DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN THEM ... SIGH ...
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NOTES:
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, liked and followed this story. It really means a lot to me that you have taken the time out to read my fanfic so far.
This part was near completion when I posted the previous chapter - I was going to wait my normal week before putting this one up but decided I couldn't leave you on such a cliff hanger.
Reviews as always are most welcome. :)
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A/N: Brains speeches in this chapter are written normally - as I personally have difficulty reading it when it is written as spoken. (So, please read/imagine any bits that Brains says - As he would speak them) Thank you.
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Chapter 10: The Message.
Previously:
"Ah, Jeff. I was just about to call you." Brains stuttered as Jeff and his boys entered the room. "We've had a call from the fire marshal… Apparently, they have received an anonymous video link, which was locked, they can only seem to open the first image which showed a message."
"What does the message say?" Jeff inquired.
Brains continued. "It says: For International Rescue!"
… …
Jeff Tracy stood quietly for a moment taking the announcement of the video with its message in. "Have you asked the fire marshal to send the link to us?"
"Not yet, I wanted to see what course of action you and the boys wanted to take first." Brains replied.
Jeff Tracy looked over at his four boys, who had all grown pale over the news of the video link being sent. Not wanting to put his boys through any more unnecessary pain he decided instantly what his cause of action would be. "It's obviously some kind of threat from whoever caused that fire, set those bombs and kill… and killed Virgil." Glancing over at his sons once more Jeff Tracy paused, composed himself, and then continued. "Contact the fire marshal, tell them to delete the link."
"Dad. No!" Alan contested. "We have to see it!"
"I know you're trying to protect us from any more pain dad, but Al is right. We have to accept the link." John added.
"Do you two agree with this?" Jeff asked looking at both Gordon and Scott.
"Yes, I do," Gordon answered. "If we can unlock the message, find out who's sent it, and then find out why they have done this… Well, then it may help us to prepare for any future attacks."
Jeff nodded and then looked at Scott. "What do you think son?"
Scott stood silently for a while, his head lowered, while he flexed his hands open and shut from a fist formation, eventually he looked up at them and spoke. "We need to watch the link and see who's done this, then maybe we can stop them, and bring them to justice!"
Jeff sighed and looked at Brains. "Okay, Brains tell them to send us the link and start working on unlocking it."
"Yes, Mr Tracy… It really shouldn't take me too long." Brains responded, hurrying out of the room.
Jeff, Gordon and Alan sat down on the sofa while John pulled Scott to one side. "Justice?" John asked, raising an eyebrow at Scott. "What kind of justice?"
Scott looked down at his hands flexing open and shut once more. "No comment!"
John shook his head knowing exactly how angry Scott could get when someone threatened or hurt any of their brothers.
"What?" Scott snapped.
John took Scott's hands in his, gripped them tightly and looked in his older brother's eyes. "Scott, whatever justice you're handing out. Then… Then I'm right there with you!"
Scott raised an eyebrow at Johns response, then let out a slight grin and pulled his younger brother into a warm hug. Eventually letting him go, Scott and John both dropped onto the couch next to the others, and sat in silence waiting for Brains to return.
Around 30 minutes later Brains scurried back into the room. "Right, I've unlocked it, there are no hacking threats and it's ready to go. I have set up the link to feed onto the film screen in here." Brains finished setting everything up, then he sat down on a chair and pressed a button on a keypad he held in his hands. The screen switched on revealing the first message 'For International Rescue.' "Right, it's ready to go."
"Go ahead Brains. Play it." Jeff replied. The message disappeared from the screen to be replaced by the image of a building. "Where's that?" Jeff queried.
"I know," Scott informed them, the colour from his face draining away into a pale white. "It's the building at the metals foundry… The one that Virgil was in."
They all stared back at the screen as it remained unchanged, then after a few seconds the image of a man, one they all knew and desperately missed, walked up to the front entrance.
"Oh God. Virg." Gordon whimpered as they watched their brother enter the building.
The image remained focused on the front of the building, they all sat there, knowing what was about to happen and yet unable to take their eyes away from the screen. After a few minutes, an explosion ripped through the building tearing it to shreds.
Tears began running down all four of the Tracy boys faces. Jeff Tracy, with tears of his own glanced over his boys with concern. "Brains, stop the feed… Now!"
"Wait." Alan stammered, pointing out the image which was now changing and revealing a man sitting on a chair, his face covered, as he looked straight into the camera lens, and laughed bitterly. "It's… It's the Hood!"
"Missing someone Mr Tracy?" The Hood said with a deep laugh. "Shall we see what became of your precious child?"
The image changed again to reveal the inside of the building. They could see some of the small bombs placed around the room.
"That… That was the room on the upper floor" Scott stammered.
Jeff, Alan, Gordon, John and Scott all stared at the screen in disbelief as the image of Virgil walking into the bomb filled room appeared on the screen. They saw him notice the bombs and turn to leave. They saw him fall to his knees in pain, obviously being seized by the Hoods mind powers. They then saw Virgil try and use his watch only to be seized by an invisible force again, they then watched in horror as his watch was torn from his wrist and thrown out of the room, and the locker was thrown in front of the doorway, blocking his escape. They then saw the obvious fear radiate across Virgil's face as the image once again changed back to the Hood.
"Oh, Virgil," Jeff sobbed.
The Hood let out a piercing laugh and continued. "Now, you are probably thinking… How could he get away with this? How could he kill my boy? Yes, you believe he is dead… How could he not be dead? Well, that was my intention, but as always plans do get changed. Especially when someone like your son gets in the way and his instincts kick in. Let's see what happened to your son, shall we?"
Jeff, Scott, John, Gordon and Alan once again stared at the screen in disbelief as the image of Virgil reappeared. They saw him staring at the locker which blocked his escape route, with the obvious panic showing on his face as he looked desperately around the room trying to figure a way out. Then they saw Virgil dash to the window, glance outside, pull of his sash, cover his hand, and then break the window. They then saw him look out, step back, run and jump.
"What the?" Scott cried jumping to his feet as the image changed to the back of the building showing Virgil gambolling forward as he landed on the floor.
Gordon, Alan, John and Jeff were also now on their feet, mouths wide open in shock at the sight of Virgil pulling himself to his feet and running for his life.
"He's… He's alive!" Alan stammered.
The image disappeared and was replaced by the Hood once more. "That other son of yours really should have had more faith in his brother. If he had looked away from the blast site for just 30 seconds he would have seen his brother being taken by me. Maybe then you could have saved him."
Scott dropped to the floor his head buried in his hands as he began to cry bitter tears. John dropped down next to Scott and pulled him into his arms, rubbing Scott's back, and whispering soothing words to him.
Meanwhile, the Hood continued. "If you want to see your son again then you will do exactly what I say… In the next few hours I will be sending a live link… I will transmit the signal for just 10 minutes… If you do not pick up the signal, then this time your precious son will die!"
The screen went black and silence descended upon them all.
