Chapter Twenty Seven

The Vault

The Bank of England

The Hood gave a small evil smile as he climbed out of the Mole and looked around at the inside of the vault a place normally only seen by bank employees and treasury officials.

The room was immense with dozens of cage like cubicles each filled with a veritable fortune in gold. Along the walls of the room were hundreds of safety deposit boxes that contained priceless jewellery and a fortune in diamonds and other precious stones. And it was those boxes that he really here though he would take some of the gold as well, but not that much. Transporting large amounts of gold was difficult and he had to keep in mind that he had nine more banks to rob and he had to take into account the maximum cargo load capacity of Thunderbird Two.

When he had taken all he could from here and the other banks he would destroy them with some small but powerful explosive devices designed by Transom. Devices which could produce blasts that were easily powerful enough too completely obliterate the banks.

The theft or destruction of national assets in so many countries would cause chaos all over the world, as economies collapsed or at least went into severe recession. And the beauty of the scheme was the blame for the catastrophe would go to International Rescue. The Thunderbirds would go from being heroes all over the world to its most despised villains. A prospect that filled the Hoods black heart with joy. The only regret he had was that Jeff Tracy was no longer alive to see the downfall of International Rescue.

Climbing out of the Mole behind the Hood Transom and Mullion looked around at the vault and for a few moments were transfixed at the sight of immense wealth signified by the presence of so much gold.

"Look at all this gold," Mullion exclaimed his eyes gleaming greedily as he took in the huge amount of gold and for the first time realised just how profitable this adventure was going to be.

"Stay focused Mullion," the Hood warned. "Remember there are nine more banks to go after this one."

"Yes sir," Mullion replied.

The Hood started across the vault towards the first group of safety deposit boxes, Mullion and Transom following, Transom carrying the bags they would stow their loot in. Halfway to his destination the Hood paused as he sensed two minds entering the building. Both had the characteristic feel of metahumans and the Hood was shocked when he recognised one minds signature as being Gears. How on earth did he get out of the fridge back on the island, the Hood thought.

"We have company," he said aloud. "Two of your kind Mullion. And one of them is Gear." Mullion's eyes went wide as the Hood spoke.

"Gear!" Mullion exclaimed in shock. "How on earth could he get o…." Mullion's voice trailed off as the realisation of how Gear had escaped dawned on him. "Alan Tracy," Mullion growled.

"What about Alan Mullion?" the Hood demanded wondering what his super strong henchman was on about. The powers they'd observed Alan display were over ice and snow and while impressive they would not have enabled the young metahuman to escape the freezing tomb he'd been thrown in or free anyone else.

Mullion swallowed nervously as he realised that he had forgotten to tell the Hood about Alan's ability to phase.

"He can phase himself," Mullion answered knowing that he would be in trouble – big trouble – for not telling the boss about Alan's phasing ability before now.

"Are you telling me that Alan Tracy has another power," the Hood said in a cold, dangerous tone that sent terror coursing through every part of Mullions large frame. "And you did not tell me?"

"Yes sir," Mullion replied reluctantly. And immediately felt himself flying through the air to slam into a support pillar hard, propelled by a blast of telekinetic force from the enraged Hood. The impact stunned Mullion for a second but when he tried to pull away he found himself being held in place by a powerful telekinetic force. The Hood approached his eyes glowing red and inwardly Mullion began trembling fearing that the Hood was about to do something truly terrible to him.

"Withhold information from me again Mullion," the Hood growled sensing Mullions terror, "and it will be the last mistake you ever make." The Hood released Mullion from the telekinetic field. "Now get out there and deal with our uninvited guests."

"That will not be necessary," a powerful male voice with an American accent said. Right before a blast of purple tinged lightning slammed into the Hood and knocked him flying – crying out in surprise and pain – through the air to land stunned a few feet away tiny arcs of energy dancing across his body before grounding into the floor.

