Participation II - Eleven.

1 = first name

We'd been sitting there for about fifty minutes, feeling bored. Nothing new appeared to be happening on the ground and we'd run out of things to say.

I was sitting in Virgil's seat, mulling over a variety of disparate things. One thought popped into my head.

"Trixie?"

"Yes 1?"

"Before, when you were telling me about Ryan..."

"Yes."

"You said you'd been married for thirty four years."

"That's right."

"You also said that it's been forty years since he... passed on."

A small smile started to play about the corners of her mouth. "Well actually it'll be forty one next month."

"Trixie. You told me you were eighty-four. That would mean that you were ten when you were married!"

"Ah. You've discovered my guilty secret." She gave me a conspiratal wink. "I'm really ninety-four."

"Ninety-four! I hope I'm as bright and fit as you when I'm that age. But why the lie?"

She pouted. "It's a ladies prerogative to lie about her age."

"I thought it was a ladies prerogative to change her mind."

"Actually it's a ladies prerogative to have as many prerogative's as she chooses. But please, 1, whatever you do, don't tell anyone my real age."

"But why? I think you're pretty fantastic."

"Do you think Jeff Tracy would have an agent who's ninety-four years old? I love working for International Rescue and would hate to have anything as trivial as my age jeopardise that."

I could see her point. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you 1. You are a dear."

We could hear snatches of conversation from down at the face of the blaze. It appeared that finally SOMEONE had managed to drain and disconnect the large pipes and the fire was finally coming under control.

Another ten minutes passed and all the excitement was over. The three Tracy men gathered around Mobile Control, obviously unaware that we could hear their conversation. From the ''Firebus's' camera we could see them all looking upwards at a small dot in the sky. That dot was Thunderbird Two.

"Nice one Virgil." John commented dryly. "Now how do you plan to get them down?"

"At least they're safe." Virgil said. "There's no telling what could have happened if they'd been caught in that explosion. You might have had to walk home."

"No way. I'd hitch a ride in Thunderbird One. You'd take me, wouldn't you Scott?"

Scott ignored the question. "There's no reverse button is there."

I could see Virgil shaking his head. "No. And I don't intend to talk them down either."

"So the only option is an air-to-air transfer." Scott said.

John slapped Virgil on the back. "Good luck! I'll direct you from here."

"You'll direct him from on board Thunderbird One." Scott told him.

"It'll be a bit cramped." John pointed out.

"Once Virgil's on board Thunderbird Two it won't be too bad." Scott informed him.

Virgil sighed. "Right let's get this over and done with and then we can head home."

We didn't hear directly from Scott until all three were on board Thunderbird One. He gave us a brief rundown of the plan. "How's the winds up there?"

"It seems to be pretty quiet." I told him. "But how can you tell?"

"There's a gauge on the left side of the control panel..." he directed me to the exact spot. "What's the reading?"

"Three knots."

"That'll do. Now don't open the hatch until we give you the word. Okay."

"F.A.B. Scott."

I heard him chuckle as I used the International Rescue code for affirmation. "Hold tight. It won't be long now."

We saw Thunderbird One glide up beside Thunderbird Two's cockpit windows and then it was once again out of sight, only this time above us.

Scott left the radio on open communication. "Ready Virgil?"

"Ready."

"Opening hatch."

"Move right two metres Scott."

"Right two metres" Scott repeated.

"Stop! Back a metre... that's great."

"Have you double checked his harness John."

"Double and treble checked it Scott. We know the routine."

"Just checking."

"Okay. Can you hear me 1?"

I was somewhat startled to hear Virgil speak my name. "Y-Yes."

"Great. I'll wait until I'm just above and then get you to open the hatch. Any questions?"

"N-No."

"Be seeing you soon."

Though the airwaves were quiet we could almost hear the tension between the three brothers. They'd made it sound as if an air-to-air transfer was a piece of cake, a task undertaken every day by International Rescue, but I had a feeling that it was a lot more difficult than they were letting on.

"1. Open the hatch."

I did as Virgil instructed.

"He's through Scott." John said.

"I've released the harness." Virgil said a moment later. "You can lift away." A short time later he was in the cockpit with us. "Great piloting skills, 1. We'll get you your pilots wings yet." He slid into his rightful place in the pilots seat and skilfully brought Thunderbird Two back to land.

For someone who was so protective of his 'plane he was taking the events of the last few hours very calmly.

It seemed that we'd no sooner touched down than John and Scott were with us on the flight deck. "Are you both alright?" Scott asked.

"Wonderful." Trixie crowed. "I haven't had this much fun and excitement in a long time."

I was more pleased to have my feet back on the ground, well at least Thunderbird Two sitting on the ground.

"I'm fine..." I started to say. Then I stopped. "What's that beeping noise?"

A light was registering on the control panel. "It's the automatic camera detector!" Virgil said in concern.

"Someone's photographing the craft!" Scott dashed to the window. "There he is!" He pointed to where some bushes edged up against the factories security fence. A thickset man was standing there, dressed in camouflage pants and khaki shirt. He held a large camera in his hands.

"I'll call the police." Scott grabbed up the radio.

Trixie and I looked at each other.

"Let us go after him!" Trixie said.

I nodded my agreement.

"What... No way!" Scott said.

"It's what your father has trained us for and what he pays us to do." I reminded him.

"But you said yourselves this is your hometown. If you are recognised and traced back to International Rescue..." John said.

I interrupted him. "I think we've got that covered." I sat on a seat and removed my shoe. Flipping a small catch I slid the heel around to reveal a hidden compartment. I removed two small capsules. Breaking open one of the capsules I removed a gossamer thin mask that changed my skin tones, eye colour and with a bit of padding, changed the shape of my eyes and nose. I slipped it on over my head. The other capsule contained a pair of gloves in the same skin tone. They fitted on my hands like... well like a pair of gloves.

Trixie had retrieved her capsules from a compartment in her cane and was also in disguise. "Just as well we're both wearing long sleeves." She commented.

The three International Rescue men were staring at us open mouthed. "That's kind of creepy, seeing how easy it is for you to change your appearance." Virgil said.

"I bet you can guess where Brains got the idea from." I informed him.

"The Hood?"

Scott looked back out the window. "He's still there. I don't like this. I think we should leave it to the police..."

"Scott!" Trixie and I said in exasperation.

He knew he'd been beaten. "Alright. You'd better get going. And be careful! John! Go get the 'Firebus' and give these two a bit of cover as they leave Thunderbird Two. We don't want ANY security slip ups..."