Part 25
"Man he talks a lot doesn't he?" Casper Shade asked hanging upside down by a cable from the ceiling. He'd used an old metallic bucket to hit the Hood over the head. The Hood was unconscious on the floor. Casper grinned at John. John just stared at the Hood.
"Ah", Casper said and dropped onto the floor, moving in the air so he landed on his feet. He untied John, then Jeff and then went to the cage and opened it. He grinned at the Tracys and Anthony. But his grin disappeared when Scott ran at him and gripped his collar in a choke hold. Scott pushed Casper up against the wall, glaring daggers at him. Casper looked at him with big eyes. Struggling to get some air. But Scott was beyond angry at this point and he was going to show it.
"Scott let him go!" Virgil said and with some difficulty managed to pull his older brother off of the spy. Casper fell to the floor and started coughing to get air back into his lungs. He opened his jacket and tried to get his breathing under control. But the four Tracy brothers didn't do anything to help him, they just watched him. Anthony was busy untying John, he had already untied Jeff. But John was unresponsive. Nothing they said or did seemed to break through his daze. Not even when Anthony kissed him. Scott was worried about John but he didn't plan on letting that Casper out of his sight. Casper was now sitting back against the wall, taking deep breaths.
"Wow", Casper croaked. "I haven't been this close to choking since Sofia's goons used boat hooks to fish me out of the sea by the Great Barrier Reef. They used 'em to pull out my oxygen mask."
"We're not interested in your past stories we want to know what the hell you are doing here", Gordon growled. At that Casper stopped rubbing his own chest and panting. He smirked and jumped up, then he vaulted up onto the cage and sat there. He crossed one leg over the other and tapped his cheek.
"Well if you want to get philosophical we can do that", he said. "Why am I here? The question everyone asks. Am I here to fulfill some unknown higher task? Is there a meaning to my life? In truth… We are all just patches on the same worn quilt, whose beauty is seen differently by those that pass… if seen at all. That beauty is seen differently by the needles that have stitched them, by the beds they've warmed, the rooms they've dwelled, by those that have owned or discarded them and by those that have repaired their tatters and broken seams. Those faded brights and grainy darks and shiny calicos are a beauty to all in some form or another. Seen or unseen. Felt or unfelt. We are all part of the same quilt, whatever we are aware of it or not. All we have to do is open our eyes to it."
There was a loud explosion that shook the base.
"Ah", Casper said. "That's why I'm here." He jumped off the cage and left the four brothers staring after him in confusion. Casper hurried up to Anthony and Jeff. He pushed past them and walked up to John.
"I know you heard me Johnny", he said and leaned down to look into John's eyes. "Who cares what that psycho says? When it comes down on it we kinda do choose our family. Fair enough you never knew you had a biological father and a real father. Believe the Hood or don't believe him. When it comes down to it… you only have one father and you know exactly who that is. Now snap out of your deer in the head light moment and let me trap you in the light. Just like in Venice where you had to go and get yourself shot."
John's head snapped up and he all but dove out the chair and at Casper. John's arms were around Casper's waist and in the next second he was hitting him.
"That's for backstabbing us!" he yelled and punched Casper in the face. "And that's for tormenting my brothers!" he punched him again. "And that's for shooting me in Venice!" he punched him again. Then he smiled. "And this is for saving our lives." He pulled Casper into a hug. Casper grinned and hugged him back. The base shook again and water started pouring in.
"Um can I get back to you on the saving your lives part?" Casper asked.
"Yeak okay", John replied, still hugging him. Anthony smiled and pulled John and Casper up.
"Instead of quoting G. Boston maybe you can get us out?" Anthony asked.
"I can do that", Casper said and grabbed Mr. Tracy by the arm. "This way sir!" He started pulling them towards the door. Before leaving the room John threw a last look behind him at the hood. Virgil followed his line of sight and put a hand on John's shoulder.
"Come on little brother", he said and steered John away. "Let's go."
