Chapter 13: Loose Ends"Damn it!" Zeon Private Anthony Churchill thought as he ran through several narrow alleys in the town of Santa Fe. Feddies. There were just so many... Suddenly, he felt a hand grab him and pull him into darkened corner. Before he could speak a second hand covered his mouth. He began to thrash around, panicking... "Calm down. I'm a friend," the voice assured. Friend? Anthony thought. How could there be...
His assailant quickly turned him around and let him see his face, "I'm Captain Ming Chow," he explained, "And I was sent here to help you..."
December 15, UC 0083. 0100 hours Zulu/Local Time. It seemed over, after a long while. But he needed to be sure... "Santa Fe base... please respond..." Major General Alexander Dolvich signaled for the fourth time. It had to be safe now, he thought. In fact it was so safe that the "Austin" had already been cleared to dock with her additional troops, but Natalie... "Sir, perhaps..." the XO started.
"Don't mind me, XO..." Dolvich interrupted before the XO could finish. He knew that his XO was going to advise him to rest again and let someone else take his place, but despite his fatigue he could not rest. He just couldn't... "Oh damn it..." Natalie Dolvich thought. Why the heck did HE have to personally call her? To show that he cared?! After all the broken promises didn't he think that... "Want me to take the call, Major?" Sylvie Greisser asked as she joined the Major, exhaustion clearly in her voice as she brushed off some of the dirt that was now covering her face. It had been a bloody day and night, and the search for stray Zeon troops was still on even now. "Thank you, Captain..." Natalie replied with some relief in her voice as she handed Sylvie the radio. She quickly crossed her arms over her chest and began to tap her feet impatiently beside Sylvie. "Santa Fe base..." the General's voice started again, "Please..." "This is Captain Gressier sir of 44th MS Company, we copy Yamashiro," Sylvie replied, "And we are glad to see you." "Captain Gressier, what's your status," the voice replied tersely, though it was pretty clear he was concerned only a certain Major's status. Natalie rolled her eyes. "Bad, but getting better," Sylvie reported, "Heavy military and civilian losses sustained, but the attack has been completely beaten off, and all combat has ceased as of 2100 hours last night. We are now concentrating on recovering the wounded, and just a general round up in case we missed any of those rebels." "Who's ranking officer?" General Dolvich tried to ask unobtrusively. "Major Natalie Dolvich is sir," Sylvie replied quickly before grinning lightly, "She's just acting as usual sir..." Natalie's eyebrow went up a notch, but the General instantly recognized Sylvie's signal, "I see..." the General replied back almost with a sigh, "Thank you, and please take care of yourselves, Captain. Don't be so reckless as you were in the past. Yamashiro out." The last remark managed to generate a long sigh from Sylvie. In the past? That was certainly true. If she hadn't been so reckless, Maurice probably wouldn't have died. I wouldn't have caused him so much pain... and maybe he wouldn't have been so willing to go off to his death. But the chance was gone now. Just as her chance to tell him the one thing that mattered was gone forever... No tears this time... Sylvie suddenly realized. That was a first. She always cried when she remembered him so deeply. That generated another sigh. Maybe if she hadn't let that chance slip by as well, she would still have a soul... "Captain" Natalie started as she saw the serious expression on Sylvie's face.
"Major... After this, let's have a talk, alright?" Sylvie suggested quietly, "About not letting chances slip by your grasp..." "Man... I think the world has forgotten about us..." Shang said outloud as he stroked the hair of a child now sleeping beside him. It was past midnight, and now much of the town was dark. And it was silent. The trio under his care has been crying noisily all day, but now sheer exhaustion brought about by nightfall had finally let them fall asleep... "But at least we have good kids in our company," the Zeon Sergeant that they had taken prisoner earlier comforted. No matter what side you were on, children were considered precious, and Horton was no exception. "Keep quiet, Zeek..." a private guarding the area ordered, his face showing nervousness as he spoke. There were probably still Zeeks out there, he knew, and with most of the Federal troops already having moved off this sector... "I'm back!" Sandra declared as she arrived bringing a pack of food and additional medical supplies. She looked tired, but she had spent most of the day near a field hospital treating the really serious injuries. There were so many there she had judged it wiser to keep Shang here to help with the overcrowding... "Doc, found these kids' parents yet?" Shang asked. "No," Sandra replied quickly, "They may have been with those who were evacuated from the town when the shooting started. The military isn't letting them back in at the moment."
"Damn..." Shang muttered. He was REALLY hoping he could finally stop baby sitting, but with what's been happening... "Oh God..." O'Connor said as he saw the body bags start coming up from the ruined shelter, "How many?" "Twenty-two, all of them under the age of ten" a pale looking construction worker reported as he put down his shovel. He suddenly dropped to his knees and began to throw up. O'Connor felt like following. "The parents know yet?" O'Connor asked weakly. "Nobody's got the courage to tell..." the worker replied somberly as he wiped off his mouth, "Private, if you find the b******s who did this..."
