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Chapter 7: Tin-Tin Kidnapped

           Standing alongside the one remaining Secure mobile truck, Ford and his guards watched the entrance to Thunderbird 2's pod intently. Ford was starting to get a bit restless, it seemed to him rather a long time since the Mole had returned into it's bay and the girl in the team had disappeared from site into the pod. Suddenly at the top of the ramp Symonds appeared with his left arm around Tin-Tin's neck and Virgil's commandeered pistol pointing at her head in his other hand. Sanchez then walked down the ramp and past the Firefly. The two criminals had decided it was a waste of time to steal one of the International Rescue vehicles and had another plan in mind.
            "All of you back off and drop your weapons." Symonds shouted.
            One of the guards made a move towards the pod but was halted by Ford.
            "No" the governor told him, before shouting a reply to Symonds. "How can you do this? These people just saved your lives."
            "Yeah and we're very grateful, that's why they're still alive in there, if sleeping it off shall we say. Nothings gonna stop us this time. Now drop your weapons or the girl gets it."
            "Okay do it." Ford ordered his men.
            The guards duly did as they were ordered.
            "Pedro grab the guns and put them in the jeep"
            Sanchez picked up the guards discarded weapons with a smug smile etched on his face. He then threw them into the back of the Governor's jeep and drove it to the bottom of the pod. By now the other inmates, who were still safely locked in their secure vehicle, were banging on the side and cheering and also begging to be released.
            Symonds forced Tin-Tin down the ramp at gunpoint. She swallowed hard but her concern was as much for injuries Scott and Virgil had sustained as it was for herself. She knew as well that she had better comply with Symonds' orders. To have not done so would not just have endangered her own life, but possibly those of Ford and the other guards now that they were unarmed.
            "Get in." He ordered her. 
            Tin-Tin complied and slid into the middle followed by Symonds who now had the pistol pointed at her waist.
            Sanchez drove the truck alongside the evacuation vehicle and stopped again. The frenzy of the other prisoners rose to a crescendo as they banged on the door and sides of the vehicle. However Sanchez just opened the door to the refrigeration unit, which was situated between the cab and holding area. He then removed various items of food as well as a plentiful supply of fresh water and threw the items into the back of the jeep.
            "Sorry guys, but this is our break. Besides we don't want any of you coming along thinking you're gonna get a share of the money." Symonds told the other prisoners.
            "Right governor we're taking the lady along as insurance. If anybody tries to stop us…..Well you know what'll happen." Symonds added.
            "Leave the girl, take me." Ford pleaded.
            "Sorry governor, not a chance."
            Sanchez grabbed one of the weapons commandeered from the guards and shot out two of the tyres on the mobile holding unit. 
            "So long Governor, I won't say it's been a pleasure." Symonds shouted as Sanchez drove the jeep away towards the horizon.
            Ford stood, shaking his head in disbelief. 
            "Oh my god, what have I done?" He muttered to himself, distraught. "Come on we better go and see what's happened to those other guys they might be badly injured."
            Virgil was just coming round and opened his eyes. He regained his senses quickly and soon remembered what had happened. He felt his saw bottom jaw and moved it from side to side. He then focused his eyes on his eldest brother who was still lying unconscious in a heap alongside the driver's seat, a small patch of blood on his head.
            "Scott!" Virgil exclaimed quietly as he rose unsteadily to his feet.
            Virgil staggered over to a small cabinet and opened its door. He blinked his eyes again, forcing them to focus and removed a small capsule. Kneeling down besides Scott's unconscious body he broke the capsule under his oldest brother's nose. Scott's whole body seemed to shake, then he regained consciousness with a start.
            Scott's head hurt like hell and he had to blink several times to allow his eyes to focus. He rose unsteadily to a sitting position. 
            "Oh Virge, what hap…? Oh yeah I remember those guys knocked us…." A terrible thought suddenly struck Scott.
            "Tin-Tin, my god, Tin-Tin."
            "What about Tin-Tin?"
            "She was outside. I tried to shout a warning to her. Let's hope she got away in time."
            The boys' worst fears were confirmed a few seconds later when Governor Ford appeared at the door to the cabin of the Mole, looking glum. 
            The Governor apologised profusely, but the two Tracy Brothers assured him that they did not hold him responsible for what had happened. Now it was time to call base and this was something Scott was not looking forward to.
            In the Tracy Island lounge Jeff looked grim as his eldest son gave him the news of Tin-Tin's kidnapping. Alan took the news even worse.
            "Father, you have to let me go out there and help" the youngest brother pleaded.
            "No Alan, you're not well enough"
            "But dad."
            "It's out of the question" Jeff told him firmly and Alan, distraught as he was, knew it was pointless to argue with his father any longer.
            "We have to get her back son. What's the action?"
            "Well if the authorities go after these guys it might just provoke them into harming her. My guess is they'll keep her along until they figure they're safe. Virgil and I are going to go after her. I'm going to contact John in Thunderbird 5. Hopefully Tin-Tin's either got her edible transmitter operating or she's swallowed it, either way John should be able to get a fix on her position."
            "Go to it Scott and keep in touch. I'm now going to have to break the news to Kyrano."
            Jeff duly did so and the loyal Asian looked very sad. Jeff could not remember see him looking this way before. Then suddenly Kyrano perked up. He held no-one at International Rescue responsible for what had happened.
            "Mr Tracy, I know she will be safe, if it is your boys who are going after her. I know they will get her back safely."
            Jeff nodded. He could only admire Kyrano's loyalty and optimism in this situation. However Jeff convinced himself, Kyrano was right, Scott and Virgil would bring her back safe and well. That much they all had to hope.

On to Chapter 8.