Chapter 25

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Kara sat with Bertrise in the helo bay where Rachel's lab was located and they were waiting on the results from Bertrise's blood drawal, but as they listened to her story, about Negril and how her family had turned the hotel to a place for help, it was hearth breaking to think about how she had lived through the chaos on land. Hearing that there had been men in suits, in the same suit she had been wearing earlier today, and they had not come with best intentions in mind. Was that how the governments thought was the best way to deal with the disease?

From the corner of her eye she noticed Danny by the door and left to talk to him.

"Any news?" She asked as she stepped into the P-Way. Danny shook his head and tried to say something, but she understood what was the problem. The Captain and Tex were still missing.

"The XO shouldn't have shot down that UAV." Danny finally let out and she met his gaze.

"You okay?" She placed her hand on his overarm, wanting to check up on him.

"Still feeling pretty useless, but Doc Rios has agreed to let me out of the sickbay, since I can't keep still." Danny explained and Kara could imagine Rios' stiff demeanor grunt something in dislike that Danny hasn't been following his advice.

"Are you disobeying the doctors orders?" Kara raised her eyebrow with a smile. Trying to steer her thoughts away from her father who was missing right now. And Tex, of course. His light humor was sorely needed, but he was probably being a pain in the ass to her father. The thought made her smile.

"Perhaps I need a nurse.." Danny smiled broadly and lifted his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Kara chuckled and shook her head in a teasing way, all the while letting herself bite her lower lip, knowing that it would make him go crazy.

"By the way... Everyone was pretty surprised over your revelation over the comm." Danny returned from their little escape and looked at her.

"That was the general idea."

"You're going to have to get some new tags." Danny leaned towards her and traced the 'Foster' tag on her overarm and she couldn't help but feel nervous about his touch, despite that there was layers of clothes between, she still got butterflies in her stomach.

"I should get back.." She let out before the situation would carry further. There was still eyes around them, and just because they were married now, didn't mean they could do whatever they wanted.

"Hey, take it easy." Kara gave him a warm look before stepping inside the lab. Their little moment had helped her forget the mission for a moment, giving her a moment to breath, to not worry about what's going on. But as she stepped back inside to the helo bay, she heard Bertrise tell Rachel about how she had been the only survivor of 51 people on the boat.

"Why didn't I die?" Bertrise's voice broke as she held back tears and the question hung in the air.

"Because you're immune. Just like Kara is." Rachel glanced briefly towards Kara. She took a few steps and knelt down in front of Bertrise, taking her hands in hers. Bertrise looked at her in understanding, a faint smile on her face as tears were shedding from her eyes.

"It's been a long day, Bertrise. It's time for you to get some rest." Rachel said in a warm tone.

"Come on, I'll get you settled." Kara got up and Bertrise followed after her.

"It's dark. We're screwed." Tex stated the obvious.

"You said they'd find us by now." Tex retorted.

"They would've if Mike hadn't shot down the UAV." Tom said, slightly irritated by Tex's whining. He had after all agreed to tag along with him on this plan of his.

"When did you become such a pessimist?" He added.

"Cats only got nine lives, already been through 12 or 13 of them." Tex explained.

"How'd you join the Navy, anyway?" He heard Tex ask and he gave a glance towards the old man.

"I joined the Navy because of my father." Tom then said and looked at the stars. His thoughts taking him back to his family on land. Back to his father. His kids. His wife.

"Daddy, where are you?"

"We miss you."

He could still hear the voices from the video he got. His kids asking where he was. The thoughts troubled his mind, they were all alone in that cabin. They didn't know that he was alright for the time being. And there was no guarantee that the cabin had been untouched by the virus.

"He was Navy too?" Tex's voice interrupted his thoughts and a smile came onto his face as he thought about his own father.

"You did what?" Jed had shouted over the dinner as the whole family was eating their supper and he could swear a piece of half eaten potato had flown out of his father's mouth.

"I joined the Navy, going to the Academy." He repeated with his boy like voice and saw his father's eyes all round, staring at him in shock with his mouth open. His older sister, only by eight-and-half minutes, just looked at her plate all silent knowing well enough not to piss off their dad. Tom was remembering all too well how it had been Tracy their dad had been shouting just the other day. Even their family life was run by a strict Army routine. A routine he thought to break now, he had always been the middle child, the pleaser and now it was time to do something else. To cause havoc. Despite that he knew that the Navy was all about rules too, the idea of him being in the Navy would drive his old man crazy. His younger brother Tim, had no idea what was ahead of him. Perhaps that's why he had been the one to follow in their father's footsteps and join the Army like their father had wanted.

