Rick Daring and The Brilliant 5 – Chapter Six: The Death Trap

DEKKER – Stole the canister of Compound X from Sara.
DARING – Pursues Dekker and his men in the hopes of retrieving the Compound X.

Daring looked over his shoulder just in time to see where the out of control car was heading. He slowly started to lower himself underneath the car. His feet dragged painfully against the pavement. When he gotten himself completely underneath the car, Daring let go, and the car zoomed over him. There was a loud explosion as the car slammed into the tanker. By the time Daring arose from the ground and got his bearings, Dekker and his men had vanished.

Meanwhile, in the burnout husk of an abandoned laboratory, Dekker and Ox entered the darkened room that housed the holographic transmitter. At the appropriate time, the hologram hummed to life, and the two henchmen were in the presence of their mysterious master.

“Success at last,” hissed their master.

“Yes,” replied Dekker. “We’ve obtained the materials to start building the machine.”

“You did well, Dekker,” said the hooded man. “You even succeeded where Ox had failed.” Ox cringed as their master spoke. “Remember, Ox, that I don’t tolerate failure easily. Next time, I will not be so forgiving.”

Both henchmen nodded their heads in mute agreement. “Neither of you know anything about me, but I know where you are at all times because of the tracers I have you wear. It would be quite easy for me to walk up to you and stab you, or to slip poison in your drink. Remember that the next time either of you fails me.”

The hologram hiccupped; static momentarily obscured the hooded man’s visage. “Now, we must proceed with my plans to obtain the rest of the blueprints. Here is what I need you to do…”

Rick Daring and Sara were walking the long hallways of a local hospital. They had just started to recover from Dekker’s recent attack where they heard the news of the saucer crash and rushed over to the hospital. Sara rubbed the back of her head.

“You don’t have to do this,” said Daring. “The guys and I can handle this one.”

“That Compound X was put under my protection,” replied Sara. “I’m not backing out of this until I retrieve it.”

“Fair enough,” said Daring as they entered Old Timer’s room. Old Timer was lying in the hospital bed. Surrounding him was Junior, Marissa, Johnny, and Teresa.

“Daring! Finally!” shouted Old Timer. “Tell these young whippersnappers that I’m fine. They got me all bound up like I’m in my deathbed.”

“It’s good to see you’re doing fine,” said Daring with a smile. “Old Timer, you remember Sara, don’t you?”

“Yer dern tootin’,” replied Old Timer. “Always a pleasure.”

“The same goes for you,” said Sara. “We were so worried when we all heard the news.”

“We were very lucky to walk away with some minor cuts and scrapes. The doctor wanted Old Timer to stay overnight for observation, since he had been unconscious for a long period of time,” stated Johnny.

“Well, phooey with that!” exclaimed Old Timer. “I’m fit as a fiddle!”

“Why don’t you listen to the doctor for a change?” asked Junior.

“You’d like me stuck in a hospital all day,” retorted Old Timer.

“Enough you two,” interrupted Daring. “It wouldn’t hurt to follow the doctor’s order, Old Timer.”

“Hah!” said Junior.

“It won’t be too bad,” said Sara. “Especially with Junior here keeping you company.”

“Huh?” said a bemused Junior. “But… but I got a date tonight!”

“She’ll understand,” said Sara. “You two behave, and we’ll see you in the morning.” Sara bent and kissed Old Timer on the forehead.

“Well, shucks,” was all Old Timer could say.

The next day, Sara and Daring drove to the secret laboratory where the remaining three scientists continued to work on their top secret project. Upon their arrival, the scientists went to meet with them, but only Sergoff and Edwards showed up.
“Where’s Doctor Scott?” asked Daring.

“I don’t know,” replied Sergoff. “Last time I saw him, he was in his private study.” The two scientists led Daring and Sara to Scott’s study. Edwards quietly knocked on the door, but there was no reply.

Daring cautiously opened the door, only to find Scott sitting quietly in his armchair. It was only when they approached him that they discovered that he was dead. Yet there was no sign of a struggle and no wounds found on Scott’s body. Sergoff quietly excused himself from the room, visibly shaken at the sight of the corpse.

“As far as I can tell,” said Sara, examining the body. “He died from asphyxiation.”

Daring nodded his head in agreement. “But what caused it?”

“It looked like he was listening to his radio,” said Edwards idly.

“Don’t touch that!” said both Sara and Daring, but it was already too late. Edwards had twisted the knob on the large stereo. A malevolent voice filled the room as steel door slammed down, covering the window and door.

“Welcome, fools, to your death!” said the eerie voice. “I am the Spectre, and you have stood in my way for long enough. I will have my revenge and show the world what true power is!” Sara and Daring were scanning the room, searching for some possible escape route.

“You will now share the same fate as poor Dr. Scott. It seems like when you activated the radio, it sent a signal to the main computer, telling it that there’s a fire in this room. First, it will seal off the room, and then, it will suck the oxygen out of the room in order to suffocate the fire.” The Spectre let out a maniacal laugh.

Daring and Sara were already taking the carpeting off the floor and pressing them against the room’s vents, trying to prevent the powerful fans from sucking all the air out. Daring signaled Edwards to come over to him. Daring let Edwards take over for him as Daring went and sized up the door.

Daring put his muscular shoulder into the door, but it did not budge. He tried again but knew that force wasn’t going to work. The air was already getting thin, and he was finding it hard to catch his breath. Daring started to pull something out of his watch, when he suddenly collapsed.

“Richard!” exclaimed Sara. Forgetting the vent, she rushed over to his prone body. Checking him, she found him breathing shallowly. Slowly, Sara started giving him mouth to mouth, reviving his lungs with fresh oxygen from hers. But soon, she felt lightheaded, and the room was swaying.

As she fell backwards, she caught Edwards out of the corner of her eyes. He was lying very still on the ground. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was the voice of the sinister Spectre.

“Death is the reward of all who stand in my way! Death!” His eerie laughter filled the quiet room.

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Written by J M Emmons. The story and all characters are copyrighted by J M Emmons.