“You’re a great guy, Bennie…”
“Ah…jeez, I don’t know what to say...”
“…I think I’m in love with you.”
“Jen…I…”
“It’s okay, Bennie. I understand…you don’t have to say it back if you’re not ready.
“But I am, Jen.”
“Bennie?”
“Yeah! I’m ready to say it!”
He slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching stop in the middle of the road.
Opening his car door, he stepped out. With the engine still rumbling in the night sky, he stepped to the front of the car. Bennie jumped on the hood, and then to the roof.
Spreading his arms wide, he yelled at the top of his lungs, “I…BENNIE PETERSEN…AM…IN LOVE…WITH…JENNY RUBINSTEIN!!”
By this time, Jen had opened her door and leaned out, “Come on you crazy man…get down from there before you get hurt.”
“Don’t be silly, Jen…ain’t no one out here on this deserted old country road.”
Then he feigned slipping off the roof and fell to the ground. Rolled a couple of times, and then fell motionless on his back with his eyes closed.
“Ben!” Jen shouted, running over to his side of the car. She kneeled down and took his hand, “Bennie! Are you alright!?”
His eyes popped open at once, “BOO!”
Jen jumped back with a start, “OH! Bennie! You are incorrigible!”
He lifted his head and took her lips to his. The two kissed passionately, right there in the middle of the old country road.
Finally, Jen stood and helped Ben to his feet, “Come on, mister.”
“Where to?”
“I think you were gonna take me to your place,” she said, dimples gleaming.
“Wow! Okay…seriously? I mean, you’re not foolin’ around now are ya?”
“No silly boy,” she tugged at his hand, pulling him toward the car, “I’m not kiddin’ around…I’m ready…”
“Wow, okay then…shall we?” he escorted Jen to her side of the car and closed the door for her, then came around and got in.
He looked over and gave her a grin, “Let’s go then.”
Jen barely had enough time to buckle in before he gunned the throttle and popped the clutch. The resulting 500 horsepower engine was enough to push them back into their seats. The car wheels peeled out, making a screeching sound as the car rocketed away. But Bennie was faithful to his word and slowed the powerful car, keeping it below 40.
“Wasn’t that exhilarating?”
“Yeah, Bennie…I’m tingling all the way to my little toes.”
Jen’s sentence was abruptly interrupted as they crossed the next intersection. Another speeding car failed to stop as they crossed. The light had been green, but the oncoming vehicle didn’t bother stopping for their red.
The oncoming car slammed hard into the passenger door, the Mustang spun 360 degrees three times and wrapped around the light pole on the opposite side of the road. Bennie slumped over Jen and slipped into unconsciousness.
The speeding car veered off the road and exploded, landing upside down in the drainage ditch. The resulting explosion sent fire rocketing 100 feet into the air, burning any survivors.
Bennie slipped in and out of consciousness. Every time he came to, he called out for Jen, and then passed out again with the sounds of emergency vehicles approaching in the distance.
He awoke slightly to the sounds of voices coming to the car, but drifted out once more, still cradling Jen in his arms.
Ben tried to force his eyes open, in revolt to the IV that had been stuck in his arm. He found himself strapped to a gurney and overheard a medical attendant speaking as they wheeled him to an ambulance, “Yeah, Chief. The female was DOA.”
“What about this one? Was there alcohol involved?”
“Not this one. But it’s questionable if this kid will make it or not. He’s lost a lot of blood and a severe head injury on top of that. He may also have a severed spinal cord.”
“Okay, get him to Valley General!”
“No can do, sir.”
“Whattya mean?”
“He’s some Colonel’s son. We’ve been given immediate orders to transport him to Whidbey Memorial.”
“Okay, who’s to argue with the Military? If that’s what they want, then take him.”
“Yes, sir. ETA’s about 30 minutes.”
“What about the other vehicle?”
The EMT lifted the gurney inside the ambulance, “The driver was killed on impact. He wasn’t buckled in…steering wheel decapitated him instantly.”
“Hmmm, really? The hood would have been crushed…it wasn’t.”
“Well, that’s just it. The military was almost here before we were. They’re the ones that told us. They wouldn’t let us near that other car or the deceased female.”
“Really.”
“Yep. That’s the story we were given by the head officer.”
“What about drugs or alcohol?”
“Yeah, the driver of the burned vehicle. The Major said there were empty whiskey bottles in the drainage ditch. He said he was going to take them back to their lab for testing. If there’s a match, he’ll let us know.”
“Did you get his name? I’ll need to ask him some questions for my report.”
“Yeah. Major Griffin,” the attendant, said. He reached into his pocket and handed him the card that he was given. “He said to call anytime. He’ll be more than happy to help.”
“Thanks!”
The EMT closed the doors to the ambulance, and then got in the driver’s seat and sped off to the hospital, full lights and siren blaring.
The sounds of the siren quieted in his mind as Ben again lost consciousness. He drifted in and out during the 30 minute drive to the military facility.
* * *
Oak Harbor Washington
Memorial Hospital
July 5th 2064 07:30
Major Griffin cradled Beverly Petersen’s head as she sobbed outside the ICU. His military jacket stained with her tears over the last several hours, he gently stroked her hair and comforted her.