John nodded and they ran out together while more water started streaming in. Since they were all running away from the room, no one noticed the Hood's fingers twitch.
The Tracys, Anthony and Casper ran down the hallways. When Scott was about to take a turn to where they entered Casper grabbed his arm and pulled him in another direction. They couldn't go that way because when the first explosion happened the Hood's remaining men had taken that way and bolted the door shut. They would have to take another exit. Through and old missile launch shaft. When they got there they saw that there was this wall they would have to climb up. Luckily ladders were bolted to the wall. Four of them. The base shook and water came rushing in more rapidly.
"Okay fellas start climbing", Casper said and chose a ladder. Anthony, Scott and Virgil hurried onto the other ladders, after nudges from Jeff. If something went wrong the trio would be able to pull the others up or in worst case… take Casper out if this proved to be another trap. Casper scrambled up the wall with practice ease. If Scott didn't know better he would think the young man was a cat… or a monkey with the way he moved… no a cat. Scott never liked cats and monkeys were too cute. Scott gritted his teeth as he reached for the last handle that would get him over the ledge above him. A hand was suddenly in his line of sight.
"Do you need a hand Mr. Scott?" a polite voice asked. He looked up and came face to face with Charles Shade. Scott gritted his teeth but took the offered hand. Charles pulled him up and then went to help Anthony. Scott gritted his teeth harder and turned around to help his brother. Virgil was shooting daggers at the Shade family. Scott, Anthony, Virgil, Casper and Charles helped pull Jeff, Gordon and John up with ease. Alan was just behind John when he felt someone grab his foot. He shrieked in surprise and looked right into the face of the Hood.
"You're not taking him this time Tracy", the Hood yelled and pulled on Alan's leg. "Not this time! NOT THIS TIME!"
"Let go!" Alan yelled and tried to kick him off. But the handle he was holding onto started to give way. His brothers, father and Anthony watched in fear. Anthony had his gun out but he knew that if he fired he could hit Alan instead of the Hood. He didn't want to risk it. Scott grabbed Gordon's arm to keep the aquanaut from doing something stupid, like jumping off the ledge to kick the Hood's ass.
"Let him go!" Jeff yelled. "We'll all die if you don't!"
"I don't care!" The Hood yelled. "You took my love from me and then my son! Now I will take one from you! Now you will know my pain!"
"Hood please", Virgil called. "Dad knows your pain already! He's lost mom too!"
"And now he will lose a son!" The Hood yelled. Alan struggled in his grip, trying to kick the Hood off. The handle creaked loudly. Casper ran forward with a grappling gun. He fired the grappling hook at the roof and prepared to go down. But Charles stopped him. Casper protested. But John didn't hear it. It was all quiet to him. He couldn't hear anything. He knew what he had to do. He walked up to the edge and looked down. He saw the water rising rapidly. He looked at Anthony. Anthony could feel his gaze and turned his head. John smiled.
"I love you", he mouthed and then he jumped.
"JUAN!" Anthoyn shouted.
"JOHNNY!" Virgil called. Both tried to grab him but it was too late. John was already out of reach. John had jumped off and he landed on the Hood. When John gripped his shoulders the force made him lose his grip. Both John and the Hood fell into the water and disappeared from sight. Casper jumped off as well. But not to save John. He swung down, grabbed Alan and then pressed a button on the harness underneath his jacket. They were pulled up just as the water would've swiped them away too.
