Chapter 14

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Mike felt his heart racing more than it should. He did his best to hide the fact that they had just given out a clue to their whereabouts, but it was easy, anger wallowed through him more than the fact that he was scared. But what if it didn't work? What if he figured it out?

"So, Jeffrey Michener, you will hear my demands. There are two U.S. Navy destroyers at the port in Okinawa. You will order them to turn around and move out of Asian waters." Takehaya spoke to the camera.

"I have already executed one of your sailors."

The words he spoke hit Mike hard in the gut. It was something he had already suspected, even known to be true. But hearing it, realizing that this nightmare was the real deal and not just a bad dream, meant that Mason would never come back. It meant that he had lost yet another member of his crew.

"Do not test me. If you do not comply within 36 hours, the executions will continue."

Looking at his crew lined beside him, on their knees, he let out a heavy sigh. These were good people. Jeter.. Rios.. Diaz.. Miller..

He fought hard to repress his emotions, his worry, his heartbreak as he thought over Andrea, his girls and Christine.. How would they move on after his death? He couldn't help but think the worst possible outcome. What if he was next? What if he wasn't? The thought of letting someone else die on his watch, someone else than him, was frightening but at the same time he would have a chance to live on. With a heavy burden on his shoulders once again.

Bursting through his thoughts were the sudden sounds of Diaz and Miller as they were being tied up to a rope from their wrists and lifted just above the ground.

Hissing through his teeth, he wanted to do something, but as he watched the two sailors, he knew there was nothing he could do.. Nothing to save these sailors from taking a beating for their actions.

Mike watched as they recorded the whole thing, an obvious attempt to turn US citizens against the government if they wouldn't do as they demanded. Miller still had his mother.. If and when she would see this footage, it would do more than its job to convince everyone that the government had something to hide. After all he knew Michener would try and play it safe, keep the worst out of the news. But now it was too late.

Mike turned his icy glare towards Takehaya who kept watching the beating. Thinking he was victorious. Suddenly he met his gaze and he held his best steely look as they held eye contact for a moment.

But he couldn't help but be distracted as he heard the sound. Sound of a bone cracking and he heard Miller shout in pain as his ankle was broken.

Damn it kid! Should have kept his mouth shut.

Back in the small hut, Mike watched as Rios treated Miller's ankle as best he could. Sooner or later he would require proper care.

"We got to give the James a smaller target. Even if our trick with the coordinates worked, it's too much ocean to cover." Mike spoke, hoping they would manage to brainstorm a plan.

But as they sat there, he heard the steps, door crashing in as Takehaya's men came again. Looking for blood.

"You, O-negative. On your feet." Hearing the words, he was already fired up to find a way to give the James a bearing. Anything. Master Chief said he only needed some kind of metal object to create a static at the radio tower Diaz found on his little outing.

As Mike surrendered himself to the two men escorting him, he couldn't help but find his thoughts going back home. To Christine and his girls. Would he ever see them again? This was all like the Arctic again, with only one difference - This time he knew they would still be alive. The crushing pain of not knowing whether his family was safe and sound, was gone. But it didn't make the situation any better, because this time they also knew what was happening to him. They had most certainly seen the hostage video by now.

And as he was placed on the familiar table, he felt the piercing pain of the needle going into his arm again. He winced and closed his eyes. Andrea.. His thoughts surrounded around Andrea and their unborn daughter. How would she manage to go on? She had already lost a family once.. But as he thought about this red haired fiery woman, he smiled for the briefest moment as he knew she was strong. Strong enough to survive through, even if he never made it back. His heart ached at the thought, the thought of not coming back from this, not getting to see her, to meet their daughter. He wondered how would Lucy look like, perhaps she would have Andrea's hair, his eyes, her nose, his chin..

The commotion outside the hut interrupted his thoughts and he saw Takehaya walk in.

"See something interesting, Captain?" Takehaya asked as Mike's eyes caught on the commotion going on outside.

"Looks like your boys scored some good loot." Mike saw the men carry supplies to the camp.

"What's with all the blood, anyway?" He asked. Trying his best to figure out why he was doing this, but he knew he most likely wouldn't get any answers.

