Chapter Thirty Three

Author Note: to avoid confusion here between Virgil Hawkins and Virgil Tracy I'll be calling Virgil Hawkins just V.

Tracy Island

Eight Hours Later

Virgil Hawkins leaned back on the comfortable sun lounger and took a small sip of the tropical fruit drink he'd just been given by Onaha. There was no alcohol in it naturally since no one on the island drank alcohol still it was very nice. He and Richie had been here for about an hour now and Virgil found that he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

The party wasn't what he would have expected. There was no loud music or brightly flashing lights. Instead it was more of a gathering with all six Tracys, Kyrano, Onaha and Tin-Tin, Brains and Fermat, Lady Penelope and Parker, Peter Davison along with himself and Richie present. Soft background music played from hidden speakers mixing with the soft rustling of leaves from the trees and shrubs as a soft ocean breeze blew across the island. Some lovely bamboo oil-burning torches had been set up and lit even though the sun as it slowly set over the Pacific Ocean still provided more than enough light to see by.

A small buffet offering light snacks had been set up by Kyrano and Onaha but that was not going to the main source of food tonight. That would come from the barbecue that Jeff had just lit.

Looking at the pool V couldn't help but smile as he watched the antics of the oldest four Tracy sons. Scott, John, Virgil and Gordon were fooling around in the diving pool. Scott, Virgil and Gordon were tossed a ball back and forth between them while John lying on a inflatable bed tried to catch it. As V watched he saw John intercept a throw from Gordon to Scott and then throw it at Scott himself. Scott missed and the ball landed on the side.

V chuckled as Scott, Virgil and Gordon all turned on John and capsized the floating bed pitching John into the water. John surfaced almost immediately sputtering water before he laughed and his bro's joined in. Just like any other group of brothers in the world, V thought, playing with each other. You wouldn't guess that they're the thunderbirds.

V looked around at this peaceful tropical paradise. He could really get used to living this lifestyle. The pace of life here on the island seemed so much quieter and more relaxing than the hustle and bustle of Dakota City. Though it was very unlikely he would ever be able to live like this. While Transtech had already made him and Richie millionaires they couldn't leave Dakota for too long. That would leave the city defenceless against Ebon, Hotstreak and all the other bad metahumans not to mention all the regular criminals. Without Static and Gear around Dakota would rapidly go down the toilet in terms of civil order.

This visit to Tracy Island was and could only ever be a brief but very nice vacation. So while he was here he would make the most of the visit and enjoy himself. Putting his drink down on a small table besides the lounger he closed his eyes before leaning back in the lounger to enjoy the peace of the evening. Determined to make the most of it no matter how long it lasted.

Alan smiled as he watched his brothers fooling around in the swimming pool. It was so good to see that they were all okay and none the worse for ware for the Hoods attack on them. He had worried about them so much during the whole thing with the Hood, wondering if he would be in time to save them. Thankfully he had been and the Hood had been defeated – for now at least. Alan personally had no doubts that they would be hearing from Trangh Belagant again someday.

Footsteps from behind him caught his attention and Alan turned around to see Tin-Tin approaching. She was dressed in a beautiful Hawaiian style sarong that looked absolutely fabulous on her.

"So what do you think," Tin-Tin said coming to a stop and doing a twirl to show her full outfit.

"You look beautiful Tin-Tin," Alan replied smiling. Tin-Tin smiled back and looked Alan over dressed as he was in a pair of shorts and a light blue short sleeve shirt with tropical fruit prints on it. He was a very handsome and fit young man himself. It was strange that she hadn't really noticed that before now.

"Thank you," Tin-Tin replied feeling a strange inner warmth at Alan smiling at her. She didn't feel it when anyone else smiled at her only with Alan. The feeling confused her like many of her feelings for Alan did. One minute she would barely be tolerating his presence near her the next she would be wanting nothing more than for him to stay with her all day. It was confusing. Was she falling for Alan Tracy?

Before either herself or Alan could speak again they heard Jeff banging on a triangle to get everyone's attention.

"May I have everyone's attention please," Jeff called smiling. Before they could really proceed with having dinner he had a little announcement to make and he wanted to award something to Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat. Something that in there actions over the last few days they had earned, all of them.

Everyone reacted to Jeff's call. Alan and Tin-Tin both turned to look at Alan's father while Fermat looked up from where he was putting his shirt back on after a swim. Over the last few days Fermat had been learning to swim initially just with assistance from Tin-Tin but then from Gordon and eventually when he'd woken up Alan as well. With the help and instruction of three such expert swimmers Fermat was learning fast. Alan's brothers all climbed out of the swimming pool and stood there dripping wet and Alan was almost tempted to go over there and dry them off. But decided against it they'd be back in the pool in a couple of minutes knowing them.

For their part V and Richie got up from their sun loungers and moved to stand with Peter, Kyrano, Onaha, Lady Penelope and Parker. All of them were curious as to what Jeff was planning though knowing his brother-in-law as well as he did Peter had a pretty good idea.

Jeff pointedly looked around at everyone.

"We're all together now," he began. "When three days ago it looked for awhile that we would never be together again. But the Hood has been beaten. And the majority of our thanks for that victory should go to three very special people." He looked pointedly at Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat who was just moving over to join the other two. "Alan, Fermat and Tin-Tin," Jeff continued moving up to the three friends.

Alan looked back at his father wondering what his dad was planning and what he was thinking congratulating them like this. They hadn't done anything particularly special just what had been needed to be done at the time. The fact that he'd instinctively used his powers and in doing so come to terms with them and the fact that he was a metahuman had been icing on the cake so to speak.

