THE capture of Johnny Cuba was a much bigger thing than Kayo could have imagined. She had managed to catch a criminal who was as wanted by so many countries as The Cabal were. Hundreds of hours had been spent by so many Police forces as well as what the GDF could spare to try and locate him, and yet Kayo had managed to take him down without even looking for him. Kayo was glad she lived on a private island as so many of the world's press were asking for interviews on how she'd managed to capture Cuba, but Jeff had to politely tell them all to go away.
"You know, Kayo, if you had the opposite feelings about this, you'd be a major celebrity," Gordon was saying.
"Then it's a good thing I don't, isn't it?" Kayo replied.
After their ordeal in the Mediterranean at the hands of The Cabal, Gordon and Lady Penelope had been brought back to Tracy Island by Virgil. Hearing about what had happened did indeed make Jeff angry with Colonel Jennings at not being consulted about it first, however he did understand the importance of why she'd asked them. Alan on the other hand was not at all happy that Gordon was back on Tracy Island. Despite having had a session with Dr Charles, he still refused to drop his animosity towards his brother. Whether he'd intended to or not, he vocally voiced his disdain of Gordon's return to Scott and Virgil, saying how he'd been hoping that Gordon would have chosen to stay with Penelope permanently. This enraged both the two eldest brothers and in turn Jeff when he found out, once again causing a furious argument between them, which resulted in Alan being forcibly sent to his room again.
"I just don't get it, boys," Jeff told his two eldest sons. "We've tried everything I can think of. What is it going to take to make Alan change his mind about Gordon."
"I hate to say this, Dad," said Scott grimly. "But I'm starting to feel Alan may be beyond the point of being able to turn this around."
"You have no idea how much I want you to be wrong about that, Scott," said Jeff sharply.
"I agree," said Virgil. "But as you said, Dad. What else can we do?"
Jeff didn't know. For once, he really didn't know.
Cuba had never been in the GDF's custody before, and as they were discovering, he was proving to be one of the most challenging prisoners they'd ever had. Every opportunity he had, he would attack the guards, fellow prisoners and try any means of escape that he could, all the while screaming at them all and swearing revenge on the woman who had caught him.
Kayo had kept her face hidden inside her helmet so that Cuba wouldn't recognise her from when she and Gordon had tried to rescue him and his children from crocodiles. It really was incredible watching the security footage of him how much different he'd been from when she'd encountered him before. Back then he'd only cared about his children. But now, he was such a violent person that it was beggars belief.
"Was he this bad when you encountered him before?" Colonel Jennings asked Kayo as they watched footage of Cuba in his cell at GDF HQ.
"Certainly not," Kayo answered. "Sure he had a weapon, but this persona wouldn't have warned myself and Gordon to back off. Most certainly not."
"In all my years of catching criminals, I can't remember anyone as cold-blooded and violent as this guy is," remarked Captain Liberty.
"More so than The Cabal?" asked Hayley.
"From what we've been hearing, The Hood's losing his mind," said Colonel Jennings. "But even he is not quite at the same level as Mr Cuba is."
Kayo felt a shiver run down her spine. "My uncle has been a madman for many years," she said. "But he has never lost it as bad as this. I fear the more defeats he suffers, the worse he'll get until…"
"Until what?" Hayley asked.
Kayo looked at her, almost tearfully. "Until he loses his sanity forever."
An awkward silence fell upon the others. "Are you getting emotional over a supervillain, Kayo?" asked Captain Liberty.
"I hate him, Wayne," said Kayo, her voice shaking. "I don't want to see him dead though. And I certainly don't want to see him ending up like this guy."
Johnny Cuba was leaping up at the security camera in his cell and shouting at it. "YOU'LL ALL DIE FOR THIS! NOBODY HOLDS JOHNNY CUBA!"
"What are you going to do with him, Colonel?" Kayo asked after Colonel Jennings muted the live footage. "How many people has he hurt since he's been with you?"
"In three days he's fought and injured sixteen people," said Colonel Jennings. "Twelve inmates and four guards. Several have critical injuries. One fatal."
Kayo felt her stomach churn. "Guard or inmate?" she asked.
"The latter," said Colonel Jennings. "But that's besides the point. It is clear to me that Johnny Cuba is far too dangerous to keep in an ordinary prison."