Transom and Mullion both stared at their boss for a moment in surprise then turned in the direction the blast had come from. To find themselves face to face with Gear and Static. Static was hovering on his disc while Gear was hanging in the air courtesy of his antigrav boots.

"I don't suppose you just feel like surrendering," Static said. Transom and Mullion exchanged a look then dove off in separate directions. "Guess not," Static added, before firing an energy beam at Mullion while Gear went after Transom.

Mullion ducked the lightning bolt and grabbed a gold bar before throwing it at Static with all his strength. The improvised missile slammed into the flying disc and despite the electromagnetic force that normally kept it glued to Static's feet it was taken straight out from under the electric metahumans feet. Static landed flat on his face on the hard polished floor. The disc was shredded by the impact of the bar the tough mylar fibre tearing apart.

Static started to pick himself up looking over at the remains of his disc and groaning. That disc had been with him since just after he first got his powers ten years ago now it was wrecked. Great how was he going to replace it, mylar was expensive and hard to come by, to this day he didn't know where Gear had found the piece that the disc was made from in the first place.

He looked back at Mullion as the super strong metahuman approached pulling back a hand to punch him. Throwing out a hand Static sent another beam of energy at Mullion knocking him off his feet and carrying him across the room to slam into the side of the Mole where he crumpled stunned almost into unconsciousness.

Gear was not having as much luck with Transom. Throwing a pair of zap caps at the Hoods right hand woman he was startled when she raised her right arm and a pair of spinning blades similar to Ninja stars but much smaller shot out of the bracelet she wore on that wrist. The two spinning blades sliced the two zap caps apart in mid air. Neat trick, Gear thought throwing a different device this time only for it again to be intercepted by another flying blade.

Transom pulled a small device from her pocket the size of a small pocket torch and pointed it at Gear. Smiling she pressed the tiny button on the surface of 'torch' and a slender but powerful laser beam shot out. Gear dodged the first shot but the second caught one of his boots knocking out the jets and making him drop from the air like a stone.

He landed flat on his face with a jarring impact that ripped the air from his lungs. He flipped over onto his back as Transom came and stood over him pointing her small weapon at him.

"You disappoint me Gear," she told him. "I would have expected more from you." She aimed her weapon at Gears heart and behind his helmet Gear closed his eyes waiting for the laser blast.

Smiling Transom started to move her finger to the trigger when a blast of energy caught her and knocked her flying and screaming into a pillar where she crumpled unconscious.

Gear opened his eyes and looked in the direction the blast had come from to see Static standing there.

"You okay bro," Static asked.

"Yeah," Gear replied getting to his feet. "Thanks for the assist."

"Your welcome."

Unnoticed by either Gear or Static the Hood had gotten back to his feet just in time to see Transom get thrown into a pillar. His lips compressing in anger the Hood focused on Static and lashed out telekinetically, picking the electrically powered younger man up and sending him flying hard into a wall. The impact stunned the powerful metahuman and he crumpled at the foot of the wall knocked senseless by the impact.

Gear whirled around and threw one of the energy zap caps at the Hood. The Hood chuckled and telekinetically stopped the projectile in mid air before sending it flying into the ceiling where it exploded harmlessly its stored energy crackling at light fixtures blowing one or two of them but otherwise doing no damage at all.

"You should know that won't work Gear," the Hood said smiling. "Still you'll be useful." Gear stared at the Hood wondering what he was on about and wondering what else he could try to get the psychic evil mastermind. Then he stiffened as he felt a force enter his mind.

He could feel the Hood pushing at his mind trying to get his body to do things against his will. Gasping in pain and clutching at the sides of his head he fought back against the horrific intrusion which brought back very painful memories of the time when the evil alien A.I Brainiac had taken over his mind and used him as his arms and legs. But try as he might he couldn't stop the Hood – the telepathic assault was just too powerful and unlike most metahumans he had no natural defence against telepathic attack. He watched helpless and horrified as one of his hands was moved from the side of his head to his belt pouches where he kept his zap caps and one was pulled from the pouch.

