NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 21- A ROTTEN LEGACY

                The day before take off, Russo decided to pay his paralyzed Father a visit at the hospital. The staffs bowed in respect as he walked passed. Ignoring them, he made his way to his Father's ward. On seeing him, the nurses attending to him, bowed and walked out, leaving the two alone.

                 Russo pulled a chair and sat beside his father's bed. It was a VIP ward and it looked as comfortable as a king's bedroom only that, the occupant was too ill to even be aware. The former General held his eyes open as he stared vaguely into the ceiling. His body not being able to move.

"Good morning, Father."

Russo held his hands and stared affectionately into his eyes. He could still hear him but he just couldn't speak.

"I thought it would be proper I paid you a visit before I leave."

He let out a sigh.

"The Neuroveil has been found. It's in Moscow and we're going there tomorrow to destroy it. Everything's gonna be fine, Father. Not a single thing about your legacy has been tainted so far and it never will be. Take care and be safe till I return." He closed his eyes and placed a kiss on the back of his Father's palm. As he was about to leave, he could see a tear run down his Father's eye and it surprised him.
"I'll be fine, Father. There's no need to worry." Russo assured him as he wiped the tear away, hugged him and left the ward.

                 The helpless man couldn't help but shed tears on behalf of his son. Marcov felt sorry for his son. The loose ends he had left untied before tragedy struck him was definitely going to come back sooner or later to haunt him. He had done anything but leave Russo a good legacy only a rotten one. The lad didn't know it yet but when he did, he wish he would have been long dead by then. For he wouldn't be able to face his own son.

Forgive me, son.

               The very next day a chopper was ready and twelve of them including Russo and Lewis were flown to the military base at Moscow. They had been briefed about the mission time and again.

                The base had a total of three small wooden huts otherwise known as sheds with just a spacious room with mats. Four men were assigned to each but since there was a female Soldier on the team, an exception had to be made.

            Diane was given a shed of her own and the men had to make do with the remaining two sheds, five to one and six to the other. Lewis had complained to Russo before the arrival that they let the woman off the team as she may happen to be a liability at the end of the day.

"Not being a sexist now, are you?" Russo had asked.
"Never, sir."
"Good. The Sergeant stays. Her skills are what's needed and important. Set gender aside for now. We'll make do, no matter how."
"Ofcourse, General."
                While Felix was constantly giving them information from Saint Petersburg, the Soldiers at Moscow were to follow the plan. First, two men were sent to the warehouse were the Neuroveil were stored.

               They would leave a recorder in the gutter close to the building and be able to keep tabs on the men and know if they had change of plans.

             While the others trained and strategized for the next few days before the mission would kick off. Diane was appointed to go with one other Soldier, Mark. Since she was a woman, it would be  easier for her to go by unsuspected.

             They were both dressed casually to create less suspicion. The two had a two way radio tucked in their pockets with which they could send and receive information.

"When you arrive at the warehouse, just follow the plan." Russo addressed the two before they left. "Drop the device and get the hell out of there. Meet the chopper at the designated location. We don't know how prepared these men are so if you sense something wrong, or a sudden ambush, fucking run! Don't try to act like a goddamn hero. Abandon mission if possible as long as no lives are lost." He said.
"Forgive me but I think you lads should do everything in your power to make sure that the purpose of this mission is actualized no matter the cost. You must ensure to leave the recorder in the gutter or this would have all been for nothing." Lewis cut in but Russo turned to him with a frown.
"I won't risk losing my men before the mission even begins. Sergeant, Corporal?" He addressed the two.
"Yes, sir?" They answered.
"Do as I've said. Good luck." He said and they nodded with a salute before getting into the chopper as it took them off into the sky and soon they were out of sight.
"You're being too easy on these guys, Russo." Said Lewis.
"I'm not."
"Then what the hell was that? These people might see you as a weak leader."
Russo looked at the Man and let out a faint smile. "Strength lies far beyond the physical and so does putting the lives of able bodied militants in danger. Not all fights require the use of weapons, some simply has to be dealt with the mind. You have to be smart my friend and trust me, it's better this way. When the time to be rigid comes, you'll know it, Lewis."

              With that, he walked away from him, leaving a displeased Lewis behind. He saw Russo as a coward and preferred the rule of his father instead. The man didn't have the balls to handle things as General. If only he was the one sitting in that position instead of the weak bastard! He thought with spite.

               The chopper stopped a couple of feet from the location of the warehouse. Both Diane and Mark got off and started walking around the place, casually. Whilst keeping a reasonable distance from each other. The warehouse was an abandoned caravan. The place had a very few population and the people there were obviously workers from some nearby mine, given the way they dressed.

"No sightings close to the warehouse so far, over." Diane spoke to Mark through the radio. The others back at the base could still communicate and hear them.
"Wait a minute, we shouldn't rush." Said Mark.
"I think it's now or never. I'm going closer." Diane said.
"Sergeant...." Came Russo's voice all of a sudden.
"Yes?"
"Listen to Mark. I know you're excited at the open opportunity and the last thing I would want is to get in your way but I suggest you wait a few minutes." He said.
"Okay then."

Just then two men could be seen coming from behind the warehouse. They talked for awhile before getting into an old truck and driving away.

"All clear, guys. This is it." Diane said.
"Go for it." Mark said.

                Diane strolled casually to the gutters, walking just beside it before she carefully let her hand down and let the device into the gutter.

"Mission accomplished. Ready to move out—"
"Looking for something, pretty face?" A male voice behind her, startled her. She turned around in shock, not expecting anyone to still be around the warehouse.
"No not at all." She smiled, trying to remain calm.
"Then what the hell are you doing over here? This place is closed out for tourists."
"Oh really? I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"Had no idea, huh?" He eyed her up and down, suspiciously. "Or are you here for some other reason?"
"Shit!" Mark cussed.
"What's the situation?" Asked Russo.
"A little pothole to the plan. Someone's interrogating her."
"How the hell did that even happen?"
"I don't know but I think she's handling it well enough— Oh fuck!"
"What's going on?"

                     A fight had broke out. The man pointed a gun at her but Diane swiftly kicked it out of his hand. Before he could retaliate, Diane lashed out a punch which caught the latter by surprise. It smashed into his face, causing him to lose a few molars, his mouth bleeding.

"You little bitch!"

            The man cussed as he took out a knife and swung it at her but Diane quickly evaded the slice, holding his arm and twisting it backwards, the latter screamed in pains, she knees him behind the legs and tried to make a run for it but he caught her bringing her to the ground. They both scrambled for what seemed like an eternity and a gunshot from Diane was heard. She was splashed with his blood. And she ran over to Mark.

"Did you get it in?"
"Yes. More men could be coming. We gotta get out of here, NOW! NOW!!" She yelled as they both took to their heels to the chopper waiting in the distance. They both hurried into it and escaped the area safely back to the base.