A Hard Place part six: Frayed Tempers
by Angel Mouse
Unknown Location
John sat in the sun with a book in hand, enjoying the peace and quiet of the afternoon. Yesterday had passed quickly after he had been forced back inside while Thunderbird One flew over head. That afternoon he had spent an enjoyable afternoon perusing Meriza's library and picking out a few volumes that he wanted to read but had never had the time before.
Thankfully Meriza had left him alone to go through the library. John had spent another quiet, restful night in his room after enjoying another fine meal. Give Meriza credit were credit was due, he certainly knew how to play the gracious host. If John wasn't being held against his will, he could almost enjoy the rest. Good food, clean clothes and bathroom facilities when he needed them.
His reading of Meriza's character had been correct. He was a pretender and put on airs and graces that didn't become him. John had encountered people like that in the past during some of his travels. Especially when people discovered he or one of his brothers represented the Tracy Empire. They tried to impress him with airs and graces that were unnatural, false and generally rubbed him the wrong way. Just like Meriza.
John may be the most easy going and quiet of the Tracy clan but even he had limits sometimes. But John knew he had to bide his time and find out as much information as he possibly could. He kept glancing occasionally up at the sky as the sun got lower and lower, finding reference points of bright stars in the sky. Hopefully with a few more star sightings he'd be able to figure out exactly where he was.
So far he'd figured out that he was on an island. Asking the odd innocuous question or two when he was speaking with Meriza or to the guards who were becoming used to his presence and quiet manner. His quiet and seeming resigned acceptance of his captivity had made the guards feel slightly more at ease with him and thus lower their guard slightly. John was willing to take any advantage he could get, be it big or small.
A shadow fell over him and he looked up. Meriza was standing in front of him with another fake smile on his face. He held out a glass of iced tea which John took with a nod of thanks. Meriza sat down next to him and sipped at his tea.
"How are you finding things John?" John sipped at his rather sweet tea.
"Fine thanks, except for the whole not having my freedom thing." Meriza gave a short laugh.
"You have a sense of humour my young friend, I like that." John sipped his tea, not sure what to say next. "You seemed to have made yourself comfortable."
"Well we do what we can." Meriza laughed again and John felt shivers go up his spine. He knew that he always had to be on his guard around Meriza and didn't think for a moment that Meriza wasn't as smart as he appeared.
"So John, what do you make of my little set up here?" John sipped his tea before he replied.
"Neat, tidy, secure. Actually quite peaceful I must admit. My life is normally hectic, busy and rushing around. To be honest it's nice and restful." Meriza laughed again and John found that now he had gone from findings that laugh frightening to seriously annoying.
"I'm glad that you're time here will be restful. Until the hunt in a few days time." John closed his book and looked at Meriza for a moment before sipping his tea again. He had been thinking about things since Meriza first told him about him being the prey in a hunt.
"May I ask you a question about this hunt you have planned?" Meriza looked at John a moment and then nodded.
"You may certainly ask a question." John nodded, thinking a moment but then he asked the question that had been bugging him since this whole mess had started a few days ago.
"Why me? I mean, not me specifically, but why International Rescue." Meriza gave him another one of those fake smiles.
"It's not really a hard question to answer my young friend. Even you must admit that your organisation has a reputation for doing the impossible time and time again. When all hope is lost you and your companions are called in. Now that means a couple of things. Firstly, that you don't know how to give up." John had to agree with him there. He kept the smile he was feeling to himself at how stubborn he and his brothers could be sometimes.
"Secondly, you have fantastic machines that aide you in all sorts of ways, so that obviously shows that you are all intelligent. So, that's a dangerous combination young man. Intelligence, resolve and stamina. All qualities that make you the perfect prey even you have to admit that." John was stunned a moment.
This guy had been doing his homework about them that was for sure. But did he know who he really was? John immediately dismissed that thought. If he knew who he really was, he would have been held up for ransom by now. Tracy Industries was one of the most wealthy and respected corporations in the world. No way would any self respecting villain pass on that opportunity. John was brought out of his musings for a moment by realising Meriza was looking at him.
"That makes sense in a weird twisted sort of way. You wanted someone that would give a good fight. But tell me this; are you going to turn me loose out there?" John gestured to over the patrolled walls. "Or are you going to make it fair on me. Give me a fighting chance so to speak." Meriza laughed softly.
"Oh I'm not that unsporting my young friend." John was really beginning to wish this guy would stop calling him young man or young friend. "I do intend to give you a chance. Slim, but a chance none the less. You'll be turned out in your uniform and given a canteen of water and a survival knife." John once more pushed the fear he was feeling to the back of his mind. There was plenty of time to worry later. But for the moment he had Meriza in a talkative mood and he intended to find out as much information as he could.
"A very slim chance you know that. Thanks." John's tone was dry as he pondered his next question. "So, who's coming to this hunt and how many of them are there?"
