"We've been invited where?" Virgil asked incredulously.

"To a party at Lady P's place," Scott replied, looking at the invitation he held in his hand.

"Really?" Gordon asked, looking over his shoulder.

Scott frowned, shrugging a little to knock the younger man's chin off him, which knocked him backwards. "Get off, Gordon. I'm not sure this is a good idea."

"Why not?" Alan asked, looking up at them all. "I hardly ever get to leave the island anymore. It'd be nice to go."

Scott sighed slightly. "You know why that is, Al," he replied quietly. "And anyway, you go on rescues still."

"And that's all, and only because my uniform disguises me," he said, sounding distinctly disgruntled.

"It's for your own good, Alan, and you know it. Please stop trying to make me sound like the bad guy here. I'm just trying to keep you safe."

"Wouldn't need to be kept safe if it weren't for you," the youngest muttered under his breath.

Scott frowned at him, though looked hurt. "Would you rather we'd left you? The solution wasn't ideal but at least you're here."

Gordon looked between them, slipping the invitation from Scott's hand while he was distracted. "Guys, you do realise you've missed the single most important fact on this whole missive, right?"

"Missive? That's a good word for you," Virgil quipped, grinning.

"I may have picked up a word or two from Penny," he replied with a grin.

"Alright, enlighten us," Scott said, his gaze locked on Alan's a moment longer before he turned back to the others. "Which is the most important fact?"

"It's a fancy dress party. For Halloween. That means costumes."

"Costumes?" Alan asked hopefully, perking up at the idea. "Scott, we might be able to go then. Costumes means we wouldn't need to worry."

Scott's gaze drifted across each of his brothers, all looking at him for a decision. "I'm still not sure about this."

"Scott, it's in England, in October, in the evening," Gordon reminded. "It'll be after dark. And anyway, we're all pretty good at blending in these days."

"That's not the point," Scott countered, taking the invitation back off him and looking at it. "This is Lady P we're talking about. She's not known for her small events. She invites the entire county. That'll be a lot of people to deal with."

"You saying you won't be able to control yourself?" Alan asked.

"I'm saying I'm not the only one who might not be able to," he replied, glancing at Virgil.

The middle brother shrugged. "Don't know what you're worried about, Scott. You know full well your self-control isn't the issue here, and nor is mine. Thanks for the vote of confidence. The issue is that you don't want us to go to something we might actually be comfortable at because we'll be able to relax and be ourselves."

"And if we get a call?"

Gordon rolled his eyes. "Dude, it's Lady Penelope's house. It's not like she's not aware of that particular aspect of our lives. Heck, I think she'd let us park the Thunderbirds somewhere on her land. It's so big we could leave them right out in the open and her guests still wouldn't be able to see them from the manor."

"You do sound like you're looking for excuses now," Alan pointed out.

"You guys really want to go, huh?" he asked defeatedly.

"Let me think, uh, yes!" Gordon said, grinning at Alan.

With a resigned sigh, Scott shook his head. "Fine. We go. But what about John?"

"What about him?" Alan asked. "Can't he come too?"

"To a function with that many people? D'you really think he'd want to?"

"He might feel left out if we don't ask him, but if he doesn't want to go, that's his choice," Virgil offered. "But we can ask him. If he does want to join us, he can redirect calls to his personal receiver."

"Alright," Scott replied quietly. "I'll call him then. I suggest you think about what you're going to wear."

Virgil raised an eyebrow. "Really?" he asked, his tone verging on sarcastic.

"You know what I mean," Scott said before sweeping out of the room.

Having left his brothers eagerly discussing the party, Scott now sat in his office, located below ground in the hangars. He liked it down here. Dark, cool, peaceful.

"Scott?"

Until a brother came looking for him at least.

"In my office," he called out, putting on his desk lamp.

The door opened and Alan walked in. "I thought you might be down here," he said softly, his hands tucked behind his back as he rocked on his heels. "I just wanted to let you know that Gordon called Lady Penelope to tell her we're gonna go."

"I had a feeling he might," Scott replied.

Alan nodded. "Yeah," he said, biting his lip and looking around. "Um, I, um…" He cleared his throat, his hand reaching up to rub at his neck. "I wanted to apologise, Scott," he muttered, unable to make eye contact.

Scott stood up and went over to him, crouching in front of him. "Stop rubbing, Kiddo," he said gently, taking hold of his hand to pull it away. "You may do damage." With a soft shake of his head, he rested his forehead against Alan's. "You don't need to apologise, Alan. I suppose you're right in a way. But I'm not trying to stop you from, uh, well, living your life, I suppose. I just want to keep you safe, you know that."

