Missions of the Retrieval Team - Land of the Kilts

[Bigkahuna]

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

[Standard]

Aye, and the suspense builds.

[Livingston]

Not again!!

[Pleater]

WOW!!

A real genuine traditional cliffhanger end of episode ploy.

Anne the Pleater

[Flag Folder]

It's been a whole week, are we never to know their fate?
Supplies are running low, we're reduced to food and water.

[Flag Folder]

Things are not looking good.

[davedove]

Scene 38

Jungle Outpost in the Guyana Highlands

I felt myself start to slide as the ground gave out below me. But then, just as gravity began to pull down the side of the cliff, something caught my ankle.

As I held tightly to Greg, I looked over my shoulder. Wompet had run up the trail after us and had grabbed my ankle to hold us up. The big dog held my ankle in his mouth as his feet dug in. But I could see that our combined weight was too much for him, as his feet started to slide towards the edge of the cliff.

Although our fall was delayed, I knew that Greg and I would still fall, probably taking the loyal dog with us. I frantically looked around for any kind of handhold on the cliff. I felt Greg’s struggles as he flailed his feet against the side of the cliff, also trying to find any kind of hold.

And then, a big hand grasped my leg and held us up.

“Hold on, I’ve got you!” Jock’s voice came down from above us.

“Can you pull us up?” I yelled back to him.

“No, you’re too heavy, but I can hold you.”

“Greg,” I asked, “can you climb up over me?”

“I suppose I have to,” he answered. Slowly, he began to pull himself, gripping my body as best he could. He tried to brace his feet against the cliff, but the crumbling surface offered no purchase. He was forced to pull himself up using only his arms. I pulled up to help him as much as I could.

“You fellows might want to hurry it up a bit!” Jock called to us. I could hear the strain in his voice.

I then heard a body hitting the ground behind us. “Take my hand!” I heard Ms. Crane say to Greg.

With Ms. Crane’s help, Greg was able to pull himself up over the edge of the cliff. Jock, relieved of the extra weight, then pulled me up as well.

We had no time to rest, however, as gunfire sounded from below and bullets peppered the mountain around us. We scrambled to take cover behind the rocks around us.

The gunfire stopped and I heard Lieutenant Secuaz’s voice call up. “You people up on the cliff, I suggest you throw down any weapons and surrender now!”

We remained quiet and under cover, so he continued. “I know you are considering your options, but consider this. We have your only escape route covered with several rifles. You will surely all die in the attempt.”

“Perhaps you need a bit more incentive,” he continued. “Please look back to the door of the main building. I think you will be interested in what we found in the jungle.”

I glanced up over the rock in front of me to see what he had. There, standing just outside the door of the main building, was one of the guards holding a woman. Her hands were tied behind her and the guard had the barrel of his handgun pressed against her head.

They had found Ms. Swan and captured her.

[Livingston]

Thanks Dave, Wompet, Jock, Ms Crane. That might have hurt a little too much since the kevlar kilt doesn't protect against falls. Now, how are we going to get Ms Swan out of this? We can't let Secuaz get away with this!

[davedove]

Scene 39

Jungle Outpost in the Guyana Highlands

I quickly considered my options. “Okay, gentlemen, let’s do what he wants,” I said.

I glanced over to Ms. Crane. She understood that I had excluded her from my command and nodded. She pulled Wompet close to her to keep him still.

I stood along with the two men. “Okay, Secuaz, we’re coming down!” I called out. We tossed our firearms over the side of the cliff and started down the slope.

When we reached the bottom, several of the guards met us with their weapons covering us. We kept our hands high as they directed us towards the Lieutenant.

As we approached, Secuaz saw it was I. “You again!” he said. “I am getting sick of your interference. Unfortunately for you, I anticipated your little rescue attempt. I moved the females out of their prison and set a trap. Although it would have been better if you had all died, your capture is almost as good. Besides, you will all be dead soon enough.”

“Don’t count us down until we’re down, Secuaz,” I said to him. I turned to Ms. Swan. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“Nothing severe,” she answered, “just a few bruises.”

“Oh, she is undamaged,” Secuaz interrupted. “We wouldn’t do much to her.” He raised his hand to stroke her cheek and she pulled away. “Some of our clients have a real liking for oriental women.”

He turned back to me. “And do not think that your companions in the jungle will help you. My men are rounding them up even as we speak.”

“So I guess you hold all the cards,” I said to him.

“Indeed I do, Mr. Dove. And just to show you that I am in control, I am not going to kill you immediately.” When he noticed my confusion he continued. “Oh, you will die, but first you will be broken. Just a short time in the mines, without food or water, and you will beg me for mercy. Then, and only then, will I have you executed as an example for the other slaves.”

As Secuaz made his speech, I was discretely watching behind him. I saw Ms. Crane motion to me that she was in position. While the attention of the guards was on us, she had slipped down from the mountain, and moved around the camp. She made a gesture that was very familiar to me.

I looked back to Secuaz. “It looks like you have us Lieutenant. My men and I will cooperate. We always knew this was a possibility and we were ready for it.”

I then looked at Ms. Swan. “Ms. Swan,” I said, “it looks like we’re in a hopeless situation. There’s only one way out of this, and it’s not going to happen.”

“That’s right,” Secuaz laughed. “Your situation is hopeless. You may as well accept it.”

“Exactly,” I continued. “My companions and I can only do one thing. Ms. Swan, we are caught in his trap. All that we can hope for is that we are tied with a slip-knot.”

Ms. Swan caught my code word, but showed no reaction. Her only move was to nod in resignation.

“Rest assured, Mr. Dove, you will not be tied with slip-knots,” Secuaz continued. “You will be held most securely.”

“And you, Lieutenant Secuaz,” I answered him, “don’t know very much about knots.”

He looked confused as I looked at him confidently.

“Now!” I yelled.

[Livingston]

Each installment gets more intresting than the last. Keep them coming Dave.