Enemy Lines (13 page)

Panic

His eyes were swollen shut and blood had burst from his brow and dripped and dried over his face. His forehead and cheeks were gashed and his jawline was black and blue. His body was covered with welts. His wrists and ankles were burned where the shackles had been.

"He's barely breathing! Noah, can you hear me?" Rachel held his face gently in her hands.

When he didn't respond she said to the guys behind her, "There is a pair of pants for him in my pack."

Spencer secured Noah from behind as Rachel pulled up the pants and buttoned them. "He's not going to be able to hold onto the bot with or without the shot of
adrenaline." Spencer noted as he set Noah back into the chair. "And I hate to be the one to bring it up, but what are we going to do about the hundreds of people in the cage?"

"Gnat
Bots stop the elevator." Rachel commanded. "What type of locks is on the animal cages and the human prisoners in the cell both in the arena?"

"00:40 seconds to intel transmission." The gnat bot's digital voice responded. The holographic image was now a digital clock in countdown mode before their eyes.

"Is a fire alarm a good idea to get the masses running?" Rachel tried.

"Too easily rectified," Blade thought.

"00:30 seconds."

"One of us could volunteer to go with a bot to lead the prisoners to safety?" Rachel chimed. She was scared to death about Noah and by thinking about something else she could be proactive about helped steady her panic.

"That's a pretty tall order, Lawton." Grumbled Lockport. "But I like the idea."

Transmitted intel came through, "Both locks are computerized."

"Jam the animal cage locks!" Rachel ordered. "And unlock the humans."

"Fuck the fake fire, let's give them some real terror." Blade started. "Combat bot."

Blade opened a compartment on the bot. "I need lots of C4."

Spencer dished out the putty bricks from their weapons gear and Blade stocked it into his bot. "You are to position the C4 on the east, west, and south walls, while leaving clear access to the exits."

"Gnat bots, I need Kain's location?" Lockport demanded.

"Verifying Kain's location
in 15 seconds," the bots communicated.

"We're going to have a firefight once the doors open - guards are snooping around the area." Spencer relayed.

"Let the Gnat bots open the elevator door just enough to throw out a few flash grenades - then we'll make a break for it." Rachel qualified.

"Rach
…?" Noah's heavy voice caught.

"Noah!" Rachel bent down in front of the wheel chair, "I'm here, I'm right here. We're going to get you out."

"I've had this hallucination before," his body convulsed in a violent coughing fit.

"I'm no hallucination! And you had better hold on for me. Believe."

"I can't open my eyes." He breathed.

"No, but you can feel me." Rachel took Noah's bloodied swollen hand and placed it on her cheek. "I'm real, Noah."

"You…" Noah swallowed. "You came for me."

"Commence storm
in 3," the bots transmitted.

"Of course I came for you. I love you." Tears welled in her eyes and blurred her vision.

"00:02"

"I thought I'd never see you again," Noah's voice shook.

"00:01"

The elevator doors parted about five inches. Blade and Lockport threw out two flash grenades. The doors closed and Lockport counted down from ten.

"Get ready Noah." Rachel consoled. "Five - four - three - two…"

Rachel jabbed Noah in the thigh with a long sterile needle and injected him with adrenaline.

"One."

~ ~ ~

The elevator doors pulled apart as Noah's eyes opened into slits - enough to let in some light, shapes, and shadows. The adrenaline surged through his muscles forcing him to his feet.

He felt Rachel's hand wrap around his as she led him around the fallen Sov soldiers.

"Enemy in 5 - 4 - 3…" He could hear the robotic message from a transmitter somewhere on Rachel.

Noah realized he had nothing as he saw Rachel lift her right arm and made out the lines of her Glock in her hand. The pause in her motion and sound of gunfire confirmed it. He heard grunts and bodies hit the floor nearby.

"Set out the Combat Bots, Livings!" Rachel shrilled.

Livings? Noah had known a Livings.

"Activated!"

Noah thought he recognized Livings' voice. But Rachel was pulling him again, pushing him to go faster.

"See you on the other side, Lawton," Connor heard. It was Lockport.

"He's going after Kain." Another voice said.

Blade? What the…? Noah wondered if any of this was real.

"Detonating
…"

"What's happening?" Noah pushed from his weak vocal cords.

