The sun had not yet reached its median when Phineas returned to the campsite on the beach, carrying with him a bundle of supplies. He found Eliza tending the fire, reduced nearly to coal and ashes. He set the bundle down in the sand gently and sat down, his chest puffing from the long walk.
"I found the canister and more than enough tubing at the crash site." he said between breaths. "If we work fast, we can get enough fuel before the tide comes in. Better to do it before sunset too." He glanced about the campsite. "Where's Joseph?" he asked.

Eliza kept her eyes on the fire as she spoke softly, "I murdered him and left his body for the sharks." She turned giggling, as she walked over to look over her gear,"No, I sent him out hunting for food. If he heads the way I told him, he won't be back for a few hours." She pushed back her hair then rubbed her palms together,"So which one of us is going for the dive?" She looked up at him with pale green eyes, her once white skin now a light brown.

"I'll do it." Phineas offered, "I don't want you to give any more skin for Joseph to eye." He shrugged and pulled off his coat and shirt, tossing them on the sand. He gestured towards the bundle. "Grab that canister and follow me." he said, hoisting the coil of tubing over his shoulder. He walked the short distance to the shoreline, where the low tide lapped harmlessly at his feet. Turning to Eliza, he spoke again; "I'm going to swim out until I find the hovercraft, then I'll signal you. I'll probably need to take a few dives before I find the fuel tank, but once I uncap it I need you to blow into this end of the tube," he tapped the rubber coil, "to build up air pressure in the tank. I'll hold it closed as long as I can, but we'll need to be quick." He smiled, his hair bristling in the wind. "You understand?"

Eliza blushed nodding after he spoke. Her eyes bulged slightly when he took off his shirt, and she took in an eyeful before suddenly turning and picking up the canister. She followed him into the tide, as she continued to listen in on the plan. She nodded,"Sounds like a plan. Remember though, this isn't the great channel up in England, there are eels, sharks and various other forms of paralytic fish that fill these waters. Don't travel to deep, and beware of the coral in the bottom. If you are down there longer then 15 minutes, I will be coming in. Now scoot sparky, and get us some fuel." She smiled, her teeth looking whiter against her tan.

Phineas smiled at his partner's enthusiasm, turning to look out over the turquoise waves. The water was pleasantly warm, but that didn't do much to ease the chronic discomfort felt when easing into deep water. Trailing the rubber coil behind him, he walked across the glittering white sand until the water was past his waist, then turned back to shore.
"There's a short drop off into a reef!" he called back, his voice steady. "I'm going to see if I can get a look!" He turned back to the water. Small fish were flitting through the water around his legs, and before him the sandy beach fell away into a colorful marine habitat.
"I hate swimming." he muttered, and dove underwater.
The saltwater stung at his eyes as he opened them, but he forcefully held them ajar until he could make out the objects around him. Swimming slowly in the clear water, he was able to make out tall coral structures brimming with vibrant sea life. He continued, his breath holding out well, until he made out the bronze sheen of the hovercraft, some twenty feet below him, and a small oil column drifting out of hit. He lunged upward and clawed at the air, gulping and drinking the cool ocean breeze until he was breathing at a normal rate. He turned to the shore and found that he was nearly a hundred yards out. Kicking at the water below him, he waved his hands and called out to Eliza, who's form he could still make out on the beach.
"I've got it!" he yelled. "Get ready with the tubing!"

She watched him swim out, and lifted her chin when he spoke of the reef below him. When he went under she began to count internally, whilst hopefully he was heading her words! When his head popped up a hundred yards away she smiled. She yelled back to him loudly,"Okay! Ready!" She brought the tubing to her lip and began to blow. She kept a steady pace and pinched the tube shut when she needed a fresh in take of oxygen.

When he determined that Eliza had heard him, Phineas gulped one more breath of air and submerged his head in the water, opening his eyes to reacquaint himself with his surroundings. He spotted the craft two dozen feet below him. He kicked down as he began his descent, stopping every several seconds to allow his body to readjust to the pressure. The oil stream twirling past him, he finally reached the hovercraft, buried half in tidal sands. The back door was exposed, but as he pulled on it it refused to budge until he braced both of his feet on either side and forced it open. A storm of bubbles cascaded past him, but the interior was dark. Increasingly low on air, Phineas kicked upwards to the surface and burst out, gasping air until he could dive down again. A small stream of bubbles began to flow out of the tube in his hand, which meant that Eliza had already started blowing.
Better early than late... Phineas thought, and reached the door to the craft again. He managed to push aside the debris blocking the interior and swam inside. The oil tank was easy to find due to the stream of leakage, and Phineas jammed the end of the tube into it. To his surprise, it was a perfect fit. He turned to leave, but a shape illuminated by the rays of sun outside stopped him short.
An electric eel hovered patiently outside the hovercraft door.

