The first of the trio turned from their equipment and grinned at the slightly bewildered Hardys. "You probably expected us to be older. Sorry about that, we're all between the age of one and twenty five. I'm Jared, and they," he jerked his thumb in the direction of his companions, "are Paul and TJ."

Frank again introduced the group and explained why they were on the cliff. The three newcomers listened attentively and nodded when he finished. TJ spoke for a moment with Jared and then took a harness and helmet from the pile and headed to the cliff. Jared thought for a moment and looked over the group in front of him, with the addition of Joey, Donna, and Mike; he'd just exchanged places with TJ.

"You all may be able to do something to help." He thought a moment longer before continuing. "We don't have a full team here, so at least one of you will have to help out, even though this should be a simple rescue. One thing for you all though," he added, glancing over the group, "nobody goes near the edge without being attached to a rope." They nodded and he grinned. "Alright, let's help Paul get the stuff sorted so we can get done."

Joe watched as his brother engaged Jared in conversation while he helped Paul and Chet sort out the hardware, which consisted of carabiners, descenders, and pulleys. Each was laid in a pile on a blanket that Paul had spread out earlier. He explained to Joe that it kept the hardware and the webbing from getting in the dirt, as well as organizing it for greatest efficiency.

Biff and Mike were preparing the ropes as Jared and Frank walked within speaking distance of TJ. He was hanging over the edge of the cliff, tied off, and peering at something on the cliff face. He shouted down to Beka to stay calm, and pulled himself away from the edge. When he reached them, he spoke low.

"I looked to see if I could spot what the rope is caught on." TJ paused, then continued. "It's stuck in a crevice, one that the rope would naturally be attracted to; However, there's something shiny in it." He thought a moment, and Frank queried, "Like a carabiner?" TJ nodded. "Or possibly a knife blade. There's probably a few other things it could be, but I'd have to have a closer look to know for sure."

He turned to Jared. "How's it coming? Are we ready to set up yet?"

Jared consulted the activity in the background and nodded; he and Frank headed back towards the others. A few words to Paul, and he took Mike and Joey with him to set up another line to the side of the one Rebekah was hanging from. Frank borrowed Mike's harness and took up post at the cliff face.

When the second line was secured, TJ hooked on and began lowering himself down, step by step. He was weighted down with carabiners clipped to his harness and prussiks slung over his shoulder. A one/one pulley system was hung with the carabiners. As his head disappeared below the surface of the cliff, Jared called to Frank, "Alright Frank, here's where you come in; you have to tell us what's happening, since we can't see it. Also, give TJ a yell if you see something wrong."

Frank nodded and stared intently at the activity taking place below him. TJ had tied himself off just above the trapped girl and was now clipping the one for one pulley system into place between her harness and his. Fascinated, he watched as Rebekah was lifted high enough to free her prussik and unhook from her rope. TJ then unlock his rope and began to carefully lower both himself and Rebekah to the ground. Frank looked back at the group on the cliff. He grinned. "They're almost down."

The group cheered and Frank walked over to the now unused rope. Reaching down, he gave it a flip, trying to move it out of the crevice. Looking over the edge, he frowned. Something was holding the rope, keeping it in position in the crevice. He unlocked and stepped down the edge, walking over to the crevice. He was about to shout up to the others, when he heard a shot.

Instantly he heard Joe's voice yell. "Get DOWN! Go Frank!"

His rope quivered slightly. A very small patch of the outer covering disappeared. Reacting in an instant, Frank hurled himself over the edge and went flying down the mountain in long leaps, expertly hitting the cliff with his feet and shoving off into space. He came near to TJ and shouted at him to hurry. Someone seemed to be taking pot shots at their ropes. TJ increased his paced until he had Rebekah on solid ground. Frank hurried over to them and helped Rebekah get untangled from the pulley system.

Another shot could be heard faintly above and Frank grew worried, the shooter might be taking aim at the group up top! But then he saw the TJ's rope moving, and TJ fell onto the ground. He reacted quickly, launching into Frank and Rebekah, he toppled them out of the path of the falling rope. It hit the ground hard, just where he had been lying a moment before.

"Well," Frank commented, "Thanks for the warning." TJ didn't reply, he gestured behind Frank. Turning his head, Frank found himself looking at the end of a shotgun barrel.

* * * *

At the top of the cliff, the firing had finally stopped. Joe raised his head and took a look around. "Are you guys okay?" he whispered to Biff and Chet. They nodded and looked around for the others. Donna and Mike rose up slightly to their left and waved. Joey, Jared, and Paul each rose into a crouch behind trees, and indicated that they were fine. Joe crawled over to where Donna and Mike were hidden, leaving Chet and Biff to watch for the rifleman or men.

"Alright, we don't know for sure that the gunman is gone, so let's all fan out and look. Keep low and behind any cover." Donna looked upset. "We need to see if the others down there are okay!" Joe shook his head. "Sure, and the guy comes back and shoots us. No, we have to get the guy first, if he's around." For once Joe was being rational. He knew how good Frank was in both climbing and rappelling. Although some doubt began to gnaw at him; Frank should at least have shouted up by now, but of course, Frank would probably try to come up behind the gunman.

Joe crawled quickly back to Chet and Biff. As prearranged, they split off to either side and began to comb the forest. Finally, even with the help of Jared, they had to admit defeat. Joe shook his head in disbelief. There was absolutely no trace, other than the broken rope, that a person had even been here.

They met with the others at the top of the cliff. Mike and Paul had searched the other direction, while Donna and Joey kept watch around the cliff face. They'd even crawled out to the edged and peered down, hoping for a glimpse of the Frank, Rebekah, or TJ. "They even took the climbing rope with them."

Jared looked hard at Donna. "Did you say they took the rope?" She nodded and he stared at the ground, frowning. Joe jumped at his question. "What's the matter?" Paul answered for him. "That rope won't be any good to us any more for rappelling or rescue. TJ would know that. They wouldn't have bothered to carry it up with them if they were in a hurry." he shrugged. "Even if they weren't, they would have left it till later."

Joe looked at the cliff and frowned. Before anyone could stop him, he rushed over and picked up a harness and descender and headed for the cliff. Attaching to the line Frank had used, he stopped to flip Rebekah's rope. He too noticed that the rope stayed in the crevice. Sliding down, he stopped and took a look at the crevice. It contained a none locking carabiner of sorts. Curious now, he slid lower; what he saw next made his eyes widen in shock.

* * * *

Later, Jared landed next to Joe below the cliff. One look at his solemn face and Joe could tell what he thought of their discovery. Wordlessly they started for the path that led up to the top.