Scott was frozen. His feet were rooted to the floor. There was no sound around him. He could just stare at the rising water. Feeling numb. Feeling empty. John… Johnny. His little brother. Scott was vaguely aware of Charles and Casper dragging Virgil towards the missile shaft. Gordon and Alan were doing the same to Jeff. Scott couldn't hear their voices but he knew they were screaming John's name. What else could they be screaming? Why else would they all, except the Shades, be crying? Scott was crying too. He could feel the tears slowly trickle down his cheeks while things exploded all around them. John. Their John. His John. A wave of memories came crashing in on him as he stood there. John's first word… John's first steps. John's first day of school. John graduating high school early. John getting his PhDs… John joining NASA. John helping building International Rescue. John giving him the watch that could always connect them to each other. John coming home from Five the first time. Seeing John after his "exile". John's laugh. John's smile. John's voice. John's warmth. Everything. He was thrown all memories he had of John. All the feelings. It was so much. Too much. This could not be real. All this couldn't just be gone now. It couldn't have been torn from them just as they had found their father. The flame, the blaze, the star, the soul, the warmth, the calm, the light, the memories that were John Tracy couldn't just be gone. Scott couldn't just have lost it. No it was impossible. But it was true. This time it was true. So many times Scott had thought John was dead but the blonde always came back. He had to come back this time too. He had to. Scott looked at the water, waiting. Waiting for a blonde head to appear above the waves and currents. But there was nothing. The ground shook underneath his feet and he lost his footing. He felt a strong hand grab his shoulder and he was pulled clear.
"Let's go!" he heard Anthony scream. Scott was shaken from his numbness.
"No!" he yelled. "We got to save-"
"No!" Anthony yelled. "John sacrificed himself so that we could live! We got to live or his sacrifice would've been for naught! Are you just going to throw away John's last gift to you!? John wanted you to live Scott. Wanted us to live! So come on now! Don't dirty his name by being an idiot!" Scott looked at Anthony's outstretched hand and nodded. He took it and the two ran together towards the missile shaft. When they entered Casper closed it and the trio hooked themselves to a line coming down from somewhere. Scott could hear the water crash against the doors behind them. Casper shouted something and they were pulled upwards towards a black helicopter. Scott looked beneath him and saw water well up below. But they were out, they were in the clear. But it had cost them dearly.
"Are you sure about this Andy?" Virgil asked as he and Scott were saying goodbye. They were standing by Thunderbird 2, getting ready to leave. Brains had used Thunderbird Five's scanners to look for any life signs or biological signals in the base. He had found nothing.
"Yes", Anthony said and pulled the zipper close on his black jacket. "You heard Brains. There was no traces of the Hood's men. If they got out there is still a chance and I will not quit until I find every last one of them and bring them to justice. For Juan."
"Yes but… are you sure about going with the Shades?" Scott asked and nodded at the trio waiting for Anthony by their helicopter.
"No… but they are my best option. Them and Eo… um and a friend."
"I see", Scott said then held his hand out. "Good luck Antonio." Anthony took his hand.
"Good luck Scooter", he said and they hugged briefly.
"Here", Virgil said and handed Anthony his watch. "Use this to contact us whenever you want, if… if you ever need anything. It doesn't have to be rescued."
"Thank you Virgil", Anthony said and they shared a hug. "Look after the youngsters okay? And your father. And your grandma. Oh and tell Brains I might get in contact. Tyler is an engineering wiz but there is just one Brains."
"I promise", Scott said. "Only if you promise to be careful and not be a stranger." Anthony nodded and the trio hugged one last time before Anthony pulled back and started walking towards the helicopter waiting for him. He looked up at the starry sky and sighed.
"Juan I will find them", he whispered before jumping in beside Casper. Scott and Virgil watched with heavy hearts as the helicopter left. Scott gripped Virgil's shoulder and the two headed for the Thunderbird waiting for them. They still had to break the news to the island and they knew the news wouldn't be taken in a good way.
TBC I don't own what Casper says when he says: "We are all just patches on the same worn quilt, whose beauty is seen differently by those that pass… if seen at all. That beauty is seen differently by the needles that have stitched them, by the beds they've warmed, the rooms they've dwelled, by those that have owned or discarded them and by those that have repaired their tatters and broken seams. Those faded brights and grainy darks and shiny calicos are a beauty to all in some form or another. Seen or unseen. Felt or unfelt. We are all part of the same quilt, whatever we are aware of it or not. All we have to do is open our eyes to it."
That's by G. Boston.