Hello all! Sorry for the delay, but I've been having computer problems and a migrane, which in turn was caused by the computer problems...Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and a special thank-you goes out to Sam1 for helping me keep all my facts straight!
WARNING: Again, younger readers take care. Language and violence.
Alan shrugged his arm out of Virgil's grip. "Let go of me!"
"Listen to me Sprout. I want you Tin-Tin and Fermat to get to TB 2. Run the scanners and pinpoint Gordon's location. Then power up the Mole and get him out. Do not go after Dad and the others, do not try and find the Hood." Virgil's eyes bore into his brother's. "That's an order Alan."
"Where will you be?" Alan asked sullenly.
"I'm going to help Dad." Virgil held up a hand to stem Alan's protests. "Look Al, he can't do this alone. I know you three stopped him last time, but he knows what you're capable of now. Me, I'm an unknown factor." Virgil gripped Alan's shoulders. "You're a Thunderbird Alan. Gordon needs you."
The two stared at each other for a moment before Alan nodded. "Just…be careful Virgil." Alan said solemnly.
Virgil grinned. "I always am Sprout. Good luck."
"Virgil wait! I can help you." Tin-Tin said.
He shook his head. "No honey, go with Alan. You'll be safer."
"You don't understand." She looked at Alan who nodded. "I…I have the same powers as my uncle." She said softly.
"What?"
"Show him Tin-Tin." Alan told her. Fermat nodded at his side.
Tin-Tin closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Look, I don't know what you three think you're doing, but this is no time for—Hey!" Virgil's voice was cut off as he went sprawling to the ground.
Tin-Tin stood staring at him, her coffee colored eyes now amber as a cat's. She held her crystal necklace tight in her hands. Virgil tried to get to his feet, and once again, Tin-Tin pushed him to the ground. She closed her eyes again and this time when she opened them, they had returned to their normal hue. She extended her hand and helped Virgil to his feet. "I'm sorry." She told him softly.
Virgil frowned thoughtfully. "Does my father know about this?"
She nodded. "Yes. I had to use my…powers in London, at the bank."
"And you two knew?" Virgil asked Alan and Fermat.
They nodded. "Dad wanted to keep it quiet. Said no one needed to know." Alan told him.
"I can see why." Virgil rubbed his head, then he sighed. "All right, Alan, Fermat get to Thunderbird 2 and find Gordon. Tin-Tin, you're with me."
"We'll notify INTERPOL. Thunderbirds are go." Alan grinned and wrapped his arm around Fermat's waist. Together they made their way out of sight down the tunnel.
Virgil eyed Tin-Tin gravely. "You sure you're ready for this?"
She nodded. "He hurt my family. He has to be stopped." She said solemnly.
Virgil knew she meant more than her parents when she said 'family'. He smiled encouragingly at her. "Then let's go."
Jeff and Penny didn't speak as they ran through the mine. Finally Jeff paused and studied his scanner. "They should be just around the next corner, about another fifty yards or so."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Penny smiled charmingly.
"Penny wait." Jeff grabbed her arm. "I don't like you being part of this. I wish you'd go back with Virgil."
Penny shook her head. "I became part of this when Hood grabbed me in Massachusetts." She said sharply. Then her tone softened and she placed a hand on Jeff's cheek. "Darling, like it or not I'm here. And I'm not leaving you, John or Scotty."
Jeff smiled. "Don't let him hear you call him 'Scotty'." He squeezed her hand. "Let's go get my boys." Hand in hand, they continued forward. Finally they reached the corner and could hear voices ahead of them. Jeff peered out and was stunned at the sight before him.
Scott was slumped on his knees on the floor, his left hand clutching his right shoulder, which in turn was soaked with blood. John stood protectively in front of his older brother, one hand held under his nose, the other clenched in a fist at his side. His face was pale and his blue eyes blazed in fury. The Hood was standing in front of the young men, his evil red eyes glittering. Mullion stood next to him, Scott's gun trained on them both.
John met the Hood's gaze defiantly. "What's the matter Hood? Afraid to get your hands dirty? You need to use mind games to defeat your opponents?" He snorted. "Coward."
Jeff knew his second son well, and knew that John's calm demeanor hid a temper to rival all the other four's put together. And that temper was, right now, barely being held in check.
The Hood merely laughed. "You truly think you are in any condition to take on myself and Mullion here?"
John drew both hands up into fists. Jeff started at seeing the blood on his son's gloves and face. "Bring it on." John snarled.
"John…don't…" Scott moaned from the floor.
John ignored him as the Hood laughed. "You certainly are stubborn my boy. Must take after your poor dead mother."
"Leave her out of this." John growled.
Hood laughed again and motioned for Mullion to step forward. "I shall enjoy breaking the rest of your body. Then when I'm finished with you, I'll have a bit of fun with your brother. By the time I'm through, he'll be begging me to kill him." Mullion sneered.
