Not all that is missing is lost.

 

Unleash the dogs of war!

So I've had another bunny, and it hopped right on to a short little one shot. 

At it again

Been a while since I was last here. I've started writing again. This time it's HP/Twilight crossover.
And obviously I can't resist making manips. So to start the ball rolling here's my new banner. Keep em peeled for further installments.

Fanfiction Trolls strike again!

Mass Deletions on FF


Found this on another FF blog I read, seems FF is yet again being dogged by prepubescent bullies who have nothing better to do than berate and bully writers of FF stories into removing their efforts for fear of being reported and having them removed. To top it off the plonkers who actually do moderate FF are in many circumstances listening to said bullies. It makes me wonder if said moderators were late in the line when common sense was handed out.

Having worked both voluntarily and professionally as a moderator for a major ISP (admittedly my area of expertise was child protection and not story telling) anyone with half a brain cell would know that you investigate a report of wrong doing, and only when you find EVIDENCE of such do you act. Otherwise you have a nice chat with the person who did the reporting about wasting time, telling tales and respect, reminding them that the rules work both ways. Repeat offenders don't get to play again.

It seems to me that the FF mods need to go through some training.

As for these bullies, because that is what they are, they will soon learn that 'campaigns' like this will eventually bite them in the arse. What started out as a way of looking all 'big' and 'clever' with their 'friends' will soon go as toxic as the foul words they're throwing at the numerous undeserving writers on FF. You see in the big wide world, were GROWNUPS pay taxes and do JOBS, these sort of antics show them to be exactly what they are. An attention seeking child who's mum or dad who didn't hug them enough and couldn't say no to them out of guilt.

Just remember, even if your rubbish is spouting in some innocuous site off in the arse crack of nowhere, your ISP will have record of your visit. Should you push too hard and take your harassment over that imaginary line of acceptable behaviour, you may just find yourself in deeper trouble than just being suspended from a random website. I'm sure Mum and Dad will be thrilled when they're Internet goes bye bye due to your idiotic activities. You might laugh now, but I've seen it happen. Conditions of service teams at major ISP's spend a lot of time weedling out trolls, and in some extreme cases have been known to press charges. How far are you prepared to push?

Grow up, learn some respect and if you don't like what you've been reading, there's an X in the corner or you can hit the back button and go somewhere else. That is the joy of the Internet, you're not forced to stay in one place, so instead of acting like mindless sheep, go do something constructive, because Internet trolling is so 1998.

M :o)

Zombies Zombies! Everywhere!

Hallo!

Well I've been a little on the quiet side since I finished IA back in September. That doesn't mean I haven't been lurking about playing with plot bunnies, because I have. This one may not go anywhere, but it's in my head, so I'm playing with it. It won't be updated regularly, I'll post as and when I get something down in type.

The idea? Edward Masen (yeah I know he's not a Cullen) is a Marine Biologist on the Scientific Research Vessel 'Aurora'. There has been much unrest between Europe and China over the months and it comes to a catastropic head when China drops bombs on various important European cities. This is Edwards Diary of those dark days that follow.

I'm sure the regular players will join the fray, but I have no plan what so ever on this one, it's purely by the seat of my pants, so who knows what my adled brain will come up with. Here's a little teaser...

Personal Journal – EAM

Marine Research Vessel Aurora

Philippine Sea - Mariana Trench – Lat: 17°45'0.00"N Long: 142°30'0.00"E

11^th November 2011

I remember the day the bombs fell like it was yesterday. If I’m going to keep this account correct. It wasn’t yesterday of course. It was 327 days ago.

Tensions between the West and China had been at an all time high for months. We were all aware that their nuclear capabilities were strong. However the western governments underestimated just how strong they were. They never for one second expected to find out in the way that they did.

It was the week before Christmas, December 19^th 2010 when diplomacy finally failed. Although thinking back I doubt it ever had a chance. For months politicians and diplomats had wagered their drawn out verbal battles, exchanged platitudes and attempted to sway the Chinese. Looking at it now, it could’ve been ended by using one simple word. Sorry.

