Well, folks, here's the last chapter of my latest story. I've had a great time writing it. I hope you've enjoyed it too, and thanks again to all my lovely reviewers!

As you'll have noticed, I've titled each chapter with one of Dante's moral virtues that I mentioned in my first author note. So far, we've had temperance, prudence, and fortitude. Now we've just got justice left. And I couldn't think of a better way for this story to end than with a nice bit of good old fashioned come-uppance.

So, who'd like to see that creep of a Professor get what's coming to him? Ooooh, all of you? Well, read on! Oh, and you might want to get comfy, this chapter's a bit of a beastie. At just under five thousand words, it's a mini story all in itself. Yes, those darn bunnies have hit the carrots, big time!

Enjoy!

Fire And Ice

Chapter Four - Justice

The call came five days later. And for the four oldest members of International Rescue, it brought a disturbing sense of déjà vu. Over their now traditional breakfast with their space-bound brother, Scott, Virgil and Gordon traded glances, while John put his own half eaten bagel aside, and quietly filled in the details.

"...six college students have got lost in a series of caves just outside Chichen Itza... it's an independent dig, so the World Heritage Society doesn't know anything about it... and when I asked the college who was leading the expedition, I'll give you three guesses whose name came up..."

"I think I can say for us all that we only need one," Scott muttered, the frown on his face mirrored in two pairs of darkened brown eyes. Five days on from their encounter with Professor Ellis Harold, and... yeah, it still rankled.

Rising from his stool, he then led his brothers on their familiar charge upstairs to the den, while John's holographic counterpart bobbed alongside them.

"Okay, John, tell the college we're on our way. And can you get Penny in on this? If he is up to his old tricks again, I'm sure the World Heritage Society will want to know too."

"Done and done, Scott. I've also recalled Kayo from that scouting mission in Guatamala. Seems as soon as he heard the college had called us, he left the site, and hasn't been seen since."

"Yeah, I just bet he did."

Beyond the disgust on his face, though, Scott allowed himself a private smile. When she'd heard what had happened, and the Professor's complete disregard for human life - especially Gordon's - their head of security had hit the roof. Then she'd hit the gym, and round-housed three hapless mannequins clear off their stands. So with Kayo on his tail - yeah, that good for nothing leech was living on borrowed time.

Reaching his entry point to Thunderbird One's hangar, he threw a quick glance towards Virgil - its message sent and received through the briefest of smiles. The slightest of nods.

Lives first, payback second.

Then the panels behind them spun and tilted in turn, and they were on their way. For Alan, who'd entered the den just in time to see his three brothers disappear out of it, it was a familiar, and frustrating sight. Luckily, there was still another on hand to answer his equally familiar, hopeful question.

"Hey, we've got a rescue? What's happened, John? If - If you need me to go too, I can still catch Gordon up, and..."

"No, Alan... no, it's okay... Scott, Virgil and Gordon can handle it," John cut in quickly, holding up his hand to stave off the inevitable protest.

As the face in front of him fell in disappointment, so both his voice and expression softened in affectionate sympathy. He'd been through this routine so many times, he could do it in his sleep. And, even if he'd never admit to it, that sulking pout was still damn hard to resist.

Still, at least this time, he had a way around it. A way to involve his youngest brother in this latest mission - doing what he loved to do best.

"But if you want to help them out from here, you can do some of this research for me... I need to find out all I can about Professor Ellis Harold..."

As he'd hoped, his brother's eager grin instantly re-appeared. Then it turned back into a frown that was so similar to Scott's, it was downright spooky.

"The guy who left Gordon stuck in that tomb, with Parker and Lady Penelope? He's left even more people in danger?"

From just a patiently answering nod, Alan sprung onto the couch and set to work - already so engrossed in his task that he didn't notice the fond smile that hovered beside him. Yes, nothing like some good old fashioned detective work to keep kid brothers out of your hair, and... oww!

Rolling his eyes, John pulled a stickily cheesy bagel from his cheek, and cast two narrowed eyes towards its source. Oh, yeah. If keeping playful AIs under control could be so easy.

"Thank you, EOS. Yes, I promise you I'll finish this one, okay?"

He'd hoped this would satisfy the AI who'd seemingly turned into his nanny overnight. He'd thought wrong.

"I am glad to hear it, John. It has been ten point three hours since your last meal... and if you are to co-ordinate this rescue, you need to be at maximum efficiency."