Eliza kept blowing into the tube, her face becoming more red as time went on. She paused, taking a few more gasps of air before hearing a twig snap behind her. She turned expecting to see Joseph, but found no one there. She squinted her eyes to take a look into the foliage, but found nothing. She shook her head, then turned back to her duty and kept blowing her body stiffened though and she prepared just in case something were to attack her.

Phineas moved his legs and slowly backed away from the entrance. The eel, a dull brown color and surprisingly thick, continued to hover near the door, its acute senses searching for prey. Phineas thought back to his studies; an electric eel of this size posed no real threat to his life, but if he were to be attacked he would go into shock and likely drown. Nor would the eel attack him, but it would discharge should he swim too close, and with its position in the doorway there was no room for him to swim out.
Phineas felt the hard iron wall hit his back; he had reached the other end of the craft. He was safe in terms of distance, but now his breath was running out. Frantically, he looked about himself as the pain began to squeeze around his chest. His eyes locked on the tubing.
This is probably the most idiotic thing you've ever done.
He reached to his pant leg and ripped a small bit of cloth off, then raised it next to the tank. In a quick motion, he pulled out the tubing and jammed in the cloth. Air continued to flow out of the oil-tipped tube. Thank you, Eliza. he thought, and wiped the tube off before taking a draw from it. It wasn't the purest air, being already partially breathed and processed, but it kept him alive.
The eel had not moved.

Eliza paused, in her count, her breathing becoming haggard. She pinched the tube and took another gasp of air when Joseph came out of the jungle with a few scars and nothing to show for it. He called out to her, "Hey, I seemed to have run out of luck...what are you doing?" She held up a finger, pinched the tube then spoke quickly,"Trying to blow some air into a tank to get some fuel." He chuckled,"So I guess the husband is off looking for craft." She pulled back again,"He should have found it, in fact he has been in there way to long. Can you continue this. I am going in." He smiled,"What are you going to give me if I do?" She blinked,"A kick in the ass if you don't!" He shook his head smirking, "Give me the tube." She handed it over, with a quick nod then headed into the water, diving underneath when she felt the drop. She faltered for a moment as she adjusted to the saltiness of the water, but once she felt she could see more clearly, she dove deeper trying to find the craft. After a few minutes, she found the shape of it, but her air was just about running out. She swam up to the surface, and collected her fill before diving back down towards the craft's entrance. She gripped the top of the open entrance and pulled her head down to look inside. She noted Phineas near the back breathing through the tube, and the long snake-like eel that had it's eye on him. She shut her eyes, whilst shaking her head, then pulled back to see if she could find a weapon of some sort. When she noted a long piece of copper pipe sticking out, she went over and gripped it's edges. After a few tries, she placed her feet on the side of the craft and pulled, releasing the pipe. She turned swimming a bit over the edge, so that she could clearly see the eel. She put her finger to her mouth to signify that Phineas should not alert it to her presence. She paused, and twirled the pipe around so that it aimed like a spear at the eel. She had one shot at this, so she better make it count. She pulled her arm back, shut her eyes then flung it forward, so that it hit sharp in the water. The throw was weak, and when it hit, it didn't leave a scar or a cut, just really pissed it off. Eliza felt fear run up her spine as the eel moved quickly. She then swam at full speed towards the surface, knowing exactly what would happen, and was preparing for it. Just when she was close a sharp electric shock coursed through her. She twitched violently, before going numb and floating towards the surface. She grit her teeth, trying to feel something in her fingers, before she fully went unconscious.

