'Alright!' 23 year old Gordon Tracy shrieked as he scanned the paper he was holding infront of him.

'What's 'alright!' his older brother Virgil murmured lowering his music composition and glancing at Gordon.

Gordon frowned at the bad impression of his voice and then grinned again as he looked at the letter.

'It's a letter from my WASP commander, Geoff Brown. Boy was he a brilliant guy.' Gordon's eyes sparkled with admiration as he spoke, 'he was the best underwater commander I've ever seen and served under.'

Virgil grinned at the excitement and enthusiasm in his little brother's voice.

Gordon rambled on , 'Man, I remember this one time, it must have been like three years ago when me and Chris and you know that guy Tim Lawrence..'

Virgil frowned, and shook his head, he had no idea who Tim Lawrence was, but Gordon ignored him and continued to prattle on.

'we'd met these really great girls in the port when the sub docked and we were supposed to be back on the sub by 5 am, anyway you know how it is, we'd all had a bit too much to drink and we ended up back at their place. Oh boy were we in for it in the morning. Chris woke up and he's like 'Gordo, it's 7.30!' and I'm like 'what 7.30?' and he's like 'yeah 7.30' and then Tim wakes up and he's like '7.3O?' and the girls were all like, 'what's wrong with that'...

'GORDON!' Virgil interrupted, shooting his brother a pointed glance 'ya think you could cut to the chase here?'

Gordon seemed to realise he was rambling, 'Oh sorry' he said, 'anyway we raced back to the sub, Chris had no shoes on and when we got there, there was Commander Brown. Leaning against the sub hatch, frowning'.

Virgil was interested now and smiled, 'so what did you do?' he asked.

'I started rambling on, you know how I get sometimes..'

Virgil laughed and answered, 'you, rambling?' sarcastically.

'I said something about getting a taxi back and it breaking down or something, and Commander Brown just gives us this look and he goes , 'Tracy..' Gordon lowered his voice to a perfect growl, 'if you're gonna have the audacity to lie you might as well remove the lipstick from your face first!' I swear Virg, I was about ready to die, but he just started laughing. He was great!'

Virgil laughed as he pictured Gordon being found out. 'So why the letter?' he questioned, curious.

Gordon seemed to realise why he'd started telling the story in the first place. 'Well' he replied, 'after my accident, he came to see me in the hospital, said I was one of the finest aquanauts he'd ever trained and that I'd always have a place on one of his subs.'

Virgil smiled at the modest way his brother told it, everyone knew how talented Gordon was in the sea, but he hated to show off, preferring to remain unassuming in his talents.

'He just sent me a letter asking if I wanted to go on a mission with WASP'.

That brought a frown to Virgil's face, 'Uh. Gordo' he began, 'do you think that's a good idea, Dad told you he didn't want you back in WASP after your accident..'

'Relax Virg!' Gordon interrupted ' I told him when I was in hospital that I wasn't gonna be doing it again, that I had other commitments' he murmered thinking of International Rescue, 'but he's in town for a few months and wants to meet up with me, to catch up.'

Virgil visibly relaxed, it wasn't just his father who didn't want Gordon back in WASP it was the whole family, it had always been so dangerous, none of the Tracy family had stopped worrying about him the whole three years Gordon had been in WASP.

'Oh right!' he said 'that's great Gordo! Where are you meeting him, you know you can't bring him here.'

'Of course I know that Virg, do you think I'm an idiot or something?' at Virgil's cocked eyebrow he said, 'no scratch that, don't answer that. I'm meeting him in Miami. If one of my brilliant older brothers wouldn't mind flying me over..' He said sweetly, batting his eyelashes.

'I don't think John could get TB5 down from space' Virgil replied with a teasing glint in his eye, he knew fine well that either Scott or himself would take Gordon. Unfortunately all three eldest Tracy siblings were under the thumb of the younger two having practically raised them.

'Ha Ha!' Gordon replied with a frown, 'thanks Virg.' He too, knew that Virgil or Scott would take him, if he wanted them to.

'Don't thank me yet' his brother replied, 'you've gotta get permission from Dad to let you use the crafts for personal use first.'

Gordon grinned wickedly, 'oh I'll just page John and tell him to pretend theirs an emergency in Miami, then we can fly out there and and then we'll say it was a hoax and we might as well not waste the jouney and you can drop me off.'

Virgil sincerely hoped his brother was joking. 'Sure Gordo' he murmered sarcastically, beginning to attempt the composition again, 'that's what we'll do!'
Two days later Alan Tracy hurled a cushion across the lounge of the Tracy's Villa on Tracy Island.

'WILL YOU SHUT IT?' He yelled.

Gordon pulled the cushion from his head and frowned, 'what?'

Alan threw up his hands in annoyance, 'you have not shut up about this Commander Brown for two days Gordo!'