"We have him in custody," O'Connor replied coldly, "That ****er isn't going anywhere." "Got it opened yet?" Jin asked as a few construction workers tried to pry the squad leader's cockpit open. His GM Kai hadn't moved all night, but he was also not responding to any call to open the cockpit and face arrest. Maybe... "Got it, Lieutenant!" one of the workers shouted back as he finally finished cutting through the thick metal around the cockpit door. Then, using a crowbar, he quickly began prying the door off with brute strength... "Alright," Jin replied nervously with a nod, "MPs, get ready to..." The cockpit door finally popped open and fell to the ground, suddenly revealing to all what was inside. One that Jin was not prepared for all his life... "Dear... dear God..." Jin started as he visibly recoiled from the scene that he saw. The cockpit was caked in blood, the lifeless body of the former squad leader still sitting in the pilot's seat. Blood trickled down from his mouth, forming a small pool at the floor of the cockpit. And still clutched firmly in his hands... was a pistol... "F***!" the worker who had pried the door open cursed as he took a step away from the door, "That ****ing coward! He had the a** to shoot those kids but didn't have the balls to face what he did! ****ING COWARD!!!" "Coward?" Jin thought. Yes. He was a coward too, wasn't he? If he just had the courage to stop him, they'd all be alive, wouldn't they? Jin cursed and smashed his own head into the monitor. It didn't break, but his head began to throb from the pain. He was just about to try it again when his radio sounded. "This is Captain Ivan," the radio crackled, "Mobile Suit force, head for the entrance to the town. Escort the reinforcing troops as needed." Jin muttered a curse. He didn't feel like it. He just wanted to keep hitting his head onto the monitor until his head burst... "Jin?" the voice asked, "Are you listening or not?!"
"I am!" Jin moaned back angrily, "We're going... we're going..." "Any Feddies still out there?" Jake asked as he tried to stitch up some of Picton's wounds. It was working, but it was excruciating to the Sergeant, especially since they were only working on a dim basement. "Looks like they are moving off..." Yun replied as he took a quick peek out of their basement hiding place, "I don't think we can get out of the town though..." "We need to get him to a proper medical facility as soon as we can," Jake remarked as he finished stitching up the wounds, "Do you know any that are nearby?" "I think there's a clinic somewhere here but..." Picton started weakly.
"No arguments, Sarge," Jake replied gently, "Let's get going. Carefully." "Captain, I think this is a very bad idea..." Anthony advised as his superior officer moved his way stealthily down the town's streets. They had been lucky so far, but if this went on... "Trust me..." Ming replied. In reality he really didn't know where he was going, since he felt he was completely lost again, but maybe he could find a way to get this guy out of here. Or better yet, to find himself a worthy opponent to kill. And so he did, as a Federal soldier suddenly came to view. Ming signaled his companion and quickly found himself a corner to hide in, before pulling out a pistol... "Sir, I REALLY don't think..." Anthony started as he saw the pistol. He had lent the Captain the pistol, but he had only expected it to be used for self-defense and not some insane raid on Federal troops... "I'll handle it..." Ming assured as he took a peek around the corner. There was only one of him he saw, guarding a playground and what looked like several prisoners. Too bad for him... "Ouch... doc..." Shang started as Sandra quickly injected him with a syringe of morphine. The doc was a nice person but when it came to needles... "Sshhh..." the private suddenly warned, "I think I..." Suddenly a lone figure rounded the corner and raised a gun. The private began to turn towards him, trying to swing the rifle around to... Too late. Before he could bring his weapon around Ming fired several shots, screaming wildly as he did so. One hit the private's shoulder and kept him from swinging his gun any further, before a succession of round ripped through his chest. The private fell down on the ground, still breathing painfully, before Ming coldly stood over him and shot him in the head. Shang saw the whole thing happen, and began to stand up. He had to try to... Another one... Ming thought as he saw another man trying to get up. He turned, and saw that he was unarmed. But he was an enemy, and there was no hesitation. He fired a single round that brought him down. Another figure suddenly caught Ming's eye, this one still standing. Ming began to turn and realized the figure was that of a woman. But he didn't care... he was going to... "Ming?" a female voice suddenly asked softly, a strange mixture of fear and concern... Sandra? Ming thought as the woman's face came into view. And indeed, it was... "What... what are you doing here?" Ming asked unconsciously as he started to put the gun down. "Being your enemy, remember?" Sandra replied coldly as she looked at the two bodies now lying on the floor, "I thought..." "Captain Chow?" Horton suddenly interrupted as he realized who had taken down his captor, "How did you... I thought Jake said..." "Later..." Ming replied coldly as he motioned Anthony to help the now freed Sergeant, "An enemy, Sandra?" "Yes Ming, so shoot me," Sandra replied coldly as she took a step towards Ming, placing her face only inches away from his, "I told you that you wouldn't find what you're looking for. You wouldn't listen. So go ahead. Shoot me if you don't believe me. You didn't even hesitate when you shot that unarmed man, didn't you?" Sandra asked as she looked at Shang, lying on the ground on a pool of his own blood... "He was..." Ming started. "An unarmed man who