We Belong to the Sea, Part One

Disclaimer: Same as before

The Pit, Seaside Annex
Todd, Althea, Shipwreck, Conrad and Kate
20 February 2002, 0744

"So what's going on today?" Kate asked as she, Conrad and Shipwreck stood on the shore in a small protected cove that was part of the Pit's seaside annex.

"Well, Althea and Todd are getting lessons in underwater attacks from Wetsuit, one of the SEALs here at the Pit." Shipwreck replied, "And you two I thought would appreciate some training in CQB on a ship."

"CQB?" Todd asked after he came out of the small bathroom/locker room that was nearby.

"Close Quarter Battle." Conrad supplied, "Basically combat at very short ranges, used in urban warfare and the like."

"Usually shooting inside buildings, but in this case just firing inside a ship." Kate replied.

Althea walked out of the ladies room just then, wearing a one piece blue and black bathing suit. Addressing Shipwreck she said, "Now please try not to cause any trouble today."

"I'll be good if you'll be good." Shipwreck replied.

"And how are you, Monsieur Todd?" Conrad asked.

"I've never swum in the ocean before," Todd began, tugging down on the sleeveless white t-shirt he was wearing, making sure that they covered the waistband of his orange swimming shorts.

"Really?" Shipwreck startled, "Why, swabbie, there's nothing like it! Once the smell of the sea gets in your blood, nothing can get it out. Isn't that right Wet Suit?"

Walking up to them was a muscular fellow wearing a blue wetsuit, the sleeves of the half unzipped suit tied around his waist. He wore a blue and gold t-shirt bearing the US Navy SEAL Trident.

"Nothing like it." Wet Suit said in agreement.

"Yeah, until you can find another job you can be lazy at." Beach Head grumbled as he walked by, in company with a fellow with slicked back red hair and a trim red beard and wearing a dark blue t-shirt and similar colored cargo pants. A holstered pistol hung in a holster strapped to his right thigh.

"Hey!" Shipwreck protested, "In my day I was the hardest working sailor to sail the Seven Seas!"

"You're nothing but a desk jockey now!" Beach Head snapped, "You gave up a life of action to lounge around on a desk all day!"

Kate noticed that the red haired fellow stood just on the outskirts of the conversation. Commissioned officer, most definitely. Likely has some sort of law enforcement experience. I recognize that 'field interview' stance anywhere. Kate thought.

"You know why I did," Shipwreck said with a dark look, "At least I didn't do it to further my career!"

Todd and Althea gave each other knowing looks, and Kate noticed that in her peripheral vision. Kate also noticed Conrad had a clear line of sight to this as well.

Merde. Conrad thought as he noticed Althea had a dark scowl on her face. She looks like she's about to kill Beach Head.

All of a sudden Althea's eyes sported a wicked gleam and an equally wicked smile.

Kate felt alarm bells going off in her head. This isn't good. With her ninja skills…

She unscrewed the lid off a water bottle and then the water came out in a column, forming itself into a ball. Todd looked like he was going to say something and then Althea put her index finger to her lips.

The small sphere of water flew through the air and drenched Beach Head from behind who turned around to glare at Althea.

"I knew you did that you little…" Beach Head began.

"Hey Beach Head," Wet Suit called, "Is that your jeep?"

"What?" Beach Head replied, turning around to see his jeep being driven away by Tunnel Rat and Big Lob who were laughing loudly.

"HEY STOP! STOP! GET BACK HERE YOU MANIACS!" Beach Head shouted as he chased the vehicle.

"How did you do that?" Todd asked Althea.

"I dunno," Althea replied, "I just do. I can manipulate water around me. Of course I can't just create a tidal wave out of nowhere, but when there's water around I can do anything with it. Create waves, make currents, that sort of stuff…"

"Cool." Todd replied.

"Well, be good kids." Shipwreck began, "And don't stray too far. Okay?"

"Bye Dad!" Althea waved as Shipwreck, Conrad, Kate and the red haired man headed off.

As they walked towards the ship that was moored by the pier the red haired man introduced himself.

"Sorry I hadn't introduced myself," the man spoke, "Lieutenant Colonel David Lane, or Surefire for my codename. I'm an MP by trade."

"Kate Todd, Secret Service." Kate began, shaking the man's hand.

"Conrad Hart, ACME." Conrad replied.

"Well, I figured while the kids get some training in water attacks you'd appreciate a chance to shoot a few rounds." Surefire said, with a grin.

"Lay on Macduff." Conrad begun.

"Shakespeare. Very nice." Surefire began, "They teach you the Bard's work in the French Foreign Legion?"

"No, mon commandant." Conrad replied as they walked up the gangplank into the ship.

The Pit, Training Ship
Conrad, Kate, Shipwreck, Surefire
20 February 2002, 0811

"I tend to favor the grenade and the sub-machinegun (SMG) or personal defense weapon (PDW)." Conrad began.

"You don't want to start lobbing grenades on a ship. You've got no idea if you might damage a fuel line, start a fire, or make a hole in the hull which could really ruin your day below the waterline." Shipwreck began as he checked one of his two Desert Eagles.

"Compensating for something?" Kate quipped as she noticed Shipwreck's two Desert Eagles that he was loading into holsters strapped to each thigh.

