Synchronization in Chaos

by Cindy Combs

  In the van, Nathan sorted through his tools as MacGyver sat holding his satellite phone, swiftly thinking through various options. Sam shifted in his seat, feeling the weight of Standish's backup piece in his pocket. He prayed Blair and Jim were okay while hoping his father didn't notice the gun. Without the same concerns, O'Neill sat next to Sam, openly checking the weapon the sheriff had lent him.

  MacGyver glanced at Jack, trying not to look at the gun. "You didn't need to come along. You could have stayed in Ridgway with Daniel."

  "Doesn't take two to call the General," Jack replied wryly, closing the gun with a click.

  Mac pointed his chin at Jack's cast. "You're still recovering."

  "This?" Jack lifted the arm. "This is nothing."

  "Jaa-ack."

  "Gus, Blair and Jim are consultants for my unit, and thus my responsibility. You and Sam are involved as well. Where else do you think I'd be?"

  Mac couldn't help but shake his head. "Thank you."

  Russell Station

  After staying low and weaving around various rocks, Blair adjusted his backpack as he studied the man by the pole. Deciding the guard didn't look that intelligent, Blair threw a small rock. It hit the metal pole with a loud ping. The militiaman glanced around, trying to identify the sound. With a smirk, Blair threw another rock. This time, the man stepped around to investigate the noise.

  Patiently, Blair waited until the man was standing in front of him. Then he stood up and touched the barrel of his borrowed gun against the man's neck. "Put your hands on your head." The militia guard stiffened, then obeyed. Carefully, Blair ordered his prisoner to walk to the gate.

  A few moments later, Buck appeared, holding his gun on another militiaman who was helping a limping third. "Look at what I found, Prof."

  Blair grinned. "We're collecting quite a set."

  The limping man glared back at his captor. "You don't know who you're messing with."

  Rolling his eyes, Buck indicated for the man to join Blair's prisoner by the gate. "No, you have no idea who YOU are messing with." Once in place, Buck asked, "You still got those 'presents' from the deputy?"

  "Oh yeah. I've been looking forward to this." Blair stepped forward, holding a couple of pairs of handcuffs. Remembering his treatment while held by the Sun Rise Patriots, the young man thoroughly enjoyed cuffing the men together. By the time he was done, the cuffs were looped through the hefty metal grid work of a nearby meter.

  Buck grinned. "I really like your work, Prof."

  Blair turned and was about to reply when the gate opened. Both he and Wilmington spun, guns drawn. Vin exited, glancing at the prisoners and nodding his approval. With a wave, he led the other two into the facility.

  They met Ellison just inside the fence. Blair studied his partner's face a moment. "We're clear?" he whispered.

  Jim shrugged. "I'm sure there's more. Just not sure where."

  Blair stepped a little closer, keeping his voice low. "Can you hear heartbeats?"

  Jim tilted his head a moment, then shook it. "There's a humming from all the electricity flowing through this place. I feel like I'm next to a mega-watt battery inside a Gameboy."

  "Can you filter it out?"

  "I can try, but it's as much touch as sound. I'm not sure it'll work."

  Nearby, Buck was studying the facility. Huge transformer towers of metal and plastic rose around them. Even Buck could sense the power flowing through the wires. "Okay, if I was a bomb, where would I hide?"

  Vin, too, looked around. "Wherever all the electricity's flowing through?"

  "Any idea where that might be?"

  "Nope."

  Buck sighed. "Well, we'd better figure it out quick."

  With half an ear on the agents' conversation, Blair continued to think hard. He turned to his partner. "Jim, nix the heartbeats. Can you smell anything?"

  Jim tilted his head a little more. After a moment, he answered. "There's a kind of faint chemical smell that's different from everything else."

  "That could be the bomb. Let's see if we can find it." Visualizing the scent on the air, Jim stepped forward to track it. Blair followed him deeper into the facility, Buck and Vin right behind them.

  When Jim paused, Buck immediately spotted the device. "There it is." Buck stepped forward and knelt before the large case leaning against one of the towers. The agent drew several deep breaths as he cleared his mind and stilled his body. Behind him, Vin watched his partner intently. He had never seen Buck deal with a bomb before, and was impressed by the calm that filled the normally energetic man.

