EOS, My Life is in Your Hands
By Crystalquirt
Thunderbirds Are Go fanfic, I don't own anything or anyone.
[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]
1 Missed Games
"Captain O'Bannon was due to arrive three minutes ago for your handball game."
"Yes EOS, but Ridley called to say she would be late. Now she'll be here in about two hours."
"That's very late. I thought there wasn't anything that could keep her from you - I mean playing with you - I mean being here to exercise with you, I mean . . ."
EOS' lights turned red, but not from anger.
"Yes EOS, she said I am a good handball teacher. She enjoys our games." John tried to help, "I didn't think A.I. like you could be embarrassed."
"I'm not - What's happening on Global One that made her late?" EOS changes the subject.
"A science ship in orbit near Global One has had some sort of emergency," John explained, "It's docking with Global One now. Ridley needed to stay and take care of it."
"Why didn't we hear the distress call?"
"They never sent one. It's strange too. Even after I ran active scans of the Scientists' ship's systems our sensors didn't detect anything wrong with the ship."
"Global One doesn't do repairs," EOS said.
"I'm sure it was something more than engine trouble, EOS. Ridley said she'd call if she needs anything."
2 Fischler's Cure
On Global One, Ridley watched the Science Ship dock. She was waiting for them at the airlock. When the airlock opened, she could hear a computer voice in the background repeating a warning.
"Biolab seal integrity compromised. Self-Destruction in seventeen minutes unless corrected."
The first scientist that appeared, a man, began talking immediately.
"We have a problem - The tubes are leaking! We need your help to stop the leak - we can't even find a leak - but the computer is screaming about a leak!"
"Wait, what tubes? I am not familiar with that term being any part of a spaceship." Ridley said.
"They are not part of the ship. They are medical tubes that hold harmless organisms, a type of bacteria, or they were harmless. They have changed a teensy bit since being in orbit."
A second man, looking nervous and a little embarrassed came in behind the first.
"What do you mean, changed?" Ridley asked the first man.
"Bringing them to space was an experiment. I thought the weightlessness and vacuum of space would complete the process to create a super growth stimulator and weed killer."
"And now you've had a leak and your ship has automatically set Self-Destruct!"
"Yes, it apparently has a failsafe that I didn't even know it had built into it. We tried to disable the self-destruct, but didn't have any luck."
"How could you not know that about your own ship?"
"It's kind of a rental. I don't have a spaceship of my own anymore."
"Ouhhh!" Ridley grunted angrily, "Just what kind of organisms are they now?" Ridley asked.
"Like nothing seen before by the human race! Another leap forward for Fischler Industries! They are of my own invention. We, here at Fischler Industries are always trying to solve the problems of Earth and this could end world hunger!"
"Fischler, I remember that name. I've seen your name in several GDF reports and International Rescue told me about you!"
"Yes, I've met them. I had a little trouble in the past and they show up whether I want them to or not. " Fischler tried to explain quickly.
"The GDF had enough evidence to take away your space operations permit and yet, here you are - in space."
"My work is important! I will feed millions as soon as I figure out what went wrong."
"But since the Global Conflict of 2043," Ridley argued, "there have been many leaps forward in solving the world's hunger problems," Ridley pointed out.
"But the problem still exists in a few corners of the world and Fischler Industries will solve the problem for everyone. My invention started out only a few weeks ago, as a mixture of simple plant growth stimulator, that I invented myself, patent pending, harmless bacteria, a little octopus DNA and just a bit of weed killer."
"What happened?" Ridley asked urgently.
"Worst thing! When the Microorganisms escaped, the experimental plants we had onboard turned into super-growing plants that have taken over the ship! I can't even get back to the laboratory to check on my little organisms! And the plants that were created, seem to be just a little carnivorous."
"Carnivorous?" Ridley repeated.
"And just one other little problem, one of my scientists has been killed. We called him Lucky, until now perhaps." Fischler said.
"You call that a little problem?" Ridley repeated, shocked at his lack of concern.
Fischler continued, "Of course he was killed through no fault of my own - the organisms got out of the tubes and ate through his suit and well, he died in just a few hours!"
"Hours? Didn't you even try to get him help?"
"I didn't think it was that bad, until, well - you know," Fischler admitted. "But that was how I knew to put them in quarantine. Once those little buggers get inside you, wow."
"Wow is right! We can't let the plants or those organisms get on Global one!" Ridley said and then told her Second, "Seal off this area and go straight through decontamination!"
