Thunderbirds and The Tracy Family are the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. All other characters are unique and of my own making and remain mine.
Summary: Sometimes, out of the blue, an opportunity presents itself to help lay the ghosts of the past to rest, once and for all. Now, for Scott Tracy, just such a time had come. Will it all come good in the end or will it just be so much worse!
Chapter 1
"You're kidding!"
John Tracy couldn't help the sudden exclamation or the concerned look he gave his older brother, Virgil, at hearing the news.
"Hmmm. And you're absolutely sure about the location, Alan?" their father also mused in worried concern. "There's no doubt about it!"
"None, Sir," the youngest Tracy affirmed from his station on board Thunderbird Five. "I wish there was….but that is the location."
"Alright, Son….thank you. And let us know if any more information comes in, in the meantime. Base…out," the Commander-In-Chief acknowledged, cutting the link and casting a glance to his waiting sons.
This was, well and truly, one of those cases of, 'of all the places, in all the world'!
It just so happened that Virgil and John, who was now earth-side, had been in the family lounge, reading and relaxing, when the call came in, automatically activating the alert siren throughout the villa, which after doing its job, was then silenced. And to say now, that a worrisome and uneasy atmosphere had settled on the room was quite the understatement, having taken everyone present completely by surprise.
It was the one call Jefferson Tracy had always dreaded might come, the one place he'd hoped his sons would never have to go to on a rescue mission, especially one son in particular. Yet, somewhere in the back of his mind, there was always that fated inevitability, that one day! Why now though! It was just too soon but as always, the timing and location of a rescue was completely out of their hands.
The lithe blond-haired Tracy blew out a long, unbelieving breath. "Well…who would ever have reckoned on that!"
"Reckoned on what!" came a sudden curious voice, causing the three men to momentarily startle but then visibly relax.
Gordon had just entered the lounge, having come straight from his room in answer to the summoning call and was now getting the very distinct feeling he had just missed out on something important, judging by the atmosphere. Once he had been filled in on the details and realised that this was deadly serious and not some sort of sick joke, too sick even for him to ever contemplate, the copper-haired aquanaut was equally stunned, to say the least.
"Gee, yeah…who would've reckoned on that, alright," the younger Tracy repeated in the same unbelief. "So….who's gonna tell him!"
It wasn't a prospect any of them were relishing and the words had barely left Gordon's mouth, when…….!
"Tell 'him' what!" the familiar easy drawl sounded from somewhere behind them, causing the four men to startle.
And this time, there was no, visible relaxing!
It had been getting more and more back to normal for Scott Tracy and this morning had found him down in his hangar office, before heading over to Thunderbird Two's bay, to meet up with Jenna. The Tracy family's now resident nurse and newest team member of International Rescue, should she be called upon, was busily engaged in restocking and tidying up the medical bay of the great, green transport ship, ensuring everything was ready for the next time they were called out, when her new fiancé had popped his head round the door. And they had barely been together two minutes, getting all snugly and cosy and doing what newly engaged couples do when they get the chance to be alone, when the mission alert siren sounded.
She was getting more and more used to the loud, blaring klaxon going off suddenly and without any warning, though it still made her jump a little. And now it had the added effect of inducing in her a small measure of excitement, in that, she would never know, until the briefing session, if she would be going with them. Always though, even if she weren't going, there would be that element of fear and trepidation for the Tracy boys, of the dangers they would most likely have to face and the thought that, perhaps the rescue might be a bad one.
With Scott now back on full active duty, protocol demanded they leave whatever they were doing and head immediately to the lounge as quickly as possible, which they did and which they already had been doing during the latter part of her lover's recuperation, since the Field Commander couldn't help his instinctive reactions to the summoning call.
Then, you know how it is, when you enter a room and all conversation suddenly stops! Somehow, you just know you've been the topic of conversation, walking in on something you perhaps shouldn't have heard! Well, that's precisely how Scott Tracy felt right at that moment, the minute he entered the lounge.
"O.k.a.y…..does someone want to tell me, what's going on!" the Field Commander queried warily, looking from one to the other, only to have his gaze averted. And it was left to his father, who filled him in on the details, with a heavy sigh.
Well, he did ask and it brought him no satisfaction at all; rather causing him to become strangely quiet, becoming lost in deep pensive thought, before straightening up and taking a deep breath, as though he had resolved whatever issues were warring in his mind.
And he most certainly had!
"I'm going….and that's final," Scott insisted, in no uncertain terms, his handsome face a mask of unreadable emotion.
It was going to be another one of those head-butting, battle-of-wills moments; they could feel it. And the best thing to do….was to stay right out of it!
"Scott! I don't want you out there," came the equally emphatic insistence from behind the desk. "John is perfectly capable of handling Thunderbird One for this mission."
The blond-haired astronaut shifted uneasily and gave an uncomfortable wince, at feeling that wasn't exactly the right thing to say, at least, not with Scott in this mood. And indeed, it hadn't done anything to quell the eldest Tracy's growing agitation.
