This story will probably be told in a sequence of small snippets or chapters as there will be long periods between action. Please be patient and drop me a line with any suggestions I'm happy to hear from you.

...

The space elevator had dual functionality for John Tracy on the way up to his station it offered a sanctuary of calm and silence if he left the comms off but on the way down to Earth it was a place of confinement, a space that closed in around him as he grasped onto his composure. Sometimes the comm would assist with this but if Gordon had already taken over monitor duty this wasn't always possible.

EOS offered companionship but lacked the human touch where John might have needed a reassuring smile, she offered a blank emotionless camera lens and a curt word about missing him while he was on Earth.

Today it was a place of confinement and suffocation there might as well have been a rock sat on his chest while they descended, his breaths were a tense struggle as the pod fell closer and closer to the island. His jumpsuit couldn't be loosened and with two trembling fingers he pulled the neck open as far as he could without hurting himself. The elevator jolted and trembled slightly with the stress of re-entry but John remained silent letting the pod carry him as it had many hundreds of times before he knew Grandma was worried about him he only had to maintain his composure long enough to convince her otherwise then he was free for a recovery week dodging her cooking.

"You're nearly at Tracy Island John, shall I open up a channel to let them know?"

"No, it's fine EOS, they'll be able to see me coming."

"Currently your youngest brother is asleep, Virgil is away on a provisions run and Gordon is aboard Thunderbird 5 and Scott is-"

"Thank you EOS… I'm hoping for a quiet entrance to the island and an uneventful week…"

"If you want to come back sooner I'd be happy to-"

"EOS, I'll be back before you know it not please, don't give Gordon a hard time if I find out you have I'll have you downloaded into a Tamagotchi and strapped to Alan's utility belt."

"Yes John I'll try not to be too hard on him."

EOS closed the channel between the pod and TB5 as John approached the Island, thrusters slowing his descent to prevent a collision, as the pod came to a stop John felt the clamps immediately engage and the thrusters fire down, his cue to unstrap the harness and tap in the access code to open the hatch door.

For a moment as the fresh hanger air hissed into the pod John felt relief, his lungs felt light and fully inflated for the first time since he last left the island. As the door fully opened to facilitate his exit though John felt his heart crash through his feet. Someone was stood waiting on the other side.

"Welcome back John, you've been avoiding me haven't you? I didn't see you last time you came Earth side… Virgil won't be back for a while and Grandma is busy in the kitchen so I have you all to myself."