Chapter 9: Unfamiliar Waters
"Bakersfield Radio, G650ER Tracy 01 on 122.2"
"G650ER Tracy 01, Bakersfield Radio, go ahead."
"We'd like to open our flight plan from Las Vegas to coordinates -23.01, -133.04. Our time off was one-seven-one-eight Zulu."
"Roger G650ER Tracy 01, that flight plan is now activated. Have a safe flight."
John reached over to adjust the radio settings. They would be over the coastline in minutes and would have the sky to themselves. It took Thunderbird 1 barely ten minutes to reach the mainland from the island. Compared to that, Tracy 1 flew at a snails pace—it would take them four more hours to get home.
John was not the best pilot in the family. Being a scientist he tended to leave the flying to the others, but his father had demanded that they all learn how to fly all five of the birds, so John learned how to fly a plane. However, being in Thunderbird 5 all the time did not give him a lot of time to keep his skill up.
He tucked the radio manual back into its cubby hole next to the seat and manually adjusted the flaps. He also did not trust the autopilot. He would much rather know what the plane was doing all the time, trusting the feel of the plane's vibrations to anything the computer might tell him. He was content, just sitting there in silence, listening to the hum of the plane, watching the water and clouds whisk by them. He hoped the entire trip would be just as peaceful as it was right then.
That, unfortunately, did not happen. "Scott. What are you doing?"
"Coming up to keep you company." Scott had shut the door that separated the cockpit from the passenger cabin and sat down in the co-pilots chair.
"I thought we agreed that you would stay back there and rest."
"I rested. Now, I'm awake."
John looked over at his brother who was smiling way too much for comfort. "Have you been taking those pills?"
"Nope."
"Maybe you should take one, just to get you home."
"Can't." Scott leaned forward to push a button on the console and John had to reach over and slap his hand to stop him.
"Why can't you?"
"They're gone." He reached up this time to flip a switch and John had to flip it right back.
"What do you mean—will you stop that!" John had once again slapped Scott's hand away from a row of buttons.
"I'm just trying to help." Scott shrugged and leaned back in the seat. "It'd fly easier if you adjusted your trim a little."
"She's flying just fine." John scanned over the controls to make sure Scott hadn't flipped something he had missed. "Now, about your pills."
"Took them all."
"What?" John's eyes widened as he turned to stare at his older brother. "When did you take the last one?"
"Oh, I was hungry so I popped the last few while you were fueling up in Vegas." Scott leaned forward and started hovering over the controls again.
"Scott, I think you should go into the back and lay down."
"Not tired. Honestly, I think I could run a marathon." Scott turned and smiled at his brother again.
John's stomach did a nose dive, even though the plane was still flying level. "Scott please go to the back."
"Nope. Can't make me."
"Scott, I will put this plane on autopilot and drag you back there." John glanced over at the GPS. They were not far from the island, he did not want to try and land with this next to him, but wasn't sure that he would have the choice.
"Let me see you try." Scott was still smiling, tapping his feet on the floor and his hands on his knees. John was suddenly reminded of Alan when he was hyper and ready for a mission.
There wasn't really any time to try and get him into the back as Tracy Island was coming into view. John sighed and reached over to initiate landing procedure.
"Don't forget to call Brains."
"I'm getting to that." John had already decided that Scott would be forced to sleep once they were on the ground, one way or another. "Tracy 1 calling Tracy Island."
"Go ahead Tracy 1."
"Requesting clearance to land."
"You are clear for landing."
"Brains."
"Yes, John?"
"Could you prepare a nightcap for Scott."
"It will be ready when you land." He could hear a small chuckle out of the man below.
John reached forward and started his landing sequence, but was suddenly interrupted by an alarm going off. He looked quickly around and found several switches that had already been flipped.
"Scott, what are you doing?" He looked over and Scott was busy turning off everything he could, flipping switches and buttons regardless of what it would do.
"I'm just helping."
"I don't need help. Stop that!" John was struggling to get everything back on before the plane decided to die in mid-air.
"Don't worry. This is perfectly safe. Here, let me take the wheel." Scott grabbed the controls in front of him and pulled them hard to the left causing the plane to go into a barrel roll. John was barely able to right the plane, but as he did so, Scott was back to flipping switches again.
