Scott was just able to pull his fist back before decking his brother. "Gordon!" he said relieved as both he and Virgil bundled him up in a two-person bear hug.
"That's my name, don't run it down," joked Gordon, who then pushed them away. "No time now - we've got to help John. He's un..."
"Conscious ... No! I mean, I'm awake," finished John quickly, sitting up. He then yawned. "OK... maybe still a little tired."
Gordon smiled briefly and relaxed, turning to hug his red-headed brother. He suddenly felt the world spin alarmingly, then the strong arms of his older brothers lead him to the couch.
He heard muddled comments, trying to get him to respond. One of them, he was not sure which, then gently waved the remnants of the broken packet of ammonia spirits under his nose.
The aquanaut coughed and tried to brush off the offending item. "All right, which one of you stuffed a skunk up my nose?" he said, rubbing his nose.
Virgil laughed. "Skunk huh? That's a new one. Thought you'd say something about Grandma's extra salty peanut butter cookies," he said as he then checked Gordon's pulse and eye response.
"I happen to like those cookies - at least she hasn't burned those yet," Gordon said, then looked puzzled. "What happened?"
Receiving a nod from Virgil meaning their brother's vitals were stable, Scott continued. "We were hoping you'd tell us," he said. Seeing Gordon's puzzlement, he continued. "Gordo - we found your watch in one of the rooms and you not there. We weren't sure if you passed out from your earlier injury or kidnapped..."
"Both."
His brothers, Lady Penelope and Parker's heads snapped up at the response. "Both?"
"Yeah - or actually I was put out and kidnapped," Gordon said. Seeing his brothers look at him concerned, he gave his story. "OK, I was searching the rooms like everyone else for the woman when I started to search the Colby room."
"That was the first room you were going to go to, right?" asked Virgil.
"Yeah, and I'm guessing the only one I searched. I walked around the corner of the living quarters to head to the bedroom when I was grabbed from behind," said Gordon. "Didn't even get a chance to fight. Next thing I know I'm lying on a bed thinking I had bad cherries jubilee."
John quirked an eyebrow. "Did you get any chance to look at the guy?" he asked, hoping for more clues to what they already knew.
"No - I know it was a guy though, had a grip like iron. Had no chance of removing that chloroformed rag from my face."
"So, chloroform, not stun stick?"
"Yeah John - same with you?"
"Same, except we were actually given Citaloxatine. The same family of anesthetic drugs, but still just about as nasty," said John. "It's why I was sprawled on the couch..."
"And thought that Sherbert was a bunny rabbit and could eat his 'Carrot top'," chuckled Scott.
John put his head in his right hand, shaking it. "I'm never living that one down huh?" he asked.
Gordon laughed. "Darn right - Alan and me will have a great time..." he started, only to freeze when he saw John's aqua eyes turn 40 degrees cooler. "Um, not doing anything with that information."
"Thank you - though if you do change your mind, you can tell me YOUR post recovery thoughts," said the astronaut, giving a slight smirk. In all honesty, if his thoughts were weird coming out of the anesthetic's effects, he didn't want to know Gordon's... again.
"Don't have any - slept like a rock," The aquanaut thought for a moment then shook his head, changing the subject. "I don't know why he attacked me though - I have no rubies on me. Did you find the woman?"
"Yes, she's all right Gordon," said Lady Penelope. "She ran into Scott and he brought her to us. She too had ruby jewelry, but all the gems were with their original pieces."
Gordon shook his head. "Gets weirder and weirder - first I'm attacked, then John and I get kidnapped. It's almost as though he really wants one of us ..." he said, rubbing the back of his neck to get rid of the sparkles caused by his injuries.
"It looks like h'it Gordon, but at least you didn't end up bundled like kindling in a fireplace like John 'ere," joked Parker.
"... And steal plans for our Thunderbirds - or something," continued Gordon, ignoring the chauffeur's comment.
