Chapter Two.

Scott dropped the rag back amongst the tools and wiped the sweat from his strong handsome features. Needing to replace the mini energy chip for the A.C.D., he made his way along the gantry using Thunderbird One's platform, and then walked into the adjoining workshop. The first thing he noticed was the scent. His nostrils flared, instantly alerted to the unmistakable aroma of chocolate and strawberries. Certain he was dreaming, he breathed deeply again. Scott's appetite was legendary, and it didn't take him more than five seconds to locate the cake's hiding place. His blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. At first he was convinced Gordon had set him up, that it was some sort of exploding cake. He was on the point of marching out of the workshop to dump the mouth-watering confection onto Gordon's bed, when a smear of the rich velvety cream landed on his fingers. Automatically he licked it and that was his undoing. Without conscious thought, he'd crammed as much of the slice as he could into his mouth, grinning appreciatively as the rich cake and fresh chocolate coated strawberries slid deliciously down his throat.

"Grandma, I can't think why you'd want to hide this in here, but I'm sure glad you did," he grinned, cutting another generous portion. Torn between the desire to savour it, or devour it, gluttony won and Scott devoured the second slice so fast he started to hiccup. The sounds of movement alerted him to the fact he was about to be discovered. Swiftly thrusting the plate back into the cupboard, Scott grabbed the mini energy chip and regrettably left the workshop just as……

The door swung open and Jeff, with one final look around, closed it firmly behind him. It had only taken fifteen minutes to locate the fault and fix it. Even so, he was aware John thought his behaviour odd when, instead of accepting John's invitation to stay and assist, he'd made an excuse and left abruptly. But the thought of that cake had warred, and won. Jeff looked visibly stunned as he opened the door of the locker and saw the state of the cake.

"What's going on around here?" He wheeled round, searching the corners of the room as if that would yield the missing portions.

Obviously his hiding place wasn't safe, and there was now the added risk of exposure. His mind made up, Jeff checked the corridor and left, booty in hand. His bedroom was at the end of the corridor and he found himself headed in that direction. Preoccupied with his thoughts, he didn't notice Virgil step silently from his bedroom into the corridor behind him, just as Jeff entered the sanctuary of his own room. His shock that someone had so quickly found the cake had subsided as he sat on the edge of his bed and cut into the remaining cake.

Before his sons had reached an age where they could compete with him for his mother's cakes, he'd had a clear field. Now he'd be lucky if he got the crumbs. But not this time, he declared, opening his mouth, ready to give his taste buds the feast they were clamouring for.

"Oh for Pete's sake!" Jeff growled as the ringing of the emergency siren kicked in. Leaping from the bed, he headed for the door, only realising as he stepped into the corridor that he was still carrying the plate. Whirling round, he searched for a suitable hiding place, as he realised he had the operation of returning the remaining cake to its original place, before its absence was discovered and he'd yet to taste it, and now, by the sounds of it, they had a rescue. 'And where the heck am I going to hide this cake?' The bedside cabinet caught his eye, it would have to do. Hastily he pushed it in as the siren continued with its persistent bleeping.

Jeff raced into the lounge seconds ahead of Gordon just as Scott emerged from the wall panel.

"Go ahead Alan," he said opening communications.

"Dad we have a hot air balloon that's gone off course, and is heading into the Antarctic seas. It's developed a tear in it's polyurethane membranes and is going down fast."

"Okay, son; give me the co-ordinates."

Alan quickly obliged.

"Are there any ships in the area?"

"No, Dad; not in the immediate vicinity. The nearest one is "The Indigo" and it's more than ninety minutes away. They'll have hit the water in just over forty…."

"What the heck's a balloon doing out there?"

"I-I believe i-it's the Majestic, M-Mr. Tracy, the o-one that's trying to set a-a new world record by going pole, to pole." Brains said, from his vid-com.

Jeff nodded. "I know the one. Isn't it trying to break the old record set by Piccard and Jones?"

"Th-that's right, Mr. Tracy."

"Alright, son; tell them we're on our way."

"Sure thing, Dad."

"Scott, make it fast; you heard the situation. Alan will give you a more precise fix once you're airborne."

"FAB, Dad," Scott said swinging back through the panel to TB1.

Jeff looked up as Virgil arrived. "Virgil, take Gordon with you. You'll need pod four, and keep up maximum speed all the way. You're going to need every minute you've got." Both nodded their affirmatives as they headed for their relevant access points.

Alerted by the signal from John, Jeff activated the control for Thunderbird Three's access point and watched as John rose into the lounge on the sofa.

"Anything I can do Dad?"

"Sure son, go with Gordon. He'll fill you in. We may need your communications expertise on this one."

"FAB, Dad."

Jeff sat back, placing his used coffee cup on the tray with a smile. It had taken just under two hours. The three man crew had been rescued and placed aboard the waiting freighter "The Indigo", his boys were less than two minutes away and all this before dinner. As if to remind him how close dinner was, his stomach growled, rekindling the image of that cake residing in his room... He knew the clock was ticking, that he was walking a fine line before its absence was discovered, but he had to have that slice first, before he could even contemplate returning the remainder. First though, he had to give clearance to his sons who were waiting to land.

"That's not possible!" he fumed, pulling the plate from the cabinet. "That's just not possible!"

Going over the events of the past couple of hours, he knew the boys had all been occupied with the rescue. Brains hadn't left his lab, Kyrano had been occupied feeding him a constant diet of coffee and his mother had been by the pool with Tin-Tin during that time, and, unless someone was living rent free amongst them, there was no-one left. He continued to stare at the plate and the remainder of the cake.

"Of all the underhand……..who the heck's beating me to it? Is nothing sacred round here? Well if this place isn't safe...….."

Jeff made it to his private study unseen. With the rest of the family occupied he knew this time he'd be undisturbed as he turned his attention once more to obtaining that all important slice. His exasperation threatened to boil over as the intercom bleeped. Dropping the cake with an air of frustration, he stabbed at the console, barking into it. "Yes!"

The young engineering genius stepped back a fraction from his console.

"What is it Brains?"

"Ah, M-Mr. Tracy, I-I have t-the blue prints for the hover board ready for your inspection."

"Okay, Brains; just a minute please." Pausing communications Jeff began a private battle, 'the cake or the lab?' he flicked a glance at his watch. Time was now at a premium, his mother would be starting dinner soon.

'Nerves of steel……..' the dark voice sneered.

"Oh shut up!"

"Pardon, Mr. Tracy!"

"Sorry Brains; not you." Jeff cast him an apologetic look. "Okay, give me two minutes," he said cutting communications, then glanced longingly at the provocatively inviting cake. The temptation proved too much and he lifted it to his mouth. The rapid tapping on the door startled him.

"Jeff dear, are you in there...Jeff?"

Jeff dropped the cake like a red hot stone, slamming it back into his desk so fast he almost trapped his fingers, as the door swung open.

"Jeff?"

"Mother!"

"Jeff dear, what's wrong, you look rather flushed."

"Nothing…..nothing's wrong. Did you want something?" He asked, mentally crossing his fingers.

"Are you sure you're alright, dear?"

"I'm fine mother, what did you w……"

"Only you look……."

"Mother; I'm rather busy right now, and Brains is waiting to see me."

"Sorry dear. It's the fuses, they've gone again."

"Ask Gordon. I'm sure he'd be only to happy to fix them."

Mrs. Tracy nodded and smiled. "Well dear, aren't you coming, I thought you said Brains was waiting?"

With her shrewd eyes on him, Jeff had little option but to comply…….after first furtively checking his fingers were icing free. With regret he closed the door behind him and headed for the lab.