Chapter Seven

Disclaimer - Spring has sprung, no grass has riz, I wonder where the flowers is? The snow keeps falling on the ground, winter wants to stay around. Spring is here, the calender states. But it looks as if it might be late. And if the weather gets you blue, I am sending out a chapter new. Thunderbirds are not my own, and seaQuest belongs to others, sadly true. But in my fertile mind has bloomed a story, that I am sending out to you.

I really need to get some sleep.

John Tracy and Tim O'Neill made their way through the empty sub, headed in the direction of the shuttle bay. The UEO officer gave his friend a concerned glance. "John, I don't mean to pry, but I am fairly sure that Captain Bridger doesn't know about IR. I've managed not to say anything to him, but if you want me to…"

John grimaced. "Sorry, Tim. Dad will lay into me later, I'm sure. I've got a lot on my mind. Allie, International Recue, heading back to Five…" Tim placed a comforting hand on his friend's arm. "We've done a lot of work to the station, but…I can't deny it, I am scared to go back up there. I could have died. And so could have most of my family. But," he sighed, "the Hood is in prison, we are OK, Alan looks better than he has in ages. I guess it just takes time, right?"

Tim smiled shyly. "Yes, it does. You are so blessed, John. You have a career you love, truly satisfying work, a wonderful family and, if Alan is right, someone pretty special waiting for you when you get home. Um, does Emily know about the Thunderbirds?"

Shaking his head, John chewed the inside of his cheek. "No. But I plan to have her come to visit for Christmas. And I am hoping that, if things go as well as they have been, I may think of asking her something else."

"Does your family know?" Tim asked as he beamed at his friend.

"Nope. I want to surprise them. Besides, I want Emily to understand the long separations before I ask her the big question. Not seeing me for a couple of weeks is one thing. Not seeing me for three weeks and then when I am home I may be busy with IR and Tracy Enterprises, which may be harder to deal with." John shrugged. "Let's see how the Fall goes, and if I can keep her interested."

Trying not to laugh, Tim couldn't help but say, "Well, just make sure to have plenty of ice cream available."

O'Neill entered the shuttle bay just ahead of John's swing. This shouldn't take long and then everything could resume the normal pattern.

Lane Bowman was ready even before the final docking sequences had clicked into place. The virus had been one he had designed back in college, but instead of overriding security codes for dorm rooms it was now one that would override the security codes for the seaQuest. "How did you do this?" he muttered in a combination of frustration and concern.

Cobb stared at him with those cold as ice eyes. "Never you mind, mate. Let's just say this venture has a bit better backing than the little misadventure the late Colonel Schraeder led you on, shall we?"

Lane tried to ignore the sounds of the men arming themselves, weapons being drawn from a crate marked "Medical Supplies". The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach grew with the sounds reminiscent of men preparing for battle. But what an unfair war! Five physically fit men against two computer experts, a teenage boy and he knew Captain Bridger was getting up there in age. The people on the seaQuest didn't have a chance.

Just then the green light flashed on Bowman's screen. Looking over at Cobb, he softly said. "It's done. Security has been overridden, and the PALs relay system has been jammed. Captain Bridger won't know what is going on until we get there."

His cruel smile once more applied to his face, Cobb nodded with satisfaction. Bridger had taken everything from him, it was time to pay the man back in kind. And never let it be said that Frank Cobb didn't pay his debts.

Alan was more relaxed than he had been in a long time. Sitting here, joking with Lucas, Alan was sure everything was getting back to normal. Well, as normal as life got for a teenager who spent half his life as the youngest son of a family that was virtual legends – and the rest of his life training to become part of the mythological Thunderbirds. Looking over at Lucas, he had to smile. He couldn't help but wonder what his friend would think of his secret. It made the youngest Tracy ever more grateful for having Fermat in his life. Alan spent so much of the year away from his family, having to watch them go on rescues around the world, while he sat back and worried about them. Maybe that was why he and John had bonded so well once they began talking after Spring Break. John, up on Thunderbird Five most of the year, knew the frustration and anxiety of sitting back, helpless, while the others were potentially in danger. His older brother had reminded Alan that he was on duty 24/7 – and if he needed to, as long as John wasn't in the middle of a rescue, Alan could call and talk to him any time.

Another comforting thing John had done for Alan was showing him the stars. Particularly one star – the one John had discovered and named in memory of their late mother. John had first shown it to Alan when the two were up on Five together. "Allie, if you ever feel lost or scared, just look to the stars. Mom is there – I know it. I know you can't remember her, but she loved us so much. She use to say she would always watch over her boys – all six of us." Alan snickered at that, the idea of his mother tossing their father in with her children. "I once heard her say to Dad that she would stop loving all of us when the stars had all burned cold and their light had faded. Well, they are still there Al. And so is she."

"Penny for your thoughts." Lucas grinned at the slight jump Alan made when he started. "You looked to be in deep thought. Anything deep and meaningful?"

