Countdown to Adventure

Standard disclaimer: don't own the thunderbirds...

A/N: Thanks for reviewing (to KatZen - Yeah, Gordon's pretty down on himself. I think it would be pretty hard following in Scott, John and Virgil's footsteps, especially if you aren't particularly academic. He'll get over it eventually and find his own path... maybe not the one his brothers and father expect but...

Thanks again for reviewing. TBZ.

Anyway on with the story...

Chapter 3 – Loop holes...

The morning rush has passed by the time Gordon decided to surface, quietly shuffling down the stairs to the kitchen he got himself a bowl of cereal, quickly ate it, and grabbing a bottle of water and some fruit he slunk out of the house with his swimming kit. 'Dad said no TV, video games or pool. He didn't say anything about having to stay in my room' Gordon thought resentfully 'or that I wasn't allow to swim', so taking advantage of the loophole Gordon headed to the far side of the island and the western beach where the lagoon he had claimed as his own was located. No one would look for him there Gordon was sure that his privacy was secure, although if Dad or Scott did find him there alone he knew being grounded would be the least of his worries.

He set down the water bottle and fruit with his towel, pulled off his clothes and adjusts the goggles over his eyes, then waded into the water. Sinking into the warm tropical waters he finally felt the tension leaving him as water caressed his body and the sound of the waves soothed his soul, he swam from the shore out to a rocky outcropping that bordered the lagoon and back several times, strong sure strokes in an easy rhythm that helped to calm his thoughts.

Having warmed up he moved into the open water and began a more gruelling routine, swimming out against the current, Gordon counted his strokes only allowing himself to travel a maximum of one hundred strokes before turning back for the beach and riding the waves in, then rotating to repeat the exercise, his body fighting the pull of the cross tide as it tried to sweep him south and out into the ocean.

Gordon pushed his body until it was trembling with fatigue. Finally exhausted he stumbled out of the water and collapsed beside his towel, draining the water bottle in one long swallow. He lay on the hot sand allowing his body to relax and his heart to return to a normal rhythm, sitting Gordon grabbed the apples he'd brought and munched on the first of them, wishing he'd thought to bring two bottles of water. 'I'll have to find the spring...' he reasoned as the warmth of the sun lulled him into a drowsy half sleep.

----

Beneath the pristine veneer of a billionaire's tropical mansion, deep in the bowels of an extinct volcano's chambers dreams were being brought to life. The three eldest Tracy sons listened carefully as their father's chief engineer and designer explained the intricacies of the huge and powerful machines that sat proudly before them.

Scott Tracy listened as carefully as he could, he was used to briefings and understood the reasoning behind them, but his hands itched to clasp the controls of Thunderbird one, his body was already rushing with adrenalin in anticipation of the fast plane. Brain's discourse was elaborate and protracted, his speech impediment causing the detailed lecture to be even more drawn out. Scott sighed and shook his head to clear the buzzing that had filled his mind, he looked at John and Virgil, both brothers sat forward listening intently, making comments and generally contributing to the discussion. The three men were deep in conversation regarding the various aspects of the two machines being analysed. Scott tried to concentrate, he really did, but the technical terminology baffled him. He couldn't quite understand why they couldn't just let him fly the thing. He'd soon have it figured out. Sighing again Scott picked up the extremely heavy manual for Thunderbird one and opened the front cover, the technical data continued in the manual 'Boring', flicking through the pages, Scott came to the section on pre-flight checks and launch sequence, he started reading.

Three hours later, John, Virgil and Brains had moved up to the helm of Thunderbird two, leaving Scott with his manual. Looking up suddenly and realising he was alone, Scott yawned and stretched in the uncomfortable chair, his right leg had gone to sleep and his neck felt as if he had a permanent crick in it. Standing and stretching again he stomped his foot trying to wake up the appendage and relieve the painful tingling. He tucked the heavy tome under one arm and hobbled towards the short corridor linking silo one and two, looking around just to make sure that he really was alone. With a child like feeling of glee Scott headed toward the sleek form of Thunderbird one, it's silver body gleamed in the subdued lighting of the silo, standing tall and proud the ship was clasped lovingly in buffered clamps holding her steady. Scott ran his hand over the cool skin of this piece of exceptional technology. His brothers and Brains could go on all year about the electronics, mechanics and technology in the machine, but to Scott she was a living entity, and she was waiting for him to breathe life into her.

