Everyone was shocked to see Jacques like a leader, hearing his speech, and after a moment, Cookie commented, "You sound like Steve and Milo...Maybe we do a broom movement...That would be simple, eh?".
"Certainly would be easy to take care of the major spots.", Steve said. "And as Peggy suggested, it's going to be almost impossible for us to truly find every little trace of our trip but at least we can make it fairly hard in the unlikelihood anyone else somehow makes it.".
Audrey replied, "I'm in for it.", over her shoulder, and Mole nods, "Oui!". Sweet smiles, "Let's do it.", as Packard said, "Why not?", with a chuckle, as Cookie grins, "Alright, let's cover our tracks!".
Jacques smiles, glad to have such friends like them, and so, they went for the major spots through every valley, with the fins of the narwhal creating wind to dust the wheel tracks, with a couple of people scattering the ashes of the campfires, and even braving the left tunnel front of the face marker to see that the worm bug monster creature had moved on to somewhere else, probably out of fear if it had felt the volcano even from this far, and with a sad look as they recovered only a couple of intact guns, noticing that bones of the small squadron was clearly showing through the guano of the creature.
Sweet took out his inspection gloves from his doctor's bag, and went to bury the bones in respect, able to pull out only a couple of dented yet intact dog tags and a chest name pin, and he sighed deeply, "This is the only evidence that people died on this expedition next to the admittance and the ship census papers with Mr. Whitmore.", knowing that the Ulysses and the rest of the big and small evac subs are lost to the waters, with the people either obliterated or rotting on the sea floor, being scavenged by crabs and such.
"I still can't believe that we're all that's left...", Audrey sighed as Peggy nodded, "I agree. I didn't think that our casualties would be so great; I wonder, if we had stayed fully intact, that if Rourke and Helga would've had a chance to commit their deception...".
Steve glanced at her, "Like somebody overhearing them or something?", and Peggy nodded, "Yeah...I mean, out of 200 people and beyond...it would have been something different to realize...through now, I understand why the Leviathan reacted so rashly because it was technically on orders to protect Atlantis, even if it had gone rogue somewhat, thanks to the Heart being under the city all those centuries.".
Cookie replied, "The journey would have been longer, though, with more trucks taking up time and such, and of course, the food...", and Packard said, "And don't forget, there might have been people in the whole thing who would go insane, wanting treasure, or people who wanted fame by discovering Atlantis, siding with Rourke and Helga...Through there would have people who just wanted to be having adventures and probably staying in Atlantis, if anybody was like Vinny or Abraham and Thaddeus.".
"Look, Audrey, I know how you feel, but what's done is done; we have to move forward for them, we made sure that at least their deaths weren't all in vain when we helped save Atlantis not only from those HYDRA fellas, but also from its own extinction thanks to Milo's efforts.", Sweet tried to assure her as she sighed and nodded.
"I know, just... hard to get over the fact you're with so many people and then they're all gone so quickly.", Audrey said.
"My father would know.", Peggy spoke up. "He was at the Somme in the last war. Entire companies of men were wiped out in less than a few hours, I know my father lost most of his friends that he had gotten to know before that offensive with just how poorly the tactics were to fight that battle.".
Jacques exhaled, "I heard of that day...And now, we're in a second war for the last 20 years since then...Let's hope things are better once we get back up there. We're so close now. How much longer do you think, Audrey?".
"An hour at best, we're doing good due to our memories and notes and of course, Steve's usual sketchbook.", Audrey replied, and Steve said, "Let's go.", as they went back into the narwhal, sweeping off their tracks from the place.
After heading through the couple last valleys, with the last campsites dusted off and such, the narwhal made it to the podium of the stairs, landing on the shore carefully, opening up the ramp.
The Atlantean assistant was in awe of the big sub-evac and the small sub-evac, helping out with the offloading of the gold and such with the crew and reloading it in the big sub-evac for the next hour, and with a bit of configuration and such, they got the small sub-evac into the narwhal, with him asking, "I will wait until I know when you are able to go down there in the water. You are going to notify an elder named Whitmore?".
Packard smirked, "Yep. You better rustle up some dinner while I work the radio...It would be a while, and I hope it gets through.", and Cookie grinned, "Great! Mind if you help a guy out in cooking the supply of Atlantean food, friend?".
The assistant nodded, "I'll be more than honored to help, and I'm quite hungry.", and so, Peggy and Steve went with Packard into the big sub-evac, to the controls, as Peggy and Steve are technically the highest officials of the expedition now, with Peggy as a SAS agent and officer, and Steve as a commanding officer of camp.
