Chapter 29: Double Jeopardy
Alpha Team
Hunter and Liz made it through the underwater shaft fairly easily, coming up for air only twice each during the five minute swim. Rick and Brit had slightly more trouble, however, due to Britney's lack of water experience. By default, Tiffanie, who was acting as a safety diver of sorts had to trail behind in case of an emergency. There were four small airpockets in the shaft, and it was around the third where trouble began.
As Britney signaled the need for air, the cave suddenly started to shake again. It wasn't strong enough to be an aftershock from the earthquake, but it had probably been part of a chain reaction from the explosion that destroyed the shark/crocodile hybrid. That's when it happened. Having come up for air, Brit released her iron-clad grip on Rick, and held on to his shoulders as he trod water. Meanwhile, about twenty feet behind them, a terrible scene was taking place. The violent shaking had loosened some dirt and rocks from the ceiling, and they began to rain down on top of Tiffanie. She was in the second airpocket awaiting Rick's signal to continue, and managed to let out a scream as the ceiling began to collapse.
Rick and Brit heard this, and Rick knew he had to see what was happening.
"Brit, I know you're very afraid, and worried. But I need you to stay calm, and hold on to the rocks right there." He pointed to a part of the cave that was protruding from the rock-face of the cave, and continued, "I need to go check on your sister, but I can move faster without you on my back. Do you think you can manage?"
Britney looked at him nervously, but nodded, trying to hide her growing fear, "Yeah, go."
As Rick dove down to head back, Britney began a silent prayer, "God, please let her be okay."
Bravo Team
Dan looked down from the crane room at the maze of crates and steel containers that decorated the floor of the warehouse. He took another look at the numbers on the paper Taylor had found: 14, 22, 32, 18. He then noticed a row of red lights on the control panel next to the crane control. Beneath each light was a number, and those numbers matched the ones on the paper. So he began to maneuver the crane, and as he did, he took notice of the numbers that were painted on the sides of the containers and cranes. He found the crate marked 32, and placed it on the pressure plate with the matching number, but the light on the panel stayed red.
"Shit!" he mumbled to himself, and as if she noticed, Alyssa made a suggestion, "Maybe the crate's not heavy enough."
"Hey, look...," said Mike, "...the steel containers are also numbered."
Dan proceeded to maneuver the various controls, and by the time he was finished, he had moved four steel containers and placed them on the respective pressure plates. Each light turned green, and the Bravo Team heard the sound of machinery inside the walls, as if something was being moved.
The Lab
Perry had been in the main control room when a silent alarm began to flash on the computer layout of the Lab blueprints. Apparently someone had just opened the secret passage from the warehouse to the labs. "Dammit!" he shouted. He knew he had to get out of there before he was found, but couldn't just let the S.T.A.R.S waltz in and take over the place. Then, he had an idea. An idea that he considered to be genius. He looked into the monitors, and found what he was looking for. He looked into a room near the secret lab entrance, and there he saw what appeared to be three empty cages. He pushed the button that released the locks on said cages, and to his delight, the doors opened, as if someone, or something had pushed them from inside.
Alpha Team
The water was murkier than before, thanks to the fallen rocks that had stirred up the muddy bottom. Rick was heading towards the second resting spot, when he saw Tiffanie's small body trapped below the loosened debris. She was struggling to free herself, but to no avail. He immediately went back to Britney to tell her what was happening.
"NO!" shouted Britney, and in her despair, she slipped off the protruding rock, and slipped below the surface. She was only under for a split second as Rick quickly reached down and effortlessly pulled her to the surface. She was sputtering but she was okay.
"Listen..." Rick began, "As I said, I can swim faster on my own. You need to stay here, and keep holding on. I'm going to get Hunter and Liz. Do not let go, hear me!" Britney just nodded, and Rick headed out.
Hunter and Liz had also felt the tremors and were relieved when, a few moments later, Rick's head broke the surface, but their relief dissipated when they realized he was alone.
"Hunter, Liz, you need to come down here quick!" Rick shouted, trying to cover the desperation in his voice.
"Rick, what happened? Where are Tiff and Brit?" asked Liz, feeling panicky herself.
"There was a tremor, Tiff is trapped, Brit is hanging on to the wall of an airpocket. You need to hel..."
He didn't have a chance to finish, as Liz and Hunter immediately jumped in next to him.
"Liz, you go to Brit, make sure she's alright, while H and I try to get Tiff out."
Tiff's whole body was in pain. She also knew she wasn't going to be able to hold her breath much longer. That's when she saw Rick and Hunter arrive, and they began to dig her out. Meanwhile, Liz checked in on Britney, who was scared, but alright. Several seconds later, as if they needed more bad luck, the cave began to rattle once more. Liz had gone down to help the guys, and a rock from the ceiling fell and made Britney lose her grip. She slipped beneath the water, and as the current started to carry her away, she started to panic.
Rick, Liz, and Hunter were finally able to free Tiffanie, and they swam up to the second airpocket. She'd been out of it, but not for very long. She came to, but everyone's relief was short-lived when Liz spoke up, "Oh my God, Britney!" Hunter looked at his cousin with concern, and as if she had known what he was thinking, she nodded and said, "I'm fine. We gotta go to Brit.
Everything seemed to go in slow-motion for Britney. She was flailing and thrashing under the water, trying to call for help, but only sucked in more water. She needed to get to the surface, but all she could do was kick her legs in desperation. More than once, her head barely broke the surface, enabling her to glimpse the bright morning sky, and take a quick breath, but she always sank below the surface again. She broke the surface again, and let out a gurgled cry for help, but as usual, she slipped under the water. She was weakening fast, and in the back of her mind she conceded: This was how she would die. The tragic irony of it almost amused her. She was going to fall victim to her greatest fear, she was going to drown. She swallowed more of the brackish liquid, but just as she passed out, she barely felt strong arms grab her just below the chest, and pull her, but to where?
"C'mon Britney! Don't you dare die now!" Britney barely made out the faint sound of Rick's voice.She felt pounding, no not pounding, pushing, someone was pushing on her chest. Then she felt air, not water, enter her body. The voice was getting clearer, louder. Suddenly she began to cough, the foul liquid being expelled from her body. She felt gentle hands, feminine in nature, roll her to her side as she coughed up the last of the water. She was alive!
Rick, Liz, Hunter, and Tiffanie, who had suffered only cuts and bruises in the collapse,were ecstatic. Hunter had seen Britney's body suspended underwater, and pulled her out. Liz, with help from Tiffanie,had performed CPR. Then, as if on cue, the exit from the cave was engulfed by falling debris, sealing it from both ends. Their happiness didn't last though. As they sat there watching the cave-in, their thoughts turned to Joe, their lost comrade, and dear friend. Although he wasn't a blood relation, Joe was certainly their brother. It was a bittersweet ending to this leg of their journey, but their story was far from over. They checked their weapons, and allowed themselves to rest and grieve. Then, after about an hour, they continued their investigation.
A/N
Well, what do you know? Another chapter completed! And in short time too! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I realize I didn't end it on my usual cliffhanger, but after such a long hard time through the "mine-from-Hell," I figured this part of Alpha Team's journey needed a bittersweet, but complete ending. The Alpha's aren't done yet, but next chapter, the Bravo Team will have their hands full as they fight new enemies and find the lab! As always, please R&R!