'But he's a really amazing guy!' Gordon replied

'Well great!' Alan retorted, 'why don't you two get a room.'

'Oh shut up' his brother announced annoyed, 'you're just jealous that all your teachers thought you were a loser headed for the state penitentiary.'

Alan tried to look cross but he couldn't. He and Gordon got along very well. They were both practical jokers and as they were brought up mostly in a houseful of men (they were both too young to remember their mother) ,they were always full of energy and boisterousness.

'So when are you gonna meet the mysterious Commander Brown?'

Gordon shushed him, 'Al, could you shut up please, Dad doesn't know remember. Besides he's not at all mysterious.'

'Well none of us have met him.'

'That's because I know that meeting my family would stop him respecting me for a start. You're all a bunch of idiots!'

'Oh is that so?' Alan asked rising to his feet in mock anger.

'Yep' Gordon replied.

Alan rushed at his brother and the two giggled as they wrestled like 5 year olds on the lounge floor.

A loud beeping had their heads snapping to attention. As the middle Tracy brother's eyes illuminated in his painting.

Jeff rushed into the room, followed closely by Scott and Virgil, 'Go ahead John.' He said, flipping the video switch. John's face appeared on the screen.

'Um. father' he began, avoiding eye-contact.

'Spit it out John.' Jeff said impatiently.

'There seems to be some sort of problem in..'

Jeff was perplexed, as his usually efficient middle son had trouble getting his words out, 'In....?' he prompted.

'Um.. Miami' John replied after a pause.

Gordon struggled to keep the grin off his face as his father began barking questions at John. John had always hated lying and for a moment Gordon felt bad for co-ercing him into his little plan, but only for a moment, then he got back to enjoying watching his usually calm,collected brother squirm.

Virgil spun to look at Gordon incredulously as John told his father the location. As if he'd actually gone through with his little plan. How the hell had he got John to go along with it? Virgil thought to himself.

'Looks like you'll need Gordon to go with Scott as back-up.' John was saying still avoiding looking at his father.

Alan was nodding at Gordon in grudging admiration. It was always fun to see someone get one over on their father.

'I think we should all go.' He piped up, determined not to let Gordon have all the fun. He could do a little shopping or head to Miami beach.

Virgil nodded, he wasn't going to miss out either, 'Yeah I think Alan's right.'

Scott was the only one looking perplexed, 'but surely we don't need all four of us' he said addressing his brothers.

'Tut Tut Scott' Alan mocked, 'It's not like you not to be safe. Have you never heard the phrase 'safety in numbers'.

Scott mumbled something about living with ingrates, but thankfully shut up. He had 30 years of experience of living with his brothers. He knew when they were up to something and he assumed that he was out of the loop.

Gordon frowned, he didn't want all his brothers trying to cash in on his plan. There was a greater chance of being found out then, but he was wise enough to know that if he started disputing this, his father would guess something was going on.

'Alright Boys.' Jeff said firmly, 'Off you go. Thunderbirds are go!'
'YOU DID WHAT?' Scott yelled as all four Tracy brothers sat in Thunderbird One.

Gordon winced, 'see I knew you wouldn't understand' .

'UNDERSTAND?' Scott fumed, 'WE CAN'T JUST DO ANNONYMOUS CALLS FOR PERSONAL REASONS!'

'Oh come on Scott' Alan piped up, 'we've all done it.'

'WHAT?' Scott's voice rose in pitch.

'Come on' Alan continued, 'Did you really think their were four hoax fires at the Parola Sans last year?'

Scott stared mouth hanging open in disbelief, 'YES!' he answered.

'Oops' Alan mumbled and wisely shut up.

Virgil bit his lip, he thought it was all quite funny, he was already thinking up a hoax call for the Sydney Opera House. They all knew that Scott had a quick temper which flared up but immediately disappeared. He also had very little patience when it came to irresponsibility. Being the eldest he had no time for it. Scott was the most responsible person any of them had ever met. But he was also fiercely protective and equally loyal to his four younger brothers and he'd always go to bat for them. Virgil knew and he had no doubt that Alan and Gordon knew that Scott would not tell their father about this escapade.

Scott seemed to calm down, 'Oh Gordo' he murmered, 'you do try me.'

Gordon looked chastised, 'I know but I won't make you do this again.' He said contritely, 'I just wanted to see him. He was a really big support to me in WASP you know and especially after the crash.'

Scott nodded , he was interested to meet the man his little brother thought so highly of. 'Can I come with you?' he asked.

'Oh Scott' Alan spoke up from the back seat, 'don't cramp his style, he does not need his WASP commander to see him being walked to the meeting by his big brother.'

Scott looked hurt, 'It wouldn't be like that.'

'Oh yeah?' Alan asked, 'That's what you told me when you 'walked' me to university'.

Virgil and Gordon giggled.

