CHAPTER NINE.

A frisson of interest flared in the aquanaut as he faced his parent. "There is a Thunderbird Four?" he asked on a ray of hope, holding his breath expectantly.

Looks were exchanged.  

Gordon felt his heart skip a beat. "Well?"

Jeff took his time. The air was electric as he slowly nodded.

"Well what're we waiting for……?"

"Hold it son, not so fast."

"Huh?"

"There's one little catch."

Gordon eyed his father warily, "What exactly?"

"You have to 'earn' it. Pass a test." Jeff elucidated.

"Test?"

"Nothing to taxing, it's well within your capabilities."

"Written?"

"Erm, no." Jeff replied, "More hands on, practical to be precise."

Gordon slowly digested this. "What exactly do I have to do?" he asked reluctantly.

"On board your new Thunderbird Four……"

"That garbage pile!"

 His father gave him a level look. "…….something's been hidden. All you have to do is find it. If you're successful, Brains will give you your new model."

Gordon cast another glance over his 'Thunderbird' as it bobbed innocuously by the jetty.

"Pity you refused to board her." Jeff added dryly watching the play of emotions on his son's face.

"I might reconsider……." Gordon capitulated, shrugging nonchalantly. "What am I looking for?" Was it his imagination, or was his parent hesitating?

"It's your medal."

Gordon's jaw dropped, "You didn't?" he said, turning to his brothers.

"We did." They collectively confirmed.

"Is nothing sacred round here?"

"That's rich!" Scott scoffed.

Ignoring that, Gordon stepped forward.

"There's just one more catch……" Scott dropped in casually.

This sounded ominous. Gordon turned cautiously. Why did he get the feeling his brothers were relishing something, "Oh yeah?"

"Weeell, we didn't want to make it to easy," Virgil said lightly, "So we added a little interest……"

"Yeah; just one or two little touches to give you something to work for." John drawled.

"Just get on with it will ya!"

All three shrugged.

"There are a few er; booby traps. Alarm bells will go off when you make the wrong choice." Said Virgil.

"Don't you mean if?"

"If." they acknowledged.

"Oh, and er Gordon, three strikes and you're out." Scott added.

"Out?"

"You don't get your new Thunderbird." he clarified.

Gordon digested this. It was clear from their faces they meant it. "You three geniuses are enjoying this aren't you?" Gordon said, fielding each of the amused expressions. "Okay, it's not so tough, I could a' dreamt up better in my sleep!" he bluffed. With that he jumped aboard, grabbing at nearest thing to hand as his new 'Thunderbird' lurched unstably, overbalancing him. His eyes widened when he saw the green stain on his hand. He looked up straight into the quietly smiling face of John, and had the hardest job preventing a corresponding one of his own breaking out. With his eyes on John, Gordon didn't see the protruding lever until he nudged it and set off the warning bells. He whirled round and sucked in his breath as the umbrella shuddered, folded around him, and released its cargo in full. Gordon gasped and staggered, blinking through the thick vale of goo that covered him, as a riot of laugher suddenly erupted. Swiping at the jokes, dangling around him, Gordon gaped in shock at the fuzzy laughing images.

"Oh, didn't we mention that bit," and at his stunned expression, "erm, guess not." Scott said.

"Sorry about the oversight." John grinned. "As you now know there are added little 'bonuses to the booby traps. Some of them are loaded!"

"That just leaves two left son, oh and, er, I'd be careful not to slip on that gunge, wouldn't want you accidentally letting……"

"Okay, okay, when you've finished toying with me…..."  Gordon grittily brushed aside the laughter and turned slowly, scraping the gunk from his face and making a detailed study of the diverse range of controls, levers and dials. With reluctant admiration he finally began to acquire an appreciation of his brothers' ingenuity.  'If only I'd been in on this…..' he thought, then stopped himself. 'What am I talking about?' Gordon scrutinised the detailed interior. 'That looks promising,' he deliberated, examining the rear panel which comprised of four compartments. He studied them for a full minute, double checking that none of the knobs had been 'treated' by John. 'Four to choose from. Okay Gordon, you can do this, but which one?' selecting one and adopting a steady hand, he cautiously eased the handle forward. Satisfied by the reassuring silence he confidently lowered the panel fully. He only registered its contents two seconds after it had hit him and as the siren screeched a belated warning. The barrel load of cushion fillings hit like a gale force wind and covered him so effectively no part was left uncovered. Brushing at the clusters of fibrous particles, clinging to the gunk, only served to make them cling even harder to him. Gordon took a deep breath, spitting and blowing the fibres from his face, determined not to rise to the uproarious laughter that had renewed with greater force.

"That's….."

"Yeah, I know!" came his pithy retort. Gordon cautiously inched his way through a one hundred and eighty degree turn and studied the 'control' panel. Noticing a promising looking small compartment, he tentatively he eased his way around the 'pilot's' seat and reached out, freezing at the sharp intakes of breath. Looking up at the warning head shakes he tried to determine their sincerity. Concluding it was a ploy to deter him, Gordon continued in his quest. The sudden, mild shock had him yanking his hand back. Frowning, he studied the sheepish faces. "Which clown thought that one up?" he growled, flexing his fingers.

