Page 27

27

MISSION

T he team was sent to Brazil where they followed a group of pirates to an oil rig. Hostages were the main reason for their interference in the area. A batch of Americans were on the rig working with the gas company.

The team surfaced from under the boat platform. Red was designated to take out the pirate pulling security. Grabbing him from behind, Red drove a knife into the pirate’s carotid, in the short struggle the pirate reached behind him and pulled off Red’s hood and mask.

The team moved from level to level, clearing the platform. They dropped into some shadows as the pirates led the six executives across the same deck. A spotlight hit one of the women, Tech inhaled sharply. He’d seen all the packets, he knew the names, faces, and occupations of the six people they were supposed to be rescuing. He thought he was prepared to see her in real life, but he’d heard himself.

Amari was an interpreter by trade. She was hired by the gas company to help speed up communication. She looked like an executive walking in her white suit in the dark; everything seemingly highlighting her presence.

“Are you alright, man?” Stitch asked beside him.

“Fine,” Tech answered.

“Shit,” Stitch and Tech muttered together.

Amari was the first one brought in to talk with the pirates. “What you do?”

“You speak Portuguese or Spanish?”

The remainder of their conversation was in Portuguese.

“I’m an interpreter.”

“So, you will help us with all the rest of the people?”

Amari shrugged. “If you’d like help. What are you looking for? Are you aware who’s here?”

“Why are you being helpful?” One of the men asked suspiciously.

“I assume the faster you get what you want the faster you leave.”

Outside the team continued their mission quietly. The five separated hostages were led to the boat platform by Stitch, Rave, and Tech. The remainder of the team handled the pirates. As they brought Amari out onto a deck, Genie spartan kicked one pirate off the platform. The pirate walking closest to Amari bugged out, choosing to willingly jump in the hopes of surviving.

Stitch, Rave and Tech were prepping the pirates’ boat to leave the rig as Amari joined with the rest of their team. Tech watched Amari rejoin the oil executives in the cabin of the boat before he was snapped out of his reverie; literally, as Genie snapped his fingers in front of him.

“Can we get everything accounted for and get out of here?”

“Sure,” Tech hesitated as he turned toward the pile of thermals and drones while Stitch counted up fins and goggles.

“Besides Red’s goggles I think we’re good,” Stitch finished.

Flash was looking over the boat’s controls prepping to captain them out of there back to the mainland.

“Let’s go,” Genie directed as he headed down into the cabin to talk to the executives. Tech followed him once he’d secured the equipment.

The executives were cramped in the small cabin waiting. Genie looked at all the faces, “We’re okay in English?” They nodded. “We’re with the US Navy. My team’s job is to get you back to the States. When we get back to the mainland, we’ll be given instructions to get you all back. Any questions that I can help with?” Everyone was quiet. Genie watched the group, not missing the multiple times Amari and Tech’s eyes caught each other.