"I do know that," he replied, closing his eyes. Scott's forehead was cool against his own. "And I am grateful that you guys helped me."

"You're our little brother, of course we were going to help you," Scott said. "When I learned of the accident I was so scared."

Alan opened his eyes and looked up at Scott. "I know, Scott, but you did it. You and John. I'm still here."

"But at what cost, Alan?" he asked, his tone almost a whisper. "To some extent you're now like me and that's not something I'd have wished for you."

Alan shrugged. "None of us is exactly normal, Scott," he reminded.

Scott chuckled a little. "I suppose you're right," he said, standing up. "Go on, you guys need to have something to eat and I need to call John."

"Alright, Scott," Alan said, smiling brightly at him and heading back upstairs to the main villa.

The elder man watched him go then shook his head again, turning back to his desk and activating a call to John.

"Good evening, Scott, to what do I owe the pleasure?" John asked, smiling at him from his hologram.

"You're in a good mood," Scott noted.

"I'm in space and the view is beautiful," John replied, shrugging. "Do I need any other reason?"

"I suppose not," Scott answered.

"Did you call for a reason? Or just for a catch up?"

"We've been invited to a costume party at Lady Penelope's."

"Ah, I see," John said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "And I assume the guys want to go?"

"Mmm hmm. Apparently it's a Halloween party so they think we'll be safe there."

"Of course they do," John muttered, rolling his eyes. "What do you think?"

"I was sceptical at first. Really against it. But they all really want to go. And it's Lady P, she knows us."

"She doesn't know everything, though," John pointed out.

"Yes, I know," Scott agreed, shaking his head. "But they've got their hearts set on it. And I think they want you to come with us."

"Me? Why?"

"I guess so we can go as a family or something. When was the last time all five of us were able to go out together and not worry?"

"Um… never? If nothing else, there's International Rescue to consider."

"I tried that angle," Scott explained. "They reminded me that it's possible for you to reroute calls to your personal receiver."

"Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have told them about that modification," John muttered.

"Language, John," Scott said with a small smirk. "You don't have to come, though. But, well, it wouldn't feel right not to have offered you in case you did want to."

John frowned as he thought. "Well, I suppose it would be nice to come and see you all again. And it's been far too long since I was last able to have tea with her Ladyship."

"So, you'll come?"

"Well, it does sound like you may need back up," John said with a grin.

Scott chuckled. "Thanks, John."

It was the night of the party and the five Tracy men stood outside Lady Penelope's stately home, waiting to go inside. A queue of people lined in front of and behind them and Scott kept a hand on Alan's shoulder.

"Scott, you know I'm not gonna run off, right?" Alan asked, looking up at him with a smile. "And, uh, would you loosen your grip?"

"Sorry," he muttered, letting go of him. His hands fisted at his sides and he knocked them against his legs.

"You're really anxious about this, aren't you?" Virgil asked him.

Scott glanced uneasily at the people around them. "I just have a bad feeling," he said quietly.

"Scott, it's gonna be fine," Gordon said, grinning at him. "Knowing Penny, she'll have her guests spread throughout several rooms. We'll just find the quietest one if you're that uneasy."

He nodded, turning his gaze skyward where the moon hung full and round.

"I know what you're thinking, Scott," Virgil said, watching him. "I'm fine."

He lowered his eyes again to look at him. "Sorry," he said again, exchanging a look with John.

"Seriously, it's fine," Virgil insisted as they reached the front door.

"Good h'evening, and welcome to Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward's 'Alloween party." Parker stopped his practiced opening line when he realised who was in front of him. "Oh, 'ello, boys," he said, congenially. "Yes, 'er Ladyship 'as been waiting for you. She's currently in the library."

"Thanks, Parker," Scott said, steering the others through the door.

"Fantastic costumes, boys," Parker called after them as they went.

Gordon and Alan grinned at each other. They'd already had some positive comments from the people lining up near them. "Told you we'd look awesome," Gordon said.

Scott pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll be happier once we're in and settled."

"Good evening, gentlemen," a soft well-spoken voice said as it approached them.

Scott looked up to see Lady Penelope approaching them from the other side of the room, wearing a large extravagant Elizabethan ball gown. "Good evening, Lady Penelope," he replied courteously.

She smiled at him then looked each of them over. "My, my, boys, you've certainly gone to town with your costumes, you look wonderful!"

