April 1st, 2013 (All Fool’s Day) 2047 Hours

The infiltration has gone smoothly. Shift change leading into the evening. They really hadn’t been hardened against a professional attack, especially one led by someone with his capabilities combined with his training. Add no mercy for those who had destroyed my family’s innocence, and well, while we didn’t go out of our way to kill anyone, we didn’t hesitate.

Bryce had been…out of it. Not a surprise, I was still suffering from the conditioning. He moved when I told him too, stopped, listened. Still had the innocence intact, still believed his big brother would do what was right. Believed what I said.

We’d paused during the ex-filtration, stuck with a choice of waiting for a couple minutes or massive casualties. Some of these people thought they were doing their duty, I wasn’t going to go out of my way no matter my anger to put a flag in come random cemetery.

I had him and Amelia with me in case he needed a medic. Lucas on over-watch outside along with Thomas in direct support of the exit. John on point, Ryan on the rear.

“Where’s Bryan and Bridgette?” He asked.

That was no real surprise. Surprise was it had taken this long.

“Not here.” Succinct and true.

“But they’re ok?”

Amelia froze, just for a moment.

“Yes. Now quiet damn it.” Succinct. Untrue. Commanding. Like I said, he still believed what I said.

Three hours later and we were at the docks. The hired “fishing” boat captain was on the flying bridge as we loaded gear. He’d been paid already. He didn’t care what we loaded.

I jumped back to the dock, thanking my friends, my team, looking for blonde hair.

“She’s gone, boss,” said Lucas. John and Ryan were out by the gate, watching for signs of unwanted activity. Thomas just nodded.

For a second, a very long second, I thought about the night before. Then I said, “I’d…..I’m not surprised.” I was, but facades had to be kept.

“Thanks guys. Disappear. This is it. Don’t let them find you.”

I shook their hands. It was the last time I saw any of them alive.

_____________________________________

PRESENT DAY

“I remember it now.” I said, blushing a bit, but angry too. Sad. Hurt. Renewed pain at a second betrayal. “Why didn’t you at least say goodbye?” The pain is raw in my voice, new, lived again. “It was like the damn phone call all over again. I remember it now.”

I can hear the tears in her voice as she answers. “Brett, I couldn’t say goodbye again. I’d done it once and it broke me. It took a long time to heal combined with the …..other. If I’d have come onto that boat, I’d have never left. I wasn’t thinking. I was afraid of what he’d do. It wouldn’t have been fair to Olivia.”

“We could have made plans to get everyone out, Bomber,” and as the pet name jumps through my lips, I know I’m protesting something that can never be fixed, and yet, at the same time I see her smile, really smile, for the first time all night.

“Careful there, cowboy. There was once a time when you’d call me Bomber and I’d give you a pinup show. Camera quality on cell phones has come a long way.” She’s smirks and winks that long lashed eye up at me.”

_____________________________________

November 9th, 2004 (Timor)

“We rotate home at the end of the month. You still good to meet my family?”

“Yes, baby I am. But first, I’ve got a birthday gift for you. Gotta promise not to show it to anybody, ever. Not to your buddies, not to your brothers when they get older.”

“Fine, fine, I promise.”

“I mean it, Brett!”

“I said I promise!”

“OK”

The text message icon dings.

“Download it. There’s four pics. Call be back in no more than sixty seconds.”

The first picture loads and my jaw flops open. To take that required….skill and flexibility. I quickly looked at each view. The end of the month was suddenly way, way too far away.

I couldn’t dial the phone fast enough.

“Tell me what you think you are going to do with those. Tell me what you want to do to me.”

I did. We did. Twenty-two days later, we did all of it, and more. Didn’t leave the bungalow for three days.