Part Two: Surprise!

"So there's no way to get a message to them ahead of us arriving?" Virgil asked. Troy answered,

"Nope, but we've got it on good authority that they're peaceful. If we don't attack, they won't."

"Troy's right. They're recorded as quiet enough – except for the plague." Virgil turned, feeling his ears pop as Stingray skimmed the deep Ocean bed. He looked at the Ambassador,

"What plague?" He asked her.

"Oh, it happened years ago, but they've been having trouble reconnecting with the rest of the Ocean." She arched a sculpted eyebrow, "Don't worry, Mr Tracy."

"Who's worried?" Virgil muttered. Gordon nodded to Marina, who was standing up and gazing at the darkness stretching before her.

"Apparently, she's from the sea. Phones was telling me during lunch."

"Really?"

"And she and Troy have a 'thing' no one's meant to know about. Except Atlanta does, too, and…"

"What's she doing?" Virgil asked, as Marina started to make excited gestures with her delicate hands.

"Marina's just telling us that the Kingdom of Aeden should be right around the next set of rocks." Troy said breezily.

"Really?" Virgil stood up and Gordon did as well. They looked into the glass of the submarine window, but were unable to make anything out.

"Yep. A few more minutes…nearly there." Troy said cheerfully. Virgil murmured,

"I thought you said this thing was fast. Thunderbird Four could get there faster than this."

"Yeah, but you couldn't fit everyone into our little dingy." Gordon interceded hastily. He lifted the file on Aeden, "And we need Ambassador Brown to get Scott out, right?"

"Yeah. Sorry. Don't know what's gotten into me."

"Humph." Troy snorted. Ambassador Brown sent him a look, which was reflected in the glass, then she smiled at Virgil.

"I'm sure this can all be sorted out, Virgil. Don't worry about your brother."

There was silence, only broken by Gordon rustling the papers of the file. He'd been out with Phones the night before and hadn't quite got round to reading everything yet. He broke the silence as he lifted the picture of the Empress,

"Phew! Scott must have fallen for her big time!"

"How's that?" Virgil grunted,

"She's perfect!" Gordon put the picture down so they could all see it, "Else he got helluva bump on the noggin. Guess she fell for him, huh?"

"I think you're giving your brother nightmares." Ambassador Brown smiled.

"Yeah, I thought Virgil said he was bein' forced to marry her?" Phones said.

"I guess. Still, Scott'll be fixed up either way. Right?" Gordon caught Virgil's eyes, and Virgil said,

"Let's wait until we get there."

Stingray continued to along the Ocean floor, speeding ever nearer to its watery destination.

*

The Prince of Calshoom had arrived in Aeden unannounced, and barely a marine hour later the attacks on the palace had started again. He watched the battle between rebels and loyal government soldiers from the safety of Shiana's throne room. They had been protesting outside when the Empress had sent her army after them. He wrinkled his old face in disapproval. She asked him,

"What are you worried about? We are quite safe in here, the cover is completely impenetrable by those fools."

Blood poured from a rebel as he was cut apart by a shell-pike. The Prince winced, the blood colouring the protective membrane and then being absorbed into it.

"Shiana, it is not the safety that worries me. Your quite adorable stubbornness has provoked your people. They have lost faith in you; they do not believe that you care. If you would just visit their homes and see for yourself…"

"I'll do what I please, Calshoom." She tossed her head haughtily, "I am the Empress! They should be grateful that I am not sullying my soul by marrying an old wretch like you!"

"So you would take the soul of the Terran instead?"

"If it means I do not have to marry you." She sniffed. "And anyway, Hermes always says that I should make more contact with Terraineans. Scott can tell me much about them."

"They are no different to us, Shiana, and they will be just as unforgiving if he is forced to act against his will. Besides, do you know nothing of what he is?"

"Like what?" she asked sulkily.

"He is an important rescuer, and my sources tell me that his people are coming here to look for him. He saved our world when it was about to be destroyed by their poisonous fuel. By your outdated rule, you owe him your life."

