SEASON TWO SERIAL TWO: Prognosis Uncertain

CHAPTER ONE

Steve spoke with the Federation medical officer as they headed into the facility. "You're certain your treatment has been a success?"

"There is no doubt about it. The subject is completely free of the psychosis he exhibited when he first acquired his abilities."

"I hope you're right. The Tomorrow People went through a lot to capture him and deliver him to us. I'd hate for it to be for nothing."

They entered the treatment room. Mark was standing in front of them. "Am I free to go now, Doctor?"

"Of course, Mark. I'll just remove the telepathic inhibitors and then Steve here will escort you back to Earth."

Mark waited as the medical officer removed two devices from his temples. "Just one thing I have to do first." And with that, he sent a blast of telepathic energy at the medical officer, frying his mind. Before Steve could react, Mark jaunted away.


Michael and Michelle were showing Paul the full extent of the lab. "The computer terminal gives us access to all local media and data storage,"Michael explained.

"Bit of a botch up, isn't it?"Paul asked.

"Well, it was all put together in a bit of a hurry,"Michael admitted. "The lab was severely damaged some months back. Our main computer, TIM, was destroyed."

Michelle was examining a bank of lights. "Michael, if I understand these instruments correctly, we're receiving a message from the Galactic Trig."

"From this Federation you told me about?"Paul asked.

"That's right." Michael stood in front of a monitor. "This is the Tomorrow People of Earth. We are receiving you."

Steve's image appeared on the screen. "Hello, Michael."

Michael smiled. "Steve! What can we do for you?"

"I'm afraid it is what you must do for yourselves, Michael. Mark has escaped. We believe he may be on his way back to Earth."

"You told us Mark couldn't escape,"Michelle protested. "That you'd arrange to have him locked away in one of the Federation's most secure correction centres."

"And so we did. But many of those here at the Trig are unused to the traits of duplicity and deceit practised by less advanced races. Mark was able to convince those in the correction centre that he was cured. As soon as he was removed from his restraints, he attacked a medical officer. The man is still undergoing treatment for severe brain damage."

"Seems he hasn't changed then,"Michael sighed.

"Not at all. He's still as dangerous as ever. So be on your guard."


Mark materialised in the middle of Trafalgar Square. Several onlookers saw him appear as if from nowhere and turned to gape in astonishment. A couple of policemen ran forward. "Hey, you there!"one of them called. Mark summoned up a burst of telekinetic energy and sent them both sprawling. Then he dashed off through the streets.


Michael, Michelle and Paul sat in the lab's lounge area. Paul was confused. "So who is Mark?"

"A rogue Tomorrow Person,"Michael explained. "He didn't take to breakout very well."

"You remember how we told you we can't kill or cause people to come to harm?"Michelle asked. Paul nodded. "Well, Mark can."

Paul didn't really understand this. "How come he can and we can't?"

"Oh, that's simple,"Michael replied. "He's insane."

"And the man on the monitor?"

"Steve? He's a Tomorrow Person as well. One of our representatives at the Trig. He helped us catch Mark last time."

"But not this time?"

"No, it seems we're on our own. Let's just hope this turns out to be a simple assignment."


In an office several thousand miles away, a man in a suit entered carrying some sheafs of papers. "We've just had contact with one of our agents in London. A boy just materialised out of nowhere in the middle of Trafalgar Square."

Agent Walker examined the papers. "I'll take a team on the first flight to England. Have all our agents alerted to look out for this boy."

"You think it's the Tomorrow People again?"

"Almost certainly."

"Well, keeping tabs on them could be a bit difficult. You know they have a habit of popping up all over the place."

"Not this time." Walker reached into his drawer and took out an oddly-shaped gun. "I managed to get hold of this. A group of aliens gave it to one of our former presidents. It should show the Tomorrow People a thing or two."


Michael, Michelle and Paul had retired to Michelle's house where her mother had prepared a meal for them. Michael finished off his dessert and smiled. "Thanks, Mrs. That was very nice."

"Very kind of you to say so, Michael. And please call me Tina." She turned to Paul. "So, you're one of these Tomorrow People too, are you? You've broken out or whatever you call it?"

