Tracy island, Movie verse command centre, Tracy family movie POV
Trying to calm down, after the disturbed night's induced adrenaline rush, was difficult. A heavy sense of exhaustion hit the islands inhabitants, like a punch from their blind spot. Sleep was calling them to its warm embrace. Rest sounded amazing. Unfortunately, it would have to wait, until they wrapped up the last loose ends.
Jeff encouraged John to explain the situation to the Kyrano's and Brains, as he dropped down on the couch in the command centre. John seemed to currently comprehend the situation infinitely more than him. Jeff felt so grateful, that his children had turned into fantastic, brilliant adults. Thankfully, Virgil and Frank were already in the loop, having found out during the dimension travellers introduction in the infirmary.
Jeff zoned out during John's explanation and silently thought that retirement was looking increasingly more attractive. He felt too old for dealing with this kind of crazy, science fiction stuff. Jeff previously thought that he was the definition of it, this ordeal made him reconsider.
Farm boy turned military man, turned astronaut, turned self-made billionaire businessman, turned commander of a secret rescue organisation. All his accomplishments were suddenly reduced to nothing in comparison. Was the fatigue affecting his thinking, making him a tad dramatic? Perhaps, but Jeff was too tired to care!
This was a new brand of crazy. Dimension traveling! Multiple universes! Different times! Jeff wasn't entirely sure he wanted to be apart of it. It might just be the exhaustion talking. Karma was a female dog in heat. He shouldn't have teased Frank about exercise, before heading off to the beach. It was now coming back to bite him in his butt.
"Dad! Are you okay?" Scott asked him quietly, while settling down beside him on the couch.
"Yes Scooter! Just still having trouble wrapping my head around it all! How are you?" Jeff asked while wrapping an arm around his son's shoulders. Trying to offer comfort to his oldest, who looked a bit shaken by the night's events.
Scott, not only let Jeff wrap him closer, but also rested his head on his father's shoulder. This made Jeffs parent intuition come back online, in his otherwise already half shut down exhausted body. Scott did not like showing weakness in front of others. As the oldest of the bunch, he always tried to appear strong. If some parental comfort was taken, it was never in front of an audience. "Scooter, talk to me. What's wrong?" Jeff asked worriedly, eyebrows furrowing together.
"I just, no, it's nothing." Scott backtracked, when he noticed, John had finished his explanation and that they had an audience. As Scott tried to pull away from Jeffs side, he was held back in his father's embrace.
Jeff addressed his friends "My friends, let's talk more about this in the morning. Let's get a few more hours of sleep and we will conquer the new day with recharged energy. Now we all need some more rest.".
Jeff turned and addressed the three of his boy's present "Boys, lets exchange a few words in private before we head back to bed.". As Brains and the Kyrano's wished them a good night and headed back to bed, Jeff told John and Gordon to take a seat next to him and Scott on the couch.
Gordon practically threw himself next to Jeff, while John sat down beside Scott. "I know all of this is extremely strange. I still don't fully understand it. But I think we need to discuss the most pressing concerns on your minds. That is, if we want to be able to sleep a few more hours. What do you think?" Jeff asked his tired boys.
Receiving three different affirmative huffs in lieu of answers, Jeff figured that he would have to take the initiative and started confessing.
"I think it's unsettling, to see a version of you boys without me. You all already carry a too heavy burden, with our work that I dragged you into, not to even mention the loss of your mother. I was not there for you in the way I should afterwards. I couldn't handle losing the love of my life and mentally checked out. I buried myself in my work and left you to fend for yourself. Lucy would have been so furious at me, for letting you boys pick up the pieces of our heartbroken family." Jeff told his boys.
"Dad, come on, we have already forgiven you for that a long time ago." Gordon said, while leaning into hug his father seated beside him.
"Thanks Gordon, but it still doesn't make it right!" Jeff said lovingly, while slipping his other arm around his son, pulling him closer.
"Do you remember the first time they saw me in the infirmary? Al and Gords thought I was a ghost or a hallucination. Dropping the metaphorical bomb, that their version of me have been missing for nine years, presumed dead, even if they try to keep their hope alive. My doppelganger did not seem to have done a good enough job being a parent before that, if Al doesn't even remember him." Jeff continued, sounding disappointed.
"Dad, I was still in space when you had that conversation. But you are not their father, you are ours. You did not make the same choices that their father did. Yes, the way you handled mom's death was far from ideal. But you need to cut yourself some slack. You came back and stepped up as a father." John told his dad, while resting his head on Scott's shoulder. Feeling exhausted after all the nights excitement. Jeff lifted his arm that was still wrapped around Scott and started stroking John's hair. Trying to show all his present sons, appreciation with physical actions. Internally snickering imagining the pile of human lump, the four of them made on the couch. Just like when his boys were younger.
"Thanks Johnny! But seeing this version of you boys, without any parents, breaks my heart. It feels like I or at least a version of me have failed them and thus you. I don't even know if I am making any sense." Jeff said, confused about his own conflicted feelings on the matter.
"Dad! It wasn't you who did that to them! You can't blame yourself for that! This is an unprecedented situation. I understand that it makes you think. It makes me think too." Scott said, trying to offer his father comfort.
