Your Mutt M'Lady

By Crystalquirt

I do not own anything to do with 'The Thunderbirds Are Go ' past or present.

Illegal poaching operations with all kinds of traps old and new are stored in the warehouse where Sherbet just ran away from Lady Penelope. Alan ran after the little dog - and the warehouse is booby trapped!

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

"International Rescue just received a call for help in a warehouse in South Africa," John said.

"What's going on John?" Scott said looking up from his tablet. He sat on a sofa while Virgil played the piano. He stopped playing when he heard John beeping in.

"It's someone that Lady Penelope knows. She's a young reporter named Lucille Von Ponchface. Apparently, she was investigating a group of illegal poachers and reports that she got herself locked in a cage accidentally."

"This sounds more like something the GDF or Global Wildlife Protection would handle," Scott said.

"The GDF will be joining us as soon as they can, and Lady Penelope and Parker are on their way as well."

"It doesn't sound like they will need us at all."Sounds boring " Alan asked, "Isn't there an earthquake or volcano erupting nearby?"

"And since you said that you get to go!" Scott smiled at is little brother. "Gear up with Virgil and get that lady out of that cage."

"Virgil, would you give our little brother and esteemed member of International Rescue a lift?"

"FAB " Virgil answered herding Alan along to get geared up.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

Thunderbird 2 rattled nearby windows as she came in to land in the empty warehouse parking lot. The pavement itself shuttered.

Virgil barely got the struts down, and the pink FAB1 came roaring up the drive and skidded sideways to a stop perfectly lined up with a parking spot by the large locked double doors.

"You go, Alan. It'll be a good experience for you." Virgil said smiling. "Maybe Lady Lucy will be close to your age."

"That's a bright possibility, " Alan said smiling after a little consideration.

Scott overheard and interrupted "Hey Virgil hang around there in case Alan and Lucy need a chaperone."

"FAB " Virgil acknowledged. Alan rolled his eyes and looked out the window.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

"Hello, Alan thank you for meeting us here. Will the others be joining us?" Lady Penelope said. Alan had just jogged up to them after Virgil lowered Thunderbird 2's deck for him.

"It's just me for now " Alan answered. "Virgil is 'backup' with Thunderbird 2. He will stay here, and the others are monitoring our situation." Alan answered sounding very important.

Parker had his back to Alan and Lady Penelope when he said "Done!" and opened the doors after picking the lock. The three and the little Pug dog Sherbet stepped inside.

"Interesting how all these 'abandoned' warehouses we go to lately are using a lot of power." Lady Penelope said as she took a reading with her hand held compact scanner weapon and force shield. Alan switched on the lights.

"International Rescue, " Lady Penelope said into her compact.

"Thunderbird 5 here Lady Penelope," John answered. "How are things going?"

"Alan is with us, and we just got inside. From what we've seen so far it's an empty warehouse with the power still on. I'll report more when we find Lady Lucille."

"FAB, " John said, "Oh and Alan try to stay on task no games."

"Hey, I'm a Pro! No games until we finish the mission." Alan agreed.

Alan led the way, and they walked to the nearest doorway. Parker picked another lock, and they started to enter another dark room.

"Wait, " Lady Penelope said "Lady Lucy couldn't have come this way. There is an undisturbed layer of dust on the floor, and she wouldn't have re-locked the door after herself would she?"

They heard the scampering of tiny toenails on the concrete floor and looked just in time to see a rather large rat coming at them from inside the dark room ahead. Alan's eyes were huge as he watched the rat run right toward him and over his toes before he could step out of the way.

Alan let out an involuntary "Yikes " and turned to watch the rat run. Unfortunately, Sherbet also turned to chase the rat.

Sherbet barked at the rat and scampered after it as fast as his short legs could carry him. The rat ran through one of three partly open doors across the warehouse floor from where Lady P Parker and Alan were standing.

"Bertie!" Penelope called after her little dog "Don't leave my sight!" but Sherbet was hunting big game and wasn't about to give up so soon.

"I'll go get him!" Alan announced and jogged to the doorway where the dog went out of sight. The hallway beyond was dark, but for the light from the room, Alan just left.

