Code Name: Luminous (25 page)

Her grin broadened. “Keep your center, Tony.”

He nodded, feeling like he’d won a prize fight, taken out
every Tango on the planet and stood in the winner’s circle of life. “You’re my
center, Lumin. Everything else is moving but us. Bye, my lady.”

She waved at him and the screen went dark. He closed the
laptop with a snap and rose to his feet. Mace nodded at him. “Do I need to
ask?”

Mace shrugged. “Hell no, man. I’ve stood beside you through
a shit storm, I’d be proud to stand by you when you marry Lumin.”

“Thanks, man. Let’s get this done and find Dafoe.” His face
felt like it was going to split with the wide grin he couldn’t restrain. “She
said yes.”

They took off at a run to join the rest of the squad already
in the
helo
. It was time to blow shit up.

Chapter Nineteen

Date: 08.03.2014

Time: 0200UTC 1800PST

Mission: Code Name Luminous

“She’s going to breach!”

They’d brought down the bridge three and half hours ago and
blew a trench into the sway of land that lay on the west bank. Both dams had
been shut down. The Admiral and Mace led a CDC crew at the
Caballo
Dam while choppers dropped the canisters into the Rio Grande to
ozonate
the water and kill the virus. Tony watched the
water continue to rise, being fed by underground tributaries they couldn’t hold
back. The river lapped at the shore like a needy tongue searching for food. The
area had been cleared on both sides of the river. Families who’d been extracted
from their homes didn’t go far, waiting by their cars behind a perimeter line
manned by the National Guard. Parents held small children in their arms with
worried expressions. Some folks had managed to pile suitcases and a few
important belongings on the roofs of their cars. These people had little but
their farms. It was the only way to put food on the table, and if the squad
took that away, beating the virus would be a win, but life would be a struggle.

Tony stood on the east bank. Fox was ready to set off the
charges to blow the blockade they’d created with the
highway
bridge
and concrete dividers that had been used to hold the Rio Grande
back. “Come on, man,” Tony said to himself, watching Ed work with the last
charge on top of the rubble.

The rest of the squad stood to his left, Captain Cobbs
flanking him.

Cobbs glanced at his watch and his brow furrowed. “Thirty
minutes too early,” he advised.

“Don’t have a choice,” Tony said. “If that water breaches,
it’ll flood the farms.”

The water had risen fast.
Gravity doing
its job.
Holding back Mother Nature had only worked for a while, the
force would create another path, one with devastating results.

“Cracker?”
Tony called into his
comm
set.

“Done,” Ed said, rising to his feet and jumping to the
toppled edge of the bridge, balancing as he made his way toward them. The water
splashed only inches from his feet.

“Hold, Fox,” he ordered.

“Standing by,” Fox responded.

“Alpha One,” Tony called on his portable radio.

The Admiral answered. “Are you set?”

“Affirmative, the water is about to breach the east bank. We
need to let her go,” Tony answered.

“Last test was clear of the bug. CDC wants another test in
two minutes. Can you hold until then?” the Admiral asked.

Tony’s eyes watched the water as it lobbed with a gentle
sway. “Two minutes.” He wanted to pace. Move. Do anything. He sure as hell
would have never made a good sniper. Mace had the patience, and although he’d
suffered through being his spotter on missions before, the whole time his mind
worked like a big man trapped in a small space, desperate to escape.

The land owners began to mutter and some yelled out, “Blow
the bridge.” He understood their fears. They didn’t know he had the same ones.
To the families, they were as bad as insurgents, taking away their
independence. His cell rang.

“Dr. Clarke, what’s the water height at
Cochito
Dam?” he asked, recognizing her number.

“Tony, the dam operator reports the reservoir is at full
capacity. They need to bleed off some of the water or she’ll find another way
around.”

“Doc, we’re almost there. We’ve got the same problem down
here. We’re going to blow the block. The Admiral advised they need a couple
minutes for one more test.”

Dr. Clarke covered the phone and Tony heard her strained but
muffled voice speaking with someone. “We don’t have two minutes,” she said
coming back on the line. “They’re going to open the
dam,
you have to clear out of there. The force pushing behind the water is going to
make it surge.”

“We’re going to lose the farms, aren’t we?”

“Yes, a lot of them. Flood warnings and evacuations have
been in effect for hours. The force of the water will intensify as it reaches
the block taking out the banks of the river as she sweeps down and slams into
the
Caballo
Dam. You have to open it now. Get out of
there.” She paused. “Just wait,” she yelled at someone. “Tony, they won’t wait
any longer. You don’t have much time.”