Scott climbed the ladder to the upper gantry, he walked around the circular gantry noting the split that would allow the hydraulics to draw the two halves apart when the rocket-plane was launched.

The idea of launching the 'plane' like a rocket was a concept Scott was still getting his head around. He'd flown planes since he was fourteen; he'd flown both large and small aircraft, taking off from extremely long to almost non-existent run ways. But to launch, really launch in the style of a rocket was more his father's forte than his. Scott looked up at the heavy hydraulic doors meters above him hidden in the darkness of the silo. It was a narrow chamber really considering what they intended, and how they thought he'd get the damn thing back in, was anybody's guess. Scott shook his head. 'Dad and 'Brains' have really gone out on a limb in the design stakes on this one,' he thought. Sighing he looked at the nose of the large plane, the cockpit was large, much larger than he was used to in the fighter Uncle Sam supplied him with. With room for a co-pilot and two passengers it was extremely roomy.

Reaching the port side hatch he touched the entry plate and the hatch opened with a soft hiss of welcome. The rotation of the cockpit was another head turner, because of the vertical launch, the cock pit rotated ninety degrees, making it easier to board while she was in an upright position, but rotating backwards so that the cockpit faced forward for flight. He still wasn't sure of the mechanics. Virgil had tried to explain the gimbals and gyroscopic mechanics of the transfer of position, but the technicalities had been lost on Scott. In the end Virgil had assured him it would work, Scott sincerely hoped it did, he'd be in a very awkward position if it didn't.

Stepping inside Scott was greeted with the scent of new machinery and leather, he inhaled deeply the scents permeated his body reaching down into his soul.

Laying the manual gently on the co-pilots seat, Scott sank into the pilot's seat, and ran his hands down the arm rests, the leather seat cradled him. Stretching out his legs he rested his feet against the pedals, pushing gently to get a feel for the weight and pressure. Tilting his head back he looked at the mass of switches and gauges that ranged across his control boards, eye's flicking from one to the next, registering its purpose and moving on. There was nothing here he hadn't encountered before. His fingers flickered across the control panels, lights glowing as his fingers brought the control boards to life and a gentle hum filled the cockpit, the pulse of the ship matching her pilot's pulse exactly. As he finished the first phase of the pre-flight, Scott glanced across the gauges, everything was as it should be. His hand hesitated over the switch to initiate the next and final stage before launch. His heart said to go for it, but his head over ruled, he still hadn't been given clearance, with a resigned sigh Scott drew his hand away and stroked the control stick with a lovers touch relaxing back into his seat listening to the hum around him. 'It won't be long... I promise it won't be long and you'll have your freedom.' He promised the purring machine.

So absorbed in the feel of the plane was he, that Scott didn't sense the other presence behind him. A sharp cough, caused him to jump and look over his shoulder guiltily, in the hatchway Jeff Tracy stood studying his eldest son, he'd enjoyed watching Scott as he discovered this new friend, Jeff understood the relationship a pilot developed with his plane.

"Dad!" Scott gave a chagrined smile at being caught out. "How long have you been standing there?"

Jeff moved into the cockpit and moving the manual sat in the co-pilot's seat. "Long enough." He looked over the controls. "See anything you don't recognise?"

Scott gave the panels a brief inspection, "No. All pretty self explanatory."

"Good. You studied the launch and flight schematics, the pre, post flight check lists?"