"I've got to stop this Pen." Jeff was just about to step forward, when John's tremulous hold on his temper finally snapped.
John threw himself forward, knocking Hood to the ground, where the man lay stunned for a moment. Then, before Mullion could register what had happened, John lashed out with a vicious kick, hearing the snap of bone as his boot connected with Mullion's hand. The gun went flying, and John used his momentum to throw a hard punch at Mullion's midsection, following up with another kick, this time to the thug's chin. Mullion went down with a resounding thud. John spun quickly and slammed his heel into Mullion's unprotected throat. The man flailed around, frantically trying to get John's foot off his windpipe, but was rapidly fading due to lack of oxygen.
John watched as the Hood got to his feet, hatred evident on his face. "I will kill you John."
"Not before I kill him." John replied coldly, increasing his pressure. Mullion clawed desperately at John's leg, to no avail.
Hood's gaze leveled at John. "What does that matter to me?"
The comment threw John for a moment. But before he could reply, Jeff stepped out of the shadows. "John, that's enough."
They all looked up startled. Jeff, with Penny standing next to him, trained his gun on Hood. "It's over John, back off." Jeff told his son.
John eased his foot off Mullion's throat. The big man staggered to his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he cradled his injured arm to his chest.
"You came for your sons Jeff. And you managed to rescue your princess. How touching." Hood said, smiling evilly. "Where are the rest of your dear boys?"
"They're gone Hood. It's just you and me." Jeff replied, walking over to kneel next to Scott.
"Then who are all these?" Hood asked, gesturing around.
"Let them go. You want me, you got me." Jeff eased Scott to his feet. "Easy son." John appeared at his side in a heart beat, supporting Scott with one hand. He winced as his brother leaned into him. "You alright John?" Jeff asked, concerned.
John nodded. "I'm fine." He hissed through clenched teeth.
"Liar…" Scott muttered softly, before groaning in pain.
John tightened his grip. "Let's get the hell out of here."
Hood stepped in front of them, blocking the path. "And what makes you think I'm going to let you leave?"
"We already have Transom, and the others are notifying the authorities as we speak." Penny told him.
"The others? Ah yes, I assume you mean Alan, Virgil and what was the other one? Named after yet another astronaut I believe…Ah, now I remember, Gordon. Wait, wasn't he buried in a cave-in? Or did you just decide to forget about another son?" Hood taunted.
John and Scott both looked up at their father in concern. "Dad? What's he talking about?" John demanded.
"You…you didn't…find Gord?" Scott asked at the same time.
"He's fine." Jeff said curtly. "It takes more than a cave-in to stop my family." Jeff told the Hood.
Hood was unruffled. "Next time I shall have to use a bigger rock."
"There won't be a next time. Let's move boys." Jeff stepped aside to let John and Scott pass. Scott moved slowly, leaning heavily on his brother. John's lips were tight with pain as he supported Scott's weight. Penny wrapped one hand around Scott and helped ease the burden. John nodded his thanks.
"I don't think you understand Jeff. None of you are going anywhere." Hood stated calmly.
Jeff stood his ground. "I said, we're leaving." He nudged his sons forward, staying behind them to watch their backs. Suddenly John cried out and dropped to his knees, his hands pressing against his temples. Scott let out a low moan and leaned heavily into Penny, who struggled to hold him upright.
"John! Scott!" Jeff grabbed Scott and eased him to the floor, then turned to John. "Son? What is it? What's wrong?"
"He's…My head…God it hurts…" John moaned as blood flowed from his nose.
Jeff whirled on the Hood. "Knock it off."
Hood merely smiled, his red eyes glittering. "To quote your son, 'Make me.' Choose Jeff."
"Choose what?" Jeff asked puzzled. Just then, Penny gave a strangled gasp, and her hands flew to her throat. "Penny!" He turned back to the Hood. "Let them go."
Hood laughed. "I've only gotten more powerful Jeff. Choose. The lives of your sons, or the life of your princess." He narrowed his eyes and John nearly screamed.
"Stop!" Jeff rushed towards Hood, only to be stopped by Mullion's fist. Jeff stumbled backwards, his eyes filled with hate. "I'll kill you."
"Promises, promises Jeff. You tried once already and failed." Hood's eyes returned to their normal color, and the man shook his head to clear it.
Penny took a deep breath, coughing as she gulped in air. Scott was barely holding on to consciousness and John looked up at his father with haunted eyes.
"You've got me. Let them go." Jeff demanded.
Hood shook his head. "No Jeff. Killing you would be too easy. I want you to suffer like I suffered. For you to go about the rest of your life, waking up each morning to the realization that you held all their lives in your hands and failed." Hood's eyes changed red again. "Say good-bye to your family Jeff."
Mullion roared with laughter as Hood once again exerted his power, and Jeff stood by, helpless.