Participation II - Twenty Two.
I'd gone to bed early last night, in the hopes that I would catch up on some of the sleep that I'd missed out on the night before. I should have known that I'd be too keyed up to get a good night's sleep. I'd tossed and turned imagining what it would be like to go out into space.
Last night and this morning had seemed to drag on interminably. At last it was ten-o-clock. In a state of high excitement I took my seat between Scott and John.
Jeff Tracy beamed at me. "Enjoy yourself 1. Give our love to Alan."
"I will Jeff."
We sank down into the floor. I was always amazed by the contrast between the luxurious furnishings of the house above us, and the strictly utilitarian décor of the International Rescue hangers.
I was even more amazed at the shear size of Thunderbird Three. I'd seen it in flight, but getting this close was something else.
We stopped underneath the giant spaceship and our couch rose up into Thunderbird Three's interior.
Scott stayed with me in the passenger cabin, while John took a lift up to the flight deck. Once we were both securely strapped in Scott told John we were ready.
"Lift off in T minus ten seconds." John replied.
"People actually say that?" I said with a grin to Scott.
"Only when they're trying to impress."
John was counting down. "Four - Three - Two - One."
Beneath us the mighty rockets surged into life. The spacecraft shuddered as the forces built up... and then... we were airborne!
From where we were seated I could see nothing. The increasing g-forces held me in my seat. And then, suddenly, I felt free."
"Leaving Earth's atmosphere." John intoned.
"Great." Scott undid his safety harness and stood up. I followed suit.
We both entered the lift that John had just used and rode upwards. I was tingling all over. Whether from the effects of the lift off, or just plain excitement, I wasn't sure.
John was seated at the control panel of Thunderbird Three. "Any problems with the lift off?" he asked.
"None!" I told him.
"That's good. Take a look out the window."
I did as he instructed and gasped at the sight. Already the colour of the sky was changing from blue to black. We'd blasted off in broad daylight and here were the stars beginning to shine.
But the Earth - the EARTH. I was getting views of it I'd only seen in pictures or in my imagination. Whole continents were spread out beneath me, growing ever smaller. Islands shrunk until they were the size of pinheads, before fading from view altogether. In one glance I could take in 5, Australia, and Asia. I could see places I'd never been, and places I'd never go. I could see forests and rivers and lakes and deserts. I could see the scars left by man.
"Oh wow!" I kept saying. "Oh, wow! Oh wow!"
I became aware of Scott standing at my shoulder. "If you look over there..." he pointed away from where my eyes were glued, "...you'll see Thunderbird Five."
I looked. Thunderbird Five was a totally different shape to what I'd expected. I'd thought it would be something like the International Space Station, cylindrical not round.
"Oh wow!"
Docking was smooth and hassle free. Then the three of us passed through a hatch and into the gravity compensation area. It was an interesting sensation as gravity appeared to move through ninety degrees until we were at the same orientation as the interior of Thunderbird Five.
Another hatch swung open.
"Welcome to Thunderbird Five, 1." Alan Tracy greeted me with.
"Oh wow, Alan. This is fantastic!"
"Thank you." Said both Alan and John at the same time. They turned to face each other.
"I suppose you think you're going to give 1 a tour around." Alan said.
"Why not. It's my ship." John retorted.
"Yeah, and you've just shown mine."
"Not in detail, Alan. You can still show 1 around most of it."
They started a mini argument about who was going to show me around Thunderbird's Three and Five.
"I'll get the supplies." Scott said to no one in particular. "Then we can have lunch."
I'd expected freeze-dried food, but everything appeared to have been picked or baked freshly.
"We've got a fully stocked larder and a hydroponics garden up here." John told me.
Scott helped himself to a freshly baked bun. "Also, when she heard we were coming up here, Grandma decided that it was time Alan had some home baking supplied to him. She was up half the night cooking."
"You know?" I said, "She's her own worst enemy."
"Yeah, we know." Alan agreed. "But have you ever tried to tell her anything?"
His older two brothers grimaced at the memories.
"So what's everyone been up to at home?" Alan asked casually. The thought crossed my mind that he was really asking about Tin-Tin.
