Lona stood behind Parker, close enough to see what was going on, but far enough away so as to not constitute "looking over his shoulder". She couldn't explain it, but she wanted to get in that vault as quick as she could. Ruefully, she admitted that it could only be because she still did not really like to leave the island; but all in all, she did not think that completely explained it. Looking at her watch, she realized that it was long past the time Alan was suppose to update them.
"Lona to Mobile Control." Static. "Lona to Mobile Control, come in Mobile Control!" John and her traded worried glances, then John moved towards the exit.
"I'll go out and check around."
"Right. I'll wait here and get everything ready for when Parker gets the door open." As the quick steps faded away from the two people, they glanced at each other before the former criminal returned his attention to the stubborn vault. Lona, figuring on a long wait, leaned her back against the cool stone and closed her eyes. Sliding down until she was seated on the cold floor, she rested her weary head on her arms. Something was not right, she just knew it. Suddenly, the vault gave a light click and Parker stood, dusting off his hands. Raising her head, her gaze asked the silent question.
"The vault h'is h'open, Miss Lona." Standing in one swift movement, she checked to make sure she had all the rescue equipment she might need. She turned to the English Butler, who had opened so quickly one of the best vaults in the world.
"Parker, I need you to check on John and let him know that the vault's open. We don't have a lot of time too waste."
"H'of course, miss." She watched as he walked around the corner before shouldering the portable bomb kit and stepping into the yawning mouth of the vault. Silently, she made her way past rows and cages full of bonds and cases. Casting her gaze back and forth around the vault, she searched frantically for the bomb; there was very little time left before the scheduled explosion.
Suddenly, voices off to the side drew her attention. Her eyes narrowed slightly; no one other then herself and any Tracy who might have been with her was suppose to be in here. She continued steadily down the path between the two high shelves, but now her senses were fully alert. A slight shiver ran unheeded down the young woman's spine. Coming to the end of the row, she stealthfully slide one eye around the edge. All of the voices were coming from the right; everyone should be in ahead of her. Cautiously, she stepped out into the open aisle, after checking over her shoulder to assure herself of the impossibility of an ambush. After a few steps towards the back of the vault, she was able to distinguish words.
"You!"
"Yes, Jeff! It's been awhile, hasn't it?" Lona's skin seemed to crawl at these words. She knew that voice; it would haunt her nightmares the rest of her life. The Hood was in the building! Smiling grimly, she realized how stupid that sounded. In that one moment her brain processed several facts at once. She realized the likelihood that there had never been a bomb in the vault. She realized that at least Jeff and probably two of her brothers were now his prisoners. Alan was most likely out of commission and possibly so was John. She was probably the THUNDERBIRDS last hope.
Her eyes narrowed as her breath quickened. Her whole being was in conflict with itself. She would not, could not in a hundred years leave her family to the Hood's mercy; but she had fought inwardly long and hard to never see that man again. Before she could bring this inner argument to a close, a soft scrap of cloth on stone was all the warning she had before two strong arms descended on her. Instantly, her whole body tensed and before a sound could be heard, her attacker was out of commission. Grabbing the small handgun her attacker had carried, she slowly crept closer to the drama unfolding ahead of her.
Jeff was once again trapped and unable to save his boys. The Hood had his children once again. He had had the father restrained while his minions quickly tied up the younger son and separated the eldest from his family. Jeff had shouted for them to stop, but the father's plea was ignored by the hardened men. Finally, the leader of International Rescue had stopped struggling and gave into the crushing despair tearing at his heart. Closing his eyes, Jeff Tracy hung his head and prayed desperately that his remaining children were safe and would discover a way to stop the plans of this evil man.
A sound to his right caused him to wearily raise his head, before it came up faster, snapping up in alarm. An enormous dark man held his youngest firmly at bay, despite Alan fighting desperately.
"Alan!"
"Dad!" The poor man could read the fear in his son's eyes. Jeff's mind flashed back to the talk they had had before Alan's return to school. Finally his youngest had spoken out loud of his fears, of his hatred for all that this evil man had done to his family. Now his son would once again have to face his worst fears.
