> Solomon stayed low, looking for trip wires, motion detectors and anything on the ground that could blow his cover. He looked high for cameras, grunting in pain as be moved across the ground.
>
> He crossed the corner of the compound and darted around the fence. This was the trailer park area of the compound. He could see the trailers had been repaired and appeared to serve as barracks. Some of Babul's men meandered about, smoking some stinky Turkish cigarettes and talking and laughing in their gibberish language.
>
> Solomon stuck one of the explosives into the ground and switched it in the ARMED position. A few yards later, he did the same thing. After planting the device he looked up and saw a stack of propane tanks and smiled wide before darting off wish Neckbone, seeking cover in some trees.
>
> His mission was simple: cause an explosion that would destabilize the perimeter and take out some of Babul's men. All the rest would come towards the explosion and, in the case, Solomon would slip inside undetected and this would also provide cover for the others to make their way inside undetected where they would converge on Babul's location and cut the head off the snake.
>
> Solomon spat on the ground and flipped the safety switch off the detonator.
>
> "Take this you towelhead motherfuckers" he cursed as he pressed the button.
>
> On the other side of the compound Khalid and King first heard and then saw the hot white explosion. It took down not only the fence but several of the trailers with it. Some of Babul's men screaming, their bodies on fire. The propane tanks set off a secondary explosion that was even worse and ripped through cheap aluminum trailers.
>
> "Son of bitch" King muttered, flames dancing in his eyes. Woody had caught up to them and had his gun drawn and ready. Khalid cut the last link of the fence and now they had a sizable hole to go through.
>
> As predicted any nearby men raced towards the chaos, guns in arm.
>
> "Well, what are you waiting for?" Woody barked at them from behind. "Let's go!"
>
> At the same time on another side of the fence Rocko and Becca arrived.
>
> "Jesus, you move like a buffalo" Becca said to Rocko.
>
> "You should see me in bed" Rocko said in a deep, rumbling voice.
>
> Becca ignored this. She had plans of her on and were working them out in her head.
>
> "Shit, looks like Solomon was right..." Becca said, pointing up at the water tower on the other side of the fence.
>
> "Think you can get up there?" Rocko asked.
>
> "Does a bear shit in the woods?" Becca replied.
>
> That's when the explosion happened, sending fire in the sky. From their point of view most of it was obscured by a pile of scrap cars.... but also the old Camp Councilor Cabin that they believed was where Babul would be.
>
> "Good shit, Solomon" Becca muttered. "Good shit".
>
> "You sure you can keep anyone from sneaking up on me?" Becca said as she began to climb the tower. It didn't really matter, she thought. She wouldn't need it.
>
> "Yeah" Rocko said. "You sure you wanna take that bow up there? I mean, you've got this rifle with a scope right here..."
>
> "Stick with what you know, hun, and what I know is the bow"
>
> With that she quickly made it up the tower to the top.
>
> Rocko stepped back to see her as she reached the top, out of sight. He saw one arrow, then another and then arrow fly out from the post. He couldn't see it, but all hit their mark perfectly.
>
> He still couldn't see her and was about to just crouch under the tower and wait for anyone to roll up on them when he suddenly saw a shadow leap from the tower and land hard onto the roof of Babul's cabin.
>
> "Motherfucker!" Rocko said. "What is you doing girl!?"
>
> Rocko didn't know what to do and eventually decided to fall back and see if he could meet up with the others. Becca had went rogue.
>
> Meanwhile, Solomon had managed to slid his way through a fiery hole in the fence.
>
> Solomon had now found his way behind one of two trailers that had hadn't exploded. He planted an explosive in the ground and went in the shadows to the next one and did the same.
>
> As predicted, Babul's men had went to the explosion like moths to a flame.
>
> Suddenly a shadow came from around the corner and he was face to face with two of Babul's men. He hit one in the head, downing him instantly. The other he hit but the man only stumbled and grabbed at Solomon, trying to jam a thumb into his eye.
