9

“Kate, you are your men are too late. The data has been stolen,” you tell Kate the story, but leave out the part where you have the disc and that Emily and the professor are stranded on the island with you. Emily may trust Kate, but your gut tells you not to trust these people. “When I told you I know where the files are, I was telling the truth, but they are in the hands of the enemy.”

Kate looks devastated. “Do you know that the technology in the professor’s research can not only save the planet, or at least buy us time, but can also be turned into weapons? Something about the laser he plans to incorporate into the satellite,”

“I’m sorry Kate. I will remain here, but can you at least let the authorities know that I am stranded here?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” A half-hearted invitation.

“No thanks, I don’t want to get involved with whatever you are up to.”

“Good luck, pilot!” Kate busy herself again with preparations to leave.

You head back to the crash site. Emily and the professor are both wrapped in shiny space blankets, huddled next to a fire. Steam rising from cups of hot chocolate. The emergency supply kit providing some comforts at least. You grab another blanket and slide in next to Emily.

“I did not find anything,” You lie to Kate and the professor.

After a quick meal of heated rations, you decide that enough time should have elapsed for the armed gang to have left the island. You set off some flares from the emergency kit, the bright red light descending slowly from the sky. You set of six more flares, one each hour. Half an hour after the last flare, you hear the distinctive thumping of an approaching helicopter.

“We are rescued!” Emily shouts as she jumps up and frantically waves her hands, jumping up and down. You set of another flare. A couple of minutes later a large rescue helicopter appears close by, blasting you with a strong downdraft, tent and blankets scattering all over.

The helicopter lands. A medic jumps out and runs towards you. You wave him off and point towards the professor. Behind the medic there is a man in a grey suit, smiling broadly. He walks over, shouting close to your ear over the noise of the rotor blades.

“Thank you for all you have done for the Professor, and your government! We will take it over from here.” Before you can respond, he leaves you and heads to where the medic fusses over the professor. An intense conversation between the professor and the unknown man follows, with Emily interjecting now and then.

The discussion ends and the man runs back to the helicopter, bending underneath the whipping blades. The medic and Emily helps the professor up and joins you as you board the chopper. “Well, my boy, the government has offered its facilities to complete my work. Please, can you hand me the files?”

If you:

Give the files to the professor so he can hand it over to the government, go to chapter 15

 

Lie, and say that the files were lost in the crash, go to chapter 63