Episode 41 New Blood (part 3/3) (Patreon)

Jack Routh

The last-minute changes really caught them off guard. Without radio communications, he could immediately tell that all three assault teams struggled, with the center mostly comprised of the newly formed Echo platoon suffering the most. It wasn’t that they lacked the skill, but out of all platoons, they were the least experienced, and it was showing from what he could see from the command post.

Hondo tried to compensate by assigning his most experienced men from Delta to assist, but it wasn’t enough. Hondo was pissed, and he understood the feeling. This was most likely the last exercise many of them in the D-platoon will experience before moving on to other posts.

D-platoon’s veteran sergeant would most likely move to Pasadena to follow Captain Cortez, with Jim Street the most likely candidate to replace him. Chris wanted to move on as well, and he was pleasantly surprised when she told him that she was considering moving to Mid-Wilshire.

Right now, his friend was somewhere down in the fake town, and he knew time was the most crucial element in this exercise. They couldn’t afford any delays, and the right and left flanks would falter if the center didn’t plug the gap.

He leaped over burning cars that acted as barricades, and he had to admit that whoever organized this exercise achieved their purpose. It was all so realistic, from the sounds of sporadic gunfire of simulation rounds to the various burning tires and debris scattered across the streets. This felt more like a warzone than a collection of structures that mimicked a town.

He felt it more than saw it as the hairs on the back of his head stood up, and he suddenly shifted his direction. His instincts saved him as a few rounds hit the trash can behind him, the orange paint splattered on the dented metal surface indicating that he had attracted the enemy’s attention.

He dove towards a nearby alley and, after taking a quick look at his surroundings, determined he was only a few buildings away from where he knew Echo platoon was located based on the shouts. Something must have happened to the team, and he was eager to find out. Sergeant Gamp from Charlie Platoon was an experienced Metro officer with years under his belt.

He moved closer and finally spotted Echo platoon. They were pinned down inside a single-story structure by members of the HRT team that was firing on them from the balcony of a second floor across from them. They couldn’t double back either, since going out to the alley that led to the main road meant the enemy would immediately target them, as he had been on his way to this location.

He rushed through a window and came face-to-face with a pair of heavily armed officers who had their weapons pointed at him.

“Hold!” He heard Chris’ voice instantly. “He’s friendly!”

“That you, Routh?” Gamp looked tired as he lowered his weapon. It looked like the platoon was busy trying to suppress the enemy with bursts of gunfire.

“Hondo sent me.” He explained over the noise. “What do we have?”

“They were overeager and failed to look up.” The burly sergeant scowled and turned his gaze to the two officers with several paint splatters on their tactical uniforms, sitting down at the far wall. Beside them, a few marshals with their orange and yellow high visibility vests watched them in silence. “They got ambushed by that nest up there. I don’t know how they were able to set that up so fast.”

“We used up the last of our smoke grenades,” Chris complained. “We only have a couple of flash grenades left.”

“Well, we've got to move.” He looked around the confined space and understood why their opponents decided to ambush them here. It was a bottleneck where just a few men could hold off an entire platoon. He tried thinking of a plan and remembered the sloped roof of the structure they were in, and turned to Chris as he looked at his teammate.

“You’ve got that look again.” Chris’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“What look?” Gamp asked.

“That he’s about to do something reckless and crazy,” Chris replied, her eyes never leaving his. “What’s the plan?”

“I’m going to toss you to the roof.” He explained, ignoring the confused looks from the members of Echo platoon within hearing range. “You weigh the least, and you’re a crack shot. You need to engage that nest on the balcony, and we’ll rush in as soon as you start firing on their position.”

“Jack, that’s fifteen feet at least.” He was happy that Chris didn’t outright reject his plan. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. Let’s go.” He nodded and walked out to the back door. “Keep them busy, Gamp.”

“On it.” The older man nodded and directed the remaining members of Echo to position themselves for the assault.

He placed Chris’s weapon by the doorway, and he knelt down to make it easy for his teammate to climb on top of him. Once he felt her thighs sandwich his head, he slowly stood up and grabbed her legs to make her stable.