Climbing back to his feet by the wall Static shook his head to clear the residual disorientation that the impact had caused. He was preparing to strike at the Hood again when he saw Gear frozen in place seemingly fighting a battle with himself. The Hoods attention also seemed focused on Gear and even from here Static could see the faint reddish glow in the Hoods eyes and realised that the Hood was doing something telepathically to Gear. He saw Gear's hand move jerkily to his belt and take out a zap cap and then Gear turned to face him. The terror and desperation Gear was experiencing while being manipulated like a puppet by the Hood was plain to see on his face even through the faceplate of his helmet.

"Oh no you don't Mr Hood," Static growled firing a blast of energy at the Hood. The Hood howled in pain as he was thrown back against the side of a containment cage losing his link with Gear's mind in the process.

Gear gasped and dropped to his knees his whole body shaking in reaction as the Hood disappeared from his head. That had been unpleasant to say the least and the memories of the nightmare with Brainiac that it had brought to the surface again were not helping. Static looked at his friend in concern fully aware of the memories that would have been brought to the surface again. For a moment he lost himself in the memories of that time with Brainiac of seeing Gear's eyes glowing green and alien technology creeping slowly across his face as he was controlled by Brainiac, and the nightmares that had plagued Gear/Richie for weeks afterwards.

Glaring now more annoyed than ever the Hood picked himself up and again lashed out telekinetically sending a powerful wave of force at the two metahumans bowling them both over with what to them felt like a battering ram. The impact with the ground knocked Gear into unconsciousness and Static only just avoided joining him.

Static struggled to get back to his feet. Damn this guy is strong, he thought. He'd fought psychics before – Madelyn Spaulding readily jumped to mind – but this guy was in a league of his own. The telepathic and telekinetic power the Hood wielded was immense.

Noticing Static starting to get back to his feet the Hood sent another telekinetic battering ram at him knocking him flying into the wall again. The final impact was too much even for Static. The electrically powered metahuman crumpled into an unconscious heap at the foot of the wall.

His challengers beaten the Hood finally stopped using his powers and groaned as he felt the monster headache that was pounding through his head and he became aware that blood was trickling out of his nose where a blood vessel had broken from the strain. A wave of exhaustion made him grab at his knees gasping as though he had run a marathon. He was glad that the battle was over he couldn't have kept up his telepathic and telekinetic assaults much longer. Nor could he have withstood another blast from Static.

The Hood straightened up as he saw Mullion picking himself up from where he had been thrown against the side of the Mole. And Transom was showing signs of waking up as well.

"Now if there are no more interruptions we will get what we came for," the Hood said.

"Don't move," a female voice abruptly commanded and the Hood inwardly groaned not more trouble.

"Lady Penelope," he said turning slightly so he could look at the beautiful blond International Rescue agent. She was standing just inside the entrance to the vault pointing a gun right at his head. Her chauffeur stood besides her also pointing a weapon. "What an unpleasant surprise," the Hood added noting Mullion covertly sneaking closer to Lady Penelope using the gold storage cages and support pillars as cover.

"Don't be rude," Lady Penelope replied. "And no telepathic or telekinetic tricks or I'll put a bullet through your brain. Now put your hands where I can see them."

"Mullion," the Hood ordered.

Mullion jumped Lady Penelope and Parker knocking their weapons from their hands with a single powerful sweep of his massive arms. Then he picked both up as if they weighed next to nothing.

"That's just not cricket," Penelope moaned referring to the sneak attack.

"I'm sorry," the Hood replied sarcastically. "The only part of sport I ever liked was winning."

"How ghastly," Penelope replied.

"Secure our uninvited guests Mullion," the Hood ordered referring not only to Penelope and Parker but also to Static and Gear as well.

"Yes sir," Mullion replied.

While Mullion set about his task the Hood went to help the semiconscious Transom. As soon as she was back on her feet they would get what they had come for, leave this bank then blow it and their opponents to pieces.