Jeff and Brains were contacted immediately by Gordon when the two gunmen were down and tied. In fact they could hear Alan's mimic of a rodeo cowboy in the background. They were both thrilled and relieved when they heard the news. Then they heard the gunshot then silence. Brains immediately looked at the imager. He could see where the four Tracy brothers were, and two untagged figures near them. It was the lone figure in the center of the room that caught his attention. Jeff was studying his watch as he was still in contact with Gordon. He was trying to see anything through Gordon's watch. Brains used his watch to contact Scott. Scott was the one with the open communication with John. Gordon's watch unfortunately didn't reveal anything. But John was trying to aim his at the newest threat. Scott informed Brains, "John gave me a brief scan of the room. I caught a glimpse of someone in the middle of the room. I am getting the disk to replay in slow motion so that I can get a better view. Hold on." Scott looked at the 'instant replay' and saw a blurred figure standing in the center of the room, holding a gun. He couldn't make out the person, but he sure could make out a gun. Scott contacted Brains, "He has a gun alright. The guy standing in the middle of the room, one of the hostages…..he has a gun."
Jeff said, "C'mon, Brains, let's get down there. They have no idea that there are two more 'Tracys left to deal with. They exited the helijet and ran towards the doors. Brains kept the imager with him, but left the jammer behind, it was too big. Brains said the coast was clear and they went through the door, down the flight of stairs and to the freight elevator just as the others did. Unfortunately freight elevators are not automatic like passenger elevators. The person who exits that elevator needs to close the door. The Tracy boys did not bother, at that time they didn't think it necessary. So the elevator was stuck on the second floor where they left it. Jeff and Brains were going to have to hoof it all the way to the 1st floor. They looked at each other. The only other option was to take the helijet down then go up through the lobby. They would need to go through the police, but it would be faster.
Virgil didn't feel the bullet hit him. He suddenly felt very weak and just slid to the floor. Alan, John and Gordon turned their heads to look at the shooter and just froze where they were. The hostage-turned-gunman said, "Slowly raise your hands, and get off my buddies."
The three brothers did as they were told. The 4th gunman motioned at them to step away. John was aware that from his vantagepoint the gunman could not see the gun that John had slid to Virgil just before his wrestling match with the leader. Virgil had never picked it up. When he stood up, he tried to stand in the direct line of vision to the gun. The dark haired man was groaning and starting to come around. Creep was straining his head to see the other gunman. John asked, "who are you?"
He answered, "Just call me 'Waldo'. Creep cringed when he heard that. Even though his name was Waldorf Emerson Jackson, he preferred to be called Jax. He knew how much Jax hated to be called 'Waldo'. If Jax decided to cut his bonds, he was most probably going to get the crap beat out of him when this was all over. He knew Jax well enough that he was wondering if maybe it won't be better if the cops caught them now. That would put bars between him and the very angry, built like a brickhouse, Jax. He had long thinning light brown hair in a ponytail and steal gray eyes could pierce a hole in you as easily as a knife. He was not one to fool with.
"C'mon, Jax, get these things off, my hands are losing circulation" he pleaded with the 4th man. Jax looked at creep and said, "Yeah, you want me to free you?" The tone of voice he used made creep cringe even more. The leader was clear headed enough now, "Jax, where the hell did you come from?"
As Jax was patting his pockets looking for a pocketknife or some semblance thereof, he said, "I was in the stairwell coming down when I saw the commotion on this floor through the door window. When I saw you guys I slipped into the crowd," looking around he said, "Didn't Dick come back yet? Hasn't he called in?"
The two, still tied up gunmen, had rolled over on their backs then up to a sitting position. Creep said, "Dunno, you know him, he is probably still rigging the roof. He's been gone only about 10 minutes." The two men were still tied and the leader growled, "C'mon Jax, get these F**KING things off of me!" Jax snarled back, "Alright already, I ain't gotta knife." He then looked at the three Tracy brothers, "Any of yous got a knife?" The three boys looked at each other, shrugged and shook their heads, "no". When it looked like Jax was going to come over and use one of their body parts as a knife, Gordon piped up, "We traveled light. We weren't planning on hand to hand combat." Just then creep said, "I got a switchblade in my back pocket, Jax." Jax yelled, "Why the hell didn't you say so when I first started looking for a knife, you asshole?" He was growling as he approached the creep. He got down on his haunches sticking his hands inside creep's pockets looking for the switchblade.
