Thank you very much to everyone who has stuck with me and especially those who have taken the time to review. It means a great deal.
Just time enough to refer back to my original disclaimer and acknowledge the genius of the source material before we continue. Hope you enjoy the ride!
The sudden wind that had picked up stirred the still branches of the trees and began to blow away the remainder of the gas cloud. Jeff peered upwards through painful, tear-filled eyes and saw the source of the wind. Grateful for the fresh, cool breeze on his face, Jeff watched in awe as the two all but silent helicopters hovered above the forest.
Their presence was more than a little concerning and their silent approach only added to his fear. Jeff blinked away hot, poisoned tears and resisted the urge to rub at his stinging eyes, recalling how this would only make it worse.
Beside him, Penny was still coughing with the powerful effects of the gas and scratching at her face with her gloved hands. Jeff crawled over to her and grabbed her wrists, stopping her from causing further injury and pulling her against him firmly.
"Are you hurt?" His voice was hoarse and he coughed dryly.
"No." Penny managed.
Their surroundings were a blur and Jeff frowned as he looked through the last wisps of remaining gas. It seemed some of the marines were in a similar predicament to them, stunned and in pain from the gas but obviously still alive. The other still forms lying on the ground gave a more ominous report and Jeff sighed in dismay.
The high-pitched zip sound of personnel descending from ropes that now dangled from the helicopters caught Jeff's attention. He turned and could just make out the six black-clad figures that rapidly approached them.
"Freeze!" Came the harsh, shouted order.
Jeff nodded and let go of Penny, slowly raising his hands in submission. Two of the soldiers rushed over to the pair of them and guarded them with the threatening aim of semi-automatics. Jeff was aware of the others surrounding what remained of the marine group and he waited patiently for further instruction.
"Jeff …?" Penny whispered.
Jeff gave a quick shake of his head and turned to smile at her in reassurance. He could just about make out her concerned expression and he followed her gaze. His heart slammed against his chest as he watched one of the soldiers kneel down beside one of the bodies that lay beside the jeep. A careful check for any pulse at the man's neck and a heavy sigh of dismay and Jeff watched as the Hood was confirmed dead.
His head was swimming dizzily. He had been ready to kill him. And now he was looking upon his still form and suddenly completely numb. Not relieved. Not upset. Just nothing.
"Such a shame." The soldier groaned quietly and turned to look at Jeff.
Jeff watched as the soldier stood and headed towards him. It wasn't me, Jeff wanted to shout. But suddenly he was confused; was he just as responsible because he had somehow wanted this to happen?
"Why …?" The soldier knelt down in front of Jeff and sighed again.
Jeff tried to focus on the soldier's face and blinked away further stinging tears.
"You don't see it, do you …?" The soldier continued. "You don't see what has been lost." Another sigh, "One of the greatest minds the world has ever known … gone. Because of you."
"I …" Jeff cleared his tight throat, "It was an accident. The smoke and the confusion and … one of the marines must have … god … I'm sorry …" He groaned as he realised that he really meant it. No matter how much hate he had once felt for the man, no matter how much hurt the Hood had caused his family, there was something very empty about the loss of his life. Empty and wrong. And Jeff wondered how he could ever have thought that the Hood's death would be anything else.
"Still …" The soldier continued, "It makes our job a whole lot easier." He stood and turned away from him. "Trying to bring down International Rescue had proved damned near impossible. But murder is infallible." He laughed gently, "I don't know why we didn't think of it before."
Penny groaned as she realised the full extent of the hell they were now immersed in. "Now, wait just a minute. You can't - "
"Oh, we can." The soldier chuckled softly, "And we will."
"We?" Jeff inquired.
"Indeed." He laughed again, "Just about every abbreviated organisation you can think of. Seems not everyone likes the idea of some secret, heavily armoured task force creeping about the globe."
"What?" Jeff gasped, "We're not - "
"Not what?" The soldier demanded icily, "Not dangerous?" He looked around them and again chuckled softly, "That argument is a little hard to prove now, don't you think?"
"But - " Jeff shook his head vehemently, "We didn't - "
"Didn't what?" He stepped back to him and shook his head in dismay, "Didn't fly into a clearly designated NFZ? Didn't interfere in the almost settled negotiations of a civil war? Didn't try to destroy a government facility?" He crouched down before him, "Didn't seek revenge for the harm you claim was done to you by a certain Trangh Belagant?"
