Photo Shoot
By Phoenix Sparrow
This story is set not long before the Hood first dragged International Rescue into action.
Chapter one: Getting Started
Jeff stood on the balcony while below him; his five sons were working hard on constructing the hangar for Thunderbird 2, a massive heavy-duty transporter craft. Finally, his dream was fast becoming reality. He smiled to himself and sat down.
Outside, the five brothers were working feverishly on the cliff face. The warm summer sun beat down mercilessly on them, so they worked without their shirts on.
"How much longer is this gonna take?" Alan whined. Scott looked up at him.
"Oh, quit moaning Alan, that's all you've done since we got out here, ooo," he consulted his watch, "six or seven hours ago."
"I have not!" he said, crossing his arms.
The others laughed as they continued their work. The midday sun beat down and it wasn't long before Alan started whining again.
"Now what?" Virgil asked.
He didn't reply, just grumbled.
Gordon looked at him then started chuckling. The other three looked at him, confused until he stopped chuckling long enough to speak. "Look at Alan's back! It's no wonder he's moaning again!"
They stopped digging and looked at Alan's back. It was bright red.
"Alan," Virgil said, mocking sympathy. "Didn't you put any sun cream on? Dad did warn us."
"When?" Alan asked, trying his best not to turn his sore back too much.
"When he told us to continue work. Really, Alan, you should listen to dad."
"Well, sorry!"
"Whoa, don't get so moody, kid," Gordon said, hitting his back lightly.
Alan screamed and ran inside. The others stood there, looking about uncomfortably before bursting into laughter.
"Come on, you, it's time you gave that a rest," Jeff said.
"What? Why? I could keep going for at least another hour or two, maybe even three!" Scott said.
"That's all very well, but you won't be so accurate if you're digging in the dark," Jeff reasoned, pointing at the darkening sky.
Scott sighed and stabbed his shovel into the ground. "I guess so." He bent down and picked up his shirt from where he'd dropped it earlier in the day then looked about; aside from his father, he was alone outside. The others had already gone in and he hadn't even noticed. "Say, dad, where did the others go?"
"They went in ages ago. You should concentrate on the world around you as well as your work," Jeff responded, smiling. "Come on, inside, now."
Scott grinned and followed his father in.
