Chapter 11
Earth-Vastness of the deep ocean floor.
Black-Swan waited with nervous anticipation for the attack to begin. Watching out the small window, of the hidden submarine deep in the ocean.
She held her breath as the famous red and blue warship drifted into view. Checking her equipment, she waited for the right time to leave on her first mission.
Her nerves on edge, and need of their success came close to clouding her mind. Channelling her thoughts, she kept her focus on the mission ahead. Stinger their pilot, had found a good hiding place for the sub behind a rocky mass.
He'd later move it to a closer location mapped out for them to swim, too once the mission was completed.
The shark mecha's continued their offensive.
She examined the attachment guides for her hands, tested their grip, another set for her feet so she would be flush against the metal of the ship. Tightening the straps of her explosives belt fitting snug against her body.
They would decompress on the main submarine, she would worry about those details if they made it back.
After a considerable time, the battle subsided. Signalling to her team, they swam in and attached themselves to the warship. As planned the shark mecha's backed away, conceding defeat.
The sleek warship didn't leave immediately, it slowly surveyed the area. She held her breath, praying the commander of the ship order them back to base soon, checking her oxygen tank gauge for time. Eventually the ship turned, to make its way underwater back to its base. The rush of water flowing over her was like a rip in the surf, as they slid through the water. Her fingers rigid, as she clung to the ship with Wedgetail beside her, Scavenger near the wing.
She watched with baited breath as the doors of huge underwater space centre opened to allow the warship to enter, they prepared to slip away before the waters around it receded.
Her plan so far was working, they were inside.
The three assassins slipped out from under the ship they swam up into a tunnel, battling the suction in a dangerous dive, they arrived at the diving pool in the nick of time.
Breaking through the water, they silently pulled themselves out of the pool. The location brought them in closer to the engine rooms.
Pulling off their flippers and diving gear. Hiding the equipment close by for a fast exit. She indicated her directives to Scavenger and Wedgetail. Silently the three of them made their way to a supplies store room.
Her nerves under control she proceeded to lead the way.
Quietly slipping on a long white coat, brown contacts and tinted lab glasses. Pulling her hair up, to create a disguise finished with a short blond wig. The other two did the same. They moved into a room close by with computers, she made up fake passes, handing each of them an access code.
They moved through the hallways towards the turbines rooms, acting like they belonged there in meaningless conversation and occasional laughter.
Splitting up at the last minute, before walking into the engineering room to complete their individual tasks in other sections of the base.
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"That was close chief." Mark, relieved continued his mission report to the Chief.
It was no ordinary rig, this one was mining for clean energy. Deep sea gases could cause it to explode if Spectra hadn't backed away in time, and its other purpose- outpost watch for Centre Neptune.
"Again, why attack it? It's too small of a target for Spectra." Chief Anderson mused as he pulled at his moustache in deep thoughts. "They could be trying to distract us from a bigger target elsewhere, so stay on alert."
"He ran his hands through his thick Chestnut brown hair. His senses felt like they were on overdrive, and an intense cold shiver ran down his spine, he turned to face the chief wide-eyed.
"Could Spectran spies be on the base."
"They don't know our location Mark. We haven't spotted anything following you here. Nothing like the submarine when the old Research Centre was destroyed. I've take precautions, the area has been checked already." Chief Anderson indicated to his reports.
"So why… "He, balled his fist, it nagged him. "Without Zark… we're blind."
"I know." Chief Anderson sighed. "His replacement is due here tomorrow. We'll be up and running with all eyes on deck before we know it."
Chief picked up the ringing phone, grumbling over the static in the lines.
"General… " The Chief left the conversation with him.
Mark halted at the door. My gut was telling me we have company from Spectra… I'm going to take a look around, no point stewing in the ready room playing ping pong. He thought clenching his teeth, he headed down the hall.
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Black Swan proceeded to upload the cryptic files from their main systems onto a portable data file. She left the room, pacing to the turbine zone.
Finding a spot closer to the turbines she set up her detonators in hidden crevice's, started the timers. Satisfied, she kept moving.
Heading into the missile room, keeping an even pace so not to arouse suspicion. She found a room filled with bird missiles, designed for G-Forces warship- her lips curling, she hit the jackpot.
Tapping on the keyboard breaking the codes, she loaded missiles into launch tubes, setting the timers. As the base was about to ignite for the first round of internal explosive- the missiles would launch to their new target, some circling back to finish it off.
Scavenger and Wedge-tail notified her through their communications devices they had finished. She gave them the notice to leave the base immediately. They both confirmed they were in their diving gear and would meet her at the sub.
Good, she thought pleased.
Casually walking towards the main engineering doors to make her exit, she saw someone who halted her in her tracks.
A young man with chestnut brown hair, and startling blue eyes, wearing a red shirt with number one on it, crisp white jeans was walking directly towards her.
Drawing in her breath she wondered if she was dreaming. He held the spinning image of the man in her dreams on Spectra.
"Good morning." He politely inclined his head as he approached her. "Dr Hanson, good afternoon."
She returned his greeting, she had been taught how to disguise her voice as she indicated to another department. His warm greeting stilled her beating heart- clammy hands she drew in a sharp breath.
Trying not to stare, she hastened to leave the room, stopping halfway down the hall feeling anxiety rising up inside her.
The room was going to explode soon, and he was in there!
She couldn't allow herself to care for a total stranger. Shaking her head, she questioned her response. It's because he's startlingly handsome she reasoned, chastising herself over it. This was an enemy base. He was her enemy no matter now cute he was.
She forced herself to keep walking down the corridor, opening the backdoor to go to the diving pool and hesitated. She couldn't breathe, she turned her back against the cold metal, door watching the empty corridor.