"The Vault or Aquatraz for him then?" said Captain Liberty.
"Actually, no, Captain," said Colonel Jennings. "I've decided even those aren't good enough for such a vicious man. He's going to have the honour of being the first inmate in our new prison."
"And where's that?" asked Kayo.
Colonel Jennings smiled. "I believe you and Captain Liberty are familiar with this?" She cleared the footage of Cuba in his cell and showed them a holographic image of something both Kayo and Captain Liberty recognised instantly.
"The Hex?" said Kayo.
"But that was destroyed, Colonel," said Captain Liberty.
"Yes, I am aware of that, Captain," replied Colonel Jennings. "That's why I ordered for a new one to be constructed."
"So he'll be going into space then?" said Hayley.
"Yes, Madison," said Colonel Jennings. "This Hex is bigger than the original. Better security and defences should anyone be foolish enough to try and cause a breakout. Prisoners will be confined to their cells at all times with the necessary toilet facilities built inside them. They'll be comfortable."
"I don't think any amount of comfort will satisfy Cuba," said Captain Liberty. "All he desires is his freedom."
"Which is something he'll never experience again," said Colonel Jennings. She then brought up a list of different crimes. Some were repeated multiple times. It was a huge list of multiple pages.
"What is this?" Kayo asked.
"Every recorded crime this man has ever committed," said Colonel Jennings.
Kayo stared at the long lists. "There's got to be at least three-hundred of these if not more?!"
"Exactly," said Colonel Jennings. "The World Council has already unanimously decided that a trial for Johnny Cuba would be a waste of time. I think all of us, including Cuba himself will have reached the end of our own lives before he could ever be fully convicted by a jury. We know he's done these things. He knows he's done these things and has absolutely no remorse for what he's done. How he ever managed to turn himself around and have two children is beyond me."
"Do they know about this?" asked Hayley. "Cause I wouldn't want to be them if they do."
"If they do know, then their mother will be the one to tell them," said Colonel Jennings. "But like you said, Madison, I wouldn't want to be the one to explain to them that the man they looked up to and loved was the world's deadliest criminal."
"Wouldn't actually surprise me if The Cabal tries to target him," said Kayo.
"God, don't even suggest that, Kayo!" said Hayley. "They're bad enough on their own without having him join forces with them."
"I don't think my Uncle would want to recruit him, Hayley," said Kayo. "The Hood has on more than one occasion boasted that he's the greatest villain our planet has ever seen. He won't want anyone to have that title other than himself."
"If they did kill him, he'd be one less thing for us to worry about," muttered Captain Liberty.
"Cut that talk, Captain!" snapped Colonel Jennings.
Captain Liberty gulped, thinking he'd said it quietly for her not to hear.
"Cuba may be a horrible human being, but he needs to pay for all the lives he's ruined over the years, and I want to see him doing that in his cell aboard The Hex," said Colonel Jennings.
Kayo looked back at the footage of Johnny Cuba inside his cell. He'd given up shouting at the camera and was instead laying on his bunk, periodically punching the wall. "How are you going to get him there?" she asked.
"Space Transport," said Colonel Jennings. She was about to say more when her intercom buzzed. "Yes?"
"Captain O'Bannon is here, Colonel," said the secretary over the intercom.
"Send her in."
"Yes, ma'am."
One of the doors opened and Captain Ridley O'Bannon walked in. Being on earth, she was not in her regular spacesuit. Instead she was wearing a suit similar to Hayley and Amanda and like what Captain Liberty used to wear. Her colour however was Lilac. Her hair was short and black. Hers didn't need to be tied back like Amanda and Colonel Jennings's did, but it wasn't as long as Hayley's. "Colonel Jennings. Captain Liberty. Captain Madison. Miss Kyrano?"
"That's right," said Kayo. Ridley offered her hand and Kayo shook it. "My apologies if we haven't met before, Captain. I've heard a lot about you from John. He talks highly of you."
Ridley blushed. "Aw, such a sweet man he is," she said.
Colonel Jennings interrupted with a polite cough. "Glad you could make it, O'Bannon," she said. "I presume you know why I've called for you?"
"I heard it's something to do with Johnny Cuba?" said Ridley.