"We're having a party old buddy!"

"Spencer?" Noah didn't believe it.

"Hold this in your hand," Rachel put a small plastic thing in Noah's palm. "It's a detonator designed to get people running. Figured you'd like the honors. On my mark… 3 - 2 - 1!"

Noah pushed the plunger. They heard the explosion.

"Bot transport!" Rachel commanded.

Noah couldn't see anything.

"Help me get him on," Rachel urged. He felt strong hands lift him onto a seat.

Livings, Blade, and Spencer each took a turn in front of his eyes to reassure him everything was okay.

"You guys are… Sov." Noah croaked weakly.

"Fuck that, man! That was the past!" Spencer laughed.

"Go Rebels!" Shouted Blade and another explosion rocked the corridor. "Yeah I did that!"

They wrapped Noah onto the bot rails. "What are you doing?"

"It's a specialized rescue cocoon designed to hold a passenger secure even if unconscious. We're going by air." Rachel informed him.

The bots floated out an open window. Rachel had connected her bot with Noah's by a strap so they could stay close.

"Look at everybody hauling ass from the explosions!" Blade laughed. "Good job team!"

"Gnat bot report
… the prisoners got free." started Livings. "We need to send a combat bot to get them to the nearest Division or they'll be picked up again soon enough."

"They won't know what the hell that thing is," Blade interjected. "I'll go. Connor you are one fucking bad ass! So is your girlfriend here. Keep the peace!"

"Combat Bots on site - back up Lockport and Blade. Retrieval of Gnat Bots numbers 1 through 50 engage to follow only Blade's orders. Gnat Bots numbers 51 - 100 are under Lockport, check in to his voice prompt…" Livings called. "Gnat Bots 100 through 200… make a path for home."

Believe

It was a hot August day when Rachel walked through the field of brightly colored wildflowers in a soft white lace dress. She and Noah had decided to
join in the ancient tradition. An antique hairpin made of gold and pearls held up Rachel’s auburn hair. She carried a bouquet of daisies.

Emily walked out in front of Rachel wearing an ivy green dress and holding a woven basket of rose petals that she tossed into the air to line Rachel's walkway.

The grass and trees were lush and green and thousands came to be a part of the celebration.

Connor waited under an arbor wrapped in grapevines. He wore a green Rebel uniform.

He saw Emily first. She smiled up big at him and when she reached the end of the aisle she threw her arms around her big brother's waist and hugged him before standing on the opposite side of the arbor.

A guitar began to strum and Noah's breath caught as he watched Rachel step toward him. She was so beautiful, so perfect
… he had never even dared dream such a moment - and here it was happening. He couldn't wait to be near her for another second. He quickly walked to meet her.

He stopped be
side her, offering his arm. She closed her eyes pushing back happy tears as he escorted her to the arbor.

Smithy stood before them. "We are all honored and excited to be present for the Joining of
Lieutenant Noah Connor and Lieutenant Rachel Lawton."

As Smithy spoke, Noah became lost in the light of Rachel's eyes, the curls that gently tickled her neck as they were caught in the breeze. She was radiant in her gown and the way she looked up at him was so full of love and happiness, Noah thought he would burst.

"In the traditions of old, they have decided to give one another rings as a symbol of eternity." Smithy continued.

As Noah removed the ring from his pocket and placed it onto her finger, Rachel's mind soared. Noah had given her the greatest gift - what she had always wanted. A family. He looked so happy - his blue eyes sparkled. They had been through so much, their trust for one another had been tried and tested by fire, and they were bonded together with the deepest love either of them had ever known.

Rachel held her hand out to Emily who removed a small velvet box from her basket and gave it to Rachel. Noah was filled with eternal gratefulness. He had been forgiven for his past and had a clear road for the future. Rachel's soft but strong hands held his and slipped the ring over his finger. Her hazel eyes were overflowing with love. She was everything to him… her bravery, her passion, her dedication to what she believed in. He had expected to die - instead Rachel had saved him and Emily. They would be together as a family - with no Sov to tear them apart.

"The world is a new place. Southern and Midwest are now under Rebel control and The
Sovereignty has fallen with the assassination of Alistair Kain. Soon everyone will enjoy the freedom and democracy of a better world…" Smithy continued. "Noah and Rachel Connor, may you build your love and your family during a time of peace and in a world that knows no war… Keep the peace." As Smithy finished the crowd erupted with cheers. Rachel and Noah smiled and admired one another's hands and the eternal bands that were engraved with one simple word…

Believe.