“Friggin’ hell.”
He hung up. “Blow
the god damn thing, Fox.” He held down the press-to-talk on his portable radio.
“Alpha One, we’re out of time. They’re opening the
Cochito
Dam. The doc says the surge is going to be like a tidal wave. Get everyone to
high ground. She’s going to be packing a punch when the water reaches you.”

“Copy, Tinman. We’re clearing the area.”

“What’s the matter, Fox?” Tony watched him pressing the
detonation button.

“Jesus, fucking crap,” Fox swore, shaking the remote
detonator. He popped the back. Surveyed the components and looked up at him. “Problem
has to be out there.”

“Cracker.
Did you jury rig that
last charge?” Cracker had taken longer than the norm to set the last one in the
line.

“No, it’s got to be the detonator. It should be working.”

Tony’s anger bloomed. “Does it fucking look like its
working?” A deadly wall of water was on its way and picking up power as it
went. “Tell the Guard to get those people moving out of the area or to higher
ground.” Cobbs knelt beside Fox, both of them inspecting the remote once again.
“I’m going out there.”

“No, Bale,” Cobbs ordered. “She’s live.”

“And we’re all dead if we don’t blow this blockade,” he
said, already running backward.

“Bale, get the fuck back here.”

Tony ran full out, jumped to the first broken piece of
concrete and scrambled, grabbing as he went, till he reached the top of the
bridge. Was it his imagination? Hell no, the water seemed to breathe a big sigh
and it jumped over the bank on the eastern edge, hundreds of gallons galloping
toward low ground. He tottered, found his center and dropped to his knees when
he reached the furthest charge, the last one Cracker assembled. It looked good.
He replaced it in the crack of cement and back tracked to the next. It was a
race; man’s technology against Mother Nature’s need to bring balance back to
her element.

Tony heard Cobbs in his headset. “Fox, check the remote
again,” he ordered.

They’d been in enough close calls, shaving seconds down to
win or fail missions had taught him to keep his cool, but not this time. His
pulse came in short, gasping shots and his adrenaline spiked.

“Sir, it’s functioning. I’m getting a green on the
connectivity. It has to be out there,” Fox reported.

Tony checked the second charge. Cobbs put it into high gear,
taking long, running strides, and vaulted onto the bridge to join him. “What
the hell are you doing, sir? Get off the block,” Tony said.

“Work faster, Bale.”

He shot a quick look and saw the river running into the low
lying area, headed straight for the nearest farm house. Captain Cobbs and he
checked each charge. One left.

“Oh, shit,” Fox yelled in his ear. “Get clear. Get clear.
The remote went green. Get outta there!”

Both of them stood on a mountain of a bomb. Tony met his
captain’s gaze. Only one place to go. The explosion deafened him. The heat
burned him. Cement catapulted around them, but through it all he saw Cobbs
vault toward him. The impact of Cobbs’ body hit him hard, protecting him as
they both fell into the river. Rebar and debris exploded into the air. Before
Tony closed his eyes, he saw a band of steel lash out at them.

The pull of the river swept Tony away as he powered his arms
to control his direction. He surfaced, and fought hard against the current.
Cobbs broke the surface but he wasn’t swimming.

“Captain!” he shouted and stroked hard, only ten feet apart.
“Captain!”
Cobbs’ eyes were closed. He’d drown if he’d
been knocked out. The team
ran,
arms and legs pumping
hard along the bank, trying to keep pace.

The distance narrowed between them and Tony snagged his
captain’s arm, drew him close and hung on for dear life. Up ahead he saw the
bank wasn’t as sheer with a bay and an easy grade. He kicked hard and used one
arm to direct himself. His feet touched ground but he couldn’t keep a footing.
They rolled several times. Thrusting hard, his feet found purchase on soft
ground as he neared the small bay. He crawled, knees sinking deep in the muddy
bottom. His arms strained, the river trying to take his captain. Every muscle
burned but he refused to let go, yanking them both into the shallows.

It had been no more than a minute of struggle, but the
struggle had exhausted him. “Captain,” he said loudly, before opening his eyes
but when he did, ice coated his spine. “No.”
The blood.
Too much blood.
He sat up and saw they were sitting in
a pool of it. It mixed with the color of the river, darkening the brown to a
murky black. Captain Cobbs’ lids opened.