Ridley's next-in-command, ran from the airlock area to follow her orders.
Ridley continued, "We have to detach from your ship! Docking with Global One put all of us in danger too!"
"We had to evacuate!" Fischler explained.
"If you had told us what was happening we could have just shuttled you over and let it blow up by itself!"
"No, we can't let it be destroyed!" Fischler insisted.
"So, it's eating through other substances and already killed one man. What's keeping it contained now?" Ridley asked.
"We closed the door to the lab," Fischler said, rather pathetically.
"What is the door made of?" Ridley asked.
"How should I know? Door material, I guess," Fischler said.
"Biolab seal integrity compromised. Self-destruct in fourteen minutes unless corrected," said the computer voice coming from the ship.
"Detach! Undock from that ship!" Ridley yelled into her comm, but nothing happened. Ridley yelled again, "Detach - that ship is going to blow in just minutes!"
"I can't! The mechanism is jammed!" came the answer from the bridge. Ridley looked back at the airlock and there was a green tentacle poking its way in at the edge of the airlock, jamming the controls.
"Then evacuate everyone from Global One. Give these idiots a shuttle of their own and keep them quarantined until they can be decontaminated!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Idiots? You aren't calling me an idiot!" Fischler complained. Kinnear looked embarrassed then angrily at Fischler.
Ridley took out her taser, set it to high and started a steady beam that she used to zap the green tentacle until it turned white hot and disintegrated.
"International Rescue - John, I'm afraid I have a problem!" Ridley called.
3 Evacuation
Global One's officers and engineers ran out of the science ship, spilling into Global One's corridors on their way to the shuttles. Officers from all over Global One joined the others and the shuttles filled up fast.
One GDF shuttle docked remotely on the other side of the corridor and the airlock opened.
"Go! You two get on that shuttle! You will be in quarantine until this is over and you can be examined.
"Quarantined? We don't need to be quarantined! It's not like I have any of the organisms on me!" Fischler said insistently.
"Don't argue - get on that shuttle!"
Ridley turned her back on Fischler expecting him to follow her orders, which he did with the strongly asserted help of his assistant, Kinnear and another GDF officer.
Ridley called John and told him briefly what was happening.
"FAB, Ridley - get everyone to Thunderbird 5. I have room for all of you and a decontamination room big enough for several of your crew at a time. EOS is already making arrangements to get everyone back to Earth."
"FINE," Ridley said frowning. "The last Shuttle with Fischler and Mr. Kinnear has left. Please, John, help me save my ship."
"Are you crazy? You stayed on board again!" John's mouth fell open, "Ridley - order one of the shuttles back and get on it!" John ordered.
"I can't let these tiny microscopic organisms destroy my station!"
"It's not your station! It belongs to the government, the GDF - and they can build another! It can be replaced, you can't." John tried to reason with her.
"Would you let Thunderbird 5 be destroyed if the boot were on the other foot?" Ridley echoed her words from the last time she didn't evacuate with her crew.
"John! I heard Ridley - Let me answer this time!" Scott interrupted, yelling into the comm, "All of us would save our ships if we could - if we could save our ship ourselves! BUT we wouldn't risk anyone else's lives just to save a ship! John can't be replaced!"
"Too late Scott," John said, rubbing his eyes, "Ridley has already stayed on board, again - I don't know if I can do this! There won't be time!"
"This isn't a matter of keeping the ships out of the way of a meteor - This time there is the chance of Fischer's bug contaminating you and Thunderbird 5! Besides the probability of being blown up!"
"I know John can do it!" Ridley interrupted.
Scott growled angrily, "John-NO! You can't do this! Those organisms turn plants into man-eating killers!"
"I guess we'll dump the plants we have on Thunderbird 5. Too bad, I really liked Grace, you know? My Lily - she's even in bloom right now."
Yelling, Scott said, "The plants aren't the only problem - Remember who made those organisms! No telling what else they might do if they get on board Thunderbird 5 - or you come in contact with them."
Ignoring Scott, Ridley begged, "John, you pulled us through the last time!"
Not ready to let it go, Scott yelled, "We were lucky last time that we didn't lose you, John and both space stations!"
"Okay!" John said, "I'll bring Thunderbird 5 close to Global One and send the Mooring Claw out to grab the science ship."
"And then what? You have only minutes left! Thunderbird 5 doesn't have the speed!"