"Yep." Scott grinned, pre and post flight was pretty much the same on any aircraft, make sure everything was shut down and cooled down safely. Of course on this particular plane, cool down was gonna be extra important. As for the launch most of that was controlled by the computers. Flight. That was his area of expertise, for Scott it wasn't about the science although he understood aerodynamics, for Scott it was all about the feel. He was an instinct pilot, he flew by the seat of his pants, it didn't always go down well with his commanders, but Scott very rarely made an error in judgement. Of course the fact that his brain was able to make calculations almost as fast as the computer helped.

"Think you're ready for her?"

Scott's grin nearly split his face. "Ohhh yeah. But is she ready for me?" he gave his father a cheeky grin.

Jeff nodded and looked sideways at his son. "Well I suppose we're going to find out... You should probably go get your flight suit on."

Scott froze and looked at his father as if he couldn't believe his ears. "Now?"

"Yes Scott. Now." Jeff spoke slowly and clearly.

Jumping out of his seat Scott raced for the hatch, he came to a sudden stop at the open hatch and glanced back at his father, "You mean it? Now?"

Jeff laughed, "Yes." With a whoop of delight Scott raced down the gantry, watching him go Jeff was reminded of past Christmas mornings. Laughing to himself, he tucked the manual in the pocket on the pilot's seat and heaved himself to his feet. 'I'd better get up to command to give him clearance or he'll take the pool out.' Jeff thought to himself.

----

Gordon lay on the hot sand enjoying the midday sun. The sound of the surf lulled him into a drowsy slumber, a sudden rumble and the scream of machinery being pushed to its limit roused him instantly. Sitting up he looked around for the source of the horrendous noise. A deep body pounding thrum filled the air, standing Gordon shaded his eyes and watched the sky suddenly realising what was happening. One of the Thunderbirds was being launched and he suspected by the sound that it would be the smaller faster Thunderbird one.

The silver rocket-plane suddenly appeared over-head, rising above the peak of Tracy Mountain in a rapid vertical climb, the plane continued to climb until it had become a distant smudge, the thrum of its engines muted. Gordon followed the path of the craft as it swung away to the west streaking across the sky and disappearing over the horizon in seconds. Racing up the beach to find a better vantage point Gordon watched the western horizon for the planes' return. He clambered up on the rocks on the southern promontory scanning the clear sky. Eyes focused on the west he almost missed the sudden reappearance of the plane as it shot out of the distant northern sky speeding southward like a lightning strike. The plane was moving so fast it was almost impossible to see, a silver blur was the most Gordon could make out. The sound of the engines didn't reach Gordon's ears until the plane itself had cleared the southern horizon. Gordon stood stunned. He'd never seen anything so fast in his life and it was his brother flying it. He shook his head. Scott would be having the time of his life right about now.

Scrambling back down to the beach Gordon decided that he'd best head back to the house he wanted to see Scott when he got back. Picking up his towel and bottle Gordon looked up at the sky half expecting another reappearance of the silver bullet. Sighing Gordon contemplated his eldest brother, Scott wasn't exactly happy with Gordon at present. 'Maybe I'll give him a bit more time before I try talking to him.' Gordon thought ruefully, he began to trudge up the beach.

Gordon hated running with a passion, but the careers advisor for WASP had pointed out that extremely high fitness levels were required to enlist, so Gordon picked up his pace, stretched his already tired legs and started running up the beach towards the northern point where his father was setting up a satellite station. Reaching the most northern point on the beach Gordon headed inland and ran along the many tracks across the island, he criss-crossed the island keeping his pace steady. Finally reaching the runway he slowed his pace and wandered towards the obstacle course Scott had set up. He looked it over and shook his head he was too tired today, maybe another day. Tiredly he headed towards the western steps. As he reached the base of the steps a roar echoed around the hillside, followed by a hiss and the sudden muffling of the deep thrum of the rocket-plane's engines. Gordon hurried up the stairs, interested in seeing how Scott had fared getting the large plane into the very small opening that was silo one.

