Story Market Day
- Thread starter ComCamGuy
- Start date
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Garen had a long talk with Angelique, or at least spent a long time talking with her. She was in and out of consciousness. They had her on quite a bit of anti-inflammatories and a decent amount of pain meds. The short term goal was to get her to rest for several days and let her tendons and ligaments recover some from the abuse they had suffered before she started using them again. He carefully explained the recovery and rehabilitation process she had ahead of her. This would involve using the wheeled walker or crutches for a couple weeks for the hip to have the best chance of recovery. It would be three months or more of dedicated physical therapy to get back full use.
This sounded like forever to Angelique. She wanted to get better NOW! She didn’t know how she was going to lay around doing nothing for three months, especially with everything going on. Her frustration showed in her face.
Garen knew the frustration of extended rehabilitation. The extended rehabilitation after his knee surgery was six long painful months. He also knew if she didn’t suck it up and do what needed done, it would take longer to heal, if ever. If she tried too much too fast, things might be torn that he had no way to fix. He didn’t know where an orthopedic surgeon was, much less know where to get one to operate on something like this. He had to try a different tactic.
“Angelique, I know you are familiar with the Counte of Monte Christo.”
“Yeah, what about it?” Her face showed some puzzlement at the change of topic.
”How long was Edmond in the Chateau de If?”
“Sixteen years” she started to see where this was going.
“How long did he study with the Abby?”
“Five years.” She knew what was next.
“You invoked Dantes before we went on the trip to town. Shouldn’t you try some of the same resolve he showed? We are talking three to six months. This is more comfortable than his cell. You can be like him in some aspects though. You can study. Learn more skills. Expand your knowledge! At the same time, you work on making your body better, more durable. This is forcing you to focus on your mind and body. Use the opportunity! You will have four teachers instead of Dantes’ one. Besides, once Bekka and Allyson get back, we will be hibernating for winter anyway. “
In the end, she came around. It wasn’t what she wanted to do, but it was something she could do. Garen also explained this evening’s activities. He made sure she had the wheeled walker next to the chase lounge she was laying in. He also made sure her radio was next to her so she could monitor what was going on, along with her warbelt. This meant she could defend herself with the pistol if something horrible happened and they had bad guys in the house.
This sounded like forever to Angelique. She wanted to get better NOW! She didn’t know how she was going to lay around doing nothing for three months, especially with everything going on. Her frustration showed in her face.
Garen knew the frustration of extended rehabilitation. The extended rehabilitation after his knee surgery was six long painful months. He also knew if she didn’t suck it up and do what needed done, it would take longer to heal, if ever. If she tried too much too fast, things might be torn that he had no way to fix. He didn’t know where an orthopedic surgeon was, much less know where to get one to operate on something like this. He had to try a different tactic.
“Angelique, I know you are familiar with the Counte of Monte Christo.”
“Yeah, what about it?” Her face showed some puzzlement at the change of topic.
”How long was Edmond in the Chateau de If?”
“Sixteen years” she started to see where this was going.
“How long did he study with the Abby?”
“Five years.” She knew what was next.
“You invoked Dantes before we went on the trip to town. Shouldn’t you try some of the same resolve he showed? We are talking three to six months. This is more comfortable than his cell. You can be like him in some aspects though. You can study. Learn more skills. Expand your knowledge! At the same time, you work on making your body better, more durable. This is forcing you to focus on your mind and body. Use the opportunity! You will have four teachers instead of Dantes’ one. Besides, once Bekka and Allyson get back, we will be hibernating for winter anyway. “
In the end, she came around. It wasn’t what she wanted to do, but it was something she could do. Garen also explained this evening’s activities. He made sure she had the wheeled walker next to the chase lounge she was laying in. He also made sure her radio was next to her so she could monitor what was going on, along with her warbelt. This meant she could defend herself with the pistol if something horrible happened and they had bad guys in the house.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Garen was sitting in the solarium with Kara after his talk with Angelique. They were mostly geared up, ready to run out the door. This room felt like a small sanctuary, with the bubbling hot tub and the curved glass letting in the view of the night sky.
