October 2068
Jeff Tracy was working at his desk, as was usual for 10.15am on a week day. He looked up when he heard a beeping sound. He looked at his second son's portrait.
"Go ahead, John."
John Tracy's photo disappeared to be replaced by a video image of the young man. Jeff noted that John had a distracted air about him.
"Ah, Father. We've got a call out."
Jeff hit the button that would send his operatives racing into the lounge. "Give me the details son."
"There's a family trapped in their car under an avalanche." John paused to take a breath. "They're in the North-west Pass." He saw his father pale slightly and continued. "They can't make contact with the normal authorities. Either we alert them ourselves or we undertake the rescue."
"Have you pinpointed their exact position?"
"No, I wasn't able to, the signal was too weak."
Scott and Virgil arrived almost simultaneously. "What is it Father, John?"
As the rest of the team arrived, Jeff surveyed these two speculatively. He was seriously considering sending Gordon and Alan in their places, but decided against it. "We can't waste time boys. Launch immediately. Virgil you won't need auxiliary crew." Gordon and Alan looked disappointed. "You'll need "The Scoop" and the avalanche rescue equipment."
"FAB." Both men were gone.
Once underway, Jeff filled them in with the details of the rescue. The silence that met his announcement confirmed what he was thinking. This was close to home, metaphorically speaking.
Alan and Gordon moped about the lounge, waiting to hear more details of the rescue and seeking to hide their disappointment. They gradually became aware that their father was behaving in a manner different to the one he usually adopted when International Rescue was at work. He wasn't alert, waiting for the next report from the danger zone. He was quiet and introspective, contemplating a family photo that resided on his desk. Finally he stood up.
"Alan. Launch Thunderbird Three!"
"Huh? Thunderbird Three? But why?"
"Take Gordon with you. Go bring John back. Put Thunderbird Five onto automatic relay. I want to have a family meeting when Virgil and Scott arrive home."
"Why Dad?" Gordon enquired.
"Just go, son. You all can stay on Thunderbird Five until after we receive confirmation that they're leaving the rescue zone. By the time you three arrive back they'll have had a chance to have get home and freshened up."
His two youngest sons sat together on the couch, and his last sight of them was of two bemused faces sinking into the floor.
The launch procedure proceeded smoothly, despite the fact that Gordon wasn't as familiar with the routine as the others. He preferred the deep sea to deep space.
As they left Earth's atmosphere their minds were able to turn to other things. "Why are we doing this, Gordon?" Alan asked.
"I have no idea. It must have something to do with the rescue."
"Yeah, but what?"
"Dunno. Scott and Virgil went very quiet when they found out where they were going."
"Where was it again?" Alan scratched his head.
It came to Gordon in a flash. "The Northwest Pass. It's where Ma and Grandpa were killed."
"It still doesn't explain why we're making this trip."
"Well John was there. Maybe Dad thinks the memories will be too strong."
"We were all there remember."
They were silent for a moment.
"Hey Gordon. Do you remember anything?"
"Remember what?"
"Oh, I don't know." Alan shrugged his shoulders. "Anything about Ma. About the accident."
Gordon shook his head slowly. "No, I don't think so. I was only one at the time. I don't really know anything, and no one's been particularly keen to talk about it. I only know that we were buried by an avalanche and by the time the emergency services were there, they were dead."
"I guess we were lucky." Alan didn't sound lucky.
"Yeah. I don't even know how we survived."
"We'll have to ask someone when we get back. Not Virgil - he was too young."
"Yeah," Gordon sounded reluctant.
"Or we could ask John while we're waiting."
"No, he'll have to keep his mind on the job." Gordon cautioned. He started fidgeting. He preferred Thunderbird Four to Thunderbird Three.
Alan noticed his brother's discomfort. "Hey Gordon, this should make you feel at home." He brought an image of the starry sky about them, up on screen. "That's the constellation of Pisces."
"That's meant to be two fish? Looks like a very bad case of measles."
"No. It's a very bad case of join the dots."
John sat, alone, in Thunderbird Five. The burble of voices continued around him unabated, but he wasn't listening. He was remembering, remembering his mother and grandfather. Remembering good times and bad. It wasn't often that he felt lonely when on his tour of duty, but now he was aware of a certain melancholy. He would have liked someone to share his memories with.
