Thunder Shock II: The Force Of Destiny
Authors Note: This story is coauthored with PsychoSpiff01 and takes place a month after the first story.
Chapter One
Peter Davison frowned in concern as he read the display that had popped up on his computer screen as he sat in the quiet solitude of his office in the Tracy Inc's North American headquarters tower in Dakota City. One of International Rescue's network of sensor satellites deployed in orbit to complement the sensors on Thunderbird Five had just picked up a meteor entering the upper atmosphere. On a course that would see it scoring a direct hit on Tracy Island. And the occupants of the island were unaware of the approaching danger – with Thunderbird Five disabled as a result of the Hoods attack a month ago there was a gap in the sensor coverage of that area. And Thunderbird Fives weapons were off line like most of the station so he couldn't use them to fire on and destroy the meteor.
Flipping open a hidden panel on his desk he pressed the first button there that activated the office security isolation system which effectively sealed his office off from the rest of the building and the outside world. Then he pressed the second control the activated his secure communications link to Tracy Island. The communications screen rose out of its hidden slot in his desk and he waited for someone to answer.
After a few moments Jeff's face appeared on the screen.
"Peter this is a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?" Jeff asked.
"Jeff we've got a problem. One of the satellites is tracking a meteor about a meter to a meter and a half long entering the atmosphere on course to impact Tracy Island. The only weapons we've got that could have fired on the meteor are on Thunderbird Five and they're off line. You better prepare for impact."
"Thanks for the warning Peter. We'll be ready. I'll call you back after the impact to let you know how things have gone."
"Alright. Be careful Jeff."
"We'll be careful try not to worry too much Peter."
"I'll try Jeff no promises. Good luck."
"Thank you Peter Jeff out." Jeff's image disappeared from the comm screen and it lowered back into the desk. Peter turned off the security isolation system and swivelled his chair to look out at the skyline of Dakota City.
"Please be okay Jeff," he whispered softly unable to shake off the fear that he could possibly be about to loose Jeff and the boys the last links he had to his dead sister.
Tracy Island
Jeff lowered his wristcom after breaking the link with Peter. It was a beautiful day on the island paradise that he, his sons, the Hackenbacker's and the Belagant's called home, and they were all outside enjoying lunch on the sundeck besides the diving pool.
"Did you hear," Jeff asked everyone.
"We all heard Dad." Gordon said seriously. As if on cue they all looked up at the sky and saw the golden streak heading towards them.
"We should head to Thunderbird Two's hanger," Virgil said getting up ready to head into the house and the closest access point to the underground complex.
"I, I, I, wouldn't r, r, r, r, recommend it," Brains stuttered.
"Brains is right we can't go down to the hangers. They were never designed to withstand that kind of impact," Jeff added. "If we take a direct hit over that part of the island we could get trapped or buried alive. Then only Alan would have a chance of escaping." Alan nodded knowing that his father was on about one of the major powers that he had as a metahuman. Particularly dad was on about his ability to phase.
"What about the islands defence systems," Scott asked. "Couldn't we use our weapons to destroy the meteor?"
"There isn't enough time," John replied. "That meteor has already entered the atmosphere then it will be travelling too fast for us to lock onto and destroy. The only weapons we have that could have stopped that meteor are the lasers on Thunderbird Five. And as Uncle Peter said those are off line."
"So what can we do," Virgil asked starting to get very nervous.
"Stay put and hope for the best." Jeff said seriously. Everyone stood silently as the implications of what Jeff said sunk in. They turned back and stared at the golden streak shooting towards them.
Silence descended on the island as all at once the birds that nested on the island fell silent instinctively sensing some danger. The approaching meteor was terrible to look at as it got closer and closer. Travelling at many times the speed of sound the meteors approach was silent when it should have sounded like the roar of an angry god.
"Brace yourselves," Jeff ordered, as the meteor was now only seconds from impact. Everyone steadied themselves or gripped something solid. Tin-Tin slid her hand into Alan's quietly as they braced themselves for the inevitable impact.
The meteor streaked past overhead and smashed into the side of the mountain on which the villa complex was built. Immediately on striking the ground roughly halfway between the building that housed Jeff's office and the library on the peak of the mountain the meteor's colossal kinetic force turned straight into energy creating a massive explosion.
