November 29th, 2061 - 22:00 CET
It's a quiet night at Air Terannian, a new airport just outside Rome. A space rocket launches from one of the platforms nearby, the sounds of its fiery engines rumbling in the background, illuminating the starless sky. A bearded man, carrying a small square box, lopes across the airfield passed parked jets. He comes to a stop by one of the Fireflash's and looks around. He makes a dart towards its hanger that is resting outside and lines himself up against the wall. The floodlight above him his only source of light as he comes to a stop beneath it. It casts a haunting shadow across his face as the man's phone starts ringing in his left trouser pocket. He reaches into his pocket and answers the call.
"Si Pedro," a man says, "Is Banino. I am at the meeting place. Your Mr Mendocia is not. Far too risky." The bearded man, Banino, looks around, paranoid. "The sale is off." Banino starts backing away and is about to end the call when a black vehicle approaches, illuminating him up light a deer in headlights as it causes him to shield his eyes. "Wait. He's here." The black car comes to a stop and a female driver gets out the car. "You're late."
"Sorry mate. We had to make sure the coast was clear, didn't we?" the cockney girl, with a chauffeurs hat, says and opens the door for someone it the back. A man steps out with a case in a white suit.
"My friend, did you bring di merchandice?" the South American, Mendocia, asks.
"Si. Did you bring the payment?" Banino demands.
"But of course," Mendocia says and raises the case which is handcuffed to his wrist, "Now, let us make a deal."
"Si," Banino nods and Mendocia walks over to the hanger, behind him Banino and they both go in. The door closing behind them.
"He bought it. We're in," the girl whispers, raising her hand to her earpiece.
"Copy that, Lady Penelope," Colonel Casey responds before turning to her men, "Capture squad, are you in position?"
"Affirmative, Colonel Casey. Ready to go at your signal," the officer says.
"F-A-B," Penelope acknowledges as she looks up to see a GDF Flyer appear overhead.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
November 30th, 2061 - 09:04 NZDT
In the lounge, Scott is pacing whilst talking to Colonel Casey talks to him over the hologram. Marion is sitting down on one of the sofas, listening in to the conversation, a hot chocolate occupying her hands.
"Thanks for lending us your London Agent, Scott," Casey says, "An undercover sting operation as delicate as this couldn't be performed through normal Global Defence Force channels. I must say I was quite surprised you agreed to it."
"You and me both, Colonel," Scott sighs, "International Rescue isn't usually in the bad guy business, but once Parker heard there was a role in it for him, I couldn't stop him. Let's just call this an... experiment." He takes a seat next to Marion as he wonders how Kayo managed to get him into this situation. "And experiments always make me nervous."
"Everything's under control, Scott. This operation will run like clockwork," Casey responds, "I guarantee it."
"Thanks Colonel," Marion says and closes the link for Scott while he sits with his head in his hands. Before she can say anything to him the call signal beeps, and Kayo appears on the hologram.
"Kayo, nice to see you," Marion says, "Scott can't take all this waiting around."
"Anything to report?" Scott asks.
"Relax Scott. I've got one eye on our guys and the other on the GDF," Kayo whispers. She is currently at Air Terannian hiding behind a container, watching FAB 1 from a distance.
"Spying on this operation without the GDF's knowledge feels... not so great," Scott admits.
"Covert ops is my job and I can do it a lot better without having to ask the GDF for permission," Kayo explains, "Trust me I won't let Lady P and Parker out of my sight." Kayo ends the call and watches FAB 1 with Penelope still standing next to it. She waves in front of her helmet and it brings her scanners which identify the heat signatures of Parker and Banino.
November 29th, 2061 - 22:08 CET
Inside the hanger, Parker is frisked by Banino. Banino checks for hidden wires, weapons and any other equipment. Behind them, Penelope enters, her heals echoing around the hanger as she approaches them.
"Forgive me Mr Mendocia, but I do not usually sell to people I do not know," Banino explains.
