The five Tracy boys and their adopted sister Kayo were well known for their bravery and strength but little was known of their extra abilities and it was hardly spoken of yet the world continued to rely on them for help allowing their big secret to remain unspoken of. The second eldest's wife knew of the secret, as did Grandma Tracy and Brains who lived on the island and weren't intimidated by any of the abilities, in fact, they encouraged it. Brains was always looking for other ways to incorporate the skills into their rescues. Scott Tracy walked into the lounge after checking Thunderbird 1 and sat behind the desk to write up his report, his blue eyes glowed in the holo glare as he typed and he barely blinked, his brother Virgil entered the room silently with Elle and sat down behind the piano, he ran a hand through his spiked black hair decorated with feathers and his wife Elle snuggled against his side, she also had a secret but it wasn't the same as Virgil's.

"Morning Scott, sleep well?"

Scott turned with a smirk, "you're so funny Virgil, how did you sleep?"

"Wonderfully, as usual, any calls yet?"

"Not one. Gordon and Alan are still asleep and Kayo has gone hiking."

Elle twirled a feather in Virgil's hair around her finger before kissing his cheek, "I hope we get a call, I adore watching you."

Virgil laughed, "I feel the same about you."

Scott rolled his eyes, "lovebirds."

Elle burst out laughing, "good one."

Suddenly a labrador bounded into the lounge and transformed mid jump onto the sofa, "morning!"

Scott's eyes turned red as he glared at Alan, "what have I said about using your powers in the house?"

"You're using yours right now, ease up."

"You drive me to use mine by annoying me," Scott gritted his teeth as he felt movement.

"I can change into any animal, just name it."

"Can you be an ant so I can step on you?"

Virgil raised an eyebrow, "you mean to kill him, Scott?"

"Let's not exaggerate," Elle cast a mood change towards Scott, "and there are ways to control the anger Scott, you and I know that."

A cat crept under the piano and paused behind Scott's chair before leaping into his lap, it's fur turned into skin before clothing itself in a blink of an eye, "morning sweetheart."

Scott smiled as his eyes laid on Kayo, "I should be used to that."

"So you don't mind Kayo then bro?"

"I've always prefered cats to dogs," Scott mused as he rubbed his forehead against Kayo's.

Virgil stopped playing and looked up at the portraits, "anyone know where Gordon is?"

Alan shrugged, "pool, sea, bed. Either one."

John called in, black wings draped behind his back and his ginger hair swept back, "we have a possible situation, a wildfire has broken out in Canada, the fire departments have things under control but I can see them struggling soon."

Scott nodded, "I'll get Thunderbird 1 prepped. Virgil, Elle, get to Thunderbird 2, we may as well be ready."

"FAB, come on Elle."

"Do you guys need me?" Kayo asked.

"I think this will take all of us, find Gordon and tell him to join Virgil."

Kayo nodded and left the lounge, she transformed into a cheater and sprinted down to the beach, she spotted Gordon out in the waves and transformed again to call out, "Gordo!"

Gordon looked up and swam into the shallows, his golden tail ripping through the water, "was is it?"

"Get your tail into Thunderbird 2, we have a situation."

"FAB," Gordon got onto the sand and dried himself off regaining his legs, "meet you there."

Kayo nodded and turned into a bird to return to the hangars as Gordon ran up to the house.

The Birds were ready to leave and the pool retracted to let Thunderbird 1 exit, Thunderbird 2 got to the end of its runway and took off with Thunderbird Shadow close behind.

"Am I allowed to use my powers on this mission Virgil?" Alan whined on the backseat.

"Unless you can turn yourself into a hose, no."

"I'm sure I could turn into something useful."

"Your skill today would be to help get people out, leave the extinguishing to me."

Elle glanced at him, "do you have a plan then?"

"I have a guess at what I could do, it depends on the blaze, I could make things worse."

Gordon smiled, "unlikely, you haven't gone wrong before."

"I wish you were more than just a merman sometimes Gordo. If you could summon water at command, that would be great."