"Correct," said Colonel Jennings. "I have decided he shall become The Hex's first inmate."
Ridley looked at the footage of Cuba. "From what I've been hearing, that's a very wise choice, Colonel," she said. "You want me to arrange his transportation and escort?"
"Transportation, yes, Captain," said Colonel Jennings. "As for escorts, there won't be one."
"There won't?" asked Kayo.
"No," said Colonel Jennings. "A formation of ships might attract attention whereas nobody would bat an eyelid at a single GDF patrol craft making its way through deep space."
"Deep space?" said Kayo. "You mean The Hex isn't where the original one was?"
"That's right, Kyrano," said Colonel Jennings. "And I'm afraid that the location of it is being kept top secret. After the incident with the St Georges, I'm not taking any chances with top secret locations anymore. I hope you understand?"
"Perfectly," said Kayo.
Colonel Jennings turned back to Ridley. "Captain, I'm putting you in charge of Cuba's transfer to The Hex."
"Yes, Colonel," said Ridley. "In fact, if you want, I'll deliver him myself."
Colonel Jennings was pleased. "I was hoping you'd say that," she said. "Very good, Captain. The job is yours. Tomorrow morning, you will launch for The Hex with Cuba aboard your ship. All I can say to you is, good luck and be careful."
With the press still trying anything to get a word on what was going to happen to Johnny Cuba, Colonel Jennings finally decided to have a statement released but with only the minimal details for them to use.
Captain Liberty volunteered to read the statement in front of several reporters and TV cameras which were broadcast around the world. "As I'm sure you're all aware, the infamous Australian gangster Johnny Cuba was apprehended after breaking into a top secret facility and stealing some plans. The mistake he made however was by using a noisy and somewhat unreliable tunnelling machine, enabled us to trace the route he'd taken and a good friend of ours at International Rescue, who shall remain anonymous, was successfully able to capture him and his fellow accomplices. The plans also were recovered, of which I also cannot disclose, and all is well I am pleased to inform you."
Amongst those who were watching were the Tracy family.
Gordon was quick to point out some inconsistencies. "Not strictly accurate there," he observed. "It was John who scanned the tunnel technically."
"He helped, Gordon," said Kayo. "My scanners were linked to Thunderbird 5."
"Shhh!" hissed Scott who was eagerly listening to the broadcast.
"Captain Liberty?" a reporter was heard to call out. "What's going to happen to Cuba now he's in your custody?"
"I was just coming to that," said Captain Liberty. "Given all the crimes that this man has committed, there will not be a trial held against him. He will be immediately transferred to a new prison that has been constructed. I cannot tell you where this prison is, only you will never find it on a map of this Earth. And that is all I have to say. Good day to you all."
The reporters tried calling out more questions, but Captain Liberty turned away and disappeared.
Grandma turned the holographic TV off. "We don't need to know where that monster's being held," she said.
"So long as wherever he's put he stays there," said Gordon bitterly. There weren't many people that Gordon had a strong resentment for (except perhaps those in The Cabal), but Cuba was definitely one.
Virgil gave his brother a stern look. "I for one am glad you don't know where he's going," he said. "If you had the chance, you'd probably try and beat the hell out of him!"
"And you know damn well that I would!" said Gordon angrily. "That moron put his kids in danger and played us for fools! I'm not stupid enough to take on The Cabal, but I wouldn't hesitate to give him a good-"
"That's enough, Gordon," interrupted Jeff. "You will not be seeing this man again. Colonel Jennings has said he's going to be put somewhere that he can't be a danger to anybody. And I don't want to know where it is either."
"I think one of us knows," said Scott, looking at Kayo.
Kayo did know, but she wasn't going to tell them. "Even if I did, I wouldn't say," she said, and got up to leave before anyone could say another word.
"Smooth, bro," remarked Alan, who was sitting as far away from Gordon as he could. "Real smooth."
"Be quiet!" snapped Scott.
Penelope could sense the tensions were getting high and decided to try and defuse the situation. "Let us all take a moment to chill out, shall we?" she said. "Johnny Cuba is the GDF's problem, not ours. Let us leave them to deal with his punishment."
Nobody could really argue with that.