Phineas hovered in the back of the craft, breathing calmly through the tube. Whenever he felt a break, he held his breath until the airflow resumed. Although he was able to keep his head together, the eerie patience of the eel was starting to send it him into a panic.
After several minutes, the situation seemed useless. Phineas decided his only way out was, rather literally, sink or swim. Carefully, he inserted the tube back into the oil tank. Just as he braced himself to make a dash for the port hole, a shadow passed over the eel. Phineas froze; a bigger creature could pose a much bigger threat. He waited several more seconds and, to his surprise, Eliza appeared before him. In her hands she clutched a rusted pipe, evidently torn from the side of the craft. She braced herself and threw the projectile toward the eel, hitting her target with little effect. The eel turned sharply and darted at her as she surfaced, and Phineas realized with horror, from the faint tingle in the warm water around him, that it had attacked her. He bolted out of the craft, turning his head wildly in search for the eel. When it failed to appear, he lunged upward to Eliza, taking her in his arms. His head erupted out of the water, and he gasped for breath. Immediately he checked her breath; air was still flowing from her lips, so she was at least alive. Consciousness had, however, left her body. Phineas jerked his head in a circle, finally coming upon the thin strip of land that marked their camp. Holding her in one arm, Phineas began to swim towards the beach.

---

Exhausted and out of breath, Phineas finally felt his feet touch soft sand below him. Cradling Eliza in his arms, he staggered up the beach, where Joseph was still blowing into the tube. He reached the dry beach and called out hoarsely; "She's hurt! Run and fetch fresh water from the spring!"
He laid her body on the sand, stepping back to assess her condition. Thankfully, she was still breathing. A dark, ragged scar was beginning to form on her waist.

Eliza remained blacked out, her limbs feeling loose and her nerves yelling in pain. After a few minutes she opened her eyes and began to cough, fear coating her features. She tried to move her limbs but pain spasmed through her and she felt a sharp pain by her waist. She looked up at Phineas and tried to say something but it was to sore. She closed her eyes trying to get control of herself before trying again, "Phin..hurt?" She was feeling light-headed and the urge to either puke or pass out was strong. She watched Phin helplessly, hoping that this state of paralysis wasn't long term.

As Phineas was assessing Eliza's condition, she suddenly started breathing more heavily and spoke several incoherent words. "Shh, shhh." Phineas whispered, gently pushing her head back to the sand. Behind him, Phineas heard Joseph returning from the spring. Joseph handed him a canister of water, which Phineas poured lightly on Eliza's wound. He took the remainder of the water and tilted it into her mouth, trying to re-hydrate her under the Mediterranean sun. He noticed Joseph standing over still, and the man's interest set him on edge. He couldn't leave Eliza alone and vulnerable.

She drank slowly, numb pain beginning to settle through her as she watched Phineas and Joseph. When she finished she leaned back, and tried to grip the sand beneath her fingers. She was still in shock and the pain on her waist was becoming more apparent by the minute. She grit her teeth, as a tear fell down the side of her cheek. She shut her eyes as the sun glared down at her, and she waited patiently for her body to regain sense. She was mute and lame, and neither posed to well on her pride. She dug in her heels anger propelling her forward as she arched her back. She screamed immediately regretting it as pain soared through her nerve endings. Tears flowed freely now as she looked at Phineas stubbornly.

Confident that Eliza had had enough water, Phineas gently picked her up, one arm under her legs and the other behind her head. Holding her carefully, he walked to the edge of the beach and waded into the water. As the waves reached his waist, he look at Eliza, who was barely conscious.
"The saltwater will clean your wounds. We can't risk them getting infected," he said. "This... may hurt a bit." He lowered her into the water, just enough so that it covered the scars on her waist but her head remained above the water. He stood for a few moments, allowing the disinfectant to sink in. Suddenly, above the gentle lapping of the waves, another sound could be heard. It was distant and faint, and he at first thought he had imagined it, but it gradually grew louder until there was no mistaking it.
It was the distant whine of the engines of a small airship.

Eliza groaned as she picked him up and shook her head weakly when he waded to the water. She shut her eyes when he lowered her and then whimpered at the stink of the water on her wounds. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, pain swirling her features. She curved her head to the side, her body becoming heavier, as she could hear a soft murmur in the distance. She moved back slowly to look at Phineas, who was eyeing something in the distance. She felt heavier, as larger waves lopped around her. She kept her eyes on Phineas, until blackness took over and she fell unconcious again. Thankful for some rest.

