Desperate Situations

by Holden, Abby

  "So, how do you feel wearing the head scarf?"

  Megan shrugged. "I've gotten used to it." She had barely gotten the words out of her mouth when several street kids appeared from nowhere. They were almost hanging on Jake, hands outstretched, calling out to him.

  Jake smiled as he patted one on the head. "You've been here before, son. You've got at least four pieces of candy."

  The boy smiled even bigger having been singled out by this foreigner.

  Jake reached into his pockets and brought out the ever present candy. He held it out of their reach. Their voices clamored around him. "Do you know what they're saying?" Jake asked Megan as she stood off to the side with a smile, watching all.

  Megan chuckled. "Your name is Sweet Candy Man. You're getting quite a reputation."

  Jake chuckled as he handed candy to the kids. One piece per kid. They begged for more. Jake shook his head with a smile. "No more." He held out his hand in an obvious way that he was not dispensing more candy.

  Megan lowered her voice and spoke softly to the kids. Quickly the kids scattered just as fast as they appeared. Several threw words over their shoulders to Jake. It was obvious they were thanking him.

  Jake looked at Megan and saw the sexy smile she was giving him, which was quickly wiped off her face. "I didn't know you spoke the language. Which one was that?"

  "Pashtu."

  "Do you speak the other one too?"

  "You mean Dari?" Megan watched as Jake nodded. "A little."

  "So, how many times has our illustrious Chief been here in Afghanistan?"

  "This is my forth rotation."

  "And Iraq?"

  "Why?"

  He shrugged. "Conversation."

  "Five in Iraq."

  "Which do you like better?"

  "Why the twenty questions, Cupcake?"

  Again Jake shrugged. "I like to know the people I work with."

  Megan brooded for a few seconds thinking about both countries. "Neither."

  "Then…"

  "Why do I come here?" Megan answered with a smile. She glanced around and saw several men walking toward them. She lowered her head, pulled her scarf closer, and wiped the smile off her face, all at the same time.

  The men gave rude glances at the two, especially Megan, but they said nothing. Both glared at Jake and their conversation halted until they were a couple steps past the two foreigners. Then one spoke over his shoulder.

  Jake glanced behind then turned an angry, puzzled look at Megan. "Do you know what he just said? If I had to guess, I'd say it was an insult."

  Megan quickly glanced up to see who was around. "Yeah. He insulted me. Something about a daughter of a foreign pig, and a few other nasty things."

  Jake's face got even darker and he turned to look back at them, now over a block away.

  "Ignore them. They're fundamentalists. It's better to take the insult and get away, than the beating. Luckily, it's still light." Megan gave a slight grin. Megan could hear him take a deep breath to release anger that was visible on his face.

  "The voice of experience?"

  Megan hesitated then nodded. "On my first rotation here. I, uh, I spoke too loudly in the market. A man belonging to the same group was there. Before I could even think, I'd been hit many times." Megan shuddered but stopped speaking.

  "So, you were saying? Before they interrupted us."

  "Why do I come here? The money."

  "But what if you crash in the mountains and… I can only imagine how backwards the mountain people are. Okay, backward isn't really the word I meant, but you know what I mean."

  "It's the risk I take." She shrugged. "Why did you join up with White Pine?"

  Jake seemed to be thinking hard. He stuck his hands in his pockets as he walked. "I guess the same reason. Money. A couple of years doing this and I can retire to do whatever I want, not just a job." The question bothered him. Why did I sign up? Something was nagging at him as he thought about it.

  They walked in silence for a few minutes. Finally, they could see the compound ahead. Megan slowed. It was nice to walk with him when she wasn't his boss or needing to establish authority over him.

  "What's wrong?" Jake asked, instinctively slowing with her. Out of habit, he glanced around the area for intruders or anything amiss.

  "I don't get off the base much, except on missions when I'm flying. This is nice." Her voice was softer than normal.