He recollected that fateful day. It was, he reflected, the first time that Scott had taken control. No, that wasn't strictly true, he'd often been bossy before then, but his younger brothers had ignored him. Threats of bodily harm had more often than not fallen on deaf ears. The day of the avalanche was the first time that he'd commanded and received unquestioning obedience. But even 'obedience' was the wrong word, John reflected wryly. 'Support' was a better word. Support, a desire to help, and respect. Scott had earned his respect on that day. Respect that had grown each time that International Rescue was called out and Scott with his quick thinking and leadership qualities had commanded them all.
Scott arrived at the Northwest Pass. He cruised its length looking for the avalanche. When he found it he kept airborne for a short while looking for a place suitable for Thunderbird Two to land. He found a large area just to the south of the snowfall.
"Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Two."
"Thunderbird Two."
"I'm sending the co-ordinates now. You can land 300 metres south."
"Any chance of triggering another avalanche?"
"Negative. The hillside's bare. I'm pinpointing their location now."
Thunderbird One's powerful scanners easily picked up the metal body of the entombed car alongside the hard-packed snow, ice and rocks.
Back on Earth, Jeff was wandering through a storeroom. Here was kept all the bits and pieces, odds and ends that families tend to collect through the years and don't really have the heart to throw out. He struggled past crates and boxes filled with memorabilia of his son's growing years.
Tucked right in the farthest corners was a box. With difficulty he lifted it out. It had the word 'Tracy' and a number written on the side in black indelible ink. The lid was sealed down firmly with tape. He took the box upstairs to the lounge before returning to get three more similarly marked boxes. The last had a large official looking envelope taped to the lid. He looked at it speculatively before placing it to one side.
He then started to rearrange the furniture in the lounge. When he'd finished enough seating for seven people was arranged in a circle. In the centre of the circle he placed the boxes. At that moment his mother came in.
"What are you doing Jeff? You've been wandering backwards and forwards and making lots of noise and... Oh!" She 'd seen the boxes and instantly recognised their significance.
"I'm doing something I probably should have done years ago, Mother..."
"Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. Initiating docking procedures." Alan alerted John to their intentions.
"Thunderbird Five to Thunderbird Three. FAB. What the heck are you guys doing here?"
"Search me, John. Dad sent Gordon and me up to get you."
"And Gordon? To get me?"
"Yeah. He said something about a family meeting."
As rescues go, this one was easy. The scoop cleared away much of the snow and rubble and then they were able to cut their way to the car using heat axes. It was a rescue that the local services would have been able to undertake with ease. The one advantage International Rescue had had was speed.
Scott was just helping the last occupant of the car out when an ambulance, two police cars and four unmarked vehicles pulled up.
"Guess we're here in time to be too late." One of the men got out of an unmarked car. He walked over to where the two International Rescue men were assisting the relieved and grateful family into the ambulance. He extended his hand in greeting. "Boy are you guys fast movers. I guess we don't have to do anything."
"I don't know..." Virgil offered, glancing at the remains of the avalanche and the car "...looks like you've got a big clean up ahead of you."
"Not me pal. That's down to a road gang. They'll be here soon. I'm just with alpine rescue, and you've done my job for me." He grinned. "Not that I'm complaining mind. As long as there's no loss of life, I don't care who does it."
"So, John, discovered anything new lately?" Gordon was trying to fill in the time until they were given the all clear to return to earth. The sooner the better as far as he was concerned. Scott could co-pilot the return trip.
"I think I may have found a black hole, but I need to make some more observations."
"I've never quite been able to get my head around the idea of a black hole in space." Alan complained.
"That's surprising considering you've got a black hole inside your head instead of brains." Gordon teased.
"Well I don't think he'd fit." John added. It was a much worn pun, but still brought a grin to Gordon's face - and a frown to Alan's.
"Why do you guys always have to pick on me?"
"'Cause you're an easy target, being the youngest."
"Why don't you pick on Scott, being the oldest, for a change. Or the middle kid - Virgil. Why me."
"It may have escaped your notice, kiddo." John said. "They're not here, and you are. So you're it!"
Jeff had been looking at the envelope attached to top box for what seemed to be ages. Finally he steeled himself, took the knife he'd laid on the table, and opened it.
It was another two minutes before he removed the papers contained inside and started reading them.
