Disclaimer: Thunderbirds are not mine. They belong to Gerry Anderson & Co.
Author's Note: Took me another AGE to get round to this one and I hope it's been worth the wait! Thank you for the reviews, but after weeks without any posts, I'm begging for them!!!! Praise and criticism alike.
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More Than What Meets The Eye
Chapter 4
The first few minutes were just quick lines of introduction before they got down to the job.
"The first thing we need to discuss," Scott began, "is how to do this." His companions nodded.
"Do you think we should try and trace him again?" Jolene put forward her suggestion.
"Anything's worth a try," Scott agreed. "If it fails, I suggest we do it the old-fashioned way."
"Which is?" Virgil enquired.
"Split up and look for him."
............................................................................ ....................................
"Got a hair pin or something?"
"Yes, Alan, but I really don't think you need one. Your hair's looks lovely, darling."
Alan grinned despite the situation. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?"
"Many times, but I vote not to believe it." Megan said, handing over the pin. Alan inserted the pin into the old-fashioned lock and continued to fiddle with it.
"Can't I do anything, Alan?" Megan asked. "I'm not good at doing nothing."
"You could steady this door," he replied. "It's a bit rickety and it's making undoing this lock hell."
Megan leant up against it and Alan continued.
"I think we're nearly there," he grinned.
Megan fell backwards suddenly as the door shot open – to reveal the Hood.
"I do not think you need to worry about 'nearly being there' anymore." He smiled. "You have tried to defy me and now you will pay."
Alan made a lunge at the menacing person in front of him.
"Ah ah." The Hood pulled a gun from somewhere by his side and held it to Megan's forehead. "You will do as I say, won't you? We can't have your companion's brains blown out, can we?"
Alan, who often had trouble controlling his temper, held back as the Hood continued.
"We can't have your brother's little lady killed now, can we? I am sure that would be a terrible burden for any man to bear."
That threw Alan. His brother's little lady? He said it aloud.
"My brother's little lady? Which..."
The Hood interrupted with a laugh.
"You'll find out soon enough. For now, come with me. I have another place of accommodation for you."
Still holding the gun to Megan's forehead, he seized Alan, who, despite wishing he could fight, remained still in fear for Megan's life. As if for a finale act, the Hood turned and threw Alan's small silver transmitter into the room and smiled at Alan.
"Should slow your brother's down a little. At least it will buy us some time."
As the Hood dragged them past the jagged edge of the door, Alan winced as a deep gouge was torn in his arm. His sash caught on the edge of the door and was ripped off, leaving the blood-stained garment hanging on the wood.
............................................................................ ..........................................
Virgil ran his fingers through his hair for about the one hundredth time that day and shot to attention at the sound of bleeping.
"Scott! Jo!"
His companions hurried over to receive his news.
"I think we've got something!" Virgil laid a hand on the map that lay by the side of him. "This is where he is. His signal is coming from around this area."
Scott nodded.
"Great work, Virg."
Jolene looked in toward the map.
"Why would anyone keep him there?" she asked.
"I have no idea, Jo," Virgil replied. "But we'll soon find out. Now, how are we going to go about this?"
"I reckon we should all go as a group," Jolene said, "And have two of us go in and look for Alan, with one person to act as a) a lookout and b) to contact Mr.Tracy back at base."
Scott grinned at her.
"You're pretty good at this, aren't you?" he said, chuckling at her blushing face.
"Right, let's go for it!"
............................................................................ ..................................
They'd been shoved into the back of a blacked-out truck, and, while they were aware of moving, they couldn't tell where they were going or in which direction.
"Where do you think they'll take us Alan?" Megan asked. For the first time since they'd met, Alan noted an element of fear in her voice.
"I don't know, Megan," he said, grasping her hand. "But we'll be OK. The guys will find us in time."
They have to, he thought.
"Do you think it'll be Scott who finds us?"
"Sure to be. Him or Virgil..."
"Ah! So you do have a brother called Scott!"
"That was one dirty trick, Megan Parsons. Wait till Scott hears about that one!"
"So Scott's your brother then?" she tilted her head to one side. "You don't look like him."
"Just how well do you know Scott, Miss Parsons?" he looked at her.