John was struggling to remember the emergency procedures, which set of switches needed to be turned on first, what calculations did he need to do to pump the fuel tanks to jump start the left engine that had just stalled. He was trying to stay one step ahead of Scott, but rather than following any procedure himself, he was just flipping switches left and right. Sometimes flipping ones he had already flipped once.
"Brains! Prepare for an emergency landing!" They were mostly lined up with the runway, but John wasn't sure how well he'd be able to land the plane.
"Nah, we'll just land in the water. That'll be safer." Scott grabbed the stick again and pushed forward as hard as he could while John tried his best to pull back. However, Scott had the leverage needed and the plane was quickly heading straight for the rocky waters below them.
"Mayday!" John yelled into the radio not knowing what else to do.
Virgil was sitting in one of the plush chairs in the lounge of the visitor's suite in Mrs. Morris' home. It was the middle of the night and he was wide awake—of course the mug of coffee next to his left elbow wasn't helping matters much. Gordon and Alan were asleep in the bedroom to his right. Gordon had yet to wake up from the doctor's visit, and Virgil didn't want to go to sleep should he wake up in the middle of the night.
He was flipping through the channels on the widescreen TV on the opposite wall, the volume muted so he wouldn't bother his brothers. There was nothing on, of course there was almost never anything on, but then he was never much of a TV watcher in the first place.
He reached over and picked up the mug of coffee to take a sip when he caught a glimpse of someone he recognized. He went back a couple of channels and un-muted the TV.
'Yes, we are in the midst of negotiations with Tracy Industries. My hope is to start a friendship between our two companies and be able to work together in an attempt to fix the problems in our world.'
Virgil couldn't help but snort at this. From what he knew of the president of Deus Technology, he was a cunning and self-centered man who fired anyone who dared to disagree with him.
'I think there will be some issues with coming to an agreement.' He was answering another question from a reporter. 'The biggest is the board of directors themselves. If it were a deal between me and Mr. Carson I feel it would have been concluded by now, but because they need complete approval of the board things are taking a bit longer.'
'There have been questions about the validity of the Board of Directors since most of its members are getting on in age. Do you think they are still able to make sound decisions for the company?'
'I do not think it is the older members of the board that are the issue. They are all intelligent and know how to manage themselves in the world of business. I think the issues the board lie with their youngest members, the Tracy brothers. From what I saw today they have multiple problems that are not being addressed and that these issue could be affecting their ability to make sound decisions.'
The mug of coffee crashed against the TV screen, brown liquid dripping down the face of Andreas Christensen. "Damn you!" Virgil was standing now, his hands clenched at his sides breathing deeply trying to control the anger that was flooding over him.
"Virgil?" Alan was in the doorway, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand.
"What are you wearing?" Virgil looked Alan up and down, his eyebrow raising. He was in his pajamas now—black pants with constellations all over them with a matching button up top.
"We're not on duty, so I put something on that was more comfortable." Alan shrugged as he walked over to Vigil.
"Go to bed, Alan." Virgil shook his head and flopped back down into his chair.
"What's wrong?" Alan frowned watching his brother pick at a hole in the sweats he wore.
"Nothing."
"Nothing wouldn't cause you to throw your cup at the screen." The TV had cut back to the announcer who was talking about what had been said, but neither of them were really listening.
"That president of Deus, he's just talking crap about us." Virgil ran a hand through his hair threatening to pull it out.
"We figured he would do that." Alan sat down in the chair next to his, pulling his knees up to his chest.
"I know, but hearing it—" Virgil slammed his fist onto the flowery arm.
"You can't take what he says seriously. Ever. Dad said so. He never wanted Tracy Industries to do business with that man."
Virgil couldn't help but smile over at his brother. "You know, if the time comes I think you should be the one to take over the company, not Scott."
"What? No way! I couldn't do that!"
"Why not?"
"Because… well, I'm the youngest."
"So? You're also the one that's been the most interested in business. We all read the proposal, but you're the one that caught the issues with it."
"What? You guys didn't noticed that? But it was like plain as day."
"That's what I mean. You get that business language. It's like John and code and well, any spoken language. He just gets it, doesn't have to think about it too hard."
"Oh. And you guys aren't like that?"
"Nope, it's just you."
Alan couldn't help but smile a bit, happy that even though he was the fifth, there was still something unique about him that he didn't have to share with his brothers. "Have you tried calling John? He's probably seen the interview as well."