>
> "INFIDAL!" he screamed
>
> Solomon got his stick around his neck and began to choke him out, but they still struggled. This guy was big and lifted on the ground, slamming Solomon against the trailer as he turned blue. Another of Babul's men heard the the commotion and ran around the trailer towards Solomon but Neckbone jumped him from behind and ripped out his throat, killing him in moments before descending upon the blue and breathless face of the one with the stick around its neck. He was gone in seconds.
>
> Solomon took a minute to catch his breath and stood, patting Neckbone on the head.
>
> It was too dangerous for Neckbone from here, so he told him to stay put, only he didn't open his mouth. The dog sat and whined a little, but didn't move from his spot.
>
> Solomon grabbed up the bag and continued on, placing explosives on the buildings of the scrap yard and other camp buildings undetected until only Babul's cabin remained.
>
> Across the compound but closing in Khalid, King and Woody made their way inside. Seeing some of the terrorists they all pressed against the wall. Some of them ran towards the fire, but one walked in their direction and as soon as he was around the corner, King swept his legs and wrapped them around his neck, breaking it in seconds.
>
> "Jesus..." Woody whispered.
>
> "What about there?" Khalid said, pointing.
>
> Woody looked. There was the perfect area. It had plenty of cover but they could see the entire compound.
>
> Woody nodded and all made their way there and once there pulled out their automatic weapons and began firing on Babul's men, taking them out in mass as they ran across the compound, unsure of where the fire was coming from.
>
> Solomon heard this from across the compound and smirked. He ran to the other side of Babul's cabin where he would wait for them to all converge for the kill strike. He did so with confidence, believing Becca would be watching his back from overhead. But she wasn't and within moments he found himself knocked to the ground and a gun pressed to the back of his head.
>
> Khalid tossed two grenades onto the compound, they took out several more men who had just discovered their position, too little too late.
>
> The fires raged all over the compound now, but especially in what was the barracks, having now sat fire to one of the other trailers Solomon had placed an explosive near.
>
> A loud rumbling was heard and a large truck made its way across the compound: a fire truck. It was one they had stolen from town and was a tanker truck, meaning it had its on water already on board.
>
> Woody was about to turn and tell King they couldn't let the truck reach the fire but when he did King already had the RPG slung over his shoulder. He let the rocket fly and it smashed into the fire truck just as it arrived. It was an unusual sight: explosive flames and water from the ruptured tank spraying everywhere.
>
> Woody was about to clasp King on the back when a hand caught his.
>
> He spun around. It was Rocko, dripping with sweat and breathless. His eyes wide.
>
> "Becca rogue..." me managed to stammer out.
>
> "What?" Woody asked.
>
> "Becca went rogue!"
>
> "Calm down. Tell me what's happening?"
>
> "Becca went rogue. She went after Babul herself" Rocko finally managed.
>
> "Fuck!" Woody shouted, looking at Khalid and King and then towards the cabin.
>
> At the same moment Solomon was face down in the dirt, wishing he hadn't called Neckbone off.
>
> The towelheaded was screaming some bullshit at him, gun pressed hard against the back of his head.
>
> Solomon had one more play and he managed to slowly reach his hand into his shirt pocket and grab the detonator. He struggled to press the button so he lifted slightly. The terrorist screamed louder and pressed harder, but Solomon didn't feel his brains smacking against the ground -- so far so good.
>
> He finally managed to switch the safety switch and get the button in his hand. He pressed it.
>
> The sound around him was deafening. His ears rank. He was suppose to be further away than this.
>
> Still, despite being disoriented so was Babul's goon and he managed to swing up and knock him to the ground where he plummeted him with fists as the heat from the nearby flames cascaded his body.
>
> Woody, Khalid, King and Rocko ducked down instinctively when the explosions happened and then peaked their head up to find every building on the compound either destroyed or about to be -- except Babul's cabin.
>
> You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
>
>
> "Well, fuck it" Woody shouted. "That's the sign"
>
> And they made their way to the cabin.
