Chapter Four

Tracy Inc

Dakota City

Peter Davison sat in the quiet of his office on the top floor of the crescent shaped Tracy Inc building that was one of the newest and sleekest skyscrapers in Dakota City. The building had only been finished two years ago and now served as the North American regional headquarters of Tracy Inc the now global corporate empire built by his brother in law. Though Tracy Inc wasn't Jeff Tracy's greatest achievement, that one was much more secret.

And it was called International Rescue. Peter was one of the few people in the world who knew that the Tracy's were the rescuing heroes that in the mere four years since operations had begun had become revered the world over for there selfless bravery and courage. He knew because he'd helped Jeff build it and it had been built in memory of his sister after all.

While he was looking at a computer screen showing a quarterly report from marketing that he would have to review before sending it to Jeff he wasn't really paying attention to it. Instead he found his thoughts drifting to Jeff and the boys. It had been awhile since he'd seen them last and he was thinking of booking some holiday time – not that he really needed to since he was basically the boss where Tracy Inc's activities in North America were concerned and answered only directly to Jeff – and going to Tracy Island and spending some time with his brother in law and nephews. Who knew they might even convince John to come down from Thunderbird Five for a bit and they could all be together for a time, it would be nice.

A sudden soft beeping caught his attention and abruptly all thoughts of planning a holiday to Tracy Island vanished from his head, as did thoughts of reviewing the quarterly report. The soft beeping coming from a hidden buzzer in the desk was alerting him that he was being called but not regarding Tracy Inc. But before he could do anything he needed to do something.

Quietly he flipped open a hidden panel and pressed one of the two switches hidden there. The switch read his thumb print and activated a security system that had been built into this part of the building from the start. Immediately the floor to ceiling window that made up one wall of the office went opaque and a metal shield slid over the office door preventing anyone from accessing the room.

Then he pressed the second control and a slit appeared in his desk and a small screen rose from the desk and lit up showing a familiar face. And Peter smiled warmly.

"Hello Jeff what a pleasant surprise," he said. "It's nice to see you."

"Hello Peter its good to see you too," Jeff replied. "But this isn't a social call I'm afraid."

"I gathered as much otherwise why call me this way," Peter replied. "How can I help Jeff?"

"It's a mixture of advice and help that I need. Do you know anything about metahumans Peter."

"Aside from the fact that the bad ones keep giving the police around here headaches no," Peter replied confused. "Why do you ask?"

"Its Alan." Peter raised an eyebrow why was Jeff asking him about metahumans and mentioning his youngest nephew in the same conversation. Then Jeff spoke again. "He just turned into one."

"Alan's a metahuman," Peter asked shocked. "But ho.." Then like Jeff before him he remembered Alan's exposure during the first big bang. "The first big bang and Margaret's visit."

"That's the only explanation. But for one of the few times in my life I have no idea what to expect and Brains is clueless and all."

"Brains clueless about something that's a rarity," Peter commented. "I don't know anything specific about metahumans but I know two people who do. They're bound to since there both metahumans themselves."

"Your talking about Static and Gear," Jeff answered knowingly.

"Yes. I think I can get hold of Gear," Peter replied. "Static's away at the moment where he's gone I don't know. If I can then I can bring him to the island and he could probably help."

"Can he be trusted," Jeff asked. "If you bring him hear he could see things that few people know about." He could see the Thunderbirds, was what Jeff was really saying.

"I believe he can be. I've never heard of Static or Gear breaking their word once they give it. And I would make him give his word not to speak of what he sees on Tracy Island – if he sees anything – to anyone." Jeff seemed to consider for a few moments.

"Very well bring him here," Jeff said at last.

"I'll get hold of him then bring him to the island as soon as possible."

"Thank you Peter."

"You know I'm always glad to help Jeff. I'll see you soon."

"I'll see you soon Peter." Jeff signed off and the screen went blank before lowering back into the desk.

Peter turned off the security isolation system then opened a drawer in the desk and withdrew a small walkie-talkie with yellow and black electric markings and a silver finish. Static had given this to him a little while ago so he could call for his or Gear aid if he needed. Which was frequent considering how often Tracy Inc was targeted by those metahumans who were criminals.

Taking a breath wondering how he was going to explain all this to Gear he pressed a control on the side and spoke.

"Gear can you hear me," he said.

Elsewhere In Dakota

Richie Foley a.k.a Gear smiled in victory as the computer terminal lit up and began running self-diagnostic checks. Standing up where he had been crouched to fit the new power supply he looked around the room that was serving as his and Static's new headquarters. There old headquarters in the gas station had been demolished three years ago as part of an urban regeneration scheme for that part of Dakota City.

