-looks sheepish- ahem, yes... sincerest apologies.
i suffered from extreme writer's block with regards to this. this chapter has been sitting waiting to be completed for several months. in some ways, though, i suspect leaving it for that time is one of the best things i could have done. at least now i have fresh ideas for what to do with it.
i'd recommend reading through previous chapters to remind yourself how it goes before reading this one. thank you for your patience
Ch. 7
Despite its dangerousness, this particular emergency was quite simple. Scott sighed a little as he touched down in the danger zone; he wasn't looking to a long, hard slog fighting fires. The problem was, the fires were too much for local services to handle, but they would be a cinch for International Rescue. Even so, it would take time and energy. Since it had been evening when he left base, Scott was pretty sure it'd be at least five in the morning by the time he got back. His father of course, would be hyped up on coffee the entire time, but Scott? He sighed. He'd be lucky to reach his bed without collapsing in a heap on the floor. Perhaps, he mused, he'd ask his father for permission to catch a little sleep before attempting to fly back.
Now, however, Scott felt the adrenaline pumping through him as he opened the hatch and climbed out of his 'bird. The local fire chief was there to meet him.
"I'm Bob Farmer," he said, offering his hand. Scott shook it warmly.
"What details do you have for me?"
Bob led him over to a hastily assembled command centre and pointed at a map laid out on the table. Small coloured counters were laid upon it, and a red line had been drawn around the centre. Looking up at the surrounding area, Scott realised that the line was where the fire had reached so far, and the counters were where various teams were posted.
"We've managed to keep the fire at bay in most of these areas by soaking the ground roundabout, but the heat is fantastic." Scott nodded; he could feel it burning his neck even from where he was. "The water is evaporating very quickly. And in these areas, it's having no effect whatsoever. There's a flour mill not too far from here." Bob's eyes were wide and serious. "If we don't stop the fire before it reaches the mill, we'll have a lot more to worry about."
TB
John was kept dashing from screen to screen, relaying instructions and information. When the call had come in, he'd immediately called Tracy Island at the same time. All this dashing around flicking switches and running from screen to screen! He was going to have to negotiate a few changes with Brains.
Another screen flickered, and he groaned, jogging back over to it. Tin-Tin smiled up at him.
"Just to let you know, John, that we're about to try and get into that hidden door."
"F.A.B. Are you all going?"
"Catrìona, Mitchell and myself are going to try to gain access. Grandma is going to remain in Mitchell's office, and Maria is going to keep an eye on our progress, as well as keep lookout." John nodded.
"Understood. Let me know if you need anything, but don't get too demanding; the guys have just gone out on a rescue." Tin-Tin nodded, and disconnected.
TB
Maria peered around the corner of the alley. There was no one in sight. She nodded to the others.
"The coast's clear. Good luck," she said. The others nodded and did a final check on their equipment to make sure it was functioning. Torches, first aid kits, pistols, scanners, walkie-talkies and various other useful items hung from their belts. Mitchell stepped forward and placed a line of explosives along an imaginary line. They retreated to a safe distance and detonated.
As soon as the dust cleared and their ears stopped ringing, Catrìona stepped forward and pushed at the now visible door. It moved without much protest. She nodded and beckoned to Tin-Tin and Mitchell.
"We'll need to hurry, I doubt anyone could ignore that. See you in a bit, Maria," she said with a grim smile. Maria nodded and tapped at her headphones, to show that she would be listening. As the others disappeared inside, she started to roll the police tape across the entrance to the alley.
TB
Tin-Tin was severely unnerved. She knew that there was no way anyone could not have heard the explosion, yet no one came running. They continued down the brightly-lit corridor.
"This is very different from the taxi office," observed Catrìona. "It's much cleaner, more clinical." They passed several doors, but none opened. Mitchell examined the signal on his scanner.
"I'm not getting anything. I think our signal's being jammed," he sighed.
"That is correct."
Tin-Tin's shoulders sagged. She knew it was too good to be true. She'd also recognised the voice. Turning round, she saw a large, cruel-looking man grinning evilly at her. Even though he was completely shaven, she somehow knew this was the same man that had attacked her in the desert. She averted her eyes.
"Very clever," he chuckled, clearly delighted. "Look away and you'll be fine. You've learned, Tin-Tin."
Tin-Tin glanced up, briefly, in surprise, before common sense took over again.
"You know my name?"
"I know the identity of every inhabitant of Tracy Island," replied the man.
"How?" asked Catrìona, stepping forward.
"I have my sources," he replied with a nasty grin.
TB
Anthony looked up as the cell door opened, and his heart sank.
"Mitch! What are you doing here?"
"Being captured," replied the man glumly. He looked at Anthony's companion. "I see you found Meyer."
A young woman with red hair turned her head sharply at this. "What? Meyer?" Her eyes fell on the imprisoned scientist, and she frowned. "If I hadn't been sent here to rescue you..."
"You're rescuing me?" asked Meyer, pretending to be surprised. "Interesting interpretation of the word."
"Oh, shut up," she snapped in response. Anthony watched in confusion as the woman slumped down in the corner furthest away from Meyer. The other woman, a young Malaysian, sat next to her. She looked familiar.
"Tony, this is Tin-Tin Kyrano," said Mitch, "and this is Catrìona MacLeod, formerly of Jodrell Bank."
Anthony nodded, realisation dawning. Brains and John had met Catrìona at the ill-fated conference last year. No wonder she wasn't too pleased to see Meyer. In all actual honesty, the days he'd spent in the cell with the man had done nothing to endear him.
TB
It was a very tired Scott who leaned against the wall of his shower cubicle, face turned up towards the warm water pelting him. He closed his eyes blissfully, then inclined his head and opened them again. The water draining away beneath his feet was a murky grey. He sighed and reached for the shower gel.
A good hour later, he wandered into the kitchen. The shower had woken him up a little, and now he was ravenous. Kyrano greeted him with a welcome mug of strong coffee and a large slice of cake that Grandma had baked before she left. Scott squinted at Kyrano suspiciously.
"Where did you get this?"
"I have been sworn to secrecy," the manservant replied simply, going about his duties. Scott shrugged, bemused, and went into the living room.
It was empty. His father had gone to get some sleep, Virgil had probably fallen asleep standing up, and Alan had mentioned going in to see Gordon before going to bed. Scott stretched out on the sofa, munching away at his cake. Before he'd eaten more than a few bites, however, John's portrait flashed. With a groan, Scott pressed every necessary button he could think of, summoning his father and brothers, and answering John's call.
The space monitor's face was paler than usual, and he seemed to be on the verge of hysteria.
"Scott! Grandma just called in. She says the others have been gone as long as you've been at the rescue, and still nothing! And she can't get a hold of any of them, not even Maria!"
Within minutes, everyone was in their respective positions. Scott was racing towards Kuala Lumpur in Thunderbird One, Virgil and Alan a few minutes behind in Thunderbird Two. Jeff was at his desk with a very large pot of coffee, and Gordon, who had recovered sufficiently by this time to be a bit more useful, was dragging out every map of Kuala Lumpur he could find.
