Here's the third part as promised. I have nothing else to say so...
"Let me guess, I stay here?"
"In case we need Thunderbird Three as backup."
Watching was not what he wanted to be doing. Alan's idea of a rescue was not listening to what problems were riddling the minds of his brothers and what fools invention was crippling their chances. No, his idea was being out there helping them, making a difference, because who knew how little help his sitting around was.
But then backup was called backup for a reason. That – in this situation – was what he was and so was exactly what he went out as. He was the last hope, the gamble that International Rescue were having to believe could pay off, the only other thing that could work.
"Alan, you're up."
"That's awesome! I mean, er… Thunderbird Three is go."
Excitement was easily forgotten. The situation was treacherous, little compared to having to slingshot around the sun, yet dangerous all the same. It had proven a match for his elder brothers, for their purpose built crafts and so it would have every intention of copying such pattern for him - because why shouldn't it? He faced life no easier than they did. It challenged all of them, this just being one of those times when you wanted to scream.
But, it was a chance. He didn't want to let it go, no matter how much he knew he had to. He didn't want to be another failure, another Tracy who couldn't get the job done – the last Tracy.
"I've got to try again."
"It's too fragile now, you can't risk any more damage to it."
In Scott language, that translated quite truly to 'you can't risk any more damage'.
No matter how much he wanted to, he knew his brothers were right: he had limits.
Thank you for reading. x