Disclaimer: Not mine, just doing this for fun and enjoyment. Enjoy! AM Feb 2010


A Brother's Bond – Unfolding Drama

by Angel Mouse

Kansas, United States of America

Virgil brought Tracy One in to land easily and smoothly at the private airfield. Gordon and Alan had been getting things together and his Father had been on the phone with the banks, just in case. Virgil taxied the sleek aircraft towards the hanger. There was a car waiting just outside there and a woman leaning against it, her arms folded. Inside there was already a car waiting for them, something they had arranged before they had left home.

"We have someone waiting for us Dad, must be the FBI agent you were told to expect."

"Right, thanks Virgil." Virgil began the post flight checks, shutting down the engines and doing the various little jobs that one had to do after a flight. Alan had opened the back hatch and got out, taking bags from Gordon and piling them by the door. Jeff emerged from the plane, helping the two boys for a moment. Virgil finished up and joined his father. The woman that was waiting by a car began to walk over.

"Load the bags into the car boys. Virgil, you come with me." The two Tracy men walked towards the woman, knowing that they had to tread carefully now. They needed the FBI's help but they also had to deal themselves with the security of International Rescue. Hopefully, they would be able to pull the whole thing off.

Special Agent Fiona Shaw had gotten a call less than two hours ago from the Director himself. He had explained the situation, naturally she'd seen the broadcast on television about the two Tracy brothers's and knew that sooner or later she'd be getting a phone call. But to actually be assigned to work on the case was something that she hadn't expected. She watched as the two men began to walk towards her as she walked towards them.

She had been told by the Director that Jefferson Tracy was a powerful man, and did things his own way. He had powerful connections and had already managed to find out that his boys were being held somewhere in the state of Kansas. Fiona had already gotten a team of agents looking for possible locations where the boys could have been hidden. They were also on the look out for any strange faces in remote places, weird activity, things out of place.

She had a good team and they were extremely good at their jobs, so hopefully they would have a breakthrough soon. She studied the two men as they approached her. Jefferson Tracy was easy to pick, his greying hair and commanding presence made him easy to spot. The young man with him must be one of his other three sons, the other two young men behind him the others. She held out her hand and gave him a warm smile.

"Mr Tracy, I'm Special Agent Fiona Shaw. I wish we could have met under better circumstances." Jeff took her hand and shook it, impressed with the strength in her grip. She was very competent looking and didn't seem intimidated at all by him. He gave her a tight smile.

"Agent Shaw, it's a pleasure. This is my son Virgil, and the other two are Gordon and Alan." She held her hand out to Virgil and nodded. Virgil took it and shook it.

"Agent Shaw. Thank you for meeting us here, it's appreciated."

"Not a problem Mr Tracy. Now, have you had any more contact from the kidnappers?" Jeff shook his head and led her over to the car where the boys were finishing loading it.

"No, but they are scheduled to contact us within a few hours." Jeff gestured to the gear the boys were loading into the car. "We hope to be able to track them down even further and pinpoint them exactly. Then, well then, I think we'll have to leave it up to you."

"That would be best Mr Tracy." She gave him a tight smile. "This is what we are trained for after all." Jeff nodded and gave her a tiny smile.

"Good. Now, will you follow us to our hotel and we can talk more there."

"Certainly Mr Tracy." He nodded and turned, heading back to the car and she looked at Virgil, a questioning look on her face. Virgil gave her a small smile.

"Thanks Agent Shaw, for your help with this. This is a bit of a stressful time for our family as you can understand. Please don't mistake his behaviour as anything else other than concern. He just doesn't show it to anyone that's not family."

"It's okay Mr Tracy, I do understand. Dealing with families in these situations is my speciality."

"That's good to know. And please, call me Virgil. Now, I'd better get going. We'll see you at the hotel." He smiled and turned, heading back to the others. Agent Shaw watched him go and then turned back to her own car. It was time to get to work.

Unknown Location

Scott and John were hanging by their arms in the middle of a room. Both were breathing hard and hanging onto consciousness by a thread. Both were bleeding heavily and their bandages had been ripped off them. They were stripped to the waist and their chests were covered with welts, burns and bruises. Blood streamed from their wounds and both were sweating profusely. The man in the Blue mask strode over to them both and lifted Scott's head up, staring into his eyes. Scott stared blankly back at him, his blue eyes full of pain and hurt. He let it go and then moved over to John, jerking his head up as well. John's eyes were just as pain filled as Scott, but they were more lost looking and the man in the Blue mask grinned.

"This one's ready to break. Keep going. We have a transmission to prepare for." He turned and left the room. Two guards moved forward and moments later, screams of pain began to emerge from the room.

