WOW! Another chapter up so quick! stares in awe Anywho! I'm excited about this chapter. Here you will learn Lona's history with the Tracys and dramatic music her first meeting with the Hood! I can't wait to hear what you all think of this. So, please! Let me know.

Ummmm. The bold words are signed and the italics are a flashback. Enjoy!

Miss Elizabeth Blakeney

Chapter 25: Shades of the Past

When they got back to the compound, Lona raced to her room to change into jeans and a t-shirt while Scott and Jeff finished their abandon breakfasts. They were placing their dishes in the sink when Lona skidded back into the room and grabbed an energy bar. Grinning at them, she tore off the wrapper and bit hungrily into the bar. Together, they walked into the Jeff's office. The rest of the family was seated around the room, and John's face could be seen on the monitor over Jeff's desk. As soon as Jeff stepped into the room, his fist slammed into his forehead. Everyone stopped what they were doing, stunned.

"John, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot to call you back." John gave him an amused grin followed by mock shock.

"Did I just hear Jeff Tracy, ex-astronaut, commander of the famous THUNDERBIRDS, and most perfect human being to ever live say he made a…mistake! Watch out guys! I think the sky is falling!" Lona giggled silently, while the rest of the occupants of Tracy Island made more noise in their mirth. Jeff threw his middle son a mostly mock scowl. Then he let his smile escape.

"You better watch it mister, or else you'll not see the inside of any THUNDERBIRD for quite some time."

"Yeah, I'm shaking in my boots." John's tone told everyone he was anything but.

"Okay, okay. We have an organization to run. Let's act like one." After everyone had settled down, each brother gave his account of the previous day's rescue. Then Jeff told them what had occurred back at base. When they heard that the rescue had been predominately Lona's idea, she was rewarded with thumb's up or slaps on the back. Blushing slightly, she signed her thanks. Then Jeff rounded on Scott.

"I want to say one more thing, then this debriefing is finished. If my eldest son ever pulls a stunt like that again, his wings will be clipped so fast he won't know what hit him." Then with a smile on his face, Jeff continued. "It was the only thing you could do Scott. I just want you to make sure you don't have to relay on such risky stunts to complete a rescue. Understood?" With Scott's sheepish affirmation, Jeff closed out the debriefing.

"Now, I believe we were discussing something of importance before we were interrupted by the rescue.

Lona, do you want to pick up where we left off, or have you learned everything you ever wanted to know about International Rescue?" She grinned at him, then nodded.

For now. Though if you think you can keep me out of them, you have another thing coming. I can't wait to see those babies' insides! All the family shook their heads, grins escaping. Some things had not changed.

Jeff looked her straight in the eye and asked the question foremost in his mind. "Are you ready to tell us what happened to you, when you were the Hood's prisoner?" Everyone in the room noticed the badly disguised flinch the young woman made at the criminal's name, but they chose to say nothing. After all that she had to have gone through, it was perfectly understandable. Lona studied her hands for several minutes, eyes cloudy, as if she were seeing into the last several year of hell she had experienced. She swallowed nervously, before raising her eyes to meet those of Jeff Tracy, her father in all but name. In them she could see compassion, sadness, understanding, and strength. He was willing to hear everything, patiently waiting until she was ready, and then prepared to be the emotional strength she desperately needed, but could not find in herself.

Yes. I am ready. Who is translating? Scott quickly raised his hand, looking for all the world like an innocent school boy.

Ok. Well, after…after graduation, I told my father that I was going to join the Air Force. He was…not very pleased with the idea, and did everything in his power to keep me from going. That included bribes, threats, and verbal abuse. But I was determined. Finally, he practically threw me out of the house. Seeing the Kyranos' and Brain's reaction to this, she quickly explained. I never had a very good relationship with my father. He for all intents and purposes did not have a daughter until my early teen years. For awhile, he tried, more like pretended, to be a good father but he never loved me. I was not a boy, not a thankful child, not an obedient child, etc. I was nothing he wanted me to be, and so he wanted nothing to do with me. If it weren't for the Tracys, I would never have had a family. Her eyes, shining with love and unshed tears, locked on the founder of IR and a small smile softened the hardened look her face held.

Well, I went anyway. It was what I had always wanted. I…I saw you Scott, here she paused and looked him in the eye. I wanted to say something, see you, let you know I was working towards my dream-our dream. But…because of the…incident, there was no need for her to say what incident, I didn't. I'm sorry. Also, I…don't know if you know, but the other test pilot of the Attack Wing, well, that was me. I watched you fly, you were awesome.

"You were awesome too, Lona! I watched the other pilot make the jet do things I didn't think it could do. Dad told me…a couple days ago that the other test pilot was you. You are one hel…heck of a flyer." Lona blushed slightly, but her quirky smile showed everyone how pleased she was by the compliment.

Well, it was one awesome jet! Dad…he didn't even come to the medal ceremony. A brief tightening of her lips was the only sign of how much this had hurt her. However, soon after the test, my…our commanding officer came to me and asked if I would take part in a top secret project. I agreed. When we got to his office, my father was waiting for us. He and the government had decided to build the fastest jet the world had ever known. They wanted my help; as a pilot, my input could be essential. I agreed and began an intensive study into engineering, particularly in aeronautics. Taking information and details Dad's company and the Air Force gave me, I came up with a jet that could fly 10,000 mph. Not for an extensive time, but in short burst, it would be very effective. I drew up the designs, except for the engine placement. The engine was not finished and it would have to before I could place it properly in the designs. Dad wanted to pick up the completed designs I had and take them to a secret place, but I would not let him until they were done. When the engine was completed, I flew out to our house on leave and was taken to the base. There was complete silence in the room, minus Scott's translation. Everyone was having difficulty taking in Lona's story. Jeff particularly, was trying to push one insistent, questioning voice into a back corner of his brain. Why had James agreed to work with her on this? At the time, he had refused to even speak her name, because of her rebellion against his wishes.

