"You need to eat something," said Zoe. "We've got to get out of here and you'll need the strength," she encouraged.
Sighing, Dan pulled the tray to him, picked it up and started putting food into his mouth.
Tom and Aneisha sat together in their temporary base, which was a small holiday cottage along the coast from Strontian. Frank and Carrie were making a meal in the kitchen. Tom was researching sulphuric acid and its use to dissolve rocks. "Aneisha, this is going to take ages," he complained. "The ground penetrating radar was picking up a heavy rock fall," he said, patting the strange little black box sitting on the table next to him. "I think that even with full strength sulphuric acid it could still take us hours to get through the rock fall." He put his head in his hands. "We aren't going to get in there until the middle of tomorrow morning" he groaned.
Aneisha put her arm around his shoulder. She was worrying about the others too. Frank walked in to tell them to collect their food. "What's the matter Tom ?" he asked. Tom told him his estimate for breaking through the rock fall at the end of the tunnel. Frank frowned in concern. "It's rather a long time isn't it ?" he mused. "We can't do anything to alter that though Tom. It's the best we can do."
"Can't you speed up the reaction, like you did with that Germinator thingy ?" asked Aneisha.
"We'd have to heat up sulphuric acid," said Tom. "I suppose we could try," he said, looking at Frank.
Frank grimaced. "It doesn't sound very safe does it ? It would give off a lot of corrosive fumes. We could seriously injure the people doing the work," he said.
"That would be us wouldn't it ?" asked Aneisha, puzzled.
"Well no. I've asked Stella to send reinforcements. I want you two rested so you can join in the rescue mission," said Frank. "If you spend all night pouring sulphuric acid over rocks you won't be able to join in the assault on the KORPS base. It's going to be heavy work getting the drums of acid to the location of the tunnel entrance and it requires some specialist knowledge on how to use it properly."
Tom and Aneisha looked at one another. "That makes sense," agreed Tom glumly. Aneisha nodded in agreement.
"It's going to be hard doing nothing," she said.
"Well, you won't be doing nothing," said Frank. "You will be sleeping," he said, as Carrie walked in carrying plates piled with steaming food.
"That's after the eating," she informed them, with a grin. "Get stuck in ! What's the matter ?" she asked as Tom looked doubtfully at the food.
"Well, we could do with some cutlery," he said politely.
Carrie wagged her finger at him silently, then said, "Good point. Let's get cutlery."
A few hours later, Tom and Aneisha were sleeping on camp beds in the bedroom. Carrie and Frank met the mini-sub when it docked at a nearby small harbour. In the half light of the late evening they helped Oscar, Ilya and Edward unload drums of sulphuric acid, lifting equipment and a variety of tools and metal bars. When they had finished three MI9 vans arrived and a team of people climbed out. They were the team charged with gaining access to the blocked tunnel. The drums and equipment were loaded into the vans and Frank took the team off in two of the vans to show them how to get to the tunnel entrance.
Edward stood in the gathering darkness with his team. "OK, it's going to be a tough one tomorrow," he said. "Rose says the nerve agent they attacked us with was absorbed through the skin. That's why the gas masks didn't help. We need full chemical protection suits."
"But, they cannot use these weapons inside their own tunnels without affecting themselves also," pointed out Ilya.
"That's true. It all depends how stupid they are," said Edward.
"The Crime Minister is there. She wouldn't let them try to use chemical weapons inside their own base surely," said Carrie.
"You'd think not, but we can't be sure," said Edward. "I still want full chemical hazard suits." The others all nodded. "Come on. Let's get some rest," said Edward. "Carrie, can you show us the way please ?" he asked. They all climbed into the remaining van with their own gear and Carrie directed them to the base. After a quick meal Carrie joined Tom and Aneisha on her own camp bed in the bedroom. Edward, Ilya and Oscar bedded down in the main living room of the cottage. Frank returned in the early hours and found everyone asleep. After a quick call to MI9 HQ he also settled down to try and sleep.
Early the next morning, Zoe and Dan were woken once again with food. Dan was feeling much less shaky and dizzy now. The both ate their breakfasts and sat back down on their beds. "Dan," said Zoe. "I want you to know, I'll do anything to keep you safe. Anything."
"Don't you go volunteering to turn into the Mastermind will you ?" begged Dan. "I'd rather die .." he broke off.
Tears were now running down Zoe's face. "I don't want you to die for me. I don't want you to die at all," she whispered. They were now facing one another through the bars of the cell, their faces almost touching. Dan put his hands through the bars and laced them through Zoe's.
"Zo, as soon as they've used you to save the Mastermind, they will kill me anyway. I won't be any use to them any more. I don't want the last thing I see to be you being destroyed by those monsters !" he pleaded with her. "Please don't give up without a fight. You're such a good fighter, it would just be a waste of talent," he said, smiling at her and obviously fighting off tears.
"But, I can't face watching them kill you," she whispered, stumbling over the words. Finally, she gave up the struggle to find the words for what she wanted to say and she leaned her face through the bars and kissed the boy. "I care too much about you," she said looking into Dan's eyes. Dan kissed her back and they sat looking into one another's eyes, not moving.
"Oi, you two out !" shouted an angry voice. Their cells doors were unlocked and they were both pulled out and forced down the corridor. Once again they were tied to the two chairs in the interrogation room. The Crime Minister walked in, accompanied by the Professor and two of his assistants.
The Crime Minister stood in front of Dan, inspecting him. "Hm, not looking quite so perky today are we ?" she said, lifting his chin with her forefinger. Her long fingernail dug into his flesh. It scratched him when she let go. "So, Professor, what tests have you completed so far ?" asked the Crime Minister.
The Professor looked very nervous, reporting back to the Crime Minister. "Yes, well, we tested a slightly different formulation of the hypnotic gas and we managed to make the effects last about 20 minutes longer. That was very good," he said.
"I'll decide whether it's good or not Professor," said the Crime Minister coldly. The Professor, abruptly stopped talking. "Continue !" ordered the Crime Minister.
"Erm, yes, then we tested the immobilising nerve gas and its effects also lasted for longer, although it appeared to create more side effects," he said, sounding flustered.
"Side effects ! Professor, I'm not interested in side effects. I don't care about side effects. I just want helpless MI9 agents lying on the floor at my feet !" shouted the Crime Minister. The Professor cringed in front of her. She stopped suddenly, looking at Dan's bare torso. "Professor, how exactly did you apply the new formula ?" she asked, suspiciously.
"We sprayed it on to the skin as usual," said the Professor. The Crime Minister pointed at Dan's chest. "Yes, on the chest," said the Professor, obviously confused by her anger.
"Professor," said the Crime Minister, looming over the shorter man. He seemed to cringe even lower and backed away from her in fear. "Professor, how often do you think MI9 strip to their waists before they attack us ?" she asked with an evil smile.
"Erm, probably not at all," suggested the older man.
"No, never," said the Crime Minister quietly, but with steel in her voice. "Test it again Professor. ON HIS FACE !" she yelled. The Professor almost fell over backwards in his attempts to get back from her screaming face.
"Yes, yes, of course. Straight away Crime Minister," he grovelled.
The Crime Minister spun around and clicked her fingers at Zoe. "Bring her !" she ordered, before turning on her heels and marching out of the room. Zoe was untied and pulled after her. The Professor and his assistants turned and looked at Dan. Dan swallowed hard. He wasn't going to like this.