Be Careful What You Wish For
A Thunderbirds Movieverse fanfic
by TimeGuardian
Chapter Six
Tony led Jeff back to Professor Millington's lab where they then picked up Brains. As they followed Tony to their new destination, Jeff was trying to figure out a way to get a communication to his sons like he promised. With the satellite communication affected by the solar flare activity he couldn't see an immediate solution, but when he quickly briefed Brains while they were following Tony, Brains simply nodded and stated that he knew what to do.
He was jarred from his thoughts when Tony declared. "We're here."
Jeff looked up in some surprise. Tony led them to an area of NASA that was new to him. In front of him was a winding path leading up a gradual incline until it ended in a flattened top. At the top was what looked like an observatory on steroids – instead of one telescope jutting out of the building, there was two, and the building itself seemed to be made of a grey plastic material. Green grass and small shrubs encompassed what was left exposed on the ground.
"You've been busy since I've seen this place last," Jeff declared. "This area wasn't even owned by NASA at one point."
Tony chuckled. "Never underestimate the power of generous donators. The land was given to the government on the provision that it would be given to us to use. We made use of recyclable materials to build up the hill, cover it in shredded old tires and earth, and voila, instant perfect place for an experimental observatory. Given the weather patterns around here, we found a builder dealing with hurricane proof materials, and here we are."
Jeff was impressed. "Indeed."
Tony led them up the path until they reached the main door of the building. He opened it and allowed Jeff and Brains to go in first.
The lobby area of the building was simply decorated with a grey stone floor flecked with splashes of white. The walls were eggshell white but had been treated with a paint treatment that gave them a soft texture. Artwork depicting past space missions lined the walls.
"I'm pretty sure a few missions dad and you were on are on these walls," Tony declared. "Follow me - we need the last set of doors on the right."
Jeff and Brains followed him to end of the lobby and entered in through the doors that he pointed out.
The room they entered was into was immense and semi-circular in shape. Near the center sat one of the telescopes in question, with scientist at the controls looking through the lens. Two large windows on the outer wall allowed sunlight in, and two rows of computer stations were situated just behind the telescope.
A handful of people were manning the stations in question. One man who noticed their entrance, stood up immediately. Dressed in blue jeans and a black polo shirt, the red-haired man approached them quickly. "Director Nelson, we've focused our efforts around the area of the sun as you asked us to, but we've also picked up on a new transmission that sounds more like interference."
Tony looked at him and ordered. "Show us what you mean."
The man motioned them over to the nearest computer station, where a woman sat listening intently to audio coming from her computer. "Joan, turn the volume up and let the Director hear what you've discovered."
"Yes sir."
Jeff listened as Joan tuned the volume up on the audio. Beeps and static came through the speakers in a repeated pattern. Something about them seemed familiar to him.
Brains leaned towards him and spoke quietly. "I-I recognize t-that n-n-noise. I-It's John trying to reach us."
Jeff knew better than to be surprised. He turned to Tony. "Can you get us a dedicated connection to that communication without too much attention?"
The Director glanced over at the last computer station in the last row. "I usually work over at that station whenever I come to visit these guys, and it's about as secure as it gets. Joan, could you please route that transmission to the last computer station in the back row?"
"Right away, Director."
They watched as she typed in a few commands into the computer before she looked back up at them. "I've routed the transmission to the station as you asked."
"Thank you," Tony replied before motioning to Jeff and Brains. "Come on."
When they reached the last computer in the second row, there was no one immediately around them. Tony sat down in front of the computer for a moment to type in his credentials and then stood up. "It's all yours. Do what you need to do – I'm going to check with the scientist at the telescope and see if they made any progress."
When he walked away, Brains sat down and immediately set to work.
Jeff watched in silence as his friend blazed through the NASA communication programs and made setting changes, including adding a line of computer code or two. Finally Brains looked up at him. "I-it's ready."
Brains got up to allow Jeff to sit down. The audio feed from the communication program filtered through the computer speakers.
"Calling NASA in Florida, this is an emergency transmission from International Rescue. If anyone can hear me, please respond."
It was John's voice all right. Jeff spoke quickly into a microphone that was positioned beside the computer. "International Rescue, this is NASA, receiving you loud and clear."
It took a moment for an astonished John to reply. "Dad?!"
Jeff laughed. "Yes. Luckily I brought Brains along on this trip - else wise we still would have been interpreting your transmission. It's good to hear to hear your voice, John – now bring me up to speed."
He listened intently as John explained their conversation with Alan, along with the scans they had made of the area around the sun.
That was also when he noticed Brains had walked over to the telescope and looked to be in a three way conversation with Tony and the scientist that was manning the telescope.
When John finished his report, Jeff asked him to bring Alan into the conversation. As he waited for John to do so, Tony and Brains came back over to him hurriedly – using the telescope, they spotted the new wave of asteroids near the sun and confirmed what John had told him.
A moment later, he heard John's voice again. "Dad, I've got Alan - Alan, we managed to get a hold of dad – and we have news."
Jeff could hear a slight hitch in Alan's voice as it came through the speakers. "It's not good, is it?"
He decided to be the one to tell Alan the news. "Son, A NASA telescope here managed to get a good read of the area around the sun and your brothers were able to confirm it as well: There's another wave of asteroids heading towards the sun and that means there will be more solar flare activity for the next few hours."
Frustration marred Alan's voice. "What do we do, then? The Zeta 5 space station cannot last much more than this. Their last communication I managed to make out indicated that their shields were failing."
Brains, who was listening to their exchange, spoke up. "I-I have an idea, b-but it's d-dan-risky."
Jeff turned to him sharply. "What do you suggest?"
"If Alan can m-m-maneuver Thunderbird Five into a corresponding orbit as the other s-s-space s-station, there is a way to e-extend the s-s-shields so both s-s-stations will be protected. Tony gave me Zeta 5's coordinates and I can w-w-walk Alan through the necessary c-c-changes."
He could tell that there was more to this explanation. "What's the risk, Brains?"
Brains cast his eyes back to the computer. "J-Jeff-"
He knew that he wasn't going to like the answer, but still Jeff pressed. "Brains-"
"G-g-given the amount of d-d-damage already d-d-done, it may hasten s-s-system failures on Thunderbird Five. Before you ask, I took a look at the s-specs that Tony allowed me to s-s-see for Zeta 5 – they need help now, Jeff," Brains reluctantly explained.
"Let's do this, then," Alan's voice declared through the speakers.
All Jeff could see was Brains scenario and too many 'what if' questions that had the potential to turn out badly. "Alan-"
Alan cut him off heatedly. "Dad, we have no time to think about this. Put Brains on and let us get to work. I can buy John and the others enough time to destroy those asteroids with the laser cutting systems on Thunderbird Three."
Whatever argument Jeff was ready to make died on his lips. His thoughts were torn between pride, irritation, and worry. "Okay, son, take care and good luck. I'll talk to you soon."
"Thanks, dad."
Brooding, Jeff stood up and walked over to one of the large windows overlooking the main part of the NASA complex. So much had changed over the years and yet it never got any easier – the rescues, the danger, the risk, and the worry. It was his belief in his boys and their talents that helped him keep it all in check.
Moments later he heard someone walk up beside him and turned to find that Tony had come over to him. The younger man gave Jeff a look of sympathy and understanding. "You've got an amazing family, Jeff."
Jeff turned back to look out the window with a small smile of pride on his face. "That I do."
Don't get too used to the quick updates…my muse has actually browbeat my arthritis down for the moment – I'm just taking advantage while it lasts. :p
More soon,
TimeGuardian