Part 2: The Moment

Colden looked to his left as Bravo team signaled that they were in position. Colden nodded to his own team and signaled Zach to place the charges on the door. Zach was small and wiry. You would never guess he could bench 350 and easily take out someone twice his size. And he loved blowing things up. Colden recalled in training how Zach got hold of 20 pounds of dynamite and set charges throughout the course. Six trainees were wounded from it and he was nearly imprisoned. But the commanders noticed his potential and put him in demolitions. When Colden decided on this mission Zach was the first on the team. Zach placed the charges carefully then returned back to Alpha team. Each person put their masks on and Zach pushed the button. The door blasted back and Alpha was over it before it even touched the ground. Just before he entered Colden glanced over and Bravo team had already gone through. Suddenly a wave of uneasiness swept through him. Something was wrong. But he shook it off and continued. He couldn't stop now, might as well go forward. The first three rooms went quickly with only two tangos. In seconds Alpha was in position on the center courtyard. Bravo however was nowhere in sight. Colden looked at his watch. "We have thirty seconds to wait then we move in." Heather took point but looked worried, "Sir, without Bravo there is no way in hell we can do this." She whispered. "We don't have time for rescue, H." Colden whispered back. "They already know are here. Any longer and we die." "Yes, sir." Heather said quietly. Colden always encouraged his team to speak their mind, however, Heather took advantage of it more than anyone else. Colden agreed with her though. Without Bravo team their chance was slim. But he knew his orders. This was their only chance to capture Ulysses and it had to work. "Zach," Colden turned back for a second. "On my mark" Zach hefted the MAT 22 onto his shoulder. "3...2...1...Mark!" Heather kicked open the door and three of them streamed into the room. Zach pulled the trigger and launched the emp grenade. Colden shook his head. He couldn't remember what happened next. He remembered Zach screaming and Heather lying motionless on the floor, a knife deeply embedded in her throat. He looked at the road before him now. He could remember driving this road with his Father. There used to be a small town right here. People walking back and forth around the square with dogs and children. He couldn't believe it had only been 60 years. The town now looked like an ancient ruin. Most of the buildings were gone and all that was left was a few stone buildings. The only livable places now are the hidden cabins in the woods like Darrah's. He had seen the world change, and yet, it hadn't really changed at all. Kaplan still ruled although he was finally getting weaker in his old age. His son had recently begun to take on many of the affairs of state. Other than that though Colden had no idea what was going on anymore. "Let the Kaplans have their little kingdom." He always said. "One day it will come crashing down on them." Heh, he laughed to himself. It always does. For a moment his mind flitted back to that night when everything changed. When his team was dead and he frantically trying to escape. It was a trap. It was always a trap. He ran down the side opposite to where he came in, hoping to find someone on Bravo team still alive. He ran through the short corridors till he suddenly found himself outside. And no sign of Bravo. He continued to run towards the evaq point. He felt a knife slam into his back and he was thrown to the ground. Within seconds a woman straddled him, pulled out the knife and put it to his throat. She began to laugh hysterically. "General Molina himself." She smiled wickedly. "Not even the best of you could outsmart us." Colden feared what they would do to him but at the same time he couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. Her black hair was cut short and barely moved at all in the wind. But her eyes were the most beautiful and vibrant thing he had ever seen. They were blue as the ocean and just as deep, the fathoms of which he could not see.