The ground lurched violently upwards as the whole mountain convulsed with the impact knocking everyone off there feet. All they heard was the horrendous roar of the explosion. Finally the noise and shockwave died away.
Slowly everyone picked themselves up.
"Everyone alright?" Jeff asked.
One by one everyone called out that they were. Jeff then looked around to see that the house and the rest of the villa complex along with his office and the library building seemed to be undamaged. A fire was burning halfway up the slope from them and a large cloud of dust and smoke was spilling out from the point where the meteor had struck.
And then Fermat noticed the gas that was coming out of the trees that surrounded the villa complex, and coming right at them at high speed. It was coming from the direction of the meteor impact. The gas was a dark purple colour and hugged the ground where it moved at awesome and terrifying speed.
"Wh, wh, what is that?" he asked stuttering heavily. But before anyone could answer the gas enveloped them in a thick purple cloud that instantly made all of them cough as it reduced the amount of oxygen getting into their lungs. Their eyes burned and watered with chemical irritation.
"It's (cough) almost like (cough) metagas." Jeff trailed off on the last word and collapsed into an unconscious heap on the ground.
"Like what?" John gasped before joining his father on the ground. No one else had anytime to react as they too slumped to the ground unconscious.
Peter Davison's Office
Tracy Inc North American Headquarters, Dakota City
Peter was getting increasing concerned. The meteor should have impacted Tracy Island five minutes ago and he had not received a call back from Jeff to let him know how they had gotten on. Please, please don't let them be dead, he prayed to whoever was listening, I can't lose my last links to Margaret and the world can't afford to loose the Thunderbirds.
Growing increasingly frantic with worry and fear Peter turned on the security isolation system again and tried to call Tracy Island. There was no reply. Alarm and fear growing Peter opened another hidden panel and keyed in a remote override command that would allow him to link into Tracy Islands security net. The discretely hidden security cameras around the swimming pool area showed Jeff and the others lying unconscious on the ground surrounded by a thick purple cloud.
"Jeff," he said worriedly and then looked confused. That purple cloud looked almost familiar. Where had he seen it before? And then a flashback exploded into his awareness.
Sitting in the living room of his apartment with Margaret enjoying seeing his sister again and hearing how things were going for her in Florida and what she and Jeff were planning to do when Jeff returned from his last shuttle mission while four-year-old Alan slept in one of the spare rooms.
Hearing a sudden loud explosion outside. Getting up and turning to look with Margaret as a thick purple cloud rolled passed the windows.
"That looks like," he said in shock. "No it can't be. Meteors don't give off metagas. It's an artificial substance." But if it is metagas, he thought. Opening a drawer in his desk he took out a slim sliver walkie-talkie with electric markings on it.
Turning it on he spoke quickly but calmly letting none of his agitation show in his voice.
"Richie its Peter Davison are you there?"
"I'm here Peter so is Virgil. What's wrong are you under attack," Richard Foley a.k.a Gear voice responded immediately.
"No but can you and Virgil come to my office immediately."
"Sure. What is it," Richie's voice was concerned now. "What's wrong."
"I'll tell you when you get here. I'll meet you on the roof."
"Alright. Be there in two minutes."
"Thank you."
Two minutes later Peter stood on the roof of the Tracy Inc building near the helipad waiting patiently. Static and Gear abruptly appeared over the side of the building and landed before approaching him. Both superheroes noticed that Peter was worried and agitated seeing through the cool professional mask Peter was wearing with ease born of long experience.
"Thanks for coming," Peter said as he lead them over to the roof access stairs and descended them heading back inside. Fortunately his office was on the top floor of the crescent shaped tower and he had easy access to the helipad.
Still they got odd looks from members of office staff working on the top floor as they saw their immediate boss walking through the corridors to his office followed by Static and Gear.
They reached Peter's office in no time at all and as soon as they were all inside Peter closed the door and turned on the security isolation system.
"I know you're curious as to why I called you here," he said.
"The thought has crossed our minds," Gear answered. "What's going on?"
"A few minutes ago a meteor struck Tracy Island."
Static and Gear both gasped. At any time the news of a meteor striking anywhere would have been surprising but the fact that one had struck Tracy Island was very worrying. They were among the few people who knew the true significance of the island that is was more than the home of the slightly reclusive multi-billionaire founder of Tracy Inc. That knew it was also the home base of International Rescue and the place from which the Thunderbirds were launched whenever disaster struck somewhere in the world.
