Many thanks go out to everyone who reviewed, and a special thanks to Sam1 who's been helping me keep my facts straight.
WARNING: Language and violence, so younger readers please take note.
I don't own Thunderbirds or it's characters, just the ones I made up.
Alan peered down at the screen in front of him. "I don't get it Fermat, Gordon's signal was here a minute ago. Now it's gone!"
"L-L-Let me see." Fermat leaned over the computer. "I think he's moving. The s-s-signal from his communicator seems to be fa-fa-fa-getting weaker."
Alan frowned in thought. "He must be moving then, deeper into the mine. C'mon, let's get to the Mole. We can widen the entrance and get everyone out."
"G-Good idea. I'll keep trying Gordon." Fermat turned back to the computer as Alan raced to the pod containing the Mole. He quickly powered up the machine, and made his way out of TB 2's doors, towards the mine entrance.
"Mole calling Virgil. Can you hear me?" Alan asked.
"I'm here Al, what's up?" Virgil replied.
"I'm in the Mole, starting on the entrance. I also got in touch with INTERPOL. They're sending in their regional forces as we speak. I figured the Malaysian authorities ought to know what's going down too, and the more the merrier."
"Good thinking, I hadn't thought of them." A pause. "What about Gordon?"
Alan shook his head, forgetting his brother couldn't see him. "We lost his signal. Fermat thinks it's because he's too deep, but…"
"But what Alan?"
"Before I lost him, he was moving."
"Moving? Are you sure?" Virgil sounded skeptical.
"I'm sure. I think he's headed your way. Have you heard from Dad?"
"Not yet. I'm sure he has his communicator off to keep surprise on our side." Virgil paused a moment. "You've done good Sprout. Keep working on that hole, and we'll all be home in time for dinner."
Alan beamed with pride. "FAB Virgil. Mole out."
"Virgil?"
Virgil turned to Tin-Tin. "Yeah honey?"
She shook her head. "My uncle. He's…" She closed her eyes and held her crystal tight in her hands. "He's hurting them."
Virgil's breath caught in his throat. "Hurting them how?"
Tin-Tin opened her eyes and shook her head. "I don't know. I just know he's hurting them. Scott and John. They can't take much more." Her brown eyes were wide with fear.
Virgil squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. "We're almost there. My brothers are tough. It's going to take more than the Hood and his cronies to stop my family." He rummaged in his pack for a moment. "Besides, I brought along a little insurance."
Tin-Tin's eyes widened at the gun in his hands. "Virgil…"
"Don't worry, it's a tranquilizer gun. It holds two shots, and I've got another six in my pack. C'mon." Together they moved down the tunnel. They traveled in silence for nearly twenty minutes before they heard voices in the distance. Virgil held up his hand, motioning for Tin-Tin to stop, and crept forward, keeping out of sight. He paused to duck behind a mass of fallen boulders and timbers. He could hear his father's voice right in front of him, and he peered up, his heart beating painfully in his chest at the sight before him.
Scott knelt on the floor, curled so that his head almost touched his knees. Blood stained the back of his uniform, and he clutched his right shoulder tightly.
Next to him, Penny was also on her knees, gasping for breath, her once spotless pink outfit stained and tore.
Jeff was blocking Virgil's view of John, but Virgil could hear his older brother moaning. The agony in the sound nearly drove Virgil out of his hiding place.
He could see Mullion standing towards the back, a gun held tightly in his hands. Virgil couldn't see the Hood, but from the way Jeff was standing immobile, he knew the evil man was there too.
"Let them go!" Jeff shouted as he tried unsuccessfully to break free of the Hood's power. "For God's sake, it's me you want!"
"No Jeff. It's you I want to suffer." Hood snarled. "As I suffered."
"I didn't make you. You chose to be who you are." Jeff shot back.