"Thunderbird 5 will pull that ship away from Global One. Seal that scientist ship off from the rest of Global One and set some charges at the airlock - be ready to blow the docking clamps!"
"Right, but if I leave this area, all of Global One will have to be decontaminated."
"It can't be helped now!" John yelled, "Just for once, do what I said!"
"John! What are you thinking?" Scott yelled.
"When I get some momentum behind that ship I'll let it go on its own and get Thunderbird 5 out of the way - hopefully before it explodes."
"NO! That is a really bad idea! Have you seen the readings, John?" Scott interrupted.
"I have to do something - Ridley is still on board and the shuttles are all gone."
"Let her go for a space walk - that's how you met her, right? Then you can pick her up in space without having to go too close to Global One."
"No way - you have to save Global One - save me - save my ship." Ridley interrupted.
"I know - I know," John said.
While John, Ridley, and Scott argued, John and EOS maneuvered Thunderbird 5 into place next to Global one.
4 Attempted Rescue
Scott stopped arguing with Ridley and John long enough to yell for Alan to suit up and take Gordon in Thunderbird 3.
Virgil had been there too, sitting at Jeff's desk listening silently as the situation unfolded.
"I'll get Thunderbird 2 ready for a little high altitude medical assistance - for Global One's crew - just in case," Virgil said, falling backward down his tube.
"I'll meet you there," Scott said.
Alan was on board Thunderbird 3 checking his ship's systems and in only a moment, Gordon joined him.
John pushed the button to release the Space Elevator and another lever opened the Mooring Claw underneath. He expertly used the Claw's thrusters to get the Claw in place near the ship.
With a flick of his wrist, John buried the Mooring Claw into the side and top of the ship and closed the claw, ripping through the hull and grabbing on tightly to main support in the internal frame.
As soon as the Claw breached the hull, green tentacles began climbing around the Space Elevator, Mooring Claw and even up the Nano Cable. The plants were surviving the vacuum of space.
"Are you seeing this, Scott?" John asked, watching the plants growing on his Space Elevator.
"Yes, I see it, John, you'll have to hurry! Abandon the Space Elevator and Mooring Claw too - let it blow up with the ship." Scott ordered.
John engaged Thunderbird 5's thrusters to move away as quickly as possible. The cable tightened and with Ridley at Global One's controls pulling in the opposite direction.
The charges placed by Ridley around the airlock blew and the science ship ripped away from Global One.
Global One's shuttles were sitting still in space, a safe distance away, but not everyone had time to go through decontamination.
"This thing won't go fast enough!" Fischler screamed, pounding on the shuttle's controls. Ridley's pilot in GDF Shuttle 2 took remote control of Fischler's ship since the scientist couldn't figure out how to make it fly.
"Faster John," Scott yelled. "Let the cable out some more to add more distance between it and you."
"Not yet, I can't let out more cable until it's farther away from Global One.
"It needs to be farther away from Thunderbird 5 too!" Scott yelled. "John, don't take any more chances! Let that thing go!"
John pushed Thunderbird 5's thrusters to pull the ship for a few more moments. When it was going as fast as he thought he could make it go, he released the Mooring Claw, cable and all.
"It's still going to collide with Thunderbird 5, John," EOS said calmly.
"John! It's still coming right at you!" Scott screamed into the comm. The holo viewers in command on Tracy Island showed how dangerously close the ship on auto-destruct was coming to Thunderbird 5.
"I know! I know! I'm turning as fast as I can!" John yelled.
Ridley was all smiles until she heard John and Scott yell at each other even after John released the scientist ship.
"John! Get out of there!" Ridley yelled too as if it would help to have one more person yell at John.
"I'm trying!" John cried. Holding a lever at full thrust with one hand he pushed buttons with the other. EOS was busy routing more power to the thrusters.
The scientific vessel passed only meters away from Thunderbird 5's solar panels.
"Looks good! It has passed Thunderbird 5 on its way to deep space." Scott said, sitting down on the nearest couch. He pressed his palms over his eyes and put his head back.
EOS reported, "John, that ship will explode in 3-2-1!" Scott on base heard her too and sat forward again.
John looked at his holo-screen in time to see the science ship glow red, then white hot and explode! He put his arms up in front of his face like he hoped to protect himself, even from the images of the explosion on his screens.
"JOHN! NO!" Scott screamed, jumping back to his feet. "You're too close! - OH! No-no-no!" He beat on the holo-viewer with both fists.