“Kara, she will be fine. It’s just hard when you hear three to six months recovery time, especially at her age. Hell, it’s hard at our ages!”
“”I agree, she will get through it. She’s a tough kid. Probably tougher than I was at her age.”
“I doubt that. You were probably tougher just because of how much you had already seen.”
“Just because I survived, doesn’t mean I was tougher.”
The room fell silent for a while. The only sound was the water moving.
Kara was the first to notice something had changed. She was turning her head trying to figure out what was different. Garen was the first to figure it out. He pointed up to the glass over their head.
“It’s just rain. It should help them be more stealthy. The bad guys won’t hear them coming. I just hope they took their wet weather gear. That reminds me, I need to check my pack.”
Garen and Kara went back inside to recheck their gear in case they were called on.
Meanwhile Angelique was sitting, staring out the window into the rain.
“Kara, she will be fine. It’s just hard when you hear three to six months recovery time, especially at her age. Hell, it’s hard at our ages!”
“”I agree, she will get through it. She’s a tough kid. Probably tougher than I was at her age.”
“I doubt that. You were probably tougher just because of how much you had already seen.”
“Just because I survived, doesn’t mean I was tougher.”
The room fell silent for a while. The only sound was the water moving.
Kara was the first to notice something had changed. She was turning her head trying to figure out what was different. Garen was the first to figure it out. He pointed up to the glass over their head.
“It’s just rain. It should help them be more stealthy. The bad guys won’t hear them coming. I just hope they took their wet weather gear. That reminds me, I need to check my pack.”
Garen and Kara went back inside to recheck their gear in case they were called on.
Meanwhile Angelique was sitting, staring out the window into the rain.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
So far, she is on the slow road to recovery. This is not the first time we have gone through this, but it doesn’t get easier.
I still have to go to work every day, so I am still at risk to exposure. I work in a gov building with about 1500 students. And no, they are still in session. We have to keep turning out graduates.
I still have to go to work every day, so I am still at risk to exposure. I work in a gov building with about 1500 students. And no, they are still in session. We have to keep turning out graduates.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Stay safe as you can CCG. Thank you for your story.
Lake Lili
Veteran Member
So glad that the Missus is improving.
Wow... still in session!?! We've been locked down for three weeks now here in Newfoundland. Be safe.
Lili
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
US Military schoolhouse. We have to keep training the new members of the military
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Bekka and Allyson made it to the closest point they felt comfortable driving, even in the pouring rain, shortly before sunrise was to be. It was still full dark with the thick cloud cover and full-fledged thunderstorm overhead. They were picking a path with the naked eye since the intermittent lightning made the goggles less than effective. One of their hopes was, as miserable as it was for them, at least they were moving with a purpose. Anyone on lookout duty would be twice as miserable or pulled back to a better sheltered area. Unless they were military trained and disciplined, the bad guys would figure no one would be out in this.
Unfortunately, Bekka knew the second set were military trained, as evidenced by the gear and tactics. She was hoping they had bought into the subterfuge of it being locals in the town and not expecting them to come hunting all the way out here in the forest. Bekka also knew hope wasn’t a good planning basis. This was why they stopped as far back as they did. This was why the approach on foot was slow and laborious, especially in the rain. She had seen enough times in training it was easy to miss the still, patient sentry or watcher, especially when things get miserable. She had done it enough times on exercises, people trying to sneak up to a position or point, only to be called out after being observed for fifty to a hundred meters by the Instructor standing next to a tree, just not moving.
Bekka came prepared to use the same concepts in reverse. She had brought her tree gaffs. She could use them to scale a likely tree and observe from on high. Most people tended to look along the ground for observers. Most people don’t look thirty or forty feet up in the trees. That is not where you find someone hiding. Once she was up there, she could also drop a rope for Allyson to use climbing up. She might even do two climbs initially, one to set Allyson in position, then the second one for her.
The current weather situation had screwed some of this up now. They had to be more careful in tree selection in a thunderstorm. Can’t be too tall, can’t be by itself but still has to give a view of their target, otherwise it was a wasted exercise.
