Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds, and do not intend to make any profit from this story. It is for entertainment purposes only

Time for the next chapter! I don't have any author notes really this time, except to say that you might be surprised by the name of a character soon to be revealed. I'll say this - Brain's name never actually was Hiram Hackenbacker. It was simply an alias given to him by Jeff.

kazaa - I know your reviews haven't popped up yet, but I got them over e-mail. I'm glad you like the idea of how Brains was chosen. It's also something that really bugged me, so I wanted to set it straight in my story.

andrewjameswilliams - (did I spell that right? ;) ) Glad to hear that I'm not alone. I'm such a science geek that I couldn't bring myself to set the story at a time when the technology just wouldn't exist. As a side note, I just wrote the chapter with the first rescue, and I had a great time with all of the techni-garble in it. :) I'll have to head over and read your story, but that could take a while. lol

Enjoy! rubs hands One more chapter after this, and the boys will finally reappear.

James' Project

September 2012

"M-m-m-m-mister Tracy, sir, I have your p-p-p-papers ready for you w-w-w-whenever you want them."

Jeff Tracy, in all of his forty-one years of life, had never seen anyone look so terrified as the man standing before him did at that moment.

The younger man, who couldn't have been more than thirty, reached a hand up to brush his chestnut hair back from his eyes, only to accidentally knock his glasses askew on his face.

"Well, bring them here then," replied Jeff coolly, trying to maintain a professional attitude. It was difficult, to be sure, considering how excited he felt on the inside. "Really, James, I won't fire you for walking on my carpet."

James Wilson nodded nervously, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down in his throat, and walked forward until he stood in front of his boss' desk. Carefully, so as not to bend any pages, he placed a one-inch thick booklet in front of Jeff.

"I-I-I-I hope this is to your liking, m-m-m-m-mister Tracy."

To be polite and to spare the man some of his sanity, Jeff quickly picked the book up and flipped through the first few pages. Detailed diagrams and half-page long equations flashed in front of him, reassuring the older man that he had not guessed wrong.

"This looks like excellent work, James."

Nodding ever so slightly, James turned a mild shade of red and glanced down at his feet. "T-t-t-thank you, sir."

That stutter! Jeff thought in amazement, wondering how on Earth a man that spoke that way could be so articulate in his writing. But he knew enough to know that appearances could be deceiving.

"Excellent work," he echoed, setting the report down in front of him. "Tell me, what would you think about working on a little project for me?"

"P-p-p-p-project?" James stuttered, looking up suddenly. "But you haven't finished reading the report!"

Jeff eyed the brown haired engineer thoughtfully, then shook his head. "No, I haven't. But I don't feel that I need to." When James didn't respond, Jeff sighed and reached a hand over to open a drawer in his desk.

"I won't be holding you liable for anything if you can't deliver what I'm looking for. In fact," Jeff laid out a long legal sized paper before him, "this is a legal and official contract stating just that. You can take it, read it, have it analysed, or burn it if you even want. But," he looked James in the eyes, "I would much rather have you sign it."

It was as if no one had ever taken the time to make the engineer such an offer, Jeff noted in wonderment. And, given the way that the man presented himself - with messy hair and a coffee stained lab coat - there was likely a good reason why.

But equations and words did not lie.

"No expectations, no liability," repeated Jeff honestly, trying to put as much compassion into his voice as possible. "Just some work, some draw-ups of the final project, and a basic ball-park figure for the cost of the venture."

"N-n-n-n-no expectations then," James finally spit out, his eyes beginning to show a spark of interest, "just this project?"

"Just this project." Jeff held the contract in the air. "No expectations. Same pay, same time frame as your current project. Six months, and then you turn into me what you have done."

James eyes went foggy for a brief moment, as if some greater part of his mind were at work. He finally nodded and took the paper carefully from Jeff's hands.

"I won't let you d-d-d-d-d-d-" he began, but he stopped when he saw Jeff's knowing nod.

"I know that you won't. Oh," Jeff said suddenly, his face immediately intense. "One last thing."

"Yes?"

"Don't tell anyone about this." There was no doubting the seriousness in the older man's voice. "Anyone."

A/N - I was going to have Jeff say 'No strings attached', then I thought about it and realized how funny that would sound. ;) Sorry about this one being so short, btw.