"Thanks, Lady P!" Alan said, grinning at her.

"You look pretty good too," Gordon offered with a smirk.

"Why, thank you, Gordon, but please don't come too near me with that green body paint. I'd rather not ruin this gown."

"Of course," he replied, exchanging a glance with Alan who grinned some more.

"I like that you've all gone down the traditional Halloween costume theme. I'll admit, I did expect to see at least one superhero amongst you."

"This is, uh, something we already had," Virgil replied.

"I see," she said. "Well, I suppose it was very last minute that you replied to my invite."

"Yeah," Scott said.

"I must say you're all entirely convincing," she said, her eyes roving over them appraisingly.

She looked first at Scott who wore a simple black suit with a high-collared shirt, covered over with a long black coat. His face was pale, his eyes surrounded by dark rings while his irises were red and when he spoke, Penelope could see sharp-looking fangs.

By contrast, John wore silver. Almost like the uniform she was familiar with him wearing, but entirely silver, dotted with coloured lights which twinkled and flashed in hypnotic patterns, and tubular chrome toned piping that laced across his body. His skin was light blue, similar to the shade their holographic systems made them appear in a call, though his hair was its usual vibrant hue.

She was impressed at Virgil's daring. He was covered in shaggy brown fur and had wolf-like features on his face, including piercing yellow eyes. He wore his usual flannel shirt and jeans but they'd been artistically ripped to look like he'd worn them during a transition to his character.

Gordon was bright green all over and in places looked as though he had scales like a fish, even down to having gills on his neck. There was webbing between his fingers and his ears looked a little elongated and like fins. He wore a long floating coat made up of many shimmering coloured holographic patches.

Finally, she looked at Alan. His red eyes and pale skin were almost the same as Scott's, though not quite as pronounced as the elder man's, and he was covered in stitch lines and what looked like metallic staples, while he wore a simple t-shirt and shorts. Sprouting from his back were purple wings, similar to those of a bat and they seemed to flutter restlessly at random intervals.

"Well, whether they're something you had before or not, they're incredibly good. What a lot of prosthetics you have between you. How long did it take you to get ready?"

"Not as long as you'd think," John replied, glancing at Scott and smiling.

Penelope laughed. "Well, I suppose if you've done it before, you'll know what you're doing."

"Oh, definitely," Virgil said, grinning wolfishly.

She smiled at them again. "Well, feel free to mingle," she said. "I'm going to go and welcome my other guests. I'll come and find you again soon."

Scott nodded and watched her go then lifted his eyes to look at the ceiling, shaking his head. "I can't believe I agreed to this."

"Scott, it's gonna be fine," Virgil said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

The elder man glanced down at the hand, more like a paw really. "You're sure?"

"I'm sure," he replied.

"So, Penny said we could go mingle," Gordon said, heading towards the door.

"Gordon, just don't go too far," Scott called after him.

"Honestly, Scott, it's gonna be fine," he replied. "Anyway, I know my way round this place."

"That doesn't fill me with confidence, Gordon," Scott said. He sighed. "Go on."

Gordon grinned at him and he and Alan ran off.

John placed a hand on his arm. "They'll be fine. You know I can track them. Let them enjoy themselves."

"It's not them I'm worried about, as such. It's what might happen," he muttered, looking between them both.

"I know, Scott, but you also know that we're careful, right?" Virgil patiently reminded him. "Just because we're out in public like this, doesn't mean we'll let our guard down."

"And Scott, I know you're worried, but stop biting the inside of your cheek, you'll hurt yourself," John pointed out. "Again."

Gordon led Alan through the corridors back towards the main entrance. "Come on, somewhere round here is the ballroom and I'll bet that's where most of the guests will be."

"Why d'you wanna go there?" Alan asked curiously.

"I guess I wanna check out the competition," he replied.

"Competition?"

"Oh, come on, Al, you gotta admit, we have to have the best costumes here," Gordon said. "I just wanna have a look to make sure."

"I suppose no one will be as realistic as we are," he muttered with a grin.

"Exactly. So we go to the ballroom and see how everyone else looks. Then we can go take a look outside, she if she's decorated the grounds." He looked over at Alan with a smirk. "And leave your staples alone! You know better than that."

"Sorry, I can't help it. I'm not used to them not being hidden," he mumbled, the wings shifting slightly.

"I know, but try to leave them or Scott will have your hide."

The party continued and, despite Scott's fears, he was even beginning to enjoy himself. Penelope returned to them frequently whilst still being attentive to her other guests as well and Scott couldn't help but be amazed at how easily she assumed the role of hostess when he was more used to seeing her take on the role of secret agent.

