Note: For those asking, I don't think I'll ever be introducing EOS in this fic. I get the feeling that John would be incredibly protective of her, and that he wouldn't want it getting out that he could code an AI that could, in theory, pass the Turing Test. That is something that would be considered classified information. Also, that would definitely be the reason why he's not allowed to code on his own anymore.

The video started with a shot of Alan, looking a little disgruntled and looking up at the person who was holding the camera. Or, as it became clear, not holding the camera, but being in possession of it. Because the person's hands were clear and placed firmly on Alan's shoulders. "I don't get why I need a security detail. I'm literally just taking finals at school."

"Because," Kayo replied, her voice familiar enough by now that all the viewers could identify it. "The Hood has broken out of prison. Again. And he knows where you are."

Alan rolled his eyes with a slight groan, folding his arms in front of him. "Why do we keep giving the guy to the GDF if they can't keep hold of him? I say next time he's caught, we just drop him in the Mariana Trench."

Kayo gave a huff of a laugh, reaching out to ruffle Alan's hair. He squawked and dodged out of the way of the hand. "I might be willing to overlook that," she said. "However, now it's on camera, so you may want to come up with a different plan."

Alan gave her a deadpan look. "And why are we filming me taking finals?" he asked, sounding a little annoyed by the concept. He was back at school for finals, then, deciding to take the tests in person instead of online. The reasoning for that was that Brains had decided to completely upgrade Three's engines, after the damage to the nacelle had been repaired, and the 'Bird was out of commission for the next two days.

The GDF had already been warned of such; it wasn't common for a 'Bird to be down, but the world had limped along before International Rescue, and it could limp along for a few days without all of them on active duty. Limping, though, was really what was happening. There'd been much cursing from Virgil, Scott and Brains over the slowness of upgrading the GDF and all other emergency relief programs. Nothing stood on the same level as IR, even with IR actively trying to get them up to par.

"To prove a point to your brothers," Kayo replied. She didn't say what that point was. Alan huffed, but darted in to give her a hug, an odd thing for the people watching since it was clear that the camera was attached to the woman's chest somewhere. And then Alan was stepping back and walking down the hall.

"This better not end up on YouTube," he warned softly.

"If it does, there will be a reason for it," Kayo said, just as softly. Clearly, as the video was online now, she'd seen reason to put it up. The video showed crowded hallways, with most of the faces of the other students blurred out. Anyone who had done research on Whartons Academy for Boys knew that the top of the top sent their children there, both for the fine education and for the high security. That Kayo had been sent along with Alan said something about how much they trusted that security, though.

The video jumped a bit, as the one editing had decided that no one really had to watch Alan taking a bunch of tests. So, it was at lunch, in a crowded cafeteria space that the video ended up at again. Kayo was standing a few yards off from Alan, keeping an eye on him, from the angle of the camera, but also on the surroundings.

Pizza was on the menu, apparently, and Alan had been joined by a bunch of boys. He didn't look too thrilled by the crowd, either, which said something for his past experiences at this school. "Alan! Dude! You're internet famous! Did you know that?" one of the boys crowed.

Alan raised an eyebrow, swallowing the bite that was in his mouth. "Nick. Hello." His voice was just shy of being completely bland. "And yes. I'm aware I'm internet famous. Have been since IR was outed."

"Dude, he's talking about the YouTube thing," another boy said, waving a hand. "And yo. Your island is awesome. Why haven't you ever invited us over?"

Alan set his slice of pizza down, giving all of them a look that was so remarkably like John that Kayo let out a little snicker. "Last I remember, you didn't like me. And I don't like you. So why on Earth would I invite you to my home?" There was some light laughter and ribbing at that; it was clear that these boys had not been friends of Alan's before. By the side-eyeing the boy was giving them, as well as the slightly wary stance, it could be said that they'd probably had more violent interactions in the past.

"Aw come on, man," one boy, this one slightly larger than Alan, grumbled. "Can't you share in your fame?" Alan didn't grace that with an answer, turning his attention back to the pizza he was eating. "What are you even doing with the money you make from YouTube, man? It's not like you need it."

"And you do?" Alan scoffed. He knew, like the rest of the world, that most of these kids were trust-fund babies and weren't hurting for want of money. He rolled his eyes. "All monetary funds coming from YouTube are directly redirected towards various charity relief programs," Alan recited, the answer practiced enough to let everyone know that he'd had to repeat it a few times already. "All charities are vetted by TI to make sure they are legit."

"Well that's lame," one of the boys scoffed, sitting back a little. "I would have bought a fancy car. Chicks dig cars."

Alan rolled his eyes, but he didn't need to answer, as another boy brought up the fact that Alan apparently built his own cars. And raced them.

"Oh yeah, right," another kid stated, suddenly slamming his hand down on the table. All the attention was pulled to him, and he obviously liked that. "Tracy here is obviously hamming it up for the camera. I doubt he really has anything to do with the Thunderbirds at all. No one in their right mind would let a kid fly a spaceship." Forget the fact that there was quite a bit of video evidence—outside of YouTube even—that had Alan actively assisting in rescues.