"Rubbish!" Shiana snapped, "But he is very ill. When he recovers, he will marry me and you will never have to bother me again."

"This is foolishness, Shiana!"

"Don't forget about Shiggeru, Prince! You may have stopped me executing that pathetic tailor but I trust you'll have more respect for me than you've been showing!" She flounced out of the room as the final stages of the battle were washed away outside. Before she left, she spun and said, "You don't have to attend the ceremony, Prince, but you are invited, of course. It will happen when he is fit to walk. At least he is fit!" She added, with a haughty little smile, and then she swept out.

The Prince sighed and turned to the kind-faced man who stood just behind him.

"It's time that we used the rescuer, Demetri."

"Yes, Your Highness. He will be well again very soon."

"Excellent. The first part of the plan will commence tonight."

The Prince also left the throne room, and Demetri noticed Hermes standing outside as they went.

*

Virgil didn't see the Kingdom of Aeden at first. It was only when Troy Tempest said, "Look, there's the outskirts of the city." That he realised that the weird shapes ahead were not merely huge jellyfish but structures with people milling around inside.

"Aeden." Virgil and the others stood up for a closer look, watching the huge structures unfolding beneath them. Before long a group of people dressed in guards uniforms were swimming towards them, looking scared but determined.

"Okay, Marina, you're on." Troy nodded. The beautiful undersea girl walked gracefully past Virgil and out into the airlock. A few minutes later they could see her meeting with the guards in front,

"How can she talk to them?" Virgil asked curiously,

"She has the power of telepathy, but unfortunately it only seems to work on other undersea races." Troy explained,

"And not many of them!" Phones added. Virgil and Gordon watched, entranced by her swimming without any need for breathing gear or suit. After a while she finished what she was saying, and then she swam back to report what she had learned.

A series of hand flaps later revealed that she had arranged for Troy, the Ambassador and the Tracys to go with the troops to see the Empress. They were to leave Stingray in some caves and proceed with them in diving suits. Virgil asked,

"What do they know about Scott?"

"Not much. But at least the Empress will see us. That's something." Troy said.

One hour later they were brought before the Empress in her throne room. She got to her feet and glared at them, as the man who had met them, Hermes, hurried up the steps to explain,

"Some are from WASP, but the other two are his family, Empress. Scott's family. Now would seem a prudent time to hand him back." Hermes added.

"Why have they been granted access to my throne room? They are not taking him away! I will not allow it!" She stamped her foot and sent another fierce glare to the visitors below.

"Whoa, someone's got it bad…" Gordon muttered to Virgil just loud enough for the pilot to kick his foot. Ambassador Brown took a step forward.

"Your Highness, if I may be permitted to speak, I believe we can arrange a system where we can both come to a mutually beneficial agreement. Scott Tracy's family are here and they want him back…"

"Silence! Silence!" The Empress squealed, "My decision is final! Scott stays here and will marry me when he recovers!"

At this Virgil stood up and walked close to the first marble step. His hazel eyes became dark with barely restrained fury. He stared pointedly at the Empress, ignoring the warning hand that the Ambassador put on his shoulder.

"Empress, I'm his brother. I'm just asking you to let me see him; he's been missing for nearly six days, and if you love him at all you must realise he feels the same way."

The Empress was stunned for a moment or two, then her gaze narrowed, screwing up her petulant face so that she looked like a spoilt brat. She glared at Virgil,

"Scott is mine. He has no say in what happens and neither do you! I can see that seeing you again will make it more painful for him to stay here." Her lips twisted cruelly. "So I want you all to leave. Now. Get them out of here, Hermes."

She nodded to several guards who began to move to the group. Gordon darted forwards as the guards took hold of Tempest and the Ambassador,

"Please, Empress, if you'd just listen, and let us see him…"

"Empress, let us discuss it with you at least! I'm sure that we could come to an arrangement…" Ambassador Brown gulped as a guard took her arm and Gordon spun.

