Page 3 of Rescuing Rebel
They’re the reason we’re here.
Bravo-Six went missing with his woman, Barbi, not too long ago. That rescue mission brought us to Artemus Gonzales’s doorstep, where we expected to recover Alec and Barbi.
With a look at the women around me, we did far more than that. Not only have we rescued Alec and Barbi, but we freed a score of women destined for slavery.
Alec and Barbi look rough, tortured, and abused, but they’re still fighting strong. Bravo team may have brought them to the safety of the farmer’s hut, but Alec embraces Barbi before retreating back to the estate with his team. A true Guardian, he’s not done fighting. That man has unfinished business with the monster holding this place.
In their absence, Barbi drifts over to the redhead, introducing herself. The woman bristles at the overture but engages, mentioning the name “Rebel.”
I file that fact away.
As they talk, I track Rebel’s body language. Her questions come sharply, her brow furrowed in concentration as she absorbs every word. Her inquisitiveness catches me off guard.
Why would someone fresh from the horrors of human trafficking be so curious? I find it unusual, making me pause, trying to understand the underlying reasons. Mentally noting her peculiar interest, I shift my focus back to maintaining the safety of this fragile refugee.
We’re vulnerable here.
“Hank, Blake.” I motion to the north and west windows. “Secure those points. Eyes sharp, I want to know if anyone so much as looks in our direction. Walt, take that door. I need it fortified yesterday. Jeb, Gabe, I want you two outside—perimeter sweep. Stay alert and relay anything suspicious immediately.”
Like a well-oiled machine, Charlie team jumps into action. Each move honed by years of training.
The faint roar of an incoming helicopter fills the air, growing louder by the second. It’s truly the best sound on Earth. We gather the women and prep them for exfil.
Once the chopper touches the ground, my team guides the women outside and into the waiting aircraft, ensuring they’re secured from this hellhole. Barbi and Rebel are the last to board.
As the helicopter lifts off, Rebel sits beside Barbi, gaze fixed on the receding landscape below. Though tempered by the horrors she endured, a formidable spirit radiates from the redhead.
Just then, her head swivels, eyes locking fiercely with mine. In that blistering gaze is a glimpse of the resilient fighter within.
A captive no longer.
I hold her gaze unflinchingly as the helicopter disappears into the sky.
TWO
Ethan
When the helicopter returns,it’s Charlie team’s turn for extraction. I load my men into the waiting helicopter as Bravo returns from their final act. The expression on Alec’s face tells me everything I need to know.
Artemus Gonzales breathes no more.
With the helicopter packed, we head to the airstrip where Guardian HRS’s modified passenger plane waits for the final step of our rescue mission.
When I board, the rescued women have already been triaged and seated by the medical team. The medics complete an initial sweep for injuries and explain to the catatonic women what to expect from here on out.
I make my way through the expansive interior of Guardian HRS’s customized passenger jet, moving to the back, where I stow my gear for the seven-hour trip back to California.
Up front is the general seating area, plush chairs that fully recline to a flat position. Beyond that is a galley, then a conference room for inflight mission planning. Next, I pass a suite of modified lavatories. In addition to a sink and toilet, they hold full-blown showers, an extravagance for our shell-shocked rescues.
My heart swells with pride with the excellent care shown to these survivors. The shower facilities were installed so they can physically—and emotionally—wash away the vestiges of captivity during the flight back to Guardian HQ.
No detail of their recovery is overlooked.
I spot an area prepared for the women—blankets, clothing, water bottles, and protein bars laid out thoughtfully by the medical team. Counselors speak gently to those who seem ready to talk. Others stare silently ahead, not ready to process their trauma and rescue. When they are, our experts will be there for them.
The entire plane hums with our mission—not just the rescue but rebuilding the lives of victims shattered by trauma. As the newest member of the Guardian HRS team, I’m honored to be part of an organization that works tirelessly to help survivors heal.
My only hope is that I’m equal to the task.