Author's Note: While this story is more in line with the original series (as far as age and previous events and such) things such as Tracy Island, the house, the thunderbirds and the technology used is more in line with TAG. I hope you enjoy and I love reading reviews!

Chapter 1: The Day Jeff Tracy Died

Lightening flashed through the sky above as twenty-three year old Scott Tracy sat by the window in the officer's lounge at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. The lounge was full, since all exercises were canceled for the day, but Scott had been able to claim a small table for himself to get lost in his own thoughts. Storms were rare in this area of the country, but did happen on occasion. Normally Scott would welcome the rare rain and the break it would offer him and his squad, but they had been scheduled to try out a new prototype and Scott had been looking forward to it. He had been in the USAF for only a year, but had already received his first promotion and transfer. He had been excited to join the test pilot program there at Edwards and has been enjoying his stay ever since. He had been wanting to get his father to visit him at the base, so he could show him the types of planes he was flying. He knew his father, an ex-air force pilot himself, would find it quite fascinating. However, his father was a busy man, running Tracy Industries, as well as preparing for his retirement on some island in the southern Pacific. Something Scott wouldn't believe until he saw it.

He couldn't help but think of his family on days like this when he had little else to do. He had only been eight-years-old when his mother died in her accident, and had been forced to grow up fast. His father grieved for a time, and didn't quite seem to know what to do with his five young sons. Grandma Tracy arrived at their home soon after and took over raising the boys so Jeff could take care of himself. However, Scott spent quite a bit of his young years helping his brothers with their homework, making sure they behaved, and encouraging them in the things they loved. Jeff quit his job with NASA and started a business he hoped would help him provide for his young boys, Tracy Industries.

Jeff had mentioned multiple times to Scott that he would like him to eventually take the company over once he retired, but Scott knew he would not force him to quit the air force to do so. Plus, he figured, his father wouldn't actually retire until he could no longer do the work, which wasn't for many years to come. Scott had asked his next brother, Virgil, if he had ever thought about taking over the company himself. Virgil had started working for their father after he had graduated from the Denver School of Advanced Technology, but he was an engineer and was firm that he didn't want anything to do with the business aspect of the company. He didn't think his other brothers would be interested in the idea either. John was preparing for his first trip into space, Gordon was currently studying marine farming methods on the bottom of the ocean for a year, and Alan was just in his first year at Colorado University, spending all his free time racing.

Scott smiled a bit at the thought of his brothers. They were his world, but it was a world that was slipping away from him even now. They all had their own careers and ambitions, and he knew that it would be some time before the Tracy clan would find themselves all in the same place for even a short amount of time.

"Lieutenant Tracy," Scott jumped at his name and turned to face the man calling him.

"Yes, Captain," Scott stood at attention to the higher ranked man before him. "There's an airman at the door, says there's a call for you," The Captain thumbed behind him to a nervous looking young woman standing in the doorway.

"Oh, thank you, sir," Scott saluted and then made his way to the door.

"I'm sorry to bother you, sir," The woman saluted him, "But they called the main line and said it was an emergency."

"An emergency? Did they say who they were?"

"No, sir, they didn't. Just to get you on the phone."

"Thank you, airman," Scott walked past the young woman and to the main desk down the hall where a bank of phones sat, his mind going through all matters of scenarios. His brother's would have called his personal line, though he didn't have his phone on him. If they couldn't get him though there, then they may have called the main line.

"This is Scott Tracy," Scott took the phone, his hand trembling with nerves that had not even showed when the last plane he flew took a sudden unexpected nose dive into the desert. He had leveled it out at the last second, and no harm was done to him or the plane, but it had been a close call.

"Is this Lieutenant Scott Tracy," the voice asked.

"Didn't I just say that was who I was," Scott asked a bit annoyed, "Who am I speaking to?"

"I am Commander Williams with the US Coast Guard out of LA. Is your father, Jeff Tracy?"

"What's happened," Scott's stomach just bottomed out and he tried to swallow but his mouth was dry.

