DISCLAIMER: I'M JUST BORROWING THEM FOR THIS STORY.

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Note:

* Sorry about the longer wait on this. It will probably be weekly (Or maybe slightly longer) on updates now - mainly because I've gone into a very busy 2 months and I have the story planned out from here but not much written up. Will try not to leave it too long.

* I would also like to say thank you so much for all of your kind words, likes and follows. It is definitely helping me to keep going.

* Hope you enjoy this chapter... Reviews are welcome.

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Brains speech is written normally - As I personally have trouble reading it when it is written as spoken.

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Chapter 19: Countdown.

Previously:

Virgil lifted his head and watched the Hood walk away, he then opened his hand revealing the edible transmitter, looking directly into the camera, he dropped the transmitter into his mouth and swallowed it!

… …

"Virg… You, beauty!" Scott exclaimed, although quietly, so the Hood could not hear him.

"Go!" Jeff mouthed to his four boys, quickly pulling them all into a warm hug. "We'll give you the location when you are in the air."

"FAB dad!" Gordon replied.

"Thunderbirds Are Go!" Alan said with a cheeky grin as he turned to leave.

Jeff shook his head with an amused smile. "Oh, and be careful!"

"We will dad." John whispered.

Jeff nodded, the concern for his four boys and his missing son evident.

"Don't worry dad. I'll look after them!" Scott said reassuringly.

Jeff gripped Scott's shoulder and smiled. "Thank you… Now go!"

Scott beamed at his dad, turned and then made his way down to Thunderbird 2 with his three brothers closely behind.

Jeff Tracy watched them leave and then turned to Brains and whispered. "Brains, oversee the launch and make sure that they get the coordinates as soon as possible."

"FAB. Mr Tracy," Brains replied.

Jeff turned and looked back at the screen. He could see that Virgil was still lying flat on the floor, with his feet chained and currently there was no sign of the Hood. Jeff stared at Virgil with concern as he was no longer moving, and his eyes were tightly shut. He was brought out of his gaze by the sound of Thunderbird 2 blasting off and leaving the island. Jeff brought his attention back to the screen and continued to observe his son.

… …

The Hood began to make his way back towards Virgil with one of his men closely behind. The man lifted Virgil from the floor and forced him roughly back on his knees and began to restrain his hands above his head. The force of being moved so abruptly caused Virgil's eyes to shoot open and for him to release an intense cry of agony. "Oh dear, does that hurt." The Hood mocked, grabbing Virgil's head, gripping it tightly in his hands and forcing him to look in the camera. "It seems Jeff that your son is in a lot of pain. Now luckily the discomfort he's currently feeling will only be temporary. You see, I have decided that this boy is far too troublesome, and I've simply had enough of him being here." The Hood looked back at Virgil who was now shaking from the pain he was in. The Hood nodded to the man, who was quickly joined by the other five men. "Knock him out!" The Hood snapped, as he turned back towards the camera, a smirk firmly planted on his face, as the six men began beating Virgil once more.

… …

Jeff watched in disgust as the six men laid into his helpless son. He tried screaming at them to stop but it was to no avail, after a short time Virgil's eyes closed, and his head drooped down. Upon seeing this the Hood signalled for the men to stop and made one of them check Virgil's pulse.

"His pulse is weak sir… He won't last much longer!"

The Hood smirked and looked back at the camera's lens. "Well Jeff, as you can see your boy here as finally passed out… And as you've just heard, he doesn't have much more time left. So, I've decided to set the clock ticking, and I've set the hour for when I will finally take his life, and complete the second step in my search for justice… Now, you're probably wondering what I mean by 'Second Step'… You see Jeff, I have previously taken revenge against you… That first time my involvement remained anonymous… Of course, I have already informed your son here what I did, and you could have asked him but unfortunately for you he won't be alive much longer" The Hood laughed and then continued. "So, until I decide otherwise my previous retribution will remain that way… Now, as I was saying… The countdown as started, and this boy's final hours are at hand… I think we'll give him two hours, that's if he lasts that long... I believe that will give me plenty of time to prepare myself for one of my finest moments… See you soon Jeff."

… …

Jeff slammed his fist down on the table that was in front of him as the screen went black. "Damn him!" Jeff cried out as he felt his legs go and he dropped into his chair.

"Jeff." Ruth cried, as she went to her son's aid. "Jeff listen to me." She continued holding his face in her hands, and gently wiping away the tears that had begun to form. Jeff looked up at his mother and let her pull him into a tight embrace. "Now, listen to me… Virgil's always been one very determined and stubborn young man who doesn't know the meaning of the word quit… And I know where he gets that from."

Jeff smiled. "Mm, his mother."

"Yes, and his father too! He's tough… He's a Tracy… And I know he will make it! Now, come on Jeff, your boys are on their way to get Virgil now and they need you to be strong!"

Jeff nodded, breathed in and out to calm himself down and then turned to Brains. "Have you sent the boys the location?"

"Yes, Mr Tracy, Virgil is being held at an abandoned steel factory in, Henderson, Nevada.

"Is that near the metals foundry?"

"Yes, I'm just about to contact them and see if we can land Thunderbird 2 there. That way the boys can get to the location quickly and we can still keep an element of surprise for the Hood."

"That's a good idea Brains, let me know how it goes." Jeff stood and made his way over to Kyrano who had now been moved on to the sofa and was being comforted by his daughter Tin-Tin. "Kyrano."

"Oh, Mr Tracy, I am so sorry!"

Jeff placed his hand gently on Kyrano's shoulders. "Kyrano. Please don't blame yourself. You are not responsible for your brother's actions... This is not your fault!"

Kyrano looked up at Jeff. "And it is not yours either Mr Tracy! What happened that day when my brother lost his family, it was tragic… But there was nothing you could do to save them!"

"I know." Jeff replied. "I'm just shocked by how bitter he still is and how far he's been willing to go to seek his revenge."

"My brother has always chosen hate over love... He has been this way long before he lost his wife and child, I fear he will never learn that compassion and forgiveness are much stronger than the vengeance and loathing he feels towards others."

Jeff slowly nodded... "Will you be okay Kyrano?"

Kyrano smiled. "Yes, Mr Tracy, I will be fine... Now go and speak to your boys, they need their father!"

Jeff smiled at Kyrano and squeezed his shoulder. "Thank you." Jeff then turned to face the pictures of his sons hanging on the wall, and pressed a button on the table. "Base to Thunderbird 2."

The large portrait of Scott changed to reveal him sitting in the pilot seat of Thunderbird 2 with Gordon in the seat next to him. "This is Thunderbird 2, go ahead dad." Scott responded.

"Hi Scott. How are you getting on?"

"We are all good here." Scott answered, while he concentrated on what he was doing.

"Hey dad," Alan and John chimed at the same time, as they leaned into view, so their father could see them.

Jeff smiled. "Hey Boys… Scott what's your arrival time?"

"I'm pushing her to go as fast as we can." Scott replied. "Hopefully we'll be there in less than an hour."

"An hour... Okay, that's great Scott. Keep pushing her as much as you can... The sooner you get Virg out of there the better!"

"I couldn't agree more!" Scott added.

"Hey dad, what happened with the Hood after we went?" John asked.

Jeff sighed and explained to them how the Hood had ordered that Virgil be chained back up and their brother's pain at being moved. Jeff then paused, breathed in to calm himself, and then told them about the men beating Virgil until he lost consciousness, and how afterwards the Hood had threatened to kill Virgil in two hours. He then paused and looked at them. "And I feel I need to explain to you all how I know the Hood, well, as we now know Balah Gaat."