Loyalty and the Lost
Aboard the Kobayashi Maru
Lambasting himself for his failure as he stood at the prow for the last hour, Holt scanned the horizon with binoculars. This was the safest place for him since every time Quinn spotted him, his glare sent daggers his way which lacerated him. The other men of Bravo were not any better, he was on everyone's shit list, including Koala's and the rest of his squad too. If I could go back and change my behavior towards Katie, I would. If anything happens to her, the guys are gonna beat the shit out of me, and I'll deserve every punch.
Holt hoped Kilpatrick and Spenser were okay. He regretted his actions, by being such an utter ass. She didn't deserve the attitude I threw her way. I may have jeopardized not only her life, but the Yank's as well. Their continued safety and health would be the only way he would be allowed to remain on Koala's squad and if the Texan had his way, the boat. His Sarge and the American Master Chief put the lives of their teams ahead of all else, and Holt understood he broke a cardinal rule by allowing his personal opinion to put mates at risk.
Koala moved to the front of the boat, needing to ensure Holt's head was in the game. Later, he would be having an extensive conversation with him. He stopped beside his second in command and started to open his mouth, but Holt beat him to speaking.
"Sarge, I buggered things up. You can do whatever you feel is necessary when we return, but I vow I will not let you down again …" he trailed off as his eyes picked up something. "Two vessels off port side. I can just make them out. A smaller one like the dive boat and a larger trawler." He pointed in the direction and handed the binoculars to his CO.
Koala called out, "Hayes, check out your ten o'clock."
In the wheelhouse, Jason trained his field glasses to the left. "Two boats. Can't tell if it is the Karnivorous Kookaburra or not, but it is about the right size."
"I say we check it out," Ray waited for Jason's command before changing course.
Sonny shook his head. "It's not where they were going to be. If it isn't them, we'll be wasting time."
Jason considered both and made a decision. "We head for the boats. If not them, perhaps we can communicate with Blackburn, and they might have an extra radio or parts to fix this one."
Ray nodded. "Perhaps have a sat phone too."
"Sonny, Brock, Trent, break out the gear. I want everyone armed and ready on the off chance this is trouble," Jason said as his gut churned. The Dilbert couple had gone missing, and they still had no clue as to why.
One possibility entered Jason's head … pirates. They were only about six hundred nautical miles from the Lampung province on the southern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra which Mandy's briefing said was experiencing a rash of high-seas piracy. The only part which didn't fit nicely with his theory was Kingfisher had not been taken.
Though he supposed the dive master might've bought his freedom by telling the pirates who his high-profile and wealthy customers were, or he was in on it with them. To his thinking, it was a plausible scenario.
Ransom demands sometimes took several weeks to be sent in this type of situation, or they might be trying to sell them to a terrorist faction in which case a ransom would never be sent. So, Jason would take necessary precautions to keep the teams safe and not be blindsided by an attack.
Aboard the Labeeba Trawler
Kingfisher lay on the deck of Luncai's fishing trawler, moaning in pain as the ship's medic applied pressure to his gut wound. He radioed Luncai hoping he was in the area because Kingfisher knew he couldn't make it back to port without help.
"Jadi bagaimana ini berlaku?" Luncai asked how this happened in his native Malay, staring down with contempt at the man who supplied him with shark fins from time to time.
"After I speared the Shelia in the heart and threw her over the side, the SEAL came at me with a fourteen-inch knife. He got in two lucky swipes before I disarmed him and slit his throat before tossing him overboard," Kingfisher lied, hiding the fact a woman gutted him and embellishing the size of the knife.
"Are they dead like the other couple?" Luncai switched to English as he crouched down, wondering if he should finish the job and be rid of Kingfisher. Of late, this man brought too much notice to his illegal fishing operation by being stupid. He considered dumping Kingfisher's bleeding carcass over the side because with his freezers full, Luncai needed to head back to his home port on Legundi Island, and it would be a long seven-hundred-mile journey.
"Of course. The sharks had a feast." Kingfisher shrieked as the questionable physician used an unsterile staple gun to close the wound in his stomach.
"Captain, the Kobayashi Maru is approaching."
Luncai stood, wondering what the old fisherman was doing out. Rarely was Bertie sober enough and his boat was not what Luncai would call seaworthy.
Kingfisher's eyes rounded. "Keller said Bertie rented his boat to a bunch of soldiers. They must be looking for the Dilberts just like the couple I killed. You must kill them too, or they might find out about your business."
Luncai kicked Kingfisher in the side, and as the man shrieked, he shouted, "This is your fault." He turned to his first mate and spoke Malay, "Let them come close before you open fire. No survivors. Then sink the boat." He started to stride to the wheelhouse as his medic spoke.
"What do you want me to do with Kingfisher?"
Turning back to glare at the blubbering man on his deck, Luncai instructed, "Leave him lying there. If he catches a bullet in the crossfire, it is no loss."
Keeling Island
"A little further. Almost there," Katie encouraged as they both crawled out of the ocean. She wished she had the strength to carry Clay, but she was zapped after their hour or so in the water and keeping him afloat. She was grateful and in awe of Clay's perseverance and stamina.
His upper body beyond the reach of the surf at high tide, his left leg straight behind him, his arms like rubber, his right leg bending at the knee to help propel him forward, Clay pushed one last time. Empty, no fumes remaining, he lowered his cheek to the sand, and he finally released his death grip on the spear. "Can't."
"Please …" Katie got to her knees.
"Wanna laze … on the sand … no more … blue lagoon."
"That's right, no more water, but you're not quite there yet, Silkie. You can rest in a moment." Katie needed the SEAL on dry land. "Roll to your back."
Clay tried to push himself over but failed.
"Okay, alright. I'll help." Katie scooted closer, pushed him, and he flopped like a limp noodle onto his back.
