Chapter 13 Escape

In the lab

"Mike, John, watch the forest edge and the roads coming from the jetties. I expect the Navy and the Feds to be here soon. We've already heard gun fire," Meagan ordered and he started to make a fire in the wastebasket. He opened a cupboard, took out the files, pulled out the papers and threw them in the fire. "Who's outside?" he asked John.

"Mark," the other one replied.

"Ok, that was the last one, now to the lab. Smash everything. But no fire! I don't want to be blown into the air," ordered Meagan nervously, and he took a bag of explosives that were in the cupboard of the office.

All three left the container, entered the lab and wanted to start smashing the equipment.

"Boss! Navy!" John yelled as quietly as possible. He stood in the corner of the lab and looked through the window.

"Ok, keep quiet and watch them. Mike, keep watching the road from the main jetty."

"Boss, they got the women."

"Ok, no prob; that will keep them busy. They will take them to their ship, and their boat will be ours."

"Damn…" John's sentence was interrupted by the gun burst of the guy outside. Mike and Meagan ran to the window to see how one of Meagan's men collapsed and how the navies checked their mates and ran to the forest edge.

A shock went through Mike.

Damn that is the Hammersley crew that is here. I recognize RO and Bird. Please stay away from here!

"Ok, too late. Forget everything, let's get away. Hey Mike stop dreaming, and hurry up man!"

All three left the lab and ran via the back in the direction where Kate and the survivors of team A disappeared in the forest. In the forest they approached the spot where team A took a rest. One of them was trying to make contact with the Hammersley. The female sailor was busy with a pair of scissors trying to cut the man's sleeve, and the woman in civvies left the group and went down the slope in the undergrowth. The kid sat next to the other woman in civvies who lay on the ground.

"We approach from both sides. I'll take the guy, you take the woman. No shooting! Mike you stay behind; I need you for the boat," Meagan whispered to John and Mike. Meagan approached RO from the back and knocked him out with the butt of his gun. John pushed the barrel of his gun in Bird's back and held his hand over her mouth. Her eyes grew with pure fear. Stephanie clung in panic to Maxine's sleeve, too scared to scream.

"You are my passthrough," Meagan said pointing to Bird and Stephanie. "Take the girl and if you give one kick, I'll kill her. Understood?" He hissed, waving his gun under her nose. She nodded and opened her eyes, even more surprised when she saw Mike coming out from the trees.

"OK, move." Meagan pulled her arm and they all continued their way downwards. [Ronald] Meagan first, Bird, Stephanie and Mike in the middle and John at the end of the queue.

Kate

Kate spent more time sliding down the slope on the mud, trunks and moss than she did walking, hurting herself on various branches and stones.

You must be an idiot to put on sandals to take a walk in the forest. Within a second I'm on my face. I'd better shout because they're not expecting me and I want to avoid them shooting at me.

"Hey guys, don't shoot! It's me! It's Kate McGregor!"

"Kate?" Dutchy's voice sounded about 20 meters away.

"Yeah!"

"Here!" Now she heard a team approaching and she went towards them."Kate! Thank God, you're okay, " Dutchy said with relief. "But what do you look like?"

She looked at her muddy appearance. "Yeah, my clothes, and myself, are ready for the washing machine!"

"What's the situation?" he asked.

"We were taken prisoner, and your XO's team freed us, but we walked into an ambush. The XO and the constable are dead. Commander White and RO are wounded, but Maxine severely. Bird is ok. And Stephanie is with her too."

"Ok, what about the lab?"

"Listen, I don't think you should be asking the opinion of a civilian," the sergeant interrupted them.

Dutchy turned to him and said irritated, "she is our former executive officer, and if there's one person who can give us an adequate observation, then it's her. Understood? Go on Kate," Dutchy said, turning back to her.

"Honestly, I've no idea. There was only one man who fired upon us, but I wouldn't say there are no others."

"Hmm, ok, change of plans. Our first priority now is to get the injured and the kid to safety."

"Hey, this is Federal Police operation!. We have to take the lab," the sergeant interrupted.

"Listen sergeant, the executive officer is dead and now I'm in command. We've lost three effective men, two people are injured, we have two civilians to care for and finally we are under armed. Do you want more casualties? If you do not agree, discuss it with the CO."

"Yeah, and prepare some good arguments. She'll eat you alive." 2Dads mumbled.

"You know that you screwed up an operation that took weeks to prepare? I can't let this happen. The Navy has to cooperate," the sergeant answered stubborn.

"I am in command here, and I decide what's going to happen," he said fiercely.

"Hey guys, up there are two injured people. Don't you think they have priority above your quarrel?" Kate interrupted both men.

