Juggernauts

CHAPTER 28: Disappearing Act

The next day, Tom was awoken by Shawn by gently being nudged on the shoulder.

"Sir, sir are you awake?"

"I'm on my honeymoon kid." Tom sleepily groaned. 

"Sorry sir, Major Hampton wants you to fill out your report on the mission immediately."

Tom sat up in his bed and pulled the blanket over Ella, who was sleeping beside him. "Tell him I'll be there in a sec, just got to warm up."

"Yes sir," Shawn saluted him.

Tom drowsily saluted him back as he left the room. Tom stood up and put on a shirt and a pair of pants. He holstered his pistol and sheathed his knife as he exited his room and poured himself a cup of coffee.

He took a sip of it as he exited the barracks and shielded his eyes from the blinding sun reflecting off the snow on the ground. He took another sip of his coffee and began walking over to the command center.

Benson walked by Tom and told him. "Better follow me Hanson. I've got something you'll want to hear."

Tom reluctantly followed him behind a supply building. "What do you want, I'm busy." Tom said to him.

"Just thought you might want a heads up that I'm gonna go to the Major about the War crimes you've committed during your service." Benson grinned.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Tom questioned.

"Gunning down unarmed prisoners, defenseless soldiers, burning down a village, should I continue?"

"You have no proof."

"Your new armor may not have recording abilities, but mine does." He held up a flash card tauntingly.

"What do you want Benson?"

"Tell the Major that I organized the execution of Takoda."

"Why? So you'll be promoted and get control of a unit?"

"Of course." Benson grinned more.

"Yeah, sure, let me get right on that." Tom said sarcastically.

Benson pulled his gun on Tom and pointed it at Tom's face. "Do it. Or I'll kill you."

Tom sipped his coffee again. "No, I don't think I will." Suddenly, Tom threw the coffee into Benson's face, grabbed the hand that had the gun and with his other hand, drew his knife and plunged it into Benson's stomach.

Tom twisted the blade inside Benson and took the gun from him. "Now maybe I'll leave you to the wolves outside the gate. Or maybe I'll just finish you off now."

Tom pulled the knife out and let Benson drop to the ground. The snow began to fall down fairly heavy as Tom slowly realized what he had just done. He dragged the body further behind the building and tossed the gun into the snow.

He put his knife back in it's sheath as he quickly made his way to the motor pool. Knowing that he only had a minute or so until someone found the body, he made a plan to escape.