Gazing up at the cloudless sky, Clay sighed. "Didn't drown."
"Wasn't gonna let you." Katie moved to the top of Clay so she could slide her hands under his shoulders and into his armpits. She hoped to have enough oomph left to drag him further up the beach. She sat on her heels, gathering energy.
"Ash-hole didn't win … keeps trying to … drag me down … not gonna let him win. Dolphins saved me."
Katie put a hand on Clay's brow to check for fever. Not likely this quick, but his words made little sense. He was a little warm, so she ignored his words and slipped both hands under him. "Need you to push with your right foot, don't try to use your left. On three. One, two, three."
She pulled with all her might, and luckily Clay assisted by pushing. "Again. One, two, three." Katie panted, and she noticed Clay's face contorted in a grimace. "One more time." Almost out of the ocean's reach, Katie's arms shook with exhaustion, but she wouldn't give up. "Okay, just one more and you can rest."
Clay bent his knee again, dug his bare right heel into the sand, and pushed with everything he had when Katie said three. His body shuddered and his eyes closed.
"Hey, no. No! Clay. Stay awake."
He mumbled, "Not sleeping. Can't move more … sorry."
"You did good. Rest now." Katie wanted to collapse beside him, but she couldn't. Using the knife, she started slicing off a strip of his remaining sleeve. She needed to put a tourniquet on his left forearm to slow the progress of the venom. She wished the Karnivorous Kookaburra was here so she could use the antivenom Kingfisher said he carried in the med kit, but wishing didn't make it so.
She began to review the symptoms she needed to watch for … unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, she had experience dealing with snake bites, though they were land based ones and not kraits.
Clay drifted, escaping from his pain in a semiconscious state as ludicrous images floated in his mind. A sea nymph with long, flowing wheat-colored hair and Katie's features supported him as he held his trident at the ready to fight off the great white shark with Ash's face trying to attack him. His shark father couldn't break through the protective barrier created by pygmy killer whales bearing the faces of Jason, Sonny, Trent, Brock, and Ray. Cerberus, in the form of a seal … an ocean puppy … swam next to him, barking commands to the Bravo dolphins while a kookaburra flew overhead laughing at him.
Intense pain in his lower left arm caused Clay's eyes to pop open as he sucked in a breath. "Sonofabitch."
"Sorry, needs to be tight."
Katie's face swam before him as his stomach flipped. "Gonna be …" he gagged, found himself roughly turned on his right just before he puked. Kiwi tasted lousy coming up. He spat several times wishing for water to rinse. Drained again, he flopped to his back and squeezed his eyes closed.
"Stay here … I won't be gone long," Katie ordered as she rose to unsteady legs.
Clay snorted. Where the fuck would I go? I can't even sit up at the moment. "Yeah, K."
Scanning the area, Katie started towards the palms at the edge of the beach. With any luck, she would find some coconuts on the ground and manage to crack them open to provide both of them some liquid and nourishment.
Aboard the Kobayashi Maru
Ray peered through his high-powered sniper scope. "Jace, the boat tied up next to the Labeeba trawler is the Karnivorous Kookaburra, that's Kingfisher's boat. I don't see the kid or Katie though." Moving to view the trawler, Ray hollered, "Take cover!" right before pinging sounds of bullets hitting metal erupted around them.
Someone slammed Sonny into the decking. With a heavy weight on top of him, Quinn yelled, "GET THE FUCK OFF ME, HOLT!" as he tried to shift the Aussie off.
"THREE, STATUS?" Jason shouted slipping into mission language as the men on the fishing trawler opened up on them and everyone dove for cover.
"No harm … unless you consider being pinned by this asshole!" Sonny responded as he pushed on the larger man.
"HOLT!" Koala bellowed when his second in command failed to move.
Realization hit both Sonny and Koala at the same time. Koala scrambled to them just as Sonny managed to roll Holt over and both spied blood seeping from a gut wound.
"SHIT! Man down." Sonny reached out to apply pressure to the exit wound as he comprehended Holt saved his life … took a bullet meant for him.
"BLOODY HELL!" Koala added his pressure to the entrance hole on Holt's back. "Hang on, mate. Don't you go anywhere."
Holt's eyes fluttered open. He sucked in a ragged breath and moaned as his gaze landed on Koala. "Not … going …"
"Shut up … don't talk. Save your energy," Sonny said before swiveling his head. "TRENT!"
Dragging his med kit with him, avoiding lifting his head above the short hull which protected them from the continuing onslaught of bullets, Trent crawled to them. "I got you." The massive amount of blood loss so fast concerned him. He turned to Koala. "Blood type?"
"AB positive," Koala answered, fear he might lose Holt increasing, but his mind slipping into combat mode.
"Good. He can take any type then." Trent set to work while the rest of the men returned gunfire. He started the transfusion then began to address stopping the bleeding.
When Trent told him to move, Sonny shifted and removed his hands. He took one moment to stare at his blood-covered fingers. Rage built in him, and he gripped his weapon, ready to make whoever the assholes were that were firing at them pay for what they had done. He and Holt might not be on the same page, the same team, but they were in the same brotherhood … men willing to risk their lives, so the cake-eaters of the world remained safe.
As an explosion erupted in a fireball at the rear of their boat … something blowing the engine to kingdom come, Jason called out, "Two, Five, launch the dingy and our gear in the water on the other side. Three, Four, move Holt to the craft for safety."
Koala directed his men, "Danvers, Riley, help them. Kasey, keep laying down cover fire." He joined Jason, firing at the trawler too. "How do you want to play this?"
Assessing the situation, Jason said, "Bravo minus Trent will dive and swim under their vessel while you and your men keep them busy. We'll come up on the other side and while they are distracted, board and take them out."
"Solid plan." Koala agreed, and the men set to work.
