I had no idea she could do that or anything else for that matter, Tabitha thought. Did you, Kirstin?
No, not really, Kirstin replied. I mean I often saw her gazing out the windows back at the lab, but I just thought she was daydreaming. Maybe she was practicing her own powers.
James’ prediction was good as his word. Within fifteen minutes, they’d broken out of the storm and into a clear night sky. As they did so, James reached forward and tapped on one of the gauges in front of him.
“What’s that?” Alp asked.
“It’s the fuel gauge. It’s an old habit of mine. When it’s getting low, I tap it thinking that it might not be reading accurately.”
“Does it help?” Alp asked.
“No, not at all. Pure superstition, but one that’s hard to break. We need to see land soon.”
“Or what?”
“Or we’re all going to find out how good we are at swimming,” James replied. “That is unless one of your sisters is good at creating jet fuel from nothing.”
Alp thought about it for a moment before replying, “No, I don’t think any of us can do that.”
“Darn, and just when I thought I had some special cargo here,” James quipped. He concentrated on his flying for a few minutes before turning his attention back to Alp.
“It’s time to release your sisters,” he said. “I need for them and you to take everything that’s back there that’s not attached to the aircraft and drop it overboard. When I tell you, carefully open the side door, but be sure you have a good footing. I don’t want anyone falling out. ”
“Are we that close to running out of fuel that we need to lighten our load?” Alp asked.
“Well, yeah, it’s true we’re getting low, but more importantly I want to create the illusion that we’ve crashed so maybe they’ll call off the search.”
“Good idea,” Alp said as she released her harness.
“Hang on,” James said. “Take your helmet off, and when you get back there you’ll find a headset you can use right behind the seat on the wall. You’ll also find a harness that will keep you tethered to the aircraft. Put that on and make sure you’re the only one close to the door once you open it. Also, be careful climbing over the console, so you don’t damage any of the equipment.”
Alp started crawling back to the rear compartment. Lining the floor were seven identical bundles, each one neatly wrapped and lying next to each other like a line of butterfly cocoons waiting for the perfect conditions to burst forth. Several of the faces stared back at her while a few others were not yet awake.
It’s about damn time you let us go, Tabitha angrily projected as she reached the first set of sisters. Alp noticed that it appeared a couple others were beginning to stir while at least two of her sisters were still under the effect of the sedation.
“Should I release them all including those that are still sleeping?” Alp called back to James.
“No, you can relax their bonds, but wait until they’ve awakened to release them completely. I don’t want anyone rolling out when the door is open.”
Alp spent the next few minutes untying first Tabitha then Kirstin. As she did so, she noticed that all the sisters wore the same kind of clothes, a simple white blouse, black pants, and white tennis shoes. She must not have been guarding her thoughts for Kirstin remarked.
Yes, that was Dr. Chickowski’s idea to have us all dress the same. He claimed it would reduce the sense of competition among us. Personally, I think it was just a way to save money by buying our clothes in bulk.
Alp nodded. Must be more careful about what I project out, she thought. She moved on to untying Mia. She saved her for last since it looked like Mia was exhausted from her mental gymnastics that had no doubt saved their lives.
Where are we? Alp heard a new voice she didn’t recognize as one of the forms near Mia stirred.
Hello, I’m Alp. You’ll be okay. Hold on for just a sec, and I’ll untie you. What’s your name?
I’m Heather, came the slurred thought.
I’ll untie her, Mia interrupted. She’s my best friend. I’ll bring her up to date as to what’s happening.
Alp relayed James’ instructions to her sisters. She’d hardly gotten the words out of her mouth when Tabitha thought back.
Wait just a minute. Who made you the boss? And why should we do what that jerk up there wants. Isn’t he about to turn us over to some other people that might be as bad if not worse than the researchers at BVT?
Yeah, Kirstin chimed in. I agree with Tabitha. We don’t even know you…not really.
Taken aback by the comments, Alp didn’t know what to say so she remained silent as she thought about how to deal with the unexpected turn of events. She watched as Mia slid over to her friend beside her, then paused to look back at Tabitha and Kirstin.
No, you hold on, Tab, Mia shot back. No one made you boss either. Alp has done a good job thus far. I say we follow what she has to say. We have to stick together. The last thing we need right now is to be arguing among ourselves. It looks like Kim is beginning to stir there next to you. Why don’t you make yourself useful and untie her?
Alp watched as Tabitha shot an angry look at Mia, but after a moment of hesitation, turned her attention to untying the other sister. At least for the moment, the insurrection was quieted.
Introductions
Alp sat back on her haunches in the rear of the Black Hawk and studied the situation around her. So far, five of her seven sisters were awake and untied with two of them still wobbly from the sedation. Two of the bundles were still lying on the floor but starting to move around a bit. Soon they’d all be awake. It was time to figure out who they were.
I’m beginning to recognize your different thought patterns and voices but I’m not as clear which voice goes with which person. If you wouldn’t mind introducing yourself and raising your hand as you do so. I really do want to get to know each of you.
