Chapter 1

It was a typical day for the Thunderbirds as they were kicking some serious bad guy butt. Jeff and Virgil were chasing one bad guy, Scott and Gorodn were chasing the second one and Alan and Tin Tin were chasing the third one all around the Middleton Mall and by this time, Scott knew that these three crooks were probably working for the Hood but all was normal...so far.

No one noticed a van pull up by the curb. Two other men got out and these were me dressed in yellow jumpsuits with a scarf each over their faces. They were ordinary men turned forever into minions of the Hood. One of the men burst into the mall and crept towards Jeff and Virgil. They had a metal cylinder with them and placed it at the foot of the escalator leading to the food court kitchen and the food court itself. Then, one of them turned a valve on the tank and they ran back outside.

Thick clouds of green gas poured from the cylinder. It flowed throughout the mall and Jeff coughed and said "What the hell? Virgil, has the Hood's scientific advisor Transom been messing around with chemicals again?" A few seconds later, Jeff fell to the floor overcome by the gas. Tin Tin and Alan were so absorbed in kicking the third bad guy's butt that they didn't even notice the gas until it became difficult to breathe and then, they too collapsed. The gas floated throughout the mall and soon, Scott and Gordon had stopped kicking the second bad guy's butt and slumped to the floor.

"What the hell's going on?" exclaimed Virgil as the gas spread throughout the mall. He held a hand over his mouth and nose and tried to leave the mall but he couldn't even see, he was lost in a green fog. Then, he fell over as well.

The gas dispersed fairly rapidly and after about ten minutes, the air in the mall was clear again. Wearing a gas mask just in case, one of the men re-entered the mall and walked towards were Jeff and Virgil were. He quickly found Virgil after consulting a photograph and picked him up and carried him downstairs, out of the mall and placed him in the van. Then, it roared off and everything looked about how it did before they had arrived.

Ron Stoppable tried contacting the team a few minutes later but of course, there was no answer. "That's weird, I know the gang are at the mall," he said as he hung up and went over. To his surprise, the door was left open and he entered. "Mr Tracy? Scott?" he called. Nothing. They couldn't have gone anywhere, Thunderbirds 1 and 2 were still on the roof and Gordon was the only Thunderbird who ever hoverboarded anywhere. He entered the mall and saw Jeff lying on his side. He was almost afraid to go near him but saw he was still breathing. Running back outside, he yelled out "KP."

"What's going on?" Kim Possible asked as she rushed inside.

"Something weird's happened inside the mall with the Thunderbirds," said Ron. "I found Mr Tracy lying on the floor, KP, come take a look."

"Okay, Ron." Kim sighed.

A quick inspection of the mall convinced even Kim that something was amiss. They found Scott, Gordon, Alan and Tin Tin unconscious but there was no sign of Virgil. Kim was really worried now and asked "What the hell could've happened to V-Man? I'll find out...once we get involved."

A few minutes later, Jeff, Scott, Gordon, Alan and Tin Tin all woke feeling a bit groggy.

"Can you tell me what happened, Mr Tracy?" Kim asked Jeff.

"Some kind of weird gas floated in, I thought it was one of the Hood's scientific advisor Transom's experiments," said Jeff. "Next thing I know, Kim, you're standing there."

"Okay, fine," said Kim impatiently. "Sounds like you've been gassed. This device'll scan the air for any remaining molecules of gas. There should be at least some left."

Kim turned on the device which resembled a radar gun and waved it around. The device emitted a beeping sound and said looking thoughtful "Hmmm...looks like GZ7667. A powerful gas indeed."

"But what about Virgil?" asked Scott. "Is he feeling okay?"

Kim gave Scott one of her patented looks and said "Well, he might've escaped but then, he would surely've gone to the police station. Me and Ron spoke to the Chief of Police but he was obviously eating donuts so we couldn't understand a word he said so we gotta find out who's responsible for his disappearance."

With that, Kim, Ron, Jeff, Scott, Gordon, Alan and Tin Tin all disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke which left Jeff bewildered as well as concerned.

