Cara hustled the group through the tunnels murmuring encouragement; she could understand how they felt. Kept and tortured for days, maybe even weeks and then required to move at speed to an evacuation point when you hardly had the energy to move your hand to rub your own eyes.

Breanna's voice murmured through her mind, allowing her to see what was happening, gasping Cara leant against the wall, causing concern to those around her.

"Oh ... boy ..." she glanced up and around, "we need to move quicker than we are now. What is coming could potentially kill us all."

Panic ensued as those who could move quickly tried harder, leaving those who were weak and injured behind. Jesse caught up to Cara, frowning.

"What is going on?" he asked, pulling a young man's arm around his neck and taking his weight as he shuffled him forward.

"Bre is about to lose her temper," Cara said, "we need to get them out of the blast radius."

"Got it," he nodded, "you need to use those feet, young man or die where you stand."

The young man's eyes widened, swallowing hard, "I'll do my best."

"Good," Jesse nodded, "let's move."

Cara looked around at those left to assist, desperation pushing tears to her eyes, "I need help."

"Then help is what you get," Titan said, coming to a panting halt next to her. He released a low-pitched whistle bringing his team from the cave-like holes in the ceiling, "helps to know an entirely different route of tunnels. These people need to get out of Breanna's release zone. Get them to the beach ... double time."

Cara watched as bodies were lifted, placed over shoulders, moved and gently helped from the tunnel floor to be carried through the maze to the exit point on the beach.

"Helps to have a strong team as well," Titan nodded with pride glancing at Cara, "I think you should leave as well."

"What about you?" Cara asked.

"We have places that blasts cannot reach us," Titan said. "Besides, if what I think is coming actually happens, Breanna and Tania will need help getting out."

"Understood," Cara said, smiling her thanks, "it's good to have you on our side."

Titan nodded before running and jumping into one of the cave-like holes, disappearing within seconds. Cara moved forward quickly, bringing up the rear, pushing to get everyone out of the tunnels before Breanna let go of her deadly ability.

Oran broke onto the beach, seeing the pathway to the sea marked by coloured flags. Two extra, huge boats sat anchored just past the waterline. Frowning, Oran stopped at the edge of the overhanging rock. Pulling his binoculars from his utility belt, he looked at the occupants. A man and a woman. A smile broke out over his dry lips.

"Well, I'll be ..." he muttered as Cara, and the rest of the evacuating group arrived, "Craig and Tina."

"Guess someone knew extra boats would be required," Cara smiled, "it's a good way to get around the whole being together to survive thing."

"Trust them to find a way to be together and still do the job. Wonder if Craig had an argument with his lady?" Oran chuckled.

"If he did, he didn't win," Cara replied.

"Let's get everyone onto the boats," Oran said, turning to the gathering group. He saw Jesse standing at the entrance, vigilant in case of attack, "stay within the path marked by the flags. Wade through the water to the boats anchored in the water. Any questions?"

"If you cannot swim?" a young woman asked.

"You'll be helped," Oran smiled, "it's not deep; you should be able to wade out."

Nodding, the group started down the beach, Cara and Oran keeping pace and scanning the hilltops above. Slowly the group made it toward the waiting crafts. Titan's men effortlessly transported their refugees toward the water.

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Oran turned toward the water, watching the group get into the furthest craft. There was hope. They may make it yet. Glancing toward the entrance, he noticed the last of Titan's men helping two people out of the tunnels; it was slow going, and he was beginning to show the strain. Moving toward the man and taking one of the injured, he noticed Cara go still. She spun toward him, panic in her eyes.

"Jesse, get out of the tunnels," she moved toward him, stopping as Titan dropped in front of him, body slamming him through the doorway. Both men landed on the sand as Cara looked up in a panic, "everyone down."

Those on the beach dropped where they stood. Cara prayed that those in the water were far enough away. Breanna's loss of temper ripped over them, raising the sand in a brisk choking whirlwind.

Titan came up quickly, kneeling over Jesse, "Are you okay?"

Jesse groaned but nodded, "Thank you."

