Chapter 4: Decisions

Laura looked from Marissa and Michael to the huge mansion in front of them. Of course, it wasn't anything like their home in the Foundation headquarters, but it was still impressive, with its early 19th century design, from the roof, to the marble columns and the balconies and a nice-sized courtyard, swimming pool...so to speak, the works.

"Perfect. This place is perfect," Marissa whispered.

"Just what are you up to?" the older girl whispered back, "You've been quiet the whole trip from the park…and with that look on your face."

"Just thinking," the younger replied, her tone solemn. She turned to her friend and added, "Laura, if we can get permission from Mrs. Sato, I want to see you, Becky and Chris. Quietly."

"All right…but why?"

"Later."

Laura sighed and looked at Becky, who shrugged her shoulders.

"Don't ask me," was the quiet statement, "You know her better than I do."

"I'll do the talking," Michael said to them, "So be quiet. Chris, I hope your parents are as understanding as you say."

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Devon groaned as he slowly began to come to…just as he had done the last time he had been abducted…which had been the start of September, when Parkson had gotten his hands on him and Marissa both.

Just…what happened…? He thought as he tried to move, and found he could not, Last thing…was drinking tea. Earl Grey. Caroline brought it…

"Devon…? Devon, are you awake…?" he heard from beside him, another familiar voice. Female, but older than the one he woke to last time…

"B…Bon…nie?"

"Yes. I was worried…I was busy in the lab when the place filled with gas…gas that made me go to sleep. Next I knew, I was in here…wherever here is."

He tried to nod, more forcefully, and found his head moving very slowly…as though he were in something very thick and sticky.

"You've been asleep longer…were you hit by gas too?"

"No…drank…your tea…"

"Devon…I didn't send any tea to you."

"What…?"

"I didn't."

"Caroline…gave me…tea you made. "

"Caroline, huh…? You were drugged, then. Never thought that woman would be a snake in the grass."

He remained still as he checked the feel of the floor…as well as the vibrations underneath him.

"A truck…we're being transported somewhere."

She nodded and helped him regain movement of his body…then helped him sit up.

"Do…they know we're awake? Are others waking up? How many have…"

"I don't know. I've been awake only a little while longer than you. But there're a lot of people in here, Devon."

"We'll have to assume that most, if not all of the people in the Foundation building have been…captured." He shivered, thinking back.

"Something wrong?"

"Rissie had one of her dreams last night. I thought it was just a nightmare, but…I'm starting to wonder."

"What happened in it?"

"She said that a black shadow had covered the headquarters, taking all the adults and leaving all the children."

"That sounds about right," she murmured, "Did she say anything else?"

"Not…that could help us, no."

At that moment, the two of them heard a small mechanical sound coming from the wall beside him and they turned.

In the wall, a small, black window was being rolled down…an opening that would fit only a hand, or maybe was only large enough to see through.

Bonnie tried to move closer, and behind her, she heard more than one groan. If she was right, others were starting to wake up.

Before she could move much at all, a relatively small, black item popped through the opening in the window, which closed up almost immediately.

"What in blazes is that?"

At almost the same instant Devon asked that, white smoke issued from the black container.

"The gas again!" Bonnie managed to get out and tried to hold her breath…which didn't help.

The last thing she heard before darkness took her once again was coughing from Devon and others.

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Michael nodded quietly, relieved. "Thank you, Mrs. Sato. I mean it."

"Oh it's no problem, Michael. Devon and the others have always looked out for us. Now it's our turn. We'll take care of the children. You go and find these ruffians and bring their parents back."

"Before anything can be done, we have to find out who has them, and why."

"Oh, most assuredly," she said, smiling.

"That's right," he added, "If you need anything, or if something happens—"

"Don't worry! We'll be fine…we'll all be fine."

Michael nodded and left the room.

Once he did, she nodded to her husband and they both left to make sure the children were comfortable.