Chapter 2

Darkness. Total darkness that surrounded Virgil and seemed almost like a live thing. But of course, that was illogical...darkness wasn't alive, it was merely the absence of light. As Virgil kept his eyes open, he did see some light, a thin line of it in front of him and below his line of sight.

Virgil lay still and tried to make sense of it all. One moment, he was in the mall helping his father kick some bad guy butt, then the gas came in and he tried to escape but couldn't...and now he was here. Wherever 'here' was. The gas made him think of Kim Possible for a moment but that made no sense. Kim wouldn't have done this. Which led back to the original question, who had?

He was lying on a mattress which felt a bit springy. Carefully, he swung his legs out and felt for the floor. It turned out the mattress was attached to a plush bed. He got up and looked at the light for a moment. Obviously, a doorway. The only sound was a faint hum of a ventilation system. Virgil walked towards the light and began feeling the wall on either side of that line of light. His hand rested on a switch and he pressed it.

Immediately, the room flooded with light. Virgil blinked his eyes rapidly as they became adjusted to it. He saw that he was in a small room lit by a single florescent panel. There was the mattress in a corner about ten feet away. The room's only other feature was a ventilation grille near the ceiling. Knowing it was probably no use, Virgil tried the door. Locked as he expected. The brown haired young man sat down on the mattress with a sigh. Kim must surely know what had happened and she'd try to rescue him. But from who?

A well built and equally well dressed young man strolled down the corridor to the operations room. The overhead lights gleamed off his red hair as he brushed off his blue denim jacket and ran a plastic comb through his hair.

Pays to look good for the Hood. he thought. Two Hood goons bowed as the young man passed, he ignored them as if they were trash cans.

The Hood, he saw, was waiting for him in the room as he entered. He was hiding in the shadows but that was not nearly so black as his mysterious past and thoughts. Even the redheaded man didn't want to know about that.

"Harvey Steelback reportin' as ordered." he said saluting.

"You know about what happened at the Middleton Mall." said the voice of the Hood as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Sure, these two goons grabbed that Thunderbird 2 dude. Aren't we totally recruitin' him?" Harvey said pointing at the goons and realized that he was one of the few who dared joke with the Hood.

"Hardly. You know as well as we do that Virgil Tracy's a known associate and the favorite son of my arch nemesis Jeff Tracy," said the Hood. "Your task is to get him to tell all he knows about the Thunderbirds. You and your partner are authorized to use all means necessary to accomplish this and success is expected."

"What partner?" asked Harvey with a suspicion growing.

"Together again, Harvey!" said the voice of the Hood's largest and dumbest henchman Mullion as he entered from a side door.

"You can't do this to me!" cried Harvey although he knew they could do just as they pleased.

"Oh, quit complaining, Harvey," said Mullion. "We'll clean all the info out of that jerk like yellow waxy buildup."

"Yeah right." grumbled Harvey making a mental note to ask for a raise.

"The operation'll commence at once," said the Hood. "Proceed to the interrogation room and Virgil'll be brought to you."

"Shall we go, Harvey?" asked Mullion holding the door for him.

"Sure, Mullion, whatever." said Harvey with a resigned sigh as he followed the larger man.

On Tracy Island, Kim let out a sigh as she had just checked the crime records for the past Wednesday. This was Monday so she had four days to go to find which chemical warehouse had been robbed. So far, no luck and it was time consuming. She bent her auburn head to the side to get the kinks out of her neck and pulled up the files for Thursday.

"Anything y-y-yet, Kim?" asked Hiram K. 'Brains' Hackenbacker as he entered the lab and found Kim there. Kim hated to see people so worried. They all were.

"Sorry, Brains, not yet." said Kim.

"Come on, Kim, there's g-g-gotta be something!" exclaimed Brains's son Fermat.

"Fermat, I'm trying," said Kim. "Me, Ron and the gang have gotta find out what chemical plant was robbed of that knockout gas. Then, we gotta to go there and try and get clues as to who's responsible. When I know that, it'll be easier to track them down and find Virgil. But it takes time."

"Virgil might n-n-not have time!" cried Brains. He knew he was being unfair but he knew that Kim was doing her best but worry made him and his son unreasonable and they couldn't help it.