"Very wise, my friend," Parker says and opens the case to reveal sixteen bars, "But gold-pressed Lidium is, how they say, very persuasive."
"Ah! Perbacco," Banino exclaims.
"Is a beautiful, no?" Parker asks and closes the case, "I remember when I was a young child on the streets of Sao Paulo, my poor Grandmother would say to me, 'Paco, my darling boy, come closer. I want to tell you something...'" He pulls Banino in and makes him feel slightly uncomfortable, so Penelope decides to clear her throat and pull Parker away.
"Guv, shouldn't we take a butchers at the merchandise?" Penelope asks.
"The merchandise? Of yes, the merchandise, of course!" Parker nods, reaching out to the case Banino is holding, though his hand is swatted away.
"No!" Banino states.
"This box contains the latest discovery stolen from the labs of Houseman Industries," Banino explains, "A repulsor magnet ray, rated at six point seven Tesla's."
"Aahh," Parker exclaims.
"It could rip the walls off this hangar," Banino chuckles, "Not to mention that gold tooth from your mouth."
"It's the real deal all right, Guv," Penelope whispers in Parker's ear as he looks over to her.
"We have a deal?" Parker asks holding out his hand.
"Si," Banino says returning the jester, "Un accordo." However, before Banino could pass the repulsor over to Parker, the roof clatters in as the GDF squad abseil in. "It's a set up!" Banino cries and takes the device out of the case turning it on. It makes a whining noise as he directs it to the roof panels of the hangar which get blown off immediately. The flyer about the hanger is forced to retreat in order to avoid getting hit by the flying roof panels.
"The operation's blown," Kayo informs Scott, "I'm going in."
"Kayo, wait," Scott intervenes, "This is the GDF's responsibility. Kayo!" He doesn't get an answer as Kayo runs off to her motorbike and drives off towards the hanger in a rush. "Ohh! I should never have agreed to this," she hears in her comm but doesn't bother to reply.
November 29th, 2061 - 22:22 CET
Banino starts using the device to throw the GDF soldiers from their rope lines all the way across the hangar. One agent fires a bola towards Banino only for Banino to use the device to send it right back at him, causing it to wrap around his ankles, sending him to the floor. He throws more agents around, even to go as far as killing some as one agent is crushed under a pile of heavy containers. In the chaos, Penelope helps Parker to his feet as they watch helplessly as he takes out the last of the agents. Banino then approaches the pair and looms over them.
"I show you what we do to traditori, Mr Mendocia," Banino declares and points the device towards the pair but doesn't have time to fire as Kayo enters the hanger, driving directly between them. The back tire hits Banino sending him flying backwards into the wall with allows Penelope and Parker to run out of the hanger. Kayo drives back towards Banino, but doesn't anticipate him raising the device, stopping her right in front of him. She revs the engine to try and get free, but her bike is thrown into the wall knocking over some of the containers and landing on a couple of unconscious GDF soldiers, killing them instantly. Banino doesn't care about the fatalities and starts the device up again, this time knocking out the engines of one of the GDF Flyers overhead. He throws it towards the tarmac of the runway and the flyer explodes into a ball of flames. They fireball can be seen from the Vatican as it lights up the night sky.
"Stop him!" Kayo says, looking on exasperated towards Penelope and Parker as they try to help her out of her bike. They leave and run over to were Banino has brought down another GDF plane close to the ground so he can jump aboard. He turns around as he hears Penelope and Parker approach him from behind.
"Consider this a no sale!" Banino shouts and turns the device up and the plane starts gaining height quickly, "But I'll still be taking the Lidium!" The device then whines again and lifts the case up. However, Parker is still handcuffed to the case, so he starts to be pulled into the air as well.
"Parker!" Penelope cries.
