Virgil lay back on the operating table, grimacing angrily at his own weakness. He hated being sick. If Tock wanted evidence that his captive was worried, the vomit that now lay spattered on the flagstones was all the proof he would need. In reality, Virgil's fear was less for himself than for these two young girls, and the twelve others elsewhere in the world…two of whom he had met; Bonnie and Isla. They too would soon be down here at Tock's mercy if the mad old scientist was to have his way. Virgil wanted out of here. But he would gladly volunteer to stay if he could guarantee their safety. It seemed, though, that these clones were all part of some masterplan.

What was Tock after? A super-race? For what purpose? Tock was in his eighties already. By the average lifespan these days he couldn't have more than fifteen or twenty years of life left, and then what? Somehow, Virgil was reminded of his history lessons at school, and how an Austrian born dictator had determined to create his own breed of special race; and had conspired against everyone who did not fit in with his idyll.

Tock had said he was no Adolf Hitler. Virgil remembered learning about some of the things that had been done to prisoners upon Hitler's orders. Was that what Tock had meant by that statement? He gritted his teeth defiantly as Tock came back into the room carrying several large syringes on a tray. The old man wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Euch! Couldn't you have waited until I was through with you before doing that?" he exclaimed, gesturing to the mess on the floor. Virgil narrowed his eyes at the man.

"Just a comment on my opinion of you and your methods, that's all. My grandma always says that actions speak louder than words."

Tock's eyebrows raised a fraction at the insult, then chuckled appreciatively.

"How very droll. Well, you can clean it up yourself presently, but for the time being, hold still."

Virgil's arms were tied together at the wrist, and fastened on a short length of rope to the head of the bed, leaving him some freedom of movement, but not very much. His legs were tied at the ankles and had been attached by a thin chain to a steel ring embedded in the far wall. Unable to do very much to stop his captor touching him, Virgil determined to make things as difficult as possible, and struggled as hard as he could against his bonds, even snapping with his teeth if Tock came anywhere near his head.

Tock shook his head, as if marveling at the antics of a child, then grabbing his tray, he stood back, watching his prisoner struggling futilely, a smirk on his lips. He watched as the young man finally seemed to be tiring and gave a lazy smile.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Virgil Grissom Tracy, but do it we will. You can lie there patiently until I have done what I intend to do, or you can struggle until you wear yourself out. I could have one of my men lay you out with a punch which will leave you with at least a broken jaw and a concussion I would think…or the other idea I have had is to inject you with my experimental serum…I might just do that anyway…"

Virgil glared at him, and the professor held his gaze.

"You really do not think that it is just you and I and two young women, do you? If you still believe that fighting me will get you somewhere, perhaps I should introduce you to my favourite student."

Without losing eye contact with Virgil, he raised his voice only slightly.

"Come in here."

Virgil could hear the sound of heavy footsteps coming closer, and then a figure appeared in the doorway that Tock had used. Thin, bald headed with dark eyes studying him with faint amusement.

"Well, well, well! Virgil Tracy, I believe. How nice to see you again."

It was the Hood.

Virgil's eyes closed in despair as both the Hood and the professor started to laugh.


Kayo kept Shadow in surveillance mode, studying the area on the ground with interest. The Hood's ship was in hover mode it seemed, way up in the upper stratosphere. She had arrived in time to see a small capsule leave the main body of the ship and head down to the ground. The small craft had landed in the grounds of the Manor House Care home.

Now she had to decide the best way to proceed. No doubt Lady P would be on her way, and the boys would never forgive her if she denied them the chance to helping out. Once she had decided upon her best course of action, she would need to let base know.

She activated her comms. Immediately, she was aware that they had been waiting for the comms lockout to open.

"Thunderbird Rover to Thunderbird Shadow."

"Shadow here." She replied, still studying her scans of the house and the grounds carefully.

"Shadow, Thunderbird One is heading to your location, three crewmembers on board; estimated time of arrival, seven minutes. FAB1 is also on its way with two crewmembers and two…assistants on board. Estimated time of arrival seventeen minutes."

