Chapter Thirty Two

Transtech Offices

Dakota City, Two Days Later

Jeff Tracy smiled as he pulled up outside the offices of Transtech Limited the company founded and run by Virgil Hawkins and Richard Foley or as he also now knew them to be Static and Gear. He exchanged a smile with Peter sitting in the passenger seat beside him as he imagined how surprised they would be to see him in person again. Normally Jeff didn't pay visits like this but this was something he needed to do, this invitation he wanted to make in person.

"Are they going to be surprised," Peter said smiling.

"Yes they will be," Jeff agreed. "But they've earned the right to come to the little celebration that were planning now that Alan has finally quit sleeping."

Alan had stayed asleep for the better part of a day and a half once he'd gone back to sleep on his own bed. It was a mystery how he'd had the energy to even wake up when he was in the wheelchair if he was that tired and energy depleted. Though Jeff suspected that the physical exhaustion and energy depletion were only part of the story as to why Alan had slept so long, he suspected that emotional exhaustion had playing its part as well. After all Alan had gone through so much in such a short space of time. What with his powers appearing, the Hoods attack, almost losing his family as a result of the Hoods assault, saving his family and then the mission in London and the final confrontation with the Hood. It was such an emotional roller coaster that it wasn't surprising that emotionally as well as physically Alan had been completely exhausted.

Opening the driver's side door Jeff climbed out of the car that had met him at the airport. While he could have come here in one of the super cars kept on the island he hadn't bothered. He'd brought the family jet and Peter had met him at the airport with this company car as opposed to his own. Peter climbed out the passenger side and closed the door behind him. Once both doors were closed Jeff locked the car and in unison both Jeff and Peter began walking up the steps towards to entrance of the simple three-story office building that housed Transtech's offices. The manufacturing plant was on the other side of the street.

In a few moments they reached the entrance doors and went inside and headed right for the receptionist.

"You know V were going to have to do some serious expanding to meet all these new contracts," Richie Foley said from his desk in the office he and Virgil shared though they didn't have to share an office anymore. It was only out of personal preference now that they shared an office not out of necessity as it had been when they'd first set up Transtech four years ago.

"I know," Virgil agreed from his own desk. "But demand for the products we manufacture has gone up a thousand fold in the last year. Ever since we secured that contract with Tracy Inc last year to provide crystal state navigational processors for there aerospace wing."

"I know," Richie replied. "They've never complained of any problems not that I expected there ever would be. Still the sheer number of new orders is a surprise. It's going to take some time to set up the new production lines and then we have to recruit and train new staff."

"I know thankfully the bulk of the new orders are not due to come into full force until this time next year."

"Yes that gives us time to bring all our current production lines up to their full capacity," Richie agreed. "And to install the new lines and get in the new staff."

"I know the timing will be tight but if we plan it right we can meet all the new orders."

"And I've got some ideas for improving the speed and efficiency of our production equipment and the crystal furnaces to speed up manufacturing time and reduce the number of flawed batches," Richie added which earned him a knowing smile off Virgil.

"Why did I know that was coming," Virgil said. Richie chuckled. Even when he wasn't being Gear his super intelligence had its uses. Though he always had to be careful and not use his brains full capabilities otherwise people would start getting suspicious that there was more to Richard Foley than met the eye that he was more than just someone gifted with a genius level I.Q.

The intercom unit on Virgil's desk chirped. Virgil pressed the button to receive.

"Yes?"

"Excuse me sir but there are two men here to see you and Mr Foley," the voice of senior receptionist Diane Travis said. Virgil exchanged a puzzled look with Richie. They weren't expecting anyone today.

"We don't have any appointments today who are they?" Neither Virgil nor Richie was expecting the answer that they received from Mrs Travis.

"A Mr Peter Davison and a Mr Jeff Tracy."

Virgil and Richie exchanged a look of absolute astonishment as they heard Mrs Travis's words. Peter Davison paying a surprise visit on them was unusual, usually if Peter wanted to see them about a business matter he would call to arrange a convenient time for him to come and see them not just turn up unannounced. The fact that he had turned up without calling them first was surprising.

But what was really, really surprising and shocking was that Jeff Tracy himself was with him. Until a few days ago neither of them had met Jeff Tracy in the flesh though they had known what he looked like. Few people ever got a glimpse of him in public, as the man was quite reclusive. Though Richie and Virgil now suspected that had much more to do with International Rescue than Jeff really wanting his privacy though there was that element. So why was he here now? What did he want? There was only one way to find out.

"I'll go down and meet them then bring them up here," Richie said getting up from his desk. Virgil nodded in agreement.