"Sadly not, we're not Gods, some would refer to us as freaks of nature."

"How can I help?" Elle asked.

"Your medical skills, if there are injuries below, you know what to do," Virgil smiled at her, I'll land Thunderbird 2...Actually Alan, if you keep her airborne, Gordon could use the drop shooter to finish off the blaze."

"You've got it, Virgil!" Alan grinned from ear to ear.

"Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbird 2?"

"Here Scott."

"I'm at the danger zone, there's no-one in immediate danger but if we don't get this blaze under control, the city will be."

Virgil smirked, "understood. I'll be in the sky soon. We're approaching the city now, we can see the blaze."

Gordon looked up, "go now Virgil, better sooner than later."

Elle nodded in agreement, "I think that's a good idea."

Virgil stood up, "ok, let's go. Elle?"

"Yep, I'll make my way down and join Scott."

Virgil opened the roof hatch and flew up as Elle went down to the module, the door opened and she knelt down ducking her head under her arms as she transformed into a large bat, she flew down to the ground and landed gracefully as herself again amongst the flaming bushes, Scott appeared next to her and they grinned at each other displaying two sharp fangs.

"Let's get to work, take that side of town and I'll meet you back here," Scott smiled, "did Virgil take off?"

"Look above," Elle smirked as she tilted her head and pointed to a huge shape in the sky, giant wings flapped creating hurricane-strength winds, and sticking out from a body of feathers and claws, Virgil's face remained concentrated and focused on the task at hand.

Scott nodded, "this blaze will be under control in no time at all. Come on."

Gordon called down to Kayo who was clearing paths using a bulldozer she had found, "is it clear to use the fire retardant grenades?"

"Almost Gordon, how are the others doing?"

"Virgil is controlling the flames from above and the vampire siblings are helping the injured with their magic venom."

Kayo laughed, "that still sounds so weird. I'm approaching the outskirts of the city, everyone has been moved back or evacuated. You're clear to fire, now."

Gordon flicked a switch above his head, "FAB. Firing now."

Alan gripped the wheel as Virgil flew overhead, "urgh I wish he didn't do that, one day he'll destroy his own ship."

Gordon laughed, "I doubt it, I think he knows where Thunderbird 2 is."

Virgil flew low and the blaze smoked out, "that's more like it."

Kayo called Gordon, "is everything clear?"

"Yep. The blaze is out, I'm just waiting for Virgil to return."

"I can go and ask him if he's good to finish?"

"Nah it's alright, I'm going to land Thunderbird 2 so Elle can get back more easily."

"FAB. Well done today."

Elle bit a young man gently and watched the venom seal his cut, "you'll be alright."

The man shook as he looked at her teeth, "am I going to change?"

"Not if I've done it correctly, which I always do. You'll be fine, trust me."

"Thank you," the man looked down at his arm and smiled, "I think you've done it right."

"Great. I've got to go now, see ya," Elle leapt into the air turning into a bat as she did, she spotted Thunderbird 2 and transformed on the ramp, "I'm in guys, where's Virgil?"

Gordon answered her, "he hasn't landed yet. He shouldn't be too long."

"Thunderbird 1 calling Shadow and Thunderbird 2?"

"Go ahead, Scott?"

"Returning to base, tell Virgil to hurry up if you can," Scott smiled as he took Thunderbird 1 up and Shadow flew up alongside.

Elle cleaned her fangs and sighed, "I can try to call him," she got herself into a stance and called out loudly, "Virgil?!"

Virgil flew back towards Thunderbird 2 hearing Elle's cry, he smiled and dived down towards his ship, he landed gracefully onto the ramp as his wings folded behind him brushing the ground, "Elle."

Elle wrapped herself into his feathers and plumage, "my love, are you ok?"

"I'm fine sweetheart, did I get all the flames?"

"You certainly did. Let's go up to the cockpit, I think Gordon is beginning to think the ship is his," she stroked his feathers then stood back as he transformed back into his uniform, "I prefer you as a huge bird."

