It was a boot and it was attached to a leg. Unlike the Assur that Jack had been traveling with, the ones camped out at the edge of the mountain pass, did put out sentries at night. It did not do them a lot of good. Their basic tactical flaw was that the sentries were looking in the wrong direction. They obviously thought it was impossible for anyone to get where Jack was. He could only shake his head in amazement at how easy it had been. Jack had deduced, from Lang’s concern about these guys, that they were supposed to be dangerous.

The first one wasn't. The face he had made was one of surprise and he had made it just like a regular looking human might. He didn't make a sound as the wire constricted around his neck. Jack left him lying in a small crevice and then moved on.

After that Jack had to stop for a second. To talk about killing, to make plans for battle, was different than doing it. Jack found his mind flooded with memories of another cold night on a distant planet, under a distant star, in a strange land called Colorado. There, a young Marine pilot, named Jack Kelly, had been shot down. The sentry then had looked more human. It felt the same for some reason.

Red stopped at a small clump of rocks just behind Jack. There was a green glow on Red's face as he turned on the night scope for the three-oh-eight hunting rifle. That was Jack's signal. He tapped Pete on the shoulder and they both slid down the small hill and began moving towards the Assur camp.

So far, it had all been too easy. Why was that a worry? Jack wondered if he should be thankful or scared. As the two marines stopped next to a tent they both caught their breath and took a quick peek around. There was nothing to be seen.

With the radio in hand Jack whispered, "Give me a situation here guys."

High in the rocks above the camp Harry watched with the best night scope they had. It was actually a box with a single lens that set on a tripod. It worked by starlight instead of infrared and in the perpetual twilight, that substituted as night here, it really did look like day time down there.

"All right guys," Harry refocused. "I'm putting bets on the tent closer to the center. They got guards on it."

"You got that," whispered Jack.

Pete nodded while unsheathing his knife, "let's do the guards."

Jack placed a hand on Pete's shoulder, "take it easy Pete."

"When they're all dead."

They got closer to the tent. It became clear to Jack that the guards were not about to give a warning to anyone. Their hoods were sitting up straight but their heads were not.

"Stupid bastards are asleep,” Jack whispered. “All right Pete. You got the two in front. I'll take the ones in back."

There was a scream from inside the tent. It was decidedly feminine. That set off Pete who jumped out and took his two guards down before Jack could even move. With nothing left to do but take down his own two, Jack moved in. He got the first one while the guy was still asleep. The Assur took a quick thrust from the blade to the base of the skull. Jack found it strange that he was thinking about their anatomy at a time like this. The base of the skull was in the same place as on anyone from Earth.

The other guard turned his head. Jack dropped the lifeless rag doll, that had been guard number one, only to discover that his new opponent had a blade that was considerably longer than his own! At least the guy didn't have a firearm. Jack took a step back and went for the M-16 slung on his shoulder. The Assur thrust forward with his sword. Just when Jack realized he was a dead man the Assur disappeared inside the tent. The alien had literally vanished in the blink of an eye!

Pete stuck his head out of the tent and wiped his bloody blade on the canvas, "Come on in and stop screwing around will you?"

The inside of the tent was well lit. Jack closed his left eye trying to save his natural night vision. He forgot about that when he saw what was around him. There were several bodies on the floor which, was most obviously Pete's work. In a corner was a group of women huddled around each other. Their ankles were shackled together and they looked terrified. Many of them were about to scream but, one was among them that seemed to understand what was happening. She kept the others quiet enough.

"Julia?" Jack quietly asked Pete with a shrug.

Pete only bit his lip.

To the other side of Jack was another young girl. She was lying on the ground with, her dress torn and her back was bloody and beaten. Jack had seen those same kinds of wounds before, on Gary! "She's got to be here somewhere Pete."

As Jack rendered what little comfort he could, to the mutilated girl, Pete went to the group shackled in the corner. He tried to make himself understood, "Is this all of you? Another... Girl.... Is there anymore?"

The radio crackled with Harry's voice, "Guys... Guys..."

Jack looked to the closed tent flap, "Somebody saw us come in here Pete."

Pete began looking for keys on the dead Assur. When he found a set he tossed them to the girl who seemed to be in charge and then said, "I know Jack."

Jack replied, "I got to tell Harry to go or wait."

"I know Jack," Pete peeked out of the tent flap. "Give me thirty seconds, all right?"

"I'll hold down the fort," said Jack reluctantly. What else could he do? They had two people missing and the evidence pointed to the possibility that they were both in here somewhere. "Good luck Marine."

