Bereznik was off-limits to International Rescue. Even if it hadn't been it was permanently off-limits to Scott and Thunderbird One.

The hell they were going to let that stop them.

Thunderbird Shadow had cloaking tech, so did FAB1, but none of the other 'birds did. It had been discussed and dismissed as the visual aspect of being rescued was just so important to victims' morale.

John was going to change that when this was all over. One needed the ability for sure, even if Virgil would say that Two didn't need it.

Virgil and Alan would fly Two to the original place they had lost Scott. It was the closest place to the border. John would fly with Kayo in Shadow. It was a tight squeeze but there was no way he was going to either be left behind or let his sister go alone. Gordon was going with Penny and Parker.

The five of them dressed head-to-toe in black iR stealth uniforms. John, wearing Scott's uniform, tried really hard not to think on why two of his brothers needed them and resolved to get his own made. Thank goodness Scott was only a little broader. He'd taken one of Scott's older outfits, it fit slightly better and the special stretchy fabric moved with him soundlessly.

The plan was simple. Get to the prison, do whatever was necessary to remove Scott and rendezvous with Two. Both FAB1 and Shadow had weaponry if needed.

Speed was of the essence and they set off a little over an hour after Parker had landed at the Island.

FAB1 had a top speed of 260mph on the ground. But she was a Thunderbird in all but name, reaching a maximum of 3,000 mph in the air. Shadow's top speed in the air was 12,000. Two was 5,000. Virgil set of at top speed with FAB1 on board, while Shadow raced ahead to scope out the area, her stealth mode most definitely in use.

John was hopeful that they would be in time. Shadow travelled along the main routes a prison convoy would have to traverse if they used one to move Scott, and approaching the prison they came across no such vehicles. EOS confirmed there was no other traffic around, although a car and an ambulance had arrived about 10 minutes before them.

If he could have reached his nails John would be biting them.

In the entranceway Meyer was biting his nails. The General had arrived but hadn't left his car yet, and the presence of the ambulance was a little unnerving. He hoped it was for Tracy and not for him.

He watched as the driver got out of the car and opened the door. The General got out, straightening his jacket as he looked around with a frown. Meyer stepped forward to greet the man, holding out a hand which was ignored as he was pushed aside by the driver. Meyer had to trot to keep up with the General and his two men as they headed for his office.

Scott had taken the leaving of the Warder as time to try and gather himself. He catalogued his injuries and plan for what could be coming. Broken fingers were only a slight hindrance, the cuffs on his wrists and ankles would be more of a problem. The chair itself might be a way out since it was wood, but Scott knew he was very weak. Plus he had a very small window and one guard to contend with.

Maybe it would be best to wait and find a better window of opportunity, although he hadn't had one yet. Footsteps sounded, getting closer, and he knew any possibility was now gone anyway. Scott forced himself to relax.

He was so glad when the Warder appeared with a man Scott had only met once. But that once was enough.

General Bron strode into the room with two men and Meyer. He immediately walked around the desk and sat in the Warder's seat before he looked at Scott. The nasty curve of his lip told Scott that the man had noticed the recognition on his face.

Scott had met the man last year, when he'd been called into a meeting with the GDF and kept talking while his youngest two brothers were being kidnapped by Colonel Janus. Bron had wanted access to the tech International Rescue held, but Scott had stood firm through four mindless hours of refusals and threats.

So he was the mastermind behind all this? The man certainly had patience, judging from the time Scott had been held in what he was sure was more than two places although his memory was hazy.

'Mr Tracy.'

There was a leer to the words, like a man who knew he was about to get what he wanted. Over his dead body Scott silently pledged.

'General Bron.'

'Oh, so you do remember me! I wasn't sure you would when Meyer said you were having trouble recalling things. That will make this so much easier.'

'The answer is still no.'

'Really? Come now, Scott. Surely if your family knew where you were you'd have been rescued by now.'

'That is of no consequence. The answer is, will always be, no.'

Bron sat back, stroking his chin with one hand as he contemplated the man before him. Scott knew he was a shadow of the suited and booted man who had met the General on equal terms. But he was a Tracy and he sat as much to attention as he could.

'I would have thought you would understood that this is your last chance.'

He gave what sounded like a regretful sigh before gesturing to the man on his left who pulled something out of his pocket and strode forward. In his position Scott couldn't really stop another needle being plunging into his arm, and he kept his eyes fixed on Bron for as long as possible before succumbing to the sedative.

Meyers watched in concern as Scott slumped forward, the restraints the only things keeping him in the chair. The General sniffed before turning to him and fixing him with a stare that gave him a cold shiver.

'You two, go get the stretcher from the ambulance.'

The men left. Meyer pulled out the napkin he'd been using and wiped his brow. Still the man's eyes bored into him.

'Meyer. Explain the condition Mr Tracy is in. I thought your instructions were clear. Soften him up, that's all.'

'I – I thought that you needed…'

'NO! You didn't think. You got annoyed and reacted and now – now you are a problem.'

Meyer didn't see the gun, but he felt it – for a second.

The two men returned and got Scott onto the stretcher, carrying him out as General Bron followed. The ambulance pulled away and his car followed.

They pulled out of the main gate to the prison just as a cloaked Shadow flew overhead.

'EOS, can you track that ambulance?'

'No, John. There is some kind of shielding in place.'

Shadow banked suddenly and John's head cracked on the windscreen. Thank goodness he had his helmet on.

'FAB1 to Shadow, entering the prison now.'

'FAB, Penny. Kayo and I are following the ambulance, keep in touch.'

'Will do.'

Kayo kept the ambulance in sight, tuning out John and EOS quietly discussing how to get through the shielding as she kept pace.

Gordon's voice broke through the silence.

'The warder is dead. Penny is staying here to deal with the mess. No cameras have recorded anything, like they were all turned off. Has EOS managed to confirm Scott's in that bus?'

'Negative. But the coding is very similar to…'

'I have it. Scott and one man in the back, one driver. One driver and one man in the back of the car.'

Grandma's voice rang clear over the comms.

'Go get our boy back.'