Rolling his eyes, John chewed on his bagel while he threw Thunderbird One's icon a suspicious glare. The voice might have been different - child like and feminine instead of Scott's determined tones, but... no, there were times when artificial intelligence and the biggest big brother on the planet sounded awfully alike.

'Oh, lucky me.'

Saving that discussion for a more appropriate time, John turned back to follow his brothers' respective progress. Scott, as ever, was already out in front, while Virgil made the best speed he could behind him. This familiar race between them made him smile again, especially when he glanced down to where Alan was playing his part too. Team Tracy was in full swing. As ever, it was an inspiring sight.

All he needed now was its two other members to check in, and... ah, yes. Right on schedule. Then again, Penelope Creighton-Ward didn't just have class, she also had a perfect sense of timing.

When they'd first met, he'd found her a little... intimidating. Maybe it was her clipped British tones, or standing in society, but she'd seemed a bit... cold. As Virgil had put it, thankfully unheard, all English ice against Scott's all American fire. But through the years, she'd proven herself to be one of their strongest allies. And with such personal reasons behind this latest mission, now was no exception.

No-one, but no-one, left Penelope Creighton-Ward in a collapsing pyramid without the wrath of all England falling back on them. And judging by the satisfaction on her face, Professor Ellis Harold had no idea in hell of what was about to hit him.

For one of her closest friend's sons, though, there was the brightest of smiles. The warmest of greetings.

"Good morning, John! I thought you and Scott would like to know, the World Heritage Society have pooled all of their resources into investigating Professor Harold. If there's so much as a cockroach in his closet, I can promise you, their fraud and theft teams will find it."

Never to be outdone, Alan now chimed into this update with too much excitement to be ignored.

"Hey, John, you'll never guess what I've found! His funding accounts are all over the place... and get this, he's not exactly the best at filing his taxes either!"

Another nail in a shameless crook's coffin. And it just had to be Penelope to hammer it home.

"Really? Oh, well done, Alan! Yes, my contacts at the Bureau Of Revenue will want to pursue that, with great interest."

The smile on John's face now threatened to split it in two. At this rate, there'd be nothing for Kayo to get her teeth into, and - aah. Another lady with a flawless sense of timing.

"Yes, well done from me too, Alan. And I've some good news for you too, John. I've had a tip-off that he's been seen in Merida, trying to sell some artefacts that the World Heritage Society had flagged up as missing. I'm on my way to bring him in now."

God, his face was starting to ache now, and... oh, to be there to see that wonderful moment. Hell, they didn't call her 'Kayo' for nothing. No wonder there was so much amusement beyond that tone of caution in Scott's voice.

"Great job, Kayo... but don't forget, if he's to face any charges that we can stick against him, we need him alive."

"...but if you do need to sit on him, Kayo..." Virgil chipped in, leaving Gordon to deliver the perfect punchline.

"...at least make sure no-one'll see the bruises."

Her response, of course, was equally priceless. Deadly, yes, and more than a bit alarming... but still priceless nonetheless.

"Don't worry, boys... I won't hurt him too badly... at least, not enough to leave anything visible."

Up in Thunderbird One, Scott had to fight back the facepalm that he usually did each time Brains fell off the ceiling, or blew something up in his laboratory. For just a few moments, images of grim faced lawyers descending on Tracy Island floated through his mind.

But then, a far more serious view of reality swept every one of them aside. Any time he saw ambulances, and crowds of anxious people milling around them, the only thing he cared about was how he could help.

Time to put personal feelings and the quirks of his imagination aside, and get down to serious business.

"Thunderbird One to Thunderbirds Five and Two... I'm at the site now, and there's an awful lot of people here, including the newshounds... looks like Harold's caused a real stir by abandoning those kids, and if we don't get them out soon, things could turn ugly... Virgil, what's your ETA?"

"Still ten minutes out, Scott... but five if I step on the gas."

"Go for the five, Virg... I really don't like the look of that crowd down there... hopefully they'll calm down a bit when they see me... I'm landing now..."

"FAB, Scott... just leave a parking space for me too, okay? I'll be there in five."

Happier now that his ever faithful back-up team was so close behind him, Scott hit the lever that lifted him out of the cockpit and down to crowd level. A tad too late, he then frantically tried to recall his high school Spanish as several people in the crowd he'd seen rushed towards him.

"International Rescue! Oh, gracias a Dios! Thank God you're here!"

Thank God indeed. Calming people down was so much easier when you both spoke the same language. Not that he had any time to smile about it. The woman who'd called out to him had reached him now, clutching his arm, her eyes fraught with panic.