One of the maids, that was outside the door came in. When she closed it, she quickly picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Hello? It's me, Baletta. Guess who showed up? Yeah, Michael Knight. Listen, I'll give you the phone number here…"

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Marissa was walking with Chris and Laura towards the kitchen to get something to drink.

"Just what are you thinking of?"

"Well, with all the adults kidnapped, it's gonna get really nasty, this situation," she replied, "and the longer it drags on, the more likely that a few of our parents are going to die."

"True, true…but Marissa, you've been thinking something ever since the picnic was cancelled and throughout the trip here. I know that look," Chris added.

She chuckled and replied, "You're getting to know me pretty well…just like Michael is with Bonnie and father…" Her laugh faded at that, and her eyes became distant.

"Marissa, they'll be okay," Laura said, noticing the change in the little girl, "But I want to know too…do you have something in mind?"

Marissa stopped walking and looked straight at them. She then said, "You know what…I think I'm not thirsty after all. How about we chat elsewhere?"

Laura shook her head, "Oh no. We'll get water, then head for the room and talk there."

The other two nodded and continued on without another word and got three glasses of water, then went to Chris' room.

Once the door was closed, the other occupant of the room, Becky, fidgeted on the bed and said, "Okay…we're here, like you wanted. Now, what's on your mind?"

Marissa took a deep breath and asked, "Earlier, at the picnic, we were talking about the abilities of the children here, and how in their way, they're just like the adults in the Foundation."

"Si," Laura agreed, "And like I said this morning before we left, maybe someday we'll be able to do our part for not just the Foundation, but this country as well, maybe the world."

The young lady looked at everyone else directly and asked, "You still feel like that? I hope?"

"Yeah—" Laura then interrupted herself as she looked at her younger friend. "You…you can't be thinking of…"

"You got it," was the reply.

"What?" Chris asked.

"A little trial by fire for us."

Laura added faintly, "We're going to go in…to rescue them? Ourselves?"

Becky's face also dawned comprehension and she breathed, "You can't be serious."

Marissa didn't say a thing, simply looked at all of them.

Chris stated, "She's serious. Crazy…but serious."

Laura asked, "Say that we go along with this, kid, just how would we pull it off? These guys managed to infiltrate Foundation Headquarters, gas and take away every adult that was there. No kids were there, because we were all at the picnic."

"Exactly. We've got a lot of kids here, 20 in total, from nine to as old as sixteen. If the others were here, it'd be 9-18, almost 19, and almost double the numbers. I don't think any of them would want to just sit around while the grownups try to handle this. Laura, you remember what happened with one of father's cases? An espionage that went bad when the employees were taken prisoner?"

"Aye. It went from bad to worse. By the time that the Foundation and Michael were able to get in and arrest them, a lot of them died. He nearly did, too, when a bomb went off. Papa and Devon talked about it and I happened to overhear. They never found out, though."

"We can't let that happen again. It isn't strangers' lives on the line, it's our own parents."

Chris nodded, then asked, "After the children are called in, what then?"

"We find out where and who has them…then we make a game plan, as Michael calls it. Laura, I know you and Becky are good with strategy."

"Si, but on this scale…? Marissa, you certainly don't play small."

"Maybe not, but this is no game, either. I'm also going to see if we can get a little inside help."

The others nodded. "I think I know a way we might be able to do it. I'll see about getting some of the info we need, then we get started. Chris, Becky, I'll need all the phone numbers that you know, and combine them with mine and Marissa's. We're going to need transportation, so some of the older ones will need their wheels also."

Chris nodded, "I think I may even be able to get some of my friends on the outside to help, too."

"Friends on the outside? You mean some street punks?" Laura asked, "We need help, not back-stabbing trouble."

"They're not punks!"

"Chris…over here," Marissa said and talked to him quietly.

"Laura," Becky said, "We're really gonna do this…?"

"Why not? We've talked about being able to do our part to help the Foundation and everyone. Well…the time can't get any more important than this."

