One Hundred and Four - BF

It wasn't exactly a relaxed meal. Don obviously still didn't trust them, Dusty was trying to keep things chatty but kept on glaring at her recalcitrant husband. Virgil couldn't hear most of the conversation and Scott kept on trying to prove that he only regarded Dusty as a friend.

They explained about Scott's recovery. "That's one reason why we wanted to see you Dusty." Scott explained. "Why should I be the only person able to use this technology? Father's willing to pay for anyone who can't afford it to get the treatment. We thought you could tell us the best way to get word out there that this treatment is now available."

"I'll have to think about that. I think I've got a list of contacts in my office."

They also gave a sanitised version of Virgil's accident.

"How come you two are so unlucky?" Dusty asked.

Scott shrugged. "Just lucky I guess." He put his plate back on the table. "Which brings us to the main reason why we invited you here, rather than just discussing this back at work." He glanced at his brother. "Is it all clear Virg.?"

Virgil pressed his strange object another couple of times. "All clear." He pulled a sketchpad and some pencils out from his basket.

"What are you doing?" Scott asked.

"You're the 'company representative'." Virgil reminded him. "I'm on sick leave. I'm just here to catch up with old friends."

Scott glared at him, before turning back to Dusty. "I know we come across as a pair of spoilt, rich kids, who've never done a days work in their lives..." Don shifted uncomfortably, "... but believe me that's a long way from the truth. We've done a bit of checking on you, both of you, and our organisation believes that we would benefit from your services."

"Doing what?" Don asked threateningly.

Scott looked about him. "This feels strange, talking about it. Are you sure everything's, okay Virgil?"

"Stop panicking. This gizmo of Brains will pick up anyone within 100 metres as well as any recording devices. You know that."

Don and Dusty looked at each other warily.

Scott took a deep breath. "Okay. We haven't been totally truthful with you about our lives or how we got our injuries."

Don sat back. "I knew it! I knew there was something fishy. Come on Dusty, we're going!"

"No!" She stopped him. "I want to hear this."

"Please don't go, Don." Scott pleaded. "At least hear me out. I promise there's nothing illegal or immoral involved."

"Sit down, Don." Dusty said quietly. "They've given us a wonderful lunch. You at least owe them the courtesy of listening to Scott."

He stared at her and then, with obvious reluctance, sat down again.

"Thank you," Scott smiled.

"Person at three o-clock." Virgil said quietly.

"Coming this way?" Scott asked.

"Yes... No... No it's okay, they've gone up to the car park."

Scott waited a moment until he was sure the area about them was clear again. "Our family..." he began slowly, "... form the nucleus of an organisation that you've probably heard of. One that regards secrecy as vitally important to our continued existence. Even if you decide not to accept our offer, I'd like you to promise that you won't mention this conversation to anyone."

"I promise." Dusty said instantly.

"Dusty!" Don protested.

"He said it's nothing illegal or immoral. It can't hurt can it."

"Please Don," Scott asked, "if you're not willing to agree to this then I can't carry on."

"Please, Don." Dusty echoed.

Virgil stopped his sketching.

"Okay... I promise." Don eventually said.

"Good." Scott smiled. "I'm sure you won't regret this." He took a deep breath. "We're with International Rescue."

Don burst out laughing. "Now I've heard everything."

"Don!" Dusty scolded.

"International Rescue?" Don smiled. "Come on. What are you really on about?"

Scott stared at him. So did Virgil.

"Are you serious?" Dusty asked.

Scott nodded. "I'm the pilot of Thunderbird One, and Virgil pilots Thunderbird Two. At least he will when he's got his hearing back."

Virgil smiled at the thought.

"That's how come we've both been seriously injured. We were both out on rescues. It was true that I was blinded by a generator, but it was one big enough to power an entire laboratory, and Virgil's 'fuel tank' contained several hundred thousand gallons of fuel. It's why Father went home so early and why none of the rest of the family came to visit. Father's the chief of the outfit and his five sons are the core operatives. We each have our own Thunderbird craft."

"You're kidding." Don still didn't quite believe what he was hearing. "So what's that got to do with us? Surely you don't want Dusty heading out on rescues, risking her neck?"

"No. Nothing like that." Virgil stated.

Don stared at him. "How come you understood me?"

"This." Virgil indicated 'Brains' gizmo'. "We call this a 'Babelet'. It can be programmed for a number of different things. At the moment it's recording everything that is being said and translating it into a pitch that I can understand, via an ear piece." He tapped an ear. "I've heard most of your conversation."

"That's amazing!" Dusty said.

"There's another trick it can do." Virgil continued on. "Maybe if you talk to someone else you'll believe us." He pressed the Babelet in another couple of places. "Virgil calling base. Come in please."

A strange light came out of the Babelet and reflected onto his face. A familiar voice could be heard. "How's it going, Virgil?"

