Chapter Twelve

Jeff and Penny took six of the faction members with them, while Marin and Dana took the other six. Jeff's group circled in from the north; Marin's group traveled further down the Baleh River. They would land and close in on the temple from the south. Both groups of people were armed to the teeth, laden with as much weaponry as they could carry.

They were a ragtag army, and a very small one. But they were the world's one hope at escaping this terrible future. As Jeff and Brad hacked their way through the jungle with machetes, Jeff's mind traveled back to the last time he'd seen his family. He prayed fervently that he could see them all that way again. If he did, he vowed, he would never take another minute with them for granted. Never.

Within forty-five minutes, Jeff's group had made it to the perimeter of the temple. Penny received a signal from Marin that her group would be in position within thirty minutes. She and Jeff quietly discussed their concern over the lack of any resistance.

"Gaat would never leave his headquarters unguarded like this," Penny whispered. "Five years after he gained power, a large group of rebels numbering nearly two hundred were wiped out when they tried to attack this place."

"You think it's a trap?" Jeff asked.

"I don't know. Thunderbird 4's scanners showed only three life signs inside. Where are the guards and slaves? Last inside report indicated nearly one thousand people dwelled here at any given time."

"It's just not sitting right. There has to be some explanation." Jeff looked at his watch. "Twenty more minutes and Marin will be ready."

"Basic attack?"

He nodded. "I can't think of any other-" He broke off and listened intently. "What's that sound?"

Penelope listened as well, her face turning toward the night sky. "If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a helijet."

"I knew this was too easy," Jeff growled. He rose to his feet and motioned for the rest to do the same. "There's a helijet on approach. It's about five miles out from the sound of it. Cammie, signal Marin to stay low. Brad, June, I want you to circle the perimeter east and west, check for side entrances. If you see any, stay in the jungle and cover them. We may need friendly fire to help us get out."

The two nodded and began to circle around through the undergrowth as instructed while Penelope radioed the other group.

"The rest of you are with us. That helijet is approaching from the south. The temple will hide us long enough to get inside the front entrance."

"Jeff, Marin and Dana are ready. They can hear it, too. Half of them are going to storm the rear entrance. The other half are going to try and bring the helijet down."

"Right. Okay, people, on my mark." Jeff waited, muscles coiled like a spring just waiting to jump. He saw leaves rustling to the left and right, and knew Brad and June were in place. "Three," he whispered. "Two...one. Now!"

The six of them poured out of the jungle into the clearing. Penelope and Jeff took the huge front steps two-at-a-time, while the other four approached more slowly, their guns trained in all directions as they kept on alert for the enemy.

At the same time, on the other side of the temple, Dana, Marin and two other rebels ran for the back entrance while the remaining four began setting up a large bazooka-like weapon on the outside edge of the clearing.

Penelope stood to the side as Jeff tested one of the large wooden double doors that comprised the front entrance to Belah Gaat's temple. It was, of course, locked. "Grenade," he whispered. "Let Marin know we're going in."

One of the team brought Jeff an old hand grenade. "Hope it still works," she said.

"Me too," he replied. "All right, if this doesn't get the attention of whoever's inside, nothing will. Get ready."

They all nodded as Jeff shot at a spot where the two doors met in the middle. The blast succeeded in creating a small hole, just the right size for a grenade. "Get behind those pillars!" he said as he pulled the pin. He shoved the grenade into the hole he'd created and scrambled to his right. He'd barely made it behind the pillar when the grenade exploded, sending both doors flying open. One slammed closed again while the other fell off one of its hinges.

All six of them ran from their hiding places up to the front entrance. No one was more shocked than Jeff when they found the main hall deserted.

"Guess they didn't hear that," one of them said.

"That's impossible. Two of you watch our backs. The other two, with us on front."

They nodded and slowly entered the great hall. Expensive paintings, masterpieces, really, lined both walls along with elegant and priceless tapestries and ancient weapons. There was no door at the other end of the hall, but all Jeff and Penny could see was flickering light; a sort of glow indicating the presence of candles.

Creeping forward slowly but surely, they neared the opening and stood in awe for a moment as they took in the sheer size of the room in front of them. Inside there were garish yet somehow beautiful statues carved from the most precious gems and stones that existed. Eternal flames burned on either side of a dais on the far side, a beaded curtain hiding what looked like a large statue of some sort.

Suddenly the radio crackled to life.

"Cammie, the helijet's got us! We can't get in! We're trapped out here! We're under attack!"

"Marin!" Penelope cried.

"They got Brad and June! They've landed! We're under attack! Repeat, we're under-"

The radio crackled and went dead. Tears sprang to Penny's eyes and she sank back against the wall. She quickly wiped them away as she looked up at Jeff. "Looks like we're all that's left," she said quietly.

"We can do this, Penny," Jeff said, placing his hand on her arm. He turned to look at the others. "Right?"

They all nodded. Soon, Penny did, too.

"Now, if you were holding Brains prisoner in a place like this," Jeff whispered, "Where would you put him?"

