John sat back. A possibility. Had they actually found him? Found Scott? He let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding and ran a hand through his hair.

He closed his eyes as memories assailed him

10 months ago…

'Scott, we have a situation.'

'Go ahead, John.'

'There is an developing situation in the German Alps. A severe weather front is coming in and there are a pair of skiers that have been reported missing from a group of five. Speed is of the essence here, Scott. I'll let Virgil know and he'll join you when he's free.

'FAB, John. I'm on my way.'

One got there in good speed and the rescue proceeded as normal, Scott talking on and off to John as the recue progressed. And then…

'Right, John I see two me…'

'Scott?'

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even static, which was common when there was snow. It was just dead. The kind of dead that shouted: 'signal jammer'.

He spun and twisted and flicked and EOS helped but nothing changed. John left EOS to carry on trying to boost the signal to Scott while John spoke to Virgil and Gordon.

'Scott's signal has disappeared, Virgil.'

'What? Is it the snow?'

'No. No static. It just cut dead'

'We're just putting the equipment away but we're still 20 minutes out.'

'EOS, how long to position Five?'

'Six minutes to position, eight minutes to drop the elevator. But Jo…'

'Do it, John. Virgil, hurry. I have a bad feeling about this.'

Gordon's voice cut across everything. The command in his voice told his brothers he had already switched to military mode, and communication stopped while everyone got on with the process of trying to get to Scott.

As the elevator dropped John onto the mountainside next to One EOS announced she'd made some headway getting through the jammer. As John sprinted as best as his space legs could carry him, listening as broken bits of speech came over the comms.

The words froze John's heart and made his speed up.

'Virgil, Gordon, please tell me you're close. We have a problem.'

'We're still four minutes out, John.'

'Talk to us John. What's going on?'

'EOS has managed to get through the shielding.'

'And?'

'They are talking about taking him over the border. And they mentioned him by name.'

'Wait – are you telling us what I think you're telling us?'

'Bereznik. They're taking Scott to Bereznik.'

'We're almost there, John.'

'It's too late, Gordon. They've already crossed the border.'

...

'John? Is everything alright?'

John glanced up at EOS. Her lights indicated the concern he heard in her voice, and he smiled weakly at her. She'd been instrumental in the search for Scott, helping him tap into all kinds of networks.

Together with Penny and Gordon they had tracked Scott being moved three times, from one prison to another, always just before they had plans in place. They couldn't just go and get him, Bereznik was off-limits for oh so many reasons.

But as time moved on and the GDF did nothing but make mooted noises about trying to find a way to get the government there to even admit that Scott was in their country, let alone a 'guest' in one of their prisons.

After the third move and losing all track of him, Gordon, John, Kayo and Penny agreed that they would need to intervene themselves.

And now they could – if they moved fast. Even though Penny had been acting for the World Council, they were all pretty sure whoever it was calling the shots over Scott's imprisonment would move him as soon as possible. They had come up with a plan if this ever happened, and already Kayo and Gordon were on comms with him and Penny.

From the second Penny had said 'I believe I might have something' to now was 15 minutes. Another 10 minutes and they were ready to roll.

Time to move.

Time to get their brother back.

Before they moved him again.