Chapter 10

"So you two are responsible for Scott going missing?" Virgil frowned, "You kidnapped your own son out of thin air?"

He saw his aunt look to his father and knew the answer before she spoke, "It was his idea. I told him it wasn't a good option."

John sighed from by the window, looking out to the ocean, "Tell them about EOS."

Virgil frowned and looked from John to their father, "What about EOS?"

"She became our ally after she caught us trying to get into the systems." Jeff explained, "She's been helping with tracking the Hood."

"So where's Scott now?" Alan asked, "He said he'd-"

"He's gone after the Hood," Kayo cut Alan off, looking towards Jeff and Val, "He went before he was meant to didn't he?"

Jeff nodded, "Yeah, we explained the same thing to him as we have to you all. I asked him if he'd finish what I started."

Alan shook his head, "But why did you need Scott?"

Jeff looked down as Val glanced to him, "Because he couldn't do it, not that he didn't want to."

Finally John turned himself towards the group, confused as to what his aunt meant. Everyone else in the room had also shifted, each somehow moving closer to their father. Jeff sighed and shook his head, "I tried to do what Scott is doing, the Hood shot my plane down though."

John glanced across to where Kayo was stood, catching her worried look as Jeff continued, "I went down with it, there wasn't enough time to eject, that's about all I remember."

"There's something more," Grandma moved to sit next to him, "I know when you're hiding something Jeff."

He shook his head, "It's nothing."

"Stop lying!" Val snapped as she jumped up, "It's not nothing! It's anything but nothing Jeff. So stop pretending it is. This affects all of us now."

"What does?" Kayo moved forward, "What happened? What did the Hood do?"

Val watched Jeff, waiting for him to say something. When he stayed silent she opened her mouth to say it herself, only to be cut off.

"It doesn't matter right now." Jeff told them standing up, "We need to find Scott and make sure he doesn't get himself killed."

John nodded in agreement, "Where is it he's headed?"

"To-"

"Well, the great Jeff Tracy has returned."

Everyone turned to the centre of the sunken lounge, all frowning in hatred at the shadow being projected into the room. John and Kayo stepped towards the group, unconsciously moving closer to each other as they did.

"It's funny how when one Tracy returns, another is lost." The projection chuckled, "And always your leaders too."

"Where's Scott!?" Alan cried out, "What have you done to him?"

There was a long pause, Virgil shifted, his hands clenching at the thought of his brother being harmed. Gordon moved to Virgil's shoulder, ready to grab him, but equally as ready to back him up. Kayo slipped her hand into John's as she watched the shadow, praying that the Hood wouldn't give her away.

"I'm fine Alan."

Everyone let out a small sigh until the Hood added, "For now. Bring me the Thunderbirds and no harm will come to your family, don't and you'll lose someone. This time, permanently."

Then the shadow was gone.

Scott raised his chin as the Hood stepped past the camera towards him, "They won't do it, they know I won't want them to."

The Hood looked down to him, his face hard as ever, "Then your family has signed your own death warrant."

Scott remained defiant, "I wouldn't be so sure."

The Hood turned away, waving his hand at the two minions holding Scott, "Show him what we do to people that don't believe our strength."

Scott's eyes widened as he realised fully what the Hood meant, he pulled away from the minions only to be kicked in the back of his legs, sending him stumbling to the floor. He was dragged up by his collar and marched away from the room, this time with three minions keeping a tight grip on him.