I know, I know. You all probably would like to see me strung up by my toes for this taking so long. All I can say is that I work 40 hours a week on top of being a full time student. Doesn't leave a lot of free time! Sorry! Here's a little to keep you from hunting me down :)

Chapter 9: Fear

Taylor wouldn't leave this precarious mission to anyone else but himself. He assigned two squads of four men each to the drop team, Mark Reynolds included. The Commander only allowed them to arm themselves with handguns, trying to appear less threatening, yet planning for at least some protection. Taylor took the lead rover, Mark with him. Behind them, the large transport that would carry the bargaining supplies held the three men from squad one, and behind that another rover held the second squad. Taylor motioned for everyone to load up as they readied themselves at the front gate.

Silently, Mark got into the passenger seat next to Taylor, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead as the gate slowly lifted.

Thanks to a recent rainfall, it took them an extra hour to get to Outpost 11. Taylor was feeling antsy, and looked to Reynolds, still staring straight ahead, sweat beading down his jawline. Mark was nervous about the time window, of what would happen if they were late. But, Taylor knew Mira wouldn't give up so quickly if they were five minutes late. She had gone through too much to plan this heinous act to easily give up and kill the most valuable advantage she had: the hostages.

The small caravan slowed considerably as a dilapidated Outpost came into view. It had been abandoned when a Carno nest had been discovered nearby almost three years ago. Knowing this, they weren't all just on high alert for the Sixers.

There was no sign or sound from the Sixers as they killed the engines and got out of their vehicles. Tayor knew they were close, probably watching them very closely, in fact.

As if on cue, Mira, torch in hand and gagged hostage pushed in front, walked into the clearing between the two groups and towards the Terra Novans. Mira was flanked by Carter, also leading a hostage, a young girl, with his Slasher blade held tightly to her throat.

"Steady, Corporal." Taylor warned, not taking his eyes off of Mira and Carter, but listening to Mark as his breathing got shallow and rapid and the faint click of a safety being switched off. "Sit tight, Reynolds. I will handle this."

Taylor, hands up in an act of compliance, motioned for the soldiers behind him to begin unloading the transport and then walked a few steps towards Mira and her hostages. The Sixer leader looked pleased, smirking, and making the Commander's blood boil with contained rage.

"Wise choice, Taylor," Mira spoke loudly across the fifty yards that lay between them, pushing her hostage, Dr. Keene, towards Taylor and the caravan. The frightened Dr. Keene hurriedly stumbled away as soon as he realized he was being released and Riley immediately intercepted him when he had crossed an imaginary halfway point between the two groups. The young female soldier silently ushered him to safety, taking him behind the transport.

More Sixers began to appear out of the jungle's edge, some with hostages, others with their guns pointed towards the Commander.

"You've got what you wanted, Mira, now let these people go free. I never thought you would sink so low," Taylor spoke calmly and Mira's eyes narrowed in response to the 'low' comment.

"I do what I need to survive, Taylor." And with that, she signaled to the others to follow her example.

The Sixers released their hostages and stepped back, taking cover in the shadows at the edge of the jungle and putting distance between themselves and the soldiers coming to the intercept the hostages. The Sixers remained in a semi circle, weapons ready and eyes trained on the much-needed supplies they had just bargained for. Carter was the last to release his hostage. He shoved Maddy hard and she stumbled forward a few steps before falling to her knees. Mark couldn't stand by the rover any longer and bolted towards Maddy, who looked like she was about to fall face first into the mud. If he hadn't been so concentrated on Maddy, he probably would have killed Carter, but the anxiety and fear for his girlfriend's well being overpowered his rage at that moment.

He enveloped her in his arms, pulling her up to a standing position, but she slumped forward, mumbling quietly before going silent. Becoming frantic, Mark picked her up and carried her back towards the rover. The caravan had been unloaded and the Sixers were quickly moving in and carrying away their loot.

Mark froze as he was buckling Maddy in when he heard the not-so-distant roar of a Carnotaur. His wide eyes met Taylor's and they hastily jumped into the rover, Taylor starting the engine and hitting the accelerator as he yelled orders to make for Terra Nova. They were no match for a Carnotaur without their sonic artillery, with two squads and several incapacitated hostages. Their side arms would only make it angry.

They heard the crashing of trees and brush in the distance as they hit open terrain and gained speed. Relieved at the safer distance, Mark looked back at Maddy. It was almost 0630 and the sun had not yet risen. She looked pale even in the dim light. He reached for her hand and was horrified to find the blood-crusted gash, looking extremely infected and swollen. This is what Emily had been talking about.

The young soldier didn't need medical training to tell him that this laceration had gone untreated for far too long and had succumbed to a nasty infection. By now, she most likely had septicemia, which would kill her if he didn't get her help fast. Her whole body felt hot and she was clammy to the touch. His relief at having rescued her and the others was quickly replaced by worry and anxiety once again. What if they had gone through all this to be together again only for her to be taken by infection? Was Mark too late?

"Sir, Maddy…we have to get her to Dr. Shannon. She's dying." Reynolds choked out the last words looking from Maddy to the Commander as he drove.

"Stay calm, son. I have the pedal to the floor. We'll be at Terra Nova in 20," he assured.

Mark only sighed as he heard Taylor radio ahead to Terra Nova to update them on the situation. A medical team would be waiting at the gates.

Together again? dun dun duhhhh... Stay tuned..

The semester's almost over, I hopefully will have lots more time to work on and *hopefully* finish it this summer! Love you all, lovely readers :)