"My - My son's in there, and he's too far down for the rescue teams to reach him! Please, you've - you've got to get him out!"

Drawing on all those years of experience, Scott placed his hands on her shoulders, reassuring her as gently as he'd do with any of his brothers.

"It's okay, ma'am... don't worry, we'll get him out... now, what's your son's name? And can he speak English?"

Thankfully calmer now, the woman nodded. Spanish, he guessed, from the lilts in her accent. And still needing the comfort of his arm around her as she answered his questions.

"Si, señor... his name is Carlo... and - and yes, he speaks perfect English... his father is American, like you... and my Carlo, he - he is much like his father... and you... tall, and handsome, and strong..."

A bit more information than he needed, of course, but... well, Scott knew this was just human nature. A terrified mind's way of fighting it by chattering on about things that didn't really matter. And, as before, he knew exactly how to deal with it.

"Yes, ma'am... apparently, I'm a lot like my dad too."

Even when she smiled back at him, Scott still breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he heard the roar of Thunderbird Two's approach. Although Gordon had come along for extra help if he needed it... well, for so many reasons, Scott didn't want to send him into those caves unless he had to. If he could, he'd ask his brother to stay up here instead - a calming presence for the crowd who, thankfully, had already settled down into much quieter clusters.

And, as his brother never tired of reminding him, his Spanish was also much better than his.

Still smiling at the thought, Scott gently freed himself from his new admirer's grip - yep, Silver Tongue Scooter had struck again - and hurried to where the local rescue teams still stood by the cave's entrance. By the time he'd caught up on their own attempts, and found out how much deeper the trapped students were, Thunderbird Two had landed - the sight of it lifting to release the pod beneath drawing a chorus of hopeful cheers.

Oh yes, he thought proudly, nothing like the sight of a Thunderbird to get a once restless crowd right there in your corner. And as soon as Carlo's mother saw Virgil - well, it was love at first sight, all over again.

Then it happened. An excited yell behind him that brought immeasurable joy to one anxiously waiting family, and helplessly longing envy to five others.

"Medics! Medics here... now! It's one of the students! He's alive!"

Glancing instinctively around him, Scott watched the face of Carlo's mother lift with hope, then fall with indescribable despair - all thought of handsome young heroes swept from her mind as she collapsed in tears of grief.

Gently passing her across to one of the civilian support staff, Scott glanced across at two equally grim faced brothers. One safe, five still to go. And the answer to his next question was answered before he even had to ask it.

"I'm fine, Scott... I'm right behind you."

Patting his shoulder, Scott then stepped back to give Virgil room to get the rescue under way. Or, as he noted with a quiet smile, a chance for Mr Mechanic to put his new toy back to the use he'd built it for.

Newly repaired, and now with an uncrushable casing, the cable cam slid through the good fortune of a ready made gap in the cave's base, and disappeared in a winding wriggle that made Gordon flinch at the memory. Damn thing looked just like a snake. And he hated snakes.

His eldest brother, of course, was onto that wince like a shot. And Gordon had to move just as quickly to fend off the imminent fussing.

"Scott, I'm fine, it's just that... well, when I first saw that thing, I thought it was the Laughing King coming to get us."

A raised eyebrow told him his brother wasn't convinced, either fully or even half way. Then again, it didn't really matter, because the grin on Virgil's face gave both of them something to smile about.

"Ye-es! Got them, they're all alive in a cavern about four hundred metres in... sending help on way message now, and... yeah, one of the kids is responding, he's..."

"Carlo...! Oh, bambino... gracias a Dios!"

"...he's Carlo..." Scott concluded through the broadest smile he'd worn all week. Even if she'd deafened them in the process, the sheer joy on an anxious mother's face made every part of it worthwhile. From the equally joyful high five beside him, Virgil and Gordon clearly thought so too.

More to the point, it made the next stage of rescuing her son unexpectedly easier. Enthralled by the technology in front of her, she kept up a running commentary of reassuring encouragement to her son, and his companions - leaving Scott, Virgil and Gordon free to make the slow, painstakingly careful journey to reach them. To lead them, just as carefully, back to safety.

Too late, she realized she didn't even know all their names. She knew the tallest one, the one who'd comforted her so gently, reminded her so much of her son, was called Scott. But the others, the one with the depthless brown eyes, and his golden haired brother, were still nameless heroes.

But as she continued to watch them, listened to them talk to each other, she placed 'Virgil' and 'Gordon' with their respective owners. And from the way they kept encouraging him, it was obvious that 'Gordon' was the youngest. About the same age as her other son, Milano, and... buen Señor. How did those so young bear such responsibility? Possess such courage?