"Get out! I never want to hear from any of you again! You can't see him and that's an…"

"Shiana!" Scott's voice rang out across the throne room. Virgil and Gordon's heads both swung around in time to see their brother stride through the massive entrance to the room and straight past them. He looked pale to Virgil, who bit his lip as he remembered he had been ill. There were dark circles under them, but Scott's eyes were bright and as keen as they'd ever been, and he used them to glittering effect as he mounted the steps and met a stunned Empress at the top. He took her hands, and even as she opened her mouth to protest he moved in with a gentle but persuasive kiss with his lips firmly pressed into hers, and his other arm slipping around her slim waist and tracing her hips ever so slightly. He heard her muffled moan of protest and then the tension of her body relaxed against his for a split second as she tried to make sense of it. After nearly thirty breathless seconds he released her. She blinked and he lowered himself to his knees before her.

The atmosphere in the throne room was as thick as water. Virgil and Gordon were staring open-mouthed, the council members were leaning forwards and everyone seemed to be holding their breath.

"I humbly accept your request of marriage, Empress Shiana. I am sorry for any worry I have caused you, but I am no longer ill, and I am ready to be your consort." Scott gently kissed her hand. The stunned silence echoed for what felt like hours. Virgil was trying to make words come out but his mouth just moved, silently. Scott stayed on his knees and looked up at Shiana expectantly.

The Empress recovered fastest and took Scott to his feet. Her face was flushed, her blue eyes big with desire as they searched his for signs of deception. She saw none.

"You will marry me, Scott Tracy?" She asked. Her girlish voice was hoarse with expectation.

"Whenever you want, honey." He murmured, drawing her close. They kissed again and the whole audience cheered.

Virgil downed another mysterious green drink and slammed it down on the clam shell table before him. He said it again,

"I can't believe it. He's going to go through with it." He didn't seem to notice as Troy poured him another drink. "I can't believe it." Ambassador Brown shrugged.

"If he's happy to conform to her wishes, then there's nothing I can do to prevent it. And, I was allowed to talk to him. I'm sure that he has agreed to this willingly. Consented to be imprisoned in paradise…" She sipped thoughtfully.

"Exactly. This is Scott. He doesn't settle down. He'd never just abandon his family. And he'd never agree to anything like this, especially not after just three or four days."

"Maybe he's a sucker for a pretty face." Troy suggested. Virgil glared at him.

"You obviously don't know what…"

"All right, guys." Brown raised a hand to stop the squabble. "Why can't you just wait here like your brother? They said they'd be sending someone to see us soon. This is all part of the diplomatic game. We wait so that they feel important, then we knock-em dead with a proposal which can get us out of this."

"Which is?" Troy asked.

"I'm still working on it." She muttered. Virgil sighed, looking at Gordon who was transfixed as a massive whale shark made its way past the seemingly fragile membrane outside.

"So you're no closer to knowing when we can go and see him."

"Nope." Brown said regretfully, "Give me time. At least he's alive."

"Yeah." Virgil got up and joined Gordon at the see-through wall. The Ambassador walked over to him.

"I'm doing my best, Mr Tracy." She told him. Virgil nodded.

"Ignore me. It must be the pressure affecting my mood." He rubbed the nape of his neck and looked closer at her. "You look tired."

"Thank you. Just what a girl needs to hear." But she smiled. "It could all be okay, you know. When he actually marries her tomorrow, he'll have the power to see you and maybe go above the water again." Brown yawned, "I guess Shiana want us to sleep on it. Tomorrow we'll try again, I should think I'll be able to get us allowed to the wedding."

"I don't even get to be his best man." Virgil was only half joking.

"I think her security guard's his best man. At least you'll be there, and then maybe you should write a speech!" she smiled. Virgil shook his head, then said sincerely,

"Look, thanks for all you've…"

"Oh, don't bother yet. I'm far from happy about this." Her tired face was quite beautiful in the ethereal Ocean light. "I'm going to see her aide in a minute."

