Inner Strengths
Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds but my Grandma's neighbour does…-cheers!- I get free merchandise! W00t!
Summary: When a Rescue Mission goes horrifyingly wrong, its Jeff Tracy's Worst nightmare to find out his youngest son has disappeared from the Danger Zone on his first official 'Rescue.' What has become of the youngest Tracy? (-Movie Take-)
Warnings: Psychological references, prepare to be confused! XD, also may be future drug action, e.g. heroine, ecstasy etc, (sp?) But not sure, will warn you on chapter heading so watch out for those…one more thing; this will be updated but not quickly. I am currently working on a Stargate SG1 fic, a Relic Hunter fic and a few more…so you have been warned now!
Ok first thing I must do right now is apologise profusely to everyone who read this and got slightly offended that I misspelled 'Alan' and 'Tracy'. How embarrassing. So I am so VERY sorry for that, it was a total accident mainly because I have a good friend called Allen and a colleague called Tracey…so please excuse my lack of spell checking in these areas. That said I shall go back and correct my mistakes…again if there is anything you'd like to be explained or have noticed a spelling mistake don't hesitate to contact me, I don't bite.
Next off I'd like to thank all those who reviewed I got 11 for the first chapter alone! That made me very happy and encouraged me to type this chapter out sooner than planned…it is true that I like to write only for my own pleasure but a positive review always helps me to feel better…and update sooner. (Hint, hint XD)
A special thanks goes to Tikatu for pointing out some small errors in my story and finding a few confusing points that I have yet to explain but fear not there is a rhyme and reason to my chaos! Honest!
So without further ado, I give to you; Chapter Two…
(Hey cool! That rhymed! XD)
Chapter Two: …
"Dad, Thunderbird One isn't responding, neither are answering their T-Watches." His heart stopped. "Can you track them for us?" His boys were missing…
"Not a problem Virgil, keep on track; they may need your help. I'll get back to you on the T-Watches." His mind was pulsing with terrifying thoughts…
That had been over 15 minutes ago…
Jeff tried not to panic; he tried desperately to hold down the anticipation and anxiety writhing deep within his gut as his mind began playing out worst case scenarios. His fatherly instincts had always bordered on the extreme side but when you considered who his sons were and what they did on an almost daily basis, you couldn't really blame him for worrying as he did.
He blinked a couple of times to stop the tears from falling. Staring at the monitor without blinking for several minutes tended to make his eyes water but he didn't dare blink in case he missed something.
"M-Mr Tracy?" The stuttering voice made him jump, but also reminded him that Tin Tin and Fermat were still with him. Jeff had forgotten the two kids were in the room and he turned to them with a pained and worried smile. They were stood just a few feet behind him with worried frowns. He knew they were beyond scared for the two brothers; he felt the same worry deep inside himself.
"Don't worry, they'll be fine." He said turning back to the screen, offering little hope to the two kids who trusted him to keep everyone safe. He knew he had to be strong for them and he'd had a hell of a lot of practice in doing that but the feelings never went away. The worry never got easier to cope with and he found it harder to let them go each time.
He'd force himself to think about how many people his sons had helped, how many disasters they had avoided and how many times they'd been in sticky situations before and managed to come out of it joking and teasing one another. It helped; thinking of how much they had achieved made it that little bit easier to send them off into worldwide disasters and catastrophes to look Danger in the eye.
But still the worry would bring horrifying images to his mind. Scenes of horrible unavoidable events befalling his precious sons would make themselves known in his head and he'd be a crumbling wreck inside at times…but he had to believe.
His eyes bored into the screen that was tracking his two sons, willing it to find them. He had to believe that things would be fine. That everything would turn out Ok and he'd have all four sons home for dinner that night…
All four sons alive…
"Come on…"
(A/N: I know he's got five sons but Johns in space so he can't be home for dinner… and he's not in any danger so he's obviously gonna be alive…)
The Hood counted down the minutes. Two more remained before his plans would become unstoppable. The excitement rippled throughout his weakened body and the mere thought of victory sent his mind on an ecstatic wave to his inner sanctuary buried deep within his mind. He breathed in deeply barely able to contain his impatience as the last minute began counting down.
6:28pm and already the ship had set sail. They were on time as usual and Captain Timothy Wentworth smiled proudly at his crew as they busied themselves about the vast courier boat. He'd lived his entire life at sea and managed a decent living by taking passengers back and forth across the English Channel.
He stood on the Captain's bridge and gazed over the horizon to what promised to be a beautiful sunset. He'd witnessed many a sunset in his life on the waves and each time he found them to be both spectacular and awesome in so many different ways. The brilliant blues and greens of the sea contrasted sharply with the bright fluorescent reds and oranges of the sun. And each time that day and night tangoed in the sky above him he'd be reminded of what his dear old father used to say when he was a lad.
"He who shows no respect for the seven seas, will by the waters of past fall slave to Davey Jones locker."
He smiled fondly at the memory and to this day he still couldn't comprehend what the saying had meant. He hoped that someday he'd figure it out and learn what his dear old dad was trying to teach him…
Bang!