Phineas turned as the noise grew louder, still cradling Eliza. He hurriedly waded to the shore, his feet drying fast on the hot sand. Ahead he could already see Joseph running about the camp, preparing wood for the dying fire. When he saw Phineas, he ran in excitement, all pretenses of suspicion lost.
"Phineas!" Joseph yelled, "Phineas! Do you hear it? We're saved! We're saved!" Phineas set Eliza down on the sand, hurrying to the campfire and fanning the flame to life. Joseph threw loads of wood on the embers, and the noise grew louder all the while.
When the coals had erupted to flame, Joseph threw a handful of wet leaves onto the fire and a plume of thick smoke burst forth, spiraling into the sky. After minutes of the noise rising in strength, a dark spot appeared on the horizon.
"We're saved!" Joseph was yelling, but Phineas kept his eyes on the craft. It flew low over the ocean, and as it grew closer its build became more clear. It was highly geometric in shape, and about twice the size of the escape crafts Phin and Eliza had fled on. Excitement built as the craft drew closer, and Joseph was practically jumping for joy.
Finally, with the winds whipping sand around the camp, the craft passed above, rapidly losing speed. The bottom of the craft showed an insignia, visible for only a few moments. It was painted faintly with a golden wreath surrounding two crossed swords on a winged background. Phineas recognized it immediately from his academy studies, but couldn't put a name to it. In the distance, the craft began to wheel around to return. Phineas's mind raced to identify the insignia, and suddenly it became clear.
It was the crest of the Libyan military corps.
"We're over here!" Joseph was yelling desperately. Phineas pushed his arms down quickly, to Joseph's immediate anger. "What are you doing?" Joseph demanded, "They're here to save us!"
"No," Phineas said, "They're here to kill us."

Joseph laughed at Phineas grimly, "Why would they be here to kill us? OR perhaps what you mean to say is they mean to kill you both."
He eyed Eliza then Phineas sharply before speaking again, "Look you do whatever you want. I'm getting off this rock."
He ran forward, screaming, "I'M HERE MAN! SAVE ME! HELLOOOO!" The man screamed as the craft came back and landed near the sand. The men that began to exit were in military garb the large golden insignia stamped onto the back of the outfits. They spoke a harsh Lybanese and pointed their weapons at Joseph who stopped immediately and fell down to his knees, "I'm unarmed. I'm unarmed." he wailed, panic edging in his voice. They moved forward quickly and a two of the soldiers gripped Josephs arms and pulled him forward so he was lying on the ground. He moaned at the pain then spoke again in the only language he knew, "What are you doing? Let me go! I'm just a civilian." The men spoke harshly to each other shaking their heads and then one of them aimed the gun at Joseph who spoke in a ruggid english, "Are you alone on this island?" Joseph blinked his muscles twitching underneath their boots, "No. It's just me." They spoke softly behind the black mask, "Good." Suddenly a loud gunshot went through the air and Eliza stirred moaning in the sand.

As Joseph ran off in the distance and the craft began to land, Phineas looked to Eliza. He saw with a panic that she was still immobile, but they had to move fast. He scooped her up in his arms and ran to the treeline as the craft's doors opened. As he ran into the forest, he turned to see who exited. Three men wore black suits with long coats stamped with the insignia, and some half dozen more wore regular military garb and sported large weapons. Joseph approached the men and threw up his hands, and one of the suited men approached him. He was dark skinned and was speaking rapidly, but Phineas couldn't make out the words. Without warning, the leader pulled a pistol from his coat and shot Joseph, who collapsed and was instantly dead. The leader slid his pistol back into his coat and shouted a few words to the soldiers. All except two of the soldiers started to walk towards the forest, their guns held out in front of them.
Phineas sucked in a breath and clutched Eliza tight, running deeper into the jungle.

Eliza groaned as the rush of air and greenery flew past her. She felt leaves and twigs hitting her legs and arms, and a dull pain in her waist. She groaned scrunching her body up slightly when she whimpered at the intense pain in her stomach. Ouch! Lets not to that again. Wait where am I? Her eyes popped open and she looked up at Phineas with wide eyes, then immediately felt herself being carried. She bawked, "Uh Phiny, what are you doing?" She then looked about, "Why are you running? What's wrong?" She began to panic, and sat up slightly to grip his shoulders in order to hold up her weight,"Where's Joseph?" She suddenly jolted when a gunshot went off in the distance, and pain seared up her abs,"OUCH! PHINEAS WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?"