With any luck he'd be able to sneak in without anyone realising he had been gone. With everyone's attention on Scott, Gordon wouldn't be noticed. Supper would be served soon and the exercise along with missing lunch had left him with a hearty appetite. Gordon reached the house without seeing anyone and swiftly raced up to his room, changing into clean clothes he rinsed out his swimmers and hung them in the bathroom.

He looked around his bedroom noticing all the dirty clothes, both those he has worn since getting home and those he had brought home with him from school. Gathering them up and feeling happier in himself, Gordon trundled down to the utility room, there was already a load of washing just started in the washing machine so Gordon tossed in his clothes, shut the lid and went upstairs for supper, feeling more cheerful than he had since he got home.

At the table his brothers were discussing the first flight of Thunderbird one, Scott was nearly whizzing around the table, his face flushed with excitement a grin threatening to split his face. Virgil and Alan were equally excited shouting questions and demanding information about the flight. Grandma's firmly voiced order "Scott sit down. Alan, Virgil give your brother a break, he's told you every detail twice over already."

As everyone sat and supper was served the day's events were discussed with their father and Brains who had joined the family for supper tonight. John and Virgil returned to their conversation regarding Thunderbird two, while Alan and Fermat continued to demand further details of Thunderbird one's maiden flight. Gordon sat enjoying the sound of his brothers' prattle. Grandma had prepared one of Gordon's favourites, meat pie and mash potatoes, hungry he took second helpings when they were offered.

After dinner John excused himself saying he had to get ready for a date. Gordon looked enquiringly at Alan, who informed Gordon that John had a date with a woman Scott had introduced him to.

The discussion at the table was cut short by a roar of rage and the sound of feet stamping up the stairs from the utility room, "Who is the idiot that dumped the red shirt in with MY washing." John demanded.

Gulping Gordon looked at the shirts John held in his hand, his own red shirt and John's patchy pink and white one. John looked around the table, Gordon cringed, "GORDON, you little half wit." John stormed.

"John, calm down, I'm sure Gordon didn't do it on purpose..." Ruth appealed "...did you Gordon."

Gordon sick of being accused of things he that he hasn't done deliberately stood and faced John with scorn. "What's wrong John? Pink not your colour?"

"Gordon," Jeff warned.

Gordon glared resentfully at his family gathered around the table, "What? You think I did it deliberately?" he asked the group, "As if that shirt is going to make a difference," he scoffed "John's a looser if the only way he can get a girl is with a fancy shirt."

"Why you little…" John started towards Gordon, death in his eyes.

"John, go find something else, Gordon will replace the shirt" Jeff instructed standing between his sons and placing a restraining hand on John's shoulder.

"Com'on you can borrow one of mine." Scott offered taking Johns arm and dragging him from the room, reluctantly John retreated to get ready for his date, shooting dagger looks at Gordon. "Thanks..." John grimaced, "But I think I'll find something that's actually in fashion..."

Scott cuffed the back of John's head as they left the dining room, "I'm fashionable..." John's snort could be heard as the two disappeared.

Jeff looked at his second youngest son, Gordon was really pushing the boundaries, no matter what Jeff did Gordon just seemed to push harder. "Gordon. Go to your room."

Sullenly Gordon left the table. 'Hell, it's not fair; I didn't know it was John's washing.' Gordon thought as he made his way upstairs. 'That's the last time I try to help do the washing.'

He slumped on his bed, 'Damn, Gran had chocolate cake for dessert,' He remembered as his stomach growled in protest at missing the favoured dessert. Miserably he curled up on his bed and pulled the covers over himself shutting the unforgiving world out. As he drifted to sleep he heard the distant whine of Tracy two's engines start up, 'Well I guess John found something to wear.' He thought sleepily. He was fast asleep and didn't hear the plane return very early the next morning...

