CHAPTER SIX

Over the next few days, the two teams constantly visited one another, and the Islanders had their chance to check out the Supercar workshop. As expected, it was rather inferior compared to the Thunderbirds equipment and such, and this was respected between the teams, but given the day and age it was certainly high tech and impressive, especially to Brains.

"I... must admit." he stammered "All this equipment certain could be of some use... uh... in helping us achieve our goal."

"As I stated, Mr. Brains..." said Beaker. "Anything you need, we shall provide... if we... er... are able to."

Brains nodded thankfully, and then corrected, "...It's just "Brains." uh, Dr. Beaker. Just "Brains."

Beaker felt embarrassed, "Yes... of course."

Together, with the help of Professor Popkiss, the men managed to alter their radios to maintain contact with each other through John in Thunderbird 5.

He and Beaker spent time working on Brains' project. Tintin took time to assist and left Madelynn in the care of Alan or the rest of the family when she wasn't needed. So far, with Beaker's help Brains managed to perfect his cloaking device with the aid of Beaker's invisible paint mixture he invented some time ago. It was tested on FAB-1 and sure enough, when they tried to take pictures the car just couldn't be captured on film.

"Satisfactory…! Most Satisfactory…!" Beaker cried "What say you, Mister-" he quickly stopped himself. "Uh... What say you, Brains?

"Oh! It's absolutely perfect. I must admit, I-I-I had my doubts, but it's perfect!"

That was one thing perfected, but it still didn't solve the problem with the time travel. The nearest Brains and Beaker could deduce was the positive energy levels were so intense that they pierced the space time continuum which thrust the island and Thunderbird 5 into the past.

"I say..." said Beaker "This is just a simple theory, mind you, but it may just work." He cleared his throat and explained, "If the energy you used in your first attempt consisted of positive force, the only... er... solution... would be to recreate the experiment, but using negative energy force... to, um... reverse the process."

Brains thought it over and over in this mind. "Uh, well, uh, um, it is rather risky, but I suppose we don't really have much to lose. My only regret is that, uh, I don't seem to have the proper materials to make the necessary formula."

"Mmm, yes… I suppose that is a problem." Beaker said as he looked over the formula recipe and Brains required special properties of a kind of oil that could only be found by drilling in the Pacific Ocean.

Brains told Jeff this immediately "I see…" Jeff said "But the question is, can it be done without altering the future? Even the slightest thing could do unthinkable events."

"I fear that the odds will not very much in our favor." Beaker said "You see, in most cases, even the slightest of alternations can prove to be quite dangerous."

"Yeah, but if you stay here, then won't you eventually be discovered?" asked Jimmy, and he had a point.

"Jimmy is quite right... uh, Mr. Tracy." agreed Brains. "We certainly can't move into society, given our current circumstances, and the sooner we leave here... the better, and I just may have the solution."

He revealed his, now, complete formula to produce an anti-filming shield over all their crafts. "With this, no one will be able to capture our equipment on film or recording devices of any sort. Not even in this day and age."

"Gee, that's swell, Brains." said Gordon. "It means we'll be able to fly around here without being detected or filmed."

"Well... um... yes..." agreed Brains. "But this still does not prevent people from seeing us with their own eyes."

"That is a problem." said Scott. "Anyone who sees us might think we're UFOs, and they may report us to news crews. That could cause something to happen too."

Jeff had been listening in to the conversation. "Every way we turn, it seems there's something that could put everything at risk."

"Well, there's' only one thing for it." suggested Virgil "We takeoff from base, here in the desert, and then we climb to such a height to prevent too many people seeing us. We can even use the clouds for cover."

His father liked the idea. "Well, at least it will provide us with some cover."

"And don't forget..." added Mike "Supercar is already well-known. We can use her to do some of the work and it won't matter if we're spotted or not. Everyone knows Supercar."

"Right!" said Jeff, and then he activated the wide-intercom for everyone to here. "It's time for a group meeting. Everyone report to the villa on the double, and that includes the Supercar team."


