SCOTT, Penelope and Parker all cried out in alarm as FAB1 continued to spiral out of control after colliding with the shark. Parker battled to try and regain control of the vehicle but was unable to prevent it from slamming into the seabed and becoming stuck. Then the motors conked out.

"Blast!" said Parker. "That wretched monster 'as done h'us good!"

"Get the engine restarted, Parker," ordered Penelope. "We have to make sure that Lemaire, Fischler and the Pendegahsts are not in danger."

"FAB1's the toughest vehicle down here," added Scott. "We're still intact but their crafts aren't built as good as this is. They might not stand a chance if it attacks them."

Parker tried again and again to restart the engine, but it wasn't to be. "It's no good, m'lady," he said. "I would need to h'open up the bonnet in order to see what the problem is."

"And we're underwater meaning we cannot open the bonnet," said Penelope.

"You have your diving gear?" asked Scott.

"Yes, but I can't change with you in the back with me, Scott," said Penelope.

"Ah…" said Scott. "Yes, this is quite the problem."

Penelope opened her compact. "FAB1 calling Thunderbirds 2 and 5. Do you read me?"

"Go ahead, Lady Penelope," answered John.

"Loud and clear," added Virgil.

"Boys, we have a situation," said Penelope. "We had a minor collision with the shark. It knocked out our engine and we're stuck on the seabed."

"Are you guys hurt?" asked Gordon anxiously.

"No, we're fine," replied Penelope. "However we could use some assistance in getting out of here."

"F-A-B," said Gordon. "I'll bring Thunderbird 4 down and get you back to the surface."

"Then we'll get you into Thunderbird 2's module so you can dry the car out and make repairs," said Virgil.

"What about the Pendergasts and the…two stooges?" asked Gordon.

"I'll keep an eye on them until FAB1 is aboard Thunderbird 2," said John. "Then it may have to fall to Thunderbird 4 to try and keep the peace between them."

"Let's hope Buddy and Ellie find it first," said Gordon. "Lemaire would be unbearable if he does."

"What about Fischler?" said Scott. "Why's he here? He can't have any interest in a Megalodon, can he?"

"Given nobody alive can claim to have seen one for real, maybe he's going to try and put it in an Aquarium?" suggested Virgil. "It would make him a rich man."

"Seems a bit far-fetched but it's possible, Virgil," said John. "Don't worry. I'll keep track of them."

"What about the shark, John?" asked Gordon. "Where is it?"

"I don't know, Gordon," replied John. "For some reason my scans aren't detecting it at all."

"Neither did our scanners," added Penelope. "Which, given how big it is, is rather odd."

"Hmm," said Gordon. "There's something fishy going on here." Silence followed and it took Gordon a few seconds to notice that Virgil plus the holograms of John, Scott and Penelope were giving him disapproving looks. "What?"

"Really, Gordon?" said Virgil. "This isn't the time for making fish jokes."

Gordon stared back. "I wasn't making a joke!" he said indignantly. He checked Thunderbird 2's radar. "I'm going to get Thunderbird 4 ready." He unfastened his seatbelt and left the cockpit rather hastily.

Virgil looked at the holograms of his brothers and Penelope. He waited until Gordon had gone before speaking again. "You know what I think he was being truthful there," he said.

"First time for everything," remarked John.

"How far are you, Virgil?" asked Scott.

"Coming up on your location now, Scott," said Virgil. "ETA - one minute."

"F-A-B," answered Scott.

Thunderbird 2 came down low over the surface of the Mediterranean and began to hover above the calm waters. "In position for drop, Thunderbird 4," Virgil said. "Are you ready, Gordon?"

"F-A-B, Virgil," Gordon replied. "Systems check complete. Ready for Module deployment."

Virgil released the docking clamps and Module 4 dropped out from the main body of Thunderbird 2 before splashing into the water. After settling, the door opened and the ramp that Thunderbird 4 was mounted on tilted so that the small yellow submersible was facing downwards. Gordon then fired up the engines and applied power to the thrusters. The craft slipped down the ramp and splashed into the water, instantly submerging.

