Here is the next chapter! Sorry, this was suppose to come out sooner, but my computer has been on strike against me. I've beaten it into submission with sticks, so hopefully this will work. Hope you guys enjoyand please letme know what you guys think. Sorry, I'm in a bit of rush, but i have work in a few minutes. Enjoy the chapter. Oh, by the way, this is were some things become interesting. Can't say anything more. ;)

Miss Elizabeth

P.S. Don't own Thunderbirds.

Chapter 29: Moment of Truth

For several days, quiet reigned over the island hideaway. Though they continued regular checkups with John, there were no rescues requiring International Rescue's aid. As the days turned into weeks, the Tracy boys began to grow restless. One by one they joined Lona on her morning's constitutional; abet not at the early hour she did, so she was forced to wait for them to rise. She, however, did not truly mind this; it was much more entertaining to hike through the undergrowth with three boys showing her all the "sights". Excitement brightened the dark weeks of inactivity but once. After two weeks of quiet, the Tracy world was ruptured by a loud noise. Scott and Lona were the only ones hiking that day, and had just made it back to the swimming pool when a loud "DAMN!" split the air. With barely a glance, both of them broke into a run.

When they got to the side of the pool, Lona's tight mouth twitched and Scott's blue eyes sparkled with hidden mirth. There in front of them was the head of the Tracy family and the founder of International Rescue, struggling to keep himself afloat in the crystal water of the boys' swimming pool. Both of them moved gingerly to the edge and stretched their hands out towards the kicking, frustrated man. Grasping his sodden arms, they hauled him out and let him catch his breath. Thanking them, still muttering words under his breath that Scott could not make out, not for lack of trying, he took a step away and promptly collapsed. Quickly radioing Brains, Scott turned back around to see Lona laying Jeff flat on the concrete. Sinking down beside his father, Scottran a quick check over the now oddly-bent leg whileLona easily and silently kept Jeff's focus off his leg in an attempt to keep him from slipping into shock.

Suddenly, his father's low, even voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Bet you thought you'd never have to use your training to take care of your old man."

"Seems like I'm not doing much of anything. Lona seems to be able to handle it fine without me, despite not being able to say a word."

"Don't blame yourself, Scott. This is kinda taking all of us by surprise. I just wish I hadn't been so clumsy as to miss that last step and manage to find the one float you boys left by the pool." Scott ducked his head sheepishly, just as he had when younger. "I just hope it's not broken. With Alan gone back to school, we're going to seem shorthanded without me."

"We got along fine before without Alan. We'll miss him, but we can make do without him or you."

Nothing else was said as Brains came up. Jeff had indeed broken his leg. Though thankfully not a compound fracture, Jeff was forced to hop around on crutches for a few weeks. Despite the hilarious situation leading to his injury, none of his boys dared tease him about it. He had made it quite clear that particular subject was dangerous territory. Even Gordon, the endless tormenter and tease, was not about to touch that subject, not even with a ten foot pole. Life continued on as it had before, with the exception of Jeff not appearing around much of the house. He closeted himself in his study and worked on Tracy Enterprises and IR business. Nothing could prepare them for what was to come.
Scott was violently wakened by the klaxon early Saturday morning. Throwing on his robe, he stumbled blearily out of his room. Eyes still heavy from sleep, he did not see the figure who had just opened his own door and sent them both crashing to the ground.

Basing his judgment more on instinct then facts, Scott apologized, "Sorry Virgil. I didn't see you."

"Most people don't with their eyes closed." Scott laughed humorlessly.

"Why do you have to be a freaking morning person? It's three o'clock in the morning! Please, for the sake of all mankind, don't be so darn cheerful!" Smirking, Virgil quickened his pace. They needed to reach the command/control center quickly. When they arrived, the rest of the family was gathered, along with Kyrano, Onaha, and Brains. Scott shot a glare at Lona, who was calmly sitting on the couch, wide awake and smiling at him. He had always been a notoriously horrible morning person.