"M'Lady!" Parker wails as Penelope grabs onto his legs. Unfortunately, the pull from the repuslor is too great and she has to let go and watch Parker disappear behind the closing door. Penelope stares at the plane as it goes off into the distance. She is startled by the sudden appearance of Kayo once again who starts racing her motorbike down the runway at full speed.
"Kayo, I'm heading over in Thunderbird 1," Scott says over the comms.
"Stay put, Scott. Thunderbird Shadow's got this," Kayo states and activates flight mode on her controller, which brings the main section of Thunderbird Shadow overhead. A platform is lowered and Kayo breaks harshly and rolls back onto the platform before it is lifted and merges with the main body, allowing her to take off after the GDF plane. "You're mine now," Kayo smirks and accelerates.
November 29th, 2061 - 22:31 CET
Penelope runs over to FAB 1 and gets into the driver's seat starting her up.
"Lady Penelope," the captain says walking over with a large gash to his left arm, "GDF reinforcements are on the way."
"I can't wait!" Penelope scoffs, "That's my driver up there, commander. And a good driver is frightfully hard to replace." She presses her foot down on the gas and FAB 1 zooms off into the night, swerving off at high speed.
November 29th, 2061 - 22:37 CET
Meanwhile, Thunderbird Shadow catches up with the rogue GDF Flyer. Kayo snarls as her target comes into sight.
"Calling GDF Flyer. Your joyride is over," Kayo says over the speaker as she finally brings Thunderbird Shadow alongside it over the Mediterranean Sea, "I'm ordering you to land immediately. Understand?"
"Yes, I understand," comes the response from Banino and a few seconds later the Flyer banks towards Thunderbird Shadow causing Kayo to take evasive action and manoeuvre out of the way. Thunderbird Shadow barrel-rolls away from the flyer and positions itself underneath the Flyer. The Flyer then decreases altitude resulting in Kayo doing another barrel-roll out of the way.
"Whoa, this guy's desperate," Kayo comments and flies upwards and around to get behind the Flyer again. The warning systems on Thunderbird Shadow then come into life and a red warning appears on Kayo's screen. "Air mines!" She spins through them to avoid them and all of them go straight past her. Kayo's eyes dart to the flickering radar display. A blips that have past her are growing closer once again, their digital redness pulsing with menace. Her heart hammers in her chest, but she keeps her breathing steady. "Shit! They're locked onto my infrared signature," Kayo sneers as her gloved hands tighten on the stick of her sleek Thunderbird. The cockpit is a cocoon of sound and light, the instruments a dance of urgent warnings and tactical data. Outside, the sky is a deep, endless blue, the horizon a distant memory.
The first time she sees the air mines turn back, they look like a metallic bird gliding across the sky with its wings spread wide, a silent sentinel of the skies. But its beauty was a lie. Kayo's training kicks in, the countless hours in the simulator becoming muscle memory. She rolls Shadow sharply to the left, the horizon tilting and spinning around her. The mines follows, a silent shadow, mirroring her every move. Her stomach lurches, the G-forces pushing her into the seat, but she doesn't blink. This is no time for fear. This is the dance of death, and she has to win. While explosions of some of the mines go off in the background, from getting too close to each other as Banino had set them all off at once, Kayo's mind races, calculating angles and vectors. These mines are clever, anticipating her evasive manoeuvres, but she has a trick up her sleeve. She flips a switch on the dashboard, and Shadow's engines roar louder, the thrust pushing her back into the seat even harder. The mine's AI had to compensate, giving her the fraction of a second she needs.
