a/n - Your comments and reviews have made my day, thanks. Umm, you might want to grab some tissues before you start this chapter.
Vance and Nighteagle crouched down and watched for activity as sunrise grew closer. Hanna joined them as they saw lights flicker on in one of the cottages that lined the lagoon. "What are we going to do if Dom can't figure out how to shut it down? Hamilton could tell those Supers that we have to be killed."
It was Nighteagle that answered Hanna. "He's got to figure it out, because I am not attacking a fellow Super. Especially not one that's here because he's trying to live a normal life."
Vance was also determined to keep the innocents safe. "There's still time." Below them, the light went back out and the cottages were once again dark. Static came over the earplug as a message came through from Dominic.
~We've discovered that this machinery is basically a big amplifier for both the cloaking and mind control signal. We can take it offline, but somewhere something or someone is still transmitting.~
"Without the amplifier, how big is the affected area?"
~No way to know.~
"Can you take it out without setting off any alarms?"
~I believe so, sir.~
"All right, wait for my signal. Gibbs, did you copy that?"
~Affirmative.~
"You and your team get in position. The sun's going to be up soon."
---NCIS---
Gibbs turned to McGee, "you ready?" The young Super looked nervous.
"I'm ready, Boss. Hydro and I will go down, find what's underwater, and secure a way in for the rest of you." After a quick glance at Hydroman, he moved inland with the water-breathing Superhero.
Gibbs watched until they were out of sight and then settled down to wait with the rest of his team.
In the subtle light of the coming dawn Tim picked his way through the jungle. Now that he was a Super he was determined not to fall on his face. Once they were at the edge of the lagoon, Hydro created an air pocket that allowed McGee to stay underwater as they explored. Location picked, McGee phased and slipped into the hidden facility to wait. Pressed against the wall he'd come through, he was virtually impossible to see as he examined the room. Systematically, he started searching, mapping out the facility in his head as he went. Outside, deep in the lagoon, Hydro sunk down to hide in the coral and water plants as he waited for the signal.
---NCIS---
It was tempting to start the raid while the majority of the island's occupants were still asleep, but they needed the chaos from eliminating the mind control to make their plan work. That, of course, depended on the destruction of the machine actually having an impact. When the first few Supers wandered out of the cottages and headed for the beach, Vance gave the signal. Inside the building, Tony and Dominic were waiting.
"You're sure this is going to work, right?" Tony was kneeling next to the opened maintenance hatch on the left side of the machine, tools in hand. Dominic mirrored him at the opposite side.
The rookie from Los Angeles was more nervous than he was willing to admit. "If we're right about the wiring, this should work and if we manage to cut both sets of wires at the same exact time then we shouldn't set off any alarm. I think."
"You think? Oh, that's great." The signal from Vance came through before DiNozzo could work up to a full rant, much to the relief of the rest of the group. Instead, he started a countdown. When he hit zero, both he and Dominic sliced through their last remaining wires. Everybody winced and waited. The flashing lights faded and turned off, but there was no audible alarm. Quietly, they waited for the all clear from Vance, as they watched their bound and gagged prisoners look around in a daze.
---NCIS---
Out on the beach, Vance and his team watched the Supers in view stumble and then shake their heads just seconds after Ziva had signaled that the wires were cut. As the most recognizable of the Superheroes in the group, Nighteagle stepped out of hiding and waited to be noticed. When one of the Supers noticed him, he met him halfway on the beach.
"Nightie, is that you?"
"Hey, Bob, what's happening?" Nighteagle waited to see what he would remember.
The big man continued to rub his forehead. "I'm not sure. You tell me."
He was pretty sure his old friend was shaking off the effects of the mind control, but he wanted to be sure. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Bob focused on the memories that had seemed like a dream until a few moments earlier. "We decided to take the kids and leave rather than give up our rights. There was a group that was helping Supers get away…" Nighteagle could see the realization when it hit. "They weren't helping us, were they?"
By now, Vance and the other two Supers joined them. Bob grinned at the sight of Vance and gave him a hearty slap on the back. "Frozone, it's been a long time."
Vance coughed as he straightened back up. "Yeah, it hurt back then too."
Bob didn't need the entire background of what was happening, just a brief recap and he was ready to join the fight. By the time DiNozzo's team had the machinery dismantled enough that it could not be quickly repaired, the freed Supers had all of their former guards quietly rounded up and secured. Despite their desire to be left alone to have peaceful lives, all the Supers held on the surface of the island were more than willing to guard against invasion and to make sure no one attempted to restart the mind control and cloaking machinery. Hanna was ordered to stay with them and to watch for unusual activity. Something about the order when the rest of the group headed for the lagoon struck Sam as odd, but he was a soldier and followed orders.
---NCIS---
When he was phased, Tim could feel the signal as if it were a physical presence, a vibration against his skin. The signal was strong in the outer parts of the facility, but weakened as he moved towards the heart of the operation. It suddenly disappeared as he slipped through the seventh wall along his path. Tim froze, waiting to see what was different in this room. Only one light was illuminating this room, but it was virtually a spotlight shining down onto a raised dais. Even though the room seemed deserted, he phased to become invisible before approaching the narrow platform. A woman's body was resting upon it, barely breathing and deeply unconscious, over a dozen wires attached to her head. It had been many years since she'd been photographed, but she hadn't aged a day and he recognized her immediately as he sagged against her bed.
