Chapter 58.
Tanusha Kyrano took in her surroundings with eyes the size of saucers.
She didn't know where her daddy had taken her, but it sure looked impressive.
They'd taken an airplane from their home in London to Australia, then a smaller airplane from Australia to Tonga. From Tonga, they'd been picked up in a slightly weird, rocket-shaped vehicle with the word 'TV-21' stamped on the nose cone.
The journey from Tonga to wherever they were had taken less than five minutes. The ride had been a bit bumpy and her stomach had almost betrayed her on a couple of occasions. After safely disembarking, she'd wanted nothing more than to curl up and sleep. Thirty hours of travelling was a tall ask for a ten-year old.
Across the table she and her daddy were sat at, her Uncle Jeff smiled kindly.
"You look well, Tanusha," Jeff complimented, a warm smile decorating his face, "Tell me, did you enjoy riding in the TV-21?"
Tanusha cocked her head and idly swung her legs, "It was okay, but to be honest, I'm sick of flying. I think I'll swim home."
Jeff threw his head back and laughed. Even Kyrano's lips twitched slightly at his daughter's wit.
"Fair enough," Jeff chuckled, "My son John doesn't like flying much either. Says it gives him a headache, although I swear everything gives that boy a headache. Anyway, I imagine you're probably very tired, so I won't ramble on for too long. Do you know why I asked your daddy to bring you here today?"
Tanusha frowned and shook her head. She wasn't really that fussed. Her mummy and daddy had told her that she could miss school for a week, so the actual purpose of the trip was negligible in her eyes. Getting to see her beloved Uncle Jeff was an added bonus, however.
"Your daddy is Head of Security for an important project that I run," Jeff began, his tone slow and casual, "When grown-ups reach a certain age, they stop working and spend their free time doing what they like. This is called retirement. Your daddy is looking to retire in the next ten years or so, however doesn't want his job to go to just anyone. It's a very special and important job, you see. He suggested that you might be interested in taking over from him one day."
Tanusha blinked as her brain tried to keep pace with the stream of words leaving her Uncle Jeff's mouth. No big ones thankfully, but still a lot.
"I've spoken to some of your teachers and they've told me that you're interested in potentially joining the police when you're older," Jeff carried on, "Is that still the case?"
A pair of pigtails whipped as Tanusha nodded her head up and down.
Jeff's eyes twinkled, "What a brave girl! I wish my boys had your guts. I'm sure you already know a little bit about what your daddy does, but many of the tasks he performs are similar to those of a policewoman. He protects the security of my project and in turn, helps to arrest baddies who threaten the safety of innocent people."
A sudden movement outside the window caught Tanusha's eye, but whatever it was disappeared in a flash.
Jeff bent his head slightly and leant forward, "If you think you might be interested in taking over your daddy's job, Tanusha, then you'll have to start your training within the next six months. The position will become available as soon as you turn eighteen, which gives you seven and a half years to complete both your practical training and academic education. Of course, you would be welcome to suspend your apprenticeship at any point during those seven years if you decided to pursue a different career. The sooner we get you started however, the better. Your daddy's job isn't always safe, so it's important to me that you have plenty of time to learn as much as you possibly can."
Tanusha felt her head spin.
So. Many. Words.
And apparently, all directed at her.
"Go away with your daddy and have a think," Jeff instructed, absently shuffling some papers that were strewn across his desk, "He might be able to explain it a bit better than me. Kyrano, do you have any questions for me in the meantime?"
Tanusha watched as her father shook his head, "Not at all, Jeff. I reckon this could be the perfect opportunity for her. Plus, there's no one I'd rather entrust her to than you."
Jeff positively glowed, "That's mighty kind of you, Kyrano. Now, I expect you'd both like to get a bit of shut-eye before dinner. Head up the stairs and take the first right, then follow the hallway until you reach the bathroom. Both rooms opposite are guest rooms. Take your pick as to who gets which one. Oh, and if any of my boys try to shove their big noses in, feel free to tell them to get lost."
Kyrano gave a good-natured snort, "Now you're giving me permission to discipline your kids, Jeff? You'll be signing ownership of International Rescue over to me next."
Tanusha's eyes widened. International Rescue? That was the project her Uncle Jeff was in charge of?
Security reasons often prevented her daddy from talking about his job when he was at home, but seriously? He couldn't have told her that her beloved Uncle Jeff was the leader of International Rescue?
International Rescue!
Jeff paused in the middle of pushing his chair back, no doubt mistaking Tanusha's stunned excitement for confusion, "Kyrano, could you give us a second please?"
Kyrano nodded and strode towards the pool. He was quite content to forgo a bed in favour of Tracy Island's tropical breeze.
Jeff waited until Kyrano was out of earshot before hunkering down next to Tanusha's chair, "I understand that your daddy is very eager for you to take over his job when he retires. I too would very much like it if you came to work for International Rescue. We're a small team and I'm hoping to keep it as just family and friends for the time being. If you do decide to join, you won't be alone. My third son, John, recently signed up, and is due to start his own training this September. You and he are about the same age, so would be in the same 'class', so to speak. The training will be difficult at times, but you'll always have company."
Tanusha allowed the low rumble of Jeff's voice to lull her into a trance. She'd always loved the funny accent he spoke with.