"I was debating it. He'll be busy with Scott, I imagine."
"Give it a try." Alan leaned forward and nudged the small communicator that was laying on the table in front of them.
Virgil sighed and leaned forward, punching in the secret code that would connect them to John, wherever he may be.
"Virgil, shouldn't you be asleep?"
"You okay? Look a little stressed." Virgil was squinting at the small hologram of his brother, noticing the tight shoulders and drawn brow.
"I'm alive. That's about it right now."
"What happened?" Virgil had scooted to the edge of his seat, Alan right next to him.
"Scott."
"But I thought the pills were supposed to help!" Alan was frowning down at John.
"He took the rest of them while we were refueling in Las Vegas." John rested his head in his hand as he floated lazily.
"Crap. Is he okay?"
"I think so. Brains and Grandma are taking care of him. Gave him a sedative until it wears off. Had to come back up here to relax a little."
"Do not worry, Virgil." EOS' voice echoed over the comm. "They were just about to crash into the ocean, but I was able to take control of the plane and land them safely on the runway. I do not think they will be able to leave in Tracy 1 for a while though."
"He caused you to crash the plane!" Virgil was pacing the floor now, Alan watching him.
"But I saved them."
"Thank you EOS." Alan turned to the comm and smiled.
"Thank you Alan. You are the only one to have have thanked me for saving them."
"EOS, I'm sorry. I told you that already." John sighed.
"Go easy on him EOS. We're all kind of stressed right now." Alan was rocking back in forth in his chair, still keeping an eye on Virgil.
"I understand. However, I expect a proper thanks when this is over."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure they do."
"Thank you Alan."
"Your welcome EOS."
"Vigil, you need to go to sleep." John repeated his first comment, trying to ignore the conversation between Alan and EOS.
"So do you." Virgil was back at the chair sitting down.
"He will be going to sleep in two more hours."
"Yes, EOS, I know." John rolled his eyes. "Did you have a reason to call, or just needed to chat?"
"Just caught Andreas Christensen's press conference."
"Ah, yeah, I was hoping you wouldn't see that until tomorrow."
"I didn't see it if that helps." Alan smiled a little.
"You need to be in bed." John looked over at Alan, but smiled and shook his head.
"Has anything happened because of what he said?" Virgil brought John's attention back to himself.
"A video of us walking into the building has been playing over and over again. Detailing our partying ways and going into how unfit we are to be in any kind of position of power in the company."
"Well, we haven't been stopping any stories about our partying—or supposed partying before." Virgil leaned back in his chair. The hotel suite they had booked had hosted a huge party the night before, however, none of the Tracy's were in attendance.
"I know, but they are trying to find evidence that we are extreme partiers, that maybe drugs and obscene amounts of alcohol may be involved."
"What do you mean by obscene?"
"They're claiming that we were still drunk at the meeting. Well, you, me, and Scott at least."
"Hey, I'm old enough to drink." Alan pouted crossing his arms.
"Only by a month. Anyways, they're playing the pity party on you. Because us three are partying all the time you are forced to take care of your sick brother and thus do not take care of yourself. Everything has been placed on your shoulders. Christensen even tried to use the fact that you spoke up in the meeting as proof that the older members of the family are unfit to be a part of the board."
"Can he actually cause them to oust us?"
"No, he has no power over the board of directors of a competitors company."
"Actually he could." Alan was looking worriedly between his brothers. "If he is able to convince the board members that we are not fit, it could cause a rift. The deal would never go through, but it would cause issues and I'm sure even now the popularity of Tracy Industries is taking a hit."
"But the entire board knows that we are International Rescue." Virgil reached for his mug, only to remember that it was no longer there. Instead he stood and made his way into the bathroom to get a drink of water.
"We'll have to make sure that there is a meeting of just the board members tomorrow so that we can explain what has been going on." John was already sending off a request to Mrs. Moore, so that she would see it first thing in the morning.
"But that may not stop it." Alan was looking down at his leg tracing the constellations that adorned it.
"What do you mean?" Virgil and John were both looking at their brother.
"The board of directors isn't a force of god. They can't just do what they want without any consideration to the will of the CEO or those under them. When they occupied those high positions is was easier to make decisions and send those orders down the chain, but now that most of them are retired from the company prope—well, some of the various presidents and heads of departments may start to complain about the boards decisions. If there are enough of them, they could essentially start a mutiny. Nothing would get done, everything would come to a halt until their concerns are met. And if their concerns are our involvement within the company…"
"Damn." Virgil gulped down the water and threw the empty cup against the wall. It bounced off it and landed without a sound on the carpet.
