Vengeance from Ashes: Special Edition with Exclusive Content (Honor and Duty Book 1)

by Sam Schall

  Not that talking was much of an option as she gazed down at the face she’d missed seeing for so long. Her heart clinched at the sight of the scar marring her daughter’s cheek. Another scar bisected the young woman’s right eyebrow. From the bruising and swelling around her nose, it was easy to guess she’d broken it very recently. But worse was the blood at her left temple. Had Ashlyn somehow managed to make it home only to be killed by friendly fire?

  Then she was aware of Abe yelling at her through her earbud, demanding to know what was happening. She reached up and tore the device out of her ear, tossing it to the ground. She couldn’t talk to him, couldn’t deal with him, until she knew more. Wasn’t it enough that her own heart had just been torn out? She couldn’t let that happen to him, not again.

  “Who fired that shot?” the gunny demanded as he looked up from his captain, his eyes fierce.

  “Answer the man!” Elizabeth ordered without looking up from her daughter’s face.

  It was Ashlyn. It couldn’t be anyone else. But how?

  “Gunny, let me,” a young blonde in light armor said as she slid to a halt at his side.

  For a moment, it looked as if he might argue. Then he nodded and slowly climbed to his feet. Elizabeth caught the hand signal he sent the rest of his squad, putting them on guard. They weren’t going to risk anything else happening to their captain or anyone else.

  “I asked who fired that shot.” He ground out each word. Elizabeth knew she needed to do something, say something, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t pull her attention away from her daughter.

  Get it together, Liz. You can’t do anything for Ash, not now at least, and you have to make sure no one else gets hurt.

  “Stand down, Gunny,” she said firmly as she forced herself to her feet. “We’ll deal with that later. But for now, I need to know what’s happening and then we need to get the civilians evacuated.”

  She waited, wondering if he’d argue and press the point. She wouldn’t blame him if he did. Hell, he’d asked exactly what she wanted to know. Not that she didn’t have a damned good idea, especially considering the way Ramsey was doing his best to hide behind the others at the barricade.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He visibly got himself under control. “Colonel Shaw, our squad took out the enemy at the rear of the building. Major Pawlak and the rest of the Devil Dogs, as well as support troops, are in place to deal with the attackers out front but the major wants to make sure all civilians have been evacced first. Once we have a clear picture of how many people you have here, we can get started.” He paused and glanced back to where the medic busily worked to treat Ashlyn. “LT?” His concern was clear.

  “She’s going to have a hell of a headache when she wakes, Gunny, but she should be fine,” the blonde assured him. “It would help if we could get her off the floor.”

  “Gunny, detail two men to carry her. We’ll move her down to the basement where the children are. Then you’d better be prepared to tell me just what the hell is going on and how my daughter happens to be here,” Colonel Elizabeth Shaw, former CO of the Devil Dogs, said.

  And I’d better let Abe know what’s going on before he blows a gasket and comes down to see for himself.

  Oh, God, Gunny is going to kill me.

  Ashlyn lay still, assessing how she felt. Why in hell had she agreed to take part in the mission without first having her implants brought back online? At least then she wouldn’t hurt so badly. Without the implants, her battle armor didn’t know to release the pain killers that would have kept her head from pounding so.

  Not that it was anything like the headache she’d likely get after Talbot finished yelling at her. Then there would be Pawlak to deal with and a simple headache wouldn’t come close to what she’d feel then.

  Keeping her eyes closed, she listened to what was going on around her. Voices, some sounding much too young, were talking. She caught snatches of conversation. Fear that the enemy would move in before they were ready. Another voice, a woman’s, reassuring someone that his mommy was all right, that she was just sleeping for a bit. Then she heard Talbot saying they were just waiting for Lieutenant Tsui’s people to get there to help with the evac. Another voice, the woman’s again, told everyone to get ready to move. When Talbot gave the word, they wouldn’t have any time to waste.

  God, she wished her head didn’t hurt so much. It made it hard to think.