The main area of the forest camp was an irregular clearing with several administrative and maintenance buildings woven in and among several lobes of small trees. Most of the closer trees were entirely too small to hold them, so they were stuck being farther out. Being at a distance would also allow them to see more area and reduce the likelihood of detection. All of these elements were swirling around in Bekka’s mind as they looked for a likely location. They both knew the rain could let up any minute, dawn would break and they couldn’t be moving around then, otherwise they would be discovered.
Unfortunately, Bekka knew the second set were military trained, as evidenced by the gear and tactics. She was hoping they had bought into the subterfuge of it being locals in the town and not expecting them to come hunting all the way out here in the forest. Bekka also knew hope wasn’t a good planning basis. This was why they stopped as far back as they did. This was why the approach on foot was slow and laborious, especially in the rain. She had seen enough times in training it was easy to miss the still, patient sentry or watcher, especially when things get miserable. She had done it enough times on exercises, people trying to sneak up to a position or point, only to be called out after being observed for fifty to a hundred meters by the Instructor standing next to a tree, just not moving.
Bekka came prepared to use the same concepts in reverse. She had brought her tree gaffs. She could use them to scale a likely tree and observe from on high. Most people tended to look along the ground for observers. Most people don’t look thirty or forty feet up in the trees. That is not where you find someone hiding. Once she was up there, she could also drop a rope for Allyson to use climbing up. She might even do two climbs initially, one to set Allyson in position, then the second one for her.
The current weather situation had screwed some of this up now. They had to be more careful in tree selection in a thunderstorm. Can’t be too tall, can’t be by itself but still has to give a view of their target, otherwise it was a wasted exercise.
The main area of the forest camp was an irregular clearing with several administrative and maintenance buildings woven in and among several lobes of small trees. Most of the closer trees were entirely too small to hold them, so they were stuck being farther out. Being at a distance would also allow them to see more area and reduce the likelihood of detection. All of these elements were swirling around in Bekka’s mind as they looked for a likely location. They both knew the rain could let up any minute, dawn would break and they couldn’t be moving around then, otherwise they would be discovered.
Last edited:
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Good ideas, I as well during hide and seek went up, up on the garage 
. Thank you. Glad to hear your wife is doing better.
. Thank you. Glad to hear your wife is doing better.How grand the news that your wife continues to improve, CCG. You do appreciate that she has been and remains partner in your every success and a prime source of your every enduring happiness--Matthew Henry observed:
"The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved by him."
"The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved by him."
Last edited:
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Concealment is different depending on location, time of day, clothing, ghillie suit and what is available for concealment. Up a tree works, until it doesn't when the sun is coming up and you have to climb down. Always have your escape plan planned out.
What will they see?
Thanks CCG for the chapter.
Texican....
What will they see?
Thanks CCG for the chapter.
Texican....
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
The cold grey of dawn was creeping in on the eastern horizon, trying to make way against the storm clouds. The rain was still quite heavy, cutting the distance they could see significantly. Bekka didn’t like any of the trees they had found near the clearing. The ones big enough to use didn’t have the line of sight needed. The ones in the right place were not big enough, or didn’t afford a good escape. As they moved forward, Bekka kept feeling that something wasn’t right. Finally she stopped and started pulling back to better cover. Once there, Bekka and Allyson had a quick conference. With the rain, Bekka knew their voices wouldn’t carry very far.
“I don’t like it. Something is off. We should see light or movement or something.”
Allyson now had a rising wave of dread. She was thinking of what Kara had described in the stadium.
“Do you think they killed them all and left?” Her look to Bekka was masked by the darkness, but her tone said everything.
“I don’t know Allyson, but adding us to the body count by being hasty won’t help. I think we should pull back some and wait for daylight when we can scope things out better. Let’s push around little further east. This will put any sunrise that makes it through the clouds in their face and not our glass. Make sure and remind me when we stop to air out the rifles so we don’t get fogged lenses.”
