AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have had some fun here, creating new technology on Brains' behalf. However, I must warn all that I am the least technical person on this planet, and everything comes from my imagination. So, anyone who starts thinking "Hey, that is impossible!", or "No way could that work!", let me apologize here. In my defense, this is the future, and who knows what will be possible!

Jeff Tracy looked around at the empty lounge, wishing with all his heart that his sons were all there with him. How had his sons managed so well for so long without their father if this was the kind of pain they had all carried around with them?

John…Alan…what if they were hurt? They were almost certainly captured, and the Hood was ruthless. He was not the sort of ruthless that would pull the trigger himself. He was the sort who would give a servant an order to `deal with that' and then walk away without troubling himself on the strength of the servant's imagination or enthusiasm. Which was worse? The man with a gun? Or the man who hands him the gun?

What if the boys were dead already? A very real pain shot through Jeff's heart, taking his breath away and made him sink to his knees suddenly, his head in his hands. Behind him, his mother watched in pity. She knew just what he was going through. She had been through it herself on several occasions. She too could not imagine what would happen to this family if John and Alan were never found, or were found too late.

She was tempted to speak to her son, to try and help him, but she knew the wisest course for now would be to remain practical and matter-of-fact.

"I'm going to go downstairs to the labs and see how Brains is doing. You said you had something to do too, Jeff?"

Jeff regained his composure with an effort and got to his feet.

"Yes. I'm activating internal comms only. I need a word with my granddaughter."

The attractive red-haired holographic form of Eos listened with obvious concern as Jeff described to her the recent events. Finally, she nodded.

"So, John and Alan are missing, and you don't know where they are?"

"It is likely they are captives of the Hood, but we need to find him. He must have a base out in space somewhere…a station…perhaps…"

"Are you simply keeping me up to date with information, or do you have a specific request for me?"

Jeff smiled wanly.

"As my new granddaughter, you have the right to know what has happened to your father. I am…I suppose…also asking you if you have any suggestions on any other ways of finding them more quickly?"

"If we still had Thunderbird Five, I would have complete access to every computer and database around the world, but the communications from here is possible only through the very small and limited GDF satellite that Colonel Casey placed in orbit within range of Tracy Island. It would not give me the range I would need for any extensive searches."

"What about ears?"

Eos looked puzzled.

"Ears, grandfather?"

"The GDF satellite is not set for complex data transmission. I mean, it would not be capable of enabling you to upload yourself anywhere, but it could serve as your ears…if you are able to communicate with it and set it to extend its communications parameters?"

"Listening for voice communications from John?"

"Possibly, or maybe even something more basic. Any kind of electronic sound-based transmission. A voice transmission would be risky if they are captive somewhere, but an electronic pattern hidden amidst the background noise of regular transmissions…the kind of thing the Hood or his people would ignore, but you would pick up on it if you know to listen out for it."

Eos looked at Jeff with sorrow and almost pity.

"Grandfather, you realize that…to use a human expression…you are clutching at straws here?"

He nodded.

"Better than clutching at thin air, Eos. Besides, I know my sons, and I know they will never give up trying."

"I am not familiar with Alan's capabilities, but John is exceptionally gifted for a human. Almost computer-like at times. I do not believe that they would miss an opportunity that might present itself to send such a message. I will do my best."

"Thanks, Eos. In the meantime, I'll see if Brains knows of a way we can extend these ears of ours."

Eos gave a nod and flickered off, and Jeff joined his mother downstairs.

Brains had buried himself in his work. Knowing how precarious their position was, and how easily his entire world could turn on its head if Lady Penelope and Colonel Casey were unsuccessful in their efforts to prove International Rescue innocent of the terrorism charges, he had felt his heart beating faster than it had that time he had found himself travelling at ridiculous speeds, dangling on a single cable beneath Thunderbird One, chasing a runaway train.

At least he was capable of total immersion in his work, so when, after trying for some time but without success to attract his attention verbally, grandma had resorted to tapping his shoulder, he had literally yelled and leapt a foot in the air. He dropped the cable in his hands and impulsively grabbed her shoulders.

"Mrs. Tracy, you're back! Is everyone safe? What happened?"

Grandma gave him a nod.

"Well, International Rescue is safe at least…I mean, we've been completely vindicated in front of the whole world, and the men responsible for all those terrible attacks have been captured and arrested…on TV in front of the world."

Brains sat down heavily, letting out a long breath.

"Thank goodness for that. I've been so worried I have completed several outstanding projects. Every time I thought about stopping, I started worrying again, and although MAX is good company, he just is not very reassuring."

When Grandma did not reply, he frowned worriedly.

"What has happened?"

"Most of Lady Penelope's plan went off smoothly…except that Thunderbird Three was diverted elsewhere, and we don't know where. There is no sign of them right now, and since we've lost Thunderbird Five, we have no way to find them without help from the GDF…"

"Whose vehicles are very slow."

"Exactly."