>
> Inside the cabin Becca had made quick work of four of Babul's men already after sneaking in through a window. The first two had been easy, but the second two had put up a fight and had given Becca a pretty nasty cut across the cheek. She'd worried Babul would hear from the other room, but the explosions had stopped that. Solomon had done the job and had good timing.
>
> Whatever happens, she looked up at the ceiling. Jess, Chloe, Emily and Pap... I will avenge you.
>
> She hadn't counted on leaving that cabin alive and she'd made peace with that.
>
> She leaned into the door, cracking it open to listen. Inside were multiple voices but one belonged to Babul.
>
> Babul was screaming into a radio and ordered the two men with him to stand guard at the door.
>
> Becca took a breath, bow in hand and slammed the door open, burying a bolt in one Babul's guard's heads and then produced the knife, still fresh with blood and threw it at the other, embedding it in his forehead.
>
> Babul scrambled up in panic and frantically tried to grab a pistol on the side of one of his fallen men while Becca reloaded her crossbow.
>
> Babul grabbed the pistol first and fired seconds before Becca. Becca was struck in the shoulder and yelped. The bolt missed its target as she flinched up still embedded into Babul's arm. He screamed in pain and dropped the gun behind him.
>
> Becca limped forward and stuck Babul hard with the crossbow.
>
> "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM YOU SON OF A BITCH!?" she screamed in his face.
>
> "YOU KILLED MY WIFE!"
>
> The stock of the bow smashed Babul's face.
>
> "AND MY DAUGHTERS!!"
>
> Again the bow struck Babul
>
> "AND MY GRANDPAP!"
>
> Finally, a third one, this time hard. Babul's face went limp to the side and Becca, panting, looked on in rage.
>
> That's when the laughing started. It shocked Becca at first, then enraged her.
>
> "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING YOU PIECE OF SHIT!?" she shouted. "YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!!"
>
> Babul turned towards Becca. His face was bloody and was swelling up fast. His mouth nothing but bloody chicklets.
>
> "...And they all died like cowards too" he said, laughing louder. "Little infidel cowards.. especially the one in the uniforms. Yes, I killed them! Just like I'm going to kill you!"
>
> Becca didn't see him reach his arm up and grab the paperweight from the desk, but she felt it as it smashed hard into her face, making he tumble back. Babul kicked her back further and then, grimacing in pain raised the pistol with his inquired hand and leveled it at Becca.
>
> He pulled back the trigger and as he did the door flew over and a stick smacked the gun, causing the shot to miss Becca and hit the wall.
>
> Solomon pounded the stick into Babul over and over.
>
> "FUCK YOU! YOU LIKE THAT YOU TOWELHEAD BITCH!"
>
> The rest of the team came busting in next, Khalid looked down and saw Babul and immediately began to smash the butt of his gun into him.
>
> "YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!!"
>
> King and Rocko also began to beat Babul.
>
> 'YOU BURNED MY STORE DOWN YOU MOTHER FUCKER!!" King shouted.
>
> Woody looked back in horror but didn't stop them. He rushed over and joined Solomon, who was checking on Becca. She was conscious.
>
> "She's pretty fucked up" Solomon said. "But she'll be fine..."
>
> Woody nodded.
>
> "I'm sorry..." Becca began. "I had..."
>
> "Shut the fuck up. I know" Solomon said. "I get it. It's over. We won"
>
> Becca smiled a bloody smile.
>
> "Don't smile yet... you still got something else to do" Solomon said, looking at Woody. "Help me get her up"
>
> They pulled Becca to her feet.
>
> "Pick his ass up" Solomon ordered and Rocko and Khalid pulled a bloody, beaten, limp but still alive Babul to his feet. King retrieved Becca's knife from the skull of the guard and handed it to her.
>
> "Finish it" Solomon said.
>
> Becca walked forward, only needing Solomon to help her now.
>
> Solomon turned to Woody who stood back looking in shock.
>
> "Last chance to get your hands dirty" Solomon said. "You know he deserves it..."