"Cure not good enough for you?" Mike said, his voice slightly angry. Hoping for a reaction.

"The American cure is no cure." Was the bitter reply.

Mike followed Takehaya with his gaze, wondering if he would open up more.

"We were wiped out."

"Then you didn't have the real cure." Mike replied quickly. The real cure would have worked. He had witnessed it several times with his very own eyes. He knew what he spoke of.

"My dose." Takehaya reached for the pocket in his pants and pulled out a glass container.

"Made in USA." His voice still bitter, angry as he presented it to Mike.

"Doesn't make any sense.." Mike stared at the familiar glass container with a few drops of the cure at the bottom. It was the real deal, but why didn't it work on him?

"The virus would've killed me." Takehaya put the container back in his pocket as if it still was a evidence to carry around.

Knowing he couldn't go anywhere else, the needle stuck in his vein, taking his blood as they spoke. He had no choice but to listen.

"But I got lucky. I got shot. And needed a transfusion."

Mike heard the man speak in Japanese and it looked like he was about to be the recipient of his blood, fresh from the source it would seem. Feeling slightly weaker, Mike watched as the blood went through the IV-line straight to Takehaya.

"So I received a transfusion from a cured person. The next morning, the symptoms were gone." Takehaya told him and suddenly it all began to make sense.

"But, it didn't last." His voice continued and Mike met his gaze.

"That's why you started hunting for fresh blood." Mike said. It was all coming to him right now. Just like Dr. Scott and her trial, it bought more time.

"Our blood. You went to a lot of trouble to get me and my people." Mike added, feeling dizzy. Trying to hold on to the table he sat on.

"Why us?" He asked, Although it was clear why. Made in USA. They were the ones who fought for the cure. A cure that supposedly was worthless here.

"You needed to pay for what you did to my country." Takehaya's voice got even more bitter, he was angry. Something he understood. Who wouldn't be? But there had to be an explanation.

"Look.." Mike began.

"We had reports of possible mutation. What if those reports are right? What you're doing is making things worse." Mike tried to plead to the man, hoping there was some humanity left in him.

"You can't sent ships back to America, you got to send them into Japan. Let them investigate. Our doctors will help. They'll help. I give you my word." Mike said.

"Your word means nothing." Takehaya ripped of the transfusion line and bandaged his arm as he took a step forward. Mike could see the hurt and anger show through his eyes. As Takehaya took his leave from the hut, Mike let out a sigh as he remembered a time when he had been exactly like him. Back when he had learned the truth about their mission in the Arctic.

But unlike Takehaya, his eyes were opened to the fact that they were fighting on the same side.

Your word means nothing.

They claimed to have the cure. Which they have!

He was a dead man walking. Living half of life.. No wonder he seeked revenge.

Mike lied down on the table as he felt he was about to pass out. His eyes lingered on the key to their salvation. A piece of metal Jeter required.

Mike woke up again in the familiar hut and saw Jeter beside him, working with the metal wire, forming it to his need. He had done it. He couldn't remember half of it, but somehow he had managed to take the piece of metal with him.

"How long was I out?" Mike slowly got up to sit on the edge of the gurney, feeling the loss of blood.

"A couple of hours." Rios came beside him and checked his pulse. A medical check he was sure to fail.

Hearing footsteps outside, Jeter quickly hid the metal wire under the gurney and Mike held his gaze at the door. Takehaya entered after his men. Walking straight toward him.

Something was wrong.

Mike stood up and met the man's glare.

"Michael Slattery, Captain. United States Navy.." Takehaya spoke with a tight voice, almost mocking his way of speaking as he studied his reaction. Mike swallowed hard and felt how to the color left his face. He knew.

"I rewatched the video. Very clever."

Yeah, thought so.

"And very stupid."

That too.

"You have led your friends to their deaths." Takehaya spoke and left.

Mike sat down again. Feeling relieved that there was no punishment.

But no punishment meant that Takehaya most likely had a backup plan. They would have to work fast if they wanted to give the James a bearing. Before it was too late.