The Reaper: No Mercy (20 page)

"You keep yourself safe! The commander won't take kindly to you getting hurt again." Rider was referring to an earlier action in Grand Rapids where the Reaper took a round through the side. They had successfully rescued over twenty prisoners from a gang bent on sending them into slavery, but not without casualties.

"I know, Corey."

"Then good luck and take care."

“You take care also, and thanks."

"You also, Reaper. Newaygo out!"
and the connection went dead.

"One doctor on the way, Sergeant."

"That's amazing, and thank you! I can't wait to tell Nancy."

"Then let's get back. We have work to do," the Reaper said. Then he turned inward on his memories, and silently offered up another brief prayer to those valiantly lost in their sacrifice to preserving humanity. The list of righteous fallen was long ... and growing daily.

*****

Dr. Rossi muttered under his breath and wondered where to put his hands. The straps they had cinched to his body dug painfully into his shoulders and groin, and he tried not to take a deep breath. He was fastened to this soldier, and closer than he'd ever wanted to be to a man. Just now the other was checking where they were connected, jerking on each clasp, then rocking the doctor’s body back and forth while Rossi held his arms out sideways.

"If you're wondering where to put your hands, place them here, grip tight, and do not let go. Do you understand, doctor? Under no circumstances do you let go." The speaker was Captain David Sokowski, and Rossi was a bit afraid of him. They had met for the first time just hours before, and the captain had been quick to order the doctor around, who did not appreciate that one bit. After all, he was a doctor, not some soldier. Sokowski should have been following his orders, and not the other way around.

"I understand, Captain. You're repeating yourself again."

"I'm repeating myself because I can't have you screwing us up when we come in for a landing. We could both be badly hurt, which is NOT a good thing, and would just piss me off." This last was said in a menacing voice, and inwardly Rossi shivered.

"I understand," and Rossi was looking everywhere but into the cold eyes of this other man he was currently tied back-to-belly with. Dr. Rossi had volunteered at the last minute to accompany the forces on their way to assist the Reaper. His wife didn't like it, but he was glad to get out of Fremont where Johnny Clark was driving him crazy. Johnny did not seem to realize that he was no longer in charge of all those from Clear Haven Clinic who had been rescued in the big battle in Muskegon. Rossi knew there was plenty of other staff and other doctors able to take care of all the disabled, and that he, Rossi was not actually needed. Besides, he had not performed as a surgeon in quite some time, and the thought of being able to take a direct hand with wounded and also utilize his psychiatrist skills on those damaged by these marauders revitalized him. Now, he was in a large airplane, in the middle of the night, freezing his butt off and getting ready to leap out into the unknown. The thought scared the bejesus out of him, but he consoled himself with the fact that he was needed, and best of all he'd get away from Johnny. He jerked himself back to the present as Sokowski began talking to him again, their cheeks inches apart.

"Pay attention, Doctor!"

"I am!"

"Alright. We're going to make two passes, the first is coming up now. See that light over the door?" Sokowski nodded toward the rear of the aircraft and Rossi glanced, quickly seeing the back upward tailgate thing was fully open, which probably explained why it was so cold in here. There were four large pallets arranged in front of the opening where two large red lights were shining. Rossi saw that several people Sokowski had called flight crew were braced against the pallets preparing to push them out the opening.

"Yes."

"When that turns green, the flight crew will push out the pallets, and then the lights will turn red again. We'll bank and come back around. We'll get a thirty-second warning, then it's our turn. You and I will jump last."

"Bank?"

"The aircraft will turn and make another pass, which usually takes a few minutes."

"Okay, I got it."

"This in important, Doctor. As the last man jumps we'll be right behind them. I'll release my drag chute as I leap. We'll be pulled beyond the tail almost instantly, but don't worry. I'll be gripping you tightly and we'll go together, so just let your feet drag when I run forward. Once clear, I'll open my main and we'll descend. I will control our direction, which is why it's important for you to keep your hands tightly gripped to the harness. As we near the ground, I'll flare the chute, which will bring us almost to a dead stop in relation to the ground. Basically, it's like taking a steep step. We may run forward a few yards but nothing to worry about. Just stay limp and don't try to help. Are you clear on that?"

"Yes."

"Good. Get ready." And suddenly a loud buzz sounded. Looking over, Rossi saw the light turn green. Instantly the flight crew was pushing the pallets out; they rolled down the slightly incline and amazingly quick were gone. Within seconds the lights turned red again, and Rossi felt them start to turn. It was slightly bumpy, and he was jostled around as Sokowski moved him closer to the door. He watched as all the men lined up. They were grouped closely together and lightly held each other as the maneuvering plane jostled their bodies.

Twenty-three men stood between him and the doorway. All had large parachute packs strapped to their backs, a smaller pack strapped to their chest, and an additional, much larger pack held in their arms. They stood, facing the doorway; Rossi was amazed that all these men appeared so calm, and knew that his own shivering was due more to what was about to happen and not the freezing cold temperatures within the aircraft. A loud buzzer sounded.

Within seconds the light turned green again and a member of the flight crew was hollering "Go, go, go!" and he watched as twenty-three men dove out of the aircraft, and then it was their turn. Rossi's breath exploded at the suddenness of the acceleration out of the plane. Just as they disappeared into the dark, he saw men with chutes open dropping the large packs they carried which seemed to be suspended several feet below them, and belatedly he realized that those packs were still somehow attached to each soldier. Then fright took over, as he experienced a huge jerk on his straps which dug even more painfully into his groin, but they were still falling.

Gripping the straps where Sokowski had told him never to let go, Rossi closed his eyes.