It’s too late now of course. London was lost first. It’s nothing but an oversized crater, fissures and fractures pushing outwards in all directions nothing but a desolate wasteland.

Brussels, Paris and Berlin followed its destruction only minutes later. They had no time to react, no warning.

One minute people were sitting glued to the newscasts, going about their daily routines. The next, the horizon was filled by blooming mushroom clouds, a vacuum sucking the air from the former great cities and leaving nothing but death.

They were the lucky ones. They didn’t know what hit them and they didn’t live long enough to experience the aftermath.

Over the following weeks, very few survivors surfaced. Those that did were horribly burnt and succumbed to their injuries quickly.

It wasn’t until midway through February that ‘they’ appeared, the first of the walking dead.

The desolate craters had all been avoided for fear of radiation. The affected countries had erected ‘exclusion zones’ nothing within a 200 mile radius of the craters would be touched. Not for a very long time.

Europe had suffered heavily in the attacks and now it faced a new wave. The re-animated corpses of the nuclear dead slowly spilled from the cities. There weren’t many to start with, as most had been incinerated by the bombs.

When the first few staggered out of the ruins, no-one thought that they would pose a danger other than a risk of radiation poisoning. That is until the first of the medical and rescue teams were bitten. Limbs were torn from bodies, internal organs, strewn about like macabre holiday garlands. Those that weren’t eaten changed. They joined the ranks of the undead horde.

News was sporadic at best, at its worst non-existent. I was fortunate or atleast I consider myself so. I’d been stationed on the research vessel ‘Aurora’ for the past 3 years. We were at sea when the shit hit the fan.

We didn’t know anything had happened until London went silent. No warning or anything. Just dead air, like someone had flipped the switch off at the other end. I was on watch in the radio room. I’d been talking to Tanya who was based at the Science Institute in London, when suddenly she was gone. Not that it was a bad thing as she annoyed the hell out of me. It was inconvenient. We were due to head back to London in about a month. I’d been tasked with arranging logistics for when we reach port. I was long overdue some shore leave and we had tons of samples to deliver to the less adventurous scientists at the institute to examine.

The sudden dead air confused me. One minute I’m telling her that my visit was strictly professional and that I had no intention of ‘hooking up’ with her, the next, nothing, not even static. I figured I’d pissed her off. She should’ve been used to my declining her advances by now. Three years is a long time to be saying no to someone. She probably just turned the radio off.

I tried another channel, if I couldn’t get Tanya back, then maybe someone else at the institute would help me finalize preparations for our return. I tried for hours, getting nowhere. Logically I knew that something was wrong. It’s pretty obvious that things are amiss when you can’t even get static when you dial onto what should be a strong signal. The suddenness of it is what shocked me. One second all is well, the next nothing. There was no rhyme or reason that I could envisage for it.

I was joined some hours later by an American colleague, Emmett McCarty, a huge bear of a man, but exceptionally kind and loyal. He tried just as I had to pick up a signal, when he found he couldn’t get anything that was proof enough to me that I wasn’t doing anything wrong. He suggested we tried someone closer, so we turned the dial for the Australian Science Institute. It took several minutes to get someone, but at least it wasn’t dead air. What we heard will remain in my memory for the rest of my life.

“G’day Aurora, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the reason you can’t get through to anyone is because London and many other European cities are gone.”

We sat in shock as the magnitude of that announcement sank in. Gone, but how, why? The Australians told us all that they could, although even they were at a loss to just how bad things were. They’d had contact up until a few hours ago, but since then, no information was coming out of our home port. They had little hope for survivors and we were advised that it would be best to avoid Europe at all costs, choosing to dock in Australia should we require provisions and assistance from now on. It’s not a decision we could make on our own, and once the rest of those on board were up and around we would have to discuss what we would need to do from now on.

Once we’d signed off with Australia, we sat for what seemed hours, neither of us talking; there wasn’t really anything we could say. Home was gone, we needed to move on and decide what to do next, and whether the research mission would continue as is or what we would do now.

I had chuckled mirthlessly at myself as I thought the words spoken by a favourite film character. 

“As if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.”