  Jake smiled and stopped. He waited until she stopped and looked at him. "Me too."

  "Me too what?"

  "I enjoyed the walk."

  Megan made a funny face at his wry smile. "Shut up."

  "Seriously, Chief. I had a good time." He motioned her through the main gate and they both greeted the security guard, then walked toward the crew's barracks.

  A man dressed in khaki shorts and shirt stepped out of the main office building across the compound area. He stood looking at them. It was enough to get their attention.

  Megan paused as she swept the headscarf back down onto her shoulders. "Damn."

  "What?" Jake asked as he followed her gaze. "Who is he?"

  "Someone I need to see. We probably have a new mission first thing in the morning. See you bright and early. Seven o'clock. Post a note for the rest of the crew." She looked Jake in the eyes. A small smile curved her lips. "Thanks for the escort." With that, she walked with a quick stride to the man.

  As she entered the building behind the mysterious man, Megan glanced back. Jake was still watching her, his hair highlighted by the beginning of the sunset. Damn, he looked good.

  ***

  The next morning, the entire crew was gathered in the briefing room, except Megan. As with most missions, she was first in and last out. She definitely worked harder than the guys.

  Cowboy leaned back, laughing with Gunner about the day before. The others had been invited to join a 'football' game with the locals. It had been a good game of soccer with the local team trouncing White Pine. And even though they knew they were going to be beat, it fostered good relations, so it was 'strongly suggested' that everyone play.

  Jake glanced at his watch again. Fisher was retelling the way Jake surprised the locals with his footwork and how he had stolen the ball from their best player, only to have it re-stolen from him and the Afghan scored a point. He smiled at Fisher's rendition of the action.

  Glancing at the doorway again, Jake caught Cowboy's glance too. "Kelly, where's the Chief?" Lately, Megan had been meeting him five minutes before the crew meetings to 'teach him' and let him see the pre-mission paperwork. But today there'd been a note in the crew chief box to just show up with the rest of the crew. Odd.

  Cowboy gave him a slight smile. "Just wait."

  Sure enough she showed up within a few minutes. The room settled into silence as she slid into her chair. She was dressed in her flight suit, which meant the mission would begin immediately.

  "Okay. We got a split job today. Cowboy, Gunner and Cupcake are with me. Everyone else will be in the Chinook with Punk and Stick as pilots. Tiny, you're in charge in back in Pestilence. Your job is merely a drop. You aren't even landing. When you get over the area, Stick'll tell you to drop and you guys push the crate out of the back of the Chinook. Back to base and your day is over. Any questions?"

  The room stayed silent.

  "Good. Gunner and Cupcake stay here for a minute. The rest of you head out. Cowboy, could you start the preflight? I've got a few more things to do then I'll be out. Should be in about ten."

  "Sure thang, Darlin'." He left the room right behind the other group of men.

  Megan turned to the other two. "If you don't have body armor on, get it when we're done. This is a hot mission. You'll be manning both guns, so make sure that they're good to go and you have enough ammo. We might not be back until after dark. It depends on a lot of things."

  "And our mission?" Jake asked, still leaning back in his chair.

  "Just do as I say. Don't ask questions. Get going," Megan order
ed.

  Gunner immediately stood and left. Jake stood.

  "I thought I was being shown everything so I can learn? I'd like to know what the hell I'm walking into."

  "Afterwards," Megan said also standing up.

  Jake frowned.

  "I could replace you. I picked you because you have a level head and don't panic. Was I in error? Can you follow orders, Cupcake?"

  "I can and I will. But I think Gunner and I deserve to know what's going on."

  "Gunner's already guessed," Megan said putting her hands on her hips. "I don't have time for this. Are you in my crew or not?"

  "I'm in, but we'll talk when we get back." He stalked out of the room.

  "Just great," she said softly to the empty room. She should replace him, but there was no one in the group that she trusted except Gunner and Cowboy. No. He'll do fine.

