Discalimer: I do not own Thunderbirds in any way!
CHAPTER TEN – Darkness on the Horizon
After they had had lunch Scott and Virgil gave Gordon the details of their conversation with John. Gordon agreed with Scott's plan of action that they should just leave Alan to handle it for now until they knew more and he told them that Alan had gone down to the Thunderbird silos to help Brains after he had stormed out of the kitchen.
As Scott predicted, their father had indeed noticed the bruises on his youngest son's neck at lunch, and had pretty much reacted the same way his other sons had. After the initial shock he had asked where Alan had gotten the bruises. Alan kept to his story about doing it accidentally in his sleep. Of course Jeff didn't believe that for one minute and continued to try and get the truth from Alan.
Again, as Scott predicted, Alan had exploded at his father's persistence and what had started out as concern ended up as a very loud argument between the two. Jeff was stunned at his son's outburst, Alan had never been this angry at him before. So he ordered him to the sick bay so Brains could take a look at the bruises to try and discern where they came from.
Alan had glared at his father and, for the second time that day, stormed out of the living area leaving behind many shocked faces. Scott had seen the worry in his father's features as he watched his son storm out. Jeff asked them if they knew anything about where the bruises had come from, they told him what they knew, which was pretty much nothing. Not even Tin Tin and Fermat knew where he had gotten them.
He tried again later that day to get Alan to let Brains check him over. Again he refused saying that he was fine and that they were all over reacting. After seemingly exhausting all options Jeff decided to leave it be for now. He didn't want to upset Alan further; he needed him and the rest of his sons in top shape to go on rescues, so nothing more was said on the matter.
The next six days seemed to go by in a blur. International Rescue got only one call out during those days, to the North Pole to rescue some researchers who had gotten caught in bad weather conditions.
Alan's behavior continued to be quiet and withdrawn. He spent most of his time with Tin Tin and Fermat helping Brains with the auto-flight system, which they had at last successfully installed into Thunderbird One. The rest of the time Alan was either in the flight simulator or in his room. He was still having trouble sleeping but he hid it well from everyone. Well…almost everyone. Scott had continued to keep an eye on him when he could and could see that nothing had really changed. He knew that his father had also been watching Alan and he could tell that he was also still worried.
The day finally arrived for John to come back down to earth and everyone was looking forward to seeing him again. Virgil and Gordon had set off at five in the morning to have him back on land by breakfast time.
As Thunderbird Three streaked back through the atmosphere after the change over Virgil radioed ahead for permission to land. Jeff granted them permission and moments later Thunderbird Three slowly descended down through the library building into her silo below.
The rest of the family was already sitting down to breakfast when they walked into the living area. Everyone turned to greet them.
"Hi guys! Did you miss me?"
"John, good to see you" Jeff went over and hugged his son as he came over to the kitchen.
Scott copied his father. "Good to have you back bro".
"Well I'm looking forward to doing some hands on rescue work for a change" John smiled at his older brother.
"We've missed you John" Alan said as he joined in the greetings also giving his older brother a hug. John ruffled Alan's hair affectionately as he stepped back. Alan smiled at him before turning back to the kitchen.
Jeff was silently relieved to see his youngest smile again. He hadn't smiled once since the incident six days ago. John watched Alan as he walked over to the table noting that the bruises his brothers had mentioned looked to be fading.
Virgil yawned widely as he sat down at the table, the rest of the house's occupants quickly following suit.
"It's nice to see you again Mr. Tracy" Tin Tin commented as the bacon and eggs were passed round. Her father, sat next to her, nodded in agreement.
"Thanks Tin Tin. It is good to be home, and you do know you can call us by our first names". Tin Tin blushed slightly feeling embarrassed. "Sorry, old habits die hard" she smiled.
"So John, have you ha-h-ha experienced any problems with Th-Thu-Thunderbird Five's systems?"
"No, she's running like a dream Brains. Those repairs we had to do after that missile strike are holding up great".
"That's g-g-g-go wonderful to hear".
The coffee pot followed the bacon and eggs round the table. Virgil poured himself a large mug in an attempt to wake up his sluggish brain.
"Virgil, you look like one of those zombies in that horror movie we watched last week!"
Virgil smiled slightly at Alan's remark. "Gee thanks kiddo. I was up at four this morning remember?"
"I'm surprised Gordon managed to drag you out of bed so early Virg".
"Scott I'm not that bad!"
