The Valkyrie’s Ghost

Author's Notes:Welcome to the 10th part ofThe Valkyrie's Ghostseries. This submission finally allows us poor readers to peak behind the curtain and see who our bad guys are and how they operate.

Boo, bad guys suck lemons! Boo!

As most of you can tell, I typically just write. Words. Lots and lots of words just flow. The dealing of loss of a trusted team member juxtaposition against that this comrade had confessed that he was the leak to the bad guys before ending his life was really difficult for me to write. Yikes. So I hope you like the approach I attempted. This part digs into the pass of Cole "Breaker" Maddox as he is the bridge to the bad guys (did you hear boos? I think i did).

I need to check my home air filters, there must have been some dust in air as my eyes were a bit watery a time or two while writing and during my editing pass (Yes, I do try to edit.)

I have an editor who has finished with edits, focusing on continuity of the story line. I have a second editor who has agreed to do a line edit. So, for those who have endured my poor grammatical sense, there is hope. (Well, it take 4 to 8 weeks for an update to hit, so be patient.)

Enjoy, PHD.

Chapter 46

Lysandra Vale

Saturday, January 17th

Laucala Airport

Laucala Island, Fiji

Lysandra-------------

Lysandra leaned with her back on the spare tire attached to the back bumper of the resort's Jeep. Nyx, Wraith and Grim stood guard over their fallen comrade. They did not disturb the body, the just stood at attention with their red, rimmed eyes staring into the dark of the early morning. The light was from chemical sticks that were scattered around the hill and provided a very ethereal feel that chilled her bones. It seemed as if the curtain between reality and the Greek's Asphodel Meadows allowed each side to observe each other.

Riley stood stoically at her side, his eyes scanning the gloom for a threat. To the far left of the trio of sentries were Shade and Torque, there professional faces hiding the anger and grief as they watched over 9 MoD members who survived the night. Grim had performed a few field medic actions to save the two men who had serious bullet wounds, but he assured Riley they would all make it.

The voice of the comms startled her, but the Aegis team stood firm as if they expected the link.

"Ghost, Valkyrie One had to return to Nadi International to allow a Fiji Link to drop a Fijian Army detachment." Jordan reported. "Their mission is to assist with recovery and transfer of all MoD men and equipment to US military in support of the forensic aspect of the case."

Lysandra heard the executive speak through an emotionally choked throat. "The CO is Major Tevita Navukitu and will meet you at the airport." She took a full sixty seconds before continuing. "Captain Jope Kalouniviti will be leading the..." she took seventy-five seconds, "...a mortuary affairs team of four. They will assist with preparing Cole for his trip home. Valkyrie One will fly to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam to conduct an autopsy and place him in full military rights for his trip back to the states."

Riley looked to the honor guard, who as one turned to their CO and gave a crisp salute acknowledging his call to duty. Riley's serious eyes traveled up to find Lysandra's.

"Mind taking a ride with me?" Riley asked.

"Not at all." Lysandra said as she pushed off the Jeep and moved to the passenger's side. She had to fold herself through the open door and into the passenger's seat. She attempted to lever the seat back, but it was all the way back.

Riley jumped in, moved his seat up and with quick precise movements had the Jeep running and into gear in a pair of heartbeats.

Riley's grief was palatable. She felt lost, unsure of how to reach out and support Riley in his pain. She had liked Breaker who had a quick dry humor and always seemed to be comfortable in playing the role of the cultured Brit. As she closed her eyes, she flashed back to Wraith falling to the ground as Cole confirmed he viewed Talia as more than a squad-mate.

The ground was rough; the bright headlights jerked and bounced as they illuminated the pathway along the ridge that would lead to the airstrip. Riley's profile was washed in the light from the Jeep's instrumentation. The six-cylinder engine, automatic, and four-wheel drive kept the SUV traveling along its intended path.

"I never had a best friend before," Riley said, emotion choked his throat. "Is it true, they help you through tough times?"

He glanced quickly to see Lysandra with a sad smile, her tears were more for Riley than the lost team member.

"Absolutely." Lysandra said, holding her left hand out for Riley to grab.

He grabbed onto her hand as if it was a rope that held him from plunging off the island's steep plateau.

"Thank you." Riley said. "How can I be so angry that Breaker put you at risk?" He looked over for second as if he was touching the base. Knowing he was safe. "How can I be so incredibly sad that he is not hear to explain everything in his nifty English accent?"