"Well, Alan and Sherbet have that way covered. What do you say we choose door number three M'Lady?" Parker suggested.

"Right you are then Parker. Lead the way." They went through the door that was the furthest from the door where they entered the warehouse.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

Rat Hunt

Alan made his way through another room and saw Sherbet's kinky tail disappear through another door. Alan said "Common Sherbet! Slow down! I can't keep up!"

Through another long hallway around a corner down a flight of stairs and to a door in the middle of a downstairs hallway, Alan caught glimpses of the little dog still running joyfully after his prey. Alan was breathing hard when he got to the last door he'd seen Sherbet go through. The door was open, but like so many other areas in the warehouse, it was dark beyond.

"Hm, no lights down here I guess." Alan turned on a small but powerful light on his red harness. Once inside he found a panel of 10 switches three meters away from the door, and he flipped the first switch.

The room lit up, and Alan turned off his light. "Much better - I'm glad I was wrong about there being no lights down here. This place is spooky."

Alan found a path through stacks of junked traps and cages. There were other metal and wood devices that he was sure he didn't want to know what they were for.

"Sherbet? Where are you?"

"Help!" a female voice cried.

"Hello? I'm from International Rescue – where are you?" Alan asked. The rest of the warehouse had been nearly empty, but this large room was packed tightly. Some traps and tools were antique some newer, and some were even computer assisted.

"I'm in a large cage right in the middle of the room, " said Lady Lucy "I didn't realize it was a cage until the front and back slammed shut on me at the same time."

"Keep talking - I'll follow the sound of your voice," Alan said.

"Be careful! There are traps everywhere in here." Lady Lucy said.

"There you are!" Alan said as he rounded a corner. He jogged to the lady in the cage.

"You must be Lady Penelope's friend," Alan said.

"Yes, I'm Lady Lucille you can call me Lucy. Is Lady Penelope here too?"

"Yes, she's in another part of the warehouse with Parker. I guess her little dog helped me find you first."

"Oh yes, little Sherbet I saw him run by just a moment ago." Lady Lucy said.

Alan examined the stainless steel gate on the cage and pulled out a small handheld cutter. He held it against the lock and activated it. The lock popped open easily when a 4-inch long laser beam lit up the inside of the device punching a hole through it.

Alan quickly got the lock of the gate and opened it. The lady came out shaking Alan's hand "Thank-you! Thank-You! You're a dear!" She let go of his hand and before he knew what she was doing she had him in a bear hug.

"Oh yes – um you're welcome " Alan stuttered blushing but not trying to get away. He raised his arms a little to hug her back, but she straightened up and said, "Thank you so much really, but I must find Lady P and tell her what's going on here!"

"You'll find Lady Penelope on the first floor. I'll be along as soon as I find Sherbet." Alan said.

"Hurry this is an illegal poaching and endangered animal trapping organization. We don't want to be here alone when they come back." Lady Lucille said over her should as she was leaving.

"FAB, " Alan said.

Lady Lucille stopped and looked back "What?"

"Oh, it just means that I'll hurry," Alan said.

Alan went in the direction that Lady Lucy said she'd seen Sherbet going. "Sherbet! Come here!" he called.

"Sherbet?" After a while, Alan thought he might never find that little Mutt. He smiled when he thought about Parker always calling the little purebred dog, a mutt.

"Sherbet – Bertie - Little Mutt? Where are you?" Alan tried every name for the little dog that he knew.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

Turned sideways in his seat and leaning back Virgil had his feet up on the edge of Thunderbird 2's control panel. He was examining the structure of the warehouse that the others went into on his holographic scanners.

"Thunderbird 5 are you reading these scans?" Virgil said.

"Yes, Virgil," John answered.

"Do you see that in the basement? There seems to be an area that is unreadable at least I can't scan it to see what's down there."

"EOS, " John said "Can you scan this area? Try all frequencies." He traced the area on the hologram with his finger.

"Yes, John. It will take only a moment." EOS answered confidently.

"If it is an illegal operation it must be part of their security." Virgil guessed.

