Of Weird Islands and Triangles
He saw the wires fall, then the sparks and he knew two things with absolute certainty: One, Sparks and Jet Fuel do not mix well, Two: Cage and him had only seconds to exit the plane's wreck before it exploded; he turned to Cage and yelled "RUN!" Letting Cage take the lead and jump out of the plane first. They both immediately headed towards some debris which included a large blue metal hatch door that he knew would offer some protection for them from the heat and flames. Mac landed on top of Cage grabbing the metal door with one hand and placing it above over them both just in time.
Riley, Bozer and Jack heard the explosion and started running towards what was left of the plane. Jack was chanting "Don't be dead, please don't be dead, you can't be dead…" as he made it over the hill and down the path towards where Mac and Cage where laying on the ground among the debris. He lifted the heavy door and threw it aside like it was weightless, all he could think of was Mac. His boy had to be OK, he just could not be dead, just couldn't. Riley and Bozer where seconds behind Jack and looked down as the door was removed off Mac and Cage.
Cage looked up and saw Mac landing right on top of her, he rolled his body to cover hers to protect her. Even in the middle of their current predicament she thought that was funny, so cavalier of Mac to try and shield her, a trained agent, with his own body, like she was some fragile flower. Mac used the metal hatch to cover them both and then she heard the explosion, felt the concussive force from it and felt the heat of the ignited jet fuel run over the door like a wave. She gasped and covered her ears with her hands. Next thing she knew she was staring at the faces of Riley, Bozer and Jack as the metal door was removed and thrown aside by a panicked Jack. She felt something heavy on top of her as she tried to move and stand; she realized it was Mac.
"Mac, buddy! You hear me?" Jack yelled as he knelt down beside the very still, very unconscious agent. Jack place a hand on Mac' carotid and felt for a pulse, breathing a sigh of relief when he felt one. "He is alive, help me get him on his back" he yelled to Bozer while Riley was helping Cage detangle herself from underneath Mac's slim frame. Bozer dropped his backpack on the ground and knelt down on the other side of his best friend and very carefully, following Jack's lead, helped roll Mac onto his back. Riley and Cage had now come around to stand behind the two waiting for instructions and trying to not be in the way. Riley's face was one of worry and Cage, although not as close to the others on the team yet, was also very concerned over Mac's wellbeing.
Mac moaned and moved his right hand towards his head, trying to reach the painful spot on it that threatened to explode just like the jet fuel if he moved the wrong way. He could hear Jack saying something, he probably should answer him, but he just could not seem to make his mind and his mouth work in tandem quite yet so he settled for another moan. He felt himself be lifted off the ground and in a sort of floating fashion, be moved over what must have been a few feet and laid back down with care on, what was that? Grass?
"Mac, come on kid, talk to me!" Jack said while he ran his hands over Mac's head checking for injuries; he stopped when he felt a lump. "He hit his head" he said to Bozer and the rest of the team, "pretty sure he has a concussion"; he continued to check Mac's body for further injuries, running his hands up and down the kid's arms, torso, legs, pushing and probing with the ease of someone who has done so way too many times and the care of someone touching a fine piece for fragile china.
Mac heard Jack's plea and opened his eyes, slowly, unable to hold another moan that escaped his lips as the bright sunlight caused his eyes to water and his head to feel like it was currently holding marching band auditions in surround sound. "Ja'c..k" he managed to voice. "I'm here kiddo" Jack said, "How are you doing?" Jack asked Mac, placing a hand on one of Mac's cheeks and using the other to run it through the kid's hair, careful not to aggravate the bump. "I've been better" Mac was finally able to answer; "what the hell happened?" he asked his team mates. Riley was the one who answered first; "There was an explosion, you and Cage were very close to the plane when it went off, you both were among some debris under a metal door a few feet away when we reached you".
"Right Mac said, I remember…"I smelled jet fuel and when to check it out; one of the consoles had been booby-trapped to ignite the jet fuel and explode", Cage, he suddenly remembered Cage had been with him. "Cage, are you OK?" he asked as he made to sit up, only to be stopped by both Jack's hand on his shoulder and the fact that the entire Universe titter tottered on him violently; another loud moan escaped his lips as he felt himself guided back down to a prone position on the grass. "Easy there kid, you have a hell of a lump on your head", Jack said, "I am going to need to lie still, OK kiddo?"
Cage came around from behind the others and came down on one knee to Mac's left; she took his left hand in hers and started rubbing circles around it with her thumb while she said, "I'm here Mac, I'm OK; your little stunt with the door worked, that and your body protecting me" Mac opened his eyes again, he did not remember closing them as it was, and turned his head very slowly towards his left and smiled thinly; "Good" he said. Cage smiled and said, "thank you" to the already unconscious agent.
"We need to get off this crazy ass island!" Jack told them all. His tone was one of both authority and panic. "I told you all that this island was not a good idea, the Devil's Triangle is cursed!" "Jack…." Riley started, only to be cut off by Cage; "Jack is right, Mac is hurt and we need to get him medical attention, not to mention finding Commander Wheeler and his team", Jack nodded, "Riley, see what you can do to get us back onto the Satellite Uplink and get reinforcements here ASAP!" he said, shifting from friend to commander, "Cage, you clear the perimeter, make sure we are alone", Cage nodded and left to follow her orders, "Bozer, get the first aid kit out of your bag, then go help Riley"; "I will clean up our boy's head and get him ready to travel"
"Travel?" Bozer and Riley both said in unison; "where?" "There" Jack said pointing to the looming Navy outpost building about 2 miles to the North. They needed to get Mac inside before dark. There was no telling who that prisoner was on the plane, or what exactly was going on, but Jack needed to secure his team and make sure Mac was safe before he took on whatever, or whomever was out there. He turned to Riley and Bozer and said "We can't be out here when night falls, not with Mac unconscious and with who knows what or whom running around this island" Jack rubbed his hands on his face, "The building will offer not only shelter, but also some tactical cover for the two of you to take care of Mac while Cage and I deal with our other problems" Riley and Bozer nodded in understanding and agreement. Riley went off to set up her gear to try and make a connection, while Bozer dropped his bag and pulled out the First-Aid Field Kit to hand it to Jack. He took a look at Mac, who was still out like a light and then went over to help Riley as instructed.
"I told you this was not a good idea bud…" Jack said as he knelt back down beside Mac, first-aid kit in hand, "I knew this island was cursed!" he said to his unconscious friend. "OK kiddo, let's get you cleaned up and ready to travel…" It was going to be a very long day.
To be continued…
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