Disclaimer: see chapter one

AN: Yay! Johnny's back from the deep, dark pit (AKA- outer space.)

This happens two weeks after the end of the previous chapter.

Chapter Nine- My Predictions Are Right.

Scott returned back to active operations and he and Virgil and John had just returned from a rescue. It was around seven o' clock in the evening when they finished the mission evaluation, and the Tracy family were sitting down to eat dinner. They had just started to pass the salad and were talking amongst themselves, when a mobile phone rang.

"Whose phone is ringing?" Jeff asked, just managing to mask his anger. He hated people calling at meal times. he strongly believed that meal times were time you spent with family, and not talking on the phone.

Gordon, John, Virgil and Scott all dug into their pockets, looking for their phone.

Jeff looked at each of his sons individually.

"Not me."

"Not mine either."

"No-one's called me at all, mainly because I spend most of my time in space."

Jeff's eyes swivelled to Scott. "Scott," he growled. "You know how I feel about calls at meal times."

"I know. Sorry." Scott said. He glanced down at the caller id. "May I be excused?"

Jeff sighed and nodded, and Scott moved away from the table.

"Hello?"

An unnatural hush fell around the table. They were eavesdropping on Scott's one sided conversation.

"Did you get it?"

A pause as Scott listened to the response.

"That's great! When will you start?"

A slightly longer pause, and the brothers at the table waited with bated breath to hear Scott's response.

Scott laughed. "Yeah, I guess you will. Talk to you later. Bye."

He returned back to his seat at the table.

"Who called?" Gordon asked.

"No-one in particular." Scott answered coolly, while crossing his fingers behind his back.

Virgil shot a look at Scott. John noticed the look, and he resolved to worm the truth out of both of them.


It was after dinner, and John came and sat down next to Scott, who was lying on the lounge floor, working (playing games) on his laptop. Virgil was engrossed playing his piano, just to relax, unwind and pass the time.

"So, who was on the phone?" John asked, loud enough for Virgil to hear. Virgil immediately stopped playing the piano, so that he could also listen to this.

"I told you, no-one in particular." Scott replied.

"You know, Virgil told me everything as we were returning from TB5."

"Everything?" Scott repeated.

"Everything."

Scott sighed. "If you must know, it was Tracy Industries. They told me that the materials for The Bullet have arrived."

"The Bullet? What's that?" John asked, intrigued.

Virgil shook his head. "Scott, you may be good at lying in poker, but in other situations, you cannot lie. Really, who was on the phone?"

Scott ignored Virgil. "The Bullet is a plane I've been designing. It's faster, more responsive and much more environmentally friendly than any other plane on the market right now."

"I understand. Now, who was on the phone?" John asked, using his I-mean-business tone.

"No comment." Scott knew that Virgil and John had teamed up against him to find out information, but that didn't mean that he couldn't make it hard for them.

"We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way." Virgil threatened.

Scott just shrugged. "The hard way is?"

"We have a major ace up our sleeves, don't we, Johnny?" Virgil continued.

"We do?" John asked bewildered.

"We do." Virgil confirmed. "We, as your brothers, know your strengths and weaknesses. And it would be foolish of us to not take this opportunity to use your weakness against you."

"Careful Virg, you're starting to sound like The Hood." Scott joked.

"We know all your ticklish spots." Virgil said, as he nudged John painfully in the ribs.

"Agh, yeah we do." John was quick to agree, so that Virgil wouldn't elbow him again.

"So you'd better start talking," Virgil stated, while lifting his hands to show Scott his wiggling fingers. "Because when we start, we will show no mercy!"

"Go ahead." Scott said.

The two brothers jumped on Scott, and started to tickle him. Scott resisted for a few minutes, but then it all became too much. Uncontrollable peals of laughter echoed around the room.

"Virgil, stop. If you stop, I'll tell you." He half laughed.

Virgil ceased immediately, and John followed suit.

"OK, but this better be good." Virgil joked.

Scott sighed. "Tash called."

"This is good. Go on, tell us more! What did she say?" Virgil encouraged.

"You know the transfer I told you about?"

Virgil nodded.

"She got the job."

"So, what's she gonna do?" John asked.

"Works as a paramedic." Scott said; most of his interest was back on his laptop.

"So, she got the job in New York. I guess that means that you'll meet up more often, then." Virgil stated.

Scott let out an exasperated sigh. "Will you please stop implying that there is more than mutual friendship between us?"

"So you say." Virgil said; deliberately knowing that it would wind Scott up.

"Virgil, they could actually be… just friends." John sided with Scott.

"If you believe that, John, you'll believe anything." Virgil scoffed.

Fortunately for Scott (and unfortunately for John and Virgil), the emergency klaxon blared throughout the villa. The three brothers leapt up, and ran to Base Control.


Jeff Tracy was already seated behind the main panel of Base Control.

"What have we got, Dad?" John asked.

"A fire broke out in a New York high rise. Emergency crews have tried to fight the fire, but are not having much success. Scott, Thunderbird One, now. Virgil and John, Thunderbird Two. Let me know when you have landed."

Virgil whispered to Scott. "I told you so. I knew that you would meet up with her. It was inevitable."

Scott shot Virgil a withering look. If looks could kill, Scott would have been serving a life sentence, without any hope of parole.

Jeff interrupted this exchange by saying his famous line. "Thunderbirds are go!"


Transom was checking Tash Riley's information file everyday, to note any changes.

"Sir," She called out. "There has been a change to her location. She is now located in New York."

"New York. I can use that." The Hood murmured softly.

"And incidentally, the Thunderbirds have been called to New York. Shall we kill two birds with one stone, sir?"

A red glow emanated from The Hood. "You have done well, Transom. And yes, we will kill two birds with one stone. When the time is right. Only when the time is right."

AN: oooh, what's the big, bad Hood planning now? Please review.