John grinned at him, "I'm afraid I have to take the credit for that."

"Gee, thanks bro'! I thought you loved me."

"I do. And anyway, we did try to warn you."

"Are there anymore like that?"

"Erm, no, it was a one off."

"You have a sick sense of humour, you know that?"

"Gee, and I thought that was your department." John bounced back with a grin.

Shaking his head resignedly, Gordon cast about for another likely hiding place. The trouble was, there wasn't one…..unless…..His eyes locked on the 'pilot's' toilet/high chair, with a grimace. "Where'd you get that from?" he scorned.

"Don't ask."

Locking eyes with Scott, Gordon shrewdly baited him, "Is it clean?"

"What d'you take us for?" Scott replied, affronted.

"Don't ask!" he answered, stifling a grin and turning his attention back to the 'pilot's seat'. It looked feasible. There was no where else his medal could be inside this tub. He looked to his brothers, but they weren't giving anything else away. He glanced across at his parent, grandparent, Tin-Tin and Kyrano, but apart from their highly amused expressions, they weren't giving anything away either. There was nothing for it…..he edged closer, grimacing as the gunk and fluff squelched, as he squatted down. His expression added to his audience's amusement. A sudden hush descended as Gordon inched forward and eased the lid up a fraction, trying to peer into the depths. Unable to see anything Gordon took a deep breath and, with painstaking slowness, inched the lid a fraction higher hoping for a better glimpse, his ears cocked for the tell tale siren. Nothing! Confident, but still cautious, he raised the lid a further inch. If he could just ease his fingers in, he might be able feel for his medal. Gordon pushed carefully into the darkened depths, feeling the cool air around his fingers as he probed about. He almost leapt as his fingers brushed something. Holding a tight rein on his excitement Gordon reached out again, stretching his fingers to close around the ribbon. His excitement mounted as he mastered a firm grip, but still he didn't throw caution to the wind, the object of his goal and his medal were uppermost in his mind as he gently tugged on the ribbon. His eyes widened as the sounds of gurgling assailed his ears. "What the! Hey, what's going on here?"  He demanded.

"Looks like you've pulled the plug bro'"

"Huh?"

"The boat's going down."

"You call this a boat!" he said as water gushed over the sides of the pilot's 'seat' and rapidly filled the boat.

"Yeah you're right; she IS a work of art." Virgil grinned.

"Hey, what about my medal, I've searched every inch of this bucket of spanners!" Gordon yelled, now knee deep in water.

"But not the outside." Scott hinted.

"Huh? There isn't anywhere outside!" Gordon shouted, leaping onto the front. Globules of gunk dripped from him, causing him to slide and reel as he looked wildly around. The spare part tub lurched, tilting dangerously as the weight of the 'attachments' forced it deeper into the water. Gordon clutched frantically at one of the headlamps to brace himself as his 'Thunderbird' began to sink at an alarming rate and that was when he saw it, gleaming in the figurehead of the alligator. With no time to think he reached inside the jaws, pulling on the silken ribbon, as the water raced over the sides, swamping him.

Feeling too mulish, Gordon brushed aside Scott's proffered hand, overbalanced and cartwheeled backwards into the water as his 'Thunderbird' gave a death knell and sank in the churning waters. Kicking for the surface, he was met with horde of laughter.

"Don't all dive in at once!" he ribbed as he trod water while small globules of gunk and fluff floated off around him.

"Don't worry dear, I'd have saved you."

"Thanks Grandma." He said dryly, clutching his medal and kicking for the side, this time accepting the proffered hands of Scott and John.

"You remind me of a sodden duck."

"Thanks dad!" he said wringing at his clothes, that still had persistent globules of gunk and fluff sticking to them. "Right that concludes my side of the deal." He said, holding out the ribbon. "All you guys have to do now is deliver your end of the deal……hey! This isn't my medal!"

"Well you didn't really think we'd risk your real one did you?" Scott supplied as Gordon handed over the copy to his father, with a frown.

"Well done son."

"Yeah, well done." Scott went to slap him on the back, then changed his mind.

"You tricked me." Gordon stared incredulously at his brothers.

"I thought you liked tricks." Scott responded blasély.

"Pity about the 'Jolly Joker.'" John said wistfully at the final bubbles glugging to the surface.

"Best place for it!" Gordon retorted tersely, following his line of vision. "Now, if it's not too much trouble how about you fulfil your side of the deal."

"Some people have no appreciation for a work of art." Virgil declared, "you could at least mourn her……..show some respect."

"Yeah, we put so much work into her……"

"Aw my heart bleeds, now what about my new sub'!"

"I'll check with Brains, see if he's ready." Jeff replied.

"And this had better be on the level."

"Believe me son, Brains has been working hard on this, and it is on the level." Halting in his call to cast a critical look over his son, Jeff said, "don't you want to change first?"

"Nah, the water's my second birthday suit."

Jeff shook his head at the picture his son presented and sighed.  "Okay, let's go."

"Where?"

"To the workshop, naturally."

Gordon didn't need to be asked twice.

********

Chapter ten: The final chapter. Brains' is amused. Gordon finally gets his new Thunderbird, and Scott has one last surprise for his brother.  And what was the second 'Payback' they'd been toying with.