She must have asked that last part aloud, because the answer came through a flickering image of another young hero. Dressed in blue, just like his brothers, with eyes of a colour that defied description.

"Because we're International Rescue, Señora... and by the way, mi nombre es Juan."

Returning his smile, Conchita Fernandez then turned in response to another, excited shout.

"They're coming out! Medical teams, over here!"

Torn between so many emotions, she glanced back at the image in front of her - and found all the understanding she needed in the gentlest, kindest smile.

"You're welcome... now, get to where you need to be... get to your son..."

After everything she'd done to help them, it was the fairness of fate that the first, tired boy to emerge behind his leading rescuer was Carlo - blinking uncertainly as the first daylight he'd seen for over twenty hours hit his eyes, then finding every part of that daylight blotted out by his mother's ecstatic embrace.

One by one, four more people emerged, to be swept up into the same, joyous reunions with mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. Then, finally, Virgil and Gordon crawled back into view - enjoying a quieter but still happily relieved reunion of their own.

"Everyone safe and accounted for... just the way I like it," Scott grinned, giving each brother a proud slap on the back, then frowning slightly as the comm-link on his arm flashed for his secure channel.

Seeing it too, Virgil and Gordon stood closer around him - shielding him from overly curious eyes, then both stepping back again as they realized such precautions weren't really necessary. With the crisis over, and five exhausted but happy students safely back with their families, no-one around them was paying them any real attention - which was really just as well. Because standing awkwardly in Kayo's unyielding arm-lock was the heartless looter who'd abandoned them to their fates.

No wonder Scott's face had drawn into a relieved but livid frown. So had Virgil's, and Gordon's, while Kayo's... well, her face was as dark as a thundercloud. And however uncomfortable he was under her unyielding grip, she was in no mood to show him any form of sympathy.

Instead, she turned and spoke quietly to Scott - giving him the moment he'd longed to see, but not quite in the way he'd expected.

"Scott, there's a clearing about fifty metres away from you... the one shielded by a line of trees...yes, that's the one... after you've finished up the formalities, meet me here. I want all of you to hear me make this lump of slime an offer he won't dare to refuse."

Still frowning, Scott glanced around at his brothers to see if they had any idea on what she meant. Rolled his eyes at Gordon's somewhat obvious comment -

"Ooooh, she's mad. But at least she's got him, and... yeah, I bet she sat on him!"

- but found a rather more sensible smile on Virgil's face that carried its own, private message between them.

"Right there with you, Scooter... though I don't think you'll need me. Not this time."

Smiling back at him, Scott nodded - giving Virgil's arm a grateful squeeze of acknowledgement, before heading across to where the medical teams were checking over their charges. And, needless to say, the first stretcher he sought out was Carlo's - the grateful smile that the boy offered him returned ten times over by his mother, who folded Scott into a hug so tight she made his eyes water.

"Gracias... thank you, Scott... thank you, more than I can ever say..."

"You're welcome," Scott grinned back at her, once he'd freed himself enough to both breathe and speak. Even if she'd almost strangled him... yes, these were the moments he lived for. This made every tired and aching muscle sing with relief, and pride, and satisfaction. So did the sight of two startled but too-polite-to-protest brothers being mother-hugged too.

But there were still more serious issues to resolve. And by the time they'd packed up their gear, and joined Kayo for this mysterious rendezvous, all three exhausted but elated brothers wanted to do was get home themselves, get cleaned up - and collapse into their beds.

All that changed, though, when they saw the raw fury on Kayo's face. The fearful unease that had replaced every part of her prisoner's greed and arrogance. And while her voice held warm pride for her surrogate brothers, it held nothing but glacial contempt for the squirming excuse for humanity beside her.

"Ah, boys. Great job, as always. Everyone safely accounted for, thanks to you... but with absolutely no thanks to you!"

Still glaring at the 'you' in question, Kayo shoved him forward - blind and deaf to his protests as she forced him to where Scott, and two equally puzzled brothers, stood waiting. As soon as he saw Scott, he tried to backtrack away, but Kayo was having none of it. Although he stood a head taller than her, she knew exactly how to handle him. Not just through her training and physical strength, but also her voice. Towards him, at least, it still stung like a bullwhip.

"Right, then... here's where you make your choice... you either come with me, and face every damn charge the courts can throw at you... pay back every penny you've stolen from the very sites that were paying you to protect them..."

A pause. A brief one, just long enough to let all of that sink in, before she delivered a truly deadly coup de grace.