"Wait a minute, here's something," said Kim. "The Plextron Chemical Factory was broken into last Thursday night. At last, I've got something to go on. I'd better have a look. Gather Mr Tracy, Scott, Gordon, Alan, Ron and Tin Tin into the lounge."

"I'm g-g-going, too." said Fermat.

"Oh no you d-d-don't, young man, you're staying here with me." said Brains.

Brains knew Fermat's feet were set firmly and the look in his eyes belonged to someone much older and Fermat said "If you w-w-wanna stop me coming, Kim, you'll have to lock me up in chains."

Kim stared at Fermat for a long moment and could barely hold in her pride for him and said "Okay then, let's go, we haven't got time to lose."

Chapter 3

Virgil saw the sudden blaze of light, reddish as seen through his closed eyelids. It woke him up immediately. Then, something blocked the light. Virgil opened his hazel eyes and found himself staring at a Hood henchman. Despite himself, he gave a start.

"Come on, Punk, Harvey wants to see you," the man said while Virgil flinched as his arm was grabbed by a black leather gloved hand and given a sharp jerk. "Move it, he don't like to be kept waiting."

Virgil got up and noticed a second Hood henchman by the door with a handgun. As if they expected a 21 year old young man to by a major threat. Maybe they did. Their training methods with the Hood did not leave much leeway for independent thinking.

Virgil was escorted down the corridor with more Hood henchman on Hood henchman everywhere. They all stared at him although their faces hid any and all signs of emotion. But Virgil had little doubt they didn't like him. Finally, they stopped in front of a large double door. The Hood henchman punched a series of buttons on a keypad and the door swung open. He then shoved Virgil inside before he had been able to properly prepare himself for what might be in there.

The room was very bare and very cold in appearance. There was only a single table, a chair in front, two behind it. The two behind it were occupied. One of them was Harvey, Virgil recognized him on sight. The redheaded young man who was no older than John but no taller than Scott had a calm expression on his face. Virgil knew the other one as well on account that he was the Hood's chief henchman Mullion. He also knew he was unbalanced in the very least. His expression was crazed and his eyes seemed to hold back madness that raged to escape. It was enough to daunt even Kim or Jeff, let alone Jeff Tracy's favorite and middle son.

Harvey gestured to the chair and said "Sit down, Virg. We don't stand on ceremony around here." He looked past Virgil to the two Hood henchmen although Virgil was too afraid to turn around and look. "Okay, you guys've done your job. Beat it."

Virgil heard the doors close all the while never taking his eyes off Harvey's green eyes.

Harvey steepled his long fingers and said "Okay then, let's do this. Do you know why you were kidnapped?"

"No." answered Virgil truthfully.

"Well, it's like this," said Harvey. "We know you're a Thunderbird cause we've seen you pilotin Thunderbird 2 so the Hood figured you got all the info on your dad and commander and that girl of yours Kim Possible and that's why we snatched you."

"I don't understand." said Virgil.

"You soon will!" snarled Mullion suddenly from behind Virgil. Virgil felt his very flesh crawl and his heart jump.

"Do you mind, Mullion you total dumbass, I can handle this without the damn commentary," Harvey said before turning back to Virgil. "Come on, V, a nerd like you's gotta have some idea of what we want. You're gonna tell us everything you know about the Thunderbirds. Where their base is, who your other comrades are, what the Thunderbirds stand for, who their number one agent is and of course, how many International Rescue agents there are. You do that for us and you might be sleepin' in your own warm bed tonight. Whaddya say?" While saying that, Harvey's expression was perfectly cordial.

Virgil looked at the floor. He could never talk. That much he knew. It would destroy his family and by extension, his own father as well. It would likely even make it easier for the Hood to take over the world. A chilling vision of the armies of darkness marching over the earth passed through his mind. He could never do that to someone who's life he had saved more than once who he had treated as an equal when most others either ridiculed or teased him. He owed both Kim and his father. Jeff felt much older than his true age as he looked Harvey in the eye.

"Well?" asked Harvey.

"As if." said Virgil simply.

What happened next surprised even Harvey. Moving with amazing speed for someone his size, Mullion reached across the table, grabbed Virgil by his jacket collar and lifted him into the air.