"You seem more at ease than when you first arrived, Scott," she commented the next time she approached.

Scott turned to face her and smiled. "Yeah, but you know us. Worried what might come up."

"I can imagine," she said. "I assume you've been monitoring just in case?"

"That's John's job," he replied.

"Then you can relax," she said, taking some drinks from the tray of a passing waiter. She offered one to him. "And I insist you do, Mr Tracy."

"Ah, come on, Lady P, you know better than that," Scott said, his smile widening, allowing his fangs to show. "That's not me, that's Dad. And anyway, there are five of us. That would get very confusing."

"Indeed," she replied, her eyes drifting to his mouth. "You really have put a lot of thought into your outfits between you."

Scott shrugged. "Like Virgil said, we're reusing."

"How are you able to still talk so clearly with fake teeth?"

"Practice," he said, taking a sip of his drink.

"I see," she said slowly, smiling back at him.

"You two having fun without us?"

Scott looked up to see Virgil and John returning from the grounds where they'd been for a walk. "Of course," he replied.

"Good," John said, glad to see he'd loosened up a little.

"John, how do you get all those lights on your costume to work?" Penelope asked. She reached out a hand, her finger delicately brushing over one of the LEDs on his shoulder.

"Battery pack," he answered, exchanging a glance with Scott and Virgil over her shoulder as she examined his.

"I see," she said softly. "It's beautiful, so much work has gone into making this."

"Uh huh," he said.

"And your body paint, it looks like a professional did it," she said. "All of you, in fact. Some of my guests look as though they may have bought children's face paint and it's incredibly streaky and started to run when they got too warm, but yours looks as though your skin is actually blue, John."

"Yeah," he replied. "We know someone who's a whizz with a paintbrush."

"You must introduce me to them," she insisted.

"Ah, but then we'd be divulging trade secrets," Scott said, smoothly. "I'm afraid we can't."

Penelope pouted playfully but then smiled at him. "Oh, alright."

Virgil chuckled, leaning on Scott's shoulder. "She'll be asking who does our hair next," he joked.

"Well, on that note, Virgil, aren't you warm in that costume? You're practically wearing a whole wolf coat."

Virgil smirked. "Funny you should say that," he muttered, his yellow eyes full of mischief as he looked at her. "But, uh, no, I'm not hot. Bear in mind, we're used to a tropical climate so this is keeping me nice and warm in a room that under normal circumstances, I expect I'd feel quite cold in."

"That's true, I suppose," she conceded.

Scott grinned and had been about to say something else when he heard Gordon running in their direction. He exchanged a glance with Virgil, knowing his ears would have picked up the sound as well, and, seeing the same look of concern in his eyes, they both took off in the direction they could hear their brother coming from.

Penelope looked stunned, watching them go, before turning to John. "What was all that about?"

John glanced at her, uneasily. He could sense what was going on but feigned ignorance. "I'd better go find out."

"I'll come with you," she responded.

"No, it's alright, you attend to your guests. It's probably just something Alan or Gordon has done."

"All the more reason for me to investigate, knowing Gordon."

John grimaced. That was a fair point, but he knew he needed to distract her. "Honestly, we'll sort whatever it is out."

"John, I'm coming with you."

With a frustrated sigh, he went in the direction he knew his brothers had gone, wondering how he was going to get rid of his tag-along.

Scott and Virgil ran so fast it was like they were flying to reach their brother.

"What happened?" Scott asked as soon as he spotted Gordon.

"Outside," he said breathlessly. He always became short of breath when he was worked up, whether through anger or anxiety. "Fell."

"He fell?" Scott repeated, concern filling him as they started running again, directed by Gordon. It was like the accident all over again.

"Not far," Gordon assured him, knowing he'd be worrying. "But far enough."

Gritting his teeth, Scott put on an extra burst of speed, trying not to bite into his lip as he did and knowing Virgil and Gordon would catch up.

He threw himself through the French doors and listened carefully, hearing the sound of his youngest brother whimpering slightly. Before he was even aware of moving, he was at Alan's side. "What happened, Alan?" he asked, dropping to his knees beside him.

"We were messing around," he admitted, his eyes shining with unshed tears and the wings folded round himself. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's gonna be alright. Let me see you," Scott said, his gaze roving over the young Tracy as he moved the wings. He seemed, for the most part, unscathed. Until his eyes reached his arm, which was lying a foot away from his body, stitches torn and staples jagged at the edges. He looked up as the others all caught up and frowned when he realised Penelope had followed. He moved to block Alan from her view, his posture becoming defensive.