EOS interrupted "My scans show a large area. It all seems to be just one room with one entrance from a hallway. There is a lot of metal, but I can't scan enough detail to see what is there. The rest of the warehouse is empty. I can see Lady Penelope Parker and a third woman but do not see Alan or the little K-9 Unit."

"Thank you EOS the K-9 unit's name is "Sherbet."

"Oh like the desert. Is it edible too?"

"No! and never let Lady P hear you even suggest it!" John warned.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

Finally, Alan heard some soft whining. He called Sherbet's name again, and a soft scared-sounding bark followed.

"Sherbet?" Alan kept talking to the dog as he followed the soft sounds.

"Oh! Sherbet! What have you gotten yourself into?" Alan asked when he saw the little dog had trapped himself and the rat he'd been chasing in one of the humane traps on the floor with other cages stacked on top of it.

"Poor little guy. I'd take a photo, but I don't think even Parker would enjoy seeing you like this." Alan spoke to the dog while he moved the cages that were sitting on top and examined the latches and springs on the front of the trap holding Bertie.

"That rat looks just as eager to get out of this thing as you do," Alan observed. He spoke kindly to the dog and the rat while he figured out how to safely get the two of them out of the trap.

"Once you caught the rat you didn't know what to do about it did you? You're a gentle little dog. Now you two look like partners in crime jail mates as it were " Alan said. With a jiggle of the latch and snap, the gate came open.

The rat ran behind the nearest box for cover and Sherbet scampered back in the direction he came looking for Lady Penelope.

"Fine I saved all three of you, and you leave me here alone. Lady Lucy too! But that sure was a nice hug." Alan paused remembering.

"And you Sherbet! Without as much as a yelp of thanks! I know I know it's not about that I don't need any thanks – But it is nice once in a while."

Alan straightened his red harness and set off more slowly taking the time to look around for the first time.

There were huge taxidermy animal trophies all over the place some had been mounted on the walls, and others just lay on cage tops or the floor. There was a pile of skulls in a corner, and no two were the same kind of animal. There was another pile of elephant tusks.

"Not even Gordon would like the antiques here." he mumbled to himself.

He was back next to the cage that had trapped Lady Lucy. Alan got a shiver just looking around. "It's like a den of death, and something does smell bad down here." He stopped and leaned on something to see behind it and put his hand on something wet. Alan had leaned on a fresh pile of pelts skin side up waiting to be stretched and tanned.

"Yuck!" Alan groaned wiping his hands on his suit legs.

He started again for the exit to go back the way he came and turned right into a full-sized Taxidermy male lion head with the mouth open big enough for Alan's whole head to fit inside.

"Aaah!" Alan cried involuntarily and jumped back. He stepped right into a trap! A large rusty iron bear trap slammed shut on Alan's right leg the sharp edges cutting through his boots.

Searing pain followed the trap's iron jaws snapping shut. The sharp edges cut Alan's calf clear to the bone on both sides, and he felt every bit of it. When he fell, his leg moved abruptly causing more excruciating pain. Alan screamed hysterically forgetting even to try to remain calm and still in the face of this emergency.

"Thunderbird 3! Alan – what's happening?" Virgil heard Alan screaming over the comm, and tried to get his attention to find out what was going on, but Alan couldn't answer.

Alan tried to free his own leg by prying on the metal trap, but the jaws wouldn't budge.

"Aaahnnnnn!" Alan screamed and gritted his teeth. Seeing blood and with the intense pain he fell back with his head on the floor breathing hard and fast and stopped screaming. His mind was telling him to calm down be professional, but his heart was beating too fast.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

The silence over the comm scared Virgil even more than the screaming. "Alan! Alan!" Virgil screamed into the comm.

"Thunderbird 5 – I'm going inside!" Virgil said as he went quickly to the deck and lowered himself down.

"FAB Virgil – we heard - let us know as soon as you find Alan!" John said sounding worried. "I hope it was just a rat."

"Is that some kind of desert too?" EOS asked innocently.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

The commotion and loud sounds from the processing room where Alan was activated sensors designed to lock the place down should an animal get out of its cage or a trap before the workers had a chance to 'process' it.