"Yeah, but…I'm a bit scared."

Laura ruffled her hair, "We all are...but the kid's right…if we don't, I have a very bad feeling a lot of people are going to die."

"You have whispers, too? Devon muttered something about it, and I know Marissa mentioned them, but…"

"Yes, I have them, too. It's in my bloodline, and hers."

She nodded, and saw Marissa look back to the others.

"Don't you worry about that, Chris, you hear me?"

"Yes, Marissa."

"Okay. I'll get the phone book, in case anyone we know we don't have the numbers for. Laura, you find out the who and the ransom demands. Once you do, I'll go talk to someone that came with us and see if I can get him to help us. Whether he does or not, when you get the information, you guys start making the phone calls. We'll need all the people we can get."

"And see about strategy," Laura added and Becky confirmed with a nod.

"Who're you going to talk to?" Chris asked.

Marissa smiled and answered, "The first friend I ever had."

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Michael paced the floor in the Sato house, thinking, when the phone rang. He looked right at Chris' parents, who nodded. He picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"This Michael Knight?"

"Depends on who's asking."

"Depends on if you want a whole bunch of people to die or not."

His head shot up and he asked, "How'd you get this number?"

"A loyal comrade. Now, for who we are, which is the True Liberty Movement. This government has become corrupt, and it's time for it to be wiped clean, and begin from scratch, just as our forefathers did centuries ago."

"The True Liberty Movement, huh? What do you want, besides cleaning the slate?"

"Soon, you'll be receiving a list of names. They're our comrades that are political prisoners, unjustly imprisoned by the dirty rulers. You are to get them all released within 48 hours, including the one that this filthy country sent to a neighbor, deluding their leaders."

"And what if I refuse?"

"Then you had better plan on a mass funeral. Oh…and if the deadline passes without results, then expect our prisoners to be executed, one every two hours. We already have a prime one picked out for the first one. Now what was his name…Devon…?"

"Now listen here, you—"

"Ah, ah, ah! Release them, or he's the first to die. You'll receive the list in five minutes, through the fax at your current location."

The phone went dead.

Michael nearly slammed it on the hook, but restrained himself just in time.

"What was that?"

"The kidnappers," he replied and repeated what was said about them. At the end, he added, "If they're not released in 48 hours, the first one they're going to kill is Marissa's father."

The woman murmured something and the father asked, "Devon Miles! You're going to do something about this, aren't you?"

"No way are they gonna kill him, or anyone," he said and left the room. Chris' parents followed him.

A moment later, Marissa peeked around the corner, then turned back to the other person with her.

"You got all that, Laura?"

"Si, and I wish I didn't. You're going to talk to him now?"

"Yes."

The older girl nodded gravely, then said, "Buena suerte, Marissita…tu necesitas."

"Huh?"

"Good luck…you're going to need it."

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Marissa made as if she was reading a book at an outdoor table, something that everyone knew she was always doing…although at the moment, she was carefully looking through the top of it at the driveway, where Michael was sitting on the curb, talking to KITT.

Come on, come on already, she thought.

After a few minutes more, Michael got up and went inside.

She waited a couple minutes more, then carefully got down and walked over to him.

"Hi, Kitty," she said.

"Rissie! Are you all right?"

"Yeah…Kitty, I need to talk to you. It's important."

"What is it, Marissa? It must be important for you to wait for Michael to leave before approaching me."

"You noticed?"

"But of course, little one."

She smiled, and then her face became serious. "Kitt, what all did he tell you?"

"Everything. This True Liberty Movement, as they call themselves, are nothing but terrorists."

"Then you also know that the first one they'll kill, if we don't do something, is father."

"Yes, I do. And one of the 'prisoners' they want released is Douglas Parkson. They were very specific about him." There was a pause before he asked, "Marissa, just what is going on? Laura's right, you have been a bit too quiet since the picnic was cancelled. I suggest you tell me, if you don't want Michael to know."