It's foolish, she thought suppressing the urge to run back, and pull him out of there with some excuse. The urge to do it pulled at her like an invisible rope tied around her neck, her legs began to move.
She had time to escape, she needed clearance time off the base. Not do something foolish for a stranger who sent her heart racing. Her plan had been perfect, down to the last minute she couldn't blow it now.
Until she saw him.
Berating herself the whole way back towards the engine room. She spotted him again, walking down the hall. His sharp eyes darting, as if he was looking for something as the first explosives detonated. She watched him being flung like a rag doll against the wall as the flames threw a fire ball.
With lightning speed, she raced towards him, pulling him out of the way of the flames barely in time. Putting his arm over her shoulder, she pulled the half unconscious man into a room as she worked out what to do with him.
She couldn't save him only to leave him to die. She thought wildly. If she stayed there she will die too she had to get to the diving pool.
Shaking him, she tried to force him to his feet.
"Get up." She snarled anxiously, wreathing him upright. "On your feet!"
He moaned, his stunned eyes flashed opened for a second before sagging again. "Prin…"
"Who?" She dismissed it. "Get out of here, this place is dying, get yourself off this base... missiles are coming… "
Recovering he rose to his feet watching her. Dashing out of the room, she heard him calling after her to stop.
It was a mistake. She chided herself for being a fool over a stranger.
Ignoring him she ran down the corridor shedding her blond wig to make hast her escape. Shoving open the door of the diving pool, she threw off the rest of her disguise and hastily pulled on her diving equipment.
She had done enough for him, now he could save himself, she thought wildly.
"Stop right there!" The man shouted, enraged he ordered her to stop as he burst through the door.
His hand reached out to grab her as she rolled backwards into the cold ocean water escaping him. The base rocked from another explosion, looking back she saw flames and debris flying into the pool, swimming faster into the deep to avoid being hit.
From the corner of her eye she saw him drift through the opening she had just emerged from. His limp body floating gracefully towards the ocean floor, along with debris piling on top of him.
Instinctively she swam towards him as fast as she could.
Grabbing under his arms, she pulled him hard, trying to free him from the rubble, she tugged again- Pulling him along with her.
Knowing the extra missiles would be coming back soon, she swam hard trying to get some distance between them and the dying underwater base, collapsing around them.
Stopping long enough to share her oxygen, with him she continued to pull him along with her as falling debris threatened to drown them both.
Finally, they were far enough to stop and rest.
Who are you? She thought curiously, looking into his serene features. His chestnut hair floating charmingly around his unconscious face in the watery light of her torch, as she shared her oxygen with him again. He fascinated her.
She couldn't tear her eyes from him, a stranger who felt familiar.
What am I going to do with you? She thought unhappy. She couldn't take him back to the submarine, they wouldn't make it, and if she did... then what?
She looked at him again trying to place him, as she drew in another breath from the mouth piece, air bubbled escaped his lips…
A bright floodlight momentarily fell on them, she stared into the spotlight, panicking.
She let go of the man in her arms, she had been struggling to keep him alive. Now she had to make her escape, least she was caught by someone else escaping the doomed base.
Swimming hard, trying to conserve oxygen she pushed all thoughts of her foolish actions over a stranger out of her mind. He would drown anyway, she sighed heavily. She had simply delayed it.
She barely made it to the waiting Spectran submarine, to find Wedge-Tail didn't make it out off, the base.
Scavenger claimed. "She died at the hands of the Condor."
Her chest tightened. She didn't see her diving equipment at the rendezvous point by the diving pool it didn't add up. "You told me she left the base…"
"She did, but he shot her on the way out…in the water, with the base falling apart I couldn't save her." Scavenger signed heavily. "She died for Spectra…. Doing her job."
"I was at the diving pool, there was no Condor or G-Force." She rebuked, looking directly into her eyes.
"He must have gone by the time you arrived." Scavenger dismissed her, checking her highly -polished nails for cracks.
"I see, Mala will know of her courage." She promised with a glint of warning in her tone for the spiteful bitch.
"I'm sure she will, it's a victory…for Spectra. I'm sure you'll be well rewarded for it." Jealously laced Scavengers tone.
"We almost left you here… Stinger wanted to wait a while longer to see if you turned up… BlackBirds." Scavenger waved a dismissive hand, flirting with him at the same time with her syrupy sweet smile.
He half smiled as he turned in his seat, he looked straight past Scavenger. His amber eyes flirted with hers as she shed her diving gear. He watched her with open delight as she pulled on her black bodysuit over her undergarments.
"You owe me..." Seducing her with his open appreciation, she admitted she didn't mind his gaze. A flutter erupted in her stomach of pleasant sensations.
"I'm sure I do owe you… Stinger." She winked and returned his flirtatious regard with a honeyed smirk. Scavenger gave them a look of pure disgust and strolled to back of the small submarine.
Bowing her head, she fixed her bodysuit fastenings. Biting her bottom lip, he was handsome, he was handsome and a chemistry had formed between them since they first met at the mission briefings.
Keeping her feelings to herself, least she displayed weakness before Scavenger and Stinger in her grief for a friend. Guilt wracked her, she had let her friend Wedgetail down, she should have been more careful.
Kicking herself for being careless.
She had been too distracted by the him, a good-looking stranger and her irrational actions of trying to keep him alive, instead of focusing on her own team. He was a made-up dream, the guy probably only resembled him.
If only she had done what she had to do, and left him alone at the bottom of the sea. She should have checked in on Wedgetail to make sure she made it back to the sub herself, had her wait for her, she might still be alive.
She wouldn't be making that mistake again.