His brothers acted dumb. "Virgil's been busy painting Trixie's portrait." John told him. "He's done a brilliant job too."
"Grandma's been cooking up a storm, keeping our guests fed." Scott said.
"Dad's been working hard, when he hasn't been tearing strips of us." John made a face.
"Oh yeah." Scott said, "And Gordon's been helping Brains."
"Gordon's been helping Brains? You mean he's been in the lab." Alan looked alarmed. "With access to all those electronics and chemicals and stuff?"
"Yeah." Scott said thoughtfully. "Though come to think of it he hasn't been there all the time. I've noticed him hanging around your room. Haven't you John?"
Somehow John kept a straight face. "Yes I have. That box he had looked mighty interesting too..."
Alan swallowed. A reaction more due to nerves than the sandwich he'd just consumed.
After lunch I was given a tour of the space station. Both Alan and John kept on trying to be the one to explain everything to me. Scott just looked on with an expression of quiet humour on his face.
When we'd finished with Thunderbird Five they started showing me around Thunderbird Three. Compared to the size of the space ship the actual cabin space was very small. "The rocket power plant is the biggest part of her so that we can build up enough energy to leave Earth's gravity." Alan explained.
After they'd shown me everything they felt I should see I wandered back over to the window and looked outside again.
"So John." I said. "Where's 'Alpha Centauri' from here?"
Once again he brightened and led me over to his telescope. "Here. Let me show you..."
After John had given me a visual tour of this part of the universe, we all sat down to have a cup of coffee. Scott looked at his watch. "We'd better start thinking about heading back."
"Oh!" I must have looked disappointed.
"Sorry." he apologised "but we've left International Rescue rather short staffed. I don't fancy the idea of Gordon having to take command of Thunderbird One."
"Anyone would think that you didn't trust him." I teased.
"Dad might put him in charge of Thunderbird Two and let Virgil pilot One." Alan said.
"Last time I saw Virgil he was out catching some sun and catching up on his sleep." John told him. "Father might think twice about putting him in charge of our fastest craft."
"You know," I said, "that was really nice of you guys to arrange that picture for Trixie."
"Yeah." Scott said dryly. "I kinda got the feeling that she liked it. I haven't liked the way she's been looking at me since."
I couldn't help it. I laughed. So did Alan and John.
"And how about you 1?" Alan asked. "How have you liked your present?"
"I've had a whale of a time." I replied. "I've got to thank you all for letting me come up here. It's something I've often dreamed of, but never thought would happen."
Scott stood up. "Well I'm afraid the dream's almost over. We'd better get going. Alan! We'll leave you the dishes."
"Gee, thanks."
"Our pleasure." John told him.
"I'll leave you your father's love." I told Alan. "It was the last thing he said before we left."
"Oh!" Alan appeared surprised. "Tell him I return the compliment."
As I settled back into my seat on board Thunderbird Three I reflected that, as much as I'd enjoyed my time on Thunderbird Five, I would hate to be stuck up there alone, with only the never-ending chatter of the radio to keep me company.
Scott and John had let me start the return journey on the flight deck and as I looked out a window I noticed something strange. It took me a while to realise what it was. The Earth was getting smaller.
"Aren't we going the wrong way?" I asked.
John grinned. "Alan mentioned that you said you'd like to see a certain blue-green marble. We thought we'd take a detour before we head for home."
We travelled a couple more minutes before John swung Thunderbird Three around so that she was beam on to our home planet. Alan was right. From this distance the Earth had the appearance of a marble, made of little more than coloured glass. Fragile and beautiful.
I sighed. "That's a view I'll never forget. Thanks guys."
Thunderbird Three's motors started up again and we started the final race for home.
As we passed Thunderbird Five John made radio contact. "Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. 'Undocking procedure complete'."
"F.A.B. Thunderbird Three. I'll alert base that you're leaving now. Have a safe trip home."
I looked towards Scott for clarification of the message. "We didn't tell Father we were going to take that little detour."
I mouthed an 'oh' before turning to catch my last ever view of Thunderbird Five.
"Thanks Alan." John was continuing the radio conversation. "See you in a few weeks. Take care brother."
"You too John."
