Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my own creations.

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'Heidi? What are you doing here?' asked Vince incredulously as Heidi dashed into the temporary command centre, and he had one hand on his radio, the other holding an oxygen tank and one eye on the papers in front of him.

'Not important,' she brushed off as she gasped for breath. 'We've got bigger problems right now.'

'What could possibly be worse than this?' laughed Vince.

'You've got a carriage loose and rolling downhill on the tracks.'

'You're joking aren't you?' said Vince.

'I'm serious.' The two people that came dashing toward them and the voice that came over Vince's radio seconds later confirmed it.

'Damnit. I thought it was secured,' said Vince as he looked around.

'That's not the only thing,' shouted Heidi over the chaos. 'A little boy might be on that train.' Everyone stopped for a moment as they looked at her. 'He's name is Oliver Trask and his parents last saw him heading for the carriage just before it took off.'

'Are you sure?'

'As sure as I can be,' said Heidi desperately.

Vince snapped into action as he looked down at the map of the surrounds, talking at a mile a minute. 'Dean and Lara are on the upturned carriage, Chase's with the crushed driver, Michelle's facing the vultures...' He reaches for his radio. 'Jordan, get your butt to the tent pronto.'

Vince snapped out his mobile phone as Heidi stepped around the desk and looked at the map herself. The train track ran straight downhill for a stretch before it hit a steep curve and then crossed a bridge soon after.

'Damnit,' shouted Vince as he hung up his call and proceeded to search his address book for another number. 'The rescue chopper is forty minutes out. That will be too late.'

'Can't you just let the carriage head down the rails and then wait for it to get flat?' asked a female voice behind them. Paige Delacarte-Sowery makes her arrival known once again.

'It won't work,' said Heidi talking quickly. 'The train's going to be accelerating at such a speed down the hill and then when it hits the curve, there's no guarantee that it will stay on. If the little boy is on there, he could die.'

'What's going on?' called Michelle and Jordan as they both arrived at the same time. With Vince yelling down the line at someone else, Heidi explained. 'The third carriage is loose and there might be a little boy on board.'

'What about the chopper?' asked Michelle as Heidi shook her head. 'It's too far out.'

'I'm trying to get onto the railway authority to see what we can do to stop the train, but they've put me on bloody hold!' yelled Vince as he covered the mouthpiece.

'If you need a helicopter I can get one for you,' interjected Paige as they all looked to her.

'You can get a helicopter?' said Heidi incredulously. 'How?'

'The news chopper has been filming all this ever since I've arrived. It's a big story this,' said Paige with a shrug of her shoulders. 'And it just got bigger!'

Michelle and Heidi exchanged a glance before Michelle nodded her head in Paige's direction. 'We've got no time to waste. Get that chopper here. Jordan...'

'Already on it boss,' said Jordan as he ran for the 4WD to grab the appropriate equipment and Paige put in a call to the helicopter now in sight.

'Vince, we have a problem,' crackles a voice as Dean comes over the line. 'I've got a petrol leak with four stuck right nearby...'

Vince looked momentarily torn before he turned to Heidi. 'You're Jordan's ears and eyes. Man the map and get him to that train. Deano, I'm coming to you now...'

Heidi pulled the map into a comfortable position, her mind was already calculating where the train could be at and what they could do. 'You right Heidi?' called Michelle as the news helicopter got closer.

Heidi formed her hand into the a-ok symbol and Michelle dashed off to where the media had gone into a frenzy at the incoming helicopter. She raised the radio to her mouth. 'Jordan, you've got to get up now.'

'I'm coming, I'm coming,' was the response. The helicopter could only get so close and so Heidi watched from afar as Jordan ran over uneven ground with the bare minimum of equipment that he needed.

The helicopter rose with Jordan on board seconds later and the desperate rescue operation began.

Blocking all around her, Heidi's only thoughts were for getting Jordan to the boy. 'The train line runs straight down hill for a while, so follow the track and hopefully you'll find the carriage.'

'The cover's pretty bad around here,' shouted Jordan. 'It's hard to see where it could be... hang on. We've spotted it.'

'Where is it?' pushed Heidi.

'It's still on the straight stretch but it's gathering speed,' responded Jordan. 'Any chance the track flattens off before that curve you mentioned?'

'Sorry,' said Heidi. 'It actually gets worse.'