I’m Mia. One of the girls with straight, light blonde hair bordering on white raised her hand. A light spattering of freckles and high cheekbones accentuated her good looks.
Yes, Mia, I know you. You were so brave helping us through the storm. I hope you’re feeling better.
I feel like I could sleep for a week but other than that I’m fine.
Alp looked to the two girls closest to Mia. And which one is Tabitha?
After a second of hesitation, the black haired girl with the pale complexion next to Mia raised her hand.
Then you must be Kirstin, Alp said pointing to the smaller girl with the beauty mark above her left lip. Her hair was also dark, but lighter than Tabitha’s and straighter with less body.
Okay, Tabitha, black hair and pale, Kirstin, lighter hair with beauty mark and Mia with light blonde almost white hair and the button nose. Alp made a mental note of each sister.
I’m guessing you must be Heather. She pointed to the girl that Mia had untied, also with blonde hair though not as light as Mia’s. That should help. The two dark-haired ones hang together as do the two blondes. So far so good.
Yes, that’s right, Heather replied nodding to Alp.
And let’s see, I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your name. She pointed to the one that Tabitha had just untied and who was still trying to get her bearings.
I’m Kim. The third blonde with piercing blue eyes said. And that’s Connie and next to her is Tina, she said pointing down to the two forms on the floor that were just beginning to wake up.
Oh, goodness. Getting to know each of you is going to take a bit, but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon. Let them sleep a little longer. Make sure they’re secured. James, our pilot, wants us to collect all the loose items we can find. I’ll open one of the doors in a few minutes so we can toss the stuff out. We’re going to try to convince those that are looking for us that we’ve crashed and were lost at sea.
There she goes giving orders again. The thought came from Tabitha, who was staring at Kirstin. Alp decided it best to ignore it
for now.
Where are we, and where are we headed? Heather asked.
We’re in a helicopter flying over the Atlantic Ocean on our way to Bermuda. Our pilot thinks we’re going to let him transfer us to his boss who will take us to some undisclosed location. I’ve been going along with the idea because I knew we needed to get away from Bio Vita Tech. I’ll be honest, I’ve been playing it by ear. We’ll just have to see what develops in the next little bit. First, we need to make it to Bermuda. We’re running low on fuel so tossing the surplus stuff will help.
Playing it by ear? Tabitha and Kirstin looked at each other. Is that the only plan you have?
That’s no plan at all, Kirstin added smiling smugly back at Tabitha.
Alp stared at her two sisters as she replied, Yes, that’s about it at the moment.
Do you have a better idea, Tabitha? Mia asked as she stepped in front of Alp facing Tabitha. Unless you do, I suggest you and Kirstin be quiet and help out.
Heather stepped up beside her friend. We’re in this together. This is not the time to be arguing. When we get out of this dilemma, we can sort out a longer range plan, but in the meantime, I agree with Mia. We’ve got to pull together.
Everyone stood or sat frozen in time, waiting for someone to break the tension.
“Hey, what’s going on back there?” James called through the radio loudly enough that the rest could hear as well. “Before you open the door, Alp, you need to put on that harness on the wall behind the bench seat. Do you see what I’m talking about?”
Alp looked around until she found the harness. “Okay, how do I put it on?”
“There are loops for your arms and loops for your legs. Put it on like you’re putting on a shirt and pants,” James explained.
Alp did as he instructed.
“Now, you’re attached by a rope to the aircraft so you won’t fall out,” James added. “Make sure everyone else stays seated and buckled in. They can hand the stuff to you so you can throw it overboard.”
After a moment, James asked, “Are you ready?”
“Not quite,” Alp replied. “Give me just a minute.”
After she had finished putting on the harness, Alp looked back to Tabitha and Kirstin. Well?
Tabitha stared back then glanced at Kirstin, shrugging her shoulder. Yeah, okay…for now. She picked up one of the straight jackets. I’ll enjoy seeing these tossed overboard.
The ocean below churned with white caps highlighting the waves as the water devoured each object as it dropped from the helicopter. Some of the items like the straight jackets and canisters stayed on the surface while others sunk to the bottom. James instructed Alp to open several cans of oil and drop them overboard as well.
“Alp, close the door,” James shouted. “I’m going to release our spare fuel tanks. Nothing in them at this point, anyway.”
Alp did as she was told, checking also to be sure the other girls were still buckled in. Alp felt lightheaded from staring down at the water from high above. Finally, the door closed and she felt much more secure, at least for the moment.
“I need you back up front here,” James said through her headset.
Alp nodded to her sisters. When the other two wake up, finish untying them. I have to go up front. We should be reaching Bermuda soon. She held her breath half expecting Tabitha or Kirstin to take issue, but both girls remained silent.
Alp disconnected her headset and clamored back to her seat, moving over the console carefully in an effort to avoid damaging any of the equipment. Finally returning to her seat, she buckled herself in.
“Keep a sharp eye out from there,” he pointed straight ahead, “to over there.” He waved towards the half of the horizon on Alp’s side. “Look for any irregularity in the landscape. You’re also likely to see more whitecaps as the water crashes on the shoreline. Our GPS should direct us right to it, but it can act strange in this area sometimes.”
