Penelope's gaze had followed Gordon's retreat through the translucent glow of her screens. Today had been an immense demonstration of her friend's abilities to adapt. A little over a month ago, she had been somewhat reserved about her thoughts on how well he would do on this mission. Gordon Tracy rescued people. He wasn't a fighter - in her mind, anyway.

On the contrary, the aquanaut showed he could and would do what was necessary to complete his job. Where there had been admiration before, now there was an awe that stole her breath. A smile tugged at her lips as she let herself recall the one time she had pressed then against his. There might have been an increasing desire to repeat such an action ever since.

But that could all wait until after they finished their mission to search for Jeff. It would be a bit selfish on her part to distract him from that goal.

The rest of her musings were interrupted by the awkward shuffling and dialogue from the other two figures left in the room. Virgil was lowering Kayo to her feet, his ears almost glowing the same red as his cheeks.

Now, that is an unexpected change, Penelope thought as she watched them separate, the impromptu training session ended by the aquanaut. Virgil excused himself with the need of ensuring that Gordon completed his stretches before bed. Kayo stayed, eventually crossing her arms over her chest as she watched him leave.

They were easy enough to read.

"Kayo," the agent broke the silence first.

"What am I supposed to do about that?" She didn't sound angry, per say, but there was frustration in the undertones.

In reality, she hadn't been trying to pry into the potential love life of her friends, but there was no helping how people tended to simply spill everything to her. It only made her job that much simpler. The problem was, these were her friends, not egotistical business representatives willing to tell her anything if it meant they would have her investment.

She did have some experience with the Tracys awkward abilities to express their feelings, however, "So I take it this is new for him?"

Kayo nodded, but stopped as she seemed to consider the question. A moment later, her head tilted with realization, the dots connecting, "Oh… ah, that explains why he's been helping so much with Thunderbird Shadow. I thought it was just because he liked my 'bird." She sank down, onto the sofa, her face falling into her hands.

A frown took over the grin at the sight of her friend in distress, "This is a problem, then?" And really, there were only a few reasons why it would be.

Green eyes emerged from her hands to stare at the door to the boys' room and she sighed, "I guess I've always just considered them my brothers."

That wasn't true - not fully, at least. Penelope could hear the uncertainty in her voice and the way she shifted uncomfortably on the plush sofa. "You've never considered the possibility?"

And she was caught, a red hue brushing over Kayo's cheeks as memories came back to her, "I mean - there've been moments -"

A knowing smile and she knew there was only one thing that would help, "You should talk to him after all this is over. In the meantime, figure out what you want. You've known the Tracys longer than I have and I'm certain he can't hide anything from you."

She laughed, short and understanding, "You're spot on there."

They fell into a silence as they came to realize the rest of this conversation would need to be between Kayo and Virgil. The next topic wouldn't be quite as entertaining.

"In other news, I've discovered something from what Gordon gathered," Penelope pulled up the data she wanted to discuss. Kayo seemed happy to have the distraction. "Gordon's last opponent - they said he had already left. I checked and he checked out of his hotel online, but it appears his flight pass for returning has not been used."

"You believe he was taken?" The security officer asked, pulling up video from around the building. Penelope had already reviewed some of the footage and transferred most of it up to John. If there was something to be found, the astronaut and his AI would find it.

"That's the thought," she also had a list of the other fighters staying in the building and only two others had left early. The same situation had been discovered for one, the other having traveled in by car. That vehicle was no longer in the parking garage, but it would be easy enough to locate. She shared this information as well, a dark look passing over Kayo's face. "What is it?"

"They all lost," it was a simple observation, though many of the contestants that had lost their fights still remained in the hotel. It would make sense to only take a few, however. Too many would bring unwanted eyes onto the operation.

Another thought crossed her mind as she tried to work out a way to find where the group had been taken. Penelope wanted to expel it from her head the moment it appeared, but now that it was there, it was a viable option.

Apparently, her expression and silence had alerted Kayo to her struggle, "You have a plan?"

"I do, but I'm not very fond of it," she frowned as she reduced the screens and closed her compact.

"A bit dangerous?"

"Hence why I'm open to other suggestions," a hopeful glance to the security officer.

"One of us has to lose," Kayo surmised on her own and Penelope hated to admit, it might be their best chance.

"I'd like to keep that as a last resort if at all possible," she urged. If they could find the connections they needed, there might not be a need for either of them to be put in further danger.

"Understood, but -" Kayo's lips thinned as she sighed. "We've only got two days left."

"Then we best keep working," there was no further need for discussing an option she had no intention of pursuing. The proof would be in the footage. John would find it and she could pull Gordon and Kayo from the competition. End of mission.