"All right, Kitty. Laura, Becky and I aren't exactly playing games inside. We're getting ready to mobilize ourselves."

"Mobilize…? Oh my goodness, are you thinking what I think you are…?"

"Yes. We're going to go in and rescue our own parents."

"Rissie, I can tell from your tone that you're not joking, and you're not playing any child's games, so you know how dangerous—"

"Yes, I know, and so do the others."

"So why are you telling me?"

"Because we want your help."

There was a long pause before Kitt said, "You want my—why shouldn't I just call Michael and tell him what you're planning?"

"Kitt, do you remember the last hostage situation? An espionage gone bad?"

"Yes."

"Remember how many people died when you and Michael were finally able to get in?"

"It was a complete disaster. Michael nearly died too. Marissa, how did you know that?"

"I have my ways. The point is, Kitt, that if we leave it only to the few Foundation adults not captive, or them and the cops, it'll be that all over again…although it'll really be worse."

"That may be true, but—"

Marissa stared directly at Kitt and said, "Listen. We're going to go and complete this mission of ours, with or without you. I'd rather it be with."

Kitt thought for a long moment. Marissa was quite right in most respects about the situation, although sense told him that he should call Michael right now.

However, there was one factor that she had not known about: In Montana, Kitt had sworn an oath that he would protect Marissa from harm, no matter what. She had become determined since she was rescued, maybe strong headed…and would most likely find a way for them to sneak out, even if he contacted his partner.

"Very well," he said, "Until this situation is resolved, Marissa, I am yours to command."

She nodded and replied, "Thank you, Kitt."

"That went easier than I thought," they heard from behind them.

Marissa turned and saw Laura standing on the walkway.

"Eavesdropping? How are the phone calls coming along?"

Laura replied, "Well. Everyone that we've called is up in arms about this. They're calling the friends we don't have the numbers for right now. They should be here in an hour and a half. They're to tell Michael and Chris' parents that they're here to visit us and play."

"Transportation?"

"Plenty for everyone. Kitt won't be the only car involved."

"Laura, I have a question, if I may…just who will be the leader in this mission?"

There was a quiet moment before Laura replied, "She's becoming good at teaching the children to behave, as well as talking to people. Marissa will lead us, and I will be her second-in-command."

"M-me?"

"That sounds accurate, and acceptable. Rissie, Laura, if this is going to be a true group that's mobilizing, a name should be chosen."

The two girls nodded. "Hmm, FLAG kids?"

"No, that sounds too corny," Laura replied.

"Little FLAGs?"

"Goodness, no! That's worse." She thought for a moment, then said, "It has to clearly say who we are and what we stand for…"

"Hmm…"

Marissa snapped her fingers. "I got it!"

"Got what?"

"How about this: The Foundation's Youth?"

Laura looked first at her, then Kitt, trying the name in her mouth.

"Hmm…Foundation's Youth…I like it!"

"Foundation's Youth…it has a very nice ring to it."

"All right, then! Foundation's Youth it is."

"Marissa…no, Riss…I imagine that before you get underway, you'll want to talk to your father."

"Yes, I do. Hey, Kitt, any way that can be done?"

"Yes, Marissa. I can intercept the phone calls going to the Sato mansion, and reroute the terrorists to the auto phone. At the same time, if you wish, I'll also try to trace the call, so that we have a definite destination."

"Good, do it," Laura stated.

"There's one thing, though…they won't let me talk to him if it's a kid on the phone. Is there any way that you can make my voice, well…older?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I do have your voice on file, and I can alter it accordingly."

"That sound all right with you, Laura?"

"Yes."

"All right, that's what we'll do. Now, how's the strategy going?"

"The last part can not be planned out until we find out the location."

"Okay, we'd better stay nearby until the others get here, or the terrorists call again, whichever comes first," Marissa said to the others.