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…..

John could still hear Penelope's cries…she hadn't stopped since getting the news. Grandma Tracy had escorted her to a separate room in order to try and help her calm down. To be honest, the brothers weren't doing much better…in fact, Kayo was the only one who had managed to keep a dry eye throughout the whole adventure.

She walked up to John, who had his head buried in his hands. "John?"

John glanced up and smiled as Kayo continued, "What exactly did Parker say to you? Before he died, I mean? It seemed pretty urgent…"

John shrugged as he ignored the small weight in his pocket, "I couldn't understand him very well…blood loss, you know? His words were all slurred."

Kayo narrowed her eyes suspiciously before nodding, "Alright…Virgil is going to escort Penelope and Parker's body back home so that she can take care of the burial details."

John nodded as Kayo left. Once he was sure that she was gone, he removed the object from his pocket. "A USB?" he whispered in confusion. Shrugging, he placed the USB in an old box that was usually kept under the bed. With the exception of the USB, the box contained little mementos from different places that he had been.

"John…" John glanced up to see Scott in his room doorway, "…I've called Colonel Casey and she's arranged a meeting with a General Cooper. Apparently he would know more about what Parker was killed for...I sense it's something to do with Project Dōsatsu." He grimaced at John's confused look, "I'll explain on the way…come on, get into your uniform."

"Why am I coming? Why not Gordon or Alan? I need to go back up at some point…"

"No offense to them, but I can't trust them not to say the wrong thing. You're a natural peacekeeper, making you perfect for this conversation. Thunderbird Five can remain on automatic for a bit longer as I sense the General might not be as willing to talk as Casey makes out."

John nodded, "I'll meet you in Thunderbird One's hanger."

…..

"Aah, you must be International Rescue!" greeted General Cooper as John and Scott entered his office, shaking each of their hands as his assistant stood behind him.

Scott saluted after the handshake, his air force training coming back into play, "It's an honour to meet you Sir."

"Nonsense, the honour is all mine. After all, International Rescue has done some truly amazing things. Now, what can I do for you gentlemen?"

Scott nodded, "We need to know more about what the information on that ship we rescued yesterday. After all, a man died trying to protect it."

"I'm afraid I can't tell you much. I was only there on a routine inspection…although, the information that you speak of is concerning. Were it to fall into the wrong hands-"

"It won't." interrupted John, "The information is safe. We just need to know what it was all about."

The General remained silent for a few minutes, before turning away. "I imagine it held information about Project Dōsatsu. It is a revolutionary project that Colonel Casey designed in order to protect the world from terrorist attacks…the problem is that not many know the particulars of the project…except Colonel Casey."

Scott frowned, "What exactly are you suggesting? That Colonel Casey is responsible for all of this?!"

The General smirked, "I think it's something to be considered…Colonel Casey came to me, asking that the project be stopped. She seemed quite annoyed when I informed her we could do nothing without evidence. An attack on the very operatives she hired to decipher the files would seem very suspicious wouldn't it?"

"But she told us that you knew what the files contained and that you wouldn't tell her. When she couldn't see for herself, she grew concerned and that's why she wanted the project halted."

"I believe she may have misled you slightly…you see, the fact of the matter is I couldn't tell her because I don't know anything about the files."

"Did you disagree with her about halting the project for a while?"

"Yes…like I said, it is a revolutionary project. What Colonel Casey may not have realised it that in order to make a new world, you sometimes have to tear the old one down…and that make enemies."

Scott and John nodded at each before Scott addressed the General again, "Thank you for your time General Cooper."

Before they could leave, the General's voice stopped them. "A good friend of yours was killed today International Rescue. Someone who presents a threat to the security of this world. If it were me, I would stop at nothing to get my hands on that person….You were the last ones to see Mr Parker alive. I don't think that was an accident and neither do you I suspect…who now has those files, now that he's gone."

John couldn't help but straighten up at those words, his thoughts turning to the hidden box under his bed. "It's a matter for International Rescue now…" he blurted out, "…we'll soon get to the bottom of this."

They turned to leave again, but the General's next words sent shivers down their spines. "Just a word of warning gentlemen…the armed forces will also be investigating this matter. If anyone gets in our way, they will be dealt with…and I mean anyone."

The two brothers nodded and quickly left the office. Scott shook his head as they headed to the elevator, "This is getting out of hand. The General knows something and I am not falling for his attempts to pin the blame on Colonel Casey."