"What? No! I never - "
"Because, even to the untrained eye, the actions of your organisation over the past few months have been more than a little questionable."
Penny groaned in dismay, "Now, wait just a damned - "
"Enough." The soldier waived his hand dismissively and turned his attention to his men. "Bring them!"
Jeff cried out in protest as he was grabbed by the shoulders and forced to his feet, his arms yanked behind his back and the soldier began to bind his wrists. He still couldn't quite see clearly and the disorientation added to his fear. It also prevented him from seeing exactly what happened next.
Six shots fired. The first came from somewhere in the forest beside them. The others became louder as someone approached them.
Jeff stood very still, hardly daring to breathe. And slowly he realised that he was no longer being held. He glanced behind him and saw his assailant dropping to the ground.
"Jeff?" Penny was suddenly at his side, clutching at his arm, her fear evident in her quiet voice.
"Mr. Tracy?"
Jeff turned towards the voice, seeing a blurred figure emerging from the forest.
"Are you alright, sir?"
"Y-yes." Jeff stammered, "I …"
"Good." Eva sighed in relief and jogged towards him, her eyes darting around and taking in the scene. "All clear." She announced into her handset and grabbed Penny as she continued towards Jeff. "We need to find cover. Fast."
Jeff and Penny stumbled along beside Eva and let her lead them briskly into the forest. She then ran back out and Jeff's vision had improved enough to see her assisting the marines away from the road.
It was then that the two helicopters loomed in closer. Having evidently discovered the lack of response from their colleagues, the crews sank lower to investigate. And then continued to descend, their speed growing as the rotors paused, shuddered and died.
Penny gasped and instinctively cowered from the sight, covering her ears and closing her eyes. But the two helicopters sank seemingly noiselessly into the trees, the sound of cracking branches and shattering rotors the only warning of the loud ground impact.
"We have to go." Eva ordered suddenly, dragging two limping marines behind her. "NOW!"
Jeff made no protest. He grabbed Penny and fell into quick pursuit of Eva's departing form. His mind was empty as he helped Penny stumble beside him and they fled back to the camp.
The gentle whine of the awakening engines filled the wide yard and Jeff sighed in relief as he turned towards the sound and saw a familiar figure perched in the cockpit of launch-ready Thunderbird One.
"It worked!" Eva laughed triumphantly and came to a halt at the edge of the complex.
Penny frowned in concern and looked pointedly at her. "There was a chance it wouldn't?"
Eva shrugged, "The targeting array has never really been tested." She admitted sheepishly, a smile dancing on her lips. She then flinched a little as the retros beneath the powerful craft gave a test burst and her smile grew. "But your guy made a few adjustments and it works!"
Jeff watched her thoughtfully, his frown growing as she caught his gaze.
Eva's smile vanished, "And it has to be destroyed."
Jeff nodded sombrely.
"As soon as you guys are clear." She continued quietly and then groaned suddenly at their lack of motion. "Well? Go already!"
Jeff began towards his craft but Penny hesitated. "What about - "
"I'll get your guys safely back to your transport and see my remaining people clear." She glanced back towards the forest. "We should be long gone before those guys come looking."
Penny shook her head in confusion.
"Tranq' gun." Eva shrugged, "Damned Spooks piss me off but that's no reason to wipe 'em out."
Penny's lips tightened.
"Get going!" Eva urged with a slight chuckle.
Penny nodded. "Thank you." She managed quietly. "I hope you - "
"I'll be fine!" Eva waved her of confidently, "I've been thinking about a career move anyhow … seems helping you guys has clinched it!" She laughed softly, "And who knows … maybe I'll drop by sometime and you can buy me a beer." Her laughter grew and she shook her head as she turned and assisted the marines towards the main building. "If you can call that warm brown stuff you guys put up with 'beer' …"
Penny smiled and quickly headed after Jeff to clamber up inside the impatiently snorting Thunderbird One.
Scott sat down hard on the waiting room sofa and let his head fall into his hands. "God, I can't take much more of this …"
Alex perched beside him and stroked her hand across his tight shoulders. "It's okay … your brother said your dad's okay …"
"I know … I know …" Scott sighed heavily, "I'm just so tired and …"
"It'll be okay." Alex repeated softly. She then heard the muffled crackle of her radio and she quickly retrieved it from beneath her vest. "Two five niner, receiving. Over."
