Chereads / The Outlaw (Harbor Universe) / Chapter 17 - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 - Chapter 17

Gathering supplies for the command center at the hardware store, Clint notices a news report on the TV reports of a terrorist attack coordinated by a man known as Elly Sheetan Melek, who believes that the Earth is filled with filth and he has been chosen to cleanse it. The death toll ranges to hundreds, but Clint chooses to ignore it and leaves to return back to the command center. The prison where Robert is being held, he sits in his cell, reading until the doors into the prison are blown off and a gang of heavily armed mercenaries enter, gunning down multiple guards. Closing his book calmly, Robert stands up as the mercs approach his cell.

Mercenary: This is him.

They shoot the lock to open it.

Robert Kessler: What took you so long?

The lead mercenary hands him his two pistols.

Lead mercenary: Courtesy of Mr. Galloway.

The mercenaries escort him, but Robert finds Kendall's cell and at first Kendall seems relieved, but Robert simply shoots him in the head to kill him.

Robert Kessler: Failure.

Robert leaves the prison to a waiting helicopter and Roman opens the door.

Roman Galloway: Mr. Kessler.

Robert gets into the chopper as it flies away and puts on a headset as the helicopter flies away.

As a new day dawns, Michael visits Brooke and presents her with some flowers to lift her spirits after a run-in with her abusive ex. She invites him into her apartment, and he takes a seat on her couch as she joins him. Since she took a day off, Michael wants to take her out and give her a day to remember, so she changes and goes with him, but they are unaware that Robert is watching them through the scope of a sniper rifle as Robert smirks.

Robert Kessler: Just keep making this much easier for me.

Throughout the day, Michael and Brooke spend as much time together as they can and during their date night the previous night, Brooke mentioned that she has always wanted to be in two places at once so Michael drives to the border line of Crystal City, which is based in Texas, and Louisiana. He takes her hand and guides her to the spot. Confused and giggling, he has her put one foot in one spot and her other in the other then shows her the "Welcome to Louisiana" sign, displaying she is now in two places at once. Laughing, Brooke hugs him tightly as Michael holds her in his arms.

At the command center, Clint works on installing newer equipment while Roy goes over the attack at the prison as the news covers it on the TV behind him. The death toll stands at fifteen and a dozen escapees.

Clint Gallows: Hey, Roy? Can you come help me with this?

Roy walks over and helps Roy install the final piece of the new setup and the monitor cuts on.

Clint Gallows: Wonderful.

Roy Wheeler: I thought the cameras were installed and online?

Clint Gallows: One second, my friend. Patience is the key to everything.

Clint clicks the keypads and then the monitors display LIVE feeds of the cameras around the property, making Roy chuckle and pat him on the shoulder.

Roy Wheeler: I see why now; Michael likes you so much. You have a talent for this kind of shit.

Clint Gallows: When you spend time in the Navy behind a desk, building state of the art equipment, eventually it will come into hand at some point.

Michael arrives at the command center to find the new setup and is shocked by it.

Michael Monroe: Nice setup.

Clint Gallows: Just now got it up and running.

Roy Wheeler: Another date?

Michael Monroe: Yeah. Yeah, it was fun. Really fun.

Roy Wheeler: I can tell by that smile on your face.

Michael Monroe: What smile?

Roy begins laughing as Michael smiles again.

Roy Wheeler: He smiles! I think we need to celebrate this moment. Been a long time since you cracked a smile around here.

Roy takes three beers out of the fridge and hands one to Michael and the other to Clint. The three men make a toast and drink. Roy then goes over the prison attack with Michael while Clint continues making adjustments to the setup.

Michael Monroe: How many prisoners?

Roy Wheeler: By my count, at least thirty. But they could be anywhere now.

Michael Monroe: The prisoners we will leave to the police, right now the main focus is Roman and Robert.

A knock on the door catches them off guard.

Clint Gallows: Does anyone else know we are here? Michael, you didn't tell your new girlfriend, did you?

Michael Monroe: Nobody should even know this is here and she's not my girlfriend. Not yet at least.

