24
By LMC
(Originally published 3 years ago...it has not been altered in any way.)
As you may or may not know, there is a television show in the United States called 24. The premise of this show was that the entire season was actually one full 24-hour day, with each episode being one hour of that day. It therefore took 24 weeks for us to witness one day in the leading man's life.
I have taken that concept and applied to the world of Thunderbirds. If you are unfamiliar with 24, don't worry...it's an easy concept to pick up. If you are familiar with it, I can only hope this piece of writing does it...and Thunderbirds...justice.
Acknowledgements
I must give high praise to an excellent beta I have acquired -- Rosie. She is invaluable.
I must also thank my left arm, Sandy. She is so good, and is always there for me when I need her.
And last but not least, my right arm, Sam, who should really get co-authoring credit for several portions of this story. Her insight, brilliance and willingness to help are a constant source of encouragement and enlightenment.
This is dedicated to those who live on Tracy Island. They are, after all, what it's all about.
I invite you into the world of 24...
"It is the year 2035. Someone has obliterated Washington, D.C. and is threatening to do the same to Southern California. My sons' lives are in danger. And International Rescue's security has been compromised.
"My name is Jeff Tracy, and this is the longest day of my life."
Hour One
The following takes place between 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. on the day Washington, D.C. was destroyed.
12:00:45
Jeff woke slowly, his mind still foggy from the dream he'd been having. A dream about Lucy. He glanced at the clock. Midnight. Why was he waking up at midnight? He heard a sound and suddenly knew why. The klaxon. Somewhere, International Rescue was needed.
Without hesitation, Jeff jumped out of bed and ran into the Lounge, where the eyes of his middle son John's video portrait were flashing in time with the rescue siren. He flipped the com line open. "International Rescue here. Go ahead, John." Jeff was taken aback by the look on his face as the live transmittal began. "Son?" he asked, brow furrowed. "What is it?"
"Dad," John choked out. "Turn on the television."
He stared into his son's eyes, in which he could see tears forming. Dread filling his heart, he reached over and flicked on the TV near his desk. It was already tuned to the World News Network. What he saw was unimaginable.
"...all that is left of Washington, D.C., capital of the United States of America. Less than ten minutes ago, the entire city was brought to ruins by forces as yet unknown. At this point, it isn't even clear how the destruction was caused, but there isn't a single building left standing in the sixty-one square mile radius that was once the seat of the U.S. government. We do not yet have any information as to the well being of President Grable, nor of any other members of the Executive, Judicial or Legislative branches of this government. Stay tuned to WNN as we bring you up-to-the-minute coverage of this terrible, terrible disaster."
Jeff's mouth opened, but no sound emerged. He snapped his mouth shut and turned as his eldest son Scott, second son Virgil and youngest son Alan entered the room, rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Kyrano, Jeff's old friend and caretaker of Tracy Island, his daughter Tin-Tin and Jeff's mother Ruth soon followed. The last to arrive was Brains, Chief Engineer for International Rescue, who looked as though he'd been awake for quite some time. The only one not present was his second-to-youngest son Gordon, who was away on a much-needed vacation.
Everyone knew by the looks on Jeff and John's faces that something horrific had occurred.
"Father?" Scott said as he approached his dad's stately wooden desk.
Jeff sank into his chair, his face a mixture of disbelief and anger.
"What is it, Dad?" Virgil asked as he and the others gathered 'round.
Scott's eyes roamed to the television, which carried no sound save that of a helijet engine whining. He moved behind his father as his brain, now fully alert, processed the devastation it was seeing on the screen. "My God," he whispered. "Where is this?"
Just then, the word LIVE appeared in the upper left corner of the screen. A line of words at the bottom that read WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. soon joined it.
"What?" Alan asked, moving forward. "D.C.? You've gotta be kidding!"
"What's happened, Mr. Tracy?" Tin-Tin asked.
Jeff took a deep breath before tearing his eyes from the television. He looked at each of them in turn...his sons, his friends. His loved ones. "It seems," he began, and then stopped to clear the frog in his throat. "According to WNN, Washington, D.C. has been...destroyed."