For a little while they'd been stuck then old Morris Grant a.k.a Soul Power to older generations had stepped in and given them the keys to his old base the power pad though both Richie and Virgil had agreed that they wouldn't call it by that name. That had been four months ago and ever since when he had free time between work and superhero stuff he'd been updating and in most cases replacing the obsolete equipment in the power pad with new up to date equipment. Fortunately since between them he and Virgil owned there own business rather than being employed by anyone he could make the time.

The sudden bleeping of his shock vox made him jump. Wondering what was wrong now or if it was Virgil calling him he walked over to the main terminal and picked up the offending object and switched it on out of its stand by mode.

"Gear can you hear me," a familiar male voice said from the vox. He recognised him immediately as being Peter Davison. Immediately he was alert, usually Peter only called if Tracy Inc was under attack from one metahuman gang or another.

Which was common since many of the gangs of teenage metahumans seemed to make a habit of harassing Tracy Inc's facilities in the city. And both Richie and Virgil were willing to bet that it wasn't coincidence that they did that. They suspected that Edwin Alva was covertly behind it, wanting to drive his biggest rival out of town so his company could be the biggest company in town again – something that Tracy Inc had taken from him. Unfortunately they couldn't prove it. Alva wasn't foolish enough to leave a trace.

"Yes I hear you Mr Davison," he replied in his best business voice into the shock vox. "What's up? Are you under attack?"

"Negative Gear but I or rather Jeff needs your help." Whose Jeff, Richie thought then realised, he means Jeff Tracy himself. What would one of the richest men in the world want my help for?

"What do you mean?" he asked in confusion.

"I cannot really explain over the radio. It's a somewhat delicate matter. Can you come and see me here?"

"Certainly," Richie replied more than a little intrigued now. His superfast, super smart brain was trying to come up with scenario's to explain why the Tracy's wanted his help but he couldn't think of anything. He didn't have enough information to even hazard a guess. "I'll be there shortly."

"I'll tell security to let you through," Peter replied. "Thank you Gear."

"Not a problem Mr Davison. I'll see you soon." He signed off and went to get into his full uniform all the while still wondering why on Earth Jeff Tracy wanted his help.

He was still thinking about it when he landed outside the crescent shaped Tracy Inc building. Blue spotlights at its base shone up against the face of the building illuminating the grand looking structure in the darkness of the night. Tonight there was no moon and high clouds obscured the sky so the building stood out more than normal.

The ornamental fountain in front of the building was also illuminated from underneath by soft blue light making the water glow softly.

Walking past the fountain he walked up to the main entrance and went inside. The security guard at the main desk noticed him immediately.

"Hello Gear," the guard said. "Mr Davison is expecting you. Do you know the way to his office."

"Where is it?" Gear asked not sure of the building layout, as he'd not really been in the main building before.

"Top floor end of the east wing," the guard answered as he pressed a button that let Gear through the security barriers between him and the lifts. Gear nodded his thanks before walking through the open barrier and pressing a button that called the lift.

The lift doors opened with a ping and Gear stepped out and was surprised to see Peter waiting patiently for him.

"Welcome Gear," Peter said holding out his hand. Gear took it and they shook hands. "Please come with me."

A couple of moments later they were both sitting down in Peter's office and Peter again turned on the security isolation system startling Gear who hadn't realised that the building incorporated this kind of technology.

"There now we can talk privately," Peter replied. "Now I know your curious as to why I asked you to come here."

"The thought has crossed my mind."

"As I said earlier Jeff needs your help or rather your advice."

"Your on a first name basis with your boss he must really like you," Gear commented. Peter chuckled.

"Its not that. Jeff's family," he replied. "He was my sisters husband. Even though my sisters dead were still family."

"Ah. So what does he need me for?"

"To help with my youngest nephew," Peter replied. "Let me explain." He told Gear about that night ten years ago how Alan had been exposed to the metagas but had seemingly been unaffected, yet how now he'd just shown he was a metahuman.

"Jeff's at a complete loss of what to do and want's some advice," Peter finished. "None of us know what to expect. We don't know if Alan's still going to be Alan or what powers he has – at least I don't know."

"Powers vary with individuals no two are ever the same," Gear answered. "Though there are some general guide lines with these things these days. You say Alan was exposed ten years ago but he's only changed now."

"Yes."

"That is strange," Gear admitted. "The delay is much longer than anything I've ever heard of. I think I need to scan Alan Tracy carefully. Then I might be able to give you some answers."

"I suspected that you would say that," Peter replied. "We can go to Tracy Island now if your agreeable."

"Sure. But how do we get there. I cannot fly that far even though the fuel supply for my boots is self sustaining."

