No Turning Back

Chapter One: No Turning Back

"Nikolai is right, you saw it with your own eyes--", Takeo added before being cut off.

"BUT I NEVER SAW HER WITH MY OWN EYES!" Dempsey shouted in frustration causing both men to fall silent.

"She. Is. Alive. And we're just sitting here getting ordered around by that kraut while we could be doing something!" Dempsey explained. After a moment, Takeo was the first to break his silence.

"We have nothing to go on but your gut feeling. You do not know anything for sure!" Takeo replied bluntly and dismissively whilst Nikolai nodded in agreement. Dempsey stood there as his lips parted in disbelief before he just stared at the two men.

"Why are you both acting like this?!" Dempsey snapped lowly.

"He lies, he deceives-- HE IS SICK FOR FUCK SAKE! How the hell can you two believe HIM over ME!?" Dempsey growled through gritted teeth. His eyes burned with anger as the emotion culminated to a crescendo. He suddenly swivelled around as his fist thrust an explosive punch against the filing cabinet next to him.

The rumble of the metal echoed and bellowed as the noise reverberated around the large bare room. Dempsey kept his back to the two men as they looked at eachother in shock. After a few seconds, the sound finally dissipated into silence.

Dempsey's feet remained firmly rooted to the floor as he willed himself to turn around. His breathing was short and sharp, scarlet patches of skin ran up the side of his neck as the front of his forehead felt taught. He stood there trying to calm himself down before Takeo finally said something.

"Dempsey, what do you expect us to do?" Takeo began.

"What can we do?" He continued before Dempsey swung around and interrupted him.

"We may not be able to find her... but there is something we can do!" Dempsey exclaimed.

"Ayyy! Is all good and happy!" Nikolai slurred jovially before frowning.

"But what is it we can do?" Nikolai whispered dejectedly as he averted eye contact and stared at the vodka bottle in his hand. Dempsey shook his head and rolled his eyes before laughing.

"We can stall him!" Dempsey replied as his eyes gleamed with hope.

"Yes! All we have to do is just hold the doc back. Kiana's a smart girl, she's probably catching up with us already. She knows what's coming next! And thats something the doc can't do!" Dempsey explained.

"I never believed Richtofen for one second but I kept thinking about how we could get to her. But we don't even need to! We just have to do our bit!" Dempsey added excitedly as he roused the other two men into action.

"Dempsey..." Takeo began, as Dempsey suddenly went silent and quietly waited for him to continue.

"...This could work", Takeo continued - causing both men to continue their celebration.

"She's out there! Just help me give her some time to catch up with us. You know how this ends for us all if that freak succeeds!" Dempsey insisted.

"Da! He might be right, Takeo!" Nikolai chimed in. Nikolai was now beginning to see sense but Takeo was much more stubborn.

"C'mon Tak. What other plan do we have? He dragged us across freakbag infested kraut country! He's gonna kill us eventually!" Dempsey pleaded as he tried to reason with Takeo.

Takeo had remained seated by the fire as he now sat in silence. Dempsey looked at him expectantly as he and Nikolai anticipated his response. Just before Dempsey was about to lose hope, Takeo finally spoke up.

"I believe that there are things in this world which cannot be explained. Since Kiana arrived-- I have never believed this more vehemently. I also believe it is possible for souls to remained tied to eachother even when they are not physically together", Takeo began.

"And I do not want to believe that a warrior like her would fall in battle any more than you, Dempsey. I can believe that if she is alive then it is only a matter of time before our paths cross again", he continued as Dempsey's face lit up.

"That's the spirit, Tak! I knew you'd come round! All we've gotta do is slow him down long enough for Kiana and Primis to catch up with us", Dempsey cheered.

"You guys get some sleep and I'll think of something!" Dempsey said as he walked back over to the fire where his gun lay. Takeo and Nikolai nodded in agreement and began to settle in for the night. They stayed close to the fire as they wrapped themselves up in their blankets. Dempsey pocked up his gun before marching to his post with staunch determination in every step.

He had this time to himself to formulate a plan... and he had to make it count.

End of part one...