Alan turned red remembering, ' it took me ages to improve my reputation, after you hugged me infront of my classmates.'

'Yeah and in front of the new recruits when you took me to join up for WASP.' Gordon chimed in.

'And when you took me to my orchestra concert' Virgil contributed.

Scott sighed in exasperation, 'Is it wrong to show a little affection?' he spoke, annoyed. 'Fine I'll come to the beach for a couple of hours with you guys' he said to Virgil and Alan, 'but I want you back at the beach 2 hours after we land ok?' he said to Gordon.

'Yes Sir!' Gordon answered doing a great impression of a soldier and saluting his brother.

Scott growled, 'I'll give you yes sir.' he grumbld trailing off as a beeping noise echoed around the cockpit.

'Go ahead John' he spoke to his brother.

'Ok' John's voice echoed, 'the co-ordinates are, go to hell and I'm never doing that again'.

Gordon giggled, 'sorry John , I promise that's the last time'.

'Alan?' John demanded.

Alan remained silent.

'Alan?'

'Oh alright!' he grumbled, 'I won't do it again either.'

'Hey!' Virgil shouted, 'I didn't get to do it once. I want to go to the opera house.'

'No!' John announced, 'I couldn't even look Dad in the eye, I've become a liar, no better than a thief. Why do I do this for you, why can't I just say 'no Gordo, I'm not pretending there's a barbecue fire out of control in Miami.'

Virgil, Gordon, Alan and Scott burst out laughing.

'Is that what you told him?' Scott asked

'It was all I could think of.' John replied, his tone decidedly unimpressed. 'That's the last time guys I mean it.' He cut himself off.

Alan and Gordon grinned at each other, 'man John is just too well-behaved' Alan said.

'It wouldn't hurt for the rest of you to take a leaf out of his book' Scott scolded.

Alan and Gordon rolled their eyes at each other.

Virgil sulked. He really wanted to go to the Opera House.
'Alright Gordo, two hours.' Scott re-iterated as they stood on Miami Beach. Scott had parked Thunderbird One at the airport, they were fully co- operative with IR and he knew that TB1 would be kept safe and secure.

'Alright' Gordon replied, 'See you guys later.' With a wave, Scott watched his brother weave through the throngs of holiday-makers, wondering again if he should have gone with him. 'Leave him alone' he said to himself, 'he wants to see his friend'. Still he couldn't get rid of the nagging worrying bad feeling that kept coursing through him.

'Come on!' Alan shouted, demanding Scott's attention, 'Last one in the sea's a rotton egg.'

Scott took off after his brothers. Gordon was fine, everyone was fine. There was nothing to worry about.
Gordon smiled to himself as he rushed to the entrance of 'The Fair Lady' bar, his father had been angry about the hoax, he had fumed at 'those flaming time-wasters out there' little knowing they were his own sons. He had agreed to let the boys have a few hours in Miami, the plan had worked.

As he got to the pink building where he was supposed to meet Commander Brown, he was alarmed to see it closed. He tugged at the door and peered in the window, dust covered the tables and chairs, it looked as if it had been shut for some time. Gordon frowned, Commander Brown mustn't have known that the club had shut down. Walking around the perimeter of the building Gordon found himself in an empty alley. As he walked past a dustbin, a loud bang had him swinging towards the shadows at the end of the alley.

Years of combat and hands on fighting in IR had Gordon bracing himself for attack. Positioning his hands in fists in front of him, he slowly walked towards the sound.

'Hello?' he called squinting in the darkness.

'Gordon?' a familiar voice asked.

'Commander Brown?' Gordon asked lowering his hands.

'Yes it's me.' The sound came from a shadow moving against the wall of the bar.

'Are you going to come out of there then?' Gordon asked relaxed now, but confused as to what his mentor was doing.

'Yes' came the reply, 'I'm sorry I stumbled in here looking for you and I seem to have got almost lost in here.'

'Snap' Gordon replied with a grin.

The shadow began to emerge and Gordon stepped forward his hand outstretched. 'Good to see you again sir!' he said.

The Hood stopped manipulating his voice and stepped in front of one of his nemesis's.

'Good to see you Gordon Tracy.' He said grabbing the boy's arm in a vice- like grip.
Gordon realised too late that he'd been tricked. By the time it dawned on him, that this was the Hood, he was already looking into his eyes.

Black and white swirls spun before his eyes as he felt himself become immobilised, unable to look away. 'Help me!' he silently willed his brothers. That was his last free, conscious thought.

'You are mine now' The Hood growled menacingly, and everything faded to black.
*********************************************************************

WHAT WILL THE HOOD DO WITH GORDON, SOMETHING TELLS ME THEY WON'T GO FOR A DRINK.

WILL THE OTHER TRACYS COTTON ON TO THE HOOD'S PLAN?

WILL GORDON SURVIVE?
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