----

Over the following two days Gordon followed the same pattern, avoiding his family he grabbed some cereal after everyone else has finished and spent his day on the western beach. He returned for dinner, which he ate quietly and then retreated upstairs to his room, he spoke to no-one, and no one approached him, 'the stillness before a storm', Jeff noted the second night as he watched Gordon's sullen retreat, 'it's not like him to be sullen for so long,' Jeff worried 'teenagers!'. He looked at Alan laughing at the end of the table, the last of his boys, surely he wouldn't become a sullen teen, 'Please be gently on me Allie.' He pleaded silently.

By the fifth day on the island Gordon was beginning to tire of being on his own, he was still angry at his brothers, but he missed them, it wasn't like he had anyone else to talk to and it was hard work staying angry, his normal inclination was to make light of things, but recently that had got harder. Everything just seemed to be pressing in on him.

----

The following morning Gordon deliberately made sure he was the first person at the table for breakfast, no one commented on his being there. After breakfast Scott, John and Virgil disappeared towards the hangers to complete some maintenance work, Jeff went up to the office they had set up that would eventually be command and control, and Alan and Fermat wandered outside chatting idly. Gordon sat glowering; they had all left him, not even acknowledging him, annoyed he grabbed the WASP magazine he has been studying and stomped out to the pool deck to sit in the shade of a palm tree.

Scott returned to Thunderbird one as soon as breakfast was over, he had been given instructions on cleaning the plane and then applying several coats of specialised coatings, Brains had given him a list of the coating and the order they needed to be applied along with their purpose. Scott really didn't care as long as he could get everything finished and get in the air again, he'd put whatever Brains wanted him to put on the plane.

Virgil and John returned to Thunderbird two's silo meeting Brains and revisited the procedures and diagnostics they had gone over the day before. Both boys were as eager as Scott to get the large plane in the air, but unlike Scott they were more pragmatic, intent on understanding all the mechanics and details of the craft before attempting to fly it. As they approached the massive craft across the upper gantry in silo two, Virgil stopped and looked the large squat body of the plane, there was nothing sleek or elegant in its design, it was a work horse designed for heavy lifting not speed. He smiled, he'd always appreciated strength and power, rather than speed. Of course he was an artist at heart and the squat inelegant body did nothing for his artist's eye. He studied the ugly undercoat grey paint. They hadn't discussed paint colours yet, colour had been the last thing on the agenda when they were designing these machines. He knew given the opportunity his father would probably pick a muted colour, grey or khaki. Virgil shuddered; the thickset plane would look hideous in khaki.

Beside him John stood studying his younger brother, he recognised the pose, it was a position they had found Virgil in many times as he contemplated a composition either to be painted or played. John looked towards the large Thunderbird two, "What's up Virge?" he asked.

Virgil startled and looked at John his eyes still unfocused, "Just trying to work out what colour would best suit her." John smiled, colour was important to Virgil. "I'm sure you'll come up with something appropriate. Com'on Brains is waiting."

Virgil nodded and followed his brother into the side hatch of the ugly grey plane.

----

Several hours passed with little activity to show for it in the house or by the pool, Gordon didn't see any of his brothers throughout the morning. He chewed over going to find them and demanding that they include him in whatever they were involved in, but a desire for continued existence prevailed and he chose to stay out of the way. Sitting by the pool, which he was still band from was intolerable, but he didn't want to miss any of the activity around the house so he put up with it.

The sun was high over head when his three older brothers appeared just before lunch, they didn't notice him in the corner of the deck.

"Did you see him at breakfast, acting as if nothing happened?" Virgil asked.

John nodded, "Yeah the little weasel thinks he can just waltz back in with no apology, that shirt was my favourite and it cost a fortune, I can't believe he ruined it like that! Some prank."

"It's about time he got sorted out, once and for all." Scott agreed. "The pranks and crappy moods have to stop."

Incised Gordon stood glaring at his brothers, "Yeah, and I bet you think you three can do it!" Gordon jeered from across the pool.

All three of the brothers swung around to look at their second youngest brother. "You know you three haven't got a full set of balls between you. You're all wimps."