It had to be.

OoOoOoO

Virgil was a miracle worker. Yes, he'd forgotten to stretch, more interested in sleeping than anything, but his brother had forced him to complete the motions. In doing so, Gordon found himself able to walk with little resistance into the arena for a second day of brutal competition.

Lady Penelope had placed herself close to him since they had arrived, she and Kayo having gone over what they had discovered while he was being tormented by his big brother. Whether it was to calm his nerves or hers, he was just happy to have her arm looped into his. The idea of Kayo or himself being taken was frightening, to say the least, but it was still an option. Maybe that's why the agent was so bent on keeping him within her eyesight. Virgil appeared to be doing the same with their sister. No one would get a chance to do anything at this rate.

That was, until Seth cut him off on his way to the competitor round up, "Sam! The hell - have you seen Gavin or Kris?"

Gordon glanced to Penelope in slight confusion, but he shook his head, his squid senses flaring. Anger seemed to be taking over the other fighter as his imagination ran wild. He began to pace and mutter something about cheats and lowlifes when the aquanaut caught his arm. His hands went up to stave off the glare Seth was throwing at him.

"Whoa, what's going on? What happened?" He started, wanting to calm his friend.

"They're gone! Left!" He gestured to a door that existed somewhere outside of the building. "Gav's already checked out and Kris never even came back to the room last night. Whaddya think happened?" It wasn't a question meant to be answered, but Gordon had an idea far worse than what Seth was conjuring.

"Can you -" he didn't finish the request to the agent on his arm before she nodded. If the details lined up, maybe they could find out who was taking people. Her hand on his arm conveyed the hesitation to leave and Gordon took the initiative to pull himself away to deal with Seth. Penelope was gone a moment later. "Hey, you don't know that - maybe they're planning a party for ya? You know, to cheer you up after I kick your butt."

The glare he received said more than enough about how the fighter felt about that possibility. Gordon considered apologizing until the man shook his head, "I might just drop out - y'know I was only doing this for her. Who'd a thunk I was good at it."

His mouth felt dry at the sincerity and the implications that decision would lead to, "Whoa, whoa hang on. Let's not jump to conclusions. Have you called them?"

"Got their voicemail," he growled. "I spent all night calling and nothin'! Then this morning Gavin's up and left without a word. What else should I have expected?"

Telling him they might've been taken for some kind of underground fighting ring didn't sound like the best idea, "Look, let's say they are planning something for you. It'd look pretty bad to skip out on the only reason they're celebrating, right?" It felt wrong, deceiving Seth from what could be the truth, but this was certainly better than either alternative.

Seth eyed him for a long minute, his expression sour as his jaw tensed. Gordon stood his ground as he tried to play his role of mood lifter. A subtle smirk. A slight tilt of his head. A calculated blink. And the fighter deflated just a hair below infuriated. He still held some anger, but didn't seem ready to bolt.

"Fine, I'll leave a message," he conceded as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number Gordon could only assume belonged to Kris. It rang for far too long, the aquanaut hoping he was wrong and the woman would pick up. When she didn't and her message ended, Seth gave a quick one of his own, "Call me back or I'm outta here. I mean it."

"To the point," he tried not to groan.

"Yeah, and if she doesn't answer, I'm out. Automatic win for you," he cocked a brow with that tidbit of information. "I'm surprised you're not trying to talk me into leaving."

"No glory in winning be default," Gordon hoped he sounded sincere. The truth was, he wasn't sure what he would have preferred more. Seth leaving would be a loss, potentially putting him in harm's way. Fighting Seth and losing himself would lead to his own life being in danger - which was a last resort right now. The problem with all of this would be if he beat Seth. They'd be back to putting an innocent in the line of fire. Any way he looked at it, there wasn't an ideal answer. They would just have to hope Penelope found something before the end of their match.

OoOoOoO

The answers were much the same for Gavin McGregor as they were for everyone else who'd gone missing. The only change this time, Kris Bower hadn't checked out. She'd been roomed with Seth and simply not returned. The video footage had shown her leaving the room to pick up food from the hotel restaurant, enough for two. After that, she simply vanished.

Penelope couldn't decide if she should be pleased with the new information or upset that they were still unable to figure out just how these people were getting out of the building. They couldn't simply vanish. The potential routes were being monitored by John, which included the loading docks and sewage system. One could get a full sized human out in the laundry or garbage. The sewer was a stretch, but she needed to have all her bases covered.