"Sixteen people have been invited. People that have a similar mindset to me, or that have the money and not to fussed about morals or things like that." Meriza's smile turned cold and John felt shivers go up his spine. "Mason is actually returning half his fee so that he can participate in this hunt. And considering how much I paid him to bring you here that are quite a large sum." John felt his stomach churn in disgust and he tried to keep his expression neutral but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't control his eyes and Meriza saw this. "You don't like that, do you?" John's tone was sarcastic as he began to reach the edge of his patience.
"What? That my life is so much short change to you in this warped little hunt that you have planned? That you're sitting here calmly telling me I'm to be hunted down like a rabid animal and killed. What's not to like?" Meriza's eyes blazed in sudden fury and he sprang to his feet.
"Watch your words young man. You don't know who you're dealing with here." John couldn't help himself. Stress, worry and his temper finally got the better of him as he threw down the glass of ice tea he had been drinking and it smashed against his bench as he stood up, trembling with anger.
"You are holding me here against my will. You're stating calmly here that you are organising my deliberate murder! You're telling me that people are going to pay you for the chance to come and kill me! And you want me to watch my words! Just who the bloody hell on this planet do you think you are!" John ignored the fact that the guards on the walls had turned their weapons on him. Those guards came spilling into the yard and grabbed him roughly. Meriza didn't say anything, just stared into John's eyes for a moment. Meriza was suddenly under no illusions that this young man before him was dangerous and would, right at this moment, quite happily take matters into his own hands if he could.
"I am the man that managed to kidnap from under your companions noses and arrange the most audacious hunt known to mankind. That's who I am. Take him away. He can stay inside his room until tomorrow now." The guards dragged John away and after a moment John stopped protesting. He had some of his answers, he just wasn't sure he liked any of them.
Hotel Crownside
Penelope sat in the lounge, sipping at her tea, reading through the reports that the International Rescue agents had gathered. Since they had discovered things were starting to point to somewhere off the coast of South America, they had been concentrating their efforts on finding anything and everything about the mercenary called Mason and any and all privately owned islands off the coast near where they had tracked the flight that they thought John had been on.
Things had begun slowly but now that they had a target the massive machine of International Rescue agents had swung into action with a vengeance. Penelope was going through some of the reports that had come through already, trying to weed out what was relevant and what wasn't. She poured herself another cup of tea and looked up as she saw someone approaching. It was that young police captain that Scott had been dealing with. Penelope stood up and he smiled in greeting as he took her outstretched hand.
Captain Striker had been contacted by Scott from International Rescue to tell him that he would be contacted by their top undercover agent and could he please deal with her. And since meeting Lady Penelope Captain Striker could understand why she was their best agent. She was such a lovely, warm, wonderful woman that no one would suspect her of being a secret agent.
"Hello Lady Penelope. I hope you are well this morning." Penelope smiled as she released his hand and gestured for him to sit. She sat down and gestured to the tea pot.
"I'm very well thank you Captain. Would you like a cup of tea?" He shook his head and smiled.
"No thank you." He took out a piece of paper and handed it to her. "I have this for you. I've managed to get a friend in Interpol to do some digging for me." Penelope opened the paper and quickly read the contents. She paled and gasped slightly. All their suspicions were coming true. John was in more danger than they suspected. "Are you alright Lady Penelope?" Penelope gathered herself and looked up.
"Yes, thank you Captain. This is certainly information that will help us greatly." Penelope had been careful with what she had shared with him, even though she liked him and knew that she could trust him. He looked at her intently.
"Is there any news? Is there any news at all about your missing friend?" Penelope shook her head.
"No Captain, I'm afraid not. We are becoming most concerned for his safety. We have learned some disturbing things since we last spoke."
"And what is that?" Penelope debated a moment on whether or not to tell him, she went with her instinct and decided to tell him.
"We discovered that the man posing as the worker that killed those men is one Andrew Mason. An ex-US Special Forces that turned mercenary. We discovered that he doesn't mind what he does as long as the money is good enough. Based on the flight data you provided us we have narrowed down the area where he might have been flown to. We think it's somewhere off the coast of South America on an island. Now, purely by accident, a friend of mine contacted myself a few days ago saying that he had been invited to an unusual hunt being held on an island down in South America."
Penelope studied the young police Captain and nodded to herself as if deciding something. She had an idea that she had the feeling that Captain Striker would help them carry out. But she needed to talk to Jeff and the boys first. Penelope smiled at him.
"Captain, can you meet me back here in an hour. And will you be able to leave straight away?" He just looked at her a moment and then nodded. He had no idea what she had planned but it sounded like things were coming to ahead and he wanted to do everything he could to help International Rescue. Plus, he had seven unsolved murders he wanted to close. After a moment he nodded.
"That I can." Penelope smiled.