"Slight problem convincing them, Father. I thought we might need a bit of help."

"Let me talk to them."

Virgil reversed the Babelet so that it was facing Dusty and held it out to her.

She took it reluctantly. "Mr Tracy!"

"Hello Dusty. How are you?"

"F-Fine. H-How're you?"

"Can't complain, and no one would listen if I did. Have my boys told you that we're International Rescue?"

"Yes... You really are?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but yes we really are, for better or for worse. You can understand why I'm sure Scott insisted on secrecy?"

"Yes I can."

"Good. Have they explained what we'd like you to do?"

"No."

"There's nothing to it really. We have a network of agents throughout the world. Some are highly specialised, but most just keep their ears and eyes open to hear if there's any possibility that someone could be trying to find out more about our organisation. You, both of you, carry on with your normal day to day life and report back to me if you hear anything suspicious."

"But why me?"

"Because we know you and we trust you. And because we currently have a vacancy in your area. The previous agent unfortunately died. I guess it wasn't unexpected though, he was 87 years old."

"And I don't have to do anything special?" Dusty asked doubtfully.

"No. We'll have to install some communications equipment in your home, but that's all. Unless you want further training..."

"What kind of communications equipment?" Don asked.

"Oh, sorry Mr Tracy. This is my husband Don." Dusty adjusted the angle of the Babelet so that Don could see Jeff Tracy more clearly.

"Nice to meet you at last, Don. Sorry I'm not there in person, but Virgil's on leave and could be excused, and Scott wanted to see what the place was like and meet everyone again. Someone's got to stay behind and mind the fort." Jeff grinned. "Don't worry about the equipment. You won't have wires and electronics cluttering up the place. I guarantee you won't even know it's there until you need it."

"I don't know what to say." Dusty said.

"Think about it. Scott'll give you something so you can contact us when you've made a decision. In the meantime I'll leave you all to enjoy your afternoon."

"Thank you Mr Tracy." Dusty said.

"No. Thank you for what you've already done to help my family." The Babelet went grey.

Dusty handed it back to Virgil. "This is amazing."

Scott was ferreting about in a hamper. "It's not in here. Is it in yours Virg.?" He looked at his brother. "Virgil?"

"Hmmn? Pardon?" Virgil looked at the Babelet. "Hang on..." he grinned. "Dusty turned it off." He winked at her and pushed at the Babelet in a couple of places.

"Sorry." She said.

"That's okay. Easily done... That's better. Now what did you say Scott?"

"Have you got Dusty's communication device in your hamper?"

Virgil looked. "Here it is." He pulled out a teaspoon with a crest on the handle.

"Are you sure that's it?" Scott asked. "It looks like a real one?"

"Of course it looks like a real one." Virgil said a trifle testily. "That's the whole idea."

"No, I mean it looks the same as the others we've been using."

"Here." Virgil sighed and handed it over to his brother. "Check it."

Scott did so. "Oh yeah, that's it."

"I don't know why you didn't believe me. There's nothing wrong with my eyes."

"Sorry Virg."

Virgil grinned at him.

"All you do," Scott lent over the table so he could show Dusty and Don, and then decided it would be easier to actually squat down between them, "when you want to contact base, is twist the crest a quarter turn clockwise." He did so. "Hiya John."

Johns face appeared in the bowl of the spoon. "Hi Scott. Watchya doing?"

"Introducing Dusty and Don to the wonders of Brains' technology. This is the second oldest in the Tracy brothers line up, and our space monitor on board Thunderbird Five... John."

"Hello John." Dusty said a trifle nervously.

"Nice to meet you, Dusty. I've heard a lot about you."

"So when you want to contact us, you get hold of John like this and he'll put you through to base. See you later, John." Scott twisted the crest again and gave the spoon to Dusty. "Okay?"

"I think so." She took the spoon and placed it carefully into her handbag. Then she looked at her watch. "This has been a very... interesting afternoon gentleman, but I've got to get back. I've got a session in quarter of an hour."

"And you can't keep your clients waiting." Scott smiled. "No telling what they'll break."

All this time Virgil had been drawing busily on his sketchpad. He ripped off the top sheet and handed it to Don. "There. I think that's a bit better than the last one."

Don took the drawing. It was of him and Dusty together. Don looked at it. "Man you're good!"

"Thanks."

"Thank you, Virgil," Dusty said. "Do you want to have a look around the facility again before you leave? Your old room's currently vacant. And you'd both better say goodbye to the admin team before you leave. You've got quite a fan club there."

The Tracys laughed embarrassedly. "Yeah, I guess we'd better." Scott said sheepishly.

"You know, Virgil," Dusty continued on hopefully. "Sereena's unattached."

He hit his ear lightly. "Funny. I think my hearing's just gone again. I didn't hear that."