With the grace of a ballet dancer and the precision of a surgeon, she executes another barrel-roll, her body a fluid extension of the machine. The world outside is a blur, but her eyes remain locked on the mine. For a brief moment, it looses track of her, the lock-on light on her helmet flickering off. That is her chance. With a flick of the stick, she sends Shadow into a steep dive, the air rushing past the cockpit with a high-pitched scream. The mines recalculates, desperately trying to reacquire her, but she is already moving again, weaving through the sky like a silver thread on an invisible loom. One mines is close, so close she can almost feel its cold embrace, but she is closer to victory. Her thumb hovers over the fire button, her gaze never leaving the targeting reticle. The mine grows in her sights, its deadly wings spread wide. Her breath catches in her throat. This is it. She squeezes the trigger, and the world outside the cockpit erupts in a symphony of light and sound as the missiles streak away. The mine, caught off guard, has no time to react. The first missile hits it dead centre, the explosion a blossom of fire that engulfs the sky. The second follows, the mine breaking apart in a shower of burning metal. The shockwave buffets Shadow, but Kayo holds steady, her eyes searching the skies for more threats.
"Picking up your alarm. Kayo," Scott suddenly says, "What's happening?"
"Nothing I can't handle," Kayo replies as explosions are heard over the comms causing Scott growls in anger.
"Thunderbirds are rescue vehicles. They're not meant for aerial dogfights," Scott complains.
"Well, sometimes rescuing people requires a little dogfighting," Kayo chuckles as she keeps her distance as more mines start. Her heart skipped a beat. Two more. The battle is far from over. She grits her teeth and pushes the jet into a climb, her eyes scanning the skies behind her as her next deadly dance partners get closer.
"Okay, that's it. I've kept out as long as I can," Scott says facing Marion and calls Kayo again, "Kayo, I'm on my way."
"I thought International Rescue stayed away from these types of situations?" Kayo asks amused.
"When family's involved, I make an exception," Scott says, "Let's go Marion."
5
Scott descends and gets suited up.
4
Marion is brought into Thunderbird 1's hold and take a seat in the back.
3
Scott retracts the chair inside Thunderbird 1 and closes the hatch.
2
The launch pad starts to move.
1
Thunderbird 1 comes to a stop as the swimming pool above starts to retract.
Thunderbirds are Go!
November 29th, 2061 - 22:56 CET
The first of the two air mines closes in on its prey like a relentless hunter. The second follows, like a shadow cast by the first. Kayo knows she can't outrun them both, not in a straight line. Her mind races, searching for a strategy that will give her the upper hand. With a sudden jolt, she jerks the stick to the right, sending her jet into a tight, spiralling turn. The G-forces press her into the side of the cockpit, and she feels the blood rush to her head. However, she doesn't let go. The first mine tries to match her move, but it is slower, less agile. It stumbles, its lock-on faltering. This is her opening.
Kayo levels out and fires another missile, watching as it streaks towards the first mine. It explodes with a flash that briefly outshines the full moon, the debris scattering like glitter in the sky. Unfortunately, the second mine remains steadfast, its cold, mechanical gaze unwavering. It's a more formidable opponent, having learned from its predecessor's mistake. Her heart pounds in her ears as Kayo dives towards the earth, the sea rising up to meet her like a blue and black canvas painted with the strokes wavy lines across it. The mine follows, a silent spectre in her mirror. She knows she has to lose it before it has a chance to strike.
Ahead, Kayo spots a cloud bank and angles Shadow towards it, her heart racing as the mine grows larger in her sights. At the last possible moment, she pulls up into a vertical climb, Shadow's engines screaming in protest. The mine, unable to follow such a sharp ascent, shoots past her, disappearing into the clouds below. For a brief moment, Kayo feels a flicker of relief, but it is short-lived. The mine would emerge from the cloud cover any second now, and she has to be ready. She rolls Shadow onto its back and wait, her breath held, her eyes peel for the tell-tale glint of metal.
The mine bursts out of the clouds, its wings gleaming with condensation. She is ready for it, her finger poises over the fire button and waits, waits until it is almost too late, until she can feel its heat on her tail. Then, with a grim smile, she fires the last of her missiles. The mine tries to dodge, but Kayo's missile finds its mark, and the sky is once again filled with the fiery bloom of destruction. The shockwave rocks her jet, but she holds her course, watching the debris fall away from her like the petals of a fiery flower. A sigh of relief escapes Kayo's lips before she heads back up onto the GDF Flyer's tail.