  She must have moved without realizing it because she sensed someone bending over her. A moment later, a hand tilted her head to the side. “Lie still, Captain. You’re going to be fine. Let me give you something for the pain.”

  There was a sting at the right side of her neck as a pressure syringe was applied. Almost instantly, the pain eased. Ashlyn opened her eyes and found herself looking up at the young medic who had been dispatched to treat their prisoner. The blonde gave her a slight smile and nodded before looking over her shoulder. Ashlyn followed her gaze and gasped. Standing across the room, a very large room she guessed must be part of the basement, were Talbot and . . . .

  “Mom?” It hadn’t been a dream after all. Or, if it was, she hadn’t awakened.

  Ignoring the lieutenant’s protests, Ashlyn pushed into a sitting position. For a moment, the room swam around her and her stomach protested. She ignored it. Hell, she’d felt worse too many times on Tarsus for this to really bother her. Besides, nothing mattered just then besides the fact she was just a few feet from her mother.

  But where was her father? Her sister?

  Then, without warning, she found herself almost thrust back into a prone position as someone launched himself at her. A small someone. Arms and legs wrapped around her armored torso and a soft, warm face burrowed in against her neck. Her arms automatically wrapped around the child and held him close. Then, recognizing the dark hair, the shape of the head, her heart clinched and tears filled her eyes.

  “Mommy!” her five-year-old son cried.

  “I’m here, baby. I’m here.” She held him close and sat up, rocking back and forth as she did. Then, with the lieutenant’s help, she carefully climbed to her feet. This was too much to take in. She’d known it was possible her parents might be in the complex. But not her son. He was supposed to be halfway across the system with his father. Her bastard of an ex-husband had made sure he gained full custody of their son once she’d been convicted. What in the hell was Jake doing here? Not that she’d object, at least not once she’d made sure he was safely away from the fighting.

  Then her mother was there, enveloping them both in a hug. “There’s a lot to say and even more to ask but it can wait, dear heart,” Elizabeth Shaw said a moment later, tears glistening in her eyes.

  “Dad and Katie?”

  “Your father’s upstairs making sure the others are ready to move. He’ll be down once Lieutenant Tsui’s people relieve them. Your gunny is right. We don’t want to do anything to tip the enemy off about what’s going on.

  “And your sister’s safe. She’s off-planet right now. She left more than two weeks ago and isn’t due home until next month.”

  “My brothers?”

  “Off-planet and on ships.”

  A shudder of relief ran through Ashlyn to know none of her family had been harmed during the attack and she held tightly onto her son. There were so many other questions she wanted to ask, but they could wait. They had to wait, at least until everyone was safely away from the fighting.

  “All right.” Ashlyn carefully shifted Jake to her left hip and then nodded to Talbot. “Gunny, status?”

  “The LT is one his way with our relief, Cap. Once they are in position, the civilians will be moved out and we’ll put the screws to the enemy.”

  “Excellent.” Now she nodded. “Lieutenant, what about our prisoner?”

  “He’s been moved back to the FOB, Captain.”

  “Cap, the major is on the horn for you,” Marino reported.

  She nodded and activated her suit’s comm unit. “Shaw here, Major.”

 
; “Captain, what part of don’t do anything stupid do you not understand?” Pawlak demanded. She winced slightly as his words echoed through her earbud.

  “Sorry, sir, but it was a necessary risk. I’m sure the good lieutenant has already assured you that I’m all right. Besides, my head is very hard, as you’ve told me on more than one occasion,” she countered easily. Although, she did plan to have a discussion with whomever had been the one to fire at her. She’d been lucky and she knew it.

  “And you’re still as cheeky as ever,” Pawlak said. Fortunately, he sounded more amused than angry. “Report.”

  “We’re ready for the next phase as soon as Lieutenant Tsui arrives.”

  “Good. You’ll be returning to the FOB with the civilians, Captain. I want to see for myself that you aren’t seriously injured. After you’ve given your report, I’m turning you over to the medics so they can do their magic with you. After that, well, I’m sure FleetCom and the Commandant will have orders for us all.”