Harry put the radio down. He picked up his flare gun. Looking up and down the line Harry got a nod from everyone. There was a lot doubt in Harry's mind right now. He wondered if anyone else was feeling the same way. The only comfort he felt was in seeing his shipmates around him. It was enough. It would have to be. Harry took a deep breath and pointed the flare gun skyward. He pulled the trigger.

The sparking flare drifted lazily back towards the ground. Before it reached its final destination the entire area around the Assur camp lit up in a solid sheet of flame. The blasts came from the friendly set of Assur being lead by Lang. The shooting did little damage to the rows of wagons and tents that were barricading the pass. It did cause a great deal of confusion however. The camp came to life and the hostile Assur were running around, seemingly, for no particular reason.

Harry found the entire scene almost comical until he realized their own plans counted on the bad guys doing at least something right. He was starting to get worried before he saw a few of the Assur, down there, making progress towards organizing a defense. They were whipping their own men to get them to the barricades. Slowly their defenses started to take shape. Now Harry felt a wave of relief. They had taken the bait and while their defenses were building they were looking the wrong way.

"They’re not shooting back yet," yelled Gina. "What do we do?"

Harry could see that. All these Assur were really doing was yelling at their attackers, from behind turned over wagons. They might have managed some kind of line down there but none of them were shooting at Lang’s people?

"Doesn't matter because I see too big of a target." Harry mumbled. He radioed, "Vitosk! Let 'em have it!"

Vitosk had decided to change the order of battle on his pit crew. He let Joey actually drop the rounds. The dangerous part about using a mortar was setting the fuses. It had to be done right or you would kill yourself. Vitosk put the radio down and nodded to Joey, "Two rounds HE Joey."

There was a hesitation in the boy, "This won't hurt mom will it?"

That was a good question. The plan seemed sound but, when did plans ever work out right in war? They would just have to trust in each other now. "That's what Pete and Jack are taking care of son. Joey, if you want to help your mother then doing your part now is the best way."

Joey dropped the mortar round down the tube. He and Vitosk jumped to the side. It went off with a force that made Joey's chest vibrate. "Wow!"

"No time to enjoy the works and, next time, don't forget to follow procedure and say, Hang!"

Jack stepped outside of the tent he was guarding. There was no reason to hide now. When the mortar rounds struck it had caused such a panic that he doubted the Assur would ever recover. When the M-60 opened up along with a barrage of small arms fire it was all over with for sure. The occupants of the camp scattered and fled in every direction with no order or cohesion. Jack had to wonder if it was the volume of fire or the direction it came from that really spooked them. They had all ran to the barricades to meet Lang and his group of slope heads. Getting attacked from above and behind, by weapons that must have seemed unreal to them, was the coup de grace.

It was not long after that when Lang, and the Assur with him, rushed forward. The “friendly” Assur immediately went to looting the chaotic camp of their desert brethren, while Lang found his way to Jack, and through all of the chaos. There was a look in the man’s eyes. Jack couldn't quite place it. They exchanged a long stare before the Zeat ducked away inside the tent. Was it fear, respect, maybe even disgust, that was on Lang’s face? Jack wondered.

Pete pushed his way through the crowd of fleeing enemies. He ducked in and out of every tent. Each time he screamed, "Julia!" There was no sign of her. Pete stopped when he reached the end of the camp. He dropped to his knees and felt a tear swelling in his eye.

A weak cry for help broke Pete's sorrow. He jumped up and began looking around. McCandles was lying not ten feet away from him! The old soldier was covered in blood and his shirt was torn to rags. Pete gently helped him sit up and only then did it become obvious. It was too late and even McCandles seemed to know it was over. Pete had seen that look in a man’s eyes before.

"Pe... Pete..."

"Yeah Mac, I'm here for you bud."

"Sto... mm.... Pete. Ju... Julia..."

Alpha Centauri was reaching its high point in the sky. A couple of pieces of wood had been pulled from what the Zeats used for fires. It served well enough for a makeshift cross. Jack stood behind it once they firmly planted it in the ground. Everyone else lined up to each side of the grave that it marked.

"He had become more to us that just a mere man, a teacher, a friend, a mentor," said Jack. "He was what he strived to be. A true blue professional to the end. This man, Joseph P. McCandles was our Sergeant Major. I think that was what he wanted to be remembered as the most."

"To come so far," said Pam quietly and with a deep remorse.

It was Vitosk who surprised everyone, "Amen and good journey old boy."

"Amen," replied the group.