Once Holt was transferred into the inflatable boat with Trent still tending him, Danvers and Riley joined their teammates in engaging the hostiles as Bravo pulled on their mini-rebreathers and prepared to dive.
Keeling Island
Gone much longer than she expected, hating to leave Clay alone so long, but not having a choice, Katie knelt and used the knife and a rock, to poke holes in several coconuts. She moved closer to Clay who had not even acknowledged her return. Worried, she lifted his head with one hand as she tipped the coconut and dribbled a little of the milk on his lips hoping his mouth would open automatically. "Open up. You need to drink."
Clay's tongue darted out, licking his dry lips, tasting something sweet. His lashes fluttered open, but he was not truly conscious of his surroundings. When more liquid trickled in, he swallowed, the tepid fluid soothing his parched throat.
"Good. Only little sips." Katie continued to feed Clay small amounts as she breathed both a sigh of relief and bit her lower lip, bothered by the increased heat radiating from Clay. An infection had set in, and she had nothing to treat him with, but at least he was still breathing. The neurotoxin of the krait could cause paralysis and if that occurred his lungs would cease working, and he would die from lack of oxygen.
When Clay's lids shut and head lolled to the side, letting the precious life-giving elixir dribble out, Katie stopped and lowered his head to the sand once more. She tilted her head back and took a long drink, sating her thirst. Gazing out at the Indian Ocean, she prayed for a miracle … for her squad and Clay's team to locate them before an incredible man died.
Clay's mumbling brought Katie's attention back to him. "Not me … not source … please … believe. Ashhole … wants to drown me."
Katie wondered if he kept saying asshole because it sounded like ash hole, but she only brushed through his hair and whispered, "Hush, I'm here. I won't let you drown. Stay still. Shhhh. You'll be alright."
Locked in a feverish nightmare, the inferno fed by real-life, Clay relived the confrontation with Bravo team after the interview with his father aired, but his fears twisted the events.
Clay's Nightmare
Sitting at the local bar, gaping at the TV … anger … rage … fury … disappointment, and a perception of paternal betrayal yet again filled Clay. He should've never gotten his hopes up that his father legitimately wanted to establish some sort of normalish relationship with him. He had ample experience which proved the man only cared about himself.
Now the reason for Ash coming to my apartment several days ago is clear. Ash invited me out to a public place for a 'friendly' beer to establish me … his own son … his flesh and blood … as the source of his information. Why? What did I ever do to the guy to make him want to ruin my life? The brass … hell Bravo team is going to believe I'm the source, though I never said a damned thing except … maybe.
"Clay, son, sorry about the call. So, the manuscript … I'll bring a copy over—"
Livid, Clay's right fist smashed into Ash's jaw as he roared, "STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME! I DON'T WANT A GODDAMNED THING TO DO WITH YOU. YOU CAN SHOVE THAT MANUSCRIPT UP YOUR ASS!"
He stormed out of the bar and hopped into his car, never looking back, not caring one whit what his loutish old man thought. The ashhole could vanish from the earth and Clay wouldn't shed a tear.
After driving erratically, making unsafe lane changes which would cost him his license if a cop had spotted him, Clay pulled to a stop in the DEVGRU parking lot … his mustang crooked and taking up two spaces. He needed to be where he felt safe and wanted … in the place of true family … with his brothers.
He pushed open the door to the Bravo lockers, took five steps inside, expecting it to be empty, yet still a place of refuge from the onslaught of emotions his father's betrayal created. Clay halted dead in his tracks as five angry men glared at him. He opened his mouth, "It's not me. I'm not the source. Please believe me. Ashhole is trying to drag me down."
Jason shook his head. Fury in his eyes as he bellowed, "LIAR! HOW CAN WE BELIEVE YOU? HOW ELSE WOULD ASH FIND OUT ABOUT THE MISSION? NONE OF US WOULD EVER TALK TO HIM. TO THINK I EVER CONSIDERED YOU FAMILY."
The left hook caught Clay off guard, and he stumbled backward, closer to his cage. Clay's hands came up in supplication as his blue eyes filled with tears at Jason's verbal and physical rejection. "Please … believe … I didn't say anything."
Sonny growled, "And here we thought you were trustworthy, but you're a liability. I thought of you as a little brother." He lunged, lassoing Spenser's throat with his hand and slammed him against wire cage, squeezing. "Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You're as loyal and loathsome as your asshole dad."
Lightheaded, Clay tried to speak, croaked out a, "No," but Sonny's grip on his larynx tightened cutting off his air, causing bursts of light to flash before his eyes.
Trent yanked Sonny off, and as Clay gasped for breath, he hoped at least one of them believed him. He was disabused of that notion as Trent's finger jabbed his chest several times, hard enough to bruise a lung. "I spent precious time and resources saving your lousy ass multiple times. You don't deserve to be here. I want to rip out your liver and feed it to the rabid leopard in the cave while you bleed out."
The blitz continued as Ray said, "Wish my shot had missed when Doza's men tried to lynch you. Perhaps you should commit suicide in the same manner as Judas … go hang yourself."
A roundhouse kick delivered by Ray to his lumbar dropped Clay to his knees. As his hand reached for his aching lower back, Clay peered over at the only two not to assault him, begging Brock and Cerberus not to forsake him.
"Sick em'," Brock ordered with a lethal glint in his eyes as he let Cerb off his leash.
Clay screamed as Cerberus attacked, sinking his teeth into his left thigh and started to thrash him about the locker room as the men of Bravo stood in a circle surrounding him, laughing at his anguished laments, pleading with them to believe he would never lie to them, leak mission details, or betray their trust.
Keeling Island
Clay's body thrashed back and forth as he moaned, "No … Cerb … no."
Katie held Clay with all her might, trying to keep him calm as the fever raged and his mind became locked in some horrific memory or nightmare which made no sense to her. She needed his body to remain still since vigorous movement would speed the venom through his system.
