@Ozzyy 17 December 2021 more from that month

Flight, then Fright 5

[WP] Your plane from Orlando to London has just landed and as it taxies in it's surrounded by police and press. You disembark and a police constable tells you. "It's 2036, your plane went missing 15 years ago." ***** I had enjoyed a full day of relaxation under the care of the old man and woman, doing nothing except sleeping, eating, playing games and exploring the large place which I was being held - or lodging, according to the choice of words the old man, who called himself The Professor preferred. "We'll need you to feel as comfortable as possible. Feel at home here, because it might as well be your home for the next few days or weeks, at least until we understand what happened and find a way to send you back to your time, if that's what you want?" I nodded. "While I appreciate the gesture and your hospitality, you'll understand off I take that with a pinch of salt now, won't you? I'm not the kind of man to enjoy staying within this place all the time, and I haven't had a chance to see their outside of this massive building. All this secrecy just lies in a huge contrast against your claims of niceties." The professor simply laughed and looked away, staring at the woman, who simply smiled. I wondered what the look they shared was for. "Well, it's only natural that you feel like that, after all you only have just a tiny piece of the picture. If you were looking at the full frame, then you'd be more appreciative of our gesture here than you claim to be-" "Oh yeah? And what could that full picture be then? Surely you wouldn't mind putting me on the same level so I can see what you're seeing, professor." "I don't consider that an issue. You see, you're a target in every sense of the word; you have thought about this fact already, haven't you?" I nodded in the negative slowly. I'd spent all the time lamenting my fate and yet relaxing here like it was some all expense paid trip to an exotic resort or holdiay location. Only when he mentioned it did I realize that I hadn't even bothered to think things through for once. It was even made more embarrassing when they both looked at each other and laughed again. "Of course, of course. You've had a lot on your mind and in your mouth for the past 24 hours, haven't you?" I perked my eyebrows. "That's just-" The woman laughed while the professor stuttered when he realized how his words came out. "E-e-erm not that. Anyway, you remember that you were kidnapped by a group of criminals, actually wanted, top priority, red alert criminals, wanted in over thirteen countries of the world. Then there's us, who saved you, albeit with out own goals in mind. Do you think we are the only parties interested in the time traveller?" "For the last time, I'm not-" "Does it matter what you think you are or aren't to the groups out there looking for you? There are men there that will torture the living daylights out of you for information which you may or may not have. Everyone wants a piece of that information, this secrets, from syndicates to governments. Others just want the wealth which they know you have, which must have appreciated all these years. What do you think they would do, or rather, what do you think they would not do to get their hands on you? I leave that to your imagination." I bent my head and nodded. It was a perfectly logical setup. If I said I did not know, it would just come across as me trying to be secretive. Desperate men, desperate measures. I would be the one on the receiving end every damn time. "Then you guys are my guardian angels? The only group with ethics?" I asked. "I'm not saying that either. While I can assure you that we'll not be using any extreme methods, or any form of coercion at all, I cannot tell how many groups are actually after you. Who knows, one or two or more of them might actually be using peaceful methods of dialogue and bargaining. We were just lucky to get to you first after all." I nodded and relaxed in my chair. "That's about as straightforward as it gets, hmm? Well, I'm okay with that for the meantime. When do we start?" "When? Simple. When we get rid of those three thieves who seem to not know when to give up!" I turned to the woman. "That means?" "This," she said, bringing out what looked like a little chip or device with a tiny red blinking light. "This is a tracking device which was convininently placed on your body, just in case you managed to get out of their grip. Sadly, in my hurry to get you back before any other parties could pounce on me, I didn't scan your body. I did that when you were brought here and found this." "So why didn't you destroy it?" "Huh? Because even if I did, they could still trace it's last recorded location. Nope, we wanted them to come here, as confident as they could. It would do the world a great good if we took care of trash like them, so why border trying to stop them?" "And where is here?" She turned to the professor and he nodded. "An island off the Carribbean. Owned by the professor himself." My jaw fell open. ***** TO BE CONTINUED