Once again Elrond was marched through the twisting corridors to Kate's rooms, presumably for more testing. He was not in a good mood, for he'd been woken from the first decent sleep he'd managed since being captured just because someone had decided he needed something called a shower. It had turned out to be a way of washing, with water that poured from a special device like an indoor waterfall. He had rather enjoyed being clean again, and having clean clothes, but had disliked the way the smaller of the two guards had watched him. Like a cat watching a mouse.
He was shoved through the door into Kate's examination rooms, and heard the door locked smartly behind him. Kate looked up from the thing she called a microscope to greet him.
'So, feel ready to go?' Kate whispered as she bent over the microscope again.
He nodded, 'and you?'
'Sure. Ok, no need to ask you if you remember what we spoke of.' She slid a syringe into her pocket, and approached Elrond as if about to carry out another test. He suddenly grabbed Kate and picked up a scalpel she'd 'accidentally' left lying on the bench top held it as though threatening Kate's life. As rehearsed she screamed for help, and as if cued Mac and Redfern burst through the door. As swiftly as he grabbed Kate, Elrond now he let her go, and attacked Mac, quickly disabling him. Kate had taken the syringe from her pocket, and injected Redfern.
Both the guards were unconscious, and likely to remain so for some time. To be safe Elrond and Kate bound and gagged both men, and then dragged them behind some of the benches in the room.
Elrond's elven hearing assured him no one else was in the vicinity, so he cautiously checked the corridor for signs of other people. 'Come on' he whispered, 'there is no one around.'
Quickly, Kate and Elrond left the room, jogging as silently as possible down the corridor to a storeroom. Once in there, they loaded what Kate said were army ration packs into backpacks. They took some extra clothes, and Kate changed from her clothes into some camouflage gear, listening as Elrond bemoaned the loss of his elven gear, especially his boots.
'What of weapons? We should have some, I think,' said Elrond.
Kate nodded in agreement as she handed Elrond a sheathed knife, and took one for herself. She also gave him one of two automatic pistols that were in a drawer, and ammunition. No auto rifles were there, just a couple of single shot bolt actions, but she took those too, and as before gave one to Elrond, assuring him she knew how to handle the guns and would show him how to use them when they had put some distance between them and their captors. He'd found a smaller knife, and carefully slid it down his left boot. They took blankets and jackets, and then as cautiously as before left that room, this walking swiftly.
Unerringly, Elrond led them around the corners and through two doorways until they came to the place whose location he had memorised as part of their escape plan. A door led outside, where Kate knew they could find vehicles, and escape in one.
Almost too easily, they slipped through the door, and outside. Two Jeeps sat there, and Kate selected one, motioning Elrond to get in, 'and hold on tight,' she said, 'I won't be hanging about, and we're in for a rough drive.'
Not really sure what she meant, Elrond none the less did as asked. He was surprised by the speed with which the mechanical thing travelled. Kate was right he thought, the uneven and rocky ground caused the thing to travel roughly and he was glad he had a tight hold on a metal rail in front of him.
After perhaps an hour Kate slowed the vehicle, then stopped. 'Nearly out of fuel', she remarked. At Elrond's questioning look, she explained. 'A vehicle needs fuel to feed the engine that moves it, like we need food. Without fuel, the engine won't run.'
Elrond nodded, 'we walk from here then.' He got out of the Jeep, and started to sling packs and bags about him. Kate mirrored his actions.
'I have a feeling it's just as well, too,' said Kate.
'Why? What do you mean?' asked Elrond.
'Don't you think we escaped a little too easily?'
'I do think that, but I did not want to worry you by saying so. What I would like to know is why they let us escape easily,' mused Elrond.
Kate spoke thoughtfully, 'I think there might be a tracking device on this vehicle.'
Elrond picked up the last of the gear and looked Kate straight in the eye, 'So, the hunt has begun.'