Accident Prone

She gave Liz a big hug and whispered: "Why are you here?"

"I understood that you need to be rescued.", Liz whispered back.

Dr. Thomas exhaled. "I wanted you to know that I am done and that you have ten days to ask for clarifications if needed. I was hoping that you will get my work published and known to others, and not to come here."

Liz pulled away from Dr. Thomas and put on her best smile while talking in a normal voice. "We are glad to be here. The trip was fine. I know you wanted us to talk when you return, but we were all eager to see how your lab works here. Will we get a tour?"

Dr. Thomas didn't respond to Liz. She looked at Mia. "You are Elizabeth's assistant?"

Mia nodded and hugged Dr. Thomas.

"Not even close.", Mia whispered. "I'm the rescue team."

Dr. Thomas was not sure if she should laugh or cry. What can these two girls do? They can be her daughters. It seems that they knew this is a trap, yet they came. How reckless.

"Will you show us around? We are also hungry.", Liz said. "My other two assistants are in the room down the hallway."

Dr. Thomas checked the time. "Lunch hours are still on. We can go to the canteen."

…

The five of them sat in the canteen, and they chatted over the food.

Soldiers present didn't pay attention to the newcomers because everyone was aware of their arrival. It's not a big place and the news spread fast.

Liz explained to Dr. Thomas the plan to what elder woman scrunched her eyebrows in worry.

"I think that the four of you should leave this place as soon as possible."

"They will not let us leave and we are not going without you.", Max said dryly. He tried dissuading Liz from this, but now that they are here, Max knows the only way out is with all five of them.

Dr. Thomas was visibly uncomfortable. "This will not work. I don't know why you came here; that was not my intention."

"Too late for that.", Liz said. "We are here. After this, take us to the lab to show us around. After dinner, we will be making our move. The night will help."

Dr. Thomas exhaled. "Alright. During the tour, I will show you a few places that might work for us to hide until your cavalry arrives."

"It would be best if the cavalry acts as a diversion so that we can sneak out.", Max said.

Dr. Thomas was not optimistic. "I don't know how we can sneak out of here. This place is a fortress with only one exit that is heavily guarded."

"How about the sewerage system?", Mia asked. "Considering where we are, there should be a lot of rainfall so this place will have good drainage in place."

"There are openings in several places along the wall, but everything is blocked with metal bars. We can't use that.", Dr. Thomas responded.

"Yes. It is one of the places we researchers can go to. There are security checks to enter the main building, but once inside, unless we want to go to the isolated labs, we can move freely."

Hunter nodded in approval. He had a plan, but there is one thing missing. "Is there a long wire and a launcher we can get?"

"You want to create a zip-line?", Mia guessed Hunter's thoughts to what Hunter grinned. He loves when Mia knows what he is thinking.

Hunter and Mia started talking about the possibilities as Dr. Thomas had no idea how to acquire a launcher or a long wire.

"Are there any others held here like you?", Liz asked Dr. Thomas who paused, unsure how to respond.

"There were others, but I haven't seen anyone in the last two days. When I asked, the commander in charge told me that they completed their work and left this facility, but I know that something is off. They would not leave without saying goodbyes. We worked together for months and I was close to some of them. A few remaining ones are definitely part of this system and they are watching me as I do my final tests." Dr. Thomas gave a meaningful look to Liz, silently reminding her that final tests are just a way for her to prolong her stay (and maybe life).

"I know you want to save everyone, but I need you to stay focused.", Max said sternly to Liz. "The plan is risky as-is. Let's not add variables at the last moment."

Liz had to agree with Max. "Sorry."

Max regretted being so harsh to Liz. She is nervous, and he is scolding her. He put his arm around her and kissed her temple. "It's OK. This will be done in a few hours."

"We are leaving today?", Dr. Thomas asked.

Mia confirmed. "You said that two days ago other researchers disappeared. We can assume that they are dead, and you are probably alive because Liz and associates are coming, and these guys don't want to leave any loose ends. They will not wait long until we are next, and we should not give them a chance to act."

Dr. Thomas swallowed hard.

The soldiers ignored them, but the researchers were curious about the newcomers. Liz spoke with them briefly, because she is a neurosurgeon while Max, Hunter, and Mia did their best to keep a low profile. Whenever someone asked the trio about their work, Liz would interject and either respond in their place or steer the topic away. Max, Hunter, and Mia are not in the medical field and the last thing they wanted was to be exposed. Due to the nosy researchers, they cut their lunch short.

After lunch, Dr. Thomas took them to the laboratory, and they all pretended to talk about something important while their eyes darted toward numerous cameras that were present. Liz wondered, how is it possible that these people don't have the details of Dr. Thomas's work if they are watching her all the time? Did she know about her situation from the beginning and she hid bits and pieces on purpose? That is the only thing that made sense. Liz took a mental note that when this is over, she will ask Dr. Thomas how she ended up coming here.

"If you leave everything and leave, can they use your work?", Liz asked Dr. Thomas in a whisper.

"The main components are missing. They could get another researcher, but it would take them months to recreate tests successfully."

Liz nodded while thinking about how it would be best to destroy all the evidence. If these people don't care about a researcher who spent years working on this, why would they care about some strangers? But Liz was sure that Ian will do his magic and erase data from the servers, just as they planned.

The four of them are here for Dr. Thomas.

"Can you destroy the samples?", Liz asked Dr. Thomas.

Dr. Thomas nodded. "I did that already. These are useless cultures of bacteria."

Before dinner, they went up to the rooftop terrace and Hunter was disappointed to see that they are currently standing at an altitude that is lower than the wall. That means, the zip-line idea is a goner because that needs gravity to work.

"Our options are up or down.", Hunter said, and Max understood that Hunter is saying how they can climb the wall or dig a hole under it. Climbing is dangerous because they will be easily spotted and exposed, but with the soldiers patrolling the area and the security cameras, they don't have time for digging.

"Up it is.", Max confirmed.

They went to their rooms and Max took his laptop before sitting on the bed with his back facing the camera. From the side, the laptop opened, and Max pulled a cell phone and pistol. If they asked them at the security checkpoint to power up their laptops, they would be in trouble, but this was a risk they had to take.

Max used the cellphone to exchange messages with his team that was in the jungle, and they confirmed which plan they will be following: the team will cause a ruckus on the North East corner of the facility, and five people will use that commotion to sneak out from the opposite side.

Hunter also popped his laptop open and got two pistols out.

Mia had in her laptop a set of throwing knives, thinking that it will come in handy if they need to quietly take out someone.

Liz didn't bring any weapons because she does not know how to use them. Knives are useless for her unless she is doing surgery, and with a pistol, she might shoot herself or her teammates. It is safer for everyone if Liz is unarmed. Liz is a healer, alright?

Before dinner, they covered for each other from the view of the camera as they popped their suitcase wall open in order to get bulletproof vests and to carry them under their clothes. The bulletproof vests were like thick tank-tops and they were not noticeable unless someone looks carefully.

With this, they were ready for dinner, and for the escape that would come shortly.

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