"Thunderbird 4 is GO!" said Gordon. "Sit tight, FAB1. I'm on my way."

"Like we can go h'anywhere," muttered Parker.

Buddy and Ellie were the sensible ones of the three. They were keeping their submersible as far back from the Jules Verne 2 and Fischler's vessel as possible. They watched the others as they continued to chase one other and dangerously pass far too close for comfort.

"Those drongos are going to have an accident and no mistake!" grumbled Buddy.

"Who even are they?" asked Ellie.

"I've heard of Lemaire," said Buddy. "He does similar things to us, only we're not stuck up and obnoxious like he is. We like to give stuff back to our audiences whereas it's him and only him. As for this other guy - Langstrom Fischler was it? I've never heard of him."

"He's from our country though," said Ellie. "I can't believe we haven't."

Just then, something caught Buddy's eye. "Hang about. What was that?" He peered out into the darkness. "I think I saw something." He turned the sub round to starboard and headed away from the other subs.

"What was it?" asked Ellie.

"I dunno," Buddy replied. "But it looked huge whatever it was. I think it may have been the Meg! Get the camera ready so we can go live again!"

"Right you are, love!"

Lemaire and Fischler were still shouting abuse at each other that they didn't even notice that the Pendeghasts were no longer following them.

"For God's sake, you idiot. Get away from my ship!" Lemaire fumed. "You'll scratch the paintwork!"

"Get close to YOU?!" retorted Fischler. "You're the one getting in MY way! Push off!"

"You're interrupting my husband's broadcast!" snapped Madeline. "I strongly suggest that you do get out of the way, Mr Fischler."

"Not a chance, lady!" replied Fischler. "Not until I get my harvester back!"

Madeline and Francois exchanged bewildered looks.

John was frowning. He had been listening in to the argument between the Lemaires and Fischler and was also confused as to what Fischler meant. "Brains, do you have any idea what he means by that?"

"N-Not a clue, John," replied Brains who was in his lab on Tracy Island. "When it comes to F-Fischler, it could mean anything. But I s-strongly suspect that he's not there for the same reasons as Lemaire and the Pendeghasts."

"But if he's not looking for this suspected Megalodon, then what is he up to?" asked John.

Brains thought hard. "I w-wonder," he said. "P-Perhaps Fischler has created some new invention that is shaped like a shark? It has been spotted by p-people and due to its size they've mistaken it for a lost species?"

"You mean like some kind of Fish Harvester shaped like a shark?" asked John.

"That would b-be my guess, yes," said Brains.

John looked back at the radar image of the three submersibles moving about. "But if that's the case, why am I not detecting it anywhere?" he wondered out loud.

The darkness that surrounded FAB1 gradually grew brighter which told them Thunderbird 4 was approaching. It was a welcoming sight for Scott, Parker and Penelope as they saw the powerful searchlights of the small yellow craft come into view and get closer to where they lay on the seabed. "FAB1 this is Thunderbird 4. I have visual contact. Do you?"

"Given that you're nearly trying to blind us, Gordon, I'd say yes," replied Penelope.

"Oh, oops. Hang on," said Gordon and he dimmed the lights to quarter-beam. "How's that?"

"Better. Much better," said Scott.

"Okay. Deploying grasping arms," said Gordon. He moved the controls and the arms on the front of Thunderbird 4 came outwards. He then moved in close to FAB1 and clamped onto the left side of the vehicle. "Contact established. Going up. Next stop - surface." He blew Thunderbird 4's ballast tanks and it began to rise up off the seabed lifting FAB1 with it.

Virgil was ready and waiting on the ramp of the module when Thunderbird 4 and FAB1 reached the surface.

"Ahhh, man," said Scott after his eyes adjusted to the sunlight. "That's much better."

"I couldn't h'agree more, Mr Scott, sir," said Parker.

Penelope looked out of her window at Gordon who was waving from inside Thunderbird 4's cockpit. "Thanks, Gordon," she said, blowing him a kiss.

Gordon blushed, unable to say anything.

Virgil secured a tow-line to FAB1's front bumper. "Okay, Thunderbird 4. You can let go now."

