Author's note: Thanks for the review.

/

Kayo's never particularly cared for fuss. That coupled with the fact that she can be terribly stubborn probably makes things more complicated than they really should be when it comes to getting her out of the GDF base.

She's been given the medical all-clear (so long as she solemnly swears to take it easy) and is cleared to go home.

Her pride prevents her from climbing into a wheelchair. She can walk after all. Albeit slowly and it's clear that she's both in some pain and weaker than she should be, having to pause a couple of times to catch her breath. Her legs are shaky and at times it looks as if they might even be struggling to bear her weight. Still, she resists any assistance that might be offered. Its her father it irritates more than Virgil, even although the young man does even go so far as to offer her – not entirely in jest – a piggyback or to be carried. Once more, the young woman refuses point blank:

"I've spent six months either cooped up in a cell or handcuffed to something. I need to stretch my legs."

It's hard to protest when faced with a statement like that.

They reason that it's probably a good thing if she's at least trying to make the effort to get things back to how they once were. It's better than her sitting alone and being unresponsive as they had for a while feared that she might be. She does just want to go home. That much is clear.

Jeff is called off to one side by Casey. Both claim that it's just a few more formalities. It isn't questioned, at least not openly. Perhaps Kyrano chooses not to see the sternness behind his old friend's eyes, the one which really should carry a warning that what's to follow isn't entirely going to be pleasantries. The man readies himself. They find some privacy. It won't be a long conversation, already the former astronaut is quite confident that he knows just what this is about.

Thankfully, his old friend is quick to cut to the chase:

"We wouldn't normally release someone who's been in enemy captivity for as long as she has so soon. You're going to have to keep a very close eye on her. The very first sign of anything odd, you lock her in her room and bring her back here, okay?"

Jeff can only stare.

There's a part of him that doesn't want to hear it. In his heart, he knows she's right. Kayo is to all intents and purposes family. She's grown up with them. He loves her as if she was his own daughter. He knows that that clouds his judgment. He tries not to let it but he's human enough to admit that it affects him. In his heart, he knows that if she wasn't who she is, then he would not have let her set foot on the island, not so soon.

It's Kayo though, so like any "parent" he's inclined to be protective. He searches for a way to both assure Casey and convince her that there's no danger. After all, she must think that it's safe enough to let the girl out of her custody. He's faced with a sternness which almost reminds him of his own mother, ready to scold him if she doesn't think that he's taking things 100% seriously. He is.

"You saw the state that she's in Val..." The man lets those words hang in the air for a moment. "She didn't tell them anything."

"And if she broke right after they did that to her?" Jeff chooses not to answer. "She could have told them anything and it wouldn't be her fault. She's still just a kid…"

"If she'd have broken, she'd have said something by now."

"Maybe. Maybe not… Look Jeff, I'm not suggesting that you lock her up in the cellar but just… Be careful. Okay?"

Jeff won't argue. He knows she's right.

For the time being there will be no missions, no scouting, no patrols, no hunting her uncle, no Thunderbirds… Tanusha Kyrano will focus on recovering. Maybe in time, they will be able to discuss what happened with her uncle but not today. Right now they just want her back home.

Casey escorts her friends back towards Thunderbird 2. Kayo's come to a dead stop outside, her eyes wide as she looks around her. She seems taken aback, startled. The looks she's receiving from Virgil and Kyrano are sympathetic. Her father keeps a hand on her shoulder, almost as if to brace her. Jeff comes to a stop, not daring to come any further, fearful that the young woman might have pushed herself too far, too soon once more. She doesn't fall. Instead, their friend just stands there looking a mixture of confused, afraid and staggered. It takes her a moment or two to pull herself together enough so as to provide them with some form of explanation:

"It's been a while since I was outside. I forgot how... big it was out here."

"Do you need a moment?" Mr. Kyrano offers.

"No. No… It's fine."

She continues on as usual right afterwards. They manage to get the young woman on board. She doesn't hide her relief at being able to sit down. Kayo settles down quietly. Getting behind the controls, Virgil fires up Thunderbird 2 whilst Jeff calls home to let them know that they're on their way. It won't be long now…

The flight back home is a quiet one. Kayo seems keen enough to sleep so they let her. Unwilling to disturb their friend, those accompanying her avoid speaking. There will be a chance to discuss things later, perhaps in some more privacy. No doubt Kyrano will have more to tell them and then there's the medical dossier, medicines and how they're going to handle her recovery that they'll need to go over. For the time being, a sense of relief takes hold of those on board of the mighty Thunderbird as it flies through the sky and takes them back towards their home.

The island is just starting to come into view on the horizon. Kyrano goes to check on his daughter. To his surprise, he finds her still awake. She turns round to face him only half awake, her left eye closed. The man can't help but give the girl he'd almost given up for dead a warm and loving smile.

"It's okay my love. We're almost there."

Tanusha and Scott were running. They were charging as fast as their legs would carry them in something of a mad dash. The eldest brother frantically struggled with his communicator. It was no use. They had lost contact with both Thunderbird 5 and the island. Even the GDF outside seemed to be out of reach now.

"How could this happen?!" He couldn't help but ask.

"The fire was obviously a distraction. We've known for some time that the Hood has agents everywhere. They must have busted him out."

"Not just him..." Scott muttered looking over his shoulder. "How many of his goons were in here again?!"

"A lot and the Chaos Crew… Enough for him to get his organization up and running again."

"We have to get out there and warn the GDF!"

"Fat lot of good they're going to do..."

Ordinarily, Scott would likely have reminded his friend about just what was at stake. As it was, he thought better of it, more preoccupied with getting out and finally giving some warning to those outside. It was likely too late of course. No doubt the Hood and his followers had already escaped and were long gone by now. That meant they would have the dubious honor of once more engaging in their customary and traditional game of cat and mouse for the next few months…

Then, without saying a word, Kayo skidded to a halt.

She looked around as if something was calling to her from some unseen place. If the eldest of the brothers didn't know her better, he would have no doubt said that she'd gone nuts. Instead, he too stopped, trusting her instincts. Try as he might, listening and searching, he couldn't locate just what it was that could possibly have upset her in such a way. She continued to scan the area, like a rabbit in a field which thought it might have caught the scent of a predator in the air.

Before he could ask, she spoke four simple words:

"This is a trap."