The astronaut quirked an eyebrow at the remark and lack of teasing from Gordon. Something just seemed off with the aquanaut's comments.
"We won't let that happen," said Scott.
"Right - I suggest since we're all together we need to STAY together until we get this guy, especially if he's trying to kidnap us," said Gordon. "He probably won't try if we have the numbers."
"I don't know Gordon. He's been brazen enough to try to attack all of us at once," said Lady Penelope putting a hand on her necklace. "Or at least you boys - he seemed hesitant to accost me."
John's eyes lit up at the comment. It was definitely one of many oddities he heard in the past few minutes, including Gordon saying he felt fine in spite of being drugged.
He needed to tell someone about his findings, but not his brothers, not right now.
It wasn't that he didn't trust them - John trusted his brothers with his life, all of them. In this case however, he wanted to leave them out of the loop - temporarily anyway, especially if his suspicions were wrong.
He wanted to speak to someone more neutral, less attached who could say if they thought he was right or not.
John thought of an idea to separate the group, and inwardly cringed. He knew the brothers would never let him live it down if they figured out his ruse.
He was trying to figure out a perfect time to create the diversion when a baritone voice broke his thoughts. "Hey John, you ready to finally eat that dinner?" teased Scott as he gestured toward the door.
'Perfect... Well, here goes nothing,' he thought and nodded.
John stood up and started to follow his brothers. "FAB, I'm looking forward to the one reason I came here and ..." he started, then paused briefly to rub his eyes.
Virgil froze when he heard John stop speaking and turned. His eyes narrowed at what he saw. "John? Are you OK?" he said cautiously.
"I'm f-fine... I ... j-j... I.."
John swayed alarmingly, and Virgil grabbed his arm trying to steady him.
"Easy there bro, you... John!" the medic said as the astronaut's eyes crossed slightly before he fell into Virgil's arms, limp.
"Terrific," groaned the medic as he picked his brother up in an arm cradle.
Gordon, who hadn't gotten up to leave yet, jumped up from the couch to let Virgil place the 'insensible' man on the couch.
"Woah John!" the aquanaut said as Virgil made his brother comfortable. "What's wrong Virgil?"
"Fainting spell. He's having more trouble recovering from the Citaloxatine than you did Gordo," he said as he checked John's pulse. He frowned, puzzled at his findings as he gently tapped John's left cheek to check the astronaut's response.
Penny and Parker also noticed Virgil's reaction but didn't say anything.
Fortunately, John groaned and 'woke up.' "Man... not again," he said when he 'realized' he was on the couch.
"Yeah, again bro," said Virgil gently. "I think you either got dosed more than you thought or have a lower tolerance to the drug's side effects."
John shrugged. "Maybe both. You know I've always had trouble... I'm still... just so dizzy," he said, spreading his fingers and pressing the tips across his forehead for a good rub.
He also made the motion to shield his eyes from their medic brother's gaze. John hated that he had to pull this stunt but was sure it was still the best way.
The chauffeur saw a glint in John's eye before covering his eyes, one that was rather familiar in his youth when he wanted to deceive. "H'I'd say so John, seeing as you're starting to look like a fainting goat there," he said.
John shrugged sheepishly and glanced over Virgil's shoulders to find Lady Penelope. He noticed the skeptical London agent's eyes just behind his three brothers. She heard the strange conversation, and she understood the reason for Parker's odd comment about John's condition.
Penny grinned, but quickly composed herself. "Virgil, since John is still feeling faint, Parker and I will keep him company here until he is steady on his feet."
"You sure Lady P? I think folks would question why most of us weren't there," said Gordon.
"We really haven't been attending the dinner or play since you were attacked in the lover's maze," pointed out Scott.
Gordon was about to retort when Lady Penelope interrupted. "Yes, I'm sure. We can't have John go swooning into the cherries jubilee, especially if it's on fire," she said.
"I agree - bad enough I've had to treat him for Citaloxatine in his system. No need to add immolation to the list," said Virgil, chuckling when John gave a bland look.