  Nearby, Blair checked the open line of his cell phone. "Mac, Blair. We found it." The young detective listened for a moment, nodded, then cautiously called out, "Buck."

  Buck held out a hand for the phone. He took it and softly replied, "Wilmington... Yeah, it looks like the others..."

  Blair turned back to Jim and Vin as he pulled off his backpack. "Mac said to tell you there was enough missing from the inventory to make five bombs. This is only number four."

  Vin's eyes grew wide. "So there could be another one hiding around here?"

  Jim grew thoughtful. "Didn't Standish say something about a double failure? That could require two bombs." He patted his partner on the shoulder. "Stay here with Buck -- you're our best bet to help him figure out your Dad's improvisations. Vin and I'll go hunting for the other bomb."

  Before Vin could follow, Blair grabbed his arm. "Sometimes when Jim focuses too hard on one sense, he can get lost in it," he whispered worriedly. "If he suddenly stops moving and his eyes go blank, shake him." Vin nodded seriously, then trotted after his former C.O.

  "...So we start with the motion detector." Buck turned to Blair. "You wouldn't happen to have a screw driver, would you?"

  Blair smiled as he pulled out his Swiss Army knife. "Never leave home without one."

  ATF Van

  "...the third screw is removed, gently pull off the lid..."

  The steep mountain canyon was giving way to smooth slopes. Sam glanced at his father, concentrating on his phone, then glanced at O'Neill and Nathan. "How much farther?"

  Jack thought a moment. "Probably about ten miles."

  Sam frowned. He was worried that Jim and his brother could be captured by militiamen before they reached them. Jack, reading the expression, squeezed the younger man's shoulder.

  Suddenly, Josiah slammed on the brakes. Chris' truck had suddenly slid sideways ahead of them. Nathan, steadying MacGyver from the force, looked forward. "What's wrong?" They all winced as the sound of gunfire answered Nathan's question.

  Chancing a glance out the window, Sam swore under his breath. "Looks like the guys who chased us from that park."

  MacGyver lifted his head from the phone, brow wrinkled. Jack pointed his cast arm at him. "You concentrate on the bomb. We'll take care of this problem."

  "Amen, Brother." Josiah carefully popped the driver side door to slide out of the van, Nathan on his heels.

  Jack and Sam slipped to the front, Jack silently indicating for Sam to take Josiah's place at the wheel. Jack realized that keeping Mac's connection to the agent with the bomb was the top priority -- if they had to retreat to keep his 'twin' safe, so be it.

  Josiah and Nathan worked their way to Chris' truck. Four trucks were parked ahead of them, firing at the Ram. Chris, Ezra and JD were taking turns ducking and shooting back at their assailants. "Buck find the bomb yet?" Chris asked tersely as he reloaded.

  "Yep." Nathan quickly shot at a grizzly-looking fellow in the winter fatigues who had popped around a green Ford. Dropping back to the ground, he continued, "MacGyver's talking him through now."

  JD bit his lip. They had to give the bomb expert time to help Buck. He fired another shot around the bumper.

  "We have a plan?" Josiah asked calmly before shooting over the hood.

  Chris winced as another series of pings hit his truck. Anger surged as he thought of the repair bill in his future. "Shoot the bastards?"

 
"Sounds like another game-winning strategy to me," Ezra replied. He, too, was becoming very tired at being shot at. Three more agents and the sheriff joined them from the rest of the caravan.

  "What we need is Vin here to shoot the gas tank on one of those junkers," Nathan pointed out.

  Lifting an eyebrow, Chris glanced at his youngest agent. "Want to give it a shot, JD?"

  JD looked up, surprised. "Sure."

  Chris pulled a rifle from out of the truck. JD dropped to the ground, then wiggled underneath until he had a good view of the Ford. Drawing a deep breath, the agent tried to remember all of Vin's advice from the firing range. After taking careful aim and releasing half a breath, he pulled the trigger. The truck suddenly exploded.

  "All right!" Nathan exclaimed. The rest of the militiamen raced away from the trucks, holding up their hands.

  "Let's clear the road and move it!" Chris ordered.

