Penelope had no idea what had just happened. She did know that Gordon had somehow ended the battle that had been tearing the room apart with each of Fuse's attacks. She took Parker's arm as they stepped over the marred bills and gold. Her eyes were on Gordon, however, as his new form shifted between solid earth and illuminous fluid. It was like viewing the bottom of the ocean with its cragged structures where creatures could hide.

He was stunning.

"Lady Penelope," he called to her in a voice that resounded with his new power, breaking the trance. "Wish everything back to where it came from."

She nodded, her throat dry as she overcame the shock of the last few minutes. "I wish for everything to be back to its rightful place, including the Thunderbirds."

A watery grin, so bright she could feel pinpricks at the corner of her eyes and he snapped crystal blue fingers. In a blink, the piles of money and gold disappeared, leaving the room desolate and dark, save for the mystical being at its center.

"No!" The Hood screamed with rage. "How is this possible?"

Penelope ignored him, watching her genie as he stared into his hand.

And she saw the thick, black veins begin to creep through his fingers and into his palm.

"Gordon?"

His smile had faded and he turned to the naked man he had just been fighting, a look of pained regret on Fuse's face.

"I wish," both men found the Hood, their eyes wide and she suddenly felt Gordon's fear. "They were all at the bottom of the ocean!"

That fear increased to pure terror as she watched Gordon's other hand come up with as much resistance as he could manage. The stone fingers pressed together and in one snap, Parker and Kayo vanished.

Her heart leapt into her throat and Penelope instinctively reached into her pocket and pulled free her compact. Parker's hologram appeared a second later.

"Research facility, M'lady," he soothed quickly. "Bottom h'of the ocean, it seems. Ms. Kayo is here as well. Where are you?"

"Still in the Hood's base," Penelope couldn't decide who to keep her eyes on, the Hood seemingly focused on the confusing fact that Gordon had granted his wish, the genie sinking to the ground beside Fuse. How she and the other man were still there, she wondered if it had been Gordon's doing. The location of her friends confirmed that he had at least done what the Hood had asked.

And the stone hand took on the same webbing that looked more like cracks shearing through the rock that had appeared in his other hand.

Determination engulfed the fear and she ran over to her friend. It was daunting to look at him as he towered above her, but the torn expression on his face sent an ache of worry through her chest.

"Gordon, what's wrong?" Penelope tried to keep her voice calm, but it didn't seem to be reaching the genie.

"He's taken my powers - my curse." Fuse offered.

"What's happening to him?" The dark veins had progressed into his arms.

"A genie can't serve two masters," there was an apology hidden under the explanation. "It's why we know never to try takin' another genie's powers. He's bein' torn apart."

At that, Gordon finally noticed her, the glow in his eyes shifting between different shades of blue. It was like staring into the waves in the open ocean. "Sorry, Mistress."

"Don't apologize, just tell me how to fix this," she couldn't be mad at him for the sacrifice, but there was no way she was going to let him give up without a fight.

"Pen-"

"I hate to break up this grotesque moment, but I still have plans that don't involve the likes of you," yellow eyes glared at her with the frustration she and her friends had brought with them. "I thought I wished for everyone to be gone?"

"I can't - " Gordon caught himself, but the villain had already caught on, glaring at the genie.

"Whatever you've done, I still have wishes," an impatient frown drew over his face. "So, Genie, I wish my facility was no longer destroyed."

A groan preceded a snap and hiss as the cracks in Gordon's arm crawled further across his chest, black tendrils winding through the water of his chest. The room, however, was back to its pristine grey and Penelope instantly realized how vulnerable she was.

Fuse was already ahead of her, placing himself between her and the villain. "Don't worry, miss, 'e's still your genie, too. Best wish us outta 'ere."

"I wish for all of Turkey's wealth! Seeing as without a leader, they'll bend to my will!" The grin was making its way back with ease, but as Gordon granted it, a pile of dry corn spread around the room.

The genie let out a strained laugh as the decay contined to spread up his throat. "The turkeys -are gonna be sad."

