Hiya Folks!
Sorry about the delay, writers block and all that jazz… but now the creative juices are flowing once more, the next update shouldn't (hopefully) take too long.
Usual Disclaimer, I own nothing – thanks to that darn paper shredder
But enjoy!
Chapter 2
The alarm resounded through the offices as the Hood's henchmen made their way out of the elevator and began pushing people towards the centre of the room. But neither of the Tracy brothers were touched. Just left standing a few feet away from the open elevator watching the chaos ensue.
"Hello boys" the Hood said, giving them a bitter smile. Turning towards the largest of the thugs he spoke again "Grab them, tie them up and make them a picture for Daddy".
As three of the goons came towards them Virgil experienced the most spontaneous moment of his life. He grabbed Johns collar, and despite his brothers protests, dragged and threw him into the empty elevator before hitting the down button and watching the doors close his brother in.
But as the triumphant smile spread across his face, another larger hand grabbed his collar and pulled him with a strangled cry toward the crowd in the middle of the room. As he stumbled towards the group of terrified clerks and managers, another shove sent him to the floor. A kick to the ribs kept him there. Then as he looked up, the last thing he saw before he was bathed in blackness, was four of the thugs trying to wrench open the elevator door.
*break*
Scott was confused, his watch had beeped at least twenty times in the past two minutes but every time he went to answer he was met with static and what sounded like an alarm. However before he had a chance to ponder this, he found himself in the cockpit of Thunderbird 1 heading to Bulgaria to help with the aftermath of an earthquake, pushing all thoughts of the alarm to the back of his mind.
*break*
John pounded on the elevator door. The electricity had cut out half way through his journey to ground floor and now he was stuck. He knew it was only a matter of time before the Hoods men found their way to him.
Leaning against the back wall of the small cubicle, he screamed in frustration. What the hell had inspired Virgil to do something so stupid!? The moment he had been thrown through the doors he had assumed it was one of the Hoods' henchmen dragging him, until he saw his brother hitting the 'Close Door' button.
Yes, he would have done the same for any of his brothers. And yes it was heroic. And yes it was a typical Tracy thing to do. But this was the Hood. Did Virgil not realise that a) annoying him was not wise and b) John would rather know what was going on then be locked safely in an elevator. Then he heard it. The unmistakable hiss of a blow torch. Well, this was just getting better and better.
*break*
Virgil studied his surroundings with difficulty. The high backed chair they had tied him too did not give him much capacity to move his head, but what he could see was not exactly good. Mr Jeffries, the office manager, was currently out cold on the floor. Steph was clutching to the leg of a table, tears rolling down her face, as she choked on her sobs making a sound like an ill goat.
He had been trying to discretely reach his watch to send a message back to the island but it appeared the guards surrounding him were unwilling to divert their attention to any of the other occupants of the room. He could only hope John was on his way to get help. But the pounding sounds he had heard earlier from the elevator gave him an uncomfortable twinge, what if he had just pushed his brother into a dangling prison cell?
Turning his gaze towards the Hood, Virgil couldn't help but wonder what on earth was going on? The man had done nothing but look across the city since he had had the building locked off. But surely this was part of something bigger? Virgil thought, it couldn't be just to scare the hell out of a few office workers and hold himself and his brother for a sizable ransom. That was too small for the Hood.
It had to be something bigger.
*break*
Scott looked down at his watch lying on the kitchen counter. It was still beeping, as it had been for the past two hours. The alarm had stopped about twenty minutes after the beeping began, but it didn't make the incessant noise any less annoying – or confusing.
Sighing, he grabbed the watch and headed towards Brain's office, hoping he would have an answer.
*break*
John knew the watch was useless.
He had helped his father and the Architect design the building. The elevator shaft was lead lined, with magnetic dampners every ten metres down to prevent any kind of mechanic terrorism on the building. It was a brilliant idea at the time. Now it may be the difference between being rescued and being used for whatever the Hood was planning.
He could now see the crimson outline the blowtorch through the metal door. They were almost through, probably another centimetre and they would be through. Ten minutes. It wasn't long enough to escape the elevator, which now he thought about it, was what he should have been doing from the second his brother threw him in there.
Ten minutes.
He looked down at his watch, well now it was nine minutes. Then he had an idea.
*break*
Scott had almost dozed off when his father's voice startled him back alert. As he opened his eyes he saw his looking unsettlingly worried. "What's going on?" he asked, as the older man led him to the control room.
"Well, M-M-Master Tracy. It appears the beeping was a d-d-d-d, call for help" Brains said from the work station, the watch and a variety of electrical equipment laid out in front of him.
"What?!" Scott questioned as he made his way across the room, his father close behind "Who is it?"
"John", Scott stared at his father, silently asking him to clarify what he had just said "Scott, John was signalling for help".
Scott stared at his father, ignoring Brains as he explained how he was now tracking the signal to locate Johns position. Jeff just gave his eldest son a heavy pat on the shoulder and took his seat on the sofa nearest the control panel. Scott just stood in silence letting it sink in, before finally taking the seat next to his father and letting his head fall into his hands.
Neither of the Tracys sitting on the sofa expected Brains to say what he said next though. "According to the trace, he's on the S-S-S, Thunderbird 5"
ANNNNNNNNNNND Cliffhanger
RussianKat