“Don’t drop me.” Chris shifted her body and placed her feet on his shoulders as she slowly stood up and placed her hands on the flat wall to keep her balance.

 “Think of it like cheerleading practice. I’m going to boost you up with my arms.” He explained as he slowly stood up. “We will move once we hear you shooting. Ready?”

“I’m ready. I’m going to kick your ass if you miss.” Chris replied. He felt her place the soles of her boots on his open palms and moved a few steps back. He could feel her legs shaking, but after a few moments, they were stable.

 “Ready, one two…” He bent his knees and pushed up with all his strength as a grunt escaped him while he extended his arms. Chris moved through the air, and he didn’t realize he was holding his breath until his female teammate landed safely like a cat on the roof.

“Fuck! That was intense!” He heard Chris laugh as she poked her head over the roof and extended her arm. “Toss me my weapon!”

His teammate caught the thrown weapon with ease and scampered further up the slope of the roof. He entered the building once more, in anticipation of the counterattack, and waited for Chris’s shots that would signal their assault.

New rounds from the roof rang out, and they could immediately hear shouts of surprise from the balcony.

CRACK!

CRACK!

“Move!” He yelled and charged first. He could hear the thumps of boots hitting packed dirt behind him as he rushed the occupied building. He noticed that their opponents on the balcony of the second floor were no longer shooting, and he was able to take out an enemy combatant on the ground floor who was distracted by Chris’s accurate shots. A second man was taken down by Gamp, who was hot on his heels.

“Get two men to help Alonso get down from that spot.” He told Gamp. “The rest, follow me.”

 The older man nodded and ordered two men to retrieve their female teammate. They rushed through more buildings and alleys, clearing rooms and buildings in quick succession, and encountered minimal resistance. It seemed like the HRT had overextended its position and was now paying the price for it.

They reached their planned position and eliminated the last two members trying to harass Charlie platoon from the side, and now they had operational control over the area. He focused on their primary objective, and that was the red building where they knew the hostage was held.

“It looks like Bravo and Charlie are ready.” Chris had finally arrived, dust and grime staining her black tactical uniform but otherwise unharmed. “I see Jim giving us the signal.”

“Then let’s get that hostage.” He replied and looked around the room. “Gamp, take the first floor from the back with three of your men. I’ll breach from the front with two men. Chris, cover those windows on the second floor, then follow us as soon as we secure the building.”

They had no time to waste. Once he saw the nods that indicated they understood the assignment, he walked over to the building where he knew Street’s men were located and communicated with hand gestures. They had to make the timing just right for Hondo’s plan to succeed.

Zoe Anderson Routh

She watched with her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes never leaving a particular screen.

“He just tossed her, like a cheerleader.” Jessica shook her head in disbelief. “Alonso is around 5’8 and weighs around 140 pounds plus her tactical gear. She’s not a small woman, yet he tossed her so high up in the air.”

“Hondo told me he was strong…” Jessica continued speaking. “Sparring was simple, but seeing him do things like this was unbelievable.”

“That’s Jack for you,” Liz added.

She ignored the two women and focused on the exercise. Whoever planned this large-scale CQB exercise really made it difficult for Metro.

The booby traps and ambush spots made it clear to her that the men leading the HRT were no pushovers. The civilians, wearing white vests, made it even more complicated as it tested their officers’ reflexes and decision-making. Thankfully, they hadn’t shot a civilian yet, though they had suffered some casualties.

Jack’s presence was immediately felt in the field. Echo platoon in the center started moving again and started clearing buildings at an absurd pace as if they were trying to make up for the time they lost after being stuck in an ambush. Jack was leading from the front, his exemplary reflexes and marksmanship proving valuable once more.

“They’re about to assault the main building.” She murmured and pointed at the large screen with an overhead view courtesy of a hovering drone, attracting Liz and Jessica’s attention.

She marveled at the coordination of the three platoons since they attacked as one despite the lack of communication equipment. Echo breached the main entrance, and gunfire erupted once more. She could see flickers of light from the windows of the building, indicating the use of flash bang grenades.