Gordon released the claws on the end of Thunderbird 4's remote-arms and retracted them. "F-A-B. Now let's go and chase down the others." He backed Thunderbird 4 away from the module then turned to starboard before submerging again.

The winch that was normally used to hoist Thunderbird 4 into the module was used to tow FAB1 in. Once inside, Parker, Penelope and Scott were able to disembark. Virgil broke out some powerful heat lamps to assist in the drying process which would allow Parker to give the car a thorough inspection.

"Are you guys okay?" Virgil asked.

"Fine, Virg," replied Scott. "Glad that you and Gordon are here, that's for sure."

Parker lifted the bonnet of FAB1 and a load of water gushed out. "Cor. That tin-can really did h'a number on poor FAB1," he said.

Penelope, Scott and Virgil exchanged puzzled looks.

"What did you say, Parker?" asked Penelope.

"For a moment I thought you said 'tin-can'?" added Scott.

"H'I did," said Parker. "That monster we 'it down there. It wasn't h'organic. Didn't you 'ear the clunk when we bumped h'into it?"

Now the looks turned to uncomfortable ones. "No…?" Scott and Penelope said together.

"Parker, what are you saying here?" asked Virgil.

"H'I am saying, Mr Virgil, sir, that whatever that thing h'is down there that Lord Lemaire, Langstrom Fishy-face and those h'other two are trying to find, it h'aint what they think it is," Parker said simply.

An uneasy silence filled the module as the others tried to take in what Parker had said.

Virgil activated his sash radio. "Thunderbird 4, what's your status?"

"I'm closing in on two of the subs," Gordon reported. "Looks like Lemaire and Fischler's ships are still in some kind of chase duel. I can't see where the Pendeghasts have gone though. Thunderbird 5, can you help with that?"

"I sure can, Thunderbird 4," answered John. "They've broken away from the chase and have headed off in a totally different direction at high speed. It's like they caught sight of something."

"Gordon, John, are there any other metallic objects down there other than Lemaire's, Fischler's, Buddy and Ellie's subs and Thunderbird 4?" asked Virgil. "The situation maybe not be quite what we thought."

Gordon and John checked their scanners.

"Nothing that I can see," Gordon said.

"I don't see anything either," added John. "What's this about, Virgil?"

"Parker says that the thing that took FAB1 out wasn't an actual shark," Virgil said. "He thinks it was a machine of some kind."

Gordon became as puzzled as the others had been, but John didn't react the same.

"Is this correct, Parker?" asked John.

"Yus, sir," replied Parker.

"Then Brains could well be right," said John. "We were listening in on the argument between Lemaire and Fischler. Fischler isn't looking for any Megalodon Shark. He's here to reclaim his Harvester, as he put it."

"Harvester?" repeated Scott. "Harvester of what?"

"Fish I suspect," said Penelope. "A Fish Harvester shaped like a shark?"

"Well that certainly fits Fischler down to a T," said Virgil. "Guess like everyone else he does it's gone haywire and he's trying to get it back?"

"Maybe we should ask him?" suggested Gordon.

"I might well do that," said John. "By the way, Gordon, you might want to check on Buddy and Ellie. They definitely appear to be onto something."

"I've got them on scope now," said Gordon. "Will leave the stooges to fight amongst themselves." He turned Thunderbird 4 and set off after the Pendeghasts.

It didn't take long for Thunderbird 4 to close the gap on the Pendeghasts submarine. "This is Thunderbird 4 calling Buddy and Ellie. Do you read me?"

"GORDO!" jeered Buddy. "Finally! Someone we can actually have a decent conversation with!"

"Good to see you too, Buddy," replied Gordon. "Now I need you to-"

"You're just in time, mate!" said Buddy. "We've sighted what we think is the Megalodon! We're about to go live and broadcast it to the world! How exciting is that?"

"Very, but, guys," Gordon tried to make himself heard. "I don't think that's-" He broke off as the lights of the Pendeghasts sub suddenly caught a massive black object that was coming straight for it. "LOOK OUT!" he yelled.

