Summary: It's been two years since Acronym and the Hood tried to put an end to International Rescue. Now, an evil force is gathering once more. His wife and son have been kidnapped, and the patriarch of the Tracy family may be the reason. His name is Jeff Tracy, and this is the second longest day of his life.
Author's Note: This story was written as a response to the Tracy Island Writers Forum's 2005 Spring Challenge. Credit goes to fellow TIC author Molly Webb, who wrote the text shown at the beginning of the story in italics.
Acknowledgments: I must thank my left arm, Sandy, who dropped everything whenever I finished an Hour to proofread it for me. And the person who continues to be my right arm: Sam. Always there to answer my questions and provide excellent feedback and encouragement. Thank you, both.
Prerequisite: It's not necessary, but you may wish to read "24" first, because this is the sequel and therefore references some events from its predecessor.
24 – Day 2
Hour One
The following takes place between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
8:01:24
Jeff Tracy had been at work in his office at the Tracy Corp. headquarters since 7:00 a.m. His briefcase lay open on one corner of his desk, balancing the stacked piles of papers and reports that nearly covered the gleaming expanse of black glass. He was lost in concentration on a particularly troublesome spreadsheet when his cell phone rang. Absently he picked it up and answered, his eyes still on the paper before him. "Jeff Tracy."
There was a pause, and then a voice replied. "The Jeff Tracy?"
Jeff frowned, full attention suddenly focused on the phone at his ear. "Who is this? How did you get this number?"
Again there was a pause before the voice answered. "I found it in your son's wallet."
"My son's wallet," he replied matter-of-factly. This had been tried before. As a billionaire and well-known former astronaut with five grown sons, extortionists were, unfortunately, something the Tracy family had dealt with before.
"You don't seem surprised."
"I'm not. Now tell me," he continued calmly as he pushed a small black button beneath his desk, "what is your name?"
"You may call me...Ebony."
Jeff looked up as two security guards silently entered his office. He motioned for them to come near, jotted one word down on a scrap of paper, and within seconds the men were gone.
"Ebony. That's a very interesting name."
He received no response.
Jeff heard a very faint click and knew a trace had been placed on the call as he'd asked. Now it was just a matter of time until they found out where this one was and had them arrested like they had any others who'd come their way.
"So which of my sons' wallets did you find this in, Ebony?"
"Well, let's see now. That would be the son who was with your girlfriend, Jeff Tracy."
He couldn't help but notice the venom that dripped from her voice as she spoke his name, but for the life of him did not recognize her.
Wait...girlfriend? That could only be...and she was with...but how could this Ebony have known unless...?
Oh, God.
"My girlfriend, you say?" Jeff asked evenly. Just then, Line 1 on his office phone rang.
"That will probably be her, Jeff Tracy. You may want to get that."
"No, w—"
But she was gone. He dropped the cell phone and picked up the office receiver. "Jeff Tracy."
"Jeff?"
Also a female voice, but there was no mistaking the owner of this one. Or the tremor in it she couldn't hide.
He suddenly found he couldn't breathe. "Penny?"
"Jeff...Jeff, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry!"
"Penny? What is it? What's happened? Where's John, Penny? Where is he?"
"I—they took him, Jeff. He's gone. He's gone!"
8:14:32
"God, Jeff, it all happened so fast and Parker, he...he tried to fight them, we both did, but...Jeff, he's dead. Parker's dead!"
"He's what?"
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'll never be able to ride in FAB One again."
"Oh, God, Penny...I'm so sorry. Listen to me, are you safe where you are?"
"Yes, Sir Jeremy is on his way. We're off to SH-34."
"F.A.B. I'll meet you there."
"Jeff..."
"Penny, I'll be there as fast as I can."
"I love you."
Moisture pooled in his eyes. "I love you, too."
8:21:54
"Yes, that's right, my son has been kidnapped."
God, Ned, where are you when I need you most?
Jeff rubbed his forehead. Ned could've kept these reporters at bay. With his death two years previous, both the Tracys and International Rescue had lost a valuable ally and someone Jeff had come to call friend.
"Mr. Tracy, can you give us any information about the kidnappers? Who made the phone call? Is there a ransom demand?"
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please, Mr. Tracy needs to make it to the airport," an older, graying police officer said as he and others tried to push the reporters away.
How did they even find out about it, for God's sake?
Jeff finally made it to the waiting squad car and was pretty much pushed into the back seat. It was slow-going, but the car finally broke through the crowd in front of Tracy Corp's headquarters and, sirens blaring, headed for Teterboro.
A rather short, squat officer in the passenger seat half-turned to face him. "Mr. Tracy, I'm Chief William Costill. We're going to get in touch with the World Police as soon as we get you safely in the air, but I need to know now if you have any idea at all who this Ebony is."
"No, Chief Costill, I don't. Believe me, I wish I did."
Come on, come on, this is taking too long. Too long!
"We're going to do everything we can from here, Mr. Tracy, but it isn't going to be much since he was in England when he was taken."