An hour later camera's had been brought into the room and set up. Scott and John were both now unconscious, having been beaten to within an inch of their lives again. Suddenly the doors were opened and two guards came in, holding buckets in their hands. They approached the two Tracy brothers and as one threw the buckets of cold water over the two men. Both Scott and John woke up suddenly, spluttering and coughing, shivering as the cold water woke them up. The guards turned and left and the man in the Blue Mask came in, looking at them. Scott managed to look up and stare at the man with hate filled eyes.

"What do you want?" Scott's voice was a shade of it's former self. The man in the Blue Mask stood before him and stared hard at him.

"I just want you both to stand there and tell your Father that I want the secrets of International Rescue and his money. I want him to suffer." Scott just looked at him, unable to comprehend why this man hated them so much.

"But why do you hate him and us so much?" The soft question startled both Scott and the man, and they turned to look at the blonde Tracy brother. Scott, by a massive effort of will, managed to not gasp at how bad his brother looked. John looked terrible. He was pale and flushed, his eyes were glassy and Scott could barely discern any of his brothers left inside them. The man with the Blue Mask moved over to stand in front of John and Scott held his breathe, ignoring as best he could the pain from his own injuries but it was hard. But his worry for John took precedence. Sometimes his quiet brother didn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

The man in the Blue Mask stared at the blonde haired Tracy brother. He knew from the observations that had been made by his operatives in Meriza's camp that this particular Tracy brother was a strong personality to contend with. There was an inner strength to this one, and the other as well, but his assumptions that this Tracy brother would be the one to break had proven wrong. Both of them had shown remarkable fortitude given how badly they had been tortured. But he didn't care.

"Because you're Father's company moved into my country and ruined my plans for it. I was leading my country out of its economic troubles. I was providing for my people! I was saving them! And then your company came in with its jobs, its money, its worker care plans! It ruined my plans for my people!" John just stared at him and Scott didn't know how really aware his brother was. But after what felt like a long time, John slowly shook his head slightly.

"We work with governments, the people. We didn't do what you say we did." The effort of speaking seemed to have exhausted John and his head lolled and Scott's worry intensified. Just then the doors opened and guard carrying a camera set up came in.

"Sir, it's time." The man nodded and turned around, facing the camera. Another guard came in with bright lights and turned them on. Scott blinked against the harsh light but turned his head to watch his brother. John didn't look good and Scott was extremely worried. He wasn't feeling the greatest himself and knew that both of them would take weeks to heal. If they got out of this horrible situation alive that is.

Kansas, United States

They had arrived at the hotel a few hours earlier and had set up their equipment. Agent Shaw had arrived with some of her people in tow and between the two lots of organisations, an extremely efficient and strong tracking system had been set up. Now it was just a matter of waiting. Agent Shaw's fellow agents were manning the communication gear. Gordon and Alan had taken over the kitchen and were making a plate load of sandwiches and drinks for everyone. Sure, they could have ordered room service, but they wanted to try and keep this as low key as possible. Virgil was talking softly with Agent Shaw over in the corner. Jeff was standing by the window and glanced over as Alan handed him a mug of coffee. They kept their voices low as they spoke.

"Thanks Alan. Is everything set?"

"Yes, we're ready to go. Brains has masked the relay from Thunderbird Five as coming from one of Tracy Industries communication satellites."

"Good. So, now we wait." Alan glanced at Gordon who was handing around sandwiches. Gordon caught him looking at gave his baby brother a smile, which heartened Alan. He looked back to find his Father staring out the window.

"Dad," Jeff turned and looked at Alan.

"What is it son?" Alan took a deep breath and looked out the window and then back at his Father, taking a deep breath.

"Do you think John and Scott are still alive?" Jeff reached out and put his hand on Alan's shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"Of course they are Alan. Scott's strong and you know he won't let anything happen to John. And John will look after Scott as well. You forget how close your oldest two brothers are. They will look after each other and be there for one another. And then we when get them both home, we'll look after them. Won't we?" Alan nodded, taking heart at his Father's words. The two of them stood there for a moment and then Gordon joined them, holding out the plate of sandwiches.

"Dad, have something to eat." Jeff took a sandwich and Alan did as well. They ate in silence a moment and then suddenly the radio beeped. One of the agents looked up.

"Transmission coming in Agent Shaw, it's directed to Mr. Tracy and it's using the same frequency as the first one." They all rushed to the screen and Agent Shaw nodded at Jeff. Jeff took a deep breath and reached forward, activating the screen.