"What the hell do you mean as if?" Mullion snarled. "Do you want me to wipe you out like bathtub mildew?"

Virgil was petrified. It had been an abrupt reminder that he was still a young man facing two dangerous criminals, one of them who worked for his father's arch nemesis. His grip felt like solid iron. It was a grim hint of what he was capable of, his strength increased even more by madness.

Harvey stared at Mullion for a second and said "Put 'im the hell down."

"We can't play around with this dude here!" cried Mullion.

"I said put 'im down. I'm still speakin' to 'im here," Harvey said while he silently cursed the Hood for teaming him up with Mullion. He knew he'd pull something like this and that made the whole thing more complicated. "That's an order, Mullion."

On Harvey's order, Mullion put Virgil back in the chair grumbling.

"If your dramatics are over," Harvey said to Mullion and then turned back to Virgil who was trembling. "Wrong answer, V-Man. You see, you haven't got a choice. You're gonna tell us what you know about those Thundernerds even if we gotta force you. And I'll take this opportunity to remind you that the Hood knows where your base is and who your old man is." At that, Harvey's expression had changed to malevolence.

Virgil felt a chill. He hadn't thought of that and if they had kidnapped him, they would have no qualms about kidnapping the rest of the Thunderbird and using them as pawns. It was hard to speak but he managed. "Sorry, Harvey, I can't." he said finally.

"Yes you can, you lousy rotten punk!" cried Mullion.

"I'm tellin' you for the last time, I'm handlin' this," Harvey said to Mullion. "Okay, Dude. We're gonna give you a chance to think it over, back in your cell. Remember what I said and believe it."

Harvey got up and went to the door. "Take 'im back." he said to a Hood henchman outside. The Hood henchman trooper marched in, grabbed Virgil and roughly shoved him towards the doorway.

Back in his dark miserable cell, Virgil finally let the tears come. He didn't know what to do. He had no doubt Harvey meant what he said and that if they tried to force Virgil to tell the truth, he probably would. Although Harvey wasn't a violent jerk like Mullion, he was just as dangerous. Virgil let out a shuddering sigh. His only hope was the Thunderbirds.

Chapter 4

Thunderbirds 1 and landed in the parking lot of Plextron Chemicals in Middleton. Scott and Jeff jumped out followed by Gordon, Alan, Kim, Ron and Tin Tin. Then, Fermat tried to leave Thunderbird 1.

"You stay here, Fermat." said Jeff.

"Aw..." protested Fermat as he sat back down. He was too concerned about Virgil to bother arguing. Kim fired a grappling hook onto the roof and she, Ron and the remaining Thunderbirds climbed up. They stole across the roof and found a ventilation shaft.

"Me and Brains accessed a layout of this place," said Kim. "This shaft'll take us straight into the building."

Kim suddenly pulled the screen off and jumped in. Ron, Jeff, Scott, Gordon, Alan and Tin Tin followed although Scott had to make a little effort to push his big butt through.

Jeff and Scott both crashed to the floor and Kim, Ron, Gordon, Alan and Tin Tin barely had time to jump out of the way and Kim asked "Will you guys be careful? I don't want every guard in the place in here." They stood in a small room with a table and storage closet. It smelled of cleaning fluid and Kim guessed it was a janitor's storage room. She tried the door and it opened.

"Let's go and quietly. We've gotta get to where the GZ7667 is stored," said Kim as she lead the way. The corridor was mostly dark but there were some security lights here and there. Kim pulled out a small flashlight and map she and Brains had drawn. "According to this, the room where the gas used in the mall is located down the hall and to the right. Come on."

They proceeded down the hall when they got the surprise of their lives. A door suddenly opened, a light blazed into the hall and a raven haired man in a lab coat stepped out.

"Holy crap," he cried at the sight of Kim and Ron. "It's...it's you!"

Despite his surprise, Kim recovered quickly and said "Kim Possible at your service."

"It's true, you really are a crook." said the man.

"No, I'm totally not," said Kim. "I fight crime and I'm here to investigate a kidnapping."

The scientist or technician studied the redheaded young woman and asked "You're not here to steal more of my valuable research?"

"No," Kim said getting pretty impatient. "Are you referring to the GZ7667 gas?"