"Yeah, sure John is capable of handling One…no one doubts that," the dark-haired pilot readily agreed. "Just not for this damn mission! He doesn't know what it's like out there. I do. I know what's involved….and that's why I'm going," Scott then continued, stating his case quite forcefully and turning to his brother in hoped-for understanding, which was readily given.
Jefferson Tracy fixed his eldest with a steely, determined glare. "And that's precisely why I don't want you out there." But his heart softened, trying one last desperate plea that was born only of a father's deep concern. "Son….you don't have to do this…not this mission."
He knew though, almost as soon as he had said it, what response it would draw from his strong-willed eldest son and the cold hand of inevitability clutched at his heart, making him feel powerless to change what is somehow perhaps, meant to be. He even found himself wishing Scott had been anywhere else but here when the damn call had come in, or worse, that his son was still not yet fully recovered but such is life!
"I think you know I do, Dad," the former air force pilot returned quietly, fixing him with a determined gaze of those intense cobalt blue eyes.
Turning quickly to Jenna, he then took her off to the side, over to the panoramic windows, to afford them a little privacy and, taking her hands in his, Scott searched her eyes for that same understanding. "Baby, you know I gotta go…you know I gotta do this."
Of course she didn't want him to go, not to this place, not right now but how could she not give him her full support in this; in what would probably be the most difficult of all rescues for him, if only from a deeply personal and emotionally troubling perspective. The young nurse nodded slowly, giving him as warm a reassuring smile as she could muster, though she couldn't help feel a measure of worrisome concern. But she knew he needed her to be strong. She also got the feeling, by the way he was talking to her, that she would not be going on this mission, a fact her lover immediately confirmed.
"Not this one, Jen…I need to know you're safe. I need to know you're here, waiting for me," he spoke quietly, in tones that begged for her understanding, while giving her hands a little squeeze.
She reached out and touched his face with loving affection. "You know I will, babe."
The Field Commander gave her a quiet smile and the next thing she knew, something was being pressed into the palm of her hand. When she looked down, she found herself looking at a ring, a very familiar ring; the same precious ring she had placed on his finger just the night before.
She had kept her promise and set about, the day after their engagement party, secretly organising the special order, while he was otherwise engaged in work-related matters. And she smiled now quietly to herself, at remembering how excited she had been when the precious object had, at last, arrived and the moment she gave it to him. It had just been a quiet, intimate little supper with the two of them, in their suite and, having asked him to close his eyes, took his hand and slipped it on.
"I hope you like it," she had said and felt instantly at ease, on seeing his delighted and over-whelmed reaction. "I took the firestone opal that Cass gave you. The jeweller was able to re-cut the stone and inlay a piece of it into your ring. I just wanted you to have something that was special to you. I…I hope you don't mind, Scott," she had felt the need to add in explanation, knowing she had taken certain liberties.
"Mind! I love it, baby," her lover had assured her instantly, examining more fully the token of love placed on his finger; a solid band of the same finest platinum, with the inlay of firestone opal and etched inside with the same inscription of 'invisible threads….bound together' and their initials. And besides, it couldn't have been more appropriate, since Cass seemed to have been intrinsically bound to their past, the present and, who knows, maybe their future! "I couldn't have wanted anything more perfect."
But now, here it was, being removed from his finger and laid in the palm of her hand.
"I need you to take care of this for me, baby," Scott quietly implored, gently curling her fingers around the precious object.
Jenna looked to him in slight bewilderment.
"It's not that I don't want to, Jen but I can't wear it…not while I'm International Rescue," her Field Commander lover beseeched, needing her understanding. "It's just too special and distinct…so, if I was seen wearing it, as Scott Tracy…and then someone happened to notice it on a rescue….or the other way round! You understand, don't you, baby? I can wear it as Scott Tracy…but just not as International Rescue."
Of course, put like that! She touched his face and gave him a reassuring smile. "Yes, I do. I should have thought of that. And I guess that means I'll have to leave mine behind too, if I go out on call!" the young nurse added, following his logical reasoning.
The dark-haired pilot gave a small, sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry, baby…it's just safer that way….that we don't have anything that can easily identify us….and so no one can use us against each other. Now, I gotta go."
He leant in, gave her a lingering little kiss….and then was gone, with Jenna silently mouthing the words, 'I love you' and 'Please be careful', as he disappeared through the wall.
In the meantime, Jefferson Tracy had closed his eyes briefly and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, evidence of his deep annoyance at a situation that was out of his control and of his, for once, total uncertainty that this decision was the right one. He sighed heavily at the helpless frustration he felt, lost in his own deep thoughts and memories, while the three boys could only look from one to the other, knowing there was nothing they could do or say that would have made their eldest brother change his mind. Even now, though, Jeff was still searching for ways of keeping Scott here, without causing an explosion from his eldest son.
