Watch and wait

As Calvo sank under the waves, a small field generated itself around him, keeping him warm and undetectable. As he breathed in the air from the SCUBA unit, he quickly familiarized himself with the controls of the unit. Depending on how extensively he used the unit, its battery supply would last anywhere from three weeks (using it sparingly) to three hours (using it aggressively). Calvo decided to sit tight and gather a little information before deciding what to do. He activated one of the small probes attached to the SCUBA/Escape Unit and let it drift to the surface. The probe relayed images and sounds at the point he had left the beach. There were four guards there, with one of them holding some type of scanning device. The probe was shielded and passive, so Calvo didn't fear detection as he eavesdropped on the guards.

Numbers 12 and 18 (the petite brunette and the statuesque blonde), who had been chasing him, were there. There was also a medium-sized redhead with cropped hair standing there as well. He skin-tight white uniform, with the number 14 stenciled on it, revealed a very athletic build that was not overly muscular and still very feminine. The fourth guard, a young, petite Asian woman with delicate features, small breasts and narrow hips and dark straight hair hanging to the middle of her back, possessed no number on her uniform, but rather the stripes and rockers of a master sergeant. She was the one addressing the other three and holding the scanning device.

"Prisoner 473 (Calvo recognized his own number immediately) is the last prisoner to be recaptured." That depressed Calvo. He had hoped that perhaps he might have been able to hook up with some of his fellow escapees. Still, he would not let them easily recapture him. "The scanner shows no further trace of him past this point. Those fighter drones must have dropped something that let him escape our detection. Right now, the camp commander can only spare us four to conduct this search. You three will head out and keep in touch with me constantly. I'll stay at this point to coordinate. Number Seven, head down that way." The red head nodded and headed down the beach. "Number Eighteen, check out that stretch of beach." The blonded nodded and headed in the opposite direction. "Number twelve, check out that trail. Keep an eye out, and don't be shy about calling in recon drones." Number twelve nodded and headed up the mountain trail.

Calvo watched the guards split up, smiling at the thought that none of them would think he was just a few meters away...straight down under the water's surface.