"It appears he took off early this morning out of San Fransisco, in route to an island in the south Pacific. We received a mayday from him a short time later."

"Is he alright," Scott was holding the phone so tightly his knuckles were white and he had raised his voice so much that everyone in the area had stopped to listen.

"I'm sorry son, the plane had crashed by the time we arrived. All aboard were dead."

"No," Scott shook his head and collapsed onto the chair next to the phone, "Are you sure this is the right man?"

"President of Tracy Industries, Jeff Tracy. The other occupant's last name was Kyrano."

"Yes, he's a family friend. I'll… I'll let his daughter know," Scott was shaking.

"Well, here's the thing, son. We need someone to come and ID the bodies before we can release them to you."

"Right, I'll be there tomorrow," Scott replied not really paying attention to what he was saying.

"Very well, we'll be expecting you." The line clicked and there was silence. Scott didn't hang up the phone, but just let it hang as he sat there staring into space.

The lobby was dead silent. They didn't need to know the contents of the conversation the officer had just had to know that something bad had happened. One of the airmen that worked with Scott's squad had run out of the lobby when Scott had started yelling into the phone. He returned after the conversation had ended, but with someone else with him. Lieutenant Paul Rand, was a member of Scott's squad and one of his closest friends.

"Scott," Paul laid a hand on Scott's shoulder and shook the man a little to get his attention, "What's wrong?"

"My Dad, he's gone."

"Jeff Tracy? Gone?" Paul gapped as he kneeled down next to his friend, "What happened?"

"Plane crashed. No survivors."

"Damn," Paul swore. By this point a few more people had arrived including another friend of theirs, "Mark, we have a situation. Jeff Tracy's just died."

"Scott's dad," Mark exclaimed as the whispers started to spread among those around them.

"There is nothing here to watch," Paul announced glaring at everyone that had crowded into the lobby, "Get back to your own business!" Like mice they scurried away, leaving only a handful behind. "We need to get Scott back to his room." Slowly the two friends took each of Scott's arms and started to maneuver him down the hall and to their barracks.

"Wait," Scott pulled himself from his friends and moved to go back to the phones, "I… I need to call my brothers."

"You can do that from your room, it'll be more private," Paul pulled him back down the hall. Between the two they made it back to Scott's room and sat him down on the bed. "Mark, you help him call his brothers. I'll go give the Major a heads up. He'll need to get the paperwork started." Paul left the two in Scott's room. He dusted down his clothes, tucked in a stray edge, and once he was sure he was in proper order, made his way to the Administration building.

He was just entering the building when he ran into their squadron's captain. Captain Barns was an easy going guy, and got along with his men. When he saw Lieutenant Rand's face, he knew something had happened.

"Lieutenant Rand," He called to Paul who had walked by him without a glance. Paul jumped and turned to face the Captain.

"Oh, Captain Barns," He straightened up and saluted.

"What's going on, you look a little distraught."

"Bad news, sir. I didn't know where you were, so I was going to see the Major."

"Well, here I am. What's up?"

"It's Scott, sir. He just got news that his father's passed."

"Colonel Tracy?!"

"Yes, sir. A plane accident."

"A man of that caliber dying in a plane accident," The Captain shook his head, "Where is Tracy now?"

"In his room with Mark. He's calling his brothers."

"I see. Well, then, I'll go with you to see the Major," The Captain put a firm hand on Paul's shoulder and then led the way.

"Major, Captain Barns and Lieutenant Rand are here to see you. They say's there's been a personal emergency with one of their squad members," The Major's secretary announced through the intercom.

"Send them in," Came the Major's curt reply. Paul was a little nervous. The Major was a nice enough guy, but tough on his men. You usually didn't want to have reason to be alone with him and he was glad he had run into the Captain.

"Major," Paul and Captain Barns saluted as they entered the room. The Major did a weak salute back and motioned for the Captain to continue with his business, "Sir, Lieutenant Tracy just received a call. It appears his father has passed away."