~ ~ ~

They spread a blanket out over the tall grass in the meadow that surrounded the lake. The tall pines, breezy maple and cottonwood trees towered around them. The lake water was
turquoise blue and the sunlight played across it. The mountains rose into the clouds and surrounded them - strong, eternal. The air was fresh and smelled so vibrant - Noah knew why she loved this place so much. They were outside of where she grew up. Restored to its former moniker - Two Medicine, Montana was the most beautiful place Noah had ever laid his eyes upon. Rachel called the mountains the backbone of the world - and explained how that was the name by which the ancient first nation tribe - The Blackfeet had called them.

They'd had three amazing days here now.
Their love was at once sweet and understanding, fierce and protective. It was the embodiment of who they were. Rachel lay next to Noah. She was relaxed onto her stomach, her legs bent at the knees and crisscrossed in the air. She was reading out loud from an old novel. Most of the books had been destroyed by the Sov, but the ones that were saved had been buried deep in secret caves within storage containers and had recently been unearthed and distributed out to the new "states," exactly what they were called before the Great War - no more Territories, no more Selections. The books were incredible. They never knew such writing and stories existed.

But Noah found himself becoming distracted. It was his honeymoon after all. He was looking around at all the spots they had made love. There in the warm water of the lake, over on a soft bed of pine needles, down the hill she had pleasured him with her mouth as he leaned against a tree stump. As he continued to think about it, he felt himself straining against the inside of his jeans. She was so beautiful. He watched the way the afternoon sunlight danced through her hair, her bottom playfully perked with the motion of her legs. He was compelled by the invitation. He slid his hand down over it. Rachel didn't skip a beat in her reading. She had no idea that Noah wasn't listening to her at all except for the sexy way her voice was playing like music in his mind. And he loved how she wore a skirt today. It would only make this so much easier.

He pulled one of her feet down into his lap and massaged it firmly so as not to tickle. He continued for a few minutes then started on her calves - one at a time. He squeezed her flesh in his hands and massaged to her upper legs. He began broad sweeps across the tops of her thighs. As if mistaking his distance he let his fingers gently graze her slit. Rachel began having trouble focusing on the reading. Noah caught her making several mistakes and smiled. That's what he was hoping for.

This time, he brought his mouth to her skin to bring massaging kisses to her thighs. She dropped the novel down and laid flat on her tummy, slightly lifting her pelvic bone - enjoying what he was doing. Noah extended both of his hands across the tops of her legs and under her skirt to her ass, lifting it above her waist as he went. She moaned and pressed her hips into the blanket.

"I can help with that," Noah said in a husky voice. His fingers found her and rotated and tapped her little pearl. Rachel moved against his strong deliberate hand, so he sank a finger into her juicy flesh.

"I want to feel you. Noah, get inside of me." Her plea was too much for him. He fumbled with his pants for just a moment, rolled her onto her right side as he lifted her left leg positioning her ankle onto his chest, and speared his aching cock into her tightness.

"Oh, Rach… you're already so wet for me." He thrust hard. Her inner thigh massaged his ultra-sensitive sac. "What an awesome position," he moaned as he cupped her breast. She let out a whimper that almost made him come.

Unthinkably, he pulled out.

"Oh my god, what are you doing!" she whined.

"Not so fast, baby. I'm just getting started." He promised.

Rachel gasped as Noah spread her legs from the bend in her knees and pushed them. Her legs we're so long and this afforded him the most open vantage point of her sexy slit. She moaned in anticipation. With the realization that he had gotten her this hot, Noah decided to tease. He blew gently across the wetness of her labia. She moaned again and tried rocking into him. Noah dotted her thighs with little kisses.

"What do you want me to do Rachel?" He asked playing dumbfounded as his mouth sucked lightly around her need. Careful to avoid it completely, he stayed on her outer edges. She cried out, gripped the sides of his head and actually tried to position him.

He pulled back. "Well, that's not going to work, love. You have to tell me what you want."

"Please,"

"What do you want?" He purred.

"Noah. You brought me to this." At the sound of her begging and saying his name he almost lost his resolve.