Michael goes to the door and uses the camera outside to Yuri standing there as Michael swears under his breath.

Roy Wheeler: Who is it?

Michael opens the door as Yuri turns around.

Michael Monroe: What do you want?

Yuri Baranov: Are you free to talk?

Michael Monroe: Kind of in the middle of something.

Yuri Baranov: Wonderful.

Yuri then walks inside much to Michael's dismay and discomfort.

Michael Monroe: Uh, did you not hear what I said?

Yuri Baranov: I heard you and I know what is going on. You want to find Roman Galloway and Robert Kessler.

Roy then draws his gun and points it right at Yuri.

Roy Wheeler: You have five seconds to tell us why you are here and how you found this place, or I take your fucking head off.

Michael Monroe: Roy, it's cool. He's cool. Put the gun down.

Roy Wheeler: How do you know this guy, Michael?

Michael Monroe: Long story.

Yuri Baranov: Yeah, I remember you. I kicked your ass that day and put you in the hospital.

Roy Wheeler: You son of a bitch!

Roy then sucker punches Yuri in the face and the two men begin to fight. Michael and Clint stand aside watching them brawl as Clint places some cash on the table.

Clint Gallows: Thirty on Roy.

Michael responds by placing seventy. The fight lasts a few seconds as Yuri applies a triangle hold and Roy yields as Yuri releases the hold and both men stand up.

Clint Gallows: You both done?

Roy Wheeler: You nearly killed me. I should put a bullet in your head right now.

Yuri Baranov: So, do it. I've kicked your ass twice now.

Michael Monroe: Okay, that's enough. Both of you. Now, how do you know Roman and Robert?

Yuri Baranov: They are why I am in exile. I was a part of a secret task force for Russia that worked with other countries. Bounty hunters mostly and I am here to avenge Mother Russia. I am the last of the Shadow Hunters remaining because your government twisted Russia into assuming we were the bad guys. I hunted down your government's mistakes and in the end, it was my brothers and sisters that paid the price.

Michael Monroe: Wait, wait, so you are a bounty hunter? For Russia?

Yuri Baranov: Yes.

Michael Monroe: Why did you attack us that day?

Yuri Baranov: My government was working with the United Nations to track down and clean up the messes they made. We asked no questions, did what we were instructed to do and got paid to do it. The only people I trusted was my fellow brothers and sisters and I thought my own people until we were betrayed. One by one they were captured and executed because of the poisons within the U.N. that filled their little minds with bullshit. I tried to save as many as I could, but in the end, I was all that survived. I came here to right those wrongs and when I heard about you, I thought you were the one they sent to kill us.

Michael Monroe: Trust me, when I say, I don't work for the government. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them.

Yuri Baranov: I now realize that.

Michael Monroe: So, you came here looking for someone like me only to find out I am not that person? How about next time, doing a bit of investigating or research?

Yuri Baranov: I've been on the run for five years and you three are the first I've come across that hasn't tried to kill me.

Michael Monroe: You're kidding me, right? YOU attacked us that day on the highway and nearly killed Roy then have to nerve to show up here, trying to make us feel bad for you? Then you find out we are not who you thought we were and then want to say we haven't tried to kill you? I should drop you right now. I simply don't give a shit what happened to you, but don't you dare for one second come in here and try to accuse us of trying to kill you! Up until now, my main focus has been on Roman Galloway and killing him, but now you may have given me a new target.

With a burning rage, Michael balls his hands into fists ready to strike him.

Yuri Baranov: I made a mistake and I apologize. Is there any way I can make it up?

Roy Wheeler: You can make it up by getting the hell out of here.

Yuri nods as he gets up and leaves the command center.

Clint Gallows: You know, despite what he did, that was a bit harsh, man. Hear me out. I get you both are on a very short fuse, but the man made a mistake and he showed it.

Michael Monroe: What are you trying to say?

Clint Gallows: I'm saying, maybe we could use him. He's not working for Roman, and he just wants to make things right.

Michael laughs and scoffs at that idea and walks off without a reply.

Roy Wheeler: Let him go. He needs to cool down.