"His father? Colonel Jeff Tracy," The Major asked as his head snapped up staring at the two before him as if trying to decide if this was some sort of bad trick.

"Yes, sir. His plane crashed in the Pacific, sir," Paul nodded stiffly, "He's in his room calling his brothers at the moment."

"Brothers?"

"Yes, he has four sir."

"Damn," the Major pushed himself back in his seat and took a deep breath, "I was hoping to get you lot into the air tomorrow once the storm passed. Nothing to do about it though. Lieutenant Tracy is off duty as of now. I'll make sure the paperwork is started. Make sure he stops by before he leaves, I'll need to know how long he needs to be away to get things settled. Though with the size of his father's company it may take awhile."

"Yes, sir," The two responded.

"That also means the rest of your squadron is grounded until he returns. I'll have to get Captain William's team to test that new plane."

"Aw, sir, can't it wait?" Paul frowned forgetting his manners for a moment. The Captain elbowed him, and Paul straightened up.

"Sorry, they're wanting the test results ASAP," The Major shook his head, "Your dismissed." They saluted again and then turned and left, quickly making their way back to the barracks to see how their friend was doing.

When they arrived, Mark was sitting in a chair off to the side in the small single room, Scott was on his bed with the phone in his hand.

"Did you get your brother's called," Paul asked sitting down next to Scott. The Captain leaned in the doorway.

"No," Mark answered, "He's dialed the eldest of his brother's three times, but hangs up when they answer."

"Didn't they call back, surely they knew who was calling," Paul asked.

"I assume so. His phone's rang a couple of times, but Scott won't answer."

"I can't tell them," Scott finally spoke up in a soft whisper, "How can I tell them that our dad is dead? It was bad enough when our mom died."

"You were kids then," Mark pointed out, "Your all grown now."

"Not Alan, he's still a kid."

"He's in collage, Scott. He's grown up too," Paul added as he laid his hand on Scott's shoulder.

"Rand, Nelson, a moment please," The Captain gestured to the hall. The two men exited the room, and the Captain shut the door, leaving Scott to himself.

"What are we going to do, Captain," Mark asked as they huddled next to the wall.

"He's got to tell his family. Even if it is just one of them, maybe they will be able to handle it better," the Captain frowned.

"But he won't even answer his own phone. I'm betting that brother of his is starting to get worried," Paul nodded.

"Oh, you guys don't know the worst of it," Mark pushed away from wall as he remembered what Scott had told him while they had been talking to the Major, "Scott's supposed go to LA and ID the bodies."

"With the way he is right now, there's no way he's going to be able to do that," the Captain sighed. They stood in the hallway silent, trying to think of what to do when they could hear Scott's phone start ringing. The Captain opened the door and the three peered in. "Are you going to answer that Scott?"

"I… I know I should, but…" Scott frowned as he looked at the phone and Virgil's photo flashing on the screen. The Captain reached forward and took the phone out of Scott's hand. "Hey!"

"Are you going to answer?" The Captain snapped, and Scott lowered his head. The Captain then answered the phone, "Hello, this is Captain Barns."

After seeing his father and Kyrano off before dawn that morning, Virgil had decided to take it easy as he completed some errands around San Fransisco. He had to visit a few manufacturing sites where his father was having some things built and inspect the parts to make sure the plans were being followed properly. Virgil had to admit that he was quite confused by some of the things his father had been building as of late. The only thing he would tell him was that it was for his retirement, but what his father would need these huge parts for on an island far out to sea, Virgil didn't know. The parts he had to inspect were only part of some larger machine that his father would not tell him the function off. Yet, he was expected to make sure they were being built right. Virgil had argued with his father a bit that morning, trying to get some more details out of him, but his father was a stubborn man and it was next to impossible to convince him to do something he didn't want to do.

Virgil was just leaving the first of the factories he had to visit that day. It was building a complicated antenna array that he assumed would be for communications on his father's retirement island. Though he was still musing over some of the complexities of the array when his phone started to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket and saw Scott's picture flash on the screen. Smiling he accepted the call and raised it to his ear.