Virgil stretched, also suppressing a yawn. Something about the atmosphere down here seemed designed to make him as sleepy as possible. He asked,

"Did Scott sound strange to you, when you saw him?"

"You'd know best, I guess, but as far as I could see he was perfectly happy. I believe you that something has changed his mind, like threats, except…He's not even resentful, and I don't think that he's pretending not to be, either."

"I have to see him." Virgil murmured, now also looking deep into the ocean depths before him. He felt her lightly touch his arm, and he turned to face her. "I have to know for myself."

"You need to rest. Leave it to me." She suddenly withdrew her hand and they stood staring at one another in the soft light, "I'll…I'll do all I can."

"I know you will." He said softly. He wasn't sure if it was because he was so tired that he thought she had a strong resemblance to Lady Penelope, but Virgil found himself taking her arm again. "You know, you…"

"Virg, who's this…?" Gordon interrupted.

A kindly faced man had entered the room. He bowed a welcome as they all turned and stared at him.

"My name is Demetri, and I have been sent by the Prince of Calshoom to take you to your brother."

Scott was sitting under a large statue in one of the vast sheltered coves near the Empress' sleeping quarters. He wore a loose greenish robe, which was all that was needed in the hot, salty smelling gardens. Scott appeared relaxed, watching the fish swim in the membrane-covered sky. Virgil and Gordon walked over to him, hardly daring to believe he was real. Then Scott finally noticed them and he jumped up to envelop both in massive bear hugs, nearly knocking them off their feet.

"Virgil! Gordon! Gordon!" The three brothers spent five or ten minutes just jumping and shouting in relief, that Scott was alive, that nothing seemed to be wrong with him, that they were all together again. Scott wiped tears form his eyes and grinned broadly at the two of them

"So what's the attraction of getting hitched, Scott?" Gordon asked, finally.

"Did you come here in Thunderbird Four?" Scott asked eagerly, ignoring Gordon's question.

"Nope. Hitched a lift with the WASP's fastest sub." Virgil told him.

"Angelfish?"

"Stingray." Gordon corrected him. Scott nodded,

"Whatever. You came all this way in a government-funded tug just to get me?"

"What else would we do? Scott, why the heck are you marrying this kid? It's not like you."

Scott met Virgil's suddenly serious gaze and his blue eyes softened.

"What can I say." He looked down quickly, "It's love."

"The hell it is!" Virgil snapped, "Dammnit, Scott, we've just spent five days looking for you and that's the best you can come up with!"

"Deep pressure getting to you, little brother?" Scott muttered.

"You have confused us a bit, Scott. One minute you're begging us to get you out of here…" Gordon began,

"I wasn't begging…"

"…and now you're looking forward to it. It doesn't make any sense. Not to us. Why are you getting hitched to that brat?"

"You're just gonna have to trust me on that one." Scott said, reasserting his old authority, "Believe me. Just don't try and rescue me or do anything stupid. I know what I'm doing."

"I wonder…" Virgil said quietly.

"This place is great, Scott!" Gordon said. Scott welcomed the change of subject. He waved a hand to encompass the surroundings,

"Thought you'd appreciate it more than me. A bit soggy for my liking, but…" Scott grinned, and put his arms over their shoulders, "Let me show you around."

*

"How did he seem to you?" Ambassador Brown asked when the brothers returned a few hours later. Virgil and Gordon looked tired but happy, and Virgil gave off a more laid-back air than he had the whole time she had been near him. Virgil flapped a hand at her and the three WASP members.

"He's fine. A little cagey, but fine."

"Yeah, he's hiding something all right." Gordon added. They sat down in the large room where they had been waiting since they arrived.

"He hasn't changed his mind?" Troy asked. Virgil looked at him.

"No."

"Well he's made the right choice." Troy grinned. "Scott's gonna be set up with his girlfriend now."

"Do you do this deliberately?" Virgil exclaimed.

