AN: After a long wait here is chapter 7:
getpink - thanks for leaving the review. glad your enjoying the story. You'll find out what they're going to do about Alan in this chapter.
zeilfanaat, Boleyn - thanks for the review. Sorry for the delay with the update but I hope you enjoy it anyway.
Maethoriel - glad I hooked you even without you knowing about the Thunderbirds. Hope you'll come back and see this story to the end.
MDarKspIrIT - well here is your continuation. I actually have through chapter 10 finished right now so I hope to get at least those posted in a timely manner!
Jeff's POV:
"Have you made your decision Jeff?" The Hood asked, his face coming on screen.
"You win," I told him.
"No Dad you can't," John said. " Don't tell him . . ."
John's words faded off as the Hood raised a hand in his direction.
"Stop it," I yelled. "I'm giving you what you want, so stop hurting him."
"You're right," he said calmly. "So Jeff, where is Alan at."
"Alan's at the Churchill School for Boys," I told him purposely giving him the name of Alan's previous school. Alan would be safe across the Atlantic at Wharton Academy and Penny should be starting the process of evacuating the school.
"Thank-you Jeff. I'm sure I'll be seeing you there," The Hood said before cutting off the link.
"Brains, keep an eye on things. See who leaves and who actually stays," I told him turning away from the computers.
"Think he bought it?" Virgil asked.
"I sure hope he did," I replied. I was also hoping that he wouldn't take John with him. If he did that would complicate things even more. "Virgil I want you to head to the silo and start getting Thunderbird 2 ready for launch. Someone will be down to help you co-pilot."
"F.A.B. Dad," Virgil said heading for his portrait.
"We're not all going?" Scott asked me as Virgil disappeared down to the launch silo for Thunderbird 2.
"I'm waiting to see what the Hood does," I told him walking over to stand behind Brains.
"The ship is de-de-de leaving Thunderbird 5. I'm reading only one life si-si-signal still on board. If I kept track of ever-ever-ever all of them right, it should be John."
"Okay," I said. "Here's the plan then. I'm taking Thunderbird 1 to the school. Scott, Gordon I want you to launch Thunderbird 3. Be careful though, the last person up there could be one of the Hood's minions and not John."
"F.A.B. Dad," they both said.
As the two of them headed toward the portraits, I turned to Brains.
"Brains, can you go with Virgil in Thunderbird 2. I want the two of you to go to Wharton first and pick up Alan and Fermat. I want the two of them safe just in case the Hood isn't convinced I told him the truth. Get the two of them and then head back here."
"Of course Mr. Tracy," Brains replied.
"Mr. Tracy, perhaps you should take Tin-Tin with you," Kryano said speaking up from his spot by the door. "After all she has the same powers as my brother."
"It could be dangerous. Are you up to it?"
"Yes Mr. Tracy," she said without hesitation.
"Okay, you'll come with me," I told her. I knew they were right. Her powers could very well come in handy. However, she was still just a kid. I planned on keeping her near-by so I could protect her as best as possible. "Let's get going. We need to try and beat the Hood there. Kryano, can you get a hold of Mark Harper. Ask him if he can come out to the island. I have a feeling John is going to need medical attention."
As I headed toward my own portrait I saw Kryano nod.
"And Lady P, Mr. Tracy."
"I'll give her an update on the situation on our way there," I told him.
Scott's POV:
'The dream is coming true,' I thought to myself as Gordon and I prepared to launch Thunderbird 3.
I had insisted on John staying on Thunderbird 5 so that he would be safe. So that the Hood couldn't get to him. Instead, that was again the first place the Hood had showed up at. It was clear that the Hood had hurt him, we just didn't know how bad his injuries were.
"This is all my fault."
"What was that?" Gordon asked. I hadn't meant to say anything out loud but evidently I had. Now, was definitely not the time to try and explain it.
"Nothing," I told him. "Everything checks," I told him.
"Okay, then get ready to launch," Gordon said letting my comment go for now. I had a feeling he would be asking about it later. I knew he wouldn't let it go that easy.
"Thunderbird 3 to Control, am I clear for launch."
"F.A.B. Master Gordon, you are clear for launch."
"F.A.B. I'm launching now."
Soon we were leaving earth's atmosphere and heading into space. We weren't heading there fast enough for me. I wanted to already be on the station. Wanted to know for sure that John was okay. That I hadn't failed him.
This was all my fault. I was the one who had insisted on him staying up there. I had told him he was going to be safe up there. Instead, once again the Hood had gone for the station first. Had used John to get what he really wanted.
It seemed like forever before we were docking with the station. I was out of my seat before Gordon had even completed docking procedures.
"Scott slow down. Dad said to be carful," Gordon told me.
I nodded. It wouldn't do to get caught by surprise if it was one of the Hood's minions still on the station.
Jeff's POV:
I landed Thunderbird 1 twenty miles away from the Churchill School for Boys. As Tin-Tin and I disembarked I saw Lady P get out of FAB 1 and walk toward us. Parker was standing next to the rolls royce.
"Jeff darling, I'm glad you're here. The police are in strategic positions throughout the campus. All civilians have been evacuated and there has been no sign of the Hood yet."
"Good. We don't need any innocent people getting caught up in the crossfire," I told her. "Let's start heading to campus ourselves."
"Thunderbird 2?"
"Virgil and Brains are going to Wharton to pick up Alan and Fermat and take them back to the island. I'm not taking any chances."
