Can you get out?] John threw the screen containing his limited research aside and pulled up the location of her comm. It was moving towards the outskirts of the city.
[Not at the moment] she replied. [Probably not a good idea anyway. I'm meant to be working with these people and, apparently, we're heading to the same meeting.]
[What's he doing now?]
[Watching me. The bastard doesn't blink enough. It's damn unnatural.]
[I think I have him on the security feed. Did you run into him just over an hour ago?]
[Yes.]
[Okay. I'll run down who he is.]
"How long have you worked for Salvatore?" John blinked then realised the question wasn't directed to him.
"Sal and I have known each other a long time" he said putting a strange inflection on the word long.
A light blinked and caught John's attention.
"Thunderbird One" he signalled, "your automatic camera detector has been activated."
"I'm aware Thunderbird Five, but I can't see anyone. There's no one in the vicinity of either of the 'birds."
John switched frequencies as Steven started to speak again.
"You're an interesting one Jasmine. We've worked with live bait before, but it rarely volunteers."
"I didn't volunteer exactly" she replied. "I got volunteered by a friend of mine and decided to make the best of it."
"Yes, there's a nice, fat pay-check, waiting for you" he spat the words as though distasteful. "You don't need the money though. A stay at the Azure doesn't come cheap and your clothes are very carefully calculated to look low end but they suit your form perfectly."
[Well, I'm in the shit] she sent to John sounding irritated rather than scared.
"Hey!" Scott's voice sounded over the comm. "What do you think you're doing?" John spun back to his projection of the danger zone as his brother cried out, sounds of a scuffle could be heard.
"Thunderbird One, do you read me?" There was no response. "Thunderbird Five to Thunderbird Two, do you copy?"
"Thunderbird Two Here" came Gordon's voice.
"I've lost contact with Thunderbird One. I heard what sounded like a fight."
"FAB I'm on it." John breathed out. Gordon was the best person for the job, if something had happened to Scott, he could cover it. John half listened as Gordon issues instructions to Alan to take control of the dozer then John opened a line to home. "Thunderbird Five to Base, I've lost contact with Thunderbird One."
"I'm aware son" Jeff's voice was tight. "Keep trying to raise him."
On the other line a tense conversation was happening between Jasmine and Steven, but she seemed to be holding her own.
"Thunderbird Four to Five and Base, I've found Scott. He's unconscious and his comm is missing. There's no sign of anyone else."
"Be careful Thunderbird Four, that's just what Thunderbird One reported before he was attacked." John located the signal to Scott's device and killed it.
"What are his injuries, son?"
"If I didn't know better, I'd say he's been pistol whipped. There are signs he managed to put up a fight first though."
"What do you know of International Rescue?" The comment cut through John's concern. It was sharp, pointed and aimed squarely at Jasmine.
"Not a lot" she said. "It doesn't seem like anyone does know all that much really."
"I think you're in for a surprise" he said.
"How so?" John could hear the sounds of a car door opening and closing, on the other line Gordon was continuing to triage Scott.
For a moment there was silence loud enough for John to check his equipment. Everything was working fine. He checked radio traffic between the local authorities, it was slightly confused as they had lost contact with mobile one and no one was coordinating the operation.
John quickly issued orders to each of the civilian rescue teams, remembering the brief Scott had outlined earlier.
"Thunderbird Four to Five and Base. I've got Scott back to Thunderbird Two. He's awake, mostly. He said two men assaulted him but they were only interested in his comm. He's not fit to fly home. What's the status on the rescue, John?"
"Local services are managing to contain the blaze. The firebreaks you constructed are doing their jobs well and the closest villages have now been evacuated" John reported.
"Very well" came Jeff's voice. Gordon, have Alan fly Thunderbird One home. Does Scott need a hospital?"
"No father" came the slurred voice of the Field Commander. "I'm'l'rigt."
"I'm sure you are son. Gordon?"
"He's not really with it but does seem to be improving. I'll take him up to the cockpit and keep him awake for the flight home. Come on bro" Gordon could be heard helping Scott to stand. "You can come sit with me and tell me all the things Virgil will kill me for doing to his 'bird."