"Army. Did it to piss him off." Tom answered and heard a big jitter of laughter coming from his right side.

"Figures.. And how did that work out for you?" Tex commented with a snort.

Tom didn't answer, just kept looking up the night sky. For a moment it was quiet. The waves were splashing against his body, giving this calming sound like on a relaxation CD. He then gave a look towards Tex and noticed he was dozing off which was a bad sign.

"Hey, don't fall asleep." He said.

"I'm just so relaxed man." Tex came out from his dreamy world and tried to shake off the sleepy mood coming over him.

"You never did tell me what part of Texas you were from." Tom said and Tex chuckled as he heard the question about his private life.

"Probably because I'm from Reno." Tex replied with humor.

"Huh." Tom made a sound of acknowledgement.

"Hey, Tex?"

"Yeah, boss?"

"I am afraid." Tom let out with a worried tone.

"To die?" Tex then asked in a more serious tone. Noting that this was a conversation of deeper stuff.

"To never see my wife." The words that came out of his mouth took him by surprise.

"And my kids." Tom added. "We love you, daddy." Remembering the parting words of his little boy, made him look at the stars with even more hope. Hope that they were still at the cabin.

"So you and the doc are over then?" Tex asked and he kept staring the night sky. Letting out a deep sigh as he thought about the love he had with Rachel. It was something else, that much he knew. But it had to be over by the time they got back.

Mike sat on his XO chair on the bridge, staring at the horizon. Hoping he could free his mind from this nagging doubt. He thinks the Americans have drowned, Quincy's words still got to him, scare tactic or not. Which is why he had gotten their own bird up in the air, but the effort has been without joy.

"Any sign of the Vyerni?" He came tumbling down from his thoughts and saw the coffee cup that was being handed to him by Andrea.

"Nothing." Mike answered with a sigh and took the coffee cup from her.

"Granderson, any luck on the SLQ-32?" Andrea asked the young woman.

"That's a negative, ma'am. Zero electronic emissions. They're most likely radio silent." Granderson stated.

"Let me take the bridge for a while, so you can rest." Andrea looked at Mike and he only managed to give a 'no' answer with his eyes.

"They gotta be close." Mike said after a pause and took a sip of his coffee.

And by the time Mike was done with his coffee, he got a call. A call he had been waiting for ages. No wonder the Russians lost a war, or something, he thought but his knowledge about Russian history was too vague.

"Sir, Admiral Ruskov on the HF." Granderson said, a note in her voice tightening as this was it. Their plan was about to take motion.

"This is Commander Slattery." Mike took the radio in his hands.

"Commander, I won't waste time. Obviously I want Dr. Scott." The familiar voice echoed through the radio.

"Anything short of her delivery along with all relevant samples and work will result in the death of your Captain and his companion."

"Are you still there XO?"

Yes, I am still here. Just buying my time so that we might track this call.

"Of course you are. Just don't know what to say."

"I understand. You've never been in command before."

The words stung. He hadn't been in command before, that was true, but he had been in charge of this ship plenty of times when the Captain was otherwise engaged.

Finally, after a few long silent moments on his part he voiced himself again. Irritated by Ruskov's voice.

"I need proof of life." Mike said.

"Let me talk to my Commanding officer."

"I'm here, XO."

He felt relieved to hear Tom's voice again and from the sound of it, the Nathan James crew on the bridge was breathing slightly better now.

Ten minutes. He hung up the radio and picked up the phone to contact the CIC.

"Combat, this the XO. Tell me you got a bearing on that call?"

Covering the mouth of the phone with his hand he gave an order to the Master Chief "Get Lieutenant Green and Burk to the wardroom."

Jeter shared a unsure look with Granderson which got Mike thinking a little. "Just get them both." He added. Two Lieutenants with the name Green was going to be a logistical nightmare. Perhaps they would agree going by Green One and Green Two. Although that sounded like a task force ready to go.

"Break them out, soft kill the engines and haul ass to the extract point." Danny explained over the blueprints of the Vyerni and Mike eyed the man. Just yesterday he had been all pale and barely standing up. Now he was telling him about the plan he and the other Green had come up to make the Russian ship disappear once and for all.

"Who's team leader?" Mike stared Danny and Burk.

"I am, Sir. Along with Lieutenant Burk." Kara's voice sounded beside the XO and he glanced at her.

"For a moment there, I thought you were actually going." Mike looked at Danny and saw him squirm in front of him.

"I'll be driving the RHIB." Danny stated while clearing his throat.