Half of Bravo and Charlie remained outside, making sure to secure the immediate area and wary of surprise attacks. Echo platoon moved in, and she grinned a few minutes later when she saw the group back out, with a civilian in a white vest at the center of their formation.

There were still enemy combatants on the upper floor of the building, but with the remnants of Bravo and Charlie platoon giving suppressing fire, the enemy were unable to even shoot from their vantage points, and more than half were taken out by accurate shooting from the Metro officers.

She finally smiled when the retreating force reached Hondo’s position at the back five minutes later, marking the end of the operation. Applause erupted from the audience in the observation building, and she saw the mayor and Chief West shaking hands with the other government officials.

“So, do you think you got what you need?” She turned to Liz.

“More than enough.” The actress looked thrilled. “I want to meet that officer Jack tossed up into the roof.”

“If she’s willing.” She shrugged. “Why don’t you join us tonight? I’m sure Hondo has something planned, and I’m sure she’ll be there.”

“She will.” Jessica Cortez confirmed with a nod. “It’s a simple backyard barbecue for the members of D-platoon. You’re more than welcome.”

 “Perfect!” Liz looked thrilled.

“I have to warn you, though, some of the boys might ask for selfies and photographs. I think Viktor has a poster of Scott Pilgrim in his locker. He has the biggest crush on Ramona Flowers.” Jessica grinned.

“That doesn’t bother me at all!” Liz laughed. “Tell him I’ll be happy to sign any autographs.”

She waited for nearly half an hour until the officers involved in the exercise started to trickle inside the air-conditioned room. Some let out sighs of relief as the cool air hit them.

She spotted her husband immediately as he entered the building with Bradford and the rest of D-platoon. Hondo looked happy as he talked to her most experienced training officer, likely trying to recruit him in Delta platoon.

Their eyes met across the hall, and she felt a flutter in her belly when she saw Jack’s smile. He looked dashing in his tactical gear with his sweaty hair clinging to his forehead.

“Great work!” She gave him a beaming smile as she gave her husband a quick hug. Before Jack could reply, they were surrounded by the delegates of the International Olympic Committee, as well as a few politicians she was not happy to see.

“Excellent work, Officer Routh.” Mayor Stevens said loudly. “I knew that you could do it! Are you sure you want to leave Metro?”

More questions came from the IOC members, though she noticed that they were more interested in her husband’s opinion on the British Monarchy and his participation in the arrest of one of the princes.

She would have been pushed out of the group if not for the arm Jack stubbornly kept around her waist. She made her escape to get a drink as Jack was answering questions, when an older man with graying hair and a stern demeanor greeted her.

“I understand you met my daughter, Captain Andersen.” The man stated. “Robin Charles Scherbatsky Senior.”

The name sounded familiar, and a moment later her eyes lit up when she remembered the polite reporter who interviewed them while they were in Baltimore. “You’re Robin’s father?”

“Indeed, I am.” The man nodded. “I was surprised to see her on the national television in Vancouver interviewing your husband, and I wanted to thank you for giving her the opportunity. She told me her career had changed for the better after that interview.”

“I’m happy for her. What are you doing here then?” She asked.

“I’m the president of the Shooting Federation of Canada and the country’s representative for this visit.” The man explained. “I’m impressed to see how serious your city is in making sure the upcoming events are safe and secure.”

Robin Senior was entertaining to talk to, and they had an engaging conversation on their mutual passion for firearms. They were in a somewhat heated debate about their favorite pistols when Jack finally found her.

“There you are.” Jack looked more tired speaking to the delegates than from participating in the exercise. “I’ve been looking for you.”

 She quickly introduced the older man, but she could see that Jack was tired and quickly gave excuses to leave. Liz joined them at the exit, and a few minutes later, they joined the convoy of cars leaving the facility.

“Let me guess, drive-thru?” She asked her husband as she dialed up the air conditioning to its maximum settings.

 “Please, I’m starving,” Jack replied as he yawned.

“You didn’t like the food?” Liz asked from the backseat.

“Those biscuits with salad and cheese don’t hit the same way a beef sandwich does,” Jack replied, trying to stretch inside her car. “We’re invited to Hondo’s backyard barbecue at Captain Cortez’s new house in Pasadena.”