Unknown Location in Kansas

The screen flared to life and he saw Jeff Tracy standing there before him. He smiled and inwardly cheered behind his Blue Mask. He had Tracy right where he wanted him and he wasn't going to let him get away with anything.

"Mr. Tracy, it's good to see you again."

"Don't lie. I want to see my sons." He held up his hand.

"All in good time Mr. Tracy. They are here with me and I will let you talk to them in a moment. But first, have you acceded to my demands."

"I have the 10 million dollars ready for you. 10 million in cash ready to be wired to what ever account you give me. The bearer bonds will take a little more time." He nodded, he could see the worry in Tracy's eyes and that made him feel powerful and strong.

"I'm transmitting those details to you now. As soon as the five million hits my account then I will let you speak to your sons. Now, the plans for those wonderful craft of yours Mr. Tracy." Here Tracy frowned even as he nodded at one of his sons to arrange the money transfer.

"You know I can't do that."

"You had better do it otherwise your sons will suffer the consequences." Jeff shook his head and looked at him through the screen.

"I can't do anything of the sort. Besides, why do you want those plans?"

"That's my business Tracy, not yours." He looked down and then back up at Tracy, smiling in success as suddenly his bank account showed the transfer of the five million dollars.

"I just can't give you those plans, you just know I can't." He nodded, knowing that Tracy was going to say that. It had been a total fluke when he had found out from his agents on Meriza's island and then the now dead police detective that had betrayed them. So he wanted every advantage that he could get when he made his move to take back power in his home country.

"Yes, your sons said as much when I was having a little chat with them." And he began to move away from the screen. "As you can see, we've been having lots of little chats."

Scott and John were hanging by their wrists from the ceiling. They were both covered in cuts, bruises, burns and both were bleeding profusely, blood pooling on the ground under their dangling feet. Both were pale under the harsh lights and he could hear muffled curses from the video screen. He moved and stood between the two brothers. He yanked John by the hair and lifted his head up.

"Say hello young man to your father. Tell him what a gracious host I am." John blinked against the harsh light and finally after what felt like an eternity he was able to focus on the video screen and he saw his father and three other brothers on it. It did his damaged spirit good to see the rest of his family in one piece and safe.

"Dad…"

"John. Are you alright son?" Jeff's tone was mild, concerned but even in his state; John could still detect the worry in his father's voice.

"Okay…. Don't give in to him…" John's voice was a very sorrowful shade of what it normally once was. "We… haven't… told him… anything." John was gasping with the effort of speaking and then he let John's head go and his head fell back to his chest. He then reached over and yanked Scott's head up by the hair.

"It's your turn now young man. Say hello to your Father." Scott blinked a few times and managed to focus on his Father's face.

"Dad… John's right. Don't give him… anything. We're… doing okay…" He let Scott's head go and Scott's head go and it fell back onto his chest. Both boys were breathing hard with the effort of speaking and trying to reassure their family that they were okay.

The man in the Blue Mask moved back to the video screen, blocking the view of the two brothers. He looked at Tracy and smirked. The distress on Jeff Tracy's face was plain to see but then he watched as it was replaced by determination.

"So Tracy, are you going to give me those plans or not?"

"No. I can't. I will give you the money for my boy's freedom and return, but I won't give you those plans. With those plans you could endanger billions of people around the globe and I will not have that on my conscious." He shook his head and reached out to turn the transmission off.

"I'll give you five more hours to reconsider your position Tracy. That ten million you have already paid me has bought your sons five more hours of life. Just think of all the little heart warming conversations I'm going to be having with your boys thanks to your altruistic nature." And with that, he closed the channel and turned back to the two Tracy brothers. The guards removed the harsh lights and video gear, returning a few moments later to stand behind him. "Now boys, we were talking about those wonderful machines of yours. Now, let's chat about those shall we?"

Hotel, Kansas

The channel went dead and there was nothing they could do about it. Jeff was holding onto his composure by a thread, his mind churning with the thought of what his sons had obviously already been through and what they would be going through now. Taking a deep breath and focussing on what had to be done now to rescue his boys helped push the worry at bay for the moment. He turned away from the screen to see Virgil talking on his phone. Virgil felt his Father's gaze and turned to him, giving him thumbs up. Moments later Agent Shaw came to his side with a gentle smile.

"Mr Tracy, I have good news. Thanks to the interface set up by Virgil and our own equipment, we now have their exact location. We can go get your boys as soon as I have my team ready, which will take about twenty minutes, then another thirty minutes to get to their location. All going to plan Mr Tracy, I'll have your boys back with you in about an hour."

Tbc… In the next chapter, the boys are finally rescued, but not without consequences.