The Fourth Phase

TWENTY-THREE

Dawn broke over Mayor Island, bathing it in pinks and purples. Jack lay snuggled against Dee, the covers pulled tight against his chin as he battled to keep the early morning chill out. He stared out the window, watching as the sunlight changed the colour of the ocean.

He loved the early morning, that half an hour before the world really woke up. He used the time to reflect, meditate in a sense, to get his thoughts in order and prepare for the day. Most of the time, Jack had movies buzzing around in his head on a loop. Scenes played themselves out, sometimes mashed up like some crossover movie.

He concentrated on his breathing; he inhaled deeply and let each breath out slowly. It was a way to centre himself. After leaving school, he had gone straight into an electrician’s apprenticeship. He had worked long hours, six, sometimes seven days a week, eventually running his own business. At thirty, Jack had felt burnt out. On a whim, he had decided on a trip to Thailand. When he got there, he’d read a pamphlet in a backpacker’s, in which a week-long retreat at a Thai Buddhist monastery was advertised. Skeptical at first, Jack had been pleasantly surprised. There he had learnt to calm his racing mind using different techniques. Something he was thankful for now, because today his mind was racing like an F1 car. Serious doubts ate away at him. He wasn’t a soldier, so how were he and the others going to rescue the boys? He knew the horrors of the meat locker they were most likely in. Tears welled up, threatening to spill over. He pushed closer to Dee, enjoying the feel of her skin on his, her warmth. He breathed deep, catching the sweet scent of her shampoo.

Dee stirred against him and opened her eyes. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“How long have you been awake?”

“Not long. An hour or so.”

“Okay.” Dee searched for his hand under the covers. Finding it, she squeezed it tight in hers. Jack squeezed back and kissed her, savouring the feel of her lips. He couldn’t get the feeling out of his head that today was going to be his last. He wanted to go and bring the boys back home, but a part of him wanted to stay under the covers with Dee. Make love to Dee. Forget the world for a while. Just be them again.

“Can I ask you something, Dee?”

“Yeah.”

“When you came after me, how did you cope with the hopelessness of it?”

Dee poked him in the ribs. “You’ve been thinking, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, I know. I’m just worried that whatever we do won’t be enough. We’re not soldiers, Dee. Up until a couple of weeks ago, we’d hardly fired a weapon. What if we’re too late?”

Dee brought her arms up, and cradled his head in her hands. “When there was a chance you were in Karapiro, I had to find out. I honestly didn’t think I’d make it out of there, but I had to know. The thought of you being eaten by those monsters chilled me to my core. I figured that if I found you dead, then at least I could die knowing. Whatever the outcome, we would be at peace together. I feel the same now. I’m not letting that Trophy King add the boys to his collection. Alice said the prison camp she was in gave children to the Variants. I’m going to help them, even if it means dying in the process.”

Jack kissed her on the cheek. “I’m so glad you did come, Dee. I want you to know that I bless the day that I met you. Up on top of that waterfall. I fell in love with you that day. You saved me, Dee, saved me from a life of loneliness and gave me hope.”

“You too, Jack. I was lost to the crazy world and then you come along. Yes, you gave me hope too. A new hope.” She grinned as she said the last part.

Jack let out laugh. “You are now officially part of the tribe. The movie geek tribe.” He snuggled back into her, holding her tight. The doubts in his mind lingered, but Dee’s words had given him the courage to rise. She had given him the courage to take up arms and fight the monsters that had infected the beautiful land that was his home.

We’re coming for you, Trophy King. Enjoy your rest, for today will be your last.

Jack spent a couple of hours preparing his gear for the battle. He packed his green hiking pack, stuffing in extra food and ammo. He cleaned his AR-15 and Glock like Ben had taught him. He sharpened his rusty red-handled machete before securing it to the side of his pack.

Alice had the rescued children up and fed. The kids raced around outside on the small lawn. Jack marvelled at how quickly the kids had adapted and accepted the new situation. Twenty-four hours ago they had been held captive, awaiting an horrific fate.

Jack changed out the batteries on his and Dee’s two-ways, checking they had full power. He glanced at the clock. Ben wanted them in the war room at 08:00. He walked over to the kitchen and flicked on the kettle. He wanted to enjoy a cup of tea with Dee before heading out into the unknown. His mind drifted, thinking of his grandfather fighting on D-Day in 1944. Had he drunk his tea, thinking that it could be his last? He and all those thousands of men had risen that day, knowing full well that it could be their last. They went off to war so others could live on in peace, free of fascism and tyranny.

Jack let out a breath, calming himself. Today is our D-Day.

The village was well awake as Jack and Dee walked down the path, heading for the FOB. Signs of the battle were still evident, but everyone had pitched in, trying to get the town back to normal. He nodded a greeting to the two guards posted at the old hotel entrance.