But Buddy and Ellie failed to hear anything of what Gordon had been saying. They didn't even hear him shout.

"Ready, Ells?"

"Ready, Bud-" Ellie broke off as the object that Gordon was shouting about suddenly caught her eye as well. "BUDDDDDDDDDDDDY!" she screamed.

Buddy spun round and looked. He let out a massive gasp as the lights of their sub illuminated an enormous open mouth with a circle of viciously sharp teeth that belonged to the mouth of a shark. "WHAT THE?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The shark slammed into the Pendeghasts' submarine and its teeth ripped into the vessel, slicing it to bits. If Ellie hadn't dragged her husband into the aft section which broke away whilst the front section was ruptured and obliterated by the shark before it turned sharply away to the left and disappeared into the murky black water again.

"BUDDY?! ELLIE?! NO!" Gordon yelled as he charged Thunderbird 4 towards the sinking aft section of their submarine. He deployed the robot arms again and grabbed hold to stop it from sinking any further. "I've got you!" Gordon said. "Hang on tight. I'll get you back to the surface."

Buddy and Ellie heard Gordon this time, but were too busy quivering in each other's arms to reply.

Gordon pushed Thunderbird 4's turbines up to full power and began to lift the remaining aft section of the submarine back up towards the surface like he'd done with FAB1. "Thunderbird 2, the shark attacked again. It's taken out Buddy and Ellie's ship. They're safe though and I'm bringing them to the surface."

"What about the shark, Gordon?" asked John, having overheard.

"Only saw it briefly," replied Gordon. "Couldn't tell if it was man-made or not. But either way, it crushed part of their sub like it was nothing." Looking up, he could see the light from above the surface of the water and the shape of where the module was located. "Virgil, am about to breach the surface. Get ready to take the Pendegasts in."

"F-A-B, Gordon," said Virgil. "But tell them they'll have to climb out of their vessel. We already have FAB1 on board and need to leave room for Thunderbird 4 as well once this is over. You'll have to let their craft sink to the seabed afterwards."

"Understood," said Gordon. "Buddy and Ellie? Can you hear me?"

They could, but were still in shock so didn't reply.

"They're not answering, Virgil," said Gordon. "I think they must have caught a glimpse and have gone into shock."

"Okay, just get them to the surface," said Virgil. "We'll help them out."

"F-A-B."

Thunderbird 4 broke the surface once more with the stern section of the Pendeghasts submarine and pushed it up against the ramp of the module. Virgil climbed up onto the top of the sub and opened the hatch. He peered inside and shone his shoulder-mounted torch down inside where he saw the terrified couple cuddling together. "Buddy and Ellie?"

They nodded nervously.

"It's okay, you're safe now," Virgil said. "Thunderbird 4's gotten you to the surface. Climb out and we'll get you aboard Thunderbird 2."

The Pendeghasts stayed still for a few seconds, then Ellie seemed to regain her senses to guide a shaking Buddy towards the ladder. She helped him up so that Virgil could take his hands and lift him out where Scott, Parker and Penelope then assisted him down onto the ramp before Penelope and Parker guided him back into the module itself. Ellie then climbed out and took Virgil's hand before being handed over to Scott. "Th-Th-Thank y-y-y-you," Ellie stammered.

"It's okay," Scott said comfortingly. "You're safe and that's what matters."

Virgil jumped back down onto the ramp of the module. "They're clear, Thunderbird 4," he said into his radio. "Let it go."

"F-A-B," said Gordon. He released the arms and the remaining section of the submarine slipped back under the waves and was gone. "Now for the hard part," he went on. "To stop Fischler and Lemaire from being the next victims…if they don't destroy themselves in the first place." Thunderbird 4 then submerged again.

"Pity we can't just leave them to it," remarked Scott, but he was given a stern look from both Penelope and Virgil.

"Scott, that is not very International Rescue, is it?" said Penelope disapprovingly.

"Don't let Dad hear you say that," added Virgil.

"I didn't mean to leave them down there," said Scott. "Especially not with a killer shark on the loose. I meant just let them sort their problem out by themselves."