The truth in that thought wasn’t lost on me then and as I write this account it seems all the more apt.  Something terrible had happened.

Yeah so um, it's not much at the moment, but who knows it might go somewhere eh?Oh and the piccy, is NOAA research vessel 'Gunter', its how I see the Aurora. 

This is the end?

Yeah, so my inbox and reviews are littered with OMG you killed them! How could you?!

Well the reason I did what I did was because that was how the story was intended. I had actually written the Prologue and Epilogue at the same time, so the intention to kill them off was there from the start. Sure I could've had them jump out the back of the plane at the very last second, bounce across the mostly destroyed runway and embrace as the stricken aircraft explodes in a ball of flame and detritus, but that wouldn't be 'keeping it real'.

The good guys won, but in order for good to prevail over evil, there had to be a casualty, because even the good guys die sometimes. The story dictated it, they could only escape by the skin of their teeth so many times, before dear ole' death caught up with them.

I would say sorry, but I'm not, because that would be admitting that I'm wrong in ending it like that and as it's my story, that's how I wanted it to go. That is the hard fought truth in war, the hand of evil isn't picky about who it touches and the HEA don't always come with a big red bow, a box of choccy's or a smooch.

The HEA in my story is that they finished it together, prevailed over evil and if you believe in after lives and all that stuff, they're off sitting pretty on a cloud somewhere, making daisy chains and shitting rainbows.

I've enjoyed every minute of this little forray into fan fiction, it was very much out of my comfort zone and I've appreciated the support and comments (good and bad) that I've recieved. Maybe next time I'll have them riding off into the sunset, fully intact, beating hearts and all. (Or maybe not)

I've created a PDF of this story and uploaded it to my googledocs, it can be downloaded here....
DOWNLOAD IMMEDIATE ACTION

I know this will work on a kindle if you have one as I've tested it on my own! 

I'll get round to adding Whistling Shitcan and Emmett McCarty - The bear hunter eventually.

Download Emmett McCarty - The Bear Hunter.

Download Immediate Action Outtake - Operation Whistling Shitcan.

Epilogue

 September 6th 2010.

"We have breaking news of a plane crash at Andrews Air Force Base, lets join NBC reporter Jessica Stanley for more information."

"Thank you Dale, this is Jessica Stanley reporting from Andrews Air Force Base where it has been revealed that this evening an operation involving Navy Seals, and CIA operatives, thwarted a plot by the infamous crime syndicate the Volturi to assassinate the President. While details of the operation are still very hush hush, it has been revealed that missing CIA analyst Isabella Swan was instrumental in the sourcing of the intelligence that lead to the joint operation. It has been confirmed that numerous chemical bombs have been found and made safe in and around the Smithsonian, which we are all aware was holding a Presidential gala this evening. In a related turn of events, Miss Swan is believed to have been on the plane that crashed barely thirty minutes ago at Andrews, along with Seal team commander, Master Chief Edward Cullen. It is believed that the aircraft was an integral part of the Volturi plot and that Miss Swan and Mr Cullen had somehow found themselves on board the flight."

"Do we have any information on the status of Miss Swan and Mr Cullen, Jess?"

"Good question Dale, as you can see behind me, emergency services are working hard to control the fire that engulfed the aircraft moments after it hit the ground, at this time there is no information on whether Miss Swan or Mr Cullen made it out prior to this happening."

"We can only pray that they make it back to their families."

"Absolutely Dale, it's the heroic sacrifices and endeavours made by those such as Miss Swan and Mr Cullen that make us proud to be American."

*~*~*~*~*

September 20th 2010

"On NBC tonight, details are emerging of the Volturi plot to bring chaos to the United States."

"Swan and Cullen, America's unsung heroes."

"President Schrieber to be endited for apparent secret involvement with the Volturi, Vice President Jason Banner to be sworn in, in the interim."

"Phil Dwyer, the secret Volturi assassin."

"Nuclear scientist for the DOD Waylon Jennings found dead in Volterra, Italy."

