Chapter 6 – In the Darkness…

Number 10 Downing Street was quiet for that time of morning, and for that Prime Minister Malcolm Alistair was thankful. It had been a long night, and he had spent the better part of it in his study on a video conference with the leaders from the Unites States and Japan, trying to formulate a resolution to present to their countries, supporting a unilateral environmental standard.

Judging by the arguing and bickering however, the definition of standard was going to get quite a workout. After calling a temporary truce to the efforts, Malcolm shut down his monitor and stretched motioning to his two guards that he was going to bed. "Night gents. I'll head off now, but we'll pick up again in about five hours."

They both nodded silently, which unsettled Malcolm all the more. For the past month, MI-5 insisted that his security detail be doubled due to the rumored possibility of attacks on the world's leaders. He had thought it a load of twaddle, but accepted the reinforcements without complaint since it would have taken longer to justify to them that it would cost too much and be too much of a hassle.

He walked out of his study, stretching and contemplating how long it would take for him to get to sleep.

Suddenly he felt a stinging sensation on his left shoulder. Odd, there shouldn't have been any insects inside his residence. Malcolm reached back and felt something strange.

It was a dart. The realization frightened him, but it was too late to do anything about it.

Seconds later he stumbled and tried to brace himself against the wall of the hallway, but it was no use. Darkness crept into the fringes of his vision, and a minute later his legs could no longer hold him. Malcolm toppled forward to the ground with an audible groan.

He was still conscious when he heard footfalls behind him. Seconds later the very same guards that he had just said good night to stood in his line of vision and picked him up.

Malcolm thought he could breathe easier, until one of them finally spoke.

"Long live Shadow Force."

After Virgil had transmitted what security images they could get their hands on to Brains, he and Gordon checked with the rescuers, who were still trying to make their way through the bulk of the rubble to get to the rest of the trapped workers. After offering up the services of the Mole, an agreement was reached, and soon Gordon had boarded the Mole and had taken it down and out of Thunderbird 2, steering for the wreckage.

For the next hour, Virgil had checked with the various medical tents set up to see if they had needed any assistance. When he received reassurances that things were well in hand, he returned to Thunderbird 2 only to find that Thunderbird 1 had landed, and Scott was getting out.

"Hey, Virgil!"

Shaking his head, he greeted his brother with a grin. "Scott, took your sweet time getting here, I see."

Scott Tracy pretended to be hurt by the statement. "Hey with dad stateside seeing Alan graduate, I had to pick up the slack somehow. Besides, I needed to make sure the morning reports were done before I headed back out. So, how bad has it been?"

Virgil looked back over the scene of destruction, and the grin that he had faded. "This building has seen better days. Gordon's helping the rescuers by clearing a way through the wreckage, and the last I heard from Lady Penelope, she was supposed to have spoken to Dr. Majors, the one who contacted us in the first place. Whatever this organization has planned, it was sure big enough for them to take this place down."

Scott turned to survey the damage and noticed that the Mole was heading back in their direction. "It looks like the authorities have this site secured. Gordon is coming back with the mole now. I need to go ahead and take him back so he can relieve John."

Virgil perked up at that. "Ah, so dad made Alan the 'summer offer'. Dare I ask what he chose as his summer activity?"

Scott grinned. "Considering all those races he watched when he was a kid? Do you even need to ask?"

Virgil smirked. "All I can say is I will let you break the news to Gordon. In the back of his mind he was hoping Alan would go ahead and jump on getting into International Rescue and spare him his rotation on Thunderbird 5. In the meanwhile though we all have to be on guard with the Hood loose."

Scott nodded. "Agreed. Even with all of the information John has on this organization that broke the Hood out, we can't go around chasing our tails. Don't look at me that way, Virgil, John told me about the information that he's gathered. At the very least if anything does happen, we will know it straight away."

"True." Virgil agreed. The Mole by this time was mere feet away. He started walking up the open ramp of Thunderbird 2. "I better start preparing, especially if I am going back alone."

Lady Penelope and Parker finally arrived home, and parked FAB-1 in its customary spot in the garage.

As they walked through the door from the garage into the main house, Penelope realized that in her haste to get to the scene of the incident, she had forgotten about her visitor, who she had hoped was asleep by this point.

Judging by the light on in the main media room, this wasn't to be. Located at the end of the hallway past the living room, Penelope normally used the room to catch a movie or watch television without anyone disturbing her.

She motioned for Parker to follow her, then walked the short distance to the doorway of the room, and saw that her guest was still quite awake. "Tin-tin, are you aware of what time it is, young lady?"

Tin-tin, dressed in pale blue pajamas and her long black hair tied back into a ponytail, was sitting in one of the overstuffed easy chairs in front of a blaring television. She had begged Lady Penelope to allow her to visit for the better part of the summer, since she claimed that it would be too quiet on the island without Alan there.

Tin-tin gave her a smile. "I wanted to wait up for you."

Penelope smiled as she regarded the young woman. Tin-tin had nearly grown a head taller since she had seen her last, when the Hood had nearly taken over Tracy Island.

"Tin-tin, you know full well that your father would not approve."

Undaunted, Tin-Tin picked up the TV remote that had been lying on the armchair. "But Lady Penelope, There's something you should see."

Quickly, Tint-Tin flipped through a few channels until she happened upon what looked like a late night news bulletin, but it was what was said that chilled Lay Penelope to the bone.

"If you are just tuning in, we have received reports from Number 10 Downing Street this morning that indicate that the Prime Minister Alistair has been abducted. At this point it isn't clear-"

Lady Penelope grabbed for the remote and turned off the television in shock. The Prime Minister was one of the better protected politicians in the world.

"Lady Penelope?"

She swallowed her suspicions as she looked into Tin-Tin's worried face. "Well, it looks like there is a lot of work to do, but it can wait until the morning. We all need our sleep and the fresh perspective that it will offer us. Now off with you."

As Tin-Tin reluctantly complied, Penelope turned to Parker. "You need to turn in as well. I will be in my study for a while and will have no need for you until the morning."

She turned to walk out of the room, and that was when she heard him ask. "What about you, milady?"

Turning, she smiled. "I have a few things to check with one of my contacts. Don't worry so much, Parker, I will see my own bed soon enough. Now off with you."

Parker bowed once. In all of the time that he had been in her service, he rarely questioned her intent, and he wasn't about to start now. He bid her a good night and then headed towards his own quarters.

Shadow Force is making their presence known. Next chapter, Alan moves in with Fermat, and we get to see how far reaching Shadow Force truly is.

Till next time,

Time Guardian