Manipulation

Brains and Bekkah both sat fuzzy-brained through their respective panel discussions. For Brains, this was not a big problem; he was still sufficiently anonymous that people didn't ask him too many questions. For Bekkah, it was a problem. Her reputation meant that not only did the audience expect technical answers in great depth, but with dazzling wit, too. She apologized to the audience, telling them that she wasn't feeling well.

The International Rescue technical trio ate dinner together in Tin-Tin's room. She was alarmed at the change that had come over her colleagues. Bekkah was teary-eyed and sensitive about everything, while Brains argued and took offense. He threw a dish against the wall, which sent Bekkah into paroxysms of sobs.

Tin-Tin was the one who called Tracy Island to give them the news about the contagion.

"Mr. Tracy, they are both basket cases. Brains is angry and getting violent. Bekkah can't stop crying. I wish there was something I could do for them."

"I'll be out in the morning with the jet to get you all. Maybe being at home will help calm them. I'm afraid that if Brains isn't functional, you'll have to be the one to find a cure. Working with this Dr. Mohenu might be a good idea; she impressed me as being extremely intelligent. As far as Gordon is concerned, I've noticed that he's been unusually short-tempered with his brothers today. I'm grounding him from any rescues until we have this thing sorted out." Jeff's face softened. "You take care of yourself, too, Tin-Tin. We need you more than ever."

"I will, Mr. Tracy. Goodbye." Tin-Tin shut down communications. She looked at her companions. Brains was furiously pacing around the room, looking like he wanted to throw something else. Bekkah was curled up on the bed, apparently asleep. That's a help, Tin-Tin thought. I only have to deal with him right now.

The videophone rang. Tin-Tin answered it. The caller had selected voice only.

"Hello, Miss Kryano speaking."

"Miss Kyrano, I am Dr. Evodie Mohenu of Abidjan Central Hospital. I was told I could find Mr. Hackenbacker with you. Is he there?"

"Yes, Dr. Mohenu. He is, but he may not be in any condition to talk."

"Still, I must speak with him."

"Very well."

She called to Brains. "Dr. Mohenu would like to speak to you, Brains."

He came over to the videophone. "What do you want?" he snarled.

"Mr. Hackenbacker, a colleague of mine has found something that may help you and Dr. Barnes. Could you come to the hospital?"

"What did they find?" He was still angry.

"I can't tell you over the phone; it's too complicated. Please come to the hospital and I can show you."

"Oh, all right."

"Bring Dr. Barnes with you, too."

"Okay. I'll wake the crybaby up. See you soon."

"Goodbye, Mr. Hackenbacker."

Evodie closed the call. The hand with the gun in it did not relax.

"Very well done, Doctor. Very well indeed. I am afraid I cannot leave you to notify the police of what just occurred. So please come along, Doctor." The gun motioned her to the door. With a heavy sigh, she moved toward it, the gun following her through the halls.

Tin-Tin argued with Brains about the necessity of Bekkah going with him. "She just fell asleep! Leave her alone!"

"I have to bring her. If what Dr. Mohenu found will help her, she should be there to see it."

"You can come back for her later."

"No! She is coming! No more arguing!"

He went over to Bekkah and shook her roughly. "Wake up. We've got to go!"

Bekkah woke slowly. "Go where?" she asked fearfully.

"To the hospital. Dr. Mohenu found something."

"Oh. Okay."

Tin-Tin helped Bekkah up. "I'm going with you," she told Brains.

"Okay. All right. Whatever you want," he replied gruffly.

Brains pushed Tin-Tin and Bekkah roughly towards the elevator.

"Don't push!" Bekkah whined, close to tears again. She sat down in the hallway.

"Stop sniffling!" he snapped, grabbing her wrist and dragging her along. Tin-Tin moved along quickly to keep him happy.

Once out in the front of the hotel, Tin-Tin hailed a cab. They got inside. Tin-Tin was about to tell the driver to take them to the hospital, when a black man climbed in the back with them. A slight black woman climbed into the front. Both had guns drawn and pointed at the trio.

"You know where to go," the woman told the driver. He nodded. The cab took off.

"What is the meaning of this outrage?" Brains shouted.

"Just keep calm and no one will get hurt," said the woman. Bekkah looked at her closely.

"I've seen you somewhere before. I wish I could remember where."

Tin-Tin sat quiet and still. Obviously, this had been planned. The phone call and the taxi. All she could do was wait to see what was going on.

Behind them, they heard the sound of an explosion. Then another. And another. The three friends turned around in the cab to see three rooms at the hotel were on fire. Tin-Tin wasn't sure, but she thought that perhaps, just perhaps, they were the rooms that they had been occupying. The hotel passed from their sight as the cab sped on.

The cab took them to an industrial park by the airport. They entered a building through a garage door, which closed silently behind them. The woman and man with the guns got out. So did the driver. He pulled a gun out, too.

"Take the stairs." he said, motioning them over to a door. The woman opened it for them and they descended.

They had gone down two flights of stairs when Brains pushed the man next to him out of the way. He tried to grab the man's gun, but the other man moved and brought his pistol's butt down on Brains' head. He fell, dazed.

"Pick him up," the woman told the men. Between them they grabbed Brains' arms and dragged him down the stairs. She kept her gun trained on Tin-Tin and Bekkah.

At the bottom, she opened the door and looked around carefully. They were in a long hallway. "That way." She pointed to the right. The hallway was filled with the smell of antiseptic and ozone.

Finally, they came to a large room. In the center of the room was a machine. A machine with a dentist's style chair. Restraints on it for head, waist, arms and legs. It hummed under a bright light. Tin-Tin's blood ran cold. She moved her hand to her watch, activating the emergency signal.

The eyes on Alan's portrait blinked. All eyes turned to him as his portrait was replaced by real-time video of his anxious face.

"What is the emergency, Alan?" Jeff asked, activating the desktop microphone.

Alan looked pale. "Explosions have rocked the Abidjan Royale Hotel, Father. On the 14th and 15th floors. People are trapped above on the upper floors and the roof. The authorities can't contain the fires and want us to help them evacuate those on the roof."

Jeff started at Alan's message. "Didn't Brains and Tin-Tin have rooms on the 14th floor? And Bekkah on the 15th? It doesn't sound good."

At the same time, the emergency signal from Tin-Tin's watch sounded in the room. Scott and Virgil looked at each other. How would Dad handle this? John looked over at Gordon. He was pale, but resolute.

"It's obvious that Tin-Tin is in trouble. And possibly Brains and Bekkah, too. But we can't let their proximity to the danger influence our response. Scott, off you go. Get coordinates from Alan in the air. Virgil, load up Thunderbird 2 with plenty of dicetyline. Have we tested the new firefighting equipment? The dicetyline blasters? If not, here's the perfect time to do so. Take Firefly and the dicetyline elevator car, too. In pod 3. Getting victims off the roof is first priority, then fighting the fire, then finding Tin-Tin. Take both Gordon and John. Gordon, you'll have to keep yourself under strict control. One step out of line and I'll have Scott lock you up in the pod, understand?" Gordon nodded. "Alan, you monitor communications with Tin-Tin. Keep us informed on her situation."

"Thunderbirds are go!"