The medic then turned to his younger brother. "Why don't you rest for a moment as well Gordon? You could have a delayed reaction as well."
The aquanaut shrugged it off. "Nah - I'm fine. I tolerate drugs better," said Gordon.
"If you say so," said Virgil, not quite believing him. Still, he thought, given the time that had passed it was possible the drug worked out of Gordon's system.
The eldest nodded in agreement. "OK, you, Virgil and I will go back to the dinner to eat and keep an eye out for any more trouble," said Scott, putting a hand on his astronaut brother's shoulder. "John, when you feel better join us - but if there is any sign of trouble you know what to do."
John looked at him deadpan. "Pass out and let Lady Penelope and Parker fight for me?" he said drily. Seeing Scott's glower, he chuckled. "Don't worry, if the thug tries again I'll drop a mansion on him."
The others laughed and departed for the dinner.
Once the doors closed, Penny sat down by John while Parker walked over to stand a few feet away as a first line of defense.
She then turned to John. "OK John, I know you're feeling better than to just have fainted again. What really is going on?"
88888888888
At the dinner, the guests were starting to receive their desserts when the Tracy brothers sat down at their table. The server then came over to take their orders. "I understand that your family has other duties, so we placed your dinners in a stasis warmer to keep them fresh," he said quietly. "What side would you like?"
"I would like the twice baked potato," said Scott.
Virgil pondered his choices for a moment then nodded. "Green beans almondine. At least I know this time it won't include lemon drops in it," he said. Seeing the waiter make a puckered face, he shrugged. "Yeah, we still haven't figured out why our grandmother thought you used those in the recipe."
"I'd like the blue cheese stuffed tomato," said Gordon, making his brothers look up in surprise. He shrugged. "Hey, might as well live a little and see what John finds so wonderful with the dish."
All right then," said Scott, giving a sideways glance to Virgil as the waiter left. "But you're not getting a bit of our sides if you find out you hate them."
Gordon chuckled. "Don't worry about it - I could eat a horse right now," he said, making Virgil frown slightly. Scott didn't miss either comment or reaction.
The aquanaut however blinked his eyes and rubbed his neck, blushing. "Look, I need to go use the men's room for a moment. Needed to go since I came to, and just haven't had time," he said.
The two older brothers just waved him off. "Just don't make a side trip to - or in - the lily pond OK?" said Scott and Gordon laughed, stepping out of the room.
Seeing their brother's retreating form, Virgil pursed his lips. "I'm worried about Gordon," he said.
"You're not the only one - He normally doesn't just 'try' new foods," said Scott. "Plus yesterday, you'd thought he'd told John he was eating earthworms when he talked about a blue cheese tomato," said Scott.
"It's not just that - something hasn't been adding up with him since he escaped. His comments, his reactions being drugged," said Virgil, who tented his fingers as he pondered how to say the next point. "It is not just him who's doing it either -"
"John's acting odd too?" said Scott, and the other nodded. "Virg, you and I both know that he's never had an easy time recovering from anesthesia. Even locals have laid him out for a while."
"I know - but Scott... he faked that last faint," said Virgil. Seeing Scott open his mouth to retort, Virgil put a hand up. "Oh he made it look real enough, but his pulse didn't match someone who had a spell. Even then, I've had to carry him too many times in various conditions to tell the difference."
"Which is?"
"It's subtle, but if he's conscious, he always tenses up if I pick him up," said Virgil. "He can't help it - John hates being carried."
"And I take it he flinched when you moved him?" said the eldest Tracy, and Virgil nodded.
Scott frowned as their meal was served. "I know he has a mild fear of crowds, but he'd never pretend to pass out to get out of them. If anything, he wouldn't because we'd give him grief," he said. "So why would he here?"
"That's the $64,000 question."
88888888888
In the study, John rubbed the back of his neck. "I figured you suspected I was faking," he said. The astronaut had also caught Parker's meaning in calling him a fainting goat: the animal doesn't literally faint, just appears to at times.