"When he was in hospital last year...he'd not been able to walk...I was his physiotherapist. We got kinda close."
Alan didn't say anymore. He didn't have to. Instead, he focused his mind back on the situation.
............................................................................ ..........................................
"Right. So me and Virgil will be going in, whilst you keep a lookout, right?"
Jolene nodded in agreement.
"I'll call Mr.Tracy and let him know what's going on."
"Right."
They'd found the old abandoned house that held the signal. It was derelict, yet it was clear it had once been one of the grandest houses in the town.
Scott and Virgil went to see what would be needed to enter, only to find the door unlocked and what's more, open.
Jolene positioned herself outside the house and pulled out her radio.
"Be careful!" she whispered as they entered the house. "There could be anything in there."
She watched as they disappeared into the blackness.
............................................................................ ..........................................
Jeff watched as Tin-Tin stirred her cup of coffee absent-mindedly. He knew how she felt. She was acting how he was feeling right now. Heart in his mouth. A knot in his stomach.
"That spoon'll be dizzy by the time you've finished, Tin-Tin." He tried to say light-heartedly. She took it out of the coffee cup and looked at it, just as if there might be a chance it had gotten dizzy.
Jeff laid a hand on her shoulder and she crumpled into tears.
"Mr.Tracy. What have they done to Alan? I can't help thinking all these terrible things..."
"Now you mustn't do this to yourself, Tin-Tin. We're all worried about him. But I need to stay in control of the situation in case anything comes through." He replied, holding her hand. She looked up at him with tears on her cheeks.
"Don't you ever get frightened, Mr.Tracy? Aren't you ever panic-stricken?"
"Tin-Tin. Right now I'm every bit as terrified as you are. I'm just as scared as you to think about what might have happened to my son. But I can't let go and just panic, or all hell would break loose. If Scott calls in saying they've found him, I need a cool head so I can clearly instruct him what to do. OK?"
"Yes Mr.Tracy. I'm sorry, Sir."
"Don't be. I'm glad you confided in me about it."
Tin-Tin smiled at him through her tears as he left the room. A kind of 'magical' change had come over Jeff Tracy since both his sons underwent surgery the previous year. It seemed to have been for the better.
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"It's filthy in here." Virgil said in disgust, shining a light into the gloom. "We've seen many a dirty place, but this one beats all."
"Never mind about that Virgil." Scott replied. "Let's just find Al and get outta here."
They followed the signal to the room it came from.
"In here." Scott said, opening the door. He looked surprised at it's emptiness. Shining the light around the room, he caught sight of something small and shiny lying on the ground and was immediately silenced.
"What is it, Scott?" his older brother came up behind him. He followed his gaze to the small metal shape on the floor.
"Oh God." Virgil voiced Scott's thoughts. "Alan's transmitter."
Virgil surveyed the room that had previously been his brother's prison as Scott picked up the transmitter. Flashing his beam of light around the room, he caught sight of a length of beige material hanging from the jagged doorframe. Virgil went to get a closer look. He saw the blood that was splattered on it. The symbol, a picture of the earth with a hand round it was emblazoned on the shoulder area. Two letters were next to it.
"IR".
............................................................................ .........................................
"So that's the situation, Sir."
"Thanks Jolene. Base out."
"So what's happening, Mr.Tracy?"
"Well, Tin-Tin, the boys have gone to an abandoned town house where Alan's signal appears to be coming from. Now Agent 52 is just awaiting more news and will keep us updated on the situation."
Tin-Tin flopped down on a nearby chair.
"It seems to be taking so long." She said slowly.
"I know, Tin-Tin. I know."
............................................................................ ..........................................
"So where the Hell have you taken them??"
"My beautiful lady, do not sound so stricken. They are right here with me."
"Can they hear our conversation?"
"Of course not, my dear. I know better than that."
"I thought you were supposed to be at the house so we could get this over with!!"
"They had to be moved, my sweetheart. They were escaping."
"Yeah, well, they'd better be willing to give up information on International Rescue. Or we'll just have to beat it out of them. And their father too."
............................................................................ ........................................
End Note: Yahooooo! Got there eventually! Chapter 5....erm...is coming! PLEEEEEEASE review!