Horror was all Penelope could feel as she watched her friend quickly being overcome with the darkness. What was she supposed to do? She needed to save him before whatever was consuming him took him completely.

"Miss? We need to go!" Fuse tried again, but she couldn't and she wouldn't let the Hood have another chance to make the wishes that were tearing her genie - her friend - apart.

"Gordon," her voice felt fragile with what she needed to say. The blue was still there, half his face gone to the void. He didn't speak, only nodded with the intent to do as she asked. And she had only one thing she wanted from him in this moment. "I wish you weren't a genie anymore. I want you to live."

The blue eyes flared, his mouth hanging open with unspoken shock. This wasn't what he had expected and as his hands came up, she felt strong ones take her shoulders, pulling her away. She twisted, recognizing Fuse and the urgency on his face.

Penelope wouldn't be skirted off without knowing what she had done, turning back to see what was left of Gordon's water and earth form. The glow had intensified such that it shook the room around them, sending them clawing for the wall for stability.

Any other time and place, the London agent would have found being protected by a naked man rather off putting . She might have even left him regretting being this close, but as the room around them erupted into wind and sound, bolts of energy sparking off the walls until the roof tore free, she was glad for his presence.

As the cacophony gradually died down, they found the entire room had been exposed to the early morning sky. Floating in the center was an orb of pure golden energy, the dark tendrils gone. It was warm and beautiful, enticing her towards it, but Fuse's grasp held strong and Penelope was forced to watch as the energy shot out and into the sky.

And then, it was gone. All they could see by was the soft glow of the sun cresting the horizon. The Hood was gone, however, his henchmen left dumbfounded as they surveyed the destruction.

None of that mattered, though. Penelope pushed away from Fuse and ran towards the center of the room where a single figure lay motionless. She knelt by his side, turning Gordon onto his back. Her ear pressed to his bare chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart, feeling the rise and fall of his chest.

"Gordon?" She whispered as she sat up, pushing his hair away from his face. He didn't stir, his face slack with the effects of her final wish. "Can you hear me?"

Still nothing, but she was at least comforted by the fact he was alive. How close had she been to losing him? What would have happened if their wishes had torn him apart as Fuse had warned?

And just like that, those breaths and heart beats meant more to Penelope than any amount of wealth. Tears sprung to her eyes and she blinked them away as footsteps sounded behind here.

"Found 'is clothes," Fuse dropped the damp pants and shirt on the ground beside her, not that she could do anything with them. She doubted the discomfort would be welcomed either.

"Thank you," years of training demanded she show gratitude and was pleased to see the man had found his own garments, as well. She retrieved her compact from her pocket, flipping it open and keying in the code she needed. "Scott?"

"Lady Penelope! Are you alright? We just sent the GDF to the Pacific Oceanic center to pick up Kayo and Parker. Where are you?" Scott's questions came at her in the silence of the open room and she had to hold up a hand to calm him.

"Still in the Hood's facility. Do you think you can come get us?" Her words were steady even though she felt anything but. "Did it work, I mean? Are the Thunderbirds-"

"They're back. EOS alerted us immediately when Five reappeared in orbit." He paused a moment, confusion knitting his brow, "Where's Gordon?"

"He's here - unconscious - so a lift would be greatly appreciated." And finally she saw the gears click.

"I'll be right there," Scott offered as he moved towards his launch tube.

Jeff took his place, "Hello, Penny. Are you alright?"

Maybe it was the warmth or the fact it was Jeff trying to comfort her in the first place, but she found the warm tears had resurfaced. She kept them from spilling over with a quick nod and a smile that she truly meant but wished she could give in person.

"Good," and the comfort in that one word had some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "Scott will be at your location in four minutes. Just hold tight."

As if they hadn't already been through enough, a groan sounded from a pile of debris in the corner of the room. Penelope watched as it shifted and the man who had caused all of this appeared from under a sheet of metal.