Lysandra stayed quiet. She gently stroked his thumb with her own, sending healing and love into his body.

"I feel as if I was on a rollercoaster." Riley continued. "The second I realized the beach raid was a decoy."

Riley dropped his head for a split second before he wiped the forming tears from his eyes using the sleeve of his left arm. The Jeep swayed with each pass. "What type of monsters would send forty men to die as a distraction?" Riley glanced back at Lysandra. "What type of men would force me to decide that those forty men had to die."

Lysandra pulled her right hand and laid it on top of Riley's. Lysandra said through clenched teeth. "Because they want me Riley. They called me Eve and the Callahan promised to rape every opening of my body if I did not follow like a schoolgirl on her first field trip."

Riley hit the 4x4's breaks and with wide eyes looked as if he just drowned her favorite kitten.

"My good lord Lysandra." Riley was tense as a spring. "I am such a jerk." He slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "It's all about me..."

Lysandra used her long right arm to cup his face. Which froze Riley with shock at her gentle touch.

"Riley Rivers, don't you dare get upset at my boyfriend." She offered him a sad smile. "My story was interrupted with some abrupt driving." She gently tapped her fingers on his cheek. "I was about to say that since that schoolgirl just knew that her big bad super ghost was moving heaven and earth to get to her. It made everything seem," Lysandra paused to hunt for the right word. "...not ok, but it would be ok. Does that make sense?"

Riley nodded, his body releasing some of its tension.

"Knowing that I have a tracker that is at this moment moving to the dark regions of my digestive system, just cemented everything. Sticks, stones, and threats may hurt me, but my Ghost will make it all ok."

Lysandra leaned in. "This is a kiss of comfort." She gently caressed his lips with her own. "It is what girlfriends do to their boyfriend who rescue them."

She then pulled his face to peer up into her focused eyes. "In the grasp of a mad rapist, I felt safer than I did three months ago in my luxurious hotel." She leaned in and briefly repeated her kiss. "Thank you."

"Now, you were saying." She leaned back in her chair, her thumb caress of his hand encouraging him to continue.

For the last five minutes of the off road trek, Riley shared his first encounter with Breaker and how overtime he lost his jagged edges and seemed to have found a safe harbor in his troubled life.

Lysandra thought that Riley wanted to convince her that Cole Maddox was worthy of the grief and loyalty he was provided in life, seconds after he confessed his betrayal. She wasn't sure who he was trying to convince, her or himself.

As Riley approached the runway, Jone Ratu and Ewan Hayes stood by a pair of Jeeps they had brought up to the airport. Riley offered a wave of welcome as he parked the Jeep in line with its fleet-mates.

Lysandra added her own observation. "He didn't tell anyone about the Pheonix capsule." Lysandra said as Riley parked the Jeep along the runway. "Callahan would have gloated about it."

Riley killed the engine with a push of a button. Lysandra watched him processing her shared truth. She noticed his body relax.

Riley sighed with regret. "I wish he would have trusted me enough to tell me. I would have helped him keep his family safe."

Lysandra just held on to his hand and leaned into him in support.

He almost whispered, "he did have many opportunities to betray the Van. A second slow here or aim high there and who would judge him? But Breaker stood by his team, risking his life."

Riley pulled up Lysandra's hand grasped tightly in his own and kissed it with a mumbled "I like this best friend/girlfriend dynamic. You are way better than bothering Dr. Solomon at three am in the morning."

She pulled his hand up to her lips. "Thank you, I think!"

Riley-------------

The stress and heartache of the early morning beat at him like the relentless waves of the tropical beach, grinding the once volcanic rock into the granules that a tourist would eventually use to worship the sun or build sandcastles.

Lysandra's presence served as a warm blanket on a cold night, offering him security and warmth. The physical touch and active listening allowed him to navigate the loss of Breaker.

Ewan had moved from his Jeep to stand with Jone Ratu. Riley found that Ewan was pointing to Riley and Lysandra and was about to turn to welcome them with Jone clapped him on the back and started to talk. Both men then just leaned against the landscaper's SUV.