Author's Note: Took me another AGE to get round to this one and I hope it's been worth the wait! Thank you for the reviews, but after weeks without any posts, I'm begging for them!!!! Praise and criticism alike.
............................................................................ ....................................
More Than What Meets The Eye
Chapter 4
The first few minutes were just quick lines of introduction before they got down to the job.
"The first thing we need to discuss," Scott began, "is how to do this." His companions nodded.
"Do you think we should try and trace him again?" Jolene put forward her suggestion.
"Anything's worth a try," Scott agreed. "If it fails, I suggest we do it the old-fashioned way."
"Which is?" Virgil enquired.
"Split up and look for him."
............................................................................ ....................................
"Got a hair pin or something?"
"Yes, Alan, but I really don't think you need one. Your hair's looks lovely, darling."
Alan grinned despite the situation. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?"
"Many times, but I vote not to believe it." Megan said, handing over the pin. Alan inserted the pin into the old-fashioned lock and continued to fiddle with it.
"Can't I do anything, Alan?" Megan asked. "I'm not good at doing nothing."
"You could steady this door," he replied. "It's a bit rickety and it's making undoing this lock hell."
Megan leant up against it and Alan continued.
"I think we're nearly there," he grinned.
Megan fell backwards suddenly as the door shot open – to reveal the Hood.
"I do not think you need to worry about 'nearly being there' anymore." He smiled. "You have tried to defy me and now you will pay."
Alan made a lunge at the menacing person in front of him.
"Ah ah." The Hood pulled a gun from somewhere by his side and held it to Megan's forehead. "You will do as I say, won't you? We can't have your companion's brains blown out, can we?"
Alan, who often had trouble controlling his temper, held back as the Hood continued.
"We can't have your brother's little lady killed now, can we? I am sure that would be a terrible burden for any man to bear."
That threw Alan. His brother's little lady? He said it aloud.
"My brother's little lady? Which..."
The Hood interrupted with a laugh.
"You'll find out soon enough. For now, come with me. I have another place of accommodation for you."
Still holding the gun to Megan's forehead, he seized Alan, who, despite wishing he could fight, remained still in fear for Megan's life. As if for a finale act, the Hood turned and threw Alan's small silver transmitter into the room and smiled at Alan.
"Should slow your brother's down a little. At least it will buy us some time."
As the Hood dragged them past the jagged edge of the door, Alan winced as a deep gouge was torn in his arm. His sash caught on the edge of the door and was ripped off, leaving the blood-stained garment hanging on the wood.
............................................................................ ..........................................
Virgil ran his fingers through his hair for about the one hundredth time that day and shot to attention at the sound of bleeping.
"Scott! Jo!"
His companions hurried over to receive his news.
"I think we've got something!" Virgil laid a hand on the map that lay by the side of him. "This is where he is. His signal is coming from around this area."
Scott nodded.
"Great work, Virg."
Jolene looked in toward the map.
"Why would anyone keep him there?" she asked.
"I have no idea, Jo," Virgil replied. "But we'll soon find out. Now, how are we going to go about this?"
"I reckon we should all go as a group," Jolene said, "And have two of us go in and look for Alan, with one person to act as a) a lookout and b) to contact Mr.Tracy back at base."
Scott grinned at her.
"You're pretty good at this, aren't you?" he said, chuckling at her blushing face.
"Right, let's go for it!"
............................................................................ ..................................
They'd been shoved into the back of a blacked-out truck, and, while they were aware of moving, they couldn't tell where they were going or in which direction.
"Where do you think they'll take us Alan?" Megan asked. For the first time since they'd met, Alan noted an element of fear in her voice.
"I don't know, Megan," he said, grasping her hand. "But we'll be OK. The guys will find us in time."
They have to, he thought.
"Do you think it'll be Scott who finds us?"
"Sure to be. Him or Virgil..."
"Ah! So you do have a brother called Scott!"
"That was one dirty trick, Megan Parsons. Wait till Scott hears about that one!"
"So Scott's your brother then?" she tilted her head to one side. "You don't look like him."
"Just how well do you know Scott, Miss Parsons?" he looked at her.