Heads raised but, that did not end it. Gina was in tears. Saiid put his arm around her and led her back to the horses. Harry and Red had their hats in their hands as they wandered off. Dee never raised her head. She walked over to Jack and slid her arms around him. "Oh God Jack."

Jack pulled her in close, "It's going to be... "

"All right?" cried Dee as she looked up. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "It's not all right Jack. McCandles is Dead! So many of us have died!"

He placed his hand on her head and pulled it tight to his chest. Jack looked over to Pete. He was holding Joey. Even when Jack felt a tear come to his own eye it was obvious that Pete's would remain dry. There was no sadness in those eyes of his. All Jack saw there was rage. Julia was still missing.

"Pete?"

Pete did not answer his commander. He rubbed Joey's head and then pulled the boy along as he walked off. They both stopped next to Vitosk who was still just staring at the grave in silence. Pete's face was stern, "Are you ready?"

"I suppose so," replied the Russian.

Jack called out, "Ready for what Pete?"

Pete and Joey walked off without an answer. Only Vitosk was left standing there to say what had to be said. The Russian searched for the words to explain. He had to put it in terms that Jack would think for the best. He even sounded quite humble and to Jack that was a major red flag.

"Well, Lang has indicated that there is city a about a hundred miles or so to the west of here. A good sized one that I believe is mostly populated by Assur."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Jack asked accusingly.

"It would seem that Julia must still be alive. McCandles’ dying words were to stop them. I think he must have stumbled over whoever took Julia. I also do not believe that it was those people down there."

That was stupid! Gary said who it was. They found McCandles down there in the camp. It had to have been them. Jack related as much to Vitosk.

The Russian replied shaking his head in disagreement, "If the group originated from there then they did not go back. I would think that was obvious. Lang has communicated to me, the concept, that they would sell her if they had her. The place to do that, apparently, is this city to the west of here. Oh yes, and one more thing Jack."

"Which is?" Jack was not going to let this happen. He could not believe that they were actually thinking about splitting up!

"There was a shot fired Jack. One of those Assur shotguns. I remind you that down in the pass we didn't find the first one. They had no projectile weapons of any type."

"What are you saying?" asked Dee turning around to look.

"I don't know," Vitosk was obviously thinking about this seriously. "It does suggest that whoever took Julia, was not there when we attacked. That much I am certain of."

"I can't let you two go Yurgani," said Jack. "How in the hell do you think you can survive here? Hell, Vitosk you don't even know the language good enough."

"That is why I am going Jack. And there are three of us, not two. Joey is going as well. You can't expect the boy to sit by while his mother is missing can you? As for Pete, well I think only a bullet would keep him."

Jack did not respond. What could he say? "You got maps and provisions. You know where we're going, right?"

"Well we do not know what is there exactly but, Lang marked it on the map for us."

"Keep in radio contact for as long as you can," what else was Jack going to do? "Take the other base station with you. It's a satellite relay so we should be able to talk any where."

"Already packed it," Vitosk's reply was quick.

"Well I guess you guys have thought of everything," not to mention stealing it as they went. "Good luck Doctor."

Vitosk nodded and went to join his companions. Dee waited until he was out of earshot, "You can't be serious Jack. We need them! Alone and out there they'll get themselves killed!"

If anybody could make it on his own here it would be Vitosk. That did not mean Jack wanted them to go. He just couldn't come up with a feasible way of stopping them. If anything, Jack had to put his stamp of approval on it. If Jack didn't, then it would be admitting to everyone else what he already knew. He was losing his command authority. Was it his fault? Jack was not sure but it certainly felt like it. If he had been running things in a more Marine like fashion none of this would have ever happened in the first place!

Walking back to the horses, Dee did not let go. Even when Jack's new friend joined them. The dark haired girl stayed several paces behind as they walked. She said nothing but it was still irritating.

Too Dee, in particular, it was just down right infuriating, "What's the deal with her Jack?"

Jack looked over his shoulder at his new and unwanted companion. She looked down when his eyes gazed her way. He thought about it. Was that dance a ceremony of some kind? He hoped to god he wasn't married. Would it be legal if they got back home? That would be something! Go all the way to another star just to pick up a wife who will take him for everything he's got when he gets back!

They stopped walking. The dark haired girl did as well. Jack ignored her and Dee did her best to follow suit. They turned around and looked into the mountains.

They were finally leaving this barren desert. It was a moment of relief on one hand and sadness on the other. Every step they took seemed to take them further from home. For all they had been through, the tragedies they had faced, there was still the excitement of discovery. The reason why they had made this journey was as powerful as ever. There was no turning back now, so, forward into the unknown they would go.