Storms in Africa

To the Rescue

Charles Wallace was still in Jeremy's living room when his flip-phone rang.

He picked it up to take the call. "Yeah?"

"Mayday, Charles Wallace. It's Sam, buddy" said Sam on the other side.

"What's happening, Sam?" said Charles Wallace.

"Come to the train; we got an emergency here" said Sam. "Calvin and I were in the tea area just now, and we saw Paul Drayton there."

"Paul Drayton?" said Charles Wallace.

"Paul Drayton?" Jeremy whispered with wide eyes. 

"Yeah. And then the IT came from out of nowhere and snatched Calvin up. It took Paul too. We have to hurry and save them" said Sam.

"Okay, I'll be right there. Where's the train now?" said Charles Wallace.

"Northwest of the Sahara."

"Alright. Anything you want me to bring?"

"Yes; our uniforms. And bring Calvin's for when we save him."

"Okay. Stand on the train so I can see you."

"Roger." 

Then Sam hung up the phone.

"What did Sam say?" said Andy.

"I gotta hurry. The IT's got Calvin" said Charles Wallace.

"The what?" said Andy wrinkling her nose.

"The IT. The thing that makes the darkness. Right?" said Jeremy.

"Yeah. And it could be robbing Calvin of his positivity right now" said Charles Wallace.

"But I heard my cousin Paul's name. Did Sam see him?" said Jeremy.

"Yeah. And the IT's taken him too" said Charles Wallace. 

"WHAT?!" Jeremy snapped.

"That's why I gotta get there fast. We can't have the IT attack a respectable person like Paul" said Charles Wallace. 

Jeremy sprung to his feet. "I'm coming with you."

"Jeremy, you can't. You're pregnant" said Andy.

"And you were just going over things to fear about it" said Charles Wallace.

"Charles, I admit I'm horrified for what this pregnancy may do to me" said Jeremy sincerely. "But I've got to save my cousin."

"I'm still not sure about this" said Andy.

"Don't worry about it, Andy. Sam and I will take care of him. You trust us, right?" said Charles Wallace.

"Of course I do. But please, please take care of him. I don't want his fears winning him over when he's trying to face them" said Andy. 

"I give you my word. That will not happen. It's my job to make sure it doesn't" said Charles Wallace bluntly. 

Andy took a breath. "Okay."

She kissed Jeremy goodbye. "Good luck."

"Thank you, m'love" said Jeremy. 

Charles Wallace sprinkled some pixie dust on Jeremy and himself and the two of them flew off. 

They found Sam standing on top of the train near the desert. 

"We got here as quick as we could" said Charles Wallace.

"We did have to fly all the way from England" said Jeremy.

"Uh, Jeremy, what are you doing here?" said Sam.

"Yeah, he kinda heard Paul was trapped" said Charles Wallace.

"I'd certainly like joining the rescue better than worrying about my cousin" said Jeremy. 

Sam took a big breath through her nose. "Alright. But stay right with us. The IT is extremely dangerous."

"I promise" said Jeremy. 

Sam and Charles Wallace put on their Warrior uniforms and prepared to deliver the oath. 

"Uh... this adds to our problem. There's only two of us" said Sam.

"Nah, there's three" said Charles Wallace.

He faced his roommate. "Jeremy. How's about saying the Warriors' oath with us."

"With pleasure" said Jeremy with a grin. 

He put his arm in and started the oath.

Jeremy: Any time!

Charles Wallace: Any place!

Sam: The Three Warriors...

all: Are on the case!

Jeremy laughed a little. "Oh my goodness, that was fun."

"It's kind of a thing with us. Fun" said Sam. 

"Now let's get to it. Which way'd they go?" said Charles Wallace.

"Northwest. Follow me" said Sam.

And the three of them flew away from the train farther northwest.