Robert Bradshaw Airport
Saint Kitts
November 12, 2025
Captain Gena Rossi was in civilian clothes due to the nature of her leave status and the personal nature of her trip. However, just as Captain Rossi always wore impeccable uniforms her attire, even after flying 1700 miles from the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda Maryland to the Caribbean were just as crisp as they were when she dressed that morning. Dr. Rossi was standing near the luggage carousel after just retrieving her luggage when Mac approached.
“Gena! It’s so good to see you!” He said opening his arms to hug his Academy classmate.
Gena turned and cheerfully greeted her old friend “Mac! I like this look a lot better than the last time I saw you!” The last time they met, Mac was recovering at Walter Reed from an amputation caused by an IED. Dr. Rossi was a Commander at the time working in the Emergency Department, as a Captain she now led the Research and Development side within the NMRI.
Before ending the friendly hug she whispered into Mac’s ear in a not as friendly tone. “So what scam does Tom have roped into now?”
Mac stepped back, “I’m not going to say it’s not what you think, but it is something you won’t believe and If I know you, it’s something you won’t want to miss.” He said seriously. “Come on, I can’t share details here, but words don’t do it justice.”
Gena threw her luggage at Mac and said, “Well then the least you can do is help me with my bags. Does the knucklehead really believe I didn’t think he was involved?”
“When it comes to you and Tom, I really never know what to believe.” Mac said
Gena Rossi, was a force to be reckoned with, Graduating second in Annapolis Naval Academy class of 2003, one of only 6 out of 1100 to be selected for further training in Medical School, and commanding the pointy tip of the military medical R&D sword showed a tiny hint of a girlish smile and turned a little pink before turning and marching toward the exit addressing Mac from over her shoulder “Well lets go see what trouble you two need to be bailed out of again!”
When they arrived at the building containing Heine and his new leg, Mac went to open Gena’s car door but she was out before he rounded the front of the car. Motioning for her to leave her luggage, he gestured toward the rusty door set in the cement wall of a nondescript warehouse. Approaching the door, Mac looked up toward the security camera set above the door and heard a click as the door opened slightly. Mac was able to hold the door for Dr. Rossi this time, but only because she was cautiously looking for the other shoe to drop. She didn’t have to wait long. She spied Tom across the room holding a prototype rifle and silently shooting it a large cement blocks the size of barrels. After demolishing several he turned and saw Gina.
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“Oh Captain My Captain! I am so glad you could come.” Tom Branch said energetically setting down the rifle and moving toward the pair. “You know I am glad to hear you FINALLY made Captain. I did that back in, what, ’06?” He joked.
“I am not YOUR Captain. And while you are factually correct, you did make Captain in 2006 after three years of coming to work on time and never contracting syphilis, you should realize that a Marine Captain and a Navy Captain are very different. In fact you may notice that while you will never get a rank higher than Captain, I am on the promotion list.” She huffed.
Tom blanched “Ouch.”
“Now stop it with the kicked dog routine, you know you shouldn’t tease people that you lure on a 9-hour plain ride with false pretenses.” Gina said nastily.
Bouncing back remarkably fast Branch looked at Mac “What should we show her first? The chicken or the leg?” He punned.
“If it were me, I would start at the beginning, but since it’s you I think you better start slow. Go with the leg, then the chicken can introduce itself.” Mac suggested.
“Dammit, if someone doesn’t tell me something, somebody is gonna get plucked!” Dr. Rossi intoned
“Yes Darling, please come with me.” Tom said innocently
Mac had to cover his mouth to restrain a smile when he saw Gena’s face turn beet red out of anger but show a tiny hint of a smile when she thought he wasn’t looking.
“Human mating rituals are fascinating.” Said Heine through Mac’s earpiece.
“Yes, Heine, they are” Mac said quietly, “But don’t let Dr. Rossi hear you refer to their interactions in that manner.”
Mac did not quite make it to the portion of the lab Tom had labeled “Leg Room” when Gina came bursting out of the laboratory. She was throwing her arms about and screaming “I don’t know what kind of shit show you two are up to, but you better put that, whatever the hell that is…” motioning back toward the tank. “Back where you got it and hope no one ever learns of the Frankenstein shit you are doing here. My god! Do you know the ethical dilemma you are putting me in? Do you know how many laws you are breaking?”.
Tom put his hand on Gena’s shoulder “Let me explain…”
With a violent shake Dr. Rossi threw off the offending hand “There is nothing to explain! You are never going to change. And to think I came all this way to see you.”
“Gina,” Mac started
“Don’t you Gina me!” She flamed. “I expect this kind of nonsense from HIM, but you! You are supposed to be a good influence!” Captain Rossi made it to the door of the warehouse and attempted to sling it open, only to find it locked.
“Open this damned door” She exclaimed.
“Heini, Unlock the door.” Mac ordered.
“James, Dr. Rossi constitutes a threat in her current state. I advise she is the only person that can link us to this location.” The Beer Keg informed.
“Who the hell is Heini, and why the fuck did he lock me in here? You know what, if he thinks I am a threat, I’ll show him a threat!” Without warning She sprinted over to the weapon testing area and grabbed the prototype Tom had been working on earlier.
She turned it in her grasp looking at the controls and realized that while it sported two barrels and a sleek polymer form, the controls were very much like the M4 rifle she was trained with.
Placing the selector switch to “F” she threw the weapon to her shoulder, aimed at the door, and rapidly pulled the trigger four times. Nothing happened. Gena looked at the gun and then threw it down in disgust. Without looking at either Tom or MacDonald she sat down on a stool next to the weapons table.
Heine walked up to Gena in his full Scissorhands meets Arachnophobia get up and says “Cluck Cluck”
Gena Rossi doesn’t even bat an eye, instead she starts laughing.