  Russell Station

  Jim was trying to be both careful and alert as he and Vin searched the rest of the switching station. Not only was there the possibility of another bomb, but there was still the matter of the bomber. Thankfully, the place wasn't that big. Using Blair's and Buck's voices to ground him, the sentinel used his enhanced sight and smell to search for trouble.

  Covering his back, Vin also used his eyes to search. "Shouldn't there be guards or workmen or something around here?"

  Checking behind a tower, Jim shook his head. "Most these places are automated."

  Vin swiftly swung his gun around a corner. "You know, considering the importance, that's not very smart." He knelt down, studying a suspicious box.

  "Just another example on how lax security is in this country. It'll probably take something big before anyone starts taking it seriously." Suddenly, Jim stopped in his tracks, head tilted.

  Vin stood up. Remembering Blair's warning, he studied his former C.O worriedly. "Cap'n?"

  "...So I finally get to meet the infamous Blair Sandburg..."

  "Damn. Someone's found Blair and Buck." Jim turned back to his partner and ran, with Vin on his heels.

  Blair scored the glass around the end of a tube. "I didn't understand why Mac wanted us to pick up two straight neon lights, but now it makes sense. What a great way to suck up a powder in a vacuum."

  Buck pulled a small piece of gum out of his mouth. "Yeah, especially since one whiff of air can ignite it and set the whole thing off. You should stand back once I start working." Buck paused as he listened to the phone. "Your dad said he's done this before."

  Blair shook his head as he handed Buck the tube. "You know, I don't even want to go there."

  Buck broke off the end of the tube and swiftly plugged it with the gum. "We can ask later." He turned back to the bomb and began to gingerly ease the tube through the plastic caulking surrounding the case.

  Blair took a step back as he followed the expert's advice. "Good thing we had the deputy with us; I doubt the bar owner would have given them to us otherwise." Blair suddenly paused as a soft footstep reached his ear. Pulling the borrowed gun from the waistband of his jeans, he clicked off the safety and held it ready.

  "I'm in," Buck reported as he concentrated on his work. "No sign of air seepage. Am popping the gum off now..."

  Blair was about ready to write off the noise as a product of a stressed and over-active mind when he heard another noise behind him. The young detective spun, finding himself face to face with another man holding a gun on him. The brown-haired man was trim and lanky, with enough similarity in the face for Blair to realize he was the other Kincaid.

  "So I finally get to meet the infamous Blair Sandburg," the man sneered. Behind Blair, Buck's back tightened, but he began to suck up the dangerous powder with the neon tube.

  Blair trained his weapon on the man. "Yep, that's me. Who are you?"

  "Decker Kincaid. It was my cousin you sent to prison."

  "Well, if your cousin hadn't broken several laws and killed people, he wouldn't be in prison."

  "Shut up!" The fanatic light in the other man's eyes sent a shiver down Blair's back. "We don't recognize the law of the oppressors. Collaborators like you will be executed once we're in control!"

  "Yeah, yeah, I've heard that before," Blair replied as he stayed between Buck and the militia man. "You responsible for the bomb?"

  "Bombs." Decker emphasized the plural. "You won't be able to disarm them both in time."

  Ah, hell, Dad was right. "Really? Want to drop that gun and time us?"

  Before Decker could reply, another voice interjected silkily. "You might live longer that way."

  "Let me guess," Decker snarled, "Detective James Ellison?"

  "Got it in one," Jim replied. "Now drop the gun before I drop you."

  Buck lifted his head from the bomb, catching a shadow on the right.

  "Ah, but I can still get one shot off. So I'd drop your gun before I shoot scruffy here."

  ~BANG~

  Both Blair and Kincaid jumped from the loud noise. Buck nonchalantly laid the tube, now empty of its explosive contents, on the floor next to him.

  ~pft~

  Blair blinked as Kincaid fell to the ground, clutching his right shoulder. He glanced back at Buck.

  "Powder has been removed from the case," the tall man reported into the phone, smiling at the younger man. "Now pulling off the glass."

  "Nice shot, Slick," Jim complimented his friend as he reached down to haul the injured bomber to his feet.

  "Buck gave me a sign that he was about to do something, so I was prepared," Vin glared at the suspect.

