Kate sat down on the beach and looked straight ahead through the little square of her burka. In the past weeks she had gotten used to her limited vision. The great advantage was that they couldn't see her facial expressions while she could see theirs. Maryam had been a true slave master ever since she returned after the failed pick up or transfer, and made her life a living hell. Any time Kate got used to something and started feeling a bit comfortable doing it Maryam would change the chore. It also had happened a few times that Maryam had woken Kate up in the middle of the night to make fun of her. Somehow she had heard the name James and had realised what the relationship was to Kate. At least she knew she could hurt Kate with mentioning the name. Whatever was going to happen today, Kate had made a promise to herself: She was not going back to Maryam and her mean spirit.

Kate didn't know what they were waiting for but the men had taken position behind some rocks where they could observe the beach, keep her and any coming vessels in sight and still be secluded enough to not become the target themselves. They had been waiting for over half an hour and still nothing had happened. Scared it would end up like the last time Kate started looking for possible fleeing routes. The best one was about twenty-five meters away from where she was sitting, but she had to get rid of her burka first. With it she had no chance of getting away. The fact she was wearing a dress underneath the burka was already something she had to take in consideration. She was going to be slowed down and she would be up against men who were used to running and knew the area.

The men were talking and didn't seem to pay much attention. Without hesitating any longer Kate threw off her burka and ran towards the tree line. She made it but didn't know which way she should run. She chose a path that was leading away from the men, who by now were running behind her.

Kate could hear them coming closer and closer, but she didn't want to give up. Holding her dress up with two hands and looking right in front of her to see where she could place her shoeless feet was slowing her down immensely and in the end she felt two hands on her upper arms, gripping them and making her stop.

"I'm not going back," Kate screamed while Reza held her until his friend had reached them.

Kate was trying as hard as she could to break free, but with two men around her it was impossible. Reza's friend picked up her legs and together they carried a fighting Kate back to the beach. There they dropped her like a sack of potatoes and made her face the sand. Reza got some rope from his pocket and tied her ankles together before he turned her around and tied her hands in front of her body. When he was done he picked up the burka which was laying not far from them and pulled it back over her head.

Reza and his friend went back to their spot behind the rocks and let Kate sit on the beach on her own. The sun was at its highest point now and Kate wished there was some shade or wind to cool her down. She had used a lot of energy to run away and was exposed to the heat. There was no way she was going to get away another time. All she could do was wait and hope.

~.~

The boarding party of the HMAS Towoomba had been tasked to bring the money to the drop off spot. They had been observing it for the past fifteen minutes but nothing had happened. The person, covered by a burka, had not moved at all. There had to be someone else nearby but they hadn't been able to detect them. Was it going to be a trap? Was there a rebel underneath that material, ready to kill anyone who would reach the beach?

"What do you want us to do boss?" one of the boarding officers asked over the radio.

"Approach but be careful," the answer came.

The RHIB landed on the beach and two of the men inside jumped out, scanning the beach. Still, only the covered person was visible but as soon as the two sailors felt sand under their feet two men came from behind the rocks and walked towards the covered person. They said something that sounded like 'money' while they made sure they were behind the covered person at all times.

"We need to see that this is Lieutenant Commander McGregor," Lieutenant West said. He lead this mission and was tasked to bring the bag with the false banknotes to the rebels and make sure that Kate McGregor was safe and sound before he handed them what they thought was a treasure.

"Is this Lieutenant Commander McGregor?" he asked again, but the men behind the covered person didn't react to his questions. They only came closer to that person and hit him or her. Lieutenant West tried to listen to the person who would have to have felt the hit and should react to it. "Money," one of the men said again.

Lieutenant West came a bit closer and tried to see the eyes of the person underneath the burka, but he wasn't close enough to make any possible ID. "Kate?" he yelled, hoping that the person in the burka would react. The head tilted towards him and for a second he thought he saw some white skin.

"Get the money," he ordered his men. He had to rely on his judgement and right now he was convinced enough this was the person they were ordered to pick up.

The bag with money was given to a man who hadn't said a word yet but as soon as he had the money they both started running away. Lieutenant West ordered two of his men to follow them while he pulled up the burka. "It's her!" he sighed, letting his CO know. Finally Kate McGregor was back in Australian hands.

Sydney, June 1, 2044

"And that is how Robert met his wife," Dylan joked, referring back to what Robert had told them earlier. "I was glad I could tell my godson his mother was coming home soon. He was much older when we told him what had really happened," he added, now looking at a man sitting next to his mother and wife. "I can't believe that this story is almost thirty years old, but it's true," he said astonished himself. "I'm glad and thankful to have Kate in my life. Thankful that those men on Tovalu kept her alive and let her return. I know for sure my life would have been completely different if she hadn't," he finished.

The audience applauded but all he cared for was the nod from Kate. She mouthed a 'thank you' to him which he returned with a small nod as well.

The next speaker to tell you something about this wonderful woman is someone I've known for a long time as well. Please my I introduce Captain…."