James glanced at what was written and furrowed his brow, drawing his thinning eyebrows together. He read: Mayday, mayday. Require immediate evac from GL-426. Power is failing. This is code black. Repeat this is GL-426 requiring evac. Please advise.
James looked up. “Signaller, advise GL-426 we are en route, ETA fifty minutes. And get me Captain Johns on the line.”
He turned towards Badminton without waiting for a response. “Inform the medical staff that we have incoming and to prepare for a code black.”
Badminton caught his worried look. “Yes Sir.”
James watched him as he left the war room. Well, Johns, it’s time to test your Renegades. You’re not going to like it.
The door to the radio room slammed open. James looked up at the signaller rushing back in.
“Sir, it’s Falcon 7. They’re under attack.”
James clenched his jaw and gave the signaller a curt nod. “Is the Captain on the line?”
“Patching it through now, Sir.”
“Good.”
James pulled down the shirt of his fatigues, straightening it, and strode from the head room. What next?
EIGHT
The rotor blades of the NH-90 helicopter loomed out of the darkness. The pilot had nestled it between the cabbage trees dotting the beach. Dee moved out from the bush and onto the sand dunes. The white sand squelched under her boots like corduroy pants rubbing together. She swept her rifle up and down the beach. Jack gave her a nod and she peeled off left while he went right. Dee took up a covering position next to the door. She made eye contact with the pilot and he slid open the door. Dee let out a shrill, quick whistle, and watched as the Renegades exited the bush at a light jog. The Joneses jumped in and turned, covering Ben as he jogged the last few steps. He gave Dee a reassuring pat and hopped in, making for the vacant co-pilot seat. Jack spun and climbed in after him, with Dee bringing up the rear. Eric, stationed to one side, slid the door closed with a thud as the whine of the powerful Rolls-Royce engines fired up. Dee took her seat, smiling at Jack.
That was a smooth transition.
Ben had made them practice it for a whole day and night. Again and again, he’d timed them, shouting that they could do better, had to do better. That their lives would depend on it.
She felt her stomach drop as the chopper lurched off the ground, swinging out over the Hauraki Gulf and back towards Mayor Island. Dee was looking forward to seeing Boss and George. She was looking forward to finally having a shower and spending some quiet time with Jack. Maybe he would get the solar panel working better so they could watch a movie with Max and George snuggled between them, and Boss sitting in his chair pointing out all the plot holes while Jack argued with him. She smiled, a comforting tingle buzzing in her chest. The argument they’d had about the eagles in Lord of the Rings had lasted for three days. Jack had become quite animated, gesticulating wildly as he explained why the fellowship couldn’t use them to fly the ring directly to Mordor. That argument had then morphed into why the Star Destroyer hadn’t fired on the escape pod in Star Wars. Dee shook her head, remembering how Jack had stormed off and gone into the bush for a few hours.
She was surprised at how much she loved Boss and George. Seeing them each day made her happy. She’d thought she had found pure happiness with Jack, but a sliver of the puzzle had always remained unfinished. Amid the terror and the chaos of their flight, she’d found that last piece. Dee knew the fight was far from over, and now, with this new threat from the Indonesian Navy, she worried that they would never have any semblance of a normal family life.
Jack got up and moved over, plonking down beside her. Dee shifted over, giving him some space. She met his gaze, watching his blue eyes twinkle, then nestled into him, enjoying his warmth and comfort. No words were needed. She knew he felt the same. Had the same fears and worries, the same doubts. He was just as determined as her to not let the Variants get them. Dee felt for her necklace. Rubbing the metal and diamond between her fingers comforted her. Jack rubbed her hand, interlocking his fingers into hers. She smiled up at him, happy that she was heading home to the boys and Max.
A squawk in her headset brought her back to the present. “Renegades, listen up. We’ve got our first mission. It’s a straight pick-up. A scientist from a lab has called in for an immediate evac. ETA twenty minutes. I want everyone prepped and ready. Understood?”
Dee nodded and said, “Affirmative.” Her mind raced. They were barely trained. Were they even ready? She exchanged a glance with Jack. His brow was furrowed, and he was fiddling the stock of his rifle. Dee was struggling to grasp that anyone was left alive on the mainland. And a lab? She looked at Ben, hoping to learn more.
“Good. Renegades, let’s do this quick and clean. I want to get…”
Dee turned towards the cockpit at Ben’s pause. He had cupped his hand around one headphone, and his head was tilted, looking out the side window. She watched his brow furrow, then he shouted something into the microphone. Dee exchanged a quick look with Jack, who was also frowning. She flicked her eyes to Eric and Tony, who both shrugged. Ben untangled himself from the co-pilot’s seat and moved between the gap to join them. He remained standing, Dee watched his face for any clues. It was grim. Her heart sank.
What was going on?
“All right, Renegades. I’ve just received word from Falcon 6. Mayor Island is under attack.”
Dee struggled to take on this news. Under attack?
Ben continued. “All I know is, it’s collaborators and Variants. Mahana has ordered us to proceed with our mission. Picking up this scientist is deemed a PRIORITY ONE. He’s sending two squadrons to Mayor Island as reinforcements.”
Dee stood up, grabbing the bar above her. “Are you serious? I don’t care about some scientist! That’s our home. The boys are there!”
Jack leapt up, joining her. “She’s right, Ben. Screw the scientist. It’s the friggin’ boys we’re talking about! Our family!”
Ben looked at Dee and Jack, his face softening. “I’m with you guys. I want to get home and fight too. But this scientist, she may hold the key to ending this. So, I know how you feel. I love all those back on Mayor too. But we have to trust the soldiers to do their job. If we have a chance to find a cure for this madness, then we have to take it. If we do our jobs right, we’ll be back in the air within minutes.”
Dee’s head swam, and the thumping of the chopper blades pounded in her head. She squeezed Jack’s hand and felt him squeeze back, trying to comfort her as she sat back down. Dee raised her hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. She couldn’t believe Ben was choosing the mission over her family. She loved Ben. After all, he had saved her, and helped Jack too. But now he was obeying orders rather than dash home to fight? Dee glanced at Jack. He had his hands on his head, rubbing them through his hair.
“Dee!” Ben shouted, getting her attention.
She looked up at him. Brushing aside her emotions, she replied. “Sir?”
“I want you locked and loaded. Get some food in you. I want your rifle clean and ready.”
Dee rubbed the back of her neck. “Yes Sir.”
She busied herself, going through the motions, trying to take her mind off her swirling fears. Jack nudged her on the arm, handing her an energy bar. Dee accepted his offering and leant in, kissing him deeply. She needed to feel his love, feel his touch. She needed the familiar warmth of his lips. He broke the embrace and looked down at the map Ben had handed him before returning to the cockpit. Dee clicked bullets into her magazines and secured them into her pouches.