  Blair tossed Jim another pair of handcuffs. "He said there's more bombs."

  Jim cuffed the bomber's wrists. "Where's the other one?" When Decker remained silent, Jim shook him.

  "Trigger disconnected. Bomb disarmed. Four minutes left on timer. Hang on." Buck turned to the others. "You guys have any luck?"

  Trading glares with Decker, Jim shook his head.

  Vin snapped his fingers. "I think I might have found something." He quickly led Buck and Blair to the box he had spotted earlier, Jim dragging his prisoner behind them.

  Buck knelt down to study it. "How much time?" he asked.

  Jim shook the prisoner again. "Not enough," Decker replied smugly.

  Blair glanced around the area. "Think you can disable the motion detector quickly?"

  Buck looked back. "Sure."

  "Then do it." Vin and Jim traded puzzled glances as Blair dashed to a nearby cart. Nodding, Vin raced to the gate while Jim helped Blair maneuver it into place.

  "Done." Buck lifted the box up and onto the cart. Together, the three men began pushing the cart. As they picked up speed, Vin pulled open the gate. With one last shove, the cart and its dangerous cargo rolled out onto the empty grassland. It exploded in a roar of flames.

  Blair turned back to his partner. Jim was leaning forward, hands rubbing his ears. "You okay?"

  "Yeah, fine." Then Jim looked around. "Where did Kincaid go?"

  Blair, too, starting looking. "Oh, oh..."

  The switching station was in sight when a huge explosion ripped through the air. Chris felt his stomach clench as he pressed on the gas pedal.

  "That was outside of the facility," Ezra pointed out, trying to reassure himself as well as his leader.

  JD's cell rang. "Hello?... Chris, Josiah said that MacGyver said that Jim, Buck, and Blair pushed the second bomb outside the station. They're all okay."

  Feeling like his heart was finally pumping again, Chris stopped the truck outside the gate where his missing agents had three prisoners lined up. The van pulled up right behind them.

  Vin waved. "About time, Cowboy. You've missed all the action." Vin's eyes continued to search the area, hoping to spot the missing bomber.

  "I'm not so sure about that." Buck waved at the bullet holes. "Those all from the park?"

  "Nah, picked up a few more on the way here." Chris looked at Buck sternly. "I thought you were disarming that bomb, not blowing it up." />
  Buck chuckled. "There was more than one, and I didn't have enough time for the second. The first should give us plenty of evidence, though."

  Chris' eyes narrowed. "Are you limping?"

  "I'm fine, Stud."

  The word 'fine' tipped the balance. 'Fine' with his team covered everything from sprains to bleeding to death. Chris turned back to the team's medic. "Nathan!"

  Behind them, Sam was greeting his brother with a hug. "Man, Indy, I've been worried about you."

  "Same here, Olsen."

  "Where's Jim?"

  "Tracking down one more terrorist."

  Before Sam could reply, a gunshot rang out. MacGyver was standing still, hands raised, as Kincaid pointed his weapon at him. Inspite of the blood on his shoulder, the gun remained steady. "Everyone just stand still!" Decker shouted. "Mr. Fillmore and I are just going to take a little trip."

  "You sure you've got the right man?" Jack O'Neill stood on the other side of Chris' truck, glaring at the bomber.

  As Decker hesitated in confusion, Jim rose from behind a shed and tackled him. They rolled in the yellow dirt, clouds rising into the air. Finally, Jim kneed Decker in the stomach, forcing the militiaman to drop the gun. One solid punch to the face, and Decker Kincaid was out for the count.

  "Nice work, Detective Ellison," Ezra complimented him as he handed over his handcuffs. Jim acknowledged him with a smile as he finished securing the new prisoner.

  Mac gave him a hand up. "You okay?"

  "Yeah."

  Blair and Sam ran up. "Jim? Dad?" Sam asked breathlessly.

  "Fine." MacGyver stared at his sons and Jim. "Can't you three go anywhere without getting into trouble?"

  "Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Sam returned.

  "Yeah," Blair added. "Remember Wyoming?"

  "San Francisco," Jim included.

  "Chicago," Blair continued.

  "Nah, Chief, that was just Sam," Jim corrected. "Mac didn't make Chicago because of Wyoming."