>
> Woody lowered his head and after a moment shrugged.
>
> "Fuck it" he said. He pulled out his pistol and shot Babul right in the dick, Babul screamed and Solomon laughed.
>
> "Good shit, man, good shit...." he said nodding approvingly as Becca slammed the knife deep into a screaming Babul's throat until it pressed into the back of the desk. She pressed her face against and whispered.
>
> "Who's the coward now?"
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Most of Babul's had died during the fight and the ones who hadn't either surrendered or were quickly killed. They lowered all of the Sons of Al-Ḥaram Ash-Sharīf flags and burned them.
>
> Over the next few weeks they worked to reorganize and rebuild the town. The town's people looked to them for leadership, but all of them refused. There was nothing left for them here now. For any of them.
>
> Four weeks after what had become known as Solomon's Stand -- a name he hated -- Solomon and the others gathered in Rocko's old gym to discuss their plans.
>
> "So what now?" Khalid asked. "I don't really know what to do with myself. I've lost everything here. All I really have is you guys"
>
> "Same" King said, solemnly. Rocko nodded.
>
> "Y'all quit your crybaby bullshit" Solomon said from the corner of the room, petting Neckbone. Everyone laughed.
>
> "Well, I've got an idea" Becca said, sitting up out of her stool. Her wounds were now fully healed, but there would be scars. "Since we all don't have anything left here... why don't we all go find something new..."
>
> "Like what?" Solomon responded, smirking. "Like some big ol' Rainbow Coalition happy family riding off into the sunset together? Just go on adventures n shit?"
>
> "Yeah" Becca said, smiling back. "Something like that. We do make a good team..."
>
> "Well, shit" Solomon said. "That sounds like a good idea to me. I'm in. Anyone else?"
>
> "We do all have the same problem" Khalid said, nodding. "Might as well solve it together"
>
> Rocko and King nodded too. Everyone except Woody, he smiled but looked down.
>
> "Where will we go?" King asked.
>
> "I heard Maine is all the rage right now" Woody said, piping up. "I also hear they need some help up there..."
>
> Becca clutched her locket hearing this and whispered so no one heard her, "or something old..."
>
> "Is that right?" Solomon said, only hearing Woody. "Well, alright then, Maine it is! I'll be the first black person they've ever seen! What about you Rocko? You wanna be the second? Khalid, you wanna be the first sand nigga they've seen? King, you can be the first China man..."
>
> "I'm not a goddamn China man!" King shouted, but everyone started laughing. They all formed a circle and slapped their hands together, except Woody, who stood in the back and nodded approvingly.
>
> Two weeks later they had gathered all of their things and were ready to leave, despite objections of the surviving towns people.
>
> "Where will you even go?" one asked Solomon.
>
> "Maine" he said. "We're told we're needed up there"
>
> "And then? After that?"
>
> "Where ever we're needed".
>
> Solomon walked over to Woody and they clasped hands and embraced.
>
> "You sure you don't wanna come with us?" Solomon asked.
>
> "I'll meet you up there. I just got a few things I gotta do first" Woody said.
>
> Solomon didn't pry, just nodded.
>
> "You understand what you might be getting into, right?" Woody asked him. "I mean, I don't have the best information and who knows what's bullshit and what isn't... but it's getting pretty crazy up there and..."
>
> "Man, it's crazy every fucking where" Solomon replied. "Don't worry, nigga, we got this".
>
> Woody nodded. "Got that phone I gave you?"
>
> "Yeah, we're all set".
>
> "See you soon. Still stay in touch with that satellite phone until we're together"
>
> Solomon nodded back and went to grab up his bags. After putting away a few things he pulled out the leather bond book and looked at it before stuffing his Grandmama's "spell book" back into his bag.
>
> He knew the journey they'd laid out for them would require more than just fists and guns and he had some studying to do.
>
> Bags in hand he joined the group and with the towns people watching and waving, they piled into an SUV and started North, while Woody began walking away in a different direction
>