Jeff Tracy was working at his desk, as was usual for 10.15am on a week day. He looked up when he heard a beeping sound. He looked at his second son's portrait.
"Go ahead, John."
John Tracy's photo disappeared to be replaced by a video image of the young man. Jeff noted that John had a distracted air about him.
"Ah, Father. We've got a call out."
Jeff hit the button that would send his operatives racing into the lounge. "Give me the details son."
"There's a family trapped in their car under an avalanche." John paused to take a breath. "They're in the North-west Pass." He saw his father pale slightly and continued. "They can't make contact with the normal authorities. Either we alert them ourselves or we undertake the rescue."
"Have you pinpointed their exact position?"
"No, I wasn't able to, the signal was too weak."
Scott and Virgil arrived almost simultaneously. "What is it Father, John?"
As the rest of the team arrived, Jeff surveyed these two speculatively. He was seriously considering sending Gordon and Alan in their places, but decided against it. "We can't waste time boys. Launch immediately. Virgil you won't need auxiliary crew." Gordon and Alan looked disappointed. "You'll need "The Scoop" and the avalanche rescue equipment."
"FAB." Both men were gone.
Once underway, Jeff filled them in with the details of the rescue. The silence that met his announcement confirmed what he was thinking. This was close to home, metaphorically speaking.
Alan and Gordon moped about the lounge, waiting to hear more details of the rescue and seeking to hide their disappointment. They gradually became aware that their father was behaving in a manner different to the one he usually adopted when International Rescue was at work. He wasn't alert, waiting for the next report from the danger zone. He was quiet and introspective, contemplating a family photo that resided on his desk. Finally he stood up.
"Alan. Launch Thunderbird Three!"
"Huh? Thunderbird Three? But why?"
"Take Gordon with you. Go bring John back. Put Thunderbird Five onto automatic relay. I want to have a family meeting when Virgil and Scott arrive home."
"Why Dad?" Gordon enquired.
"Just go, son. You all can stay on Thunderbird Five until after we receive confirmation that they're leaving the rescue zone. By the time you three arrive back they'll have had a chance to have get home and freshened up."
His two youngest sons sat together on the couch, and his last sight of them was of two bemused faces sinking into the floor.
The launch procedure proceeded smoothly, despite the fact that Gordon wasn't as familiar with the routine as the others. He preferred the deep sea to deep space.
As they left Earth's atmosphere their minds were able to turn to other things. "Why are we doing this, Gordon?" Alan asked.
"I have no idea. It must have something to do with the rescue."
"Yeah, but what?"
"Dunno. Scott and Virgil went very quiet when they found out where they were going."
"Where was it again?" Alan scratched his head.
It came to Gordon in a flash. "The Northwest Pass. It's where Ma and Grandpa were killed."
"It still doesn't explain why we're making this trip."
"Well John was there. Maybe Dad thinks the memories will be too strong."
"We were all there remember."
They were silent for a moment.
"Hey Gordon. Do you remember anything?"
"Remember what?"
"Oh, I don't know." Alan shrugged his shoulders. "Anything about Ma. About the accident."
Gordon shook his head slowly. "No, I don't think so. I was only one at the time. I don't really know anything, and no one's been particularly keen to talk about it. I only know that we were buried by an avalanche and by the time the emergency services were there, they were dead."
"I guess we were lucky." Alan didn't sound lucky.
"Yeah. I don't even know how we survived."
"We'll have to ask someone when we get back. Not Virgil - he was too young."
"Yeah," Gordon sounded reluctant.
"Or we could ask John while we're waiting."
"No, he'll have to keep his mind on the job." Gordon cautioned. He started fidgeting. He preferred Thunderbird Four to Thunderbird Three.
Alan noticed his brother's discomfort. "Hey Gordon, this should make you feel at home." He brought an image of the starry sky about them, up on screen. "That's the constellation of Pisces."
"That's meant to be two fish? Looks like a very bad case of measles."
"No. It's a very bad case of join the dots."
John sat, alone, in Thunderbird Five. The burble of voices continued around him unabated, but he wasn't listening. He was remembering, remembering his mother and grandfather. Remembering good times and bad. It wasn't often that he felt lonely when on his tour of duty, but now he was aware of a certain melancholy. He would have liked someone to share his memories with.
