Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
RIGEL
As preparations for Mia’s extraction off the trawler commence, I keep my focus on Mia, offering her quiet words of reassurance.
The team springs into action; each member focuses on their task. Ethan issues orders with the precision of a seasoned commander, and soon enough, everyone is moving with purpose. Ethan, Blake, Hank, Gabe, and Walt head off to prepare the dive gear while Mitzy dives into coordinating with her Navy contacts.
I stay with Mia, guiding her to a quieter corner of the galley. She’s still gripping my hand tightly, her fear palpable. I squeeze her hand gently, trying to offer some comfort. “We need to get you prepped on what to expect.” I keep my voice calm and steady.
She nods, though her eyes are still wide with anxiety. I lead her to a small bench and sit down beside her.
“Alright, let’s start with the basics. The dive gear. Remember when I took you snorkeling?”
“Yes?”
“You’ll be wearing the same gear, a face mask, which will cover your eyes and nose. We didn’t discuss what to do if your mask happens to flood. ”
“Flood?”
“It can happen, but it’s no big deal.”
“To you, maybe.” She squirms in her seat. “I don’t think I can do this.”
“You can and you will. I’ll be right beside you. If your mask floods, stay calm and blow out forcefully through your nose to clear it. I’ll be right there to help you if anything goes wrong.”
Her fingers tighten around mine. “How will I be…?”
“You’ll be strapped to me,” I explain, my tone gentle. “You’ll have a harness that attaches to mine, so we’ll move together. I need you to trust me implicitly, Mia. I’ve done this a thousand times. You just need to follow my lead. The regulator will feel a bit strange at first, but it will allow you to breathe normally. It sounds a bit like Darth Vader, but that’s completely normal.”
A small, nervous laugh escapes her lips. “Darth Vader, huh? I guess I can handle that.”
I smile, glad to see a hint of humor breaking through her fear.
“Exactly. And if you need to communicate, just tap on my arm.”
Her eyes search mine, seeking reassurance. “What about—getting into the submarine? How does that work?”
I take a deep breath, explaining as simply as I can. “Once we’re in the water, we’ll wait for the sub to arrive. It’ll come close to the surface, but we’ll need to dive down, where we’ll enter through an airlock system. It’s designed to be quick and efficient. I’ll guide you through it.”
She nods slowly, processing the information. “I trust you. I just need you to promise me we’ll be okay.” Her eyes meet mine.
I squeeze her hand, my voice unwavering. “I promise. We’ll be okay. We’ll get through this.”
She takes a deep breath, her grip on my hand loosening slightly. “Alright. This is totally insane.”
“Do I sense a bit of excitement?”
“I wouldn’t go that far. Maybe nervous energy?”
A few hours later, Mitzy notifies the team that she’s confirmed a U.S. submarine is nearby and it’ll be here within eighteen hours. It would be nice if it was sooner. Every moment we spend aboard this trawler makes me nervous. We’re exposed, and no doubt Red Phoenix’s assassins are planning how to board the trawler and complete their assignment.
But eighteen hours gives us another night to spend on board. An evening for Mia to get in a good night’s sleep and be well-rested for the mission ahead. We retire early and spend the night in each other’s arms, making love and whispering promises to each other.
Morning comes far too soon, and we’re back in the galley going over final plans.
“We must be far from the trawler when the sub arrives.” Ethan sets down his plate and addresses his team. “We’ll float in the water until they get here, using a beacon to guide them.”
Mia’s face pales, and she grips my hand tightly. I can feel the tremor in her fingers. “Float in the water? For hours? Nobody mentioned that.”
I know what she’s thinking. She’s terrified of sharks, but there is no other option. I squeeze her hand, trying to convey reassurance without words.
“The beacon is good to go.” Walt checks the beacon, a small device that will be our lifeline.
“Copy that,” Ethan says. “Walt and Gabe, when the sub arrives, the two of you will descend first and ready the locker for entry. Rigel, Mia is yours. Blake will be your support. Hank and I will monitor Walt and Gabe’s progress from the surface. When they give the signal, you and Blake will descend with Mia. Hank and I will follow.” He looks at each of us in turn. “Questions?”
“Does it really need to be hours? Like, you’re saying we’re going in the water and floating around for hours? Why can’t we stay on the trawler until the sub arrives?”
“Because,” Sam clears his throat, “we have to assume they’re watching us. We can insert the seven of you in the water. You’ll hover a few feet below the surface, no more than twenty feet. We’ll use that time to move the trawler away. Any eyes stay on us. Then you can surface, activate the beacon, and the sub will find you. I know it sounds scary, Mia, but you’re with the best of the best, and I trust the capabilities of my team. ”
“Rigel?” She looks at me, perhaps hoping I’ll have another idea.