"Scott? What's happened?" she asked, her tone concerned, but her expression filling with confusion when she saw the look in Scott's eyes. He looked almost feral and it was beginning to frighten her.

"Get back," he hissed, his red eyes boring into hers.

Without even realising what she was doing, she stepped away from him, unable to look away.

"Scott, that's enough," John said, putting himself between the pair. His own eyes glowed luminous green as he stared at his older brother and Scott knew he'd set up a shield to protect her.

"We need to take him somewhere less public," Virgil suggested, moving closer to Scott, knowing he was the only other one fast enough to take him down if necessary.

The elder man glanced at him, then looked back at Alan who was trying to sit up. He screwed his eyes shut. "Virgil, take him," he muttered.

Alan leaned over to grab his arm as Virgil easily lifted him up, tucking the wings behind his little brother.

They all heard Penelope gasp when she saw him and Scott rounded on her again.

"Scott, no," John said. "Stay back."

"I knew coming here was a bad idea, but you all wanted to come!" he growled.

Gordon stepped closer to Penelope, his hands out in front of him. He knew he'd be of little use if Scott chose to pounce, but he would at least try.

"What's done is done, Scott, and the damage isn't too severe," John said.

"To him physically, perhaps not, but she's seen!"

"Scott, you can trust me, you know that!" Penelope insisted, her eyes bright and still full of fear, but Scott could also sense her honesty and slowly began to relax out of his defensive posture.

"Then tell us where we can go that your other guests won't be able to access," he replied. No one else had come outside yet, but he knew it would only be a matter of time.

"My private quarters upstairs," she said quietly. "May I lead you?"

Scott nodded and moved to Alan's side, glancing up at Virgil before looking back at him. "It's gonna be alright, Kiddo," he whispered softly.

"Yeah," Alan muttered, his gaze focused on the arm in his lap as Virgil cradled him close. "Just fine, right?"

"Right," Scott agreed.

Virgil and Gordon followed immediately after Lady Penelope, John and Scott just behind them.

"You let your temper control you, Scott," John chided. "You haven't slipped like that in a very long time."

"John, he was almost discovered by a mansion full of people," Scott countered, frowning at him.

"Indeed, and by extension, you were then almost discovered too, when you nearly attacked Penelope. It was only the fact that between us we were able to talk you down that stopped you. I know that stance, you were about to attack. And as it is, the only person who saw anything is someone who already holds one of our biggest secrets. I think we'll be able to trust her."

"I hope so," Scott said, sighing. He knew he'd let go of his control and he felt ashamed of himself, but then he remembered it hadn't been his idea to come in the first place and he felt himself getting riled up again.

"You're still struggling, aren't you?"

He nodded, his fists clenching at his sides as he walked. "I'm trying, John, I'm really trying. But I keep feeling like I knew we shouldn't have come. That voice that reminds me of the bad choices that lead to even worse events keeps reminding me I agreed to this."

"And we've told you before, ignore that voice. You're better than that."

He heaved a deep sigh as he looked at John, red eyes meeting green. "Am I?"

"Yes, you are," John insisted. "And your control has improved so much over the last few years, don't let it slip now."

Scott nodded again. "I'm trying," he repeated.

They followed Penelope up flights of stairs, along corridors and through doors that seemed like part of the wall until she opened them, before finally they reached an area of the manor that was hers alone and never open to guests.

"In here," she said, holding open the door and allowing them in before following them, closing it firmly behind her.

Virgil took Alan straight over to the long couch, laying him down gently.

"How is this possible?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"How are any of us possible?" Scott muttered, sitting down in a high-backed armchair and resting his face in his hands.

Penelope looked up from where Virgil was carefully examining the detached limb and turned to face him. "Scott?"

"You know what I'm talking about," he said. "I can sense that you've worked it out, or at least partially."

"You're… you're not…" She glanced at Alan again, then looked round at the rest of them. John and Gordon both stood nearby, watching her curiously as Scott rose gracefully from his chair and approached. "What are you?" she asked.

"Which of us?" Scott asked, stopping right in front of her.

She found herself mesmerised by his intense red gaze before she turned away and looked at the others. "You mean, all of you?"

"Well, each of us is different," John said, folding his arms across his chest. "But none of us is entirely, well…" He glanced at the others.

"Human," Gordon finished for him. "You're seeing us as we truly are. Normally we hide our natural appearance."