"Tell me what he said, Virgil." The Ambassador said smoothly. The pilot ran a hand through his hair,

"Just that he was okay, and not to worry. He showed us around, that's why we were so late getting back." Virgil accepted the coffee she handed him. He looked at it. "Coffee?"

"My own." She smiled at him. There was an awkward pause,

"Where do we go, then? Are we allowed to go to the wedding?" Gordon asked.

"Ah. Yes, you are." Ambassador Brown poured herself a cup from the flask she'd brought. "I was visited by Hermes, her chief advisor just after you left. Whatever's going on I think he's in on it. You can all come to the ceremony tomorrow. Apparently the Empress is in a very good mood."

"Figures." Troy muttered. Fortunately, Virgil didn't hear him. He smiled gratefully at her.

"Thank you, Ambassador."

"It's Helena." She said. Virgil sipped the coffee and nodded,

"Sure, Helena." His warm hazel eyes held her cool gaze.

"Hate to break this up, but where do we sleep?" Troy interrupted. The group glanced around. Helena laughed,

"Oh, I completely forgot. Hermes said that we're now guests of the Empress. We'll find sleeping quarters down the, er, hall."

"Hall?" Troy asked.

"Let's go." Virgil said, yawning, "We all need a few hours sleep if we have to get ready for tomorrow."

"The ceremony's taking place tomorrow morning." Helena said, leading them out. She suddenly looked concerned, "And I don't have a thing to wear!"

Virgil and Gordon, still in their wetsuits as well, exchanged glances. She had a point. Deciding to go straight to sleep, they all headed to the rooms down the 'hall', which was a dark tunnel that led to rooms full of light. Each one contained two separate beds set amongst luxurious furnishings. Troy and Phones headed into one, and Virgil and Gordon into another, and finally Marina and the Ambassador. Virgil and Helena were the last to go into their rooms.

"Nervous about tomorrow?" She asked. Virgil smiled,

"Oh, what was tomorrow again?"

"Scott'll be glad you're there. International Rescue, huh? I never would have believed it was run by such a large family."

"Well, er, just take it as a coincidence."

"I'll do that." She said. Virgil cleared his throat,

"I just wish there was something we could do to change his mind. I mean, it's not like he's in love with her. I wish I knew what was going on."

"Maybe he is in love." Helena said. Off his look she explained, "Stranger things have happened, Virgil."

"No, Scott doesn't change. Fish falling from the sky is strange; Scott marrying one is, well…" He looked at her, "You ever been in love?"

"Once. But that's a sad and rather melodramatic story." She yawned, covering her mouth with one hand, "One I'm far to tired to relate right now. Between you and me, I never did like going this deep underwater. Rather an ironic career choice considering, don't you think?"

"I'll say. I was thinking, maybe when this is over…" Virgil heard hurried footsteps and turned his head to see a small, dark-haired man with a worried expression running towards them. "Wonder what this guy wants."

"Thank goodness you're still awake!" The little man gasped, "I've been sent to fit you with new clothes for the wedding!" He skidded to a halt and Virgil steadied him before he fell on the spongy floor.

"Whoa there, friend. Who are you?"

"We have to hurry!" The little man jabbered, "Where are the others?"

"We were about to settle down for the night." Virgil glanced at Helena, "But I'm sure we'd all be glad to have something to wear for tomorrow. This won't take long, will it?" in answer, the tailor drew out a tape measure.

"Let's begin." He said. Quickly he had wrapped the tape around Helena's waist and told what to do; he manoeuvred her quickly as he took all her measurements. An assistant arrived out of breath and started to scribble down the tailor's hurried calculations on the inside of a shell. The Ambassador rolled her eyes.

"The things I do for International Rescue." Helena smiled. Virgil smiled back. The rippling light in the corridor seemed to add to his drowsiness. After his turn, he barely managed to remove the wetsuit and tell Gordon what he had to do before falling asleep himself. He knew nothing more until morning.

*