"Not at first - it wasn't until Virgil gave a look of surprise checking your pulse," said Penny, who gave a slight smile. "Plus even with your phobia, I doubted you'd pull a stunt such as that unless you really needed to."
"Yeah, but if I were wrong or even correct - the guys would never let me or Gordon live it down," admitted John.
Penny looked at him puzzled. "Gordon living what down? I don't understand," she said. "What is bothering you, John?"
"OK, something isn't adding up since my brother got back."
"When does it h'ever with 'im, John?" joked Parker. Seeing his friends' responses, he cleared his throat and apologized.
"True, he's always been a bit off, but more so here," John said, then just took the straightforward route. "Gordon's lying about being chloroformed."
"Why would you say that John?" inquired Penny.
"Well - he's as much of a lightweight as I am in that area," he said. "Plus, saying he felt fine with no side effects? That's wrong too."
"And you know that because?" asked Parker.
"He's had Citaloxatine before when he was in WASP."
"I thought they stopped using the anesthetic a decade or so ago," said Penny.
"No, they and Global One still use it regularly in field medicine, mostly because it has a longer shelf life," said the astronaut. "I learned this when I was earning my medical certifications to help in International Rescue."
Seeing the other two's inquiring looks, John explained further. "They had to put him under with it to take out his appendix," he said. "I remember the holophone visit a couple of hours after the surgery. Gordon thought Alan was a pink and purple polka-dot bottlenose dolphin, and Scott a purple hedgehog with a green and blue tipped rock candy mohawk."
"But you're not still saying bizarre things John," pointed out Penny.
"True, but I really am still mildly groggy and nauseous."
Parker frowned. "So you're saying 'e should still be feeling rough too?" he said.
"Yeah, but from the sound of things Gordon jumped up from the couch so Virgil could lay me on it. Did he waver or show any signs of dizziness?"
Penny's eyes widened. "No he didn't - solid as a rock," she said. "But why would he lie about being drugged, John?"
"I don't know," he said, then shuddered. "I have a suspicion though."
"Suspicion? About *Gordon*?"
John rubbed a hand on the back of his head. "I don't know, maybe he doesn't even know - I mean, he might've been knocked out, but ... maybe something else happened to him that he's too embarrassed to talk about."
The London agent put a hand on the nervous astronaut's shoulder. "What could have happened that would be so bad that he wouldn't tell us - or at least his brothers?"
"I'm not sure of course - but it was women who were attacked - maybe the attacker found him - thinking he was a woman," he said. "That would have given the attacker and Gordon an unpleasant surprise."
"You're not saying..." Lady Penelope said, eyes widening slightly at the concept. "Not..."
"No, not that Gordon was actually - assaulted, but it might have come close - he doesn't have any rubies or jewelry, after all," said John. "It's possible he failed to subdue my brother and ran away. Gordon however, while not drugged, could've still stumbled in a room and passed out from his earlier injury or shock."
"If 'e collapsed from those, 'e might've claimed he was drugged to be a bit more tough," said Parker. "You know? - go down fightin'."
John quirked an eyebrow, but conceded the point. "Maybe I can get him away from the others and talk to him about it. He might tell me what happened if we're alone, especially knowing I've been in his shoes."
"I hope his strange behavior can be explained that simply," said Parker, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
"If something like that happened, Gordon might not think its so simple a situation," said John. He then rested his arms on his knees. "Something else though - and this concerns me. The guy who attacked me, seemed gentle somehow - like he was going out of his way to be sure I was okay."
"But anyone can check to make sure you're ah'live John," countered the chauffeur. "Even the roughest robber knows that one - don't want to risk being shipped off to the underwater prisons in Antartica for life."
"True, but that isn't the only problem. I'm not even sure it was 'a him' - my attacker was shorter than I and had a slight, but very strong build," John said. "There was something so familiar about him or her too. Something about those eyes - sure they had a bit of ice in them, but deeper... I saw kindness, I'm sure and even a little familiarity."