The Laucala Airport lights suddenly snapped on. There were two reactions from the four observers. First, Ewan jumped in the air and let out an embarrassingly loud shouted cussword. Riley's eyes left that scene to see Lysandra by hopping up in her chair, her head clearing the front window. If a top had been on the Jeep, she would be soothing a lump.

"Sorry, I probably should have mentioned that the airport lights..." Riley chuckled under his breath, "can be switched on by pilots using their VHF radio."

"Thanks for the warning." Lysandra replied with a wry smile.

"Ewan made sure no one noticed your startle hop?" Riley thought. "Can't have jumped if you were seated."

"You just never mind kind sir." Lysandra said with her own smirk. "Since you are struggling with the grammatical mechanics we can just forget this ever happened."

A faint hum of engines slowly became audible and grew in decibels. Suddenly three lights flared to life in the dark above the island as the plane dropped its landing gear, each holding an additional light.

The plane was the bright white of the foam of ocean waves that ran the length of its long slender fuselage, ending near the tail of the plane which was the rich brown soil of the islands standing firm against the relentless South Pacific seas. The white and brown were separated by a black band of geometric motifs you would expect to find on a Fijian warrior. The pilots expertly coaxed the aircraft towards the small airfield. Seconds after hitting the ground the Pratt & Whitney PW127M turboprops changed the prop's angles and brakes were applied so that the heavily loaded plane slowed to a stop thirty feet from the end of the runway.

The door quickly opened and the aircraft came alive as men and women dressed in green uniforms with a red belt emerged from doors in the front and rear. The careful choreography suggesting this has been a scenario that was well trained. The green-clad soldiers had a splash of color in the form of a red beret that was positioned over serious faces and shoulder badges announcing the were Fijians.

A soldier with a cluster of stripes and pocket ribbons quickly approached the trio of Jeeps. He had an entourage of soldiers tracking his steps, the entire group stiff with military pride. Riley slid gracefully from the Jeep and approached the group. The Fijians snapped to attention.

"Lieutenant Colonel Rivers," The lights of the airport landing spotlighting a man with a broad build, short cropped black hair with slight gray, dark brown eyes, and deep brown complexion. His olive green uniform had shoulder boards, a black beret designated him as the CO. "I am Major Tevita Navukitu, commanding officer of the one-hundred-and-seventy-fifth Pacific Response Company, Fiji Army. We specialize in expeditionary recovery, mortuary affairs, and light forensic operations across island terrain."

Riley snapped to attention. His black tactical gear a void in the night as he crisply returned the salute.

"Major Navukitu, it is an honor to meet you sir." Riley said in his formal military voice. Strands of command and confidence weaving together to communicate to the Fijian soldier that at five-foot-five-inches he had earned the absent silver oak leaf. Turning to Lysandra who had slowly clambered out of the tight Jeep and walked around the back to stand behind Riley.

"Major, let me introduce Ms. Lysandra Vale." Riley introduced.

The major's eyes flared at the imposing height of the WNBA player. He bowed his head.

"Ni sa bula vinaka" He said formally, before translating "A very good welcome."

Returning his attention to Riley, the major pulled his shoulders back.

"If it is your will, let me introduce you to my leadership team."

He introduced Captain Merewai Driu, a Fijian female captain in her early forties with a slight build as his Medical Team Leader. The major moved to the second woman in her early thirties with a lean and efficient build as Lieutenant Ana Lewaqa as the logistics and transport officer. He turned towards a late thirties six-foot soldier with dark brown hair and a military buzz cut. This is Lieutenant Peni Seruvakula who is the Security Team Leader.

The major took a deep breath for what seemed like courage. "Finally, this is Captain Jope Kalouniviti who is the Mortuary Affairs Team Leader." The mid-forties soldier was five-foot-ten-inches with serious dark brown eyes. His black hair crisp in a military buzz.

"Lieutenant Colonel, at the personal request of the President of the United States, Prime Minister Rabuka has activated the one-hundred-and-seventy-fifth Pacific Response Company. We typically respond to natural disasters with mass casualties such as tropical cyclones." The major reported. "Our company is aware of the incident and the mission, which is to assist in asset recovery and securing the lost for their return to Guam for forensic review."

"We were informed that that you have lost a team member and you would prefer Sergeant Major Maddox to be prepared so he might return with you on the Gulfstream." The Major paused and snapped to attention. "It would be our great honor to assist in his recovery and prep for transport." The rest of the Fijian contingent mirrored their CO and as one, they each bowed their head in recognition of the Aegis loss.