The chase between Lemaire and Fischler was still not resolved with the married couple and the Australian inventor continuing to throw insult after insult at each other. John had been trying to engage them in conversation in order to distract them and also alert them to the danger they were in, but they were so full on in their argument that his words simply went unheard.

"This is hopeless!" John said, exasperated. "They're shouting so much that they can't even hear me!"

"Maybe if I get Thunderbird 4 into their line of sight, perhaps they'll be made to fall silent and listen?" suggested Gordon.

"You can try that," said John. "It would certainly get their attention, but knowing what those two are like, they probably won't listen."

"Then perhaps I could simply disable their craft and force them back to the surface?" said Gordon.

"No, because we'd be seen as aggressors then," John said. "Try your dart between them idea first.:

"F-A-B." Gordon pushed Thunderbird 4 back up to full power and raced through the water after the two remaining submarines.

Fishler was leading the chase now with a fuming Lemaire not far behind. "Blast that man!" he cursed. "I just can't get him out of the way."

"Then ram him!" said Madeline. "Knock out his engines and then he won't be able to continue."

"Certainly not!" snapped Lemaire. "I'm not damaging the Jules Verne 2!" He pushed the engines up to beyond full power. The motors screamed as they tried to close in the gap between them and Fischler's vessel.

Fischler watched on his rear-view monitor as the Jules Verne 2 tried to catch up. He snorted. "Pathetic, that is," he remarked. Just pathetic. Goodbye!" He then gave his craft more power and began to open the gap.

Lemaire roared in frustration and tried to make his sub go even faster. The vessel began to vibrate and shake causing Madeline to get concerned. "Francois, ease off the power. You're overstretching the engines!"

Francois didn't seem to hear her. His eyes were fixed firmly on catching Fischler.

Madeline had to grab and shake him. "LISTEN TO ME!" she yelled. ":YOU'RE GONNA-"

Too late. There was a bang as the submarine's engines exploded causing a hull rupture and water began to flood into the cabin.

"Oh, you've GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" fumed Lemaire.

Madeline nearly exploded as well with frustration. "You…complete…and utter…IDIOT!" she shrieked as she grabbed him by the neck of his EVA suit and shook him violently. "ONCE AGAIN YOU'VE PUT US IN A MOST LUDICROUS SITUATION AND ENDANGERED OUR LIVES IN DOING SO! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN?!"

Francois went red in the face. "How DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT?!" he thundered.

"Jules Verne 2, this is Thunderbird 4. I'm closing in on you now."

"Well, thank goodness they are here to save us. AGAIN!" Madeline said furiously to her husband. "I've a good mind to give you a clout around the face."

This infuriated Lemaire even more. "You even think about doing that and I'll-"

"You'll do what?" Madeline asked dangerously which caused him to fall silent.

Disabled and without power, the Jules Verne 2 was starting to sink thanks to the rupture in its hull. Gordon closed in with Thunderbird 4, knowing he had to act quickly if he was to save the Lemaires from a watery grave. He brought his craft up over the top and dropped down the docking tube which clamped over the top of the hatch and pressurised it. He then opened the hatch so that they could climb up. But only Madeline appeared at the bottom.

"You first, Mrs Lemaire," Gordon said.

"Oh, I'm not staying here a minute longer than necessary," said Madeline shortly as she scrambled up the tube into Thunderbird 4. "Do you know where I can get a good lawyer?"

Gordon was stumped by that question. "Um, why?"

"Because I think I'm going to need one," Madeline said before walking haughtily off to the passenger bay in the rear of Thunderbird 4.

Gordon looked down the tube, but Lemaire was nowhere to be seen. "MR LEMAIRE?!" he called down. "ARE YOU THERE?!" No response came. Gordon turned back to Madeline. "Errr, I think your husband plans to stay down there," he said.

"Good. let him," said Madeline coldly. "I want nothing to do with him anymore."

Gordon was stunned. Whilst he knew how much of a jerk Francois was, he hadn't expected to hear such talk from his own wife. However, as much as he too would like to leave Lemaire behind he knew that he couldn't. He therefore clambered down the tube and into the main cabin of the Jules Verne 2 which was steadily flooding with water. Looking around, he saw Lemaire was still in the control seat with his back to him. "Mr Lemaire? We need to leave, now!" Gordon said.