Both men turned their head to Kate and before the sergeant could say anything Dutchy took the initiative."Come on guys, let's go up. We need to bring them in safety!"

"Are you sure you can do this in those?" Dutchy was looking at her flat sandals with smooth soles.

"Yeah, I'll manage," she said trying to convince herself and Dutchy.

Why was I so stupid? I knew we had to go into the forest to the waterfalls. I made myself look ridiculous in front of everyone.

"Okay, if you say so," he said, lifting his eyebrows. After a few steps, she slipped and he just caught her in time. "That's what I thought," he grinned.

"Are you laughing at me mister?" Kate said, irritated by her own stubbornness.

A couple of meters higher, the same thing happened. Her foot slipped again on a trunk with moss and she lost her balance. She bumped into Dutchy who was just behind her. He didn't expect this and lost his balance too. Both tumbled backwards onto the slope. He fell first and she landed on his chest.

"Hey Dutchy, you take a break?" 2Dads grinned.

"Kate, are you ok?" he asked, ignoring 2Dads.

"Hmm, yeah, it's quite comfortable here," she answered with a smile.

"I can believe that. It's feels pretty good to me too, but, I'm afraid we have to get moving."

"Pity," she looked at her muddy feet. "These are definitely ready forthe bin. You're right, they're not appropriate footwear," she said disheartened.

A few moments later they were out of the valley and at the spot where Kate left the team. She froze on the spot. There was only Maxine and RO, the latter moaned and was rubbing his sore head with his good arm. Fear took control of Kate. She grabbed Dutchy's arm.

"Stephanie. She… she's not here," she stammered in panic

"Stephanie! " she yelled.

"And Bird's gone!" She looked around anxiously.

Meanwhile, the others joined them on the road and they checked out Maxine and RO. Kate was nervously wandering in the undergrowth next to the road looking for her daughter.

"Dutchy, the commander is still alive, but quiet. Bird has done a good job," Harpie said.

"Hey, buddy, are you ok? What happened?" 2Dads was looking at RO.

"Uh... don't know... exactly. Felt… a whack … and then... nothing," RO stammered.

"Alright, Harpie, 2Dads, you take the Commander; sergeant you take RO and watch his arm. We'll head to the jetty. They've probably taken them hostage and the jetty is the only logical way to get off the island.

Let's go. Come on Kate, there's nothing here." Dutchy gave her a soft wink, and put his hand on her shoulder to move her in the right direction.

Rebecca

She was walking towards the plateau. What will I find up there? I'm a stupid girl. I should have warned the police. What can I do with one gun against a small army? Shit, I hear something. Into the bushes, quick!

As quick as possible she disappeared into the undergrowth and saw the small group with Mike.

Crap, that's Bird and Stephanie. But where's Kate and Maxine? My god hopefully they are not… She bit back a sob. Mike? Is he involved with these guys too? He doesn't look like he's a prisoner, but he's unarmed. Hmm, just two of them. They don't expect me, so that's my advantage. I'll take the bastard with the AK47 first. If Bird uses her brains she'll grab the girl and dives into the bushes.

She took the gun and rose from behind a tree and fired upon the man with the machine gun. Unfortunately she missed him and he swung the gun towards her, but she fired again and hit the man in the chest. He smashed backwards into the bushes.

Hmm, that's why they call this calibre a man stopper.

Meanwhile, Meagan had grabbed Bird and pushed her forwards. "Run," he yelled. She picked up the girl and ran down followed by Mike.

Crap, it didn't go like I wanted. He still has Bird and Stephanie.

Meagan left a bit behind and fired a few shots in the direction where Rebecca stood. Then he followed the others to the jetty. Rebecca followed at a safe distance. Mike, Bird and the girl arrived at the jetty, shortly followed by Meagan.

"Damn, two identical boats! Which one?" Mike grumbled. He took the key in his pocket and looked at the label. "The Southern Cross. This is the Southern Star. It's the next one. Move!" he said and yelled at Bird.

They continued to follow. When Meagan reached the first boat, he boarded with the bag of explosives that he had taken from the cupboard in the container's office.

He prepared the explosives with a short fuse and jumped off the boat, not aware of the short distance between him and the person who had followed them.

Rebecca was now at the jetty as well, and saw the man with the gun coming from her boat, but he didn't notice her. She stopped, kneeled, aimed and fired. He was hit in the belly and collapsed like a folding knife. She continued her run towards Mike and Bird with renewed energy because there was now nothing that could stop her. The only risk was that he pushed off before she got there. Unfortunately, she didn't know what Meagan had prepared. The moment she passed the Southern Star, the bomb exploded and blew her away like a leaf from a tree. She was left like dead with shrapnel injuries at the jetty.