“Why! Why? Why did this have to happen?” she sobbed. “He was so happy…and Jenny…poor Jen!”
“I know, Ma’am,” Griffin said, patting her on the shoulder, “It was a drunk driver…they never had a chance.”
Griffin’s words only made her cry more hysterically, “Where’s Tucker anyway? Has anyone told him yet?”
“No, Ma’am. Not yet.”
“Well, why not! Just because we’re divorced…”
“We’re still trying to locate the Colonel.”
“Huh…well that’s typical of Tuck,” she managed between sobs, “Never stays in one place for too long.”
“As soon as he’s located, we’ll be able to tell him.”
“Well, you can spare him the trouble of coming here. I know he’s a busy man.”
“Mrs. Petersen, I’m sure he’ll want to come.”
“I’ll bet he would. But I’d prefer not to see him. If his son regains consciousness, then he can come and see him. But I know it will hurt him too much to see Bennie this way…he loved him so much…”
“Now, now…don’t even start to talk in the past tense.”
“I know, I know…I didn’t mean to…”
“You do still care for him, don’t you? I mean Tucker…”
“Yes. There’s no denying that Tom.”
“But…”
“Tom…there’s no way Tuck and I could ever get back together, so you don’t have to worry.” She looked up at the major through her mascara stained eyes and smiled.
The doctor walked up to the two, “Ma’am? Major?”
“Doc, what’s the status?” Griffin asked.
“Well, he has sustained a major head injury. His spine was severed at C3 and C4. I’m sorry, Ma’am…he’s paralyzed from the neck down.
Tears began to well up in Bev’s eyes again, “No, no, that can
’t be…you can heal that can’t you?”
“We have come a long way in spinal column regrowth, but nothing real successful.”
“I don’t care what the cost,” Griffin said, “I want the very best care for Bennie.”
“Understood, Major. You don’t have to worry. The General’s already briefed me.”
“General McKenzie?” Beverly asked.
“Yes, Ma’am. The General got wind that the crash victim was the Colonel’s son. He told me to do whatever I could to keep him alive…and that’s what we’re doing.”
“When can I go in and see him,” Beverly begged.
“You can go in now. He’s stable, but in a coma so he’s on a ventilator.”
“Doc,” Bev asked, choking back her tears, “Do you think he’ll make it?”
“He has a chance. We’ve been able to control the bleeding and if his brain doesn’t swell anymore, then yes, he has a chance to make it. But the next 48 hours will be the most critical.”
The two were escorted into the ICU by the doctor. Bev stood at the side of her son’s bed in shock. She reached down and took his hand and gently caressed him. Unable to hold her tears back, she dripped several down her cheeks to his hand.
Ben flinched as her tears splashed on the back of his hand, “Did you see that?”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. He’s in a coma. I assure you he will have some involuntary muscle twitches from time to time.”
“Are you sure?” Beverly questioned, “I’m not a medical expert, but if his spinal cord was severed, then he couldn’t have involuntary twitches…right?”
“It doesn’t work that way, Mrs. Petersen.”
The sound of the air pumping and releasing was deafening to Bev’s ears. It wasn’t loud, but her sensitivity was peaked and with every depression of the pump, she quailed.
“It’s okay, Bev,” Griffin said, rubbing her shoulder, “You’ll get used to the sound.”
“No…no, I think you’re wrong. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this noise…nor will it be easy to forget…and I don’t ever want to get used to it either.”
“Ma’am?” the doctor asked.
“If I get used to this pump, then I’ve given up hope. I need to keep fighting for him…with him…my son’s a fighter…and by golly he’s going to walk again…I’ll see to it that he does!”
Griffin squeezed her hand, “And I’ll be right by your side fighting with you, Bev.”
She looked over at the Major with gratitude in her eyes, “Thanks Tom. I really appreciate you being here with me.”
“No problem, Bev. I wouldn’t be anywhere else but by your side.”
She faked a smile and then turned back to her son. Looking down at him, and with the constant noise of the ventilator expanding and contracting, she again began to travail uncontrollably.
Griffin held her from collapsing to the floor and had her sit in a chair.
The doctor looked over at the nurse, who then prepared a shot and then handed it to the doctor.
“Here, Ma’am. Something to relax you. It’s best you try and rest.”
Bev backed away in protest, but Griffin held her still, “Shhh, shhh, shhh. It’s for the best Beverly.”
The doctor held the needle to her arm and injected the drug, causing Bev to fall quickly asleep.
“There. She’ll be out for several hours.”
“Thanks Doc,” Griffin said, shaking his hand. “Ensure you keep Ben under. The General does NOT want him to wake up.”
“I just follow orders.”
“That’s a good man, Captain. I need to meet with McKenzie, so will you see to Beverly while I’m away?”
“Sure thing, Major.” The doctor said with a salute.
“And make sure you keep that kid alive, we need him to bring Tucker in,” Griffin said, as he left the ICU room.
“You can count on me, Major. He’ll be just fine...and ‘keep that to myself’, I know.”