"I get it! It's okay Scott and dad! I feel strange seeing Al and Gords so incredibly close to each other. I get that they are different people but thinking about it makes me feel like I failed our Alan. We were much closer when we were younger and now, we have drifted apart." Gordon said while sounding sad.
"Gordon, you are different people, with different experiences, you shouldn't compare yourself to them!" John lectured his little brother.
"I know Johnny! But I can't help myself! The bond between them kind of makes me a bit jealous. Not that I want to admit it, but they really trust and depend on each other. I feel like I screwed that up with Alan! I suck as an older brother!" Gordon continued, sounding more and more distraught.
"Gordon! It's okay to feel that way. If you want a better relationship with our Alan, you just have to work on it!" Jeff said, trying to comfort him.
"But what if I am already too late?" Gordon suddenly sounded very small and scared.
"Gordon! You're not! Allie loves you! Anyone can see that! Just talk to him!" Scott tried to encourage.
"Thanks Scott, I will! Was I the only one who noticed that Gords called his version of you, dad? They implied it in their previous conversations as well. Scott, is that why you look like you have your panties in a twist?" Gordon asked, eager to get the attention away from himself.
"Gordon! Mind your language!" Jeff said.
"Sorry dad! Sorry Scott!" Gordon apologised "I just think, all of this is a creepy situation. I love you, bro! But I have never really seen you as a dad. Dad is dad! Your just an awesome older brother. To contemplate, having you as a father figure, weirds me out!".
"So, this is what it takes to get you to finally admit that I am awesome." Scott couldn't resist teasing his younger brother. Earning an offended huff from his brother in response.
"Its fine Gordon! It is a bit intimidating for me too, to be seen as a version of a father figure to a younger version of you. My doppelganger seemed to be doing it well, but it has gotten me thinking. It is kind of horrifying thinking about a version of us like that." Scott answered, finally starting to spill what was truly bothering him.
"Don't think too hard! You don't want to hurt yourself!" John teased, trying to lighten the heavy mood.
"Haha! That was so funny! A true comedian Johnny boy!" Scott fired back sarcastically.
"Don't call me Johnny boy!" John exclaimed, annoyed.
"Boys!" Jeff interrupted the bickering sternly. "Scott, please continue, why do you think it is scary to be seen as a father figure?".
"It makes me think about our own relationship with each other! I have come to realise, how much I failed Alan growing up." Scott replied, sounding disappointed in himself.
"That is not true! What in the world do you mean Scooter? You stepped up those three years, when I failed you all! You were there for him when all I did was buried my head in the sand!" Jeff said, raising his voice to get through to his son.
"During those three years, I kind of became Alans father figure. But when you pulled yourself out of your grief induced depression, I just straight up left. I bailed on him. Walked out and didn't look back. Didn't check in enough. Only focusing on myself. I didn't even realise how much I had unintentionally hurt him, until after the Hood's attack three years ago. I failed Alan! Pure and simple! It hurts to see a version of me that was better, that didn't royally mess up." Scott explained, his eyes looking suspiciously wet.
"That alternative version is stronger than me. He was there for them, when I abandoned our family ship, at the first safe opportunity for me. The first word Al said after waking up was calling for Scotty! Our Alan haven't called me that since I left for college. At least in some universe, I did right by him. I, on the other hand, have lost Alans unconditional trust a long time ago." Scott continued explaining his dark feelings.
"Oh, Scooter!" Jeff said sadly, while hugging his eldest son closer "You can't blame yourself for that. It was I, that put you in a difficult situation. You were but a child yourself! Taking care of your brother is my responsibility. Not yours. How long have you been feeling this way?".
"I guess that I have been feeling guilty since the Hood's attack. It was when I first realised how messed up everything had become." Scott confessed.
"It is not only you Scott who realise how different things could have been. Their Alan is very tight with their John. When we were talking yesterday, I found out that they meet and hang out at least once a week at Thunderbird five. Apparently, their Alan is a space freak just like me. Stops by after his missions in Thunderbird three. John seemed to have taught him almost everything he knows regarding space and science. Their Alan is the worlds youngest astronaut. I'm just wondering what could have been here, if I gave our Alan a bit more of my time and attention." John thought out loud.
All four men were lost in their thoughts, too tired to move, they eventually drifted off to sleep where they sat on the couch. All leaning on each-other. Using different family members body parts as pillows.
Several hours later
It was right there on the couch, Alan, Fermat, Lady Penelope, and Mr Parker found them the next morning. Immensely pleased, to see that they weren't in any peril. Rightfully annoyed, at not being informed that the danger had already passed.
The worry filled flight there in FAB one, was anxious, to say the least. The tense flight across the globe, appeared to have been an entirely pointless endeavour. Four of the men they spent the last hours worried about, were cuddled up next to each-other on the sofa, in international rescues command room. Seemingly sleeping serenely, without a care in the world. Not spending a stray thought, to call off the declared emergency.
With the worry for their family's and friends' wellbeing being immediately thrown out the window. Frustration and anger crawled into the newly arrived groups hearts.