At her physical limit, Katie let loose her hold and tears spilled down as she collapsed beside Clay. "Lord, I haven't prayed much in a long time. Please, I beseech You, protect him … keep him alive … don't let this lionhearted man die. He has suffered greatly already. The scars on his body are testament to the labors he has endured. Lay Your hand upon Your lamb and bring him into Your light. Allow him to rest at ease in Your loving arms and bring his brothers to him in time. I believe they will be lost if they find him here lifeless."
Several moments later, Clay settled, going limp. Katie lay one hand on his fevered brow while her other lightly clasped his wrist, searching for his pulse. Finding a steady beat, she peered up at the blue sky. "Thank you, Lord." Katie allowed her body to relax, taking a few moments to rest. Exhausted, without meaning to, she slipped off to sleep.
Aboard the Labeeba Trawler
Luncai took cover in the pilothouse as his men continued to shoot at the Kobayashi Maru. He left Kingfisher laying on the deck hoping the return fire would rid him of a problem without actually committing murder. Though he was not above doing so if Kingfisher survived. So far, the man proved to be lackluster and unreliable, bringing more trouble than he was worth.
He grinned as another explosion ripped through the decrepit fishing boat. It wouldn't be long before it sank and all those aboard still living would become fish food. He might just garner a large haul of shark fins when they scented the blood and came in to feed.
When his men started dropping, Luncai couldn't figure out how or why, until he spied four men on the opposite side of his trawler, laying waste to anyone with a weapon. When his cousin fell, double-tapped in the chest, Luncai decided he would rather live.
His mind working fast, devising a plan on the fly, Luncai dropped his gun and raised his hands. "Don't shoot. I'm only a fisherman. You can take my haul, but leave my men alive."
Gunfire ceased as Luncai's crew stared at their captain wondering what was going on.
In Malay, he said, "Menurunkan senjata anda," then repeated in English, "lower your guns." As the crew lay down their weapons, Luncai peered at the tall man with black hair and a scruffy beard who exuded authority. "I'm a humble fisherman protecting my livelihood. Don't kill me … us."
Jason asked, "Why did you fire on us?"
"Are you not pirates? Three hauls in the last month have been stolen from me by pirates." Luncai played up his confusion.
Kingfisher saw his opening, getting in a volley before Luncai could rat him out. "He's lying. Luncai attacked me. He's a pirate. Killed my clients … threw Clay and Katie overboard. Wanted to steal my boat. He did this to me." Kingfisher pointed to the laceration across his abdomen the bitch had given him.
Luncai shouted, "I did not. He sent out a mayday. I thought he was working with you … drawing me into a trap. We tried to help him." He waved at his dead medic. "My man was treating him. No one else was aboard his craft."
"ENOUGH!" Jason glanced between the two men, not sure who to believe. He turned to Ray. "Any suggestions?"
"We search Kingfisher's boat and this trawler for them, and if we don't find them, we interrogate both … separately."
"They're not here … I told you he killed them and tossed their bodies in the ocean," Kingfisher reasserted.
"Shut it before I feed you to the fishes," Sonny growled at Kingfisher, not believing a word out of the man's mouth.
Jason ignored Sonny's remark, realizing if both Kingfisher and Luncai were claiming Clay and Katie were dead, he hated to admit it, but one of these men might be telling the truth. "Three, Five, secure the able-bodied men, keep the captain separate. Leave the wounded here for Four to treat. Search this vessel, then take the Kookaburra to retrieve our guys. Once they're safe on board, toss both boats to find any clue to where Bravo Six and Kilo Six are." Turning to Ray, he said, "Get on the radio and try to raise HAVOC."
Bravo moved to comply with orders as Jason pressed his comms button to communicate with Koala. "Bravo One to Kilo One."
"Kilo One, go ahead." Koala kicked his feet along with Danvers, Kasey, and Riley, propelling the dingy away from the rapidly sinking Kobayashi Maru, not wanting the rubber craft or any of them to be sucked down to Davey's Locker with it.
"Hostiles secured. No sign of our boy and girl. Coming to get you … we need to do a bit of field interrogation."
"Copy. All hands in the water. Kilo One out."
After taking a moment to watch the burning rust bucket taking its swan dive, Jason peered down at Kingfisher. He drew in a breath and crouched. "Now, tell me exactly what happened. Or I might let my man feed you to the sharks."
Keeling Island
Waking, disoriented, Clay blinked several times, unable to clear his blurry vision. Raising a hand to wipe his eyes, he groaned when sand landed in his face. He turned, rolling to his right side, the stench of something assaulting his nose but unable to discern the source.
Unsure why his left leg didn't want to cooperate when he pushed up to his knees, he hung his head down between his arms as they supported him, to peer past his chest to his legs. His sight clearing a little, he spied something wrapped around his thigh but gave it little thought as something drove him to want to rise.
Digging his toes into the warm sand and using his right knee for leverage, he managed to make it to his feet. Allowing his right limb to bear the majority of his weight, Clay began limping … not sure where he was going or why, but a sense of urgency made him continue to move.
Oblivious to the spear dragging behind him, or Katie lying on the beach asleep, Clay listlessly wandered into the lush vegetation. When his left palm came in contact with the bark of a coconut tree, Clay grimace and pulled it away. He squinted as he tried to focus on his hand to find out why it hurt. Noting two punctures, he wondered what caused them.
Like a lemming following the group even if it meant leaping off a ledge, Clay heeded a voice in his head leading him somewhere for some reason he didn't comprehend but sensed it meant life or death.
Unsure how long or how far he walked, Clay stumbled and fell over a log. He couldn't hold back the scream as something tugged on his left leg. Lying on the ground, panting and unable to move, agony rippled through his lower limb.
