In the Triangle

Murdock wasn't sure exactly when it happened, but he felt the difference in the air. He couldn't have described it, but it sent cold prickles down his spine. He could feel that the electrical interference that had been their constant companion over the past few hours was somehow dissipating.

That was the good news. The bad news was that it was still completely quiet, and he could tell they were still suspended in mid air. Experimentally, Murdock attempted to check to see if any of the systems worked. Nothing. They were still dead stick. He sat back and sighed in frustration. He was shaky from missing his medications. He also remembered how he had been treating Billy. "Look man, I'm sorry about the stuff I said earlier. I didn't mean to yell at you."

Billy chuckled. "Forget it. I know how it is. We'll get outta here and get you fixed up. Don't worry about it. It's been getting lighter ever since the electrical stuff has been calming down. Maybe whoever this is that's got us is gonna let us go."

Murdock closed his eyes as he shuddered violently. He knew he was running out of time. He was already getting the signals that the seizures would soon begin. This was a side he didn't let his teammates see unless he had no choice. His mental and physical problems weren't feigned, as some of the others on the island thought. He had been known to play up the symptoms and goof on them when he was younger, sometimes even playing the clown to act as comic relief, or to create a diversion, but after the things he had seen and done-after the trauma he had endured-no, it wasn't feigned. He needed his meds, and he needed his routine. Desperately.

And that's when Billy decided he'd had enough. He finally blew his cool. "Okay listen up! I don't know who you are or what you want. I don't care! You are hurting my friend and I won't allow that any more! He needs to go home. If you wanna keep me, I don't care, but let him go… RIGHT NOW!" He bellowed the last two words as loud as he could.

Neither of them were prepared for what happened next. They heard a soft chuckle, and a sonorous voice echoed softly throughout the cockpit. "Very well, you may go."

Billy was shocked when the inky blackness lifted completely and the engines both rumbled to life seemingly on their own. They purred with restrained energy, though they were still suspended in place. Murdock jumped, but instinctively placed his hands in their proper positions. He was blind, but he knew exactly what to do.

For reasons he couldn't explain, the voice didn't bother the pilot. "You're letting us go, just like that?"

"I was curious. I wondered about the two of you. You are something of an enigma, you know." The voice was calm and soothing.

Murdock found that he was completely relaxed and comfortable. His mind was clear as he spoke with this… being. For the first time in a very long time, he was not afraid.

As for Billy, he was no fool. He might be invisible, but he was also a realist...which explained his status as an enigma. He raised an eyebrow (yes, most dogs have eyebrows, believe it or not.) "Just who are you and what did you drag us out here for?"

Again came the amused chuckle. "Let's just say, I am… an interested party."

Billy snorted. "Interested in what?"

"In the exquisite insanity that makes up your planet."

Murdock broke in. "Wait, you're an alien? Seriously?"

They swore they heard a sound very similar to someone spewing soda out their nose. Indeed, it was a few moments before the voice answered the question. "No, I am definitely not an alien. Let's just say I have a vested interested in your home. Speaking of home, are you ready to go back?"

Somehow, both Billy and Murdock knew the conversation was over. They both nodded, and suddenly the plane began bucking and pitching nearly as wildly as before. But only for a few moments. And then… Billy saw it. There were storm clouds gathering all around them, but he would know the island in the distance anywhere. They were a long way from it… but he knew they could make it. They had come through too much not to make it now. He turned to his partner. "Come on, muchacho, I see the island!" give him any details beyond that, because that's exactly what he'd done.

Murdock grinned. "Gimme the heading then, and let's fly this birdie back to her nest!" He gave a long, loud whoop of delight as his fingers flew over the controls. They were going home.

Mom herself was nobody to mess with, but still… "Hey, Jimmy. Is Zia around?"

There might have been a slight hesitation, but Jimmy said, "Yeah, I'll go get her."

At the Settlement

Hannibal, Face and B. A. were trying to figure out where to search next for Murdock. The old man at the airstrip had reluctantly told Face about the man who had slipped him a very large tip to look the other way. He couldn't tell them anything, because that was exactly what he had done.

The three men were upset, but there wasn't much point in taking out their anger on the old man, so they simply headed back to Headquarters to try to figure out their next move. They were surprised to see Dink standing outside the bar watching for them. He called out to them as soon as he spotted them. "Hey, Hannibal, a call came in for you. Zia wants you to call her right away. She said it's urgent, but not to talk to anybody but her."

Hannibal frowned, wondering why Murdock's girlfriend wanted to talk to him, and what the hell he was going to tell her about his being missing. He sighed. "Okay, Dink. I'll call her right now. Don't know what the heck I'm supposed to tell her, but I'll call her." B. A. briefly placed a sympathetic hand on Hannibal's shoulder for a moment as all four men stepped into the bar.

Dink, as was his way when he couldn't help otherwise, simply continued with the tasks at hand. He looked at the other two men. "You guys wanna help me board up the windows? That storm is gonna get mean real soon and we better be ready. Don't forget your hooches, too."

Face and B. A. nodded and went silently out the back door to help Dink with the plywood shutters. They were worried about Murdock, but the physical labor would do them some good. Dink knew this. He remembered that very well from his own days as a warrior.

Hannibal dialed the number from memory. The bar on Basseterre was one of the Settlement's points of connection with the outside world. As usual, the phone was picked up after the third ring. He was never sure how they managed it, but it was always three rings. The bar sounded crowded, and Hannibal recognized the deep, gruff voice that answered. "Mom's"

Hannibal couldn't help the smirk that overcame him at the name of the bar.

Hannibal waited, listening to the rowdy sounds of a typical early evening at one of the island's most popular watering holes. Eventually, the receiver was picked up and he heard Zia's muted contralto voice. She sounded slightly breathless. He never had a chance to even greet her. Her tone was hushed and desperate.

"Oh, Hannibal, thank God! Murdock's in terrible trouble!"

~TBC~