"Any time," Titan stood, pulling Jesse to his feet, "a promise is a promise. Everyone is out of the tunnels."

Oran handed his refugee over to another of Titan's team before stopping next to Cara, "Are you all right?"

Cara panted, nodded quickly, swallowed hard and shuddered, "That ..." she shook her head.

"Yeah, her blast radius has increased," Oran nodded, hugging his sister, "we need to find them and extract them."

"They will be," Titan said, "but not by you or your team," he looked around, "you're all tired, coming to the end of yourselves. Let my team do this, we can get there quicker, and we know this place better than you do."

"He has a point, Oran," Cara said, "Bre is talking to a very volatile Birgit who is struggling not to use her dark side. We cannot get to them as quickly as we need to. Besides, who is going to cover the refugees?"

"Thank you," Oran extended his hand, "we accept your assistance."

"The offer will always stand," Titan said, gripping Oran's hand.

Giving a whistle, he disappeared into the tunnels again, followed by those of his men not assisting with the refugees; in a blink of an eye, they disappeared.

"How are we doing with the boats?" Oran asked, turning toward the water.

Breanna's feet lightly touched down next to Tania, reaching out a hand to help her up. Tania gripped her at the elbow, pushing herself into a standing position.

"Thank you," she murmured, "seems you're abilities have increased as well."

"I have to agree with Clio," Breanna grinned, "that was exhilarating."

Tania sniffed the air, "Is that ... smoke?"

"Smells like it," Breanna said, "oh no ... Valencia and Birgit."

"Find them," Tania said, "come back for me."

"I cannot leave you here ..." Breanna began but stopped suddenly, her head turning toward one of the tunnels.

"No one needs to find me," Birgit spoke in a sing-song voice from the tunnel entrance, "I'm right here."

"Birgit," Breanna sighed, turning toward them, hesitating, "where is Valencia?"

"I'm right here," Valencia said, "don't touch us. Birgit flamed ... and is about to warp."

"What does that mean?" Tania asked, leaning heavily on Breanna.

"It means that any of Jasmine's explosions that haven't gone off yet will do so under the heat of Birgit's flames," Valencia said, "you need to get out now."

"Not without you," Breanna shook her head.

"I'll get us out," Valencia said, "but you need to go. Please."

Running feet came to their ears. Turning, Breanna found Jesse running toward them. Frowning, he stopped, slowly walking toward Birgit and Valencia.

"Val, you there?" he whispered.

"I'm here, but you cannot touch us," Valencia answered, "you need to help Bre get Tania out."

"What ... no," Jesse shook his head, "I'm not leaving you here."

"You have to," Valencia spoke softly, "I'll make sure we get out. B, not yet ... they're too close."

"Jesse, help me with Tania," Breanna said urgently, "Birgit is beginning to shimmer, and that means she's losing the battle with her ability."

"No," Jesse shook his head, refusing to move.

Titan and his team dropped from the ceiling, looking around, his eyes settling on an exhausted Tania, "You proved your worth once again, Tania."

She responded with a weak smile, "Wish I could move afterwards."

"Let's get you all out of here," he said, directing two of his men to take Tania and help Breanna if she needed it, "Jesse, you need to move."

"Not without Val," he crossed his arms over his chest, "I want her alive and out of the tunnels."

"Jesse," Titan glanced at Birgit and Valencia, "right now, she is alive and will be after all of this, but you won't be here to see it if you don't move. Stay ahead of Birgit and get out of the tunnel and into the boat."

"Val ..." Jesse whispered, looking at his love.

"Listen to him," Valencia whispered, "please."

"You need to leave," Birgit hissed, "now and don't use the ceiling tunnels."

Titan grabbed Jesse's arm dragging him along as he broke into a run. Refusing to let go until they finally made the beach and pushed him into the filling boat on the water line.

"What about the other boat?" Tina asked.

"Valencia will need it," Breanna said, "go ... get us beyond Birgit's ability."

The engine roared gently, and the two boats moved away from the island. At a safe distance, they stopped, silence filling the minutes as they waited. Every eye on the beach and the boat, anxious tension thrumming the air as they waited for Birgit and Valencia to appear.