Bleak wasn't a word Gordon liked to throw around often. It went completely against his comfort level and made his skin crawl. For him, there was always hope that life would turn in their direction and say "hey, I've got your back. Don't sweat the small stuff". He needed that and lived it most days of his life.
Sometimes, though, the world just didn't want to follow that ideal. It wanted to turn itself upside down and shake everything good out of existence. Today, bleak was the appropriate word and it seemed to be affecting the two eldest the most.
John had been making gains with his new wings, which should've been enough to perk the family up, even a little. Of course, they weren't the wings he'd been born with, not the glowing white that could take to the skies with grace and ease, but they worked. That seemed to be enough for the red-head even if their empathic link said otherwise. This week had been one of those times where the inadequacies shown through, leaving him grounded when urgency called for action.
Thunderbird 3 had been damaged, their little brother lucky to make it through the rescue and home, according to Brains. John was currently beating himself up for not being able to accompany Alan on the mission and the self-loathing hadn't stopped there.
Their commander was trying to hold everything together - the family, the business, International rescue, or what remained of it - but his focus was aimed mostly at John and Virgil. Gordon couldn't read Scott like he could the others, but nearly losing Alan was hitting their leader hard.
And Virgil...
Virgil, still healing from his own wounds, was riddled with guilt that made Gordon wish he could separate from their emotional bond, even for a few minutes. Consequences - they were dealing with fallout from a choice the family had made. The blonde hadn't agreed with the choice at the time, but he'd done nothing to prevent the Hood from attacking. He hadn't prepared well enough or created his own plan in a worst case scenario. No, they all had a piece of the blame, but Virgil was wearing it like it all belonged to him. Gordon had tried to talk to him, as had Scott, which only prompted their big brother to scatter his attention even more.
Alan had found it easy enough to brush off the less than straightforward rescue. He was alive and Three could be fixed. When it came to the rest of the family, however, he was left to lean on his immediate elder brother and Gordon was happy to oblige. The desire to help was insatiable, two of them taking over the role of Thunderbird 5 with EOS and doing their best to redirect help if possible. The few times they had been forced to launch, Kayo had accompanied them.
For protection.
It felt wrong to think anyone would want to prevent them from helping people in need, but they knew evil existed. The Hood and what he'd done to their family was evidence of that.
So, with John still left to recuperate with his new wings, Virgil in his studio trying to work through hatred towards his decisions via a canvas, and Scott holed up in his personal office to attend another Tracy Industries meeting, Gordon found Alan nearly asleep at their father's desk. The kid had been on monitor duty too long.
"Allie - hey," he smiled at the groggy response about killer meatballs. "Wake up, Sprout. Time to take a break."
Sky blue peaked out and the teen sat up, albeit wobbly, "I'm up." A blink, "What time is it?"
"Nap time, baby bro," Gordon ruffled the blonde hair as he took a seat on the desk. "It's only one, but you look like you could use a break."
The hand was batted away with the desired level of grump he'd achieved, "I'm fine." A yawn followed and Gordon tilted his head in amusement. "Ugh, fine, but just an hour - or two."
"Sounds good," the aquanaut grinned as Alan stood and stretched. Once he moved, Gordon took up the seat and surveyed the calm globe rotating in the center of the room. "I'll give you a heads up if anything happens."
Another yawn, "Right."
Right, he could manage on his own for a while.
An hour in and he thought about calling Penelope, but she was on assignment with the explicit instruction of no communications. Just another bit of life trying to dull his sunshine.
The few calls that did come in were simple enough to redirect, much to his relief. The three hour mark hit with no sign of the space kid. It was for the best. They needed as much rest as they could get.
An alert flashed over the ocean, EOS appearing beside it, "Gordon, there is a mayday transmitting from a ship three hundred miles north of Tracy Island. It seems to be fully submerged and taking on water."
A few months ago Gordon would have already been running to his launch tube. Instead, he shot the AI a wary look, "Were you able to authenticate it."
"Yes, and sensors indicate no other vessels in the area," EOS answered in the clipped tone he'd come to understand as anger. Gordon had asked her about it before and the culprit was the Hood. It was always the Hood. "Shall I contact Kayo?"
Technically, he didn't need her help with this, but something wriggled in his mind that said he might, "Yeah, tell her to meet me in Thunderbird 4's launch bay." The graphics disappeared as Gordon made his way to the aquarium.
There was always a rush that came with suiting up - a need for it to go faster or the adrenaline from a chance to save a life. Either way. Gordon thrilled in his launch, even the headlong dive into the tank that held his girl. Virgil hated it. Mostly because the fish brother would send the feelings of exhilaration out through their emotions, just to keep the pilot on his toes.
As always, Four welcomed him and he ran a hand through his damp curls before activating the pilot's seat. A knock at the rear and he opened the doors to allow Kayo on board, his sister lithely climbing in behind him.