"Get off my ship, boy!" Lemaire said without turning around. "I didn't invite you aboard."

"Sir, honestly! Your boat is sinking. I need to get you to safety."

Lemaire spun his chair around and advanced on Gordon with a threatening finger pointing. "I lost my other ships thanks to you and your stupid rescue organisation!" he spat. "Thousands of pounds wasted! You really think I'm going to do ANYTHING YOU TELL ME?!"

Gordon tried his best not to be intimidated. "Knock-knock," he said.

Lemaire was taken aback by this response. "What?"

POW! Gordon punched him in the face and Lemaire fell to the floor. "Sorry, Mr Lemaire. But you have left me with no alternative." He bent down and picked Lemaire up before flinging him over his shoulder. He then had to carry him back up the docking tube into Thunderbird 4. He took Lemaire into the passenger bay and placed him down on the floor.

Madeline snorted in disgust at the sight of her husband. "Why did you have to get him out?" she asked.

Gordon rolled his eyes. "Because it's my job, Mrs Lemaire!" he snapped. "I don't let people die - no matter how bad a person they are." He turned and stormed out of the passenger bay to return to the cockpit.

Madeline looked down at Francois who was rubbing his sore head. Despite being disgusted at the sight of him, she took some satisfaction when she noticed his left eye with a big black mark on it. Should have done that myself, she thought to herself.

Gordon disengaged the docking tube from the Jules Verne 2 and moved Thunderbird 4 away to let the sub sink the rest of the way to the ocean floor. "Thunderbird 5, Lemaire burnt out his own ship," Gordon said into the radio. "That just leaves Fischler."

"He's quite a way ahead now, Thunderbird 4," John replied. "And judging by his movements I think he may have found what he's looking for."

"The shark?" said Gordon. "Uh-oh."

"I know. You'd better catch up to him fast," said John.

Gordon pushed Thunderbird 4 up to full speed again and set off in pursuit of Fischler's submarine.

Penelope and Scott and wrapped Buddy and Ellie in blankets and gave them some hot chocolate to try and warm them up. They were still very shaken but they were slowly starting to talk again.

"I know this is probably a silly question but - how are you doing?" Scott asked.

"We'll survive, mate," replied Ellie. "We've been through worse."

"Not sure I'd agree with that Ells," replied Buddy. "Europa never frightened me. Even those little beasties in Africa didn't quite get under my skin. But that Meg is…well…not what I thought it'd be." He shivered. "Ugh - those teeth!"

"Do we tell them it's just h'a machine, m'lady?" Parker whispered.

Penelope ushered him away and shook her head. "No, Parker," she said. "At least, not right now. They've already had one major shock. Probably best we don't give them another."

"No, m'lady."

John was still trying to get through to Fischler. "International Rescue to Langstrom Fischler. Come in, please!"

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Fischler replied. "What the hell do you want?"

"An explanation for starters," said John, his arms folded to show he was serious. "What exactly are you chasing down there?"

"And what business is that of yours?" asked Fischer rudely. "Oh, wait. That's right. NONE!"

Brains then joined in. "Fischler! We know what you're d-doing. You've built a F-Fish Harvester and shaped it like a mechanical shark."

"No! Well, yes. Maybe," said Fischler. "But so what?"

"Once again you've c-created something and lost control of it!" said Brains. "I thought you'd l-learned your lesson by now?"

"WELL, IT'S NOT MY FAULT MY MACHINE GOT STOLEN FROM ME, IS IT?!" bellowed Fischler. "I'M NOT TRYING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS HERE, YOU KNOW?! ALL I WANT IS MY INVENTION BACK!"

Brains and John exchanged looks.

"Who stole it from you?" asked John.

"I DON'T KNOW!" roared Fischler. "I never got introduced." Just then he caught sight of something out through his sub's cockpit window. "Hang about! Is that? YES! THERE YOU ARE!" He turned his sub hard to starboard.

