Allo! Posting early, because I've got to get the fluids flushed in my Jeep, then start packing. Thank you for reviewing, Bow Echo, Tikatu, Susan, Creative Girl and Thunderbird Shadow. Replies forthcoming! =) Edited!

38

Island Base, and everywhere else, in the meantime-

Was there much going on back home? Absolutely. Grandma Tracy had been left minding the chaotic "store", and that meant serving as information and comm relay, as well as keeping a concerned GDF in the loop, every ten minutes. Necessary, since Captain Rigby was off on a mission, instead of manning his post as liaison.

With Alan skirting Manitoba, Kayo in Japan, Virgil and Lee hooking up to Pacifica City, plus Gordon, Scott and John Matthew, God knows where, Sal was a busy woman.

As for the rest, Professor Moffat had suffered a sudden fainting spell, brought on by stress, pregnancy hormones and total exhaustion. Brains could have sent her upstairs with Max, but chose to take care of his wife personally, leaving young Caleb Gonzalez alone with the prototype transporter. He didn't realize what could happen, of course. How could he have known?

Out in the ring, Janice Ming and Josh Kelly were each remote-flying a Thunderbird. Fairly simple for Josh, who had only to maintain a figure-of-eight holding pattern in Thunderbird 2, while fielding occasional messages and waiting for rescued victims.

Jan was busier; flying the silver rocket plane from one hot-spot to the next, on the shattered outskirts of far-off Kyoto. Beside her sat Cody Beech, her lieutenant and… well, her boyfriend. The pale-haired, wolf-eyed young man was a powerful chaos adept, and now he was pouring all of that might into Jan's first mission; very much boosting her piloting skills and her luck.

See, a hundred-thousand things could've gone wrong that day, and they did… for the GDF. Trouble and chaos had to go somewhere. Being a Special, himself, Cody had no love at all for the human World Government. So, that's where he shunted all the misfortune and entropy that would have bedeviled Jan.

Chancellor Shaw, Colonel Casey, that much-delayed submarine rescue fleet… all experienced troubles ranging from blue-screened computers and savage muscle cramps, to foul weather and unexplained engine problems. That any one of those subs made it out of port was a certified miracle; one that Beech would have to explain, later. Cody might not have been the strongest of his subtly powerful breed, but he stirred up plenty of trouble.

Zara Herringford-Smith, meanwhile, occupied a slightly awkward spot between guest and employee. Having been rescued by Colonel Jeff Tracy, then given a job on the Island, yet not really part of the "team", the pretty blonde girl kept to the edges of things; flirting with Gordon, caring for Charlie, helping to cook. Now, she was torn between maintaining the pretense that wee Charles was actually home, and assisting Brains with Moffy. Both situations were vital, but her heart went out to the Doctor's pregnant and faltering wife.

Max was occupied everywhere, with part of his robotic consciousness there on the Island, attending the Doctor, and the rest parceled out to Thunderbird 3 and the Prototype. Few realized quite how spread out and busy that tough little robot actually was.

Over in Japan, Dr. Reeves had been evacuated from the Yamato Tower space port and taken to the nearest medical facility. Thanks to Havok's sadistic bomb, he'd been totally blinded and deafened. Was soon awake, though, and calling for stylus and notepad. Before long, the inventor had arranged a haptic signaling system with his nurses, whereby he could find out just what had happened and how he could fix it.

Further north, Havok and fuse were out of commission. Not dead, but not happy, or rich. The illegally-implanted pair faced a very long trek over shifting pack ice, before they'd encounter anyone they might terrorize, bully or steal from. Having triggered this nightmare, the Chaos Crew were temporarily out of the game.

Elsewhere, the Mechanic had intended to retreat for awhile to Pancake Rocks, and there begin building his stronghold. Only, life rarely followed anyone's script, including Kane's. Far from remaining aloof, the muscular cyborg would shortly be drawn into battle, again. On which side, remained to be seen.

Then, there was the Hood; still in prison, and preferring to remain that way, while his enemies vanquished each other. But then, Vikran Kyrano had always played the long game, for very high stakes. His brothers Zoltan and Kevar were already dead and disposed of. That arrogant cur, Nikorr, would soon follow them into oblivion, leaving Vikran free to shatter the Tracys, forever.

Perhaps eclipsing the Hood in schemes and machinations was the World Council's Chancellor Shaw. By this very delicate balancing point, Shaw had every chess piece placed where he wanted it. But, it's when we're most confident, that the hammer-blow falls, every time.

