Eight years ago: St. Mary's Hope Orphanage

The young man waited at the tree just as they had planned. He stared out into the night trying to find her. 'Where are you, Isabella?' Cursing softly he started to move

toward the building several yards away when suddenly she appeared out of the darkness breathless and scared, carrying only a backpack. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry Sister

Agatha kept coming into our hall and checking on Vicky. I have everything let's go."

The two shadows moved silently towards a car parked down the hill. After getting in he allowed the car to coast to the end of the drive before starting it. The silence of the

night was broken by the quiet hum of the motor and once it had faded away nothing was left to mark that they had ever been there not even tire marks.

Today: Tracy Island

Newscaster: "Everyone is still in shock over the recent accusations concerning ex-astronaut and billionaire Jeff Tracy, not only him but the other parents that live on

his private Island in the South Pacific. An unknown source came forward Monday in the wake of the recent attacks on International Rescue claiming that Jeff Tracy

and the other parents were being neglectful and putting their children in danger. The source stated that the children gained access to the unmanned I.R. vehicles and could

have harmed themselves or others. They had no supervision and the source stated that their parents were not even in London with them but back on the Island. The

source stated that normally the youngest of Jeff Tracy's sons and his young friend, the other boy whose parents are in question, are normally in boarding school here in

America but that since Spring Break was in full swing, Mr. Tracy obviously allowed his son and friends to run amuck with money to burn. The other child is a female who

under other circumstances is homeschooled on the island. As of right now, our sources tell us that all three of the children have been placed into protective custody at an

unknown location. We will keep you up to date on this surprising story as it unfolds. Tom back to you."

Scott flung the remote with a curse and it shattered against the wall. Jeff frowned at his son's actions but did not reprimand him. To tell the truth he wanted to do

the same thing. He looked around at the rest of his family, extended and blood. John sat in a chair near the window staring out at the ocean with a brooding

expression. Virgil sat at his piano with his fingers on the keys but didn't play a note; his face was a mixture of anger and profound sadness. Gordon leaned against

the wall staring off into space the only movement he made was to clench his fists occasionally. Kyrano sat on the couch holding Onaha, trying to comfort her as she

cried quietly. Brains sat in the chair near John, and like him stared silently out at the ocean. Jeff looked up as the form of Fab 1 came into view. Sighing he got up and

made his way alone down to the landing strip to greet Lady Penelope and Parker. He winced as he moved as his back still hurt from the attack from the Hood. He

shook his head in sadness as he thought about the last time Penny had been there. They had been celebrating the defeat and capture of the Hood and his cohorts.

Alan had finally earned his place on the team, actually he and his friends. Jeff shook his head at the absurdity of it all. Here these three young people had risked

their lives to save not only him and the other boys, but then they went beyond that to save the people from the downed monorail and stop the Hood from sending

the world into economic chaos. And they we're being rewarded for all of this by being torn from their families and taken to some hospital to be held virtually captive

and grilled like prisoners. He had actually begun to wonder if the world was worth saving if it permitted such atrocious acts. He smiled sadly as he reached Fab 1 and

Penny came running up to him. "Penny it's so good to see you, thank you for coming. We need something to break this…this…" his voice broke as he threw out his

arms in frustration and sadness.

Penny wrapped her arms around him and whispered softly as his shoulders shook with silent sobs. "Oh Jeff, my darling, we will beat this and the children will be

home again soon. Just you wait and see. Parker and I both will be working our hardest to make it happen."



Jeff gave her a watery smile and after composing himself he led them both back up to the house, where hopefully they all could come up with something to bring

their babies back home.

Today: Channing Hospital for Children

Alan sat looking out the small window in his room. The dark shadows under his eyes were painfully evident against his pale skin. He wondered where Fermat and

Tin-Tin were and what was happening to them. It had been three days since he had last seen them and a week since he had last seen his family. There were no

more tears left in him and he had stopped being hungry and thirsty. Only the threat of I.V.s had made him eat. He missed his dad and brothers so much and

everything else held no appeal. As he stared out the window he was unaware of being watched. Not that he really would've cared.