Thunderbirds 2
Chapter 2: Targeting the Thunderbirds
"Whoever did this is really against us." Said Alan. Along with Scott, John, and their father, they were sitting next to Gordon and Virgil, who were in twin, white-sheeted beds in the medical wing.
"We wouldn't be in this ridiculous place if we'd each been in our proper Thunderbird." Gordon complained.
"The Thunderbirds have no proper owners. Everyone in the family has every right to one Thunderbird as to the others. Besides, we had to train Alan in Thunderbird 1 and Scott needed to use a Thunderbird himself." Jeff explained.
"Doesn't mean we have to like it." Said Virgil with crossed arms. Tin-Tin walked into the room carrying a tray.
"Lunch?" She asked. The five boys and their father grabbed some sandwiches. While they ate, the six continued talking.
"Whatever missile hit Thunderbird 2 is a different type from the one that destroyed Thunderbird 5, in that Thunderbird 5 was completely destroyed." Noted Scott.
"But who get their hands on weapons like that?" Asked Alan.
"The Hood?" Tried Gordon. John shook his head.
"No, I made a few calls after landing; he's still in prison as we put him two months ago."
"Some foreign government perhaps? It could also be some terrorist group." Suggested Virgil. Jeff spoke up next.
"I think we also have to accept the possibility that only a single individual could be behind this."
"But why would someone be targeting the Thunderbirds?" Scott voiced everyone's question. No one knew the answer.
"Whatever the reason they know what they're doing." Said Virgil.
"Now we will have to completely rebuild Thunderbird 5." Said John. "We need our monitor in space." The others nodded their agreement.
"Whoever attacked us knew that without Thunderbird 5 we're almost blind on the ground." Said Alan. Before they could continue discussions, Jeff's cell rang.
"Yes Mr. Prime Minister." He said. After a few moments he said, "I see. We're on our way." With that he hung up.
"Well? Asked Scott.
"There some tourists trapped on a mountainside in Canada." Turning to his other sons he added, "Alan and Scott take Thunderbird 1. John you're with me on Thunderbird 3. Sorry boys." He finished to Virgil and Gordon. The four left the room, and as they made their way to Jeff's office, they were met by Brains along the way.
"Mr. Tracy, it's uh- it's almost ready." Said Brains. Scot, Alan, and John raised a questioning eyebrow at their father.
"Good Brains keep working on it." Said Jeff, not noticing his sons' looks. The four reached their portraits.
"Thunderbirds are go!" Said Jeff.
Thunderbird 3 touched down on an icy field and John and Jeff disembarked. Nearby, Thunderbird 1 was hovering trying to come in as slowly as possible. Several times the left or right wheel would touch and slip. Forcing Scott and Alan to lift Thunderbird 1 back into the air. After awhile the finally managed to land the craft, which slid a little on the ice. Scott and Alan got out and jumped down. They both slipped, Alan falling down and Scott sliding sideways and gripping his Thunderbird's nose gear to steady himself. John helped Alan up while Jeff went to confer with Scott.
John and Alan ran across the snow towards the coordinates their father had provided. Jeff and Scott had stayed behind to set up a field hospital by the ship.
"What in the world?" Said John stopping short. Before them was a smooth pillar of ice. There was a single ledge where 2 men and a dog were trapped. "I've heard of some weird winter sports but ice column climbing?"
"Hey John!" Called Alan. The youngest Tracy was kneeling by the foot of the 'mountain'. John walked over and halted in mid-step. His brother was looking over the body of a man in climbing gear; it was obvious he'd fallen to his death.
"Okay Al, tie down the ropes you brought. I'll climb up and tie my ropes too so we can set up a pulley system."
"Why yo-" Began Alan.
"Because I'm older and have more experience." John cut him off. He began climbing up using an ice pick he'd brought, while Alan, muttering crossly, went to work on his ropes.
Virgil and Gordon had run out of patience.
"Brains, is Thunderbird 2 fixed?!" Virgil said into his wristwatch-communicator.
"Just barely, I still need to run a system check though.
The two Tracys got out of bed and went to their father's office and their portraits. Once suited up and in Thunderbird 2, Virgil reconnected the guidance chip, while Gordon loaded the necessary equipment into the rescue craft's hold. Once done the two took seats in the cockpit, with Virgil piloting. They initiated the launch sequence and Thunderbird 2 rolled down its landing strip towards the launch platform.
"Boys you should be in bed." Said Brains contacting them via vidscreen.
"Sorry Brains, but the family needs us." Said Gordon, deactivating the screen.
"All systems in the green." Said Virgil, mentally going through the take off checklist. "We're ready to go." As Virgil throttled up, the engines kicked in, pushing the massive green craft off the raised ramp and into the air.
"Are my choices of equipments good?" Asked Gordon. Virgil pulled up one of the cargo hold cameras, on a monitor. He examined the load.
"Yeah good choices." He replied.