"We will discuss that with the board tomorrow. We may have to tell everyone what is going on with us." John shrugged.
"And how are we going to do that? Tell them that Scott has nano tech? That Gordon was tortured?" Alan countered.
"I don't know Alan. We'll just have to see what the others think." John was starting to look a little worn.
"EOS." Virgil sat down in his chair and rubbed his face.
"Yes, Virgil?"
"John's going to bed now. Medic's orders."
"Yes, Virgil."
"Virgil." John frowned as his brother.
"If we are going to have a meeting first thing in the morning, we all need some sleep."
"Doctor's orders, John," EOS announced as the comm signal was cut.
The morning was bright and warm as Mrs. Moore, Virgil, Alan, and a freshly woken Gordon sat in her office at home. There were multiple holograms surrounding them as the other members of the board sat and stood around them. John and Scott were off to the side, back in the lounge on Tracy Island.
"So you honestly think it was either Christensen or Carson that tortured you?" One of the board members asked looking at Gordon.
"Yes." Gordon was sitting straight, much more awake than he had been the past week. He didn't remember the visit by the doctor, but had woken up feeling a bit more confident in himself. He was still tried, and worn out, still a bit broken, but was ready to try and face it and figure out who had done this to him. "I don't think I'll ever forget that voice. I just don't know who it was."
"And now they're both going after all of you." Another member stood and started to pace. "I'm sure you all saw Christensen's press conference. Well, there are rumors starting to spread within the company as well. Carson didn't waste any time getting those started."
"What has he been saying?" Mrs. Moore had been silent through most of the meeting, letting the Tracy's talk for themselves and listening to what the other board members had to say.
"Just that they are unfit to be on the board. Drunkards, possibly addicts."
"There is no proof that we've ever done drugs!" Scott had jumped to his feet, John next to him trying to pull him down again.
"Sorry, he's still a little unbalanced." John had to stand and force Scott down again.
"Has Brains had any success in manipulating the nano bots?" Another board member asked looking over at the eldest brother.
"Not yet. He thinks he might be on to something, but it's still a few days from the first trial." John was shaking his head as he kept a hand on Scott's shoulder.
"Klaudia, since you are still active in the company, do you think there is a way you can counter the rumors that Carson has started?"
"I'm not sure." Klaudia shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not in the main headquarters all that much, so I don't see a lot of the other presidents or anything. I can deny them, but rumors have a way of gaining their own life after awhile."
"You'll have to try regardless." Mrs. Moore, turned to Scott and John's hologram. "You boys will have to try and counter some of the harsher comments going around."
"And what would we say? We've been letting the rumors of the parties go on to help cover our true activities. If we go out there now and deny them, no one is going to believe us. We can argue till our faces are blue, but people won't listen." John was the one that spoke and as he did he brought up various gossip articles about their various parting pranks through the years. "They've never been very bad in the past, but I have the feeling they are going to suddenly find some skeletons in our closest, so to say."
"Do you think we'll have to come clean about who they really are?" One of the oldest board members asked, he was sitting in a chair leaning on his cane. "Let the world know just who International Rescue is."
"I hope it doesn't come to that, but if that is all we can do, then we will." Scott was looking down, his hands clenched on his knees, obviously trying to maintain control over himself.
"Very well, we shall try and counter these rumors as best as we can on our own sides. I'll be in contact if something more drastic needs to be done." She had reached forward to close out the comm signals, but the elderly member with the cane stopped her.
"I wish to say one last thing." He was leaning forward and looked straight at Alan. "I was quite impressed with what you did at the meeting yesterday. Picking apart the proposal as you did. That was something your father would have done. In fact, if felt as if Jeff was among us once again for a moment. He would be very proud of you, young man."
A few others on the board agreed and seconded the statement making Alan blush and beam.
The comm signals were cut and soon it was just Mrs. Moore, Virgil, Alan, and Gordon. They stood silently in the room for a moment not quite sure what to do next.
"Guys, we have an issue." John and Scott came back into view still sitting in the lounge.
"What's up?" Virgil leaned back on Mrs. Moore's desk his arms crossed.