"...or I take you through those trees, and feed you to the families of the kids that you left to die in that cave."

The effect was all she'd hoped for. In front of three other, dumbstruck faces, the one closest to her went completely white. On the verge of protesting that she couldn't possibly be serious, Ellis Harold then saw the pure fire in her eyes - and realized just how deadly serious she was.

"You've got thirty seconds... twenty nine... twenty eight..."

There was no sympathy, either, in the ice-hard glare that met his frantic plea for mercy. Just a smile of the deepest satisfaction as Scott stepped right up to him, and put six days' worth of contempt into the sweetest of words.

"If you're thinking she's joking, Professor... if, indeed, you're a Professor at all... well, I can assure you... she's not. Oh, and you've got twenty seconds left."

And that, in a truly priceless moment, was that. All the swagger he'd shown before deserted him, and his shoulders sagged in defeat. His voice, too, conveyed resignation to the inevitable.

"I'll - I'll take the courts... and will accept whatever punishment they give me."

Yet not even this was enough for Kayo, whose voice still dripped venom as she made him a final, heartfelt promise.

"Damn right you will. And if you ever, ever, put my family's lives at risk again... or any life, period... I'll break you out of jail myself, bring you back here, and call out every one of those families. Got it?"

Not trusting himself to speak, her now thoroughly broken quarry just nodded - offering no resistance this time as, with a final glance towards Scott, Kayo hauled him back into her waiting 'bird.

It took several seconds for Scott to find his voice again too. Even when he finally did so, all he could manage was one single, awe-struck word.

"Wow!"

"Yeah, you said it, brother," Virgil agreed, sliding his arm over his brother's shoulders, while casting him a quizzical smile that only they'd understand.

"Still, we all knew Kayo would come through for us, so... are you okay?"

Watching Thunderbird S take off and soar away, Scott's face broke into the widest smile that it could hold. His eyes shone with more relief than words could ever convey. He'd try, though, For the brothers who'd face the last day on Earth, and still refuse to leave his side... hell, yes. He'd try.

Pulling Virgil and Gordon into a tight, proud hug, and keeping his arms wrapped around their shoulders, he then led them back to where their 'birds stood waiting for them.

"Never better, Virg. Never better. Now, let's go home."

Scott stood on the deck outside the den, and turned his face into the refreshing coolness of an evening breeze. Even by International Rescue's never ordinary standards... yes, it had been one hell of a day.

Hearing one of the panels slide open behind him, his smile widened. He didn't even need to turn around to know who'd come out to join him.

"Hey, Virg."

Try as he might to hide it, Virgil couldn't keep the surprise from his face. Okay, so big brothers were famous for having eyes in the backs of their heads, but in his big brother's case - well, Scooter had eyes everywhere.

"Hey, how'd you know it was me?"

Grinning now, Scott nodded back towards the den, where his two other brothers had put their usual shenanigans on thankful hold.

"Well, Alan's fighting dead zombies..."

"...you know, I worry about that kid sometimes..."

"I worry about him all the time... and Gordon's catching up with Penelope... apparently, she's invited him over for some kind of swimming event along the Thames..."

Pausing for effect, Scott then nodded towards the two steaming mugs that Virgil held in his hands.

"But most of all, I smelled that cocoa."

Pulling a face back at him, Virgil passed him one of the mugs - a muttered 'smartass' answered with another, maddening grin. Still, there was a plus side to his brother's ebullient mood. The last time they'd shared mugs of cocoa together, things had been a lot different.

Or maybe it was the influence of those four, unmistakeable stars, he thought, smiling up at them. Or, maybe, just one star in particular. And surely it wasn't coincidence that they both found comfort each night in the same one. Glowing even more brilliantly tonight - as if sensing that a brief crisis between them had been resolved.

It was a moment to savour - unexpectedly broken by Scott's quiet voice.

"Penny also said that Harold has admitted to all charges... by the time the courts finish with him... well, he won't be seeing daylight again for a long, long time."

Not wanting to spoil the comfortable mood between them, Virgil just nodded. Eased himself along the deck-rail, until he and Scott stood in a companionable huddle against it. On the verge of asking if his brother was all right, he then found the answer, written just as he'd hoped, through the calm contentment of Scott's eyes. So instead, he followed their wistful gaze towards their mother's star.

She might have been lost to them for so much of their lives, but tonight... no, every night... she was there with them. Loving them. Protecting them. Inspiring them. Celebrating their good times, and soothing away the bad.

There, with them. Always.