“Why’s that?”
“No one knows for sure, but the reputation of the Bermuda Triangle goes way back, and it’s not all myth.”
“How long before we arrive?” Alp asked. She could feel a knot starting to build in her stomach at the thought of going down in such a location, especially with the sun setting so quickly. It would be dark soon.
James glanced at the fuel gauge. “According to the GPS we have right at 120 miles before we arrive at our destination. According to the fuel gauge, we should have just enough fuel to get us there. If we don’t see something in the next hour, it’ll probably be too late. We’ll all be taking a bath in some pretty choppy water.”
Alp paused for a minute not sure how to address what was on her mind. Finally, she decided the best way was simply to ask.
“And what happens if we do make it?”
James didn’t answer but continued to study his half of the horizon. Finally, when Alp had about decided she’d failed to push her radio button on, he turned to her.
“My mission was to deliver a special, top-secret cargo to my employer. That’s all I was told, and I was paid well for the assignment.” He paused again.
“I had no idea that the cargo would be eight young girls with special talents. I’m sorry about that. I am. I have a daughter at home myself. She’s not quite your age, but close enough. I can’t imagine what I would do if something happened to her.” He paused as he glanced over in her direction. Had it been her imagination or had there been a crack in his voice?
When he didn’t continue, Alp prompted him. “So?”
James turned back to stare straight ahead. “So, my job is to deliver the cargo to the drop off point in Bermuda. That’s what I intend to do. What happens after that…well, that’s someone else’s problem.”
“But what if your daughter was part of the cargo?” Alp asked.
James turned to her and replied, “Lucky for me, she’s not.” He turned his attention back to the horizon, a look of resolve etched on his face.
They flew on for quite some time without either one talking. Alp considered James’ response. Clearly, he intended to complete his mission and turn her and her sisters over to the mystery person who’d hired him, but that didn’t set well with her. She didn’t exactly know what to do about it, but she knew she couldn’t let them fall into the hands of someone who might just turn them back into lab rats for study and experimentation.
As she contemplated her next move, Alp thought she could see a subtle change on her side. She waited another minute or two continuing to scan the area. Each time she returned to that one location it became clearer something was there.
“What’s that?” She asked, pointing.
James guided the helicopter in the direction she was pointing. After another minute, he exclaimed, “That our lovely paradise island of Bermuda. Margaritas, here I come.”
The islands of Bermuda looked like a lop-sided J to Alp, but she was thrilled by the sight of it after such a harrowing journey, and it was far from over. She wondered what awaited her on this letter of land stuck out in the middle of the Atlantic?
“We need to make it to the far end of the island, close to the airfield,” James said. “Keep your fingers crossed we have enough fuel to reach it.”
Alp wasn’t so sure she wanted to reach their final destination. “Why don’t you just let us out at this end, and then you go on and meet your friends?”
“Nice try, but if I don’t deliver the cargo to the final mark, I don’t get paid, and in my business, word spreads fast if you fail a mission.”
They continued flying over the islands, lights from below guiding their way. Off in the distance, Alp could see a line of lights growing on the horizon. That must be the airfield she thought. What awaited her and her sisters there? Another Dr. Chickowski or worse? She couldn’t let that happen. It was up to her to stop him from passing her and her sisters on to the next set of bad men.
Remembering Chickowski’s gun, she frantically looked around her seat where she’d left it. Seeing nothing, she leaned over to
see if it had fallen to the floor.
“Are you looking for this?” James held up the gun. “I was afraid as we got closer to our final destination you might try something stupid. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Alp stared at the gun in his hand and for the first time noticed his seat belts unbuckled. The revolver had been her one ace in the hole, but she’d screwed up and left it behind. Now, she and her sisters would be turned over to whoever had hired James to deliver them. Maybe Tabitha was right. She had no business trying to be a leader. Mel had always been the leader of the family, and she had been the follower.
As she contemplated her plight, James placed the revolver on top of the dash away from her and buckled himself back in.
“Can you tell me anything about your boss? Where will we be taken? What will they do to us?”
James looked over at her, a look of compassion on his face. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything that will help allay your fears, Alp. I wish I could. I really do. You’re a spunky girl, and I’ve grown fond of you. All I can say is that your journey has just begun. You and your sisters are going to have the opportunity to see a lot of the world before your travels are over. Well, at least you’ll be traveling over much of it before you reach your new home.”
They flew on in silence. Alp racked her brain trying to figure a way out of this mess, but James was a big man; an even bigger man now that he had the gun. As they approached the airfield at the northern end of the island, James circled around to the end of the field. He pointed below.
“See that dark area over there?” He pointed out his window. “That’s where I’m to meet to make the exchange…but something’s not right.”
“What’s wrong?” Alp asked, a seed of hope starting to sprout in her heart.
“Just hold on. I’m taking us down.” James replied. “No funny business, Alp. I like you, but it won’t keep me from hurting you if I have to.”
He tapped the fuel gauge. “For good luck,” he said as they started to descend.
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