Unexpected 4: Digital Purge

Chapter 19: HELP

Hicks opened his eyes, as everyone remained frozen. Nobody moved and breathing was almost silence, as they glued their eyes to the injured officers. Both Tan and Street had swallowed the small dose and were quickly dozed. Their breathing was steady, their eyes were half closed, their jaw hanging open and their heads bowed down wobbling over their necks like a bobblehead. Both were quiet, seemed the pain was finally under control.

"Guys, we gotta move!" Max urged

"Luca and Chris, use the vine to strap Street's arm, close to his body, make sure to line it upwards. Hondo, Deacon strap Tan to the trunk and pull him. Whitlock, you and me, map, now! Max, call up Captain Mc Gregor!" called Hicks, as each went their way, "Let's go home guys!"

In a matter of minutes, Hondo and Deacon were able to secure Tan to the trunk, as the injured officer snored quietly. On the other hand, it took quite the effort for Chris and Luca to secure Street because his injury had gotten worse, and since he was so dazed, it was hard to keep him steady. They cleaned the wound as best as they could, strapped on the cloths and the belt, and then the vines. He was too heavy for Chris, so it took Luca a lot of energy to get him up.

"Luca, I got you! Chris, go with Commander!" Max called out when he noticed Chris struggling with Street's still body. She was exhausted, hungry and emotionally drained. So, it was clear she was struggling!

"Wait, wait" Whitlock said as he stumbled and leaned on a tree trunk

"Whitlock, you ok?" Hicks asked concerned and Chris went to approach him.

Both sergeants had begun to pull on the trunk, as Luca and Max had taken a few steps forward with Street's idled body.

Whitlock took some deep breaths, then said "Sugar rush" .

He dug into his pants pocket and took out two bars, but knew it would be a mistake to eat too much sugar because he could go in shock.

"Chris, want half?" he asked her as she reached him.

"You sure? You ok?" she asked concerned.

"Yeah, just need sugar intake now before I faint." he said splitting the bar.

"You know what?" Hicks dug into his pocket and took out another bar. "Everybody's eating a protein bar now. We need the energy! We still have about 40 more minutes of walking, so we need all the energy we can get." he turned to Hondo and Deacon, "Sergeants, that's an order!"

Both men took a look at each other, then nodded at their boss.

Chris ate half of Whitlock's nutritional bar, as Hicks and Max shared one and Hondo and Deacon shared the last one. After three minutes everyone was ready. The senior officers in the back grabbed the vines and began pulling the sedated man, as Luca and Max dragged Street. 

"Let's go this way" said Hicks directing the group with the map on hand.

They walked and walked, skipping puddles, jumping over trunks, zig zagging over rocks and debris...The night was quiet, as the officers walked in silence. Max keep glancing behind them looking for the Marshalls from the building, but they seem to have dispersed. After a third check up, he began to relax a bit, as the heavy burden of Officer Street was beginning to take its toll on his shoulders and upper body. After twenty minutes, both set of law enforcement officers switched places. Now Hondo and Deacon were guiding Street, as Max and Luca pulled Tan. The only exception was that Chris had strapped yet another vine to the trunk and was providing extra help with the movement of the officer.

In terms of Tan, he was still sedated, snoring peacefully on the trunk. His leg wound was beginning to worry the group as the blood had not fully stopped and now covered his entire lower leg and that side of the trunk. They could only hope it hadn't gotten infected!