They stopped outside the War room and knocked. Jack paused to look around the harbour. At the far end of the bay, three helicopters sat idle on the concrete. Army personnel were loading supplies into them and refuelling them.

“Enter,” came Ben’s muffled voice.

Jack pushed on the door and stood to one side to let Dee past.

Ben and two sergeants stood at the large table, a couple of maps spread out in front of them. He smiled as he saw them. “Ah. Jack, Dee. Good morning.”

Jack hesitated, unsure whether to salute or not. Dee walked over and hugged Ben, saving him from his indecision. “Morning, Captain.”

“Jack. Dee. This is sergeants Hollis and Bryant. They’re going to assist us on this mission.”

Jack shook both their hands, noting their strong grips. They looked like serious Army. He was glad for their help. They were going to need all the support they could get today.

Ben looked each of them in the eye. He pointed down at the map in front of him. “All right. This is what we have. We have three choppers and thirteen soldiers. Including us. We need to come up with a distraction so we can enter that hell-hole and extract the boys and any other civvies alive. I’m going to plant explosives and, once we are clear, blow that meat locker to hell.”

Jack grinned. Yes. A big kaboom would do the trick. Smash that cursed place apart and flood the land, returning it to the river valley it once was, drowning the demons from hell with it. Images of war movies played through his mind, men screaming and explosions ripping them limb from limb. He glanced up at Dee, smiling at her. He looked back to the map, tracing the Waikato River with his finger back to the other hydroelectric dams farther upstream. A spark of an idea formed in his mind. “Captain, how much explosive do you have?”

“Enough. What are you thinking, Jack?”

“Well, okay, this is crazy, but what if we set off a small explosion here at Arapuni?” Jack pointed down to the map. “It’s what, twenty kilometres upstream? As far as we know, the Trophy King reigns over them as well, if there are Variants in there too. So we head south in one chopper while the other two head north. At a set time, we set off the explosion, hopefully pulling enough Variants out of Karapiro. We skirt around the mountain and then drop in, landing on the roof.”

Jack watched as Ben stroked his long beard. Then he smirked at Jack, a twinkle in his brown eyes. “I like it, Jack. We don’t want to cause too much damage and cause the dam to fail. We also don’t have the means or time to work out how long we’d have before any wall of watery death would reach Karapiro if there was one. Okay. Here’s what we’ll do. Hollis, Bryant, you each take two men in a chopper. Fly north to Hamilton and swoop upriver. I’m thinking the collaborators are housed at the town next to the lake. It’s the only logical location. It’s close enough for them to guard the Variants, but far enough away for them to feel normal. I want you guys to attack them after you see some of their forces leaving. Once we arrive and land, Hollis, I want you to fall back as backup for extraction.” Ben looked around at each of them, letting the plan sink in.

Jack nodded his head. It was crazy, but it was all they had.

Ben looked over at Dee and Jack. “Dee, Jack. When we get inside, you lead us, Jack. You know the layout better than anyone. Kill as many of those bastards as possible. Then get out. If I order you out, you go. Understand?”

Dee looked at Jack with a grim expression on her face. He knew what she was thinking. Ben was telling them to save themselves. Jack looked over at the sergeants, meeting their gazes. They looked back at him, determined. He felt inspired by their inclusion. “What if we play some crazy music out of the loudspeakers for added distraction?”

Ben glanced over to him. “Such as?”

“Well, I was thinking of For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica.”

Dee barked out a laugh and shook her head at him.

“If whatever that music is distracts those bastards, then play it! It worked for us in Vietnam on occasion,” Ben replied, smirking.

Both the sergeants chuckled, and Jack couldn’t help but laugh with them. It was a nervous laugh, but it felt good to release it and share it with the others.

The meeting drew to a close as Ben outlined the rest of the plan, going over the timing with them. He handed each of them a digital watch and they synced them.

Jack moved over to Dee and hugged her. “Let’s go get the boys.”

“Yeah, let’s end this.”

Jack turned to the sound of knocking. Eric pushed the door open. “Don’t forget about me!”

Jack grinned and shook his hand. “Eric. You made it.”

Eric nodded at the gathered Renegades. “Let’s do this for Tony, for all those we lost.”

Ben stepped around the table and grasped his shoulder. “Yes. Let’s do it for Tony. You’re in charge of the explosives. I want ten small bundles made up, six with five-minute timers, and four with two-minute timers.” He paused, looking around the room. “Just so you all know, I haven’t okayed this with Command. I’m giving you all the chance to back out now. Those that want to come, we leave at 1100.”

Jack smiled at his words. So what was new? The rescue of him and George had been off the books too.

Dee reached over and grasped Ben’s arm. “We’re Renegades, right?” Looking at each of them, she carried on. “So let’s Renegade!”

Dee’s words were answered with a cheer and an “Oo rah!” as the council broke apart. Each Renegade moving off to prepare.

Jack felt strangely calm as he headed for the armoury. Hold on boys. I’m coming.