Allyson didn’t know what to think. She knew that whatever was going to happen probably already did. Worrying about it right now wasn’t going to do anything but distract her. For some reason, a stray image popped into her head. Her old SWAT supervisor had an unofficial patch on his tactical vest. It was black with red letters. It said “To Defend, or Avenge This is the Pact” She had asked him about it. He said it was from an old movie from when he grew up. Management saw it and made him take it off later. She wondered where he was now. She knew there was no management here to object to the sentiment of such a statement now. He was right. This was turning out to be a good home for her, as long as she can tolerate what it has led her to become. Allyson shook her head violently and punched herself in the thigh. Stop daydreaming and being distracted, she screamed to herself in her head. She needed to stay focused on the nuts and bolts in front of her and not the philosophical aspect. That was for later in the hot tub with a water glass of Gin. Maybe Kara could join her and help her make sense of it. She still felt a bit too intimidated by Bekka and Garen. 'There you go! Off on a tangent again! Follow Bekka’s lead, get to the new position and set up the observation position! See what is! Do not speculate or project! See! Watch! Document!'
Bekka was moving along, trying to puzzle out angles, light positions, cover, concealment, escape routes, anything she could think of to try to escape the dread they were fare too late to help anyone down there. Her mind could paint a thousand atrocities down below without even trying. She also knew they would go down there in spite of what had happened. Otherwise her brain would push all the worst case concepts to the forefront with no facts to prove otherwise. After a certain point, better the horrors you see than the ones you invent in your mind.
There in the forest, the only sound is the rain.
“I don’t like it. Something is off. We should see light or movement or something.”
Allyson now had a rising wave of dread. She was thinking of what Kara had described in the stadium.
“Do you think they killed them all and left?” Her look to Bekka was masked by the darkness, but her tone said everything.
“I don’t know Allyson, but adding us to the body count by being hasty won’t help. I think we should pull back some and wait for daylight when we can scope things out better. Let’s push around little further east. This will put any sunrise that makes it through the clouds in their face and not our glass. Make sure and remind me when we stop to air out the rifles so we don’t get fogged lenses.”
Allyson didn’t know what to think. She knew that whatever was going to happen probably already did. Worrying about it right now wasn’t going to do anything but distract her. For some reason, a stray image popped into her head. Her old SWAT supervisor had an unofficial patch on his tactical vest. It was black with red letters. It said “To Defend, or Avenge This is the Pact” She had asked him about it. He said it was from an old movie from when he grew up. Management saw it and made him take it off later. She wondered where he was now. She knew there was no management here to object to the sentiment of such a statement now. He was right. This was turning out to be a good home for her, as long as she can tolerate what it has led her to become. Allyson shook her head violently and punched herself in the thigh. Stop daydreaming and being distracted, she screamed to herself in her head. She needed to stay focused on the nuts and bolts in front of her and not the philosophical aspect. That was for later in the hot tub with a water glass of Gin. Maybe Kara could join her and help her make sense of it. She still felt a bit too intimidated by Bekka and Garen. 'There you go! Off on a tangent again! Follow Bekka’s lead, get to the new position and set up the observation position! See what is! Do not speculate or project! See! Watch! Document!'
Bekka was moving along, trying to puzzle out angles, light positions, cover, concealment, escape routes, anything she could think of to try to escape the dread they were fare too late to help anyone down there. Her mind could paint a thousand atrocities down below without even trying. She also knew they would go down there in spite of what had happened. Otherwise her brain would push all the worst case concepts to the forefront with no facts to prove otherwise. After a certain point, better the horrors you see than the ones you invent in your mind.
There in the forest, the only sound is the rain.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Just think today we are dealing with a virus that has all but shut down the nation....we a just a breath or two from being where you describe. Who would have thought?
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
The dawn was cold and the rain was still drizzling. The view into the clearing wasn’t very good, but was good enough to concern them. As the sky lightened and the illumination grew, so did the view of bodies on the ground around the three main buildings that were their focus and concern. The bodies were naked and sprawled in a haphazard manner out in the open. There were no lights or movement visible as well. No vehicles were within sight, nor were any running engines heard.