Alan tilted his head to one side, blue eyes watching warily. "One could argue that we weren't quite in the right mind when we made that arrangement," he allowed softly, Kayo stepping forward a few paces the only thing that let the words be heard on camera.

"Oh, that's right," the boy crowed, sitting back with a nasty grin. This kid was quite a bit bigger than Alan and had the look of a bully. You know the kind; the ones that got pleasure from belittling and hurting anyone they could. "You admitted to the entire world that you have to see a shrink. That all your family talks to shrinks. What's wrong, Tracy? Daddy not give you enough hugs growing up?" Alan's eyes narrowed, just a little, and the boy laughed. Kayo shifted a bit, the camera moving with her, but she didn't take any steps closer. "Admit it, you're just whining to a doctor about all your little first world problems. Billionaires like you don't have anything else to whine about."

Alan's eyes were trained firmly on this kid, and his face was startlingly blank. He licked his lips, his fingers tapping on the tabletop in a way that had Kayo shift again. "Tom," he said softly. "Do you know what burning human flesh smells like?" he asked, shocking the table into silence. "A lot of people say it smells like pork. I disagree." He was silent for only two seconds, his head tilting again, eyes narrowing just a little. "Do you know what happens to the human body upon sudden decompression in space?"

There were murmurs now, pale faces and food being pushed aside. Alan's voice was still quiet, a little contemplative. "The moment you realize what's about to happen, it's already too late. I'm not going to get there in time, no matter how fast Three is. Those are almost always just recovery missions." He blinked a little, focusing on Tom. "Have you ever done CPR on a dying four-year-old? Held pressure on arterial bleeding? Dug a mother out of a mudslide, only to tell her that her baby didn't make it out? Been held at gunpoint simply for trying to save lives in an area that was destabilized by war?" He shrugged a little, frowning softly. "Shall I tell you more about my first world problems? Or have you heard enough?" There was complete silence from the group at the table, all of them pale and gaping at this point. The rest of the cafeteria had gone oddly silent as well. It was a little disconcerting, considering the noise level it had been at before.

"If someone admits to needing help with their mental health, you leave them alone about it," Alan warned, his tone dropping as he stared straight at Tom. He got to his feet, brushing his hands off. "Well, good talk."

Tom's face crunched into a snarl, obviously not having liked being talked back to. He reached out and grabbed Alan's arm as the boy rounded the edge of the table and yanked. Alan, for his part didn't move much, other than to wrap his own hand around Tom's wrist and apply just a little pressure. "The great thing about being the youngest is that I've learned a whole lot," Alan said softly, watching as Tom's face pinched in pain at the pressure on his wrist. His hand spasmed in Alan's grip, but Alan didn't let go yet.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick," Alan recited. "Dad always taught us that violence wasn't the answer. But my brothers—who many could say are really the ones that raised me—always taught me that violence is sometimes the only way to get someone to listen." Alan dropped Tom's wrist, taking a step back. "Don't be that someone." He raised an eyebrow, staring down the boy for a moment. "I'm not the little kid you can just beat up, Tom," he said softly, almost too soft to be heard. "I don't have any reason to hide anymore."

And he turned on his heel and walked off, past Kayo and the camera. He left behind a table of pale, slack-jawed boys, and one red-faced former bully. Kayo stayed there for a moment, likely eyeing the group to make sure they weren't a threat, before turning and following Alan out.

"Your brothers would be proud," she said softly, once she'd caught up to the younger boy. She placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping it tightly. Alan's hands were trembling, just a little, just enough to be barely noticeable on the screen.

"My brothers would have beat Tom into the ground the moment he put a hand on me," Alan replied with a snort.

"Which is likely why they'd be so proud that you didn't," Kayo said evenly. "Although to be fair, I was about to beat Tom into the ground too."

"Duh," Alan said, rolling his eyes. "You're my big sister. You're just as bad as the rest of them."

Kayo laughed softly, but her grip remained. And the two of them walked off down the hallway before the camera went black.

UtopiaDisaster88 9 hours ago
Don't make fun of people who see therapists. That's just not cool. Alan was totally BadA there though, gotta say.
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SuessSilverston 8 hours ago
Speak softly and carry a big stick. Dude, those boys know how to do that, don't they? And let's be honest, it was Scott that taught Alan to use violence if words don't work, wasn't it?
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ApplesToApplesToOranges 7 hours ago
I kind of want to cry. Alan's only 16 and he's been through a lot.
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DragonsandDunkin's 6 hours ago
First world problems, my foot. Just the fact that he was orphaned was enough to qualify him for therapy. Don't make fun of mental health guys!
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CaptainObviouslyNot 5 hours ago
Wait. Hold up. Was Kayo wearing a ring?!
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