"But first, it has been announced that Lauren Mallory, former assistant to Director of Operations Phil Dwyer of the CIA has been sentenced to life imprisonment at Virginia state penitentiary as a traitor to the United States. As you are aware Miss Mallory was found to be selling secrets and planting false intelligence while in her trusted position at the CIA, which resulted in the deaths of Chief Petty Officer Peter Jackson, Senior CIA Intelligence Analyst Albert Berty, and the life threatening injury to colleague Angela Webber. Also mentioned in the prosecution was the abduction of Miss Isabella Swan and Master Chief Edward Cullen, who were both taken and tortured by the Volturi. Miss Mallory apparently fell into a bad situation with the Volturi due to gambling debts at a casino that had been used as a front by them during the few years they had been quiet. She only escaped the death sentence because she gave herself up and supplied information that could be used to bring them to justice."

"In other news, Mastermind Aro Volturi and bomb maker Demetri Volakov have been named among casualties of a helicopter crash over the Balkans. Mr Volturi has been on the run since the events of Labour Day when a Volturi plot to not only assassinate President Schrieber, but also a majority of the men and women of the Senate was foiled by a joint operation between Navy Seals and the CIA. It is still unclear as to the reasons behind the Volturi plot; however sources at the Pentagon have said that they are breathing a huge sigh in relief that there is one less threat to our nation’s stability tonight."

"Stay tuned for further updates. I'm Dale Cleary and this is NBC news."

The TV blared noisily over the thrum of patrons. Standing at the bar in Whitlows Bar and Grill on Wilson, Charlie Swan sighed. Over the last few months he'd aged nearly ten years, his brown curly locks were now peppered with white flecks, his face sallow and his eyes shrunken and surrounded by deep dark circles. Sleep was no longer a commodity that he was familiar with. He looked around the bar at the assembled men and women, all of them here to pay homage to the lost. His heart ached as much as his body; he understood the grief many of these people assembled felt intimately. Scratching the back of his neck a gesture that he'd come to understand as a nervous tick he took a swig from his glass and then tapped the bar to gain attention of the crowd.

"I um, I'm not big on talking, but I just have to say my piece." He mumbled out.

The bar was silent, all eyes fixed on the middle aged man, whose eyes bore a frightening resemblance to those of his daughter. He was flanked by his wife Sue and the large muscular forms of Emmett McCarty and Jasper Whitlock, adjacent to them stood Carlisle Cullen and his wife Esme, and lastly their daughter Alice. Charlie's shoulder sagged a little under the weight of the feelings he was holding in, his only comfort coming from the elegant hand of Emmett's heavily pregnant wife Rosalie, who looped her arm through his. He nodded to her thanking her for her kindness.

Two folded flags held places of honour within the group placed with care upon a tall table alongside a pair of framed photographs of Edward and Bella. The assembled people stood in silence as the quiet spoken man prepared to speak.

"I just w-wanted to say thank you, the support and acceptance I've received these last few months has been overwhelming, as you may know I'm a quiet guy and don't really socialise with folks. I'd like to think that despite the sacrifices that my Bella and your Edward made that I've found something that was missing, family. We may not be family by blood, but we're united in our grief for our missing loved ones. Bella and Edward were alike in so many ways, but what made them stand out was their shared courage and love for their country. I'm proud to have been able to call Bella my daughter, just like I'm proud to be able to say that I knew Edward. In protecting what they loved they made the ultimate sacrifice, and while I'm saddened that they can't be here to see the good that they have done, I know that wherever they are now is a better place." Charlie choked slightly as he lifted his glass once more.

"Bella and Edward always remembered, never forgotten."

The crowd lifted their glasses and the toast chorused throughout the bar.

Chapter 33 - 6th September 2010 - End Game

EPOV

I gunned the engine of the SUV and sped from my parking spot in front of the Smithsonian, as I drove I pulled the small tracking device from the pocket of my pants and switched to Bella's signal, it showed her moving away from Mclean and out towards Dulles, when I thought about it, it seemed pretty obvious, the freight terminal would be the ideal location to launch an attack, as long as they had a private plane in order to fly out of there, which I had no doubts they did.

"Please stay safe baby," I said to no one.

