Oops, I did it again didn't I? I really am sorry that it took me so long to update, but once the exams are over I'll be on Summer Holidays so I should have plenty of time to write.

Well, here is the next chapter, and I hope you like it. A few reviews might get me to update the next one a bit quicker though…

Disclaimer

Thunderbirds and all the characters etc. belong to Gerry Anderson and Working Title films, I'm just borrowing them.

Accidents

Chapter 16 – Rescued at last?

"Err, Brains, are you sure that I'm going the right way? I thought I just saw a sign for the hospital to turn left."

"I realise that, but the quickest way for you to get to the bomb is by going through one of the old underground stations, and then along the railway tracks."

"What's the nearest station?"

"Russell Square, but it still will be quite a way."

"Then I'm very glad that I put one of the hoverjets in the boot of the car. There's no way I'd make it on foot at the moment."

"International Rescue! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out trying to rescue your friends?" One of the workers at the station exclaimed as soon as he saw John. Within moments, a small crowd had gathered around them.

"That's why I'm here, but there's no time to talk. Can you direct me to someone in charge?"

"Of course. This way."

John quickly followed the attendant to the station office and left his hoverjet outside the door. The stationmaster looked up, surprised. John started talking before the man could say anything.

"I need you to listen to me, as there isn't much time. I need to get down onto the old underground train lines. Can you help me?"

"Sure. The only access left is down the back staircase, but I don't think it's been used in years. I can have someone show you."

"Good. Now I need this entire station evacuated and all monotrains diverted from this area. Then, contact the police and have them send a bomb disposal unit down here as quickly as possible."

"Of course, we'll do everything we can to help. But it looks like you need a doctor more than anything else."

"Don't worry about me, there are more important matters right now. I advise you to get going. We may not have much time."

"I must admit Lady Penelope. You seem far too calm considering the circumstances. Do you know something we don't?"

"What gave you that impression Virgil? I'm 'caught' just as much as you are."

"Yeah, so why don't I believe you."

"That's right Agent X, nothing yet. If International Rescue were coming, they would've been here by now."

"I'm not so sure Marcus. I don't want to underestimate them." Agent X said over the radio, slightly suspiciously.

"OK, it's your call."

"Make sure you stay on alert. Agent X out."

"Stay on alert, right." Marcus said sarcastically to himself after he turned off the radio. "I don't know what he's so worried about. No one's gonna find us down here. Not even International Rescue are that…" his sentence was abruptly cut off as he was hit by a stun blast and slid to the ground.

10 minutes later

"Right, the bomb has been deactivated and I'm about to hand it over to the bomb squad to take care of. Over to you Parker." Came John's voice over the radio in Thunderbird 1. This was the call that Parker had been waiting for.

"I'm right on it." Parker replied immediately

"Good luck"

"Guys, is it just me, or do you hear something?" Alan said quietly, breaking the silence between them. Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened

"You're right. It sounds like it could be a ship…"

"Wait…I know those engines. That's Thunderbird 1." Scott interrupted, suddenly looking more hopeful.

At the same time, in the 'control centre'

"Agent X, we're picking up a ship on radar, and it seems to be heading straight for us."

"Well, who is it?" Agent X demanded. Agent Zero stood back, with a sneaking suspicion that everything was about to go wrong. The technician was spared having to answer by the radio.

"Agent X, this is Thunderbird 1. Within minutes, the police will have your compound surrounded. Release my colleagues and this can all be settled without any loss of life." Parker's voice said over the radio.

"No deal International Rescue. If you don't leave the area immediately, I'll set this whole base to explode, killing everyone." Agent X covered the transmitter with his hand and turned to the two guards behind him. "Fetch the prisoners."

"Yes sir." They quickly left the room

"Agent Zero" Agent X looked around, puzzled, when there was no answer. "Where did he go?"

"Err, sir, Thunderbird 1 is still on the line." The technician said nervously

"Cut them off."

"Someone's coming, sounds like the guards."

"Right, well I'm not just gonna sit here knowing that Thunderbird 1 is outside. Virgil, Alan, go that side. When they open the door, jump them." Scott 'ordered', being fed up with the situation by now. About 10 seconds later, the door opened, and the three brothers sprang into action. The guards didn't even know what hit them. "OK, grab their weapons and keys. We need to get out of here."

"OK, thanks for the update Parker. It sounds like these guys really are serious. Can we be sure that there is another bomb?"

"I'm afraid not Mr Tracy. And it would be too dangerous to send in the police without knowing for sure it is not a threat."

"I agree. It looks like we're going to have to do as they say for now and hope that Scott and the others have a plan."

"Sir, Thunderbird 1 has moved off. Its holding position about half a mile from here."

"What about the police?"

"From what we can tell, they're still in position around the base."

"That's not good enough. Open a channel." Agent X waited for the radio to come on again. "International Rescue, until I have confirmation that all the police forces have moved right away from this base and your ship has landed, there's no way I'll make a deal."

"That isn't going to happen, Agent X. You have four of our agents captive, and we are here to ensure their safety."

"Well, you're not doing a very good job of it, as you leave me no choice." He turned to one of the others in the room, but made sure that Parker could still hear him. "Arm the self-destruct."

"Yes sir. Five minutes to self-destruct."

"International Rescue, you have five minutes to do as I say, or this base and everyone in it will be blown sky high."

"Five minutes to self-destruct." Came the voice over the radio. Scott, Virgil, Alan and Lady Penelope stopped and looked at each other.

"Oh, great, this is all we need. Is there any way we can deactivate the self-destruct?" Alan said before anyone else could speak.

"Well, from what I've seen, this base is too big to be destroyed by only the one bomb. There has to be several around this place." Scott started, but Penelope interrupted him.

"How does that help us?"

"No, Scott's right. If we can get to the main detonator, we could deactivate it and stop any of the bombs going off." Virgil continued. "It's most likely in their control room."

"Let's go"

Around a minute later

"I thought you said it wasn't far to the control room Scott?"

"It wasn't this far. We must have come the wrong way." Scott said, slightly defeated

"We haven't got time to go back. What now?"

"Boys, in here." Penelope called from one of the rooms off the corridor. As the others walked in, they saw one of the bombs, and it was definitely armed.

"Scott, this may not be the master control, but I think I can still stop the other bombs from going off. All except the main one."

"If it's the best we can do then try it, but hurry."

"One minute to self-destruct, sir" one of the men in the control room said

"Sir, the police forces are moving away. Thunderbird 1 is landing about 2 miles south of us."

"Good. Turn off the self-destruct." Agent X said quickly, looking towards the bomb in the corner of the room. After a few seconds, there was still no change. "I said to turn off the self-destruct."

"I can't sir. The controls aren't responding."

"Let's get out of here."

TBC…