Well, it's back to work for me, tomorrow. Physics and chemistry are calling, once more! Been a fun two weeks, though. Have to do it again, sometime. Thanks so much for coming along. Will straightaway answer reviews, my friends. =) Edited!

50

Antarctica, deep inside a well-hidden, Ross Island stronghold-

Nikorr Kyrano had betaken himself to the "conference chamber", that place from which he could meet with any of his peers… or all of them, provided that they chose to respond. Roughly circular, carved from the living stone of an active volcano, the chamber held a central platform surrounded by large, faintly shimmering crystals. One of these held very little energy, now, because the Dos Santos' were grown few and quite wary. The rest varied in brightness, with the Kane and Kyrano stones shining clearest of all. Gold for Kane, green for Kyrano.

So much for surroundings. He had not come here to make an announcement. Rather, he'd been called upon. It was possible (if rude) to ignore such a summons, but Niko chose to heed it, given the situation.

He'd left his quarters, walked and lifted (Kane technology) a quarter of a mile, then dismissed his guards at the threshold. Wanted no witnesses, for what he intended, next. Now, touching that red-gleaming crystal, he said,

"Speak."

The platform's center formed a tall, misty cylinder which presently altered to show him a face and form in constant flux.

"Lord Hiro," Nikorr greeted the caller, making a very slight bow. "You have her?"

"I do," said the other, in a voice that held more feral growl than humanity. Most Hiros clung tightest of all to the form of their totem, the great mountain bear. "And that one will be delivered, per agreement… provided you are able to control and…" those sliding, melting features grimaced slightly, hating the next word's taste, "re-educate it."

The Kyrano folded both arms across his broad chest, setting many tiny crystalline spiders… his badges of rank… to skittering for cover on shoulders and back.

"I am able," he said. "Her power is considerable, but she lacks experience and training. You have my word, Lord Hiro, that Tanusha will not leave this stronghold, until she's been fully reclaimed."

Hiro made a noise between grunt and rumble, his features still shifting through all of his forms like a fast-shuffled deck of cards. Very unstable, the Hiros; especially those of high rank. Only their young could hold a form for very long, without deep concentration.

"The polluted have caged that one for many years, psion. It is now quite deeply warped."

Nikorr inhaled sharply, forcing calm self-control. He did not like being told what he already knew, no matter how old or honoured the messenger.

"I am aware of this, Lord Hiro, and I am well prepared to deal with the matter. And you? Are your kanni equal to the task of duping those who have raised Tanusha and that other?" ("Other", because he couldn't be troubled to recall the captured Tracy's given name. Honestly, they were all the same to him; repugnant.)

Another assenting grunt came from Hiro, who was relaxing back into his bear-form, making speech more difficult. The bear shape warred with what might have been his original; that of a pale, wisp-bearded man with light eyes and long, red-brown hair.

"They shall succeed, psion, for the alternative is dissolution; a return to the well of souls from which spring all. The brain-scrape pretense, while distasteful, was well-advised. They will not expect very much of their injured member, and now the one who might have detected this switch… your young breeder… has been taken, as well."

The Hiros, having no fixed shape or gender, did not refer to others in the usual way. Niko was becoming accustomed to this quirk. Inclining his head very slightly, he acknowledged the compliment.

"I have had time to study Tanusha, and… through her… the Tracys. They will fall into line, Lord Hiro, or be destroyed. It matters not which. Next, I intend to bring down their ally, the "Mechanic", and that Vermin world government. As Tracy hinted, it is past time we emerged from the shadows. This is step one. Send the girl. Infiltrate Tracy Island, and prepare more kanni. One never knows whom you might encounter, alone and unguarded."

Hiro responded with a low, snuffling growl, nodding his heavy bear's head by way of assent. Least human of all the Families, the shape-changers were also the most subtly, darkly powerful. Good allies, terrible foes. Able to imitate anyone. Anything, almost; having trouble only with cyborg shapes… But the Tracys knew nothing of that, and soon, one by one, they would fall.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thunderbird 4, rising from a deep and chilly Atlantic current-

His transponder was still off, because Gordon Tracy did not feel like explaining how he'd gotten from Pacifica City to the Northwestern Territories, in less than an eyeblink. After all, what Colonel Casey didn't know, wouldn't hurt her… in theory.

Virgil was on his way in Thunderbird 2, though, angling for a superfast, drop-and-grab magnetic pickup. Body cams rebelliously off, the two brothers coordinated their meeting by wrist-comm, leaving Dad to smooth down the oversight committee... if he could

Ascending through cold, dense water, Gordon glanced over at the passenger seat. Ellie Pendergast was fast asleep, blonde head flung back, mouth slightly open, smiling a little. Charlie lay curled up against her, back in his three-year-old mode and clutching Scruff (who waved a velvet paw at the aquanaut, not needing rest). They looked… peaceful. Relaxed. Like two people (and one biodroid) who knew that all was right with the world.