"Maybe a female would be concerned - maybe that is why she seemed reluctant to attack me," Lady Penelope said.
"I don't think that would stop a woman, M'Lady. A violent woman would feel right at home attacking another one," Parker reasoned. "Plus - I 'eard the thug growl when he attacked us."
"You're probably right Parker," Lady Penelope began, and then tilted her head in thought. "John, there is something else to consider. You and Gordon are the only two men who have been knocked out by the assailant correct?"
"True."
"Well, there is Scott's postulation about these thefts being a ruse. Someone may actually be wanting you instead," she said.
"Us? I mean the Tracy brothers are wealthy, but so are most of the people at this fundraiser," said John. "And none of us have ruby jewelry."
"True, but absolutely none of the stones have been taken," said Penny. "Additionally, I noticed when Parker tried to talk to your brother, he continued his comments about being captured and stealing the plans for the Thunderbirds - or the vehicles themselves."
John frowned. "Who has it in for us and International Rescue?" he said, then eyes widened. "Could the Hood or Mechanic be here somewhere?"
Penny nodded "The Hood has been known to impersonate people and sneak in many places."
"That's how he ruined the last party we went to, Penny," said John, realizing the possibility.
Parker answered, "Right - and if it were him I can h'understand him seeming familiar - but not kind."
"But Parker - he hates our guts. Wouldn't he have just killed me instead?" said John.
"Not necessarily. Don't your vehicles 'ave self-defense mechanisms?"
The astronaut nodded. "Yes, they're programmed with biometrics. If anyone tries to use the machines other than one of the five of us, Omicron gas is dispersed to knock them out," said John. "Why?"
"If the Hood suspected this, he would've been careful to only render you unconscious," said Penny. "Afterall, if none of you were alive to transfer the biometrics to him, the Thunderbirds are worthless."
Parker nodded. "Plus, 'e'd probably want at least a couple of you to use the Thunderbirds to help with his thefts."
The red-haired man narrowed his eyes, thinking about the earlier attack. "But, the Hood's are green. The eyes I saw were a cinnamon brown like Gordon's, so..." John said, then paused. His eyes then widened and he swallowed hard. "So the man we see here - as our brother Gordon - might not be him at all. Someone else - maybe even the Hood, is in disguise having dinner with my brothers as we speak!" John concluded.
"Could be - and that means that Gordon is still missing!" Parker observed.
"It would explain the lies and deceit," said John. "Maybe several other things."
"We'd better join them - we don't want to miss anything," said Lady Penelope looking around for Sherbert.
The astronaut nodded. "We have to be careful - we don't want the Hood to panic and hurt any of the guests, or my brothers."
The young woman gave a smirk as an idea formed. "We'll try to take him out after dinner and before the play starts up again," said Penelope. "For now, let's head back to the banquet hall as though you've 'recovered' and want that dinner."
"FAB," said John as he stood up, and the trio headed to the door. The astronaut accepted their most recent epiphanies, but still, the person who attacked him wasn't built like The Hood. The person was shorter and had a lighter, but very strong frame. He was sure the villain wouldn't be that strong since he usually had his thugs do all the hard work. To John's dismay, that meant there was a possibility if it were the Hood, there was an accomplice in the Dynasty mansion as well.
Lady Penelope spotted Sherbert in the fireplace, rolling in the ashes and having a great time. She motioned to Parker to pick him up.
The chauffeur sighed. "Crazy mutt," muttered Parker, smiling affectionately as he gathered Sherbert up. "C'mon, we've gotta sniff out the baddie."
Sherbert, hearing he could help out again, barked and shook his head, covering Parker's face with a light coat of ash. It was all Parker could do to just roll his eyes at the dog's behavior.
The trio hurried toward the dinner party with Parker trying desperately to clean the little mutt's fur and his own face with his white handkerchief.