Brains looked thoughtful, rubbing his chin.

"There might be a way…give me a minute to think…oh, and by the way. I have solved our voice communications problem."

"That little box like thing that Lady P gave you?"

"Yes."

Brains explained briefly what the voice tracker was, what it had been used for and the inherent dangers it posed to the world...and especially at this point International Rescue. Then he handed it to her. She turned it over in her hands, shrugged and handed it back.

"You've found a way to make it safe?"

Brains nodded.

"As you know, it sends out a signal designed to recognize voice sound waves carried on radio waves, using a form of electronic sonar, that resonates back to the unit, allowing the processor to calculate the distance and direction."

"So, we can use an anti-sonar device?"

"No. The Hood would be clever enough to take that possibility into consideration. But I have created a way of detecting the sonar pulse the device sends out before it detects our transmissions, and will automatically raise up an energy forcefield."

"Like our anti-detection shields around Tracy Island?"

Brains nodded.

"Adapted from the same principle, yes. This particular shield is simply intended to act as a sonar reflector."

Grandma frowned in concentration.

"So…" she said slowly, working it out. "Your new device will send those sonar rays back to their point of origin? That little black box fixed to the nose cone of a missile?"

Brains grinned.

"Exactly, Mrs. Tracy. In essence, it will fool the tracker's processor into believing it has reached its target, and trigger detonation. But that is the problem. There may be times when it would be dangerous to trigger detonation too soon, perhaps when the ship is stationary on the ground, or there is a lot of traffic in the air, so there is a safety margin of ten seconds between the warning alarms going off in the Thunderbird's cockpit, and the shields being automatically raised."

"So, the boys have ten seconds to cancel the shields and react if need be? That is not very long."

"No, it's not. I am working on a better way of neutralizing it, but this will work for the time being."

He glanced round as Jeff walked into the room. Jeff had caught the tail end of the conversation.

"I gather you have found a way to deal with those voice trackers?"

"Yes, but as I was telling Mrs. Tracy, this is only a temporary measure until I come up with something more permanent. I have already installed a system here on the island, so we will be safe to communicate vocally now if we wish, but until Scott and Virgil return in their ships, they would be wise to avoid any vocal transmission."

"How long will it take to install in Thunderbirds One and Two?"

Brains considered.

"About an hour, slightly more for each craft. As soon as they return to refuel, I will get started."

Jeff nodded and opened his mouth, but Brains got there first.

"You want to ask me if there is any way we can help to search for Thunderbird Three from here without Thunderbird Five?"

"Yes. I've spoken to Eos, and she is going to program the GDF satellite overhead to listen out for any non-vocal signals…Morse or otherwise that could be hidden as background static. It's the sort of thing Alan or John might try if they are in trouble."

Brains nodded.

"Good thinking. Eos herself would be much better equipped to search if she had the freedom…"

Jeff and Grandma watched in silence, knowing that something was churning in that amazing brain. Finally, Brains grinned.

"I've got it! I created a simple upload/download subroutine for Eos when we were out at Gran Roca a few months ago, and she has since assimilated it as part of her program. It was what enabled her to download herself to Tracy Island so quickly. Do you remember the tiny self-powered satellite probes we used to use right at the start Mister Tracy? We used them to communicate and to search and probe and controlled them remotely from earth. I can give Eos full mobile control over one of these probes, and launch it into space using the original probe launcher we installed right in the beginning."

"Powered the same way?"

"The solar panels, and special batteries I have since designed will give her unlimited power. The ion engine for thrust, all can be controlled by computer, or in this case, Eos. If she is willing to undertake a solo mission into space herself to search for John."

"What about the vocal trackers?"

"I can build that into the probe. It will take no more than twenty minutes, but in any case, if there is a problem, Eos can download herself back down to Tracy Island in no time, provided she is no further away than the moon."

Jeff clapped him on the back.

"Well done my friend. Let's put it to her."

Eos was intrigued by the idea of undertaking a rescue mission of her own in her own specially designed ship; a search mission if not search-and-rescue. She was cautious however, and quizzed Brains at length on the specifics of the design and safety aspects, but finally she was satisfied.

"You have considered everything Brains." She complimented him. "I am ready as soon as you are prepared."

"Thank you, Eos. Let us say countdown to probe launch to commence thirty minutes from…now."

"FAB" Eos replied, her holographic image flashing him a dazzling smile.

Jeff and his mother exchanged glances. They could only hope that Eos would be able to search more quickly than the slightly lumbering GDF ships.

Thirty minutes later, they watched on the screen as the probe launched through its own tube, adjacent to Thunderbird Three's silo. As it shot up, higher and higher into the atmosphere, Jeff, Grandma and Brains could only watch and wait. Hoping beyond hope that this, last throw of the dice would be successful.

"Hang in there, John, Alan." Jeff said to himself, as he stepped onto the verandah to watch the small vessel disappear out of sight. "Hang in there. We'll find you boys. We'll find you. Just hold on a little longer."