As she arrives, she spots the rear of the flyer closing and a man-glider flying off away from the plane. "Thunderbird Shadow reporting in," Kayo calls in, "Scott, that arse Banino has bailed out. I know our mission is rescue only, but if I don't stop him now, we'll all be cleaning up his mess tomorrow."
"Fine," Scott sighs, "Lady Penelope and I will take care of Parker, you go after Banino."
"Does this mean International Rescue is finally in the bad guy catching business?" Kayo smirks.
"Don't get used to it," Scott mumbles.
"F-A-B," Kayo acknowledges and heads away from the flyer and towards the direction where the glider went.
November 29th, 2061 - 23:00 CET
Penelope crashes FAB 1 through the gates and comes to a halt. She watches in horror as the flyer wobbles from left to right as Parker clearly cannot get a proper hold of the controls after they'd been damaged by a fleeing Banino. The flyer slumps onto the roof of the factory in front of her and it starts swinging precariously as the roof struggles to hold the weight. The roof groans and creeks, workers starting to flee out of all the exits. Finally, there's a snap and the flyer goes through the roof, nose first, and starts sinking into the factory. "Oh dear!" Penelope states and takes out her compact, "FAB 1 to International Rescue. Scott, we have a situation."
"This is Thunderbird 1," Marion answers, "We're thirty seconds out. What's the situation on the ground?"
"Rather distressing news. The entire structure is collapsing in on itself," Penelope explains.
"I'm picking up life signs," Marion informs Scott, "People are still inside!"
"We have to get that worker out," Scott says.
"Your Ladyship, hare you there?" Parker asks.
"Parker, you survived! Well done," Penelope says relieved, "Now can you hang on until Scott arrives with Thunderbird 1?"
"H'I can 'ang on, m'lady..." Parker as he struggles to get loose of the bar keeping him stuck in his chair, "But h'I'm not sure for 'ow long."
"Stay right there Parker," Penelope says grabbing a worker's hat and running towards the factory, "I'm on my way."
November 29th, 2061 - 23:16 CET
Kayo lands Thunderbird Shadow on the ground and is follows a skid trail left by Banino's glider.
"I'm on Banino's trail," Kayo informs Scott as she comes across the glider itself, "Don't worry, he won't get far."
"Remember Kayo, saving lives is still more important than catching criminals," Scott says as he and Marion set their harnesses up to enter the factory, "That includes your own. If it's too risky let him go. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Kayo says taking her helmet off and running down the hill after him.
November 29th, 2061 - 23:18 CET
As Scott and Marion enter the factory from above, Penelope walks across the floor below over fallen gangways and steel supports to get to the plane.
"Hmm. Parker? Parker, are you here?" Penelope asks.
"Yes, m'lady," Parker replies.
"Oh Parker, you do make things difficult sometimes," Penelope says looking up and spotting Parker in the cockpit of the Flyer. Putting her compact away, she slowly and carefully makes her way up to where Parker is. "Really, Parker, the things I do for you."
Marion arrives at the terrified worker's location and dodges to avoid part of the ceiling from landing on top of her. "Shit! That was way too close." She lands on the edge of the gangway and makes her way over to the worker. "Hi. Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out. Scott passes me the harness!"
"On it!" Scott calls and passes down the harness to her location watching Penelope from the corner of his eye as she jumps from the top of the steel beam and onto the front of the flyer's broken windows.
"My, my, Parker, you have got yourself in a mess," Penelope says jumping through one of the windows and over to Parker.
"Yes, m'lady," Parker says meekly and watches as Penelope rips the other steel bar off the back off the cockpit in order to prior the bar, holding Parker in place, loose so he could escape.