  She wanted to argue but knew better. She was lucky they hadn’t hauled her out of there already. It had been a damn fool stunt. But there was one thing she wouldn’t take “no” on. She wanted – no, she needed – for her family to come with her. After so much time away from her and the shock of learning her darling son had been in the middle of the fire zone, she needed time with them and if it had to be at the FOB or on a ship or somewhere else, so be it. All that mattered was spending some much needed time with them.

  “Ash,” Pawlak continued softly, almost gently. “Don’t worry. Your family will be going with you. I promise.”

  “Thank you, Major.”

  “Now, make sure everyone’s ready to move.”

  “Aye, sir.” She turned to Talbot. “Gunny, you heard?”

  “Yes, ma’am. We’re ready.”

  “Mommy?”

  “It’s okay, Jake.” She smiled at him. She ought to put him down but she couldn’t. Not yet at any rate. “We’re going to get out of here real soon and then you’re going to get to meet some of the nice Marines Mommy has been working with.”

  “Ash?”

  “Mom, I’ll explain everything just as soon as we’re out of here. But believe me when I say this has been an even bigger surprise for me than it has been for you. A certain family friend has a lot to explain to both of us.” She didn’t need to name Tremayne for her mother to nod, a look of understanding lighting her hazel eyes.

  “You home now, Mommy?” Jake asked.

  “I hope so, baby. I sincerely hope so.”

  « Chapter 8 »

  “You can sit up now, Captain.”

  Careful not to move too quickly, Ashlyn levered into a sitting position and swung her legs over the side of the examination table. As she did, Dr. Samuel Ahern watched closely. She didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking. She’d heard it often enough over the last few days. He didn’t think she needed to be anywhere except in the hospital where all her injuries, old and new, could be treated.

  And where the head-shrinks could delve into her darkest nightmares and decide if she was fit to return to duty.

  Not that he had ever come right out and said that last part. He didn’t need to. She had seen too many of her fellow Marines face the same situation during the war. It usually happened after they had been seriously injured or their unit had suffered major casualties. Sometimes it happened after a particularly bad battle. Full psych evals were always required if a Marine, or any member of the armed forces, fell into enemy hands and then somehow managed to get free. After all, no one – meaning no politicians – wanted to risk them going rogue and hurting innocents or damaging government property because they cracked under the pressures of being held captive or had been indoctrinated or changed loyalties.

  What none of them seemed to realize was that forced inaction was the last thing a soldier or Marine needed after falling into enemy hands – and, as far as Ashlyn was concerned, that’s exactly what she and her people had done. They needed to be on duty, fighting those who wanted to destroy the very government and people they were sworn to protect. Action, preferably direct action, always trumped too much introspection.

  Duty and honor. Family and the Corps. That was all a Marine needed.

  At least her mother understood. Elizabeth had been there for her in the dead of night when the nightmares came. She had fought to not only keep Ashlyn out of the hospital but involved in analyzing the attack on the capital. She’d promised to do everything she could to make sure Ash was on the ship sent to Tarsus to bring her people home. Most of all, Elizabeth had assured her that if the powers-that-be didn’t soon hand over the results of the investigation into the charges brought against Ashlyn and the others, she’d go to the media with what she knew.

  Unfortunately, none of that would matter if Ahern didn’t agree to let her return to duty.

  “How do you feel?” he asked. He may have been looking at the monitors on the wall behind the examining table, but Ashlyn knew he wouldn’t miss even the most subtle hint she wasn’t telling the truth if she tried to hedge the question.

  “Better.”

  That was certainly the truth. A few days of a well-balanced diet and enough water – and other fluids like coffee, something she hadn’t had since her conviction – had done wonders for her. Add to that the fact the low-level pain that had become a way of life was gone. That alone was worth all the long sessions she’d endured at the medical facility each day.

