Part 1

Scott looked at the gravestone in front of him, this wasn't right, it wasn't fair. They had lost so much in a couple of hours and all was the Hood's fault. Scott ran his hand over the inscription and asked himself: How could it go so wrong?

Some hours earlier everything had been just fine. Brains had taken Alan's place at Thunderbird 5 so he could get some time alone to think, or as he put it give TB5 some modifications. Although Brains didn't know John and Alan both saw straight through him.

Jeff had been called to a meeting in Phoenix with a French company and a Japanese company. He knew John spoke both the languages fluently but to making it a little better for him to keep everything apart they had asked Tin-tin to accompany them. John had told Jeff that Tin-tin spoke almost perfect French; it was just some minor pronouncing that she had to work on.

On their way home from the meeting the monorail they had been travelling with had crashed in a valley with old caves and a small ravine where a river were streaming through. When Jeff made sure International Rescue got the call he, John and Tin-tin had pulled back to the caves and waited for Scott and Virgil to arrive. The rescue had gone fast and while Virgil and Alan flew off with the victims to nearest hospital Jeff and his two companions joined Scott and Gordon.

"It was no accident father", Scott said and cast suspicious looks around the area. "We think it must be the Hood again."

"Why do you think that Scott", Jeff asked and Scott handed him a mask. "I see, we'll wait for Virgil and Alan and then we will search the area after that man."

It didn't take long for Virgil and Alan to join them again.

"Right", Jeff said and took a gun. "Tin-tin you'll stay at the Thunderbirds. Scott you and Virgil will head north and then search east too. Be careful, remember this man is dangerous."

"FAB", the oldest Tracy-brothers walked away.

"Gordon you and Alan will search west and then head south understood?"

"Yes father", the terrible two said and headed to their given directions.

"John I'll stay here and help Tin-tin", Jeff continued. "Can you check those caves?"

"Sure father, be careful."

"You too John."

Forty minutes later four of Jeff's sons returned to the Thunderbirds.

"We didn't find anything father", Scott reported. "It is as if that man just went up in a cloud of smoke."

"Don't you mean vanish", Virgil asked and Scott just glared at him.

"We didn't find anything either father", Gordon reported. "Wherever that man is it sure not is south or west."

"Damn I hoped we would be able to catch him", Jeff said and sighed.

"Dad", Alan said with a worried frown.

"Yes Alan what is it?"

"Where is John?"

"I sent him over to the caves to" Jeff interrupted himself.

"Tracy", someone yelled and the Tracys turned to see the Hood walking towards them.

It wasn't the Hood himself who made Jeff's heart beat faster and harder in fear. It was what he used as a shield. The Hood held John in front of him and held a huge knife towards the younger man's throat. John had a small cut on his right cheek and some blood was coming from his nose and the corner of his mouth. His eyes didn't show any fear, just hard determination. Scott took a threatening step forward but Jeff held him back.

"What do you want Hood?" He asked with his voice filled with rage.

"I want a deal with you. You will let me go without trying to stop me."

"Why would we do that", Scott growled.

"If you don't John… it was John was it? Anyway, if you don't your son here will die!"

"Let him go Hood this is between you and me", Jeff yelled angrily.

"No I think it is between all of us don't you think that too John?"

The Hood pressed the blade closer to John's throat and John hissed in pain.

"Stop don't hurt him", Alan yelled.

"Hay una chica pequeña en las cuevas. La Capucha se vele ella para cuege yo. Vas a traer ella." John yelled and the Hood glared at him, but he also saw the quizzical looks on the faces of the Tracys.

"Not very smart John", he said and chuckled.

"You do realize that I am the stupid one?" John said calmly.

"No I don't think so, talking about twenty languages and dialects fluently, rebuild a radio to a laser and making up the entire communication system for IR takes some really high IQ." The Hood bent closer and whispered: "But I know your secret John Tracy. Tell me how it feels to be the rejected son, the one not as much loved as his brothers, then one your father only turns to for advice, the one being kicked and hit. How does it feel to be so unloved?"

"Shut up", John roared and banged his head backwards. He hit the Hood on the nose and tried to make a run for it but the Hood held him too hard and too close to the knife. John looked at his father in devastation and felt tears sting his eyes.

"Father I forgive you!" He yelled. The Hood pressed the knife closer to his throat.

"Do that one more time John Tracy and I will kill you and your family", he growled.

"Hood", Jeff roared. "Let him go, we are all armed and-"

He was interrupted by a high sound. A black chopper flew towards them.

"Ah my ride is here", the Hood said and pushed John forward and ran up to the black chopper. John staggered forward and away from the ravine to which the Hood had backed towards. Jeff started to run forward but stopped when he heard the noise of a gunshot.

John first looked down at his chest were blood had begun to pour, then back at the Hood and saw the gun in his hand and then he turned to his father and fell backwards into the ravine and the river.

"NO!" Jeff howled and ran forward. Scott caught his father just before he jumped and they all heard the Hood's evil laugh as the chopper flew away.

TBC So what do you think?