"Yes Alan. Your father is once again a spectator in our little drama. But don't worry; this time yours is not a solo part." Confused by his words, the two Tracy men turned to his right and saw a terrible sight. Alan gave a half gasp, half whimper while Jeff's eyes constricted with pain.
There, hanging from a rafter by his wrists, was Scott, shirt torn off and a whip lying beside him.
Lona cursed silently when she beheld the horrific tableau in front of her. The Hood held four members of International Rescue prisoner, and was free to do what he wanted to with them. No one would wish to come near the bank for quite some time, and she had no way of letting John know what was going on without calling attention to herself. When her attention was drawn to her brother hanging helpless from the rafter, she found her mind flashing back to her captivity. How could she possibly be of any use against four men, one of them Mullion, and the Hood himself? Yet, could she leave her father, her brothers in the hands of that ruthless man?
Jeff was living his nightmare. He had realized this the moment the Hood had shown him his eldest son strung up, completely helpless. His gaze wavered between his eldest, starting to awaken and grimace in pain from the unnatural position his bonds placed him in, and his youngest, who was trapped behind Mullion's muscle bound arms. His heart clenched as he was forced to watch the Hood make his way over to his eldest and pick up the whip, shaking it out-readying it for use.
"Well, Jeff." How he hated how that evil man put mocking accent on his name! "It seems you have a choice. I'm sure it must be a hard choice for a father, but which son do you wish to live to see another day? Your oldest, who has so recently escaped my clutches, or your youngest, who still has so much life to live?" You had best decide soon, Jeff!" With these words, he gave a vicious cut with the whip to the man hanging beside him. Scott stiffened, and a small cry was wrung from his throat.
"Well, Scott, there is no Lona here to help you this time, is there? But don't worry, her punishment will be much greater then yours!"
"No! We won't let you touch her. You have no power over her."
"Really, Scott? I rather think I do…after all, I hold several members of her family prisoner." With a harsh yank, he pulled Scott's head straight back by his hair. "But I'll have fun with you and your brother before then." Twisting his head painfully to the left, he allowed the older brother to gaze for but a moment on his younger brother, staring back at him, fear clouding his eyes.
"Hang in there, bro."
"Like your doing, Scott? Oh yes, Alan. Don't you want to be just like your brother?"
"Leave them alone!" Jeff could not take the Hood's callous taunting of his sons any longer. "Whatever quarrel you have with International Rescue, it is solely with me."
"Ah, but Jeff, whatever I do to your sons hurts you a hundred times more then anything I could possibly do to you." Blast the man, he knew his opponent too well! "But you're right. The authorities will eventually become suspicious; we really don't have much time. Therefore, Jeff, I once again ask you; which one of your sons do you want to live?"
"What kind of mad man are you? How can I choose the death of one of my sons? NEVER! I will never do such a thing!"
"Oh Jeff, so defiant, even at the end. This time, though, there will be no last minute salvation. Finally, you will pay for what you have done to me!"
"What I've done to you! Everyone at the sight thought that we had pulled the last survivor out. You can't save everyone! We pored our heart and soul into that rescue, only to find that most of your workers had died in the cave in because you had chained them together! What we did to you?" Jeff was answered by the silence surrounding his outburst but, as he gazed into the eyes of his enemy, he knew he would pay dearly for it. He was proved right as the Hood began once again to beat his eldest son. Suddenly, he stopped and walked over to Jeff.
Raising his head painfully high with the handle of the whip he had just used on his son, he said, "Since you are unable to decide, I will take both from you. You could have saved one, but now both will be lost to you forever!" Striding back to the middle of the room, he handed the whip to a servant and accepted the pistol that was held out to him. Briefly checking it, he spun around, met the head of the Tracy family's eyes, and lowered the barrel until it was pointed directly at the slumped head of Scott Tracy. Not even sparing a glance for the pitiful sight, he locked his gaze completely with the father.
"Say goodbye, Jeff."
One shot rang out.