Right before Virgil got to the building's entrance the whole place locked down "Oh no John! - This whole building is a trap and Alan's in there!"

"How about Lady P and Parker?" John asked.

"Lady Penelope Parker! Come in!" Virgil yelled into the comm.

Lady Penelope and Parker startled very briefly and looked around as all the windows and the loading doors slammed shut one after the other. Iron plates slid down or sideways covering each opening. Lady Lucy tried to hide behind Lady Penelope.

"This is unpleasant," Penelope said.

"And inconvenient " Parker added.

"Alan Virgil come in." Lady Penelope called with her steady sweet voice.

"Lady Penelope! What's happening in there?" Virgil yelled when he heard her voice "Is Alan okay?"

"I suppose he is - we haven't seen him for about twenty-five minutes, and now this place seems to have locked itself down tighter than a fort!"

"I read you Thunderbird 2 – Lady Lucy Parker and I are okay." Lady Penelope answered, "We've been separated from Alan - I regret to say."

"Have you found Lady Lucy Yet?" Virgil asked.

"Yes Lady Lucy joined us a moment ago " Lady Penelope confirmed.

Lady Lucy said, "Is Alan that handsome young man who released me from the cage?"

"Yes, why didn't he come back with you?" Parker asked.

"He said he was looking for your little dog there and went farther into the room. It was scary - there were parts of animal carcasses all over, with heads and skulls and hides for tanning, tusks, claws, tails and full body animal taxidermies."

"Alan probably stayed to look around but what could have happened to make him scream?"

"He probably got scared by the skulls " Parker offered.

"Alan doesn't scare that easily," Virgil said thoughtfully.

"Except for ghosts " John unhelpfully added over the comm.

"There were a lot of sharp processing tools and animal traps all over the place." Lady Lucille said, "Maybe he was stuck in a cage like I was."

"We have to find him fast just in case," Virgil said.

John said "Gordon and Scott are still in Germany, but they will be there as soon as they can. Do you want me to come down?"

"No, " Virgil said, "You are needed up there."

"Lady Penelope, can Parker get you out?" Virgil asked.

"Yes, " Lady Penelope said "Parker is working on it now. We'll find Alan."

"FAB and I'll work on getting in!" Virgil said.

Virgil walked to the door where the others went inside. It no longer looked much like a door. It was now covered with a thick steel plate with no knobs switches or markings of any kind.

Tracing the edge of the door with only his eyes, he found the faint outline of a circle visible on the surface and thought there might have been a bolt or a switch under it. He felt the edge of the door and was electrocuted right through his glove.

"Aaaar!" Virgil yelled involuntarily as he was thrown away from the door.

"Virgil! What happened?" John heard his brother yell over the comms.

"I just found out the hard way, "Virgil said, "that the steel plate covering this door is electrified!"

"Lady P and Parker - did you hear!" John asked urgently.

Lady Penelope answered "Yes Thunderbird 5, but Parker already knew that. We have not touched the doors."

"How did you know that Parker?" Lady Penelope asked her companion.

"The hairs on me arms stood up when I got close – I just knew it was electrified."

"You're smarter than I," Virgil admitted.

Parker said "And if we can't go through the door "

Virgil finished "Then we go through the wall." He found a good place in the brick wall near the steel plate and activated his shoulder laser to begin cutting.

Parker found that the walls next to the heavy electrically charged doors were only wood and plasterboard. He went at making a hole with Alice II his newest crowbar.

"Come on Girl Do your stuff!" Parker said to his crowbar as he swung it at the wall. Lady Penelope and Lady Lucille stepped back when Parker started swinging.

Virgil knocked a chunk of brick out of the hole he made and stepped through at the same time Parker made his hole big enough and broke the last chunk of wood away. Virgil ran to meet the Ladies and Parker. The four looked at each other and smiled weakly. Virgil called Thunderbird 5.

"John! I'm inside with Parker and Ladies' Lucy and Penelope. We're in and looking for Alan."

"FAB Virgil Good Luck," John said.

