Page 16 of Silent Dust
Link quickly made notes on the map, marking the main gate and the area where the kids could create the distraction. “We’ll need to time it just right,” he said. “Once the noise starts, we’ll have to move quickly through the tunnel and make our way to the warehouse. Every second counts.”
Raven added, her brow furrowing in concentration, “We should also have a backup plan in case the distraction doesn’t go as expected. We can’t afford to be caught off guard. If anything goes wrong, we need to be ready to adapt.”
Bear nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. “Let’s prepare for every scenario. We need to stay flexible. Our primary objective is to destroy the warehouse and all the chemicals inside. Al-Harb can’t be allowed to rebuild his little empire.”
As they continued to brainstorm, the camaraderie between the two teams deepened. The idea of involving the street kids added a layer of community to their mission, transforming it from a purely tactical operation into a collaborative effort with the local youth. It reinforced the notion that they were not just fighting for themselves, but for everyone affected by Al-Harb’s actions. The stakes felt personal now, a shared burden that united them.
“Let’s make sure to keep the kids out of harm’s way,” Bear reminded everyone. “If we can protect them while they help us, that’s a win in my book.”
As night fell, the teams prepared for the mission ahead, each member acutely aware of the stakes. They were not just soldiers; they were a family, united by a common purpose. The quiet moments in the shack were filled with unspoken resolve, each heartbeat a reminder of the lives they were fighting to save. They had to succeed. They had to.
Bear lay on the narrow cot in the shack, sleep eluding him. The enormity of the threat weighed heavily on his chest, pressing down like a physical force. The potential devastation if Al-Harb remained unchecked echoed in his mind, a relentless reminder of the stakes involved. Michaels’ words—“complete destruction, neutralize Al-Harb”—reverberated through his thoughts, but they were quickly overshadowed by the haunting image of Flora. Her face, pale and drawn, flickered in his mind, a stark contrast to the vibrant woman he knew.
Remembering the papers on the desk, the sight of them had hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him reeling with confusion and disbelief. Why hadn’t she talked to him? Why hadn’t he been able to talk to her before he left? Now, she was hospitalized in ICU, and he was three thousand miles away, still unable to reach her. He knew she had withdrawn a bit in the last month or so, but he never imagined it would lead to this.
He could almost hear her voice, urging him to stay focused, to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. But the weight of the countless lives at stake—the potential for global catastrophe—felt like a tangible force, a looming shadow that threatened to engulf him. Yet, even more pressing was the image of his children’s faces, their innocent trust and unwavering love a bittersweet reminder of what he was fighting for. This mission had transcended its original purpose; it was intensely personal now. It was about preventing a global disaster, yes, but it was also about ensuring Flora’s health—and about the simmering rage that burned within him.
As he lay there, memories washed over him like waves crashing against the shore. He could vividly recall the day he proposed to Flora at her high school graduation party. The way her eyes sparkled with joy, the laughter of friends and family surrounding them, and the warmth of her hand in his as he slipped the ring onto her finger. That moment felt like the beginning of everything.
They had married just before his first deployment, a whirlwind of love and commitment that filled him with both exhilaration and fear. Flora had been so strong, her smile unwavering as she promised to support him no matter where duty took him. He could still picture her in her wedding dress, radiant and full of hope, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
While he was away, Flora had continued her schooling, pouring herself into her studies as she pursued her medical degree in forensic pathology. He admired her tenacity, her ability to balance the rigors of academia with the demands of motherhood. She had raised their three children with such grace, creating a safe and happy home life for him to return to after each mission. He could see her in the kitchen, laughter spilling out as she baked cookies with the kids, their faces smeared with flour and chocolate.
But now, all of that felt like it was slipping through his fingers. The uncertainty of her condition gnawed at him, and the divorce papers loomed large in his mind. He had to focus on the mission, but the thought of Flora lying in that hospital bed, fighting for her life, tethered him to a reality he couldn’t escape. He needed to protect her, to find a way to make things right, but first, he had to take down Al-Harb.