He recollected that fateful day. It was, he reflected, the first time that Scott had taken control. No, that wasn't strictly true, he'd often been bossy before then, but his younger brothers had ignored him. Threats of bodily harm had more often than not fallen on deaf ears. The day of the avalanche was the first time that he'd commanded and received unquestioning obedience. But even 'obedience' was the wrong word, John reflected wryly. 'Support' was a better word. Support, a desire to help, and respect. Scott had earned his respect on that day. Respect that had grown each time that International Rescue was called out and Scott with his quick thinking and leadership qualities had commanded them all.
Scott arrived at the Northwest Pass. He cruised its length looking for the avalanche. When he found it he kept airborne for a short while looking for a place suitable for Thunderbird Two to land. He found a large area just to the south of the snowfall.
"Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Two."
"Thunderbird Two."
"I'm sending the co-ordinates now. You can land 300 metres south."
"Any chance of triggering another avalanche?"
"Negative. The hillside's bare. I'm pinpointing their location now."
Thunderbird One's powerful scanners easily picked up the metal body of the entombed car alongside the hard-packed snow, ice and rocks.
Back on Earth, Jeff was wandering through a storeroom. Here was kept all the bits and pieces, odds and ends that families tend to collect through the years and don't really have the heart to throw out. He struggled past crates and boxes filled with memorabilia of his son's growing years.
Tucked right in the farthest corners was a box. With difficulty he lifted it out. It had the word 'Tracy' and a number written on the side in black indelible ink. The lid was sealed down firmly with tape. He took the box upstairs to the lounge before returning to get three more similarly marked boxes. The last had a large official looking envelope taped to the lid. He looked at it speculatively before placing it to one side.
He then started to rearrange the furniture in the lounge. When he'd finished enough seating for seven people was arranged in a circle. In the centre of the circle he placed the boxes. At that moment his mother came in.
"What are you doing Jeff? You've been wandering backwards and forwards and making lots of noise and... Oh!" She 'd seen the boxes and instantly recognised their significance.
"I'm doing something I probably should have done years ago, Mother..."
"Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. Initiating docking procedures." Alan alerted John to their intentions.
"Thunderbird Five to Thunderbird Three. FAB. What the heck are you guys doing here?"
"Search me, John. Dad sent Gordon and me up to get you."
"And Gordon? To get me?"
"Yeah. He said something about a family meeting."
As rescues go, this one was easy. The scoop cleared away much of the snow and rubble and then they were able to cut their way to the car using heat axes. It was a rescue that the local services would have been able to undertake with ease. The one advantage International Rescue had had was speed.
Scott was just helping the last occupant of the car out when an ambulance, two police cars and four unmarked vehicles pulled up.
"Guess we're here in time to be too late." One of the men got out of an unmarked car. He walked over to where the two International Rescue men were assisting the relieved and grateful family into the ambulance. He extended his hand in greeting. "Boy are you guys fast movers. I guess we don't have to do anything."
"I don't know..." Virgil offered, glancing at the remains of the avalanche and the car "...looks like you've got a big clean up ahead of you."
"Not me pal. That's down to a road gang. They'll be here soon. I'm just with alpine rescue, and you've done my job for me." He grinned. "Not that I'm complaining mind. As long as there's no loss of life, I don't care who does it."
"So, John, discovered anything new lately?" Gordon was trying to fill in the time until they were given the all clear to return to earth. The sooner the better as far as he was concerned. Scott could co-pilot the return trip.
"I think I may have found a black hole, but I need to make some more observations."
"I've never quite been able to get my head around the idea of a black hole in space." Alan complained.
"That's surprising considering you've got a black hole inside your head instead of brains." Gordon teased.
"Well I don't think he'd fit." John added. It was a much worn pun, but still brought a grin to Gordon's face - and a frown to Alan's.
"Why do you guys always have to pick on me?"
"'Cause you're an easy target, being the youngest."
"Why don't you pick on Scott, being the oldest, for a change. Or the middle kid - Virgil. Why me."
"It may have escaped your notice, kiddo." John said. "They're not here, and you are. So you're it!"
Jeff had been looking at the envelope attached to top box for what seemed to be ages. Finally he steeled himself, took the knife he'd laid on the table, and opened it.
It was another two minutes before he removed the papers contained inside and started reading them.