Having awoken with a start, several minutes ago, Katie stared in disbelief finding an empty spot where Clay had been. It took her only a moment to notice the trail created by what she was certain was the spear. Hurrying as fast as she could, she followed.
A pained cry … Clay's voice … pierced Katie to the core and she redoubled her speed, wondering what the hell was going on. Coming to a little clearing, she found him on his back with the shaft lodged on the opposite side of the log beside Clay.
Going to her knees, releasing the stuck spear, she couldn't help the ire in her tone. "Just where the bloody hell do you think you are going? You shouldn't be moving. Jesus H. Christ, do you have a death wish?"
Clay blinked up at Katie then his unfocused eyes roamed around. "What?"
Witnessing his confusion, Katie softened her voice, realizing the fever likely scrambled his mind. "We need to get back to the beach. We won't be found if we don't stay visible." She pushed Clay up to a sitting position. "Let me take your weight."
Shaking his head, Clay mumbled, "Stop. Listen."
Humoring him, knowing she needed him to cooperate to stand, unable to carry him herself, she halted and said, "Listen to what?"
Clay dropped to his back again. "Don't you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"Crying."
Katie thought she would be crying soon. Clay's pale features scared her, but she sat still and tuned her ears to the sounds as she scanned the landscape. Her eyes almost bugged out as she discerned a soft, mournful keening. She attempted to locate the direction, finding it impossible with the plethora of bird noises. "Do you know which way it is coming from?"
Clay shut his eyes and concentrated. His arm swung out, and he pointed. "That way."
"You stay here. Don't move an inch or I swear you will receive a hundred lashes with a leather strap."
Katie rose and started in the direction Clay indicated. After about fifty yards, she stopped and stared. Karen Dilbert, her eyes swollen and red, sat weeping next to Gareth Dilbert who lay unmoving on the ground. "Karen? Karen Dilbert?"
Lethargic, dehydrated, in shock, and certain her husband died, Karen slowly turned her head when her name was softly called. Disbelieving her eyes, she turned back to her husband and continued her grieving.
Aboard the Karnivorous Kookaburra
After searching both boats and finding neither Clay or Katie, they tossed both for clues to their whereabouts but found nothing except their bags and one belonging to Karen Dilbert. Interrogating both Kingfisher and Luncai produced no usable information. Luncai's crew spoke no English, and none of his or Koala's men spoke Malay, which frustrated Jason. He wished for Clay to be here for his language skills … the kid could've probably made some sense and well, helped locate the kid.
In the end, Jason contacted HAVOC and hashed out a plan with Blackburn. The USS Kearsarge would launch a Seahawk with medics onboard and fly to the Labeeba's location to extract Holt, Kingfisher, and two wounded crew of the trawler. Danvers and Riley would stay aboard the Labeeba and await the arrival of the HMAS Lancaster, an Aussie patrol boat, which would take control of the vessel illegally fishing in Australian waters. All of Bravo, plus Koala and Kasey would take Kingfisher's boat and backtrack the GPS coordinates all the way to a point about a mile off of North Keeling island.
They all were aware searching for Clay and Katie would be like finding a needle in a haystack, especially if they had been dumped in the ocean. The blood splatters on the Kookaburra indicated a significant struggle occurred, but they all held out hope their teammates entered the water alive and uninjured, and the blood was only Kingfisher's.
If so, Jason put stock in Clay's swimming abilities. A mile swim would be nothing for the kid and Spenser would do everything in his power to ensure Kilpatrick made it too. However, if they went in injured, making land without encountering sharks would be miraculous. Jason spotted Ray praying, which actually relieved him a little. His friend experienced a crisis of faith after Mexico and finding him saying a prayer meant Ray was making headway.
Glancing at Sonny, Jason realized his weapons expert's head was seriously not in the game. Sonny laid into Lisa hard when they made contact with HAVOC, reaming her over her sloppy work in acquiring the Kobayashi Maru. Jason ordered Sonny to zip it, and still incensed and needing a release, Quinn punched a hole in one of the galley cabinets.
Jason raked his hand through his hair and dropped to one of the seats, taking a moment to regroup himself. This was a disaster and he needed to find a way to bring the kid home.
Manning the wheel, Koala glanced at Jason, before returning his gaze ahead as the boat sliced through the water at full throttle. His mind was split between worry for Holt, thankful for Trent's efforts, concern for Katie and Clay, unsure if they still lived, and determination to find both. As the radio crackled to life, he responded, "Good Copy HAVCO, go ahead."
Airfield on West Island – HAVOC
Lisa squeezed the button and spoke into the handset, "Be advised we now have … uh, well, a sort-of ISR over North Keeling and have located four human-sized heat signatures a half klick into the jungle from the east side. Three are together and the fourth is about fifty yards away."
Eric stood behind Lisa, letting her relay the information. She had been worried and angry at herself for procuring the leaky bucket named the Kobayashi Maru and had toiled non-stop to find a way to help locate Clay and Katie. Some might call it dumb luck, but Eric understood the hard work and dedication it took to provide logistics for Bravo. The guys never took Lisa for granted, although she made her job look easy … she always anticipated their needs before they even knew they had them.
As she communicated the global positioning coordinates to Koala, Eric recalled the painstaking efforts Lisa expended to assist the boys. She contacted the HMAS Lancaster and spoke to another petty officer in charge of the ship's logistics. Between the two of them, they managed to discover the Earth Sciences Department at the University College London were surveying the populations of seabirds which nest on North Keeling via a satellite using thermal imaging.
With a few tweaks to the programming by Lester, their support tech, Lisa had been able to direct the satellite and begin a search grid, which ultimately located four heat signatures characteristic of human bodies. The only question in their minds was if two of the thermal images were Spenser and Kilpatrick, or perhaps someone else visiting the island.