12:11:52
"It makes sense for us to go. We don't know how many people might be trapped in all that rubble," Scott said to the group gathered in the Lounge. The initial shock had morphed into International Rescue's traditional response to any disaster, no matter what the scale: Let's get out there and help them!
"I agree, son. We don't have a large complement, but we do have equipment they don't. I want you out there on the double."
"Yes, Sir!" Scott saluted as he headed for the revolving wall.
Before he could even touch the two light fixtures, Jeff had continued his train of thought. "Virgil, Alan, I want you to take Thunderbird 2. Load as much heavy rescue gear into her belly as you can."
"Sure wish Gordo was here. We could really use the extra pair of hands," Alan observed as Virgil headed for the floor-to-ceiling painting of the rocket ship that had once taken his father to the Moon.
"Mr. Tracy," Brains spoke, "I-I believe I might be of some a-assistance in Gordon's absence."
"All right, then, Brains. In the meantime, Tin-Tin, I want you out to New Zealand to pick Gordon up and ferry him to the scene."
"F.A.B.," Tin-Tin replied, scurrying off to her room to change clothes.
"I'll make some coffee," Ruth offered as Brains and Alan headed for the passenger elevator just outside the Lounge.
"Thanks, Mother. John," Jeff said to his son's live feed on the wall, "I want you to keep your ear to the ground up there. Relay anything and everything you pick up. At this point, we know nothing. We have no idea what we're getting into out there."
"F.A.B., Father. I'll be in touch."
"What can I do, Sir?"
"Kyrano, what you can do is get hold of Penny. We'll need all her contacts and resources to help us on this one." He thought for a moment before continuing. "Have her and Parker go as far as L.A., then check in. By the time they arrive, we should know more. In the meantime, I'm going to start on my contact list and see what I can come up with."
"Yes, Sir," Kyrano nodded as he headed for his suite.
Jeff sat down in his desk chair, from which he'd risen while giving his orders. He ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair and suddenly felt much older than his sixty-five years. He pulled up a special contact file from its hidden directory within his microcomputer and sat staring at the screen for several long moments.
"How could this have happened?" he wondered aloud. "Who on earth would want to kill all those people?"
12:22:02
"International Rescue England. Lady Penelope speaking."
"Hello, Lady Penelope. My apologies for waking you. This is Kyrano."
"Kyrano, dear, how wonderful to hear from you! To what do I owe this great pleasure?"
His face expressionless as always, Kyrano relayed the news of Washington D.C.'s destruction.
"Oh, my!" she breathed, hand upon her chest. "I'm afraid I've just returned home. I haven't yet seen the telecasts. What can I do to help?"
"Mr. Tracy requests your assistance in the form of your contacts and resources, as well as your presence in Los Angeles."
"Thank you, Kyrano; I know just what to do. In the meantime, please inform Jeff that Parker and I shall catch the next Fireflash and arrive in the States as quickly as we can."
"I will do so. Thank you."
"Thank you, Kyrano. Lady Penelope out."
Penelope Creighton-Ward, International Rescue's top agent, rose to her feet. She shook her head as she reflected upon what Kyrano had told her. "I can't believe someone would do this. I must begin calling my associates at once. But first..."
She reached over to the control panel on the wall next to her bedroom door and pressed the button marked Parker. It took a few moments for her butler's face to appear on the small video screen.
"Y-Yes, m'lady?" he yawned unceremoniously.
Penny stifled a smile. "Parker, pack our bags at once. Something terrible has happened in the United States, and we're needed. We'll be taking FAB One on the Fireflash to Los Angeles, be sure to make the proper arrangements immediately."
"Yes, madam, H'I'll ge' on h'it, straight h'away. Will you require h'anythin' h'else?"
"No, Parker, that will do for the moment. I must busy myself with some phone calls. Please inform me as to the time our flight will leave."
"Will do, m'lady."
Penny walked across the room to an ornate video telephone that sat upon a lovely white antique table against the far wall. She seated herself in front of it and pulled up a secret contact list on the microcomputer to its left. Sighing, she began dialing the first number.
"Well, here we go," she said to herself. "A most unpleasant task."
12:31:12
Jeff ended his final call. No one had been able to give him anything at all on the disaster. His face looked grimmer than ever as Ruth returned with his second cup of coffee.
