The van pulled into a small regional airport outside of Sydney. There seemed to be a lot of smaller planes, but Arena saw a private jet sitting out on the side of the runway, waiting for their prize. Yates called in backup from some Australian covert authorities who were apparently delaying the plane in red tape. Their preliminary investigation found some other crimes that marked Celeste as a logical suspect so Celeste would be turned over to them after her capture. Yates conceded to insure their help.


    The team leaped out of the vans. Allen, Sophia, and Nate stayed with the vans, as well as a few of their Australian counterparts. They tried to convince Lorna and Arena to stay with Nate, but she was determined to go with them, as was Lorna. Sterling sighed, handed Arena a taser, and told her to be careful with it. She noticed he stayed very close to her, though.


    They rounded the side of the airport building, securing it as Arena had practiced in simulations. It was a little surreal like she was watching it on TV. She and Sterling were in the back of the group. Arena wished for the security of the hoverboard, but Yates had insisted they leave them in the vans. They paused before running out into the open, and Arena could see Celeste standing by the plane surrounded by several men. She furiously dialed her phone, her face a dark cloud.


    Then they were off and running across the tarmac. Yates was bellowing for Celeste and the men to freeze and get down on the ground. The men reached for their guns, but put their hands up when they saw they were severely outnumbered. Arena could hear Celeste’s shrill voice ordering them to do something, and she started running for the plane. However, as she got to the steps, the pilot and co-pilot came down with their hands in the air, and she yelled at them as well. She spun around a few times, trying to find someone who would obey her.


    Yates reached her first, but grabbed a gun from one of her body guards. She spun and aimed it back at Yates.


    “Don’t come any closer!” she shouted loudly. “I will shoot! I have more to lose than you do!” She sounded nearly hysterical. Sterling grabbed Arena’s wrist and dragged her over to the side of the group, close to the plane. His grip hurt, and she pulled out of it, but took a step behind him.


    “Put down the gun, Celeste,” he said. “It’s over. You lose more by not giving in. At least help us, and it won’t be quite so bad for you.”


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    “You can’t promise that, Yates!” she shrieked. “They have people on the inside. There’s nowhere that is safe!”


    He inched toward her. “Drop it, Celeste. It’s not worth it. I can protect you.”


    She darted to the side. Yates kept his gun on her, but she grabbed the pilot, and put the gun to his head. He whimpered and said weakly, “I’m just hired. I didn’t know anything about this!”


    Jerking his head back, she hissed, “You’re going to fly me back to America. I’m not getting caught by them.” The co-pilot, who had inched near Arena and Sterling, still holding his hands up. Suddenly, he grabbed for Arena, pulling a gun on her. He had a fistful of her hair. Her scalp burned like fire.


    “Stop it, Celeste!” Yates yelled. “Let them go!”


    “We’re getting on the plane,” said Celeste, now eerily calm, her gun pressed to the pilot’s forehead. “I am going back to the States, and you will never find me again.” She tipped her head to the co-pilot. “He can fly the plane. You don’t think I didn’t plan for any contingency, did you? And I’ll take your little protégé. I’m sure I can find something interesting for her to do.”


    Using the pilot as a shield, Celeste pulled him up the steps of the plane and into the doorway. The co-pilot dragged Arena in the same way, whispering roughly that she better do what he said. He tightened his arm around her neck for effect. She tried to brace her feet against his legs, but she couldn’t breathe and everything started to go white.


    A shot, and then another. The grip on her neck loosened, and the co-pilot sunk to the ground. Arena tumbled to her knees, gasping for breath. She felt gentle hands on her arms, pulling her up to a sitting position. As her vision cleared, she saw Sterling in front of her, a gun in his hand. Celeste lay at the top of the steps, blood trailing out of her head. The pilot was pressed against the door of the plane, covered with blood and looking stunned. Arena looked down at the co-pilot, who had blood coming out of his shoulder.


    Sterling shrugged at her. “I’m not quite as good of a shot as Yates.” She hugged him, and he hugged her back with one arm, his face pressed into her shoulder.


    Yates came up to them, and inspected the co-pilot, checking his pulse. “Not bad, Flynn. Not great either, but at least you hit him. He’s still alive, though. Thankfully, they were too wound up to be careful.” He climbed the steps and examined Celeste. “She wasn’t quite as lucky. I wish I didn’t have to kill her, but wasn’t enough time to come up with a better plan.”


    Sterling nodded grimly, still holding onto Arena. “You alright?” he asked. His hand tightened around her waist.


    She tried to say, “Just a bit shaken up,” but her voice cracked. His eyes softened, and she put her head on his shoulder.