Virgil laughed as he wrapped his arm around her, "too bad," the ramp closed behind them and Thunderbird 2 took off from the danger zone to chase after her sister ships.

Grandma Tracy sat at the desk in the lounge reading the news on the mission her family were coming back from, the photos were blurred but she knew exactly who was who in the air, she smiled with a chuckle and stood up as she heard Thunderbird 1 landing behind her, Virgil walked into the lounge with Elle laughing together and Grandma smiled at them.

"Fun mission?"

"Fun in the fact that we rescued everyone."

"And none of you are injured I trust?"

Elle shook her head, "not even a scratch, a few bites here and there. Is Kayo back?"

Kayo appeared by the bookcase where she had been camouflaged against, "got back just before you did."

Grandma jumped, "don't scare me like that Kayo," she scolded, "at my age, jump scares could kill me."

Kayo laughed as she settled herself into a chair, "sorry."

Alan walked in grumbling about his powers again, "I could've been useful on the mission if you had let me transform."

"For the last time Alan, we had what we needed. We don't need our powers for every mission," Scott followed behind him no longer in his vampire form.

Virgil chalked up his cue as Elle broke the triangle on the pool table, "Scott's right Alan, I only transformed because there was a reason to. Gordon didn't change either today."

"Yeah but he's half fish, not very useful on land rescues."

Scott narrowed his eyes, "there's no need to be mean, he chose that power and he's brilliant when it comes to underwater rescues."

John called in, "hey everyone, how did it go?"

"Fine John, is the area coping?"

"After all your magic?" John smirked.

"You're one to talk," Elle eyed him from the pool table, "with your big wings and claws out constantly."

"Fangs for that Elle," John's red eyes flashed, "yes the area is fine, a lot of people are thanking us for helping and a big clean up is in operation."

Scott nodded, "good, that was quite a fire," he walked over to the piano and began to play, "are you coming down anytime soon?"

John shook his head, "I love home but you know how sensitive I am to natural light."

Virgil smiled as he saw grandma shake her head, "alright John, we'll see you at night then?"

"That's better suited, I'll call in later."

Grandma looked around at the group, "does anyone want to eat any time soon?"

Virgil nodded, "I'm always hungry."

"Me too!" Alan piped up suddenly from where he was curled up on the couch.

Kayo leant on her side watching Scott at the piano lovingly, "yeah I could eat something."

Grandma grinned, "good, I'll start cooking, and don't worry, I'll have Max help me. Speaking of Max, has anyone seen Brains?"

"He's been in his workshop all day, I think he's working on something for Elle and Scott?"

"Us?" Elle looked up from the ball she was aiming for.

"Yeah, looked like a speed enhancer."

Scott's fingers halted on the keys in a clash of chords, "but we already have speed, any faster could be dangerous."

Kayo shrugged, "ok I don't know what he's inventing, but I'm sure you'll find out."

Scott sighed, "alright. Thanks for the inside knowledge sweetheart."

"You're welcome. Ok, I'm going to work out before dinner, no-one disturb me please."

Alan watched her leave then bounded over to Scott before transforming himself back, "what is Kayo hiding?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Scott shrugged as he watched his hands on the keys.

"Come on Scott."

"It's her secret Ali, it's none of your business."

"But you know!?"

"Yes, I know, but I am not telling you. End of discussion."

"Fine, then I'll just sit here as a dog and annoy you."

"You annoy me as a human," Scott laughed.

"Urgh, whatever, I enjoy music as a dog," Alan transformed and lay under the stool his chin resting in his paws.

Elle smiled, "that is cute, you have to agree."

Kayo walked into the training room and locked the door behind her, she sighed and her skin morphed into a blue pattern and her eyes turned yellow, she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled as she flexed before attacking the punchbag, this was her true skin and why she was a skin changer. Only Scott knew about her true form and she loved him for not judging her on it, but she had decided to hide it from the others in fear that they would be afraid of her appearance.

Grandma put a lasagna into the oven and Brains walked in, "hi Brains, you've been busy today."

