Long time no post! Not as long as other times...but we won't mention those. I know I said I was going to wait until I had another chapter done before I posted the next one, but I can't wait anymore! I want you guys to learn more of the plot and get to know the characters better. So, I lied, but I think you might forgive me. Hope or pray hard, cuz if this writer's block keeps up I don't know what I'm going to do about ending this. I have several chapters after this one stocked up, but I need to get this done. Anywho, hope you enjoy! Please let me know what you think.

Miss Elizabeth

P.S. I do not own the Thunderbirds or the Tracys. Only Lona (yes, she came from my deluded mind)

Chapter 28: Fly Like a…Thunderbird

The day after Alan's return to school, Scott walked up behind Lona's chair after breakfast.

"Lonnie, Dad's told me to take a few practice flights on the T1 simulator. Care to have a go with me?" Scott had thought she would jump at the chance, after all it had been years since the last time she had flown a plane. Instead, she frowned slightly, then shook her head. "Come on, Lonnie! You know how boring it can be to run through all those sims by yourself. Besides, I haven't seen much of you, what with all the rescues calls and stuff. Please Lona. Think of it as a mercy mission." Favoring him with a half frown half grin, she stood and took his proffered hand.

Ok, Scott. Since it is obviously going to kill you to run through the simulations, I'll keep you company. Waiting until they were halfway down the hall, she continued her statement. You always were a rotten liar, Scott Tracy.

Two hours later, found them still strapped in as Scott ran through yet another simulation. The compartment, which was an exact replica of THUNDERBIRD 1's cockpit, swayed and rocked severly as the computer was told that a storm was occurring. Scott's hands were glued to the flight controls as another wind shear tilted the sleek ship at an almost 45 degree angle. Sweat stood out on his brow as he fought the force of nature. Lona sat beside him, her fingers unconsciously in a death-grip of the arm of the co-pilot seat. Scott had failed this particular sim twice now, and she was not anxious to repeat the crash dive she knew was coming. Sure enough, less then a minute later they were laying at the bottom of the ocean. Lona turned to Scott and smiled teasingly.

I can see why everyone on base said you were a good pilot. Throwing the smug woman beside him a frown, Scott pulled up the flight data and scowled at it.

"I just don't see what I'm doing wrong. It's not like I've never had to fly through a storm before! Why is this one giving me so much trouble?" Silently laughing, Lona shook her head. "Oh, you think you can do better? Why don't you have a go at it? See if you are laughing after that." Raising one hand out with the palm facing towards him, she shook her head. She had no desire to fly anything, ever again. "Come on, Lonnie! Are you scared? I bet you just don't think you can do any better than I did!" Deep blue eyes flashed menacingly. Years of rivalry came to the fore and the next thing Scott knew, he was being pushed out of the pilot's chair.

Not beat you! Scott, I could do better then you on this flying blind! Now shut up and watch. Switching the simulation on, Lona wrapped her long fingers around the flight control joystick and immediately began making the minute adjustments that would ensure the powerful jet remaining in the air. The simulation was based on a situation a close friend of Scott's had gone through. A freak weather pattern had dumped many tons of icy water and several bolts of lighting on the small craft. Jeff had wanted Scott to be able to handle the same situation should it ever occur. When faced with a thunderstorm, the only rule was not to fly through it. However, if there was a rescue, Scott would not have the luxury to fly over, under or around a storm system. With the high gusts of winds, electrical bolts flashing through the sky, and icy rain that threatened to freeze the wing flaps in a bad position, this was one of the hardest flight sims in the IR computer. Lona fought the bucking craft while monitoring the instruments. Suddenly, a warning light sounded; the wings were icing up. If she did not do something soon, they would crash. Looking franticly around, she then saw the large shape of THUNDERBIRD 2 out her port window. Gliding towards it, she pushed the button for the radio, then paused. How was she going to communicate her plans? Scott, seeing the predicament, lifted her finger and replaced it with his own.

"Sign to me what you want." One handed, she signed and spelled out her idea. Scott grasped it very quickly and immediately began radioing it out. "THUNDERBIRD 2, we are coming up under you. Fire your VTOL rockets on my signal……NOW!" The cockpit rocked furiously against the on-slot of jet power as it melted the ice from the wings. However, there was a new problem. When the VTOL rockets were cut off, THUNDERBIRD 1 would caught in her sister's backdraft. Thinking quickly, Lona pulled the jet into a hard nose dive when she was sure all the ice was removed. Scott clung to the co-pilot chair as she headed straight for the ground, which at this moment happened to be a very frigid Atlantic ocean. He watched as the grey waves came closer and closer, then suddenly his whole body was slammed rudely into the seat. The red nose cone was pointed straight up and they were shooting off into the atmosphere. Finally, Lona leveled the jet off and settled down to a safer speed. After a few more minutes of battling winds and sleet, the ship launched through the black clouds and into the sunset. Suddenly, the screen winked out and a computer voice sounded through the cockpit.

"Simulation ended. Pilot completed mission. 90 flight score." Unlocking her harness, Lona stretched and rubbed the tension from her shoulders. Glancing over at Scott, the glance turned into a stare when she noticed his shoulders shaking. Thinking that she had hurt his pride, she carefully placed one hand on his shoulder. Before she could do anything, Scott faced her, his eyes brimming with tears. Eyes wide with sorrow and with unbelief, Lona gave a sorrowful look. This was quickly replace with a frown however when Scott began to laugh out loud.

"Brains told dad this simulation was unbeatable. There was suppose to be absolutely no way anyone could make it all the way through. I've been trying since IR was founded to get all the way through this sim. All you did was call on TB2, I don't believe how simple it was. Don't look so sad, Lonnie! This is the funniest thing I've ever seen!" Still laughing, Scott lifted up his harness and helped Lona out of the simulation chamber. "Don't worry, I'm not angry or hurt. I've never seen you fly before, except in the prototype plane. You really are amazing. I think we should ask Brains to make up some more 'unbeatable' sims." Smiling, Lona nodded as they both headed towards the laboratory.

Jeff Tracy stepped out of the shadows and watched the two walk off together. He had watched the entire simulation, and was pleasantly surprised at the talent Lona had shown. Also the ingenuity. Scott had never thought to ask THUNDERBIRD 2 for assistance; truth to tell, neither had Jeff. One thing was for sure, Lona was one hell of a flyer…