Just a warning. There are so many swears in this chapter its unreal; but then Chris is in this one a fair bit, so if he's one of your favourites then this is for you.

11

Gary could still feel the lump forming on the back of his head as he mustered a reassuring smile for Lisa before his head was shoved forwards again. The Hood commanded their attention. Lisa glared at their captor as she wrested with the ropes binding her hands behind her back.

"Welcome." He spread his arms wide at the pillared room with its ornate effigies, colorful silk drapes and diamond white marble floors. The whole place screamed opulence, Lisa didn't want to know how many people had been maimed or killed to obtain this kind of wealth. "Now to business! I have a device in my possession that will change the world, so much so that I will become even more wealthy and powerful as a result!" His voice boomed, the jubilation resonating in his voice. "This computer will allow me to teleport to any point in time. I could obtain any technology or artefact I wanted! I will be invincible! You will help me to fix the components I have in my possession so I can finally put my plans into motion!"

"What if we can't fix it?" Lisa asked.

"I know you can fix it. Team America." Lisa and Gary's jaws dropped open in shock.

"You really think your disguises would fool me? I am the master of disguise! I saw right through yours at the bar. You really should learn to cover your face fully or facial recognition can still pick you up. I knew you were the woman that tried to stop me all those years ago, I never forget a face. It didn't take long to pull yours and your husbands' histories up from where you had faded into oblivion. You are only here to show me how to use the device."

"We'll never show you!" Shouted Gary.

The Hood frowned, his face clouding in fury. He crouched down to Gary's level and motioned for the men to cut Gary's bonds. The Hood tawny eyes illuminated. "You think you have a choice but you don't; stand up." Gary tried to resist but he found his legs had a will of their own. He grunted as he tried to stay where he was. "Hit her" He instructed, pointing at Lisa. Gary turned slowly to stand in front of Lisa on her knees. He was sweating, his fist curling inwards; he couldn't speak, couldn't stop. "Gary, Gary; stop!" – He punched her forcibly in the chin sending her reeling sideways. Suddenly feeling the control over him release, he collapsed to the floor grief stricken. "Lisa, I couldn't control it, I'm so sorry!" He tried not to sob when she righted herself looking at him in fear. There were tears in her eyes.

"You will show me or she dies a slow death by your own hand." The Hood snapped his focus to Brains who was still unconscious on the floor. He was the only one who was capable of fixing this machine. The Hood knew Mr Hackenbacker worked for Jeff Tracy and was a computer genius - among his other talents. "What happened to him?"

"He said he felt like a panic attack was coming on and just fainted on us when we tried to move him into the transporter." The lacky with the black hair replied.

The Hood kicked Brains in the stomach. He coughed and wheezed as he curled into himself in pain. "Nice try Mr Hackenbacker but this will go easier if you comply. Get him up and take them to the inner sanctum."

The men nodded before hoisting Brains up and shunting Gary and Lisa forwards. Once they were gone the Hood looked around before pressing a button on Shiva's inner wrist. The gold statue slid away with ease revealing his lair. He flew down the steps.

Gordon signalled to Penny that this was their chance. Just then there was a bone chilling cry of fury from below the floor. Penny and Gordon rushed into position at the top of the stairs right before the whole temple shook to its very foundations throwing them in opposite directions. Penny landed painfully on her shoulder and cried out, Gordon slid across the floor, the pillar hitting him squarely in the back. "Gordon!"

Osprey loomed into view, skimming over the treeline as she bore down from above, the steady thrum of the propellers announcing their arrival. Chris and Joe repelled down; gunning the sentries' before they'd even opened fire, the arterial blood splattered over the walls in a red arc. Joe and Chris hit the ground running just as Sarah busted the front door wide open, her ears deafened by rounds of fire below her. The smoke cleared to reveal a massive hole in the front entrance, twice the size of the old door. "Yes! Defences are down, move up!" She slapped a high five at Candy as she pulled into land. Both of them leapt down out of the cockpit and sprinted towards the entrance behind Joe and Chris. They all lined up on opposite sides of the newly formed entrance.

"We'll go first, cover us!" Yelled Joe.

"Alright but Joe?"

"Yes Sarah?"

"Be careful I sense there could be a terrible accident in our near future and I…... I love you."

He looked at her in surprise, it seemed he had been forgiven. His face broke into a smile that could have lit up a room. "I love you too Sarah, don't worry we'll be alright."

Joe bolted through the door with Chris hot on his tail. They both leapt behind the nearest pillars and the first bout of rapid gunfire began. Chris wasn't in the mood for delay's; who knew what was happening to Lisa and Gary. He fired off the rocket launcher in the general direction of enemy fire. It hit a pillar instantly killing the two men below it, who were using it as cover. They moved up as Sarah and Candy fired off a few rounds to protect them. They were in some kind of large entrance chamber where it split off into a multi-section of rooms.

"Sarah you're with me, Candy and Chris you take the left."

"On it" replied Chris as they separated.

Candy fell into step behind Chris as they entered a dimly lit room. It looked like a bedroom. "Do you think we should search for intelligence?" Candy eyed the drawers next to the desk.

"Nah, let's get Gary and Lisa first then we'll worry about that." Chris warily rounded a door at the side of the room. He fired all the way along the wall at the sight before him. He stopped once he realised that they weren't real. It was like some creepy house of horrors. There were hundreds and hundreds of faces staring back at him on plinths, from the floor to the ceiling. They all held the same blank expression. Some had large eyebrows, beards, gold hair, black hair – some even had facial tattoos and piercings. The only thing they had in common was no eyes - just slits where they should be. Chris felt shivers travel right though him. Candy lowered her gun. "What the actual fuck." She uttered.

Chris started to shake. "I don't believe it! I…. I was doing so well, Gary taught me everything I needed to know! How could this cock sucking, dickweed son of a bitch get the better of me?" He spun round to Candy in disgust as it dawned on him. "My god! Actors in the future have actual mind control abilities! Mother fuckers!" Chris reloaded his launcher, time to go stop this asshole before he hurt anyone else.

"Chris, I don't think he's an actor and I don't think actors have powers." Candy looked exasperated…. Her uncle had always been somewhat eccentric but this was a new high. Actors were assholes not superheros - although that would come as a surprise to some.

Chris looked at her as he swept his hand behind him. "Come on Candy open your eyes! Normal people don't do this! Only actors would have a walk-in wardrobe of fucking rubber faces in their bedroom. Imagine them being able to go undercover walking around undetected fucking people over." Chris eyes glazed over at some traumatic memory long repressed. "Actors in masks are the worst kind, those and the ones that dress up like animals. Anyway, some Actors do have powers; Gary does."

"What? No, he doesn't"

"He does; why do you think Spottswoode recruited him?" Chris motioned they should walk on, the room was giving him the creeps. "God! I hated Gary. When he first arrived, I thought he was a spy. Didn't trust the little trussed up dickweed as far as I could throw him."

Candy scanned the kitchenette they had wandered into, it was clear. Eyes on; she crept through, sweeping left to right with the pistol as she did. "Yeah, dad told me one of the first times you met him, you threatened to rip his fucking balls off and stuff them up his ass so that the next time he had a shit he would shit all over his balls." She shook her head at him.

"Ah good times…and for the record that still stands if he ever betrays us."

They came to a door on their right, their conversation ending abruptly at the sound of raised voices behind a large set of double doors. Candy placed her ear to the door to hear better.

The inner sanctum was on lockdown. At the top of the steps the hood burst angrily through the doors dragging Lady Penelope by the neck of her shirt with a gun trained at Gordon's head. Gordon paused at the top of the steps which earned him a kick in the back. Gordon let out an involuntarily yell of anguish but managed to stumble down the short flight of steps. The doors electronically locked behind them. Now the Hood was back with his two remaining cronies he lowered his gun and allowed them to line up his band of prisoners. The blonde woman and Gordon Tracy were a surprise and yes, he knew who Gordon Tracy was. He'd recognise that ginger mop anywhere. Well; if they wanted to force his hand, it was time to get to business.

He coldly gazed at Gordon. "Trying to foil my plans again? You should know better. Give me the device."

"Device, what device? We came looking for Brains when we worked out, he was missing." Gordon was scrabbling for time but his response was calm.

The Hood scowled at him. "Did you not learn your lesson from last time, you can't lie to me!" He roared before picking Gordon up by his neck in one large hand. Gordon immediately averted his face, squeezing shut his eyes whilst trying not to choke. Penelope watched the whole scene pan out before her, concerned for Gordon but absorbing the conversation like a sponge. She could see Gordon's fists were bunched, shaking. She had to do something! She saw Brains move a little as his eyes locked with her. She shook her head subtly, they couldn't afford to be rash. "LOOK AT ME!" Gordon still refused to comply; so the Hood lifted his pistol and shot Gary straight through the leg. Blood splattered over Lisa's lap and chest. She screamed.

Gordon's eyes sprung open and that was all the Hood needed, Gordon fell into a hypnotic stupor. "Show me where you hid the device. Take me to it now." The Hood knew that he couldn't force people to tell him things, unfortunately this was not how his power worked but he could manipulate people to do things. He watched as Gordon walked over to the blonde. She tried to back away but the armed guard held her in place. Gordon bent down pleading a silent apology to Penny before he opened her khaki shirt's breast pocket and withdrew the data stick before then removing her left boot and tipping out the little black box. He picked up his treasures and decanted them obediently into the Hood's outstretched hand. Gordon fell to his knees as the control was relinquished. He felt violated and groggy. Eventually he realised the other hostage had been shot. His femoral artery by the looks of it. Not good. Gordon threw another apologetic look at Penny whose face remained schooled and calm. Brain's didn't look so good; he was sweating profusely.

"Get Mr Hackenbacker up and ready to depart."

"N-n-n-n-no" stammered Brains weakly looking over his shoulder at his friends as he was dragged away.

Gordon had been tied up again and was on his knees. The Hood looked down at him; head cocked to one side. "Who would have thought our paths would cross again so soon? I thought you were dead; but it seems you were made of sterner stuff than your companion." Gordon suddenly leapt up and ran forwards with a roar using his body weight to propel into the Hood like a wreaking ball. The Hood momentarily surprised slid back across the floor but didn't fall, instead kneeing Gordon in the stomach. Gordon fell; winded. He couldn't protect himself from the blow with his hands behind his back. The Hood laughed manically. "It is a shame; as much as I would love to continue to goad you; I'm on a tight schedule but when I finally catch up with your father, I'll be sure to send my warmest regards. No one's going to save you this time Gordon." He turned on his heel and yanked Lisa up. she wailed for Gary, kicking and lashing out but the Hood was a large man and overpowered her easily shaking her before dragging her up the steps. "I love you!" she sobbed. The Hood took possession of Brain's at the top of the steps. He motioned to his two subordinates. "Kill the rest."