  Megan dropped off an envelope at the front desk. "Zarin, mail this for me, please. And try that number again. If you don't get an answer, try the second number. Ask for Todd. He's my brother. Ask him if he's talked to my dad and if he knows anything. Thanks."

  When she got to the Black Hawk, Cowboy was half done with the safety check. She helped with the walk around then both of them moved up to the cockpit. Cowboy started the helicopter. The Chinook was already warming up with both pilots settling in. The pilot saluted to let her know they were ready.

  She was still standing outside Famine. Glancing in, she saw the two men buckled and ready. With a quick nod to herself, she raised her arm to signal the main hanger building.

  Seconds later, a man ran out. The camouflage, floppy hat mostly hid his black hair, but he looked normal and could have blended in anywhere. He was clothed in full camouflage gear. All of his pockets were bursting at the seams with stuff.

  Megan met him a few feet from the helicopter. They spoke quickly then she motioned to the back of the Black Hawk. "This is Gunner and Cupcake. Cupcake's a former Special Forces Ranger. Get head gear on, but this is a silent trip." Her eyes glued to Cupcake. She knew that Gunner understood what was going on.

  Jake narrowed his eyes with a glance at the mysterious man, but nodded at her as he plugged the helmet into the intercom system.

  Megan shut the big door and headed to the cockpit. Minutes later, they were airborne behind the larger Chinook.

  ***

  They traveled northeast for forty minutes. Then the Chinook turned right and the Black Hawk banked left. Up to this point, there had been nothing spoken. "Okay Rover, we drop you in five minutes."

  "Thanks, Ghost."

  After another couple of minutes, they circled back to where they had split from the other helicopter.

  Jake looked out his side and saw what looked like the Chinook heading away from them in the direction of the base. He frowned with a look at the guy who was checking his pockets.

  The guy glanced up and smiled.

  Jake nodded back, then it hit him. This guy was probably CIA and this was a covert mission. Whatever was in the delivered crate was for this guy.

  Sure enough they were quickly descending near an opening in the terrain. The clearing was empty, but as he searched for anyone suspicious, he saw the crate upright off to the side in trees. It looked like it had knocked a couple trees down as it fell.

  "Rover, the object is about twenty yards at two o'clock from our position." Megan's voice sounded over the intercom.

  "Got it."

  The Black Hawk didn't fully land but hovered inches from the ground. The man hopped off and ran for the area of the crate. When he got there, he gave a slight wave. They accelerated up and away.

  They traveled several more minutes, then quickly descended to a small area in a different valley cut out of the heavily forested area.

  Gunner smiled at him as the helicopter shutdown. Jake looked at him then back toward the cockpit. What was going on?

  "We wait," Gunner said softly.

  "Yeah." Megan's voice came over the headsets. "But keep your eyes peeled. This isn't a safe area. Cowboy and I will take the first break. Then we'll rotate one on each side watching at all times. Assuming nobody comes across us, we might be here until dark. Keep quiet as much as possible."

  Silence settled over the aircraft.

  ***

  The sun was setting in the valley. All day the four of them switched between watching and taking breaks. Gunner had come back to the Black Hawk from taking a leak when a static crackle sounded over the headset.

  "Ready, Famine."

  Megan nodded at Cowboy as she moved to the cockpit to begin warming up the helicopter.

  "Give us fifteen minutes, pardner," Cowboy replied. "Bark if ya'll see anyone."

  "Got it." The static died.

  Megan started the engines and let the chopper warm up. "Positions, guys."

  Jake glanced at Gunner as both got behind their guns, ready for action.

  As the aircraft lifted, Megan spoke, "Keep sharp. The bad guys like to shoot us down, something I hate happening."

  Gunner chuckled and Jake smiled.

  Minutes later they were nearing the drop off area.

  "Ruff. Ruff." Came a static filled sound.

  "Rover?" Cowboy intoned into the radio.