  “Good.” Now he smiled at her, his expression softening some. “Your knee is healing nicely. You’ll need to wear the brace another week or so until the nanites finish doing their work. If you have to armor up, be sure to make the necessary adjustments so you don’t undo all the good work that’s already been done.”

  She frowned as she remembered the events as they evacuated the tenants from the residential complex. Talbot had looked at her and told her that for once she was going to take orders from him. She was not going to lead the tenants out. In fact, she was going to be in the second wave. This wasn’t his order but Major Pawlak’s. Before she’d been able to argue, the gunnery sergeant had nodded to where she held her son at her hip. That had been enough to get her to agree. After being separated for so long from the boy, she wasn’t going to give him up, even if only for a few minutes.

  With her mother at her side and her father behind them, they’d started out of the building. Lt. Tsui’s squad waited for them at the rear of the building. The lieutenant’s people led the civilians out and down the road in the direction of the FOB in groups of half a dozen or so. Unfortunately, the evac took longer than anyone liked. But doing it that way also meant it was less likely one of the enemy would see a large group of people and signal for an attack.

  Because her parents refused to leave until the last of their people were safely away, Ashlyn hung back. She knew Talbot and the rest of her squad didn’t like it but she didn’t care. Besides, as she reminded the gunnery sergeant when he tried to protest, the DDs were with her. She’d almost laughed at the look of frustration the gunny, as well as the rest of the squad, wore when she said it. Then she had turned her attention to the rear of the building and watched as Lt. Tsui’s people once again assumed their positions near the doorway, ready to escort the last of them to safety.

  And it almost worked. The last group was out of the building and moving quickly and relatively silently down the street, doing their best to keep to the shadows. Once they were outside, Ashlyn handed Jake to her father. She knew he’d keep the boy safe. More than that, she and her mother were better armed, and armored, than he was. So it made sense that they would guard their rear as they moved away from the residential complex.

  Only, like so many plans in the heat of battle, things went to hell with little warning. Ashlyn heard a shout and, as she swung in its direction, she realized her mother and Talbot did as well. Then both reacted almost instantly and dove for cover. At the same time, they shouted for everyone to move, to run. Ash
turned and saw her father, his right arm wrapped around her son’s waist and his left hand holding Jake’s head pressed to his shoulder, sprinting toward a barricade where several of Lt. Tsui’s men waited. A moment later the world exploded – again – and Ash flew through the air. Then she slammed to the pavement and slid on her back into the side of a building. Her light armor prevented her injuries from being serious but she could feel pain in her left knee and her right shoulder throbbed.

  Pushing down the pain, she rolled to her good knee in time to see her mother and Talbot open fire. A moment later, the enemy trooper who fired the RPG in their direction fell, fatally wounded. With that worry dealt with, Ashlyn looked around, fear for her father and son almost choking her. Then, seeing them appear from behind the barricade, she heaved a sigh of relief and slowly climbed to her feet. The rest of the trek back to the FOB was painful but worth it to know she was finally reunited with her son and parents.

  “As for your other injuries, time to recover is all you need. Well, time and not doing anything foolish.” Ahern pinned her with a firm look.

  “I promise to be good, Doc.”

  Could all that possibly mean he was going to clear her for duty? Surely it wouldn’t be that easy. Not that she’d argue if it were.

  “As for the tissue regeneration on your arm and face, that’s done much better than I dared hope for, especially where your arm’s concerned. Dr. Li’s new procedure has yet to disappoint. That means I want to start treatment on the rest of your scarring as soon as possible.”

  Ashlyn couldn’t help looking at her left arm as he spoke. Just a week ago, her upper arm had been a mass of angry-looking scar tissue, a stark reminder of what had been and all that had been lost. Now, in its place, was soft, supple skin. It had even lost the slightly pinkish tint it had those first few days as the skin regenerated after the scar tissue had been excised. She could see the definition of the arm’s muscles and, as she ran the fingers of her right hand over the new skin, she wondered if she would once more be allowed to wear the traditional inking of the Devil Dogs.