Lady Penelope was holding Sherbet in her arms reluctant to put him down after he ran off. Virgil went first with his bright shoulder light. Lady Penelope and Parker stayed close.

"Which way Lady Lucille?" Parker asked.

"I think it was that way I'm not sure I was running, and it was dark." Lady Lucille said.

"Yip!" Sherbet barked and struggled in Lady Penelope's arms.

"Sh-Sh-Shhhh!" Lady Penelope tried to console the little dog, but Sherbet would have none of it. He kept struggling until he made her drop her compact communicator device and then he jumped out of her arms. She barely stooped down in time so his little short legs wouldn't have so far to fall.

Although they were short, his legs carried Sherbet very fast in the opposite direction down the hallway.

"Bertie!" Lady Penelope cried and ran after him.

Virgil said, "Well Parker I guess we're going that way."

"It looks that way." Parker agreed.

Lady Lucy stayed as close to Virgil as possible, and Parker brought up the rear.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

After Alan had stayed still for a few minutes, he started to feel numb and cold all over. He was experiencing a cold sweat and shock. He opened his eyes and frowned tapping his communicator.

"Virgil!" he called weakly "John er Thunderbird 5? I'm hurt please . . ." The pain distracted Alan before he could finish.

"Aaagnnnn " Alan gritted his teeth and whimpered.

There was no answer from anyone. Alan carefully looked around the room moving his head and trying not to move his leg. When he looked out toward the cage that had trapped Lady Lucy, he saw something move. He carefully peered under a raised trap and between two boxes and saw three large tan furry things – and they moved. In an instant, he couldn't see them anymore.

Alan frantically hit his IR Icon again and trying to keep his voice down said: "There's something alive in here with me - Something big!"

Still, no one answered.

"Oh man even if they find me they'll come in and find whatever that is first – or it will find them, " Alan said. He thought those big feet or paws looked like a large very large cat."

He was already trying to stay still because any movement caused waves of intense pain in his leg. He looked down at his blood soaked leg and saw a chain attached to the bottom of the trap. Moving very carefully and as silently as he could, he reached for the chain. The pain almost made him scream in agony, but he managed to remain almost silent. "Nnnng " still escaped from his throat, and he gave up.

'Even if it's not chained to anything I still don't think I could go anywhere – I'd pass out or that big kitty would find me.' Alan thought.

He looked back toward the entrance and saw the animal – a huge male Lion stood perfectly still watching him. The cat was only about eight meters away. The big boy lowered his furry head staring intensely at Alan.

Alan froze all but the shaking from the shock of being injured and now being scared half to death. Alan hoped the Lion wouldn't finish the job.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

Sherbet found the door to the animal processing room almost shut when he got there, but the little dog knew what to do. He reared back and hit the door with both front paws pushing it open enough for him to run inside.

Thinking himself much bigger than he was he ran barking ferociously at the lion. Surprised the lion moved away a short ways and leaped up on top of a row of wooden crates used to ship large animals overseas.

When the lion moved away, Alan saw that he was hurt. He limped severely on his front leg, and his shoulder had a wound that had dried blood around and under it. The lion felt save on top of the boxes and resumed trying to clean his own wound.

Sherbet bounced toward Alan like he wanted to play – and he seemed very proud that he'd chased the lion away.

"Thank you Sherbet, but now you're in danger of being lion chow too," Alan said grimly.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

"Sherbet! I saw where you went you 'baaad' little dog " Lady Penelope said, "At least the lights are already on." She opened the door wider and went in.

Alan thought he heard someone besides the lion and perked up listening intensely. Sherbet smelled Alan's injured leg carefully looked at the trap. Then he ran up to Alan's face and licked his cheek.

"Yes you're a good boy " Alan whispered and then said a little louder "Is someone there?"

"Alan?" Lady Penelope spoke softly because Alan had.

"Get out! There is a lion – a living hungry and injured African Lion in here with me!"

"Well come out!" Lady Penelope said urgently stopping in her tracks and looking around. She saw the mighty beast licking himself on the top of the crates. "Alan – come on!" She said a little louder, and the lion stopped licking. He froze, looking at her.