"Yes I have, I've found a way of making Scott and Elle's transformation quicker. They can turn into a bat mid-fall."

"Hmm I wish they didn't have to turn into a bat at all, they don't have to surely?"

"Well, it would be harder but maybe not. I'll talk to them over dinner, are they upstairs at the moment?"

"Yes."

"Great, I'll see them soon. Where's Gordon?"

"He was in the pool, he could've gone to the beach."

Brains looked down to the pool, "oh he's next to the pool. See you later."

Gordon looked up as Brains came down the steps, "hey Brains."

"Hi, Gordon. How is the drying coming along?"

"It takes a while Brains, is there any way I can transform in seconds?"

"I'm working on it, I could always give you a heat blanket?"

Gordon frowned at him, "it's 2060 Brains, surely there's something technical we could use?"

Brains sat down on the lounger opposite as he looked at Gordon's tail, "I guess I could find a way that when you stepped onto land you could transform. But, it could be painful."

"That would be fine, quick too. How soon can you work on it?"

"After food, I'm starving."

"Me too," Gordon smiled, "I wouldn't mind that heat blanket now though to speed up the process."

Brains smirked, "there's a whole pile in the bench, hang on."

"Thanks, Brains!" Gordon grinned as a towel was thrown at him and he hastily wrapped his scales in them feeling his legs return to normal, "dinner time."

Grandma passed around plates of food as everyone gathered in the large dining room below the lounge, Kayo rejoined the group and sat down to Scott, he squeezed her hand as she morphed it slightly to stroke his back then took her hand back to pick up a fork as conversation sparked up around the table.

"Scott, Elle, I have a new idea for your transformations," Brains smiled at them across the table.

"Shoot Brains," Scott raised an eyebrow in interest.

"You don't need to transform to bats every time, you can transform mid-run or fall."

"Will that be safe?" Elle asked as she felt Virgil stiffen next to her.

"We'll test it out in our training hanger, I don't want you hurting yourselves. I've done the calculations, and you're both fast enough."

Scott looked worriedly at Elle, "are you sure about this Brains?"

"Have I mislead any of you on your powers before?"

Elle shook her head, "no. Alright, we'll try it, but not today, there's no way I'm transforming after all this food."

Brains laughed, "I don't blame you."

Grandma paused eating, "what caused the fire?"

Scott shrugged, "we have no idea, the authorities say it was wildfire but I have my doubts."

"Who would start a fire that big?" Gordon asked.

"Someone who wants to lure us out," Kayo said sharply, "I bet it's my uncle."

"He's never put towns in peril."

"Yes he has, when he decided to steal the power supply, he took it from London. About a hundred people died that day, I dread to think it could've been more," Virgil bowed his head in guilt and Elle comforted him.

"I don't think it's The Hood, this seemed like a natural fire as opposed to one started on purpose," Alan sat back on his stool swinging his legs gently to and fro, "I didn't see the Chaos Crew around."

"It's a good thing they're not aware of our powers or they would be coming for us," Gordon sighed.

"Don't get yourselves in knots of worry now, just keep saving lives as you've always done. I'm proud of you today like I always am, and your father would be too, he's the one who passed these powers on to you."

Virgil looked up, "I thought mum passed it to dad first?"

"She did, but she was worried that you wouldn't be able to control them. Your father reassured her and here you are using them for good and to rescue people, just like he wanted you to do."

Kayo huffed, "at least your powers came from someone who used them for good, I didn't."

"But you use them for good now," Scott smiled at her.

"Good and bad doesn't matter to me, I didn't always use them for good. My uncle made me use them for deeds," she sighed, "sorry, I have to go," she pushed her chair back and fled from the room almost in tears.

"I'll go and see if she's ok," Scott made to get up but Elle beat him to it.

"No, I'll handle this, I think I know how she feels," Elle held her breath and took off at lightning speed easily catching up to her sister, "Kayo?"

"Hey, Elle."

"I can't see you using your powers for evil. I was terrified about letting Scott turn me, but there was nothing else I could be."

