The Thunderbirds [UNDER EDITING]

4- Hunting The Hidden

The Hood sat alone in front of his desk, his dark eyes darting across glowing red holographic screens that shone up from the middle of the table. The light of the holograms casting the darkened temple in a deep red hue.
Across the screens was a world map dotted with flashing signals all signifying various aircraft flying around the world, along the sides of the map is a collection of flickering numbers representing various coordinates that the aircraft were tracking.
His fingertips tapped the wooden table in deep thought, his eyes slanted as he darted his sights across each aircraft tracker hoping that one would become the signal he needed to track down International Rescue's base. But so far all the potential signals led him to nothing.
He tightened his jaw tensely as he followed yet another tracker, the signal appeared to be heading over an American coastline but it quickly dropped off the map just moments later.
"Another dead end..." The Hood grumbled to himself as the signal vanished. He sat back in his chair clenching his fists in frustration.
"Nearly two hours of this stupidity and not a single sign of International Rescue!" He spat looking away to stare down the shadow filled halls of his temple, he frowned and heaved in a deep breath attempting to compose himself, "seems like International Rescue has mastered the art of secrecy..."
He eyed the screens allowing the red lighting to shine into his evil eyes, "very clever..."
He trailed off sinking back into his seat he lifted a hand to rub his chin and folded his legs, his other hand slid off the table and gripped tightly onto the wooden arm of the chair while his mind trailed off scratching around for a potential plan B.
The Hood sat still and composed, completely concentrated he allowed his mind to return towards the day's rescue he put himself in. He retraced himself to exactly where he was standing in the aftermath and trace down the exact directions that the three Thunderbirds craft where heading in...
Then a sudden flash flickered onto the screen.
He caught the sudden flicker out of the corner of his eye. Slanting his eyes curiously he turned towards the holograms quickly finding the sudden burst of signal flickering in front of him.
The Hood studied it carefully.
The signal didn't move, it was flickering somewhere within the Pacific Ocean.
Upon closer inspection The Hood mapped out that it was located somewhere in a southernly direction, but what also caught his interest was that virtually no other aircraft were flying anywhere near this standstill signal.
"Interesting, a random tracker...in the middle of the ocean?" He trailed off again as his mind lit up with a thought, "maybe this is International Rescue, maybe this is a Thunderbird craft..." the words practically rolled off his tongue.
Feeling the edge of his mouth twitch up with joy, he reached out his hand to tap onto the signal, a few taps later he managed to snag up the signal's coordinates.
Quickly saving the data The Hood sat back a smug smirk twitching on his face, his eyes fixated on the signal's location, he let off a chuckle.
"Looks like it might be time to pay International Rescue a little visit..."