Well, I couldn't work out there very well, so I went..somewhere and finished it. I drove back home to tell Dad I was finished, but when I arrived…He had them all tied up… Lona's hands went still as she drew them into tight fists. Her mind traveled back to the day her whole life changed.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home." The huge front door squealed slightly on its hinges, and then was silent. The young woman, still a girl in many ways despite the uniform she wore, walked quietly into the colossal entrance hall. A frown crossed her forehead when no one came to greet her. Then she shrugged and climbed the gilded stairway up to her bedchamber. Pulling her cap off her head, she smoothed her short hair back into place, then proceeded to unbutton her shirt.

Soon she was changed into civilian clothes and making her way back down the long staircase. Pausing briefly at her mother's office, she changed her mind and continued down the hall. As she proceeded down the long corridor, she could not suppress a slight shiver. She suddenly realized she had not seen a single person since she had come home. Not in the entrance, any of the hallways, nor outdoors either. All of her military training kicked in and she began slipping into shadows and masking her footsteps. Finally, she made it to the door to her father's study. Resting her back against the stone wall, she strained with all her senses to hear something from the room whose light was peaking under the door and flowing down the darkened hall.

A loud voice split the silence, the words cracking in the air like a whip.

"Are you certain she drove up?"

"Yes sir, quite sure. And the prisoner said she would come straight here."

"He did, didn't he. Perhaps he lied to us. We should teach him what happens to people who lie to me." Lona bit her lip as her father's soft, sly voice came to her ear, quivering slightly with fear.

"I swear to you, I did not lie. You heard the car pull up, she must have gone up to her room and changed clothes or something. I promise you, she told me she would come directly to see me as soon as she came home." Lona could not take this. Her father was cooperating with a man, obviously a criminal, and helping him to capture her. This had to be about the plans. Suddenly the door was thrown open, luckily covering her, as she was now behind the opened door.

"Whatever you do Mullion, don't kill her. Yet." A deep, evil chuckle was followed by heavy footsteps heading down the hallway. The door closed and Lona was forced to conceal herself as much as she could in the shadows. She prayed desperately that the big, dark man, Mullion, would not have a reason to turn around. When he rounded the far corner without a glance back, she heaved a huge, but quiet sigh. Then, she started to plan. She was still trying to figure out how to get the leader and unknown amount of minions to come out of the room, when she heard the muscle man stomp back up the hallway. There was no where to hide, she was trapped!

The dark man's eyes held hers for one long moment, then an evil smile came on his face. Stomping his feet to get his employer's attention, he began moving in towards the young woman. Lona felt her body slide into a defensive posture; all of her martial arts and hand-to-hand combat training coming to the fore. The tall man's grin grew brighter and his body tensed, preparing for the inevitable battle. The moment stretched into eternity, both seasoned fighters waiting for the other to make the first move. Suddenly, Mullion let out a half growl half shout and raced towards Lona. Bringing up one of her thin, yet muscular arms, she blocked him effortlessly. Surprise flickered in his eyes, but only for a second.

Movement registered in her peripheral vision. Leaping straight up, she avoided the thick leg that had been trying to sweep her feet out from under her. She somersaulted over his head, and landing lightly on the carpeted floor, turned and shot her leg out, sending a massive kick right at the small of his back. He stumbled forward before catching himself. Swiftly turning around, his cold, calculating eyes rested on her. The first hit had been hers. From now on, no mercy would be shown.

They traded blows for several minutes, though it seemed hours. Lona was tiring and she knew it; thinking quickly, she faked a left-handed thrust, turning it into a right high kick. Mullion was thrown back against the wall; the striking of his head causing a dull thunk that echoed through the hall. Lona was straightening her sweat-soaked form, when a noise behind caused her to make a quick half-turn. Standing behind her, with a look of mocking admiration on his face, was a bald man wearing a red oriental robe with an embroidered dragon crouching on it.

"Bravo, bravo, Miss Danvers. You really have surpassed my expectations."

She gave a brief inclination of her head and answered, "Glad to know I still have the power to astonish. However, I trust it won't happen again." A slight twitch of his eyebrows was the only expression he would give her.

"No, I'm afraid not." Silence lay between them for a time. Finally, the man broke the silence. "Might I offer you the services of my hospitality for a time."

"I rather think not. I don't make it a habit to accept invitations from men who have broken into my family's house. Rather conventional I know, but what can I say?" This time she was sure she had seen a slight gleam of humor in his dark eyes. She breathed a quick prayer of thanksgiving for her level head. She was in desperate need of it now.

"I fear I must insist. You see, your father has been…rather recalcitrant and refused to provide me with a small tidbit of information. Now, I would give you the option of providing this service, but from the delightful conversation we have been having, I doubt you would."

"Try me. I've a relatively open mind."

"All I'm asking for is the plans to the new jet your father is building for your government. I know you've been helping him."

"Well, in this case, I'm afraid you're right. It's just a little too much to ask of me. Now, I might ask you to leave the easy way, but I have this feeling you won't do so."

"We seem to understand each other perfectly. I apologize for this, but you leave me with no choice." Before she could ask him to clarify his statement, his eyes began to glow red and the pupil became cat-like. She felt her mind drifting, shutting down all conscious thought. She began fighting this strange power, but it was too late. Her eyes closed of their own volition, and Lona knew no more.