It had been a routine mission but being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night had left Virgil in a bad mood. He is flying back from California where he has just dropped of his rescuees and can't wait to get back into his own bed and sleep until lunch.
This morning when John woke him from peaceful slumber, Virgil snapped at him using some choice words he knows that he would not have been brace enough to utter in his Grandmas presence and he does not regret them!
"Damn Damn Damn not today!" Virgil growls as a warning light appears on his dash. "ARGH!" he screams in frustration as his bird nose dives towards the ground, smoke from the blown engine filling the cockpit. He knows that he only has seconds before he crash lands, and the words he spoke to John this morning are the only things on his mind, wishing he could just do the conversation all over again. He can't have the last words he spoke to him be "Bog off, and never contact me again" He never meant it, he was just grumpy at being woken up.
Without any emergency landing equipment Virgil's landing is rough, and he hits his head on the dashboard, slicing his forehead open and knocking him unconscious.
*TB*
"Guys, we have a situation" John announces. The sun has only just risen on the Island, and there are four men in various states of awake.
Gordon has been up for an hour swimming laps, and is now stretched out on the sofa, his feet resting on his father's legs.
Jeff is massaging his toes, an indulgent smile on his face which is suddenly all business as he asks, "What's the situation John?"
"That's my line!" Scott tells him good naturedly, his hands clasped around his coffee mug.
Alan is still in his pyjamas, having heard the emergency call and come running.
"We have lost Thunderbird Two" John tells them. "It has crash landed on one of the remote Islands between the New Zealand and Australia."
"On my way. Gordon Alan suit up" Scott orders, all thoughts of his coffee abandoned as he runs to his launch bay followed by his younger brothers while Jeff takes over at his own desk. He would do anything to be out there with his boys but he knows that Scott has this. Scott has always had this.
With his two younger brothers crammed into the back of Thunderbird One, Scott heads towards his brothers last known location, his brothers both searching for any life signs from down below. Anything that will help.
"Why isn't his tracker working?" Alan asks. "OH god. What if he has landed on you know where?"
Scott's face pales in shock. If he has landed on that Island then he is in trouble.
*TB*
There is an Island everyone avoids. Even Gordon won't go and explore this place, and he has managed to talk Buddy and Ellie out of going too, advising them that they won't go after them this time. This place is too dangerous, for any unnecessary rescues.
The rock is jutting out of the ocean, looking its usual inviting and green leafy self. But they know differently. If Virgil has crash landed here, they need to get him out fast.
*TB*
Virgil regains consciousness but the blinding pain in his skull will not go away. Blinking into the sun where he is now lying, Virgil groans. Unable to move from being restrained by his wrists and ankles, stripped to his underwear under the now blazing hot sun, he can feel his skin cooking and he knows that his brothers aren't coming to save him this time. They would never risk their lives in this barren forsaken land. Home to one of the most savage tribes left alive. A casualty of the global conflict, driven to insanity by the war they live in isolation feeding off any innocents that wander into their path.
"Ah, you are awake" one of his captors says, sitting down on the ground nearby. "I am the one who saved you and bought you here. And your noble sacrifice will keep the wrath of the gods from destroying our land once again, it is a good and selfless thing for you to do."
"I can't die. The world needs me" Virgil replies.
"No, we need you more. Without a body, the gods will start the war again and we will all die. It is one death, or it is all our deaths. I am sorry Mr Thunderbird, but we have no choice."
"You always have a choice; you don't have to kill anyone"
"Don't think of it like that. Think of it as saving the world. The ritual will begin at midnight"
Virgil starts to pray to anyone who might be listening and apologising over and over again for being so rude to John this morning.
*TB*
"I have located Thunderbird Two" John announces, "Your worst suspicions have been confirmed"
"We are on it John, landing now. and don't worry, we have a plan. And a Gordon!" Alan reminds him.
"What are you idiots planning?" John asks, he knows that Gordon will be willing to do anything to save his brother, but this could just be a step too far.
"We will let you know later" Gordon tells him grinning.
"You don't even have a plan, do you?" John asks.
"Nope!" Gordon replies, flashing John his most winning smile.
"Just save him guys" John asks.
"Have we ever let you down?" Gordon asks, before ringing off.
Scott brings Thunderbird One into land.
"Wow Scott, landing on top of thunderbird Two, that's impressive" Alan says.
"You two, get in through the access hatch and look for clues. But for God's sake be careful!" Scott orders his youngest brothers.
"It is almost like he doesn't trust us Al" Gordon says rolling his eyes but jumping down from his seat, determined to save his favourite sibling.
The cockpit of Thunderbird Two Is home to Virgil's abandoned suit, and copious amounts of blood. "We have to find him Gords" Alan says, panic setting into his voice.
"We will" Gordon replies, his voice not carrying any conviction, if the savages have him then he may already be dead.
Ordinarily the members of International Rescue do not carry weapons, but this is not an ordinary rescue. they are dealing with the last remnants of a desperate civilisation and Scott hands a loaded gun to each of his brothers when he joins them in Thunderbird Two.
"We will stick together out here, but if the worst happens and we get separated, then we will remain in constant radio contact both with each other, and the Island and John" Scott orders.
Usually this tone would get him a few good-natured barbs from his brothers. But this is serious, and they both remain stoically silent. Apart from two near identical nods as they both give him their undivided attention. "Good, let's go save our brother"
The terrain is difficult to traverse, as the stones underfoot are loose and keep shifting as they step. John with the help of Eos has located the place he thinks they are keeping him. An ancient temple, the only place on the Island that is not overgrown with vegetation. They hike for what feels like miles, without a single complaint about the heat, or the blisters forming on their heels. Constantly they look around them, always on the alert for danger.