"You all right, son?"
"No, Mother, I'm not. Some maniac has destroyed an entire city, most likely killing tens of thousands of people. And I've sent most of my family out there when we have no idea what they'll try next."
"I know, Jeff. I'm worried about the boys, too. But they're good at what they do. They'll be careful. You know that."
"It doesn't matter how careful they are. The people of Washington, D.C. probably had no warning at all when whatever hit, hit. And just prior to 8 a.m. their time, too. The city was probably teeming with workaday folk."
Ruth patted her son's hand gently. "I know, son. I know. We'll get through this like we've gotten through everything else. Try not to worry."
"Easier said than done." Just then, John's signal came through. "Go ahead, John."
"Father, I've been monitoring the emergency U.S. Government lines."
"What've you come up with?"
"Bad news, I'm afraid. At this point, they don't seem to think anyone in the White House survived the attack, but no one can get in there to confirm."
Jeff closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. His mother's strong hand upon his shoulder strengthened his resolve, and he reopened his eyes. "You said attack. Do they know for sure what happened?"
"Not a lot of details as yet. There are some reports from survivors and those just outside the city limits saying the night sky lit up almost like day. Said it looked like thousands of little meteors falling to Earth. When they hit, things just started blowing up."
"Thousands of little meteors?" Ruth repeated.
"That's strange. John, relay that to Brains on Thunderbird 2. I want his take on it. Get him any photos or data you can."
"F.A.B.," he replied as his feed winked out.
Kyrano entered the room and crossed to Jeff's desk. "I have spoken with Lady Penelope," he reported. "She is contacting her resources as we speak. She and Parker will be leaving England as soon as possible."
"All right, thank you, Kyrano."
"How else may I be of assistance, Sir?"
Jeff sighed. "If you don't mind staying glued to the television for a bit, I'd like you and Mother to monitor two different networks, just to make sure we stay on top of any developments. John can't possibly catch everything up there all by himself. In the meantime, I'm going to take a shower." He checked the clock on the wall to the left of his desk as he rose to his feet. "I should have plenty of time before Scott calls in. If he does before I'm finished, notify me immediately."
"All right, Jeff," Ruth replied, seating herself in her son's vacated chair.
"Yes, Mr. Tracy," Kyrano nodded. He walked down the hall, past the passenger elevator and into a small adjacent room, a den of sorts. He flipped on the television and turned to NTBS, where he found their top reporter, Ned Cook, in the city of Los Angeles covering the disaster remotely. He pulled a pillow from the overstuffed couch and placed it on the floor in front of the TV. He then sat cross-legged upon it, folded his hands and began to watch the most shocking event in his lifetime unfold.
12:42:51
Ruth looked away from the television as John's signal came through. She opened the channel and her grandson's Nordic features filled his video screen. He reminded her so much of his grandfather that she couldn't help but smile. "Hello, John."
"Hi, Grandma. Where's Dad?"
"He's off to shower and dress. Is there any news?"
"Not too much. I've been on with Brains. I'm transmitting a bit of data I've picked up to Thunderbird 2 now. I also wanted to let Dad know that I activated the Emergency Network signal. I've received replies from all but ten of International Rescue's agents saying they're on their way to D.C. to see what they can do. I should be hearing from the others any time now."
"It's amazing what good people we have in this organization."
"Sure is." John's face fell as he contemplated his next statement. "I can't get in touch with Agent 14."
"Where's that one?"
"He's our man in D.C."
Ruth's eyes looked away as she realized what John was telling her. "Oh," she said softly. "Keep trying, John. I imagine communications are all but gone over that way. Maybe he just can't get through." As much as she hoped her words were true, Ruth Tracy was nothing if not a realist. She knew as well as John did that Agent 14 might not have survived. "In the meantime," she said, forcing a smile, "I'll let Jeff know the latest."
"Thanks, Grandma. I'll talk to you soon."
"Right, John," she replied before closing the channel.
12:50:02
Ruth had just finished briefing Jeff on the latest news from Thunderbird 5 when Kyrano entered the room. "Mr. Tracy? I think I may have some news for you."
"What is it, Kyrano?"