"When he was in hospital last year...he'd not been able to walk...I was his physiotherapist. We got kinda close."
Alan didn't say anymore. He didn't have to. Instead, he focused his mind back on the situation.
............................................................................ ..........................................
"Right. So me and Virgil will be going in, whilst you keep a lookout, right?"
Jolene nodded in agreement.
"I'll call Mr.Tracy and let him know what's going on."
"Right."
They'd found the old abandoned house that held the signal. It was derelict, yet it was clear it had once been one of the grandest houses in the town.
Scott and Virgil went to see what would be needed to enter, only to find the door unlocked and what's more, open.
Jolene positioned herself outside the house and pulled out her radio.
"Be careful!" she whispered as they entered the house. "There could be anything in there."
She watched as they disappeared into the blackness.
............................................................................ ..........................................
Jeff watched as Tin-Tin stirred her cup of coffee absent-mindedly. He knew how she felt. She was acting how he was feeling right now. Heart in his mouth. A knot in his stomach.
"That spoon'll be dizzy by the time you've finished, Tin-Tin." He tried to say light-heartedly. She took it out of the coffee cup and looked at it, just as if there might be a chance it had gotten dizzy.
Jeff laid a hand on her shoulder and she crumpled into tears.
"Mr.Tracy. What have they done to Alan? I can't help thinking all these terrible things..."
"Now you mustn't do this to yourself, Tin-Tin. We're all worried about him. But I need to stay in control of the situation in case anything comes through." He replied, holding her hand. She looked up at him with tears on her cheeks.
"Don't you ever get frightened, Mr.Tracy? Aren't you ever panic-stricken?"
"Tin-Tin. Right now I'm every bit as terrified as you are. I'm just as scared as you to think about what might have happened to my son. But I can't let go and just panic, or all hell would break loose. If Scott calls in saying they've found him, I need a cool head so I can clearly instruct him what to do. OK?"
"Yes Mr.Tracy. I'm sorry, Sir."
"Don't be. I'm glad you confided in me about it."
Tin-Tin smiled at him through her tears as he left the room. A kind of 'magical' change had come over Jeff Tracy since both his sons underwent surgery the previous year. It seemed to have been for the better.
............................................................................ ..........................................
"It's filthy in here." Virgil said in disgust, shining a light into the gloom. "We've seen many a dirty place, but this one beats all."
"Never mind about that Virgil." Scott replied. "Let's just find Al and get outta here."
They followed the signal to the room it came from.
"In here." Scott said, opening the door. He looked surprised at it's emptiness. Shining the light around the room, he caught sight of something small and shiny lying on the ground and was immediately silenced.
"What is it, Scott?" his older brother came up behind him. He followed his gaze to the small metal shape on the floor.
"Oh God." Virgil voiced Scott's thoughts. "Alan's transmitter."
Virgil surveyed the room that had previously been his brother's prison as Scott picked up the transmitter. Flashing his beam of light around the room, he caught sight of a length of beige material hanging from the jagged doorframe. Virgil went to get a closer look. He saw the blood that was splattered on it. The symbol, a picture of the earth with a hand round it was emblazoned on the shoulder area. Two letters were next to it.
"IR".
............................................................................ .........................................
"So that's the situation, Sir."
"Thanks Jolene. Base out."
"So what's happening, Mr.Tracy?"
"Well, Tin-Tin, the boys have gone to an abandoned town house where Alan's signal appears to be coming from. Now Agent 52 is just awaiting more news and will keep us updated on the situation."
Tin-Tin flopped down on a nearby chair.
"It seems to be taking so long." She said slowly.
"I know, Tin-Tin. I know."
............................................................................ ..........................................
"So where the Hell have you taken them??"
"My beautiful lady, do not sound so stricken. They are right here with me."
"Can they hear our conversation?"
"Of course not, my dear. I know better than that."
"I thought you were supposed to be at the house so we could get this over with!!"
"They had to be moved, my sweetheart. They were escaping."
"Yeah, well, they'd better be willing to give up information on International Rescue. Or we'll just have to beat it out of them. And their father too."
............................................................................ ........................................
End Note: Yahooooo! Got there eventually! Chapter 5....erm...is coming! PLEEEEEEASE review!