Jungle

“You know, this isn’t so bad,” Doc told us. “I often heard stories about the jungle being incredibly dangerous. How certain snake bites would be the death of you in seconds or insects that would lay eggs beneath your skin and you would never notice until they started hatching. However, after a week in the jungle and nearing civilisation, I have yet to experience any such horror.”

The Colonel brushed a hand across Doc’s shoulder.

“What was that?” Doc asked turning to him.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” the Colonel smiled. “Scope, how is it looking over there?”

“Town is small, sir,” Scope replied, his scope clicked softly as he magnified the image of one man in his car. “Peaceful, no sign of any special forces, but from the tracks on the road the truck definitely didn’t make it through the village.”

“Any likely suspects?”

“There are several garages, all shabby and metal. I count four prime suspects.”

“Right, well, we will start with the closest. Doc, seeing as you’re a plain clothes man, why don’t you go down and take a look for us?”

“What? Why me?”

“You’re not trained in combat, you don’t carry any noticeable weapons and you are the most unsuspecting old man in the area.”

“Oh, you think so highly of me, Colonel.”

“Well, I try.”

The Doc proceeded to enter the village and from the moment his boots hit the dusty roads and walked into the village all eyes were on him. Unsuspecting although he may be, but he was also the only one in the village paler than a sheet of paper. Scope couldn’t help but laugh as the man proceeded to the first garage.

“You realize that this is the worst thing you ever did to him, right?” Scope asked with a clear chuckle.

“Oh, he will be fine,” the Colonel replied simply. “Although I do wonder why he decided the best thing to wear in the jungle was an explorer’s pith helmet.”

“He told me it was his father's. Said, “If anything, I am better equipped to endure the jungle than you two.””

The laughed to themselves, but the teasing was purely brotherly. Both the Colonel and Scope watched the village a lot more closely now that one of their own was in the mix. If anything were to happen to the Doc it would catastrophic for those who caused it.

A soft beep signalled Doc entering the comm link.

“I think I found your guy,” Doc told the two.

“You found the truck?” the Colonel asked.

“No, but I can see through this basement window here men dressed like special forces packing plastic explosive into grocery boxes. Rather nice boxes too, I wouldn’t mind having one.”

“Okay, I’m moving in. Inform us of any enemy positions when you see them.”

“Roger that, Colonel.”

Doc left the comm link and the Colonel turned to scope.

“There are many problems with this plan, Scope,” the Colonel explained. “But I’m certainly not worried with you on watch. Keep them off our backs.”

“Yes, sir,” Scope replied with a solemn nod.

With that said, the Colonel’s boots hit the ground and the eyes shifted to him. A tall man, muscular and carrying serious firearms. Everything about him screamed armageddon’s coming and people ran to their homes when they saw him charge towards the garage.

Cutting through the same alley as the Doc he entered the main street. The people were busy in masses, but by simply shrugging them out of the way for the first few bumps the rest got the message and parted.

By now the Colonel realized he was attracting the unnecessary attention, but what mattered now was catching them unaware. Once he reached the building he jogged past the garage door and with a heavy, battering-ram kick he knocked the front door inwards.

There were two special forces on watch, but they only received a brunt of his first and second punch before they could turn the safety off. The Colonel was experienced and before that he was well-trained. A prime example of advanced military training. By the time anyone knew what was going he had already descended into the basement and not taking any risks with explosives in the room, he resorted to the use of melee.

The Doc knelt by the basement and watched as the Colonel went to work on the special forces who put up a good fight, but not nearly as well enough as the Colonel.

“Scope?” Doc checked in.

“Yeah?” he replied, focusing his sights on treeline surrounding the village. “What’s up, Doc?”

“I will forgive that phrase for now and just warn you that there are special forces operating on the left side of the village. Do you see the green car?”

“I...I don’t, sorry, Doc, this one is yours.”

With a sigh the Doc stepped onto the street as the green, armoured vehicle came to a stop in the cover from Scope’s high powered rifle. Joining the mass of people fleeing, the Doc slipped around the building and up behind the green car.

The Doc suppressed his grunts as he hunkered down into a crouch and approached the car. He begged his knees to hang in there, but one simply made a popping sound in reply and he began to hop. Once he reached the car he shoved a hand into his bag and located the grenade.

With a quick toss up it slipped just past the gunner who stuck out the top of the car on the heavy weaponry. With a rapid limp back behind the building, the Doc was out of sight as the special forces attempted to locate what was thrown inside the car.

By the time the doors unlocked the car erupted into a blazing fire, metal shards flying every which way and the cacophony of metallic parts ripping asunder ended as soon as it started.

While this happened, Doc began massaging and treating his knee behind the building. When he looked up he saw a neat row of special forces on the ground before him.

“Thanks for the cover, Scope,” the Doc murmured. “See everyone, the jungle isn’t so bad at all.”