"Colonel Casey is demanding to speak to all five of us at once. If we don't she's going to send soldiers out to collect us." John was still in his spacesuit and was running his gloved hand through his hair.
"It was bound to happen." Alan shrugged. "Might as well get it over with."
"What are we going to tell her?" Virgil looked between his brothers.
"How about the truth?" Mrs. Moore suggested as she leaned back in her chair. "That is what she is asking for, I'm sure."
"Yeah, but can we trust her?" Virgil looked over his shoulder at the older woman.
"She has known you just as long as I have, if not longer. I'm sure she is worried about you and will take what steps she thinks is necessary to protect you."
"Yeah, but the GDF won't feel the same." Alan was rocking on his heels frowning.
"You have to trust her. She will make the right call. I'm sure of it."
The five brothers looked at each other and finally nodded in agreement. A moment later the full figure of Colonel Casey was standing in the office before them.
"Well, I am glad that you are not all in the infirmary this time." She was frowning at them, her hands behind her back. "However, the news that I am seeing is not any better."
"You can't be telling us that you believe the rumors they're spreading." Virgil took a step forward swinging his arm out to encompass the outside world.
"The rumors no, but I have seen that video of you lot going into Tracy Industries headquarters and do not blame them for jumping to conclusions. You all looked horrible. What has been going on?" She started to pace a little, her hands still behind her back, and her posture still stiff. "You've been on hiatus for a week, you shouldn't be exhausted anymore, if that was even the issue to begin with." She stopped her pacing and seemed to be looking at John.
"It was part of the issue." John collapsed under the colonel's gaze. She knew he was the weak link when it came to lying. "There is a bit more going on though."
"Oh good, you're all here." The door to the office opened and Lady Penelope swept her way in smiling politely at everyone there. "I'm sure the colonel will want to hear about this as well. I may have a lead on that nano tech."
"Nano—" Colonel Casey almost screeched the word. She disappeared for a moment before returning again. "What the hell has been going on?"
"You didn't tell her?" Lady Penelope gazed, stunned at the brothers. "I'm sorry colonel, I assumed you would be told."
"As I should have." The colonel glared from boy to boy before finally settling on Vigil. "Everything. From the beginning."
And so they told her. First Gordon's disappearance and Alan's depression. Then the change in Scott and the stress Virgil dealt with. Gordon's reappearance, New Orleans, and their discovery of the nano bots. Then Gordon and Alan's near drowning and the discovery of Gordon's torture.
Colonel Casey listened, her face did not change, did not betray any emotion while the brothers took turns telling their parts of the story. She just listened and watched to make sure there weren't more lies they were hiding from her.
Lady Penelope on the other hand showed all the emotion that Colonel Casey was hiding. Pity, sadness, but worst was when she found out about Gordon. She cast a sharp look at the young man sitting in the chair by the desk who was avoiding her gaze. She narrowed her eyes at Virgil and John and Scott, those that should have told her but didn't. Finding out about the nano bots was important, but she could have had eyes out looking for Gordon's abuser at the same time.
"I see." It was the only thing Colonel Casey could think to say after hearing it all.
"Well, I don't." Lady Penelope snapped. "My job is to make sure you lot are safe from those that are trying to harm you or the organization. If you don't tell me these things I cannot do anything to help you." She was fuming and stomped her pristine heel on the wood floor.
"You were busy looking into the nano bots—" Virgil tried to argue, but the sharp glare from Lady Penelope stopped him short.
"There are some very serious issues going on here." Colonel Casey had sat down and was looking through something on a tablet. "I'll have to warn the higher ups that nano bots are being used. Lady Penelope, I'll need whatever information you have."
"Of course, I'll send it your way immediately."
"I'll try to convince them to put Scott under quarantine on the island. Otherwise they'll want to lock him in a facility to study the bots. Not sure I want even us to have any more knowledge of them than we do."
John clenched his hands, that was just what he had been afraid of them doing. "Brains is working on a way to counteract the bots. He just needs more time."
"I will let them know. If he is close that would help keep Scott where he is." She looked up and over at Gordon. "As for the torture, any information you have will help in the investigation."
"We have it narrowed down to possibly two people." Mrs. Moore stood and walked around her desk to stand in front of it. "But I ask that you leave this part of the investigation to us. Gordon may just be able to recognize the voice, so we have him watching all the interviews I can find of the two subjects."
