Chapter Twenty Eight

Thunderbird One

It took longer than Jeff thought to reach the Bank of England in Thunderbird One. The problem was landing; he had to make three different approaches before he found the right approach angle. Flying in built up areas like cities was not easy and Jeff found that he was more than a little rusty at it. When all this is over I'm going to have to spend sometime in the simulators back home. Rub the rust off, he thought.

As he landed Thunderbird One Jeff noticed that Fab 01 was parked outside the bank. The canopy and side doors were open and there was no sign of Penelope or Parker, they had obviously already gone inside.

"Come on Penelope might need our help," Jeff said as he powered open the hatch in Thunderbird One's side while Alan - again sitting in the co-pilots seat – powered down all of Thunderbird One's systems save its stealth system. Getting up Jeff headed for the hatch with Peter, Tin-Tin, Fermat and lastly Alan following him.

In a moment they were all standing on the ground outside Thunderbird One. Looking at Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat Jeff contemplated telling them to remain here and guard the Thunderbird while he went inside with Peter to help Penelope. But somehow he suspected that the kids would disobey him if he told them to stay here, and they had earned the right to see how this ended.

So instead of ordering the kids to remain here he inclined his head at the banks entrance and they began moving up the steps towards the front entrance. All of them wondering what they were going to find when they got inside.

The Vault

The Hood watched as Mullion with the aide of the just recovered Transom secure their challengers turned temporary prisoners in one of the gold storage cages. Both Static and Gear were still completely out of it though still dangerous as Mullion had learned when he'd gotten a minor electric shock picking Static up, but Lady Penelope and her manservant were still putting up some resistance even as they were secured to the bars of the cage.

"Resistance is pointless," the Hood told them. "You cannot escape. Now stop struggling before I have Mullion here finish you off." Mullion grinned evilly and menacingly at the Hoods words knowing what his master really meant when he said that. So did Penelope.

"Shame on you," she told the Hood. "I always despise a man who delegates the important jobs." The Hood rolled his eyes.

"My dear," the Hood answered taking Penelope's chin in a gloved hand and making her look at him. "If I wanted to destroy you I could do it in an instant. But as lovely as you are you are not worth the effort." With that he released Penelope's chin and left the cage followed by Transom.

Mullion lingered behind and grinned at Lady Penelope. She was such a beautiful and spirited woman; perhaps the boss would let him have some fun with her after. Looking at him Penelope could take a pretty good guess from the way he was looking at her what he was thinking about doing with her.

"Dream on sad act," she told him.

Mullion laughed at the defiant spirit in the refined Englishwoman he liked that in a woman. Gently he cupped Penelope's chin with his hand and thought how he would enjoy making her suffer. Penelope was repulsed by Mullion's touch while simultaneously fully conscious of the strength in Mullion's hand and how easy it would be for the super strong metahuman to seriously injure or kill her if he wanted to.

"Mullion," the Hood's voice barked and Penelope was actually relieved to hear his voice. "You can have some fun with Lady Penelope later. But now is not the time."

"Yes sir. Sorry sir," Mullion replied as he released Penelope's chin – much to her obviously relief – and hurried to join up with his boss outside the cage so they could actually get back to the business of robbing the bank.

As soon as Mullion left the cage the Hood again started to head over to the safety deposit boxes. But before they could reach them the Hood paused and felt an eerie sense of déjà vu as sensed minds entering the bank. There were five of them this time, one had the characteristic feel of a metahuman, another the feel of another psychic. Oh no not again, the Hood thought, these constant interruptions are getting very tiresome and annoying.

"We've got more company," he said aloud. "The Thunderbirds are here. Kill them all."

"Yes sir," Mullion replied. "It will be my pleasure."

Mullion turned away from the Hood and headed out of the vault with Transom following. As he walked Mullion hoped that Alan Tracy was amongst the approaching Thunderbirds. It would be nice to finally be able to pound the younger metahuman for all the trouble he had caused them.

Jeff Tracy was getting more and more nervous as he moved deeper into the Bank of England accompanied by Peter, Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat. They had encountered no one as they moved through the corridors, bank staff had apparently evacuated and the security systems that would have normally detected them and stopped them long ago were all off line – their circuitry having been fried by the electromagnetic pulse the Hood had set off. The eerie silence of the bank was very unnerving.

"I don't like this," Alan said. "It's too quiet."

"Yeah it's eerie," Tin-Tin agreed. "But something tells me that the Hood knows that we are here."