"You won't have to I can take you," Peter replied. "But before we go I need you to promise me something."

"Oh?"

"On our journey and when we get to Tracy Island you will probably see things that very few people in this world know about," Peter told him. "I need you to promise that you won't reveal them to anyone including Static."

Gear was surprised by the request and he couldn't help but wonder what it was the Tracy's were so desperate to keep secret. There was only one way to find out. And while he knew Virgil wouldn't like him keeping something secret from him he could do it.

"You have my word," he replied at last. Peter smiled then turned off the security isolation system.

"Come with me then please."

A few minutes later Peter's car pulled out of the underground parking area and began heading out of the city but in the opposite direction to the airport which was on the other side of the city from Tracy Inc.

"Ah aren't we going the wrong way," Gear asked looking over at Peter from the passenger seat.

"No this is the quickest way out of the city."

"But the airports back the other way."

"That is true but who said were going on a plane to get to Tracy Island."

"Then how else are we supposed to get there. Speed boat," Gear asked.

"That would take days since the islands far out in the south pacific. Don't worry how were going to get there Gear you will see soon enough. And I think you'll be surprised."

Gear looked at Peter in curiosity wondering what on Earth he was planning. And beginning to wonder if he'd made the right decision to go with Peter. Something about the whole situation was odd. Yet he didn't feel threatened at least at the moment. Still he determined to keep a close watch and be ready to act if he needed to.

They left the city via the main highway and immediately turned off onto one of the side roads and there speed began increasing. Gear watched the digital speed display as there speed went up and up rising from a sedate 30 mph to almost 150 mph in seconds. Yet he felt absolutely no acceleration at all. What's going on here, he thought, what have I gone and gotten myself into. He saw that there speed was still rising and he couldn't believe it. No car should be able to go this fast.

Then he observed Peter press a small switch on the dashboard and Gear immediately heard something and his interface with backpack reported that the robots sensors were detecting a change in the configuration of the car. There speed continued to increase until to Gears mounting astonishment the front wheels lifted off the ground followed almost immediately by the back wheels. The car was now flying and climbing into the night sky at incredible rate.

A look out the window showed that there was a wing now sticking out from the side of the car and some sort of small jet engine on a nacelle had emerged from the side of the car. He was willing to be that there was another engine on the other side as well.

The technology astounded him and when he looked to the front windshield he now saw it displaying something like a fighters heads up display in holographic characters. He read some of them. They were height and speed indicators and he saw that they were travelling far faster than a jet fighter but he still felt no G-forces when he knew he should be. He always saw a display saying stealth active and showing a representation of the car surrounded by a field of some sort.

"Are we invisible," he asked.

"To sensors yes but not to the naked eye," Peter replied as he concentrated on flying the car while internally smiling to himself. Lady Penelope wasn't the only one who got to travel in style in a true super car.

"How can you do all this?" Gear asked. "Are you a secret agent or something."

Peter chuckled as Gear asked that. Him a secret agent! Well truth be told he was in away but not one who was as active as some agents like Lady Penelope. Though if Jeff ever needed some information found out in North America he was invariably asked to find it.

"I suppose you could say I am," he replied smiling. "But not for any government on or off this planet."

"Then who do you work for?" Gear asked. "If you don't work for a government or agency then who do you work for."

Peter got the distinct impression that now that he was onto something Gear wouldn't give up until he got the answers that he wanted. And while the flight to Tracy Island would only take an hour he didn't want to be pestered all the way. So he made a decision right there and then to tell Gear and he already had his assurance that he wouldn't tell anyone.

"You want to know who I work for," he asked.

"Yes," Gear replied.

"Very well then. Its International Rescue."

Behind his helmet Gear's eyes widened and his mouth opened in surprise. International Rescue! He didn't know they even had agents like most people he assumed that they had no need of them. Then he silently berated himself for not realising the truth himself. The technology that had to be behind this car was the same technology that was behind the Thunderbirds and there was only one group in the world who had that kind of technology.

Then another thought came. If Peter worked for International Rescue then that could only mean that the Tracy's were International Rescue. They might even be the Thunderbirds.

"One more question then I'll let you fly in peace," he said to Peter.

"What is it?"

"Are the Tracy's the Thunderbirds?" Peter looked over at him for a moment and decided he might as well say and having a quiet flight would be worth it. And he did trust Gear not to tell anyone about what he'd already seen. And he would probably find out soon anyway especially when they landed on Tracy Island.

"Yes. Except for Alan he's not old enough yet."

Then Peter returned to flying the car and Gear for his part leaned back in his seat and waited. Waited and wondered what wonders he might see on Tracy Island after he'd figured out what kind of metahuman Alan Tracy was.