Ch25
Virgil found solace in the slow walk between the wards, the bright artificial light bouncing off the white walls became a blank canvas to focus him while there was nothing else there to distract him. Without the bustling noise of family members and hospital staff infringing into his headspace he couldn't help thinking he was missing something. A niggle encroached, gnawing at him, building in the pit of his stomach, his body communicated wave after wave of nausea as he struggled to pin down what on earth had caused it in the first place. The family members that had entered the hospital causing so much anxiety and grief were out of danger and showing signs of their personalities returning through the gritted teeth of pain. The worry, the uneasiness that his mind struggled to put a handle on had not left him alone since he had left Scott earlier, now he split his time between Kayo and Alan in equal measure flitting between the two wards using the time between each to try to understand why his body was compelled to shout a warning his mind did not comprehend. He stopped outside Alan's ward taking a deep breath and submitted to the fact that he had found no epiphany on the latest leg of his dual bedside vigil. He gave them a warm smile as he entered the room pushing everything to the back of his mind for a short period of respite before he would begin the struggle again to try to understand why he felt he was failing them, because that was what it boiled down to, he had command and something was haunting him but the connection remained elusive. He took a chair at the side of Alan's bed and tried to keep up with the conversation between Penelope and John as they discussed the list of candidates that Brains had provided them with while they waited for the nurse to take Alan for his scan to check the nanos were starting to repair the broken bone.
John had been watching Virgil intently since he entered the room; the frown that decorated his brow seemed out of sorts considering they now had two family members who were considered out of danger and well on the way to recovery.
"What's wrong Virg."
Virgil lifted his eyes gave an apologetic smile and shrugged his shoulders "Wish I knew."
John gave Penelope a squeeze to the shoulder and walked round the bed sitting on the edge holding eye contact with his younger brother.
"Think you'll have to explain a bit better than that, just tell me what you are thinking."
Virgil sighed in defeat submitting to the fact that the solitary enterprise was now a joint one whether there was any reality to it or not "I'm thinking something is not quite right."
"You could say that, were you listening, from the list Brains provided there are only seven of those closely involved still alive. Brains, Penelope's boss, a weapons expert working on the DGF facility in Darwin, an undergraduate who did not graduate and we cannot trace. Then there are three professors, one of them retired to the back of beyond in Scotland, one on the lecture circuit in America and the other in a home for dementia sufferers in Cambridgeshire."
Virgil lifted his eyes to Penelope but the voice held little conviction "Interesting."
Penelope joined the discussion with a slight irritation to her voice "You could sound a little more sincere than that. Interesting doesn't cover the half of it, there were fourteen closely connected to the project and it seems there has been a series of accidents that have befallen five of them and a further two recorded as suicides." Penelope stopped to see if the news qualified as interesting in Virgil's eyes before continuing "I have my Aunt looking into the connection with my new boss and Colonel Casey will take America and Darwin, I will mop up the rest on my return. This thing, whatever it is, looks bigger than some stolen technology now we have seen the sharp end." She then looked to John "I agree with Virgil we are missing something because we were distracted by Kayo being taken and stopped asking questions about the thefts and cargo."
Virgil jumped up rounded the bed and patted Penelope on the shoulder "That's what I'm missing … Kayo. The Hood or whoever the hell that was wanted her, she was a specific target and we have left her wide open again. It wouldn't take long for someone to trace a patient they were looking for." Virgil felt instant release; his stomach went from tumultuous sea to lily pond in a second.
Penelope stood open mouthed "I was so interested in moving the transport from Darwin that I hadn't considered that hiding behind false names here may not be enough."
The others one by one registered a look to each other as Virgil's words sank in; the safe environment of the hospital suddenly took on a hostile edge.
Virgil rose there was no action to take but it seemed necessary to impart his fears to an older brother that usually took on the burden of decision making "I'm going to speak to Scott, John check to see if we are the only ones covertly accessing records here and then once Al's gone for his scan lets meet up in Kayo's room. Parker don't let Alan leave your sight for a second. We are getting him out of here today I can treat him on the Island."
Virgil took the walk down the corridor with no certainty in his judgement, if he was wrong then so be it, rather an overactive imagination than a huge regret. He entered the room and immediately walked to the end of the bed picked up Kayo's chart and immersed himself in the safe, familiar surroundings of the medical jargon while he struggled to try to put into words something that now away from the others seemed like the overactive thoughts of someone on little sleep. Scott looked up at his brother who had barely made eye contact with him as he entered. Scott knew by his evasive body language Virgil was avoiding something, the half turn away from him and the obsession with a chart he could have interpreted in seconds.