"Even at 80 percent, he's good to go, Sir." Burk assured and Mike thought the situation through and from the vicinity of his ear he heard a coughing sound with the words "55." Giving a short glance towards the other Lieutenant Green, he assumed she was referring to the percentage Burk had said a moment before.

And the scowling look from her better half at her direction was no discreet. Mike felt like rolling his eyes. These two had another thing coming, both so headstrong.

"Are you or are you not fit to steer the RHIB?" Mike asked from Danny, noticing him straighten his body.

"I'm fit, Sir."

Rachel leaned over her desk in the lab. Copying all the files from her computer to a memory card. She felt her pulse pumping at a steady 50 knots, if it could be described by nautical terms.

"This is a .45 caliber pistol." Burk's voice stopped her for a moment and she stared at the firearm he was holding.

"Excellent knockdown power. The trade off is that it's large and heavy." She listened as he showed how the gun works but at this point everything was pretty much lost in the moment as she just kept her eyes at the gun. Praying that she didn't need to use it. The severity of the situation was getting to her as she wondered if this plan would work.

"But you need time to attach it. Are we clear?" Rachel heard Burk say something about a suppressor and she was now standing in her full height as she assured him she had gotten the intel she required. "Crystal."

How to use a gun in one-two-three, she thought. The small beep from her computer got them moving forward and she gave the memory card to Doc Rios. This was all 'just in case'. Just in case she didn't make it back. The thought was terrifying and her palms were sweaty again. Just like when she had faced the crew.

She turned slightly to take the CDC case from Quincy. Her partner of several years, she thought as she looked at the man.

"If anything should happen.. Finish what we started. Make things right, Quincy." She pleaded to the man and looked at him in the eyes. Hoping he understood.

She then slowly moved to walk alongside Mike who had appeared by the door.

"Russians are picking you up in a helo out in the middle of nowhere and taking you to their ship. We won't have any contact after that." Mike explained.

"I understand." Rachel said, hoping her voice was carrying some confidence in front of the XO. If she couldn't fool him, how was she to fool the Russians?

"It's a little late to ask, if you really wanna do this. Ahm.. Let me just say, what you're doing is very brave." Mike said meeting her gaze and she was touched by his words. This was the same XO that had been after her from the beginning, not buying the whole 'studying' birds crap.

"I'm proud to know you."

"You make it sound like a goodbye." Rachel said knowing how her voice was shaking at the thought that this was a goodbye.

"I'll see you for breakfast." Mike ended in hopeful tone.

"Stay calm, you got this." She went over Kara's parting words in her mind as the helo was approaching the Russian ship. She felt the muzzle of a gun on her back give her a sign to get down to the deck, noticing how she was immediately surrounded by armed men as she did so. She walked further down the deck and was greeted by an officer who was pointing a flashlight at her. The light caused her vision to see stars for a moment as he was merely confirming that she really was the real deal.

"Stay calm, you got this."

"Dr. Scott." She was greeted by Ruskov as she stepped to the Captain's cabin on the Vyerni. Tightening her grip on the case she was holding, she focused herself. The cigar stink in the air was sickening her body as she waited a moment to speak.

"How long I've waited to welcome you aboard the Vyerni." The note of gloat was imminent in his way of speaking. He thought that he had actually won. Although who knew how this would go down?

"I won't be talking further or doing any kind of work until you bring up your prisoners." She stated and kept focusing her eyes on something else than him. Knowing that he might see right through her.

"Of course. It was expected." Ruskov said and gestured towards a door behind him.

Rachel followed as the two men were brought inside. Her heart leaping as she saw with her very own eyes that he was still alive, he was still okay. Her gaze went through the man quickly, assessing him for additional wounds, before making up her mind.

There was a small tip of a blade with a note tucked against the inside of her cheek and as bittersweet their very last kiss had been, she moved quickly to kiss Tom. After all he was the one with the most clean shave, she reasoned in her mind. Tex's frizzy beard would probably end up her getting cut with the blade thus blowing up their entire plan.

"Definitely not over." She noted Tex's words from beside them but ignored him.

"Now I understand why the good doctor agreed to pay us a visit." Ruskov brought her to the present. Reminding her where they were at the time.

"The deal was me for them. You gave your word that you'd led them go." She watched as Ruskov ordered Tom and Tex to be taken away. Out of her sight.

"Not until I confirm that you've delivered what I've requested." Ruskov said and she knew this wouldn't be so easy.