I felt guilty at leaving the guys behind, but had every faith that they would be fine without me, they've been operating without my interference for months now, one more mission without me is not going to do them any harm. It's something they need to get used to anyhow. I watched the signal beep across the tracking device as it moved into the freight terminal, well so far I seemed to be on the right track. I continued out onto the highway flooring the accelerator and speeding through traffic.

I cursed under my breath as I passed a patrol car and suddenly the lights lit up and it was on my ass, "Fuck! Not now assholes!" I yelled slamming my hand against the steering wheel.

I pushed the call button on my throat comm and called in to SOCOM, "Hey guys this is Cullen, I'm en route to Dulles, tracking a suspected terrorist, I have a patrol car on my ass, you need to get someone to call them off," I said as calmly as possible.

Moments later the patrol car dropped off my tail with a final flash of its lights in acknowledgement, I flashed my indicators in response and continued on towards my goal. It felt like I'd been on the road forever when the sign for the freight terminal loomed ahead of me, I sped through the barrier, nearly taking out the portly security officer that only just jumped out of my way as I passed him. Sorry dude lay of the doughnuts!

I slowed down as I rounded the terminal building and moved onto the tarmac, Bella's signal seemed to be coming from the C-130 that stood ready to join the cue for takeoff up ahead. I passed it and parked up alongside a line of freight trucks. I stepped out of the SUV and tucked my glock into the back of my pants and added a couple of more clips to my pocket. With a final prayer that Bella was on board I moved swiftly alongside the containers and various vehicles towards the rear of the plane.

The rear hatch of the C-130 was open, this was the only chance I had at finding Bella, and I could only trust that my guys had gotten to the President to safety along with all those other innocents caught up in this fuckery. I could hear movement ahead of me as I snuck inside and hid beside a supply cage, that's when I saw them. Bella was slumped on the floor and appeared to be fixed to a device, the big guy from Bourtzi stood over her with a menacing look on his face, a welding torch in his hand. Looking closer I could see that she was fixed to a supply cradle, an image flashed through my mind, shit! It made sense to me suddenly, the nuke was being delivered by air, he'd get to the appropriate altitude flick a switch and it would be forced out of the rear doors with Bella attached and literally fall into the Smithsonian, what a sick bastard.

"You can come out Mr Cullen, no need to hide in the shadows, we're all acquainted with each other." he sneered.

I stepped out from behind the cage and moved tentatively towards him, lifting my glock from my holster and aiming it at him.

"Ah ah ah," he said wagging a finger, "not very smart idea that Mr Cullen, I'd hate to have to damage Miss Swan when she's already in such a delicate position."

"Stay the fuck away from her!" I snarled.

"Drop the gun." he retorted.

"So you can kill her without interruption, I don't think so." I growled.

"She's going to die anyway, you're all going to die, it's for the greater good, after tonight the Volturi will be invincible, we'll have free rein to claim new territory and the United States will be in turmoil. I'm excited to see how a country works when it's whole leadership structure is wiped out in one sitting. Now drop the gun."

Bella's' eyes drifted open slightly, catching sight of me standing there.

"Don't..." she whispered, before recoiling when a kick hit her in the stomach.

I moved forwards again, angered at his touching her, but stopped suddenly as the welding torch moved towards her face.

"Drop. The. Gun." he said, not moving the torch.

The gun clattered to the floor.

"Good, now move over to the cage, climb in and shut the door behind you."

I moved without comment, knowing that it meant Bella was untouched. He secured the door, sneering at me through the metal bars, I ignored him, my eyes firmly fixed on Bella huddled on the floor. Sure that I was secure he moved back over to the device, pressing buttons and secured a cover over what appeared to be an electro-magnetic detonator. Bright red numbers flashed on a clock and begin to count slowly down from 20 minutes.  The giant turned and looked me in the eye.

"Try to keep it together, you'll join her in hell when it goes off, she'll just get there a little quicker." he said laughing.

"Fuck you." I spat.