'No kidding,' shouted Jordan over the line. 'How far have I got?'

'Well where are you?' called Heidi.

'I just passed a rock that looks like a baby's dummy,' said Jordan. 'And it's speeding up.'

Eyes flying down the train track on the map, Heidi's fingers flickered over various structures that could be what Jordan had described.

'Heidi? Heidi?' called Jordan. 'What have you got for me?'

They didn't have long.

'You're about four hundred metres away from the curve, but at the speed you're going at, you're not going to have long.'

'Jordan?'

'Jordan?'

'We're going to get in closer and I'm going to try and board the train,' Jordan finally said.

'What?' shouted Heidi. 'Are you mad? It's going at a breakneck speed.'

'I know,' yelled Jordan. 'But if we don't do something now, that kid is going to be toast.'

'Be careful,' she pleaded as her finger followed the train line on the map.

'I'll be fine,' shouted Jordan. 'Got too much to live for.'

There was a pause in the conversation and she could hear him moving about, velcro ripping and metal clinking. 'I need you to keep me updated on that curve. The next clear spot we get, I'm heading down.'

'Okay,' called Heidi. 'Be safe.'

'I'll be fine.'

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Up in the helicopter, Jordan had to admit that he felt anything but fine. Chasing after the train had been first and foremost in his mind, but now that they had found it and he needed to get down there, the speed of the train seemed to have increased exponentially.

Checking his harness and ropes, he nodded to the pilot, ignoring the cameraman who was filming his every move.

The helicopter dropped and they got closer and closer to the train. The trees were a nuisance, flickering by at a rate just too fast for him to safely drop down. 'Jordan,' called Heidi over the radio. 'You've got a gap coming up soon, so get ready.'

Taking a deep breath, he kept his eye on the train as the gap approached. He didn't have time to think about the stupidity, ifs, whats, and buts as he saw the gap and jumped.

His feet hit the train roof with a thud, the fall jarring his knees as the rocking train pitched his body to the left. Grabbing at a metal fixture he held on tight as his feet scrambled for a footing.

Time was of the essence. A tenuous grip achieved, he reached for his harness instantly. He needed to get it off quickly before it became tangled in a tree and he fell off the train – or worse.

He could see the trees coming and hear the close woop-woop of the helicopter, but he pushed it from his mind as he forced his sweaty fingers to twist the carabiner.

He could see a low-riding branch swiftly coming at him and he knew that he had to make a decision. Grabbing at the knife strapped onto his leg, he cut the rope, pressing his body to the train roof as the rope fluttered off and mere seconds later the branch flew over his head.

There was no time to stop. He couldn't think about the speed of the train as he climbed up the roof. Reaching the top, he quickly slid over the side and pressed against the wall. Reaching for his radio, he shouted into it. 'I'm on the train.'

The wind was pounding at his ears and he couldn't hear any response. Reaching over for the carriage door, he pulled at the handle, cursing gravity and speed as he struggled to pull the door open toward him. Unable to do so, he edged over the door and tried from the other side.

Straining, he managed to get it open a few centimetres and stuck his hand in. The door tried to shut again instantly and he swore when it slammed against his lower arm. Ignoring the pain, he pushed against the door once again and slid into the carriage.

Breathing heavily and able to hear a little better, he reached for the radio again. 'How much longer?'

'150 metres and counting,' came the voice of his best friend over the line.

Where was the kid?

'Oliver,' he called as he held onto the a pole. 'Oliver Trask? Ollie.'

Continuing to call the boy's name, he moved from pole to pole as he looked on and under seats. Reaching the end of the carriage all too soon, he found nothing. He desperately looked up the length of the carriage, seeking any sign of the missing child.

'I can't find him,' he yelled over the radio. 'Are you sure he's on the train?'

'His parents thought so,' was the response back. 'Are you sure?'

'It's empty,' he said. 'I can't find him.'

'The curve's getting closer,' called Heidi. 'If the kid's not there, you need to get off NOW!'

'Okay, okay,' he called as he let the radio go and reached for the rope that was should be hanging from his belt. His hand grasped nothing. Where was the rope?

Looking up the carriage, he saw it pooling at the carriage door on the other end. Grabbing the poles around him, he pulled his way up the carriage as quickly as possible. Reaching the top, he bent down to pick up the rope, but stopped when he heard a noise.