The much larger station, Global One tipped a little and righted itself when the science ship exploded. But it maintained orbit. Ridley barely felt the explosion.
"John! Please be okay," Ridley mumbled. Her knees were suddenly weak and she sat on the floor in Global One's control center.
The nanocable from 5's elevator sparked like a fuse until it finally disintegrated with a tiny puff of smoke in space.
5 My Life Is In Your Hands
The force from the explosion threw Thunderbird 5 out toward deep space. Going very fast, the Space Station spun end over end - completely out of control.
Caught off guard, John was thrown around inside the Gravity Ring like a rag doll. He hit his head on the console and blood quickly soaked his red hair over his ear.
"John! Grab onto something!" EOS cried desperately.
"NNnnnga!" John groaned when he was thrown against the hull, chest first. Finally, the gravity simulated by the spin pinned him to the Ring's clear outer hull and held him there.
On impact, he struck his jaw and broke two teeth off inside his tongue. He remained stuck against the hull where he hit.
Blood from his head ran into his eye and ran in an oddly symmetrical pattern along the hull. John watched Earth go by over and over, getting smaller each time.
"John!" EOS cried.
"EOS," John mumbled. When he opened his mouth to talk a large blood clot ran out onto the clear hull.
She checked the screens for a damage report and ran on her track until she stopped near John.
John, gritting his teeth, tried to get up, only to fall against the hull again. He said, "EOS I can barely move, can you get control of Thunderbird 5 back?"
His speech was not clear with the pain and blood inside his mouth. The G forces kept him pinned to the floor on his stomach so tightly he was having trouble breathing. He realized at least that being stuck on his stomach, the blood from his mouth was coming out, instead of choking him.
EOS did a quick medical scan and reported, "I have been unable to get control. The thrusters are already at full power. Your right wrist is broken and you have a mouth injury - worse you have a concussion. Your O2 levels are down a little - are you breathing alright?"
John couldn't answer her for trying to catch his breath.
"We still have atmosphere at least - you have to stop Thunderbird 5," EOS said.
"I can't move!" John panted, "Hit something?"
EOS understood, "Nothing immediately in our way. We need to stop soon though."
"It looks like my life - is in your hands - again EOS," John panted, "I'm counting on you."
On Tracy Island:
"Thunderbird 3 - did you see that?" Scott cried, "John needs you guys - NOW!"
"We saw and we've already launched," Gordon answered.
"We're about to get out of the atmosphere," Alan reported, "Firing ION engines in 5-4-3-2-1."
With the ION engines engaged Thunderbird 3 shot through space at high speed.
"I'm launching with Virgil in Thunderbird 2," Scott reported.
"Thunderbird 2? Why? We're going to space!" Alan said without thinking.
"High altitude hand-off and Emergency Medical assistance," Virgil answered.
"It's that bad?" Alan asked, afraid to hear the answer.
"I'm afraid so, Thunderbird 5 is out of control, we can't raise John or EOS and Fischler and the GDF officers may need medical care too.
"No," Ridley interrupted, "you guys go after John! Global One is fine up here - nothing that can't wait until John is safe!"
From Thunderbirds 2 and 3, Virgil and Gordon were on the comms trying everything they knew to reach John, but he just didn't answer.
"Brains, how fast is Thunderbird 5 going now?" Scott asked.
"One moment - Thunderbird 5 is spinning at one hundred and twelve rotations per minute and traveling through space at five thousand-two-hundred and twenty-three miles per hour." Brains answered from his lab.
Gordon whispered, "He'll be crushed!" staring straight ahead like he was already watching his brother being crushed by the gravity.
Alan focused his eyes ahead too, trying to concentrate on the task at hand and get just a little more speed out of Thunderbird 3.
John's little brothers had tears in their eyes.
Trying to cope with the pain he felt, and being pinned tightly against the hull, John closed his eyes. Oxygen was thin. The temperature in the Gravity Ring was just below freezing and John was feeling the cold. He was shivering and that hurt his battered body more.
What bothered John the most was that he couldn't see Earth or anything else anymore, even with his eye that wasn't covered in blood.
"I hate Gravity," he groaned.
"I know you do, John," EOS said and turned on her track to to to just outside the Command Module. "I have to try to get access to our systems and slow Thunderbird 5 down before John . . . I just have to!" EOS said to herself.
To Be Continued . . .