"You're not… human?"

"Penelope, we're not wearing costumes, not in the sense you'd associate with this party," John said. "As Gordon said, this is how we naturally look. But we've perfected the art of glamouring ourselves over the years."

"Glamouring?" she asked, sitting down in a nearby chair as she looked between them all.

"A term we use to describe the art of fitting in with the human population," Scott explained. Now he knew they were away from prying eyes and with someone who he felt could be trusted with their secret, he'd begun to calm down. She was right, she knew them and they'd trusted her for years.

Penelope stared at him before looking at each of the others again. Her face was pale with shock. "But… how?"

Scott looked between the others, silently asking if they were happy for a full explanation to be given. He locked eyes with each of them and received a nod in response, before returning his gaze to Penelope. "To put it simply, we were born this way. Our parents, Jeff and Lucy, were, well, I suppose the only way to describe them is to use the word 'demon' but that doesn't fully cover it. That word has such negative connotations, but like with people, there are good demons and bad. Our parents were good. And their union produced us, each born with a different demonic trait."

"Demonic?" Penelope whispered, her hands clenched together in her lap to try and hide how much they were shaking.

"As I said, there isn't really a word in this language that covers what we are properly but there are descriptions of aspects of our natures in folklore. I would be known as a vampire," Scott said, allowing his upper lip to curl back and reveal the sharp fangs. "I don't fly around at night drinking the blood of mortals as the movies would have you believe, but I do drink blood. And I need to feed relatively rarely so I can have a pint of blood from a donor bank and that will last me several weeks."

"You drink blood?" she whispered, a hand raising to her throat almost reflexively.

Scott chuckled. "Relax, Lady P," he said kindly. "As I said, I'm not going to sink my fangs into your neck. I fed last week. I do, however, struggle with sunlight."

"So that's why your office is below ground," Penelope breathed, a small smile forming. "I'd often wondered when you have such a wonderful view from all the windows on your island."

Scott smiled slightly. "Yeah. Though, to be honest, I've always preferred the look of places in the moonlight anyway. I can go out in the sun, but I have to cover up. It won't kill me, but it's like instant sun burn. Not particularly pleasant. My uniform has full gloves and a tinted visor for that reason. I tried fingerless gloves for a little while but I found I just kept burning my hands so went with full gloves."

"So, even though you're… you're all… well, like this, you still go out as International Rescue?"

"Penelope, I told you. We were born this way. We've always gone out like this. We don't want to hurt people, we want to help people. That's why we do what we do. And being able to run faster than average and with my keen hearing, it means I can do that job a little better than would be standard." Scott grinned at her, those bright white fangs flashing in the light of the chandelier hanging above them. "And the fact that I can be, uh, pretty persuasive helps too. Especially with reluctant rescue victims."

"Persuasive?"

"Didn't you notice how earlier when I gave directions like 'back off' you just did it?"

Penelope thought back to the garden. "When you said it, I just felt compelled to do it."

"Exactly. Normally the only time I use that particular ability is to save people, and it only works on humans. Usually it's the ones who are too frightened to move when they really should. So I'm sorry I used it on you earlier."

Penelope shook her head. "It's alright," she said, then looked around at them all again. "So, are you all vampires?"

"No," John said. "As Scott said, we were all born with different traits. Mine is slightly complicated because when I was born they thought I was almost human, just with blue tinted skin and orange hair but as I came into contact with technology, my body started to absorb it and integrate it into me, augmenting my nervous system, skeletal structure and musculature."

"You absorb technology into you?"

"Yeah," John replied, smiling shyly. "I suppose the closest description of me would be a cyborg. The first thing I absorbed was one of those toys parents attach to the side of a baby's cot to entertain the infant." His fingers reached up to brush over one of the LEDs on his shoulder. "As I got older, I learned to control what I absorbed, so it doesn't happen randomly anymore. Suffice it to say, I'm just glad my body didn't feel like it needed the speaker that sang ridiculous songs off that toy."

The smile that broke onto Penelope's face quickly turned into a laugh as the aristocrat imagined him randomly playing nursery rhymes.

"Yes, yes, very funny," John said, shaking his head, but his smile remained.

"I'm sorry, John, I couldn't help it," she replied.

"You want me to go next?" Virgil asked, not looking up from helping Alan to reattach his arm.

"Nah, you focus on fixing Mr Frankenstein there," Gordon said, grinning.

"Gordon, I've asked you not to call me that," Alan whined, looking up at Virgil.