saved a bunch of kids this morning!" Sandra shotback at Ming's surprised face. "Umm... Captain..." Anthony started as he saw the argument start brewing between the two... "Not now Anthony!" Ming shotback as he turned back to a fuming Sandra, "Even if he did do that he still joined the wrong side! If he was..." Suddenly, there was a scream as one of the sleeping children finally woke up from the commotion going around them. Her scream quickly jolted both her companions from their slumber as well to see the horrid sight of the two dead bodies lying on the ground, and both their eyes suddenly turned to Ming... "Oh ****...." Horton remarked. Not again... "Kids... keep quiet, don't..." Partly out of annoyance, partly out of sheer anger, Ming suddenly began to turn the gun towards the young trio. Sandra quickly interposed herself between him and the children before anything untoward could happen. "Get out of the way Sandra," Ming grumbled coldly. "I won't let you shoot them," Sandra shotback. "I can take you with me," Ming replied, "But not them. They have no use to me at the moment. You do." "Captain!" Horton protested, "These are kids, you can't just..." "They might get us caught," Ming replied coldly, "They are a liability..." "You're going to have to shoot through me Ming..." Sandra warned. "Captain..." Anthony protested. "Sir! Come on!" Horton joined in, "They won't talk... Won't you kids?" The answer was a muffled nod from the eldest, who had just begun to calm down. Ming gritted his teeth as he began to put the gun down, until he noticed the Federal Sergeant he had shot was still moving. He quickly began to aim... "Ming!" Sandra shouted as she realized what was about to happen. Too late. A bullet struck the back of Shang's head, and started another round of screaming for the children... "Ming, damn it!" Sandra shouted, "Why did you...?" "Let's go, before I change my mind," Ming replied coldly, as the two other Zeon soldiers with him weakly nodded, "Your clinic is safe right now, isn't it?" "Even if it is," Sandra replied equally coldly, "I wouldn't use it to harbor a murderer like you anymore."
Ming didn't say anything back anymore. Instead, he grabbed Sandra by the wrist and began to drag her away, motioning his companions to follow... "Got a quick total in now..." Sylvie reported as an aide handed her a message, "We've lost one hundred and seven dead and seventy-six wounded. And..." Sylvie started before she stopped midword. "Captain?" Natalie asked as she saw Sylvie's shocked face. "God... Forty-seven civilian fatalities so far. Most of them children..." Sylvie managed to say outloud. "What about the wounded?" Natalie asked with only a touch of pain in her voice. To her, the dead could no longer be helped, but such was not the case with the wounded. "One hundred and nine wounded," Sylvie read, "Most of are minor, but medical supplies are running short..." "I think there are a couple of clinics and stores in the town," Natalie replied as she pored through the map, "They ought to have enough supplies. Want to lead a search?" "How about some sleep..." Sylvie half-heartedly complained as a wave of fatigue suddenly hit her. "The temporary barracks are near the field hospital," Natalie explained with a smile, "Get yourself a couple of hours in the sack when you're done."
"Thank you mam," Sylvie replied, also with a smile, "I'm on my way." "Private, you look like ****..." a rescue worker observed as he saw the tired O'Connor, sitting on the ruins of the school, "Maybe you should go hit the sack..." "Can't..." O'Connor muttered back, "Only body bags so far. There's got to be..." "Look, we'll call if we find anybody, alright?" the man offered with a smile, "But right now we don't need another casualty around here." Defeated, O'Connor nodded and began to get up, beginning to head for the temporary barracks... "Mommy..." a voice entered into his head. Yeah, he suddenly remembered. Need to call mom. She'd be worried... "Mommy..." the voice repeated. And one that immediately brought O'Connor to stand still. It wasn't him saying that, was it? "Mommy..." the voice repeated again, and O'Connor quickly began to scan his eyes around. He heard it. It was here, somewhere... "Mommy..." the voice repeated, and O'Connor realized that it was coming from behind him... From the ruined school and... There it was. In a tiny crack in the rubble, a tiny finger was outstretched, calling out for help... "I've found one!" O'Connor screamed as he rushed up to the finger to touch it, to reassure the child who must have still been inside. He must have been sitting right on top of the child and hadn't known it, he realized... "Good God!" one of the workers remarked, "We do have a live one! Get that rigging equipment over here!" "Hold on... hold on..." O'Connor reassured as the workers began to clear away the rubble. It took what seemed like an eternity, as seconds seemed to stretch into days... But finally, they did it. Using only primitive tools and bare hands they were able to clear enough rubble from the debris to reveal a tiny pocket that had sheltered a young girl, one barely ten years of age. O'Connor had the honor of picking her out of the hole himself and carefully carrying her in his arms... "Mommy..." the girl repeated, tears now trickling down her cheeks. "Don't worry now... we'll find her..." O'Connor reassured with a smile as he saw a stretcher come up. He carefully lay the girl onto it, and as he did so, a tremendous cheer came from the bone tired crew. Even if it was only one, it was still... One.
The day when all of us, were New Yorkers.
Notice: This story and all related material is copyrighted by Thomas E. "Zinegata" Ting, no part of this story may be taken by any other person. If you wish to use any material, please contact me first. Gundam and all related trademarks are owned by their respective companies. |