Scott smiled and joined him at the end of the bed placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder "I think you had better let me in on it."
Virgil looked him in the eye and Scott was surprised to see how tormented he looked on close inspection "Look Scott I've been thinking we should get our troops home as soon as possible."
Scott took the chart from Virgil's hands and replaced it in the holder "Interesting Virg, you gotta reason for this?"
Virgil sighed submitting to the fact he was going to sound like a paranoid lunatic "Look Scott, Miss Parker or not she was brought in by IR from an explosion on an island off Western Australia. I think we've been missing the point because our attention turned to Dad." He stopped and took a breath noticing he had the full attention of his brother who had now stopped smiling his amusement "Scott it was Kayo they were after and we are giving them another opportunity to take her, she has the op, bare minimum recovery time and then we get the hell out of here. Agreed?"
Scott looked at him concern now decorating his features, his fists clenched and released in irritation "Shit Virg, Shit. Shit! You think they are still after her? How did I miss that?" He returned his hand to the shoulder of his brother trying to stop him from pacing a track at the bottom of the bed and tried to lighten the mood "You think the gut instinct comes with the job?"
Virgil smiled at him "I'm not sure it's like your famous gut but something's been playing on my mind and this is it, I may be wrong but it's out there and I would feel more comfortable once everyone is home, especially sleeping beauty over there."
They were interrupted by John who rushed in through the door closely missing them both as he skidded across the high polish floor "You were right Virgil; EOS has found evidence that it is not just us hacking the hospital systems."
Scott's eyes hardened "How long have we got John and what are we going to do about it."
"Anyone's guess, systems were breached five hours ago and as we don't know where the threat is coming from we have to expect company anytime." John walked around the bed to Kayo and kissed her forehead.
Virgil breathed a heavy sigh and caught each set of eyes one by one "So they're coming to us and we'll have to be ready for them."
Scott walked back to the chair thinking about what limited options they had "I'll get additional security from Tracy Industries, John EOS will need to monitor all entrances and exits via the CCTV feeds."
"John have you got facial recognition in place in case they send our friend again." Virgil almost spat the words in John's direction.
"Technologies available at the touch of a button and we've got access to all the hospital's CCTV systems won't take long to hack into the cities; I've also limited some of the nearest entry points to exit only by tinkering with the access control systems, each time they repair the fault EOS will hack the system again and re-set the fault codes."
"Then we wait." Scott sat down in the chair running his hands through his hair processing the information smiling as he realised they now had an opportunity for gaining the upper hand "And this time as we are expecting them and we will turn it to our advantage."
Scott looked at Kayo who seemed to have been happy to take in their conversation without alerting them to the fact she was listening.
"Additional security, I think somebody had better explain." When no response was immediately forthcoming Kayo sat up and swung her legs off the bed and attempted to stand "Are you gonna let me in on this or not?"
"What are you doing?" Scott tried to keep his impatience out of his voice and adopt a serious tone while trying to push her back gently to keep her off her feet.
"If I'm not in this fucking bed then maybe you will all stop treating me invalid and start treating me as one of the team, I've had it Scott you need to stop keeping me in the dark." The pain still throbbed a dull but oppressing drum beat in her head but she was not going to let it show and was determined to get out of bed if that was what it took to be taken seriously.
Scott lowered his tone "Kayo get back in bed, the conference you were so desperate for is on its way, let's just say you're getting your getting your wish and you'll be seeing Penelope before your operation."
John leaned across to lay a steadying hand on her shoulder and accompanied it with a smile "Come on Kay you know he's right, get back in bed. It's nice to see you back to your usual compliant self by the way but let's not push your luck, you are still very much out of action."
She perched on the edge in defiance fighting the temptation to shrug off the hand still resting on her "So the question I need answering now Scott is why, what's happened to make you change your mind, you've not decided to stop nannying me for no reason."
Scott looked to Virgil and John and sighed sensing while all questions were directed at him they would give little assistance "Let's just wait for the others to get here."
Penelope, Gordon and Grandma soon arrived to join them this time with little ceremony and a subdued demeanour.
Kayo looked on incredulously as the verbal melee crossed back and forth across her making her feel like the table in the middle of a cabinet of war meeting as all fought for their opening statement to be heard. She sat up straight and failing to get their attention by joining the conversation as they continued to talk over each other's opening gambit giving no clear and logical order to what she was hearing she put her fingers in her mouth and whistled for attention. She hadn't counted on the stabbing pains pulsing through the throbbing she had now become accustomed to but it served its purpose as all eyes returned to her.