Alan gave a bittersweet smile. "Family. Especially my mom." Looking thoughtful, Alan glanced over at Lucas. "You know, you never talk about your family. I know you're an only child, but what about your parents? What did they think about you coming to live and work on the seaQuest? Were they OK with it?"

Lucas' face became tight. "OK with it? Well, let's see. There's Mom, who ditched me when she divorced my father. She remarried and I just found out, she's pregnant. Telling everyone how this time she wants to do it right, how she knows she wants to be a mother now. And it should be easier because this child will be normal. It must have been Dad's fault I was so difficult. And let's hear it for dear old Dad. He had no problem being my father – as long as he didn't have to raise me. First there we nannies, then Au Pairs, tutors, college and when he ran out of academic options, he gave a bunch of money to refit the seaQuest in to a research vessel so they would take me with the mammal research program. It may have turned out for the best, but he had no way of knowing that. That's how Lawrence Wolenczak solved the problem that was Lucas – throwing around some money until someone takes me off his hands."

Looking at his friend, Alan reached out a comforting hand. "Hey, my dad did that a lot. Or at least, I felt like he did. But he just wanted a safe place for me and as normal a life as possible. That's why I'm at a boarding school most of the year."

"But your dad tries to make time for you. OK, maybe he hadn't always, but he does now. He loves you and when you are hurt or in trouble, he's there. My dad isn't."

Smiling, Alan countered, "Not the father you were born to. But the man you consider to be a father – he is. I think our fathers were one thing; our "Dads" are something else. And for that we should be grateful."

Lucas relaxed slightly. Alan was right, he knew it and…Tensing up, Lucas frowned at the computer screen in front of him. "Alan, did you input anything?"

Scooting his chair closer to Lucas, Alan looked at the screen that had transfixed his friend. "Not since the last…Um, Lucas, that doesn't look right. That has nothing to do with the communications system."

His frown deepening, Lucas began to type furiously. "No, this is part of the security system. Call the Captain; I need to talk to him."

Alan picked up Lucas' PAL. "Um, Lucas? It's not working."

Lucas looked over at Alan, frowning. "What do you mean, it's not working? O'Neill called me on it just a little while ago." He took the device from Alan's hand. "It has to be…no signal. OK, this is so wrong. Something is up."

Surreptitiously, Alan reached for his wrist communicator. He knew how the PALs worked; he knew that with the internal relay system, there should be no where on the seaQuest that the devices wouldn't work. If for some reason the device wasn't working, the odds of something being very wrong were high. Alan pressed a small button on the side of his "watch", sending a silent alarm to his father and brother. He might be overreacting, but better safe than sorry had been drummed into his head since his first mission as a Thunderbird. And he wasn't about to forget it.

Entering the appropriate code, O'Neill barely even glanced at the UEO Prison shuttle. Focused on the screen in front of him, Tim was anxious to finish the task at hand and get back to work. Just as he was about to pick up his PAL to call Lucas for the Master Code, a slight beep distracted him. Looking over at John, Tim was about to ask if he had heard the sound when he saw the other man looking at his watch.

Frowning, John looked at his watch/wrist communicator. The silent alarm had gone off. According to the signal reading, Alan had triggered it. Was something wrong? Was his little brother hurt or having another panic attack? John raised his head to ask for directions to Lucas' quarters when he noticed Tim watching him.

"Tim? Is something wrong?"

"There was an odd beeping noise. Was that your watch?" O'Neill asked.

Shaking his head, John's frown grew. "No, that was a silent alarm…" John's voice trailed off. "Tim, should that light on the console be blinking?"

Before Tim could even respond, the shuttle burst open. Armed men seemed to pour from the vessel like acid rain. A man in prison garb grabbed John and pointed a gun at his head. "Now, you there, O'Neill, right? I believe you have a duty to assure that this civilian is nice and safe. So be a nice little man and step away from the computer."

John met Tim's eyes and gave a slight nod. Grabbing the gun with one hand, John forced it away, even as he elbowed his captor. Tim quickly hit the alarm…and there was nothing.

Lane Bowman watched as Jackson regained control over John Tracy and Mickey wrapped an arm tightly around O'Neill's neck. Cobb moved in front of Bowman and glared at the two younger men. "Now, now boys – don't you think we thought of all that. The security system is offline. The communicators are blocked. And with only four people on your side with five on ours…We've won already. Now, Mr. O'Neill – I don't believe I had the pleasure of your company when the seaQuest visited Broken Ridge. Frank Cobb, at your service." Pointing his weapon under O'Neill's chin, Cobb snarled, "The crew of this vessel cost me everything. Maybe I should start the payback with you."

A/N - OK, bad guys are attacking. Tim and John are in a bit of a sticky situation, and things are only gonna get worse. I am not trying to say these guys are wimps - far from it! Five armed men and two of them. If I am remembering correctly, not all crew members carried weapons - I can't recall Tim having one. Lucas and Alan have noticed something wrong. We'll get back to Jeff and Bridger as well. And yes, I made up that bit about Lucas' mother. I hope you enjoyed the story (complete with my warped poem), and show your love...review...PLEASE! - CC