Gordon had stepped back far enough that he stepped on the 'tossed away' gun. He froze, then stood directly in front of it. John was almost directly between him and the 4th gunman. Gordon whispered ever so softly, "Stay right where you are John, I have the gun right behind me." John whispered back, " All we need now is a distraction." As if on cue Virgil who was half on his side moaned and rolled onto his back. Jax turned around on his haunches to face Virgil. At that moment Gordon using his toes to grab the gun, tossed it up in one fell swoop. The leader yelled for Jax's attention since he had turned his back on the brothers. In a split second Gordon had the gun pointed at Jax. Since he was still on his haunches behind the creep, none of the three brothers could see his right hand slipping to his waistband for the gun that he placed there when he started searching for the switchblade. He slowly raised his left hand showing that he was preparing to drop the switchblade, which he had just found. Gordon yelled for him to show his other hand. Jax was a split second away from pulling out the gun and shooting that redheaded bastard.
Jeff and Brains opted to fly the helijet down. They quickly ran back up the stairs and out to the helipad. Jeff got behind the controls and quickly started her up in the silent mode that Virgil had brought her in with. She lifted quickly up and over the side of the building. Jeff chose the side away from the conference room to make sure that no one saw them. They landed quickly in the parking lot. There were barely inches between the helijet and the surrounding parked cars. But Jeff landed her with the precision that any of his sons had. Brains and Jeff quickly exited the helijet and ran through a side door that needed one of those electric card reader keys, which of course Jeff had. They entered into the main lobby where they were stopped and held by several police. The security guards immediately recognized Mr. Tracy. The main guard there asked, "Mr. Tracy, what are you doing here?!" The officer holding Jeff's arm said, "You know this guy?" The guard said, "Yes, he owns this company. He's the one the gunmen are trying to extort money from. The guy who's been on the phone with them." The officer let go of Jeff and asked, "Ok, your security guard has stated that your are Mr. Tracy, can I see an ID to verify, please." Jeff, in hurry, but realizing that cooperation at this point is faster, showed him his Tracy Industries card. The officer was now satisfied. Jeff immediately took charge. He pointed to several of the men there, a mix of guards and officers and said, "You, you, you and you, follow me. You, you and you, follow Mr. Hackenbacker here" pointing to Brains. Jeff conferred with Brains on the location of the people. He saw that three of his sons were standing together right near the main front door. Off a little bit were three more people, the gunmen they presumed, then behind them was Virgil. It was an odd configuration. Why would Virgil be behind the 3 men and the other three sons in front? None of the Tracys were moving, just the one gunman that was near the other two gunmen. Jeff suddenly became worried. What if the gunshot they heard……Virgil…...he couldn't even complete the thought. "OK Brains, buzz me when you are in position. Then we will go in. We know where everyone is, so we have the advantage." With that, Jeff ran towards the closest stairwell, followed by four police and guards. Brains went up the back stairs where the hostages previously poured from earlier.
When Brains reached the top of the stairs he stopped and looked through the glass. He saw that the door to the conference room was still open. With his back to his entourage, he covered his watch and whispered, "Mr. T-t-tracy, the c-c-conference room door on this s-s-side is already o-o-open." Jeff, doing the same thing as Brains whispered back, "That's ok. The door is closed on this side, but we are in the stairwell. Are you ready?" Brains answered, "Yes."
Jax was a split second away from giving Gordon a hole in the center of his forehead when he heard the soft click of a cocked gun. He froze with his hand on his gun. He slowly moved his hand about an inch away from the gun and said softly, "Now you won't shoot a man in the back would you?" Virgil, pointing his own gun, which was tucked in his waistband on the side he fell on, said, "Mister, I hurt too much to care. Now put both of your hands up then stand up."
Gordon saw Jax complying with his demands. No one had heard Virgil, he had spoken so quietly. John and Alan quickly went around each side of Jax then they saw Virgil with a gun pointed at his back. Virgil quietly said, "He's got a gun in his waistband." Alan grabbed the gun as John grabbed one of Jax's wrists to put the plastic stay on. Alan grabbed the other arm and brought it down and helped John strapped that one too. While John held Jax, Alan frisked him. He then decided it would be a good idea if he checked the other two gunmen too. When Alan was starting to frisk the creep, Virgil quipped, "He's a severe homophobe." Alan looked over at Virgil, and had a real mean twinkle in his eye.