* * *
Oak Harbor Washington
Whidbey Island Naval Base and Space Port
Major Griffin’s Office
July 5th 2064 12:30
The major’s aide radioed him on the vid-screen, “Major, I have Colonel Petersen on a satellite link.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Great news…put him through.”
“Just a moment, sir.”
“Colonel? Yes, Major Griffin…Colonel, if I may… …yes, I know you’re out of the country…and I’m not even going to ask what you’re doing in Spain… …yes… …Colonel, I have to interrupt… …yes, I understand…Colonel… …your son’s been in an accident… … …Colonel? Yes, he’s alive. He’s in a coma. He may not make it…you better hurry… …yes, we’re doing everything we can… …yes, that’s right…good…so you’ll be on the next flight back to the States then? Okay, Colonel… … …I’m sorry about Bennie… …yes, he’s stable for now… …right…okay, we’ll see you when you get here.”
The Major disconnected his vid-phone link. He stood from his desk and walked down the hall to the General’s office, “Can you tell the General I need to see him.”
“Right away sir…General, it’s the Major. He has an update…the General said to go on in, Major.” Griffin walked through the door and closed it behind.
“Major…please, sit down,” General McKenzie motioned with his hand, “So, did you finally find the Colonel?”
“Yes, sir. He’s out of the country…Spain, I think.”
“What the devil is he doing in Spain?”
“I told him I didn’t even want to know.”
“So, staging the accident was a success in bringing him in?”
“Yes, sir. He came to us as soon as he heard there was news about Ben.”
“How’d he take it?”
“The Colonel is a very stoic individual, but he did show some signs of stress in his voice. He said he’ll be on the next flight to the States.”
“Excellent…once he makes it into town, I’ll send Captain Phillips to recruit him for our mission.”
“Once you find him, that is…remember, he’s not going to make finding him easy.”
“Why not approach him at the hospital? What’s wrong with our original plan? Isn’t that why we had the accident in the first place? Use his son as bait to bring him in? Then recruit him for the mission?”
“Beverly wishes to keep him away. Unless he’s awake, she won’t allow him around.”
“You mean, you won’t allow him around. I got your number mister.”
Changing the subject back to the Colonel, “Sir, I know Tucker isn’t one that’s going to be easy to convince to come out of retirement…”
“A way will present itself…it always does…and finding Tucker? Well, Cassie is very resourceful, she’ll come through.”
“I still have my doubts you’ll get him in time.”
“The Company said we have until July 26th before we miss our launch deadline.”
“Twenty-one days, sir? That’s not going to be easy.”
“I know our team can be trained in ten days. That gives us eleven to find him and get him onboard.”
“That’s cutting it mighty thin, sir.”
“Relax, Major.”
“You don’t know Tucker Petersen like I do.”
“I am well aware of Tucker. But really, how hard could it be?”
“You might want to have an alternate commander in place, General.”
“I’ll leave that to your capable hands, Major. I’m more interested at why three salvage missions have gone missing.”
“I’m sure the Company is interested in that too, General.”
“The Company is interested in anything that’s profitable, and that’s why they’re calling the shots these days.”
“They are very gracious in funding our projects,” Griffin smiled.
“And you’ve profited from them too, let’s not forget that.”
The General’s vid-link lit up with his aide, “General, you’
re going to want to see this, and bring the Major with you to the control room.”
“What’s up Nadine?”
“It’d be better to see it for yourself.”
The General raised his eyebrows, looked at Griffin and stood, “Intriguing…shall we, Major?”
* * *
CHAPTER 3
Oak Harbor Washington
Whidbey Island Naval Base and Space Port
Memorial Hospital
July 5th 2064 13:17
“Code blue! Room 321…repeat, Code blue! Room 321, STAT!” the intercom bellowed.
Alarms blared in the room, waking Beverly from her sleep, “Wha…what’s going on?” she croaked.
The doctors and nurses ignored Bev’s plea for information, she stood and stumbled slightly, still under the drugs influence.
She regained her footing against the wall and looked on in horror at the medical staff nervously crowding around her son.
“He’s in cardiac arrest!”
“Starting compressions,” one of the attendants announced.
Bennies chest was depressed in rhythmic motion as another monitored his vital signs, “…no pulse.”
The doctor charged into the room, “What’s the status?”
“He went into cardiac arrest, his blood pressure is dropping.”
“Get ready to shock him…charge to 300.”
“Charged…CLEAR!”
The team withdrew from Bennie as the attendant sent the shock into his heart. His body arched off the table, the scope fluttered on the screen, and then his body flopped back down.
“Still flat line!”
“Again!” the doctor ordered.
“CLEAR!”
Again, the team withdrew as the current from the defibrillator sent Bennie into convulsions.
The monitor began beeping and displayed a somewhat normal beat, “Sinus rhythm doctor.”
“Blood pressure still falling, 90 over 60.”
“How much blood did he lose?”
“When he was brought in he had lost five units. He was infused with two in forty minutes, then the last two at the standard rate of three hours per unit.”
The doctor stroked his chin, “He’s still losing blood. He must be bleeding internally.”
“Doctor, he’s in ventricular tachycardia…heart rate 130, BP dropping…we’re losing him!”
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