There was nothing. No noise from beyond the door for what seemed an age.

Scott hung his head and closed his eyes. There was no way that their father would risk any more of his family to mount a rescue. Penny would no doubt plead with him, beg him. But Scott and John had known what they were doing when they set out on this.

Maybe Penny would find another way. Maybe one of her military contacts. Or perhaps some James Bond type was going to blast his way in to save them at any moment. Hell, maybe even Parker had a few more cards up his sleeve. But he was probably way too pissed to help them, when he eventually woke up from the drugs John had stuck him with.

Oh god. They had defied Dad. Disabled the launch silos. Stolen FAB 1. Practically kidnapped Penny. Well, with her complete agreement anyway.

And for what?

Eleven hours earlier.

John sank to the tarmac of the runway, his legs crossed beneath him, his head hung in sorrow.

Penny crouched down before him and sighed heavily. "Now do you see why we didn't want you to know?"

John was quiet. Too quiet.

Penny reached out carefully and placed a hand on his shoulder, gasping as she was shrugged roughly away.

"What's going on?"

Penny turned and saw Scott jogging towards them. His stride faltered as he passed the crumpled form of Parker and he then increased velocity as he saw his brother sitting beneath the shadow of the nearest replica palm.

"John? Pen? What the hell happened? I got nothing from Dad." He smiled thinly, "But I think he reached a whole new level of pissed off."

Penny watched him slow as he approached and he sank to his knees beside his brother.

"Dude?" Scott urged worriedly. "I don't think our subterfuge is working well. Virg and Gord know something is up. Hell, I think most of the Western Seaboard have heard that something is up!"

John was silent.

Scott turned to Penny and shrugged in confusion. "Do you know what this is all about?"

"Yes."

John suddenly lifted his head, his eyes brimming with tears. "Tell him."

Penny sighed and adjusted her position to sit with them on the edge of the runway. "The 'investment' you heard spoke of in the transmissions is a weapon."

"Huh?" Scott frowned.

"I gave all that we had gathered from the flight recorder to one of my contacts. A more trusted one. Not like that other double-crossing so and so." She sighed and then began anew. "It seems our friends in the military knew that there was more to the border uprising than a civil dispute. They were observing the area closely. Your happening on the complex complicated things a little."

"Oh." Scott groaned.

"But, at the same time, you made them make a move. Proof of a threat and all that. The USAF were happy to comply with your father's request and check it out. But that plane was then prey to the weapon."

"And the coded transmissions on the flight recorder?"

"A message. One of the pilots was not all he seemed."

John sighed and dragged a hand through his hair. "I don't think he was supposed to transmit in Navajo. The reply from the source seemed angry. I think that was why they were killed."

"No interrogation." Scott agreed.

"And we're guessing the plane was set to explode a little closer to Thunderbird 2." Penny continued. "As a warning."

Scott nodded. "So what is this weapon?"

"Best as we can guess, it's some kind of EM focused beam. It can pinpoint a target and disable it without affecting local equipment."

"Sounds groovy." Scott groaned.

"It could be catastrophic." John urged, "They could, in theory, point this thing at anything. Planes. Ships. Cities. Satellites."

"Oh god." Scott's frown grew. "Do we have any good news?"

Penny nodded. "Brains has isolated the VHF sources."

"What?" Scott gasped, "You mean - "

"We know where they are. Every cell. Every part of this unknown group."

Scott laughed suddenly. "That's great!" He turned to his brother and saw the sorrow in John's eyes. "Isn't it?"

John turned to Penny and shrugged his shoulders. "Tell him the rest."

"We … I mean the military and the World Government have decided … well …"

"They're stooping to their level." John continued for her. "They want a systematic wiping out of every cell."

"But …" Scott frowned again. "What happened to capture and question?"

"They have decided it's not worth the risk." Penny replied.

Scott looked from her forlorn face to the even paler face of his sorrowful brother. "But … that's wrong …"

"And they want us to help." John added quietly.

"What? No!" Scott gasped.

John nodded slowly, his blue eyes tired and wet with tears. "There's a cell on the West Coast. FAB1 has been upgraded."

"You're shitting me!"

"I wish I was." John sighed. "There's just enough yield for precise and effective targeting."

Scott was speechless. He sank back onto his heels and stared in horror and confusion at the seemingly innocent pinkness of the elegant saloon.

"She's well suited for the only Western target because of her shielding and manoeuvrability." John continued, "It's thought that this group will be on the look out for Thunderbird 1."

"But …" Scott husked, "Surely … I mean … what happened to investigating these people … seeing where they get their Intel and supplies from and all that?"

