Twelve Days of Whumpmas Day Nine: Nine Ladies Dancing: Forced To Perform. This one is all Gumnut's fault…and with thanks to Tsari for the read-through too.

It should have been an easy rescue.

A small tremor had damaged the foundations of several high rises, including a bank on the corner that had someone currently locked into their large, subterranean safe, and both One and Two had answered the call.

Scott got there first, as usual, and he was outside the bank talking to the manager, pouring over a blueprint when Virgil joined them. Two had been put down in a nearby park and Gordon was prepping the mole pod.

It was Virgil who spotted it first.

The three of them were wrapping up the conference, Virgil pointing out where he would start digging, when he looked up at Scott to confirm he was happy with the plan…and he stopped dead.

'Scott?'

'Virgil? You've gone white!'

'There's a red laser dot on your chest.'

Scott looked down. And froze.

'Everyone, freeze! Gordon, there's a sniper somewhere – stay where you are.'

There was swearing on the comms, but Scott had other concerns as the laser sight moved from his own chest to Virgil's.

'Scott, I have an incoming message.'

'Play it, John. All comms.'

'FAB, Scott.'

'Good afternoon, International Rescue. As you've no doubt noticed, I have your two operatives in my sights. I have only one demand.'

'State it.'

'Commander, inside that bank you have a man trapped inside a vault. All I want you to do is open the safe and let my man out.'

'And if I won't?'

'Do you want me to demonstrate what I will do to your fellow operative? Your brother?'

There was no hesitation. Within a minute of the man finishing speaking, the bank manager was on the floor, clutching his leg. Scott dived forward to help the man, but the sight was back on Virgil's chest and he kept still.

'I'm not making idle threats, Commander. You have only two choices. Perform the task I have set before you and no one else will get injured. Or I'll shoot your brother. Your choice.'

'Then you really have not left me any choice.'

'Excellent. Your brother and I will be waiting.'

'I'll have to get the equipment from our ship.'

'No, I don't think so, Commander. Use that laser on your brother's shoulder and your ingenuity. You go into that building and that building only. And keep the line open. Better hurry.'

Scott grit his teeth. He really didn't have a choice; he was being forced to perform this task. He gave Virgil's arm a squeeze and Virgil handed him the laser from his shoulder, and Scott set off into the building.

Once the door was closed he murmured to his brother.

'John?'

'We are secure.'

'Gordon?'

'Here, Scott.'

'Both of you need to find that sniper.'

'But what about you, Scott?'

'Until that sniper is out of action I have no choice but to perform the task set me. You concentrate on that sniper, I'll concentrate on the bank and trying not to rob it.'

He felt the absence of his brothers as he was shown down to the vault. The bank workers were more than happy to help, and it didn't take long with Brain's technology to get through the vault.

The man in the vault grinned at Scott, and it was not a good grin. He threw a bag at Scott and picked a second off the floor and passed that to him too…and leered.

'Good to see you.'

'Do you have an exit strategy? Because you and me walking out of the vault with a bag each is going to be difficult to explain.'

'Oh, no one is going to question it. The manager gave you permission to rescue me, and this is mine. The workers here all know that this is mine.'

'Well, if you're sure. I assume that once we're out your sniper will release my brother?'

'Of course. You just need to place the bag into the waiting car and we'll leave you alone.'

'Scott, we need more time. We're almost there working out where he is. Can you delay?'

'No can do. There was no car waiting.'

'It will be there, don't worry.'

'Message understood.'

EOS and John had taken all the footage and triangulated where the sniper likely was. Gordon slipped out of Two and made his way, slipping into his WASP mindset. No one was going to threaten his brothers.

He made it to the floor where the sniper was situated the same time that Scott was about to leave the bank.

'Talk to me John. Where's Scott?'

'He's just about to leave the bank with the worker.'

'And Virgil?'

'Hasn't moved, still has the sight on him.'

'Ok. I'm on the floor and going quiet. But keep me in the loop.'

'Head's up, Gordon. Car's arrived. It's between Virgil and the entrance.'

'FAB, John.'

It had been a long time since he'd had to creep up on a man in a room (about three days) but this was different. Still, he knew exactly what he was doing.

'Scott's out.'

Everything then seemed to happen at once.

The car was waiting, engine running, as Scott and the man with him exited the bank. Scott and Virgil exchanged looks, but the red dot was still centred on his brother's chest. The trunk popped up and Scott leaned in to throw in the bags.

As he did the target swung off Virgil's chest onto Scott's back.

Virgil, seeing the target appear on his brother's back, shouted a warning and lunged forward, but he wasn't quick enough.

Gordon managed to open the door and was a step into the room when he heard Virgil's shout. Stealth immediately gave way to need and he surged forward, intent on just knocking the sniper off target. He wasn't quick enough.

Pain blossomed in Scott's shoulder, and with a hard shove from the man beside him, he tumbled into the trunk. The man slammed it shut, jumped into the car and they sped off before Virgil could take more than a couple of steps.