Hide

Valerie saw a small gap between the rock where she was hiding and the ground. The tall grass and undergrowth around it made it almost impossible to spot, even as she crouched in front of it. Thinking quickly, she squeezed herself in the gap, staying perfectly still once she was in. She breathed shallow and quietly, closing her eyes and praying she wasn't found.

She heard the patrol walk past her hiding place, talking amongst themselves. The noise became weaker and weaker as they walked away, eventually fading away entirely. She waited another five minutes to be safe, before finally emerging from her hiding place.

She walked back to the spot where her things were, and her worst fears were confirmed. The men had taken her equipment and clothes with them, leaving her with nothing in the middle of the forest. She felt tears welling under her eyes, as she realized she felt completely helpless. She didn't even have a way to contact Iris, as she had left her communicator in the bag.

"Come on, Valerie", she scolded herself. "Sure, you're naked, covered in dirt and without equipment right now, but you've been in worse situations before. Think - how can you get out of this?"

The hidden equipment!

Valerie had a flash of inspiration as she realized that there was a supply drop waiting for her. She wasn't very far away from its location, and she still had her watch. The compass and sensor inside it would lead her to its precise location. She could use the equipment in it to salvage the mission.

Valerie took a quick dip in the water to clean herself of the dirt, and set off in the direction of the supplies.