"This is a decisive move to send out a clear message to any other groups." Penny answered.

"Oh, don't tell me you agree!"

"It's gone beyond what any of us think or feel."

"Bullshit!" Scott scoffed.

"That's what I said." John smiled thinly.

Penny watched them both for a moment and a frown creased the perfect skin above her perfect eyebrows. "So give me an alternative."

So this was it. The alternative. They would scope the place. Go to the source. Find out who was here. Get the Intel that the corrupt agents had refused to get. Find out why a great many powerful people were so eager to simply torch the place. What did they have to hide?

They had taken only conventional transport so as to avoid attracting attention and had very little time to try and find some answers before the whole site became nothing more than a crater.

They had left a message for their father, pinned to the unconscious Parker's carefully stowed form in the Thunderbird 2 silo. He had to try and stall the operation. Give them time. And not come after them.

It was dusk when they had arrived at the place. After a hellish journey getting to it. Tired and hungry they had settled down to watch the place and wait for morning. A patrol just after midnight had ruined their plans.

Scott lifted his head and looked around at the bare room. There must be some way out of here. Some way to check if Penny had got out okay. Was she getting help? Or was she simply being held clear while operation-wipe-the-scumbags-off-the-face-of-the-Earth went ahead? Were he and his brother really that expendable?

Voices again. And another rumble from deep inside him. Maybe they were bringing breakfast.

The door opened and Scott forgot his hunger. Anger was all that filled his mind. He watched as the two captors dragged their prize closer to him.

"Your friend thinks you are lying." The lead man smiled smugly.

Scott looked down at the crumpled form at his feet and his limbs ached as adrenaline surged through him. They should release him. They should undo his chains. Then they would see what he really thought of the man they claimed was his friend.

We can help each other, Scott.

Scott closed his eyes as a familiar dull ache filled his thoughts and the voice that often starred in his nightmares was loud in his mind. He shook his head and glared at the captive before him.

Together, we can get out of here.

Scott closed his eyes tighter and tried to somehow will the voice from his thoughts.

"He is in your head. No?"

Scott opened his eyes and looked up at his captors. The lead man was grinning happily and reached up to stroke back his fringe and reveal a small black device nestled in the hairline beside his temple.

"Not in here. No. With us he has no control."

Scott looked down at the gaunt, distraught face of the man that had once been all that stood between his family and the great black nothing of space. And he saw fear. It brought a smile to his face.

Please, Scott.

Scott watched the dismay that crossed The Hood's face and his smile grew. This was no longer The Hood. The man that had almost killed them and destroyed the Thunderbirds was not here. The maniac that had forced him to shoot down a police helicopter and almost murder his own father was long gone. He was naked. Bare. Castrated. And Scott laughed.

If we work together. Please, Scott. I beg you!

Scott concentrated hard on the sad face before him and somehow 'thought' a reply. It was a weird sensation.

Fuck you.

It brought a satisfying sense of pleasure as he saw the hurt that flashed across Trangh Belagants pallid face.

"Ah. You are pleased to see your friend. No?"

Scott looked up at the lead captor and his smile faded. "No. He's not - "

They don't know he's your brother.

Scott returned his gaze to Trangh and held his breath.

They actually believe the story the two of you came up with. It might not always be that way.

Don't you dare! You so much as mention him and I swear to god, I'll –

You'll what? Trangh got up onto his knees and a smile pulled briefly at his mouth. You're tied up in here. What could you possibly do to me? I, on the other hand, could make your brother's stay a great deal more interesting.

Scott shuddered as a sudden image of his brother convulsing in agony was forced into his mind. He held his breath and closed his eyes.

"He is not your friend?" The lead man frowned in confusion. "But you know him. No? He says you helped him. Says you were 'inside man'. That you don't like being Thunderbird."

"Yeah." Scott replied quickly. "God, yeah. I was trying to protect him. I … yeah … he's a good friend."

"And he says you lie."

Scott nodded sadly and took a deep, shaky breath. "Yeah. I lied."

"Oh." The lead man took his beloved torture device from his pocket and slid it onto his fingers. "So … you tell the truth now?"

Scott could feel his heart thudding in his chest. He was suddenly so confused. Was John really here? Was it actually The Hood – no, Trangh – who was crying out? Was this him? Was this all an elaborate scheme? His brain ached with so many questions. Or was that Trangh's doing?

"Well?" The lead captor urged impatiently, leaning down to hold his hand closer to Trangh.

I wonder how much of this thing your brother can take?

"Okay!" Scott shouted suddenly. "Okay! God. Yes. I'll tell you the truth."

tbc ...