Scott and Alan looked at each other knowingly, smiles spreading on their faces. It was a well-known fact amongst the brothers that Virgil was a very deep sleeper. Gordon had played many cruel jokes on him because of it. One particularly bad prank Gordon had played a few months ago involved marker pens and glitter sequins. Virgil had woken up and had walked into the kitchen looking like a perfect clone of Ziggy Stardust! Everyone had thought it was hilarious but Gordon had paid for it in the end. Virgil had spent the rest of the day chasing his troublesome younger brother around the villa with rope, swearing vengeance and threatening to tie him to the nose cone of Thunderbird One.
"Virgil don't worry about it. Go hit the sack after breakfast if you feel tired", Jeff cut in.
"Ok dad. But if there's a call out I'm there!"
Jeff laughed.
"Do you have anything planned today John? We're gonna be testing the auto-flight system in Thunderbird One in two hours if you want to help"
"That's something I have to see. Sure Alan".
After finishing up with breakfast Brains, Tin Tin, Fermat and Alan left, heading back down to the silos.
Kyrano went back to the gardens as Onaha cleared the table.
"Thanks Onaha, that was wonderful"
"My pleasure Mr. Tracy. It's going to be chicken salad for lunch".
"Sounds good. I'll see you boys later", with that Jeff picked up his paper and left.
"You spoil us too much you know Onaha" Scott commented smiling.
She leaned in to wipe the table "Someone has to make sure you boys eat well. Lift" At her word Scott, Virgil and John lifted their mugs off the table so she could finish wiping it.
"You are such good boys" She commented before she left for the laundry room.
Once she had gone John turned to his brothers. "Alan seems a lot better from when I last talked to him".
"I think it's because you're back home John" Virgil commented taking a sip of his coffee.
"He does miss you y'know, when you're up there" Scott continued.
John smiled at that. "I know. I'm sure between us we can cheer him up".
Scott got up from the table "Well, I'm going to go down and keep an eye on them".
John smirked "Are you going down there to keep an eye on them or 'your baby'?"
Scott grinned back at them but didn't answer as he left the living area.
Just off the coast of America in the Atlantic Ocean a cargo ship could be seen in the distance. But this ship carried a very dangerous cargo.
"Sir, we are approaching the port of New York" Transom informed her master.
"What is our E.T.A?"
"27 minutes sir"
The Hood allowed himself a small smile. Everything was going according to plan. Being a rich and powerful man had its advantages and the Hood had easily…'persuaded' the captain of the vessel to cooperate. Sadly the captain hadn't lived long enough to see his payment and was dumped overboard half way across the Atlantic with a bullet hole in his skull.
"Sir, I still don't understand. Why go to all this trouble? Why not do what we did last time and invade their base".
The Hood rolled his eyes at the man's stupidity.
"Because, Mullion, the Thunderbirds will have upgraded their defenses by now. We won't get within fifty miles of their base before we are detected"
"But sir…" Mullion paused as he watched his boss's eyes glow red. The fourteen henchmen behind him stepped back slightly in fear.
"Mullion, your ignorance is most tiresome. Why do I want to draw attention to myself when no one as of yet knows of my escape. Why waste such a valuable advantage".
Mullion fell silent.
"The moment the Thunderbirds hear of my escape they will be on guard for an attack. But…thanks to the police and that idiot prison my freedom remains a secret".
The Hood walked across the bridge of the cargo ship to stand at the helm in front of the windows, watching the skies darken outside.
"I will have my revenge on Jeff Tracy and those rotten children of his".
The Hood smiled again as he turned back to face Mullion. "I will tear Jeff 's family apart…from the inside out!" the Hood's laughter echoed through the room.
Mullion smirked "Yes sir".
The Hood surveyed is team. "I have Alan Tracy under my power; he will do exactly what I tell him to do. All we need to do is let the Thunderbirds to come to us, and they will. We will give them a season they can not refuse and once they are where we want them, we will seal their fate".
Mullion nodded, "Sir everything is set. Your men await your command".
The Hood turned back towards the windows as rain started to fall outside from the dark gray sky above. "It will be a fitting end…for such a noble organization and their technology will bring a high price for us. Just make sure you all do your jobs.." the Hood glanced back at his waiting minions "or you will suffer the price of failure!"
The faces of his men paled slightly at the prospect of failure.
The Hood narrowed his eyes turning back to transom "Radio the shipping port to confirm our arrival".
"Yes sir"
The Hood gazed back through the large windows as thunder started to role in from ahead, "…we begin in 24 hours".
TBC
Well there it is. I'm not going to give anything away cos that will spoil it -)
Hope you enjoyed and please review.