"Ned Cook has reported that a party is claiming responsibility for the attack upon Washington, D.C." "Really?" Ruth asked. "Who is it? Terrorists?"
"They are not certain, Mrs. Tracy. They say their headquarters received a voice-only video telephone transmission from a man calling himself Acronym."
"Acronym?" Jeff repeated. "What group is he with?"
"He has not claimed to be part of any group, Sir. He said that he and he alone is responsible for the destruction of Washington, D.C."
"And he didn't say why?"
"No. However, he has made a new threat."
Ruth frowned. "On what?"
"Southern California. The man said that if things did not happen as he wished, he would do to all of Southern California what he did to Washington."
"My God!" Jeff exclaimed. "What is it he wants to happen?"
"He would not say. He told them that the one he wished it from would know soon enough."
"What kind of madman is this?" Ruth pondered as she lowered herself onto the settee in front of her son's desk.
"The worst kind, Mother. Apparently he doesn't care how many people he kills for his own sick agenda. I just wish we could find out more. Hopefully Penny will have something for us soon."
The vidphone behind Jeff's desk chimed. Now seated in his chair, he turned and answered it. Voice Only was selected. "This is Jeff Tracy."
"I know who you are," a sinister voice replied.
"Who is this?"
"You may call me...Acronym."
Ruth gasped as Jeff turned to look first at her, then at Kyrano. His face paled as he spoke. "You're the one responsible for what happened to Washington."
The man chuckled. "Ah, your information network is sophisticated. And fast. But then again, one would not expect less from the man in charge of...International Rescue."
Jeff's mouth went dry. He tried to swallow, but found he hadn't a drop of spit. He'd answered the phone with his first and last name...and this man; this Acronym...had called him the head of International Rescue.
"I'm sorry, Sir, what did you say?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You heard me, Tracy. Don't play games with me. I know exactly who you are and what you do for a living. I also know that your five sons, strapping young men that they are, staff International Rescue for you."
Jeff muted the phone and turned to the others. He was at a complete loss for words.
"Is it that Hood character?" Ruth asked, coming to stand by her son's side.
"No, it doesn't sound like his voice," Jeff replied.
"I do not believe it is he," Kyrano added.
"Come now, Mr. Tracy," the voice sneered from the phone speaker. "Nothing to say? Don't you even want to know why I've called? Really, I would expect better manners."
Jeff restored the voice pickup and replied, "I'm still here."
"Very well. I imagine that if you know I am behind the destruction of the United States capital city, you are also aware of my plans for Southern California."
"Yes, I am. What is it you want?"
"Oh, something very simple, my friend. And something only you can provide."
"What would that be?"
"I want you to reveal your identities to the world."
Jeff's mind was reeling. This can't be happening, he thought over and over again. This just can't be happening. He struggled to keep himself on an even keel as he felt Kyrano's hand upon his right shoulder. "Why would you want that?"
"You're so smart, Mr. Billionaire-In-Charge-Of-International-Rescue. You figure it out."
"What if your demands are not met?"
"Then Southern California shall suffer the same fate as Washington, D.C."
Jeff rubbed his chin, his mind racing. What was he going to do? What on Earth could he do?
"Oh, and there's one more thing, Jefferson."
Jeff started at the use of his full first name.
"Just to make sure it's a little more personal, I've, uh, taken the liberty of acquainting myself with one of those perfect sons of yours."
Jumping to his feet, Jeff looked wildly at Kyrano and Ruth. "What are you talking about?" he asked in a near-whisper.
"Well, it seems that International Rescue can get along fine without one of its operatives. I believe your fourth son, Gordon, was on a camping trip in the New Zealand wilderness."
Jeff's legs buckled and he nearly fell to the floor. Kyrano and Ruth each caught a side of him and lowered him back into the chair. Tears appeared in all three pairs of eyes.
"What have you done to my son?" he choked.
Acronym laughed. "I knew that would get your attention. I've done nothing much to him as yet. He's still in one piece. But I can tell you this: if you have not revealed your true identities to the world by midnight tonight, two things are going to happen. First, the southern half of California as you know it will cease to exist."
"And second?"
"Gordon Tracy...will die."
12:59:58
12:59:59
01:00:00