off two quick shots — the two fell. A third man put himself between the General and Zac, already firing his weapon.

  A bullet hit Zac in the forearm, causing him to drop his gun.

  Zac rushed the soldier, hitting him square in the chest. Both landed on the floor at the General’s feet. Zac punched the man twice in the face, and then he froze. He felt a gun press to the back of his head.

  “You made a big mistake when you charged in here. Now that mistake will cost you your life,” growled the General as he cocked the hammer on his gun.

  Zac closed his eyes and heard a single shot.

  Jin-Ho dropped to the floor, a bullet wound to his chest.

  Zac looked in the direction of the window and saw Martinez, a 9mm in his hand.

  “Man, that’s the second time you’ve saved my neck — where’s Jacobson?”

  “He’s here.” Martinez looked down.

  Zac headed to the window and looked down at Jacobson. He looked very pale — Zac climbed through the window and knelt down next to him.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  Jacobson nodded and said, “I’ll be okay, but this fight is over for me.”

  Zac patted his leg. “Okay, let’s see if we can get you out of here.”

  “Zac, you’ve been hit too …” Martinez started, but Zac cut him off.

  “It’s nothing — I’ll be fine. We need to get Jacobson out of here. Let’s focus on that.” Zac realized he must have been clipped by some crossfire as he made his mad dash to the hut.

  Martinez simply nodded.

  Zac stood and walked to the corner of the hut; he poked his head out to see if they had any chance of escape.

  The Koreans were still fighting hard with Dominic’s subjects, but they were losing ground. It was just a matter of time until the Koreans were overrun.

  Zac looked at Dominic — he was still in the same place, watching the battle intently.

  He then looked towards the chopper and spotted the pilot. He was half-way between the chopper and Dominic, taking cover behind a four-wheel drive. He looked terrified.

  Zac returned to his team. Martinez had managed to stop Jacobson’s bleeding,

  Jacobson was sipping on his canteen, looking a little better. Zac knew he would be okay.

  “Listen, Martinez, you need to get Jacobson to the chopper on the other side of the compound. The pilot is taking cover about a hundred feet from it; he can get you both out of here.”

  “He’s one of Dominic’s guys, why would he help?”

  “I don’t think he’s a subject, he looks too scared. I suspect he wants out of here … and I think with you giving him some backup, he’ll get you both out.”

  “What about you?” Jacobson asked.

  “I still have a mission to finish, and I intend to finish it,” Zac replied.

  “Okay, how are we going to do this?”

  “You and Jacobson work your way around the back of the building and towards the chopper. I’ll distract Dominic and his men. Hopefully you won’t be noticed.”

  The two men nodded. Martinez then helped Jacobson to his feet and both headed around the back of the hut as Zac hit his implant.

  “Matt, Jason, as soon as Martinez and Jacobson are on the chopper and airborne, fall back and wait for further orders.”

  “Yes, sir,” echoed their replies.

  Zac gave his friends a minute to get well under way, and then stepped out of the cover of the building and started walking slowly and calmly towards Dominic.

  Dominic’s forces had subdued the Koreans and the gunfire had dropped to all but a few random outbursts. As Zac approached the throng, Dominic’s subjects parted like the Red Sea, allowing a clear path through. Dominic’s eyes centered on Zac — he smiled like a Cheshire cat.

  Zac could feel his anger rising and had to work hard to bring his emotions back into line. He needed to stay calm, and focused to buy his friends some time.

  Finally, Zac came to a stop about ten feet from the man who had taken the only woman that he had ever had feelings for — and Zac was going to make him pay.

  “Place all your weapons on the ground and then take two steps back,” Dominic said quietly.

  Zac did as he asked.

  The noise of battle had died away to nothing.

  Suddenly, all of his subjects became mesmerized by the two as they watched the unfolding scene.

  21

  There was absolute silence; everyone seemed focused on Dominic — he in turn seemed transfixed by Zac.

  “So, you’re the man my father believes can stop me.” His eyes scanned him up and down. Zac could feel his contempt, but didn’t respond.

  Turning slowly to address the admiring throng that now surrounded him, Dominic boomed, “The arrogance of this man!” He held out his hand gesturing towards his would-be victim. “What makes him think he ever stood a chance of stopping me — he is nothing!” It was like watching Nero addressing a bloo
dthirsty crowd at the Coliseum just before he threw a Christian to the lions.

  Dominic turned his attention back to his quarry, and sneered, “You’re just one man with a few hapless soldiers — you had no chance of success!”

  He drew himself right up against the man at whom he now focused all his hate; their noses almost touched. Zac forced himself not to react, the longer he could hold Dominic’s attention, the better chance Martinez and Jacobson had to get away.

  Dominic grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. “What’s the matter, Zac; not so tough without your friends? Are they still cowering inside the hut? Are they waiting for you to defeat me? Well, once I’m finished with you, I will deal with them.”

  Dominic threw him like a rag doll towards the side of an old truck, parked some ten feet away. Zac’s body slammed into the ancient vehicle, causing its rusted and fatigued bodywork to crumple; he slumped to the floor.

  Determined not to react to Dominic’s provocation, Zac subdued his rage. He rolled onto his side gasping for air; it was then he saw Martinez talking to the young pilot. If Dominic attacked him now, then he too would surely notice his friends trying to escape. He struggled to his feet and approached his adversary once more.

  Dominic watched him intently. He clearly couldn’t understand why Zac wouldn’t fight, why he wouldn’t defend himself … it infuriated him. He grabbed Zac by the collar and swung him around to face his jeering entourage. “This is the best the world has to offer. He is what governments pin their hopes on. Soon we will rule over those who are too weak to face us themselves. Soon we will decide who will live and who will die.” Dominic shoved him into the middle of the now hysterical crowd.

  Zac stumbled and hit the ground once more. Boots and fists immediately started raining down on him. Dominic’s subjects were working themselves into a fury, he felt like he was being encircled by a pack of hyenas — and that pack wanted him dead.