Consequential Actions
Chapter 2

"Now, Parker, I'll be back in a couple days. The plans for a memorial shall have to take place immediately, and it should be nice to visit Kumiko again. I do hope she's alright." She murmured, knowing how unlikely that would be.
"Yes milady." He paused for a moment. "One more thing, milady." She turned slightly, her eyes guardedly curious.
"Yes Parker?"
"I'll miss you." She smiled softly.
"I'm sure you will. Now, I must be going." They stood for a moment before she took a few steps back and walked away, feeling something unfamiliar for such familiar company.
A pounding heart.


~*~*~*~


Waves lapped at the shore of Tracy Island, seagulls letting out calls of mourning against the sunset. However, despite how beautiful the moment was, only one was reveling in it.

John Glenn Tracy was finally home.

He let out a contented sigh, feeling the light breeze swirl through his blonde hair. Some of it flew across his eyes, and he was suddenly reminded of why Virgil slicked his hair back. It didn't matter. He wouldn't have traded the feeling of wind for anything in the world. After all, it wasn't everyday that one was allowed to mechanize-and thus, terminally ignore-the burden one had carried for so long. The smell of the sea, the thousands of colours in a tropical sunset…He treasured them, remembering how desperately he would cling to them on a cold barren night. The sounds of the television drifted through, and he followed them to see his father and brothers, the youngest with an arm around Tin-Tin as they watched intently.

"The Honshu Express, train 99, was once the most exceptional train in all of Japan. Now, its remains lie in the forest as friends and family of those who perished last night must face the road ahead. No one knows what faction was behind the event; no-one knows what could have been done. But no matter what happens, in the end, we will find the culprit. And they shall suffer for it. This is Motomiya Satoru, signing out." The reporter finished his monologue, and Alan sighed.

"I can't believe it. The most catastrophic to event in such a long time, and there was nothing we could do!"

Tin-Tin shook her head, resting her hand on Alan's arm, diamond glittering sharply in the softness of the evening.

"Now Alan, you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. There really was nothing you could have done in a situation like that. No-one blames you, or the whole of International Rescue." John felt a little guilty, a little out of place, as if he had walked in on Tin-Tin changing. He nodded to his family, murmuring hellos before making his way out of the room discreetly. Virgil followed a moment later.

"John? Are you alright?" He sighed, his eyes still trailing out the window to the late twilight.

"It's just…" Virgil eyed his younger brother with concern. John was hard to read at the best of times, and now that he was home again, Virgil was finding that he had lost his touch.

"It's just what, John?"

"I've been having these weird thoughts lately." The automation of Thunderbird 5. Tin-Tin and his youngest brother engaged to be married.

"Like, is any of this for real, or not?" Virgil blinked.

"Well, of course it is John. Why wouldn't it be?" A slight sigh was the only evident reaction from the blonde.
"Just…never mind, Virgil. It's fine. Really." John offered a smile, but the message behind it was clear as day: Stay out of it.
"Now, I think I'm going to reacquaint myself with my bedroom. Later." He offered easily, walking out of Virgil's line of sight. He sighed.
"Johnny…" He said softly, a bit of concern lacing the nickname. John was the one you could talk to, no matter what. He always knew what to say to make things seem simpler, to make things seem okay.
But who was going to do the same for him?

He sighed again.
"Damn."

~*~*~*~

"So, you're going to meet some British priss, and reminisce about your goody-goody days?" Sora Yagami, bartender at the best local joint, scoffed.

"Honestly Kumi, I'm starting to think you're losing your edge." Kumi was a different woman today. Yesterday had been a day of instincts—this Kumi was cold, filled with a bitter serenity.

"Don't talk of things you don't know." Her eyes were empty, and for good reason. A hangover like her current one would probably last all night. The boytoy had scampered off, and Kumi was left to deal with the cruel reality. She lit herself a cig, inhaling the fumes greedily before blowing them out calmly. Sora coughed.

"Damn girl, would you warn me before you smoke?" Kumi scoffed.

"This is a bar. Last time I checked, I could smoke if I wanted to." She ground the cigarette into the ashtray, watching the red glow from the tip die. A sardonic grin spread quickly, fading like wet satin.

"So, when's the Brit supposed to show?"
"Meh, a few hours. Better not get too hammered, if at all." Sora nodded.