All of this made Bekka think whoever was there had already left. She could only see so much detail with the spotting scope she brought. There were other elements that didn’t line up. If the bad guys just drove through and killed everyone, why aren’t any doors open? Where are any other signs of a hasty departure? There was no attempt to cover their tracks. It just felt wrong. Like if you came to class and they told you there was a test on chapter 16, and yesterday you were told to read up to chapter ten for a test the next day.
Bekka had Allyson keep scanning the buildings and open area for signs of life or movement while she started focusing on scanning the trees and surrounding area for other observers or ambush. These were slow, methodical things that neither of them rushed. They spent at least two hours just observing. It was much more important to be thorough than quick. They both knew if they got this wrong, they might not survive and could get everyone else killed as well.
They updated Garen and Kara of their progress. Now it was time for them to decide the next step. The two biggest questions were who was going down there and when. It was decided that Allyson would make entry and Bekka would cover her with the long gun since this also let Bekka continue scoping the area while the ‘bait’ went in. Allyson pointed out that this wasn’t the first time she has been the bait, waiting for the overwatch to whack whoever sticks their head up.
The when they figured should be soon. After updating Garen and Kara, Allyson started working her way down and around. Using different buildings as breaks for line of sight, Allyson worked closer and closer until it was time to move out into the open.
At this point, Allyson’s pucker factor shot through the roof. She had said something earlier to Bekka about being more scared than worried. Bekka’s response floored her.
“Of course you’re scared. If you weren’t, you’d be an idiot. If you were that big an idiot, you wouldn’t still be here. Hell, I’m scared, Garen’s scared, Kara’s scared. If you aren’t scared, you’re obviously not understanding the situation. You got this, and we just have to get this done, then we can go home.”
She moved forward to one of the buildings Kara had identified as storage for the boxes they were bringing and unloading here. She was able to peek into the window. There were quite a few boxes piled up in the back of the building where she could see. Closer to the big doors, there was less organization. Boxes were strewn haphazardly, opened and contents spilling out. She still saw and heard no one.
The bodies on the ground were pale and lifeless. They had obviously been there for hours. Up close, Allyson was able to make out the wounds on them. They looked different than she was expecting. The three on the lawn looked like someone had used a mellonballer the size of a grapefruit on them. Each had two or three big holes in their torso. She could see inside one of the bodies, the hole was that big. As she was staring, she realized she had seen their faces before.
All of this made Bekka think whoever was there had already left. She could only see so much detail with the spotting scope she brought. There were other elements that didn’t line up. If the bad guys just drove through and killed everyone, why aren’t any doors open? Where are any other signs of a hasty departure? There was no attempt to cover their tracks. It just felt wrong. Like if you came to class and they told you there was a test on chapter 16, and yesterday you were told to read up to chapter ten for a test the next day.
Bekka had Allyson keep scanning the buildings and open area for signs of life or movement while she started focusing on scanning the trees and surrounding area for other observers or ambush. These were slow, methodical things that neither of them rushed. They spent at least two hours just observing. It was much more important to be thorough than quick. They both knew if they got this wrong, they might not survive and could get everyone else killed as well.
They updated Garen and Kara of their progress. Now it was time for them to decide the next step. The two biggest questions were who was going down there and when. It was decided that Allyson would make entry and Bekka would cover her with the long gun since this also let Bekka continue scoping the area while the ‘bait’ went in. Allyson pointed out that this wasn’t the first time she has been the bait, waiting for the overwatch to whack whoever sticks their head up.
The when they figured should be soon. After updating Garen and Kara, Allyson started working her way down and around. Using different buildings as breaks for line of sight, Allyson worked closer and closer until it was time to move out into the open.
At this point, Allyson’s pucker factor shot through the roof. She had said something earlier to Bekka about being more scared than worried. Bekka’s response floored her.