Alan had to take a chance and talk again. "I can't I'm hurt and kinda stuck – you have to get the lion in a cage or out of here before you can get to me!"

With his prey making so much noise the lion jumped down and limped slowly toward Lady Penelope. Alan grabbed Sherbet to keep him from becoming an appetizer.

"Well, now you are beautiful but . . ." Lady Penelope said. As she backed toward the door, the lion walked faster and when she turned and ran – the lion charged.

Lady Penelope almost didn't get the door closed in time The lion's nose was in the door keeping her from closing it all the way but then his head wouldn't fit in farther with her hanging onto the handle.

He got a great paw through the door to help pull it open again.

"No! Help!" Lady Penelope yelled excitedly for perhaps the first time in a long time. This situation was more than inconvenient.

"M'Lady!" Parker cried and ran past Virgil and Lady Lucy when he saw Lady P struggling with a door. He didn't see the lion. At first.

"Parker! Would you help me get this door closed?" Lady Penelope said when she saw him approaching.

"Ah! Right then!" Parker exclaimed when he saw the lion's head and paw between the door jam and the door.

"Master Tracy!" he exclaimed properly.

Virgil was already running to catch up with Lady Lucy on his heels.

He slid to a stop at the door and even though he was surprised to see a lion's nose he grabbed the door to help. Parker gave the lion's paw and nose each a good pinch using both hands, and the lion backed out enough they got the door closed.

"Phew! Where did that lion come from?" Virgil asked.

"Africa I think " offered Parker.

"we don't have time to figure this out right now Alan is still in there and said he's hurt!"

"He'll be food for that lion!" Virgil cracked the door and peeked inside. The lion had his back to the door watching something else intensely.

"Stay here – all of you!" Virgil whispered and silently slipped through the door before quietly closing it.

Parker and Lady Penelope looked at each other.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

The lion was very interested in whatever he was looking at and didn't see Virgil slip inside. Two of Virgil's long strides took him behind the closest crates, and he moved along behind them to get in front of the lion.

Looking through the cages, he could see what the lion was looking at.

Sherbet struggling in Alans arm like he thought he could eat the lion got out a bark when Alan lost hold of his muzzle. The movement of the dog not only frightened Alan but caused his leg muscles to tense up starting another wave of pain.

Alan put his head on the floor like he might pass out but still didn't let go of Sherbet.

With the lion still distracted Parker cracked the door open next and closed it. "The lion is still watching something – probably Alan or you little mutt M'Lady."

"We have to do something to help Virgil "

"Maybe we can also slip inside without the Lion noticing. I'll watch and go in at the first opportunity. Stay quiet M'Ladies."

Lady Penelope and Lady Lucille nodded.

Parker soon slipped inside, and Lady Penelope closed the door without making a sound.

"But Lady Penelope " Lady Lucy started to say.

"They'll be okay – we all will I'm going next, but you promise to stay out here!"

"You don't have to worry about me trying to go inside." Lady Lucy said and backed up a little. "They should have waited until someone came with tranquilizer guns."

"They couldn't wait - Alan is already hurt, and we don't know if the lion mauled him or what happened to him. Besides a tranquilizer gun would take several minutes after the lion was shot to bring him down. Alan may not have several more minutes."

Lady Penelope held her finger to her lips to be sure Lady Lucy knew to be quiet then and cracked the door open. When she looked no one, and no living creature was in sight. She opened the door a little more and looked behind the door before going inside. She also looked up and saw Parker crawling along the top of a row of cages.

The Lion charged Alan, and he screamed. He let go of Sherbet hoping that he at least could escape the little dog knew where Lady Penelope was and ran to her.

Alan covered his head expecting to feel teeth next, but Virgil yelled a war cry louder than anything that ever came out of his mouth before and charged the lion from the opposite direction.

Virgil jumped over Alan and landed between him and the lion still running and yelling and waving his hands in the lion's face. The lion slid to a stop and took a swipe at Virgil with a big paw.

.

[[[[[THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO]]]]]]

.

To be Continued . . .

Evil cliffhanger – Mwahahaha!