CHAPTER SEVEN

Scott raced high up into the sky, then slowed Thunderbird enough for the missiles to catch up to him. John had been relaying the action to his father down on Tracy Island. Now, as Scott prepared to rid himself of the missiles, his father's concerned voice wafted over the airwaves. It was a voice he was more than glad to hear.

"Scott! This is your father!"

"Hang on, Dad, I've got some fancy flyin' to do!"

"What're you up to?"

Scott smiled. Would his father ever stop worrying so much? Although, at this point, Scott himself was probably just as worried. "It's good to hear your voice, Father. I'll be back at you in a minute."

Scott jerked at the controls and flipped Thunderbird 1 so she was now screaming down toward the ocean. He moved just far enough away from the missiles so they could turn to follow his jet stream, then slowed the ship to wait for them to catch up. His breath was coming fast and sweat poured down his forehead.

"Scott! Where are you? Are you okay?"

He shook his head. "Virg, gimme a minute, will ya?"

"Scott, what are you doing? John says the missiles are right on your tail!"

"I'm about to kill some fish," Scott replied as the four blips on his screen moved closer. To the far left of the radar, he could see the five enemy aircraft approaching. "Tell Gordon not to be pissed."

"Scott?" Jeff bellowed.

"Scott!" Virgil yelled.

He flipped his communicator off. How the hell was he supposed to do this with them yelling in his ears, for God's sake? His eyes still on the radar screen, he said, "Okay, bad boys, come to Papa…4…3…2…1…go!"

Scott jammed Thunderbird 1 into a nosedive. As he watched the dark waters of the ocean grow nearer, adrenaline coursed through his body, causing him to shake. "Come on, baby, come on, you can do it."

The silver bullet screamed downward with the missiles only a quarter-mile behind.

"Closer…" Scott said, "closer…"

Scott would later swear he could feel the tug of water on Thunderbird 1's red-tipped nose as he pulled her out of the dive and skimmed right over the ocean's surface. The missiles dove in with a splash and Scott could hear muffled explosions as water blasted upwards less than a mile behind him.

His body sagged into the chair in relief, but his respite was short-lived. The five planes were so close he could see them out his port-viewing window.

"Shit!" He flipped his communicator on. "John! How many more missiles are there?"

"Scott? What the hell happened, are you crazy?"

"How many missiles?"

"Twenty-eight, by my count. Dad's hopping mad that you cut off."

"Damn right I am," Jeff's stern voice sounded in his ears.

"Sorry, Father. I couldn't take all the yelling. Distracts a guy."

"Are you all right? We heard the explosions from here!"

"Sure, I got rid of the four on my tail. They took a swim."

"Scott, get ready, four more comin' at ya!" John said.

He brought Thunderbird 1's nose up 'til she was pointed toward the heavens again and opened the throttle. "Father, you guys have any ideas back there? They're not gonna fall for that one again."

"We're working on something. Just try to keep clear of those missiles. Brains and Tin-Tin may have your solution soon."

"Brains? You've found him?"

"In a manner of speaking…"

Just outside Thunderbird 2's hangar on the tarmac, Jeff turned to where Tin-Tin was re-attaching the Control Panel to the VRVS machine. "How's it going, Tin-Tin?"

"Fine, Mr. Tracy. I've made the modifications as Brains asked. It should allow us to project a virtual reality image outward, like a movie projector. And Brains should be able to come along for the ride. It sure is a good thing the VRVS wasn't completely destroyed." As Jeff nodded his assent, she turned to Kyrano. "Father, is Brains ready?"

He smiled. "He says, my child, that he is as ready as he'll ever be."

Jeff turned to Virgil, Gordon and Alan. "Okay, you three, be prepared. If Brains does come popping out of that thing, there's no telling where he'll land."

"Sure thing, Father," Gordon replied. He walked out toward the end of the runway while Virgil and Alan fanned out to either side.

Jeff climbed into Seat 1 of the VRVS. He placed the glasses on his head and pulled the gloves onto his hands.

"Good luck, Father!" Virgil yelled.

Jeff gave a mock salute. "Okay, Tin-Tin. I'm ready."

Tin-Tin looked at her father, who said, "Five second countdown. Five…four…three…two…one…zero!"

She brought the machine to life. The sixty-inch view screen had been tilted upward toward the sky. A blinding white light shot out of it. Suddenly, they could hear Brains' voice.

"VRVS! Load Tracy Island, Simulation Scenario Two! Look out, folks! Here I come!"

Kyrano staggered as his mental connection to Brains was abruptly severed. Tin-Tin watched the upturned screen as a picture began projecting itself into the air above them. It almost looked like an old stealth bomber, sleek, black and triangular, and was as large as Tracy Island itself!

"Mr. Tracy, can you see the control panel?" Tin-Tin asked.

"I'm in it!" Jeff said. "It must be working!"

"Where's Brains?" Alan yelled from the side. "He said he was coming!"

As if in answer to his question, a figure began falling from beneath the bomber.

"There he is!" Gordon yelled, running for the spot Brains was falling towards.

"He's two miles up, he'll be killed!" Virgil cried as he and Alan raced forward.

"You've got full power, Mr. Tracy," Tin-Tin yelled over the din. "Go!"

"Right. Let Scott know help is on its way!"

Suddenly Brains' vertical descent ceased. He seemed to hover for a moment before continuing his downward trek. When at last he landed on the tarmac, the brothers crowded around him.

"A jet pack!" Alan said, clapping him on the back. "Good thinking, Brains!"

"Boy, are we glad to see you!" Gordon smiled, shaking the engineer's hand.

"Yeah, Brains, what the heck happened?"

"I have a theory, Virgil, but first we have to make sure we scare these guys off for good. How's Mr. Tracy doing?"

"Fine," Tin-Tin replied. She surprised Brains by giving him a warm hug. "Welcome back. Scott's waiting for you to call in."

"Thank you, uh, Tin-Tin." Brains raised his wrist com to his face. "This is Brains calling Thunderbird 1."

Scott's face appeared on the watch. "Brains! You all right?"

"Sure thing, Scott. Okay, uh, now, your father is moving the virtual bomber in your direction. You should have visual any time now."

"Right, I see it in the distance. My God, it's huge!"

"Yes, it, uh, should be enough to at least give those guys a scare. Now here's what I want you to do..."