Gordon blinked away sleep. Debated taking another alertness tab, but decided against it. Too many of those gave him headaches. Unwrapped another celery crunch bar, instead, then forgot to eat it.

Anyhow, Virgil was on-track for their rendezvous in about an hour. One more hour. Then, hopefully, he'd be able to take a nap. Or, y'know… fly 2 awhile, so Virgil could rest. They could take turns, maybe, with the giant green cargo-lifter placed on autopilot for home.

Gordon had his helmet on, for a couple of reasons. One, the heads-up display provided useful data about time and distance to pick up. Two, its small computer monitored his eye and head movements, providing a beep and slight 'zap', when he looked like nodding off, again. Just… d*mn, he was exhausted. If Caleb wanted to try handling the next few missions, that was A-OK with Gordon, who needed to curl up in bed for a couple of days.

Looking at Charlie and Ellie, again, he thought… y'know…. That the little guy could use a mommy, too. Something about females… they just made everything better. Buddy Pendergast was a lucky man, Gordon figured. One who'd found the woman that made him whole. Was there anyone out there like that for him, the aquanaut wondered? Could his attraction to Zara be the real thing?

The sandy-blond swimmer's thoughts drifted here and there, twice more earning him "wake-the-h*ll-up" zaps. Then, finally, his wrist-comm chimed and he heard Virgil's deep, friendly voice saying,

"Hey, Kiddo… ready to get the h*ll outta Dodge?"

Gordon stretched, patted back a jaw-cracking yawn, and then grinned at his brother's projected image.

"Oh, I dunno. Kinda having a good time, down here. Watching the sea-life, flirting with mermaids… y'know, the usual Gordon Tracy fun-fest."

Virgil shook his head, not seeming as relaxed as normal.

"Yeah, well… I hate to cut in on all that cross-species romance, Fish-stick, but we're needed back home. Something's come up. Tell you more about it when you're back inside."

Gordon straightened right up, and gave his brother a nod.

"F.A.B.," he said, watching the blinking dot that represented Thunderbird 2 slow down, line up, and match speeds.

"Hey," Gordon called out, one hazel eye on his instrument panel. Reached over to give Ellie and Chip a quick shake. "Rise 'n shine, you two. The bus has arrived."

Ellie woke smiling and blinking, but Charlie just whined a little; burying his sleepy head in the crook of her shoulder and neck.

"Chip," Gordon insisted, reaching over once more. Only, Ellie prevented him.

"It's aces, Luv. No worries. Let 'im sleep. Pure knackered 'ee is, poor little joey." Arms wrapped snugly around the small boy, Ellie nuzzled the top of his head, just inhaling the sweet smell of child.

"Never thought I'd be wantin' one o' these," she whispered, blinking back sudden tears. "Too busy."

Charlie shifted and mumbled in her grip, not quite waking up. Very gently, Ellie kissed the boy's cheek, soothing a string of bleary excuses.

"I din' mean to..! I was only tryna..."

"Shhh... shh... there, now." And then, looking at Gordon, again, "'Pears I might 'ave t' 'ave a talk with ol' Buddy," she laughed softly. "'Oo knows… addin' a tyke t' th' cast might even boost our ratings."

Gordon smiled at her.

"D*mn," he marveled. "They're contagious!"

Overhead, through a wavering layer of seawater, he spotted the swooping shadow of Thunderbird 2.

"Hang on tight," he instructed his passengers. "Emergency grabs can get kinda rough."

"I've got 'im," Ellie promised, smiling back with pure, innocent fun. "No worries, Luv. You do th' drivin'. I'll keep Chipper safe as 'ouses."

Yep… Buddy Pendergast had found a greater treasure than any elusive fill-in-the-blank, Gordon decided. He'd found the right woman.

About two minutes later, Thunderbird 4 was on the surface, using up the last of her fuel to bounce across wave tops and slice through that freezing wind. Then, with a deep, pulsing drone, 2's intense magnetic pickup-field snagged them, causing a colourful retinal lights show.

Next came a tremendous upward yank, sending stomachs thudding like rocks. The yellow sub was scooped from the water like an unwary fish, then hauled into Thunderbird 2's mighty force shield. The pod was halfway down, ramp open.

Gordon watched in mirror and viewscreen as Virgil retracted his force field, gently maneuvering Thunderbird 4 onto that waiting ramp. That was it for shield-work. Couldn't pull any tighter without crushing them all. Instead, Thunderbird 2 had to climb, hard, causing the captured Sea Bird to slide down the canted ramp and into her "throat". Like a feeding cormorant, sort of.

Rough ride, braked by inertia dampeners and a couple of hardy Maxes, but at last… finally… they'd made it home. Smiling, completely wrung out, Gordon Tracy fell asleep.