"Mrs Travis one of us will be right down," he said into the intercom.

"Yes sir." As Mrs Travis signed off Richie left the office heading for the lifts and stairs that would take him down to the ground floor.

Meanwhile Virgil got up from his own desk and hurried into the small on suite restroom to make himself properly presentable as he currently didn't have his tie on, his collar was undone and his hair wasn't in the neat tied back ponytail that he normally wore it in when working. It wouldn't do to greet such important guests looking like that. Though he couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Jeff Tracy to make the journey here to Dakota from Tracy Island.

Richie stepped off the lift and made his way to the front reception area. Like Virgil he was wondering what had prompted Jeff Tracy to come all the way here to Dakota himself. Surely if he'd merely wanted to speak to them he would have just called after all one of Tracy Inc's four main arms was in satellite communications with a whole network of satellites in orbit forming one of the most complete satellite communications networks ever built.

And then there were the secret International Rescue communications/sensor satellites linked to both Thunderbird Five and Tracy Island and Richie had no doubt that those comm satellites had the capability to break into his and Virgil's communication system. Had he wanted to just talk there were a myriad of ways Jeff could contact them with the technological resources he had at his command. So why had he come here?

Well he'd find out in a minute because he was walking into reception. And sure enough there was Jeff Tracy and Peter Davison leaning casually on the reception desk talking to the receptionists on duty. And though they looked calm Richie could tell that the receptionists were a little intimidated being in Jeff Tracy's company. He could understand it. Jeff had an air of authority and command about him that could intimidate just about anyone. Even when he'd been Gear and had met Jeff Tracy in person for the first time Richie himself had felt quietly a little intimidated by the power of the mans presence. Which was unusual. Usually when he put on his uniform and became Gear there was little that could intimidate him.

"Gentlemen," he said as he approached drawing both Peter's and Jeff's attention. "This is a surprise to what to do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"We need to talk with you and Virgil. Alone," Peter said. "Is there a place we can talk?"

"Yes," Richie replied mental alarm bells beginning to ring. Something was going on here. What it was or if it was good or bad he did not know yet. He just knew that something was going on. "This way," he added.

Jeff and Peter followed Richie through the corridors of the ground floor to the lifts. The lift that Richie had come down in was still here and the doors opened the moment he pressed the call button.

"So what's going on," Richie asked as soon as they were in the lift and the doors had closed. "Has something else happened?"

"Nothing like that Richie," Jeff told him smiling. "Nothing bad. As to what's going on you'll have to wait a few minutes."

"Alright," Richie answered as he pressed the button for the third floor. He was more intrigued now than ever. What did Jeff Tracy want from them?

A Few Moments Later

Virgil looked up from his desk as Richie came back in leading Peter Davison and Jeff Tracy. It didn't escape Richie's notice that Virgil had quickly freshened up and tied his long black hair back into the normal ponytail he wore while working it gave him a professional look which combined with his height and powerful muscular physique could be quite intimidating. Something they took full advantage of during negotiations especially with the trade unions or 'the awkward squad', as they'd come to call them.

"Gentlemen," Virgil said getting up. "This is a surprise. Why have you come here."

"Actually it's only to extend an invitation," Jeff said.

"An invitation to what," Richie asked curious as he closed the office door.

"A little celebration being held at home on my island," Jeff replied. "It's only a small thing, to celebrate victory over the Hood, this time around anyway. I have no doubt that he'll be back sometime in the future."

"Seems fair to celebrate the Hood getting chucked in jail where he belongs and the fact that you're all safe and the failure of his plan. But why do you want us to come," Virgil asked.

"You helped us defeat him," Jeff answered. "And you did help with Alan. It wouldn't be right if you weren't there."

Virgil frowned thoughtfully and looked over at Richie. He was inclined to accept the invitation. And the fact that Jeff had travelled all the way here to deliver the kind invitation himself spoke a lot about the importance he attached to it. Richie nodded.

"Alright," Virgil said looking back at Jeff. "We'll come."

"Wonderful," Jeff replied smiling brightly. "Either myself or Peter here will be along to pick you up at the end of the working day."

Virgil quickly glanced at the wall clock. Close of business was at 1700 hrs and it was now only 1100 hrs. That gave them a good six hours to get the days work done and to look forward to a party in the evening. A party that would take place on a beautiful tropical paradise a completely different world from the concrete, steel and glass environment of the city. He looked forward to it. Not just the party but to actually seeing Tracy Island for himself. Richie had described the island in detail to him and it sounded like a very peaceful and beautiful place.

"That will be fine," Virgil said to Jeff at last.

And Jeff Tracy smiled.