"Good, thank you. I can't tell you what's going to happen but thank you for agreeing to come. Oh, and bring some clothes you might not mind getting dirty." Penelope left him there with a Cheshire cat like smile as she headed for her room. There would be just enough time to call Jeff with her plans and for him to send someone to pick them both up.
Tracy Island
The plane touched down so smoothly that Penelope barely even registered that they had landed. Once they had taxied into the hanger Penelope reached over and undid the blindfold covering Captain Striker's eyes. He blinked a few times and then smiled at Scott, who had come and picked them up in the Tracy private jet. They had been travelling for a few hours and Captain Striker had readily accepted the condition of being blindfolded upon being taken to the secret base of International Rescue. Jeff had agreed to Penelope's request to bring him along after she had explained the information he had found out and also the fact that she had a plan. Scott undid his belt and the others followed suit.
"Welcome to our secret base. Once again Captain Striker thank you for agreeing to the terms of not telling anyone what you're about to see and who your about to meet." Captain Striker nodded and followed them out of the airplane.
"You have my word of honour Scott." Scott nodded.
"I have the feeling that once you've met our leader you'll be one of our agents anyway Captain Striker." Captain Striker smiled as they walked into the lift.
"I have the feeling I wouldn't mind that too much Scott." Scott just nodded as the lift came to a stop and the doors opened. Scott gestured for Penelope to lead the way and she walked, the two men following her. She led the way into the study where the others were waiting for them. Jeff stood up and walked over to Penelope, holding out his hands.
"Penelope, it's lovely to see you again." Penelope shook his hands and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Jeff it's good to be back here. I just wish it was under better circumstances. No more information than what you told me earlier?" Jeff just shook his head.
"I'm afraid not Penelope. But we'll get to that in a moment." Jeff turned and smiled at Captain Striker, holding out his hand for the man to shake. "Captain Striker, welcome to our headquarters. You understand that I must ask you to keep our secret?" Striker nodded, shaking his hand.
Captain Nigel Striker had seen many strange and terrible things as a police officer over his twelve years with the police force. But never in a million years would he have guessed that the head of International Rescue was none other than Jeff Tracy himself. The man who was the head of the biggest air transport corporation and the owner of Tracy Industries, the most respected and well thought of company in the world. Captain Striker was amazed at how they had managed to pull everything off in secrecy.
"Yes sir, I certainly do. I can't believe I'm here sir. This is just an honour to meet you, Mr Tracy." Jeff gave a wry smile and grinned.
"I knew you were a smart man Captain Striker."
"Please sir, just call me Nigel." Jeff nodded and gestured for him to sit.
"Alright Nigel it is. Once we have this mess all sorted out, if your willing, we'll set you up as on of our secret agents." Nigel smiled as he sat down on the lounge next to Gordon.
"I'd be honoured sir."
"Good. Now, you've met some of my sons. You've meet Scott. This is Virgil," Jeff gestured to Virgil who was sitting on his stool by the piano and Virgil nodded. "You're sitting next to Gordon and you've met Scott." Nigel nodded in greeting and just then Alan's portrait began to beep. Jeff moved over to his desk and hit the button.
"Go ahead Thunderbird 5." The portrait changed and Alan's picture came on.
"I'm ready here Father."
"Good. Nigel, this is my other son Alan." Alan raised a hand in greeting and Nigel studied the portraits on the wall a moment and then comprehension dawned.
"Ah, the other member, the one who was taken, he's your son isn't he?" Nigel had suddenly remembered Jeff Tracy had five sons and the five portraits on the wall confirmed it. Jeff's face was sad and his eyes worried.
"Yes. John." Jeff swallowed hard and sat down at his desk.
"Sir, may I ask, why didn't you tell all the police agencies around the world about him being taken? I mean, between all of us, surely we could help." Jeff nodded.
"I know. And I have spoken with the all the major world leaders to get their co-operation in looking for my son, but we didn't want the general population to know about his abduction. We have enemies Nigel. And any perceived weakness by us will be taken advantage of and innocent people could be hurt and I don't want that." Nigel thought a moment and then nodded.
"I can understand that sir." Jeff smiled and looked at Penelope.
"Okay Penelope, what have you got for us?" Penelope took out some papers and got down to business.
"Thanks to what we've already discovered and Captain Striker here I think we can safely say that this person called Meriza is the one who has taken John." Jeff leaned forward and the boys turned all their attention to Penelope. "Captain Striker provided me with some information about where the components and money had come from to finance this whole thing. I checked with some of my friends in Interpol and after a little while they were able to confirm that Mason's current employer is the South American millionaire called Meriza. So, with the equipment and money being traced back to Meriza, and then my friend inviting me to a hunt in South America held by this Meriza person. Well, I think we can draw the conclusion that poor John is more trouble than we first thought." Stunned silence reigned a moment and finally Alan broke the silence, his voice strangled.
"But what do we do now?" Penelope gave them all a warm smile as she looked around all of them.
"Captain Striker and I go hunting. And you boys will be waiting to bring home our catch."
