Epilogue
Jeff Tracy was vaguely aware of the hands pulling him free from the tube, his eyes tightly shut against the blaring lights around the room. His bare feet slid across the floor, all of his weight held by the two men at his sides. A pair of doors creaked on their hinges, slamming behind him a moment later as he was dragged through. The floor fell away and he was placed on something solid, the surface cold and unforgiving.
Sensations were always heightened when he was out of the biotank, his usual 'residence' in this living hell. Jeff blinked, retinas finally focusing on the new area. Grey… with shadows, sharpened by the single light that hung above him. They were a constant when it came to this place.
Underused muscles began to cramp as he lay on the cold slab of metal that resembled a table. He tried his best to relieve the aches, but his limbs were weak and uncooperative, the gel that still clung to his skin taking away any hold he found on the smooth surface.
Jeff could see the two dark clad figures that stood off to the side, keeping watch after depositing their charge. He knew instinctively who they were waiting for and he was trying to steel himself away from the terror and pain he'd been forced to endure earlier. He couldn't give in to this monster. Not now. Not after he'd been fighting for so long… Was it months? Years? Decades?
Now that he could properly think about it, his boys had looked so much older. When he'd disappeared, his teenage son had still been a few inches below his ocean loving brother. Gordon… oh, Gordon… What had he done…
Jeff felt the earth under him start to quake, but it was obvious the guards were unaffected. Memories were bombarding him the longer he lay there, the image of his second youngest dangling in his grasp. The desperate hands as they pushed against the roof of his mouth…
Retching sounds filled the room as Jeff fought to quell the images. All of his preparation was gone, replaced by the ache to see his sons.
"My dear, Jeff." The voice sent a chill through his already shivering body. Jeff was unsure of when he had entered the room, but now the Hood was slowly making his way over, a look of sadistic pleasure on his face. "I had hoped you would wait until I arrived before we started the unpleasantries."
The snide comment hung in Jeff's mind, his throat too raw to allow it out. Instead, he simply glared up at the villain, but there was no hiding the tears that fell.
"So, the great Jeff Tracy does cry." He flinched away as the Hood wiped a tear off his cheek. Jeff prided himself at how well he could hide the emotions when he was the only focus of the villain's wrath, but this time… nothing could have prepared him for this. "I take it killing your own son and then having them do the same to you had the desired effect."
"You -" The growl came out as a choked cough. His body was failing him every minute he was out of the tank, but that didn't stop the anger from building.
"Ah, not coping well in the real world any more?" He gave a toothy grin. "You could go back right now if you would only provide some information."
Jeff's bright blue eyes flared, finding purchase in the all too familiar interrogation. Focus on defiance and the Hood would eventually grow tired.
The villain laughed, deep and leaned forward. "Oh Jeff, don't you worry. I simply had you brought out to witness the effects of our little game today. You'll be back in shortly." He stood, motioning to his henchmen.
Jeff hated to admit how relieved he felt at that statement. The dependence was unnerving, but he was certain he wouldn't last long kept from the thermal gel that regulated his temperature and stimulated his frail muscles.
Hands gripped his arms, pulling him up to kneel on the table. The Hood stepped closer, the smile still plastered on his face. "Did I mention I was able to record your encounter with your sons? You'll be pleased to know you will be revisiting it over and over…" The pure hate filled the Hood's voice and he glared into shocked blues.
"No - please…" He couldn't handle this, not again. The tears fell with his heart.
"Do try to think of something useful while you're in there." The villain began to turn away, taking a single step before Jeff felt the words leave his mouth.
"Stability processors!" The shock of his defeat was like a dagger to his side, but he couldn't see Gordon like that again. He slumped as the Hood came back, eager to know more. Jeff kept his voice low. "Each Thunderbird - has a processing unit that regulates... power… let's them travel at high speeds without breaking apart... You'll never get a ship - to fly as fast - without one of those units."
Silence hung through the room, the hands on his arms flexing to adjust their grip as they waited for orders. The relief was instant at the man's words.
"Thank you, Jeff. That is most helpful." The Hood waved a hand towards the two figures, who instantly started pulling him back towards his 'room'. "For this, you'll only have to review the footage, oh, let's go with an even ten times."
Horror gripped Jeff's heart, forcing a choked cry of despair from his throat. "No! I gave you - you what you wanted!" Tears streamed down his face as he thrashed weakly in the restraining arms.
"Oh, you did." Gratification was coating the villain's words. "And you'll be giving me so. Much. More."
The doors slammed, severing his view of the Hood. Jeff was thrown roughly into the tank, his mask and sensors shoved over his face. The hatch closed, initiating the gel, the blue substance enveloping him in mock comfort.
And then, the world around him disappeared, leaving behind the old man he'd become, frail and broken, a failure to his family and himself. He let the anguish wash over him even before the images began to fill his mind.
The end… for now.
OooooOOOOooooO
Sorry sorry! There will be more! Hopefully! ..One day...
Anyway! Thanks so much to everyone who read this! My minds a weird place and I'm glad I can share it with people who understand :D
Again! Can't thank MadameWinter and TigreMalabarista enough for all their help with this story!