Jeff got straight down to business. "We've got a call from a forest ranger in the Rockies. Seems there was a rock slide and a family of four is trapped in a small cave. The rocks completely cover the entrance and they only have approximately three hours of oxygen left. This is going to be a major operation and you'll need all the manpower you can get. Brains, I want you to go with Scott and man Mobile Control. Since I'm incapacitated, Scott, you'll have to help Virgil man the Mole or Firefly."

"FAB." Brains went with the rest of the Tracy boys to the chutes that lead to the ships. Jeff turned to ask John, who was on the desk's screen, a question when he suddenly realized that Scott had not left. Turning angrily around, he prepared to chew his eldest son out. However, Scott quickly leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"How about we take Lona with us? We could really use the extra help." Jeff frustrations doubled. He had actually contemplated this recourse, but had been forced to reject it.

"There's no good way for her to communicate with all of you. Besides, she's yet to even set foot off this island. Until she helps herself, she won't be able to help others." Seeing his son's hesitation, he reiterated. "Get to your ship, they've got less then three hours."

Soon both rockets had taken off and speeded on towards the hapless family. After sending Tin-tin back to bed, Onaha and Kyrano left to prepare coffee and breakfast for the remaining dwellers. Jeff and John continued to compare notes and try to devise a plan to get the people to safety. Lona watched the Tracy father for sometime, then could not stop her curiosity. Coming around behind him, she smiled faintly at John, then crouched beside her Daddy Tracy. Cocking her head to the side, she gave him a quizzical look. Turning to talk with her better, he moved his broken leg too quickly. Pain shot through him, and he winced. Still hurting, he barked out his question.

"What is it, Lona?" She flinched imperceptibly. It was hard for her to take any form of anger or harsh words without waiting for a blow or whip lash. John knew this and tried to help.

"Dad, you didn't need to bite her head off. I…"

"John, did this conversation concern you?"

"Well, uh…I just…"

"It did not, so please allow Lona and I to talk without interruption. Now, Lona, what did you want?" Shaking her head, she rose to her feet and started to turn around. Jeff realized he had been short with her, and tried to calm down. Too much was going on between his broken leg and this rescue. He asked her again, this time in a calmer voice, "Lona, did you want to say something?"

Turning back around, she nodded and began signing. Jeff looked at John, and John began translating.

I wanted to ask why you didn't send me on the mission. I realize I couldn't be out in front of people, but the boys have been training me on the different machines. I could have opened another operative to help with the trapped people. John completely agreed with her, and was glad she had brought it up. She could have helped behind the scenes and freed one of his brothers to be on site.

Jeff clenched his fist as another streak of pain shot up his leg. He was defiantly not in top shape and was feeling the pressure from the time limit International Rescue had left to work. Anger at himself for stupidly tripping and breaking his leg and at the fact that they were already down one man had risen with the klaxon; the pain served as the catalyst and the volatile mixture spilled over.

"I can tell you why, Lona. You have made no move to get off this island since we brought you back. You have been content to hid here and forget everything that happened to you. Well, that's fine. Bottle it up inside of you and cut yourself off from humanity; but that won't stop the pain. Scott has worked hard and dealt with his experiences and come out a stronger person for it. He heads out every time and risks his life to help people, knowing there is that chance the next rescue could be another trap. He fought his fear and pain and beat it. You've given in, let it weaken you. You're letting that damn madman win, and don't seem to give a damn about it. How do you expect to help others when you can't help yourself?"

Jeff's voice had risen as he said what all of the Tracy's had wanted to say for so long. It had killed them to watch her allow her fears and hate to rot her from within, and finally, he had his say. Yet, as soon as the words had left his mouth, he realized they were the last things the struggling woman had needed to hear. Her insecurities ran deep and years of torture and mind control had left her psyche naked and torn.

