Rebel Heart

"Give it to me, Lana!" he shouted.

She squeezed her eyes closed without complying.

"Arnie, you sick bastard, let her go!" Elise shouted, leaping atop the nearest boulder with her laser aimed at him.

"I'll finish what they started in the war!" Arnie shouted.

"Let her go!" the general bellowed.

Lana's eyes opened, and she stared at Brady, emotions flying through the expressive gaze. Arnie waved the laser as Brady crept closer. Light flashed and Lana gave a strangled cry as the laser gun glanced off her wrist. Blood splattered her. Her hand opened reflexively, and Arnie released her to claw at her wrist. Lana twisted away. She fell, and Brady lunged, snatching her belt as the two went over the edge.

Tim's Angel was crying. Arnie clutched at her bloodied hand, too maddened to heed his danger. The belt slipped, and Brady slung an arm around her, pulling her back hard. Arnie's weight dropped, and Lana and Brady landed in a heap.

"Don't drop me, don't drop me, don't drop me!"

His head dropped back against the ground in relief. The woman sprawled atop him shook, her blood smearing his hands. He nudged her off and rolled onto his side. Lana curled into a ball, holding her arm to her chest. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her into his body.

"Don't drop me, don't drop me, don't drop me," she repeated.

He pulled her arm away from her chest. She resisted, clenching her hand hard despite her pain. Her hair smelled like vanilla, her skin of sweat and woman.

"Lana, you fool," Elise scolded, squatting beside them. "God, look at you!"

Elise grabbed her wrist, but Lana resisted again.

"Move, Elise," the general snapped, pushing the guard commander away.

He held out his hand, and Lana held out her wrist. He pried her fingers away, glancing up at her when she gasped in pain. Her fingers opened to reveal a keypad similar to the one Brady delivered.

"Good girl," the general said with a satisfied smile as he took it.

Brady reached into a cargo pocket and pulled free an emergency bandage wrap. He gripped her trembling arm and placed the seal on her wrist. She gasped at the sudden pinch as it snapped into place, and her body went limp.

"So ends that walking tragedy," Elise said, standing at the cliff's edge and peering over it.

"He's at peace now," General Greene responded. "Major, take Lana to the doc and get what rest you can. You'll report to Elise tomorrow morning."