"You," the Hood growled, unsteadily getting to his feet and there was a trail of red flowing from a gash on the side of his head. "We had everything! Why would you destroy that?!"

Her compact clipped shut before she could offer a glance to Jeff, her ire at the man stumbling towards them sending a flame through her senses. "You brought this on yourself, Hood! Your selfish, egotistical self! You could've taken your wishes and lived a life of luxury, but no, you used him to kill and create fear! You ruined your own gift."

In hindsight, poking an already angry villain might not have been the best idea, but it felt good. If it weren't for him, her friend wouldn't be lying unconscious on the ground. He would be saving lives with the Tracys.

"Then I'll just have to settle for you!" The Hood snarled. "I'm certain the Tracys and your family would pay handso-"

A large fist connected with the villain's nose, sending a sharp crack through the room as cartilage broke. Penelope heard the thud of the smaller figure as he fell, Fuse blocking her view.

"Ow," Fuse hissed, shaking his hand. "That smarts. Felt pretty good though. Been wantin' to do that since 'e woke me up."

The henchman - possibly at the sight of seeing their boss decked out on the floor - moved to attack, growling with intent as he ran at Fuse. The deep sounds of VTOL sent him skidding to a halt, however, the wind whipping around them as Thunderbird 1 descended above the open roof. Scott appeared a second later, rushing to them with a concerned expression.

"GDF are on their way," he shouted over the engines for them to hear, as well as the goon who had yet to decide if staying was worth whatever the Hood paid him. Apparently, it wasn't and he turned and ran for one of the room's exits.

When the field commander shifted his attention to Fuse, Penelope held up a hand to stop any more violence. "He's a friend, Scott. We need to get out of here."

The amount of trust she demanded when faced with a stranger dressed in the Hood's uniform must have been great for Scott to nod without question. Two harnesses were lowered and he handed one to Fuse while attaching the other to Gordon. Still, the blonde didn't stir with the jostling.

"Hang on to me," the brunette ordered and she was happy to oblige as they flew up to the ship. She moved out of the way as the harnesses were retracted and she was pleased to see Fuse helping to direct his counterpart into Scott's waiting arms.

The entire process took less than a few minutes and Penelope was acutely aware of the jet flying away from the Hood's facility without Scott at the helm. The pilot was busy getting Gordon on an infirmary bed attached to the inner hull of his 'bird.

He was working with a medical scanner when he pulled her away from the shock she'd been trying to keep at bay. "There are blankets behind you, if you'd like to get him one."

Purpose - she needed the distraction and helping Gordon offered just that. She found the blankets easily enough, warm under her touch and she let it fall open before placing it over her friend. Her friend - she had only known him a few months, but he had become a welcome fixture to her family. The Tracys' family. What would happen now?

Movement to her left and she found Fuse sliding down the wall to sit on the metal floor, his face falling into his hands. She couldn't imagine what he was going through but she figured Gordon might endure the same once he woke up.

Turning to Scott, Penelope saw the relief, sky blue eyes finding hers. "Physically, he's fine. Hopefully, he'll wake up and tell us more."

That seemed to be all he needed to say before departing to begin their landing sequence back to the island. Her hand found the loose waves of blonde hair and she smoothed it back from where it had fallen once more. At least, for this moment, he looked peaceful. Time would tell if anything else was wrong.

"Are you alright?" Penelope called to the other man, still seated on the floor once Scott had retreated to the pilot's seat.

"Not really, no," Fuse groaned. "Been quite some time since I was human. Feels pretty rubbish."

Her heart ached at that blatant confession. "I'm sorry. We didn't mean for any of this to happen."

His tone lightened, "Oh, don't get me wrong, feeling tired and achy, not my favorite, but you do understand - we're free now." Their eyes met and there was pure joy in his. "To make our own choices and live our lives. To never have to watch another master that we loved die." A smile spread over his face. "This is a gift we can never repay in full. Thank you."

This time, emotion won out and a tear escaped. She let it fall, the droplet disappearing into the fabric of the blanket. Gordon deserved at least one - or two.