"We're going to get the Hood and his companions, Jeff," Penelope told me.
"I sure hope so," I replied as we headed toward FAB 1. "I want this nightmare to be over with."
Scott's POV:
I headed slowly down the airlock toward the door leading into command and control, in my right hand I held a heavy metal bar I had picked up out of the storage bay on Thunderbird 3. It wouldn't do to be taken by surprise.
Down the corridor I could see the gaping hole in the second airlock door. The Hood must have cut his way through the door to get onto the station.
"That's going to take some time to fix," Gordon whispered behind me.
I didn't comment, just kept moving slowly forward. Carefully I stepped through the doorway, looking around. One of the first things my eyes fell on was John. His hands were still tied above his head with the chains. His feet were just above the floor meaning that the chains around his wrists were holding his entire weight. His head was tilted forward, chin resting on his chest.
Dropping the bar I rushed forward all caution forgotten. Brains had said there was only one person left on the station.
"John," I said hoping for a response as I put my arms around him. I lifted him up a little to try and take some of his weight from his arms.
"Scott," John said softly his eyes opening. "I knew someone would come," he said his voice filled with pain. Now that I was closer I could see tears still rolling down his face.
"Just hang on John and we're going to get you down," I told him. "Gordon find something to cut these chains," I told my other brother.
Gordon disappeared at a run.
"The Hood?" John asked.
"Dad's on the way to help the London police catch him."
"He knows that it's a trap," John told me.
"How?"
"He gets into your head. I was trying not to let him know but he figured out that I knew Dad had given him the wrong place. He still doesn't know Alan's at Wharton though. I was still able to keep that from him but he's going to be watching all of our moves."
Gordon came rushing back into the control room, bolt cutters in his hands.
"We need to warn Dad. Can you get the stations systems back up and running quickly?" I asked John as Gordon cut the chain that was attached to an overhead support beam. It took all my strength to keep both of us from ending up on the floor.
"It won't take me long at all," John said as I steadied him. Gordon dropped the bolt cutters and started undoing the chains still wrapped around John's wrists. I cringed as I saw the bruises and dried blood from the chains.
As soon as his hands were free, John rushed over to the console. His hands started flying over the controls and I couldn't follow what he was doing.
Virgil's POV:
"They said they'll be waiting by the lake. There is enough open space that we can land Thunderbird 2 there and not many people are out that way," Brains told me.
"Got it. We should be there in like five minutes," I replied wishing the green leviathan I flew could go a little faster. I would feel much better once Alan was onboard.
"Thunderbird 2 come in," came Dad's voice over the radio.
"This is Thunderbird 2. What's going on Dad?" I asked.
"John just contacted me from Thunderbird 5. The Hood knows that Churchill School for Boys was a trap. We don't know for sure he knows where Alan actually is but I need you guys to stay vigilant. I don't want him taking you by surprise. John's trying to locate his ship as we speak."
"F.A.B. Dad. We should have Alan and Fermat on board within five minutes. How is John?"
"He didn't look too good but we've got to let Scott and Gordon worry about him right now. Your first concern is Alan."
"F.A.B. Thunderbird 2 out."
"I've got a visual on the boys," Brains told me.
"Good I'm starting landing procedures. Brains, keep an eye out for other aircraft on the sensors."
"F.A.B."
I had the landing ramp descending even before I had Thunderbird 2 on the ground. As soon as the green rocket had landed, Alan and Fermat were running toward it.
"We've got an uniden-uniden unknown air craft coming this way," Brains said.
"Virgil, I've located the Hood," I heard John's voice as he broke in over the radio. I could hear pain and fatigue in it. "He's heading your way."
"Guess that aircraft is now identified," I quipped to Brains.
"Lady P and I are in the air headed your way," I heard Dad say over the radio. "The United States Air Force also has planes in the air. Do you have Alan and Fermat?"
"Affirmative Mr. Tracy they are now onboard," Brains replied for me.
I was getting ready to get my 'bird' in the air as Fermat and Alan rushed onto the bridge and took seats behind us.
"Buckle up guys," I told them. "I don't promise this will be a smooth ride home."
John's POV:
I let out a sigh of relief when I heard that Alan and Fermat was onboard Thunderbird 2. For the first time during this situation, it seemed as if we were one step ahead of the Hood.
The quick surge of adrenaline that had gone through me, seemed to be wearing off and I was once again becoming aware of my injuries. My wrists hurt from the chains that had bound them. My shoulders hurt from the strain of my body weight not to mention the pain from the other places Mullion had hit me. And who knew what the Hood had done, but my head hurt.
A low moan escaped as a wave of intense pain and nausea came over me.
"John?" Scott said softly kneeling down next to me and putting an arm around my shoulders. I let my head rest on his shoulder willing my self not to get sick.
"We need to get him to 'Uncle' Mark," I heard Gordon say.
"I think your right," I heard Scott say softly. "Put the station on stand by and transfer control down to Command and Control," Scott ordered. "John can you stand up. I'm going to get you onboard Thunderbird 3."
"I think so," nodding my head which was a big mistake as the slight movement sent a fresh wave of pain through my head.
With Scott's help I got to my feet. I draped and arm over his shoulders as he put one around my waist. I knew that without Scott's help I would have been on the ground. With Scott's help I started toward the airlock. I didn't get to far when the station started spinning.
I closed my eyes, hoping the feeling would go away. Instead I felt my knees give out.
"John," I heard Scott say with concern. It was the last thing I heard before the blackness over took me.
