| "Position, in the Past Tense" | ||
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June 12, 2008 Transport to Cargo Airfield 0415 hours "We're being followed," Jordan said quietly as she stared out of the back of the van. Everyone looked up and followed her gaze. "Call ahead to the airfield Simon, have them ready to go," Paige said seeing the two trucks still some distance behind them. Simon began tapping at his laptop immediately. "Saf, you may want to pick up the pace." "I see them," she called back from the driver's seat. "That's pretty good finding us," Jordan said. "Luck," Simon muttered, "they must have had another team coming in or something." "Doesn't matter, we'll be gone before they catch up," Jordy said. "Make sure everything's packed. I want literally, a thirty second move job," Paige said taking the comm from Simon. "Gray?" Paige said quietly into it. "I'm here," Gray responded. "We've got two vehicles following us from the target location." "You're clear to use whatever means necessary to egress. I'm already clearing airspace for you." "Good. We'll be black for awhile." "Make sure you check in as soon as you're airborn...I have a few things to discuss with you." Uh oh. Paige twitched hearing that tone in his voice. "Yeah, no problem. Alpha's out." She handed the comm back to Simon. "You're first out with this equipment..." "I can shoot a weapon you know," Simon said defensively. "I know you can," Paige smiled sarcastically and tussled his hair, "but we're so much better at it." "Bitch," he quipped. Paige shrugged, "Bella, help him with his stuff, Jaime, Jordy, three point picks. Same rules apply, shoot to hurt, not to kill." "Do you think they're following those rules?" Jaime asked with a smile. "No, but consider it a character building exercise." "Alright, we're here," Saf shouted as the van screeched to a halt. Jaime, Jordy, and Paige jumped from the van holding first positions as the trucks turned on to the airfield. The airplane they were taking back was considerably smaller than the one they took there, but its engines were screaming and loud in the early morning night. "C'mon," Paige shouted waving for Bella and Simon. What the hell was taking them so long? Bella jumped out laden with bags. Simon followed, also laden with bags, and comm wires clenched in his teeth. Paige glanced back at the ever approaching trucks. "Jaime," she shouted gesturing towards them. "I got 'em," he said as he aimed his weapon taking out a front tire of the closest one. The truck's tire exploded and it skidded off to the side. The second one slowed but still kept coming. "Let's go," Safara shouted as they ran towards the plane and climbed in. She heard Simon yelling at the pilots to go as she crouched at the doorway with Jaime right next to her. "They get close, take their legs out," Paige said aiming her weapon. "Leg wounds, coming right up," Jaime said quietly also taking aim. The plane lurched forward. Not gonna be fast enough, Paige thought to herself. She picked off the windshield of the second truck skidding it to a halt. "Nice shot," Jaime said, "check this one out." Paige watched as the doors flung open from the truck and Jaime placed two shots in each of the windows and followed that up with hitting the foot of one of the men crouching behind it. "Show off," Paige quipped sending a couple rounds harmlessly over the roof of the vehicle. The plane was picking up speed and Simon was now yelling at them to shut the door. Jaime pulled Paige back into the plane and shut the door. "No need to yell," he said grinning at Simon, "we were just having some fun." "Fun," Simon nodded. "He calls it fun," Simon said to her pointing at Jaime. Paige shrugged, "he's weird like that." They all grabbed the nearest seat backs as the plane lifted off the ground and right into a turn. "These guys have licenses to fly this thing?" Paige asked Simon. "I dunno, I assume. C'mon, I'll get Gray on the line." "Yep," Paige said following Simon to the front of the small cabin. "Christ, this is a small plane," Paige muttered to herself. Small was certainly the word for it, two rows of three seats on either side, and not much else. Paige stood at the front of the rows of seats looking to the others who had taken seats. "Hey guys," she said gaining all of their attention. "I want to thank you for flying SIA express, please fasten your seatbelts because we're not sure if the pilots know what they're doing. Keep your trays in the upright position and don't drink the water unless it's bottled." "We don't have trays," Bella said evenly. "Oh," Paige said, "well then, fuck it, curl up the best you can and get some rest." "That I can do," Bella said smiling. "Nothing's left in the van, right?" Paige asked her. "Nope, we got everything," Bella said. "Good," Paige said. Simon was tapping her arm and she sat down next to