"Hey, Scott, what's up?" There was a moment of silence and then a click as the call was ended. Virgil looked down at the phone and frowned. Had he just been butt dialed? He knew Scott didn't carry his phone when he was piloting, and it was too early to be out with his friends in the local town. Shrugging his shoulders he pocketed his phone and got back into his car. He had just pulled out of the parking lot when his phone started ringing again. He adjusted himself so he could pull it out, and saw that it was once again Scott. Frowning, he answered the phone,

"Hey, Scott, having problems with your phone?" But again there was silence and a sudden disconnection. Virgil frowned, this was not like Scott. He threw the phone over into the passenger seat and made to find a place to park. It was the middle of rush hour and the roads were busy, he was just waiting for a stoplight to turn when his phone started to ring for a third time, Scott's picture once again on the screen. He reached over and answered the call,

"Scott?" But for the third time there was silence and then the call was disconnected. Virgil was starting to get worried, and pulled off on the next side street which led him into a shopping mall. He made for the back of the lot where there were still plenty of spots and parked his car. He then, picked up his phone and dialed his brother. The phone rang and rang. "Come on, Scott, pick up." But eventually the call was forwarded to his voice mail. Virgil hung up the phone and sat there thinking. Maybe he should call his father, but no, he didn't want to worry him if it was Scott just butt dialing him. After a few minutes of internal debate he decided to try Scott's phone again, maybe he just didn't hear it the first time. The phone rang and rang, once again going to voice mail.

He sat silently in the car wondering what he should do. He was starting to get a little worried about his big brother. However, at the same time, he didn't want to call his other brothers and get them to worrying when their may not be anything wrong at all. He looked down at his phone and pulled up the local weather for Edwards Air Force base. There was currently a large thunderstorm over the area, and looked to last most of the day. There's no way he'd be flying in that kind of weather. But he also wouldn't have gone into town either. Virgil took a deep breath to calm his mind, there was nothing wrong, but he still wanted to get a hold of his brother, just in case. He called his brother again, and put the phone to his ear. It once again rang quite a few times, but this time the call finally connected.

"Scott!" Virgil yelled a little annoyed.

"Hello, this is Captain Barns."

"Captain Barns," Virgil asked a little shocked. He knew the name, it was Scott's immediate superior, but why was he answering Scott's phone, "What happened?" Virgil's mind started reeling with possibilities. Had they tried to fly in that storm, had Scott crashed?

"Calm down, umm… which brother is this?"

"Virgil."

"Alright, Virgil. Your brother is alright, physically at least."

"What the hell is going on," Virgil almost screamed into the phone.

"Scott, are you going to tell him, or do I have to." Virgil could tell that the Captain had pulled the phone away and had attempted to cover it for privacy, but he just pressed his phone closer to hear any kind of response from Scott. It was silent for a moment before the Captain was back on the phone. "I'm sorry I have to be the one you hear it from, Virgil. Your father's plane crashed, he didn't survive. Virgil? Are you still there?"

"Yeah…. yeah, I'm here. Did I hear you right?"

"I'm afraid so. Your brother, he's not taking the news well."

"I'll… I'll call the others…What about Kyrano?"

"Kyrano? Oh, your brother's shaking his head."

"I see. Thank you for telling me."

"Wait, Virgil, there's something else."

"What?"

"They need someone to ID the bodies in LA before they'll release them. Scott said he would do it, but I'm not too sure with the way he's acting."

"I'll take care of everything," Virgil sighed, "And I'll be by to collect Scott after I've… you know."

"I appreciate it," The Captain sighed, "I'll tell you, I haven't known your brother long, but this is completely out of character for him… it scares me a little."

"Me too," Virgil said his goodbye and hung up. He sat in his car for a long time, the interior had started to heat up a bit and he rolled down a window to get some fresh air. He couldn't believe that his father was really gone, he had just seen him and Kyrano that morning. How could a whole life, no two lives disappear that fast? Virgil shook his head, he couldn't get lost in that deep hole now. Scott was already there, and someone needed to get ahold of their brothers and start taking care of things.