"So where're you going to meet her?"

"Tokyo Tower." Her tone was quiet and sharp, like a razor in the dark. She felt the urge to sob crawl up her throat, and she gestured for a drink to bury it. With a strong swig of sake, it was gone.

Sora sneered.
"Come on, Kumi, show a little spirit. The nail that sticks out will be hammered down. Stay down, or shut up. That's the way it is in Tokyo, you know that."
It surprised her immensely to find her customer's hand gripping her collar.
"Fuck the nail." The other hand joined its comrade, and picked the bartender up by the neckline, ignoring the tension in the uniformed frame.

"Fuck the hammer." Sora's eyes held terror, but the younger woman's eyes were hardened with furor.

"And certainly…fuck you." Kumi tossed her back against the cupboard, glasses rattling behind the door. She left.

No one followed.

~*~*~*~

Lady Penelope walked through the Tokyo twilight, enjoying the bustle of it all. A few of it's residents couldn't help but gawk, and Penny ignored them coldly. If they had to stare at something, they could at least be a little more discreet. The steel tower rose up in her vision, the lights creating a warmth she never quite pictured it having.

It was times like this she missed Parker.

The thought took her completely by surprise. Of course she would miss him. He was loyal, brave, and true. A perfect butler in everyway, especially in her line of work. But this was a different type of feeling—one that put her at unease. That was one feeling that she loathed. Especially around someone like him! He had been there through thick and thin, and it didn't seem right to be uncomfortable. She sighed, leaning against a pylon. She needed something to keep her mind of this…this situation.

Stop talking like that! There is no situation!

She decided to look for her friend. It was better than dwelling on the matter.

However, it didn't work.

She wished that Jeff would call, giving her a mission, something to put all her energy into. Something that would exhaust her completely, letting her sleep sound. Something that would give her a purpose.

That was the real reason she loved her work so much.

She pondered that fact as she rode the elevator up the tower, watching and feeling the Tokyo skyline slide down from her vision.

When most women of her stature would compare the latest fashion designs, she was risking her life. Of course she did what her class entailed her—'twas her duty, and one that she felt the need to do. But she lived for those moments of ultimate danger.

"Konnichiwa, Penelope-san." The voice jilted her around, nearly surprising her.

The nearly part went out the window when she saw the changes from the young schoolgirl she once knew.

This Kumiko was a wilder creature, someone who didn't care what people thought of her. Her long black hair was worn loose, a few strands crimped with a perfectionist's flair for the right edge. Her features; sharp. Her attire; punked out and gothic at best. But her eyes never changed. Penny always had the impression they never would.

They were violet.

She blinked for a second. Were they always such a vivid shade? She always knew they were unusual, but never really noticed them before.

"Hasn't anyone told you it's impolite to stare?" A sardonic grin crossed the girl's features and Penny smiled.

"How terribly rude of me. I do apologize." She hugged her quickly. "It is good to see you again, even under such tragic circumstances. I'm very sorry."

She scoffed.

"Spare the Hallmark greeting, Pen. It's not worth the time or effort." Her smile was muted somewhat.

"I see." Kumi rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Penelope-san. We've got a lot to catch up on, after all." The smile returned to Penny's features.

"Of course, Kumi. Of course."

~*~*~*~

Plans for the memorial service were organized like a Bonaparte maneuver, and Penny was truly in her element as phone calls rang through every second. That, by the way, was a literal translation, as Parker was well aware. And if there weren't five million calls concerning preparations, there were at least another three mill for the young miss who was now staying with them. As he polished the stairs, he pondered the matter. She was a sullen thing, rarely coming out of her room. It was understandable, in her situation, he supposed, but still, hardly a good thing. It was chilling. And those…clothes…she kept wearing. A woman like her was sure to tarnish the Ladyship's reputation. Yet she never spoke to Kumi without an essence of kindness echoing through her. It was an odd thing, just as she was an odd young thing. She even had a black cat named Chibi-Youma. Even if it was a cute (if moody) little kitten, the idea that someone as strange as her could own such a thing was bizarre to him.
Strains of an old American rock band echoed through the upper level, its bleak sounding beats a clear demonstration of who had control the stereo this time. The girl's music was becoming a standby—Parker felt she needed it.

