An unexpected change of scene

"We're nearly there," noted the first minion.

The impact tore through the light plane. The 'big perv' was the first to go, sucked out of the gaping hole at the back of the craft. Something had shot through the plane. A beam of light bright and deadly like a laser had blasted up from below and put two huge wholes in the hull.

An air canister slams into the side of your seat on its way out the back of the plane. A few centimetres to the left and it would have crushed your leg. Instead the collision seems to have all but torn the secured chair from the floor of the plane. It just takes a few kicks and you're able to stand up, leaning forward with the chair still strapped to your back.

You've no time to loose. Lurching forward, gas mask still covering most of your face, trying to wriggle free of the chair's leather straps as you go, you struggle to where the parachutes hang on the wall. Whatever shot through the plane had come awfully close to incinerating these as well.

As Sparrowhawk you have had plenty of experience in donning parachutes quickly and so you do. You're still fastening the buckles as you throw yourself out of the plane.

The chute opens in time. The flood of air which fills the delicate synthetic silks is freezing against your body. As Sparrowhawk you've parachuted many times but this is your first naked jump. The body harness fits snugly around your body.

The plane crashes into the sea below you. The fireball is impressive but short lived. If the distress beacon survives then you should expect to have more of the Red Queen's army in the area shortly.

The trip down is exhilarating. Perhaps you should try naked parachuting more often? The sandy beach you land on is gorgeous. "Heh," you allow yourself to chuckle, "Looks like I've landed on a picture postcard."

The white sands stretch in both directions on the shore of this island. The choice was fairly simple now; a walk along the beach, a swim out to the ruins of the plane or a trek through the thick and imposing jungle which brushed up against the shore. The pawn had said the plane was nearly there so perhaps there was a building somewhere nearby.