Alan went into the Temple with a yawn. Okay, it was pretty, but he was suddenly losing interest in the whole trip. He was seriously thinking of trying out the local tourist ‘bungee’ jump a few miles away when, wandering amongst the huge ornamental pillars and the overwhelming clouds of incense, he saw a small boy running towards him,

"Help me! He’s got my mom! Help me!" he was British, he stared up at Alan with enormous brown eyes. Alan instantly took pity on him,

"Okay, kid, slow down. Who’s got your mom?"

"Come with me!" the kid ran away and Alan yelled,

"Wait! Hey!" he ran after the boy and down one of the dark golden corridors at the back of the temple. The kid had vanished and Alan stood there for a moment, aware that he was completely alone. "Hello?" Alan heard a door slam and spun round. A second later there was a hissing sound. He started to choke and covered his mouth, coughing and choking. He sank to his knees. The world lurched like a bad case of altitude sickness. Alan saw a bright door-shaped light just as his vision blurred, and a powerful figure came towards him and he felt himself lifted before he lost the battle and spun into great black void.

"I don’t think we’re gonna make it!"

"We’ve got to. We’ve just got to!"

"But I can’t remake the join in time!"

"Try, dammnit! We only have three minutes before we’re finished!"

"I can’t do it! This is it, Virg!"

"We’re not finished yet. Hand me that egg beater, Scott."

"You can’t be thinking…"

"Yes I am. Maybe another egg’ll hold this mess together." Virgil glared at the mess in the bowl and Scott passed him the eggs,

"Good luck, bro."

"Thanks." Virgil and Scott both jumped when they heard the voice they had been dreading,

"What on earth are you two up to?" it was TinTin, in her dressing gown and rubbing her dark eyes sleepily, "It’s nearly time for Father to be making breakfast." She eyed the mess in the kitchen, "If he doesn’t have a heart attack after seeing this tip!"

"It’s for you!" Scott said quickly. She raised her eyebrows. Virgil spoke up,

"Look, we know you’re missing Alan being away and all. Thought that, y’know, we’d cook you breakfast then take you water skiing off Mateo Island."

"Dad wants us to do some repairs over there, anyway. What do you say?" Scott grinned. She looked at their floured faces and the minor destruction caused by the two brother’s efforts to make pancakes. At least that’s what they appeared to be. Two slightly frayed efforts were currently oozing off the ceiling. Looking back at their suddenly very apprehensive expressions she couldn’t help laughing,

"All right! But I’d better cook or we’ll never get anywhere today!"

"Or we’ll get borderline food poisoning." Scott sniggered. Virgil prodded the remains of his efforts with the wooden fork while TinTin cleaned up good-naturedly and they discussed what Alan’s plans could be. "I hope he’s enjoying himself. He went to a Sikh Temple this morning."

"Alan’s discovered religion." Virgil laughed.

"Owww." Alan groaned. He could hardly open his eyes and his head hurt so much. He tried to move but found himself bound in a sitting position.

"So, you’ve come round at last." A mocking voice that was chillingly familiar pierced the fog of his brain. Alan squinted at the voice that was standing in front of a bright light again. As it came into view Alan saw a pair of large glaring eyes and a bald dome of a head. He tried to remember where he had seen that face before,

"Who are you?" he asked thickly. His captor chuckled scornfully,

"I am your worst nightmare, Mr Tracy. You are going to get me the secrets of International Rescue, and for this reason, you are still alive."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about! I don’t know anything about International Rescue!" Alan lied desperately. The man leaned over him and put a hand on his shoulder. He laughed again,

"Don’t try and get out of this by lying. I will use you to lure the others into my trap. They will pay dearly to get you back!"

"It’s kinda quiet around here without Alan." Virgil observed. Scott didn’t answer, his mouth full of the delicious pancakes that TinTin had created from the lumpy goop from earlier. Scott finished swallowing and agreed,

"Think one of us should have a tantrum next?"

"You two are so bitter." TinTin scolded in barely hidden amusement. Scott winked at her, and then he drained his coffee mug and stood up,

"I’m gonna run a couple checks on the ship. See you in the lounge, okay?" the other two murmured in agreement.

Alan struggled uselessly against his bonds. He saw that he was no longer in the city. As his eyes accustomed to the light he made out trees and greenery outside. The sounds of birds filtered into his ears, and the scream of some wild cat out there as well. He tried to get to his watch. Who was this guy? Obviously it was someone who they had fought before. Scott had tangled with him more than once, but to Alan’s knowledge he had never really met him. Oh, great. He wondered unhappily how he was going to prevent him from blackmailing his family.

The door opened. Alan glanced up. The little boy from before came in, carrying a tray containing a bowl of weird grey liquid he hoped was soup.

"The Hood wants you to eat this." He said. Alan wondered,

"How? And who are you?"

"I’m meant to untie you. If you don’t let me out he’s gonna kill my mom." The little boy told him solemnly. Alan frowned,

"He’s really got your mom?"

"Yeah." The kid untied Alan and the astronaut stood up shakily. He said,

"Thanks anyway. What’s your name?"

"Chris Ripley." The kid said.

"Do you know how to get out of here?"

"Bye, mister." He said. He ran from the room and Alan frowned. The door slammed and locked. Alan knew that he hadn’t followed because of what Chris had said. The man had drawn another helpless victim into this. Alan folded his arms and looked out of the thick barred windows. He was determined to escape. Before his brothers could be put in danger.

What will happen to Alan?  You decide...