CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"We don't have a choice but to move slowly," said Conor. "I don't think it's wise to take the same route as my team did. If all things were perfect, we could get to Pyongyang by sea much faster."

"Yeah, but shit is never perfect," said Cowboy, looking at the maps. "I think we're stuck on these little farm roads and villages. The only problem with that is we'll stick out even more. We can't even pretend to blend into the crowd because there is no crowd."

"We can't wear the stealth suits the entire way. It's too much of a strain on the system that ensures that they stay stealth. We designed them to operate for thirty-forty minutes at a time, not hours. We can test it, but we need to understand the risks," said Hiro.

"I'm open to suggestions," said Conor.

"Conor, I'm not sure we have a choice," said Christian. "I think we use the suits to get across the border, stay hidden in the trees for as much as we can, but follow the farm roads toward the city. Use the camo paint and hope for the best."

"Um, hello?"

"Pigsty, who's on the line?" asked Rush.

"Hey, guys, I've got Victoria in here with me. She wanted to remind everyone that the new camo paint now behaves like a chameleon."

"I think we missed that briefing," frowned Abe. "Can you tell us what that means, Victoria?"

"Oh, sure. You'll be a chameleon. I mean, not a real chameleon. That would be impossible. I mean, not impossible. It might happen one day. We're working on it." The men all stared at one another, frowning.

"Victoria?" prompted Conor.

"Sorry. The paint acts like a chameleon's skin. The chameleon disperses or concentrates his pigment granules or melanophore cells to a particular area so it will lighten or darken its color. I can't change the way your cells work, but I can change the cells of the camouflage paint. It picks up the irradiated colors around you and changes the pigments within the paint. Voila! You're changed."

"Are you saying we'll blend in anywhere?" asked Mike.

"Well, not anywhere. I mean, if you're near glass, you can't turn into glass. But trees, buildings, grass, rocks, anything solid will work."

"Have we tested this?" asked Rett.

"I know we have," said East. "I didn't know we were already using it, but Eazee and I were testing some things out at G.R.I.P. not too long ago. It works just like she said."

"Well, this couldn't have come at a better time. Alright, thank you, Victoria," said Conor.

"You're welcome," she said in a cheerful voice. The men just smirked, shaking their heads.

"That's pretty badass," said Franklin.

"Yeah, we adopted a few kids on the property recently, and they're complete geniuses. Certifiable."

"Wait a minute. You're trusting your lives to the invention of some kid?"

"Damn right we are," laughed Tobias. "Franklin, we need your word that you won't speak about anything you see, use, or see us use on this mission. I won't hesitate to accidentally shoot you."

"I give my word," he grinned. "And I have no doubt that any of you would accidentally shoot me." Tobias nodded, then looked at his friend, Dan.

"Dan, you've been awful quiet over there. Anything you want to add?"

"I was just thinking about what Conor said. If we could go in by sea, it would be easier. We can't go in that way, but we could go out that way. At the very least, if we could swim far enough out, the Osprey could pick us up."

"Yeah, but how do we swim that far out? That's the Yellow Sea, and it can be deadly," said Nate.

"DPVs," said Conor. "Diver propulsion vehicles. Those damn things are so small now, we could hide them anywhere."

"Maybe we don't have to hide them," said Tanner. "The man who saved my life and brought me to America is still living. He's a fisherman not far from here. If he's still serving the north and south, maybe he'd be willing to help."

"Tanner, brother, why didn't you say something? We would have taken you to see him," said Christian.

"No. No, I didn't want to endanger him, but perhaps he'd be willing to help us again. If his fishing boats could be in the Taedong River, we could use the devices to get through the river and out to the sea to be picked up from there."

"That's a huge risk for him, brother," said Abe.

"I'm not sure we have a choice but to ask. If he says no, then we'll leave it at that. He's had good relationships with the North and the South, fishing on both sides. All we can do is ask."

"I'll go with you," said Abe.

"Me, too," said Hiro. "Let's go now."

Tanner stood near the docks, watching as men loaded and unloaded fishing gear. Staring at the battered boats, he looked at the weathered faces of the fishermen. It had been years since he'd stood in this spot. His parents handing him off to a stranger. He'd been asleep when he boarded the boat, but he remembered the woods. And the rain.

"Brother, are you okay?" asked Abe. Tanner nodded, swallowing.

"Yes. Just saying a prayer of thanks to my parents for giving me the life I've had. It must have been horrible for them to hand me over to a stranger, hoping, praying that he would get me to safety but never knowing."

"How were they caught if it was on the South Korean side?" asked Hiro.

"I don't really know," said Tanner. "I suspect someone fed the North Koreans information and allowed them over here. It was dark, late at night, rainy and foggy. The family who adopted me told me the captain's name. He'd transported hundreds of children over the years."

"He could be gone now, brother," said Hiro.

"No. No, he's here. I just know it." Tanner scanned the boats, looking for the one he wanted to find. The one he needed to find. "There."

As he began to walk, Hiro and Abe followed, unsure of how welcomed they would be. It was South Korea, but if someone had betrayed his family once before, then they could do it again.

"Duc Kwan Cho?" said Tanner. The old man looked up through cloudy eyes, his cataracts overtaking his vision.

"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously.

"Tanner. Tanner Sung," he said quietly.

"Sung. You have grown into a fine man. You look well," smirked the old man. "Why are you back here?"

"I wish to thank you," said Tanner, telling the small white lie.

"I'm old. I'm not stupid. Why did you come back here knowing your life is in danger?"

"My life isn't in danger. No one cares about a boy who escaped decades ago. I'm here because my friends and I need your help. We need your boat."

The old man stood from his stool on the dock and expertly stepped over the ledge of his boat. He waved the men on board and down into his private quarters.

"I can't see well any longer, but my son drives the boat for me now. He's a good man, like your father. He speaks out when things are wrong and makes sure that others are cared for."

"That is a good son," said Tanner.

"What do you need?"

"We need someone to be waiting for us in the river near Pyongyang." The old man closed his eyes, shaking his head.

"I cannot go there any longer. It is forbidden."

"Damn," muttered Abe.

"Listen to me. The tomb of King Tongmyong is just outside the city. Many years ago, it was discovered that government officials had built tunnels beneath the tomb that would take their leaders toward the sea if there was an uprising or attack. It's long. Very long, but if you can get to it and follow it out, you will be at the edge of the sea."

"It's not just that, sir. We need special devices to help us swim out to sea quickly to make it to an escape," said Tanner. The old man shook his head. A sound made them all turn quickly, standing in front of the old man to protect him.

"That tells me all I need to know," said the young man. "You protected an old man before protecting yourselves. I can take their devices to the tunnels, Father. You know I can."

"It's too dangerous," said the man.

"I need to do this, Father. I need to feel as though I'm helping others as well."

"Your father is right," said Abe. "It's extremely dangerous, and if you get caught, there will be nothing we can do."

The younger man stared at them, realizing that these were not just any men. These were men who could make things happen. Make things change.

"Let me help you. I have a feeling that you're going to help make things better for all of us."

"That's the plan," smiled Tanner. The old man let out a long breath, then nodded at his son.

"Then I can help."