He glanced around the dimly lit shack at his team—Warden, Dog, Nova, Moose, Link, and Blast. Their faces reflected a mixture of shock, grim determination, and profound empathy.They understood the stakes as well as he did. They were family, bonded by shared experiences and the countless times they had risked their lives for a cause far greater than themselves. They were a team that looked out for each other, a family that protected one another.
Quietly, Bear caught Warden' s gaze, a silent request passing between them. Their bond was forged in the fires of shared experiences, and he knew he could rely on him to keep the team grounded. Leaning in close, under the guise of reviewing mission parameters, Bear murmured, “Warden, this… this is personal. Flora’s fight is our fight, and I need to make sure that my desire for justice doesn’t overshadow the mission parameters. You take point; make sure we all get out of this alive.”
Warden nodded slightly, his expression grim but resolute. He understood the weight of Bear’s words and the unspoken plea behind them. The agreement passed between them was a testament to the bond they shared, the trust they had in each other. This mission was about more than stopping Al-Harb; it was about Flora, about ensuring that justice was served, and that they all returned safely to their families.
Bear took a deep breath, feeling the tension in the room. The weight of responsibility remained, heavy and ever-present, but it was now tempered by a cold, calculating fury that would fuel their every action. He couldn’t shake the memory of the divorce papers he had found, the confusion and hurt still gnawing at him. He had to push those feelings aside for now; there was too much at stake.
9 - HAWK
When Lindseyfinally returned home from the hospital, Hawk saw the weight of the world in her eyes. She closed the door behind her, taking a moment to compose herself before walking toward him.
“Hawk,” she began, “I spoke to Flora. She told me why she had the divorce papers written up… not that it makes any sense to me, but I guess in her state of mind, she thought she was protecting Bear. She said she was mugged two months ago when she was at Walter Reed for the Medical Examiners conference.”
Hawk stared at Lindsey in disbelief. “She was mugged? She panicked and ran away instead of reporting it. And that’s why she’s getting a divorce? That’s idiotic!”
Lindsey took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “She told me that she came home without reporting it. She thought it would just go away, but it didn’t. A week after she got home, she began receiving pictures of Bear around the base—places where the average person can’t access—along with threats to his life if she said anything about the mugging.”
Hawk’s mind raced as he pulled his fingers through his hair. “So she thought by keeping quiet, she could protect him? What the hell was she thinking?”
“She wasn’t,” Lindsey replied, her expression grave. “She was terrified. The threats escalated, and it became too much for her to handle alone. She thought she could shield him from the danger, but now she’s in the hospital, the kids are with us, and Bear is overseas. She can’t protect any of them, and the stress is overwhelming.”
Running a hand through his hair, frustration and concern battled within him. “We need to do something, can’t just sit back, she’s too vulnerable. Those kids are in danger too.”
Lindsey nodded, but uncertainty flickered across her face. “What can we do?”
“First, I’m going to bring the Commander up to speed. He needs to know there’s a security issue on the base. Then I’ll call the guys,” referring to his SEAL teammates who were all now retired like him, “and arrange for them to provide security for Flora while she’s in the hospital. After that, let’s reach out to Hank Patterson,” Hawk said, already formulating a plan. “He runs a security company in Montana called Brotherhood Protectors now and has the resources we need to investigate these threats. I bet his computer guy, Swede, can track down whoever's sending these texts. We can’t let this go unchecked. Do you think Flora will be okay with us doing that?”
“I think she’ll understand,” Lindsey replied. “She needs to know we’re doing everything we can to protect her and the kids. It’s not just about her anymore; it’s about all of them.”
Hawk nodded, feeling a flicker of determination ignite within him. He picked up his phone and dialed the Commander’s number, his heart pounding as he waited for him to pick up.
“Commander Michaels,” the voice on the other end answered. “Hawk, everything ok with the kids?”