Jeff carried on, his tone low and reassuring, "I'm sure the boys would love to have you here. I know I certainly would, but let me make just one thing crystal clear before I let you scamper off."
A Pacific kingfisher swooped in the background. Tanusha allowed her eyes to track it. She concentrated better when her mind could wander.
Jeff smiled gently and cleared his throat, "You are under absolutely no obligation to accept what I've just proposed. International Rescue is my life's work and I'll commit myself to it until the day I die, but that's my prerogative and mine alone. Nobody else is duty-bound to devote their lives or careers to what I've created. My own sons are also under no such obligation, and will decide for themselves whether they want to work for me or not. They too are free to walk away at any point in their lives. If they decide to pursue different careers, either before or after joining, they will have my complete support. Scott, Virgil, and John are old enough to make their own minds up, and so are you, Tanusha. Saving lives isn't a nine to five job, and you won't last two minutes unless you're fully committed to the cause. I'm hopeful that my younger sons will also decide to join, but that decision lies in their hands and their hands only. Likewise, this is a choice only you can make. Talk to your daddy, but don't rush into anything. I don't need an answer by tomorrow."
Tanusha nodded uncertainly, her brain spinning. She'd taken in more information and listened to more big words over the last ten minutes than she had over the entire school year. Her teachers would be miffed.
Jeff smiled and stood up, wincing when his joints cracked in protest, "Go and get some rest, you look tuckered out. I can't take you water skiing and scuba diving if you're asleep on your feet now, can I?"
As Jeff collected his papers and strode off to join Kyrano on the patio, Tanusha swore she saw movement outside the window again. Frowning, she hopped off her chair and headed for the staircase, intent on napping the rest of the afternoon away.
Another movement caught her eye again. This time, a rustling fern betrayed the exact whereabouts of the offender.
Tanusha's eyes narrowed.
She was being followed.
-x-
Of course, when one person made it their mission to follow another without getting caught, protocol dictated that they do so discreetly. Secretly, even.
Apparently, no such protocol existed on Tracy Island.
Tanusha sighed in irritation as she ceased walking and swivelled to face her pursuer. Unfortunately, he/she/it had anticipated her move and darted for cover, leaving nothing but an empty hallway behind. She huffed and resumed her journey, intent on making it to her bedroom unaccompanied.
Thud.
She paused and spun back around, green eyes avidly seeking out her stalker.
The upstairs hallway was sparsely furnished. Whoever it was would soon run out of places to hide.
Slowly, she turned and resumed her journey towards the guest room, ears pricked for the tell-tale squeak of an unfaithful floorboard.
Creak.
Gasp.
Not bothering to give her pursuer the chance to hide again, Tanusha spun around mid-stride and instinctively raised her fists in a defensive gesture. Her pigtails whipped across her eyes and she was fairly certain she'd given herself whiplash, but she'd managed to catch whichever gumshoe had taken it upon themselves to tail her.
Or, in this case, gumshoes.
A tall boy was standing about fifteen feet away, his blue eyes wide with shock at having been discovered. Tanusha felt her own eyes widen as she spied four other boys hiding in his shadow, frozen in position like statues.
She studied her stalkers. Behind the surprised uncertainty in their eyes was the unmistakable glow of curiosity. They were staring at her as if she was the most interesting thing they'd seen all day.
Who knew. Maybe she was.
"Who are you?" Tansuha demanded, her tone clear and commanding, "Why are you following me?"
The tall one visibly faltered. He obviously didn't have an answer to hand. His companions seemed similarly stumped. Unfortunately, their lack of a reply did nothing to stop them from continuing to stare.
Tanusha scowled. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to go to bed. She didn't appreciate being spied on, especially by a gang of stupid boys.
The tall one gave up trying to camouflage himself against the wall and motioned for his cohorts to step out from behind him. One by one, the other four filed into view, their enthralled gazes not leaving Tanusha for a second.
Clearly, they'd never been told how rude it was to stare.
The policewoman inside her immediately began cataloguing the features of her pursuers. There was the tall one, who had dark brown hair, dimples, and blue eyes. He appeared to be the group's de facto leader, and also looked to be the oldest.
On the tall one's immediate right was a slightly shorter one, who had black hair, brown eyes, and was noticeably thicker set than the others. The way he was flanking the tall one gave the impression to Tanusha that he was the second eldest.
Peeking out from behind the tall one was another tall one, albeit one with red hair and striking turquoise eyes. He had a lanky frame and reminded Tanusha of a giraffe. The NASA t-shirt he was wearing practically screamed 'nerd'.
Next to the gingernut was a significantly shorter one. He had messy strawberry blond hair, brown eyes, and a cheeky smile that made the hairs on Tanusha's neck stand on end. If mischief had a scent, he would no doubt reek of it.
Behind the tall one's legs was another short one. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a face frozen in ardent confusion. No doubt the youngest.
Tanusha drew all four feet and five inches of herself up. She wasn't afraid of boys, and had been taught to kick where it hurt if one did or said something she didn't like.
For a few seconds, none of them moved. One glare continued to be met with five stares as the tumbleweed rolled.
After what felt like an eternity, Jeff and Kyrano poked their heads into the hallway.
"Ah, good," Jeff beamed, oblivious to the tension in the air, "They've met."