Enraged the elder three brothers charge the younger boy. Scott rushed down one side of the pool, while John and Virgil dart around the other side intent on cutting Gordon's chances of retreat off. Realising at the last moment that he was trapped, Gordon took the only route left to him and dived into the pool, frantically swimming for the far side. He'd almost escaped when he felt a sudden weight across his back and only had a moments warning to suck in a lung full of air before he was dragged under the water. Scott allowed the younger boy to the surface just long enough to stop him downing before dunking him again. Virgil and John now both in the water start shoving at Gordon as well, shouting obscenities.

Jeff alerted by the commotion stepped out on to the balcony to see three of his sons trying to drown the forth, just as he was about to intervene the phone rang behind him, "Scott!" Jeff roared at his eldest, hearing the hail Scott looked up at his father and let Gordon go automatically, "Enough! Let him out." Scott pulled Virgil off his once red-headed brother, "Let him go." Scott instructed. Scowling Virgil lunged for Gordon again and John had to grab him, shouting "Dad said let him go." As Gordon swam for the far edge of the pool, the three elder brothers climbed out and sat on the side, glaring at the youngster across the water.

Jeff's sudden roar, "Boy's up here NOW!" caused, Scott, John and Virgil to immediately jump to their feet and race up to the office. Having assured himself that Gordon was also climbing out of the pool, Jeff returned to his desk and the computer screens of the future command centre. Alan and Fermat raced into the room shortly followed by a dripping Gordon. Scott, Virgil and John were already in place awaiting information and direction from their father, creating a rather large puddle in the middle of the floor.

Jeff looked over the information coming up on the screen, frowned and looked up at his three eldest sons; noting the puddle he put it aside for discussion later. He'd just received a call from the wife of an old friend; the distressed woman had said that her husband and a number of others were trapped in a mine collapse. Jeff shook his head, they weren't ready for this. He'd been drilling the boys. Scott, John and Virgil had all assisted on small scale rescues with local organisations in Kansas and on the nearby island of American Samoa, but this was much bigger than they had handled to date, it was also the first one where the Thunderbird machines would be involved. He looked towards the door at his fourth son, he was going to need the extra man power, but Gordon was untrained and undisciplined. He didn't want to risk him. A rescue was not the place to test out discipline, switching back to the business at hand he turned to his eldest, "OK Scott there has been a mine collapse in Malaysia, I know we aren't on line yet, but this is a friend. So get going and Brains will give you the details once you've launched."

Scott stepped into his elevator.

"Scott." Jeff looked at his son, whose deep blue eyes had faded to a cool calculating grey, "Be careful."

Giving a tight smile and a sharp salute Scott nodded once then raised his chin, he held the grips of the elevator and dropped out of sight, his heart leaping to his throat with the sudden drop. 'I don't think I'm ever gonna get used to this.' He thought. Within moments the sound of the pool being drained and Thunderbird Ones' rockets warming up could be heard.

"Virgil, John, Get the Mole" Jeff looked at Brains. "It's OK to go?"
"A-a-a f-f.... Yes." Brains responded.
"Good," Jeff turned back to Virgil and John where they stood in their respective silo elevators, "Mole and Excavator. Get them on board and the underground recovery kits." John and Virgil also disappeared down into the silos.
" Dad. Can I come?" Alan jumped up and down in typical twelve year old excitement.

"No Alan, it's too dangerous." Jeff looked back at Gordon, wondering that the boy hadn't even spoken yet. He made a quick decision, "Gordon, com'on let's get suited up." Surprised Gordon hesitated. "Now Gordon!" Jeff snapped. Gordon jumped towards the elevator behind his own portrait, "Yes sir." He shouted as he disappeared into the depths of the island silos.

Jeff looked at Brains, "Get us all the information you can." He commanded, as he to raced into his own elevator.

"Y… Y….yes.. s..ss…sir."

TBC...

A/N: Here they go... Action and adventure coming up... or disaster (Evil laugh)

What did you think? Has Gordon pushed his brothers too far?

TBZ