Hey everyone, it is FINALLY here! The long awaited (for me if no one else) next chapter. I apologize for it being a little short, but the next one will be longer and is on its way. Hope you enjoy! Sarah

Disclaimer: Don't own Thunderbirds (or much else for that matter) or any of the people, places or things related to them.

Chapter 4: The Shanghaiing of Scott

As soon as Alan was inside the ship, Virgil hurriedly shot Thunderbird 2 up. He quickly landed and helped unload Jason and Meredith, who had lost consciousness. When they were loaded into the ambulances, he ran with Gordon to Mobile Control; Alan had headed there as soon as Thunderbird 2 had landed. Both Virgil and Gordon had heard Alan screaming for Scott to answer, and both had heard the silence that had followed. When they reached Mobile Control, they were stunned by what they saw. Alan was holding onto a scrap of cloth and staring at nothing while one of the fireman and a policeman were hovering around a man lying on the ground.

Virgil walked up to the man they all knew as the mayor and asked, "What's happened? Where's Scott?" The mayor looked at him sadly.

"We don't know. We were all standing over there watching the rescue, when we heard this young man," pointing to Alan, "screaming for Scott. We hurried to see what was going on. When we got here, we found Tad...uh Mr. Robertson where he is now and no sign of your friend or Mr. Lung, who was with them." Virgil nodded, trying not to show how worried he was. The fireman stood up and approached the mayor.

"Mr. Dixon, Tad's been drugged. We found a mark on his arm made by a syringe, and besides, he ain't truly asleep, just unresponsive." Eyeing Virgil, he said, "We have to know a lot about drugs. Too many of our young people are into them." Virgil nodded; he was so numb that he could not think of anything to say. He glanced over at Alan, and then slowly made his way over to him. Placing one artistic hand on his kid brother's shoulder, he knelt next to him.

"How're you holding up Al?" Alan didn't answer but passed him the piece of cloth. Virgil glanced at it, and then took a closer look. It was from his brother's sleeve. And right in the middle was a small pinprick of blood. They must have drugged him too; though by the looks of the ground, I'd say they fought first. Unexpectedly, he felt someone tap his shoulder. Spinning swiftly around, he found Gordon standing there with the saddest look Virgil had ever seen.

"What?" Gordon shook his head and grabbed his arm. He led him over to the Mobile Control and pushed a button. Suddenly, voices could be heard.

"Thank you for saving those two young people. They are our future. Thank you." One of the rescue men looked around before his eyes fell on the control unit.

"That's Mr. Lung's voice on the recording. Hope you guys can find out what's happened to your operative and him. We're moving Tad now, catch you later." None of the THUNDERBIRDS operatives heard him; their whole focus was on the recording.

Virgil would have hugged Scott if he were here. He had turned on the recorder. Virgil didn't understand why, but he hoped there would be a clue in the dialogue telling them what had happened. Then he tensed as he heard the next line.

"Scott, there is no reason for this to end in violence. Just drop your laser pistol and put your hands on your head. You are going on a little journey."

Virgil was listening very hard now. This Mr. Lung is obviously Oriental, and if he is, he is most likely working for only one person...

"Alright." Sounds of a scuffle ensued, then silence. Virgil was about to walk away when Gordon held him back.

"Wait." Then he heard it. Someone was speaking in a foreign language. It sounded like the languages he heard when they were rescuing people in Japan or China, but he did not think it was either of those languages.

"Scott? Are you there? Do you copy? Scott, answer me!" A few more words in the unknown language, then there were the sounds of someone walking away, someone laden down with something. Virgil couldn't help himself. He slammed his fist down on the button to stop the recording and walked off. Gordon just stood there gaping. Virgil never let anyone see him angry or flustered. He was the cool headed one of the bunch. However, Gordon couldn't fault him for the outburst. Virg and Scott were closer then any of the other brothers; they often seemed to act as one on rescues. For one to lose the other was unthinkable.

Scott's lifeless body was thrown in the back of "Mr. Lung's" black sedan. With a squeal of tires, the sedan zoomed away from the rescue scene out onto the highway. Gheat's lips moved in such a way that one could call it a smile, though most wouldn't as it radiated pure evil. He would be paid well for this...service. His master wanted the field leader of the Thunderbirds and Gheat was bringing him. His operative was sitting in the back seat with the IR leader, checking to make sure he was alive. He gave a quick nod. Thirty minutes later, Gheat parked the sedan next to a small plane, which they were hiding on an abandoned airstrip. The rest of his team were already prepping the plane and hiding the vehicles they had stolen for this operation.

Gheat pulled the still drugged Scott from the backseat and carried him over to the plane. In the main hold, a medical gurney was set up. Scott was unceremoniously dumped on it and strapped in. Gheat was about to hook an IV onto his arm when he noticed it. Muttering harsh obscenities at his men and himself, he tore the watch from Scott's arm and stomped outside the plane.

"Guard him," he barked to the nearest man. He quickly disappeared inside. Gheat turned on the rest of his men.

"Jin-non, take this. Drive out to the large lake a few miles back and drop it into the water. But before you do, push this button. Not now, you fool! Do this and then take this money and fly back to base. We will be waiting for you." The man nodded and hurried to do his leader's bidding. Jin-non had served with Gheat on many of his...jobs for their master, and they trusted each other, at least as much as two men in their situation in life can trust.

Gheat marched back into the plane, only to find their prisoner slowly gaining consciousness. Gheat sent the guard to copilot the plane and he smiled as the plane lifted off. The rest of his men would use different commercial airlines and arrive back at base within the week. Their master knew how to move without being seen and had taught this crack team of cutthroats a good bit of his tricks. Gheat's focus was caught by the groan issuing from the man lying beside him.

Scott slowly blinked his eyes that many women had called "killer blue eyes," though he and his family did wonder if he would be as handsome if his father were not a billionaire. His eyes were having problems focusing at the moment, and his head ached terribly. While still trying to get his uncooperative eyes to focus, he tried with his other senses to figure out where he was. The sound of an engine, a plane engine that he was not piloting, peaked his interests. What am I doing in a plane, but not piloting it? His mind, which was sluggishly trying to start up again, reminded him that he had been at a rescue.This confused him further. If I was on a rescue, then who's driving Thunderbird 1? And why can't I seem to move anything below my neck? Am I injured? No. That did not seem right.

He blinked. Yes, he had seen something move. Suddenly, his world came into brilliant focus, and just as quickly, his heart sank. There was Mr. Lung, who he had fought with before the world went dark. This was definitely not Thunderbird 1, so he must be a prisoner. Slowly turning his head fully to the man next to him, Scott opened his mouth and tried to speak. No word would come out.

"I imagine your mouth feels a little dry right now. That is to be expected since we had to drug you. Now, Scott, you are on a plane. We are taking you to our...employer who is very anxious to see you. However, to make sure you don't give us any more trouble, I'm afraid I'll going to have to drug you again. Just hold still, Mr. Tracy." Scott tried to not show the shudder that went through his body. This man knew who he was. He knew that IR was in fact the Tracy family. Only a few people were privileged with that info, and only one knew it that would do this. As the man inserted the IV needle into his skin, Scott tried to speak again. This time, as he felt his mind slip into the darkness, he forced the word out.

"Hhhhoooooodddd."