"Welcome aboard," Gordon greeted with a too bright smile. "Hope I didn't interrupt anything important." He knew she hadn't been with Virgil most of the day, the artist's space requiring solitude for the moment.
"Just planning out our next sparring session," a wicked smirk that sent a groan from the aquanaut.
"No rush or anything," he worked his hands over the controls, watching the path in front of them illuminate. EOS gave him the all clear and they were launching within the minute.
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Kayo voiced as she reviewed the call and surrounding oceans.
"Let's hope," because they certainly weren't at the top of their game. Two brothers sidelined and one drowning under the weight of responsibility was not ideal by any means. "I'll run a scan of the ship when we arrive, just in case. If everything still looks alright, I'll see what I can do to salvage it back to the surface."
"And if it's not salvageable?"
Gordon's lips thinned, weighing the options, "Then we'll just have to bring them on board."
The seas around their home were much like other oceans around the world, deep and full of unknown secrets. To Gordon, this was his playground. He recognized the depths and had travelled within them a handful of times. Once had been nearly fatal and he hadn't ventured that deep since. Thunderbird 4 could easily dive down, though, and illuminate the fractured shelves and dark crevices. Even then, Gordon was cautious. His brothers seemed to find it difficult to deal with the separation. Their 'Birds just weren't meant for that kind of exploration - or retrieval.
For now, he kept his girl within the sun's rays shining through the surface. It was welcoming and felt so much like home to the aquatic Ave that he was taken aback when they finally saw the ship - or what remained of it.
Gordon's heart sank at the dark haze of fuel that had leaked into the waters around it, the body of the vessel gradually lowering towards the shadows below.
"That certainly doesn't look like anything we can fix," Kayo offered her own sense of awe at the sight.
"It's not," Gordon regained his bearings with the burst of anger fueled by seeing his environment in harm's way. He jammed a finger into the comms, "This is international rescue to the Gallant crew, do you read me?"
There was an unsettling silence, the ever present feeling they were too late ready to suffocate them, and finally a crackle of panic from a woman trapped within, "I'm here! Please, you ha- have to - Oh, please! James is dead! I don't wanna die! Please!" She was crying, her anguish piercing through his chest and pulling out the calm he needed.
"Ma'am, take a deep breath. We're going to get you out of there," Gordon's voice was even and firm as he tried to reach the fearful woman. "Is there anyone else with you?"
"No, it was just me and - they're - they're all dead aren't they?" He was quickly losing her to hysteria, but Gordon needed to be sure. A scan for lifesigns only brought up one.
"Just try to stay calm," he urged, for his own sake as well with the realization they'd been too late for some of the crew. "What's your name?"
"Viv-Vivian," he could hear deliberate breaths as he worked to position Thunderbird 4. "Please, the ship's filling with water! I can't reach the exit hatch!"
Damn, that meant the tube would be useless, "Do you have any diving equipment? Scuba gear or anything you can use underwater?"
"No no no! I don't have anything," her panic rose another octave.
"That's okay, I've got spares. I'll bring one to you," Gordon quickly muted his side of the line, letting Vivian's barely controlled respirations fill the cabin. Amber turned to confront the disapproval on his sister's face. "Sorry, Tin, looks like I get to do this the hard way."
"And there's no other option? Can't we just bring the ship to the surface?" Kayo moved out of the way even as she tried to poke holes in the plan.
Gordon attached a pair of spare rebreathers to his belt, flashing her an apologetic smile as he positioned himself over the circular hatch and adjusted his helmet, "They're too far down. I can't risk decompression or any further damage to the ship if I can help it." A quick gesture to his 'bird's pilot seat, "You've got control. Try to keep her as close as possible for recovery."
Green eyes narrowed before a slight nod in defeat, "FAB. Keep your eyes open out there."
"You know I will," a halfhearted grin followed him through the hatch and out into the vast depths where the Gallant lay suspended with its remaining air pockets. Now, up close to the dying bulk, the damage had warped its shape into something almost unrecognizable. How anyone was still alive inside was beyond him, but he ignored the awe and propelled himself into the nearest opening. Vivian's lifesign sent a bright orange glow over the jagged edges before illuminating the inner hull. His helmet lamp cut through the ominous shadows created by the hologram and he was only partially thankful for the clear view.
Up until he found the first body. A man, his face already tinged an oxygen-deprived blue floated unaware of the iR operative's presence. If he'd had time, Gordon would have secured the body for transport. Someone would be missing this individual and it only seemed right to make sure they had someone to bury. The icon blinking over his wrist said it would have to wait.
Comm open, the aquanaut could hear the shuddering breaths and sobs coming from the woman he was there to rescue, "Vivian, I'm almost there. Just breathe, nice and slow, okay?"