…but it seemed that day wouldn't come.
The ship rocked violently and suddenly, dipping to the left in a sickening fashion. Captain Wentworth quickly gripped the rails in front of him and began screaming out the evacuation drills to his crew. He moved awkwardly onto the deck, weaving in and out of panicking passengers trying his best to calm everyone down whilst making his way to the communications deck to call for help.
Another thunderous rumble shook the floor beneath him and he fell with many others onto the slippery surface of his deck just as a spray of water rained down onto them. He felt himself sliding to the starboard side at a frightening speed and knew this was it. He knew he was going overboard but he felt no sadness for himself, only for those he would not be able to help. Those who would die along with him…
His last thoughts were that International Rescue would come soon and save his passengers, and his friends... and the last thing he saw before he found himself engulfed by the waters that he cherished, was the sky's daily battle between day and night…
Jeff looked up surprised as the alarms sounded again in the Command Centre. A look of dread crossed his face knowing his choices before he even knew what the situation was. He quickly opened up a channel to Thunderbird Five and switched on the screen viewer that resided behind John's portrait on the wall.
"John what is it?" He asked as calmly as he could under the circumstances. John's face appeared on the screen and he looked as worried and flabbergasted as Jeff felt. He almost swore.
"Its bad Dad, a large ship carrying close to 300 passengers in the English Channel has been hit by several torpedoes from an unknown source and is sinking fast. We need Thunderbird Two over there as of five minutes ago." He reported as he dashed madly around the control he was sat in front of attempting to send his father the details as soon as was possible.
Jeff felt his heart fall into his stomach and his lawful words he'd taught his kids since they were too young to understand came back to him, haunting him in his worrisome time of need.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…" His voice was almost a whisper. He heard Tin Tin stifle a shocked gasp and could practically feel Fermat panicking behind him but he pressed on cutting John off and calling in to Thunderbird Two. "Thunderbird Two this is HQ, do you copy?" He was calling himself every foul word he knew as he spoke, cursing himself for doing what he was doing. It went against every Fatherly instinct he felt.
"This is Thunderbird Two, reading you loud and clear Dad." Virgil's worried face lit up the portrait of him on the wall as Jeff turned to him. He was abandoning his sons for the safety of complete strangers.
"I need you to head over to the English Channel there's a ship sinking with about 300 people onboard. John is sending you the details." He kept his face calm and devoid of emotion as he spoke. He had to be strong. Had to believe.
"But Dad what about Scott and Alan and the miners?" He'd expected the question but it still felt like a blow to the stomach. But his poker face never flinched.
"'The needs of the many' Virg. There are 300 people on that boat and only four miners in the cave. Don't worry about them, I'll track Alan and Scott down and have the coordinates ready for you as soon as you're done. Now go, there are people out there who need the Thunderbirds right now." Virgil gave a trusting nod, buying his fathers words.
"F.A.B Dad we're on our way."
The Brazilian Scientific Institution was packed full of the most intelligent scientists around the globe. Its annual fair was currently in full swing with the main attraction yet to be unveiled.
Hundreds of scientists hummed and argued over the statistics and logics of the newly created interest while others debated about its ethical issues and plans of use. The brochure said it could delve into a mind and read it like an open book…a theory only thought of as Sci-Fi fiction until now.
Dr Franklin Gossburr, the inventor of the new wonder, stood before the murmuring adults and raised his hands, ushering them to be quiet so he could begin his speech.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." He greeted, "Fellow PhD's, I come before you to give to the world an invention the likes of which this planet has never seen before!" he stared out at the many faces watching him, learning from him… "Today, my friends, I give to you the GMR, otherwise known as th-" He was forced to stop as a small explosion sounded from the front of the building. All heads turned to the closed doors behind them, unknowing of what to expect.
Time stood still…seconds seemed like hours as all faces remained glued to the rear of the room. Dr Gossburr was just about ready to call it a fluke and continue but another sudden rumbling shook the floor beneath them…
Then the doors burst open.
Men dressed in black from head to toe moved with a catlike grace into the room wielding long sharp weapons up into the air in an offending manner. They fanned out around the scientists with expert timing and positioning as another man walked into the room. All eyes were trained on him now as he stopped and surveyed his surroundings. It was obvious he was in charge.
He was dressed in white but with slight differences in his outfit compared to the ninja like beings that surrounded them. Where the black clad men were dressed in a cotton cloth that seemed to wrap around their bodies, he wore a pair of white cotton trousers and a white vest top that contrasted with his dark charcoal skin. A pair of stylish sunglasses donned his face.
"Where is the GMR?" his voice vibrated through the ground to the Dr stood on the podium.
"R-right here." Dr Gossburr managed waving his hand at the small stand covered with a velvet red cloth. The man smiled beneath his sunglasses and began walking toward the podium.
Minutes later the institution was a massive inferno… with no signs of the ninja wannabes in sight…
The portrait flicked open again and Jeff turned to John who looked like he'd just seen a ghost. He was worried about his brothers, that much was obvious.
"What is it son?" He was almost dreading the reply.
"You're not gonna believe this Dad…"