Too late, the Commander-In-Chief became aware of the movement, of the secret access panel rotating in the wall to Thunderbird One's silo. Perhaps, somewhere in his mind, there was the vain hope that Jenna could persuade his strong-willed son otherwise but in truth he knew that wasn't very likely.
"Damn it, Scott," Jeff growled, before turning to his other sons and emitting a heavily resigned sigh. "Alright, boys….get going." And, as they headed off for their respective exists to enter Thunderbird Two, their father called out after them, halting them momentarily in their tracks, to issue them with an ominous warning. "Do not let those people know who Scott is. Is that understood? We have no way of knowing just how they would react to him, if they knew."
Again, the brothers shot each other a brief look, understanding the seriousness of what their father was saying and acknowledged with a chorus of, 'Yes, Sir'.
Then, once again, the Tracy patriarch's tone softened to more that of a father than Commander. "And boys! Keep an eye on your brother out there….please. Make sure he's okay."
"Sure, Dad…you know we will," Virgil reassured and then they were gone.
With the rest of the boys now on their way to Thunderbird Two and Scott about to launch any minute, Jenna turned to her future father-in-law and could see immediately just what this was taking out of him. Sure, he had been through this a hundred times before, sending his boys off on missions but this rescue was different, even she knew that and she couldn't begin to imagine just what Jeff must be going through right now. She hadn't been here long and knew how she felt just hearing of Scott's harrowing story but Jeff and his family had lived through the experience and had their own tortured memories of that traumatic time.
Her heart went out to him and she crossed the room to where he sat behind the desk and slipped an arm around his shoulders in a comforting gesture. There was no need for words between them, only the companionable silence of the shared love they both had for Scott. Jenna leant down and pressed her face lightly to the fine head of salt-and-pepper hair. Appreciative of the gesture and guessing how this young woman must also be feeling, sharing his worrisome concern, the Tracy patriarch gave her a small smile, while reaching up to pat her hand.
And now Jefferson Tracy, being the astute man that he was, could sense the amiable young nurse's desperate longing to be out there on the balcony to see his eldest son leave and that both needed their own space to reflect. "Go on….he'll be launching any minute."
Jenna quickly kissed the top of the silvered head and hurried out, just in time to see the pool slowly roll back to reveal the hidden silo.
As the familiar faint rumble of the scout ship's booster rockets began to reverberate through the villa, Jeff found himself wishing his eldest, 'God speed'. "Take care, Son….and I hope you find what you need."
Out on the balcony, a young woman watched, as the sleek silver/grey rocket rose majestically from its hidden lair and up into the clear blue sky; watched as the mighty rocket strained at the leash, her awesome power restrained and reigned in by her pilot, until just the right moment, when he would set her free to own the skies where she belonged and was made for. She watched with immense pride, knowing the pilot that held all this power in check was the man she loved.
And she reflected now on the first time she had seen him take to the skies. It was the day after their engagement party, when he was once more getting 'back in the saddle' as it were, taking control of his ship again, like he was taking control of his life. How proud she was of him, her beloved Scott, watching him soar into the skies, watching him fly free, for real this time, not just part of some flight simulation. Now he was back doing what he did best, piloting his beloved Thunderbird One and laying all on the line to go to others in need. How ironic, though, that it should be those 'particular people' who needed him now, on his very first duty back as Field Commander, since being declared fully fit, after a lengthy and, at times, difficult recovery.
And, in just over a week since the happy family celebrations, all those feelings of joy and happiness were now clouded by anxiety and trepidation but she had to let him go. Much as her heart would have wanted to keep him here safe with her, she knew she could not hold him, could not keep him like some caged bird. She knew this time would come, of course, when he would return to full-time duty; after all, this was the life she freely chose. Just why did it have to be 'this place' and now…so soon!
Shielding her eyes from the sun, Jenna tracked her lover pilot's progress up into the sky and watched as the sleek silver rocket gracefully swung into her horizontal position. And somehow, she just knew he was watching her on his onboard monitor, as he momentarily hovered. She drew a deep, steadying breath, gave him a warm, encouraging smile and blew him a kiss, for it was more than likely he was zooming in on her right at that moment and she knew he needed her to be strong.
The next moment, Thunderbird One's mighty propulsion rockets ignited and, in the time it only takes to catch a breath, she was gone, tearing up the skies, as she disappeared across the ocean, disappearing into the wide blue yonder. The young woman looked down for a moment at the precious ring in her opened palm, then curled her fingers protectively around it and clutched it to her heart, silently whispering a prayer for her lover's safety.
And just where was this particular rescue mission! Just where was it he was going!
He was going to a place that was forever burned deep in his memory; to a place of long-ago horror, suffering and sorrow; to a village buried deep in the jungles of North Vietnam.
He was going back to the village of An Lac.
Author's Note: To fully appreciate and better understand this story and the history Scott has with this village, I recommend you read, the Medal of Honor scenario, incorporated within Road to Recovery, from the end of chapter 65 to chapter 92. The village itself and what actually happened there are mentioned in chapters 70/71.
