"OK listen up every one !" shouted Anton.


"We're bugging-out, so start packing your stuff. " Announced Anton.

"What does bugging-out mean ?" asked Greg wondering if it had anything to do with insects.

"It means we are leaving this place very quickly and going somewhere else." said Heike.

"Why ?" asked Greg.

"Debz was being followed and had to take extreme measures, so there is a risk that all the units have been compromised. OK, lets go !" said Anton.

"Are we likely to be watched ?" said Heike.

"It's unlikely but a few distractions are in effect so that should help." said Anton.

Everyone started to pack their stuff. Greg helped the other black-hats shut down the servers, unplug them and put them in specially made cases. Greg realised that they had done this many times before.

After a few minutes almost everyone had packed. The experienced ones kept very little with them and often kept much of that packed just in case. Greg on the other hand hadn't done this before so found the whole process a bit overwhelming. Heike noticed Greg wasn't quite ready and helped him pack the last of his clothes in to his bag.

"OK, geeks to the roof with the gear, Heike stay with them, field-ops down stairs." shouted Anton.

"The roof !!, why the fuck are we going to the roof ??" said a very confused Greg.

"Don't worry, it's all planned. Just follow me." said Heike picking up a large case. "Claire, lead the way."

Claire picked up her stuff and one server case and marched out of the apartment. Greg and the others did the same and followed her.

Keith, Dillan and Anton marched out of the empty apartment, shut the door for the last time and went down the stairs to the car park. It was standard procedure to keep renting apartments long after vacating to see if anyone tried to enter, like the police. The hidden sensors would alert them to any visitors.

"OK, just put the kit here." said Heike as she and the others got to the roof. Anton and his group drove out of the under-ground car park in a large black van.

"So, what, are we going to be picked up by hot air balloon ?" said a very confused Greg.

"Well, there is plenty of hot air coming from you !" sneered Claire.

"Fancy another swim ?" sneered Greg in return.

Greg turned to Heike and asked "Why aren't the field-ops coming with us ?"

"Because if there is anybody watching, they will see them drive out first and follow them. They have the training and resources to take care of themselves." said Heike.

They put down their bags and cases, sat on them and waited. It was getting dark so the city lights made an amazing spectacle from their high vantage point. Heike switched on a flashing beacon and pointed it upwards.

"What's that for ?" asked Greg.

"Wait and see." said Heike.

They waited.

A helicopter duly landed on the roof, and they loaded their stuff on board, got in themselves and the helicopter took off. Greg had never been in a helicopter before and found it to be exhilarating. Heike had flown many times before while in the Bundeswehr (German Army) and found it rather boring. The helicopter took off and started to fly over the Thames estuary.

"Jason, can you slide the door open a bit and look behind to see if we're being followed." said Heike.

"Err ... OK" said Jason sliding the door open and wondering if this helicopter was fitted with radar. As he poked his head out, Heike drew her pistol, fitted the silencer and shot him through the back of the head. He dropped lifeless on to the floor.

"What the fuck !!" yelled Greg, Claire and a few others wondering if they were next.

Heike pulled a thick chain out of a bag and fixed it to Jason's belt. She grabbed his ankles and pushed him out of the helicopter into the water a few hundred feet below. The heavy chain on his belt would ensure he sank to the bottom and stayed there for a very long time.

"He was informing the police of our activities, " said Heike disturbingly calmly " so today he is fish-food."

The helicopter continued on its way while it's passengers sat in silence.

"Are we being followed ?" asked Anton.

"Nothing yet." said Dillan peering out of the back window.

"I can't see any police on the scope. we might have a clean get-away." said Anton staring at the 'pig' radar intently. The van turned left.

"Oh wait, I can see a car turning left towards us." said Dillan.

"OK, lets do another check." said Anton. The van turned left again.

"Yup, he is still following us." said Dillan.

"So, they are tailing us despite all the distractions we setup. They must be quite serious then. Drive towards a bridge or any other dark place." instructed Anton sliding a cover back between the two front seats to reveal a touch panel.

"There's a railway bridge about a mile ahead." said Keith.

"That will do." said Anton touching 'Disguise' on the panel and looking down a list of colours and number plates.

"A few more minutes 'til we get there. What's that gonna do ?" said Keith looking at the touch screen.

"Patience ! you're gonna love it." said Anton pulling out two long blond wigs and handing one to Keith.

"We're still being followed." confirmed Dillan.

The bridge came into view.

"OK when you go under the bridge turn left, go a few yards, stop by the curb and put on the wig. This should be fun !" said a slightly excited Anton.

"WHAT !" shouted Dillan and Keith.

"Have a little faith. This van has had a few 'additions' built into it." said Anton.

As the van went under the bridge, Anton pushed 'Green' on the panel, and they put on their wigs.

Keith turned left and parked the van by the curb. A few seconds later the tail turned left, drove towards them and then right past them.

"What the fuck just happened ??" said a very confused Keith.

"It's easy. They are looking for a black van ... and we are now sitting in a green van with a completely different registration number and occupants !" said a very proud but relieved Anton.

"OK, I get the wigs and I know how the reg number thing works, but how the fuck did we change colour ?" said Keith.

"Paramagnetic paint. Our geeks have been working on it for a while." said Anton "I've been dying for a chance to try it out." he continued.

Keith opened the door, jumped out and looked at the now green van. Dillan followed suit.

"It's doing some pretty weird shit back here !" said Keith pointing at the rear wheel arch that was flickering between green, red and black.

"That's probably a lose wire." said Anton getting out. He felt under the wheel arch, found a small wire and pushed it back onto it's terminal. The wheel arch stayed green.

"OK get back in, lets go. It won't be long until they return for a more detailed search." said Anton.

They drove off and after a few miles they went under another bridge.

"We're now driving in a red van." announced Anton.

"I so fucking love this ... but why do you change colour under bridges ?" asked Keith pushing his face to the windscreen so he could peer down at the now red bonnet.

"The colour change is less noticeable to other people in the dark, and we want to keep this a secret for a long as possible." said Anton.

"Cool. Do we get to meet the guys who did this, I would so love to buy them a beer or two." said Dillan.

"Well, when we re-form, thank Greg and Claire because they hacked into the paint developer's systems and got a lot of technical details for the others." said Anton.

"So, where is our new place. As I'm driving there I might need to know !" asked Keith.

"You're gonna love it !" said Anton.

Index Chapter 12 Chapter 14
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