WARNING: graphic violence, blood, and death.
Fight, Flight, or Freeze
International Rescue. Two simple little words, both meaningful in their own rights. International –existing, occurring, or carried on between nations. Rescue – to save someone from a dangerous or difficult situation.
Funny how when you put those two words together, they become a very different entity. Not just the saving of peoples across nations. International Rescue means more than that. International Rescue means hope. It means bravery in the face of the most difficult odds. It means quick thinking with a charming smile. International Rescue is a light in the dark. A promise to save as many lives as they can – whenever, wherever, however.
But sometimes to save lives… sometimes you might have to take one. A big part of Penny's job was protecting the boys from that reality. It wasn't something she had to do often, and it definitely wasn't something she enjoyed. It was, however, a necessity. Only in extreme circumstances, of course, but sometimes there was just no other way.
Today was a prime example.
Today, the boys were having trouble on a rescue, trying to evacuate an offshore platform that had caught fire. Virgil was circling overhead with Thunderbird Two while his brothers zipped down to help the workers. Some were waiting patiently to leave; others were trapped lower down in the structure. The problem was – unbeknownst to the workers – the platform belonged to a woman known only as The Matriarch, and it was hiding all sorts of illegal activities. And The Matriarch herself was watching.
According to John, they'd been able to evacuate the two groups without a hitch. Alan was going up and down on the rescue lift with the workers, while Scott and Gordon searched for the rest. But just as the lift winched the third group upwards, Scott strayed a little too close to something that The Matriarch didn't want to be seen. She locked down the platform – trapping Scott, Gordon, and the remaining workers aboard. Not only that, but she had sent one of her minions after Thunderbird Two in a stolen military aircraft. Alan and his group of evacuees barely made it inside the ship before they were fired upon. The only way to save everyone was to reverse the lockdown and call off the pilot – two actions which, according to intel, could only be done via The Matriarch's tablet, which she kept upon her person at all times.
So, Penny had found herself on a roof, thirty floors high, going toe-to-toe with the second most dangerous mob boss on the planet. She had back-up in the form of the GDF, who were currently tackling her employees – the people paid to protect her and her investments, not the innocent kind. Parker was in the bowels of the building, trying to find another way to shut it all down. He had John in his ear to help, but it didn't sound hopeful. Kayo was enroute to Thunderbird Two's location. If she couldn't distract the pilot and pull him away from the much slower Thunderbird, she intended to take it out. How much of this plan the boys were aware of Penny wasn't sure.
John swore over the comms and Penny froze. John never swore. Not in all the time she'd known him. That could only mean one thing…
The Matriarch took advantage of the distraction. In a seamless sweeping manoeuvre, she took Penelope's legs out from under her. She landed on her back, all the air leaving her lungs in a moment. Stars swam before her eyes and there was a blinding pain in the back of her skull. A heeled shoe pressed on her sternum – just forceful enough to hold her down without choking her, though the threat was most definitely there.
As her senses returned to her, Penny realised exactly how dire the situation was. She had not simply cracked her head on the floor, but on the edge of the building itself. The wind tugged at her hair, reminding her just how high up they were. Falling from up here was not an option.
The Matriarch tutted. 'Such a pity. A pretty thing like you, wasting her life chasing the likes of me. And for what? A bit of adventure in your otherwise dull and pointless existence?'
'Well, a little excitement can do one the power of good every now and then,' Penelope replied. 'However, I think you'll find that the likes of me take down the likes of you because it is the right thing to do.'
The heel came down harder. Penny choked.
'That's the problem with all you do-gooders.' The Matriarch growled, she crouched down, switching out her heel for her knee. She leaned in close. 'You don't understand how this works do you? Getting rid of one so-called 'bad guy' only creates a power vacuum. It encourages more people to take on the role. We're like hydras, you see: cut off one head and two more shall grow back in its place.'
'Well –' Penelope gasped – 'it's a jolly good thing I'm not here to cut off your head then.'
In her prone position, she had managed to reach for the waistband of her skirt, in which a tiny knife was concealed. With a flick of her wrist, she slashed The Matriarch's throat. It was extreme, she knew, but the only way to save the boys was to access that tablet. And The Matriarch would never grant them access alive.
The woman dropped dead, and Penny rolled out from beneath her, gasping for air. There was no time to waste! Grabbing a wipe from her purse, she cleaned off The Matriarch's bloody hands and reached for the tablet concealed in a hidden pocket of her blazer. It could only be accessed with her fingerprint, which Penelope had now acquired. It was two simple clicks to send the appropriate commands.
'Lady Penelope!' John laughed in her ear. 'You did it! Scott, Gordon: the lockdown has been lifted. Get out of there, now!'
'F.A.B.,' they replied in unison.
'Aerial threat neutralised,' Kayo reported. 'Thunderbird Two, you're free to resume evacuation.'
A sigh of relief from Virgil. 'Thanks, Kayo. Returning to the accident zone.'
Penelope let their voices become background noise. She thought they might have asked her a few questions, but she realised she must have replied because no concerns were raised. While they talked, she found a nice spot to sit on the roof and wait, her back to the body. Her hands were slick and red, made worse as she twisted them anxiously. This was always the part she hated. The waiting.
Colonel Casey arrived, Parker hot on her heels. Casey looked at the body and sent Penny a short, sharp nod. Report on my desk by the evening, it said. But her eyes said, thank you. They were a family, International Rescue. Family looked out for each other, protected each other. Suddenly, it dawned on Penny that, strangely enough, it fell most often to the women of this family to protect the men from this side of the job. Funny – but she wouldn't change it.
'Home, m'lady?' Parker asked.
Penelope nodded. 'Home, Parker.'