Hour Eight
The following takes place between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
3:01:37
Jeff was in a daze. His head had hit the ground as he and Gordon went down. For the moment, all he could register was that a lot of people were shouting, and there was an awful lot of gunfire. He saw Virgil grab Gordon and head for Thunderbird 2, followed by Scott, who lifted his father to his feet, put his arm around his shoulders and followed Virgil as fast as he could.
Tin-Tin fussed over Gordon, who'd been placed on a bed in 2's medical bay, while Scott gingerly lowered Jeff onto a nearby seat. Jeff felt a sting in his arm and realized Tin-Tin must've given him a shot of dihydroergotamine for his head. Within a few seconds, he knew he was right.
"I'm going to have to get him to a hospital," he heard Tin-Tin say as his head began to clear. This is not something I have the expertise to fix."
"What...what happened?" Jeff asked, approaching the three who stood around Gordon's prone form.
"That sixth hostile tried to kill you," Scott replied. "Gordon must've seen him over your shoulder and pushed you down. Two laser shots hit him right in the back."
"How? If the gunman was behind me...?"
"He twisted you around. Used himself as a human shield," Virgil offered.
Jeff's hand passed over his eyes as he knelt next to Gordon on the bed. He laid a hand on Gordon's head. "Thank you, son." Taking a deep breath, Jeff rose to his feet as Penny and Megan rushed in. "Scott?" Jeff said, casting a meaningful glance at his eldest.
Momentarily taken by surprise, Scott just stared at his dad for a few seconds until he understood...completely understood...that he was actually deferring to him as field commander.
"All right, everyone. Here's what's going to happen: Virgil, fly Gordon to the nearest hospital. Tin-Tin, you take care of him here in the back during the flight. How bad is he? I mean, really?"
"His back is awfully scorched. His breathing seems fine and his pulse is right on target. I just don't know how deep the tissue damage could be."
"Okay. We only had a couple more minor things to repair on Thunderbird One..." He looked around. "Wait, where's Nishan?"
"He was killed," Penelope said quietly. "The hostile shot him." Megan looked away as Scott's eyes found hers. Penelope reached out and took Jeff's hand. "I'm sorry, Jeff. It all happened so fast after you and Gordon went down."
"I could've sworn we hit him," Megan said softly. "I don't know how the hostile got away to kill Nishan."
Scott's face softened slightly, and he looked on the verge of saying something reassuring. But just as quickly the sympathy was gone, replaced of necessity by International Rescue's field commander. "Penny, Dad, Megan, you're with me. Virg, as soon as Gordon's safe, I'll let you know what's next."
"F.A.B."
Scott and the others left Thunderbird 2. They watched as it took off, everyone with one eye on 2 and the other on the area around them. Once Thunderbird 2 was on her way, Scott turned to the rest of them.
"Okay, let's start a grid search. I have a few more things to do on One, and I don't want any surprise attacks." They nodded. "Dad, you take the north quadrant, Megan you take west. I'll take south and Penny, you've got east."
"F.A.B.," Jeff and Penny replied. Megan hesitated as they headed for their respective areas.
"What is it?"
"This isn't shaping up well, is it?"
Scott unholstered his weapon. "No," he replied grimly. "It's not."
"Listen, before we start checking our respective areas..."
"Yes?" For the first time, he stopped and allowed her his full attention.
"I'm sorry."
Genuinely perplexed, Scott cocked his head slightly. "Sorry? For what?"
"Whatever I did that made you mad."
"Mad?"
"At me. You...I just...I don't know," she shrugged. "I'm sorry." With that, she walked away.
His mouth opened and closed. Megan hadn't done anything. Why would she be apologizing? He started walking south, gun at the ready, eyes scanning everywhere.
Why does she think I'm mad at her?
He turned to see his father disappearing over a hill.
Why the hell does she think I'm mad?
Penelope headed into a thin grove of trees.
I'm not mad at her!
He was getting mad as he turned and watched Megan's retreating form. He turned back around to the south and stomped forward through the tall grass. Women!
Why the hell
A scream stopped him in mid-step.
Megan?
He couldn't see her. She screamed again. Scott took off at a dead run.
"Megan!"
3:20:06
Khai listened outside Ebony's room. It wasn't hard to figure out what was going on in there. He clucked his tongue in disgust. Ebony was just as crazy as Gaat had been. He crept down the hall to the next room and quietly opened the door. Esunge's room.
One of Ebony's personal slaves rocked the child in an elaborate wooden rocking chair in the room's far corner. She looked up in surprise.
"The Mistress has ordered you to clean the baths for her prisoner," he told her in Chinese. "You are to leave the child in my care."
The slave nodded and rose, handing a sleeping Esunge off to Khai before scurrying out the door. Khai stood in the doorway for a moment. The coast was clear. He hurried toward the rear of the temple. It was time for the rear entrance guards to change shifts. He watched as one rounded the far corner and knew he had only seconds before a replacement would appear.
It was now or never.