She didn't add that she'd sensed a telepathic sweep of them earlier, just after they'd entered the bank. Her evil uncle was bound to know that they were here now. But she couldn't say that not without getting asked awkward questions by Jeff and Peter since they didn't know the secret of the Belagant family, though she knew that after all of this that would have to change.

"Considering that the Hood is such a strong psychic that is a possibility," Peter agreed. "He's probably waiting in ambush for us."

"That's a cheery thought," Jeff said with a frown. "We will have to be on our guard more from here on in."

"Too late for that Mr Tracy," Mullion's voice said as he and Transom appeared from around the T-junction at the end of the corridor. "Don't move."

Jeff, Peter, Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat stopped dead in their tracks trying to think how to overcome this particular obstacle. Mistaking their sudden stop for a surrender Mullion and Transom approached with confident arrogance. As he saw them approaching an idea blossomed in Alan's mind, of the two of them Mullion was the most dangerous. With his superhuman strength he was fully capable of killing them all.

"Why should we surrender," Alan asked looking pointedly at Mullion. "You've had little success against us in the past you big oaf. Tell me did you like the taste of rock at our last encounter?"

Mullion hissed in anger and Jeff and Peter looked at Alan wondering what on earth he was doing provoking Mullion. Despite being angry Mullion saw what Alan was trying to do. He was trying to provoke him into rashly running at him again to pummel him into submission. If he ran at Alan the younger metahuman would just pull that phase trick out of his hat again. Well he wasn't about to fall for that one again.

"If you think I'm falling for your phasing trick again you have another thing coming," Mullion replied. Alan merely shrugged he hadn't really expected Mullion to just come running at him again straight away at least. He would just have to provoke him a little more.

"I don't need to phase to deal with you," he shot back and raised a hand so it was pointing at Mullion and imagined a jet of water sending Mullion flying backwards into the wall. That should get him mad enough to do his bull in a china shop thing. He allowed his powers to flow.

Mullion was surprised when he saw Alan's eyes glow blue and a similar glow appear around his hand. Now what's he going to do, Mullion thought wondering if the different energy glow meant a different power. The only times before he had seen Alan's hands and eyes glow it had been silver when he'd made the foam freeze and the bluish-silver glow that had come into his hands when he'd thrown snowballs at the Hood beneath Thunderbird One. He didn't have to wait long to find out.

A beam of blue light abruptly leapt from Alan's hand and streaked right at Mullion, a moment before impact it turned from blue energy into a powerful jet of water that struck Mullion like a pile driver. Mullion was knocked clean off his feet and found himself flying through the air to slam into the wall hard. Alan stopped the water jet allowing Mullion to crumple to the floor since the jets power had been holding him motionless against the wall.

Coughing and spluttering Mullion glared daggers at Alan. He would pay dearly for that water attack. Literally seeing red Mullion roared his anger and leapt to his feet charging right at Alan intending to beat him to a pulp. He was tired of getting a pounding every time they crossed swords it was Alan's time to die. It did not occur to him that he was actually doing precisely what Alan had wanted him to do.

Jeff seeing the man mountain charging right at Alan started to make a move to intercept he couldn't let his son be hurt. Only to stop dead in his tracks when Alan pointed his hand at the floor and the silver ice glow appeared in his eyes and around his hand. A beam of silver light flew from Alan's hand and streaked across the floor leaving a slick of ice along the floor – exactly the same kind of slick that had yesterday evening sent Scott sliding helplessly into the diving pool back on the island. A smile graced Jeff's face as he began to realise exactly what Alan was up to.

Alan stopped the emission of his ice power a moment before Mullion hit the slick of ice with predictable results. The super strong metahumans feet were taken right out from under him. Mullion slammed into the floor with a horrendous smack. Howling in fury Mullion – like Scott before him – surfed helplessly along the slick, but still heading right for Alan.

A moment before Mullion could collide with him Alan took a deep breath and held it before imaging Mullion passing through him. Immediately he felt himself phase slightly out of synch with normal space becoming transparent in the process. Mullion reached the transparent Alan and passed right through him to continue skidding along the floor though it wasn't ice he was sliding on this time. It was just the polished floor of the corridor. He slammed into the far wall with a powerful impact that made his world reel sickeningly.

Alan stopped phasing and released the breath he had been holding feeling the first twinges of exhaustion pulling at him. He hadn't been at his full power before this fight and of all his abilities phasing took the most out of him. He spun around and looked at Mullion as the other metahuman battered and bruised got his feet back under him though with obvious effort. I hope this works, Alan thought hoping that the idea that was blossoming in his head worked.