"Yeah," said the man. "Almost all of it was stolen. Do you know why?"

"It was used to gas and kidnap a member of the Thunderbirds," said Kim as the look in her eyes left no room for argument. "So I wanna find out who's responsible and I could use your help. In fact, I insist."

Suddenly, there was the rapid patter of feet.

Feet wearing sneakers. thought Jeff with a sigh. As if in answer, Fermat appeared coming from the main entrance area.

"Mr Tracy." Fermat cried without stammering.

"What are you doing here?" asked Jeff. "And how did you get in?"

"The front d-d-door was unlocked." Fermat said as both Jeff and Scott rolled their blue eyes. It made perfect sense if someone was working late, they'd leave a door open. They could have just walked right in.

"Okay, Little Dude, what's wrong?" asked Scott.

"I saw the Hood's henchmen," replied Fermat. "I saw their truck p-p-pull up and their of the Hood's henchmen sneak in."

Suddenly, it was all becoming clear.

"Dude, where are your gases stored? Fast!" Gordon demanded to the scientist.

"Follow me," the scientist said running around the corner. The others followed. They ran down a long corridor to a pair of double doors. The scientist punched in an access code to open them and they found themselves in a large room full of tanks that resembled large gas cylinders. "This is where the GZ7667 was stored."

"Are the Hood's henchmen here, Fermat?" asked Alan.

"I'm about to find out." Kim said as she moved like a shadow between the cylinders of gas. She spotted the three Hood henchmen gathered around one of the storage cylinders. One of them had attached a hose to it and was filling a smaller tank, the size of an SCUBA tank. The masked man quickly noted the number on the storage tank CC-199132. Then, she got back to the others in a hurry.

"What kind of gas is CC-199132?" asked Kim.

"It's a new formula, it's designed to act on the brain and depress the higher functions. It can be a very effective truth gas." said the scientist.

"K.P." said Ron in a choked voice already guessing what was going on.

"Let's get back to Thunderbirds 1 and 2. Hurry," Kim ordered Ron and the Thunderbird team. "Before those Hood goons leave."

"Thanks for your help." Tin Tin told the scientist who just waved in bewilderment as they ran out a side door. As soon as they were safely inside Thunderbird 1, Scott, Kim, Ron and Jeff talked at once.

"K.P, the Hood must've kidnapped Virgil," cried Ron. "And they're gonna use that truth gas on him!"

"But why?" asked Kim. "What could they expect to get out of him?"

"Maybe information about us, Kim?" suggested Jeff.

Scott clenched his fists and said "Dammit...that's right. If they thought they could get information out of him, they'd do it. And use any means necessary, hence the truth gas they're stealing now."

Thunderbirds 1 and 2 had already lifted off and were hovering about 500 feet above the ground. The black truck had pulled out of the parking lot.

"Let's follow them, Gang but maintain altitude," instructed Scott. "I don't want those total wieners to know about us until I'm ready."

They were heading out of town and Kim said "It all makes sense, it's too much of a coincedence. The Hood's henchmen stole the knockout gas to use in the original kidnapping plot. I don't know if they tried to get Virgil to voluntarily give them information first."

"Virgil'd never talk." insisted Scott.

"I know he wouldn't," said Jeff. "That's why it makes sense that they're going to force him to talk, and went back to the easy source of the gas they'd need. And it's up to us to make sure they don't use it," The truck had stopped in front of a low rectangular building. "I know that place, it was a school at one time. Let's land acroos the road."

After Thunderbirds 1 and 2 had touched down, the whole gang climbed to the ground as quietly as they could. Kim said nothing about Fermat staying behind.

"How do we get past those guard dudes, Kim?" asked Gordon. They could be seen patrolling in the floodlights around the building.

"We'll think of something," said Kim in a grim voice. "We're gonna save Virgil and God help any of the Hood's goons who get in my way." At this last statement, Kim's fists were clenched.

Chapter 5

Kim took a few deep breaths and said "Okay, let's go and quietly." The whole gang snuck across the highway and into the yard of the former school. There was a chain link fence surrounding the building and they scaled it as quietly as they could. There was a Hood henchman standing guard at one corner. Ron and the remaining Thunderbirds all flattened themselves against the wall while Kim snuck up behind him. Then, she swiftly put an arm around his neck and put him in a choke hold to cut off his circulation to his brain. When he slumped to the ground, the masked man made a hurried gesture to the others to follow him.

