Hour Seven

The following takes place between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

2:00:21

John stumbled backwards. He felt himself falling, felt the heat coming from the abyss beneath. He knew he was going to die.

Gordon!

And then suddenly he wasn't falling anymore. He looked up in surprise as his body rose into the air, then began moving toward the stairs. He floated down along them until he reached a point near the front and center of the cavernous main room.

There he saw the reason he had not fallen into the chasm.

Ebony stood with arms raised, eyes closed. She moved her arms lower and John began to sink to the ground, until at last he stood on his own two feet. The guards all came racing into the room and stood behind him. Ebony's eyes opened.

"You are a good liar, John Tracy."

He said nothing.

"You put my son's life in danger. You betrayed me."

"Betrayed you?" John retorted. "You killed a friend of mine, allowed me to nearly drown, you punish me for talking like a normal human being...and somehow the fact that I want to escape is considered betrayal?"

She shook her head. "This is going to have to be done the hard way." She moved closer to him. He flinched when her hand traced an invisible line from his neck down his chest and to the waistband of the boxers she'd made him wear. The fabric fell away – he would never know how. And he was completely naked once more.

But John stood there proudly. If he was going to die, he would die with Tracy dignity.

She sort of half-smiled before turning her attention to the guards. "Dia menawan bilik azab."

Two guards roughly grabbed his arms, and he was led away.

"Time to make a call," Ebony said, heading for her rooms.

2:09:08

On his knees, Gordon wrapped his arms around himself. His eyes squeezed shut; the rest of the world didn't exist.

John! John! Where are you? Tell me...please be okay. John?

"Gordon," Jeff said softly, bending on one knee beside him. "Gordon, what happened?"

Slowly Gordon's eyes opened. Jeff saw unabashed fear reflected back at him. "He was falling. To his death."

Jeff swallowed hard. "Did he...is he...?"

"I don't know," Gordon shook his head. "But I'm not hearing him anymore. I thought I heard him once, but now...there's nothing."

Jeff rose to his feet and returned to the others. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. Scott, Virgil, Tin-Tin: I want you on Thunderbird One. She needs to be able to fly, and I mean now." The three nodded and hurried back to the rocket plane.

He turned toward Penny. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, Jeff. Just a bit wary not knowing where the sixth hostile has disappeared to."

"And that's where I need your help. Nishan, ever used a weapon?"

"Yes, Sir, I am fully trained as per International Rescue procedures."

"Good. Megan? You up for some danger?"

She mock-saluted. "Yes, Sir!"

Jeff chuckled. "Then come with me to Thunderbird Two. It's up to us to keep everyone else safe enough to finish with Thunderbird One. And then," he said, jaw set firmly, "we're going to rescue my son."

2:12:55

John's heart sank when he saw the room he'd been taken to. It was in the basement of wherever the hell he was, and was filled with more devices meant for torturing people than he'd ever seen outside the movies. To his relief, he was taken to a far wall and shoved against it, his hands shackled over the top of his head.

His muscles tensed as the last guard left the room.

Gordon!

It had to work. Kyrano said it would. It would. Wouldn't it?

Gordon, can you hear me?

Dammit, this has got to be bullshit. I can't do this. It must've just been Ebony. Maybe she's powerful enough that she can hear me think to her.

Gordon, why don't you hear me?

He closed his eyes.

Please. Please. Help me, Gordo. Please.

His head dipped down, chin resting on his chest.

He was so cold. So tired. He began to shiver.

Please.

She was going to kill him. Somehow he just knew it.

Somebody...please help me.

2:16:24

"Father!"

Jeff frowned as he handed a machine pistol to Nishan and a laser pistol to Megan. Penny grabbed a laser rifle for herself as Jeff raised his watch.

"Alan?"

"Father, she's...it's Ebony! She wants to speak to you!"

Jeff's mouth pursed into a straight line. "Everyone stay back and be quiet." He moved away from them and said, "Put her through, Alan."

"Hello, Jeff Tracy."

Her smile made him want to retch.

"Where is my son?"

"So you believe me now, do you?"

"Stop playing games. Why did you take him? What is it you want, Ebony?"

Her smile widened. "Why, nothing at all, Jeff Tracy. I have decided he will be of no use to me in his...current condition. You may come at your leisure and take him away."

Jeff's eyes narrowed. "What's the catch?"

"Catch?" she repeated, smoothing her hair away from her face. "Why, Jefferson, what would make you think there is a catch?"

"Because you've gone to way too much trouble to just give him back with no strings attached."

"You are clever, aren't you?" She looked into his eyes for a moment before continuing. "You are right, of course. There is a string attached."

"And that would be?"

"An exchange."

"John for what?"

"No, not what, Jeff Tracy. Who."

"All right, then! Who?"

She blinked once. "Why...you, of course."

2:24:18

Please.

Gordon started.

Somebody...please help me.

He looked toward Thunderbird One from where he was seated on the grass. Scott was visible only from the waist, down as he struggled to repair something inside One's tail. Virgil was up at the top of the front landing gear, while Tin-Tin was inside the cockpit doing who-knew-what exactly.

Then he looked over to where Agents 12 and 113 stood talking quietly with Penelope. Off from them and closer to Gordon himself was his father. He knew who Jeff was talking to, but somehow it didn't matter. It just didn't matter. What mattered now was...

"John."

It was spoken so softly, no one heard him.

Dammit, he just couldn't concentrate! What was it that had happened before...?

The tingling sensation. That was it! Gordon crossed his legs Indian-style, folded his hands in his lap and closed his eyes.

Let your mind go.

He could almost hear Kyrano's voice in his head.

Let the world fall away.

He remembered. Deep breath in...hold...exhale...he remembered!