He shook his head, and walked away towards the cockpit chuckling. The rear door closed behind me as the engines rumbled to life and I felt the movement of the plane underfoot. If this is all the time we have left, there is no way in hell that I'd waste it standing in here. I looked around the cage for anything I could use to break the lock, but came up wanting. Looking up, hoping for inspiration or divine intervention I saw that it wasn't fixed to the ceiling, and spotted a gap, it would be a tight fit, I'm not exactly the scrawny kid I used to be. Planting my feet into the bars I climbed, it didn't take long to reach the top, sucking in a breath I squeezed into the gap, note to self, cut down on the pizza. Bella had hardly moved from her spot on the floor, the red countdown flashed angrily at me, taunting me for being slow. I dropped down quietly from the top of the cage and moved swiftly to Bella’s side.

"Bella...are you hurt baby."

Her eyes fluttered open as I cupped her face in my hands, she shook her head in response, before looking towards her hands, I followed her gaze and stumbled slightly at what I could finally see. We needed to stop this bomb, but without hurting Bella it would be impossible. It's almost as if he knew that I would have to make an impossible decision, hurt her or die. Okay so when I think about it like that, it's not as impossible, but still the idea of hurting her was abhorrent to me.

"Edward! Just do it, I know it's going to hurt, but what choice do we have, just promise me that you'll work fast." Bella sobbed.

I cupped her jaw in my hands, swiping the tears from her flushed cheeks, for the first time in my life truly understanding the term 'catch 22'.

"Bella...I don't want to lose you, it's breaking my heart to even begin to hurt you."

"Do it." she sniffed.

"I love you." I said steeling myself and gazing into her soulful brown eyes.

"I love you too, now do it."

I nodded in acquiescence, hating myself for this, yet knowing we had no other choice, hurting Bella was the only way that we were going to put an end to this and hopefully she'd live to see it with me. I leant forward kissing her with everything I had, if this is the end, then I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do this first. We broke apart at the same time her hands still secured tightly to the side of the bomb; those sick bastards are going to pay. The countdown indicator flashed its angry red numerals at me, reminding me that in ten minutes time I will have either stopped the bomb, or made the ultimate sacrifice. Either way, if Bella didn't make it out of this, neither would I. My life was forfeit the moment I laid eyes on her that day in the briefing.

I knelt in front of her, eyeing the offensive metal shackles that were cuffed around Bella's wrists, following the gentle lines of her hands as they cupped the magnetic detonator coil, on to the weld that secured the shackles to the bomb, ensuring she'd be the first to die should it go off. Sick bastards, it's not enough that they want to create turmoil in our country so that they have free run to take over new territory, but they have to put Bella in this position, so that the only way I can disarm this thing is by hurting her. I shook my head, anger, frustration and hurt pouring out of me.

"Edward... stop thinking, do it, please just... please." she sobbed.

Using my multi-tool, I began to unscrew the casing for the detonator; it worked with the use of magnets, creating an electro-magnetic field. I could hear and feel the dull buzz as the casing fell from the bomb. Bella stood shaking, her hands fixed tightly to the detonator. The C-130 banked suddenly and my balance shifted slightly, I stretched my leg out to stop myself from falling and put my hands out to keep Bella steady. Sweat beads fell from my hair, if we get out of this, if I see another plane again, it will be all too soon.

"Awww isn't that sweet, the lovebirds spend their last minutes together crying. How poetic." The voice sneered from the cockpit.

"Fuck you, you sick bastard." I yelled at him.

"Oh no, no Fuck You." he sneered, moving towards the rear of the plane, a parachute firmly attached to his back.

Anger blasted through my veins and before I even had time to think it through, I charged him, my shoulder fixing firmly into his stomach as I pushed him with all the force I had in me against the side of the fuselage. His head gave a resounding 'thud' as it came into contact with the metal struts that made up the side of a supply cage. I pounded his face with my fists, blood flying in all directions. I had a grudge to pay this giant for what he had done to Bella not only this time, but the first time he took her and I was cashing in all my chips.

"You don't get to walk away this time asshole." I screamed at him, my fist pounding into his face, "You don't get to pull that chute, you don't get to do anymore jobs for your sick bosses, you don't get to touch her again."