They saw an area that looked like a parking lot. A shiny Harley Davidson was parked closest to the building...obviously Harvey's motorbike. And they also saw the truck that was carrying the truth gas parked just outside a large garage door. A Hood henchman was leaning out of the driver's side talking to Transom.

"Quick." said Kim heading for the back of the truck. She pulled up the door--luckily it wasn't secured--just enough to let the whole gang climb in the back.

"How'll we get out again?" asked Alan.

"I'll figure something out." replied Kim.

Meanwhile, the sound Virgil dreaded came as his cell door opened and an Hood henchman stepped inside.

"Let's go." he said leveling a gun at the young man. Trembling, Virgil got up and walked out the door where another armed Hood henchman joined them. They marched him down the hall and into the same room he had been in before. And once again, Harvey and Mullion were waiting.

"Okay, Buddy, I'm gonna put the cards on the table," said Harvey. "You've got one chance to spill your guts about the Thunderbirds. Otherwise, you're gonna get the gas and then you'll talk, like it or not. So it comes down to whether it's your choice or not. What's it gonna be?" Harvey folded his arms and looked at Virgil calmly.

"Okay, Harv, how do you know he told me anything?" asked Virgil.

"'Cause he's got an ego roughly the size of Antarctica, Pea Brain," replied Harvey. "He couldn't resist blabbin' to you and we know that, Homeboy. So quit stallin' 'cause we ain't got time for that."

"Give him the gas! Now!" cried Mullion looking at Virgil with eyes that practically glowed with madness.

"Shut up," said Harvey before turning to Virgil. "Yes or no, Amigo?"

Virgil was too afraid to speak.

"Have it your way," Harvey said as he made a gesture at the Hood henchman by the door who left. "The Hood gets what the hell he wants here, Pal. That's Rule Number One." His expression had changed from calm civility to cold determination.

"And we're gonna squeeze your brain like a wet mop!" cried Mullion. Harvey just nodded in agreement. Virgil felt his insides turn to frozen jelly.

The truck drove forward for what felt like about 50 feet and then stopped. Not moving, the eight inside heard footsteps.

"We need the gas," a voice said. "The Hood just ordered a canister brought to the room. Looks like they're gonna gas that Thunderbird dude."

Kim felt Fermat's hand grip her arm like iron. She laid her own hand on his trying to calm her down and said "Keep your pants on, Fermat. No one's gonna gas the V-Man today." Kim stepped towards the door and waited holding it open just a crack. He waited for the Hood henchman's black leather gloved hand to appear to pull the door all the way up. When it did, she stomped on the hand as hard as he could.

The Hood henchman let out a howl of pain. The door was sliding up. Scott grabbed a canister of gas and held it like a battering ram as he crashed it into the Hood henchman's head and he fell to the floor.

"Come on!" Jeff urged his companions. Hearing another Hood henchman coming around the right side, Jeff and Scott grabbed the edge of the trailer on that side and with perfect timing pivoted themselves around to the side of the truck and Scott struck out with a web kick at the same time. He nailed the Hood henchman in the beak and sent him flying.

Pulling out his gas gun, Jeff ran past the fallen Hood henchman followed by Kim, Ron, Gordon, Alan, Tin Tin and Fermat. They entered a small office area beyond which was an open area with double doors.

"If this was a school, this must be the gym," said Tin Tin. "I'm guessing they'd try to gas Virgil in the shop area where there are hookups for gas for welding or whatever. Let's find it."

But they had no sooner turned a corner when they ran into a Hood henchman who had time to hit an intercom switch and shout before a blast of knockout gas dropped him.

"What the hell was that?" exclaimed Harvey as he heard the loud sound in the interrogation room. He hit the switch angrily and demanded "What's going on there and where the hell's the gas I ordered?"

"The Thunderbirds are in the building, Harvey," said Transom. "By the look of things, they knocked out two of our men in the garage!"