"Alex? I can't keep covering for you, mate."
"I know, Tom." Alex sighed, "I'm sorry. Can you come back to Tommy's and pick me up?"
"Okay."
Alex signed off and pulled her vest back on, zipping the tight protection around her chest. "I'm sorry." She offered in dismay.
"No problem." Scott smiled thinly, "Thanks for being here."
"Keep me updated, yeah?" Alex stood and headed for the door. She glanced back and saw Scott flop back against the sofa wearily. With a sigh, she headed from the room and gasped as she nearly collided with one of the doctors.
Scott stood quickly as he recognised the surgeon and hurried across the room. "Well?"
"Um …" The surgeon glanced warily at Alex.
"It's okay." Scott explained dismissively. "How is he?"
The surgeon smiled warmly, "He will be fine."
"Oh, thank god!" Scott groaned.
"We had to remove his spleen, sew up a small tear in his diaphragm and did some extensive repair work to a damaged kidney." The doctor continued, "But he should make a full recovery. We'll need to keep him here under observation for a few days but it went well."
Scott frowned in concern and shook his head slowly. "Spleen?"
The surgeon nodded, "It's a very delicate organ and it was bleeding heavily. He'll need to take daily antibiotics for a few years and have regular check ups but he'll be fine."
Scott pondered his words for a moment and wanted to ask if any of what he suggested might change if he knew Scott was an astronaut. But somehow John's career seemed insignificant next to the news that he was alive.
"Can I see him?" Scott asked carefully.
"Of course." The surgeon nodded, "Although he was a little agitated when he started to come round so we gave him a sedative. He'll be asleep for a while yet."
"And security?" Alex asked quickly.
The surgeon smiled, "Already taken care of. Our staff have been well briefed."
Scott cringed inwardly at the instant memory of his rather over-excited father barking orders at portering staff and somewhat bemused security guards. He wondered how many of them were now very glad that this time their visitor did not have his 'leader' in tow.
They followed the doctor out to the reception area and were greeted by one of the nurses. Scott's heart was racing as they then accompanied her up to the private wing. It seemed to take an age to reach the twelfth floor and it did nothing for his nerves. The familiar ward brought back painful memories and he kept close to Alex.
Alex sighed with relief as they entered the ward and she saw the two uniformed security personnel standing guard outside the private room. With a smile, she greeted them and waited for Scott to be led into the room.
Having just been moved from the operating theatre, the staff were busy assessing John's condition and making him comfortable. Not that he would have known it. His peaceful face bore evidence of his deep, drug-induced slumber and Scott was suddenly envious of him.
The nurses acknowledged Scott briefly and then continued with their work. He settled into a chair in the corner of the room and closed his eyes, simply relieved to be near his brother.
Alex watched the scene through the open door for a moment and felt her throat tighten as she saw John's pale form. Scott had not explained exactly what had happened to him. But he had said enough. And the bruising to John's face told a story of it's own.
Alex retreated from the room. Having seen that he was safe, she then had an idea that would ensure he stayed that way.
Tom was confused and annoyed and she couldn't blame him. But as much as she wanted to explain her involvement, she couldn't risk it under the circumstances. Which gave him little option other than to take a seat outside the private hospital room and glare at her in irritation. Even the fact that within the private room were two members of a group that he idolised didn't help his mood. But it was small price to pay for her to stay close to John.
She told DCI Bryce that they were pursuing a possible lead with a potential witness to a case she and Tom had been working on and he had acknowledged her hunch. Whether he believed the lie or not didn't matter. He was letting her stay at the hospital for now.
And suddenly everyone was suspicious. The tale Scott told of conspiracy and betrayal was scary enough. Add to it that this was being done to the Thunderbirds and nothing in the world seemed to make sense anymore.
She checked everyone's ID twice over, cross-referenced all the staff against their listed schedules and challenged anyone who looked remotely dubious. It made the already busy jobs of the staff hell and further irritated Tom but Alex didn't care. She would do whatever it took.
And for a while it was easy for Scott to believe that they were finally safe.
tbc …