Unstable Serenity - Chapter 11, A Hero's Welcome
Max's POV
Throughout the helicopter ride to the north, all you could hear was those loud rotorblades, and feel that vivid vibration. After the whole fiasco that went down hours earlier, we were all dead tired, and I could see Steven sleeping on my lap. I don't know know how someone can sleep in a place like this, but Steven was probably used to this, since he was wrecked and abused.
"We're only an hour away, just hold on there!" The Russian pilot called out over the noise of the chopper.
What he had said seemed to have woken up some of the wounded soldiers and Steven.
"Are we there yet?" Steven yawned. I could just barely hear was he said.
"No Steven, not yet. We'll be there in an hour!" I shouted over the noise.
Steven just shrugged in uncertainty and then laid back down on my lap. I put a paw on his shoulder, and comforted him during the ride the rest of the way. After another hour of listening to that buzzing noise, we finally touched down in a Russian airbase. The engines on the helicopter then started to shut down, which was a relief for me.
"Wake up Steven, we're here!" I said.
"Whaaaaa....?" He replied, rubbing his eyes.
"You're safe now, nobody is gonna get you" I promised.
I picked up the otter and gently placed him over my shoulder. We walked over to the terminal building of the airport and slowly went inside. The building was heated to a nice warm temperature, unlike the chilly weather outside. Although it was only September, the nights still got a bit cold in Russia. I was exhausted, and pretty much everyone was, considering what we went through. Steven was still pretty tired, and so was I, so we had to find a bed soon.
"You must be Lieutenant Woodland" a Russian soldier spoke.
"Yes, I am. Why ask? Does someone need me?" I replied.
"Your government is looking for you, and we've arranged transport to Washington D.C." He replied.
"Direct to D.C." I asked.
"Yes, the aircraft will be expecting you in a few hours. You should get a move on, we'll take you to Sochi International Airport, where you will depart" He explained.
"May I take Steven with me?" I asked.
"You can try, but that's not up to me, you'll have to take that up to immigration" the soldier replied.
I nodded in reply and continued to carry Steven towards the front of the terminal, where we met up with our ride; a small Russian taxi. It drove through the city of Sochi, the very place that held the winter olympics. I remember watching the Sochi olympics while I was training at the academy, but I never took any deep interest in it. Driving through the city, all I could keep on thinking was that I was going to be returning home soon, sooner than usual and I liked it. I would be able to feel the warmth and welcome of my family, friends, loved ones and my country. The place I swore on oath to pretect when I was a candidate at the academy, and shortly before being deployed to the USS Roland Reagan for two years.
"Where are we going?" Steven asked.
"You're not sleeping?" I questioned him.
"I can't" he replied. "I-I just can't sleep, I keep thinking of him" he shivered as he said those words.
"No, no, no, you can't think of that! You need to look forward, and seek out what's better for you. I can promise you that you will not have to worry about him any longer, you have me to care for you now" I explained.
"B-but, he's gonna find me!... And he's gonna kill me! If I can't have him... No one can!" He cried.
"Hey, hey" I comforted him by placing my left arm over his shoulders. "Listen, he can't touch you. And when we get down in D.C., I will make sure you have a nice, safe place to stay."
"Really?" He asked.
"Really" I stated. "And I mean it, really. I'm gonna keep you as far away from his as possible, and if he ever get's anywhere near you... I'm gonna fucking rip his head off, and that's threat to a terrorist threat."
"But-" He studdered.
"Shhhhh" I put a finger over his mouth, "he can't touch you anymore, besides... He probably died back there in the mass of explosions."
"I was in those explosions... And look where I am now..." He stammered. "He's stronger than me... So much stronger than me, I feel him hold me against my will everyday, and no matter how much I fight it, he just holds me tigher, and so I just give up and.... Let him... Do whatever we wants to do to me..." He studdered.
"You're strong too, but you just don't know it yet" I told him.
"But he's stronger than me! If I can survive what happened back there than he can too!" He cried.
"Stop" I continued comforting the otter. "You need to take your mind off of this... All of it, and start fresh."
We continued driving to Sochi, and the ride was long; easily a couple of hours. Within that time, the both of us were finally able to sleep.
"Sir... Sir!" I woke up to the taxi driver's voice.
"Ahh, yes?" I replied.
"We're here, and your expenses have been covered" he told me.
"Alright then" I acknowledged.
Steven woke up and we both exited the taxi. Walking up to the airport I didn't know what to expect, whether it was someone holding a sign with my name on it, or I would have FSB agents escort me to a special aircraft. I didn't think that I was going to be escorted to a fancy aircraft, I'm not a very important person.
"Max Woodland?" A stranger asked me.
He was a tall wolf, who was dressed in a Russian military outfit. He stood with an erect posture and his orange fur was so bright, that it practically emitted more light than it reflected.
"Yes... Why?" I replied.
"There is an aircraft ready to take you to D.C." He explained.
"Umm... Can I bring Steven?" I asked.
I became nervous after asking that question, I didn't know whether I would have to let Steven go. I didn't want to have him be left behind and possibly be found by the Cevenda. Who knows whether or not William is still alive...
"Yeah, there's room" he replied.
'Thank god!' I thought to myself.
"Okay Steven, let's go. I'm going to take you to your new home" I promised.
We headed through the airport and bypassed security right away. Walking swiftly through the terminal of the airport.
"That one, right there!" He pointed. "That's your ride!"
"Alright Steven, you ready?" I asked.
"I-I guess... I mean... I've never been to America before... Is it nice?" He asked.
"It's lovely" I replied. "Where I live, there's no need to worry about people trying to enslave or kill you."
He put a smile on his face, and it made me feel better. We walked back outside again, heading towards the aircraft. I didn't expect to return home so early, but I guess certain conditions apply. Steven and I walked in the aircraft, where we then found nice comfortable seats to sit down on.
The Learjet taxied on to the runway and then took off. We were told that we had to make a stop in London for fuel and then we would be back in the air again for home.
After a few hours of flying over Europe, we landed at Heathrow. It took about 30 minutes for the plane to fuel back up and then new pilots entered the aircraft and relieved the other ones. We taxied back on the runway and departed for St. Johns, another pit stop along the way.
For the first half of the flight, I simply could not sleep. However, Steven was completely passed out. All I could think about was Zarith, and how he wanted to cut out my heart and replace it with his son's... Charlie. Also William, and how he continues to get off on beating and hurting Steven. But not anymore, I will not tolerate William's immorality. I sure hope he died back there in Gerorgia.
We passed our second pit stop, waitied for the plane to refuel, and then the pilots switched again. But this time I was able to get some sleep. I slept for about four hours before we arrived at D.C.
As the plane pulled up, I saw armed guards at the gate, just waiting for my arrival.
"We're here Steven! We made it!" I cheered.
He slowly woke up and looked outside the window, he was speechless. Happy to be in a safe country where William couldn't touch him. The aircraft pulled up to the gate and shut down its engines. Then the two of us made our way out of the aircraft as the co-pilot opened the doors for us. We stepped out of the plane.
"Lieutenant Woodland" one of the guards spoke.
"Yes?" I replied.
"You're under arrest!" He said.
Multiple armed guards came swarming around me.
"W-what!? T-this can't be! I'm innocent!" I shouted.
"Max Woodland; you're under arrest for warcrimes, affiliation with terror organiaztions and nations hostile to the United States of America, by order of the USA PATRIOT ACT you posses no rights. So help you god" He explained.
Three guards held me down while one of them injected a serum into my next. Then they threw a pillow case over my head and dragged me to a vehicle. I soon became dizzy, and then fell unconscious.