"Gordon, don't call him that," Virgil said, still focusing.

The fourth brother just rolled his eyes and looked back at Penelope. "I don't think there's really a name for what I am," Gordon said, letting his hands sweep down himself. "As I think you've probably worked out by now, none of these are prosthetics. I really do have gills, but I'm also amphibious so I'm a bit weird like that. Don't think amphibians usually have gills."

Penelope closed her eyes shaking her head slightly. "You think the fact that you being amphibious and having gills is weird?" she asked softly.

"Hey, don't knock it," Gordon said. "Helps me when I'm swimming and means I don't have to walk around like some kind of cartoon character with a fish tank on my head if I want to breathe out of water. But we think it's for this reason that I get short of breath when I'm agitated, like earlier on."

"Because you're not in water?" Penelope asked, feeling like all she was doing was asking questions.

"Yeah," Gordon agreed. "But hey, on the whole, I'm okay."

She smiled at him then turned to Alan. "And what about you, Alan?" she queried, her voice quiet as she could see he still looked a little distressed.

"I was born with these wings," he said, gesturing over his shoulder to the purple wings that were still wrapped round him, mostly at his waist. "But I was premature so they never really fully developed, meaning although they look big enough, they don't work properly. I can't fly or anything. They're not strong enough to support my weight."

Penelope nodded sympathetically. "I see," she said, then glanced at his arm, severed halfway between his shoulder and elbow. "So, uh…"

"How does that explain this?" he finished, taking a thread from Virgil and pulling it tight so that his lower arm was drawn up to meet his upper. "Separate issue." He glanced at Scott, seeking permission.

Penelope noticed his gaze and turned to look at the elder man. "Scott?"

"He wants to know if he's allowed to tell you how this happened because it involves me," Scott said, quietly, getting up and going over to stand by the window. His hands were linked behind his back and his head was lowered as he looked out over the garden. "You can tell her."

She watched him a moment longer before turning back to the younger man. "See, it is kinda related to the fact my wings don't work. Gordon and I were climbing the peak on the island and I fell. A long way. And there were some really jagged rocks below. I tried to use my wings to even slow my decent but it just didn't work. When I landed I was pretty badly ripped up and I think Scott said I might have died. A little bit anyway."

"Died?"

"Yeah. It was a combination of Scott's venom and John acting as a life support machine that saved me apparently. I don't really remember it all too well."

"Venom?" Penelope asked, looking back at him.

"Just because I don't bite people for food, doesn't mean I'm not still poisonous. To humans at least," Scott murmured, turning to face her. "To our kind it gives some of my ability to heal from anything. Which is why his eyes are skin are similar to mine. He never used to be so pale and his eyes used to be a lovely shade of blue."

She stared at him a moment then looked back at Alan. "So, he brought you back to life?"

"Pretty much," Alan said. "Then between him and John, they fixed me up. I was just lucky that through that technology he's absorbed, John is somehow able to track us and sense changes in us. That and the fact he was home from Five the day it happened. Though I do look a bit like… well, I guess Gordon is right, even though I don't like being called that. I do look like Frankenstein's monster because I have stitches and staples holding me together. Thank goodness they didn't have to bolt my head back on."

Virgil finished tying off the stitches on Alan's arm then looked round. "I suppose that just leaves me," he said.

"Am I right in assuming you're a… a werewolf?" Penelope stammered.

"Close enough," Virgil replied. "I can change on command, I don't have to wait for a full moon. And I can go as far into my change as I want, which is why I look more like a lupine human tonight, for the sake of it looking like a costume. But when I fully change, I'm fully wolf, not a bipedal version like in horror films. I can be affected by the full moon, but not in the way you'd expect."

"What d'you mean?"

"He usually becomes ravenous," Scott supplied, looking as though he was supressing a smirk.

"Ravenous?" Penelope repeated, concerned.

"Oh yeah," Gordon said, laughing. "He's been known to eat everything in the pantry on a full moon night. It's like he just can't get enough."

Virgil folded his arms. "You make it sound awful," he said, a smile on his muzzle. "Honestly, I did that once and I was a teenager. You know very well what teenage appetites are like."

"Hmm," Scott said, exchanging a glance with John. "When we came downstairs the following morning we found him flat out on the kitchen floor surrounded by empty packets and jars."

John chuckled. "We managed to get him to his room and he slept for the rest of the day."

Penelope looked between them, her eyes wide but a smile on her lips. "If it wasn't for the fact that this all sounds so supernatural, it would sound like you're just telling me stories of you boys growing up."