"I wish I was like you, my uncle used to make me morph into all sorts of creatures to rob banks and stuff. I felt terrible."

"But now you work with us, your skills are great on missions."

Kayo wrapped her arms around her knees as she sat on the sand, "no they're not, you've all got uses. You even get to look like yourself when you're not in true form."

"What do you mean? You're in true form."

"No, I'm not," Kayo sighed and moulded into her blue form, "this is who I am."

Elle gasped, "Kayo, you're..."

"Hideous isn't it?"

"No, I wasn't going to say that, you're extraordinary."

"No I'm not, your power is and my other siblings. I feel like I'm cursed. If I used my true form on missions I would be avoided, no-one would want to be rescued by me."

Elle looked at her sorrowfully as tears filled her eyes, "don't cry Kayo, does Scott know?"

"He's the only one who does, I don't know how the others would feel or react. Can I change back?"

"If that's more comfortable for you?"

"It's not, this is what I am."

"Then don't change, I'm sure the family won't judge you."

Kayo smiled, "you're a true sister Elle, thank you, but I can't show them yet."

"Want to go back?"

Kayo shook her head, "not yet, I'll join you guys later."

"I might be with Virgil, but just come back when you're ready."

"Thanks, Elle."

"What are sisters for?" Elle smiled then sprinted back to the house in a human second, the family had tidied up after dinner and were now just drinking in the lounge, Brains had taken Gordon down to his lab to work on his tail and Alan was in his room playing video games and practising transforming into different animals.

Virgil felt a whisper of wind and looked round to see Elle sitting next to him on the piano stool, "hmm, didn't hear you come in."

"Yes you did," Elle laughed as she kissed his cheek, "I wish I could go hard with you."

"I can take it," Virgil whispered knowing that she could hear everything crystal clear.

"Could you two leave your love talking to yourselves?" Scott smirked from up on the balcony.

"Dammit, you can hear her too, I always forget," Virgil chuckled as he resumed playing, his passionate playing caused his wings to emerge and Elle wrapped herself in his left plumage happily.

Scott jumped down to the ring gracefully and moved to the desk chair in seconds, "Elle, is Kayo alright?"

Elle looked through Virgil's wing at him, "yes she's alright, she just wants some time alone."

Scott read her mind quickly and saw Kayo through her memories, "I understand, as long as she doesn't stay out there alone for too long."

"Don't worry about her Scotty," Elle stretched and Virgil moved closer to her as he played, "thanks Virgil."

"My pleasure, you never affect my natural playing."

"Don't turn into a bird as you're playing, you can't."

"I know I know," Virgil smiled, "and I won't, but you always tempt me."

The space elevator came down past the lounge and John flew up to the lounge, he settled onto the sofa and smiled at the couple at the piano, then noticed the absence of Kayo.

"Where's Kayo, Scott? She's usually with you."

"She stormed off at dinner, but she'll be alright," Scott smiled at his moth brother, "don't you get tired of not being yourself?"

John smiled, "you're still not used to my appearance? Fine," he stretched as his wings retracted leaving him in his IR uniform, "is this better?"

"I'll take that as rhetorical."

John smiled, "did you finish the mission report, Scott?"

"Of course, I always do."

"How did the mission go?"

"I've never seen a blaze like it, do you think it was arson?"

John frowned, "possibly, but I don't know who it could've been."

Across the world in his underground lair, The Hood was in a briefing with the Chaos Crew, they sat lazily listening to their boss ranting on about the fire but didn't react to anything, they knew of his power.

"Again you fail me."

"If we were to capture those Tracys, what do you plan to do with them?"

"I'm not interested in their physical beings, I want their ships. What am I meant to do with bird creatures and vampires? Have some sense Fuse, I know you struggle to think," The Hood covered his face with a sigh, "I want them obliterated, and I want the ships. They may have supernatural abilities but they're not immortal."

"What about the vampires?" Havoc asked.

"There are ways to kill a vampire, you just have to be crafty," The Hood sneered with a grin as his eyes glowed yellow.