"What's the verdict Brains?" Jeff announced instantly rising up from being seated at his desk as Brains entered his office more than eager to hear about The Engineer's findings.
Brains stopped in the middle of the room barely looking up as he fumbled through his pile of handwritten notes he held in his hands, where they detailed the numerous examinations and tests he had conducted on Thunderbird 1's photodetector. "E E Everything appears to be in working order Mr Tracy" he began, glancing up, "I I I can't seem to locate any form of malfunction."
Jeff raised a brow, it was not the response he was expecting to hear, "nothing? Not even a minor fault?"
Brains shook his head handing over the notes to Jeff who studied them closely.
"I I I've spent some time running tests a a and analysing, but after all those tests...nothing has come through." Brains stumbled through his words as he explained.
Jeff flicked through the numerous pages scanning through all the details, according to the notes everything about Thunderbird 1's photodetector was normal like Brains had stated. While negative findings like this would normally ease any tensions or concerns he had, there was something about this case that didn't add up.
"and we're ruling out sabotage cause Scott never left Thunderbird 1 throughout the rescue" Jeff looked away to stare off the office walls tapping his fingers against the paper tossing around any more possible explanations.
Brains readjusted his blue framed glasses theorising, "u u unless s something was done beforehand?"
Jeff turned back towards him curious at this idea, "how so?"
Brains allowed himself to think for a moment, "well there may have been s s something...or someone a a activating a a signal that would have interfered with the photodetector that would be u u undetectable for us."
"Hmm" Jeff held onto the thought thinking deeper into it, "that is a possibility..." he trailed off taking one last look at Brains' notes then handed them back over.
Jeff ran a hand through his hair throwing Brains' results and new theory around trying to come up with some form of an explanation to his eldest son's concerns. So far he was only beginning to feel like how Scott felt throughout the rescue...suspicious.
Brains held the paper pile against his chest watching the head of IR think to himself, unsure of what else to say Brains simply concluded with, "I I I guess Scott did the right thing in destroying any footage that may have been taken."
Jeff let of a nod agreeing but regardless of what precautions his son made he still had his concerns, "yes, but even if what Scott suspects is true we...
Right as Jeff was about to continue a sudden repetitive beeping rang out. Glancing over his shoulder Jeff quickly ran his eyes across the wall of portraits locating the signal coming from the first image.
Almost snapping out of his original train of thought Jeff eyed off the time on his watch then turned back to acknowledge Brains, "hold onto that theory we'll continue this tomorrow."
Quietly nodding Brains turned and wondered off out of sight heading straight back towards his lab, his theory staying in the back of his mind.
Jeff returned to his seat reaching over his desk to press a button on a keyboard then swinging around to face the wall leaning back as the portrait image flashed over to video communications.
"Go ahead John."
"I'm up here not even for a day and already something is going on" John shifted into view collapsing into his seat at Thunderbird 5's main control panel, his words coming off a touch sarcastic.
Jeff couldn't help but let off a small chuckle at the statement, "I take it that you got my message then?"
"yeah I got the message" John leaned forward resting his arms against the control panel curious to know the full situation that he had only heard about, "so what's going on?"
Jeff quickly filled John in on the current situation, summarising the talks of Scott's suspicions as well as Brains' negative findings on the photodetector and what he reckons could have happened to it.
John listened carefully taking in the information quickly realising this wasn't been taken lightly, "I guess Scott was onto something this whole time."
"Your brother's got good instincts" Jeff pointed out expressing his concerns, "hence why I'm not playing this down, if Scott's suspicions are right we'll have a big issue on our hands."
John silently agreed, "what did you need me to do then?"
"I have TinTin currently making further investigations on the rescue itself" Jeff started, "what I need you to do is to liaise with her and I want you both to look into this and identify any form of a security risk," he paused his next words were firm, "inform me anything of interest."
Letting off a small nod John sat back briefly eyeing off the computer monitors above him thinking through his newly delegated task. He scanned his eyes across the various screens were they showcased the space station's systems, radar trackers and any picked up video transmissions, thinking. "Have you heard anything from TinTin yet?"
Jeff sighed, "no not yet, it may take some time for her to track down anything which is why I need you to assist her."
John switched his sights back onto his father through the screen, "will do, anything else I should know about?"
Before he was even about to reply a raspy voice suddenly called out. "Dad!"
Jeff turned around spotting his daughter slumped against the wall at the top of the staircase, from the croaky voice and the way she was standing it was obvious that something was bothering her.
"What is it Sam?"
Sam struggled to mask over a painful grunt as the stabbing head pains continued to attack growing more painful by the hour, "my head hurts..."
Jeff didn't budge, "have you gone to Virgil about it?"
Sam kept quiet shrugging as she rubbed her forehead in pain. Jeff eyed her up and down quickly picking up her discomfort.
Sighing he gave in, "just head back to bed, I'll be up in the moment" Jeff turned back towards the screen as Sam slipped away.
"Is she alright?" John questioned feeling confused by her behaviour.
"Your sister isn't feeling well at the moment" Jeff replied then returned onto topic, "she'll be alright just watch over things and keep me informed."
"F A B" without further questioning John simply nodded and the call shut down with the video image returning to John's portrait.