Unfortunately, this is a brilliant plan, and that’s not just because I thought of it. It’s because these remarkable people of Guardian HRS turned it into a reality within hours. If I had any questions about whether I wanted to join them, this sealed the deal.
“Mia, look at it this way. You might be able to see some really cool fish. There’s no telling what we might find. Once you conquer your fear, it’s going to be amazing.” Walt tries to reassure Mia that she can do this.
He doesn’t say if she conquers her fear, but rather, once she does . In his way, he’s telling her that he believes in her. I get what he’s doing, using a bit of psychology to help Mia, and it works.
“I guess.” Some of the tension in her body fades. She manages a faint smile. The fear is still there, lurking beneath the surface, but she’s resigned to do whatever it takes.
She’s not totally convinced, but this is the moment she decides there is no other way.
And that takes great strength.
I don’t think she realizes how incredibly brave she is.
“Okay, let’s do this. Check your gear and get ready.” Ethan checks CJ, who lifts one finger. “Mission go in one hour.”
One hour isn’t much time to prep Mia, but it’s good to do this right before we hit the water. She won’t have time to overthink things.
Ethan’s signal has everyone moving with purpose. In less than an hour, we’ll be in the water, and the submarine will be on its way. I look around at Charlie team, each of them methodically checking their equipment, their expressions focused and serious.
Blake and I head over to our designated area. He’s my dive partner for this mission, and I trust him with my life. We go through our gear, ensuring everything is in perfect working order. The weight of the BCDs, the snug fit of the masks, the smooth functioning of the regulators—every detail is crucial.
“Everything looks good on my end,” Blake says, tightening the straps on his tank. “You? ”
I nod, double-checking my own gear. “Good to go. Let’s get Mia ready.”
Mia stands off to the side, watching us with wide eyes. Fear fills her entire face, but there’s also grim determination. She knows what’s at stake.
I walk over to her, carrying an extra BCD and tank.
“Time for your dive briefing,” I say gently. “We’re going to go over everything step by step. You’ll be attached to me the whole time, and I’ll handle all the gear. You just need to stay calm and follow my instructions.”
“Okay, I’m ready.” She nods, her hands trembling slightly as she reaches for the BCD.
“First, let’s get this on you,” I say, helping her into the BCD. “This is like a life vest on the surface. It’ll keep you afloat. We’ll inflate it fully while we’re waiting for the submarine.”
I adjust the straps and make sure the tank is secure. “Next, your mask and snorkel. The mask needs to fit snugly but not too tight. On the surface, you will breathe through the snorkel like you’re breathing normally. The regulator is only for when we’re under the surface.”
She puts on the mask, and I help adjust it until it fits perfectly. “If your mask floods, all you need to do is blow out through your nose. The air will push the water out. Keep your head level so the air can rise and purge the water.”
I hand her the regulator. “This is your lifeline underwater. Put it in your mouth and breathe normally. It’s just like breathing on land. If it helps, you can count—breathe in two, three, four. Breathe out two, three, four.”
Mia takes the regulator, fitting it into her mouth. She takes a few tentative breaths, her eyes widening as she realizes it’s not as difficult as she feared.
“See? You’re doing great,” I say, giving her an encouraging nod. “When we’re on the surface, we’ll all be attached to each other to stay together. You’ll be attached to me, and I’ll control your entire dive gear. You don’t need to touch anything.”
I show her the thumbs-down symbol. “When it’s time to go under, I’ll give you this signal. We’ll descend slowly and hover about twenty feet down while the trawler leaves. Once it’s gone, we’ll return to the surface and wait for the submarine.”
“What’s this one for?” Mia reaches for her backup regulator, and I explain its purpose. She takes a deep breath, nodding. “I hate this, but I trust you.”
Fear still lurks in her eyes, but there’s also a spark of determination. She’s stronger than she thinks, and I have no doubt she’ll make it through this.
“Alright, team, let’s move!” Ethan’s voice cuts through the air, signaling the final countdown.
We all gather at the edge of the trawler, the dark waters of the South Pacific stretching out before us. The plan is set, the gear is ready, and the submarine is on its way.
There’s no turning back now.
I look at Mia, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’ve got this.”
She squeezes back, a hint of a smile breaking through her fear.
With one last nod, I double-check the inflation of her BCD, and then we prepare to enter the water.
It’s time.