Now it's the third part and now it's time for Virgil to face the deviousness of his brother John.
Virgil heard the roar from Thunderbird 3 as she approached Tracy Island.
"It looks like the fish is back", Scott said beside him grumpily.
"How much did he beat you?"
"He stayed two months. I stayed one and a half."
"Oh and now you're never gonna hear the end of it?"
"Exactly… If not you managed to stay the whole three months."
"Excuse me", Virgil said and looked at his older brother with a raised eyebrow.
"It's only you left."
"What do you mean 'only you left'?"
"John's fooled everyone else to take his shift. It is only you left Virg."
"Well thanks for the heads up but John won't fool me."
"Why do you say that?"
"He just won't. There is nothing he can say or do that will make me take his shift." With that Virgil rose and left.
"We must do something about that", Gordon said and made Scott jump.
"Yeah but how? I mean John is good in fooling us but…"
"He didn't fool me."
"Gordon he tricked you to take his shift."
"You're the one who was fooled, I was deceived!"
Scott chuckled. "So you think Johnny has a plan?"
"Let's ask." Both of them left the pool and headed inside.
"I know you're saying you have everything under control John", they saw Alan say to their brother over the link. "But come on, Virgil knows he's your next victim."
"Alan for the hundredth time", John said from Thunderbird 5 with more patience than Scott knew he could have given. "I know what I'm doing. Even since I came up with the idea to have some fun with the guys I knew what I should do to Virgil."
"Exactly when did you decide to have some 'fun' with us John", Scott asked and crossed his arms.
"Scott", John exclaimed and flushed a little. "I well… not long after we started operation… When you guys said you were lucky to escape space duty I thought: 'Heck I'm gonna get those guys bad'. And so far I have. None of you expected what was coming for ya."
"But why let Alan be part of fooling me?" Scott asked.
"Alan has to do space duty… even though he squirms out of it from time to time. You three… uhm does landlubber sound good to you Alan?"
"Well they do tend to leave ground when their flying and Gordon are living half his time in water."
"Yeah I got it! You three only-leave-Earth-when-we-must-landlubbers…"
"That rolled easy of the tongue", Alan muttered.
"Never comes up here if it isn't an emergency. And besides Alan and I need some quality time together now and then."
"Plus the fact that they don't know how hard we work up there", Alan finished and John beamed at him.
"I'd forgotten that", he said. "Thanks Alan."
"No problem. BBST."
"Yeah BBSTA."
"Don't you mean BBSTWOIUTS."
John laughed. Scott and Gordon on the other hand who'd been following the exchange by looking from one brother to another didn't understand a word.
"Actually Alan I was more thinking BBSTWADSUOAWT."
"What does that mean", Gordon exclaimed annoyed and threw out his arms.
"Can you two take this weird discussion later", Scott piped up, ignoring Gordon. "So John what do you have in mind for Virgil?"
"Just watch and learn my little rookies", John answered and signed off.
"How can we watch him when we can't see him", Gordon asked.
A month later John walked into Virgil's room where he found balls of paper all over the floor.
"Virgil", john said and stepped over a pile of paper balls. "I thought you were human and not a hamster that is nesting."
"Ha-ha-ha very funny John", Virgil grumbled, drew a line on his sketch pad, tore the page out, made a ball of it and threw it on the ground. John picked one up and looked at it.
"Do we have a problem with imagination?" he asked and Virgil glared at him.
"I tell you now John and I'll only tell you once… You better leave my room because I know what you're up to."
"You do", John asked with wide eyes.
"Yeah you can't fool me. I know you're here to trick me into taking your shift."
"Virgil I'm hurt", John said and put a hand theatrically over his heart. "That was not my intention in your time of need."
"Bah shut up." Virgil turned to look out the window.
John smiled and sat down beside Virgil and looked out through the window. They sat for a moment in silence. Then John smiled.
"Do you need help?" He asked.
"Yeah… I do."
"So what's the problem then?"
"I can't come up with anything to paint."
"Sounds like you need a change of scenery."
"I do."
"Well then why not head up to the observatory and paint the house from there?"
"I've already done that."
"Okay is there anywhere on this island you've haven't painted?"
"No."
"Then we do have a problem."
"Yes and I don't think leave the island would fix it either."
"Why not?"
"I'm fed up with what is available." John's smile turned devious.
"Then why don't go up to Thunderbird 5?"
"Huh?"
"You can paint something from the satellite or your imagination can create something from what is available in space?"
"Yeah that's a good idea… wait."
"Huh?"
"What explanation do I give dad?"
"You want to take my shift? Or maybe just the truth?"
"Yeah that would work I'll go talk to him."
"You do that", John smiled but in the doorway Virgil stopped.
"Wait a minute", he said and turned to John. "Nice try kid."
"Huh?"
"You almost got me there."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"You're trying to make me take your shift at thunderbird 5!"
"Me", John exclaimed and looked stunned. "Me! No my original plan was to tell you about the three month classical marathon a station in Austria launches next month and point out that you can't reach that station on the radios on the island. I never trick my brothers when they need my help!" John glared at Virgil with anger in his eyes. "Do you think I would sink that low! Right then… I won't help you." John walked towards the door.
"Johnny wait!" Virgil said and grabbed his shoulder. "I'm sorry. You just wanted to help me and I guess I was just a bit paranoid. I'll talk to dad. And heck if I can stay for the full stint, Gordon has nothing to bag about."
"What's wrong with you guys", John said. "I stay up there for three months and I don't brag about it!"
"Well you're enjoying yourself and you're an astronaut. You shouldn't have any problem."
"Point taken."
"See you later John." Virgil hurried down the corridor and didn't notice John's devious smile.
"How do I do it", John said and satisfied left with his hands in his pockets.
In the lounge Virgil explained to Jeff that he wanted to take John's next shift so he could have a change of scenery.
"Virgil you do realize that John has fooled you?" Jeff asked.
"No he hasn't he told me himself that he wouldn't fool any of his brothers when they need help. And I trust John's word."
"Okay then, you'll take John's next shift."
"FAB dad", Virgil said. None of them noticed a red-head and a dark haired man eavesdrop on them from the hallway. Both of them headed for the observatory where they found John on his back smiling.
"Am I good or am I good?" John asked.
"You're good", Scott said and sat down beside him.
"He's not good", Gordon said. "He's a genius."
John smiled. "Now if I just can think of a way to get dad."
"Are you insane", Scott exclaimed. "Dad would kill you!"
"Nah my mind is set and soon operation GD will be go."
Will John be able to get his father when he got everyone else?