“No pain, T-man.”

“Sir.”
He drew Cobbs into his arms
just as the rest of the squad reached him.

Stitch jumped into the water and yanked at Cobbs’ jacket. He
blinked hard and paused as if not believing what he saw. Tony refused to
believe what was written on Stitch’s features. “What?
Stitch?
What is it?” Stitch dropped to his knees and closed his eyes as if he couldn’t
face what he was seeing. Tony ignored him. “It’s going be okay, we’re
gonna
get you out of here, Captain.”

“Tinman,” Cobbs said quietly.

Tony choked down a lump which he knew was a roar of
disbelief, an all out assault against God to keep his fucking angel of death
away. He strained against the reality wanting to steal this moment and make it
final. He held his Captain against his chest. “Jesus, Jesus,” he said, raising
his gaze to the rest of the team who stood with dismay and shock on their
faces.

Cobbs’ life force drained out of him, and nothing would stop
it. The metal had cut deep into his back, severing arteries and flesh. His warm
blood gushed over Tony’s hands like a waterfall into the Rio Grande.

Cobbs closed his eyes. “Don’t let Marg cry too many tears,”
he said quietly. “I’ll be waiting for her, forever and ever.”

No sound except the soft wash of water rushed by them. No
explosions. No yelling or confusion. The sounds of war were silent.
Peaceful.
They watched as a great warrior’s soul slowly
drifted away from them. A hurricane of sorrow slammed into him as Tony rocked
Cobbs in his arms. Fox, Nathan, then Ed and Ditz kneeled around them. They
surrounded their captain, gripping his shoulder, his hand and an arm, a sentry
of safe passage waiting for his last breath.

It came and went without a sound. The tumblers of fate
ceased to turn.
Its task complete.

“Fox, SITREP?” The Admiral’s voice cracked from his radio.
“Fox this is Alpha One, what’s going on up there?”

Fox slowly pulled his radio, but before he could answer Tony
reached for it and Fox gladly gave it over. He swiped his sleeved arm across
his eyes and said, “Alpha One this is Tinman, the block is open.”

“Zodiak isn’t responding on his radio. Is he with you?”

“Yes, sir, he’s with us.”

“Roger, we’ll rendezvous with you in ten minutes.”

“Roger, out.”

They carried their captain to higher ground, and Stitch
called for a medical evac. Tony sat next to Cobbs and watched as the Admiral’s
helo
descended ten minutes later. Mace was with him. With
every step the Admiral took, dread should have filled Tony, but he was numb.
The Admiral had trusted him. Put him as lead on this mission. Ghost had never
lost a man while he was in charge, but now he stood vigil over the Admiral’s
best friend.

Admiral Austen’s step began to quicken, and then it was a
full-out run. “What’s happened?” the Admiral barked as he approached. He
kneeled down on one knee beside his friend. “Pat?” The truth stared back at
him, but he resisted. “Pat.” He gripped his shoulder.

Captain Patrick Cobbs wore a peaceful expression, but it was
obvious he was gone.

The Admiral shook his head. “What…the…fuck,” he choked the
words out. He turned unbelieving eyes on Tony and although there was confusion
and anger, the anguish took hold.

“We—there was a fault. I went on the blockade to find it.
Captain Cobbs joined me, sir. The fault was in the remote controller. The
bridge went up with us on it. Debris cut through his back. He bled out.” Tony
was only whispering as he watched the Admiral’s brows knit together. “I told
him to get off the block, but he wouldn’t do it. We both went into the river.”

Tony’s mind numbed, playing the moment over again in his
head. In that split second, fate took charge.
A mistake.
It had to be a mistake.

The Admiral swiveled on his haunches when the sound of the
medevac chopper landed. Ghost bit down on his emotion and said, “I’ll carry him
the rest of the way.” He shoved his hands under Cobbs’ body and pulled him into
his arms, rose to his feet, and walked toward the
helo
.

The team remained where they were. Tony would never forget
the sight as long as he lived, watching the Admiral’s slow steps, the weight he
bore in his arms inconsequential to the one in his heart. Two friends who had
survived twenty years of combat because of one another were now parted.
Every moment, now a memory.
Ghost carefully placed his
friend on the deck of the chopper. He leaned over Cobbs and spoke to him. When
he was done, Admiral Austen backed away and kept his gaze on the chopper as it
rose into the air. Tony finally looked away when he saw the Admiral’s shoulders
shake with heart-wrenching sobs.