"I know, and thank you for what help you can give."
Finally. The airport. His jet was outside Hangar Q. He'd be airborne inside 30 minutes.
John.
Penny.
Damn.
8:34:14
He spluttered awake.
Where the hell am I?
Coughing, choking. Can't get the air into his lungs. What...water? Why water?
Where am I?
"Hello, John Tracy."
Hacking, coughing.
"Come now, I know you to be more of a gentleman than not to say hello to a lady."
John's eyes wrenched open against the searing pain in his head. "Who...?"
"You must look at me."
His eyes closed against the pain, against the voice that was far too much like velvet, far too soothing. Something wasn't right about it. Something...
"Look at me, John."
Soft. Velvet. Lulling.
"Jo-ohn. Open your eyes, John."
No. Too much pain.
Hands at his eyes, forcing them open.
No!
Bright light. Too bright!
"Come, John. Am I so awful to see?"
Focus, focus, focus.
Dark. Dark woman. Skin so dark it was like...like ebony. Her hand reached out and touched his arm. His arm so white, so light, like...ivory.
Ebony and ivory...
He almost laughed but then couldn't remember what there was to laugh about as an awful pain reappeared behind his eyes. But they were held open. He could not close them, no matter how hard he tried.
Who are you?
"Ah, you try to speak to my mind. Surprising. I was not aware a Tracy possessed such mental capacity as that."
"What the...where am I? Who are you?" he finally bellowed, struggling against strong arms that held him down on a very uncomfortable chair.
She stepped closer, more into the light and their eyes met.
Dazzling. Beautiful. Colors...swirling, beautiful. Sparkling. Beautiful.
"Hello, John."
Silk. Velvet.
"My name is Ebony." She withdrew her hand. "I think we will get along just fine, John. Just fine."
Ebony.
His eyelids were released.
Oh, God. Help me...
8:40:02
He knew it'd be ready when he got there. Barney was quick and good. He'd known the Tracys as long as Jeff could remember, and took good care of the Corporation aircraft. He'd called him the moment Chief Costill had become silent.
"Get her ready for me, Barney. I'm in one helluva hurry."
"A-OK, Jeff."
Sure enough, the jet was fueled and ready for take-off, pre-flight checks completed. Barney moved to shake his hand, but the look on Jeff's face told him it wasn't a time for civility.
"Ready to go, Colonel."
"Thank you, Barney."
Finally into the jet. Thank God. Rev the engines. Start to move.
"Tower, this is Tracy Twelve requesting clearance for take-off."
"One moment, Tracy Twelve."
Taking too long, taking too long.
"Tracy Twelve..." The voice startled him. "Tracy Twelve, this is the Tower. You are cleared for take-off on Runway 2-7."
"Affirmative, Tracy Twelve out."
Hurry it up, hurry it up.
Wouldn't do to crash on your way, Jeff. Be smart.
Who had done this? Who had killed Parker, kidnapped John? Penny's voice...he'd never heard her like that. Not even back when Acronym and the Hood had been after them. Never.
I'm coming, John.
I'm coming, Penny.
Please let John be okay. Please.
Gather speed. Runway passes beneath at a dizzying pace. That first rush, when the stomach flops as you leave the ground. Jeff began to feel sick to his stomach. But it wasn't the take-off.
John.
He remembered when Acronym had held Gordon aboard the sub, and then Tin-Tin. One by one, it seemed, his family had been picked off in one way or another...either by a crazed nurse or armed gunmen or their arch-enemy the Hood. Penny had killed him herself. Penny was strong. She'd hold up. He knew she would.
And Ned. Ned had saved his life.
He'd almost lost John and Brains in Thunderbird 3. They almost hadn't made it. But they'd succeeded. And together, they'd recovered.
But now?
Oh, God, John.
The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach grew.
8:52:12
"That's right, John, sleep. Just sleep."
What's the matter with me?
"Rest now. When you wake, we will begin."
Begin? Begin what?
"Oh, John, I'm so pleased with your mind. You will be perfect for this. Just perfect."
Thoughts, questions, everything fading away to velvet. Soft, ebony velvet surrounding him like a cloak, a shield. And then sleep, blessed sleep to claim his weary body, to take away the pain behind his eyes.
Father...
Ebony stepped away from the prone figure, white teeth flashing as a smile graced her face. Tall and thin, her well-toned muscles rippled with every move she made. With a wave of her hand she dismissed an Asian slave and stood staring down at her prey in triumph.
Closing her eyes, she began to hum softly, words barely making themselves heard among the rich tones of her voice. Suddenly a glow seemed to come from nowhere, above the bed where John Tracy lay asleep. Oblivious.
Irises so black the pupils could not be seen appeared from beneath heavy eyelids that rose to meet the glow. She swayed and gazed upon its smoky grayness flecked with flashes of blue.
My love, she thought as her smile grew. You have come.
8:59:58
8:59:59
9:00:00