"Chose? You think I chose this?" Hood shook his head in disbelief, his power ebbing for a moment. Penny took a shuddering gasp and turned to Scott, who slumped to the floor. "You made me the moment you left me to die!" Hood shouted.
"I didn't leave you. I didn't even know you were there. How many did you leave, did you kill with your greed?" Jeff responded coolly.
Hood laughed harshly. "Keep telling yourself that Jeff. Tell yourself you saved as many as you could find. Does it help you to sleep at night?" He gestured toward John who stared up at him with hate filled eyes. "And what about your sons? Do you think they find the same comfort knowing what their father did?"
"We… we can't save…everyone." John panted.
Hood turned his evil gaze on the young astronaut. "Yes, another little 'Jeff Tracy' clone. He's brainwashed all of you hasn't he?"
John struggled to his feet, his blue eyes blazing in fury. "Fuck you."
"John." Jeff said sternly.
Hood merely laughed. "Tell me John, how does it feel to be the cast off son?"
John frowned in puzzlement. "What are you talking about?"
"Why else would your father send you, and not one of your other brothers, up onto Thunderbird 5 for months at a time? Why were you not chosen for one of the other positions in his precious organization?"
"We all play to our strengths." John replied automatically. "We're placed where our skills are the most valuable."
"Again, spoken like a good little soldier." Hood laughed.
"Knock it off Hood. Don't try and turn this back on me." Jeff glared as he placed a hand on John's shoulder.
"Getting too close to the truth Jeff?" Hood turned back to John. "Don't you ever wonder why? Why you were forgotten in space? Why they didn't come to rescue you?"
John's hands clenched into fists. "They came for me. My family sticks together, something a creep like you wouldn't understand."
"I understand too well John." Hood gazed thoughtfully at the young man for a few moments. "Very well." He turned and walked to stand next to Mullion. "I've changed my mind Jeff. You may go."
Jeff watched him warily. "What's the catch?"
"A simple choice. You may take one son."
"What?"
"One son Jeff." Once again Hood exerted his power. Scott moaned in anguish and John clutched his temples, biting back a scream. "Which one do you want to live Jeff?"
"Leave them alone!" Jeff shouted.
"Chose Jeff. Or I kill them both." Hood's eyes glowed and evil red. Scott sagged forward, his face ashen. Jeff turned involuntarily towards his eldest. Hood laughed. "So be it."
John let out a cry of pain and collapsed to his knees, blood pouring from his nose. "Dad…" He moaned.
"John! No!" Jeff tried to rush to his son's side, but found himself unable to move. "Let me go you son of a bitch!" Hood merely laughed again.
"Let me." Tin-Tin whispered as she appeared at Virgil's side. She held her crystal in her hand and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were gold and slitted as a cat's.
Hood's power faltered and a feral smile crossed his face. "Well, well little niece. Have you come out to play?"
Tin-Tin didn't answer but pushed Hood back a few paces. The Hood snarled. "I grow tired of this." He narrowed his eyes and John screamed.
Tin-Tin frowned and a golden shimmer appeared around him. Hood let out a cry and focused his evil eyes on John. Only this time, nothing happened. "You can't help him for long Tin-Tin. Soon I will have you!" Hood roared.
Virgil watched from his place next to her. He held the gun out in front of him. "Move Dad! You're blocking my shot!" He muttered to himself.
Tin-Tin took another deep breath and Jeff fell to the floor.
Hood stepped back, startled, and Virgil fired. The dart hit the man in the neck. Hood staggered backwards and fell to the ground. Both John and Scott let out twin sighs of relief.
At the same time, there was a resounding crack and Mullion's eyes rolled up in his head. He dropped unconscious next to his employer.
They all stared, unable to comprehend what had happened. Virgil darted forward with Tin-Tin at his heels. "Dad!"
Jeff looked over at his fallen foes, his face a mask of confusion. "Virgil? Then who…"
Gordon stepped out from the shadows, his hair matted down with dried blood. "I found a bigger rock."