Sunrise over the ocean is something everyone should see at least once in their lives. Jamie would have preferred to see it on a luxury cruise vacation, but had to admit that regardless of circumstance, it was beautiful. Nature could be pretty amazing when it wasn't trying to kill them. The awesome vision, in this case, was the signal for Jamie and Mitch that watch was over; they were free to go inside.

"Oh my God, it smells heavenly." She took in the aroma as they entered the galley.

One of the perks of Jackson's years on safari was that he was an amazing cook. He could serve up a delicious meal with nearly any ingredients, under nearly any circumstance. Today was no exception.

"Morning!" He smiled, scooping the first helping of eggs onto a plate. Chloe stood next to him, leaning back against the counter with her mug of coffee.

"Good morning."

Jamie sat at the table while Mitch refilled his coffee cup. Jackson placed four breakfast plates on the table, covering a fifth with foil for Abe when he awakened.

"Thank you. Oh, I have missed your cooking," Jamie said. Indeed the hot breakfast was just what the doctor ordered after hours in the cold. "So, eighteen hours, right? We should be there by six pm or so?"

"I don't know," Chloe answered between bites, "the Captain is concerned about the weather. He may have to go around a storm. Could add a day or two. What is your plan?"

"My plan is to make sure Reiden's CEO gets everything that's coming to him." The thrill of the chase, coupled with the realization that justice for her mother was within her grasp, had Jamie flying high. And all she and the team had gotten for their efforts with the animals so far was a kick in the teeth. Well, that was going to change also. "And we will all get the credit we deserve for everything we did, everything we've been through. All of the sacrifices that were made. Even Ray and Leo deserve…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa-I'm not gonna tell you not to do that, God knows I want those bastards to pay, too, but you gotta be very, very careful," Jackson interrupted. "You can't go public until after you've blown them out of the water, when its too late for them to do anything about it."

"What? Why?"

"You have the power, the proof and the motivation to expose Reiden, not to mention the government's coverup. They can't force you to sign a non-disclosure. And even if they could they have no leverage over you to enforce it. So you know what? When Reiden finds out you're alive, they're coming at you hardcore. And if they can't get to you directly, they'll come at the people you love. We know from experience that they don't give a rat's ass about the collateral damage."

The words hit Mitch like a punch in the gut. How had he not even considered this? If there was even the remotest possibility that Reiden would use Clementine to get to him and Jamie, then this idea was a non-starter. Damn, they knew his face and his name and all about his daughter. But how could he stop them? If Jamie didn't cooperate, they would use any means necessary to silence her. If they could not find her, they would harm others to flush her out of hiding. He shuddered to think of the torture Chloe's sister had endured. And if Jamie did cooperate, even if she handed over every bit of evidence she possessed, they still would not take the risk. They would kill her. No matter what she did, Jamie, and everyone around her, was in extreme peril once Reiden Global became aware of her continued existence.

"He's right," Mitch spoke up. "Jamie Campbell has to stay dead, at least for the foreseeable future. I, I can't believe I didn't consider this." He shook his head sadly. "Reiden will do whatever it takes to silence you. Once they're outed, there's nothing they can do without making things even worse for themselves, but until then, you my friend are a phantom."

Jamie fought to maintain her composure. She knew they were speaking the truth, but it was a bitter pill to swallow. She had no job, no apartment, no money and now…no identity.

"Seriously?" Jamie groused. "I just want my life back."

Jackson spoke up again. "Well, you can't have it. None of us can," he told her bluntly. "You lost your job. So did I. You think Abe and I can go back to being safari guides? I loved that life. You think UCLA kept Mitch's position after he vanished without notice for months? We've all lost contact with nearly everyone we knew before."

He smiled kindly, softening his tone, "All the five of us have is each other. We can't have our old lives back. But what we can do is move forward with our new lives. And who knows? The new ones may be better than the old ones."

"No one knows about Jamie except Abraham and the people in this room. I can pull some strings and get her into the country under the radar," Chloe offered.

"Thanks, Chloe. Thanks to all of you. You guys are awesome," Jamie said sincerely.

"You're going to need a new name. Different from any you've used before. As soon as we get back we will get started on the documents. Will you need a place to stay? Or will you stay…?" Chloe wasn't sure whether or not to finish the question. The answer seemed obvious to her, but she didn't want to make any assumptions.

Jamie and Mitch exchanged glances. "I think I have it covered."

"Good. Also, until you can do some shopping, I'm sure I have some things that will fit you if you'd like."

"Sweet. I get to wear French fashion," Jamie smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mitch leaned against the deck rail, his back to the sea. Abraham and Jackson stood opposite him. Between them was a small crate containing an increasingly unhappy leopard.

"He's getting restless," Abraham said. "We're asking a lot expecting him to stay caged for such a long journey."

While Mitch abhorred the cruelty of the confinement, there were safety issues in play. "Well, we can't let him out for a run. What kind of sedatives do we have?"

"Maybe we can just let him sleep the rest of the trip," Jackson nodded.

"We still don't know why he isn't aggressive," Abe said. "And he doesn't have the defiant pupil. Is it possible he ingested some of the cure?"

"There wasn't any left," Mitch replied, "just drops. And…and it was in a separate container in my bag. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful, but what on earth possessed the old man to keep him? He's surrounded by rampaging wildlife and he keeps a leopard alive on his property? Seems like one hell of a risk."

Jackson shrugged. "Maybe he assumed it was important because it was in a military crate? But then, what was he planning to do with it?"

"What did he tell Chloe?" Abe asked.

"I'll have to ask her," Jackson looked concerned. "Do you think you can still use his stem cells?"

"Let's hope so," Mitch said softly.

The other men read his face.

"But you have doubts."

"I've heard the government's scientists haven't been able to reproduce our results," Mitch admitted. "I'd be lying if I said that didn't concern me. Maybe it was a fluke. Or maybe it didn't work as well as we thought. Or maybe…"

"It worked," Abe reassured him. "Jamie and I saw it, too." He put a hand on Mitch's shoulder. "Don't let the doubts creep in. Whatever it was you did, it worked. And it will work again."

"They couldn't do it again because they haven't been able to find animals that weren't contaminated," Jackson added. "So they just gave up. They're going with Reiden's plan no matter what we say at this point. That's where this leopard changes everything. Chloe hasn't told anyone about him yet while we plan our next move."

Mitch nodded. He wished he could feel more confident, but there was only going to be one way to find the answer. If they couldn't use this cat, then everything was for naught. The beast rebellion would continue to expand. It would only be a matter of time before they were all dead.