"No kill like overkill." Shipwreck said, with a smirk.

"Personally automatics are the way to go." Conrad replied as he hefted an AMD-65, a short barreled and compact AK-47 variant manufactured by the Hungarians.

"But no grenades for you." Kate commented, as she checked her own Sig.

"Not interested in grabbing anything else from the armory?" Surefire replied.

"No thanks," Kate replied, "My issued Sig works well enough. You boys can go on about all your guns."

"Alrighty then, you're in the lead." Surefire said, "Stack up on that hatch over there."

Surefire indicated a door that would lead further up to the bridge of the ship with his free hand, holding a cut down M4 carbine. Kate was in the lead, Shipwreck behind her and Conrad behind Shipwreck.

Surefire swung open the door and Kate went up the ladder well to the bridge of the ship. As she got a little over a third of the way up the stairs a pop up target sprang into being. Kate saw the figure of a man in a hoodie with a pistol in hand and accordingly fired several shots that clustered around the man's chest and neck. The target retracted.

Coming up into the bridge Kate turned right and Shipwreck turned left. Another target, this one a hostage with a terrorist wearing a ski mask holding her. Shipwreck let fly with two rounds from his Desert Eagles, putting two rounds into the forehead and nose of his target. Kate managed to gun down a second target with a knife.

Conrad and Surefire came into the room just then, Kate moved deeper, staying along the wall as Conrad entered. He sighted another target, this one a terrorist with a pistol wearing a ski mask. Conrad fired the AMD-65 in two short controlled bursts, ripping holes in the chest and head of his target. Surefire charged onto the ship's bridge, seeing a fourth target, this one unarmed so he didn't fire, but the one to the left and behind it was. He fired several rounds into the target.

"Clear and safe all weapons." Surefire shouted.

The foursome removed magazines from their weapons before taking out any chambered rounds.

"Good shooting." Surefire said, "A bit of a looser pattern of hits for you on that second target, Kate. Don't rush."

"I literally just saw him when I got into the room." Kate replied, "I couldn't see if he was a hostile or not until I got around the ship's steering console."

"Hart, not bad marksmanship either, but try to avoid overkill. Sounded like you emptied nearly half a magazine into the guy." Surefire said, "This isn't the French Foreign Legion. In law enforcement operations you have to account for every round fired, rapid single shots are better and they conserve ammo."

"If he's hopped up on something it's best to sort him with a longer burst." Conrad countered, "However I see your point in a law enforcement context."

"Shipwreck, nice shot with the dual Desert Eagles." Surefire began, "But your margin of error is really low with the .50 Action Express rounds. You miss, you'll really mess up the hostage."

"It's a good thing I know how to shoot them then." Shipwreck replied.

"Up here," Conrad said, "I think I could justify throwing grenades into the room."

"With hostages present?" Kate replied, appalled.

"Or at the very least flashbangs." Conrad countered.

"I agree with you on that." Kate replied.

"Plus with some models of flash bangs one can stick them in a frag sleeve." Conrad replied.

"Why did I just know you were going to say that?" Kate replied, "This isn't the French Foreign Legion."

"And there's also the matter of explosive breaching of water tight hatches. If done correctly they won't damage parts of the ship." Conrad replied.

"You're awfully confident in your knowledge of explosives." Kate observed.

"It's what I did when I was in the Legion, mining, demining, explosive breaching, and demolitions." Conrad replied.

"Alright, lets regroup and have a go at other sections of the ship. Hart, you're on point." Surefire replied, "Show us how you do room clearing in the Legion."

"Oui mon commandant." Conrad replied.

The Pit, Seaside Annex
Todd, Althea, and Wet Suit
20 February 2002, 0814

"Ok, put this on before we get in the water." Wet Suit said as he handed Todd a silver metallic necklace.

Todd noticed that Althea was wearing one just like it.

"What does it do?" Todd asked.

"It prevents any mutant scanning devices from detecting your lifesigns in case you go out past our boundaries." Wet Suit replied, "For instance, Cerebro."

"So that's why the X-Geeks haven't found you guys yet." Todd replied.

"Who are the X-Geeks?" Wet Suit asked, puzzled.

"He means the X-men." Althea replied, as she was preparing to dive off the pier into the water.

Why does he look so nervous? He's just standing there at the edge of the pier? Althea thought.

"You're not afraid, are you?" Althea asked.

"Who, me? No, I'm not scared and...WHOA!" Todd replied as Althea laughed and shoved him off the pier.

Todd fell forward, arms flailing and legs bicycling. With a great splash he belly flopped into the water.

"Ow." Todd groaned, as he tread water, "Geez Al why did you have to..."

Todd stopped in mid-protest when he noticed Wet Suit staring down at him, eyes wide with amazement.

"Wh-what's the matter and..." Todd began before looking down at his arm, seeing the skin had turned a pale green shade. He let out a shriek before swimming out of sight.

"Where'd he go?" Althea asked, as she saw Todd rapidly swim out of sight, underneath the surface of the murky water.

"I didn't know he could swim so fast." Althea mused, shouting, "Todd! Todd come back! I was just kidding!"

She plunged in after him, swimming in hot pursuit.

"Oh great," Wet Suit grumbled, "Now I've lost them both."

To Be Continued...