Now, they were back in the event hall, waiting to see if Seth had made up his mind. A plan had been agreed upon after learning about the fighter's thoughts on leaving and Gordon had been handed a small tracker. It had already been placed on Seth well before the first call for all participants in the men's competition to assemble.

Kayo was in the middle of her final match of the day that would signify her moving up to the championship match, Virgil on his feet watching her work. She was trying to keep some distance from the muscular woman hell-bent on defeating the newcomer to the fighting world and Penelope found she wasn't worried. Kayo had her opponent burning through too much of her energy as they traded blow with counter. The frustration was leading to miscalculations and with a stunning strike, Kayo had the woman falling to the floor.

The London agent watched as her colleague landed on top of the prone fighter and discreetly placed a durmal tracker. Thunderbird 5 was well aware of what could happen in the next few hours and they wanted to ensure they didn't lose a fighter to the same fate as the others.

The announcer erupted as the knockout was called and the crowds followed. It was little more than a call for the next phase of their operation. Gordon's fight was a tossup she wished she had better control over. It would come down to Seth, however, and as their group made their way to the ring, they could see the collection of officials. No one looked too pleased, except Gordon, who was doing his best to console the cause of the stress.

"Don't listen to them," Gordon kept his voice low. "You do what you need to, just make sure you've thought it through. Wouldn't want you regretting it later." Fake blue eyes lifted to meet hers and Penelope could read the warning to let him handle it.

"I thought about it," Seth almost growled. "All day. Kris still hasn't called me back and there's no point fighting if she's not gonna be here for it." There was no mistaking the sureness. He wouldn't be fighting the aquanaut any time soon.

Gordon's lips thinned and he nodded, "Alright, man. I've got your back. You're gonna stay for the deciding match, though, right?"

He was playing the scared new kid act and it seemed to be working on the veteran fighter who just laughed, "Wouldn't miss it. I may not want to fight, but watchin' you knock the smug look off of Chapin or Ainsleigh's face will be priceless!"

Gordon's next opponent would be decided after their match. If he could defeat the winner, he would go on to fight the other champion of the day which was currently between Micah Huller and Sergio Garrett. Both men were expected to be a challenge for whomever advanced and Penelope again found herself hoping they would find the evidence they needed to bring the darker part of this sport down for good.

The competition continued with one less fight and it was Gordon's turn to challenge Ainsleigh. To the aquanaut's advantage, he hadn't been worn out by an earlier fight with Seth. To his disadvantage, the larger man standing across from him had managed to finish his previous fight with little effort. One of the benefits of being six foot four and over two hundred pounds of muscle.

The bell sounded and she could almost feel Seth's tension as Gordon shifted over the mat, ducking under Ainsleigh's grasping arms. The man was fast, however and caught the smaller forms bicep, spinning him in place before a fist caught the side of the aquanaut's face. How he stayed upright, the agent was certain it was by pure stubborn will. Gordon took the blow and launched himself at Ainsleigh's midsection, throwing him off balance and to the floor. With the aquanaut on top, he threw his own volley of punches to the man's face until arms came up to block the attacks. Gordon caught one arm, locking his own around it. The other searched for the point under Ainsleigh's chin. His fist was deflected before it could make contact and a meaty leg swung up to lock over Gordon's chest.

"C'mon, you've got this," Seth whispered beside her. Virgil was on her other side, eyes unblinking as he watched his brother being pushed back at an angle that was most certainly putting strain on his lower vertebrae.

Fear began to edge its way under her calm composure, images of Gordon after his accident breaking through her wall and her fingers closed tight over the hem of her skirt. Please, break free -

Gordon Tracy would do anything she asked, she was certain of that, and it seemed that applied to requests she had yet to utter. To her relief, Penelope watched him release the arm he had captured and twist into the leg that was trying desperately to break him in half. Like a serpent, he wrapped himself around it and jabbed. His fist connected with the soft tissue under Ainsleigh's jaw and that was all they needed. The big man convulsed once and fell. The leg around Gordon loosened and he quickly extracted himself while the referee checked on his opponent.

A second that stretched too long and the ref stood, signalling a knockout and the end of the match. Seth and Virgil jumped up with the cheers of the crowd while Penelope and Kayo released the breath they held. The agent met the younger woman's gaze and smiled.

One more hurdle crossed. She knew it had been difficult, watching the way Gordon stayed seated on the mat until Virgil could reach him. There was a moment where both combatants had their medics probing their faces, checking their eyes and snapping fingers by their ears. The aquanaut flinched, but seemed to find focus before being helped to his feet. Penelope considered the way Gordon hunched and knew he was in for a rough evening.

She would ensure he got the rest he deserved.