After taking a deep breath to calm himself Tom began, “So no, I don’t think we can let on that we are aware of their plan, just yet. But, I know it is up to us as a team to find a solution to this situation. I just don’t have a clue, at this moment as to what it may be that we can do out here, on our way to Mars to stop kidnappers back on Earth.”
Brandon considered this a moment, “You’re right, what the hell can we do way out here? We’re at their mercy.” Then he had a notion flash through his mind, “Wow! If Ty had any idea his wife may have been murdered in an attempt on his life… he’d be on the next flight to… well, anywhere after those bastards, even if it led him straight into Hell.”
Then, Valerie had an inspiration. “I’ve got an idea for us to consider. We may just have a couple of aces up our sleeve they aren’t counting on. Perhaps Ty should be informed,” she started to say.
“Are you space happy?” Brandon broke in, almost shouting as he jumped up to his feet. “That would really shove him over the edge.”
Valerie raised her hand. “Hear me out…” she paused. “Ty lives in Richmond, Jackie and Mike, in Charlottesville. So he’s only about an hour away by car. I think assisting us could do him a lot of good. Maybe even make him feel better by knowing he is taking part in resolving our problem and striking back at those who snatched Claire from him. It’ll make him feel like his life has purpose again, and that his loss was not in vain.
“Of course, I’m only speculating about Claire, so we need to be careful in what we say to him. His accident might really just be a big coincidence, after all…” Valerie paused wondering how much she should say next. “Remember on the day we launched, there was a second big news story involving a terrorist cell being taken down in Chicago? Well, that was my husband Steve and his team.”