"Yes I did, Beautiful." He added light love nips to the inside of her thighs. "I know what you want, but I want to hear you say it."

"I want you," she groaned with her whole body behind it.

"How do you want me?" He scraped his teeth ever so carefully on the hotwired skin of her top folds. She was so drenched he wanted to lap her with his tongue and make her cry for more. "Do you want my mouth? My fingers? My…"

"Lick me, please lick me!" she interrupted pleading.

"I would love to lick you, Rachel. Where do you want me to put my tongue?" She lost all control and Noah was proud that he had brought her there.

"Oh God, you're driving me friggin' crazy! I need you to lick my clit! Please, I'm burning, I'm begging!" she cried out.

His tongue danced against her fragrant nub. He couldn't believe what it felt like in his mouth. He loved it and paid complete attention to it - stroking it with his firm tongue and suckling it between his lips. She was coming fast. She had both her nipples in her fingers, twisting them, pinching them. Noah was completely taken with the sight of her working with her own tits. She was throwing him closer to his brink. Her entire body held on the edge of her climax, but Noah had another idea.

He stopped and positioned her to her stomach. She squealed at the interruption of what was sure to be a mind-blowing orgasm. She was so weak with sensations she could hardly kneel as he pulled her ass up to have complete access to her lovely open slit from this direction. His fully hard, very erect cock strained towards her.

Noah growled full of lust. He watched his member slip between her folds. When she tensed he said, "Deeper, Rachel."

He was so big; she quickly pulled away from him just a bit. "You're filling me, Noah!"

"Yes I am… you'll adjust to my size. And you're going to love it so much and come so hard with me fucking you. Now let me all the way in."

"Help me
…" Her eyes closed as they rolled back in her head overcome with pleasure.

Noah gripped her waist pulled her onto the length of his cock until her pussy swallowed his shaft whole. He groaned as his muscles flexed.

"Oh my God!" Rachel cried. The ripples of sensations coursed through her sex and deep within her belly. "Oh, Noah… I'm going to… I'm…" she stammered.

"Going to
… what?" He reached around and stroked her bead. "I can give you two orgasms at the same time if you tell me what you're going to do."

"I'm going to come, you know I am! Make me!" Her clit got hard as she climbed. Her insides stroked him relentlessly. She squirmed with tremors as he worked her.

"Oh Noah, two at the same time!" She whimpered. A moment later she moved his fingers away, "Just your cock now," she panted and begged. "Harder!" He held her ass and hips firmly as he thrust his full length into her.

Noah loved that he had fucked her so good that she was coming all over his cock.

He couldn't hold it anymore. His whole body grew rigid. Every one of his muscles tensed as he let out a long breathy moan that was half a scream. He released, throbbing and pumping every bit of his sweet and salty orgasm inside of her.

They both came so hard they were boneless and weak.

She wiggled her body until her back was nested against his chiseled front.

"I love you
…" Noah said.

Rachel let Noah's words and the sensations his body produced, move through her. She allowed herself to feel. Noah stirred and his arm came across her waist, making everything perfect. He pressed his chest against her bare back, kissing her neck.

"I've never imagined such a feeling. With you, here with me… I feel forgiven, like everything forward is a brand new start. I needed that Rachel. Thank you for your love and for this amazing place."

"Being here in your arms
… it feels like home," she agreed.

Their breathing became part of the chorus of sounds - tangled in with the birds, the wind in the leaves, the crackles of bark igniting within the embers, as the fire next to them reached a slow burn.

"We could build our own house, right here under the mountains. We could wake up to this every morning and watch the sun set on the lake through the trees every evening." Rachel's musings turned substantial. She shifted to her back to watch the expression in his eyes. "We could build our own log home."

"Our
… own home," he said lingering on the word, our.

"Are you saying yes?"

"Yes, I'm saying yes."

"I love you, Noah. Emily will love it here too," Rachel paused. "She'll also love being an aunt."

"An aunt… well, how is… what?" He stammered.

Rachel smiled a brilliant gleaming grin.

"Are you? Are we going to have a…?" Noah marveled and glowed with pride and excitement.

Rachel took Noah's hand and placed it over her tummy. "A baby
…yes, yes we are."

Rachel and Noah laughed with pure joy.

The End