I'd gone to bed early last night, in the hopes that I would catch up on some of the sleep that I'd missed out on the night before. I should have known that I'd be too keyed up to get a good night's sleep. I'd tossed and turned imagining what it would be like to go out into space.
Last night and this morning had seemed to drag on interminably. At last it was ten-o-clock. In a state of high excitement I took my seat between Scott and John.
Jeff Tracy beamed at me. "Enjoy yourself 1. Give our love to Alan."
"I will Jeff."
We sank down into the floor. I was always amazed by the contrast between the luxurious furnishings of the house above us, and the strictly utilitarian décor of the International Rescue hangers.
I was even more amazed at the shear size of Thunderbird Three. I'd seen it in flight, but getting this close was something else.
We stopped underneath the giant spaceship and our couch rose up into Thunderbird Three's interior.
Scott stayed with me in the passenger cabin, while John took a lift up to the flight deck. Once we were both securely strapped in Scott told John we were ready.
"Lift off in T minus ten seconds." John replied.
"People actually say that?" I said with a grin to Scott.
"Only when they're trying to impress."
John was counting down. "Four - Three - Two - One."
Beneath us the mighty rockets surged into life. The spacecraft shuddered as the forces built up... and then... we were airborne!
From where we were seated I could see nothing. The increasing g-forces held me in my seat. And then, suddenly, I felt free."
"Leaving Earth's atmosphere." John intoned.
"Great." Scott undid his safety harness and stood up. I followed suit.
We both entered the lift that John had just used and rode upwards. I was tingling all over. Whether from the effects of the lift off, or just plain excitement, I wasn't sure.
John was seated at the control panel of Thunderbird Three. "Any problems with the lift off?" he asked.
"None!" I told him.
"That's good. Take a look out the window."
I did as he instructed and gasped at the sight. Already the colour of the sky was changing from blue to black. We'd blasted off in broad daylight and here were the stars beginning to shine.
But the Earth - the EARTH. I was getting views of it I'd only seen in pictures or in my imagination. Whole continents were spread out beneath me, growing ever smaller. Islands shrunk until they were the size of pinheads, before fading from view altogether. In one glance I could take in 5, Australia, and Asia. I could see places I'd never been, and places I'd never go. I could see forests and rivers and lakes and deserts. I could see the scars left by man.
"Oh wow!" I kept saying. "Oh, wow! Oh wow!"
I became aware of Scott standing at my shoulder. "If you look over there..." he pointed away from where my eyes were glued, "...you'll see Thunderbird Five."
I looked. Thunderbird Five was a totally different shape to what I'd expected. I'd thought it would be something like the International Space Station, cylindrical not round.
"Oh wow!"
Docking was smooth and hassle free. Then the three of us passed through a hatch and into the gravity compensation area. It was an interesting sensation as gravity appeared to move through ninety degrees until we were at the same orientation as the interior of Thunderbird Five.
Another hatch swung open.
"Welcome to Thunderbird Five, 1." Alan Tracy greeted me with.
"Oh wow, Alan. This is fantastic!"
"Thank you." Said both Alan and John at the same time. They turned to face each other.
"I suppose you think you're going to give 1 a tour around." Alan said.
"Why not. It's my ship." John retorted.
"Yeah, and you've just shown mine."
"Not in detail, Alan. You can still show 1 around most of it."
They started a mini argument about who was going to show me around Thunderbird's Three and Five.
"I'll get the supplies." Scott said to no one in particular. "Then we can have lunch."
I'd expected freeze-dried food, but everything appeared to have been picked or baked freshly.
"We've got a fully stocked larder and a hydroponics garden up here." John told me.
Scott helped himself to a freshly baked bun. "Also, when she heard we were coming up here, Grandma decided that it was time Alan had some home baking supplied to him. She was up half the night cooking."
"You know?" I said, "She's her own worst enemy."
"Yeah, we know." Alan agreed. "But have you ever tried to tell her anything?"
His older two brothers grimaced at the memories.
"So what's everyone been up to at home?" Alan asked casually. The thought crossed my mind that he was really asking about Tin-Tin.
