The sky was his paradise on any given day, barring storms that could match his mood when grounded. Tonight was perfection. Moon glowing in the horizon, wind providing all the right thermals off the calm ocean.
Even with its ideal conditions, all Scott felt was seething rage.
His wings beat with the roar of both vessels and he cut through the sky around the monstrosity that had held his brother. Regardless of his blind attack, he had a plan, one his family had encouraged as a last resort. This seemed as close to a desperate moment as any.
Below him, the ship was coming to a stop in front of Thunderbird 2 and he knew it could take his brothers out with a single shot. He couldn't let that happen.
Pulling his wings in, Scott dove, his hand reaching into his baldric to retrieve the demolition charges. Never in his years as International Rescue would he have ever considered using them against humans, but whoever these people were, they'd already offered the question of who's lives took priority. If it was between them or his brothers, the choice was easy.
The first charge left his hand as he swooped over the ship, quickly pulling up as something shot past him. The smell of burnt atmosphere assaulted his senses - they were aiming to do more than stun.
A succession of pops filled the air as the charges blew and Scott chanced a glance to see if they'd done anything to the craft. Smoke curled from the metal surface to be whisked away by the breeze gusting over the ocean. In its wake lay a handful of dark pock marks - nothing more.
Scott cursed as he whipped away from the ship. He could at least give his brothers time to get Thunderbird 2 away from the area. With them safe, he could focus on his own retreat into the clouds.
Another blast from the weapon left him feeling the heat over his back, his wings shuddering to adjust and send him flying the opposite direction. That one had been too close. C'mon guys, get outta here!
The green behemoth remained hovering before the enemy ship, her crew still working to secure their injured and regain control. They were vulnerable, though, and Scott could see it in how a device off the front of the enemy ship sparked to life, aiming for the unmoving Thunderbird. The decision was made the moment he threw himself towards the threat, another demolition charge growing heavy in his hand.
He wouldn't make it in time.
The ship's charge grew with Scott's building fear and desperation, blue eyes wide and jaw tight with each push of his wings.
A blast ripped across Thunderbird 2's nose, waves of energy streaking across her metal plating. She swayed for a brief moment, hanging in the sky on VTOL that didn't stutter with the attack.
Another shot -
Not from the larger ship -
Thunderbird 2 had fired, the enemy vessel suddenly losing its overwhelming drone of VTOL as it careened sideways. No smoke trailed from its structure and for a moment, Scott wasn't sure what had happened.
"Back to Thunderbird 2, Scott!" Virgil's voice was strained and breathless, the anger evident but unconcerning. The brunette didn't hesitate as his eyes watched the large craft fall into the ocean, lifeless.
EMP - it had to be for his brother's 'bird to cause that kind of outcome.
Scott landed without a sound on the green hull, his wings folding back against him to dissolve into his uniform. The roof hatch opened and he leapt inside to find his immediate younger brother at the controls, the rest of the cockpit empty. Before he could speak, Virgil was pulling the thunderbird around, the movement forcing Scott to steady himself on the back of the co-pilot seat.
"John and Alan have Gordon?" He finally asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes," was the clipped response, Virgil activating the comms to the medbay. "Hold tight, I'm getting us home as fast as Two will go."
The distracted FAB from John gave the eldest pause, but the cargo ship took off, pressing him into the seat before the harness could lower.
"You good?" Scott questioned when his heart let up from its attempt to break free. The enemy ship was no longer showing on the holographic map and the warning lights across the console had calmed.
"Are you?" Dark brown eyes turned, conveying just how not good Virgil was. "Hell, Scott - we could've lost you!"
This wasn't the time or place for this, but emotions were high - had been since the whole ordeal had started - and Scott knew he wouldn't regret his choice, "We would've been sitting ducks. I distracted them long enough for us to get away."
"If you'd been hit -"
"I wasn't," the snap came with the ebbing of adrenaline and Scott bit his cheek to stave any further anger. "Let's just get home before anything else happens."
Virgil didn't have a reply, but the elder could see the tension in his grip on the controls. They just needed a chance to calm down. Their main - only - concern was Gordon.
At that thought, Scott rechecked the map to ensure they weren't being followed. There was still no sign of the craft. Good. He pushed himself up from the seat, "I'm going to check on the others."
"FAB," his brother didn't look away from his HUD. "ETA half an hour."
Content that Virgil had things under control, Scott left the cockpit and headed for the medbay, ready to do anything he could to make sure Gordon was stable.
When he entered the corner of the module, his brothers weren't alone. Grandma was expected, but at the sight of Em's hologram, it gave him pause. Gordon came into view next and he suddenly felt grateful for the woman who'd helped their grandmother treat their wounds.
The aquanaut was still unconscious, but he could see the sluggish pulse of his heart rate in the holographic monitor. He was alive for the time being and that was something the commander could cling to. All eyes turned to him as he stepped up to the side of the stretcher, a hand landing on Alan's shoulder for reassurance, "Virgil says we'll be back to the island in a little under thirty minutes."
Grandma's expression flickered from frustration to resolve, "He'll need the decompression chamber as soon as you land. We won't know the extent of the damage until the swelling's gone down." She turned her gaze from Gordon to Scott, "I'll need Dr Harris here to help."