"Yes, um, Tina. A few weeks ago."

"Well, good luck to you. The amount of trouble these two have got themselves into…"

Michelle's gaze flickered over to an ignored TV set nearby. Something on the news report caught her eye. "Mum, can we have the sound on?"

"Well, I suppose we've finished eating…"

"Please. It might be important."

Her mother pressed the button on the remote control and they heard the voice of the newscaster speaking over a picture of grainy CCTV footage. "No explanation has been given for the boy's appearance which witnesses have described as 'appearing out of thin air'. Two policemen were injured in the incident but they recovered quickly and were released from hospital this afternoon."

Michelle glanced at Michael, who stated what they both knew. "Mark."


Mark stood outside a house. A "For Sale" sign hung outside. There seemed to be an air of neglect about the place. The garden was overgrown, the paintwork neglected. He jaunted inside, appearing in one of the upper rooms. Most of the furniture had been taken out. That which was left was broken, smashed as though by some violent force. A smile played across his lips at the memory. Then he jaunted away.


Michael was on the phone while Michelle, Paul and Michelle's mother stood nearby. "Yes, thank you very much for your help." He replaced the receiver and turned to face the others. "Mark's mother moved up north soon after his disappearance. Put most of her stuff in storage and went to stay with her sister. She didn't even hang around long enough to sell her house. It's been on the market ever since but without anyone around to maintain it, it's not a very attractive property."

"So Mark could be holed up there?"Michelle asked.

"Makes sense. We should check it out."

"Look, this all sounds very dangerous,"Michelle's mother protested. "Surely it would be better to leave this to the police?"

"The police wouldn't know what to do with a Tomorrow Person,"Michelle pointed out. "I'm afraid it's up to us."

"It always is, isn't it? Well, good luck to you then."

"Are we going to head back to the lab and get the stun guns?"Paul asked.

Michael shook his head. "We've not got much hope of sneaking up on him and I'd rather not put him on guard by making it look like an attack. Strictly recon. Come on."

The three of them jaunted…


…reappearing in the deserted front room of Mark's old house. Michael gestured to Michelle and Paul to fan out. They checked the ground floor rooms then carefully ascended the stairs. They checked all the rooms in turn, ending up in the one where Mark had been earlier. "He's not here,"Michelle noted.

"No,"Michael agreed. "But he has been."

"How do you know?"asked Paul.

"I just do. I can sense it. And quite recently too."

Mark's voice sounded in their heads. "Michael. Michelle."

"Did you hear that?"Michael asked Michelle. She nodded.

"I heard it too,"Paul confirmed. "How?"

"Omnidirectional transmission. Telepathy doesn't have to be focused, you can just send it anywhere. We hear you, Mark. What do you want?"

"To talk."

"We can meet on neutral territory…"

"Actually, I was thinking more like your territory. You'd better hurry. You know how angry I can get if I'm left to my own devices."

"He's at the lab,"Michelle realised.

Michael nodded. "We'd better get back there." They jaunted once again.


Mark was sitting at the focusing table when they arrived, a stun gun held nonchalantly in his hand. Michael, Michelle and Paul stepped off the jaunting pad. Mark smiled. "Well, well. Good to see you both again. And I see you've got a new friend. Who are you then?"

"Paul."

"Pleased to meet you, Paul. I imagine these two have been telling you how terrible I am."

"Something like that."

"What do you want, Mark?"asked Michael. "I take it this isn't a social call."

"Actually, in a sense, it is. I just wanted to let you know that I'm back in the neighbourhood – although I imagine your masters at the Federation have already told you about that. And to tell you that despite you imprisoning me and sending me off to those brain adjusters of theirs, I bear you no ill will. You leave me alone and I'll leave you alone."

"You need to go back to the Trig, Mark,"Michelle insisted. "They can cure you there."

"Cure me? So I become like you? Soft? You don't seem to get the idea, do you? We're the Tomorrow People! Homo Superior! We're here to replace the saps, not kowtow to them and help them across the road! Well, even if you are unwilling to take your rightful places, I am." He walked past them to the jaunting pad, stun gun in his hand but not pointed at them. He stepped onto the pad and faded away.