His brothers acted dumb. "Virgil's been busy painting Trixie's portrait." John told him. "He's done a brilliant job too."
"Grandma's been cooking up a storm, keeping our guests fed." Scott said.
"Dad's been working hard, when he hasn't been tearing strips of us." John made a face.
"Oh yeah." Scott said, "And Gordon's been helping Brains."
"Gordon's been helping Brains? You mean he's been in the lab." Alan looked alarmed. "With access to all those electronics and chemicals and stuff?"
"Yeah." Scott said thoughtfully. "Though come to think of it he hasn't been there all the time. I've noticed him hanging around your room. Haven't you John?"
Somehow John kept a straight face. "Yes I have. That box he had looked mighty interesting too..."
Alan swallowed. A reaction more due to nerves than the sandwich he'd just consumed.
After lunch I was given a tour of the space station. Both Alan and John kept on trying to be the one to explain everything to me. Scott just looked on with an expression of quiet humour on his face.
When we'd finished with Thunderbird Five they started showing me around Thunderbird Three. Compared to the size of the space ship the actual cabin space was very small. "The rocket power plant is the biggest part of her so that we can build up enough energy to leave Earth's gravity." Alan explained.
After they'd shown me everything they felt I should see I wandered back over to the window and looked outside again.
"So John." I said. "Where's 'Alpha Centauri' from here?"
Once again he brightened and led me over to his telescope. "Here. Let me show you..."
After John had given me a visual tour of this part of the universe, we all sat down to have a cup of coffee. Scott looked at his watch. "We'd better start thinking about heading back."
"Oh!" I must have looked disappointed.
"Sorry." he apologised "but we've left International Rescue rather short staffed. I don't fancy the idea of Gordon having to take command of Thunderbird One."
"Anyone would think that you didn't trust him." I teased.
"Dad might put him in charge of Thunderbird Two and let Virgil pilot One." Alan said.
"Last time I saw Virgil he was out catching some sun and catching up on his sleep." John told him. "Father might think twice about putting him in charge of our fastest craft."
"You know," I said, "that was really nice of you guys to arrange that picture for Trixie."
"Yeah." Scott said dryly. "I kinda got the feeling that she liked it. I haven't liked the way she's been looking at me since."
I couldn't help it. I laughed. So did Alan and John.
"And how about you 1?" Alan asked. "How have you liked your present?"
"I've had a whale of a time." I replied. "I've got to thank you all for letting me come up here. It's something I've often dreamed of, but never thought would happen."
Scott stood up. "Well I'm afraid the dream's almost over. We'd better get going. Alan! We'll leave you the dishes."
"Gee, thanks."
"Our pleasure." John told him.
"I'll leave you your father's love." I told Alan. "It was the last thing he said before we left."
"Oh!" Alan appeared surprised. "Tell him I return the compliment."
As I settled back into my seat on board Thunderbird Three I reflected that, as much as I'd enjoyed my time on Thunderbird Five, I would hate to be stuck up there alone, with only the never-ending chatter of the radio to keep me company.
Scott and John had let me start the return journey on the flight deck and as I looked out a window I noticed something strange. It took me a while to realise what it was. The Earth was getting smaller.
"Aren't we going the wrong way?" I asked.
John grinned. "Alan mentioned that you said you'd like to see a certain blue-green marble. We thought we'd take a detour before we head for home."
We travelled a couple more minutes before John swung Thunderbird Three around so that she was beam on to our home planet. Alan was right. From this distance the Earth had the appearance of a marble, made of little more than coloured glass. Fragile and beautiful.
I sighed. "That's a view I'll never forget. Thanks guys."
Thunderbird Three's motors started up again and we started the final race for home.
As we passed Thunderbird Five John made radio contact. "Thunderbird Three to Thunderbird Five. 'Undocking procedure complete'."
"F.A.B. Thunderbird Three. I'll alert base that you're leaving now. Have a safe trip home."
I looked towards Scott for clarification of the message. "We didn't tell Father we were going to take that little detour."
I mouthed an 'oh' before turning to catch my last ever view of Thunderbird Five.
"Thanks Alan." John was continuing the radio conversation. "See you in a few weeks. Take care brother."
"You too John."
