CHAPTER TEN
Kyrano, Virgil and Alan disembarked the monorail and entered the access tunnel that would take them up into the Lounge. They were laden with all manner of weaponry, including laser rifles, machine pistols and something that very much resembled a bazooka.
Virgil led the way and held his machine pistol at the ready as the door slid open. He found the Lounge empty and motioned for the others to follow him. The trio crept through the stillness, straining to hear any sound that might tell them what was going on.
When at last they reached the top of the hall leading to the bedrooms, they spied their quarry. All six marionettes were standing outside the Sick Room door, the Scott puppet using an oxyhydnite torch to gain access. The humans retreated around the corner to discuss what they'd seen and what their options might be.
"How the heck did they all get loose?" Virgil wondered aloud.
"That John one must've set them free," Alan replied. "And they've got an oxyhydnite torch!"
"They're a lot smarter than I figured," Virgil said, his brow knitting into a frown. "Damn things. What're we gonna do?"
"I say we just let loose with the bazooka," Alan whispered. "It should take every one of them out."
"Good idea, except we could also hurt everyone in the Sick Room," Virgil replied.
"Well, if we just open up on 'em with the rifles and pistols, some would have enough time to get away and come after us."
Virgil nodded and noticed Kyrano looking thoughtful. "Kyrano? What about you? Any suggestions?"
"I think perhaps I could confuse them long enough to allow you to utilize your smaller weapons."
"Confuse them?" Alan asked. "How?"
"How is not important. If you give me a moment, I shall be ready."
Virgil eyed Kyrano with a mixture of confusion and awe. He was so calm and seemed so sure of himself at this moment, something Virgil wasn't accustomed to from his father's old friend.
"Right. Alan, you take that side, I'll take this."
Alan nodded and dashed across the hall opening, hoping he hadn't been spotted. Kyrano closed his eyes and placed his hands together in front of him, palms touching, and fingers straight. Just as Kyrano stepped into the hall, they heard the clunk of the metal Sick Room door as it fell.
The puppets were through.
"Oh, where are they?" Tin-Tin asked as the hole in the door became larger.
"They're on their way, Tin-Tin," Scott soothed. "Virgil knows we're in trouble. Right now we have to make sure we can take these bastards when they get thr-"
Scott didn't even have a chance to finish his sentence when the oxyhydnite torch clicked off and a portion of the door fell inwards. Gordon, standing protectively in front of John near Bed 2, took aim and fired with the laser rifle.
He hit the first one through the door, Small Alan, who stumbled backwards for a moment before continuing forward. Small Jeff, still clad in its Santa Claus outfit, came charging in wielding a butcher knife.
It headed straight for Jeff, would was standing in front of Ruth and Tin-Tin. "Now, you die!" it hissed, the blade of the knife slicing into flesh.
"Aaaaaaaaaa!" Jeff cried as the steel raked a path across his chest. His shirt fell open, cut away by the knife, revealing a 10-inch gash that began leaking blood.
"Father!" Scott, John and Gordon cried in unison.
Jeff raised his laser pistol level with Small Jeff's head and fired. It staggered back, but the hole where its left eye had been didn't seem to stop it. The other puppets rushed into the room, fanning out, waving knives and an ice pick they'd found in the kitchen.
The Sick Room turned into a war zone. Laser shots fired everywhere. Light glinted off shiny metal blades. Small John headed for the real John, but Gordon gave it a swift kick to the gut that sent it flying across the room. Ruth came 'round behind Small Gordon, who was advancing on Tin-Tin. She swung the scalpel at it, effectively slicing open the back of its neck, distracting it long enough for Tin-Tin to karate-kick it away.
Small Virgil squared off with Jeff, who took aim with the laser pistol. It laughed maniacally and leapt clean over him, landing on the bed behind Gordon and John. Scott, on the other side of the bed, grabbed hold of the puppet and twisted its head, trying to break its neck. Then he threw it toward the door, where it landed on the hall floor outside. They were fighting valiantly, but the puppets clearly had the upper hand. They seemed to be indestructible. The humans, most definitely, were not.
"Scott!" Gordon yelled. But it was too late. Small Scott jabbed its knife clean through Scott's thigh, then yanked it out. He roared in pain, his legs buckling beneath him.
Ruth was at his side in an instant and used a chair to knock Small Scott away. Tin-Tin took off her outer shirt, leaving only her sleeveless tank on. She quickly wrapped the shirt around Scott's thigh as Small Jeff jumped her from behind. It seemed to have lost its knife in the melee and was doing its best to choke her to death.
Then, just as suddenly as the attack had begun, it stopped. The puppets all looked toward the door as though hearing something. Tin-Tin used the opportunity to grab Small Jeff and hurl it across the room. When it landed, it scrambled to its feet and headed for the door, followed by the other five.
"What's going on?" Ruth asked as she and Tin-Tin helped Scott to his feet.
"It must...be...Virg..." Scott ground out through the pain.