"FISCHLER, WAIT!" shouted Brains.

"Oh, GET LOST, DAMN YOU!" yelled Fischler and he cut Brains and John off.

Brains was seething more than he'd ever done before. "How r-rude!" he fumed.

John swore under his breath. "Thunderbird 4, you have to stop him!" he said. "I think he's sighted the shark and is going after it."

"Grr. He's too far ahead of me!" Gordon complained. "I can't catch him!"

"COME HERE, YOU SLIPPERY LITTLE-" Fischler was heard to say. But this was followed by a sharp "WHAAAAAAAA-" which was followed by an explosion as something hit the side of his submarine. "WHAT THE HELL?!" shrieked Fischler. "WHO'S FITTED MY SHARK WITH MISSILES?!"

"Missiles?!" Brains, John and Gordon all exclaimed together.

"Fischler, turn your sub around!" John said into his radio as he managed to regain contact with him.

This time, Fischler listened and tried to turn his submarine away, but a second missile came shooting out of the darkness and slammed into the side, exploding and causing yet more damage. Alarms went mad in the cockpit of the submarine and multiple breaches meant water was pouring in. The submarine began to list hard to starboard as it began to sink.

"No, no, NO!" wailed Fischler. "I'M LOSING HER!"

"GET OUT OF THERE, FISCHLER!" shouted John.

"You know what?" Fischler replied. "That's actually not a bad idea." He pressed a button and the small conning tower bridge at the front of his submarine was released before shooting up towards the surface. It wasn't a moment too soon for a third missile came out of the darkness and hit the sub, destroying it completely. In the bright glow of the explosion, Gordon thought he saw the sinister shape of the shark lurking in the darkness. Even though the viewing was brief, it was enough to send a chill down his spine.

"Thunderbird 2, Fischler's heading for the surface," said Gordon. "I'll pick up his escape pod and head straight back to Thunderbird 2. Prepare to receive more guests."

"F-A-B, Thunderbird 4."

"Missiles?!" Jeff repeated.

"That's right, M-Mr Tracy," said Brains after he and John reported what they'd heard to him. "Whoever it is who's s-stolen Fischler's Fish Harvester has turned it into a weapon of mass destruction by the sound of it."

Kayo got up from where she was sitting and stormed over towards the lowering seats. "And I'll bet I can guess who it is," she said. "Mr Tracy. I'm going out there. Thunderbirds 2 and 4 could be in grave danger."

Jeff nodded. "Get going, Kayo," he said. "I'll tell the others that you're coming."

Kayo nodded as the seats lowered into the floor. Soon she was aboard the Shadowbike and then aboard Thunderbird Shadow heading up to the cliff-face which turned outwards and the turntable switched her facing down to up so that she could launch.

5! 4! 3! 2! 1!

Thunderbird Shadow's engines fired and the clamp was released. It fell away from the cliff and spun to horizontal flight before racing away. "Thunderbird Shadow is GO!"

Having surfaced yet again, Thunderbird 4 recovered Fischler's escape pod and returned it to the module where a rather distressed Fischler was taken aboard along with a fuming Madeline and sulky Francois.

"Well, I honestly never thought I'd ever have two of my least favourite people within my line of sight at the same time," Scott remarked out loud.

"Scott, now's not the time," Penelope said.

Fishler and Lemaire were too fed up to even acknowledge Scott's remark.

Thunderbird 4 was now being winched inside the module ready for lifting off again.

"Well, that's that," said Virgil. "Now to get everyone back to dry land."

"And us back to FAB2 if you wouldn't mind, Virgil?" said Penelope.

"Of course," said Virgil. "But we'd better drop-"

Suddenly there came a great splashing sound from behind. Everyone spun around to look out across the water. They all gasped in surprise at what it was. There, settling on the surface having burst out from underneath was the large mechanical shark. Now they could see it properly. It was clearly a machine. Painted mostly black but with orange areas as well, it had red glowing eyes up by its head, an extendable tail and its mouth was open permanently, completely circular and with viciously sharp teeth that were spinning around what looked like some kind of intake.

"Well…there's your Megalodon," said Gordon.