Riley felt emotion choke his throat, so he glanced towards the plane. The work of the Fijian company was well orchestrated. Each soldier had a task and in a well harmonized dance of efficiency prepared for their mission. The rhythmic shift of supplies from plane to a curated stacking of the supplies sang to his inner self.

"Major, you and your entire force are indeed welcome!" Riley said as he turned to see the group stand straight. "Cole was a beloved member of our team, and we will welcome your team's expertise in preparing him for his final journey."

"We do have custody of nine assailants," Riley shared.

"Yes, an Admiral Stratis did provide that information." Turning to his security team leader. "Lieutenant Seruvakula please pull squad seven and thirteen and have them assist in securing the prisoners."

The Lieutenant snapped to attention and was running off towards the supplies with an ear piercing whistle the paused the movement of the line. Twelve soldiers moved out of the line to drop their loads and sprint back to grab their packs and weapons they had stacked to the side of the runway.

"I had a conversation with the ATR 72 pilots, and they have orders to return to Nadi International Airport for a second load of equipment and a few additional support personnel. They are scheduled to leave in..." The Major looked at his watch, "...in fifty-six minutes. Your Gulfstream can't land while it is here and they mentioned the jet would need to limit the payload so they could land on this airstrip, so you are likely not to have enough fuel for the Guam flight." He paused for a moment and then rushed on. "The pilots offered to fairy you and your team back to Nadi and then your flight can be ready for its flight to Guam."

"That sounds like a fantastic option." Riley's mind working through the implications. "Let me visit with my command and will be sure to let you know."

Major Navukitu reached back and Lieutenant Seruvakula slapped a field radio into his palm. "If you could let us know of your decision, we will inform the flight crew," offering the radio to Riley.

Three soldiers approached with a series of bags and boxes stuffed full of equipment and supplies.

"Ah, this is Captain Kalouniviti's team now."

Riley smiled, "Captain." He returned a precise salute.

"Jope, please introduced your team." The Major asked. "My apologies Lieutenant Colonel, but I and the rest of my leadership team need to see to the rest of my company."

Riley snapped to attention. "Major, we are in your debt."

The major returned the salute with a smile and jogged off to resume his command with three of the four leaders once again serving as his shadow.

"Lieutenant Colonel," Captain Kalouniviti pointing to an early forties six foot muscular built man with short, cropped back hair and the island's dark brown eyes and deep brown complexion. "This is Sergeant Mosese Vakadewavosa. He is the recovery team leader."

The sergeant whipped his own salute, which Riley returned.

"Corporal Ana Rokotuiwai," pointing to a five-foot-five-inch woman with an athletic build, her dark hair tied back into a bun and had a warm tan complexion and brown eyes. "Is our documentation specialists and will assist with chain of custody, catalog all personal effects, and document the scene for official records."

The woman offered a crisp salute.

"Finally, Private Samuela Qalovaki," the captain recognized the last soldier, a young Indo-Fijian male soldier in his twenties, lean build, short fade black hair that capped a light brown complexion with hazel brown eyes. "He assists in preparation and transport of the remains."

Riley stepped forward and walked to each of the soldiers and shook their hands as he shared his appreciation for their most difficult job. He explained the night to the team and then shared the request to assist with Breaker so they could depart.

Riley turned and headed to Ratu's Jeep that had Ewan shifting foot to foot in nervous energy.

"Captain Kalouniviti, let me introduce Jone Ratu and Ewan Hayes." Riley introduced, his heavy heart dragging down his introductions. "Jone and Ewan, this is Captain Jope Kalouniviti."

Turning to Jone and Ewan. "Could I possibly get one of you to either lend or volunteer to drive a Jeep," Riley turned and pointed the direction towards the honor guard and fallen friend, "about fifteen minutes as the Jeep drives that away."

"One of our team members lost his life and this team is going to help us get him home." Riley finished.

Jone stood straight and offered Captain Kalouniviti the fob. "I will ride with Ewan. We have guests that want off the island."

Riley clapped Jone on the shoulder. "See if you can catch up with," Riley turned and pointed to the retreating commanding officer, "Major Tevita Navukitu. He just mentioned that the Fiji Airways will returning to Nadi and offered us a ride. He might be willing to do so with a few of the guests."