One down John thought as he turned back to Jasmine's line.
[How are you?] he sent to her private line. Immediately Thunderbird Five filled with ambient noise as Jasmine opened out the line.
"And of course, Monty and Grovner, demolitions and special weapons, respectively" came a voice that John immediately identified as Salvatore.
"This venture is now more than a year in development, but I feel we have finally assembled the right team to get it moving."
Oh, how John wished for a visual to go with the audio but the only option would be to turn on Jasmine's wrist comm and that was far too much of a risk. John still hadn't worked out how this private line of hers worked (and he'd spent a fair few long nights trying) but she seemed to trust it.
"Today" Salvatore continued, "our operatives engaged International Rescue, as planned, during a fire in the Australian outback."
John's blood ran cold. The rescue had been a set up? He needed to get father on the line asap.
[He's opened up a vid screen] Jasmine said [There are two men on it, both dressed in desert combat gear. They look rather pleased with themselves.]
John muted her and quickly explained to his father what was happening, then implored him to stay silent. He then ran all the comms together.
"Mission successful, I'd say" came a broad Australian accent.
"Well…" came a second voice.
"Explain" said Salvatore.
"We couldn't gauge response time accurately" said the second voice. "We think it was more than two hours since we set the blaze before the locals got worried enough to call out. However, we couldn't listen in all of the time. I reckon we lost our ears once International Rescue caught the call."
John nodded to himself. Their equipment could out muscle other lines and John made their communications with local search and rescue or victims a priority line at all times.
"Describe what you saw" Salvatore said.
John caught his father's eyes as the explanation wore on. There could be no doubt that this had been a setup, purely to gather intelligence on International Rescue. They'd timed the arrival of Thunderbird Two after Thunderbird One and gave a vague description of Gordon. Fortunately, Alan seemed to have been spared.
"The pilot of Thunderbird One is clearly military" the more brash voice said. "He put up a good fight, we could'a had him."
"That wasn't your objective however" said Salvatore as though he were discussing dinner plans.
"Nah, we swiped the comm but it didn't un-lock the plane."
"It was rendered inoperable fifteen seconds after help arrived for the pilot" the second voice clarified.
"Is it salvageable?" came a new voice.
"Nah, looks like they remote fried it."
"What can you tell me about the pilot of Thunderbird Two?" Salvatore asked.
"Well, you didn't order us to engage, boss so we didn't." The brash voice sounded uncertain now.
"It's a different pilot from last time." Jeff's eyes widened at the words. "This one is smaller, though I couldn't tell you much more. As you know, the last mission was observation only and the pilot didn't remove his helmet that time."
"You've done well" Salvatore said.
[He's ended the call] Jasmine supplied.
"So, the mission remains the same. Observations?"
"How are you planning to make it so we only have the one craft at the op site?"
[Jasmine can you tell me who is speaking please?] John sent. It wasn't much but he could run voice recognition later, if he got something to try it against.
[That was Grovner; special weapons.]
"We are planning a separate emergency, courtesy of our friends there to pull Thunderbird One away. However, it might not be necessary. So far there have usually been only two operatives at each rescue, never more than four. If we can't call him away then you will have to deal with it."
"How does he plan on doing that?" Jasmine asked.
"The bait shuts up and looks pretty" Grovner replied.
"It's my arse on the ground here" Jasmine's voice was like ice. "I wouldn't trust you with flower arranging never mind anything else, so, what do you plan to do to make sure I'm rescued by the correct person?"
"I'll shoot them" came back the cold response.
"Grovner is a sharp shooter" Salvatore explained. "Anyone who gets too close to our operation will find themselves removed from the equation."
"Don't worry your pretty little head over it" Grovner said.
"Do you even know one end of a gun from the other" Jasmine shot back sceptically.
"Why you little!_"
"ENOUGH!" Salvatore banged a fist on the table.
[Ha! Grovner just about wet himself.] Jasmine sounded far too pleased with herself for John's liking.