“Of course you’re scared. If you weren’t, you’d be an idiot. If you were that big an idiot, you wouldn’t still be here. Hell, I’m scared, Garen’s scared, Kara’s scared. If you aren’t scared, you’re obviously not understanding the situation. You got this, and we just have to get this done, then we can go home.”
She moved forward to one of the buildings Kara had identified as storage for the boxes they were bringing and unloading here. She was able to peek into the window. There were quite a few boxes piled up in the back of the building where she could see. Closer to the big doors, there was less organization. Boxes were strewn haphazardly, opened and contents spilling out. She still saw and heard no one.
The bodies on the ground were pale and lifeless. They had obviously been there for hours. Up close, Allyson was able to make out the wounds on them. They looked different than she was expecting. The three on the lawn looked like someone had used a mellonballer the size of a grapefruit on them. Each had two or three big holes in their torso. She could see inside one of the bodies, the hole was that big. As she was staring, she realized she had seen their faces before.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Allyson pulled out the reference cards she had from the earlier trips. They three males on the lawn were on there. These were a part of the crew working out here. Now they were naked on the lawn with fist sized holes in their torsos. Allyson moved around some more, checking them out. The bodies didn’t look like they had landed the way they were positioned. The ground was disturbed around them. They had been moved and rolled around some. She figured this could be while someone was stripping them. This led her back to who.
There were two more bodies just inside the building the bad guys were using for a dormitory. The building the captives were kept in was empty. The storage building had several boxes opened and the contents strewn about. Allyson was coming up with way more questions than answers. After sweeping the entire clearing and the buildings, she call to Bekka, letting her know the coast was clear.
Bekka reviewed the site with her and continued to investigate what was there. When they looked closer at the bodies on the lawn, it looked like each had been hit by a huge high energy projectile. It looked different than those hit by the 300 WinMag Bekka was using.
The two bodies inside the building were hit by multiple smaller caliber rounds. These appeared to be stripped after death as well judging from the blood smears on the floor.
Both of them were familiar enough investigating crime scenes that this all just looked “off”.
Bekka started summarizing over the radio to Garen and Kara what they had found. Allyson was helping fill in details. Next came the hard discussion, what next. Bekka broached her earlier worries.
“Guys, we have someone running around here with some big artillery who took out these guys. I don’t know if it was the ‘rescue’ crew tying up loose ends or someone else. Either way, someone running around with something like a fifty caliber is troubling. I am worried about our route of return with the mud and the rain making it easier to track us. It might be better to detour and drag a different route. How say you guys?”
Garen, Kara, Bekka and Allyson all thought hard on the way forward.
There were two more bodies just inside the building the bad guys were using for a dormitory. The building the captives were kept in was empty. The storage building had several boxes opened and the contents strewn about. Allyson was coming up with way more questions than answers. After sweeping the entire clearing and the buildings, she call to Bekka, letting her know the coast was clear.
Bekka reviewed the site with her and continued to investigate what was there. When they looked closer at the bodies on the lawn, it looked like each had been hit by a huge high energy projectile. It looked different than those hit by the 300 WinMag Bekka was using.
The two bodies inside the building were hit by multiple smaller caliber rounds. These appeared to be stripped after death as well judging from the blood smears on the floor.
Both of them were familiar enough investigating crime scenes that this all just looked “off”.
Bekka started summarizing over the radio to Garen and Kara what they had found. Allyson was helping fill in details. Next came the hard discussion, what next. Bekka broached her earlier worries.
“Guys, we have someone running around here with some big artillery who took out these guys. I don’t know if it was the ‘rescue’ crew tying up loose ends or someone else. Either way, someone running around with something like a fifty caliber is troubling. I am worried about our route of return with the mud and the rain making it easier to track us. It might be better to detour and drag a different route. How say you guys?”
Garen, Kara, Bekka and Allyson all thought hard on the way forward.
Kiwibutterfly
Contributing Member
Loving this story...I still am hoping that Angelique's dad and grand dad survived and are the ones doing this damage...fin gers crossed. Stay safe everyone, from me in New Zealand...
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Disturbed ground could mean a lot of things and probably not anything good.
Last edited: