Part 7: Consequences
Virgil rose out of a daze. His shoulder was on fire, he tried to move it but a familiar voice told him to keep still and the pain receded to a gentler tingle that numbed his whole chest and sent him back into the blankness. It seemed barely seconds later that he opened his eyes to a brighter world, where a lovely face was gazing down at him with obvious delight.
"Say something." It urged him. Virgil managed a grunt that sounded something like, "Whughthuhuhamuh?"
"He's back to normal." A caustic voice remarked just out of sight.
"Quiet, Troy." The face said, smiling at Virgil. She brushed the hair from his cool forehead, and he lifted a numb arm and caught the warm hand by its smooth fingertips,
"Helena. I…I…"
"It's all okay." She breathed, kissing him on the brow. His brown eyes looked up at her, he asked in concern, making his mouth work,
"Scott, and, and Troy, we were cornered by those rebels…"
"Scott's just gone to watch over the Empress. He was here until a few minutes ago, we were all…Worried."
"I'm fine now." He insisted, "Is Scott okay?"
"He'll probably sleep once he knows you're awake. Never met anyone so stubborn in my life before, except you. He wouldn't let the medics even look at him until he was sure you were both out of danger."
"It's a good thing I feel better." He grunted, trying to sit up so that he could see her. They were back in the quarters of the palace, he recognised the decoration in the room. Helena frowned playfully and attempted to stop him. Virgil grimaced as pain shot along his shoulder. Helena rolled her light blue eyes and he sank onto his back again.
"That woman hurt your shoulder but the doctors around here don't think it's deep. You'd better not move it, though."
"I got it." He gulped. Helena glanced behind her, "And Troy's here. Anything you want to say, Captain?"
"Humph." Tempest came into view and looked down at Virgil, "Listen, Tracy, I'm glad you're okay. Okay?" it sounded more like a threat than actual thanks, but Virgil grinned anyway.
"You didn't do so bad yourself." He said. "But I'm still glad I punched you." Tempest opened his mouth, and then smiled ruefully with Marina at his side. He was in his WASP uniform and had taken his hat off.
"And Gordon wasn't all that bad at piloting Stingray, either." Phones grinned from the doorway. As Virgil looked over there, the door opened and Scott strode through it. He was wearing a loose blue robe and dark blue trousers, neither of which could hide the limp or the dark bruising across his chest. TinTin was beside him; her large dark eyes as beguiling as ever and turned on Scott who had a stubborn expression set on his face. Gordon followed as well looking agitated.
"See, I told you he was all right so please relax, Scott." TinTin was saying. Then she directed a friendly smile to Virgil and Helena. Scott came over and leaned down to Virgil.
"Hey, little brother. You scared me, this time." Virgil noticed him wince as he moved nearer. He said,
"It's just a scratch. You look like you took on a mono-train and lost."
"Ha, well, it's not that serious…" Scott said scratching the back of his neck. Virgil asked him.
"How is the Empress?"
"Shiana's tougher than she looks. She's got to get over a broken arm, otherwise she'll be fine in a day or two." Scott blinked and for a moment he swayed dizzily. Virgil exchanged glances with the others in the room.
"Okay, Scott, that's it. We're handing you over to the doctors right now!" Gordon insisted. Scott held up a hand to stop them for a moment. He turned his attention to Helena, and said,
"Never thought that Virgil would find anyone else to put up with his, er… intensity…" Scott grinned. "Virg, it's been what, five years…?"
"It's lucky I don't punch the mentally challenged, or you'd be first up," Virgil said, looking stonily at his brother. Scott smiled,
"Well, this is the guy who went to the Follies in Paris and had no stories to tell when he got back…" Helena replied first with a mischievous grin,
"Oh, I doubt he had told you everything…" she purred. Scott let his eyes rest on her, as if considering her for the first time. The look was not intimidating; instead a strange quiver went down her spine. Helena turned back to Virgil, and he was glaring, although also faintly amused by Scott's words. Helena felt warmth seep across her back as Virgil found her eyes. She heard the others leaving and the joy that he was all right stole into her heart. Virgil traced the side of her face with his hand. Helena whispered,
"Your brother's quite a guy, isn't he...?"
"Don't encourage him." Virgil murmured. Then they kissed, sharing their relief. He didn't want this to end, even the pain in his shoulder receded around her, and he truly couldn't remember falling asleep a little while later while she rested her head lightly on his chest, and against his heart.
*
He had been here all night with the witch. Hermes glared at the woman, Zana, who stared back defiantly from where she was chained to a spiked shell. She had been the leader behind the rebels that much was clear, and she had stowed away aboard the Stingray craft, only to get a surprise from the furious Consort. The Consort himself was sleeping off the worst of the injuries he had sustained while protecting the Empress, as were the rest of the ever-multiplying Terrans. She was refusing to say anything other than the language she used, which was as exotic as her name. Hermes sighed and let the torturer take over. As he did, over her screams, a messenger appeared,
"It's the Empress, Lord Hermes, she's awake now, and…"
"Good." Hermes stood up and headed for the door. He looked back at the torturer, "All we need is one solid contact name. You can kill her when we've dealt with it." The bald man smiled thinly, and Hermes turned away with a chill and walked quickly up into the lightness of the palace above. This wouldn't take long. He planned to tell her just what had happened, so that she would kill the damn Terran gladly and she would see reason and end the strife within the Kingdom. Hermes tingled at the thought.
When he reached the Empress' quarters, Demetri caught his arm just outside the door. Hermes narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"What do you want?" he growled,
"The Prince is with the Empress, now." Demetri said quickly as the older man walked swiftly past him. "They do not wish to be disturbed."
"Rubbish." Hermes snapped, walking in anyway. The Empress was sitting up in her bed, dressed in flowing nightclothes as she talked to the ugly prince. Her face was tear-stained but there was an oddly fixed look in her eyes as she noted Hermes come in. Her lips pouted, and then she said to her aide,
"I don't like you anymore…"
*
Scott jarred himself out of another nightmare. He sat up, breathing hard. The warmth of the room was in pleasant contrast to how he had spent the last evening, and he kicked off the covers, closing his eyes to think what will happen next. He smiled to himself. Surely Shiana would let him go now?
"Scott Tracy?" the kindly faced Demetri from before walked in, "Good morning."
"Demetri?" Scott murmured. "And you didn't bring me any…" Demetri looked puzzled "Breakfast?" Scott asked, and Demetri chuckled, shaking his head,
"I have a message for you and for your friends. You will all join the Empress for breakfast in one marine hour, where she will deliver her decision resolving your future in this kingdom."
"Really?" Scott sat up quickly, swinging his feet onto the spongy floor, "That's fantastic! Is she okay now?"
"She has recovered, a little bruised, like yourself, but intact. You will know what she has decided soon, Scott Tracy."
"Thanks, Demetri. Do you think the plan worked, then?" Scott added a little more nervously. Demetri touched the light beside Scott's bed, making it brighter, and looked mysterious.
"That is for the Empress to reveal. I'm sure it will be a…surprise." Demetri hadn't quite mastered the art of 'sweeping' from the room, but he left too fast for the still sleepy Scott to catch him with any more questions.
Yawning, Scott went into the pool of warm water that flowed from the 'bathroom' section of the room, and washed his aching frame, thinking of home. Ever the optimist, he was already imagining eating 'real' food again, and thinking of the things he would do once he was away from here. Typically, the minute he knew he might be leaving, he was also starting to appreciate the world that had been his prison and home for the last week. Few people would ever get to see what he had, he might even learn to miss being surrounded by water…Scott shook his head, and splashed the water cheerfully as he rinsed the cleansing sand from his body. He hummed a tune Shiana had taught him as they had passed an oyster cave on the way back, and thinking of music he remembered Virgil and the Ambassador and grinned more widely.
*
Virgil woke to find Helena fast asleep next to him. She had at some point joined him under the covers and lay there, snoring softly. He was still in the medical room, the bed just large enough for two. Virgil shifted at the stiffness of his shoulder and lay back. She didn't wake. Virgil burrowed deeper under the sheets and kissed her lips. Helena murmured,
"Daniel…" Virgil frowned. He touched her cheek, and Helena smiled in her sleep. The door opened, Virgil quickly lifted the sheets over the two of them. Troy came in looking sheepish.
"Morning, Tracy."
"Hi, Tempest." Virgil grinned from behind the covers. Troy said,
"I'm just here to tell you that we're all meant to join the Empress for breakfast in thirty minutes. Have you…seen the Ambassador?"
"Why?" Virgil inquired. Helena stirred beside him. Troy shrugged,
"Marina says she didn't come back to her room."
"Oh." Virgil nodded. "Well, I'll look out for her."
"You do that." Troy said. "So it looks like we'll be leaving here soon. Not soon enough, huh?"
"Right." Virgil answered. Troy raised an eyebrow and said,
"Your shoulder's okay now, right?"
"Yeah." Virgil grunted. Helena was awake now and moving under the covers.
"Uh-huh…" the Captain tilted his head, "Well, if you see her…"
"I'll let you know." Virgil said. He shifted, Helena's hand appeared and she giggled underneath the sheets. Troy rolled his eyes,
"Obviously I'm interrupting. See you at breakfast, Tracy." and then he turned and left. Virgil used his good arm to uncover her and she smiled down at him.
"Did I hear…breakfast?"
"Anyone ever tell you that you have a one-track mind?" Virgil asked. Helena grinned and kissed him,
"Only where one or two things are concerned. And…I'm too hungry…" she murmured, "So, hero, what was Shiggeru like?"
"Mmmf?"
"The big monster."
"Big. Looked like a squid…"
"But what was it? How did she control it?" Helena mused.
"I'm not sure…" Virgil murmured, "There was this…terrible scream." Helena nodded suddenly, as if remembering,
"I've heard of that. Yes, that explains everything…"
"What's that?" he asked curiously. Helena explained,
"The underwater princesses use their voices to control certain beasts of the sea."
"Lucky them." Virgil murmured. Helena chuckled,
"And then they control them and use them to help them to crush their enemies." She regarded him steadily, a little shy at her enthusiasm, "Nice, huh?"
"Very nice." Virgil breathed. She looked thoughtful,
"I didn't think that there were many of those Princesses left, but she must have had that power…" she nuzzled against his cheek, "Lucky for you."
"You're really getting into this, aren't you." Virgil observed, looking up at her. She smirked,
"I may hate being underwater, but the sea cultures fascinate me. There are so many different ideas and myths and philosophies, and…" she made a face, aware that he was watching her with raised eyebrows. "That sounds extremely dull, doesn't it."
"Not to me." Virgil murmured. Helena pulled an overindulgent face,
"Awww, you don't have to lie to me, love…" she hugged him, "Secret organisations aside, you can ask me whatever you like." They were silent for a moment, his chest rose and fell, and then Virgil asked innocently,
"So, who's Daniel?"
"No one." She said, suddenly looking cagey. Virgil traced his hand along her shoulder and said,
"You said his name in your sleep, I just wondered who…"
"I don't have to tell you. It isn't important…" she insisted angrily. Virgil was surprised and he was stung by the viciousness in her voice. He said using a considered tone.
"I'd like to know."
"Oh, you would!" Helena let go of him. Her good mood evaporated and she got out of bed and walked over to the warm pool where Virgil followed, frowning. Helena stepped into the water and he watched her duck underneath, putting a hand to the wound on his shoulder as it shot a jolt of pain down his powerful arm. Helena didn't look at him. Virgil frowned deeper and appealed to her,
"Don't be like this."
"Be like what? I'm not the nosey parker around here." Helena answered coldly. Virgil replied, his voice matching her tone,
"Fine, then. I won't ask you again. If it matters that much." At this she turned her head, biting her lip. Virgil was pulling on a loose green robe with his good arm, getting ready to leave. She got out and hugged him tightly, nuzzling his neck. Her blue eyes regarded him with deep love, and she whispered,
"No, I'm being ridiculous. I'm overreacting, and…" she sniffed, then smiled at him, "If it's so important, if you want, I'll tell you about Daniel. I don't know why…"
"Okay." Virgil sat on the bed and she paced the floor while he waited patiently. She began in a rush, trying to get the story out as speedily as possible.
"A year and a half ago, Daniel Weathers was the best thing to happen to me in a long time. I messed it up. We had a daughter, her name's Catherine. He got custody after we broke up, I hardly see her and I can't believe I said his name…it's painful…"
"I'm sorry…" Virgil made to move to her and she shook her head, her long blonde hair falling behind her as she continued,
"I thought he was seeing someone else when he wasn't at all. Of course, by the time I found that out, I had already taken revenge by…by sleeping with his best friend. Not exactly my finest hour. So, you can imagine the rest. It didn't go down too well, er, if you know what I mean. That's why I've hardly seen my daughter. You see why I didn't want to tell you about this…" her face looked strained, and Virgil put an arm around her then. She murmured, "Anyway, I think I'm over him by now. So, now you've heard my terrible reason for putting off new relationships." She stood back from him, "What do you think?" She didn't really want to know, and he avoided the question by kissing her forehead.
"What you did then is none of my business. " he murmured.
"Well how about you? Why the five year gap?" she asked. Virgil tilted his head – his shoulder was really starting to hurt him. He kissed her instead but she was onto him, "You could at least give me the full story about Paris." Helena grinned. Virgil eyed the time; she sensed him trying to escape and dug him gently in the ribs. Virgil winced. Then she noticed that the bandage on his shoulder was flowering with blood, "Oh, God, Virgil…" Within minutes she had tightened the bandage and called a servant in. Virgil grumbled at the fuss, until she made it clear that if he was going to continue like that he could just forget about joining her at breakfast. He laughed then and Helena did too. Finally a servant led them, a little late, to the banquet hall where the all the others were waiting.
*
Barronnell was running scared and charged down the corridors. He rushed past the doors along the corridor where the Councillor was and rang the bell insistently,
"Councillor Amis, it's terrible! Councillor! She knows! She knows!" The door was flung open. Barronnell flinched with terror. Five guards reached down and grabbed him. He cried out, fighting pathetically, and the guards closed around him. As the little man was dragged away screaming, Demetri nodded and walked up to the Empress' breakfast.
*
Scott bumped into Lageau as he left his quarters. The older man was dressed casually in dark greys, his almost blue hair tied back neatly from his face. There was a strip of black cloth around one arm, showing he was still in mourning for his sister. He nodded at Scott who was in white robes and trousers, and he smiled,
"Won't you miss being treated like a child?"
"Oh, I'll miss being dressed by every woman in the place all right. How about you? Looks like Barronnell gave you a miss today. Guess he's slipping."
"Who's Barronnell?"
"He's that little tailor guy. I got the impression we all got to meet him and his sense of…style..."
"No, I was given these by another servant. The court tailor would attend you if anyone, Scott."
"Oh." Scott shrugged, "Maybe he decided this wasn't important enough. Only the Empress' Breakfast with her subjects…"
"Where we shall find out if she has decided to change her mind." Lageau nodded, his face now serious. Scott sighed before he could stop himself, and Lageau put a hand on his shoulder as they walked,
"I saw how the Empress felt about Finn's death, and she has kept Fran near her while she has been recovering. I truly believe that she has had a change of heart."
"Hope you're right. I don't intend being stuck down here any longer, that's for damn sure…" Scott touched Lageau's arm, "Er, no offence. Of all the people down here, you're the least, er…"
"What do you mean? You are in paradise." Scott caught the twinkle in Lageau's eye and the two men snickered as they continued down to the end of the corridor, where two servants led them on to the banquet hall. Virgil and Helena were just finding their seats and Virgil looked much better. Gordon gave a cheeky wave and rolled his eyes, Scott chuckled and sat down. He glanced at the empty seat at the head of the long table, which he sat two places down from. Where was Shiana? Then there came the sound of trumpets.
As the Empress entered everyone stood up, and she walked past them all with a cursory nod and took the large seat at the end of the table where half the council and all the Terrans were seated. Fran ran in beside her. They sat down and she said nothing, merely motioning at the head servant to begin serving breakfast as the guests also sat down again. The Empress wore a loose grey gown, while Fran was dressed in brighter finery, her young face nearly glowing with delight. Helena sat next to Virgil, TinTin eyed them both, and Scott caught her look and smiled. Virgil passed Helena more of the 'red stuff' and she nudged him,
"What's very wrong with this picture?" she said softly. Virgil glanced up at the table. He was too ravenous to concentrate, and shook his head. Helena murmured, "Look at her." Virgil did, and at first he still couldn't see what she meant. Then Scott said quietly just a few places down,
"Where the heck is Hermes?" and Virgil realised they were right. Hermes, normally a constant presence by the Empress' side, was not there. "I didn't see him at all this morning." Scott frowned. Helena reached for a glass and glanced at the Empress. Her arm was in a healing sling; her childish face paler than even Scott remembered it, and her big blue-grey eyes glittering as if with a problem that she had to work out alone. She kept glancing at Scott, her lips narrowed, but she said nothing.
Scott and the others carried on oblivious, clearly enjoying the first decent meal they had had together in a while. Gordon was joking and laughing with Phones and winding up Virgil and Troy. Marina was looking amused, happy that her Captain was safe at her side again. When the Empress started to talk quietly to Fran the others relaxed a little. Virgil and Helena were exchanging what Gordon termed goo-goo eyes, and TinTin, Scott and Lageau were recounting their favourite songs to each other, when the Empress stood up suddenly. The whole room fell silent. Her Atlantic eyes dripped hatred and she jabbed the thin finger of her good arm at Scott, who had just finished eating.
"You!" She snapped. He gulped the last of his breakfast and turned to her.
"What…?"
"You! You have committed an unacceptable crime!" she spat. Scott actually flinched at the force of her voice and Virgil took Helena's hand, fear running down his back. Troy looked at him,
"Tracy…?"
"What's going on?" TinTin whispered. Gordon pulled a face and Helena had gone white. The Empress waited seconds before launching into her full tirade,
"You have betrayed me! You have deceived me and lied to me, and because of that, many people have died! You lied to me!" she repeated, seething. Scott shook his head vehemently.
"Shiana, listen, I can explain…"
"You had a way of contacting the Palace all the time! Later I learn that you were in league with that traitorous slime, Hermes." She put an arm around Fran's shoulders and the little girl stood up beside her. Then ten of the Empress' soldiers marched in. Shiana announced, "I have asked the Prince and agreed to marry him, for the sake of my people, and for children like Fran. But you will die, to mark the occasion of my wedding!" she sobbed then; her thin frame shook with uncontrollable emotion although she swiftly covered it. Tears flowed from her eyes, full of anger and grief, then she yelled,
"All of you will be sacrificed to Shiggeru tonight!" With that she turned abruptly and stormed out of the hall. Fran followed her quickly, held by the Empress' hand. The other Councillors took the cue to leave and Scott shouted after her,
"Shiana! Wait! Shiana! Dammnit!" as the guards moved forwards, Virgil and Troy stood up and Scott got in front of TinTin while Helena backed away, and the WASPs and Gordon faced the Empress' soldiers. Ten guards surrounded them,
"You are to come with us as prisoners of her Highness." One growled. Scott pulled away as one reached for his arm. Helena cried out, one guard had grabbed her by the neck, and she screamed in pain. Virgil ducked the guard nearest him and with eyes blazing he smashed his fist into the guard holding Helena. The guard was felled by the fury of his attack, dropping her to the floor. Virgil stooped to help her.
"Look out, Virg!" Gordon yelled. A guard hit Virgil across his bad shoulder and he staggered, another scooped Helena up as Virgil struggled to get to his feet. Scott swung a punch at the guard standing over Virgil, knocking the soldier down.
"I'm sorry, Virg!" he cried. Virgil shouted, gasping at the pain,
"Help Helena!" Scott twisted, and Lageau held up a pike behind him.
"Careful, Scott!" he warned. Scott went to snatch up a pike, rounding on a huge guard who was targeting him. Scott backed away, cornered, while the others moved quickly. As Lageau made the way safe for Troy, Phones and Marina, the remaining guards were getting angry and even more determined to round them up. TinTin squealed as two reached for her and Gordon protected her. Then Phones and Marina succeeded in escaping when Lageau clouted three more over the head in quick succession; the soldier whirled efficiently and dealt with another one.
"Go!" he roared at Scott, but the pilot ducked round and helped Gordon, hitting another guard, and his brother rushed out with TinTin. He paused to collect his thoughts, and suddenly realised his mistake.
"Stupid…" he muttered, and then he crumpled when the bear-sized soldier smashed him from behind.
Virgil was torn between his brother and the guard who was making off with Helena, until Troy gripped his arm and yanked him along with them. They made a break for the doors and rushed through them and out into the corridor.
"No!" Virgil protested as Tempest and then Gordon dragged him from the room. Lageau joined them, running alongside, "No, we can't…let me…"
"There is nothing we can do!" the other man insisted,
"Scott's still back there!" Virgil snarled,
"We have to go now! Or we share their fate! Come on!" Lageau answered. He saw the blood pouring from Virgil's damaged shoulder, the young pilot was looking sicker by the second. Too exhausted to protest, Virgil went with the group as they raced down the corridor and made it to where the two craft were waiting. Troy dragged Virgil into the Stingray hatch and TinTin and Gordon scrambled into Thunderbird Four. They submerged out and away from the membrane, down into the deep ocean and sped swiftly clear of the Palace.
"Scott…Helena…" Virgil was breathing too fast. He was slumped into the chair in Stingray, ignoring Marina as she patched up his shoulder. His brown eyes had darkened; he was silent, looking ill. Lageau sat watching him, still panting with the exertion of their escape. After fifteen minutes Troy was finally satisfied that they were clear and called a halt. He turned to the numbed pilot.
"Virgil? Snap out of it."
"We left them behind. I left them both behind." Virgil said wretchedly. Lageau put a hand on his good shoulder,
"We will go back and save them, you will see."
"That little brat!" Troy grimaced, "She controls that monster. How by Neptune's water-wings are we gonna stop her from making them Shiggeru's dinner?"
"What I don't get is why you helped us, er, Mister Lageau." Phones said. The older man shrugged and said evasively,
"I have failed to protect Scott, I could not let her destroy him…and the Ambassador. She means a great deal to you, Virgil Tracy."
"Both of them." Virgil breathed deeply, his shoulder was hurting more as his concern grew, and it was affecting his ability to think clearly. He added, "And it isn't as if Scott needed another threat to his life…"
"Now quit worrying, Tracy. We'll go back there and get them out, somehow. Right? We'll get there before the monster and rescue them." Troy said encouragingly.
"I have seen this ceremony before. She performed the ritual killing twice last year to bring luck to the kingdom during harvest." Lageau told them thoughtfully, "It will take place exactly eight hours from now in a certain cavern. The close quarters do not allow for good odds for one lone, er, submarine."
"We'll take our chances." Troy insisted. Virgil clenched his teeth, standing up shakily. He said,
"And if we fail, then we all die."
"Virgil, maybe we could use Thunderbird Four to rescue them while you distract the beast from Stingray?" Gordon called over the radio. Virgil frowned, thinking hard as he did, and shook his head,
"It's still too uncertain. That thing is fast, and in an enclosed space it would still have the jump on us. No, there has to be a better way to distract the thing but what?"
"Even if we do distract it, the Empress can call it back again at once…" Lageau said, "You're right, Virgil Tracy, there is no way to…"
"Wait, that's it!" Virgil's eyes lit up and his shoulder twinged as he snatched up the radio, "Gordon, tell Father to get Brains flown over here in Thunderbird Two. I've got an idea how to stop the Empress from having it all her own way."
*
Scott was scraped off the banquet floor and taken to a series of dark caves with thick stone bars. He was thrown inside, and he lay there limp and still. Helena gasped and shouted through the bars of her own cell,
"Scott! Scott, answer me!"
"Owww." The pilot turned his blue eyes on her from his place on the floor, and squinted in the dingy air. He smiled boyishly, despite the obvious pain he was in, "Nice to see you, Ambassador. What…Where's Virgil and Gordon?"
"Those bastards knocked you for six, but I think the others escaped." Helena smiled back, her face scared but set. Scott wondered if it was her inner strength or long blonde hair that Virgil had first fallen for. He sat up, rubbing his jaw,
"I think those bastards messed up my plans for a family reunion. Owww." He grimaced again. Helena breathed out in frustration,
"This is ridiculous. We shouldn't even be in this situation. You haven't done anything wrong."
"Except lie to her and lead her on."
"Well, that was for a good cause. She's too…stupid to realise that!" Helena kicked the stone bar with her sandaled foot, "Dammnit!"
"No, she isn't stupid." Scott muttered. Helena leaned nearer to him through the bars. She smiled ruefully,
"You liked her, didn't you."
"Right up to when she wanted to kill me." Scott said. Helena laughed and there was a hysterical edge to it; Scott moved nearer as the laughter became tears. She wiped her eyes and Scott shushed her through the bars. "It's all right…"
"Oh, shut up." She said angrily. "Why aren't you worried? Virgil will come back here and try to save us, and probably get himself killed…"
"I know he'll try." Scott said. "If he made it out of the palace, nothing will stop little brother from doing something to save us, whatever it takes."
"I hope you're wrong." She sighed. Scott nodded,
"So do I. I gathered you two got pretty close…" Helena looked at him. His blue eyes were guileless, interested, and Helena felt calmer as they rested on her. Scott grinned, "Not that it's any of my business…"
"You're right, it isn't." she smiled. "It drives me out of my mind, thinking he might get killed. Or hurt. How do you stand it?" the last line was a plea, she sat opposite him with the bars between them, hugging her knees. Scott sat as close to the bars as he could, she felt him reach through and take her hand.
"He's Virgil. He does what he has to…"
"I didn't ask you that. He's your brother. You risk your lives, each other's lives. He thought you were dead, when he saw you here and safe he was a different person. He gets…dark when he's worried." She smiled self- consciously, "You know what I mean?"
"Yeah. Virgil all intense is not a pretty sight." Scott agreed. Helena sniffed and wiped her eyes. She said almost to herself,
"That's what I liked. He cared. He…It isn't fair." her hair covered her face, and Scott nodded. He sat back, hearing the water dripping around them in the dark heat of the caves. His white robes were stained and torn. Helena's shimmering blue dress glimmered dimly against the darkness of the cave. She was angry and not really scared yet, but Scott cursed himself for not realising that Shiana would resent him for deceiving her, and that she would take it out on his friends and family. And on whom his brother loved. He patted her hand gently. Helena lifted her head.
"Tell me about him." She whispered. Scott smiled and started talking.
*
The fifteen men in the conference room all looked grim. They nodded in agreement, and the large man stood up and addressed them.
"The Prince has informed us that it is too risky to antagonise this Kingdom further. What began as a simple favour for International Rescue has developed into something much more serious. The Empress still has powers we could and should exploit. So, we play it her way. Let her marry the Prince, and she will be in our hands."
"What about the Ambassador, and the International Rescue man?" another man inquired. The overweight man in the too-tight suit shrugged,
"We know that she killed a man to save one of them. We would be far better off without that little complication." He allowed several chuckles of agreement before saying, "The others have survived and no doubt they are planning something. If they do, we'll be ready. The Empress must not be annoyed. International Rescue will not affect our plans at any cost."
"It could be too late, although we have sent two World Navy ships to the area. The execution is at eighteen hundred hours tonight, our time. Our ships will order International Rescue to leave – the commanders won't know exactly why, of course. I've given Stingray orders to prevent any rescue while it's there. If International Rescue try anything above or underwater, we'll be ready to stop them." There were more murmurs of approval. The man wiped sweat from his brow, "Very well, gentlemen. Then that's the course of action we shall take. Scott Tracy will help us more than he knows. Let us wish him a quick death." The others all murmured agreement. The fat man closed the briefcase with a file marked, CONQUEST SEA: AEDEN typed on it. "Which I'm sure our project will grant him."
*
"I've had word from Marineville about our little problem, by the way. They say that we're supposed to stop the rescue before the ceremony starts." Tempest said. Phones nodded.
"Why would they ask us to do that, Skipper?"
"I don't know, Phones. But I can't just leave them to die down there. We sure have a problem."
"What are you going to do, then, Troy?" Phone's tanned face wrinkled and Troy nodded grimly. Marina watched with a pleading expression on her face. Troy set his jaw,
"I explained we had radio interference, Phones. I don't care what a bunch of suits want. We're going to get them out of there and to hell with the consequences."
*
Helena laughed. Scott chuckled too, and Helena wiped her eyes,
"I don't think that he would appreciate…knowing I know that…" she said smiling. Scott shrugged. They heard voices, and he frowned,
"They're early."
"It's the Prince…" Helena pouted more tightly, "He saved you before."
"He was lying." Scott had an intense expression similar to Virgil's when he looked up. The voices drew closer, the hideous face of the Prince appeared in the gloom. Scott stood, glaring.
"Scott Tracy…" the Prince began,
"You betrayed me! You said you cared about protecting life!" He snarled. The Prince raised a sagging eyebrow. He smiled at Scott.
"Forgive me, Scott, but it was the only way to make her agree."
"What do you want anyway?" Scott demanded. The Prince said amiably,
"I wanted to see you in person before your execution. Lageau protected you over the Empress, but he failed. I'm still curious as to why, but it was quite a compliment. He must have had great…respect for you, as do I. I truly regret…" Scott gripped the bars and thrust his head as near as he could to the other man's face.
"You sold me out. You spineless piece of crap." Scott was trembling with anger; the Prince simply nodded,
"Your mistake was lying to Shiana about your feelings for her. I think that if it were not for that, she would have let you go free. But you broke her heart."
"Don't blame me for that! It was your idea!" Scott argued. The Prince was still smiling and he shook his head gently. He said,
"Your face is your curse, dear boy. As is mine. And now, you will make the ultimate sacrifice for your ideals." He touched Scott's hand, and said benignly, "You will die to protect a nation of innocent people, Scott."
"And what about her?" Scott breathed angrily, "What about Helena?"
"She is far from innocent. You have a daughter, don't you my dear, whom you hardly ever see. And you ruthlessly killed a rebel for your lover." He added to Helena who bit her lip and turned her head away. Scott's blue eyes glittered and he grabbed the Prince's hand, pulling him close against the bars of his cell.
"You aren't very convincing, my dear friend. What do you really want from the Empress?"
"I don't know what you…ow…you mean…" Scott tightened his grip on the old man's brittle wrist and muttered,
"Well I just hope she never finds out your betrayal. You were never gonna let me go, were you."
"Let me…go…" there was a snapping sound and Scott released the Prince. Demetri had called guards in by this point, the Prince was gaping at Scott in shock and hurt fear. "You…you broke my hand…" he wailed. Scott dropped back and pushed himself away from the bars. The bars of Scott's cell opened and three guards surrounded him. Helena threw herself at the bars of her own cell,
"Call them off!" she screamed. The Prince and Demetri were already leaving and the old man turned and looked at her. Scott's cries filled the damp caves; she pressed against the wall, helplessly, "Please." She whispered. The Prince looked steadily at her, and then he turned back to the guards.
"Let him be." He ordered hoarsely. The soldiers backed away from Scott, reluctantly. Helena glared,
"I don't know who's worse for these people. You or that little brat. But at least she's doing this from the heart. Someone messed up this kingdom a long time ago, peaceful paradise my arse." The Prince narrowed his eyes.
"I will make it peaceful. It is a shame that you must die to achieve it. You both have my…condolences." Before Helena could say another word, Demetri had hurried him along and they left quickly followed by the soldiers. Helena rushed to Scott's side of the cell and she sobbed,
"Say something."
"Virgil's a lucky man. Hope he…knows it…" Scott remained where he was on the floor. Helena sank against the wall. Scott shut his eyes and added, "You got anything for a…headache over there?"
*
Sitting on the surface of the ocean, Stingray and Thunderbird Four waited for the arrival of Thunderbird Two and Brains. Virgil sat on the smooth hull of the super-sub, looking up at the morning stars that were shining down. Gordon saw him from Thunderbird Four, and TinTin said sadly,
"Poor Scott. And Helena as well, we have to save them..."
"Relax, TinTin. Brains'll get them out of this. Remember what Helena said?"
"I know, Gordon, but what if Brains can't…"
"TinTin, when has he ever let us down?" Gordon grinned at her encouragingly. Her delicate features lifted a little and she smiled back,
"Of course you're right, Gordon. I'm just so worried. Scott has nearly died twice now, and this is the third time. I'm just worried that he's used up his luck…"
"Hey, Scott has more lives than a cat. We'll save him." Gordon echoed his brother's words from a few days before. TinTin nodded and gazed across at Virgil.
"We will." She agreed. "We will."
*
Helena had grown worried about Scott. He hadn't moved for a while, not since the guards had lumbered in with a final meal and Scott had forced himself up to eat it. His eyes had been unfocussed and he seemed to have at least one broken rib. Now he slept still and silently, his breathing was shallow. Helena looked up at the roof of the cave. She had no idea of the time and that made it worse. The constant dripping water was starting to get on her nerves, and she let her head hang low.
"Ambassador." A familiar voice whispered. She glanced up, and said,
"Hermes?" she pulled herself over to the front of the bars. Across the low corridor was another series of cells, and she peered into the room opposite. A shadow moved in the corner, and emerged closer to the bars. It was Hermes, but a much sadder and older looking man than she recognised from before. She laughed hysterically at seeing him.
"I find your Terran humour repulsive." Hermes grunted. "But I saw and heard all. The Consort has quite a temper."
"It was an accident…"
"Is that why you liked his brother? It is a shame you'll never see him again."
"The Prince has betrayed us both." She hissed. "You stupid old fool."
"She used to call me that. She was a child. I wonder what he taught her out there."
"You're disgusting, and she's learnt nothing. I hope you're digested slowly." Helena answered coldly. Hermes smiled grimly.
"You are a useless Ambassador but a good fighter. You and Virgil Tracy would have been very happy together…ah, I've hit something, haven't I." He noted her face change at mention of the pilot. "All that destroyed, it will never be…"
"Don't say anything else, I'm warning you." Helena said, "You were a terrible father to her. Oh, I know her real father died years ago. That was in the file, but, you, you brought her up to be a spoilt brat and look where it got you." She mocked his expression, "Ah, have I struck a nerve?"
"There is no point in our arguing. We're both going to die tonight. He is, too. And if any of his friends try to help him, and us, the Prince has assured me that they will take steps to prevent it. We're doomed." He sounded gloomily cheerful, resigned to his fate, "And it will save the kingdom."
"Who's 'they'? Titan?"
"Oh no. Your own government will do this." He assured her. Helena gasped. Then the guards entered. They opened the bars and removed her forcefully. Scott's limp form was lifted and he was carried after her. Hermes didn't resist as they took him. He muttered vacantly,
"Shiana…My little girl's all grown up…"
*
Brains assured Virgil and Gordon for the third time. The two brothers were back in their blue uniforms, and were talking to their friend in the pod after Virgil had landed Thunderbird Two on an atoll nearby.
"I, it will work, as well as I can m, make it…"
"I believe you, Brains." Gordon said, "Guess it just seems a bit of a long shot to me at least..."
"I, it will…"
"Okay, Professor. Helena knew that this was how Shiana controlled the beast." Virgil said finally. Brains absently pushed his glasses up and nodded at the grim-faced pilot. He walked over to the device in the pod,
"The o, only trouble will be p, placing the device n, near enough to have an effect. It n, needs to be positioned close enough to send it away for a while."
"I see, Brains. I'll go." Virgil said. Troy scoffed,
"With that shoulder? You're insane, Tracy."
"I'll do it." Gordon insisted. Virgil shook his head.
"Your back is still out, Gordon. We can't chance it seizing up at the wrong moment." He folded his arms, "Which leaves either TinTin or Alan."
"I'll go." Troy said. Virgil looked at him sharply.
"You?"
"Don't look like that, Tracy, I've done stuff like this before. I'm the best aquanaut in all WASP!"
"Great." Virgil muttered. Troy frowned,
"I'm not gonna beg you to let me do this. But I will do it, if you don't have any objections, that is?"
"No. Sorry, Tempest. Thanks." Virgil smiled grimly. Tempest nodded,
"That's settled, then. We'll go through the procedure in a minute."
"Sure. Nice work, Brains. But the real test will be tonight." Virgil said.
"Virgil? Gordon? How is it going?" TinTin came in bearing a tray of steaming coffee. They voiced their thanks while drinking it down and Brains and Gordon filled her in on the plan. She nodded, looking worried,
"It will still be very dangerous, won't it."
"It's the best chance we have. We have to stop her and this is the only way." Virgil said quietly. TinTin exchanged a subtle glance with Gordon. Virgil had the 'calm before the storm' expression, and god help anyone caught in the way. TinTin thought she really wouldn't want to be Shiana right now.
*
"I certainly wouldn't want to be you right now." Demetri whispered to the Prince. The older man grimaced and checked himself in the reflective rock wall. He said,
"It is only a wedding. A little unorthodox in its timing, perhaps, but Shiana wants this over and finished with today."
"How is your arm?"
"It is fine. Scott Tracy was just desperate to live. Every man has a breaking point, old friend." The Prince checked his reflection again and Demetri nodded,
"Very good, my lord." The Prince chuckled,
"Your lies never convince me any more. But keep saying them." The Prince murmured. "It's too bad that the little tailor died during interrogation. He did have a way with these blasted robes…"
The bell rang on the door. Demetri answered it, and a servant said,
"There are three hours to go, my lord."
"Very well. First we shall attend the execution, and then all this will be over."
*
"Shiggeru will attack them when they are o, outside the m, membrane, around h, here." Brains pointed to the diagram on the board. Virgil, Troy, TinTin, Phones and Alan all sat in a semi-circle, watching as Brains and Lageau outlined the final plan. Lageau nodded, and pointed out another part of the diagram,
"Shiggeru approaches from this section here. There is only one tunnel in or out from the ocean."
"We will have to plant the device h, here, inside the c, cave. And we have to do it fast, before the thing arrives if we can. It'll be a few seconds before we can repeat the sound needed." Brains added. "I'm afraid that it will only work for a sh, short time though."
"That's all right. Five minutes is all I need." Troy said heroically. Marina started to grin and covered her mouth. The Tracys rolled their eyes. Virgil stood up.
"I just hope you're right, Tempest. Now let's get going. The ceremony starts in two hours."
*
Helena, Scott and Hermes were taken to a membrane covered room as large as the throne room, but with a deep pool in its centre. This was the Hall of Ceremony, and Scott lifted his head with a groan,
"Where are we?"
"I told you. This is it, Scott." Helena said. "The Empress is going to kill us."
"Great. Then maybe my headache will go away…" Two guards were holding them. Scott winced as trumpets announced the arrival of the Empress. She swept in, clothed in a tight, shining black dress. Her hair was piled high and she seemed much older than before. Her eyes fell on Scott and Helena. She stopped and walked over to him.
"Scott." She said his name calmly, and while Helena watched the Empress reached out and touched his bruised face.
"That's kind of a new look for you, isn't it?" Scott said. Shiana smiled coldly,
"I could even believe you cared even when you were mean to me. But now I know you never wanted me."
"I'm sorry, Shiana." He said, "I thought…I thought it would be all right..."
"I will give you one last chance…" she breathed. "Say that you love me, and you will be spared. You can change your future."
"You still don't get it, honey?" his rugged features creased into a harsh smile, "Let Helena and Hermes – even Hermes go free. Then maybe I'll change my mind."
"This is your last chance." Shiana screwed up her face and gazed pleadingly at him, "I want you to tell me if I was right to trust you. Well?" she demanded. Scott suddenly found the situation he was in extremely funny and utterly terrifying. He told her through a grin that was so wide it hurt,
"You were wrong." She slapped his face, and he grimaced. The Empress stood away from him.
"Now you will die. Take them to the pool."
"You crazy little brat!"
"Quiet, Helena." Scott rasped. The Ambassador glared angrily at him and at the Empress.
"Scott has not done anything wrong! You think he betrayed you, fine, get over it!" she bellowed. The Empress' expression was livid and the guard flung Helena to the floor. Scott struggled but he was still too weak to move properly.
"No!" he pleaded, "It's me you wanna hurt." Hermes started laughing. The Empress turned on the older man and said,
"How could you? You let me suffer, and you lied to me as well…" she tilted her head, "And yet…I will miss you most of all."
"Then why not let him go?" Scott murmured.
"You're right, Scott." The Empress smiled. "And Shiggeru will punish the two of you enough to satisfy me. Free Hermes and put the Terrans in the spheres!" she cried. Hermes was cut free while Helena was pulled roughly to her feet and she and Scott were frog-marched down to the pool, which seemed to be the way into to the huge, shadowy cavern beyond the membrane around them.
Virgil watched the two small craft submerge beneath the massive bulk of Thunderbird Two. TinTin spoke over the radio in Thunderbird Four,
"We're both clear, Virgil."
"F-A-B." Virgil replied. He switched on the monitor, so that he could see what Thunderbird Four could see. Bubbles rushed past and the water grew darker. As they went, Virgil noticed a warning light come on.
"What do those ships want?" he murmured. There were several fast ships heading towards the area. Virgil frowned. He called base,
"Dad, we've got company."
Scott and Helena were dragged down to the water's edge. The Empress looked on coolly. In her black dress her pale features appeared harsher and colder. She ignored Scott's repeated plea for Helena to be spared. Scott gave Helena one last look before he was shoved inside the large sphere. Before he could escape it he was thrown into the water, and Helena was too. They floated helplessly inside them on the water's surface. Hermes stood back at his old place beside her, and he frowned as the Prince put a hand on her shoulder,
"You are doing the right thing, my dear." He said.
"Get your hand off me or you will lose it." She answered without taking her eyes off the pilot, "I hear that Scott broke your wrist."
"He has a temper that you were fortunate not to see." The Prince murmured. Scott and Helena struggled and spun round and round in their prisons, going nowhere. The Empress leaned forward and breathed,
"You have no idea. And you are a very poor replacement, Ugly One."
"You still love him. You child."
"He must die." Shiana said tightly. She leaned forwards away from the Prince, "It is only right that I do this. His life was mine." She stood up. "It is time to call him."
TinTin and Lageau rushed on in Thunderbird Four, while Troy Tempest, Phones, Gordon and Marina followed in Stingray carrying the device that Brains had built. They had reached Aeden, and Lageau directed Gordon from the smaller craft. Before long they had reached the entrance to the sacrificial cavern.
"Virgil from Thunderbird Four. We are at danger zone. No sign of the big nasty as yet." Gordon said.
"Okay, Gordon. I can see it now. Are you guys ready?"
"Yes, Virgil. As soon as Troy leaves with the sound replicator, we'll be ready to collect them."
"Good. Be careful. And make it quick; we've got company out here. Guess they found out about our little plan."
"Who?"
"The World Navy. They want me to leave. I'm going to pull away from the area, new contact point is gonna make it harder to get to you. It's thirty miles west of our last position, reference point…" Virgil related it to Gordon and TinTin while Troy looked uncomfortable.
"I don't understand it…" Troy mused.
"So why would they do that?" Gordon asked, "Hey, we're getting the same orders here. They want Stingray to stop us! You can't listen to them, Troy?"
"And we aren't going to. We don't have time to worry about it, Gordon. We're there." Troy said hastily. The WASP captain had an inkling of the reason, but he was already concentrating on the mission. "I'm going to swim through with the device. Get Thunderbird Four ready to go through and collect Scott and Helena."
Scott and Helena watched in horror as two guards walked to the water's edge with large pikes raised. The Empress lifted her hands and opened her mouth, she screamed. The tone was piercing but it wasn't all that loud, until it resonated off the whole ceiling. The membrane itself vibrated at the sound, it carried it round and round the hall until its volume had been expanded many times, and it was beamed out, across the whole cavern and out through the wide tunnel that led to the ocean beyond.
Gordon and Troy did not hear the sound. By then it had become a mere whisper, as Troy left Stingray with the device in his hands and went forwards using the aqua-sprite. He shot past the screens and vanished into the tunnel. Lageau watched anxiously.
"The beast is close." He murmured. TinTin called them,
"Brains? Troy is inside the cavern."
"O, okay, TinTin. He will have to p, position the replicator inside the c, cavern, in order to confuse it. The, er, Empress' voice will not be picked up unless it can collect the sound at it's closest intensity. Then I can r, replicate it as n, needed. That's why he will have to go as c, close as possible."
"Then that's what I'm going to do." Troy answered sounding tense, "I'm nearly out the other side of the tunnel. Entering the cavern – now."
"Look!" Lageau cried, "She has called Shiggeru!" they saw what he meant. They all stared as the massive creature swept past them, its eight limbs rippling like banners at its speed. TinTin whispered, "Oh, be careful, Troy." The strangely elegant monster paused at the entrance to the tunnel, and seemed to glance at them suspiciously with its massive, pale eye. She fought the urge to pull the tiny craft away from it, before its tentacles found them as well. With that, the beast vanished inside.
Scott and Helena were floored by the great wail that the Empress let out next. It didn't seem to affect the rescuers outside, but inside this massive bubble of a room, and inside the spheres where they were, it was deafening to the point where Helena was crying with pain. Scott knew exactly what was coming next. He threw himself against the bubble, which merely resulted in further movement of the membrane. He may as well have been trying to break out of jelly. The Empress raised her hands, her eyes huge with sensation. She could sense it nearer now. It was coming.
Troy set the device down just as Gordon yelled a warning. By then it was too late. The massive creature swept past him and swooped down to the outer side of the membrane. Scott and Helena had to be below, then. Troy muttered,
"It's here all right. Tell Brains to be ready with the frequency reader."
"P.W.O.R." Phones said. TinTin also confirmed it,
"Did you hear that, Virgil?"
"Yes, we heard. Brains in standing by to collect frequency." Virgil replied from Thunderbird Two. Troy grimaced tightly behind the mask, swimming nearer and nearer to the beast. Its attention was solely on the dome below, and it didn't see him swim close enough to have to battle the waves created by the beast's massive limbs.
"I've switched it on, Virgil." Troy said. "The next time she yells, we'll be ready to go!"
Scott and Helena gazed above in horror. Through the weird transparency they could see the shape of the creature, wrapping itself lovingly around the membranous ceiling. If it was possible it seemed even larger than before, Scott waited with a dry throat for the monster to finish its contemplation. He could hear Shiana calling to it using gentle clicks and sonorous whines.
"Come on, Virg, come on…" he murmured. Real fear started to pour over him this time, he could see no way to escape. Starting again on the bubble, his hands sank over and over into the soft material as it started to submerge. He and Helena were leaving the cavern and going underneath, drifting towards the creature.
Shiana raised her hands and communed with the beast outside. Her eyes filled with tears. Her long pallid neck stretched up and she lowered her arms, hearing it breath inside her head. She called to it joyously,
"Kill him quickly for me!"
She made a sound that soothed it, and sent it drifting expectantly towards where Scott and Helena had started drifting. The beast sent ripples along the membrane as it felt its way down the side, as if enjoying the sensation of the membrane itself, or as though it were admiring the girl inside. Scott and Helena floated up into the cavern, and seeing them there, Shiana screamed once more, and there was a note of confused emotion in it that only the beast could hear.
"That's it! Now, Brains!" Virgil roared. Brains flicked the switch, deep below Troy planted the device just on the membrane, and buzzed clear in the aqua-sprite moments before the sound Shiana had made was regurgitated through the device and out into the cavern. The sound it made was different again, harsh and grating. Everyone listening was thrown into confusion, and that went for the Stingray crew and Troy as well. Virgil gripped the controls of Thunderbird Two and yelled,
"Get them out! TinTin! Get in there!"
"V, Virgil?" She answered, "Yes, yes I'll, I'll go…"
Inside the cavern Shiggeru thrashed in the water, crashing against the massive sphere, it pounded it in agony and breaches started to show. Troy came to his senses and shone a beam across the cavern. Scott floated in a bubble that went past, sent by the waves created by the monster. He saw Tempest and pounded against his spinning prison. Troy called,
"TinTin! Move it!" Thunderbird Four's beam filled the cavern then, sending the creature's whirling shadows wild. Two clamps extended and attached themselves to the bubble containing Scott,
"I'm taking him to Stingray, Troy! Look for Helena!" TinTin called urgently. Troy nodded. Shiggeru was still going crazy, and so far Shiana had been unable to get it under control. Brains had claimed that this particular frequency would make it attack the thing making the sound, and so far that was proved true. Troy glanced around desperately for Helena. Then he saw her. She was right beside Shiggeru, floating next to its writhing tentacles.
"Lower the intensity, Brains! It'll tear Helena apart!" Troy yelled. The noise that followed from the device sounded like a dying whale, low and sorrowful. Shiggeru stopped moving altogether, "Great! It's stopped moving altogether!" Troy cried, "I'm going to get Helena!"
"Hurry, Troy! I d, didn't keep the frequency that low before, b, because it may allow the, er, Empress to…" Brains stuttered just as another scream from the furious Empress burst over the air. Shiggeru sprung to life and Tempest barely had time to nudge Helena clear before it had seen him and lunged for him with incredible speed. Brains countered with another massive sound wave, causing Virgil to switch off his radio in the cabin. The effect on Shiggeru was quite devastating. Beating the water wildly, it clung to the inside of the cavern and started to shudder, torn to obey both instructions. Troy saw the lights of Thunderbird Four and sped close to it, he shouted,
"She's over there!"
"I can't see her!" TinTin wailed. The cavern around them was starting to quake. Rock was sending great clouds of dust into the water, turning it into a shadowy mist of cascading particles. The beast pounded harder,
"Stop making that noise! Calm it down!" Troy bawled. Brains didn't answer. Virgil's voice cried,
"Where is she? Where's Helena!"
"The cavern's cracking wide open!" Gordon told them from Stingray, "You have to get out of there now! Before you're buried!"
"Get in Thunderbird Four, Captain!" TinTin cried,
"Not until I find her!" Tempest replied. The powerful beam from the Thunderbird illuminated, just for a moment, a vision of Helena suspended like an angel in a luminous sphere, with her blonde hair and dark blue dress floating elegantly in the water that had filled it. Troy went cold.
"There she is!" he yelled. Thunderbird Four charged forwards and secured the bubble, and then it turned and Troy hung onto the fin of the yellow craft as it turned and escaped in a flurry of bubbles.
"Somebody tell me something!" Virgil cried. "I'm coming to get you now, original reference point!" He swiftly steered the massive craft back to the original danger zone. Then he heard the proximity alarm go off, and turned to the radar screen. There were two extremely fast ships heading straight for him. Then there was a radio call from John,
"We have a warning from two World Navy attack craft in your area, Virgil. You have to be out of the area in five minutes or they're gonna open fire on Thunderbird Two!"
Gordon was pulling Scott inside the airlock when Thunderbird Four burst out of the rapidly collapsing cavern. Shards of rock and a now fierce current were close behind it. As it approached, a cloud of smoky water enveloped it along with several hundred pieces of rock as it exploded from inside. Thunderbird Four emerged out of it but at the same time the creature flung itself after the rescue craft and its tentacles shot out after it. TinTin screamed and sent Thunderbird Four in a steep upward curve, throwing Lageau backwards in the cramped cabin. She raced the creature, pushing the little craft to its very limit. It reached the surface of the ocean and Shiggeru emerged around it and lifted the little sub into the air using one 'arm'.
The force of the beasts' departure had made the bubble leave the airlock with Scott still trapped inside. Gordon yelled as it floated upwards, rotating slightly as it went. Gordon swore and ducked back inside Stingray, closing the airlock
"Our only chance is to force that thing to the surface!" he said, "Ready Phones?"
"Aye-aye, Skipper."
"Then let's go!"
Virgil saw Thunderbird Four break the surface and his heart lifted when he saw the bubble in its delicate grabs. Then nine Tentacles appeared around it. Virgil opened his mouth and Alan was already running as he ordered,
"Shoot it! Now!"
The tentacles lifted Thunderbird Four high up, and then the beast lifted it closer to its huge eye, as if curious about the origin of the odd creatures inside. Helena was motionless as it brought her near, trapped on the tip of the craft itself. Virgil saw and grimaced,
"Ready Alan?"
"F-A-B. Ready to fire…"
"Hold it! Wait until it's let them go!" Virgil's eyebrows knit as the creature Thunderbird Four. Then it flung the little craft onto the ocean's surface with a terrific smack. Thunderbird Four bounced like a pebble for nearly half a mile, and the grabs finally gave in and sent Helena skimming back under the water. The bubble split altogether and she fell into the ocean. The creature should have roared then, but instead it disappeared silently under the sea.
"Helena!" Virgil shouted, "TinTin, come in! Answer me! Please!" but there was no reply from the little craft. "Gordon! Go look for her!"
"What happened?" Gordon asked as Stingray surfaced beside Thunderbird Two's pod. "We are about to get Scott into the pod…"
"Is he okay?"
"See for yourself!" Gordon replied. Virgil made out the bubble as it reached the surface and Scott was inside it, either too seasick or too relieved to move. Probably both, Virgil reasoned. Then Gordon said,
"Phones is searching for a sonar on Helena. If she's close we'll find her, don't worry!"
"She wasn't far at all…She was on the surface…" Virgil glanced up as the sun went in and rain began to beat on the windows of the cabin, he leaned towards them, his brown eyes raking the ocean below. "She was there…"
"Thunderbird Two from Thunderbird Five, come in Thunderbird Two. Father says that you have to leave now, Virgil!" John's blunt voice called insistently over the radio. Virgil answered grimly,
"Tell him I'm not going anywhere. Helena's still down there. And so is Troy." But all hope was rapidly fading for the aquanaut. Below, Brains and Marina were hauling the sphere containing Scott towards the ramp of the Pod Four. The waves were choppy and Virgil knew that he would have to pick them up soon. Jeff said,
"Virgil, you have to go now. There isn't just a storm coming, you have two World Navy Ships coming towards you who want you out of there now, they're saying we were not to interfere in this rescue."
"They're too late." Virgil grimaced, "This rescue's nearly over." Before Jeff could reply, TinTin's voice rushed over the radio,
"We are all right, Virgil, but we have to leave! We were damaged in the last attack! I don't know how much longer we can keep going!" Thunderbird Four was moving but it was still some distance away. Virgil fought to keep himself focussed although every nerve in his body screamed for him to look for Helena. He said,
"I hear you, Thunderbird Four! Come in, Stingray, any sign of Troy?"
"No. No sign of him." Gordon sounded worried. Even more worried than before. Virgil groaned seeing the World Navy ships were nearly upon them. He barked into the radio.
"Stay there until I give the order! I want you to…" Thunderbird Two shook. Virgil cursed. In all the panic, he'd missed the return of the monster. It smacked the side of the huge craft and he nearly lost control, he lifted the massive ship up and the force of the retros made it let go long enough for him to yank it out of reach. As he cleared the space, he saw the missile warning light go off. The creature must have seen the twinjets of the missiles coming for it, and it ducked underwater before they exploded with considerable force right beside it. Then he heard John shout that the Navy were attacking. Virgil swore. Then he pulled on the missile jammer and shouted,
"Answer me! Somebody!"
"We're okay!" Gordon said, "But we need to get out of here, now!"
"You'll be safest in the Pod! I'll swing by and pick you up." Virgil sounded calmer than he felt, thinking how much of a sinch it would be in these increasingly high seas. Gordon caught onto Virgil's plan,
"F-A-B. Entering Pod – now!" Stingray took a run up to the pod entrance and the massive impetus thrust it forwards. It landed with a crash into dry-dock within, scaring the wits out of Brains, Marina and Scott.
"Now to move in and grab her…" Virgil muttered, angling the huge bulk of Thunderbird Two over the rapidly shuddering pod. He pulled on every ounce of skill into picking it up, breathing a sigh of relief when he finally heard the magnets clamp it securely to the mother ship. He lifted the craft away, blasting clear as another salvo of rockets soared towards them. He saw that they were meant as warning shots, and they missed by more than they should have. Virgil called for TinTin but there was no answer.
"TinTin? Come in, please." He implored over the radio. Nothing. Alan asked him quietly,
"Can you see her anywhere?" and Virgil paused before replying,
"She's just got to be down there somewhere, she can't have just gone." The waves were crashing with a vengeance now. He stared into the water desperately,
"Virgil, you've got to leave, now. The Navy are accusing us of spying on them of all things, and…"
"Now we've lost TinTin." Virgil cut in, "She must have been hit, by that first missile attack." It hadn't sunk in, the possibility that he would lose them both. It wasn't hitting him fully and his mind was not imagining, not thinking, and just saying the first meaningless words that came into his numbed brain. He barely heard his father shout,
"Leave now or they're really going to attack! Virgil, it's your responsibility!"
Virgil blinked. Reality flooded back in, he gasped, dragging his remaining strength into a tight ball he began to steer away from the storm. Just then he gave another cry, and this time Alan heard a note of harsh joy in his voice,
"What is it, Virgil?"
"I can see them! I can see Thunderbird Four!" Virgil bellowed with relief. "Get up here, Alan, we have to use the grabs! Hurry!"
Alan helped Virgil to lift the now very battered but still intact mini- submarine off the choppy surface of the water and away from the area. As they went, Gordon joined them in the cockpit looking shaken. John informed them of reports from the World Navy ships battling a sea monster, a nine- tentacled squid with a voracious appetite for missiles…
*
Barely an hour later, Virgil started to land Thunderbird Two at the heliport sector at Marineville. They had been unable to make contact with Thunderbird Four from inside the cockpit, although they were fairly sure that the hardy little craft had not been breached and so there was an excellent chance that TinTin was still alive. The crew waited anxiously. Gordon hadn't mentioned Helena's name, and once Scott had heard what had happened he had gone silent as well. The fact that Tempest had also lost his life was also starting to hurt. Virgil finished gently lowering the sub onto the tarmac and then landed Thunderbird Two nearby. He opened the pod and left the cabin, his usually smooth face hard and unreadable.
Thunderbird Four bore the scars of the giant squid's attack. The suckers had ripped off paint so that big grey patches of metal were exposed. The emergency services had arrived in force by now and Virgil walked slowly towards the little craft as they surrounded the pod and Scott and the others emerged into the stormy air. The storm was leaving the area for now and the sun was starting to break through the darkness. Scott lifted his head and gazed up at it grimly. He looked over at his younger brother, and leaving Gordon still consoling Phones and the grief-stricken Marina. He followed Virgil to Thunderbird Four,
"I'm sure TinTin's okay in there." Scott murmured. Virgil didn't answer. The fire-crew was working to open the airlock. Virgil angrily stepped in and pressed the code on the door, and it swung open. All of them gasped in astonishment.
"It, it can't be…" Virgil breathed. Scott heard Gordon gasp behind him; he was all at once lost for words. Lageau and Troy Tempest staggered out of the cramped airlock space. Lageau had a nasty bump on his head but he seemed to be okay. Tempest saw Virgil and started babbling something but Virgil saw immediately what he meant. Another figure was lifted out of the airlock as well and their blue eyes opened wide and fixed themselves on Virgil. She was let go and she rushed forwards, and Virgil flung his arms around her and they kissed passionately. Virgil was oblivious to anything but her, crushing her to him. Helena gripped his shoulders and held him until her eyes watered. The sun warmed the couple; both were too caught in the moment to notice anything else. Helena sobbed with joy and neither of them spoke.
Scott limped around them, finally happy. Feeling a wave of new pain ache through his chest, he heard Alan give a cry of delight behind him and knew they had no need to worry as TinTin finally emerged. She had no injuries. Alan hugged her tightly. Medics had paused to allow them their reunions and Scott was about to call Stingray's remaining crew over when two figures streaked past and collided into the dazed WASP captain. One of them was shouting excitedly, the other was silent and smiling beautifully. Lageau was led to an ambulance and Scott turned to Gordon who had followed the WASPs out. Gordon saw the two couples embracing and rolled his eyes.
"That's it. Just carry on. We don't mind…"
"At least someone got a romance out of this." Scott murmured. The sun was gloriously hot and he was back in a uniform, albeit lacking a sash. He stared up wonderingly at the clearing sky, able to enjoy it at last, and breathed in the fresh air, feeling light-headed with joy. Or possibly a concussion. He wavered and Gordon steadied him with a hand on his arm,
"Come on, big brother, you need a real doctor. You look like you've taken on a couple more mono-trains since we last saw you." Scott didn't protest, feeling the pain of his bruised ribs shoot through his body. Shiana had left her mark on him, and he wondered whether she had survived their rescue attempt. He allowed himself to be taken in the ambulance to the medical bay, and he was asleep almost before he got there.
*
The underwater gardens hissed with steam. The Prince paced around rock pools while he waited for her to finish talking to Hermes, the pair were sitting on a large shell-shaped bench where they had been for the last few hours since escaping the sacrificial chamber. Shiggeru had barely calmed down, apparently. The Empress was inconsolable over what had happened, but Hermes was there to talk to her about it. As she dried her eyes, Hermes left her side and walked over to the ugly prince.
"Well? Is she ready for the marriage?"
"She has…had another change of heart. She wishes you to leave, now, Prince. The Empress will not marry you, nor will she see you again."
"What?" the Prince was too stunned to speak. Hermes grinned maliciously,
"It was all your fault. Leave now or you will be made to suffer."
"You must tell her that she is making a very great mistake!" the Prince spluttered,
"Prince!" the Shiana stood up and turned to them both, "You will go!" she stamped her foot, all calm stripped away, "Or I will send Shiggeru to punish you instead!"
"Do not threaten me, little girl!" The Prince snapped.
"Get out of my kingdom this instant!" she demanded, "I should kill you anyway for what you have cost me!"
"You are still in love with a man you can never have." The Prince sneered. "He hates you now, you stupid girl…" Hermes grabbed the Prince by his robes and thrust him against one of the large black rocks. Shiana walked up and smiled cruelly,
"I will rule this Kingdom as I always have done, but this time I have found one who will truly worship me. Leave me, Prince. While you still can." The Prince winced and said hastily,
"All right. All right then…" Hermes let him go and the old man staggered before rasping, "I have had enough of my Kingdom trying to help you and your disease-ridden land. You will never see me again."
"Good." The Empress smiled.
"Someone will pay for this…" the Prince muttered, shuffling away. Demetri ran in and helped him leave. The Empress turned to Hermes and her grey eyes were clear and dry now. She said,
"You told me that Titan was interested in helping us. I will see his representative tomorrow. Now I will rest…"
"Very good, my lady." Hermes bowed. Shiana looked at him and her expression was tender,
"And Hermes?"
"Yes, My lady?"
"Well done."
*
It was evening. Alan and TinTin had left with the Thunderbirds three hours ago. Scott was fast asleep in the hospital rooms, Gordon was taking a well- earned break with the WASPs down at the local bar, and outside on the balcony of the Ambassador's apartment, Virgil and Helena were walking and relaxing after being given a clean bill of health by the medical staff.
"I don't understand why we were attacked." Virgil mused. "The World Government want something to do with Aeden, I guess, but we haven't been approached since we got here. Although Tempest seemed to think that this wasn't over."
"I have a debriefing tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps I can tell you more then. Captain Tempest risked a lot to help us, and I'm going to do all I can to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. Sometimes it helps to have friends in low places." Helena mused. She was wearing a light blue skirt and jacket, while Virgil hadn't yet changed out from his uniform. Helena gazed at him, and then out at the view from the balcony, "And at least you're both all right." She murmured.
"Yeah. Scott's just gotta sleep off the morphine. He'll be okay."
"He wasn't going to give up." Helena said, "And looking back, I'm glad you didn't either." They giggled.
"Yeah. You sure had me worried, though. When Troy got himself lost too…for a minute there I thought you were all gone." He looked away. Helena put a hand over his good shoulder and kissed him,
"You saved us. Although Troy managed to get me to the airlock in time. The plan would probably have worked perfectly if you hadn't had to move position. I'm not going to let the World Navy get away with this." Her delicate jaw was set and he traced the uneven line of her lips, saying,
"I know you won't let us down. Can you just relax for a while? Enjoy being here, in this place? It's no Aeden, but it's got great views."
"That sounds familiar." She said quietly. "And I will, I just have to call my daughter first. I feel I'm over the, er, near-death experience, but I want to speak to her. Then I'm all yours." She smoothed his hair, "If you want me."
"I want you." He said quietly. Helena rested her head on his shoulder, on the surprisingly soft yellow sash. It was getting stormy again as they rocked gently,
"We should get indoors." She breathed in his ear. Virgil grunted; their heads shot up as thunder crashed in the sky. Rain hurtled down and they ran towards the French windows, laughing and ducking the drops. Once indoors they looked at each other breathlessly,
"You know, I'll be going home tomorrow." Virgil said, "Whether I like it or not. I'd really like to see you, somehow. It won't be easy."
"I feel the same. I understand. Security takes priority. International Rescue must stay a secret organisation. You can't have an Ambassador knowing where your hidden base is. And I can't call up International Rescue every time I want to meet you for a drink…" Helena swallowed, "Is that what it is?"
"Yes. But it isn't impossible." He insisted. Helena smiled bleakly,
"You just don't give up, do you. You react and keep going. You're worse than your brother." She shivered, "What do we do?"
"You're cold." He noted. Helena rolled her eyes,
"This is no time to…"
"You call your daughter." He said, "And I'll make us some hot coffee. After that, we'll talk. If you want." Helena's eyes widened, she fixed him with a quizzical stare,
"I hope you make good coffee…did Maria think so?"
"What?" now his eyes widened. Helena flicked her gaze down and felt him tense against her. "How did you hear that name?" he demanded.
"We both thought we would be killed, so…I…asked Scott a few things. He told me why you've avoided anything like this. She was pretty bloody cruel from what I was told. Your revenge was also pretty nasty."
"He told you?" Virgil was disbelieving. "And you still like me!"
"I knew you had a dark side, love. It's fine, as long as you don't do the same to me one day..." Helena bit her lip.
"Now, look, it was mostly Gordon's idea and I'd had a bit too much to dri…"
"I'm going to call my daughter…" she murmured, "You get some coffee going. We're both soaked."
"Yeah." Virgil was still frowning, "Look, Helena, I…"
"Don't say anything. You don't have to, and I don't want to waste a second more. Coffee, go on." He grinned at her then, she did a goofy smile back. He let her slip away from his arms and go to the videophone whilst he made his way into the small kitchen. Helena's clear voice was muffled by the sound of the bubbling coffee. Virgil leaned with his back against the work-surface of the cupboards and shut his eyes. Maria Costanza – the former love of his life. He'd spent five years trying to forget her and now her memory was returning to bother, maybe even to hurt him again.
14th AUGUST 2064
SCOTT TRACY'S APARTMENT, SAN FRANCISCO
The party was well underway and Virgil was enjoying every second of it, except for the fact that Maria wasn't there. The cake was wheeled out and Scott joined his cheering friends as they all urged him to blow out the twenty-three candles stuck into hard white icing on top. His brown eyes still searching the full room for her, he puffed out the candles and Gordon clapped and shouted,
"Made a wish yet?"
Just a wish for her to be here, he had thought. Instead he beamed at them all and let Scott take the floor as an embarrassing story started to unfold. Luckily John was on hand to slow Scott's revelations down. Virgil was aware that they had all had a bit too much to drink, but there was a good reason. They had all worked so hard over this year to set up the wonderful project that would change all their lives, and their father had let them this party to celebrate both Virgil's birthday and the completion of the first of the incredible machines. There was another, bigger reason for Virgil. He was going to ask her and tell her two things that should blow her mind, and the longer she took to get here the jumpier his usually untouchable nerves became. He made a mental note to cut down on the Red Bull next time. The idea of a next time made him smile, just as Scott flung an arm around him and declared him the best brother in the world. Then they all demanded he play a piece on the white Grand Piano that their father had delivered to Scott's apartment as a present. Virgil was sill looking for her but sat down and started to play. Even drunk he reckoned he was still pretty good and he played up to their cheers.
"And now for his next track…!" Scott had begun and fallen silent. Through the haze, Virgil turned his head and stopped playing at once. He stood up quickly,
"Maria! You made it here and…" his mind pointed out something terribly wrong with the picture. The room went totally quiet sensing a row. Maria's lip didn't tremble, like it was meant to, instead it sneered and her dark eyes were hard and unflinching. She held the hand of Michael Steel, one of four Steel brothers who were eternal rivals to the Tracys. Steel had his arm around her and he sneered beneath a floppy blonde fringe. Maria yelled into the tomb-like atmosphere,
"You've barely spoken to me for the last three months. I don't know why and frankly, by now I don't care anymore! I'm leaving you, Virgil, and I'm going with him!"
"You're leaving? With that?" Scott's voice was harsh with alcohol; Virgil stepped in front and made shut-up gestures behind him while he asked in confusion,
"Why didn't you tell me something was…?"
"I tried, Virgil, I really did. But you wouldn't listen to me! Your stupid business mattered more than me! And now it's all over. You really think I'd stay after the way you treated me!"
"That isn't true. It isn't true at all and you know it. You can't just come in here and say that!" Scott shouted.
"And you let your big brother fight all your battles for you. I'm sick of it! I'm leaving you and you can take your cheap, lousy ring with you too!" she flung it at him. Virgil finally snapped and became angry. Very angry. He had only felt that way once before in his life, when he had seen three boys tormenting a German Shepherd puppy in the field near their ranch when he was twelve. This time he was not going to let them get the better of him, this time Scott was not going to get him out of it, he would do this by himself. He resolved that punching Michael Steel would probably at least help a little bit, so he got up and rushed at him. And he would have done fine if it hadn't been for the plate of vodka jelly some evil person had left on the floor by his feet. He careered to one side, on one knee, then lost his balance entirely and skidded to a halt, banging his head on the piano-leg as he went. Maria had gone by the time the world had stopped spinning.
He fixed the coffee while he listened to her talking in a low voice on the videophone. He wondered what she really thought about it, making a mental note to boot Scott for having told her how he got revenge on Maria.
The smell of coffee made him lift his head and take in the mess that used to be Scott's apartment. Half of the guests had left, while a few had clearly decided to carry on the party in another room. Scott was sitting on the end of the bed. Gordon was looking furious, and John came in bearing the tray. He set it down.
"How do you feel?" he inquired. Virgil sat up and took the mug he was given. He frowned,
"Everyone's gone."
"I got rid of 'em after she left. We're, uh…" for once Scott didn't seem to know what to say. Gordon burst out,
"You can't let her get away with this!"
"With what? I had been ignoring her, I wanted it to be a surprise."
"She went off with a Steel." Scott reminded him, "And she told me, er…"
"They're engaged." Virgil said, "I saw the ring she was wearing. Guess he beat me to it." His brothers exchanged glances. Then Gordon said,
"While we were waiting for you to, er, wake up. We kinda got to thinking…"
"I don't like the sound of this." Virgil murmured.
"Shut up and listen." Scott grinned, "For once, little brother's got a great idea."
"Gee, thanks a lot, Scott…"
"What great idea is this?" Virgil lifted an eyebrow and the others all nodded and gathered closer. Virgil's eyebrows lifted higher still as he listened to their conspiracy.
It was her voice, the one he had come to adore the very sound of. Then it was drowned out by the sound of thunder. The coffee was nearly ready and Virgil turned to it, wincing at the memory. Just twelve days after the row at the apartment…
"And Michael Steel married her, just like that!" Virgil gasped. The newspaper had arrived on Tracy Island that day and the society pages were full of gossip about the mysterious woman who Michael Steel was marrying that week. Apparently he had met her, 'through friends'.
"Gee. Guess Maria never saw that coming…" Scott lifted his copy of the paper and whistled, "Gordon sure knows how to pick an escort…"
"Gordon. Why did I ever listen to him?" Virgil groaned, "She'll kill me!"
"Hey, you're the injured party around here." Scott patted his brother's shoulder, "It couldn't have happened to a nicer lady. Now are you gonna help me operate the Mole? Dad wants us to start excavating the cavern for your machine. That's a lot of cavern." Scott's attitude finally convinced Virgil and he stood up, putting the paper down. Scott added, "And take that glare off your face. Or you'll never find another girlfriend…"
"From the sound of it we'll be too busy to meet anyone." Virgil commented.
"And that's just as well. Women…nothing but trouble…"
Virgil glanced up from his reverie. Helena was standing in the doorway. Her mid-blue eyes were locked on him. She sashayed closer and put her arms around his waist and hugged him tight, careful of his injured right shoulder. Brushing a wave of blonde hair from her face, Virgil asked,
"How's your daughter?"
"She's gone to bed. I spoke to her – it was a bit like speaking to a Martian but I think she was pleased to see me."
"Like Alan in the mornings." Virgil mused, smiling. The Ambassador kissed and eyed him wickedly. She said,
"I'm wondering what you're like in the mornings…"
"And I thought you wanted to talk." He chided her tenderly.
"That's what I thought too. But I think you're over her now. And you haven't run screaming over Cathy, which is another good thing, but if you really want to talk about it I suppose that we could…"
"Do you?" he asked suddenly.
"Not really." Helena murmured, softly. Outside the storm was gaining strength again and lightening thrashed the sky. A shiver went through her and she pushed away a sudden sensation of dread. She lifted her head closer to his, and traced his mouth. "You make me feel so warm…" Virgil's brown eyes lit with a peculiar energy that sent burning heat down to her toes. He kissed her, locking them together, a mix of joy and desire sending her reeling so fast and so ardently that they both completely forgot about both the fresh coffee and the raging storm outside.
Scott was nearly asleep as the storm raged. It chased shadows across the half-lit hospital room; hearing it rumble he stretched, feeling the effects of the morphine starting to wear off. The time read 0330 on a red digital clock at his bedside. The dark-haired pilot hoped that his brother wouldn't be too mad at him for telling Helena about Maria. The Ambassador had made Virgil happier than Scott had seen his brother since Lady Penelope invited them all to the Swinging Star. Scott shut his eyes but he was no longer very tired. There was a knock on the door, and it opened to reveal Lageau with a nurse and a man in a dark pinstripe suit.
"I was afraid you would still be asleep." Lageau smiled. Scott shook his head but he was too woozy to sit up. The older man and the nurse came inside and the door hummed shut behind them.
"No danger of that with this storm outside." Scott breathed. The nurse walked over to his bedside, he grunted as she produced a syringe and took his arm.
"You're going to need another dose of the morphine in a minute, Mr Tracy."
"Oh?" Scott met Lageau's gaze. The soldier walked over to him, followed by the man in the suit. Scott questioned him with a look.
"I have come to say goodbye." Lageau said.
"Goodbye? That's swell of you but isn't it kind of late…?"
"I am leaving for Aeden now, Scott. Shiana is still my first loyalty."
"She'll kill you." Scott's eyes widened in alarm, "You know that she won't forgive you, for saving my friends. For helping me…"
"Love does strange things." Lageau murmured. He looked away, "I will try to speak with her. I must return to my sister as well. Maybe she has taught her…when we could not. The Empress has changed."
"Then I nearly got us all killed."
"You may still have saved a Kingdom. The Ambassador will work to help us."
"Yeah. Yeah, I hope so. If she can…" Scott smiled. There was a brief sting in his arm, he felt it just as his ribs shot pain through his chest and he sank back hearing Lageau's muffled voice follow him down. In the blissful haze that came afterwards, Scott didn't dream.
1 EPILOGUE
1.1 Nine Days Later
The morning sun gleamed brightly on the turquoise sea as Scott walked barefoot down the beach of his island home. The hot dry sand felt wonderful against his skin, and he lifted his head, following the cries of whirling seabirds above him. Then he saw a figure at the end of the beach sitting near the waves and strode towards it, grinning. Behind the easel, Virgil looked up from his painting and said,
"You're getting better. Must be all the chocolate pudding TinTin made you eat."
"Yeah. And a walk on the beach sure works wonders. What are you doing up so early, anyway?"
"What does it look like?" Virgil raised an eyebrow. Scott grinned. He couldn't see the surface of the painting, and moved over to get a better look. It was a delicate portrait of Helena, nearly completed in oils.
"And I thought you were catching the sun rising. She got to you, didn't she…" Scott remarked. "When are you seeing her again?"
"When she gets back from talks with the underwater kingdoms. There's some sort of stir going on, but you know about that attack on us from the World Navy? She's trying to look into it."
"Let's hope she succeeds. Sounds like she's gonna be busy." Scott noticed when Virgil didn't answer and frowned slightly instead, appearing to focus harder on his painting. "It'll look great in the lounge." Scott declared. Virgil shook his head.
"It's for her daughter. She's only little, and she won't see Helena for a while, and Helena kind of mentioned that she wanted something help her daughter remember her while she was away. As long as her ex-husband doesn't mind." Virgil added almost to himself.
"Whoa." Scott nodded thoughtfully, "That's swell of you. Especially after I thought Maria had put you off women for life. Glad that she proved me wrong…"
"It wasn't like that, Scott." Virgil said grumpily.
"You never did tell me what happened to you at the Follies." Scott grinned. Virgil rolled his eyes,
"And I never will."
"I only want to know…"
"No power on this earth, Scott."
"Ha, I suppose you think Penny didn't tell me about them…"
"Penny?" Virgil's glanced up, startled, "She promised me she wouldn't mention the twins to you…" he caught Scott's eye and groaned, "Nooo…"
"Ah-hah. When Helena comes back…bet she'd love to hear about that…" Scott ragged shamelessly. Virgil grinned back, then Scott yelped as the contents of a tube of bright red oil paint squirted across his chest. Virgil chased him down the beach, yelling mock-threats, and nearly healed from his injuries Scott ran into the surf and they splashed and yelled until the whole household was down on the beach and laughing at them. Scott tried to wipe the thick smear of red paint from his favourite white shirt and Virgil saw the look on his face and ran for the safety of the villa with Scott in hot pursuit.
"Gee it's great to see him home again." Alan commented dryly. TinTin nudged him, her pretty face breaking into a big grin.
"Sssh. You know you missed him really, after all that time underwater."
"Yeah, TinTin. I'm glad he's home. And that reminds me, we need a 'getting eaten by giant squid' clause on our insurance…."
Shiana nodded to Lageau and Titan was allowed to enter the Throne room. He entered, followed by several gurning aquaphibians, and made a cursory bow to the Empress. She was seated at her throne, clothed in a silver and black gown. Fran sat next to her dressed like a miniature twin of the ruler.
"I am honoured to meet you at last, Empress." He said. Shiana regarded him from her position at the throne, and said,
"I welcome you to my Kingdom, Lord Titan. I believe you have a proposal." She got to her feet, her long black dress circling like tentacles of ink around her bare feet. The Empress tilted her chin proudly, but her eyes were narrowed with new awareness, "Come with me. We will discuss this in my chambers."
Titan's pointed features sneered into an almost pleasing smile. The aquaphibians made muttering noises amongst themselves. The Empress nodded imperceptibly to Hermes and Lageau. The soldier motioned to several guards who tightened their grip on their bone pikes. Titan got the message; at a subtle signal his pet monsters fell silent and the Empress smiled. The Undersea Emperor raised his hands in agreement.
"Very well, Empress Shiana. We will discuss this. And you will not regret a moment of it."
"I hope not, Lord Titan. The Terrans will be coming here soon. Together I am sure that we can deal with them."
"When I'm sure that you are correct, I will help you." He said. Leaving the others behind, he followed the Empress into the chambers beyond.
Scott stopped his pursuit once he reached the swimming pool. The alarm on his watch, his new improved watch, was buzzing.
"Go ahead, Father." He said.
"You and Gordon come up to the lounge. We've got an emergency call."
"F.A.B.!" At this Scott started up the steps towards the lounge. The sun beat hot on his back, and the sea roared behind him, and he was laughing as he ascended the steps, feeling barely any protest from his all but healed body.
It was over but things were going to change. Whatever happened now he knew that he was ready for it. Thunderbirds were go. Duty called. And Scott Tracy simply couldn't wait.
Virgil rose out of a daze. His shoulder was on fire, he tried to move it but a familiar voice told him to keep still and the pain receded to a gentler tingle that numbed his whole chest and sent him back into the blankness. It seemed barely seconds later that he opened his eyes to a brighter world, where a lovely face was gazing down at him with obvious delight.
"Say something." It urged him. Virgil managed a grunt that sounded something like, "Whughthuhuhamuh?"
"He's back to normal." A caustic voice remarked just out of sight.
"Quiet, Troy." The face said, smiling at Virgil. She brushed the hair from his cool forehead, and he lifted a numb arm and caught the warm hand by its smooth fingertips,
"Helena. I…I…"
"It's all okay." She breathed, kissing him on the brow. His brown eyes looked up at her, he asked in concern, making his mouth work,
"Scott, and, and Troy, we were cornered by those rebels…"
"Scott's just gone to watch over the Empress. He was here until a few minutes ago, we were all…Worried."
"I'm fine now." He insisted, "Is Scott okay?"
"He'll probably sleep once he knows you're awake. Never met anyone so stubborn in my life before, except you. He wouldn't let the medics even look at him until he was sure you were both out of danger."
"It's a good thing I feel better." He grunted, trying to sit up so that he could see her. They were back in the quarters of the palace, he recognised the decoration in the room. Helena frowned playfully and attempted to stop him. Virgil grimaced as pain shot along his shoulder. Helena rolled her light blue eyes and he sank onto his back again.
"That woman hurt your shoulder but the doctors around here don't think it's deep. You'd better not move it, though."
"I got it." He gulped. Helena glanced behind her, "And Troy's here. Anything you want to say, Captain?"
"Humph." Tempest came into view and looked down at Virgil, "Listen, Tracy, I'm glad you're okay. Okay?" it sounded more like a threat than actual thanks, but Virgil grinned anyway.
"You didn't do so bad yourself." He said. "But I'm still glad I punched you." Tempest opened his mouth, and then smiled ruefully with Marina at his side. He was in his WASP uniform and had taken his hat off.
"And Gordon wasn't all that bad at piloting Stingray, either." Phones grinned from the doorway. As Virgil looked over there, the door opened and Scott strode through it. He was wearing a loose blue robe and dark blue trousers, neither of which could hide the limp or the dark bruising across his chest. TinTin was beside him; her large dark eyes as beguiling as ever and turned on Scott who had a stubborn expression set on his face. Gordon followed as well looking agitated.
"See, I told you he was all right so please relax, Scott." TinTin was saying. Then she directed a friendly smile to Virgil and Helena. Scott came over and leaned down to Virgil.
"Hey, little brother. You scared me, this time." Virgil noticed him wince as he moved nearer. He said,
"It's just a scratch. You look like you took on a mono-train and lost."
"Ha, well, it's not that serious…" Scott said scratching the back of his neck. Virgil asked him.
"How is the Empress?"
"Shiana's tougher than she looks. She's got to get over a broken arm, otherwise she'll be fine in a day or two." Scott blinked and for a moment he swayed dizzily. Virgil exchanged glances with the others in the room.
"Okay, Scott, that's it. We're handing you over to the doctors right now!" Gordon insisted. Scott held up a hand to stop them for a moment. He turned his attention to Helena, and said,
"Never thought that Virgil would find anyone else to put up with his, er… intensity…" Scott grinned. "Virg, it's been what, five years…?"
"It's lucky I don't punch the mentally challenged, or you'd be first up," Virgil said, looking stonily at his brother. Scott smiled,
"Well, this is the guy who went to the Follies in Paris and had no stories to tell when he got back…" Helena replied first with a mischievous grin,
"Oh, I doubt he had told you everything…" she purred. Scott let his eyes rest on her, as if considering her for the first time. The look was not intimidating; instead a strange quiver went down her spine. Helena turned back to Virgil, and he was glaring, although also faintly amused by Scott's words. Helena felt warmth seep across her back as Virgil found her eyes. She heard the others leaving and the joy that he was all right stole into her heart. Virgil traced the side of her face with his hand. Helena whispered,
"Your brother's quite a guy, isn't he...?"
"Don't encourage him." Virgil murmured. Then they kissed, sharing their relief. He didn't want this to end, even the pain in his shoulder receded around her, and he truly couldn't remember falling asleep a little while later while she rested her head lightly on his chest, and against his heart.
*
He had been here all night with the witch. Hermes glared at the woman, Zana, who stared back defiantly from where she was chained to a spiked shell. She had been the leader behind the rebels that much was clear, and she had stowed away aboard the Stingray craft, only to get a surprise from the furious Consort. The Consort himself was sleeping off the worst of the injuries he had sustained while protecting the Empress, as were the rest of the ever-multiplying Terrans. She was refusing to say anything other than the language she used, which was as exotic as her name. Hermes sighed and let the torturer take over. As he did, over her screams, a messenger appeared,
"It's the Empress, Lord Hermes, she's awake now, and…"
"Good." Hermes stood up and headed for the door. He looked back at the torturer, "All we need is one solid contact name. You can kill her when we've dealt with it." The bald man smiled thinly, and Hermes turned away with a chill and walked quickly up into the lightness of the palace above. This wouldn't take long. He planned to tell her just what had happened, so that she would kill the damn Terran gladly and she would see reason and end the strife within the Kingdom. Hermes tingled at the thought.
When he reached the Empress' quarters, Demetri caught his arm just outside the door. Hermes narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"What do you want?" he growled,
"The Prince is with the Empress, now." Demetri said quickly as the older man walked swiftly past him. "They do not wish to be disturbed."
"Rubbish." Hermes snapped, walking in anyway. The Empress was sitting up in her bed, dressed in flowing nightclothes as she talked to the ugly prince. Her face was tear-stained but there was an oddly fixed look in her eyes as she noted Hermes come in. Her lips pouted, and then she said to her aide,
"I don't like you anymore…"
*
Scott jarred himself out of another nightmare. He sat up, breathing hard. The warmth of the room was in pleasant contrast to how he had spent the last evening, and he kicked off the covers, closing his eyes to think what will happen next. He smiled to himself. Surely Shiana would let him go now?
"Scott Tracy?" the kindly faced Demetri from before walked in, "Good morning."
"Demetri?" Scott murmured. "And you didn't bring me any…" Demetri looked puzzled "Breakfast?" Scott asked, and Demetri chuckled, shaking his head,
"I have a message for you and for your friends. You will all join the Empress for breakfast in one marine hour, where she will deliver her decision resolving your future in this kingdom."
"Really?" Scott sat up quickly, swinging his feet onto the spongy floor, "That's fantastic! Is she okay now?"
"She has recovered, a little bruised, like yourself, but intact. You will know what she has decided soon, Scott Tracy."
"Thanks, Demetri. Do you think the plan worked, then?" Scott added a little more nervously. Demetri touched the light beside Scott's bed, making it brighter, and looked mysterious.
"That is for the Empress to reveal. I'm sure it will be a…surprise." Demetri hadn't quite mastered the art of 'sweeping' from the room, but he left too fast for the still sleepy Scott to catch him with any more questions.
Yawning, Scott went into the pool of warm water that flowed from the 'bathroom' section of the room, and washed his aching frame, thinking of home. Ever the optimist, he was already imagining eating 'real' food again, and thinking of the things he would do once he was away from here. Typically, the minute he knew he might be leaving, he was also starting to appreciate the world that had been his prison and home for the last week. Few people would ever get to see what he had, he might even learn to miss being surrounded by water…Scott shook his head, and splashed the water cheerfully as he rinsed the cleansing sand from his body. He hummed a tune Shiana had taught him as they had passed an oyster cave on the way back, and thinking of music he remembered Virgil and the Ambassador and grinned more widely.
*
Virgil woke to find Helena fast asleep next to him. She had at some point joined him under the covers and lay there, snoring softly. He was still in the medical room, the bed just large enough for two. Virgil shifted at the stiffness of his shoulder and lay back. She didn't wake. Virgil burrowed deeper under the sheets and kissed her lips. Helena murmured,
"Daniel…" Virgil frowned. He touched her cheek, and Helena smiled in her sleep. The door opened, Virgil quickly lifted the sheets over the two of them. Troy came in looking sheepish.
"Morning, Tracy."
"Hi, Tempest." Virgil grinned from behind the covers. Troy said,
"I'm just here to tell you that we're all meant to join the Empress for breakfast in thirty minutes. Have you…seen the Ambassador?"
"Why?" Virgil inquired. Helena stirred beside him. Troy shrugged,
"Marina says she didn't come back to her room."
"Oh." Virgil nodded. "Well, I'll look out for her."
"You do that." Troy said. "So it looks like we'll be leaving here soon. Not soon enough, huh?"
"Right." Virgil answered. Troy raised an eyebrow and said,
"Your shoulder's okay now, right?"
"Yeah." Virgil grunted. Helena was awake now and moving under the covers.
"Uh-huh…" the Captain tilted his head, "Well, if you see her…"
"I'll let you know." Virgil said. He shifted, Helena's hand appeared and she giggled underneath the sheets. Troy rolled his eyes,
"Obviously I'm interrupting. See you at breakfast, Tracy." and then he turned and left. Virgil used his good arm to uncover her and she smiled down at him.
"Did I hear…breakfast?"
"Anyone ever tell you that you have a one-track mind?" Virgil asked. Helena grinned and kissed him,
"Only where one or two things are concerned. And…I'm too hungry…" she murmured, "So, hero, what was Shiggeru like?"
"Mmmf?"
"The big monster."
"Big. Looked like a squid…"
"But what was it? How did she control it?" Helena mused.
"I'm not sure…" Virgil murmured, "There was this…terrible scream." Helena nodded suddenly, as if remembering,
"I've heard of that. Yes, that explains everything…"
"What's that?" he asked curiously. Helena explained,
"The underwater princesses use their voices to control certain beasts of the sea."
"Lucky them." Virgil murmured. Helena chuckled,
"And then they control them and use them to help them to crush their enemies." She regarded him steadily, a little shy at her enthusiasm, "Nice, huh?"
"Very nice." Virgil breathed. She looked thoughtful,
"I didn't think that there were many of those Princesses left, but she must have had that power…" she nuzzled against his cheek, "Lucky for you."
"You're really getting into this, aren't you." Virgil observed, looking up at her. She smirked,
"I may hate being underwater, but the sea cultures fascinate me. There are so many different ideas and myths and philosophies, and…" she made a face, aware that he was watching her with raised eyebrows. "That sounds extremely dull, doesn't it."
"Not to me." Virgil murmured. Helena pulled an overindulgent face,
"Awww, you don't have to lie to me, love…" she hugged him, "Secret organisations aside, you can ask me whatever you like." They were silent for a moment, his chest rose and fell, and then Virgil asked innocently,
"So, who's Daniel?"
"No one." She said, suddenly looking cagey. Virgil traced his hand along her shoulder and said,
"You said his name in your sleep, I just wondered who…"
"I don't have to tell you. It isn't important…" she insisted angrily. Virgil was surprised and he was stung by the viciousness in her voice. He said using a considered tone.
"I'd like to know."
"Oh, you would!" Helena let go of him. Her good mood evaporated and she got out of bed and walked over to the warm pool where Virgil followed, frowning. Helena stepped into the water and he watched her duck underneath, putting a hand to the wound on his shoulder as it shot a jolt of pain down his powerful arm. Helena didn't look at him. Virgil frowned deeper and appealed to her,
"Don't be like this."
"Be like what? I'm not the nosey parker around here." Helena answered coldly. Virgil replied, his voice matching her tone,
"Fine, then. I won't ask you again. If it matters that much." At this she turned her head, biting her lip. Virgil was pulling on a loose green robe with his good arm, getting ready to leave. She got out and hugged him tightly, nuzzling his neck. Her blue eyes regarded him with deep love, and she whispered,
"No, I'm being ridiculous. I'm overreacting, and…" she sniffed, then smiled at him, "If it's so important, if you want, I'll tell you about Daniel. I don't know why…"
"Okay." Virgil sat on the bed and she paced the floor while he waited patiently. She began in a rush, trying to get the story out as speedily as possible.
"A year and a half ago, Daniel Weathers was the best thing to happen to me in a long time. I messed it up. We had a daughter, her name's Catherine. He got custody after we broke up, I hardly see her and I can't believe I said his name…it's painful…"
"I'm sorry…" Virgil made to move to her and she shook her head, her long blonde hair falling behind her as she continued,
"I thought he was seeing someone else when he wasn't at all. Of course, by the time I found that out, I had already taken revenge by…by sleeping with his best friend. Not exactly my finest hour. So, you can imagine the rest. It didn't go down too well, er, if you know what I mean. That's why I've hardly seen my daughter. You see why I didn't want to tell you about this…" her face looked strained, and Virgil put an arm around her then. She murmured, "Anyway, I think I'm over him by now. So, now you've heard my terrible reason for putting off new relationships." She stood back from him, "What do you think?" She didn't really want to know, and he avoided the question by kissing her forehead.
"What you did then is none of my business. " he murmured.
"Well how about you? Why the five year gap?" she asked. Virgil tilted his head – his shoulder was really starting to hurt him. He kissed her instead but she was onto him, "You could at least give me the full story about Paris." Helena grinned. Virgil eyed the time; she sensed him trying to escape and dug him gently in the ribs. Virgil winced. Then she noticed that the bandage on his shoulder was flowering with blood, "Oh, God, Virgil…" Within minutes she had tightened the bandage and called a servant in. Virgil grumbled at the fuss, until she made it clear that if he was going to continue like that he could just forget about joining her at breakfast. He laughed then and Helena did too. Finally a servant led them, a little late, to the banquet hall where the all the others were waiting.
*
Barronnell was running scared and charged down the corridors. He rushed past the doors along the corridor where the Councillor was and rang the bell insistently,
"Councillor Amis, it's terrible! Councillor! She knows! She knows!" The door was flung open. Barronnell flinched with terror. Five guards reached down and grabbed him. He cried out, fighting pathetically, and the guards closed around him. As the little man was dragged away screaming, Demetri nodded and walked up to the Empress' breakfast.
*
Scott bumped into Lageau as he left his quarters. The older man was dressed casually in dark greys, his almost blue hair tied back neatly from his face. There was a strip of black cloth around one arm, showing he was still in mourning for his sister. He nodded at Scott who was in white robes and trousers, and he smiled,
"Won't you miss being treated like a child?"
"Oh, I'll miss being dressed by every woman in the place all right. How about you? Looks like Barronnell gave you a miss today. Guess he's slipping."
"Who's Barronnell?"
"He's that little tailor guy. I got the impression we all got to meet him and his sense of…style..."
"No, I was given these by another servant. The court tailor would attend you if anyone, Scott."
"Oh." Scott shrugged, "Maybe he decided this wasn't important enough. Only the Empress' Breakfast with her subjects…"
"Where we shall find out if she has decided to change her mind." Lageau nodded, his face now serious. Scott sighed before he could stop himself, and Lageau put a hand on his shoulder as they walked,
"I saw how the Empress felt about Finn's death, and she has kept Fran near her while she has been recovering. I truly believe that she has had a change of heart."
"Hope you're right. I don't intend being stuck down here any longer, that's for damn sure…" Scott touched Lageau's arm, "Er, no offence. Of all the people down here, you're the least, er…"
"What do you mean? You are in paradise." Scott caught the twinkle in Lageau's eye and the two men snickered as they continued down to the end of the corridor, where two servants led them on to the banquet hall. Virgil and Helena were just finding their seats and Virgil looked much better. Gordon gave a cheeky wave and rolled his eyes, Scott chuckled and sat down. He glanced at the empty seat at the head of the long table, which he sat two places down from. Where was Shiana? Then there came the sound of trumpets.
As the Empress entered everyone stood up, and she walked past them all with a cursory nod and took the large seat at the end of the table where half the council and all the Terrans were seated. Fran ran in beside her. They sat down and she said nothing, merely motioning at the head servant to begin serving breakfast as the guests also sat down again. The Empress wore a loose grey gown, while Fran was dressed in brighter finery, her young face nearly glowing with delight. Helena sat next to Virgil, TinTin eyed them both, and Scott caught her look and smiled. Virgil passed Helena more of the 'red stuff' and she nudged him,
"What's very wrong with this picture?" she said softly. Virgil glanced up at the table. He was too ravenous to concentrate, and shook his head. Helena murmured, "Look at her." Virgil did, and at first he still couldn't see what she meant. Then Scott said quietly just a few places down,
"Where the heck is Hermes?" and Virgil realised they were right. Hermes, normally a constant presence by the Empress' side, was not there. "I didn't see him at all this morning." Scott frowned. Helena reached for a glass and glanced at the Empress. Her arm was in a healing sling; her childish face paler than even Scott remembered it, and her big blue-grey eyes glittering as if with a problem that she had to work out alone. She kept glancing at Scott, her lips narrowed, but she said nothing.
Scott and the others carried on oblivious, clearly enjoying the first decent meal they had had together in a while. Gordon was joking and laughing with Phones and winding up Virgil and Troy. Marina was looking amused, happy that her Captain was safe at her side again. When the Empress started to talk quietly to Fran the others relaxed a little. Virgil and Helena were exchanging what Gordon termed goo-goo eyes, and TinTin, Scott and Lageau were recounting their favourite songs to each other, when the Empress stood up suddenly. The whole room fell silent. Her Atlantic eyes dripped hatred and she jabbed the thin finger of her good arm at Scott, who had just finished eating.
"You!" She snapped. He gulped the last of his breakfast and turned to her.
"What…?"
"You! You have committed an unacceptable crime!" she spat. Scott actually flinched at the force of her voice and Virgil took Helena's hand, fear running down his back. Troy looked at him,
"Tracy…?"
"What's going on?" TinTin whispered. Gordon pulled a face and Helena had gone white. The Empress waited seconds before launching into her full tirade,
"You have betrayed me! You have deceived me and lied to me, and because of that, many people have died! You lied to me!" she repeated, seething. Scott shook his head vehemently.
"Shiana, listen, I can explain…"
"You had a way of contacting the Palace all the time! Later I learn that you were in league with that traitorous slime, Hermes." She put an arm around Fran's shoulders and the little girl stood up beside her. Then ten of the Empress' soldiers marched in. Shiana announced, "I have asked the Prince and agreed to marry him, for the sake of my people, and for children like Fran. But you will die, to mark the occasion of my wedding!" she sobbed then; her thin frame shook with uncontrollable emotion although she swiftly covered it. Tears flowed from her eyes, full of anger and grief, then she yelled,
"All of you will be sacrificed to Shiggeru tonight!" With that she turned abruptly and stormed out of the hall. Fran followed her quickly, held by the Empress' hand. The other Councillors took the cue to leave and Scott shouted after her,
"Shiana! Wait! Shiana! Dammnit!" as the guards moved forwards, Virgil and Troy stood up and Scott got in front of TinTin while Helena backed away, and the WASPs and Gordon faced the Empress' soldiers. Ten guards surrounded them,
"You are to come with us as prisoners of her Highness." One growled. Scott pulled away as one reached for his arm. Helena cried out, one guard had grabbed her by the neck, and she screamed in pain. Virgil ducked the guard nearest him and with eyes blazing he smashed his fist into the guard holding Helena. The guard was felled by the fury of his attack, dropping her to the floor. Virgil stooped to help her.
"Look out, Virg!" Gordon yelled. A guard hit Virgil across his bad shoulder and he staggered, another scooped Helena up as Virgil struggled to get to his feet. Scott swung a punch at the guard standing over Virgil, knocking the soldier down.
"I'm sorry, Virg!" he cried. Virgil shouted, gasping at the pain,
"Help Helena!" Scott twisted, and Lageau held up a pike behind him.
"Careful, Scott!" he warned. Scott went to snatch up a pike, rounding on a huge guard who was targeting him. Scott backed away, cornered, while the others moved quickly. As Lageau made the way safe for Troy, Phones and Marina, the remaining guards were getting angry and even more determined to round them up. TinTin squealed as two reached for her and Gordon protected her. Then Phones and Marina succeeded in escaping when Lageau clouted three more over the head in quick succession; the soldier whirled efficiently and dealt with another one.
"Go!" he roared at Scott, but the pilot ducked round and helped Gordon, hitting another guard, and his brother rushed out with TinTin. He paused to collect his thoughts, and suddenly realised his mistake.
"Stupid…" he muttered, and then he crumpled when the bear-sized soldier smashed him from behind.
Virgil was torn between his brother and the guard who was making off with Helena, until Troy gripped his arm and yanked him along with them. They made a break for the doors and rushed through them and out into the corridor.
"No!" Virgil protested as Tempest and then Gordon dragged him from the room. Lageau joined them, running alongside, "No, we can't…let me…"
"There is nothing we can do!" the other man insisted,
"Scott's still back there!" Virgil snarled,
"We have to go now! Or we share their fate! Come on!" Lageau answered. He saw the blood pouring from Virgil's damaged shoulder, the young pilot was looking sicker by the second. Too exhausted to protest, Virgil went with the group as they raced down the corridor and made it to where the two craft were waiting. Troy dragged Virgil into the Stingray hatch and TinTin and Gordon scrambled into Thunderbird Four. They submerged out and away from the membrane, down into the deep ocean and sped swiftly clear of the Palace.
"Scott…Helena…" Virgil was breathing too fast. He was slumped into the chair in Stingray, ignoring Marina as she patched up his shoulder. His brown eyes had darkened; he was silent, looking ill. Lageau sat watching him, still panting with the exertion of their escape. After fifteen minutes Troy was finally satisfied that they were clear and called a halt. He turned to the numbed pilot.
"Virgil? Snap out of it."
"We left them behind. I left them both behind." Virgil said wretchedly. Lageau put a hand on his good shoulder,
"We will go back and save them, you will see."
"That little brat!" Troy grimaced, "She controls that monster. How by Neptune's water-wings are we gonna stop her from making them Shiggeru's dinner?"
"What I don't get is why you helped us, er, Mister Lageau." Phones said. The older man shrugged and said evasively,
"I have failed to protect Scott, I could not let her destroy him…and the Ambassador. She means a great deal to you, Virgil Tracy."
"Both of them." Virgil breathed deeply, his shoulder was hurting more as his concern grew, and it was affecting his ability to think clearly. He added, "And it isn't as if Scott needed another threat to his life…"
"Now quit worrying, Tracy. We'll go back there and get them out, somehow. Right? We'll get there before the monster and rescue them." Troy said encouragingly.
"I have seen this ceremony before. She performed the ritual killing twice last year to bring luck to the kingdom during harvest." Lageau told them thoughtfully, "It will take place exactly eight hours from now in a certain cavern. The close quarters do not allow for good odds for one lone, er, submarine."
"We'll take our chances." Troy insisted. Virgil clenched his teeth, standing up shakily. He said,
"And if we fail, then we all die."
"Virgil, maybe we could use Thunderbird Four to rescue them while you distract the beast from Stingray?" Gordon called over the radio. Virgil frowned, thinking hard as he did, and shook his head,
"It's still too uncertain. That thing is fast, and in an enclosed space it would still have the jump on us. No, there has to be a better way to distract the thing but what?"
"Even if we do distract it, the Empress can call it back again at once…" Lageau said, "You're right, Virgil Tracy, there is no way to…"
"Wait, that's it!" Virgil's eyes lit up and his shoulder twinged as he snatched up the radio, "Gordon, tell Father to get Brains flown over here in Thunderbird Two. I've got an idea how to stop the Empress from having it all her own way."
*
Scott was scraped off the banquet floor and taken to a series of dark caves with thick stone bars. He was thrown inside, and he lay there limp and still. Helena gasped and shouted through the bars of her own cell,
"Scott! Scott, answer me!"
"Owww." The pilot turned his blue eyes on her from his place on the floor, and squinted in the dingy air. He smiled boyishly, despite the obvious pain he was in, "Nice to see you, Ambassador. What…Where's Virgil and Gordon?"
"Those bastards knocked you for six, but I think the others escaped." Helena smiled back, her face scared but set. Scott wondered if it was her inner strength or long blonde hair that Virgil had first fallen for. He sat up, rubbing his jaw,
"I think those bastards messed up my plans for a family reunion. Owww." He grimaced again. Helena breathed out in frustration,
"This is ridiculous. We shouldn't even be in this situation. You haven't done anything wrong."
"Except lie to her and lead her on."
"Well, that was for a good cause. She's too…stupid to realise that!" Helena kicked the stone bar with her sandaled foot, "Dammnit!"
"No, she isn't stupid." Scott muttered. Helena leaned nearer to him through the bars. She smiled ruefully,
"You liked her, didn't you."
"Right up to when she wanted to kill me." Scott said. Helena laughed and there was a hysterical edge to it; Scott moved nearer as the laughter became tears. She wiped her eyes and Scott shushed her through the bars. "It's all right…"
"Oh, shut up." She said angrily. "Why aren't you worried? Virgil will come back here and try to save us, and probably get himself killed…"
"I know he'll try." Scott said. "If he made it out of the palace, nothing will stop little brother from doing something to save us, whatever it takes."
"I hope you're wrong." She sighed. Scott nodded,
"So do I. I gathered you two got pretty close…" Helena looked at him. His blue eyes were guileless, interested, and Helena felt calmer as they rested on her. Scott grinned, "Not that it's any of my business…"
"You're right, it isn't." she smiled. "It drives me out of my mind, thinking he might get killed. Or hurt. How do you stand it?" the last line was a plea, she sat opposite him with the bars between them, hugging her knees. Scott sat as close to the bars as he could, she felt him reach through and take her hand.
"He's Virgil. He does what he has to…"
"I didn't ask you that. He's your brother. You risk your lives, each other's lives. He thought you were dead, when he saw you here and safe he was a different person. He gets…dark when he's worried." She smiled self- consciously, "You know what I mean?"
"Yeah. Virgil all intense is not a pretty sight." Scott agreed. Helena sniffed and wiped her eyes. She said almost to herself,
"That's what I liked. He cared. He…It isn't fair." her hair covered her face, and Scott nodded. He sat back, hearing the water dripping around them in the dark heat of the caves. His white robes were stained and torn. Helena's shimmering blue dress glimmered dimly against the darkness of the cave. She was angry and not really scared yet, but Scott cursed himself for not realising that Shiana would resent him for deceiving her, and that she would take it out on his friends and family. And on whom his brother loved. He patted her hand gently. Helena lifted her head.
"Tell me about him." She whispered. Scott smiled and started talking.
*
The fifteen men in the conference room all looked grim. They nodded in agreement, and the large man stood up and addressed them.
"The Prince has informed us that it is too risky to antagonise this Kingdom further. What began as a simple favour for International Rescue has developed into something much more serious. The Empress still has powers we could and should exploit. So, we play it her way. Let her marry the Prince, and she will be in our hands."
"What about the Ambassador, and the International Rescue man?" another man inquired. The overweight man in the too-tight suit shrugged,
"We know that she killed a man to save one of them. We would be far better off without that little complication." He allowed several chuckles of agreement before saying, "The others have survived and no doubt they are planning something. If they do, we'll be ready. The Empress must not be annoyed. International Rescue will not affect our plans at any cost."
"It could be too late, although we have sent two World Navy ships to the area. The execution is at eighteen hundred hours tonight, our time. Our ships will order International Rescue to leave – the commanders won't know exactly why, of course. I've given Stingray orders to prevent any rescue while it's there. If International Rescue try anything above or underwater, we'll be ready to stop them." There were more murmurs of approval. The man wiped sweat from his brow, "Very well, gentlemen. Then that's the course of action we shall take. Scott Tracy will help us more than he knows. Let us wish him a quick death." The others all murmured agreement. The fat man closed the briefcase with a file marked, CONQUEST SEA: AEDEN typed on it. "Which I'm sure our project will grant him."
*
"I've had word from Marineville about our little problem, by the way. They say that we're supposed to stop the rescue before the ceremony starts." Tempest said. Phones nodded.
"Why would they ask us to do that, Skipper?"
"I don't know, Phones. But I can't just leave them to die down there. We sure have a problem."
"What are you going to do, then, Troy?" Phone's tanned face wrinkled and Troy nodded grimly. Marina watched with a pleading expression on her face. Troy set his jaw,
"I explained we had radio interference, Phones. I don't care what a bunch of suits want. We're going to get them out of there and to hell with the consequences."
*
Helena laughed. Scott chuckled too, and Helena wiped her eyes,
"I don't think that he would appreciate…knowing I know that…" she said smiling. Scott shrugged. They heard voices, and he frowned,
"They're early."
"It's the Prince…" Helena pouted more tightly, "He saved you before."
"He was lying." Scott had an intense expression similar to Virgil's when he looked up. The voices drew closer, the hideous face of the Prince appeared in the gloom. Scott stood, glaring.
"Scott Tracy…" the Prince began,
"You betrayed me! You said you cared about protecting life!" He snarled. The Prince raised a sagging eyebrow. He smiled at Scott.
"Forgive me, Scott, but it was the only way to make her agree."
"What do you want anyway?" Scott demanded. The Prince said amiably,
"I wanted to see you in person before your execution. Lageau protected you over the Empress, but he failed. I'm still curious as to why, but it was quite a compliment. He must have had great…respect for you, as do I. I truly regret…" Scott gripped the bars and thrust his head as near as he could to the other man's face.
"You sold me out. You spineless piece of crap." Scott was trembling with anger; the Prince simply nodded,
"Your mistake was lying to Shiana about your feelings for her. I think that if it were not for that, she would have let you go free. But you broke her heart."
"Don't blame me for that! It was your idea!" Scott argued. The Prince was still smiling and he shook his head gently. He said,
"Your face is your curse, dear boy. As is mine. And now, you will make the ultimate sacrifice for your ideals." He touched Scott's hand, and said benignly, "You will die to protect a nation of innocent people, Scott."
"And what about her?" Scott breathed angrily, "What about Helena?"
"She is far from innocent. You have a daughter, don't you my dear, whom you hardly ever see. And you ruthlessly killed a rebel for your lover." He added to Helena who bit her lip and turned her head away. Scott's blue eyes glittered and he grabbed the Prince's hand, pulling him close against the bars of his cell.
"You aren't very convincing, my dear friend. What do you really want from the Empress?"
"I don't know what you…ow…you mean…" Scott tightened his grip on the old man's brittle wrist and muttered,
"Well I just hope she never finds out your betrayal. You were never gonna let me go, were you."
"Let me…go…" there was a snapping sound and Scott released the Prince. Demetri had called guards in by this point, the Prince was gaping at Scott in shock and hurt fear. "You…you broke my hand…" he wailed. Scott dropped back and pushed himself away from the bars. The bars of Scott's cell opened and three guards surrounded him. Helena threw herself at the bars of her own cell,
"Call them off!" she screamed. The Prince and Demetri were already leaving and the old man turned and looked at her. Scott's cries filled the damp caves; she pressed against the wall, helplessly, "Please." She whispered. The Prince looked steadily at her, and then he turned back to the guards.
"Let him be." He ordered hoarsely. The soldiers backed away from Scott, reluctantly. Helena glared,
"I don't know who's worse for these people. You or that little brat. But at least she's doing this from the heart. Someone messed up this kingdom a long time ago, peaceful paradise my arse." The Prince narrowed his eyes.
"I will make it peaceful. It is a shame that you must die to achieve it. You both have my…condolences." Before Helena could say another word, Demetri had hurried him along and they left quickly followed by the soldiers. Helena rushed to Scott's side of the cell and she sobbed,
"Say something."
"Virgil's a lucky man. Hope he…knows it…" Scott remained where he was on the floor. Helena sank against the wall. Scott shut his eyes and added, "You got anything for a…headache over there?"
*
Sitting on the surface of the ocean, Stingray and Thunderbird Four waited for the arrival of Thunderbird Two and Brains. Virgil sat on the smooth hull of the super-sub, looking up at the morning stars that were shining down. Gordon saw him from Thunderbird Four, and TinTin said sadly,
"Poor Scott. And Helena as well, we have to save them..."
"Relax, TinTin. Brains'll get them out of this. Remember what Helena said?"
"I know, Gordon, but what if Brains can't…"
"TinTin, when has he ever let us down?" Gordon grinned at her encouragingly. Her delicate features lifted a little and she smiled back,
"Of course you're right, Gordon. I'm just so worried. Scott has nearly died twice now, and this is the third time. I'm just worried that he's used up his luck…"
"Hey, Scott has more lives than a cat. We'll save him." Gordon echoed his brother's words from a few days before. TinTin nodded and gazed across at Virgil.
"We will." She agreed. "We will."
*
Helena had grown worried about Scott. He hadn't moved for a while, not since the guards had lumbered in with a final meal and Scott had forced himself up to eat it. His eyes had been unfocussed and he seemed to have at least one broken rib. Now he slept still and silently, his breathing was shallow. Helena looked up at the roof of the cave. She had no idea of the time and that made it worse. The constant dripping water was starting to get on her nerves, and she let her head hang low.
"Ambassador." A familiar voice whispered. She glanced up, and said,
"Hermes?" she pulled herself over to the front of the bars. Across the low corridor was another series of cells, and she peered into the room opposite. A shadow moved in the corner, and emerged closer to the bars. It was Hermes, but a much sadder and older looking man than she recognised from before. She laughed hysterically at seeing him.
"I find your Terran humour repulsive." Hermes grunted. "But I saw and heard all. The Consort has quite a temper."
"It was an accident…"
"Is that why you liked his brother? It is a shame you'll never see him again."
"The Prince has betrayed us both." She hissed. "You stupid old fool."
"She used to call me that. She was a child. I wonder what he taught her out there."
"You're disgusting, and she's learnt nothing. I hope you're digested slowly." Helena answered coldly. Hermes smiled grimly.
"You are a useless Ambassador but a good fighter. You and Virgil Tracy would have been very happy together…ah, I've hit something, haven't I." He noted her face change at mention of the pilot. "All that destroyed, it will never be…"
"Don't say anything else, I'm warning you." Helena said, "You were a terrible father to her. Oh, I know her real father died years ago. That was in the file, but, you, you brought her up to be a spoilt brat and look where it got you." She mocked his expression, "Ah, have I struck a nerve?"
"There is no point in our arguing. We're both going to die tonight. He is, too. And if any of his friends try to help him, and us, the Prince has assured me that they will take steps to prevent it. We're doomed." He sounded gloomily cheerful, resigned to his fate, "And it will save the kingdom."
"Who's 'they'? Titan?"
"Oh no. Your own government will do this." He assured her. Helena gasped. Then the guards entered. They opened the bars and removed her forcefully. Scott's limp form was lifted and he was carried after her. Hermes didn't resist as they took him. He muttered vacantly,
"Shiana…My little girl's all grown up…"
*
Brains assured Virgil and Gordon for the third time. The two brothers were back in their blue uniforms, and were talking to their friend in the pod after Virgil had landed Thunderbird Two on an atoll nearby.
"I, it will work, as well as I can m, make it…"
"I believe you, Brains." Gordon said, "Guess it just seems a bit of a long shot to me at least..."
"I, it will…"
"Okay, Professor. Helena knew that this was how Shiana controlled the beast." Virgil said finally. Brains absently pushed his glasses up and nodded at the grim-faced pilot. He walked over to the device in the pod,
"The o, only trouble will be p, placing the device n, near enough to have an effect. It n, needs to be positioned close enough to send it away for a while."
"I see, Brains. I'll go." Virgil said. Troy scoffed,
"With that shoulder? You're insane, Tracy."
"I'll do it." Gordon insisted. Virgil shook his head.
"Your back is still out, Gordon. We can't chance it seizing up at the wrong moment." He folded his arms, "Which leaves either TinTin or Alan."
"I'll go." Troy said. Virgil looked at him sharply.
"You?"
"Don't look like that, Tracy, I've done stuff like this before. I'm the best aquanaut in all WASP!"
"Great." Virgil muttered. Troy frowned,
"I'm not gonna beg you to let me do this. But I will do it, if you don't have any objections, that is?"
"No. Sorry, Tempest. Thanks." Virgil smiled grimly. Tempest nodded,
"That's settled, then. We'll go through the procedure in a minute."
"Sure. Nice work, Brains. But the real test will be tonight." Virgil said.
"Virgil? Gordon? How is it going?" TinTin came in bearing a tray of steaming coffee. They voiced their thanks while drinking it down and Brains and Gordon filled her in on the plan. She nodded, looking worried,
"It will still be very dangerous, won't it."
"It's the best chance we have. We have to stop her and this is the only way." Virgil said quietly. TinTin exchanged a subtle glance with Gordon. Virgil had the 'calm before the storm' expression, and god help anyone caught in the way. TinTin thought she really wouldn't want to be Shiana right now.
*
"I certainly wouldn't want to be you right now." Demetri whispered to the Prince. The older man grimaced and checked himself in the reflective rock wall. He said,
"It is only a wedding. A little unorthodox in its timing, perhaps, but Shiana wants this over and finished with today."
"How is your arm?"
"It is fine. Scott Tracy was just desperate to live. Every man has a breaking point, old friend." The Prince checked his reflection again and Demetri nodded,
"Very good, my lord." The Prince chuckled,
"Your lies never convince me any more. But keep saying them." The Prince murmured. "It's too bad that the little tailor died during interrogation. He did have a way with these blasted robes…"
The bell rang on the door. Demetri answered it, and a servant said,
"There are three hours to go, my lord."
"Very well. First we shall attend the execution, and then all this will be over."
*
"Shiggeru will attack them when they are o, outside the m, membrane, around h, here." Brains pointed to the diagram on the board. Virgil, Troy, TinTin, Phones and Alan all sat in a semi-circle, watching as Brains and Lageau outlined the final plan. Lageau nodded, and pointed out another part of the diagram,
"Shiggeru approaches from this section here. There is only one tunnel in or out from the ocean."
"We will have to plant the device h, here, inside the c, cave. And we have to do it fast, before the thing arrives if we can. It'll be a few seconds before we can repeat the sound needed." Brains added. "I'm afraid that it will only work for a sh, short time though."
"That's all right. Five minutes is all I need." Troy said heroically. Marina started to grin and covered her mouth. The Tracys rolled their eyes. Virgil stood up.
"I just hope you're right, Tempest. Now let's get going. The ceremony starts in two hours."
*
Helena, Scott and Hermes were taken to a membrane covered room as large as the throne room, but with a deep pool in its centre. This was the Hall of Ceremony, and Scott lifted his head with a groan,
"Where are we?"
"I told you. This is it, Scott." Helena said. "The Empress is going to kill us."
"Great. Then maybe my headache will go away…" Two guards were holding them. Scott winced as trumpets announced the arrival of the Empress. She swept in, clothed in a tight, shining black dress. Her hair was piled high and she seemed much older than before. Her eyes fell on Scott and Helena. She stopped and walked over to him.
"Scott." She said his name calmly, and while Helena watched the Empress reached out and touched his bruised face.
"That's kind of a new look for you, isn't it?" Scott said. Shiana smiled coldly,
"I could even believe you cared even when you were mean to me. But now I know you never wanted me."
"I'm sorry, Shiana." He said, "I thought…I thought it would be all right..."
"I will give you one last chance…" she breathed. "Say that you love me, and you will be spared. You can change your future."
"You still don't get it, honey?" his rugged features creased into a harsh smile, "Let Helena and Hermes – even Hermes go free. Then maybe I'll change my mind."
"This is your last chance." Shiana screwed up her face and gazed pleadingly at him, "I want you to tell me if I was right to trust you. Well?" she demanded. Scott suddenly found the situation he was in extremely funny and utterly terrifying. He told her through a grin that was so wide it hurt,
"You were wrong." She slapped his face, and he grimaced. The Empress stood away from him.
"Now you will die. Take them to the pool."
"You crazy little brat!"
"Quiet, Helena." Scott rasped. The Ambassador glared angrily at him and at the Empress.
"Scott has not done anything wrong! You think he betrayed you, fine, get over it!" she bellowed. The Empress' expression was livid and the guard flung Helena to the floor. Scott struggled but he was still too weak to move properly.
"No!" he pleaded, "It's me you wanna hurt." Hermes started laughing. The Empress turned on the older man and said,
"How could you? You let me suffer, and you lied to me as well…" she tilted her head, "And yet…I will miss you most of all."
"Then why not let him go?" Scott murmured.
"You're right, Scott." The Empress smiled. "And Shiggeru will punish the two of you enough to satisfy me. Free Hermes and put the Terrans in the spheres!" she cried. Hermes was cut free while Helena was pulled roughly to her feet and she and Scott were frog-marched down to the pool, which seemed to be the way into to the huge, shadowy cavern beyond the membrane around them.
Virgil watched the two small craft submerge beneath the massive bulk of Thunderbird Two. TinTin spoke over the radio in Thunderbird Four,
"We're both clear, Virgil."
"F-A-B." Virgil replied. He switched on the monitor, so that he could see what Thunderbird Four could see. Bubbles rushed past and the water grew darker. As they went, Virgil noticed a warning light come on.
"What do those ships want?" he murmured. There were several fast ships heading towards the area. Virgil frowned. He called base,
"Dad, we've got company."
Scott and Helena were dragged down to the water's edge. The Empress looked on coolly. In her black dress her pale features appeared harsher and colder. She ignored Scott's repeated plea for Helena to be spared. Scott gave Helena one last look before he was shoved inside the large sphere. Before he could escape it he was thrown into the water, and Helena was too. They floated helplessly inside them on the water's surface. Hermes stood back at his old place beside her, and he frowned as the Prince put a hand on her shoulder,
"You are doing the right thing, my dear." He said.
"Get your hand off me or you will lose it." She answered without taking her eyes off the pilot, "I hear that Scott broke your wrist."
"He has a temper that you were fortunate not to see." The Prince murmured. Scott and Helena struggled and spun round and round in their prisons, going nowhere. The Empress leaned forward and breathed,
"You have no idea. And you are a very poor replacement, Ugly One."
"You still love him. You child."
"He must die." Shiana said tightly. She leaned forwards away from the Prince, "It is only right that I do this. His life was mine." She stood up. "It is time to call him."
TinTin and Lageau rushed on in Thunderbird Four, while Troy Tempest, Phones, Gordon and Marina followed in Stingray carrying the device that Brains had built. They had reached Aeden, and Lageau directed Gordon from the smaller craft. Before long they had reached the entrance to the sacrificial cavern.
"Virgil from Thunderbird Four. We are at danger zone. No sign of the big nasty as yet." Gordon said.
"Okay, Gordon. I can see it now. Are you guys ready?"
"Yes, Virgil. As soon as Troy leaves with the sound replicator, we'll be ready to collect them."
"Good. Be careful. And make it quick; we've got company out here. Guess they found out about our little plan."
"Who?"
"The World Navy. They want me to leave. I'm going to pull away from the area, new contact point is gonna make it harder to get to you. It's thirty miles west of our last position, reference point…" Virgil related it to Gordon and TinTin while Troy looked uncomfortable.
"I don't understand it…" Troy mused.
"So why would they do that?" Gordon asked, "Hey, we're getting the same orders here. They want Stingray to stop us! You can't listen to them, Troy?"
"And we aren't going to. We don't have time to worry about it, Gordon. We're there." Troy said hastily. The WASP captain had an inkling of the reason, but he was already concentrating on the mission. "I'm going to swim through with the device. Get Thunderbird Four ready to go through and collect Scott and Helena."
Scott and Helena watched in horror as two guards walked to the water's edge with large pikes raised. The Empress lifted her hands and opened her mouth, she screamed. The tone was piercing but it wasn't all that loud, until it resonated off the whole ceiling. The membrane itself vibrated at the sound, it carried it round and round the hall until its volume had been expanded many times, and it was beamed out, across the whole cavern and out through the wide tunnel that led to the ocean beyond.
Gordon and Troy did not hear the sound. By then it had become a mere whisper, as Troy left Stingray with the device in his hands and went forwards using the aqua-sprite. He shot past the screens and vanished into the tunnel. Lageau watched anxiously.
"The beast is close." He murmured. TinTin called them,
"Brains? Troy is inside the cavern."
"O, okay, TinTin. He will have to p, position the replicator inside the c, cavern, in order to confuse it. The, er, Empress' voice will not be picked up unless it can collect the sound at it's closest intensity. Then I can r, replicate it as n, needed. That's why he will have to go as c, close as possible."
"Then that's what I'm going to do." Troy answered sounding tense, "I'm nearly out the other side of the tunnel. Entering the cavern – now."
"Look!" Lageau cried, "She has called Shiggeru!" they saw what he meant. They all stared as the massive creature swept past them, its eight limbs rippling like banners at its speed. TinTin whispered, "Oh, be careful, Troy." The strangely elegant monster paused at the entrance to the tunnel, and seemed to glance at them suspiciously with its massive, pale eye. She fought the urge to pull the tiny craft away from it, before its tentacles found them as well. With that, the beast vanished inside.
Scott and Helena were floored by the great wail that the Empress let out next. It didn't seem to affect the rescuers outside, but inside this massive bubble of a room, and inside the spheres where they were, it was deafening to the point where Helena was crying with pain. Scott knew exactly what was coming next. He threw himself against the bubble, which merely resulted in further movement of the membrane. He may as well have been trying to break out of jelly. The Empress raised her hands, her eyes huge with sensation. She could sense it nearer now. It was coming.
Troy set the device down just as Gordon yelled a warning. By then it was too late. The massive creature swept past him and swooped down to the outer side of the membrane. Scott and Helena had to be below, then. Troy muttered,
"It's here all right. Tell Brains to be ready with the frequency reader."
"P.W.O.R." Phones said. TinTin also confirmed it,
"Did you hear that, Virgil?"
"Yes, we heard. Brains in standing by to collect frequency." Virgil replied from Thunderbird Two. Troy grimaced tightly behind the mask, swimming nearer and nearer to the beast. Its attention was solely on the dome below, and it didn't see him swim close enough to have to battle the waves created by the beast's massive limbs.
"I've switched it on, Virgil." Troy said. "The next time she yells, we'll be ready to go!"
Scott and Helena gazed above in horror. Through the weird transparency they could see the shape of the creature, wrapping itself lovingly around the membranous ceiling. If it was possible it seemed even larger than before, Scott waited with a dry throat for the monster to finish its contemplation. He could hear Shiana calling to it using gentle clicks and sonorous whines.
"Come on, Virg, come on…" he murmured. Real fear started to pour over him this time, he could see no way to escape. Starting again on the bubble, his hands sank over and over into the soft material as it started to submerge. He and Helena were leaving the cavern and going underneath, drifting towards the creature.
Shiana raised her hands and communed with the beast outside. Her eyes filled with tears. Her long pallid neck stretched up and she lowered her arms, hearing it breath inside her head. She called to it joyously,
"Kill him quickly for me!"
She made a sound that soothed it, and sent it drifting expectantly towards where Scott and Helena had started drifting. The beast sent ripples along the membrane as it felt its way down the side, as if enjoying the sensation of the membrane itself, or as though it were admiring the girl inside. Scott and Helena floated up into the cavern, and seeing them there, Shiana screamed once more, and there was a note of confused emotion in it that only the beast could hear.
"That's it! Now, Brains!" Virgil roared. Brains flicked the switch, deep below Troy planted the device just on the membrane, and buzzed clear in the aqua-sprite moments before the sound Shiana had made was regurgitated through the device and out into the cavern. The sound it made was different again, harsh and grating. Everyone listening was thrown into confusion, and that went for the Stingray crew and Troy as well. Virgil gripped the controls of Thunderbird Two and yelled,
"Get them out! TinTin! Get in there!"
"V, Virgil?" She answered, "Yes, yes I'll, I'll go…"
Inside the cavern Shiggeru thrashed in the water, crashing against the massive sphere, it pounded it in agony and breaches started to show. Troy came to his senses and shone a beam across the cavern. Scott floated in a bubble that went past, sent by the waves created by the monster. He saw Tempest and pounded against his spinning prison. Troy called,
"TinTin! Move it!" Thunderbird Four's beam filled the cavern then, sending the creature's whirling shadows wild. Two clamps extended and attached themselves to the bubble containing Scott,
"I'm taking him to Stingray, Troy! Look for Helena!" TinTin called urgently. Troy nodded. Shiggeru was still going crazy, and so far Shiana had been unable to get it under control. Brains had claimed that this particular frequency would make it attack the thing making the sound, and so far that was proved true. Troy glanced around desperately for Helena. Then he saw her. She was right beside Shiggeru, floating next to its writhing tentacles.
"Lower the intensity, Brains! It'll tear Helena apart!" Troy yelled. The noise that followed from the device sounded like a dying whale, low and sorrowful. Shiggeru stopped moving altogether, "Great! It's stopped moving altogether!" Troy cried, "I'm going to get Helena!"
"Hurry, Troy! I d, didn't keep the frequency that low before, b, because it may allow the, er, Empress to…" Brains stuttered just as another scream from the furious Empress burst over the air. Shiggeru sprung to life and Tempest barely had time to nudge Helena clear before it had seen him and lunged for him with incredible speed. Brains countered with another massive sound wave, causing Virgil to switch off his radio in the cabin. The effect on Shiggeru was quite devastating. Beating the water wildly, it clung to the inside of the cavern and started to shudder, torn to obey both instructions. Troy saw the lights of Thunderbird Four and sped close to it, he shouted,
"She's over there!"
"I can't see her!" TinTin wailed. The cavern around them was starting to quake. Rock was sending great clouds of dust into the water, turning it into a shadowy mist of cascading particles. The beast pounded harder,
"Stop making that noise! Calm it down!" Troy bawled. Brains didn't answer. Virgil's voice cried,
"Where is she? Where's Helena!"
"The cavern's cracking wide open!" Gordon told them from Stingray, "You have to get out of there now! Before you're buried!"
"Get in Thunderbird Four, Captain!" TinTin cried,
"Not until I find her!" Tempest replied. The powerful beam from the Thunderbird illuminated, just for a moment, a vision of Helena suspended like an angel in a luminous sphere, with her blonde hair and dark blue dress floating elegantly in the water that had filled it. Troy went cold.
"There she is!" he yelled. Thunderbird Four charged forwards and secured the bubble, and then it turned and Troy hung onto the fin of the yellow craft as it turned and escaped in a flurry of bubbles.
"Somebody tell me something!" Virgil cried. "I'm coming to get you now, original reference point!" He swiftly steered the massive craft back to the original danger zone. Then he heard the proximity alarm go off, and turned to the radar screen. There were two extremely fast ships heading straight for him. Then there was a radio call from John,
"We have a warning from two World Navy attack craft in your area, Virgil. You have to be out of the area in five minutes or they're gonna open fire on Thunderbird Two!"
Gordon was pulling Scott inside the airlock when Thunderbird Four burst out of the rapidly collapsing cavern. Shards of rock and a now fierce current were close behind it. As it approached, a cloud of smoky water enveloped it along with several hundred pieces of rock as it exploded from inside. Thunderbird Four emerged out of it but at the same time the creature flung itself after the rescue craft and its tentacles shot out after it. TinTin screamed and sent Thunderbird Four in a steep upward curve, throwing Lageau backwards in the cramped cabin. She raced the creature, pushing the little craft to its very limit. It reached the surface of the ocean and Shiggeru emerged around it and lifted the little sub into the air using one 'arm'.
The force of the beasts' departure had made the bubble leave the airlock with Scott still trapped inside. Gordon yelled as it floated upwards, rotating slightly as it went. Gordon swore and ducked back inside Stingray, closing the airlock
"Our only chance is to force that thing to the surface!" he said, "Ready Phones?"
"Aye-aye, Skipper."
"Then let's go!"
Virgil saw Thunderbird Four break the surface and his heart lifted when he saw the bubble in its delicate grabs. Then nine Tentacles appeared around it. Virgil opened his mouth and Alan was already running as he ordered,
"Shoot it! Now!"
The tentacles lifted Thunderbird Four high up, and then the beast lifted it closer to its huge eye, as if curious about the origin of the odd creatures inside. Helena was motionless as it brought her near, trapped on the tip of the craft itself. Virgil saw and grimaced,
"Ready Alan?"
"F-A-B. Ready to fire…"
"Hold it! Wait until it's let them go!" Virgil's eyebrows knit as the creature Thunderbird Four. Then it flung the little craft onto the ocean's surface with a terrific smack. Thunderbird Four bounced like a pebble for nearly half a mile, and the grabs finally gave in and sent Helena skimming back under the water. The bubble split altogether and she fell into the ocean. The creature should have roared then, but instead it disappeared silently under the sea.
"Helena!" Virgil shouted, "TinTin, come in! Answer me! Please!" but there was no reply from the little craft. "Gordon! Go look for her!"
"What happened?" Gordon asked as Stingray surfaced beside Thunderbird Two's pod. "We are about to get Scott into the pod…"
"Is he okay?"
"See for yourself!" Gordon replied. Virgil made out the bubble as it reached the surface and Scott was inside it, either too seasick or too relieved to move. Probably both, Virgil reasoned. Then Gordon said,
"Phones is searching for a sonar on Helena. If she's close we'll find her, don't worry!"
"She wasn't far at all…She was on the surface…" Virgil glanced up as the sun went in and rain began to beat on the windows of the cabin, he leaned towards them, his brown eyes raking the ocean below. "She was there…"
"Thunderbird Two from Thunderbird Five, come in Thunderbird Two. Father says that you have to leave now, Virgil!" John's blunt voice called insistently over the radio. Virgil answered grimly,
"Tell him I'm not going anywhere. Helena's still down there. And so is Troy." But all hope was rapidly fading for the aquanaut. Below, Brains and Marina were hauling the sphere containing Scott towards the ramp of the Pod Four. The waves were choppy and Virgil knew that he would have to pick them up soon. Jeff said,
"Virgil, you have to go now. There isn't just a storm coming, you have two World Navy Ships coming towards you who want you out of there now, they're saying we were not to interfere in this rescue."
"They're too late." Virgil grimaced, "This rescue's nearly over." Before Jeff could reply, TinTin's voice rushed over the radio,
"We are all right, Virgil, but we have to leave! We were damaged in the last attack! I don't know how much longer we can keep going!" Thunderbird Four was moving but it was still some distance away. Virgil fought to keep himself focussed although every nerve in his body screamed for him to look for Helena. He said,
"I hear you, Thunderbird Four! Come in, Stingray, any sign of Troy?"
"No. No sign of him." Gordon sounded worried. Even more worried than before. Virgil groaned seeing the World Navy ships were nearly upon them. He barked into the radio.
"Stay there until I give the order! I want you to…" Thunderbird Two shook. Virgil cursed. In all the panic, he'd missed the return of the monster. It smacked the side of the huge craft and he nearly lost control, he lifted the massive ship up and the force of the retros made it let go long enough for him to yank it out of reach. As he cleared the space, he saw the missile warning light go off. The creature must have seen the twinjets of the missiles coming for it, and it ducked underwater before they exploded with considerable force right beside it. Then he heard John shout that the Navy were attacking. Virgil swore. Then he pulled on the missile jammer and shouted,
"Answer me! Somebody!"
"We're okay!" Gordon said, "But we need to get out of here, now!"
"You'll be safest in the Pod! I'll swing by and pick you up." Virgil sounded calmer than he felt, thinking how much of a sinch it would be in these increasingly high seas. Gordon caught onto Virgil's plan,
"F-A-B. Entering Pod – now!" Stingray took a run up to the pod entrance and the massive impetus thrust it forwards. It landed with a crash into dry-dock within, scaring the wits out of Brains, Marina and Scott.
"Now to move in and grab her…" Virgil muttered, angling the huge bulk of Thunderbird Two over the rapidly shuddering pod. He pulled on every ounce of skill into picking it up, breathing a sigh of relief when he finally heard the magnets clamp it securely to the mother ship. He lifted the craft away, blasting clear as another salvo of rockets soared towards them. He saw that they were meant as warning shots, and they missed by more than they should have. Virgil called for TinTin but there was no answer.
"TinTin? Come in, please." He implored over the radio. Nothing. Alan asked him quietly,
"Can you see her anywhere?" and Virgil paused before replying,
"She's just got to be down there somewhere, she can't have just gone." The waves were crashing with a vengeance now. He stared into the water desperately,
"Virgil, you've got to leave, now. The Navy are accusing us of spying on them of all things, and…"
"Now we've lost TinTin." Virgil cut in, "She must have been hit, by that first missile attack." It hadn't sunk in, the possibility that he would lose them both. It wasn't hitting him fully and his mind was not imagining, not thinking, and just saying the first meaningless words that came into his numbed brain. He barely heard his father shout,
"Leave now or they're really going to attack! Virgil, it's your responsibility!"
Virgil blinked. Reality flooded back in, he gasped, dragging his remaining strength into a tight ball he began to steer away from the storm. Just then he gave another cry, and this time Alan heard a note of harsh joy in his voice,
"What is it, Virgil?"
"I can see them! I can see Thunderbird Four!" Virgil bellowed with relief. "Get up here, Alan, we have to use the grabs! Hurry!"
Alan helped Virgil to lift the now very battered but still intact mini- submarine off the choppy surface of the water and away from the area. As they went, Gordon joined them in the cockpit looking shaken. John informed them of reports from the World Navy ships battling a sea monster, a nine- tentacled squid with a voracious appetite for missiles…
*
Barely an hour later, Virgil started to land Thunderbird Two at the heliport sector at Marineville. They had been unable to make contact with Thunderbird Four from inside the cockpit, although they were fairly sure that the hardy little craft had not been breached and so there was an excellent chance that TinTin was still alive. The crew waited anxiously. Gordon hadn't mentioned Helena's name, and once Scott had heard what had happened he had gone silent as well. The fact that Tempest had also lost his life was also starting to hurt. Virgil finished gently lowering the sub onto the tarmac and then landed Thunderbird Two nearby. He opened the pod and left the cabin, his usually smooth face hard and unreadable.
Thunderbird Four bore the scars of the giant squid's attack. The suckers had ripped off paint so that big grey patches of metal were exposed. The emergency services had arrived in force by now and Virgil walked slowly towards the little craft as they surrounded the pod and Scott and the others emerged into the stormy air. The storm was leaving the area for now and the sun was starting to break through the darkness. Scott lifted his head and gazed up at it grimly. He looked over at his younger brother, and leaving Gordon still consoling Phones and the grief-stricken Marina. He followed Virgil to Thunderbird Four,
"I'm sure TinTin's okay in there." Scott murmured. Virgil didn't answer. The fire-crew was working to open the airlock. Virgil angrily stepped in and pressed the code on the door, and it swung open. All of them gasped in astonishment.
"It, it can't be…" Virgil breathed. Scott heard Gordon gasp behind him; he was all at once lost for words. Lageau and Troy Tempest staggered out of the cramped airlock space. Lageau had a nasty bump on his head but he seemed to be okay. Tempest saw Virgil and started babbling something but Virgil saw immediately what he meant. Another figure was lifted out of the airlock as well and their blue eyes opened wide and fixed themselves on Virgil. She was let go and she rushed forwards, and Virgil flung his arms around her and they kissed passionately. Virgil was oblivious to anything but her, crushing her to him. Helena gripped his shoulders and held him until her eyes watered. The sun warmed the couple; both were too caught in the moment to notice anything else. Helena sobbed with joy and neither of them spoke.
Scott limped around them, finally happy. Feeling a wave of new pain ache through his chest, he heard Alan give a cry of delight behind him and knew they had no need to worry as TinTin finally emerged. She had no injuries. Alan hugged her tightly. Medics had paused to allow them their reunions and Scott was about to call Stingray's remaining crew over when two figures streaked past and collided into the dazed WASP captain. One of them was shouting excitedly, the other was silent and smiling beautifully. Lageau was led to an ambulance and Scott turned to Gordon who had followed the WASPs out. Gordon saw the two couples embracing and rolled his eyes.
"That's it. Just carry on. We don't mind…"
"At least someone got a romance out of this." Scott murmured. The sun was gloriously hot and he was back in a uniform, albeit lacking a sash. He stared up wonderingly at the clearing sky, able to enjoy it at last, and breathed in the fresh air, feeling light-headed with joy. Or possibly a concussion. He wavered and Gordon steadied him with a hand on his arm,
"Come on, big brother, you need a real doctor. You look like you've taken on a couple more mono-trains since we last saw you." Scott didn't protest, feeling the pain of his bruised ribs shoot through his body. Shiana had left her mark on him, and he wondered whether she had survived their rescue attempt. He allowed himself to be taken in the ambulance to the medical bay, and he was asleep almost before he got there.
*
The underwater gardens hissed with steam. The Prince paced around rock pools while he waited for her to finish talking to Hermes, the pair were sitting on a large shell-shaped bench where they had been for the last few hours since escaping the sacrificial chamber. Shiggeru had barely calmed down, apparently. The Empress was inconsolable over what had happened, but Hermes was there to talk to her about it. As she dried her eyes, Hermes left her side and walked over to the ugly prince.
"Well? Is she ready for the marriage?"
"She has…had another change of heart. She wishes you to leave, now, Prince. The Empress will not marry you, nor will she see you again."
"What?" the Prince was too stunned to speak. Hermes grinned maliciously,
"It was all your fault. Leave now or you will be made to suffer."
"You must tell her that she is making a very great mistake!" the Prince spluttered,
"Prince!" the Shiana stood up and turned to them both, "You will go!" she stamped her foot, all calm stripped away, "Or I will send Shiggeru to punish you instead!"
"Do not threaten me, little girl!" The Prince snapped.
"Get out of my kingdom this instant!" she demanded, "I should kill you anyway for what you have cost me!"
"You are still in love with a man you can never have." The Prince sneered. "He hates you now, you stupid girl…" Hermes grabbed the Prince by his robes and thrust him against one of the large black rocks. Shiana walked up and smiled cruelly,
"I will rule this Kingdom as I always have done, but this time I have found one who will truly worship me. Leave me, Prince. While you still can." The Prince winced and said hastily,
"All right. All right then…" Hermes let him go and the old man staggered before rasping, "I have had enough of my Kingdom trying to help you and your disease-ridden land. You will never see me again."
"Good." The Empress smiled.
"Someone will pay for this…" the Prince muttered, shuffling away. Demetri ran in and helped him leave. The Empress turned to Hermes and her grey eyes were clear and dry now. She said,
"You told me that Titan was interested in helping us. I will see his representative tomorrow. Now I will rest…"
"Very good, my lady." Hermes bowed. Shiana looked at him and her expression was tender,
"And Hermes?"
"Yes, My lady?"
"Well done."
*
It was evening. Alan and TinTin had left with the Thunderbirds three hours ago. Scott was fast asleep in the hospital rooms, Gordon was taking a well- earned break with the WASPs down at the local bar, and outside on the balcony of the Ambassador's apartment, Virgil and Helena were walking and relaxing after being given a clean bill of health by the medical staff.
"I don't understand why we were attacked." Virgil mused. "The World Government want something to do with Aeden, I guess, but we haven't been approached since we got here. Although Tempest seemed to think that this wasn't over."
"I have a debriefing tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps I can tell you more then. Captain Tempest risked a lot to help us, and I'm going to do all I can to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. Sometimes it helps to have friends in low places." Helena mused. She was wearing a light blue skirt and jacket, while Virgil hadn't yet changed out from his uniform. Helena gazed at him, and then out at the view from the balcony, "And at least you're both all right." She murmured.
"Yeah. Scott's just gotta sleep off the morphine. He'll be okay."
"He wasn't going to give up." Helena said, "And looking back, I'm glad you didn't either." They giggled.
"Yeah. You sure had me worried, though. When Troy got himself lost too…for a minute there I thought you were all gone." He looked away. Helena put a hand over his good shoulder and kissed him,
"You saved us. Although Troy managed to get me to the airlock in time. The plan would probably have worked perfectly if you hadn't had to move position. I'm not going to let the World Navy get away with this." Her delicate jaw was set and he traced the uneven line of her lips, saying,
"I know you won't let us down. Can you just relax for a while? Enjoy being here, in this place? It's no Aeden, but it's got great views."
"That sounds familiar." She said quietly. "And I will, I just have to call my daughter first. I feel I'm over the, er, near-death experience, but I want to speak to her. Then I'm all yours." She smoothed his hair, "If you want me."
"I want you." He said quietly. Helena rested her head on his shoulder, on the surprisingly soft yellow sash. It was getting stormy again as they rocked gently,
"We should get indoors." She breathed in his ear. Virgil grunted; their heads shot up as thunder crashed in the sky. Rain hurtled down and they ran towards the French windows, laughing and ducking the drops. Once indoors they looked at each other breathlessly,
"You know, I'll be going home tomorrow." Virgil said, "Whether I like it or not. I'd really like to see you, somehow. It won't be easy."
"I feel the same. I understand. Security takes priority. International Rescue must stay a secret organisation. You can't have an Ambassador knowing where your hidden base is. And I can't call up International Rescue every time I want to meet you for a drink…" Helena swallowed, "Is that what it is?"
"Yes. But it isn't impossible." He insisted. Helena smiled bleakly,
"You just don't give up, do you. You react and keep going. You're worse than your brother." She shivered, "What do we do?"
"You're cold." He noted. Helena rolled her eyes,
"This is no time to…"
"You call your daughter." He said, "And I'll make us some hot coffee. After that, we'll talk. If you want." Helena's eyes widened, she fixed him with a quizzical stare,
"I hope you make good coffee…did Maria think so?"
"What?" now his eyes widened. Helena flicked her gaze down and felt him tense against her. "How did you hear that name?" he demanded.
"We both thought we would be killed, so…I…asked Scott a few things. He told me why you've avoided anything like this. She was pretty bloody cruel from what I was told. Your revenge was also pretty nasty."
"He told you?" Virgil was disbelieving. "And you still like me!"
"I knew you had a dark side, love. It's fine, as long as you don't do the same to me one day..." Helena bit her lip.
"Now, look, it was mostly Gordon's idea and I'd had a bit too much to dri…"
"I'm going to call my daughter…" she murmured, "You get some coffee going. We're both soaked."
"Yeah." Virgil was still frowning, "Look, Helena, I…"
"Don't say anything. You don't have to, and I don't want to waste a second more. Coffee, go on." He grinned at her then, she did a goofy smile back. He let her slip away from his arms and go to the videophone whilst he made his way into the small kitchen. Helena's clear voice was muffled by the sound of the bubbling coffee. Virgil leaned with his back against the work-surface of the cupboards and shut his eyes. Maria Costanza – the former love of his life. He'd spent five years trying to forget her and now her memory was returning to bother, maybe even to hurt him again.
14th AUGUST 2064
SCOTT TRACY'S APARTMENT, SAN FRANCISCO
The party was well underway and Virgil was enjoying every second of it, except for the fact that Maria wasn't there. The cake was wheeled out and Scott joined his cheering friends as they all urged him to blow out the twenty-three candles stuck into hard white icing on top. His brown eyes still searching the full room for her, he puffed out the candles and Gordon clapped and shouted,
"Made a wish yet?"
Just a wish for her to be here, he had thought. Instead he beamed at them all and let Scott take the floor as an embarrassing story started to unfold. Luckily John was on hand to slow Scott's revelations down. Virgil was aware that they had all had a bit too much to drink, but there was a good reason. They had all worked so hard over this year to set up the wonderful project that would change all their lives, and their father had let them this party to celebrate both Virgil's birthday and the completion of the first of the incredible machines. There was another, bigger reason for Virgil. He was going to ask her and tell her two things that should blow her mind, and the longer she took to get here the jumpier his usually untouchable nerves became. He made a mental note to cut down on the Red Bull next time. The idea of a next time made him smile, just as Scott flung an arm around him and declared him the best brother in the world. Then they all demanded he play a piece on the white Grand Piano that their father had delivered to Scott's apartment as a present. Virgil was sill looking for her but sat down and started to play. Even drunk he reckoned he was still pretty good and he played up to their cheers.
"And now for his next track…!" Scott had begun and fallen silent. Through the haze, Virgil turned his head and stopped playing at once. He stood up quickly,
"Maria! You made it here and…" his mind pointed out something terribly wrong with the picture. The room went totally quiet sensing a row. Maria's lip didn't tremble, like it was meant to, instead it sneered and her dark eyes were hard and unflinching. She held the hand of Michael Steel, one of four Steel brothers who were eternal rivals to the Tracys. Steel had his arm around her and he sneered beneath a floppy blonde fringe. Maria yelled into the tomb-like atmosphere,
"You've barely spoken to me for the last three months. I don't know why and frankly, by now I don't care anymore! I'm leaving you, Virgil, and I'm going with him!"
"You're leaving? With that?" Scott's voice was harsh with alcohol; Virgil stepped in front and made shut-up gestures behind him while he asked in confusion,
"Why didn't you tell me something was…?"
"I tried, Virgil, I really did. But you wouldn't listen to me! Your stupid business mattered more than me! And now it's all over. You really think I'd stay after the way you treated me!"
"That isn't true. It isn't true at all and you know it. You can't just come in here and say that!" Scott shouted.
"And you let your big brother fight all your battles for you. I'm sick of it! I'm leaving you and you can take your cheap, lousy ring with you too!" she flung it at him. Virgil finally snapped and became angry. Very angry. He had only felt that way once before in his life, when he had seen three boys tormenting a German Shepherd puppy in the field near their ranch when he was twelve. This time he was not going to let them get the better of him, this time Scott was not going to get him out of it, he would do this by himself. He resolved that punching Michael Steel would probably at least help a little bit, so he got up and rushed at him. And he would have done fine if it hadn't been for the plate of vodka jelly some evil person had left on the floor by his feet. He careered to one side, on one knee, then lost his balance entirely and skidded to a halt, banging his head on the piano-leg as he went. Maria had gone by the time the world had stopped spinning.
He fixed the coffee while he listened to her talking in a low voice on the videophone. He wondered what she really thought about it, making a mental note to boot Scott for having told her how he got revenge on Maria.
The smell of coffee made him lift his head and take in the mess that used to be Scott's apartment. Half of the guests had left, while a few had clearly decided to carry on the party in another room. Scott was sitting on the end of the bed. Gordon was looking furious, and John came in bearing the tray. He set it down.
"How do you feel?" he inquired. Virgil sat up and took the mug he was given. He frowned,
"Everyone's gone."
"I got rid of 'em after she left. We're, uh…" for once Scott didn't seem to know what to say. Gordon burst out,
"You can't let her get away with this!"
"With what? I had been ignoring her, I wanted it to be a surprise."
"She went off with a Steel." Scott reminded him, "And she told me, er…"
"They're engaged." Virgil said, "I saw the ring she was wearing. Guess he beat me to it." His brothers exchanged glances. Then Gordon said,
"While we were waiting for you to, er, wake up. We kinda got to thinking…"
"I don't like the sound of this." Virgil murmured.
"Shut up and listen." Scott grinned, "For once, little brother's got a great idea."
"Gee, thanks a lot, Scott…"
"What great idea is this?" Virgil lifted an eyebrow and the others all nodded and gathered closer. Virgil's eyebrows lifted higher still as he listened to their conspiracy.
It was her voice, the one he had come to adore the very sound of. Then it was drowned out by the sound of thunder. The coffee was nearly ready and Virgil turned to it, wincing at the memory. Just twelve days after the row at the apartment…
"And Michael Steel married her, just like that!" Virgil gasped. The newspaper had arrived on Tracy Island that day and the society pages were full of gossip about the mysterious woman who Michael Steel was marrying that week. Apparently he had met her, 'through friends'.
"Gee. Guess Maria never saw that coming…" Scott lifted his copy of the paper and whistled, "Gordon sure knows how to pick an escort…"
"Gordon. Why did I ever listen to him?" Virgil groaned, "She'll kill me!"
"Hey, you're the injured party around here." Scott patted his brother's shoulder, "It couldn't have happened to a nicer lady. Now are you gonna help me operate the Mole? Dad wants us to start excavating the cavern for your machine. That's a lot of cavern." Scott's attitude finally convinced Virgil and he stood up, putting the paper down. Scott added, "And take that glare off your face. Or you'll never find another girlfriend…"
"From the sound of it we'll be too busy to meet anyone." Virgil commented.
"And that's just as well. Women…nothing but trouble…"
Virgil glanced up from his reverie. Helena was standing in the doorway. Her mid-blue eyes were locked on him. She sashayed closer and put her arms around his waist and hugged him tight, careful of his injured right shoulder. Brushing a wave of blonde hair from her face, Virgil asked,
"How's your daughter?"
"She's gone to bed. I spoke to her – it was a bit like speaking to a Martian but I think she was pleased to see me."
"Like Alan in the mornings." Virgil mused, smiling. The Ambassador kissed and eyed him wickedly. She said,
"I'm wondering what you're like in the mornings…"
"And I thought you wanted to talk." He chided her tenderly.
"That's what I thought too. But I think you're over her now. And you haven't run screaming over Cathy, which is another good thing, but if you really want to talk about it I suppose that we could…"
"Do you?" he asked suddenly.
"Not really." Helena murmured, softly. Outside the storm was gaining strength again and lightening thrashed the sky. A shiver went through her and she pushed away a sudden sensation of dread. She lifted her head closer to his, and traced his mouth. "You make me feel so warm…" Virgil's brown eyes lit with a peculiar energy that sent burning heat down to her toes. He kissed her, locking them together, a mix of joy and desire sending her reeling so fast and so ardently that they both completely forgot about both the fresh coffee and the raging storm outside.
Scott was nearly asleep as the storm raged. It chased shadows across the half-lit hospital room; hearing it rumble he stretched, feeling the effects of the morphine starting to wear off. The time read 0330 on a red digital clock at his bedside. The dark-haired pilot hoped that his brother wouldn't be too mad at him for telling Helena about Maria. The Ambassador had made Virgil happier than Scott had seen his brother since Lady Penelope invited them all to the Swinging Star. Scott shut his eyes but he was no longer very tired. There was a knock on the door, and it opened to reveal Lageau with a nurse and a man in a dark pinstripe suit.
"I was afraid you would still be asleep." Lageau smiled. Scott shook his head but he was too woozy to sit up. The older man and the nurse came inside and the door hummed shut behind them.
"No danger of that with this storm outside." Scott breathed. The nurse walked over to his bedside, he grunted as she produced a syringe and took his arm.
"You're going to need another dose of the morphine in a minute, Mr Tracy."
"Oh?" Scott met Lageau's gaze. The soldier walked over to him, followed by the man in the suit. Scott questioned him with a look.
"I have come to say goodbye." Lageau said.
"Goodbye? That's swell of you but isn't it kind of late…?"
"I am leaving for Aeden now, Scott. Shiana is still my first loyalty."
"She'll kill you." Scott's eyes widened in alarm, "You know that she won't forgive you, for saving my friends. For helping me…"
"Love does strange things." Lageau murmured. He looked away, "I will try to speak with her. I must return to my sister as well. Maybe she has taught her…when we could not. The Empress has changed."
"Then I nearly got us all killed."
"You may still have saved a Kingdom. The Ambassador will work to help us."
"Yeah. Yeah, I hope so. If she can…" Scott smiled. There was a brief sting in his arm, he felt it just as his ribs shot pain through his chest and he sank back hearing Lageau's muffled voice follow him down. In the blissful haze that came afterwards, Scott didn't dream.
1 EPILOGUE
1.1 Nine Days Later
The morning sun gleamed brightly on the turquoise sea as Scott walked barefoot down the beach of his island home. The hot dry sand felt wonderful against his skin, and he lifted his head, following the cries of whirling seabirds above him. Then he saw a figure at the end of the beach sitting near the waves and strode towards it, grinning. Behind the easel, Virgil looked up from his painting and said,
"You're getting better. Must be all the chocolate pudding TinTin made you eat."
"Yeah. And a walk on the beach sure works wonders. What are you doing up so early, anyway?"
"What does it look like?" Virgil raised an eyebrow. Scott grinned. He couldn't see the surface of the painting, and moved over to get a better look. It was a delicate portrait of Helena, nearly completed in oils.
"And I thought you were catching the sun rising. She got to you, didn't she…" Scott remarked. "When are you seeing her again?"
"When she gets back from talks with the underwater kingdoms. There's some sort of stir going on, but you know about that attack on us from the World Navy? She's trying to look into it."
"Let's hope she succeeds. Sounds like she's gonna be busy." Scott noticed when Virgil didn't answer and frowned slightly instead, appearing to focus harder on his painting. "It'll look great in the lounge." Scott declared. Virgil shook his head.
"It's for her daughter. She's only little, and she won't see Helena for a while, and Helena kind of mentioned that she wanted something help her daughter remember her while she was away. As long as her ex-husband doesn't mind." Virgil added almost to himself.
"Whoa." Scott nodded thoughtfully, "That's swell of you. Especially after I thought Maria had put you off women for life. Glad that she proved me wrong…"
"It wasn't like that, Scott." Virgil said grumpily.
"You never did tell me what happened to you at the Follies." Scott grinned. Virgil rolled his eyes,
"And I never will."
"I only want to know…"
"No power on this earth, Scott."
"Ha, I suppose you think Penny didn't tell me about them…"
"Penny?" Virgil's glanced up, startled, "She promised me she wouldn't mention the twins to you…" he caught Scott's eye and groaned, "Nooo…"
"Ah-hah. When Helena comes back…bet she'd love to hear about that…" Scott ragged shamelessly. Virgil grinned back, then Scott yelped as the contents of a tube of bright red oil paint squirted across his chest. Virgil chased him down the beach, yelling mock-threats, and nearly healed from his injuries Scott ran into the surf and they splashed and yelled until the whole household was down on the beach and laughing at them. Scott tried to wipe the thick smear of red paint from his favourite white shirt and Virgil saw the look on his face and ran for the safety of the villa with Scott in hot pursuit.
"Gee it's great to see him home again." Alan commented dryly. TinTin nudged him, her pretty face breaking into a big grin.
"Sssh. You know you missed him really, after all that time underwater."
"Yeah, TinTin. I'm glad he's home. And that reminds me, we need a 'getting eaten by giant squid' clause on our insurance…."
Shiana nodded to Lageau and Titan was allowed to enter the Throne room. He entered, followed by several gurning aquaphibians, and made a cursory bow to the Empress. She was seated at her throne, clothed in a silver and black gown. Fran sat next to her dressed like a miniature twin of the ruler.
"I am honoured to meet you at last, Empress." He said. Shiana regarded him from her position at the throne, and said,
"I welcome you to my Kingdom, Lord Titan. I believe you have a proposal." She got to her feet, her long black dress circling like tentacles of ink around her bare feet. The Empress tilted her chin proudly, but her eyes were narrowed with new awareness, "Come with me. We will discuss this in my chambers."
Titan's pointed features sneered into an almost pleasing smile. The aquaphibians made muttering noises amongst themselves. The Empress nodded imperceptibly to Hermes and Lageau. The soldier motioned to several guards who tightened their grip on their bone pikes. Titan got the message; at a subtle signal his pet monsters fell silent and the Empress smiled. The Undersea Emperor raised his hands in agreement.
"Very well, Empress Shiana. We will discuss this. And you will not regret a moment of it."
"I hope not, Lord Titan. The Terrans will be coming here soon. Together I am sure that we can deal with them."
"When I'm sure that you are correct, I will help you." He said. Leaving the others behind, he followed the Empress into the chambers beyond.
Scott stopped his pursuit once he reached the swimming pool. The alarm on his watch, his new improved watch, was buzzing.
"Go ahead, Father." He said.
"You and Gordon come up to the lounge. We've got an emergency call."
"F.A.B.!" At this Scott started up the steps towards the lounge. The sun beat hot on his back, and the sea roared behind him, and he was laughing as he ascended the steps, feeling barely any protest from his all but healed body.
It was over but things were going to change. Whatever happened now he knew that he was ready for it. Thunderbirds were go. Duty called. And Scott Tracy simply couldn't wait.