him. "Gray," she said sitting back with a sigh. "Everyone okay?" he asked. "Yeah, we got up fine. They'll get the van though." "That's fine." Paige raised her eyebrow, must be nice to have money to burn. "So, what's up?" "The mission went well, albeit two days behind schedule." "Yeah, well, the alternative sucked." "Yes, I understand. We'll be debriefing immediately upon your return. Isabella, of course, can go to medical if you wish." "She got some rest and is much better than before. I think she should definitely get checked out by medical but I'd leave it up to her if she wants to debrief with us." "Okay, we'll reassess when you get back. Will you relay a message to Mr. Warner for me?" Paige smirked at Gray's insistence of formality, "of course." "Due to the timing of this case file, he will be leaving for Virginia as soon as you get back." Damn, she thought to herself, there goes dinner. "No problem, I'll let him know." "He'll most likely miss the debriefing, so if you, or Simon can help him write up a report, I would appreciate it." "Yes, sir. I'll help him." "Good. Get some rest, I'll see you when you get back." "Right," Paige said disconnecting the line and turning to Simon. "What are you doing?" "I'm looking for the...they should be in here," he said agitated. "What?" Paige shook her head but knew instinctively what Simon was looking for. He looked up to her, "the little dot things." "What are dot things?" "The transmitter things Jordy took off the prisoner guy. These little tiny things, I wanted to take 'em apart. They were here," he said kicking one of the bags at his feet, "right fucking in here." Paige sighed, "I dunno. I didn't see them. You don't think they're still in the van do you?" "No, I packed them myself, I know they were in here." "Check the bags by Bella, maybe they got moved?" "No, they didn't get moved..." "Well, maybe they did. Check anyway." "Right," he muttered getting up. Paige sat back and ran her hand through her hair. He was bound to find them missing sooner or later, luckily, it had been later. No worries though because it's not like they lost something they owned, and they were, technically, no worse off without them. And giving them back hopefully had put a little trust between herself and the Moonlighter. 'Self preservation'. Yeah, yeah, she mentally chided herself as she got up and went over to Simon who was crouched near Bella rummaging through bags. "Find it?" "No," he said without looking up. "Got an extra laptop?" "Yeah," Simon said looking around, "here." He handed her a thin bag. "Thanks," Paige said and made her way to Jaime passing Jordy and Safara who nodded their heads to her but continued their conversation. Jaime sat with his head back and eyes closed. "You asleep?" she said sitting down next to him. "Yes," he said with a smile. "Well, wake up, you got work to do." He shook himself briefly and looked to her, "work?" "Yep." Paige took out the laptop. "Gray said you have to leave for Virginia as soon as we get back because this case ran so long. So, we need a report for debriefing, which you're gonna miss." "Oh," he said staring at the laptop. "You can follow...you know, how Section did it, times, actions, etc." "Okay," he said taking the laptop from her. "So, no dinner then?" Paige bit her lip. "Not this time around." Jaime nodded his head slowly. "I'll give you my cell phone number though, Paige said, "you won't be that far. Maybe we can hook up if you're not busy." "Or you're not working a case file mission, thing, whatever you call these." "Case files. But yeah." She looked to him apologetically. "Sorry." "It's fine. Just, seeing you again, I just wanted to, you know, spend some time alone." "I know. We will though, don't worry," she smiled. "But type first, I'm gonna see if I can't get some sleep." "Good idea, you look exhausted." "Cuz I am," she grinned getting up, "I'll be in the back." Jaime nodded as she made her way to the back of the plane and found an empty little row of seats. "This sucks," she muttered to herself curling up on them. Cell phone, she thought. She twisted her body searching for her phone finally finding it deep in the inside chest pocket of her jacket. She turned it on noting the voicemail icon was there. Gray, she thought. She dialed into her mailbox listening to the drone female voice that informed her she had two messages. Two? She listened to Gray's message from almost two weeks ago and erased it. The next message was not what she expected, not anything she could have prepared for. She listened to it again as her pulse sped up the tiniest bit. She saved it. Dangerous, but what else could she do? She put the phone back in her pocket and curled up again, but her whipping mind was in full drive, Bathroom Tigers and all, and there would be no sleep...no sleep at all. Return |
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