He glanced towards the woman he wanted to trust, unsure if he should allow anyone near his family, but one look at the shivering blonde under the recovery blankets and oxygen mask gave him the answer he needed. They knew Em - he knew her - and the thought of her working against them seemed impossible. Their eyes met and he hoped his voice was steadier than his nerves, "I'll take Thunderbird 1 to pick you up."
The Ave doctor gave him a sympathetic nod, her smile reaching his heart and melting away the uncertainty. He would never understand how she could keep such a simple hold on him, "I'll be ready when you arrive."
Their gaze broke and he let his find the aquanaut once more. They had a plan and that's all Scott could let himself hope for. Too much had befallen their family for him to find some sliver of optimism. He was certain Gordon would be able to if he were awake. He'd be all grins, trying to ease the terror they all had to be feeling. A sudden fear clutched at his chest of what life would be like without their resident fish. That threat was still very real and he felt helpless against it.
John's voice registered through Scott's thoughts, pulling him above water briefly. The words weren't directed towards himself, but the two doctors, the astronaut's calm demeanor helping to center the worried big brother. He was grateful for the levelheaded presence that he knew he couldn't portray. Instead, Scott focused on the shoulder under his hand, giving Alan a gentle squeeze.
For some reason, their argument from earlier resurfaced, pride finding its way into the muddled emotions. His little brother had been right, whether Scott wanted to believe it or not. They may not have infiltrated the enemy ship to save Gordon, but without Alan to pilot, they may not have escaped unscathed. When he was able, Scott would make sure he expressed his gratitude towards the younger blonde.
The medbay eventually quieted, save for the bleats of the monitor. The three brothers were on watch, John standing by the head of the bed, Alan clinging to Gordon's hand, and Scott clinging to Alan and his fears. They had to trust. Trust Grandma to know what to do. Trust Em not to betray them. Trust themselves not to lose focus.
Hardest of all, they would have to trust that Gordon would be more than just okay.
Had they really saved him in the end?
Only time would tell.
OoOoOoO
Her terminal blinked to life once the alarms quieted, the ship eerily silent after they'd gone down. Her focus barely shifted to her team as they reoriented themselves. Their work was of utmost importance. They all understood that and she would be quick to remind anyone who diverged from their responsibilities.
Dr Sable's fingers danced over her screen, swiping away warnings to find the data she had been collecting - compiling into something useful for her employer. He would no doubt be down to ensure his investment was still viable.
Under the warnings, she found the lab results - blood work, skin samples, DNA chains that made her stomach flutter with possibilities - and beside that, the dark footage of the room they had used to examine the subject. A flick and it was sent back to the moment just before he had escaped and she found she was far more thrilled than upset. The young man had given her more than she had ever dreamed.
Three more videos were pulled up for her to examine, two of which were more limited than the other two. She had observed the marks as two separate options upon his initial transformation. They could have been tattoos as the man had indicated, which led to the potential that they had nothing to do with an Ave's shifting ability. The third video had proven that theory incorrect and Sable was more than pleased to ditch it for the obvious.
The marks were detrimental - as he'd said, without them, he wouldn't be able to change.
Formulas were finally beginning to sync, merging into new hypotheses and she felt her desire to work grow. If only they weren't reliant on the Hood's sub-par facilities. Certainly, they were superior to the GDF's cruisers, but having been disabled by a single blast from a Thunderbird was unacceptable.
"Dr Sable," voice tense with the understandable frustration, the Hood's image appeared beside her console. "Damage report."
Steely eyes regarded the distracted expression. Though he was trying to regain control of his ship, his priorities matched her own. A slight uptick of her lip, "All data are intact."
A grin spread as the frustration melted away, "Good. Are there any new developments?"
Dr Sable nodded, "Given some time to experiment, I believe you won't be reliant on capturing another Ave for quite some time." Shame, considering her employer found tormenting the Tracys as exciting as gaining their technology. It kept him out of her hair as he plotted ways of capturing them while she focused on the data they had and what she wanted for a successful project.
"Splendid," the Hood straightened, eyes roaming the room for any more potentially good news. They circled back to her expectantly, "I'll leave you to your work. Do inform me of any major developments."
"Of course," the doctor let her excitement peak for only a moment as her employer left the room - her laboratory - and her path was clearer than it had ever been. The screens before her were about to be the sheet music to her most impressive scientific discovery - the creation of an Ave.
Standing drew the attention of those at her beck and call, a satisfied smile gracing her lips, "The time has come to move our theories towards reality. From now on, nothing else matters and I expect absolute focus. We begin gene synthesis," her gaze found a pair of scientists, the two of them nodding. "Experimentation subjects," another group ready to do her bidding, "Animal and human, please." A 'Yes, Doctor' in sync. "Let us show the world our power and watch them scramble for our attention!"
A cheer, sharp and full of an energy they hadn't achieved in quite some time echoed through the room. It ended as quickly as it came, each group moving to fulfil their given task. International Rescue had their team - this was her's. Sable knew their talents lay in action and she was certain the Hood would have what he paid for very soon.
Her smile fell into a set line of determination, "Let's get to work."