Back at the remnants of the barge, the gals were fortunate that they took their position in a forward hold. The torpedoes were aimed at the middle of the barge, blowing it to small fragments, but the forward and aft holds were blown away from the center. Of course, the gals aren't out of trouble yet. Their compartment is filling with water, and they are still stunned from the explosion!
The cold water of the Atlantic revives Alex first. "Wha….What happened?" She asks as she rubs her head. Alex activates her necklace light and quickly looks around for Clover and Sam.
"Sammy!" she cries, as she sees Sam, semi-conscious about to go underwater! Quickly, Alex activates her WOOHP distress button as she swims the cold water to Sam. She grabs Sam just before she goes under and pushes her onto some floating flotsam. She activates Sam's necklace light so she can see her in the dark hold.
Alex now looks around for Clover. As she scans the hold, she sees a red arm sticking up from the water, barely hanging on to some floating debris. Alex quickly swims over and grabs Clover. Alex pushes Clover onto some flotsam as well, but she notices that Clover is not breathing.
"Come on, Clover! Don't die!" says Alex as she starts mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
As Alex is in this process, Sam comes to. "My head!" says Sam as she rubs a bump. As she scans the hold, she sees Alex frantically trying to revive Clover. She quickly gets into the water and swims over to her two girlfriends.
Alex is in tears as she continues her revival efforts. "Come on, girlfriend! You just CAN'T die!" she says as she again puts her mouth to Clover's. Sam comes over and starts to pump Clover's chest, after Alex clears Clover's mouth of water again. Alex looks gratefully at Sam.
"(cough)…(cough) wha….what happened?" remarks Clover weakly, after what seemed like forever.
"YOU'RE ALIVE! YOU'RE ALIVE!" cries Alex as she hugs Clover enthusiastically.
Sam also hugs Clover and says, "THANK YOU, GOD! I think we can take it from here!"
Soon the gals are surrounded by WOOHP divers, who responded to their distress signal. They are quickly ushered out of the hold and are being airlifted onto Jerry's jet. Within minutes the girls are bundled in warm blankets on Jerry's hover jet and on their way home.
"I'm so relieved that you girls are all right!" remarks Jerry, as he gives each a long, relieved hug. Sam and Clover are still a bit woozy from their ordeal and are taken to be treated by the WOOHP medical team for their injuries in the medical section of Jerry's jet, at the aft end.
"Thanks, Jerry! But what happened?" asks Alex.
"When Saldo determined that the bullion was iron pyrite instead of gold, he used some torpedoes and blew up the barge! How EVER did you escape?"
"I guess we were lucky in that we took refuge in a forward hold of the barge. We must have been blown clear from the wreckage!"
"I have a copy of the transmission of Saldo blowing up the barge; I'll study it! Meanwhile, rest Alex," says Jerry as he walks away from her seat.
But Alex wants to see how her two best friends are doing. So she gets up and walks back to the medical section. "How are they?" Alex asks a doctor.
"They're going to be fine! Sam was fortunate that all she has is a bump on the head. Clover is also fortunate that you started the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when you did, or she might not be with us now!"
Alex has tears in her eyes as she realizes she came close to losing her two best friends. "Can I see them?"
"Certainly, Alex!" responds the doctor. "I think they would like to see you too!"
Quietly Alex walks back to Clover and Sam's bunks. Both are half asleep. Sam is the first to see Alex coming.
"ALEX!" Sam exclaims.
Alex walks over to her girlfriend and gives her a hug. "How are you Sammy?"
"Fine, thanks to you!"
Alex is a little confused. She knows she put Sam on the floating flotsam, but Sam was semi-conscious. How would Sam know she did that?"
Sam seems to be able to read her mind, as she hugs Alex warmly again. "I figured you put me on that floating debris, because someone had to activate my necklace light, and I know I didn't do it!"
Alex smiles and hugs Sam warmly, "Friend forever, remember? And thanks for helping me with Clover!"
Then with a tear running down her cheek, Alex adds, "We almost lost her!"
Sam replies, with a tear in her eyes, "I know, Alex! If you hadn't fished her out of the water, and started the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when you did, we would have!"
All of the sudden, a figure looms next to Alex and Sam.
Clover gives Alex a big warm hug. "Thank you, Alex!" she says as she tries to express her gratitude, but all she can think of is "Thank you!"
Clover then turns to Sam and gives her a big warm hug as well. "Thank you, Sam!"
Alex and Sam simultaneously hug Clover.
"Our team would be pretty empty without you, Clover!" says Sam through her tears.
"After all Clover, friends forever, right?" adds Alex through her tears.
The medical officer is happy to see that the gals are doing well, but he wants Clover and Sam to rest. "Okay, girls, visiting hours are over! You need rest! Back to your bunk, Clover!" he orders jovially.
The gals smile. Clover turns to the officer with a grin and says, "Yes, sir!" salutes and goes straight to her bunk.
Alex tucks Sam in her bunk, and Clover in hers. "Goodnight guys!" she says as she walks past the smiling medical officer.
The medical officer says, "By the way, young lady, that goes for you too! You need rest also!"
Alex smiles, snaps to attention, salutes, and says, "Right away, sir!"
"Then get to it!" he shoos. Alex happily goes to her seat, knowing her friends are all right.