"Well, in a sense, we are," John said. "Because to us, this was just the way we grew up."

The London agent glanced at Virgil. "It's a full moon tonight, I believe. Do my guests have to worry about the buffet being cleared out?"

Virgil chuckled and shook his head. "As I told Scott earlier, I'm fine. Maybe a little hungrier than usual, but not to the point I'm gonna go diving on your table to get there first."

"Oh good," she replied. "But, you know, if you need, I can ask the kitchen to prepare extras."

"Don't you start," he quipped playfully, smiling at her.

"Do you feel we have answered all your questions?" Scott asked, approaching and sitting down next to her.

"I think so," she said, looking between them all again. "I just… how did I never notice anything? I mean, it's so obvious!"

Scott smiled at her. "As John said earlier, we're very good at glamouring." He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath.

Penelope's eyes widened as she watched colour blossoming on his cheeks before spreading across his whole face, down what she could see of his neck and appearing at his hands. The dark circles vanished and his irises, when he opened his eyes again, were the bright blue she associated with the oldest Tracy brother. "Astonishing," she said, then looked around at the others. The only thing giving away that anything was out of the ordinary for them was the clothes they wore. Scott was still in his black suit, John in a silver jumpsuit, though there were no visible lights on it, Virgil in his ripped outfit, Gordon in his patterned coat and Alan in his shorts and t-shirt. There was even no sign of his wings, no hint that he possessed them. Not even a bulge under the back of his shirt. The camouflage was perfect. "That really is incredible."

Scott smiled then looked at the others. "We should probably go back to our normal for now, seeing as people might question why we, uh, got out of our costumes before the end of the party."

She watched them as the glamour dropped and it was like finally realising that something you've been looking for has been right in front of you the whole time. She wondered how on earth she could have missed it.

"What I want to know, though," Scott said, rounding on Alan who was standing up with Virgil's help, "is how this happened. Gordon said you fell and you said you were messing around."

Alan sighed and lowered his head. "I knew you wouldn't forget that," he muttered, kicking at the edge of the rug he was stood on. "We went to look at the decorations outside and I wanted to see them better so I climbed a tree. And lost my balance."

"So how did your arm come off?" Scott asked.

"Because when I fell my arm got stuck in a forked branch. I fell, the arm stayed there, ripping the stitches."

"Oh," Scott replied, unsure what else to say.

Alan chanced a glance up at him and was surprised to see a smile trying to form on his lips. "Scott?"

He couldn't help it. He started to chuckle. "I'm sorry, Alan, I'm not laughing at you. It's this image I have of you on the floor and your arm waving at you from the tree."

Gordon snorted with laughter behind him as Alan bit his lip in embarrassment. "Well, my arm didn't stay up there. It fell down right after me. It kinda hit me in the face as it dropped on me."

Penelope stared at them all as the four older boys all started laughing, joined not long after by the youngest as he realised how ridiculous that sounded. She shook her head and went over, a smile on her lips. Despite the fear she'd felt earlier at the sudden and unexpected events, these were still the Tracys she'd known since she was a little girl and now they'd shared their secret with her, she felt even closer to them than ever.

Scott wiped at his eyes, calming down as he looked at Penelope. "Thank you for being so understanding," he said, softly, looking at her. "It means a lot to us that we can trust you, and it's also important to us because it means we have another safe place where we can really be ourselves. Because of the accident and the, uh, ease at which Alan comes apart, he hasn't been able to leave the island save for rescues. His suit protects his fragile nature."

"Scott, you make it sound like I'm made of porcelain," Alan said, rolling his eyes.

"Well, you're made of stronger stuff than that, I know that, Alan," Scott replied. "Just, I don't want people freaking out if you get stuck in a door and leave a leg behind or something."

Alan stuck his tongue out at him before turning back to Virgil.

Scott chuckled fondly before looking at Penelope as she spoke. "You're always welcome here, Scott," she said. "Nothing will change that. And yes, I want you to feel comfortable here, even if that means shedding the glamour as you call it. May I tell Parker? You know he can be trusted, too."

"Perhaps it would help him if we told him about us," John suggested. "I wouldn't want him trying to lock you in an institution or something because he thinks you've lost the plot over us."

Penelope smiled and let out a small laugh. "I suppose he might, I think I only believed it because I saw it with my own eyes."

"Exactly," Scott said. "But we trust him. He's never let us down, so yes. We'll tell him. But for now, I think we need a breather and a sit down. And I think John was rather hoping you might offer him a cup of tea."