"What?"
"Are they alright?"
"I called to check that and when I did." Peter gestured for them to come around his desk and when they were standing beside him played back the image recorded by the poolside security cameras.
"That looks like metagas," Static commented.
"That's why I called you two. I want to go over there and make sure they're all right but if that is metagas…"
"You want to have someone with a experience along."
"Exactly. Can you two take some time off running Transtech and doing the superhero thing to come with me."
"Yes," Gear replied. "There's nothing major that needs to be done at Transtech while we wait for new manufacturing equipment to be installed. The line managers can handle that. And most of the troublesome metahumans are locked up so it won't be a problem. Right bro?"
"Yeah no problem at all," Static agreed already wondering what they would find on Tracy Island. Would all the Tracy's now be metahumans not just the youngest one Alan.
"Okay. We can go now if that's okay." Both Gear and Static nodded. Peter pressed a button on his desk intercom. "Miss Reynolds, I'm taking some time off. If anyone calls for me tell them I'm dealing with an urgent family matter."
"Of course Mr Davison," the voice of his secretary replied.
"Let's go," Peter said after signing off. He deactivated the security isolation system and they left the office heading for the closest lift to the car park beneath the tower.
An hour and a half later Peter's car in its aircraft mode was approaching Tracy Island. The smouldering impact crater was easily visible from the air though there was no sign now of any metagas. As the car approached the cars computer reported the normal scan from the islands security system.
"Automatic systems seem to be working," Peter commented even as he sent an answering identification pulse to the islands computer and requesting an approach vector to land. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone's alright."
"They'll be alright," Gear replied hoping that they were all right.
"I hope your right Richie," Peter replied even as the familiar approach course popped up on his holographic heads up display.
Six minutes later the four of them stepped off the passenger lift and entered the villa complex. The complex was silent aside from the distant background humming of the air conditioning system that kept the air inside the main house and all other buildings on this part of the island including the chalets lived in by the Hackenbacker's and Belagant's at a comfortable temperature and humidity minimal.
As soon as they left the lift Gear began scanning the area. It wouldn't have done him any good while underground since the air conditioning and filtration systems would prevent any gas from getting to the International Rescue complex beneath the surface of the tranquil, tropical paradise that was Tracy Island.
"I am picking up residual traces of a compound similar to metagas. But the component that makes it mutagenic is unstable and quickly breaking down. There are a number of slight differences between whatever the gas was here and normal metagas. It almost reads like a different type or more accurately a subtype. It's not as powerful for one thing. And from these readings I don't think its synthetic like the metagas were familiar with," Gear said.
"It's organic!" Static exclaimed shocked. "How can metagas occur in nature?"
"On this planet it wouldn't be possible," Gear answered. "But that's not to say it couldn't happen on another world."
"An interesting idea Richie. But can you tell if the gas has affected anyone," Peter asked.
"I can't tell from here. We need to get closer." The trio moved through the complex and headed towards the pool area.
"They're over there." Static pointed to the large picnic table near the pool where the unconscious forms of the Tracy family could be seen.
"Jeff," Peter called as he broke away from Static and Gear and hurried over to where his brother-in-law lay motionless on the floor. He knelt down besides Jeff and shook him trying to wake him up. "Jeff wake up, are you alright. Virgil," he said looking up from Jeff to Static, "try to wake the others up. But whatever you do don't zap Alan even lightly. Alan's powers and electricity don't get on."
"I understand," Static/Virgil replied and moved to help the others giving most of them small electrical shocks to try and rouse them. The only one he didn't shock was Alan he just gave him a thorough shake to try and rouse him.
"Hmm," Gear said as he analysed the results of backpack's latest scans. "Jeff, Kyrano and Onaha seem relatively unaffected but I'm picking up mutagenic activity in the others. I can't predict any effects though, the mutagenic agent present is too unstable."
"Why didn't it affect Jeff, Kyrano and Onaha?"
"Like I said the mutagen is unstable. The most likely explanation is that it destabilised before it affected them."
A soft groan abruptly came from Jeff. Peter looked back down at Jeff as his brother in law slowly opened his eyes. All around everyone else – with the notable exception of Kyrano – were also stirring.
"Peter," Jeff asked groggily.