*****

"Blue One. This is Paris Six, do you copy, over," the Reaper spoke into the microphone as he waited with his crew. The airdrop was over ten minutes late and everyone was getting worried. They had already placed chemical lights, the kind you crack then shook, on the ground in the form of an inverted ‘Y’ which would give the air crew the direction of travel for the jump. Those jumping, along with the pallets of supplies, would come in on that vector.

"
Blue One, Paris. You are Lima Charlie and ETA is two minutes, currently descending to thirty-five hundred.
" Blue One let them know that the Reaper was broadcasting loud and clear and that the arrival would be within two minutes. Jason nodded to Rodriguez, whose expression of relief was palpable. Standing next to Rodriguez was Schuster, who was giving the Reaper the thumbs up.

"Roger that, Blue One. The delay had some worried." Shue scowled at Rodriguez, and nudged him, but was deliberately ignored, making Jason grin at the exchange. Once Rodriguez truly believed backup was on the way, his fortitude and commitment to helping all the groups was extraordinary. The Reaper realized these men had been waiting for an opportunity to make a difference, and that previously they had felt helpless.

"
Issues with the good doctor before takeoff, Paris Six. Seems he didn't realize he'd be married to one of the men.
" At that, the Reaper couldn't help but snort. A tandem jump was only done in two ways, the most common being 'back up' to the one with the chute. You clipped your harness to theirs and they controlled the experience, though that experience was intimate. Many referred to it as being married, and a great many jokes had come from the familiarity.

"
We'll be making two passes, Paris. First, four pallets, we'll do a turnaround and drop the men and doctor on the second pass. The pallets will be on the ground before our second pass, so keep your people clear.
"

"Roger, two passes and will keep my people clear, Blue One. We are standing by to receive inbound."

"
Countdown is commencing now. Thirty seconds, Paris
." In the distance, they could hear the faint yet unmistakable drone of aircraft though no lights were visible. The hum grew closer and the radio barked again.

"
Dropping now, Paris. Four pallets. Be advised, the pallets have infrared beacons." A pause, then, "Pallets away, commencing turnaround
." Another three minutes passed before they heard, "
Commencing second pass now. All out, the boys are yours, including one disgruntled doctor, Paris. Check your doorstep and good luck, Reaper. Blue One out.
"

"Thank you, Blue One, have a safe flight back. Paris Six, out!" the Reaper responded as he set the microphone back on its clip and stood. "Let's go, Rodriguez."

As they exited the interior of the M-ATV, the Reaper looked into the night sky and by the bright moonlight saw a great many chutes descending towards them. Glancing into the field after his vision had adjusted, he could see the four pallets within the empty crop field before them. “Those pilots are accurate as all get out,” he grunted. He then glanced at the luminescent dial of his watch and noticed it was 2215, or 10:15 p.m., then glanced over at the long line of vehicles arrayed beside him. They had taken all four of the light cargo trucks, LMTVs, in addition to the two M-ATVs which mounted the light machine guns, or 240Bs. Behind them were the other trucks that would carry the men back. Currently, all were dark, with no lights showing. He knew the men would be dropping under visible light conditions and did not want the additional illumination to blind them. The Reaper would wait patiently for the Special Forces to descend, and as he watched, he saw them landing in the field with a few dropping near or in the tree lines boxing in the landing zone. Turning quickly, he pointed out one vehicle to Shue. It was turned sideways, and he spoke quickly.

"Have that truck turn their lights on. I would have preferred a blue drop light, but we use what we have. We'll wait until the men regroup and approach us."

"Got it sir!” Then Shue was running towards the indicated vehicle and within seconds lights blazed forth, but directed away from the field.

The Reaper settled back to wait.

*****

Dr. Rossi gasped as they suddenly rotated and his body was flung sideways, only to quickly settle down, and then he grunted when he felt his feet hit the ground. As his body was propelled forward and down, he noticed they were very close to one of the pallets. He could barely make it out, though the moonlight made it more visible.

When they had first left the aircraft, he’d held his eyes tightly closed; the sudden descent and a slight amount of vertigo had frozen him. True to his promise, he'd kept his hands tightly gripped to the straps Sokowski had wrapped them around. It had taken him half a minute to overcome his fright and reopen his eyes, and was amazed that even at night he could see the ground almost clearly.

Sokowski's head was turned sideways while his arms were stretched slightly overhead doing something with straps he held tight in his hands. For an instant, Rossi thought he was not paying attention, then their bodies shifted sideways when one of those straps were pulled.

Then they were approaching fast, and out of the corners of his eyes he saw Sokowski pull sharply on the cords he was holding. Remembering the instructions, Rossi let his feet drag as the captain hit the ground and they were suddenly trotting forward. Several sharp jerks later, Rossi was separated from their intimate position and turned to Sokowski.

"Stay up but low, and stay near the pallet, Doctor. We'll secure the area first." And the man was stepping away from him while bundling up his parachute, then his compact rifle rising as he moved away from the pallet. Rossi quickly scurried to its side and crouched. This was dangerous, yet at the same time fun. From less than five meters away he heard Sokowski speak, obviously talking into the microphone his helmet had been equipped with. Rossi frowned again because they had not given him any means of communication. He vowed to have a talk with them about that later, if he could get over his trepidation towards this stern soldier, that is.

"Red Team, this is Red Six, report!" Rossi could not hear what was said in return, which infuriated him further.

"Roger that Red Two, we are at one of the equipment drops, northwest corner. I see a single beacon on the hill, regroup here and secure the perimeter. Glad you all made it." Wildly Rossi looked around, and behind them he saw what looked like headlights pointed slightly away from them. He stayed put though, because he had been carefully coached in this. He was to move only when told to move. There were some very bad people out there that would hurt him if he was seen. He crouched lower against the large crate.