He raced to the heavy wooden door, slid back the five bolts one at a time and creaked it open. Exiting, he turned and pushed it closed. It wouldn't take long for the new guard to realize it was unlocked. Within minutes, the outside grounds would be crawling with guards.
Within minutes, Khai thought as he ran into the jungle, he would be home free.
3:26:04
Jeff, Penelope and Scott converged upon the point where Megan had last been seen.
"Where is she?" Scott demanded, turning in a circle. "Where the hell is she? Megan!"
"I don't see her!" Penelope replied.
"Neither do I. Dammit!" Jeff swore.
"Alan!" Scott barked into his watch. "Give me a heat sensor reading. Penny, Dad and I are together. I need you to find Megan!"
"F.A.B.," Alan said as he began to zero in on satellite feed from their quadrant. "Hang on, I'm pulling it up."
Jeff, Penelope and Scott backed into one another, forming a small triangle so that no one could sneak up on them. All senses were on alert, guns at the ready.
"Okay, Scott. I've got you, Dad and Penny." Alan paused as he manipulated the satellite pictures. "Right, we've got two on the run due east of your position. I'm also picking up at least twenty more approximately two miles from you. It looks the two are headed right for them."
"The two on the run...one must be Megan!" Scott said. "The hostile must have taken her."
"Jeff..."
Jeff turned to look at Penelope. "What?"
"Nishan. Where is he?"
Scott frowned. "You said the hostile killed him."
"Well, he did. Tin-Tin checked for a pulse, but..."
"But what?"
"Jeff, he...he fell over there, about three meters from that tree stump."
"He's not there now," Scott observed.
"What the hell is going on?" Jeff asked.
Scott had an idea. "Alan, pull up the file on Agent 12. Show me his picture."
"F.A.B." In a few seconds, the picture of an Armenian man appeared in Scott's watch face. "Here you go, Scott."
"Oh, my God," Scott breathed.
"What?" Jeff asked.
"Look."
Jeff and Penny looked at his watch.
"Oh, no," Penelope whispered. "It isn't him."
"He's got Megan!" Scott said, stalking off to the east.
"Scott, wait!"
"No, Dad. You and Penny get Thunderbird One through her pre-flight. Be ready to take off."
"Son..." Jeff said, walking towards him.
"Dad, there are at least twenty hostiles just minutes away, and we've been infiltrated by somebody whose best interests are not International Rescue. I've only got a few minutes to get in there, rescue Megan and get out before we have no chance of seeing her alive again."
Jeff looked into his son's eyes. He recognized what he found there. "If you're not back in twenty minutes," Jeff said, looking at his watch, "I'm coming in with guns blazing."
"Thanks, Dad," Scott said softly. "I just...I have to try."
"I know. Be careful." Scott nodded, turned on heel and took off. Less than a minute later, he was completely out of sight. Jeff turned toward Thunderbird One, Penny falling into step beside him.
"I hope I haven't just made a big mistake."
"He's in love, Jeff. You can't stop a man in love."
He smiled, squeezing Penny's hand. "No, I guess you can't, at that."
3:37:15
Ebony checked the silken scarves she'd used to restrain her willing prisoner. John lay spread-eagle on the bed, wrists tied one to each side of the headboard, ankles tied one to each side of the footboard. Satisfied that the sleeping form was secure, she stole out of her bedroom and down the hall.
Opening the door to her son's room, she was quite surprised to find that Jun was not present. Nor was Esunge. She stalked out of his bedroom into the Great Room. "Jun!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. "Esunge!"
Soon the small, young Chinese girl appeared before her, bowing low.
"Where is my son?" she cried. "Esugnke!"
The girl babbled in Chinese, which Ebony never had been able to learn.
"Khai! Khai!" she yelled.
No one came. Her eyes narrowed. "Penjaga! Kemari! Kemari!"
Four guards appeared. "Mana Esunge! Mana Khai!"
"Pintu terbuka, Puteri."
"What the hell do you mean the back door was open!" She grabbed Jun by the front of her smock. "Where the hell is my son?"
A guard stepped forward and listened to the girl crying and talking all at once. "Mistress, she regrets to inform you that Khai ordered her to scrub the baths for your prisoner. She also regrets to inform you that Khai indicated you had ordered he watch the child in the girl's absence."
Ebony's eyes grew wide as she let go of Jun, who tumbled to the floor at her feet, where she remained cowering. "Get the car," she said, her voice deadly low. She turned to head for the rear entrance, but stopped as if she'd forgotten something. Turning to face the guard again, she pointed at Jun and growled, "And execute that stupid, useless girl."
"Bù yào!" Jun cried, tears streaming down her face as the guard nodded and hoisted her over his shoulder. "Bù yào!"
"You are looking for Khai," Ebony told the twelve guards who'd assembled in the back hall. "He has taken my son and will be put to death for his treachery. But no harm will come to him until Esunge is safe. Do you understand?"
They all nodded and headed outside to the waiting vehicles.
Ebony had completely forgotten about John.