Alan Tracy was the most affected, by this complete lack of communication from his family. It suddenly, felt like he travelled back in time, turning into his resentful fourteen-year-old self.
Since being informed about the intruder alert on Tracy Island, Alan felt like he was trapped in a dark storm cloud. Initially, he spent the last hours worried out of his mind for his family's safety. Now, confronted with the complete opposite reality, the raincloud produced a thunderstorm in Alans mind. Recurring old doubts and insecurities rose to the forefront of his mind. Thoughts hitting Alan, like bolts of lightning "Why don't my family care enough about me, to inform me that the danger had passed? Am I truly a part of the family if they constantly forget to include me? Don't they love and trust me like I do them? Am I really a thunderbird operative in international rescue? Why am I then always left behind? I thought we had passed this hurdle a long time ago.".
If they were traveling back in time, Alan would just have to oblige them! Alan did this by letting his inner child step forward, thinking cunningly "If they prefer to treat me like a fourteen-year-old kid, then they probably are missing my juvenile revenge ideas. What kind of brother would I be, to keep that from them?".
With a defiant glee, Alan set his plan into action. Alan quickly snapped a few pictures, for future blackmail purposes, obviously. Not at all, because he secretly thought the sleeping quartet of his family were kind of cute, draped all over each other on the couch. That would be preposterous! Now, Alan only needed to get some blackmail material on Virgil, who was the only one in his immediate family, who was missing from the couch.
It is a little brother's prerogative, to collect necessary blackmail on the family. It was essential to protect oneself and to keep his brothers humble. After all, they had been there for all his mortifying moments growing up. It was good to have an ace up his sleeve, in case a need for payback arose. With four older brothers, the question was, when instead of if!
Especially, the collected ammunition was ready to be deployed, in circumstances like this, when his family needlessly worried Alan half to death. Alan often contemplated, how hard it seemed for his loved ones, to pick up a phone and communicate the bare necessities with a quick "Sorry, false alarm. We are safe!". Why did they instead insist on torturing Alan with fear regarding their wellbeing?
It was Alan who spoke first of the newly arrived group. Alan whispered "Lady P. Do you want the honour of waking them up? I think seeing you first would have the most appropriate shock value!".
Fermat nodded, agreeing with his best friend "Please Lady P! It is the least they deserve, after scaring us so needlessly!".
"Quite right boys! I think they might need to learn a lesson in etiquette. I am more than happy to oblige in this noble quest. What do you say, Parker?" Lady Penelope asked, a small smirk gracing her lips.
"I will bring pots and spoons from the kitchen. I'll just be a moment, My Lady." Mr. Parker smiled, while he quietly hurried towards the kitchen.
"Why do you think that they didn't call us back, when it obviously was a false alarm?" Fermat whispered, frustration bleeding through his voice. Fermat would have a stern talk with his own father later.
"Perhaps they forgot once again. Unfortunately, it is not the first time they have done this!" Alan answered, while sulking.
Parker came back with several metal pots and spoons and passed them out. Arming each of them, with a loud way to wake up the currently sleeping offenders, that were the cause of their anger.
"Everyone ready?" Lady Penelope whispered.
At three affirmative nods. Lady Penelope whispered a countdown, "In five, four, three, two, one.".
They all started banging on their pots, causing a cacophony of sounds.
When the four men, jumped off the couch, startled out of their sleep. They were greeted by a sight they would not soon forget.
Lady Penelope stood in front of them. Arms crossed, still holding a pot and a spoon in her hands, while wearing a stern look on her face. She was flanked by Mr. Parker, Alan and Fermat who was copying her graceful intimidation stance to various degrees of success.
"Welcome back to the land of the living! I do believe that we are owed a good explanation! Don't you think so, Parker, boys?" Lady Penelope asked rhetorically, while staring daggers at the newly awakened Jeff and company.
Sensing the tense mood, Jeff hurriedly said "Penny! I can explain!" while holding out two hands in front of him, in the universal sign of surrender.
"Excellent, please do start then! I have faith, that this will undoubtedly be an astonishingly good explanation. I believe myself to be quite certain, in that you wouldn't send us a distress call, regarding an intruder alert, interrupting my beauty sleep for anything less than extraordinary circumstances." Lady Penelope continued, her aristocratic voice so unfamiliarly chilly, to the present company on the tropical island.
To the Tracy family's credit, lesser men would have run for their lives by now.
Jeff hurriedly interrupted her, internally panicking "Please Penny, I can explain!".
"Oh my, Jeff! What a true shame! You seem to have forgotten your manners! It is not appropriate to interrupt a lady!" Penny's eyes were cold as ice. Sending a shiver up Jeff's spine.
"We would be inclined to believe there was an excellent reason you made all of us worry for naught. You requested our assistance, in the middle of the night from halfway around the world. We all rush to answer your call for aid. You failed to answer when we tried to get into contact with you, only heightening our worry for your wellbeing. Only to be found peacefully sleeping cuddled up on your couch, no threat in sight. Now, we are ready for your justification. Please, do go on Jeff! We are waiting!" Lady Penelope said sternly, staring daggers at the four Tracy's before her.