"Should we have brought along the Thunderizer?" The two brothers looked at each other.
"Nah!" They said together.
"Hey! Are you guys alright?" Asked John, reaching the ledge.
"International Rescue. I'm glad you're here. One our guys, the dog's owner, tried to climb down but he fell and he has moved since; he might have broken his neck." Said one of the climbers.
"He's dead." Said John, fixing his ropes in place. "Come on let's get you guys down from here." He explained the plan and the process of tying the ropes and hanging on. First one man then the other was lowered safely by Alan on the ground while John monitored from above. The dog went next, and then John fixed his end of the pulley to the side of the pillar. He grabbed on to the ropes and lifted up his leg, zip lining down.
"Having fun?" His youngest brother asked when John touched down. He smiled at Alan, then went over to talk to the men. As he walked forth, the dog started barking at something and ran off. "I'll get him." Said Alan, chasing after the dog.
"So what happened?" Asked John.
"This weird person came in a large black craft and destroyed most of the mountain, freezing what was left." Said the man who hadn't spoken yet.
"Wait. You mean you were attacked?" Asked John, turning in the direction his brother had run, and took off after Alan.
Jeff and Scott were interrupted by the sound of engines roaring overhead. Looking up, they were surprised to see a large black craft. It was full of jagged edges and looked like a deformed Thunderbird 2, but several times larger. There was a figure cloaked in black standing on top of it.
"So, International Rescue; We meet at last." Said the person.
"Who are you?!" Shouted Jeff.
"I'm the one who shot down your Thunderbird 2 and brought and you here." Jeff and Scott looked at each other.
"Why?!" Shouted the oldest Tracy brother.
"You'll know soon enough." With that a panel opened on the ship and launched a missile towards a nearby mountain.
"Look out!" Yelled Jeff, pulling his son with him behind one of the engines of Thunderbird 3, opposite the mountain. As he looked up, he saw the craft had departed.
"Hey stop!" Alan called. They were back at the landing zone. The dog stopped near Thunderbird 1 and looked back. A whine escaped its mouth. Alan grabbed the dog's collar and looked at the tag. The dog, a Canadian Eskimo Dog, was named Sleet. "Ironic." Thought Alan. He began to lead the dog back but stopped at the sound of something flying past overhead. A missile flew through the air and impacted the side of a mountain, causing a massive avalanche. Alan saw the snow mound coming down the mountain side. There was no way he'd be able to get into Thunderbird 1 and take off in time. He grabbed the Eskimo dog around the neck and ducked down bracing. Alan heard the snow crashing all around, completely burying them. Alan opened his eyes. A wall of snow lay just inches from his face. Thunderbird 1 was buried in the snow along with Alan and the dog and Alan realized that its wing had served as cover for them.
As Virgil flew his craft in, the two brothers noticed that Thunderbird 1 was nowhere in sight, and that Thunderbird 3's engines were buried under snow. Thunderbird 2 touched down on the icy field and lowered it cargo compartment. The Mole and Firefly exited piloted by Virgil and Gordon. They reached Thunderbird 3 as Scott and Jeff were climbing from the snow.
"Hey Scott, your ship's gone." Said Gordon.
"My wha-?" Asked Scott absently. He turned and saw a large mound of snow, but no Thunderbird 1. "My ship!!!" He yelled, rushing forth. Jeff followed. John was already there on his knees, digging with his bare hands.
"Alan was caught in the avalanche!" He said without stopping. Looks of horrors came to his family's face and Scott and Jeff dropped down to dig too, while the Mole began tunneling at a spot Virgil projected was just in front of Thunderbird 1's nose with the Firefly shoving snow away.
At first Alan had been worried. Still clutching on to Sleet, he'd looked for a way out. The snow wall before him was too thick for either he or the dog too dig through, and to his dismay, this also prevented him from getting into Thunderbird 1. But then Alan had heard a familiar sound of a drill. He'd instantly recognized at as the Mole and knew rescue was imminent.
"Why is the Mole here?" He couldn't help but think.
"Alan!" Shouted Jeff as the Mole finally broke through. Alan climbed out, bringing the dog with him. Once they were out, the Mole backed away from its tunnel. With hole in it and no support, the snow wall collapsed around Thunderbird 1, at last finally freeing the high-speed rescue craft. Alan suddenly found himself in the embrace of his father and four brothers.
"Hey dad, his owner is dead so can we keep him?" Said Alan referring to the dog. He was so happy that that was the only thing he could keep in his mind long enough to say.
"Sure Al, sure." Said Jeff, just glad his son was safe.
"Hey Alan, it's good to see you again." Said Gordon
"Thanks for keeping my Thunderbird company." Joked Scott.
"I'm glad you're okay bro." Said Virgil.
"That was quite a scare you gave us." Said John. The Tracys had lost one family member to an avalanche, but as they held onto each other there on the ice and snow, they realized they would not now or ever lose another Tracy that way.