Chapter 5

As Virgil landed Thunderbird 2, Scott radioed in. "Ok, fellas, this is the plan. I'm going to stay with Mobile Control and liaison with the Fire chief. Gordon, I want you to control the Fire Tender and I want Virgil to go down in the Mole and get to those people in the basement."

"F.A.B Scott," Virgil replied.

"Ok Scott," Gordon answered.

Virgil raised Thunderbird 2 while Gordon put on his heat resistant suit.

The pod door slowly opened and the Fire Tender emerged followed by the Mole.

Scott radioed them once more telling Gordon where to position the Fire Tender and telling Virgil at what point to burrow with the Mole.

Once Virgil got into position, he started the motor of the Mole. In a matter of seconds the Mole disappeared, swallowed by the ground.

Piper turned to her future self, "Who's International Rescue?"

"They are an organisation who came about last year. They save people all around the world using their fabulous machines called Thunderbirds. No one knows who they are or where they come from. Well, no one knows except for us. Thanks to Phoebe and her premonitions."

Both Phoebe's smiled. "Well, thanks." They both looked at each other.

Older Piper continued. "The wallet that Phoebe got her first premonition from belongs to the founder of International Rescue. In addition, the bald man in her premonition is unfortunately not a demon or a warlock. They call him the Hood. He is human but with the power of hypnotism. He channels his power through his eyes. Do not look into his eyes."

The younger Charmed ones nodded, showing that they understood the situation. Younger Paige was the first to speak up.

"If you know all of this, then why can't you stop him?"

Older Piper again answered the question. "According to the Elders, you are the ones who are meant to take care of him. It is your destiny, as it was ours all those years ago."

"So where can we find this International Rescue?" asked younger Paige. "We don't even know where they landed."

"I guess we can check out the news on Tv," younger Phoebe suggested.

"You can't. The organisation is secret. They don't allow any cameras on the scene. No one can film or take photographs of them or their machines," older Phoebe stated. " Unfortunately since we've been too many locations, defeating many demons, we can't remember where about they are now. Paige will have to use her sensing power to find them. Since all of the powers have advanced over the years, you should find it easier to locate them."

"Ok," Younger Paige closed her eyes and concentrated. After a couple of seconds, she opened them again. "Wow, that was quick. Anyway, I have a location. So are we all going?"

"No just you three," older Piper replied. "Oh and another thing, before I forget. The Dark Priestess who you tried to vanquish earlier has an alliance with the Hood. He summoned her here. They are working together to destroy International Rescue."

"So that's how she got here," Younger Piper realised. "I guess that this International Rescue has done too much good that they threaten the Underworld. Why else would she destroy them?"

All six women looked at each other.

"Alright, time to go guys. See you three later." With that Paige grabbed her sisters' hands and they disappeared in a stream of blue light.

"Virgil, what's your status?" Scott radioed.

"I'm practically there. How's it going up there?" Virgil asked.

"Pretty good. The fire is nearly out. We were not needed that much to put out the fire. Nevertheless, the chief says that we were a big help. We were mostly needed to get to those people."

"Don't worry, Scott, I'm surfacing into the basement now. How long till the basement ceiling gives way?"

Scott checked over his equipment readings. "According to my readings, you've got about 10 minutes before the structure collapses."

"FAB Scott, Virgil out." Virgil picked up his torch and first aid duffel bag and left the Mole to rescue the apartment victims.

Outside, out of sight, Paige and her sisters materialised.

Phoebe looked around. "Do you hear all that commotion? Come on, let's go."

They ran around the corner of the alley and stopped at the site of the burning building.

Piper gasped. "Oh my God, what a disaster. Paige, can you sense any survivors in the building?"

Again, Paige closed her eyes.

"Yes I can sense about six people in the basement. I can feel that four of them are scared, the fifth person is worried, yet brave."

"And the sixth?" asked Phoebe.

"Oh no."

Piper looked worried. "What?"

"The sixth one… I can sense evil," Paige opened her eyes. "I think we've found our Dark Priestess."

Piper took command. "Ok here's the plan. Paige and I will go down to the basement. Phoebe, you stay topside and keep an eye on things; the Priestess might surface. If anything happens, call for Leo and he will come down to tell us. There is no point in using cell phones cause they might just not work down there. Got it?"

"Got it." Replied Paige.

"Sure." Phoebe answered.

Paige and Piper ducked back into the alleyway and disappeared, while Phoebe got closer to the building.

"Hello? Can anyone hear me? Virgil shouted.

Immediately a reply came. "We're over here."

Virgil shone his torch and headed towards the voice. There he found a family of four, huddled in a corner coughing.

Virgil checked their vitals and made sure that they did not have any injuries.

"Ok, where's the fifth person?"

"Fifth person?" The father of the family asked confused. "There is only four of us."

Virgil was next to look confused. "Our scanners picked up five people down here."

"We haven't seen anyone else."

"Ok, I'm going to take you back to our vehicle so I can put some oxygen masks on you, then I'm gonna come back here to do a search." Virgil decided.

"Alright. Lead the way." The father coughed.

In no time they were back in the Mole.

Meanwhile, Paige and Piper appeared in the big basement. Piper looked around.

"It's a good thing that this smoke isn't too thick. We wouldn't be able to last long down here."

"I know," Paige replied. "It's a good thing that I have this sensing power or we would never find them."

"Well, start sensing."

Paige closed her eyes.

"This basement is split into compartments. We're in the wrong one. There's about three others. It's hard to get a clear reading because of this smoke."

She opened her eyes and grabbed Pipers arm. "Come on."

They disappeared.

Virgil left the Mole again, in search of the missing person. This time using a hand held scanner, if this person were unconscious then they would not hear him.

He used the scanner in a sweeping motion until he heard the familiar constant beeping it emitted. He followed the signal until he found a dark haired young woman lying on the ground. He knelt down to check her vitals when she grabbed his arm.

"It's ok," He reassured her. "I'm here to rescue you."

She smiled. "It is not me who needs rescuing, Virgil."

Virgil jumped back into a standing position. "Wait, who are you? How did you know my name?"

She stood up and held her hand open. A ball of electricity appeared in her hand.

"You will not need to know."