He left immediately for Los Angeles, not even bothering to collect his things and check out of the hotel. He had everything important with him, and they could ship him his suitcase later. He needed to make sure that it really was his father before he worried anyone else. It was a five and a half hour drive, along a straight boring interstate highway. He had been driving for almost three hours when his phone jumped to life. He reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed it swerving slightly into the next lane. He corrected himself and looked down to see Tin-Tin's picture flashing on the phone. Sighing he picked up.

"Tin-Tin, I've heard as well."

"Oh, Virgil, I can't believe it," She cried, he could tell she had been crying for some time now. Probably just now able to make coherent sentences, "They want me to come to LA to ID him. I don't know if I can."

"Do you have their number," Virgil asked as he changed lanes and passed a slow moving car."

"Y…yes," She hiccuped.

"Call them and give me permission to ID him. I'm already on my way down."

"Virgil," She sobbed again, "I could't ask you…"

"You're not. I'm telling you that I will do it. Have you told anyone else?"

"I…I was in class… my teacher knows, and some friends, but not anyone else. Not your brothers."

"Good, keep it that way. Just in case…," Virgil didn't want to say that it may not be them. He felt that if he did he would jinks himself.

"Alright. Please call me as soon as you find out."

"I promise. You'll be the first I'll call." With that he hung up the phone and tossed it back into the passenger seat.

He had arrived at the corner's office early in the afternoon, but he just sat in the parking lot looking out over the ocean that had taken his father and friend that day. He had been trying not to think too much about what had happened, spending his drive singing anything that came onto the radio and arguing with the talk show hosts about whatever they had to say. He was grateful that news of his father's death had not made it to the public yet, but then it wouldn't be confirmed until he had positively identified his body.

The thought of having to go into that building and look at his father's and Kyrano's bodies was shaking him up. He didn't want to do this, but Scott was apparently a basket case. He was the only one that could right now. He had to do it, so he got out, took a keep breath, and walked in.

He left after an hour, he would have never thought it would have taken that long just to look and confirm who lay on those cold metal tables. There was, however, paperwork they had to go through with him and he had to sign several pages to release the bodies and have them shipped to Kansas. Tin-Tin had no idea what she wanted to do, he could barely understand her through her tears as it was. But she didn't know any of her relatives in Malaysia and it was agreed that her father would be buried along side his friend in a dual ceremony. As soon as he was away from the horrible building he made his way towards a hotel. He wasn't up to another long drive, it was a good two hours to Edwards, plus he had to tell his brothers right away and he wasn't going to just sit in his car and do it. He needed to be somewhere comfortable and private.

It had been a warm clear day in Huston, but John had been stuck inside for most of it. He was in the middle of training for his first trip into space, and between trying to wrap up his current research, getting caught up on the research he would be helping with while up there, making sure he remained in top shape, and going through all the testing to prove he was, plus all the other information sessions, he was doing some twelve hour days just to get everything done. This day had been no different. He had arrived on base at six o'clock that morning, had just finished lunch, and was on his way to meet with the shuttle crew for a short four hour informational session.

John didn't mind the hours, he was excited. He had been wanting to go to space since as long as he could remember. Finally, it was happening. In just a few short months he would be up among the stars. He had even convinced his father to come and see the launch. Alan and Virgil would be there too, and he wished Scott and Gordon could as well. Scott had tried, but his request for time off had been denied. Gordon, well, he was stuck at the bottom of the ocean for the next seven months. Still most of the family would be there and that would have to do.

John was just about to step into the room behind one of the other members of the shuttle crew when he heard someone calling his name.

"Mr. Tracy! Mr. John Tracy!"

"Tell the Commander I'll be right there," John smiled at his team mate and then walked down the hall to meet the stranger calling him.

"Mr. Tracy, there is a call for you."

