Jeff rested his hands on his hips and breathed a loud sigh of relief as he watched the robots securing the last piece of ceramic skin in place and Thunderbird One was whole again. He nodded in satisfaction and wandered back through to the main core of the hanger and under the towering nose of Thunderbird 2.
"At last!" Jeff offered merrily.
Brains looked up from his diagnostic programme and nodded in agreement. "N-n-n- about time too."
"When can we take her up?"
Brains turned back to his computer. "Once the final checks are d-d-d-complete. Tomorrow, perhaps."
"When Scott gets back."
Brains smiled, "But of course."
Jeff stepped up onto the lab platform and patted his friend's shoulder. "Thanks." He offered and headed on towards the lift.
Brains laughed softly, "Like I'd even th-th-th-dare to let someone else fly her."
Jeff's smile grew and he waved in happy agreement, before heading back up into the house. He made his way down to the lounge and saw Alan and Gordon returning from the beach. Hailing them in greeting, he noticed their flushed faces and guessed they must have raced back inside from the shoreline.
"Well, it's official." Gordon began merrily, unzipping his uniform and pulling off his gloves. "Thunderbird 4 definitely isn't leaking."
"Good." Jeff affirmed.
"Yeah." Alan grinned, "And be sure to let us know if you can think up any more lame excuses to get rid of us."
Jeff gasped in mock horror. "As if!"
"Oh you so did." Gordon chuckled.
Alan laughed merrily and hurried over to his father to place an arm around his shoulders. "It's okay. We get that we're simply too young and energetic for the old man to handle."
Jeff laughed and gently slapped the back of Alan's head.
Alan shrieked in mischievous delight and hurried off into the house after his departing brother.
"You're not too old for a good hiding, my boy!" Jeff called after him.
"Yeah? You gotta catch me first, old timer!" Came Alan's giggled reply.
Jeff grinned and could hear them still chuckling naughtily as they disappeared into the main complex. He headed on up to the office and found Virgil sat at the desk, monitoring the Five-up-linked systems.
"I believe you've got a sub to go fetch."
"They're back, huh?" Virgil groaned.
Jeff smiled and crossed to the desk. "Oh yeah."
Virgil sat back from the computer terminal and rolled his eyes. "Goodbye peace and quiet."
Jeff's smile faded. Virgil's bright eyes told him he was not entirely serious but there was still a lingering hostility between the three youngest. Something none of them would talk about.
"All quiet on the western front." Virgil offered, standing from the chair and arching his back with a sigh. "Still."
Jeff nodded. "Scott?"
"Nothing since he called you." Virgil replied, "He said he was going to Houston, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Man …" Virgil muttered, "Talk about a blast into the past."
"I know … it seems so long ago …" Jeff agreed.
"Well," Virgil headed from the office, "Enjoy your shift. I can hear fresh air calling."
"Later." Jeff acknowledged and settled into the chair behind the desk. He glanced at his watch and did a quick calculation. 1 am. She might still be up.
"Greetings." Penny smiled up at him and stifled a yawn. "Oh, sorry. It's late. What's wrong?"
Jeff's heart sank. When had their relationship flicked back to purely business?
"Jeff? You alright?"
"Yeah." Jeff forced a smile. "Just wanted to talk."
"Oh."
Jeff watched her become serious and suddenly could not find the words he wanted to say.
"Look," Penny sighed, "I am very sorry about all this … I mean … you know how much I care for you." Her smile returned, if a little smaller. "I wish this hadn't come between us."
Jeff nodded slowly. "He put you in a difficult position."
"Not purposely," Penny defended, "He isn't quite right."
Jeff couldn't help but laugh. "God, Pen – trust you to understate this whole mess."
Penny chuckled in agreement.
"I'd like to see you."
"I'm here."
Jeff groaned, "You know what I mean."
Penny nodded and her smile grew. "Of course I do."
Jeff waited patiently.
"I guess I could spare a day or two." Penny sighed, "I can always oversee things from there."
"Yeah. That'd be good."
Penny watched him for a moment and then giggled merrily, "Who would have thought I would ever be popping over to see you for something other than business …?"
"Yeah, right!" Jeff grinned, "Like you've never made some lame excuse to come my way!"
Penny blushed, "Once or twice."
Jeff shook his head slowly and let out a sigh, "Oh, we're too old for all this."
"Speak for yourself!" Penny gasped.
"I am. I just want you here. With me."
"I know."
"Give me a call when you're on your way." Jeff concluded, "I'll make sure the boys are out on a training exercise."
"Jeff Tracy!" Penny declared in delighted shock, "That is just too naughty!" She laughed happily and signed off.
Scott sat in the sparse, white interrogation room and stared down at his hands. Knowing full well that he was being observed from the other side of the mirrored glass, he tried to look normal – unsure what normal was supposed to look like.
It had been over an hour and his mind was racing. The door then opened and the two men who had collected him from the hotel entered the room. He waited patiently for them to explain what they wanted to speak to him about and wondered where Dan was and if he was okay. He watched the agents warily as they sat down on the other side of the table from him.
One of the men had a thin file and placed it on the table, flicking idly through the few pages it contained. "Back in town to visit old air force buddies, huh?" He began.
Scott nodded.
"Strange that you left when you did." The other man interjected. "You were setting out on a promising career."
"My dad needed me more." Scott offered.
The two men glanced at each other. "Retired Air Force Colonel Tracy." The first man continued, "Again … odd that he should leave such a prosperous career."
Scott suddenly wanted to laugh. Either these guys were the dumbest guys since Lois Lane or they were hoping he'd just happen to tell them what they already knew. Either way, it was strangely comical.
"Project Trailblazer." The second agent offered.
Scott shrugged.
"What do you know about it?"
"Only the idea." Scott answered, "It was being talked about when I started at ISA."
The two men regarded him in interest. "And you were never interested in being involved?" The second man prompted.
"It was only an idea." Scott repeated, "I left before it went any further."
"But your friend from the Air Force was selected."
"Dan." Scott confirmed. "And Jake."
The two agents seemed to lean forward slightly at that name. "And he died a few weeks ago during the test flight."
Scott nodded.
"Tough call." The first agent sighed, "I bet you were sad to hear the news."
"Of course." Scott frowned. "Who wouldn't be?"
"Oh, someone who was perhaps involved in his 'accident'." Came the reply.
Scott gasped and stared at the two agents in horror.
"Would you know anything about that?" One of the men prompted.
"No!" Scott declared and shook his head firmly, "God, no!"
The door then opened and Scott turned to see a white-haired man hurry into the room, flushed and breathless. The man gave Scott a fleeting smile and Scott regarded him in interest.
"Nathan Van Der Velden," The visitor announced, "Mr Tracy's legal counsel."
Scott breathed a quiet sigh of relief, confused as to where this guy had sprung from but grateful nonetheless.
"What is the charge?" Van Der Velden continued.
"Nothing, as yet." One of the agents replied evenly, "We simply wanted to ask some questions."
"Then you have no cause to hold him."
"On the contrary," The second agent corrected, "Under the anti-terrorism act, we can keep Mr Tracy here indefinitely."
Tbc …