The clearing where the temple is located looms large in front of them through a gap in the trees. Hundreds of people are gathered in the square yard. All cheering and laughing.
"There is no way we can get in there and get him out" Alan whispers. "there are hundreds of them"
"Yes we will. I have a plan!" Gordon says confidently.
"You do?" Scott asks.
"I do. Live bait!" Gordon tells them, looking over at Alan. "We just need to distract them!"
"This is real life Gords, not the bloody Lion King, I am not dressing in drag and doing to Hula!"
Gordons smile is pure evil, as he pulls out a grass skirt and flowery necklace.
"NO!" Alan replies.
"This is our only shot!" Gordon replies, come on Allie, don't you want to save Virgil?!"
"Scott?!" Alan says appealing to his team leader.
"It might work Al" Scott replies. "The element of surprise"
"Okay fine, but you all owe me!" Alan replies grabbing the skirt and stripping down to his underwear. "And you had better not be filming this!"
Gordon grins back at him. "Would I?"
"YES!" Alan shouts.
"Quiet Allie" Scott orders. "We are supposed to be staying quiet"
Alan sucks in a breath once he has dressed in the skirt and necklace he steps out into the open. "HEY OVER HERE!" He calls, sashaying his hips as he walks towards the crowd.
The reaction is exactly what they expected, as the crowds move away from the square, revealing just what they feared. Virgil spreadeagled on his back tied so tightly he has no chance of escape without help.
Gordon and Scott wish that they had the Hoods cloaking tech, one click and they could be anyone they wanted as Gordon runs towards Virgil, while Scott has his back, the gun ready for usage if he absolutely has too.
Virgil is still conscious. But delirious from the heat exhaustion and shows no sign of recognition of Gordon as he starts to untie him. Using a laser for convenience, desperate to get him out and away from danger.
"No! Let me go" Virgil cries desperately trying to wriggle out of the grasp Gordon has on him, but Gordon never lets go. Ignoring his own pain, Gordon starts back towards the safety of the trees. But Virgil is a dead weight lying across his shoulders. Gordon is strong, but even he can't carry this weight for long distances. Stumbling and staggering under the weight Gordon nearly falls flat on his face, only stopping when he is caught by Scott.
"Let's call our ride. Save us having to walk all the way back" Scott insists.
"I don't think that is going to be an option" Alan says. The poor boy no longer has his grass skirt and is clad in only his boxer shorts and a straggly flowery necklace. "Look!"
Scott and Gordon groan in unison, as the savages run towards them having realised that Alan has tricked them into a distracted and frenzied state just long enough to let their sacrifice escape. Angered at the trickery, they are not going to let him get away a second time.
"WE HAVE NO TIME; WE HAVE TO RUN! NOW!" Alan screams, and the three sets of feet pound their way back through the dense forest, sharing the burden of their brother.
"Give me Virgil" Scott says to Gordon, knowing that he is too heavy for anyone to carry over long distances.
"The jetpack Scott, get us all out of here. I have Virgil." Gordon replies, reminding him that they have a way out that doesn't involve a four-mile hike with an injured brother.
Scott wordlessly takes a length of rope from his suit, and Gordon clips it onto his suit and around Alan's waist knowing that the rope is going to burn his brothers skin but not able to apologise, as he clings desperately to Scott with Virgil jammed in between him and Alan as they fly up into the sky, not for the first time gratitude at Brains' mind and technological advances.
Thunderbird Two won't move, the engine is fried but between them they fix up something that will get the big green hulk off the Island under Gordons near expert piloting while Alan sees Thunderbird one safely home. Scott has refused to leave Virgil's side in the med-bay.
The cool air-conditioned bird mixed with Scott's expert first aid administration and Virgil is already starting to feel better. The skin on his face, arms, legs and torso have been carefully wrapped in cooling gel pads.
"How are you feeling now Virg?" Scott asks.
"Better, I think. How did you guys find me?" Virgil asks.
"the tracker on Thunderbird Two led us to the Island, after that Eos tracked you down using her talent for mapping remote Islands and hacking!" Scott tells him with a grin.
"I don't think I can ever repay you guys. I thought I was a gonna this time" Virgil says.
"You will never be a gonna as long as we are still breathing." Scott tells him.
"Who is flying your bird?"
"I let Alan take the wheel, Gordon has yours"
"That's fair. I trust Gordon with my life"
"After this hits the internet, he won't be around to protect you!"
"Oh god, what has he done?!"
Scott grins before loading up the video of Alan in the skirt, dancing for the crowds. "At least it worked and we got you out. But Gordon needs to be on his guard!"
"Scott, I need to talk to John." Virgil requests.
"I will give you some peace and quiet and go and check on our pilot!" Scott replies. Scott heard their conversation this morning, and he knows that they both feel terrible about their argument.
Johns face is full of concern as he gazes upon Virgil's burned face.
"How are you feeling?" John asks his elder brother.
"I am sorry I was so mean to you" Virgil says, getting straight to his point.
"Virg, it is fine. You are a beast when you have not had enough caffeine. You are my brother; unconditional love is part of the contract! Now get back to base and get some rest." John reassures him with the same stern loving voice both Scott and Grandma used on him.
"Love you Johnny"
"I love you too, and I am very glad that you were not sacrificed for the greater good!"