"Just stop, were in the ring, Virgil talk to me like I'm your security office, John talk to me like a mission controller and take it from the beginning. Penny I'll talk to you later about the list you've been talking about. Scott please stop looking at me like I'm broken and let's everyone up to speed."
Virgil briefed her on their concerns since the systems hack was discovered.
"You taking my job now too, it seems field commander is not good enough for you." She smiled at him "Good job, I'd say this is the best news we could wish for wouldn't you say. This time we are one step ahead, whoever is coming we take them down and we take them back to the Island we hand them in only when we have the intel we need."
"Kayo they are coming after you, we need to get you out of here before they come to us." Scott's returned to her bedside "I'm not gonna risk it against that maniac."
"Scott I'm the bait, it's sorta important I'm here, the last thing we need is them finding my discharge sheet on the database." She pushed herself further back onto the bed and relaxed back into her pillows "This is it Scott, this is our in, If I was in better shape I'd suggest you let them take me but under the circumstances we best stick with taking them."
She had to admit that Virgil had made a darn good call; a surprise attack could be disastrous but with prior warning the more she thought about they had the advantage. They may still be best placed to let them take her but that was a conversation she would only have with Virgil and Penny. For the moment she just took in everything that had happened since her uncle had appeared in her life again by proxy. Kayo in turn imparted her experience, the agents seemed part of a well organised operation, her uncle was involved, she had been surprised they hadn't recognised Catherine at the airfield which indicated that she was very much a bit player in the undertaking. The technology she had witnessed seemed incredible and on a par with their own capabilities. All eyes turned to her as they anticipated the next logical step for her story; it gave her goose bumps just thinking about how little she had to say and how much even that would mean to them all. She had to be certain her voice would hold steady before she could speak. Not one of them prompted her; they waited for her to start without exerting any pressure. She held eye contact with Scott and took a deep breath.
"Less than a minute, that's all but I am in no doubt it was him." All eyes hung on her every word "He heard you Scott, he heard One and started to struggle."
She looked at them realising the wait they had all endured to hear the little she had to say, the news was bittersweet, he was alive but their thoughts we all drawn to an image of him struggling, she could see the pain her words were causing, Gordon was now bolted to Penelope's side, Grandma had been forced by John to take a seat after her legs nearly went from under her.
"He looked vague but it was something he remembered that kick-started the reaction, I think they've drugged him, his eyes were vacant but he heard you as they took him up the steps."
"He was on the craft Kayo, they took him with them."
Tears started to fall down Kayo's face as she saw the relief in Scott's eyes, she had offered the information and he had waited until he thought she was up to it "You weren't sure they took him."
He sat down beside her putting his arm around her shoulders "I just needed to be sure honey, I needed to know I wasn't filled with false hope."
They all looked at him and realised that while they had clung to Kayo's few words over the comms that Scott had held onto his own demons and had tormented himself with something a lot darker.
Kayo took in the weight of Grandma's stare and felt the guilt building as she studied her ashen face "Seconds, I had seconds I just couldn't kick through the vent."
"Hey kid, it's Ok I know you have done all you could." She cast her eyes to the damage inflicted to the bottom of her feet "Look Kayp there was nothing you could do, not one of us thinks you could have done any more."
Virgil had only thought it fair that Kayo catch them up on the aftermath before they discussed the next move, talking though the actions at the Island the technology they had taken, Brain's work on it and a list of people involved in the technology in its infancy. They all agreed to get Alan out of there as soon as possible and get John back to Five to direct EOS in the new line of searches. Kayo sat quietly, processing the information. Penelope confirmed she planned to postpone her journey until the threat was terminated which under the circumstances seemed an unnecessary action to Kayo after everything he had just heard.
Before she had chance to speak to urge Penelope to go sooner rather than later the nurse interrupted the bedside briefing indicating the patient was to be prepped for the infill surgery.
"Please could you just give us a few more minutes, my brother is going home today with some of the family and it's my last chance to see them for a while."
"Ten minutes and I'll be back."
"Twenty would give you time for a coffee." Kayo tried to push it and hoped this nurse had less of Virgil's overkill after a shift of standing on her feet with little chance for a break.
The nurse turned to leave and gave her a smile "I'll meet you half way, you drive a hard bargain Miss Parker, but it's good to see you so animated."
"Thank you Nurse Ayub."
She turned back to address the others "Ok, we haven't long who's taking Alan back?"
"I'm staying!" Scott felt the weight of her stare on him "Kayo, I wouldn't put it past you to offer yourself up as hook-able bait now you know you have a functioning locator."
