Sadly I don't own the Thunderbirds, but i'm very grateful to Gerry and Sylvia Anderson for creating them so I get to play with them.

This is my first attempt at a Thunderbird fanfic . Hope you enjoy it, any feedback is welcome, but please be gentle with me. Thanks , Jo

In Another Life

Chapter 1

"Mayday, mayday, this is Tracy 1 requesting assistance. I'm losing altitude. I repeat I am losing altitude. Thunderbird 5. Can you read me...John!

Up on Thunderbird 5, John was listening in intently to a distress call that was coming thorough. The fear in the woman's voice was clear as day. But what was strange about it was that the message couldn't have been possible. Why was this woman claiming to be in Tracy 1...he decided there was only one way to find out what was going on

"Tracy 1 this is International Rescue, do you copy?"

"John is that you?" the voice asked in reply "I need immediate assistance. The plane was hit by a freak storm and I'm struggling to keep her under control. Send Gordon and Thunderbird 4 now...I'm going down into the ocean..." with that the transmission cut off

While John had been listening to the woman on the other end of the communication, he had activated his scans to try and get more information that way. The only thing he could verify was that there was in fact a light aircraft losing height out above the Pacific. Yet there were still too many unanswered questions. But he knew he had to do something.

"Thunderbird 5 to base"

"Go ahead John" came Scott in reply "Do we have a situation?" he asked

"I believe so but I'm not sure what I make of it" John's image said as he looked down at his older brother

"What do you mean John?" Virgil asked as he walked over to join Scott by their father's desk

"The caller, a woman, I didn't find out her name; she claims to be flying Tracy 1"

Scott and Virgil looked at each other, confusion on both their faces

"And" John continued "She knew me by name"

"What!" both Scott and Virgil exclaimed in unison

"How is that possible?"

"I don't know Virg, but I thought that you could find out what's going on when you and Gordon go and rescue her"

"Okay John" Virgil replied as he made his way over to the picture which concealed the secret entrance to Thunderbird Two's hanger bay

"I'll have Gordon meet you there" Scott told him "And be careful" Virgil gave Scott a mock salute as the picture tipped backwards, taking Virgil with it

"John, try and get as much information as you can; and keep us updated. I'll inform father" Scott said returning his attention back to John's image once Virgil had disappeared down to his chute to Thunderbird 2.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to disturb Dad at the moment. Wouldn't it be best to wait until we find out what Thunderbird 2 finds out?" John asked his brother.

For the last week or so Scott had been staying at base during the few rescues that they had had come in as their father had been bedridden with the flu.

"Under normal circumstances I wouldn't, but something about this feels off to me. I'm sure he'd want to know what was going on"

"FAB" John replied, ending the transmission

Up on Thunderbird 5, once John had finished speaking to Scott, he returned his attention back to trying to re-establish the communication list he had lost with the mysterious 'Tracy 1'

" 'Tracy 1' this is International Rescue. Are you receiving?"

There was nothing but static in reply. John tried several more times, in between sending Thunderbird 2 the last known co-ordinates of the aircraft he had received before he had lost contact. Suddenly John could have sworn that he heard a reply; but it was too distorted for him to understand what was being said.

" 'Tracy 1' from International Rescue. Can you please repeat your last transmission?"

"This...cy 1. Don't...how much...can..hold...how long...til four arrives..."

"Thunderbird 5 to Thunderbird 2. Come in please." John said changing frequencies

"Go ahead John" came Virgil's voice in reply, loud and clear over the comms.

"Virgil what is your estimated time of arrival at co-ordinates?"

"We'll be arriving at co-ordinates in eight and one half minutes John" Virgil informed him

"Received Thunderbird 2" John was about to get in contact with base when a strange feeling came over him. Other than the pilot claiming to be flying 'Tracy 1' and knowing his and Gordon's names, there was something else about that transmission that was bothering him

But right at that moment he couldn't quite put his finger on it