"Well, it doesn't look like anything came by to feast or sleep in the sub.", Peggy noticed as they got in. "Packard, do you really think you can get a signal from all the way down here? And make sure it's one of ours, last thing we need is to attack U-Boat packs and make the Germans curious of this region again...", Steve said.
Packard snorted, "I may be old, but I am not stupid, whippersnapper.", looking at Steve, and he nodded in respect, "Yes, ma'am.", gulping as he may be strong and healthy now, but he is all humble when it comes to respecting elders when they are in their nonsense tone.
Peggy giggled lightly to herself, wondering if he'd be the same with her parents, as Packard went to configure the radio, "And as for the range of picking up a signal, it shouldn't be too hard considering that we're on the east side of the states, with many radio stations up in the major cities and personal homes. Now, stay quiet while I search for a good signal to find Whitmore. I need to concentrate.".
"Alright then, don't let us bother you.", Steve said as he walked to a different part of the sub. "Certainly will be able to carry everything with us..." Steve glanced around as Peggy nodded.
"That's for sure.", Peggy commented as she took a seat on one of the treasure chests, "You think Whitmore still got a loan on the ship that dropped us off?".
Steve shrugged, "I doubt it, and besides, it's not like we have the Ulysses to lug up, only this, so, might be a smaller version of a storage ship or something.".
Peggy nodded, "Good point. And Whitmore might as well say the same thing to Packard once she locks his radio in. Still, I think we might spend the night here to wait for arrangements with that ship to lug this sub up and have a scan for U-boats and all before we can breach the surface.".
Steve glanced at her, rubbing the back of his neck, "That actually makes sense as we're technically not in a rush, and we can't afford to hear if Whitmore makes a mistake in rushing around even if he's a millionaire, especially with possible spies in America.".
Peggy smiled, "You heard Packard. If Whitmore is anything like her and Cookie, he's not stupid to mess up.".
Steve nodded, "Fair. He really took time to make sure that there wasn't corners in cutting efficiency for the Ulysses and all, even with a lot of pay for all involved which is a dream come true.", with a smile before exhaling, "If we are actually spending the night...Do you want us to take up one of the barracks?", referring to the two-bunk barracks in this sub.
Peggy raised an eyebrow, "Steve, the bunks themselves are barely fitting one person each, and I doubt with your new height and all, I won't fit. I think it's best to presume that we can take ourselves in one of the many extra tents from storage to the shore...And..I know the last couple days were experimental with us splitting up to talk with our friends during the day and being together at night, making out really good and getting to know your body all over again, but...well, I want to finally straightforward see all of you in your glory, and before you ask, I might've drank a contraceptive tea this morning, thanks to Nola.", blushing with a smile.
"Peggy...", Steve whispered as she chuckled. "Well, jeez, Steve, are you hesitant still about things after all we've gone through? You just wanting to wait for us to get married or something before we'd do it again?", Peggy teased for a moment as Steve glanced away red faced before she did as well.
"Oh my God... you... you would want us to be married before we'd do it again.", Peggy replied softly as she glanced at Steve as he took a seat.
Steve exhaled deeply, "It was one thing when I was skinny, short, having health issues, and obviously less virile...and now, this is an entirely different thing...And...I'm scared to hurt you even if you're protected by the contraceptive tea...I love you so much...Gods, I'm stupid to realize that you got me pegged...", looking down with a sigh.
Peggy gave a small chuckle as she placed a hand on his cheek. "Steve, you never could hurt me; no matter what you would do.", she assured him as he had a small smile as she chuckled.
"Unless you cheated on me or did something truly terrible, but you know what I mean there.", Peggy then replied with a raised eyebrow and smirk. "Yeah, I do.", Steve gave a small chuckle himself.
Giggling softly, Peggy smiled, "I didn't know that you can make puns on names...certainly learn something new every day...", sitting on his lap now after the short stroll from the treasure chest, as he's sitting on another treasure chest, "And you aren't stupid, Steve. I know you are quite an honorable gentleman of morals in a way, and I'll let you propose someday properly like I know you'd want to, as I brought it up in the first place which is my fault admittedly, but would you still be curious to see how you'd react to me tonight? You don't have to answer right now, I can wait until we know that we're staying for the night if Packard is going to tell the news to us and the crew, okay?".
"I don't know.", Steve shook his head. "I think just my mind is so focused at the moment of us getting back home now, to try to reorganize my mindset considering what will happen when we return.". She had to agree, "Yeah, I know, can't simply just relax; there's still a war on...".
Steve looked at her, "But it doesn't mean that I can't think about it...I mean, tonight is basically our last night of freedom before we get tugged back into the war again, if Packard says that Whitmore is taking his time to arrange the pickup discreetly.".