[What are you doing?] he asked.
[Divide and conquer] she sent back as though it were obvious. [The more they fight with each other the worse they'll be as a team, the more time we get to put something in place and the more chances we get for them to screw up.]
[Jasmine, that's very dangerous.]
[No shit.]
"Who is this little bitch, anyway?" Grovner demanded.
"Jasmine is a very accomplished martial artist. She will be the one incapacitating our pilot and delivering him to Steven."
"Gift wrapped" Jasmine agreed.
"Her?" The disbelief was obvious in Grovner's voice.
"Would you like a demonstration?" Jasmine said sweetly.
"I think we all would." Steven's voice cut through the atmosphere. "And I have just the person, with your permission of course."
"Jasmine has been tested" Salvatore unexpectedly stood up for her.
"Naturally" Steven agreed, his voice amenable and contrite. "However, we know, from previous reconnaissance that the Thunderbird pilots are all very fit young men. There isn't much of Jasmine here and the man I have in mind needs testing for a separate project. Grovner and anyone else can have their fears waylaid and I can test my new subject. Two birds, one stone."
"Why am I the only one who has to get tested, again?" Jasmine asked.
"Because you're the only one we haven't worked with before" Steven said.
John was beginning to wonder if Salvatore really was the person in control here. He wanted more than ever to be able to see inside that meeting. The body language of those present could tell him so much more about what was going on.
"Thunderbird One requesting permission to land." Alan's voice was incongruous to the conversation that enraptured both John and his father. So much so that there was a beat before Jeff granted clearance.
"When did you have in mind?" Salvatore asked.
"I can arrange things for this evening."
"Fine, you will send me everything you have on your new subject. You are all dismissed. I will send you through details later on."
John heard chairs scraping and the general commotion of a small group of people dispersing.
"Just a moment" Steven's oily voice came over the comm, louder than before. "You're a riddle Jasmine, one I intend to solve. Let me tell you what's going to happen now. I've seen how Salvatore looks at you, it's only a matter of time before he asks you to move in here, he'll tell you that you remind him of his dearly departed daughter. You will not get between us. Consider this evening fair warning."
[Well, that was pleasant] Jasmine said a few moments later.
[Did he hurt you?]
[No, obviously. I mean, I assume you've had a full report from Virgil by now?] She let the question hang. From the corner of his eye, his father nodded.
[Virgil has appraised us of your condition, yes.]
[Steven is running his own game. There were six of us round that table, plus Salvatore and I swear Steven spent time doing some sort of appraisal of each of us. He's also the only one who mentioned multiple reconnaissance missions. So clearly Salvatore is compartmentalising information and Steven is at the top of his most-trusted list. When was that rescue, by the way? Is your pilot alright?]
The sound of crunching gravel could be heard as well shortly followed by cars passing. It sounded like Jasmine was walking.
[That rescue was going on whilst you were on the way to the meeting] John said ignoring his father's frown. Jeff appeared to be talking but a quick spot of lip reading showed him to be authorising landing for Thunderbird Two. [The pilot is concussed but appears to be improving.]
[Christ and they didn't even want him. Do you see what I mean about resistance to interrogation training now?]
[I do.] There wasn't much more he could say. He knew he'd need to catch his father up, but then again, judging from the look of him, maybe he didn't need to.
"Jasmine!"
[It's Nick] she supplied.
"What, we're you planning on walking back to London? Come on get in. You can tell me what Steven said to you. He likes you, I can tell."
[I'm going to sign off. Nick's just going to waffle for a bit. I'll let you know about later when I have the details.]
[Look after yourself Jasmine.]
[I'm meant to be looking after you] she said before cutting the channel.
"Father?"
Jeff seemed lost in thought.
"Father, any word on Scott?"
Jeff startled.
"I'll go down to the infirmary now and let you know son. John?"
"Yes, father?"
"Keep an eye on her. Please."
"Of, course."
John meant to keep his word, but he also knew there was someone a lot closer who would be able to do more.