"O-okay," though she still gasped through a sob, he could only hope the woman kept calm once he made it to her location.
The ship was completely flooded on the lower sections, making the trip easier to swim through as the inflow pushed him along. He reached the hatch that separated himself from Vivian and was grateful it was located at the top of a ladder. Once he opened it, the air pocket inside would keep the compartment from flooding, unlike one of the thicker, water sealed doors.
Gordon tapped the hatch with a knuckled fist, "Alright, I'm going to open the door. You should be safe, but in case the room starts to fill, I'll get the mask on you. We have plenty of time and air."
"I'm ready, please hurry," she whimpered and it set off his own desire to get through the door. Fear was a dangerous and painful emotion and Gordon worked hard at ensuring his charges didn't have to experience it long. A calm voice, warm smile, steady hand on their shoulder. He could help others cope with the simplest of gestures.
He clicked the channel of his comm to speak solely to Kayo, "Heading in now."
"FAB. Everything's still clear out here," her voice was calm and professional, missing the extra hint of worry that Virgil couldn't conceal even if he wanted to.
The thought of his brother was hastily pushed aside, to be revisited on the way home, as Gordon took hold of the wheel and twisted it without much resistance. He pushed the hatch open and was pleased to hear the loud clunk when it hit the dry floor. He dragged himself through and out of the water, amber eyes finding the woman in a seat, hunched over a console. Too scared to move, he wondered when she didn't turn to see who had entered. He needed to remedy that issue first if they were going to make it out without a problem.
"Vivian? I'm Gordon, I'm here to help," his words were light and soft as he approached, removing the extra helmet from his belt. "Let's get this helmet on and then -"
His mouth froze as he made it close enough to see the console she was sitting in front of, the screen having been hidden from his view. At the center of it sat an image of Thunderbird 4, icons in bright red hovering over the sub.
"What-" before the questions could even form, Vivian's hand moved. The red icons flashed a warning as two torpedoes shot from the broken shop and collided with his 'bird and - "Tin!"
Rage engulfed his mind as the explosions sent Thunderbird 4 end over end, sparks and air escaping her damaged hull. Gordon spun on the woman, unable to comprehend what had just happened, but she was already up, a rod in her hand. He barely had time to register the stabbing pain of two points punctured the neoprene material and embedding into his stomach before his muscles were sent screaming with electricity.
She pushed him back until he was pinned against the wall, fighting to dislodge the rod with uncooperative arms. A gloved hand shot forward and unclipped his helmet, tossing it aside, "You won't be needing that." A grin grew on her face, wicked with cruelty before shoving a new mask over his face. The electricity stopped and Gordon tried to hold in his breath, stolen by the shock. Another jolt sent a cry from his throat and before could stop it, the sour taste of the drug invaded his throat.
The room swayed violently, but the pain in his chest dulled as he slid down the wall. The woman remained in front of him, securing the mask to his head and he blinked up at her. He wanted to fight back, wanted to help his sister, but as the images blurred, Gordon found himself unable to do anything other than fade into the chemical induced void.
OoOoOoO
She watched the amber eyes blink shut until the man was completely under, returning her baton to its clip. Vivian gave the unconscious aquanaut a tap with her boot, ensuring he wouldn't be a problem on route to the waiting ship. All in all, the operation had gone smoothly, leaving her to wonder how gullible the Tracy family was. It didn't matter, though, and she returned to her seat, satisfied with the condition of her captive. She wasn't paid to analyze a bunch of do-gooders with wings.
On the screen, the yellow sub continued to drift, no longer a problem. If she stayed to watch the death of the Thunderbird, however, she was certain the rest of the bothersome team would be here, ready to put a damper on the plan. Vivian's fingers swiped the image of the broken craft away and called up her controls. Outside her compartment, the damaged hull began to detach and fall away, taking the useless equipment and the unfortunate souls dumb enough to take on the job with it. Fewer operatives meant a bigger payout for herself and less risk that one of them might drop the ball. She was ruthless, not stupid.
When the last of the faux ship fell, her sub was revealed, untouched by the damage that had sent the larger bulk to the ocean floor. Vivian grinned with delight at her employer's technology. So many theatrics for something so simple.
"Weaver sub to base. Package acquired," she called as she piloted the craft past the yellow Thunderbird.
The comm hissed, the image of a sinister grin playing across her mind's eye. The Hood's voice practically dripped with satisfaction, "Excellent. Have him brought to the examination room as soon as you arrive. Dr Sable will be eager to begin. As will I."
"Yes sir," Vivian's brow ticked upwards, turning to the individual still unaware of his fate. "Wouldn't want to be you." Though, she couldn't help the sadistic chuckle, suddenly wondering if her boss would let her watch.
How much would it take to force an Ave to lift?