"No...no, it can't be! That must be the work of Kim Possible," Harvey said. "I want that redheaded sweetheart and every one of those damn Thunderbirds captured. Or else." He left the 'else' unsaid. Then he turned to Virgil who almost didn't dare hope. "If you lead those jerks here..." he threatened. Mullion picked up his chair and threw it against the wall so hard, it rebounded almost to the other side of the room and left a hole in the wall. "Something like that!" he snapped.

"How could I have?" begged Virgil.

"I dunno...I'll figure that out later," said Harvey as he grabbed Virgil and all three left the room. "Come on."

Meanwhile, Kim, Ron and the Thunderbirds found themselves in the middle of a battle. Kim and Scott were contantly swinging their fists knocking attacking Hood henchmen left and right. So were Jeff, Gordon, Alan and Tin Tin. Ron and Fermat were also doing their part disabling Hood henchmen with a kick to the shin so Kim and Scott could level them with a Batman or Catwoman-style move. They were hitting Hood henchmen in the throat and glad they couldn't see their faces as they fell to the ground clutching their throats and gagging horribly. They could see the shop area just ahead. Slamming one more Hood henchman against the unyielding brick wall, all eight ran through the doors.

"Lock 'im in there." said Harvey pointing to a storage room in the main shop area.

"Let's gas him now!" cried Mullion.

"Do what I tell you," Harvey yelled at Mullion. "I'm sick of your crap!"

"Just watch it, Harvey." warned Mullion ominously but he did start taking Virgil to the room roughly jerking him along.

Harvey went to an intercom on the wall and said "This is Drakken hechman Harvey Steelback. Tell Dr Drakken I'll be..." He was interrupted by a huge cloud of blue smoke and an all too familiar cry.

"We are the terrors that flap in the night! We are the spyware in the computer of crime! We are International Rescue," said the voice of Jeff Tracy as the Thunderbirds, Kim and Ron all appeared. "Okay, Harvey, where's my son Virgil?" He pulled out his gas gun and pointed it at the redheaded young man.

"Wouldn't you like to know, Mr T." said Harvey and in a lightning movement, he seized a circular saw blade and whipped it at Jeff who quickly dodged the lethal projectile and fired a canister of knockout gas at Harvey. But the redhead's reflexes were amazingly fast as he grabbed a board and knocked the canister away like a baseball to a far corner of the shop where the gas exploded and dissipated harmlessly.

"Why don't you fight like a man now." sneered Harvey.

"Okay." agreed Scott as he launched a Kung-Fu kick at Harvey's face. It landed on target knocking the redheaded crook against a table. Then Harvey grabbed Jeff by the leg and threw him against a band saw. Jeff groaned with pain after the impact of the solid piece of equipment.

"And now I'll have the pleasure of chokin' you to death and since I won't need your son Virgil anymore after that, he'll be next." said Harvey. This filled Jeff with rage and caused him to forget his pain. Grabbing a broom with a wild yell, Scott slammed the wooden pole into Harvey's face. Then he struck again before the redheaded criminal could recover. Harvey staggered backwards, a trickle of blood running down his face.

"Had enough?" demanded Scott.

"Not nearly!" said Mullion from behind Scott just before he belted Scott in the head with a 2 x 4. He slumped to the ground.

"Good work," said Harvey turning on a table saw behind him. "Now let's get this over with." They lifted the prone dark haired young man up and placed him next to Jeff moving it towards the deadly fast-moving saw blade.

"Dad! Scott!" screamed Gordon and Alan forgetting themselves in their panic.

"What the hell?" said Harvey looking up. This gave the still dazed Jeff the opportunity to pull out his gas gun and fire a shot right into his face.

"Damnit." cried the redheaded criminal stumbling backwards. Scott found the strength to jump up and smash a fist into his stomach and then turned and nailed Mullion with the same board he had used to stun him. He noticed Fermat, Tin Tin and Ron pulling the storage door open then he saw Kim and Virgil running out.

Jeff was the first to reach him embracing him tightly and shedding rare tears. Kim felt her own eyes stinging but the Hood's henchmen still had to be dealt with.

"You'll pay for this!" snarled Mullion who then seized a nearby Hood henchman, lifted him in the air and hurled him at Kim who ducked easily. The agent crashed through a window into the classroom and fell unmoving to the floor.