3:46:24
Without her there to stare into his eyes, to mentally wash away everything that he was, it didn't take long for John to awaken, realize he was in somewhat of an awkward predicament and curse himself for it.
How did she do it again? I swore she wouldn't! I swore!
He inspected the scarf holding his right wrist to the bedpost. Gently, he gave it a tug. It seemed to give a little, but then when he pulled again, he felt it tighten around his wrist.
"Damn!"
Suddenly the door was thrown open and John jumped, startled. He was surprised to see the short Chinese man he'd often seen at Ebony's side. He was even more surprised to see Esunge in his arms, a piece of cloth tied over the boy's mouth.
"What the--?"
Khai's face reflected how terrified he was. "Help me," he gasped, tightening his hold on the boy, who was crying.
"Help you?" John asked with some amusement. "And how am I supposed to do that lying here naked tied to a bed?"
Khai looked at him in wonder, as if only just realizing John's inconvenient state. "I will release you...but only if you promise to help me."
"What...I don't even know who you are."
"I am Khai. I am Ebony's assistant."
"And you've got her kid with a gag on his face because..."
"I must take him to those who represent the House of T'ang."
John almost laughed out loud. The only "T'ang" he was familiar with was that orange, powdery stuff Grandma had tried to get them to drink as kids. "Why must you get him to the House of T'ang?" he asked, keeping his face as straight as he could.
"Enough questions!" Khai shrieked. "If you do not help me, your father's fate will be worse than death!"
"My father?"
"Yes!"
John had no idea what was going on, but even if he just played along for a while, it meant he would be free. "Fine. I'll help you escape. Untie me."
Khai hesitated. He placed the child on the bed near John's feet. Esunge grabbed John's naked leg and held on as though for dear life. Khai pulled out a knife and sliced through the silk scarves.
John sat up on the bed, surprised as hell when Esunge crawled into his arms, plastering himself against his chest. John started to remove the gag.
"No!" Khai said, the tip of his dagger suddenly resting against John's jugular. "He'll make too much noise. Let's go. Now."
John nodded and rose to his feet, the toddler in his arms. "Uh...something to wear, maybe?"
Khai looked around and grabbed the first thing within reach. "Here. Wrap this around yourself."
John looked at Khai like he had two heads. "You've got to be kidding."
"No. We have no time. Soon they will realize I doubled back. Our only hope is rooftop. Come!"
John looked at the piece of fabric he'd been handed. Resigned to his fate, he managed to wrap it around his waist with some difficulty as Esunge clung to his neck.
I hope I find something else to put on before someone I know sees me.
If anyone had been in the Great Room when Khai, John and Esunge crossed through it, they would have seen a short, Chinese man dressed in camouflage...a baby with a gag over his mouth...and a tall, white man wearing nothing but a lavender sarong around his waist...
3:51:42
Alan was feeding the satellite imagery through to Scott's watch. While the area he could view at one time was limited, it gave him enough for him to know he wasn't far from where Megan and her captor had stopped. There were very few trees here, and none large enough to hide two people...except one set of gnarled ones.
They must be behind there.
Scott lifted his laser rife, creeping closer to the trees. A laser shot rang out, whizzing past his head. He dropped to his belly, then raised up and returned fire. A chunk of bark flew from the tree. Then he saw a man's head pop out from behind it.
Shit. It is him. The man we thought was Agent 12!
Scott crawled forward on his belly, grateful for the cover provided by the tall grass around him. Without warning, he heard a man yell, then both felt and heard footsteps. Someone was running. He peeked up, but didn't get the chance to see what was happening.
Someone hit him, cried out, and fell right on top of him.
Scott yelped, struggling to get the person off him. That's when he realized who it was.
"Megan!"
"Scott!"
She threw her arms around his neck. "God, I'm so glad it's you, I thought it was another one of those bastards!"
Lying square on top of him, their bodies touching from head to toe, Megan leaned back and looked into his eyes. One tear trickled down her cheek. "Whatever happened to forensic pathology?" she whispered.
"I know," he whispered in return, using his thumb to wipe the tear track away. "Shhh, you're safe now. You're fine." He sat up and then rose to his feet, pulling her with him. He didn't see anyone anywhere near them. "Where's the guy who had you?"
"Oh, Scott, it was Nishan! I...I got him with a big tree branch."
"You what?" he chuckled, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Come on, we've got to rendezvous with Dad and Penny. There's a whole camp of these guys just over that hill there," he nodded off to her right. "If they catch us, we're in a shitload of trouble."
"Scott?"
"Mm?" he replied, grabbing her hand and heading back the way he'd come.
"Why were you so cold to me before?"
He stopped and turned to face her. "I wasn't...I just...I hadn't thought about you in a long time."
Megan looked up at him. "Liar," she said softly as their lips met.
Oh...oh, boy. Scott thought. I shouldn't...I can't...oh, hell. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, deepening the kiss.
"Okay, lovebirds," came a threatening voice. "Hold it right there."
Scott and Megan froze, their eyes popping open. Scott groaned inwardly.
Shit.
3:59:58
3:59:59
4:00:00