“Do we need to bring anything?” She asked.

“A couple of boxes of pizza and some beer will help.” Her husband scratched his chin. She ran the back of her hand on his lower face and noted the light stubble on his jaw.

“You haven’t shaved.” She noted that while their car waited behind the security checkpoint.

“The past few days were hectic in preparation for today,” Jack explained. “I’ll shave once we get home.”

“Keep it for now.” She grinned as an idea formed in her head. “I’m curious about how that would feel if you eat my…”

“Guys, I’m still here.” Liz piped up from the back. She looked at her rearview mirror and saw the amusement in her fellow brunette's eyes. She could feel her face heating up.

“Right. Sorry.” She replied. The awkward silence remained for a few minutes until Jack decided to ask Liz if she had picked up a few things from watching the exercise.

She drove along the road until they reached the main road, while Liz continued to talk to her husband about CQB and the weapon systems they used. The topic changed to their schedules as she and Jack explained about the recent decisions they had both made about their careers in preparation for their baby.

“So you’ll have lots of free time then?” Liz looked excited when Jack told her about his leave and new work. “Can I visit your class, Professor Routh?”

“I’m still a police officer, but I’ll just be on extended leave.” Her husband replied. “And yes, I’ll have more free time than usual since I’ll only teach a couple of days a week, and then attend my own classes after.”

“Since you have free time, I wonder if you’re both interested in visiting the Skywalker Ranch.” Liz began. “I know it’s a bit far…”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t even told you the date…” Liz laughed.

“Still a yes.” Jack nodded. “I’ll clear my schedule for a chance visit to that place.”

She rolled her eyes in amusement at how easy it was for her husband to agree.

Theodore Evelyn "Ted" Mosby

“You see, kids, when Aunt Lily and Uncle Marshall got married, it all fell apart.”

He talked to the two small figures seated on the couch. Their wide, unblinking eyes stared at him, and he smiled, enjoying their undivided focus.

“I want true love. True, pure love.” He added. “I want it to be perfect. I’m sure she’s still out there somewhere, waiting for me. It’s what I deserve.”

He gave an irritated look at the tied-up woman seated across from his kids, wearing the ratty duster his very own mother used to wear when he was a kid. Her muffled screams were distracting.

“Clearly, your aunt Sharon isn’t your mother.” He gestured to the bound brunette. The sobs grew louder, and he turned as he reached the limit of his patience and slapped the woman hard.

“I told you to be quiet!” He snapped, glaring at the wide, terrified brown eyes of the woman. He maintained the look and nodded when the woman finally stopped crying, her muffled screams turning into mild whimpers.

“It was then that I realized that when your Aunt Robin moved, she was the one.” He giggled. “After all these years, your mother was the woman I first met on that day in that bar. I was so stupid and blind.”

His kids, a girl and a boy, remained respectful and kept quiet.

“But I heard from your Uncle Barney that she moved.” He muttered in annoyance. He didn’t like it when his friends started moving on, as if they didn’t care about his own feelings and the sacrifices he made for them.

“So I’m going to follow her and tell her what I truly feel.” He declared. “Now, say goodbye to your Aunt Sharon.”

The screams returned as he pulled out a rag and soaked it in Chloroform. He could hear her begging through the gag in her mouth, but ignored it. He hated her for making him think she was the one. She deceived him, and deceivers needed to be punished.

“Look away, kids.” He called over his shoulder. They were his perfect children and obeyed as he placed the soaked rag over Sharon’s mouth and nose until she fell unconscious. He dragged her limp and bound body and locked her in the large walk-in freezer, where she would stay for eternity, a beautiful reminder of his journey to find his true love.

One of his kids fell to the side, and he quickly propped him up again, making sure his son’s clothes were properly buttoned on his smooth, slippery plastic skin.

“Eat properly and don’t sleep late when I’m gone.” He reminded the two. “Penny, take care of Luke, okay? It will be just a week, and I left enough food in the fridge.”

His children were so obedient and perfect! He loved them so much, but he knew he would love their mother even more.

He locked the metal door to his basement and headed up the stairs to meet his destiny.