"Mom."
It took three calls from Hydro before the frantic tone penetrated Tim's mind. He ignored Hydro's questions to ask his own. "Is the surface secure? Is it safe to bring the boat to shore?" He knew his voice betrayed the pain he was feeling, but he didn't have the strength to hide it.
Gibbs broke in and responded before Hydro could say anything. "Shadow, what's wrong?"
"Is it secure?"
"The surface is secured, what's happening down there, Shadowhawk?" Vance couldn't imagine what had spooked the young man, but at this point he knew Hamilton was capable of anything.
Tim couldn't say the words to explain what he had found. "I need Hetty down here now."
"What is…"
"Now, Frozone." It was the first time he had referred to the Director by his Super name and that set off alarm bells in his mind.
"We'll get her here. Gibbs, you and your team move in now. We'll meet up with you ASAP." Gibbs didn't wait for the order, he and Kort were already on their way with the rest of their team scrambling to catch up.
While the team was rushing to rendezvous with Hydro, he was encouraging Tim to establish an entry point for the team. Obviously distracted by what he had found, McGee set up a meet point at an exit he had secured earlier.
---NCIS---
Onboard the boat, Hetty listened to the transmission, becoming more and more concerned as she listened. "Gus, how close can you get us?"
He had been listening as had the rest of the support team. Instead of saying anything, he revved the engine and pointed the bow towards the shore. There was just enough time to brace themselves before they were plowing into the sand. As soon as Hetty realized what he was going to do, she was back on the radio, calling for Speedster. He met the boat as soon as it was stationary, buried to the waterline in the sand and grinned at Hetty as she climbed onto his back,
"It's been a few years since we did this, babydoll."
"Take me to my boy, love."
Eric and Nate stared at each other.
"Babydoll?"
"Love?"
Knowing that at some point there would be injuries, Ducky and Palmer started setting up the medical equipment they'd brought, while Abby fluttered around them nervously.
---NCIS---
Lazerview used his laser vision to cut through the locking mechanism at the access point. McGee was waiting for him on the other side. "Is Hetty coming?"
"She's on her way, Tim. What's wrong?" Gibbs hadn't seen his agent this rattled in many years, and caught him by the upper arms to get an answer out of him. "What did you find?"
"My mother. I think she's the Super Hamilton is using to create the mind control energy waves." Tim blinked back tears as he tried to find the words to explain his mother's condition. "She's… she's… it's bad, Boss, it's really bad.
"Oh, heavens." Hetty and Speedy had arrived in time for her to hear what Tim had found. "Are you sure it's her?" Hetty was ready to charge through the complex to her sister, but Gibbs reigned them in.
"McGee, lead the way. Kort and Callen take point and security. Kensi, watch out for Hetty. You three," he pointed at the Supers with them, "watch our flanks. I'll take the rear."
Having Gibbs there barking orders like he'd heard a thousand times over the years helped McGee to focus as he led them back to the control room where Starspirit was being held. Systematically he phased into and cleared each room as they made their way across the facility. As he found guards in their path Kort and Callen took turns containing them. Their party grew in size as the other teams caught up with them.
Eventually they were outside the target room. Gibbs held his hand up to halt the group as the Supers with them double-checked for booby traps. It appeared that Hamilton was overconfident as they could find nothing. Finally, they eased the door open. The teams secured the perimeter as Tim and Hetty approached the bed.
"Marlena, my beautiful baby sister." Hetty reached out and touched her hair, spread out on the satin pillow, before touching her cold cheek. When Hetty's fingers made contact with her sister's skin, the older woman suddenly stilled as their minds brushed. It was just like when they were children and Hetty could shelter the uncontrollable power Marlena had been born with.
Acting on instinct, Tim sat next to his mother and took her hand. The power he felt was something he'd never experienced and he swayed under the force of it. Hetty leaned towards him and when they touched, it completed a circuit between the three of them that had waited a lifetime to form. He felt the gentle touch of his mother's love caress his mind once as she begged to be released from her earthly prison.
With a shudder, McGee dropped his forehead to rest on his mother's shoulder as Hetty pulled away. While Gibbs watched, Kort went to her, hoping for answers.
"What happened to her?"
Hetty shook her head as she wiped the tears off her face. "At the moment of her death, Hamilton trapped her spirit. He's been channeling her abilities to control the army he's trying to create, but she's been fighting him all these years."
"Can we do anything to save her?" Deep down, Kort knew the answer as he watched Tim say his goodbyes.
"No, it's too late; she can never return to her body. All we can do now is release her and give her peace. " Hetty stepped closer to the equipment that tied Starspirit to the physical plane. McGee bent down and kissed his mother's forehead before he joined Hetty at the control panel.
Kort reached out and prevented them from turning off the life supporting machines. Hetty started to object until she saw the rare look of compassion on his face as he studied McGee. As a last gesture to the woman he had loved from afar since he was boy, Trent Kort turned off the machines, freeing her, so her son wouldn't have to.