There it was again.

'Ollie?' he called. 'Ollie?'

A little hand stretched out and Jordan looked up. There in the luggage rack overhead a little way down was a little sandy-haired boy with eyes wide open in fear as he hugged a toy to his chest.

'Ollie!' shouted Jordan as he moved swiftly. Wrapping his legs around the pole he stretched his arms out to the small child. 'Come here, we need to get off the train.'

The frightened boy shook his head, refusing to move. Unable to reach him completely from this position, Jordan stepped up onto the train seat, now a few feet taller, but before he can take the boy, he slips. His jaw hit the bottom of the luggage rack and a metallic taste filled his mouth.

Ignoring the blood, he regained his footing and grabbed the child, not caring if he was being gentle or not. Back on the carriage floor, Oliver wrapped himself around Jordan and refused to let go. 'Hold on tight,' yelled Jordan as he reached for the rope.

'I don't know where you are Jordan,' came Heidi's voice over the radio. 'But the pilot's telling me the train's seconds away from the curve.'

Oh shit.

Running down to the end of the carriage once again, he threw open the door open with ease, the door flying open and slamming against the outside wall. Oliver's grip on him strengthened as he saw the curve coming toward them at a breakneck pace.

There wasn't enough time.

Unable to close the door once again, he moved to the side and pressed himself into a corner. They were going to have to ride this out. He had never been particularly religious, but as one hand gripped a nearby pole and the other held Ollie close to him, he prayed to any Gods that were listening that the carriage would corner the curve in safety.

Time seemed to slow down and he could feel every drop of sweat running down his face. Every heartbeat pounding against his chest. Every shiver of the little boy in his arms.

The train pulled to the right and Jordan swore that some of the wheels came off the track. The floor tipped and he held on tight as his feet momentarily left the ground. The train shook as the trees flew by them and then suddenly it was all over.

The train was back on the rails and amazingly had slowed down a little.

It was with shaky hands that he reached for the radio. Oliver's head blocked his access, and as the boy refused to move, he had to rip the radio from his shoulder holder and cross it over Ollie's back. 'Heidi, I've got the boy,' shouted Jordan. 'I'm still on the train, but we've survived the curve. How far til the bridge?'

'It's not far,' responded Heidi's strong voice over the line. 'But the train usually needs to brake before the bridge or else it can't take the steep drop beforehand.'

'Okay,' shouted Jordan. Get off or be blown up.

They had no time to lose – now more so than ever. Stepping onto the small balcony at the back of the carriage, Jordan took in his surrounds. The one thing going for him at the moment was that the train seemed to have slowed down slightly, but apart from that, things looked dire. Trees still lined the tracks and rocks littered the side.

He felt like he was in a western movie.

Spotting a patch of grass coming up, he kicked out the weak wooden rails lining the platform and prepared himself. Both arms wrapped around Ollie, he stood poised on his two feet as he tensed and got ready to run, knowing he needed to run, jump, twist and land at the right time.

He bounced on his feet and was ready to run when Ollie suddenly shouted and pounded his small fists on his back. 'No! No!' the kid screamed.

Concentration thrown, the patch of grass – and one of their few chances to jump off – flashed by as the bridge drew closer. 'Ollie,' he shouted. 'I know you're scared, but we need to get off okay?'

'I don't want to,' cried the little boy.

'Trust me.' The train may be moving along and life or death was something that they were facing as a very real thing very soon, but in that moment, Jordan saw the absolute trust of a young child in him as Ollie nodded, burrowed his head into his neck and hugged him tight. It touched him in the very core of his being.

Hugging Ollie back, he looked up and saw a chance.

He didn't even think as he ran, jumped off the moving train, spun in the air and landed on the soft earth with a thud. He lay on his back with Ollie on his chest as the train flew on, came off the rails and exploded.

He could feel the heat from the explosion rushing over them as he remembered to breathe again. His arms still tightly holding his package, he realised that Ollie hadn't moved or said a word. Ignoring the objection of every bruised muscle in his body, he ran his hands over Ollie's small form as he called his name. 'Ollie? Are you okay? Ollie?'

The small head lifted from his shoulder and he could see that Oliver was crying. 'What's wrong Ollie? Are you hurt?'

'Can I go home now?' the little boy sniffled. 'I did everything he told me to.'

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Next Chapter: The fallout.