"A dungeon?" one of the team offered.

"That makes sense," Jeff replied. "All right, we're down in numbers, but we're not through yet. I've got to find Brains, if he's here. Penny, you take the others and try to find Gaat. Better yet, do more than find him. Kill him."

"Jeff, you can't go alone. You won't have a chance. What if you find Gaat before we do? Worse yet, what if he finds you?"

"I'm faster on my own, Penny. And I'm counting on you to make sure he doesn't find me. Okay?"

She nodded. "Okay, Jeff. Go carefully."

He flashed her a smile. "Always."

With that, he dashed out into the cavernous room, whipping his gun to the left. Finding no one to challenge him, he continued forward until he reached an opening on his right. He heard a strange humming sound coming from within. Turning toward Penelope and the others, he motioned for them to check that out first, then continued on into another hall directly ahead.

Please let me find Brains. God, please.

Belah watched as a strange bluish light appeared inside the rectangle frame of his time gate. If his calculations were correct, he would arrive in the past approximately one month before he'd destroyed Thunderbirds 1 and 2. Strapped to his back was a pack full of weapons and other gadgets he could use to find and eliminate Jeff Tracy. He stood poised in front of the gate and checked his watch. He had to wait ten more minutes before the gate would be properly adjusted to his selected date and time.

Ten more minutes before the ultimate victory would be his.

"Ready, Brains?"

"I-I believe so, uh, Scott," Brains replied. He looked around the room. Every single resident of Tracy Island was present, and they were all wearing white radiation suits and helmets. It had taken some time for him to modify them each so they would protect their occupants as fully as possible from the waves he expected to come forth from the phase converter again, but now they were as ready as they'd ever be.

"All right, everyone. Stand back," Scott said as he himself took a few steps back from the converter. "Fire her up, Brains."

He turned on the computer. Then he turned on the generator. Finally, he turned on the phase converter. He looked at his watch. "Five minutes to the point a-at which Mr. Tracy touched the, uh, converter," he announced.

"Wait a minute," Tin-Tin said, stepping forward. "That's right! He touched it!"

"What are you getting at?"

"Virgil, what if the only way to recreate the time gate is for one of us to actually touch the converter? After all, that's what triggered it before."

"She's right," Scott said. "If we don't recreate it exactly as it happened, it may not work."

"And I suppose you think you're going to be the one to touch it."

"Four minutes," Brains said.

"Damn right I am, Virg," Scott replied, pulling off his right glove and throwing it to the floor. "Just tell me when, Brains."

Everyone exchanged worried looks, but they knew Tin-Tin was right. And arguing about who should actually touch it wouldn't do anybody any good.

"Be careful, Scott."

Scott turned around and flashed Virgil a grin. "Always."

Jeff heard something in front of him, and pressed himself flat into the wall of the small hallway he was in. It sounded like something being dragged. His finger poised over the trigger of his laser rifle as he peered into the murky darkness ahead. There was light on the other side, but it was too faint for him to see clearly. Slowly he inched along the wall, his ears straining. Whatever it was sounded quite close.

Suddenly he saw a dark shadow appear not five feet in front of him. With a great cry, he leapt into the middle of the hall, his rifle trained on the stooped figure. "Identify yourself!" he growled.

He saw the shadow drop something to the floor before standing upright. "I said, identify yourself!"

"I am Chien, His Excellency's aide. Who are you?"

"That's not your concern. Does Gaat have a scientist here? Someone who invented all his machinery?"

Chien did not reply.

"Answer me, dammit!"

"It is funny you should ask that. I ask you again, who are you?"

Jeff walked forward a few steps until the light coming from behind Chien was just right to illuminate the Asian man's face. Apparently, it illuminated Jeff's as well, for Chien gasped.

"I was right. He has been lying to us. You're not dead at all."

"Damn right I'm not. Now, is that scientist here?"

Chien looked briefly down at the floor. Jeff followed the glance and saw an extremely thin, pale body lying at Chien's feet.

"Is that him? Is that him?" The aide nodded. Jeff took one more step forward. "Is he dead?"

"Barely alive," Chien replied. He chose that moment to reach inside his ornate jacket and whip out a pistol. But before he could even take aim, Jeff fired.

Chien slumped to the floor in a heap next to the man he'd dropped. Jeff's rifle clattered to the ground as he rushed to kneel beside what looked like nothing more than a skeleton with fake skin stretched across it. He rolled the body over and choked out a sob when he saw the man's face. "Brains!"

Gently he cradled his engineer in his arms. He couldn't weigh more than sixty pounds. His head was shaved clean, his body riddled with bruises, scars and marks indicating recent torture. "My God, Brains. My God. What did he do to you?"

No matter what he tried, Jeff couldn't rouse Brains from unconsciousness. He rose to his feet, pulling the dying man up beside him. Just as he reached down to grab his rifle, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold.

A scream. And not just any scream.

"Penny!" he cried. Grabbing the rifle, he lifted Brains up over his shoulder and ran back the way he'd come. "Penny!"