Chapter 4
Shutting the pilot's door quickly, John grabbed for Scott's good arm and pulled him forward and under the shadow of the nearby wing. Luckily they were on the side of the plane that had dipped towards the ground. The more cover between them and whoever was shooting at them, the better.
Hissing in pain, Scott leaned against the body of the plane and slid to the ground into a sitting position. "I didn't see anything, did you?"
John shook his head intently as he sat down beside Scott. "This canyon is pretty long, and we were focusing on the plane. We were like sitting ducks - anyone could have gotten the jump on us. We need to warn Virgil and Gordon."
Checking his tele-com, John found that the reception from the watch left much to be desired. There was electrical snow and distortion on the tiny screen, but he still managed to contact Alan. "Alan - warn Virgil and Gordon. We are pinned down. Scott has been shot. We need Thunderbird Two here now!"
--
Alan's heart raced. He remembered what his father said about the fuel and considering the potential players in the game, he didn't want to test out how stable it could be under gunfire.
He did as instructed and signaled Virgil and Gordon. "Thunderbird Two from Thunderbird Five."
--
Virgil and Gordon were plotting their course to John and Scott's location. Their father had clued them in to what was happening, and they were speeding to the danger zone when they heard Alan's hail. "Thunderbird Two from Thunderbird Five."
"Thunderbird Two here," Gordon acknowledged. "Father filled us in the details, Alan. How are they doing?"
"Not good. They were ambushed, Scott has been shot, and both he and John are pinned down in that canyon by someone that is firing on them still. Not sure if someone is after the fuel cargo the plane is carrying, but they are in trouble."
"FAB, Alan. Our current ETA is twenty minutes but we should be able to better that. Hold on Gordon." Virgil declared, "Going to maximum speed - now."
Virgil pushed a lever forward and felt the additional boost as Thunderbird two blasted forward towards the danger zone.
--
After confirming the information with Thunderbird Two, Alan updated his father and sat back to wait.
Thunderbird Two would reach the danger zone in twenty minutes. He had alerted the authorities in the area to their plight but deliberately made sure that they left out their suspicions of why the intruders were there.
There wasn't much more he could do, but he was worried about John and Scott. They had no weapons and little cover. Alan decided to check on them to see if there was anything he could do.
He was more than disheartened when his initial hails went unanswered.
Come on guys, please answer.
--
John kept his head low as he watched Scott awkwardly shrug off his backpack. Digging around one handed, Scott grabbed for the towel that he had been using to keep the sweat off of his face and applied pressure to his arm. "I'm probably not going to be much help. My arm is feeling numb already."
John swore. "The only weapon I have is the miniature laser Brains gave me and it is not going to be much of a weapon. It's much better in a short range situation. I can't even tell how many attackers are out there."
Suddenly a volley of gunfire came at them, kicking up dirt and dust. A few bullets hit the wing they were under, but luckily it held under the barrage.
As the noise leveled off, John finally heard his tele-com signal an incoming transmission, and then the idea came to him. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" He lifted his wrist. "I read you Alan. Listen, focus a communications scan in our general area with a radius of one hundred miles. The people shooting at us have to be communicating with someone somehow. We need to know what we are dealing with here."
"FAB."
John waited precious moments as another volley of bullets buffered the craft. The way the bullets are falling seemed suspicious to him. "I have a feeling that they know what's in this plane, Scott. They are trying to drive us away from here. We can't stay here."
Scott looked up at the pilot. "We haven't even properly assessed the pilot yet. We don't know if he can be moved."
John watched the pilot and noticed that the man was breathing at the very least. "He's still alive, but you're right. We can't leave him here."
--
Finally, Alan's voice came back through the Tele-com. "John, from the radio chatter it looks like there's at least three at the other end of the canyon that got dropped off by a helicopter that is only a few miles away. From what I can tell, their orders are to secure the cargo of experimental fuel and kill anyone that may stand in their way."
Sounds like anyone desperate enough, John thought wryly and then looked around the canyon. On their side of the canyon there were some low lying bushes scattered about. Not much cover for anything at all and with Scott wounded, his brother wouldn't be able to defend himself properly, much less help get the pilot out of the danger zone. Their best cover was still under the wing of the plane and even that couldn't stand up to the gunfire for much longer if they were attacked again. "Alan, ETA for Virgil and Gordon?"
"They are at maximum speed now and should be heading your way in ten minutes. The local authorities are calling for two helicopters and paramedics and they should be in the air and to you in about the same time. I know that look, John what are you planning?"
John gave a wry smile. In ten minutes, they could all be dead unless he did something about it. "Am I that of much an open book? I have a plan, Alan, and I need you to keep an ear out for Scott."
With that declaration, John turned off his tele-com and scrambled to his feet.
"You better not do what I think you are about to do."
Scott's voice was hard edged, and his demeanor told John that his brother was trying to impose his authority as field commander of International Rescue.
John shook his head, and then opened the pilot's door quickly, scrambling into the cargo area. Seconds later he emerged with the tarp and the cargo case. Handing Scott the cargo, he made his case. "I can buy us the ten minutes we need, Scott. You have the fuel and the pilot to see to, not to mention protecting yourself."
Scott looked unsteady and lost in thought for a moment before he finally replied. "I better see you back here in one piece in ten minutes."
John nodded, noting the pained and worried look on his brother's face. He realized that Scott didn't like the situation either, but had come to the same realization: they needed to buy more time. "FAB. I'll be careful, I promise. Now stay here."
Taking slow and deliberate steps, John walked out from under the cover of the plane's wing, holding the white tarp high and shouting. "I surrender!"
Yes, it's another cliffhanger. Yes, I will update soon. Does John know what he is doing? Well now, you will just have to wait and see, now won't you?