"I'm afraid I can't take a call right now. Can you take a message for me?"

"He said he was your brother, uh, Virgil. Said it was an emergency."

"An emergency," John's brows drew together in worry. Virgil should have called him on his own phone, but John currently had it turned off. What kind of emergency would Virgil be calling him about that made him call the base itself? "Alright, lead the way." He followed the man down the hall to a small office pointing to a phone in the corner that wasn't being used at the moment.

"Just dial 304, and you should be connected."

"Thank you," John nodded and picked up the phone dialing the numbers instructed, "This is John, Virgil?"

"Hey, John," Virgil's voice was indeed on the other end, but there was something odd about it. He seemed a little stressed and tired.

"What's going on, they said it was an emergency."

"I'm sorry, John. I have some bad news."

"Virgil?"

"Dad's… His plane crashed today. Both he and Kyrano are gone." John was silent as he stood before the phone looking at the plain brown desk it sat on, how the grain disappeared underneath the phone, how there was a scratch along the edge, nothing else seemed to exist outside of the phone and Virgil's breaths on the other end. "John?"

"I'm here. I… I just…"

"I know. Me neither. I'm in LA now, I just Identified the bodies, I'm going to pick up Scott here in a bit."

"Scott knows? How come he didn't call?"

"Apparently he's taking it quite badly, I found out from his Captain."

"Damn. How about Alan and Gordon?"

"I haven't called Alan yet. Gordon is going to be an issue, I'm sure they can contact him, I just wish we could talk to him ourselves."

"I know," John paused for a moment, "I've got to get back to a meeting right now. I'll call you as soon as I'm done for the day."

"I hope this doesn't destroy your chances for the trip."

"Me too, brother, me too." John hung up the phone but stood there for a moment his eyes tightly shut just concentrating on breathing. After a moment he made his way back to the meeting room.

"Tracy, you're late!"

"Sorry, Commander, I just received some bad news from home," John announced to the room trying not to show just how horrible he was feeling at the moment but knowing he wasn't completely succeeding.

"What kind of news?"

"My father is dead," John announced.

"Colonel Tracy?" the Commander gapped with the rest of the crew, "This complicates things."

"If at all possible, I still want to be a part of this crew," John announced steeling himself against the turmoil inside him, "My father would be disappointed if I couldn't."

"That unfortunately is not my call," The Commander shook his head, "I'm not sure how much time they'll give you, and I'm sure there will be an additional psychiatric review of your case."

"I'll do what I need," John nodded as the others in the room watched on in shock.

"Very well, have a seat and we'll go on with the meeting. Afterwards, we'll go and see what we can figure out." John nodded and took his seat, his mind wandering as the Commander spoke.

Alan was fully enjoying the nice day he had been given. His studies had been left behind in his dorm room, and he was busy racing around the nearest race track preparing for the grand prix that would happen that summer. He had promised his father that he would not race during the school year and that he would concentrate on his studies. However, he never said he wouldn't practice.

"You're taking that turn a little too tight, Alan," Terry, Alan's pit manager, warned through the radio.

"I can take it, just watch me," Alan laughed as he sped past the pit and on around the track again.

"I'm serious Alan," Terry warned again, shaking his head. He knew Alan was a good driver, an awesome driver, but he was young and reckless and a pain in the ass to reign in. "How's he doing on fuel?"

"He's got enough to last him another half hour, we won't be seeing him at a standstill for a while yet," One of the pit members laughed. They watched him speed around the track again, when Alan's phone started to go off.

"Alan, you're phone's ringing. Looks like one of your brothers. Want me to patch it through?"

"Sure, do that, Terry," Alan smiled taking another tight turn, "This is Alan, who's this?"

"Alan, it's Virgil. Where are you at," Virgil asked his suspicion peeked at the sounds he was hearing over the line, "Are you racing? You promised Dad…."

"I promised him I wouldn't enter any races, I'm just practicing," Alan laughed as he took the next turn, his wheels squealing.

