Author's Note: to save everyone the trouble of having to look codes up, I will not be using Police Radio Jargon, so keeping it simple here. For the technical guys, please forgive me.

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Chapter 25 Retreat

Can't we catch a break already, my god, what else is going to happen next?I am fuming mad now. We finally get a little army together and then, what? Fate, God, Karma whatever you want to call it throws this shit at us?

My gut is telling me to call a retreat and run, level 1 vs level 90, you do the math. Weapons aside, if compared to me, and taking the fight with the level 28 Boss Worg into consideration, these guys will be pretty ineffective, only thing that saved my butt, was my hand to hand combat skills agianst the Boss. And these guys do not have that.

I decide to gamble a few seconds to make sure, not overestimate the creatures. I grab my Energy Gun and fire off 3 quick shots, the Sheriff is shooting with his Rifle as are Cortez and Foutz. We had stopped and engaged them out of habit, but once I saw the level I regretted it almost immediately.

Sure enough, we were only singing their massive thick fur, an annoyance to them. Over the radio it goes crazy, reports of the creature are all over. I yell to the others,” FALL BACK TO THE SCHOOL, HIGH SPEED!!”

We jump into the vehicles, and speed off. The Owlbears for their size are slow. Lumbering along, that is one good thing. I grab the radio, “Attention all units, fall back to the School now, drop what you are doing and retreat, even if you are not engaged in combat.!”

I sit back into my seat frustrated, the Sheriff is driving like a madman, followed by Foutz and Cortez in the other car. We see Owlbears everywhere, we are in the middle of the spawn area, great! They all give chase, but it is useless, Sheriff is not stopping.

“What the hell now?” I think out loud slamming my fist against the SUV Door in anger, the window shatters, the door buckles and bends outward, “crap, god damned it, fuck!” I yell in anger.

“Calm down Scott, it is not your fault!” Sheriff tries to console me.

“I realize that Rick, but can't we catch a fucking break just once?” I say in anger, yelling.

He stays silent and drives on.

"This is Deputy Mackers we need back up fast, we are stuck and are under attack by those big monsters, our guns are ineffective against them. Torrez and Charles are down.” the vioce of Deputy Mackers calls out over the radio panicked.

“This is Sheriff Hanson what is your location?” He quickly grabs the radio and asks.

“Sheriff we are at the corner of 20th and Hutton, two cars are disabled, Chandler got away, but doubt he can make it back on his own." Mackers replies urgently.

"This is Chandler, Sir I am down on South Hutton heading back to 20th, but it is thick with these creatures, not sure if I can help,” Chandler calls out.

I grab the radio, the rage is building in me “Chandler no heroics, get out of there and back to school as ordered, we will get them out, copy that?” I order.

“Yes sir I copy, heading back to the School now!” Chandler responds.

Sheriff looks at me nods and turns the wheel” We are less than 5 min out” He says now concentrating on the road, speeding at unsafe speeds, Cortez and Foutz on our tail, having turned with us.

“Equip Vibroblade”

“Equip Advanced Marine Dagger”

I now go into the zone, concentrate on what is about to come, this is my zone. The calm hits me, everything else is tuned out. I feel a sense of peace overcome me as my mind has only one thought, kill or be killed.

Calmly I say” Rick when we get there, get the wounded and get out of there, do not wait for me, got it?”

“Scott?” Sheriff asks with concern in his voice.

"Sheriff please just do as I say, no questions” I remain calm, but the coldness in my voice, the steel look in my eyes has transformed me into someone else. With one glance the Sheriff grows nervous.

“Su...sure thing Scott, leave it to us.” He says uncomfortably.

The minutes seem like an eternity, but while I am in the zone, the calm has me completely. I do not feel anything.

The Sheriff takes the radio, “ Cortez, Fouts, grab the wounded and head back to the School, do not engage. Copy that?” He says with a stern voice.

“Roger that Sheriff we copy” Says Cortez, voice over the radio.

We arrive with skidding tires, I jump out, pushing the bent door open with force. It falls off the SUV. I run and engage the nearest Owlbear, screaming at the top of my lungs, trying to grab their attention, issuing them a challenge roar. I am moving at top speed, a blur to the eye.

I connect with the first Owlbear with both the vibroblade and Dagger, both sinking into the creatures hide. It roars out in pain, then swipes at me with its massive claws, but it is slow, I see the claws coming and I duck under the blow.The world is moving in slow motion.

I pull the Vibroblade and dagger out and strike again dancing around the Owlbear, hitting 6 times in just a second, causing great gashes in its hide, I am using my full strength, no holding back.

The Owlbear strikes bending forward, this time both claws swipe at me, one low, one mid, I jump and somersault over the creature who stands 8 feet tall and do a cross sweep with the Vibroblade and dagger at its neck, a scissor action, both connect cleanly, but do not cut all the way thru. It looks like I struck a major artery tho, it is pumping blood at an alarming rate. It howls in rage and pain and goes into a frenzy.