Kayo had gone outside to get some fresh air. She was feeling annoyed that Scott had brought up what he'd said. However, she had decided to remove herself from the room to prevent herself from exploding at him. However she sensed that she wasn't alone, and wasn't entirely pleased when she saw him walk out of the house and along the patio.
"Are you okay, Kayo?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Eh, just wondered, that's all." He turned and began to head back to the house.
Kayo couldn't explain what happened next. One moment she was by the pool, the next she'd moved at almost lightning speed across the patio and grabbed hold of Scott before spinning him around and slamming him into the wall.
"What the hell?!" exclaimed Scott in surprise.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Kayo bellowed in his face.
"M-M-Me?!" spluttered Scott. "Why are you mad at me?"
"You've been acting strange around me for weeks!" Kayo said angrily. "You ran away when I met you on the top of the stairs, and you've hardly said a word to me since! And now you have the nerve to say you think I know where Johnny Cuba is being taken IN FRONT OF EVERYONE?!"
"Do you know where he's being taken?" asked Scott.
"SO WHAT IF I DO?!"
"Then get your hands off me and this conversation's over!" said Scott, now starting to get angry as well.
Kayo tightened her grip on his shirt and he felt himself being pinned up against the wall. "This conversation will end when I say it does!" she spat.
"KAYO!"
Kayo froze and her head turned to the right. There was Penelope and Gordon, staring at her open-mouthed in shock.
"Kayo, what is the meaning of this?" Penelope demanded.
But Kayo's voice seemed to have run away. She looked back at Scott, and then at her hands. She gasped and very quickly let go of him. He'd lost the feeling in his feet and he fell hard onto the ground. "S-Scott?" Kayo stammered. "I-I-I-I, er, er, er…" But she couldn't think of what to say. "Oh, God…what am I doing?!" she asked, running her fingers through her hair. She no longer looked angry, but freaked out instead. She turned and hurried back inside, pushing past the stunned Gordon and Penelope who instead of going after her, decided to check on Scott instead.
"Are you okay, Scott?" Penelope asked as she and Gordon helped him to his feet.
Scott was breathing heavily as he tried to get his breath back. "I…I think so," he said.
"What the heck was that all about?" asked Gordon.
"I…have…no idea," Scott replied. "She…She just went crazy."
Jeff and Virgil then appeared. They'd seen Kayo go running up the stairs and came down to see what had happened. "What's going on?" asked Jeff.
"Kayo just attacked Scott for no reason, Dad," said Gordon.
Jeff stared. "What?!" he snapped. "Scott, is this true?"
"It's okay, Dad…I deserved it," Scott answered, taking them all by surprise.
"What do you mean?" Jeff demanded.
"You saw the way she walked out of the lounge after I made that comment," said Scott. "I guess I must have pushed her over the edge. I'm sorry."
Jeff shook his head. "I don't believe this," he said. "What the HELL is going on with this family?! First Gordon and Alan are at each other's throats, and now you and Kayo are as well?! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!"
"JEFF!" thundered Grandma, giving him a stern look to calm himself down.
Jeff sighed heavily. "Yes, Mother," he said. "Sorry, but I'm just getting damn sick of all this fighting that is going on."
"I think we all are, Jeff," said Penelope. "Maybe we should just all settle down in the lounge tonight once everyone has cooled down and then we can try and solve the matter? We can't keep going on like this."
Scott, Gordon, Virgil, Jeff and Grandma all mutually agreed this was a good idea. None of them noticed Alan hiding on the stairs leading down to the lounge. He felt his stomach churn. He didn't think it was a good idea at all.
The press release that Captain Liberty had made had taken place the day after Colonel Jennings had told Kayo about the new Hex and that Johnny Cuba was to become its first inmate. By the time Captain Liberty had begun to make the statement, Johnny was no longer on Earth. He was in a secure holding cell aboard a GDF Space Freighter that was being piloted by Ridley. It was a two person job and her co-pilot was Lieutenant Lance Raddick. Two guards were also aboard guarding Cuba's cell.
They'd already been travelling for ten hours after leaving Earth since the release to the press had been made. Ridley looked at the clock on the control panel and compared it with the watch on her suit. "Another eighty hours to go," she said. "This is going to be one long flight."