"Acknowledged Thunderbird Rover. Thunderbird Shadow to Thunderbird One and FAB1."

Kayo's console came alive with holograms; those of Scott, Gordon and Alan on Thunderbird One, Lady Penelope, Parker and two identical young girls on FAB1. She noticed Scott's hologram lean forward and flick a switch, and suddenly John, Brains and Jeff's holograms popped up.

Kayo held up her hand for silence, and barked out another command.

"Thunderbird Rover, key into this conference call. Tee-Kay, please apply protocol LorneTinoAlpha."

"Acknowledged!" Came TeeKay's voice, and presently an unpleasant squealing sound filled their ears for a moment, and then TeeKay's voice came on again.

"Security Protocol activated. Conference call isolated and secure."

"Thank you TeeKay. Now we can talk freely." Kayo said with satisfaction. "Lady Penelope, I take it you are on your way to the care home in Ireland?"

The aristocrat nodded.

"Yes, Kayo. Everything seemed to point to that place being the center of everything, and so we are on our way in FAB1 and International Rescue are on their way in Thunderbird One. We are prepared to alter course if necessary."

Kayo shook her head.

"Well, it won't be necessary. I followed the Hood's ship here all the way from Malaya. He has left his ship in high parking orbit and taken a shuttle to the grounds of the home. My readings indicate he has Virgil in there."

"How long have they been in there, Kayo?" Jeff asked.

"About an hour now father. I arrived ten minutes ago, and I have been examining everything on my scanners. Even though scanners indicated that Virgil was on board the shuttle that landed in the grounds, his DNA trace vanished as soon as he entered the building."

"So the building is lined or coated with something that is impervious to your DNA scanners?"

"There are numerous humanoids within the building below whose DNA profiles are perfectly legible." Teekay informed them. "Therefore, the logical conclusion would be that Virgil is not within the house itself, but within a subterranean chamber beneath the building that is lined with lead or some other material."

Kayo saw that there were several confused faces who had not yet learned of TeeKay's existence. She gave a brief nod.

"TeeKay is my personal computer…" she began. Scott interrupted her.

"Good to know…he sounds like your father!"

Kayo rolled her eyes impatiently, but TeeKay answered for her.

"The reason for that is that Tino Kyrano was one of my primary creators. He provided the voice-print when my vocal subroutines were being written."

"Can we save this for later?" Kayo asked impatiently. "We need to plan a way to get into this presumably impervious underground lab and get Virgil out, along with any other prisoners he has in there."

"Why does he need Virgil?" Alan piped up at last, his voice on the edge of desperation.

"He doesn't."

It was Jeff whom had spoken. They all fell silent. Jeff looked round at the holographic images of his family and friends.

"The Hood doesn't need Virgil except as a carrot to trap the rest of you. He wants the Thunderbirds. But if that fellow Tock's old labs are really still there in the basement of that place, why would he take Virgil down there where he cannot be found? The Hood would want us to know where to come. He must have another reason for bringing our boy specifically there."

John had been listening to the conversation with both ears, but with his eyes still searching through reams and reams of internet files. Finally, he found what he was looking for, and a deep furrow appeared between his eyes.

"Guys…I know why the Hood has taken Virgil to Ireland. At least…I can hazard a guess…"

He looked up and found them all watching him, fear and expectation on every face.

"Remember I told you that Professor Tock reportedly died three years ago, and that his death certificate appeared genuine? I've been checking it out. It is a genuine certificate signed and filed, but there is no body to go with the certificate. No doctor or hospital records, no mortician, no post-mortem performed anywhere by anyone, no burial…unless someone has stuffed the body in their private freezer at home, I can only think of one reason why the body would be missing."

Lady Penelope's eyebrows raised, and Parker thumped his fist onto his steering-wheel.

"Because there ain't none!" he declared. "That bloke Tock ain't dead after all."

John nodded worriedly.

"He's faked his death. Tock is still alive and working down in that lab of his."

Jeff cursed loudly.

"In that case, Virgil is in a lot of trouble!"