Thunderbirds Are Go!
The Fires of Mars
Disclaimer: All rights reserved. This story is set a year after the Thunderbirds Are Go finale.
- Two-
Scott and Alan kept a silent watch at the controls while the Thunder Drive hummed away in the background. Jeff and Kayo set up their equipment in the cargo hold, discussing Kayo's newfound interest in conspiracy theories. She hadn't been able to rest since her uncle was incarcerated by the GDF. She believed that there were always secrets that could harm her family especially within organisations that she was taught to trust. She never really knew if the GDF themselves could be trusted.
The situation on Mars left her feeling even more uncomfortable. Jeff sensed her anxiety from across the cargo hold as he floated about the room gathering supplies.
"What's on your mind?" He asked her. "You've held that look since we left Earth."
"I'm sorry for my attitude earlier." She replied.
"What attitude? Kayo, you always look over your shoulder as if something or someone is going to sneak up on you."
"I just don't believe that we should let our guards down for a second. Every time we go into a situation something goes wrong. I just think we should start arming ourselves from now on."
Jeff looked at her with a frown. He didn't believe in firearms, but with everything that his family went through just to find him, he knew she had a point. During the previous year, The Hood and his hired thugs,' The Chaos Crew' caused great harm to his family. They hospitalised Gordon, left Scott to die from Radiation in a nuclear power complex and threw Kayo into a prison cell. No wonder why she was hesitant about these types of missions.
"I don't believe in firearms. You know that." He said to her, "But I think it's time I listened to you for a change."
Kayo looked up at him with a smile.
"You know, you remind me of your father. You've definitely got his attitude."
Kayo chuckled. "Yeah well, I owe a lot to him."
"So, what do you want to do? What do you think we should use to defend ourselves with?"
"I had an idea about that. If the GDF can use taser guns then why can't we?"
"It's better than actually shooting them, I guess. We'll have to discuss it with Brains when we get back. Now come on. We need to finish loading up these medical kits. We should be approaching Mars soon."
The door swung open and Scott floated his way into the hold.
"Are we all set here?" He asked.
"FAB. We're ready." Kayo replied.
"FAB. We're approaching the Martian atmosphere now. Alan has a fix on the signal." Scott added. "It's definitely coming from Phobos Base."
Jeff felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.
"Alright. Let's get down there. I just hope Taylor is okay." He said as he returned to the cockpit.
They entered the atmosphere at a safe entry angle. Alan threw on the retro thrusters, bringing the giant rocket into a vertical position. He then gently set his Thunderbird down upon the Martian dust. After powering down all his systems, The Tracy crew suited up for departure. As soon as Jeff opened the airlock, his eyes stung from the sun's rays.
There was an eerie presence that greeted them. The sensation of impending doom was overwhelming. Scott surveyed the remains of the Phobos base. The signal directed them inside, but he couldn't be too sure.
"What have you found?" Alan asked.
"There's nobody in there," Scott claimed. "The signal is coming from a hollow cavern underneath."
"What's the radiation count?" Jeff asked him.
Scott checked his Geiger counter.
"Pretty low. It's safe to head inside. Their nuclear generator must have burnt itself out ages ago."
Jeff frowned. "We can only hope. Scott, you and Kayo search the area for survivors. Assemble the Explorer Pod. Alan, you're with me. We'll try and find this cavern."
"FAB." Scott acknowledged. "Be careful. That structure looks unstable."
Jeff smiled. "We'll be careful if you will."
Scott and Kayo returned to Thunderbird Three and together, they assembled a massive rover pod. It took them several minutes to get it ready which gave the pair a moment to talk.
"I've noticed you've been feeling on edge lately." Scott began. "Is everything alright?"
"It's just the mission. Nothing important." Kayo replied.
"I know you, Kayo. Something has been bothering you long before we left the island. You can tell me."
"I don't want to bore you with the details."
"Try me."
Kayo looked up at a persistent Scott. He discovered the look of fatigue in her eyes.
"I haven't been sleeping well, ok?" She said, "For the past month, I've been having nightmares about...him."
"The Hood?" Scott asked.
"Yes." She clarified. "It feels like he's fused into my being like a part of me can't escape him. Everywhere I look I think he's there watching my every move. I don't know why this is happening. Maybe it's delayed trauma or something. I don't know. It's stupid."
Scott floated towards her and pulled her in for a hug.
"It's not stupid. I think he scared all of us."
"What do you mean?"
Scott looked into her eyes.
"I see him too."
Alan claimed over heaps of charred metal and debris as he followed his father into the former control hub. The thick smell of smoke-filled their air filters. The SOS signal bleeped away on his tracking device. They were now directly on top of it. They heard the sound of clawing coming from beneath them. Jeff searched for a weak spot in the floor.
"Alan, come help me with these computer terminals." He said. "I can see a hidden hatchway down here."
Alan helped his Dad lift the pile of broken computers until they could reach the hatchway. It was sealed from the inside as its metal hinges had melted from the heat. Jeff switched on his laser torch. He managed to cut through the door with ease, removing the door with one pull.
A figure shuffled about in the dark compartment prompting Jeff to shine his flashlight on it. His eyes widened in a mix of shock and relief. It was from Lee Taylor. Alan reached in to help the Captain out of his incarnation. His eyes adjusted to the beams of their flashlights when he muttered;
"Jeff? Oh my god. Jeff Tracy? Is it really you?"
"Take it easy, Lee," Jeff answered softly. "It's alright. You're safe now."
The Captain suddenly became hysterical.
"No. You couldn't be more wrong. You're both in terrible danger."
"Umm, what are you talking about, Captain?" Alan asked.
"We've got to get out of here. They'll soon come back." Taylor continued. "They're on the move as we speak."
Jeff grabbed his friend by the shoulders. "Who'll come back? What attacked you?"
"The Rock-Snakes," Taylor replied.
Jeff and Alan looked at each other. "Rock-Snakes? What are you talking about?"
"They are Mars' only indigenous life form," Taylor answered. "A race of creatures that spit out fire and destruction. Once they attack, that's it. I lost many people to the Fires that they caused."
Taylors stunned words gave Alan the jitters. "I don't like this, Dad. We better get him back to the Thunderbird."
"Agreed. We'll talk about this more in the medical bay."
The pair carried Taylor out of the base and across the dusty surface towards Thunderbird Three. Alan felt the sensation of eyes watching them as they helped their friend into the airlock. Before he could climb inside, however, a ball of red light appear out of the corner of his eye. He quickly turned towards the direction of the light but all he could see was the desolate Martian atmosphere.
Assuming it was a trick of the light, he shrugged it off and climbed on inside, sealing the airlock behind him. Now in the relative safety of Thunderbird Three, he took a deep breath and tried to put his fears to rest. However, they were not alone for something was stalking them in the shadows. They were not alone.