Both Jeff and Brains, along with their teams, heard a blood-curdling scream followed by, "GET HIM AWAY FROM ME. THAT WHOLE FAMILY IS QUEER!" With that, the two groups of armed men bounded into the conference room to find that the Tracy boys had everything under control. In fact all four of the boys were laughing hysterically. Virgil rolling on the floor holding his injured shoulder, half in pain, half in uncontrolled laughter. John had forced Jax to his knees. He had one hand on Jax's collar, but his other hand was on his own stomach from laughing so hard. Gordon was doubled over tears flowing from his eyes. And Alan was straddled over the creep with both hands up in a 'what did I do' gesture. He said, "I was just frisking him for weapons." The innocence in his voice not quite hiding the smirk.
When everything had quieted down. The police gathered up the three gunmen, and escorted them out of the conference room. They picked up the forth one in the stairwell, where Gordon had left him. Jeff looked down, "Gordon, where are your shoes?" Gordon looked at his feet, wiggled his toes and said, "Upstairs somewhere. I guess I had better go get them." He left at a trot to retrieve his shoes and socks one flight up. Alan grabbed Virgil by his good arm and helped him up. He turned to John and said, "Hurry up and get over here before I drop him again."
Virgil looked at Alan, who suddenly turned beet red, John collapsed on a nearby chair, once again overcome by hysterical laughter. Jeff and Brains looked at each other in confusion. Virgil asked, "What do you mean, again?!"
"Is THAT how I got that goose-egg on my head?! You DROPPED ME?!!!" Virgil yelled. Alan turned to Jeff and said, "Father, I think you had better handle Virgil, his wound is making him hallucinate." He grabbed his father by the sleeve and yanked him closer so that he could hand his irate brother over. He continued, "I have some stuff to get, I'll see you later." And he bid a hasty retreat out the door.
Gordon just came back in as Alan rushed past him his shoes on, but untied. He looked back at Alan rushing away. "What was that all about?" he asked. Jeff answered, "I'll tell you later. Listen, there are too many media types outside waiting for us to come out. If this hits the airwaves there may be a few people that we have rescued as International Rescue who may recognize us. The media can use old still, archival photographs of us in their newscast, less chance of being recognized. Anyway, I want you to go downstairs and bring the helijet back up to the helipad. Brains and I used that instead of the elevators to get down to the first floor. Try not to let anyone get a picture of your face." Gordon rushed out after saying, "Sure thing, dad."
Jeff and John supported Virgil to one of the still working elevators with Brains right behind them. They headed up to the top floor and out onto the roof. By the time they got there, the helijet was just landing. They got Virgil seated comfortably in the helijet and Brains checked over his shoulder wound making the decision whether or not he needs to go to the hospital first or if he can go home to the sick room. Brains turned to Jeff and said, "The b-b-bullet went right through. T-t-there is no severe b-b-bleeding. I think h-h-he can g-g-go straight h-h-home, Mr. Tracy." Just as Brains was giving Virgil a little pain medication, Alan slunk in and sat up front with Gordon. Gordon fired up the helijet and they headed home.
A few days later, Jeff was in the lounge finishing up some paperwork and phone calls to the police cleaning up after the hostage situation. He had sent all employees home after that for the rest of the week. He also had to explain to the police how the Tracy boys got into the building in the first place, how come they were so good at covert operations then where they disappeared to afterwards. But Jeff was able to smooth over the ruffled feathers of the police and hostage negotiator, citing the military training that several of the boys had. As he was concentrating on this cleanup task he heard Alan scream bloody murder. He came in dripping wet, wrapped in a towel and royal blue from top to bottom. Jeff looked up at Alan, shocked, but smothering a laugh and said, "What happened to you?!!" Alan almost in tears said, "Someone put blue dye in the shower head! He then turned and stomped off to find Grandma. She would most probably know how to take dye off. Jeff looked up then over at Virgil, who was sitting on the sofa with his arm in a sling, reading the paper. Virgil looked up over the top of the paper to Jeff and simply said, "Payback's a bitch." He went on with his reading, hiding the smirk on his face.
And now for the disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds, but I thank Gerry Anderson and Sylvia for the original idea and Carlson for allowing me to write a story on something they own.