He made a picture of John in his mind. Every detail of his face...his large, crystal blue eyes...the light blonde hair, a curl escaping to rest on his forehead...straight nose...his mouth, and the way the sides would twitch when he was being sarcastic...he saw John blink, and—

Gordon!

John?

Had he just seen John's mouth move?

Gordon, can you hear me?

He could see him! See him talking!

Yes! Yes, John! I hear you! I can see you!

Suddenly the picture of John he had in his mind changed. No longer was he the confident, sarky brother Gordon knew so well. He was...pale. Frightened. Shaking...shaking? No, shivering.

John? Are you in Belah's temple?

I—I don't know where I am. Oh, God, Gordon! Help me!

Are you hurt?

No, not really, but...she plays these mind games. Gordon, I don't know who she is, but she can hear me. She can hear my thoughts!

John, calm down. Calm down and listen to me.

Not more than fifteen feet away, Jeff growled as the connection with Ebony was lost. He turned on heel, fully prepared to tell Scott and the others that Thunderbird One was to fly with or without further repairs...when he saw Gordon. The way he was seated...his eyes closed, his lips moving...Jeff recognized the look instantly.

Silently, he stole up to his son's side.

Okay. Okay. I'm okay.

John, you have to tell me something. Have you seen a child? A small boy, about seventeen months of age?

Yes. Yes, he is Ebony's son. Ebony's and...Belah Gaat's.

Gordon's heart started pounding. Are you sure? he thought. Are you sure it's Gaat's son?

Yes! Ebony told me herself. She's going to...I don't know what she's going to do to me, Gordon! I tried to get away but there was nowhere to go. I tricked her. She's mad as hell.

John, we know where you're being held. But we don't know where the temple itself is.

Kyrano would know.

But he's unconscious. Do you have any idea where you are?

He can't be unconscious. He spoke to me!

Of course! I remember, he spoke to Tin-Tin and me when we were on the sub! And he was unconscious then!

I can't...oh, God. Oh, God, Gordon...she's coming...she's coming! Help me! Help...no, no!

JOHN?

But John's face...and his voice...were gone.

2:41:48

"Are you certain she has made the call?"

A short, squat Chinese man nodded enthusiastically. "She has. Jeff Tracy has been advised that she will exchange his son for him."

"Do you believe she plans to release the son?"

"Ebony? Doubtful. She will probably capture the elder and kill the younger. If she is anything like the Master."

"Stop calling him that!" the large Mongolian man barked. His classic fu manchu look seemed incongruous with his British-like accent. The Chinese man cowered before him. "We have waited many years for vengeance," he intoned, walking across the room to a window. "Many years."

He looked out the window thoughtfully for a few moments as the Chinese man shifted uneasily from foot to foot. What seemed like an eternity finally passed until the larger man turned at last. "You must bring me the child. Bring me the child before Jeff Tracy finds that temple!"

The Chinese man opened his mouth to argue, but one look from his counterpart silenced him. He simply nodded and scurried out the door.

"Soon, Tsenden. Soon you shall be avenged." He pulled a long sword from the sheath on his belt. "Make no mistake about that."

2:50:19

"What did you think you were doing, you dog?" Ebony's hand whizzed through the air, landing squarely on John's jaw for a fifth time.

John stared her down defiantly, unwilling to give in to the fear he felt in the pit of his stomach. "If you're going to kill me, just get it over with. You won't get any more satisfaction out of me."

She laughed. A low, deadly sound. "Oh, really?" she asked, though it was not a question meant to be answered. "We'll see about that."

She moved in front of him and grabbed him hard. He jumped, but refused to look away. "I took you once, John Tracy," she reminded him, her voice sultry and cool...

...velvet. Smooth.

John's eyes widened.

Soft. Safe. Comfortable.

Ebony smirked, her eyes boring into his.

Swirling colors. Beautiful. So beautiful.

"I had to change my plans because of you, John," she intoned, her hand moving slowly to and fro. "It's all your fault that things are going to be a bit more...brutal...than I anticipated."

Ebony...

"But for now, I shall enjoy you."

Beads of sweat gathered on John's forehead, on his biceps...his chest, his legs. She was touching him...everywhere...all around him, through him. It felt so good. She felt so good.

Yes.

Her mouth was inches from his. "Do you want me, John?" she breathed, holding his gaze.

Velvet. Soft.

Ebony's breath danced across his lips. "Tell me you want me."

I...I...

"Tell me, John."

All identity seemed to fall away. His face bore no expression. "Ebony," he breathed. "I want you."

She removed his shackles and led him to her room.

2:58:26

"Gordon, are you back with us?"

Gordon took Jeff's offered hand and rose to his feet, nodding. "Yes, I—I think I'm back all the way."

"Tell me what happened."

"John doesn't know exactly where he is, Dad. One thing's for certain, though: he's scared shitless."

"Of Ebony?"

He nodded. "And there is a child there. John said Ebony told him it was Gaat's son."

"So Kyrano's search was right on target. We're dealing with nothing less than that sonofabitch Hood's family!"

"Looks that way, Dad." Gordon frowned and turned away, his hand covering his face.

Jeff moved so he was in front of him. "Gordon? What is it?"

"I think something bad's happened to John. He said Ebony was coming and kept yelling, 'No, no!' and then he was just...gone."

Jeff bit his lip as Gordon's eyes filled with tears. "Father, he's so frightened. So damned frightened. She's fucking with his mind, he's barely the brother I know!"

Jeff laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "We'll get him back. I promise you we will."

Gordon opened his mouth to answer as he looked over his dad's shoulder. He gave a quick shout and in a flash, threw himself into his father.

That was when Jeff Tracy heard the laser rifle shot.

That was when Gordon's body crumpled on top of him.

That was when Gordon Tracy stopped moving.

2:59:58

2:59:59

3:00:00