After ending the transmission, Lisa leaned back in her chair. Sonny's diatribe hit home, and all her concerns that she was abandoning her boys to go to OCS came back full force. I never expected to fall for Sonny … I value our friendship. Losing him because I let our relationship evolve into something more than it ever should have hurts so much. Dammit, Sonny would've never found the damn training manual if I hadn't allowed myself to go down that path. I should've learned my lesson after Danny died. I can't afford a love life with anyone within DEVGRU, it puts them all at risk.
Sonny reacted the way she feared all the guys would … which is why she dreaded telling them all about OCS regardless of what Eric said. The loutish behavior and cold words from Sonny after he found out cemented all her concerns, lacerated her heart, and left her wanting to curl up, hideaway, and lick her wounds.
But she couldn't … not now, not yet. This would likely be the last op with the team, and because she failed to provide Bravo a decent boat, Clay was now lost somewhere in the Indian Ocean. She refused to go out on a low note. She liked Clay a lot, and she would remain at her post and do whatever it took to bring him back.
"Lisa."
Pulled from her thoughts, Lisa turned to the lieutenant commander. "Yeah?"
"Go rest."
"Can't do that. Not yet. The guys aren't resting, and they've been in the thick of things. I'm going to monitor the island so I can relay any movement to Bravo."
Eric nodded. "I'll bring you coffee then." Davis was as stubborn as Jason in her own way. He learned just how tenacious she was in the Ecuador jungle when Carlson tried to kill all of Bravo team. Her quick thinking saved his life that day when she shot Carlson, and she also located Clay which saved the kid's life too. He would miss having Lisa on the team when she started OCS … it would be a loss felt by all of them, but he supported her desire because Lisa would make one hell of an officer.
Keeling Island
Karen rubbed her eyes after drinking the milk from another coconut before offering more to Gareth. The woman next to her a godsend … she didn't know how to thank Katie. Her mind so muddled due to lack of water that after Gareth fell from the tree, having climbed up to secure another coconut to use as a hammer in his attempt to break open a nut found on the ground, she assumed he was dead. He was only unconscious and roused shortly after Katie assured her that he was alive.
"Come on, Karen, help me with Gareth, we need to return to my friend," Katie said as she assisted Mr. Dilbert to a sitting position after determining he had a nasty lump on the back of his head. Gareth suffered from dehydration and a concussion for sure, but luckily, his fall didn't break any bones.
Both women supported the groggy man as they made their way back to Clay. Once arriving, Katie set Gareth down a little ways from Clay and instructed Karen, "Help Gareth sip more coconut water … go slow though. I need to check on Clay."
Kneeling beside Spenser, she said, "Hey, hey. Wake up." She lightly shook his shoulder and getting no response tapped his cheek. "Clay, you need to wake."
Unfocused, feverish eyes flickered open.
"There you are. You found them. Karen and Gareth. Now, you stay with me. I'm not losing you … we need to tell your team about your legendary tracking skills. Ones that kick in when you aren't even lucid."
Clay grinned up at the lovely sprite above him. "Pretty," he mumbled.
Lifting his head, Katie dribbled a bit of liquid on his lips again. "Drink."
Licking his cracked lips, Clay greedily sought the moisture. "Hot. Hurt."
"I know. Wish I could do more. Rest." She lowered his head to the soft, broad grass under a laurelwood tree. Noises brought Katie's head whipping up and turning towards the beach direction. Spying the large form with gray hair breaking through the foliage, Katie almost squealed with delight. "Koala! Here. Over here."
Jason came next, his eyes taking in the four people as he said, "Trent … Clay's down." He keyed comms and reported, "HAVOC, Bravo One."
"Good Copy, One." Lisa's voice replied.
"Be advised … Spenser, Kilpatrick, and the Dilberts located alive. Unsure of Six's condition but will need medevac on the beach pronto."
Trent rushed towards Clay as the rest of Bravo fanned out and began to assess Karen and Gareth and Koala went to Katie. Taking a knee as he shrugged off his med pack, he surveyed the kid with practiced eyes. Much of the blood on the decking and the rear of the hull had been Clay's by the paleness presented to him.
As soon as Koala released her, Katie turned to Trent. "He was speared on the boat. A banded sea krait bit him as we passed through the coral reef. He is running a fever … the wound must be infected. He's been in and out, not lucid much of the time. I wish the Kookaburra was here … Kingfisher said he carried antivenom in his med kit."
Sonny stood after giving Karen a hydration pack. "I'll go."
"Me too. I'm a faster swimmer than Sonny," Brock said as he dropped his pack next to Ray.
"Go. Both of you." Jason pressed comms again. "Kilo Three, find the first aid kit on the boat. Bravo Three and Five are on their way. We need the antivenom it contains."
Katie's eyes widened, and she swayed, her energy waning and fatigue seeping back in now that reinforcements had arrived. "You got Kingfisher?"
Koala guided Katie down to sit on the log and handed her water. "Yes. Now rest. You did well. We got you now."
A long sigh escaped, and Katie's hand shook as she watched Trent start a transfusion on Clay while Jason knelt next to the young man, placed a hand on his forehead, and leaned down to whisper in Clay's ear. She recognized the look. Clay's brothers cared about him deeply.
Koala sat next to Katie. "Can you tell me what happened? How you located the Dilberts?"
Her gaze never leaving Clay, Katie said, "Kingfisher tried to kill me after he got a call from someone. Clay saved me by launching himself at me and knocking me down. The spear ended up in his leg, but he disarmed Kingfisher, and I grabbed the knife. When Clay fell, Kingfisher came after me again. Still dazed it was all I could do to hold the knife as the lout choked me. Clay managed to get him in a headlock and Kingfisher loosened his grasp on me, but afterwards forced Clay into the water.
