Relative Strangers (Book 2) No Man Is An Island

29. Travel Plans

"I guess we'd all better head to the airport then" announced Connor.
"Don't be silly, we haven't got time for that. I expect Harold is planning to transport the creatures right now. We haven't got time to waste on public transport. It will be a lot easier and faster if I take us there using the anomalies" admitted E.
"We're not doing that" countered Lester.
"Actually, E's idea might be the best thing to do. If we travel by boat he will see us coming, but if we use the anomalies, we can infiltrate the island without anyone knowing" informed Matt.
E beamed as Matt backed her up.
"Exactly. It's the best idea and you know it. Don't let your hatred of me stop us all from doing the right thing" insisted E.

"She's right, we really don't have time to get on a plane, and then charter a boat to an island that not many people even know exist. We need to get there now" admitted Abby.
"Besides, this way you don't have to use the ARC resources to get 20 last minute plane tickets" added Matt.
"And even if you don't sanction this mission, I will be heading there using my anomalies once this conversation is over, anyway. So you might as well let me take the team with me" informed E.
Lester sighed in defeat, "Fine. Becker, get a team together".
Becker nodded and left the observation room.

"Will our comms work on the island?" Asked Connor.
E shook her head, "No, there is too much interference".
"Great" mumbled Matt.
"You can't even get very good phone reception either. So communication won't be easy once we there"
"Do you have your own communicators that we could use?"
"I am working on some, but they aren't ready yet"
"So I guess we're going to have radio silence once we get there"
"I'm afraid so".

"Do we actually have a plan? Or are we just turning up on the island and demanding these armed soldiers to release the creatures?" Questioned Emily.
"I don't think they are going to listen to anything we say. They have their orders from Harold, so they aren't going to stop what they are doing, just because we tell them they aren't legally allowed on the island anymore" admitted E.
"I don't want you killing these men, even if they refuse to stop what they are doing" informed Lester.
E rolled her eyes and picked up an EMD from the desk nearest her.
"I'm not going to kill anyone" she promised him, waving the gun in the air.
"Those things can kill a person" reminded Lester.
"Which is why I am only going to be using it on the lowest setting"
"Good".

"I have an idea that might make the soldiers listen to us" announced Matt.
"Go on" encouraged E.
"We should all wear matching uniforms. Right now we look like a group of random people with no authority. But if we were all wearing identical uniforms, they might actually pay attention to us" suggested Matt.
"So, you want us all to wear ARC soldier uniforms?" Questioned Abby.
"That's not a good idea. We don't want them knowing anything about the ARC" replied E.
"No, I was thinking just ordinary British special forces uniforms" admitted Matt.

"That could work" admitted Lester.
"Could you get your hands on enough uniforms?" Matt asked E.
She smiled, "Leave it with me".
"Would you like a hand?" Questioned Matt.
"It might be nice to have someone else to help me carry all the uniforms" replied E.
E removed her ACD and quickly began typing in the coordinates she needed. And after making a few quick calculations she created an anomaly that lead into a storage facility on an army base.
The second her and Matt stepped through she disabled the security camera and they set to work.
"How many do you think we need?" Asked Matt as he approached the shelves full of uniforms.
"I don't know how many men Becker plans on bringing, so just grab as many as you can carry" instructed E.

Once they had enough uniforms in various sizes they stepped back inside the ARC, and E closed the anomaly.
When they returned they found that Becker had gathered a large team of soldiers for the mission.
E dumped the clothes on the floor and Matt copied.
"Help yourselves" encouraged E.
Everyone dived forward and began rummaging through the clothes, until they found some that fit them

"That suits you" E whispered to Matt once they were all dressed.
"Thanks. You don't look very happy in yours though" commented Matt.
"I'm not. I don't, and have never liked the military. But since you supported me on my idea to use the anomalies, I decided that I should support you on your uniform idea" sighed E.
"You don't have to wear it, if you don't want to"
"No, it's fine. I mean, there isn't really much point since General MacNamera and most of his men have seen me. But maybe from a distance they won't recognise me because of the uniform".

"Are you ready to face them again?" Asked Matt.
"My wounds are healed, so I'm ready to take them on again" reassured E.
"That's not what I meant... These men tortured you for weeks. Are you really emotionally ready to face them again?" Questioned Matt softly.
"I have to. Not just for the creatures, but because I need to get closure and put that all behind me"
"O.K. But things will be different this time, because you are not alone. You have us with you"
"I know. And even though I don't like to ask for help, I don't think I would be able to do this without you all"
"Well you never have to be alone again, because we are not going to let you suffer by yourself".

E smiled and stepped away from Matt to face the rest of the group, who were all dressed the same as her.
"Is everyone ready?" She asked.
A murmuring of yes's was the only response E got.
"Let me remind you that Captain Becker is in charge of this mission" said Lester from the other side of the room.
He was the only one not coming on the mission, so he was still in his crisp work suit.
"And let me remind you that I do not have to follow anyone else's orders, but mine. So Becker may be in charge, but I don't have to do anything that he says" snapped E.

"I fully expect you to do your own thing once you're there. I just don't want you forgetting who is in charge, and taking any of the team down with you" admitted Lester.
"I'll try not to" mumbled E.
Matt stepped to E's side before looking over at Becker.
"I'm going to be accompanying E" he revealed.
"How did I know you were going to say that" sighed Becker.
"So, you have no objections?" Questioned Matt.
"Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to stop you, so just do what you like"
"Thanks mate".
Matt looked back to E, "Ready when you are".
E took a deep breath before opening an anomaly that lead to her island, and stepping towards it with the rest of the ARC following close behind her.