John nodded in agreement and shuddered, "To be honest, it wasn't so much the General as his assistant…did you see the way he just lurked there, staring at us…"

The pair entered the elevator, however, before the doors could shut they were joined by a small group of soldiers who pressed the button for the records level. The elevator went down a couple of floors, only to stop for another small group. This happened once more before Scott realised that something was wrong.

"John…." Scott whispered, "….I need you to move to the back of the elevator."

John surreptitiously glanced behind him before shaking his head, "I can't…we're surrounded."

The elevator came to a stop. Scott glanced around, "Before we get started…Does anyone want to get out?"

There was a few seconds of silence before the person in front of the brothers drew a baton and launched himself at Scott. John yelped when his arms were yanked to either side and a couple of men attempted to place magnetic cuffs on him so that he could be restrained against the metallic wall.

Scott grunted and pushed, "Get your hands off of him!" he yelled, breaking the nose of a nearby solider and elbowing another in the gut. Taking advantage of the reprieve, he tackled the guard who was attempting to putt the second cuff on John's wrist, sending this second cuff into the lower wall. Sadly Scott nudged John in the process and his right wrist attached to the elevator wall.

John tried to get free and sighed in frustration, "Thanks Scott…"

"Hey, I saved you didn't I?" grunted Scott as he dunked under a punch.

John rolled his eyes and placed both feet on the wall in order to use his entire weight to detach the cuff, "And I'm thankful for that…but what exactly can I do from here!?"

"Well, at least I can keep an eye on you now!"

John chuckled as he watched Scott knock two guys heads together. Tugging his wrist one final time, he was able to backflip to the ground. Thank god for gymnastics training. Turning around, he whacked a soldier around the back of the head, knocking him to the ground.

Due to Scott's earlier efforts, there was only one soldier left who placed his fists in front of him defensively. "It's nothing personal!" yelled the man, lunging at the brothers. John dived to the side as Scott grabbed the man by the shoulders and kneed him in the stomach, before striking him across the face and knocking him out.

Scott sighed as he removed the cuff from John's wrist, "It kinda feels personal…" He opened the elevator doors slightly, only to push them shut when he saw a large group of armed guards run down the hallway.

He glanced at John, "Do you have your rocket boots on?"

John nodded and Scott grinned, "Excellent…" he smashed the window of the elevator, therefore giving them an exit to the outside of the building….several floors up. Scott fired his grapple gun at the opposite building and, with his spare arm, he grabbed his brother around the waist.

"Scott…what are you doing?" yelped John as they leapt out of the window, firmly attached to the grapple wire.

"Escaping…those rocket boots of yours should help us to Thunderbird One!"

"You know they aren't actually built for Earth, they help me move about in outer space! And we've just been attacked, I think they're probably watching your bird!"

"…Yes, you may be right. Well, thanks to the defence systems in One, they won't be able to actually get in, let alone use her!"

The pair impacted with the second building and gripped on to the window ledges so that Scott could detach his grapple gun. John attempted to get a better grip on the ledge before sighing, "Well this is a fine mess!"

"Shut up John…Okay, on the count of three, we're going to drop and your boots should soften the fall slightly."

"…Please explain your logic."

"THREE!" Scott grabbed his brother and pushed them both away from the building, causing John to frantically switch his boots on in order to minimise the damage to his legs.

It worked…sort of.

Once they landed (heavily), they both limped into the street. Scott turned to John and pointed at an abandoned motorbike in a car park. "Parker taught you how to jump start cars and stuff like that right?"

John glanced at the bike before wincing, "Yeah, but I don't know how to ride a motorbike!"

Scott grinned, "Well lucky for you, I do…chop, chop! We haven't got any time to lose!"

John rolled his eyes, got to work and within a few minutes they were speeding through the streets, John clinging to the back of Scott. "HOW ARE WE GETTING TO THE ISLAND WITHOUT THUNDERBIRD ONE!" he screamed.

"OUR FAMILY STILL HAS SEVERAL MOTOR BOATS AT VARIOUS DOCKS. WE'LL HIJACK ONE OF THOSE!"

…..

It took several hours for the two to make their way back to Tracy Island. Scott made his way to the main living area in order to debrief the rest of their family. John, however, made his way up to his room. Once there, he retrieved his box from under his bed, opened it up only to swear in frustration and shock.

The USB was gone.