"After Clay went overboard, and I managed to cut Kingfisher twice, one deep across his gut before my foot entangled in the wire that is through Clay's leg and ended up going over too. We weren't anchored, and the boat sped away before we could climb aboard.
"We had to swim here. He almost drowned, but he never gave up. If I hadn't rested a moment on the coral, he wouldn't have tried to swim by himself again, and he wouldn't have grabbed for the coral to propel himself forward. The rock turned out to be a yellow-lipped banded krait, and it bit him.
"After getting him to land, I gathered some coconuts, and we both drank before I fell asleep. I woke, and he was gone. I followed his trail, not hard to miss with the bloody spear dragging behind him. I found him here. I wanted to move him back to the beach, but he insisted he heard something."
Katie waved to the couple. "He did. She was crying. Thought Gareth died. Clay found them … not me."
"Kid. You with us?" Jason clasped Spenser's limp right hand.
"Boss?" Clay's eyes blinked open as a familiar voice sounded in his ear. Jason's face loomed above him. "Knew … you … come," he struggled to say as his need for air increased. "Trent?"
"I'm here. Tanking you up. You're a pint or two low." Trent kept his tone light, though he was concerned.
"Hard … bre … athe … ca … n't move." Clay tried moving but nothing worked, and his lungs didn't want to cooperate anymore. His eyes rolled back in his head as he lost consciousness.
"He's not breathing, Jace. I need to intubate him. Give me a hand," Trent calmly ordered as he began pulling out the necessary supplies.
Katie scrambled up and over to Clay. "The krait venom is a potent neurotoxin which can cause paralysis. I can help too."
Glad to have two sets of capable hands to assist him, Trent set to work with a conventional laryngoscope, and in short order inserted the flexible plastic tube down Spenser's trachea and attached the bag, which Jason squeezed manually, ventilating Clay's lungs, providing life-sustaining oxygen to the kid.
As he waited for the antivenom, Trent moved on to Spenser's leg and cut off the makeshift compression bandage, impressed at Katie's ingenuity. "You kept him from bleeding out. Smart to use the wetsuit."
"All I had. Thank goodness I maintained my hold on the knife or … well, …" Katie drew in a shaky breath.
Jason peered into Kilpatrick's eyes, sincerity in his voice. "Thank you for saving the kid. We're kinda attached to him. He's everyone's little brother."
Katie nodded. "He's attached to you too. He kept mumbling your names." She sat back on her heels and grimaced as Trent pulled the spear line out of Clay's thigh after cutting the wire. She shifted her gaze to Jason. "He kept saying the ash-hole or asshole didn't win … he wouldn't drown him with Bravo watching his back. Does that have any significance?"
Arriving back with the antivenom, both Brock and Sonny overheard Katie. As Brock handed it to Trent to administer, Quinn dropped to the ground at Clay's feet his expression contorting with worry seeing the kid intubated and anger upon hearing Clay's most recent name for his father.
His hand lay on his little brother's right leg as Sonny ground out, "Ash Spenser … his father is an ASHHOLE. I would like to beat the shit out of him."
"Clay's dad?" Katie peered at him, dumbfounded.
Koala blew out a breath. It sounded like Clay had father issues just like Dan … though in truth, Dan misunderstood his father … oh hell, it was complicated, and Koala didn't understand it all since Dan didn't tell him everything. He was just happy Dan began responding to his letters again after many years of hiatus.
Jason stopped Sonny from revealing more with only a glance as he said, "We need to construct a stretcher."
"On it." Sonny stood, needing something to do as rage coursed through his veins for Clay's current predicament as well as what Ash had done to the kid. He stomped off to find the necessary materials as his mind replayed the night Clay ended up at the Bravo cage.
Sonny's Memory
Gathered in Bravo's equipment locker room with everyone except Spenser, the topic of their conversation, after Jason called them to the base to get ahead of the fallout of Ash Spenser's interview on TV tonight … which was actually a repeat of one that played while they were out of country and Mandy had brought to Blackburn's attention as soon as one of her colleagues asked her about it.
Conversation halted as the door opened and Clay entered. The kid looked like shit … anger and hurt displayed on his face as clear as day. The kid rambled out, "It's not me. I'm not the source. Please believe me. Ashhole is trying to drag me down."
Jason shook his head. Fury in his eyes upon seeing the effect this had on Clay. "ASH IS A LIAR! WE BELIEVE YOU! SOMEONE ELSE TOLD ASH ABOUT THE MISSION! NONE OF US, INCLUDING YOU, WOULD EVER TALK TO HIM ABOUT A MISSION. I CONSIDER YOU FAMILY."
Clay stumbled backward, closer to his cage, shocked by the vehement support Jason showed him. Realizing the ire in Jason's voice was not directed at him, but Ash, Clay's hands came up to wipe the tears pooling in his blue eyes, his emotions overwhelmed by Jason's remarks.
Angry at Ash, Sonny growled, "We believe you. You are trustworthy, your father a liability. You are my little brother." He lunged, grasping Spenser as the kid started to crumble to keep him from falling and held him up against wire cage. "Apple falls far from the tree. You are loyal, unlike your loathsome asshole dad."
When Clay gasped for breath and appeared to be passing out due to a panic attack of sorts, Trent yanked him away. Trent's finger rubbed Clay's sternum hard trying to stimulate a response and get the kid to suck in a lungful of air. "I didn't spend precious time and resources saving your likable ass multiple times to lose you now. You don't deserve this, kid. I want to rip out Ash's liver and feed it to the rabid leopard in the cave while he bleeds out"
Ray moved forward, his face awash in fear as Clay struggled to breathe. "Wish I could've shot Ash before he tried to lynch your career. Ash should commit suicide in the same manner as Judas … go hang himself."
Suddenly, Clay dropped to his knees, his hand going to his lumbar region which had been bruised when a hostile in the mausoleum got the drop on him during their previous mission. Clay's wounded eyes sought out the one team member who always gave him unconditional comfort … Cerberus.
