Chapter 2: Escape Plan


Mr. Moseby was still in his pajamas as he picked up the phone in his cabin and dialed the bridge. "Captain Lunsford! Thank goodness I caught you before you left for the night. We may have a problem." Zack, Cody, and Bailey listened intently trying to hear what the Captain was saying on the other line. It hadn't taken the group long to find Mr. Moseby in his cabin where he was just about to turn in for the evening. At first he hadn't believed them when they told him about the approaching speed boats, but they were able to convince him to follow them to the end of the hallway and see for himself. He griped and grumbled the entire way, but when he reached the end, stepped outside and looked out over the railing into the sea, he turned tail and ran so fast to call the Captain, the teens had trouble keeping up with him. "There's a group of speed boats approaching the ship from the north east. Sir, I believe it may be... pirates." Although Cody and Bailey had suspected and feared this to be the case, neither of them had actually said it out loud. The waters in this part of the world were known for various tribes of pirates who would attack merchant ships, military vessels, and even cruise liners. Each group had their own method and their own agenda. Cody and Bailey knew these weren't the fun, adventurous pirates they'd seen in movies like Pirates of the Caribbean. These were groups of extremists. Trained guerrilla fighters who fought in the sea instead of the jungle. "Yes, sir," Moseby said before hanging up.

"What did he say," the three teens said all at once.

"He's ordering the communications operators to put out a distress call and to try to contact the military, but... I'm afraid we may not have much time," Moseby said. The look on his face telling the teens that he was afraid. Perhaps more afraid than he'd ever been.

"Well... what do we do?" Zack asked.

"Find London. The four of you warn as many people as you can. You only have minutes to spare. Find somewhere on the ship to hide and do not come out," Moseby instructed.

"And what about you? We can't just leave you here," Cody said, his voice pleading.

"I'll be fine, Cody. Trust me," Moseby said. Cody wasn't sure if Moseby himself even believed that, but they didn't have much time. "I'm going to meet up with the Captain. Please be safe..." Zack, Cody, and Bailey could only nod as Moseby head past them and left the cabin.

"Okay. Come one guys," Cody said, turning to his brother and girlfriend. "Let's find London and find someplace to hide."

"But what about the others? What about Woody, Marcus, and the rest of our friends?" Bailey asked. "We can't just leave them."

"We don't have much time. If we see them on the way we'll take them with us. If not... we'll just have to hope that they are able to get somewhere and hide."

"Well... where are we going to go?" Zack asked.

"Moseby said to get somewhere safe and hide. I think I can do us one better," Cody said.

"What?" Bailey asked on the verge of panic as the situation set in more and more.

"We're going to get off this ship," Cody said.

"What? How?" Zack asked.

"The lifeboats!" Bailey said.

"Exactly," Cody said. "We'll grab London and, if we have time, Marcus and Woody, and we'll take one of the lifeboats and get off the ship!"

"That's good, but what about everyone else?" Bailey said, "There's enough lifeboats for everyone on board."

"I know, but... if we start dropping of a bunch lifeboats, the pirates are going to notice. They won't pay attention just one," Cody said.

"But... that means..." Bailey couldn't finish the sentence. It was too much to take in at once. Cody grabbed her hands and looked her in the eyes with a knowing look.

"Guys..." Zack said, breaking the silence. "We gotta go."

London, Woody, Marcus, and Addison were in one of the ship's lounges watching American Idol when Zack, Cody, and Bailey found them. Along the way, the three friends warned everyone they could to get somewhere and hide. Most people didn't seem to buy the fact that there was a problem. Some of them even laughed at the idea. After all, Zack and Cody were known for getting into all sorts of mishaps. The laughing didn't last long though as the ship's emergency alarm started sounding and Moseby's voice came across the public announce system warning people to get somewhere and lock the doors. "This isn't a drill," Moseby's voice said.

"Guys come on! We have to get out of here! We've got a plan!" Zack yelled as he, Cody, and Bailey grabbed their surprised friends and started dragging them down the hallway.

"Where are we going? What's going on?" Woody said, trying to keep up.

"We have to get off the ship," Cody said. "We're going to get on a lifeboat."

"No way! I'm not getting back on one of those stupid lifeboats!" London protested. "I remember what happened last time. We got lost!"

"They've installed radios and tracking beacons since then, London," Bailey said, "We'll be safe. We'll get off the ship and radio for help."

"What about the others," Marcus said.

"Best not to think about that," Cody said from the front of the group.

As the six teenagers and London ran toward the end of the hallway, they burst through the door and outside onto the deck. They all turned to the right, toward the lifeboats, but Cody, who was in the lead, stopped dead in his tracks. The others behind him almost trampled each other as they tried to stop in time. Standing ominously in the moonlight, were three men with automatic weapons pointed directly at the group of friends.

Zack, Cody, Bailey, Woody, Addison, Marcus, and London were herded back to the Sky Deck at the front of the ship along with any other passengers the men happened to capture along the way. Another group of men with guns was waiting and each hostage had their hands tied behind their back with zip ties and were forced to sit on the floor. Zack, Cody, and Bailey were separated from the others and forced to sit with their backs against the wall below the railing where they had first spotted the speed boats. Woody, Marcus, Addison, and London were seated around the Sky Deck's hot tub.

Cody looked over and saw Bailey crying. He leaned over as close to her as he could and whispered, "Don't worry, Bailey. I won't let anything happen to you." Cody didn't believe that there was really anything he could do, but he felt he had to try. He couldn't just sit still and do nothing and let his friends die. Not this time.

(Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who read the first chapter and it a success. I appreciate that and the large number of views really motivates me to continue updating. The only thing that would make it better is if everyone who reads would review. :) Anyway, expect this story to move at a pretty decent pace with a few surprises along the way. In fact, there just might be one in the next chapter. ;) Thanks again, and enjoy!)