"Now, my little engineer, you are mine at last!" Belah gloated, amused by Brains' look of horror. "You should know you couldn't hide from me. Even after all these years."
"What're you gonna do to me?"
"Bleed your mind dry."
Brains gulped. He took stock of his surroundings and found himself hanging from a high ceiling in the large, cavernous room he'd seen seven years ago during his mind's connection to Belah's. The manacles on his wrists were cutting into his flesh. He used that pain to keep himself as alert as possible, avoiding Belah's eyes and concentrating on anything but his predicament.
Where are the fellas when you need them? he thought.
As if in response to his unspoken question, Belah said, "You needn't worry your friends from International Rescue are coming to save you. They are...a bit busy at the moment, I suspect."
"What? You mean...the puppets...oh, my God..."
Belah nodded, quite pleased with himself. "Yes, Mr. Hackenbacker. The puppets. They are actually inhabited by six demons. They have been feeding me information, which is how I discovered you. You were a stroke of luck. I should have known it was your mind behind International Rescue's technology. And since I have you, there is no need for the Tracy family to live. I suspect even at this moment most of your friends lie dead."
"No," Brains whispered, closing his eyes against the torturous thought.
Suddenly Belah felt something. He stiffened, then turned toward the statue of Manay not ten feet away. Brains opened his eyes, mystified by his captor's silence. He watched as Belah strode to a large statue that looked like part-dragon, part-bull. He raised his arms in the air and closed his eyes.
Brains pulled at the manacles with all his might. Whatever was about to happen, he knew he didn't want to be around for it. But nothing he did seemed to work. He was held fast. It was obvious by Belah's countenance that something had gone wrong. Brains fervently hoped that something was that the Tracys were defeating those god-awful marionettes.
"What's he doing?" Alan asked.
Virgil shrugged and shook his head. Kyrano looked for all the world like he was meditating. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as his lips moved in silence.
"Virg, look!" Alan exclaimed, pointing down the hall.
The six marionettes walked slowly into the hall as though in a trance. They headed directly for the trio, but seemed to stare right through them.
He has lied to you, Kyrano said within his mind. He will not grant you eternal life. Once you have killed the humans, he will be done with you. He will have no more use for you.
"You lie!" Small Jeff spat.
No! I have seen it myself. I am his half-brother. I see what he sees.
The puppets stopped about halfway down the hall and seemed to come back to themselves.
"He means to betray us!" Small Alan said.
"The Master would not do such a thing," Small Scott replied.
"He would if it were in his best interests," Small Virgil retorted, its face growing ugly at the thought. "The fool is right. I can sense his connection to The Master."
"As can I," Small Jeff interjected.
The real Jeff and the real Scott exited the Sick Room and watched the scene unfold. Gordon and Tin-Tin were right behind them.
"What's happening, Father?"
"I'm not sure, Gordon, but look at Kyrano," Jeff whispered. "I think he just saved our hides."
You must take your revenge! Kyrano thought. You must not let him use you so!
"Yes, revenge!" Small Gordon cackled. "I, for one, will not allow him to get away with this betrayal!"
Just then, the floor lurched violently beneath their feet, knocking everyone off-balance. Virgil, Alan and those from the Sick Room fell, but Kyrano remained steadfast. They could hear things flying from shelves and clattering to the floor. Then there was what could only be described as a deafening explosion.
The puppets recoiled, as if in horror.
"The Pure One is right!" Small Jeff howled. "The Master has sent Manay to reclaim us!"
"We cannot allow this!" Small Scott yelled.
You must leave before it is too late. Go! Kyrano ordered.
As the floor continued to tremble beneath their feet, both groups of humans in the hall watched in awe as the marionettes began jerking and moaning. All at once, dark shadows seemed to leave their bodies, and the puppets sank to the floor, lifeless. The shadows slipped up into the ceiling, disappearing from view.
Kyrano took a deep breath and opened his eyes, letting his hands fall back to his sides. "They are gone."
"Kyrano, what'd you do?" Gordon asked, stepping warily over the puppets on the floor.
"I believe I have convinced them that the Hood never meant to grant them eternal life, which is what he promised if they were successful in this mission. I convinced them he was going to betray them. They have gone to seek their revenge."
"Father!" Tin-Tin cried, running to hug the older man. "I didn't know you could do that."
Kyrano smiled into her dark hair. "There is much you do not know, my daughter. But I shall teach you. Soon, I shall teach you."
"Why is the house moving?" Scott asked, using his good leg to kick the marionettes into a pile on the side of the hall.
"Let's get the security cameras going so we can take a look," Jeff replied. "Alan, Gordon, Virgil...bring those marionettes."
Everyone filed into the Lounge and watched as Scott brought up live shots of various vantage points on the island, one in each of the boys' portraits.
"Jesus!" John breathed as he took in the feed from Gordon's portrait. It showed the view from a camera situated on the opposite end of the island atop the boathouse.
"My God," Jeff said softly, eyes widening in horror. "The volcano. It's blown."