I jump back, and notice one arriving behind me, 2 coming from the left. Very soon I will be surrounded, can not let that happen.

I stop my attacks on the first one and charge the 2 coming at me, going low and swipe their legs, the dagger driven tip first, into the knee joint of the left one, while the Vibroblade is used to saw at the thigh of the right one. I run low between the two as they both swing their massive claws at me missing me by a hair. I circle around and come up on the first one from the back, it is frenzied, so it is not following my movement thrashing at the air.

I come upon it's back and thrust the Vibroblade deep into its back, angled up at about 90 degrees towards its heart from my vantage point. I hit, and let go of the blade and continue my forward motion, Equip Bowie Dagger, I think and head for the unharmed Owlbear who is lumbering after me. As it starts to bend forward to swipe at me, I leap into the air and jab the Bowie into its left eye. at the same time, I swivel in the air and plant my feet on its left shoulder and launch myself horizontal at the 2 now heavily limping Owlbears.

The Owlbear with the Bowie in it's left eye cries out in pain and is staggered back by my sudden use of it as a launch pad, sending it backwards and landing on its back. I am practically flying a the two, not expecting my move they are surprised by the action, and my Dagger strike home into the chest of the right one with the thigh wound.

I am struck on my left side by the left Owlbear, it's claws tearing into my flak jacket but it holds, the blow is staggering tho and knocks the wind out of me. Sending me to my right side a few feet. Shaking it off, I get up and face the Owlbear still standing, the one with the dagger in the eye is getting up, clawing a the Bowie.

Two Owlbears are dead now, one has the Vibroblade sticking out of its back, the other has my Advanced Marine Dagger in its chest. I then charge at the one in front of me, rolling on the ground to avoid a swipe and reach for my dagger in the chest of the dead Owlbear, then in a fluid motion while kneeling, I throw the dagger at the one with the Bowie in it's left eye, striking it's right eye, blinding it, It hows in renewed pain.

The Owlbear by me turns and scores another hit lifting me up and throwing me thru the air. The Flak jacket is torn open on the chest area, a wound is opened up on my chest, 4 gashes flowing blood, a burning pain erupts in my chest as I hit the ground, I cry out. I instinctively call for a healing potion, and down it in a swift motion and toss the vial, I then get to my feet.

Not waiting for the potion to take effect, I run to the Vibroblade, it has loosened itself enough now to be pulled freely from the body.

I quickly grab it, but do not stop running and head for the blinded one and leap at it, throwing my entire weight behind the blade and let it sink deep into its throat, passing thru to the back of its neck, severing the spinal cord from the skull. Letting go of the blade, I somersault again backwards over the head of on coming limping Owlbear feeling two swipes of its claws pass under me, striking its companion in the chest scoring two gashing blows.

I feel a massive blow hit me from behind, knocking me to my knees. More have arrived, I am staggered, but not out of it. The pain in my chest has already passed, the potion doing its job. I roll left and jump forward to avoid another blow.

I glance a look, Rick and the others have finally gotten the 3 deputies into the SUV and are about to get in and leave. Rick gives me a sorrowful look of regret, then gets in and drives off, Cortez and Foutz follow behind in the other car.

I turn to look and see I am now facing 8 Owlbears. More coming, the situation looks hopeless to me, but I bought them time, Cindy and Julie will be sad,but they will be proud of me. After all I got to play the Hero...............

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Sheriff and his Deputies arrive at the School,. He had called ahead and asked for me on be on standby, he had wounded incoming and needed fast healing. Doc is with me just in case, as is Cindy.

I am not happy Scott left us behind and went off on his own, we are always together no matter what, thick and thin, how dare he leave us behind, I swear when I see him he will regret that decision.

Cindy has an angry expression too, she is not happy with Scott either, for leaving her behind...ohhh that man, I swear he just does not get it at times, we are all in this together! He always tries to shield us, not letting us help! How do we grow if he does not let us help him?

I run towards the vehicles and see the Sheriff and the 2 deputies getting the people out of the SUV. They are really bad off, I begin to apply healing to stop the bleeding on the one called Mackers, he got it the worst. Seems he tried to shield his comrades and took a clean swipe across the back almost severing his spinal cord.

Once I got him stabilized, I apply healing to the other two, all have lost massive amounts of blood, but after the healing they are going to be fine with lots of rest.

“WHAT? AND YOU JUST LEFT HIM!!” Cindy screams.

I look up and see her talking to the sheriff, she is crying now, I look around, “Huh? Where is Scott?” I ask out loud,

Cindy looks at me then busts into tears, ” No,....no....no way, he can't be.....” I say in shock and disbelief.

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