Raising one hand again he pointed it at Mullion and again imagined a jet of water striking him. But this time he imagined it not only knocking Mullion back against the wall but forming around him creating a straight jacket like object from Mullions shoulders to just below his knees.

His powers flared again and again his eyes and hand glowed blue. The blue beam shot forth from his hand again and as before it turned into a powerful jet of water just before impact a jet that again slammed into Mullion like a sledge hammer and knocked him back against the wall. The water then changed to blue energy again and formed itself around Mullion from his shoulders to just below his knees. Mullion tried to break free but he found that the energy behaved almost like rubber and all he got for his efforts was to fall flat on his face.

Concentrating Alan imagined the energy jacket around Mullion freezing solid trapping him immobile. He felt the power flowing through him change and the blue glow in his eyes and around his hand turned silver the glow racing along the blue beam turning it silver. The energy around Mullion turned silver and then solidified into a gleaming jacket of ice that held him prisoner from the shoulders down. Alan stopped the power emission and almost dropped to his knees. The fight had taken a huge chunk of the remaining energy inside him.

Glaring hatefully at Alan from where he lay helpless on the floor Mullion felt his strength fading away being stolen by the freezing jacket Alan had put around him. Already weakened by being thrown into a pillar by the Hood, being hit by a powerful blast of energy from Static, and Alan's attacks the ice jacket was the last straw for Mullions body. Darkness enveloped the huge metahuman as he lost consciousness.

Having watched it all Jeff was impressed and more than a little surprised by how strong Alan's powers actually were. He was also very, very proud of him at that moment. This little display of power had been the final confirmation that Alan had accepted that he was a metahuman and now that the acceptance had come he seemed to actually like having superpowers. And for coming to terms with what he'd become Jeff was proud of his youngest son. But he couldn't say anything to Alan right now because there was still danger.

Overcoming her shock at seeing Mullion go down in defeat Transom started to bring her blade-bracelet up to fire at Alan. His phase ability was a useful trick but somehow she doubted that he would be quick enough to avoid her small but deadly flying blades. She knew the Hood would be displeased about Mullion being defeated but he would be very pleased if she disposed of Alan, Jeff and the others for him.

Tin-Tin noticing Transoms movements leapt into action to stop her. When away at boarding school herself – though she only went part time at the moment though that would have to change in September when she would have to go full time just like Alan and Fermat – she loved gymnastics class just like Alan liked athletics.

With swift agility she kicked Transoms bracelet causing it to break and fly off Transoms wrist then somersaulted over the auburn haired bad girls head even as Transom cried out in pain from her bruised wrist. Landing behind Transom Tin-Tin kicked her in the backside drawing another yelp from Transom.

"Why you little," Transom growled spinning around. Tin-Tin laughed and took off at a run disappearing around the corner and running down the left-hand corridor, which lead to a small secondary vault where some more gold but mostly important papers were stored, an annoyed Transom in hot pursuit.

Jeff smiled as he saw Tin-Tin lead Transom away the way was now clear for them to head to the main vault and the Hood. He looked back at Alan who had turned away from Mullion's unconscious form. Though Alan was hiding it he could tell that beating Mullion had taken quiet a bit out of him. It wouldn't be fair to ask Alan to come into the main vault with them and confront the Hood. Alan needed to rest a few minutes and recover his strength as much as he could.

"Alan," Jeff said inwardly bracing himself knowing that what he was about to say probably would not go down well with Alan. "I want you to stay here with Fermat while me and Peter go into the main vault."

"What for," Alan demanded to know annoyance and confusion in his tone. His father had already indicated earlier that he deserved to see how this battle with the Hood ended. Why was he now telling him to stay out here?

"Alan you're tired," Jeff told him. "Don't try and deny it I can tell that you are. Stay here and rest a few minutes."

"Dad!" Alan objected.

"Stay here," Jeff repeated putting a note of command in his voice this time.

Alan sighed but knew there was no arguing with his father when he used that tone of voice. Reluctantly he nodded that he would stay here. Though he didn't add how long it would be for.

"Good," Jeff told him though he guessed that Alan probably wouldn't stay here for very long but follow as soon as he decided he could get away with it. But he didn't really have time to argue with Alan now about staying here. So he would just have to trust Alan to show some common sense and not let his Tracy pride get in the way.

"Come on Peter," Jeff said turning to his brother-in-law. The two of them took off for the main vault leaving Alan and Fermat behind them.