I don't lay claim to any of the Thunderbirds. They are Gerry Anderson's creations, and I'm just grateful to him for letting me continue to write their adventures.

John is the eldest out of choice, not because I believe he definitely is the eldest, but because it works better in my stories.

Some mild swearing in this chapter so be warned.

Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing this story. It's greatly appreciated.

Enjoy and please review as usual.

Chapter 2

Cornwall, England, Saturday 18th June 2005, local time 6pm

'Don't you boys go too far please,' shouted Sarah from the kitchen, as her 9 and 10-year-old sons, James and Andrew headed out the backdoor, after eating their evening meal.

'No, we won't, mum. We'll just play outside.'

'You got the radio, Andy?' asked James as they walked down the dirt track, outside in the fading evening sun.

'Yeah.'

'You still wanna do this?'

'Course, don't you? You chickening out already?' Andrew's voice was mocking towards his younger brother.

'No,' replied James hurriedly. The last thing he wanted to do was give his elder brother reason to tease him yet again. 'It should be fun.'

'Yep. Now all you need to remember is do whatever I tell you. I'll be in charge of the radio and when we're at a good place I'll send the transmission.'

'OK,' replied James in a small voice. It seemed very disrespectful what they were about to do but he had to go along with it, otherwise his life wouldn't be worth living.

At the end of the track the boys found themselves on a large grassy area, just infront of a large, steep cliff face.

'Right, now you have to go down the cliff and then pretend to be stuck,' stated Andrew while pointing towards the edge.

'But, can't we just pretend from the side here. I can do really good impressions.'

'No, it has to be realistic otherwise they won't come. You've seen them on the telly rescuing everyone. You have to pretend to be in trouble and then when we know they're on their way I'll pull you up and we can meet them here.'

Reluctantly James slowly climbed down the cliff face and found himself on a small ledge about seven feet down. He made himself as comfortable as possible and shouted up to his brother.

'Great,' replied Andrew looking over the edge, 'you've broken your leg cos you fell down there, OK?'

'OK. Just get on with it cos I don't wanna be down here all night.'

'Oh you won't be,' came Andrew's voice from above, 'they're very professional. Now look, I'm going to make the call so you have to be shouting for help when I'm talking, OK?'

'Yes.'

'Calling International Rescue, calling International Rescue? You've gotta help, my brother's fallen down a cliff and landed on some sort of ledge, about seven feet down.' Andrew was putting on a very panic-stricken voice. 'I think he's broken his leg. He's screaming for help,' right on cue, James started shouting, 'Please help us.'

'International Rescue receiving, where are you?'

'We're near the sea on a cliff edge, Newquay, England.'

'Newquay, that's Cornwall, right?'

'Yeah, please hurry. I don't know how long he can last down there.'

'What about the emergency services, coastguard or something? Can't they help?'

'I don't know. Look, my brother's really cold and scared and he's only 9 years old.' Andrew continued the game, making his voice even more terrified. 'It's getting dark now and I don't know how long he can last. Please, I don't know what else to do, you're our only hope.'

'OK, don't panic. Tell your brother that we're on our way.'

'Thanks,' replied Andrew gratefully.

After the call ended he called down excitedly to James, 'great work James. We really had them and it won't be long now. This is gonna be so cool, we don't even have to be in trouble and they'll come.'

Tracy Island, 9am Saturday 18thJune 2005

Breakfast was over, but Jeff had an important announcement to make and the whole family knew exactly what it was about.

'I want everyone to be aware of the importance of this organisation,' stated Jeff. 'And unfortunately some of us are not as aware as I would like. This is our fourth year now, and I haven't created it for fun. It's about time you boys realised that.'

'Look Dad, we're all totally aware of the importance of this organisation and none of us would ever do anything to suggest otherwise.' Scott took a deep breath as he prepared to say something, which he knew his dad wouldn't like. 'I really think that sometimes you over react about little things….'

There was a shocked silence. Everyone was looking at each other and avoiding Jeff's stern gaze. But before Jeff could reply there was a loud bleeping from his watch comm.

'Go ahead John, what's wrong?'

'Just received an emergency call from England, dad. Two boys are in trouble in Newquay, Cornwall. One of them has fallen down a cliff and is stranded with a broken leg on a ledge about seven feet down.'

'What about the emergency services?' asked Jeff.

'I asked, but apparently his brother's only 9 and it's getting dark. He seemed genuinely scared, dad. I know it's not our job but I kind of promised them that we'd help.'

'It wouldn't take long to rescue the kid, dad. I reckon we'd be back in time for lunch easily,' added Scott.

'OK John, we're on our way,' replied Jeff after a few seconds thought. 'Scott, Virgil, Gordon off you go.'

'FAB Dad,' replied the three of them as they hurried towards the lift at the back of the room. Alan couldn't help look disappointed. Thunderbird 3 was hardly ever needed unless there was an emergency in space, with wasn't common. Grouchily he finished the rest of his coffee and wandered outside, leaving his dad to conduct a rescue from Command and Control.

Once airborne Scott received the appropriate co-ordinates from John and headed towards England, with Virgil following in Thunderbird 2.

'Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbird 2, what's your ETA Virg?'

'Er… about an hour thirty five. You?'

'Forty minutes, I'll assess the scene when I get there and let you know. Should be pretty straightforward. According to John, the kid's about seven feet down on a ledge.'

'FAB.'

There was a pause.

'What the hell made you challenge Dad like that? Alan got anything to do with it?'

'Some….but he does far too much worrying, and he said himself, we've been doing this for 4 years. We're not kids anymore. We all know what we need to do, and he's gotta let us get on and do it.'

'Yeah you're right. Alan'll be pleased ya stood up for him.'

Scott laughed, 'didn't do it for him. I did it for us, Virg, cos we're the ones who run it.' Scott's ballsy attitude didn't worry Virgil in the slightest, and in Thunderbird 2 he merely grinned to himself. 'He can't do anything, Virg, unless he wants to throw me out.'

'As if he's gonna do that!' retorted Virgil, 'second in command. He doesn't trust anyone but you!'

'Ya got that right. Approaching the British Coast now.'

'FAB Thunderbird 1. I'll be an hour fifteen from now but I'll try and cut down on arrival time.'

'FAB Thunderbird 2.'

As Scott approached Newquay, he spotted two boys waving down near the cliff edge and as he landed near the site, the realisation dawned.

'Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbird 2, I think we've got a minor situation Virg?' snapped Scott.

'What's up? You sound pissed. I'll only be about an hour away.'

'I am, Virgil. Fuming. Ya might as well turn around now but Dad'll know something's up so just carry on course. I aint gonna be long.'

'What business? I don't get it,' asked Virgil worriedly.

'Just leave it. I'll tell you later, just stay on course,' ordered Scott.

'FAB. If there's anything we can-'

'Its just two damn boys, nothing else. I'll take care of it myself.'

'O…K…'

'Just listen to me, Virgil. I'll be fine. Trust me!'

In Thunderbird 2, Virgil exchanged glances with Gordon.

'What the hell was that all about?'

Virgil shook his head, 'not got a clue, but you heard Scott.'

Gordon grinned, 'reckon the whole of the US heard Scott.'