That cat was loose again.
He sighed.
Why did he feel like the days had gotten longer?
That was easy to answer.

When Kumi was around, they were.

~*~*~*~

The park was filled with people—the crowds filled vision from every direction, the podium up front still devoid of anyone of importance as preparations still were underway. It was a shotgun memorial, as Kumi liked to think of it. Something no one was prepared for.
Least of all herself.

She tugged her shirt down, feeling the velvet rise as she stretched. She stood off to the side, most of the important people—herself technically included—sitting in the front rows. She noticed Penny having a conversation with a group of men in the front row, about five or six.

More of her damned connections. What fun.

Over the past while, she had met enough dukes, lords, earls, countesses, ladies, duchesses and over varied nobles to last her a lifetime. How Penny could stand the likes of them was completely beyond her.

She lit up a cigarette, inhaling the smoke greedily. Penelope despised the habit, and Kumi was tossing around the idea of quitting. It didn't do her any good, after all. But it did feel good, just to calm her down.

Look at yourself. You need rolled up dried plants to make you feel better about yourself.
However, there was no time for that as Penny ascended the stage, making her way to the podium. The crowd fell silent.

"We have gathered here today to mourn a loss.
But the loss is not purely that of lives, or property.

Rather, it is that of our ignorance, and contentment to live in our mind's utopia.

Terrorism had been on a rapid decline, and we had let the lying dog sleep. But it woke up, much to our discontent. Due to unawareness, lives were lost." She paused slightly.
"I blame no one but those who took control of the train that night. But there is a sorrow in this far greater than just a random act of cruelty.

We have been off our guards as of late. Not everyone can be a hero—a knight in shining armour.
But the lengths that these fiends have gone to simply to prove such a thing are unforgivable. We will find them. And we will make them pay the price." There was a sudden jolt of applause that ran through the people, but Lady Penelope held up a hand to silence them. "Please, if you would join me in a minute of silence to mourn the loss…" Immediately, the crowd fell quiet, burying the sound in black fabric. Every head was bowed, and every soul there felt a fragment of the sorrow drive itself into them. The minute passed.

For Kumi, it couldn't have gone by fast enough.

She would never forgive the ones who killed her family.

Ever.

~*~*~*~

A short while after the ceremonies finished later that day, Kumi made her way through the crowd, seeing Penelope deeply involved with conversation.

Her blue eyes met Kumi's own, gesturing her to come over.

Rolling her eyes, she made her way through the crowd until she reached the Lady.

And who she was talking with.
"Kumi, I'd like to introduce you to some close friends of mine. This is Jeff Tracy, Jeff, this is Takenouchi Kumiko…" The introductions were simple, shaking her hand with a warm look. She had a neutral expression on her face, simply playing her part to hide the one thing she felt

Revulsion.

Six men, all American, all perfect, astoundingly rich, and completely—she bit back a shudder when she thought the word—wholesome.

"And this is John." The introductions wound up—but instead of a handshake, he bowed slowly. That pretentious little-!!!
"Konnichiwa, Takenouchi-san." His hair was blonde and straight, except for one curl that rested on his forehead. His slate blue eyes glimmered with something near to admiration—it sickened her.

"Konnichiwa, Tracy-san." She replied coolly, giving him no recompense.

He was handsome enough.

If you liked that type….


The father, she assumed, darted his eyes to a distant figure in the crowd, a glare crawling over his face. The eldest brunette explained.

"That's Clara Daidouji, president of Daidouji Incorporated. Father's biggest rival in aeronautics." Scott shook his head. "He's been waiting for a chance us off to him forever."
Penny chuckled lightly.

"Well, off you go then." Scott tried on a smile, and nodded.
"I'll see you soon." He dragged his brothers off, following their father to talk to the businesswoman. Penelope turned to Kumi.
"So what do you think of them?" The indigo eyes slowly turned to Penelope.

"They're disgusting little cockroaches and I'd rather die than see them again." Her voice was icy, glaring in the blonde's direction.

Penelope kept her mouth shut.

~*~*~*~

Alrighty! Chapter 2 is all completed! Yay! Now, for some more Japanese background info!
In Japan, formally it's last name first; that means Motomiya Satoru is really Satoru Motomiya, etcetera.

Konnichiwa: Hello

And that's pretty much it.