14. John and Virgil – Target
"Argh! I lost the target lock again."
Virgil resisted the urge to slam his fist on the console. It wasn't Two's fault that he couldn't secure the line.
Somewhere over the Atlantic, being rolled and bucked by the remnants of Hurricane Imad, was a ship full of innocent people. And for the third time, Virgil failed to get a lock with his magnetic grips.
"Dammit!"
"Virgil."
The authority in that tone cut right through his despair. It grounded him. He shook the anger from his eyes.
"John, what's the plan."
Thousands of miles away, floating in the cold embrace of space, John Tracy was there – as always – the voice of logic, the voice that always had a new idea.
"Let me take over the targeting sensors," he said. "You're working blind. I've got all the data to hand. I can do this. As soon as the target's locked, I'll reroute control back to you again."
Having Two's controls taken from him ever felt right – just like when Fischler's idiotic weather balloon had shorted out Two and he'd had to let Gordon take over. But, in that same incident, John had taken control. John had saved the day. So, without hesitation, Virgil nodded.
"Do it."
"Keep her steady for me, Virg," John said.
And so he did, watching the holographic readouts of his brother's efforts from a million billion miles above.
"Target lock acquired… Lines away – boom! The tethers are locked on. Handing control back to you, Thunderbird Two."
"Thanks, Thunderbird Five," Virgil said, swinging Two around to steady the boat below. "Couldn't have done it without you."
John said nothing but Virgil knew, had no doubt, that he was smiling.