"Well, I assume you have a lab." Rachel said dryly. Wondering what would be waiting for her there. A few minutes later she was entering the lab on the Vyerni. Immediately greeted by a man. "Ah, Dr. Scott." She looked at the man who seemed to have tidied himself up just for her arrival.

"So nice to see you again." The strange man continued to ramble on. Again? She thought about his words. Had she actually met this awful man before?

She felt a shiver go through her spine as she looked at the man. He was inside of a isolation tent, with a bed and all the usual things. And he wasn't wearing a suit. The thought was frightening as she realized that this man must be Niels. He's the one behind this all!

"Niels Sørenson." The man introduced himself and the name confirmed her doubts.

"I know who you are." She said with a voice filled with disgust.

"You do?" Niels wondered in surprise.

"Because of you four billion people are dead." She couldn't help but raise her voice as she looked at the man in horror.

"Wait! What?" Niels was trying to hide the fact that he knew what she meant.

"You weaponized the virus!" She felt angry.

She listened as he tried to explain how he had done the procedure on himself thus making him a carrier for the virus. Patient zero. She shook her head in disbelief, this man was crazy, just like Quincy had stated. He could have come forward at anytime and let everyone know what he had done, yet he chose to hide himself like a coward.

"Did you really think that your DNA could save the human race?" She looked at him in the eye and asked.

The silence in the room was clear.

"I would like to speak with the Admiral, please." She said to the man escorting her.

"Dr. Scott! Fæn!"

She heard from behind her, the strange word sounding much like a curse word was accompanied by a sound of something crashing down.

Rachel glanced at her clock and gave a slight look at the man in the isolation tent with Niels. Wondering if her vaccine really did work.

"Mm. I don't wish to ruin the ending for you, but your vaccine will not work." Niels said and she felt the need to scoff but tried to maintain her temper cool. It wouldn't serve well to explode on this guy right now. And she didn't want to give him the satisfaction that he was getting under her skin.

"Isn't that right, Dmitri?" Niels continued on.

"You're not feeling so good. The virus already has you in its clutches."

Rachel gave another glance at her clock, hoping she wasn't causing suspicion by this behavior. The opening of the door got her body on high alert.

"So, you come with me now." The officer from earlier walked inside, ordering her to leave the lab. This was not in the plan, she thought. She had to stay here in the lab.

"But I still need to give him the second part of his vaccine." She found herself saying, happy that she managed to come up with an excuse quickly.

"Admiral wants you. You must come with me, now." The officer insisted.

"Stay calm. You got this."

"If we leave the room and the vaccine test fails.. Ruskov will kill both me and you." She slowly moved her herself to the open case on the table. She noticed the small reassuring nod from Niels to the officer allowing her to continue on.

"Do it quick." Was the reply she got.

This was it. How on earth was she going manage this? Niels was following her every move and already suspicious not to mention that the officer was standing right in front of her.

Bloody hell! She couldn't stop the shaking of her hands as she was trying to fit the suppressor to the pistol.

Without it, you'll wake up the entire ship. Burk's words went through her mind.

She glanced at Niels nervously and the officer was starting to walk closer. Shit! As Tom would put it.

There was no other choice. He was soon close enough to see that instead of a syringe and a needle, she had a gun in her hands. She had to do it without the suppressor. Take the risk. Hoping that the rescue team was close by.

She lifted the gun firing almost immediately, hitting the officers overarm. Pretty good hit, if she thought it herself. Not good enough. But the damn gun was heavy. It was hard to point with it at the right direction. Now realizing how Burk had been telling her the truth. He had maneuvered the gun in his hands without a hitch and the gun hadn't looked that heavy at all.

She fired the gun again.

Headshot, perhaps she should enlist in the Navy like Kara. Panic got to her body, it might be easy to pull the trigger, but what had she done just now? Killed a man. She nervously pointed the gun at Niels who was inside the tent.

Oh god she wanted to shoot his brains out right now.

"No. Hey, hey. Pierce the plastic, everyone on this ship dies. You first. Huh?" Niels had his arms up in the air.

"I helped you." His words were getting to her. He hasn't helped one bit.

But before she could make the choice, the door opened.

"Ma'am, it's us." She heard Kara's voice, trying to remain her professionalism in front of the others. "Mom?" She then registered but she was still in shock as she held the gun.

"Doctor, put the weapon down." Burk's voice was ordering her to let go of the gun. She saw Tom, moving towards her, hands carefully in the air, as to calm her down. Her finger was still on the trigger, her entire body shaking.

Tom's hand slid carefully to her hand, dropping the gun down on the floor and she felt like hugging him, but he only pulled her with him. They had to leave the ship, now.