Liseylou asks for Day 6: Proof of Life/Ransom Video with Scott. I threw in a little Virgil, you know, to 'help'.

Characters: Grandma, Scott, Virgil

Warnings: Kidnapping (off-screen), Beating, Electrocution

'It's time, Grandma.'

Sally's head snapped up from the paperwork she had spent the last three hours or so not even seeing. John was standing beside her, face as worried as she knew hers was. She patted the hand on her shoulder and stood.

She looked to her other grandsons. Gordon had an arm around Alan, both seated on one of the couches, and she gave them a quick hug as she and John took centre stage and the holoprojector came to life.

There were three masked men. The middle one was standing in front of the others, arms folded.

'International Rescue.'

It was a robotic voice changer, and it was a statement, not a question. John went to move, but a hand on his arm stilled him. Sally would deal with this.

'You have come through to the Tracy family. What can I do for you?'

'Madam, I think it is more what I can do for you.'

'Oh? And what is that.'

'We have two of your Grandsons.'

'I see. What do you want?'

'Straight to the point. I like that. I want a Thunderbird. Anyone will do, but I think One would be the most fun to fly.'

'Before we agree to anything I want proof of life.'

'Fair enough. We will be back in five minutes.'

The screen went blank.

Immediately Alan launched himself at his Grandma and she pulled him in close, burying her face in his unruly mop of hair. He needed a haircut. The thought made her chuckle, but it came out more of a sob.

John and Gordon exchanged looks, but both saw their Grandmother steel herself as she turned to face them.

'Well, there was no surprise there as to what they want. How are we doing finding them?'

'EOS?'

'No luck with the call, John. There is some heavy shielding in place. I am still hunting though, and maybe when they return I'll be able to get a firmer hold on a trail.'

'Thank you, EOS. Gordon – anything from Penny or Kayo?'

'Not yet, Grandma. Kayo said they had a promising lead just before the call, so maybe we will hear something soon.'

Sally nodded, looking at her gathered boys. This next bit was never going to be easy. John seemed to know what she was about to say, for he gave her arm a quick squeeze.

'We can't give them a Thunderbird…'

Even as he spoke Sally was nodding, as was Gordon, but Alan exploded.

'WHAT?! You can't be serious, John! They have Scott and Virgil, are doing who-knows-what to them and you're concerned with keeping our ships safe?'

'Al, John's right.'

'You too, Gordon? What ever happened to Tracy's stick together no matter what? Grandma? What are we going to do?'

'Alan, your brothers are right. And if Scott and Virgil could be here talking to us they would say the same thing.'

'Grandma!'

'No, Alan. Your father was quite clear that while he would never put you boys in a situation that you couldn't get out of, those machines in the wrong hands would endanger the whole world, not just us.'

'So we're going to just leave them at the mercy of those men?'

'Of course not Al, Dad made contingency plans.'

'Oh.'

Alan deflated and allowed Gordon to steer him back to the couch where they huddled together while their Grandmother explained.

'There are protocols that will disable a Thunderbird in the event that someone unauthorised tries to fly it without imputing the correct code. It will allow us to get your brothers safely home yet render the 'birds useless to their kidnappers.'

'It's almost time, Grandma.'

'Thank you, John. One last question – do you think that these men are professionals?'

'I don't think so. A professional would have shown us Scott and Virgil first, not need to leave and come back.'

'I agree with John, Grandma.'

'That's what I was afraid of. Amateurs panic and make mistakes.'

The small sound announced the call was back up and once more Sally stood tall and resolute.

She couldn't help the small gasp that escaped her as her missing boys came into view.

Both looked to have been beaten, with bloody noses and lips and black eyes. Virgil was seated, bound tightly to a chair with thick rope. One of the men stood behind him, hands on his shoulders, and the man must have been gripping tightly as his knuckles were white. Nevertheless, Virgil smiled gently to the camera, letting them know that he could see them.

Scott was far worse. He was hanging from a hook in the ceiling by cuffed hands, feet barely touching the floor. His top had been removed and it looked like they had used him for a punching bag. One man stood behind and to one side while again there was one who stood in front.

'Your two men here have been very unhelpful in regard to codes for accessing your planes.'

'Don't do it, Grandma.'

Scott's voice was rough and he couldn't hide the pain. In response to his words the man behind him used the black stick in his hand to hit him hard. No one said anything, knowing that it would only give them fuel.

'Old woman, give us what we want or we will kill him.'

'You have no idea who you are messing with.'

The man in front turned back to look at Scott. His face was defiant despite the bruising and the blood, and as everyone watched somehow Scott managed to stand tall. The man gestured to the one next to Scott and was handed the stick. With a press of a hidden switch electricity crackled and before anyone could react the man stabbed it into Scott's chest.

It wasn't held there for long, but the damage was done. Scott fell limp.

Virgil was screaming, struggling to get free, to get up. His voice melded in with his brothers until it became one voice.

'Get him down, you idiots! You could have stopped his heart!'

The man in charge gestured and the two others hefted Scott up enough to unhook him before laying him flat. The trio stood over him, just looking.

'Is he breathing?'

Sally's voice was sharp and firm, cutting through the noise of her grandsons. One of the men knelt down to check and then looked back at the leader.

He shook his head.

'CPR. You need to start CPR now if you're going to save him.'

The leader turned to the camera.

'We'll be in touch,' he said and the screen went dark.