He pushed and grabbed at me as I continued to wail on him, punches and kicks resounded around the plane, snaps and screams become the melodious accompaniment. Until finally there was silence. I dropped him to the sound of Bella calling me.

"Edward, stop, we don't have time..."

"I'm sorry." I said, cupping her cheek.

"Edward... I-I...”

"Bella,"

"I don't want to die attached to this thing, but I don't see how we'll have the time. If I'm going to die, I need to know that we tried, we tried to stop it, we tried to save those people, do it Edward, do it now!"

"Bella..." I sobbed, tears falling freely from my eyes.

"Do it."

"I'm sorry." I said placing my hands over hers and slowly twisting the detonator coil counter-clockwise, I could feel the tension as her wrists strained against the force the shackles were putting on them as the detonator moved. The colour was slowly draining from Bella's face as she tried to remain quiet while I turned the detonator. I wanted to speed up, get this over as quick as possible, but I knew that I couldn't, all it would take was one slip and the electro-magnetic field would be disrupted and all this would be for nothing. I could see the pain clearly etched on Bella's face, the silent tears streaking down her cheeks.  "I'm so sorry baby." I said turning the detonator once more, the tell tale sound of bones snapping as the shackles crushed into her wrists. I felt sick to my stomach.

The detonator slipped from its secured bed and landed with a thump on the floor, Bella's wrists, still shackled to the head of the coil. The countdown on the bomb froze at 33 seconds. I breathed a sigh of relief. The only sounds were our laboured breaths, the adrenalin continued to pump through my veins. I looked over at Bella, as she slumped against the bomb, all colour now gone from her, her arms limply lying across the floor. I could already see her wrists swelling from the breaks that I had caused her. My stomach lurched at the thought of it.

I moved to her side, lifting her onto my lap as I cradled her against me. She's here, she's alive, and she’s breathing. In that moment nothing else mattered. The red light outside the cockpit flashed suddenly and the sound of the rear door opening shocked me back into action, I rolled us quickly away from the now disarmed device as a clang from below alerted me to the immediate danger, just as we hit the side of the fuselage the cradle lurched forwards hurtling the device from the plane, I shuddered realising just how close I'd come to losing her.

"I love you." I spoke softly into her ear.

"I love you too." she responded breathily.

"Let’s go home baby, hopefully that fucker didn't mess with the plane."

Standing with Bella cradled in my arms, I moved through the cabin towards the cockpit, I placed Bella in the co-pilots seat before moving into the seat adjacent. Thank heavens for auto-pilot. I secured the headset and switched over to manual taking the controls and banking back towards Andrews Air force base.

"This is Master Chief Edward Cullen; I need clearance for an emergency landing. Transponder code Papa, Alpha, Zulu, 130, we're coming in from the east and we're coming in hot." I said while checking the dials in front of me, the fuel light flashed angrily, accompanied by the altitude alarm.

"This is Andrews Tower, Cullen, pick any spot you like, we've cleared the deck, we have emergency crews on standby, your airspeed is showing at 400 knots, altitude is currently 200 feet, try to level out and we'll see you home safe." came the response.

"Thanks tower, we'll see you on the other side." I replied as I struggled with the controls. I fluttered the airbrakes with my feet, attempting to regain some control, but nothing appeared to be responding. I managed to line us up with the approach as more alarms sounded throughout the cockpit. The steering became tight in my hands as I attempted to keep us lined up. That bastard had rigged the controls to fail. I looked over at Bella, her eyes were closed and her face was serene. I leant over and buckled her seatbelt, hoping it would be enough, before doing the same to myself. The flight console crackled as smoke plumed from the various dials, sparks flashed across the control dials, alarms continued to wail at me as I struggled to keep us on some semblance of course. The ground was approaching, too fast my subconscious said. I aimlessly fluttered the airbrakes, hoping for a break, I chuckled darkly to myself at the futility of it. Only one thing left to do, let the tower know.

"Andrews Tower, this is Cullen, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, we're going down, we're going down, we're going down." I called as the ground loomed closer and closer.

"Bella, I love you." I said holding her arm across the seat and closing my eyes and bracing for impact.