And so, to Jeff Tracy; patriarch, hero and leader. Concerned father, too. For the first time starting to wonder whether his dream was worth losing a son over. Three misplaced boys, a disastrously malfunctioning transporter and a new, mysterious foe had combined to shake that legendary confidence. The colonel had felt Scott's last choked-off call. But there wasn't a d*mn thing he could do about it, except provide support from Thunderbird 5.

Through the station's high-tech instruments, Jeff monitored Alan's situation, and Kayo's. Kept less of an eye on Virgil, figuring that Lee had a pretty good handle on that one.

"Be careful, Princess," he'd advised Tanusha. "I'm scanning hundreds of major lifeforms and loads of energy, but only one actual human. Something feels off about that place. Keep a clear line of retreat."

"Understood, Thunderbird 5," his daughter responded; evidently in mid-leap and roll. No body cam, because the device had mysteriously broken down. Again. "I've got this. Whatever's in there's no match for a Tracy."

…with a hopefully loyal Marine Corps assistant. She was panting slightly, but sounded confident. A little emotional. Was he ready for a GDF son-in-law, Jeff wondered? Didn't matter, he supposed. Tanusha had become a smart, beautiful, fierce young woman. Her choices were hers to make, not his to control. Not anymore… and he'd never felt quite so helpless. Utterly isolated and out of touch, high above his embattled family.

Down in Japan, Kayo dropped from Shadow's wing to that slanted, red-tiled roof; landing with a very slight thump, and then rolling to minimize her silhouette. At least twice (that Kay would admit to) she'd been killed in sim by a prowling sniper. Now, she kept a low profile, cutting short their conversation. Couldn't afford to lose focus in enemy territory.

The odd, silent birds did not take fright or fly away; merely fluttered off a few feet and then settled again, making no sound but the sibilant rustle of wings. Weird. Her helmet was off, because Kayo needed to feel the wind. Taste the air currents. Hear the muted rumble of her cloaked Bird, borne on that cool, gusting breeze.

"I'm going in," she murmured over the comm. "Wait five minutes, then follow."

Clicked it back off, before Wayne could respond. Clear head, and all that. The red clay tiles were slippery underfoot, containing no metal for her boot soles to latch to. Less guano than she would have expected, though. In fact…

Kayo's thoughts were interrupted, suddenly. Just as she was rising from half-crouch to ready stance, one of those black-and-gold speckled birds darted into the air, swooped low and pecked at her head, snatching a few long hairs from her ponytail.

"Hey!" she objected, swatting at the agile, feathered thief. "Stop that!"

But the swift-darting bird simply dodged her grab and streaked off; splitting the air with a wild 'kee-kee-kee' shriek. Then the other birds began leaving; rising from the roof like a cloud of fluid, dark smoke. The column shot upward, twisting and spinning like an animate cyclone. It swirled and shrieked awhile, before finally coming to roost in the gnarled old pine trees surrounding the fortress; surveying her now from a distance.

Kay's heart was pounding. Almost, she'd lost her balance and fallen; barely converting the plunge to a backward somersault that caught the roof's edge and flipped her down to the balcony, below. Here, too, she landed low and rolling, then sprang up ready to fight. Only, Nijo Castle was empty. Room after elegant room housed only a few graceful artefacts. A jade vase here, an ancient scroll there. A suit of black-and-gold armour, with two slim swords on a wooden stand. All very pretty, and puzzling. The floors were dark wood, creaking subtly at each step. The interior walls were made of paper, arranged to slide open at the merest, whisper-soft touch.

Tanusha ran lightly, watching for cameras or robot guards. She could sense other minds, but they felt strange to her. More of a low background hum, than the open thoughts of her family. Always, she reached for Scott's mind, trying to generate another sign of her oldest brother's presence.

Picked up something… but Wayne's concern and affection came close to drowning that weak drift of consciousness out. The big Marine was taking the leap from Thunderbird Shadow, she sensed, before dragging her mind back to here, and right now.

The castle had many levels, but no apparent inhabitants. Kayo couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, though. That somewhere, just out of sight, unseen crowds whispered and mocked at her stealth. Suspicious and angry, she lashed out with: Don't look this way. Nobody here, as if she'd been stalking a "client" through crowded streets.

Sensed her watchers' alarm at losing their show, and smiled grimly. Might not have been wise to bait them like that, but she'd always preferred a good fight, to sneaking around. Sensed, rather than saw, the release of a swarm of drones.

Well, Kay had the means to deal with those, as well. Her green uniform was equipped with image-fuzzing technology, thanks to Brains. The Mechanic had proven impervious to her tricks, but no simple drone or wall-cam could possibly…

That's when a spring-loaded trapdoor opened beneath her, and Kayo plunged into darkness.