"But it'll be worth it, Captain," said Lance. "Our special cargo probably doesn't even know he's in space."
It was true. Cuba did not. He'd tried shouting abuse at the guards outside the cell, however they took no notice of him and he soon fell into silent boredom.
Ridley looked at the radar screen. "Nothing on our flight path. Good," she said. "Looks like we're in for a quiet ride."
Just then, Lance put his hand to his headphones and frowned. "Hang on, ma'am. I'm picking something up.2
"What is it?" Ridley asked.
"Sounds like a distress call to me," said Lance. He flicked a switch so that the message could play out over the radio.
"Emergency! Emergency! Motor failure! Need help immediately! Can anyone hear me?"
Ridley and Lance looked at each other. Whoever this person was sounded very distressed. Ridley flicked another switch so she could speak. "This is GDF Transport 28. Captain O'Bannon speaking. Identify yourself?"
"Oh, thank goodness!" said the male voice. "This is Cargo Freighter ZX-29. Our engines have failed. We are adrift. Position Twenty-Two - Twenty-Five - Zero Green."
Lance checked the position with their own. "We're not too far away from them, Captain. We can be with them in less than half an hour."
"Maybe so, Lieutenant," said Ridley. "But we have a dangerous prisoner to deliver. I'll call International Rescue and send them to-"
"Please!" the man's voice pleaded over the radio again. "My partner is being very sick. Can you please hurry and help us?!"
Lance and Ridley looked at each other again. "They're desperate, ma'am," said Lance.
Ridley gave in with a sigh. "Very well," she said. "ZX-29. We're on our way."
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" said the man gratefully and he signed off.
"Should we tell Colonel Jennings?" asked Lance.
"No, this won't take long," replied Ridley.
Just then the radio beeped again. Ridley hoped it wasn't Colonel Jennings calling in to check on them. To her relief, it wasn't.
"International Rescue to Transport 28. I picked up a distress call near your location. Do you need us to come out so you can continue your mission?"
"Hello, John," said Ridley with a smile. "I was going to ask you to but it sounds like we'll be getting to them before you could. We'll handle this."
"Okay, if you're sure," said John. "If the situation changes, let me know immediately."
"It won't," said Ridley with confidence.
About eighteen minutes later, the ZX-29 appeared ahead of the GDF Transporter. Ridley got in contact with its pilot again. "ZX-29, we are approaching you now. What's the condition of your crew?"
"Only two of us aboard. My partner is getting worse. Our medical kit is out of date. Please tell me you have one?"
"I'll come over with one," said Ridley. "Be right with you." She ended the call.
"How can they have an out of date medical kit?" Lance asked in confusion.
Ridley looked at the freighter. "You see how old that thing looks?" she said. "Some never get used and then are forgotten about. Fire retros and bring us within crossing distance. I'm going over with my jetpack and the medical kit."
"Roger." Lance fired the retro rockets and brought the freighter to a smooth stop into free-float close to the stationary freighter.
As Ridley headed for the airlock, she found the two guards looking confused. "Won't be long. I'm just going to tend to a sick person on another ship," she told them. "Don't let him out for anything," she added, pointing to Cuba's cell.
"We won't," said one of the guards.
Ridley passed through the airlock and headed out into space, using her jetpack to head across towards the freighter.
As she went, Lance called her up over her helmet radio. "Say, Captain. What call sign did they say they were again?"
"ZX-29. Why?"
"Where does it say that on it?" Lance asked.
Ridley looked at the freighter as she got closer. She began to frown. There was no ZX-29 written on any part of it. In fact, there were no markings on it at all. That's strange, she thought to herself. "Not all ships have their markings visible, Lance," she said. "I'll ask them once I make sure this crew member is okay."
"Okay…but be careful, Cap," said Lance. He sounded uneasy.
Ridley reached the outer door of the airlock on the freighter. The doors opened and she went inside. Once the air had been replenished, the inner doors opened and she removed her helmet before stepping inside. She turned to the right and found herself looking at the man who'd made the call. She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes fell upon his face. It was a face she'd seen before. "YOU-" WHACK! "AARGH!"
She fell to the floor, having been hit over the back of the head by a hard object, and slipped into unconsciousness whilst the husband and wife that made up the freighter's crew stood triumphantly over her.