Peggy smiled, "Good to know, and if we only have a few hours, in case of not staying for the night, I'm glad I'm with you, and I will have every little chance to let you know that I love you very much so...", before kissing him lovingly and tenderly on the lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, running her hands through his hair.
"Peggy...", Steve murmured into the kiss, and wrapped his arms around her, not going to waste every minute he has before Packard would call them back for any news she got, and so, they made out both tenderly and passionately for several minutes before Packard's voice came over the intercom, "Lovebirds, if you aren't busy locking lips, Cookie just came in, saying that dinner is ready, and I got news to tell over the campfire.".
Both of them blushed as Steve gave a small bashful smile, "Well, I guess by this point if the two of us are missing, everyone just rightfully assumes we're off having private time with one another...".
Peggy giggled, "Well, can you blame them? They're happy for us, and they are just glad to tease us like the friends they are.", getting up and off Steve's lap, "Let's have some food, and hear Packard out with our friends.", with a smile.
Steve nodded, "Yes, let's.", getting up, and held hands with her as they strolled back the way they came, smiling, and headed down and out of the sub to the campfire on the shore, with Packard given a plate of Atlantean food, with Cookie smiling, "Got two plates for you two!", as the Atlantean assistant passing the plates over to him as Cookie went to them while they took makeshift seats, giving the plates to the couple.
"Thanks, Cookie, and our friend, for this meal.", Steve smiled at Cookie and the Atlantean assistant, as he smiled, "Much honored, Friend Steve.", as Peggy looked at Packard, "Alright, we're all gathered up. What's the gossip from Whitmore?".
"Well, I was able to get in touch with him... barely.", Packard admitted. "Mostly because of our depth and all; but we've got a destroyer from a nearby convoy that's breaking off; they were on their way home from a previous escort. So, we're going to at least have someone to pick us up.".
Steve blinked, "How long?", and Packard replied, "Five hours. Apparently, the convoy was heading north from Norfolk.", and Peggy sighed, looking a bit disappointed yet understandable.
Glancing at Peggy for a moment, Steve then looked at the crew, and asked Audrey, "What do you think?", and Audrey hummed, "Well, at high speed, back there with the Levithan and coming up into the air pocket, it was at least 15 minutes, maybe 10 minutes at best. But perhaps we better stay at half speed and far out of the Levithan's territory in case he thinks that the destroyer's an enemy, and to stay low out of the U-boats' range, even if with a destroyer on the prowl and the fact that it's getting dark, so, probably an hour in the ocean, with 15 minutes in the tunnel, before Packard radios the destroyer, picking us up.".
Sweet then replied, "And we can't make the destroyer wait very long in case if any U-Boat gets suspicious, so, we probably got three hours to finish this meal, have a quick nap, and use the facilities as it'd be a while in the sub.".
Peggy nods, "That sounds reasonable, Sweet.", with an approving smile, "After all, we'd need to be on our best to get ourselves safe and sound on American soil and property.".
Jacques replied with a deep sigh, "Agreed...", still torn yet breathing a bit easier, and looked at the Atlantean assistant, "You better get on your way soon, but I need you to be a messenger with something important, besides our gift of the mini evac-sub, that is.".
He glanced at Jacques, "I'd be honored to do so, To-Be-Prince Jacques.", and Jacques widened his eyes, exhaling as he realized that being mates with Sia, he's technically a royal in a way, and he gave a small smile, "Good.", as they went to finish their meals.
After that, Jacques told the Atlantean to wait at the ramp of the narwhal, while he went into the evac-sub, with the others wondering as they went to settle in the extra tents that got pulled from storage, not wanting to sleep in the slightly uncomfortable bunk beds in the sub yet.
Searching for what he needed, he found it a couple of minutes later, and returned to the Atlantean, and with a deep breath, "Protect those dog tags and this message tied in this ring with your life, and give it to Princess Thalassia, is that clear?", as the others watched, with a few widening their eyes when they saw a promise ring on his hand, and just not any finger, but on the engagement finger.
"Of course.", the Atlantean nodded as Jacques took a deep breath, "Thank you.". He then looked to the others, "What? Does it really come as that much of a surprise?".
Sweet replied, "You realize that giving away those dog tags is not a replacement for you?", and Jacques replied, "I can always have new dog tags if the war is still rough in France, and I know I haven't proposed to her, but this, this is a promise to do that with this ring I'm wearing, and Sia will be more than relieved that no surface woman will not earn my affections as I'm her mate, and the ring in the message is for her, and the dog tags will be to Vinny.".
Mole gushed, "Ah, l'amour!", before he then dug down into his hole to sleep for his nap, and Audrey replied, "Indeed. Love sure is surprising. Come on, Jacques, rest your head. We'd need to be fresh for the departure.".