"Very well, but keep me updated." Colonel Casey laid her tablet down and looked at each of the brothers, her brows pulled together, her eyes sad. "I am worried about you five. I have been ever since your father disappeared. I have also trusted you completely, but you have only shown me that I cannot continue that trust. If I find out that you are keeping anything else from me—I honestly cannot say what will happen. At the very least the GDF will withdraw their partnership with International Rescue. At the most, you may all end up in jail."
"It's not that bad!" Alan jumped forward to defend his brothers.
"If it were just Gordon, no. But because we are dealing with nano tech… they do not go easy on those involved with this banned technology."
"But we're not the ones that made it, we're suffering from it." Alan continued to step forward daring the Colonel to fight against him.
"No, but you failed to report it. For the GDF that is just as bad as creating it."
"But that's not fair."
"I'm sorry, Alan, but those are the rules." She sighed and addressed the rooms as a whole. "I'll delay my report as long as I can. We'll see what Brains can accomplish in the next few days and if you can figure out who this mysterious kidnapper is."
"And if we don't accomplish anything?" Scott still had his head in his hands but was looking up at the hologram before them.
"Then I will submit my report and the GDF will take charge."
"What if we were to announce who we really were? Try and put them on the defensive?"
"That has always been your choice. If you want to make yourselves public, then do it. However, just be aware of what will be expected of you if you do."
No one replied to this, and Colonel Casey said her goodbye and disappeared.
"Penelope, you said you may have had a lead on the nano tech?" John was the first to speak and rubbed his face as he looked over at the young aristocrat.
"Yes, I have already contacted Kayo. She is quite distraught over what we've been hearing over the news. You might give her a call and let her know how you are doing." She once again glared over at Gordon and Virgil. "There have been rumors of an industrial giant looking into the forbidden technology. There are of course a few dozen industrial companies around the world, but only two that stick out. Deus Technologies and Tracy Industries."
"You don't honestly think that Tracy Industries would be involved, do you?"
"I don't know. That is why I came here. I was going to ask Mrs. Moore if she could look into it. While she does that, Kayo and I are going to look into Deus Technology."
"Since you'll be snooping around the company, look into their president." Alan sneered at the thought of the man. "There is something up with him, and even if he isn't Gordon's kidnapper, maybe we can find something else to use against him."
"Alan, that is quite vindictive of you." Penelope looked at him eyes wide and a small smirk on her lips.
"Can you blame me? I was being serious and he laughed at me and called me a kid."
"Well, you still have some growing up to do, but I will look into him if you think he may have something to do with Gordon's predicament." Penelope nodded stiffly giving Gordon one last look of sympathy and Virgil a disappointing glare before leaving.
"Mrs. Moore." Gordon stood and walked to stand in front of her desk.
She had sat down again and was jotting down thoughts, but looked up at him in concern. "Are you alright?"
"No, not really." Gordon couldn't help but smile a little. "I was wondering if you had a pool."
"Yes, but it's not conductive to swimming, just a curvy little thing." She looked up at him a little shocked.
"That's fine, I'm not up to swimming anyways."
"Gordon, I don't think that's a good idea." Virgil was at his side, plucking at his shirt sleeve.
"Virgil. Remember when I broke my back. When I was healed I didn't want to swim but my therapist made me. I was scared of the water, but he made me get used to it again. Learn how to trust it. It wasn't the water that had caused my accident, but the ship I was in. It's the same now. The water wasn't the cause of my torture, just the means of it. I need to learn to trust it again."
"But you always looked so much more depressed when you would look at the pool at home. I couldn't stand seeing you look like that." Virgil had pulled Gordon around to look him in the eye.
"I know." Gordon lowered his gaze and stared at the third button on Virgil's plaid shirt. "It's just something I need to do. And I need you there with me. You and Alan. Helping me. I need your help, Virgil."
Virgil watched his brother closely and could already see the depression seeping back into him again as he thought about what had happened to him.
"I agree with Gordon." Alan walked up next to Gordon and tried his best to stand to his fullest height, just a hair shorter than his next brother.
"You always agree with Gordon." Virgil smirked looking over at Alan.
"Not all the time." Alan stuck his lips out. "Only about eighty percent of the time."
"And an example of that twenty percent?"
"Umm… I hate pineapples?"
Virgil couldn't help but smile at his little brother and ruffle his hair.