Alan watched interested as his father slid a hand into one of his trouser pockets before looking back at his brothers for a moment.

"The world needs thunderbirds," Jeff said at last turning his head to look at Alan, Tin-Tin and Fermat. "And the thunderbirds need you." With that he reached into his pocket and took out three International Rescue badges. They were slightly different to the badges Alan's father and brothers had. There's were silver with highlighting in a single block colour according to there particular Thunderbird just like there uniform colour codes. The one's Jeff was holding now were also silver but the highlighted areas were in multiple colours – they were the badges of trainee thunderbirds.

Jeff took a step forward until he was in easy reach of the three completely stunned friends. He went to Fermat first and pinned one of the badges on his shirt. Out the corner of his eyes Jeff saw Brains staring at his son with an expression of pride on his face.

"Mr Tracy," exclaimed a shocked Fermat. Jeff just smiled at him and moved over to Tin-Tin and pinned a badge on her sarong.

"Thank you sir," Tin-Tin replied her voice somewhat choked by the feelings welling up inside her. Never would she have thought that she would ever get this chance, that she would ever be more than a spectator to the activities of International Rescue. Never would she have thought that she would be allowed to actually step onto the road that could lead her to actually be a thunderbird. As Jeff moved off Tin-Tin looked over at her parents to see both of them practically glowing with pride and looking a little surprised and humbled by the honour that was being bestowed upon her.

Finally Jeff stood face to face with his youngest son. For a second he just looked at Alan. He was so proud of him. Alan had handled himself so well through the whole situation with the Hood. And he was proud for another reason. Proud at how in the midst of it all Alan had come to terms with the fact that he was a metahuman.

Then he reached forward and pinned the badge on Alan's shirt. Alan could barely believe that this was happening. He had been dreaming about it for so long. Now that it was actually happening he could barely believe it.

"Congratulations Alan," Jeff said smiling at his youngest. "You've earned it. No short cuts." Alan smiled back at his father but found he couldn't speak he was too overwhelmed by it all.

Jeff moved back to allow four very proud and happy older brothers to descend on Alan. Alan endured the friendly backslaps and the hugs with good grace still trying to process it all in his head.

He missed the look that passed between Scott and Virgil. Consequently he was surprised when Scott grabbed his right arm and Virgil his left before in unison throwing him into the swimming pool.

Alan hit the water with a cry of surprise. He immediately sunk beneath the surface. Reorienting himself he swum back to the surface. He broke the surface to the sounds of everyone laughing their heads off. Alan mock glared at Scott and Virgil before joining in laughing himself. His brothers jumped back in the pool and Alan grinned at Scott and Virgil it was time for a little vengeance.

Jeff smiled as he watched his five sons as they started playing around in the swimming pool. He barely noticed when Peter came up besides him.

"It's nice that everything is back to normal isn't it," Peter said smiling.

Jeff started to turn to answer his brother in law when the International Rescue alarm went off at full volume.

"Including that things awkward timing," Peter said laughing. Jeff grinned back agreeing with Peter before snapping into IR mode.

"Boys," he said to his sons even as all five of them climbed out the swimming pool, out the corner of his eyes he could see Brains already disappearing inside. Instantly in business mode Scott, John, Virgil and Gordon hurried inside the house leaving trails of wet footprints as they raced inside to quickly dry off and get into uniforms.

Jeff started to follow then he saw Alan paused by the swimming pool. He stopped and looked at Alan.

"Are you coming Alan," he said to his youngest son and saw Alan's face light up. Alan started to walk forward. "Oh Alan before you come to the control room go to your room. You'll find something there for you on your bed."

Alan nodded at his father. Then looked down at his soaking wet body. He wasn't going in there like this. Looking back up he concentrated imagining himself dry and felt his powers surge. The blue water glow appeared in his eyes and then a pulse of blue energy passed down his body in less than a second he was completely dry. The blue glow disappeared from Alan's eyes and he headed into the house heading for his bedroom as his father had instructed.

Jeff smiled impressed by that little display of Alan's powers. His son's abilities were truly amazing and seeing him use them was going to take some getting used to. Then he followed his son inside.

As Jeff and the boys disappeared inside V and Richie approached Peter.

"So what happens now," V asked Peter.

"Now we better get clear," Peter replied. "Because in a couple of minutes Thunderbird One's going to come shoot up from the location of the main swimming pool."

"Out the swimming pool," V exclaimed. "This I've got to see." Peter grinned.

"And see you will."

Command and Control

A Few Minutes Later

Jeff Tracy stood behind Brains gazing proudly at his five sons. A sixth portrait and the dormant lift behind it activated in the last few hours. The portrait was that of Alan in Thunderbird uniform. In front of the portrait stood Alan himself looking proud and very handsome in uniform – this one with a yellow colour code. All the boys stood in front of their portraits in their uniforms waiting for the order to go.

Jeff looked at them all one at a time. He would not be going with them on this particular mission to assist some mountaineers in Columbia who had gotten stuck on a mountainside by a landslide and with bad weather closing in. This one would be up to the boys on their own. All five of them. And it was time to send them on their way.

"Thunderbirds Are Go," Jeff said and he saw Alan smile right before five portraits and the panels they were on slid up out of the way revealing the lift compartments. The boys disappeared inside and the panels closed.

"Thunderbird One launch sequence initiated," the island's computer reported after a couple of minute's silence. "Thunderbird Two launch sequence initiated."

Jeff smiled as a few moments later he heard the roar of Thunderbird One's turboscram jets as the rocket took off.

The Thunderbirds were back in business.

The End