Harvey stood up with blood on his red and blue denim jacket. His eyes were murderous and said "You are so dead. All of you and that includes you, Mullion you total wiener." At this final statement, Harvey glared at Mullion.

"What?" cried Mullion. "You let him get the better of you!"

"I'm done talking," Harvey said as he pulled out a gun and aimed it at an acetylene tank. "I'm gonna blow us all to kingdom come." But just as he was about to pull the trigger to ignite the gas, a canister came sailing through the air and crashed into his arm throwing his aim off. The gun went off and shattered a window. Kim took advantage of the opening and threw one from the floor to flatten Harvey.

"Dumbass," sneered Mullion to the redheaded criminal. "I know when to quit...but next time, Kim Possible, I'll clean you up like soap scum!" With a last insane cackle, he disappeared through the side door and was gone.

For a few seconds, the shop was quiet. Kim turned towards the Thunderbirds who were standing together. She went over and hugged Virgil.

"I knew you'd come to save me." the brown haired young man said.

"No gas-wielding jerks are going to brainwash my friends," said Kim giving him another hug. "Good job throwing that canister, Scott, that was quick thinking."

"Oh, that wasn't me, Kim." said Scott.

"Fermat?" asked Ron.

"Nope," said Fermat. "It w-w-was Virgil." The boy nodded to the older young man and as if on cue, Virgil started rubbing his arm.

"Nice going, V-Man," exclaimed Kim. "We'll make a crime fighter of you yet." She studied the brown haired young man for a moment knowing what a wonderful and handsome middle son Jeff raised and knew his singing voice sounded like Michael Buble.

"Okay, Scott, tie Harvey up with that wire while I call the police," said Jeff. "Then I think we can all use a super pizza."

"WOO HOO," cried Gordon. "All we can totally eat."

Jeff shook his head. It looked like it was going to be a long meal.

Chapter 6

A few days had passed. Kim, Ron, the Tracys, the Hackenbackers, the Belegrahnts and Wade Load, Kim's version of Brains, were having a barbecue on Tracy Island. Jeff had been nonstop in his gratitude for Kim for helping him and the gang save Virgil and since Kim had an admiration for Virgil's singing, that gratitude extended to her.

"You know, Kim, I'll make sure when to tell you that you are now a honorary Thunderbird." said Jeff as he hugged Kim.

"Thanks, Mr Tracy, Sir." said Kim thinking being an honorary Thunderbird was a really good idea.

"Tell me again how they tried to m-m-make you talk, Virgil." said Brains. Now that the danger was over, he was full of curiosity as to what had gone on.

"They threatened me, they were gonna gas me to force me to talk." said Virgil quietly. It was clear it was something he really didn't want to discuss.

"Brains, why not save it for later." said Jeff coming over to Brains and Virgil.

Brains nodded and said without stammering "Sorry, Virgil."

"That's okay, Brains." said Virgil as he sat at the table next to Kim not having touched his hamburger or soda. Brains left and Jeff sat down on his third and favorite son's other side.

"You know it's okay to still be scared," said Jeff. "That would've been traumatic for a grown man let alone a young man like you. It would've been scary even for a Thunderbird." He carefully avoided saying 'you' in case Wade was listening but it wasn't likely.

Virgil looked at him and asked "Really?"

Jeff nodded and said "Really. You didn't panic, you held up, you acted like a real hero. We're all proud of you."

Virgil knew his father meant himself, his brothers, Brains, Fermat, Tin Tin, Ohana and Kyrano as well as Kim and Ron.

"Thanks, Dad." said Virgil smiling.

"Virg, you don't wanna give my secret identity away," Jeff said. "Now eat your burger before it gets cold, huh?" The brown haired young man nodded and picked it up.

"Yo, Dad, Ohana and Kyrano asked if you wanted another super triple burger." said Scott walking over to Jeff and Virgil. Jeff groaned and got up.

"My flightsuit might not fit after today." Jeff said with a wry grin. Virgil chuckled as Jeff went to get another hamburger and Virgil started eating his. He felt things would be different for him from now on.

THE END