"Easy Jeff you've been unconscious for awhile." Peter helped Jeff get back to his feet.
"How long Uncle Peter?" John asked groggily shaking his head. "Ugh my head. I think I'm going to be sick."
John awkwardly got back to his feet and leaned on the tabletop for support as his legs felt like they were made of jelly at the moment. Man did he feel sick. He noticed that Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Fermat seemed to be experiencing the same thing.
"It's probably the effects of the gas starting to set in," Gear explained.
"Gas?" Scott croaked as he steadied himself on the table trying to ignore the dizziness rippling through his head and fighting down the urge to vomit up what he'd had for dinner.
"The metagas you were exposed to." Gear elaborated.
"Metagas?" Gordon asked. "All I remember is the meteor hitting the island and then some weird purple cloud that seemed to come from it."
"That cloud was a form of metagas," Peter explained. "A very unstable form. You've all been exposed to it."
"What were all going to end up metahumans like Alan," Gordon asked.
"I don't think so," Gear replied. "According to backpacks sensors only you, John, Scott, Virgil and Fermat are showing signs of mutation starting to take place. Alan's showing signs of some changes. Alan you might change a little more or maybe just get a power boost I don't know this particular mutagen is too unstable."
"Terrific," Alan moaned softly. Though he had come to like being a metahuman he was still figuring out what he could and couldn't do with his powers. He didn't want to have to learn a new one as well.
"And what about me," Tin-Tin asked.
"You're showing signs of having been exposed before. But I don't understand how that can…." Gear's voice trailed off his super brain obviously beginning to come up with theories to explain all this.
"So why hasn't my Dad woken up yet?" Tin-Tin asked him.
"Probably just a unique reaction to the gas. We should probably just put him in bed and wait."
"What do we do?" John asked. "Can you tell what will happen to us."
"No. I can't. The best thing for you all to do is just go to bed and sleep. The mutations will probably manifest by the morning."
"I'm feeling tired anyway." Virgil yawned.
"Alan, Tin-Tin. I recommend you get some rest as well. The rest of you should be all right but I suggest you take it easy. You especially Professor Hackenbacker. The effects on you are minimal but they are there.
The five Tracy brothers, Fermat and Tin-Tin headed off to bed. It was only about eight o'clock but they knew that Gear/Richie was right. As though linked telepathically they all had the same thought.
"What's going to happen to me?"
Virgil Tracy didn't really have much time to reflect or worry about that question. A terrible exhaustion was pulling at him, exhaustion that seemed to suck the vitality out of every cell in his body. Is this what Alan feels when he's energy depleted, he thought as he climbed into bed.
And then he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Scott Tracy wondered and worried what was going to happen to him and his brothers as he climbed into bed. He knew that something was going to happen. He could feel something happening deep inside him, it was a strange sensation though not painful, yet anyway. He still remembered how Alan had screamed in pain when his powers had first become active.
He tried to sleep but found that he couldn't. The concern and odd feeling inside him just kept him awake. He read for a while before falling asleep with his book open beside him.
John Tracy found that he couldn't sleep. Like Scott he could feel that something inside him was changing and the knowledge that he could wake up in the morning and find that he'd changed into something else kept him awake.
He stared out at the setting sun from his bed and for perhaps only the second time since mom died was scared of what was going to happen in the future.
Tin-Tin Belagant found that her reaction was similar to Virgil's. As soon as she'd helped her mother get her still unconscious father into bed she went into her own room and fell asleep within moments of her head hitting the pillow. As she disappeared into sleep her dreams began to be filled with golden fireworks.
As he lay in bed in his room Fermat Hackenbacker found that he was too excited to go to sleep. He kept imagining all the cool powers he could get. He'd seen what Alan could do when he wanted to and it was always so cool to watch him use his powers. He wondered what powers he would get if they would be as cool as Alan's, and all the possible superhero names that could go with them.
Gordon Tracy wasn't sure what to think about the prospect of becoming a metahuman. He couldn't sleep so he just sat on the end of the bed thinking. He was apprehensive about what could happen to him what he could become but at the same time the prospect of suddenly having his own superpowers was exciting.
Getting up he left his room and went to Alan's, which was right next door. He knocked on the door then poked his head in to see Alan sat at his desk playing around on his computer.
"Hey, can we talk?" He asked quietly.