Scott passes the harness over to Marion, who pulls it close. She then turns around and places it on the worker. Once she's confident its secure, she pushes him off the gangway and over to Scott. The worker screams in fear as the flyer slips forward again as the steel beam starts to give way. It results in Penelope being thrown into the control panel before she gets up and starts trying again to get Parker free. Marion jumps from the gangway and uses her jet pack to fly back up to Thunderbird 1, as Scott makes sure the worker gets there safely.
"Oh!" Penelope yelps as the bar finally gives way freeing Parker.
"Thank you, m'lady," Parker says.
"You're welcome," Penelope replies, "Now let's get out of here."
November 29th, 2061 - 23:24 CET
"I have escaped with the gold-pressed Lidium and the device. That's quite the deal, no?" Banino says over the phone overlooking the Italian countryside
"We haven't finished negotiating yet," Kayo says suddenly behind him, making him jump and fall to the floor.
"Um... p-per favore, please. Um... no violence," Banino stutter holding up a hand, "I'm a businessman. Perhaps we can make a deal?"
"Hmm. Make me an offer," Kayo counters.
"Here, take it," Banino says and throws the case at Kayo to pick up.
"And the repulsor," Kayo demands which causes Banino to sighs.
"Si. Okay. Take that too," Banino says pausing before smirking and raising his hand to use the device against Kayo, yet nothing happens. They both look down to Banino's wrist and notice that the repulsor is missing from the holder. "The repulsor! Where is it?"
November 29th, 2061 - 23:27 CET
At the bottom of the steel beam, Parker waits to help Penelope down the steel beam.
"Parker, look out!" Penelope says as she jumps off noticing that the beam has finally given up.
"Ooohh!" Parker cries as Penelope pushes Parker to the floor and braces for the Flyer to crush them other. However, a familiar whining noise is made as Parker raises his right wrist upwards. Penelope sits up and looks between the Flyer and Parker.
"Parker, where did you get that?" Penelope asks with a chuckle.
"I h'acquired it from Mr Ban-in-o without 'is knowledge," Parker smiles, "H'I h'always say, 'ugs are the h'answer to h'all of life's problems."
"Old habits die hard," Penelope muses.
"Yes, m'lady," Parker responds.
November 29th, 2061 - 23:30 CET
"Looks like you're all out of bargaining chips," Kayo smirks.
"Perhaps I have one more thing to offer you," Banino smiles sinisterly and holds up his mobile, displaying a loving picture of The Hood and a young Kayo.
"No!" Kayo cries in horror. Fear setting in that her secret is going to be revealed to the world before she was ready to tell the Tracy Brother's in person.
"I have made my reputation by keeping secrets," Banino cackles, "And that includes your uncle, Miss Kyrano."
November 29th, 2061 - 23:31 CET
Marion helps the worker out of the harness as Scott walks in the direction of the factory after landing at the front.
"Lady Penelope, you've gotta get out now!" Scott informs.
"We'll be right with you," Penelope says as Parker activates the device again and breaks through the rubble so they could both walk out safely. Scott smiles and answers his comm.
"Bad news, Scott," Kayo says, "Banino got away."
"We got Parker and the worker out. That's the important thing," Scott informs, "Today was a win for International Rescue."
"And we got the repulsor back," Penelope tells Kayo, "Which makes it a win for the GDF to, right Colonel?"
November 29th, 2061 - 23:34 CET
"Looks like it's a win all round," a certain Ned Tedford says, "How about a lovely cup of tea to celebrate?"
"Technician, perhaps your unique skills could be put to use at our Arctic facility," Casey says to Ned.
"Sounds a bit... remote," Ned comments.
"Mmm-hmm," Casey hums.
"Then again, nothing could possibly go wrong there. I'll do it!" Ned says happily.
November 29th, 2061 - 23:35 CET
Kayo flies over Europe looking at the picture of the mobile and sighs realising the time had come. She calls Scott again on the comms. "Scott, as soon as everyone's together, there's something I need to tell you all. Something I should have said long ago..."