"Lona, I…" But it was too late. Tears twinkled in her eyes, and one lone drop snaked down her flushed cheek. With one hand covering her mouth, as if to contain the pain boiling up inside her, she fled through the thick security doorway and was gone. Jeff sat there, stunned. Hands came up to cover his eyes as he replayed the damage he had done in his mind. Remembering suddenly the audience his performance had entertained, he turned his gaze to his middle son.

"John…" That one word carried so much emotion. Questions, fears, and asking if there was condemnation were all there in that one small word. The platinum blond man met his father's eyes, unsure of what to say. Had what he done been right? No, certainly not. Could he understand why it had happened? Yes…, he could.

"Dad, you need to go to her. Explain…" The buzzing of a transmission cut him off. Answering the call, he discovered it came from Scott. They had landed at the danger zone. Transferring the call over to Jeff, John's thoughts turned to Lona. What was going on?

Lona raced through the halls, tears streaming behind her. Blinded by the emotional release flowing from her eyes, she stumbled up stairs and crashed around corners, headless of bodily damage or of other people using the halls. Onaha and Kyrano both saw her and called after her, but she did not hear and only hurried somewhere and nowhere. Finally, she had to stop. Her breaths came out in gasps, both from the exertion of running throughout the maze-like house and from the sobs that shook her thin frame. At last, she took note of where her frantic rushing had lead her. The hallway leading to the family's bed chambers and personal rooms beaconed her down it's length. With slightly more control, she set off towards her rooms.

Once she had reached her sanctuary, she locked the sliding door against any unwanted intruders. She did not want to see anyone right now. She was not sure how she would react. Sinking down on the nearest available seating space, which was her vanity stool, she let her head fall on her crossed arms. At first, all she felt was empty. It was as if several different emotions were warring for center position, leaving the position itself unoccupied. Her mind raced as memories, feelings, and thoughts all whirled faster and faster within her brain. Feeling an unexpected sensation on her skin, she looked down and found tear tracks running off her arms onto her wooden vanity. Though her conscience still fought to comprehend what she felt, her subconscious gave her the emotional release she craved and desperate needed.

The tears came faster and harder after the first breach of her emotional walls. Leaning her head back on her arms, she wept bitterly. For several minutes the only sound was her sobs as they echoed in the bright, cheerful room and the only movement besides the flimsy curtains fluttering slightly in the light breeze was her shoulders and back shaking from the massive build up of emotions spilling out of her. Lona cried until she had no tears left. She cried for her mother and brother, as her mind replayed the horrible scene over and over again until it seemed her ears could hear their screams. She cried for her father, who had been damned by her silence and who had never got a chance to know her or discover his love for his daughter. She cried for Scott, who she had thought she had lost for ever, only to be reunited with him in hell. She cried for the Tracys, Jeff still battling the grief from the death of Lucille, Alan who had been forced to grow up too fast and was struggling to prove he was worthy of his father. And Lona cried for herself. For the loss of her early womanhood, for the pain the separation from the Tracys had caused and the joy their reunion had brought her. She wept for the years-the grueling, mind scaring months- she had endured at the hands of her captor.

Finally, the tears slowed and then quit. Slowly pushing herself upright, as if that small movement was exhausting after the emotional release she had undergone, she gazed on her red, tear-streaked face in the mirror. Large clumps of hair clung to the sodden cheeks and pooled down around her, both on the top of the vanity and down her back. Grabbing a handful of it from her face, she gazed down at the great length coming from her head. The Hood had never allowed her hair to be cut. Besides the fact that it heightened her beauty with it piled elegantly on her head, it had also given him a great way for his servants and himself to keep her under control. Nothing stops you in your tracks faster then having your hair nearly jerked out of your head. The Hood. She would never completely get over what he had done to her, but was it even possible to be whole again after all she had endured? Or was it better to stop trying, to just allow him to win. Her eyes fell back to the vanity. There on the top lay her answer to her question. The first step to ending the horrible existence she had to endure day in and day out.