A Damned Reunion

Chapter 3

Sliding my assault rifle over my shoulder, I checked my watch; three minutes until the trap. When Merrick and Keegan told Kick and I the plan, I had to smirk. Leave it to them to come up with such a ridiculous idea. Yet it was so crazy, it just might work.

Two minutes. Keegan drove the dinghy through the rolling waves, the heavy night providing cover as we shot for the coastline.

"See, we are taking a boat. Just not all the way", I remarked. Merrick just rolled his eyes.

One minute. Keegan cut the engine, the boat rocking with each wave. From this far out the cliff face was just a tall, grey wall. But I knew that somewhere up there were Federation soldiers, and along the cliff face were steel boardwalks leading down to the water's edge. They were our entry point.

"Thirty seconds. Get ready gentlemen." Merrick said, pulling down the sleeves on his Federation uniform. "Get ready to drown".

You see, this was their outrageous idea; pretend to be Federation soldiers who had fallen of the boardwalk. The expectation was that the men on the cliff would rescue them and take them up into the camp that was stationed nearby. During the walk there, the Ghosts would attack and begin the long trek towards the national park. Merrick and Kick were confident. Keegan wasn't as optimistic and neither was I.

Keegan punctured the boat with his knife and it began to sink.

"Three, two, one...go!" Merrick whispered, and tipped backwards out the dinghy. Kick winked at me, stood up and dived into the rising waves. I took a deep breath and jumped. Do you know how hard it is to not swim, to not save yourself? Trust me, it goes against every natural instinct we have. I swam to the surface, taking a gulp of air. The boat was gone, falling to the bottom of the ocean. The tide pulled us towards the cliff. A storm was coming and the waves were growing as Merrick gripped my head and grinned, before pushing me under. I shoved him away and broke to the surface. "What the hell, Merrick?!" I shouted.

"We're drowning remember? I'm fighting to stay afloat," he replied grasping my arm. At least he didn't try and drown me again. Keegan had met up with Kick and they were floating nearby, clutching onto one another and looking exactly like two men desperately trying to stay alive. The rock face loomed closer and I spotted several silhouettes along its length.

I turned to Merrick, "Now?"

He nodded, "Now". I cleared my throat and screamed.

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"Who knew watching an endless ocean could be so boring?" Sekerta murmured to himself. He wished something would happen, anything to pass the time. He scratched at the stubble on his chin, flinching at its length. He had been here for a week now, and the hours spent patrolling this coastline had begun to blur together. This was punishment of course, for letting the Americans take the fort at Daveron. Though really, what could they have done? The Americans used helicopters and dozens of troops, while they had semi-automatic rifles and one RPG. Daveron was an insignificant district and its capture had minimal impact on the campaign. Rorke had only punished them because he too was bored. Sekerta was lucky though; Rorke had sent others to try and take it back. None had returned.

Sekerta gazed down at the crashing waves below. A storm had rolled in and rain had begun to pour. He squinted, stepping closer to the steel railing. Wait, what was that? Sekerta marched down the boardwalk; he had to get a closer look. Yep, there was definitely something in the water. He shook his head, "probably just rubbish or something". Sekerta had begun to walk away when he heard it; screaming.

He ran back to the railing. Now he could see them; four bodies floating in the water. Seems like Sekerta got his wish. Things were about to get interesting.

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"Help!" I screamed. I thrashed my limbs and Merrick fell beneath the waves. Keegan and Kick were yelling too. Kick even climbed onto Keegan's back, shoving him down. Keegan flailed his arms and Kick was thrust off backwards into the rushing water. We had almost reached the cliff and men were rushing to the edge. They were aware of us then. The rain was coming down in torrents now, the waves enormous and foaming. Merrick resurfaced, but was under again a second later and I realised we weren't faking anymore. I floundered and salt water filled my mouth. I was drowning.

"Help!" I screamed and this time, I meant it.

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Sekerta rushed to the water's edge, calling out to others for assistance. The men were drowning, he could see that. They must have fallen off the cliff, he assumed. Or a section of the boardwalk must have broken off, because why else would there be four of them in the water?

Either way, he had to get them out. Sekerta reached the end of the path, water sloshing over the sides. 'Dangerous' was cute word for describing the situation they were in. The men could be flung against the sharp rocks and killed. Or drowned in the frothing waves. Or one misstep and Sekerta could be thrown into the water himself. Victor, another punished patrolmen, had seized a rope and threw it to Sekerta who tied it around his waist. Victor secured the other end to a metal post and Sekerta dived into the churning ocean. Water rushed over his head as he surfaced. He searched around, treading water. Two of the men were struggling, clutching onto each other for dear life. One was unconscious, another desperately trying to hold him upright. Sekerta swam to them first, waves bucking beneath him. He reached the men and could see the fear in the soldier's hazel eyes. Sekerta wrapped his arm around the unconscious man's shoulders as the soldier grasped his waist, and Sekerta yanked on the rope. Victor heaved on the line. More men came to his aid, hauling them towards shore. Suddenly, they were thrown forwards against the rocks and Sekerta heard the man's hiss of pain. Water sloshed over them, filling their noses and mouths until hands dragged them onto the boardwalk. The man gasped for breath as Sekerta rose and dove back in.

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Oh shit. Oh shit.

Merrick was unconscious. Kick and Keegan were still out there. I couldn't feel my leg and blood dripped from a gash on my forehead.

Oh shit!

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Sekerta didn't think as he advanced on the remaining men; otherwise he would have realised that these men weren't in correct Federation uniform. He neared the pair, and he glimpsed the relief in their faces. One grabbed his hand and the other held his bicep. Sekerta looked back and saw the soldiers at the edge watching in horror.

"Sweet Jesus!" one of the soldier's exclaimed as a gigantic wave rose over their heads.

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I stared at the spot where the men had disappeared. No, they can't be dead. Lying next to me, Merrick had regained consciousness and was coughing up seawater. When had this mission become a disaster?!

Seconds passed. The rope was tugged. Once. Twice. On the third tug, they appeared.

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Sekerta gasped for air, the rope held tight in his hand. He tugged on it again and then they were moving. Another wave was rising behind them, they were being drawn backwards and he was reaching out... And found solid metal. Hands pulled them over the railing and all three fell against the floor, panting. That was way too close.

Victor held out a hand and Sekerta stumbled to his feet. The men were still sprawled on the floor as the water continued to soak the ground. They weren't out of the woods yet. Or should he say 'ocean'?

"Come on", Sekerta said hoarsely. "Let's get away from here."