Kayo started to speak but thought better of it and changed tact, she still had a lot of catching up to do and she was about to lose some of her resources. Contact with the Island would make her a lot more comfortable in the short time she had left staying in Perth.
"Anyone have my comms bracelet?" She noticed the smile and look Virgil gave Scott.
"It's been well looked after, you need it now?"
"Virg, it's a long night ahead maybe the chance to speak to Brains would help me settle about what's going on at home in our absence, plus half of you will be back there in a few hours, I might miss you."
Virgil laughed, a deep laughter that came from his inner being, it may have been the relief of her acting every bit like the sister he had spent so long searching for and then so much of his energy trying to ensure they got all of her back. From what he saw and heard in front of him there was no mistaking the Kayo that had been taking part in the conversation was every bit the person that had been taken from them.
"You think I'm green, you are off mission, if you want comms then Scott is with you, when you get home you will have all the time in the world to chat to Brains in the infirmary, oh and as you are grounded you will spend the next six months at least on the Island. If I am in charge of your medical care then there is no argument."
All eyes turned between the two of them sensing that there was an argument to be had between the chief of security and the stand-in field commander. Grandma knew Virgil would appreciate the privacy and rose taking John's arm giving a slight nod in the direction of the door to Gordon. Penelope followed leaving Scott and Virgil to deliver the news that Kayo so far was unaware of.
Kayo waited for the party leave before she took up the challenge Virgil had offered "Grounded I'm not a teenager, what the hell are you talking about."
Scott took her hand and got thrown a look of defiance for his trouble, he smiled, his firebrand was back but he wasn't sure whether at this precise moment in time this was a good thing. Taking the hint to back off a little he took to the chair allowing her to focus on Virgil.
"Six months Kayo, you can travel but you cannot pilot anything for at least six months, you may all but be repaired once the nano's have finished their re-build but we cannot discount any seizures, Shadow is out so you are grounded."
Kayo looked from one to the other, there would be no ally in Scott in fact he looked down right relieved that Virgil had the delivered the blow. She knew that was a mere detail because no matter how this was dressed up this order came from the both of them. Still Shadow would get a run; there was nothing so sure in her mind that when it finally came to confirmation of a location Shadow and a fully armed version at that would be the Thunderbird of choice whoever piloted her. The agile plane would fulfil the role perfectly of a fighter protecting the larger fleet when the call for action came. The need to talk to Brains about the modifications which would need to happen sooner rather than later became more important than arguing the toss. She couldn't exactly pilot anything from her hospital bed and she knew sometimes with the two men in front of her, especially when they had formed an unbreakable alliance it was better to choose your battles.
"So whose going home with Alan and whose on security detail here?"
Both eyed her suspiciously as she shifted subject, Scott especially felt uncomfortable with the change as he felt he would be the one paying for Virgil's announcement later.
"Penelope and Parker will stay with us until you on your way home. Virgil will take Alan, John, Gordon and Grandma home and then return later. Does that meet your approval Security Officer Kyrano."
Kayo threw a pillow at Scott and gave him a haughty stare and then smiled at him, it seemed the opportunity to speak to Penelope would be given, Brains & EOS she could check in with via Scott's comms and she would be back in control of security at the Island sooner than anticipated, she turned her attention to Virgil.
"Go on then take my baby brother home and smother him for a change, ask Penelope to come and visit when the operation is over."
Virgil took his leave and turned to look at Kayo as he got to the door "Well you took that better than expected."
Kayo watched him leave and glanced at the clock "Two minutes Scott, what could we possible do that could fill two whole minutes." And there it was the Scott Tracy arched eyebrow, as she tried to make it to her feet he took her hands then grabbed her arms to steady her as she started to lose the strength in her legs.
"Kayo sit down."
"In a minute, remember the hanger, well this is me again practically throwing myself at you Scott Tracy and you better darn well appreciate it as it hurts like hell. She mapped his face with her fingers, looked at him and for the first time since she had woken from the coma felt herself return to someone she recognised. She tilted he face towards him allowed his arms to wrap around her and kissed him. She refused to break the kiss as lifted her into his arms and placed her on the bed. They broke apart laughing as the nurse entered the room giving them an enquiring look at the empty room and the indulgence of a couple who were quite obviously very much in love.
She smiled at them "And here was me given the impression you were saying goodbye to your family, I know trouble when I see it Miss Parker and I will need to keep a close eye on you." She laughed at the indignant look she received "Your chariot awaits; I take it your boyfriend will not be braking the habit of a lifetime and will be accompanying you."
Scott lifted Kayo off the bed and into the wheelchair "I assure you she won't be leaving my sight."