  "I got company coming down the hill. Looks like a small squad, maybe ten."

  "Damn," Megan said softly over the intercom. "Guys?"

  Jake scanned his side. "Got'em. They're about three quarters of the way down. More like twelve."

  "Distance?" Megan asked.

  "Coming into rifle range."

  "Rover, this is Famine. Scoop and run. Be ready," Cowboy said.

  "Cupcake, you're in the hot seat. Fire at will."

  Jake took a deep breath and cocked the door gun.

  "Here we go," Megan said as the chopper swooped down at full speed and appeared like it would crash. At the last minute, she leveled it and hovered inches from the ground with Jake's side facing the enemy's position.

  Bullets were already ricocheting off the helicopter. Jake fired as fast as the gun would allow, sweeping the area with no specific target in mind. The aircraft was down less than thirty seconds when it lifted off again. Jake kept firing at the enemy's position even as Megan tilted the helicopter to allow the best angle for firing. At the same time, she was accelerating up and out of the area. And fast.

  Jake finally stopped firing when they were out of range and released his tight grip on the gun. He wiped the sweat off his hands and relaxed into his seat.

  The mysterious man laid his head back and was obviously relieved to be in the air.

  "Good job, Cupcake," Megan said, a smile in her voice. "Everyone okay ?"

  "We all good," Gunner said smiling at the other two.

  "Rover, which drop off? One or two?"

  "Two. Appreciate the pick up, Ghost."

  "That's our job. Relax. You got twenty minutes 'til we reach your rendezvous."

  ***

  "What was that about?" Jake asked after Gunner and Cowboy finished their paperwork. They weren't in the usual meeting room but in Megan's office.

  Megan pushed her paperwork across the corner of the desk to him. "Joint operation."

  "I figured that out," Jake muttered, still disgusted. He quickly read the post paperwork. "This is completely different from what happened."

  Megan nodded with a smile. "This was one of those missions that required creative writing. Read Gunner's report. Basically copy his." Megan tore up Jake's report and pushed a new copy to him.

  Jake read Gunner's two sentence report. It said they dropped a crate in the mountainous region and flew back to base, total hours for the mission two, which included pre and post mission. His head came up to look at Megan.

  "For all covert operations we get more pay. I file the appropriate total hours on this form. The extra time is listed as maintenance on the aircraft." She showed him the last form. "This is one of those instances that's mentioned in your contract about selective memory."

  Jake
frowned. "How did you get the assignment? I checked the box late last night and again this morning for pre-paperwork."

  Megan at first didn't reply. "They let you know. In this instance, it was the guy last night, remember? Sometimes it's a call, other times a written note. It depends on the base, the local CIA agent in charge and how sensitive the mission." She paused. "Last night the 'cargo' arrived. I instructed the ground crew what was needed. A quick call to Rupert, the head mechanic or Corn if Rupert's not available, is all it takes. No one asks questions. You just do the work and collect your pay."

  "Do you know what this was about?" Jake said as he filled in his paperwork with the same information as Gunner only using different words.

  "I'm only informed of things that I need to know." She smiled as Jake's head snapped up. "I can guess a whole lot more."

  "Then guess."

  Megan shrugged. "Since we were near the Pakistan boarder… That area is possibly one of Osama bin Laden's training camps. My guess is that Rover was confirming the camp's location. Maybe confirming other information and getting a count."

  "A count?"

  "A count of how many men are in the camp."

  "What was in the box?"

  "I didn't ask."

  "Guess."

  "I know when to stop guessing."

  "So, this was to get bin Laden?"

  Megan immediately shook her head no. "The U.S. Military and other agencies know where he is, generally. Between satellites and other intelligence, besides drops like this, I would guess they pretty much know his location."

  "So why don't they go get him?"

  "Why?" Megan asked. "He's contained in the mountains."

  "But…"

  "Have you heard of his successor, his top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri?"

  Jake shook his head handing her his paperwork.