"Go to em'." Brock let loose of Cerb's leash as the pain of a father's disloyalty caused his eyes to glint with fury, wanting to kill Ash Spenser at this very moment.
Clay latched onto the hair missile, burying his face in the fur as he broke down. Bravo formed a protective circle surrounding their youngest brother and by silent agreement vowed to make Ash Spenser pay for his treachery.
Keeling Island
Sonny understood they didn't have a chance before the mission, but they would eventually find out who leaked info to Ash and prove to the cake-eaters it was not the kid. They had taken turns watching over Clay after his breakdown. Hence the reason he had been in the gym observing Spenser beat the shit out of the heavy bag right before this mission.
Their brother didn't have an easy life. Losing Brian and Adam, all the shit with Stella, then Mexico, followed by a couple of close calls on missions, Ash's perfidy, and now this … speared in the leg, bitten by a venomous yellow-lipped sea krait, and his lungs paralyzed … not breathing on his own.
Ray assisted Sonny with the stretcher. "What's on your mind, brother?"
Sonny exhaled heavily. "Kid can't catch a break."
Nodding, Ray stoically said, "That's why he has us. We won't let him down … we got his back. We are his family."
"Damn right!" Sonny picked up the makeshift stretcher and moved to Clay.
As Jason continued to breathe for Clay, refusing to allow anyone else to take over, Brock, Trent, Sonny, and Ray shifted their brother onto the stretcher and lifted the four corners. Koala and Katie assisted the Dilberts and Bravo took the lead as they traipsed out of the lush jungle to the idyllic white sand beach.
They arrived just as a Seahawk touched down. Koala insisted Katie go with Bravo and the rescued couple in the helo to be checked out by the American doctor on the USS Kearsarge and he would swim back to the Kookaburra and take the fishing boat back to Home Island with Kasey. Katie didn't put up resistance, wanting to be close to her new friend Clay.
Seahawk En Route to the USS Kearsarge
Trent communicated with the two medics onboard, handing over care of Clay to them, and the manual bag was switched out for an automatic one. Jason's hand cramped up, and he flexed it constantly as if still providing life-support for the kid. He pulled his knees close, making room for the others in the tight space. As they lifted off, the whirl of the blades drowned out the words of the medics working frantically to save Spenser's life.
Five men with solemn faces became lost in limbo as they stared at their little brother. Each man silently wishing, hoping, and praying Clay would beat the odds and pull through this time. Though, also worried the kid might've run out of his share of miracles.
As Jason clenched his fist and rubbed his left thigh, the action not lost on Ray ... his friend likely thinking about Nate's death. Ray peered skyward and softly whispered, "A cat has nine lives, what has a man?"
.
To be continued in AI-M ...
AN: Hope you enjoyed the second part of the multichapter story. It is a little out of canon, or maybe not depending on what they do with the Ash situation from the last episode.
Thanks to all my wonderful readers who post a comment ... they make my day! 😊
M and N suggestions welcome. Contributors for L include:
- Labor from L3gend78
- Laceration from floopdeedoopdee, ItsJustBecca, Juniper, NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Lack from ItsJustBecca
- Lamb from Megan Rachel
- Lamp from Megan Rachel
- Land/landing/landed from Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Language from NetMyne01
- Lap/laps from ItsJustBecca
- Large from Victoria-Annxx
- Larynx from floopdeedoopdee
- Lash/lashes from floopdeedoopdee, Victoria-Annxx
- Last from Megan Rachel
- Later from Megan Rachel
- Laugh/laughter/laughing from NetMyne01
- Launch/launched from L3gend78, Victoria-Annxx
- Lay/laid/laying from ItsJustBecca
- Lazy/laze from ItsJustBecca
- Leak/leaky/leaking from Victoria-Annxx
- Lean/leaning from ItsJustBecca
- Leap from floopdeedoopdee
- Leash from Victoria-Annxx
- Leather from Megan Rachel
- Leave from Megan Rachel
- Leg from Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx, L3gend78
- Legend/legendary from NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Lemming from Victoria-Annxx
- Leopard from kenyancougar, Victoria-Annxx
- Less from Victoria-Annxx
- Lethargic/lethargy from floopdeedoopdee, Juniper, Victoria-Annxx
- Letters from Megan Rachel
- Liability from Megan Rachel
- License from Megan Rachel
- Lick from Victoria-Annxx
- Lie/lying/liar from Victoria-Annxx
- Light from ItsJustBecca, Megan Rachel
- Lightheaded from Victoria-Annxx
- Like/likely from Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Limb from Guest
- Limbo from Guest
- Limits from Megan Rachel
- Limp/limping/limped from Guest, ItsJustBecca, Juniper, Victoria-Annxx
- Line from Megan Rachel
- Lip/lips from L3gend78, Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Liquid from Juniper, Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Listless from floopdeedoopdee
- Little from ItsJustBecca, Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Live/living/life from ItsJustBecca, Megan Rachel, L3gend78
- Liver from Elise Deschat, ItsJustBecca, Victoria-Annxx
- Local from Victoria-Annxx
- Lock/locked from Juniper, Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Long from Megan Rachel
- Look from Megan Rachel
- Loose from ItsJustBecca, Victoria-Annxx
- Lose/loss/lost from ItsJustBecca, Juniper, Victoria-Annxx
- Loud from Megan Rachel
- Love from ItsJustBecca, Megan Rachel, NetMyne01
- Low/lower from ItsJustBecca, Victoria-Annxx
- Loyal from NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx, L3gend78
- Luck/lucky/luckily from Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Lumbar from floopdeedoopdee, NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Lump from floopdeedoopdee
- Lung/lungs from ItsJustBecca, Juniper, Victoria-Annxx
- Lush from Megan Rachel