| Chapter 24: "DEAN MEETS GUNTHER, Part 12"
The high-pitched scream of a small car’s horn pierces the air. Randy’s Mustang II spins to a halt behind the limos. She leaps out firing the .45. Without the protection of their armored cars she manages to take down four of the drug runners before they scatter. Dean and Gunther use the diversion to attack Miller’s remaining men. Jimmy and Danielle grab automatic rifles from the dock and shoot at the limos from the other side. Bryan knocks Miller’s pistol from his hand. Randy pulls an M-60 from the back seat of the old car and fires mercilessly upon her enemies. Miller kicks Bryan in the stomach, then in the face. Bryan falls to the wooden planks of the dock. After the others have finished dealing with Miller’s men and the drug runners they run to Bryan’s aid. “Wait!” Gunther shouts. “Let him do this.” Bryan wraps his legs around Miller’s ankle and rolls over. Miller falls to the ground. Bryan leaps on top of him and begins to punch him in the face. Miller raises his legs, flinging Bryan through the air. Bryan scrambles to his feet. Miller charges at him. Bryan steps to one side and trips Miller, causing him to slam first into the side of the ship. Miller is knocked unconscious.
Gunther and Dean stare at each other intensely. They circle a small area like two tigers sizing each other up. “You were created to destroy me?” Dean says. “That is my understanding,” Gunther answers. “And you want my help? My powers?” “Why I was created and what I am are entirely different things.” “We do have common enemies,” Dean observes looking around the dock at the fallen drug dealers and agents. “Though our methods are slightly different,” Gunther points out. “You are more violent than I care to be.” “So we’re at odds?” “I can overlook our differences if you can.” “For now,” Dean says extending his forearm. Jimmy reaches into the truck and removes a small black case. He opens it and pulls out an empty syringe. “Don’t bother with that.” Randy says. “I doubt the needle can penetrate his skin.” “How do we get a blood sample?” Danielle asks. She looks at Dean. “How do we pierce your skin without hurting you?” Dean stretches out his right hand. He extends the claw within his index finger and uses it to prick his left forearm. Dean waves to Jimmy. Jimmy runs over with an insulated canister to collect the blood sample. He lets the crimson liquid drip into it. Dean flexes his fist to quicken the flow of blood. Jimmy holds the canister steady and then screws the lid on tight when he is satisfied they have enough blood. “Let me get the first aid kit from the truck,” Jimmy says. “We’ll patch you up.” “Don’t worry,” Dean says. “It’ll heal,” Randy says. “It always does. Quickly.” “Thank you,” Gunther says. “We’ll meet again,” Dean replies.
The group hears sirens approaching the dock. Dean and Randy streak off in her car. Gunther and his friends drive Jimmy’s truck down the dock and onto one of Bryan’s uncle’s boats. The customs officer assures the arriving police that the boat is clean and Gunther begins his journey home with hope for a safe, almost normal, life.
"Dinosoldier" is ©1994, 2005 by Jason L. Liquori. The pagetop logo is a creation of Nolan B. Canova.
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