Meanwhile, the three villains had flown by chopper out to the old oil rig in the Pacific It certainly didn't look very sturdy, hence the reason it was soon going to be demolished and cleared away. The entire rig was deserted; the perfect place to begin their plans. "Beautiful." said Masterspy "This will do wonderfully."

"Come, gentlemen, let us get to work." The Hood said.

"Of course." added Zarin.

As the men worked setting up explosives which would cause a massive fire geyser, Masterspy and Zarin were also silently talking about what to do about The Hood. "You remember your instructions, Friend Zarin?"

"Yes, Masterspy. You have to only give me the signal."

Masterspy chuckled. "Good. If that fools believes we will share all this wonder with him, he is sadly going to be mistaken."

The, unsuspecting and undeterred, Hood was already planning a special trap for his, soon-to-be, ex-allies with an old diving sphere. "When they least suspect it, I shall force them into this sphere, and plunge them into the waters, and then... I shall proceed to destroy International Rescue for good."


Back at the island, the meeting was held in the lounge.

Jeff guided everyone through the plans. "Right, to recap. Mike will take Brains in Supercar. You'll head for the Pacific Ocean, and make it to the seabed where you can drill for the special oil we need."

"Right, I got'cha." said Mike. "By doing all this, we won't cause much trouble, and no one will suspect we're there or what we're doing."

"Agreed," said Brains. "And when we seal off the hole we create... that will further guarantee success of our mission."

"Keep in close contact at all times." Jeff warned them "And remember; we can't afford any slipups."

Mike and Brains acknowledged this before climbing into Supercar. "You ready, Brains?"

"Oh, uh, ready to go, Mike."

"Charging port…! Five-thousand… seven-thousand… nine-thousand… eleven-thousand… thirteen-thousand, fourteen-thousand... fifteen thousand! Now charging starboard! Eight… Ten… Twelve… Fourteen… Fifteen-Thousand and steady…! Fire one!" Mike hit the switch and fired the exhaust flame. "Fire two…!" he did it again.

"Gee, it certainly take s awhile start that thing up." Virgil said.

"Oh, yes." said Beaker "But of course, that is why Supercar is no ordinary vehicle."

"Full boost- Vertical." said Mike, and then Supercar began to rise up into the sky and off it went.

Penelope was rather impressed "Oh, my! I really must have a word with Brains to see if he can alter FAB-1 to fly like that."

"Are you certain this is wise, Milady?" asked Parker.

Penelope soon withdrew her idea, realizing that it was possible that if FAB-1 could fly it would arouse suspicion, even in their own time.

Just then, Mike called in over the radio, "Supercar to island, and workshop. Are you both receiving me?"

"Loud and clear, Mike." answered Jeff, and Popkiss complied at the other end, "Yes, I can hear you... all of you to be precise, and I have you on zee radar as well."

"Right, Professor." said Mike. "We're heading for the ocean now. We should be there in about an hour. Will call again when we get there."

"Brains, how long do you reckon this project will take?" asked Jeff.

"It's uh… hard to say, Mr. Tracy. It, um, uh, depends on what we find when we get there, but I should assume no more than thirty minutes."

"Right. We'll standby and wait for you to call us again." Jeff said before singing off. He seemed to be rather worried. "Jeff, you're not worried are you?" asked Grandma.

Her son looked, "Huh? Oh, sorry mother. I guess I am a bit worried."

"Well, you shouldn't be. Mike's a good man, and Brains knows what he's doing."

Jeff realized that "But still, one false mistake could cause a lot of damages unimaginable."

Everyone else felt the same, but worrying about it wouldn't help matters. "Come on, Father…" said Gordon "What could possibly go wrong?"


They were soon about to get their answer, about an hour later the three villains were ready to spring their plan into action when Masterspy heard a familiar sound "Supercar?! What is friend Mercury doing here? We're not ready yet!" he growled.

"Please, Masterspy. Do not shout." cried Zarin.

"Do no tell me not to shout, Worm! This is a catastrophe."

"Not necessarily." The Hood said "Perhaps we can turn this to our advantage, and take our plan to an even higher level."