"Alan, I need you to stop, get into the pits."

"Ah, Virgil. You're not going tell on me are you?"

"Alan, this is serious. I need you to stop, something's happened." There was a moment of silence and then a squealing of tires and some noises that Virgil didn't want to know the cause of. "ALAN!"

"I…I'm fine," Alan replied a little weakly coughing, "Took a corner too tight." Terry and the other members of the pit were there in moments, reaching in to unbuckle Alan and pull him out of the car.

"Alan, I told you you were taking that turn too tight," Terry scolded him.

"Look, Virgil. Let me call you back, K?" Alan called as he struggled to get out from inside the car.

"Alan, Dad's dead."

"What?" Alan yelled still half way in the car. People were tugging on him, pulling his arms and he swatted them away, "Virgil, did I hear you correctly?"

"Yes, Alan, you did."

"But, how?" He was laying on the hot pavement, but the heat didn't seem to bother him. The hands had returned and soon they were hauling him to his feet. Tow trucks were quickly on their way as well, and the track was getting noisy.

"His plane crashed, I don't know the details. Look, just get home, okay. We'll meet you at the ranch." The line died in Alan's ear as he was hurried off to the first aid station.

The weather was nonexistent for Gordon. The small undersea base had windows, but it was dark day or night. Right now, it was night, at least for them. Their schedule was arranged so that both shifts would have access to daylight hours on land, but with the experiments they were doing they had to have solid day and nights onboard. During the day, half of their labs were lit with artificial sunlight while the other half received the same amount of sun that normally reached that far down. During the night, it was all dark. Gordon had night shift that month and was now sitting in a dark room with only a small reading lamp and flashlight to use to take his notes and read up on the day shift's reports.

Gordon was almost done with the fifth month of his year long sojourn beneath the ocean, and he was enjoying every minute of it. This was where he belonged surrounded by water all around him. But he couldn't deny that there were some things he missed being above. Food for one, while he enjoyed being in the oceans, what they gave them for rations barely passed as edible. Another thing was that he did occasionally miss the sunlight, and lounging on a boat at sea, the gentle waves rocking him to and fro. But he would have to say that he missed his family the most. It wasn't necessarily seeing them, but hearing from them. Listening to how their lives where going. He would talk to Alan often, listen to him complain about school and how he wished he was out racing. Gordon of course knew that Alan often went out to practice, but he had promised that he wouldn't tell their father. He didn't talk to his other brothers quite a much, but a phone call once every month or two just to see how things were going. He wished he had been able to be up above to see John go to space, but he was sure there would be other times he'd be able to see a rocket explode under him.

Gordon leaned back in his chair and glanced over to where some of his experiments sat. It was dark, and he couldn't really see them, but he looked anyways. The station was silent, but it was nearing the end of his shift and soon the daily communications would be coming in. As if on cue the communications consul started beeping. Gordon jumped from his seat and made his way to the main command center to accept the incoming call.

"Gordon Tracy here. It is once again torrential rain, flooding, and zombies are banging at the door. We are still waiting on our rescue," Gordon couldn't help but laugh to himself.

"Yes, Tracy, I'm sure," The voice on the other side chided back, "Other than the imminent drowning and zombification of the entire crew, how was your shift?"

"Boring as usual. Everything is showing normal, experiments are progressing well, and I am tired. Can I go to bed now?"

"Sure, let the next shift know that we'll be in contact… wait…A message just came for you… holy shit…"

"Hey, what's up?" Gordon asked leaning toward the grainy display, "Hey, you still there?"

"Yeah, Tracy. I've… I've got some bad news for you. It looks like your father's plan crashed in the Pacific, there were no survivors." Gordon fell back into the chair his breath caught in his chest. "Gordon, did you receive that message?"

"Yeah," He cleared his throat, "Yeah, I heard you."

"Look, Gordon, we're sorry."

"Yeah, Thanks." Gordon shut off the comms off before they could apologize any more and just sat in the chair tears running down his face.