It was a mudslide in a remote part of India and a minor sea collision that had turned sour that called his boys away. It was a five man job, and his sons started to disappear in various directions. With the exception of John, who stood before his desk with a demeanour of authority.

"It would take too long for me to head up to Thunderbird Five. I need to take over communications and logistics immediately. May I use your desk? Its setup is closest to what I have on Five."

Jeff nodded, relinquishing his chair to his middle son, though he didn't move away entirely. Instead, he slid his hand through the top of his crutch and stood behind John, intent on seeing how the day-to-day operations had changed in his absence. He had to blink when multiple screens flashed up before John and the voice he'd come to know as EOS resounded around them.

"I have been monitoring a pleasure boat collision in the Caribbean sea. Nine people are involved and one boat has capsized completely. The local authorities are aware, but tensions have risen and they are unlikely to get there before there are casualties. The mudslide has taken out multiple houses in a small town and scans show there is the potential for more earth to shift."

"Thank you, EOS."

"My pleasure, John."

Jeff observed as John tapped the green icon of Thunderbird Two with one hand while the other shifted the settings for the launch system so the carts would set Module Four beneath Thunderbird Two.

"Virgil, fly Module Four to the Caribbean and drop it and Gordon at the coordinates I've sent you. Head straight back to the island to collect Module Two. Scott will confirm this course of action once at the danger zone."

"FAB."

The rumble of the swimming pool retracting made Jeff turn around. Moments later, Thunderbird One shot up into the sky. His heart skipped a beat, remembering the many times he himself had launched said craft, as well as the first time he'd stood and watched Scott launch solo. He'd been in Thunderbird One that fateful day. He'd left Scott at her controls as he went after the Hood, and had told him to hold her steady and wait for him to return.

"Thunderbird One is go!"

Jeff turned back to the projections in front of John at the sound of Scott's voice. Off to the left came the rumble of Thunderbird Two's engines, indicating that she too was leaving the island. He had barely been back and his son's were already off.

"The usual strategy, Scott. Thunderbird Five is running scans now, which will be with you before you arrive."

"FAB, John."

John's hand ran over various boxes and tabs, though it was clear that he was ordering the information. To the left, he was collecting all the data on the crash on the Caribbean, a scan showing nine lifesigns bundled into two groups. To the right and centre were multiple tabs about the mudslide, including data about the local population, basic scans of the initial damage. There was an efficiency in the way John moved and collated things that was remarkable. Jeff had always been so proud of John, his academic achievements had always blown Jeff away, but this was taking it to another level. All that knowledge and learning put to use in the most practical of ways. Thunderbird Five was always going to be a massive computer, though there was also a massive server room on the island, with its own set of impressive computers. John had lit up at the prospect of not only being able to use and maintain such a variable asset, but to do so in space, his other great love, had brought out such excitement in a usually calm young man, so many years ago. The best of both worlds, John had once said. He could be an astronaut while still doing all the things he loved most. However, Jeff had never expected John to spend so much time up there, isolated from the world.

"What's the 'usual strategy'?"

John didn't flinch or turn. He continued with his work as he spoke.

"Scott will use Thunderbird One's drones to scan the area. I have enhanced and upgraded Thunderbird Five's detectors, but they are still no match for on the ground intel. The scans produced by the drones will help us understand the nature of the rescue, what equipment we are likely to need and any possible dangers. In this situation, Scott will scan the damaged area for lifesigns, which I can then monitor by setting the drones on a set flightpath. This will allow me to prioritise, so those most in need of medical attention are rescued first. If anyone can be rescued easily with Scott's equipment then he will do so before scanning the mountain face to assess the stability. This will allow me to ascertain if I need to divert resources into making sure the area stays safe to work in."

Jeff was impressed. They were using Thunderbird One very effectively, particularly with the new pod system which allows the boys to assemble a variety of vehicles on location. It was an impressive technology that he'd discussed with Brains on one of the man's visits. The engineer hadn't changed much. Still fastidious about safety, and ever so happy to explain his inventions and advancements to Jeff. He was never ashamed to admit a lot of it went over his head, though maybe working with the boys had helped, as Jeff seemed to understand more of what was being said than he used to. Bending his knees slightly, Jeff peered at the open screen, reading the initial report about the town. Lost in the words, he jolted at the bang behind him.

"No point putting your back out."

"Thanks, Mum."

Jeff gave her a smile as he settled down into the chair she had brought up from the kitchen area. He shifted it closer while trying not to get too close to John to distract or disturb him. A cushion slipped behind his back to keep him comfortable. It wasn't long until Thunderbird One reached the danger zone and landed in a safe area. Before the man had time to jump out, John had activated the drones and set them on their pre-programmed paths. John popped up the feed from Thunderbird One's camera and allowed Jeff to watch. Scott stepped down from his seat and up to the edge of the ridge he had landed on. He appeared to have a great vantage point and the man raised his hand to his eyes as he examined the area.

"John, I can see people rummaging through the rubble. I'm going to fly over and convince them to evacuate."

"FAB, Scott."

The feed showed Scott activating the jetpack on his back and flying off. It was equipment that wasn't available when Jeff was around but it appeared his son had taken to it. Scott was the only one that used it frequently. The video closed and John replaced it with a feed from Thunderbird Two. It wasn't a particularly interesting feed considering the craft was currently over ocean. It was eventually replaced with the blur of green land before returning to the view of water. He noticed the change in speed and was able to make out the two boats that had collided. The great machine hovered for a moment and just at the bottom of the feed Jeff saw the movement of the green module as it was dropped. He saw the splash rise before the module bobbed back up eagerly. Thunderbird Two then turned and the feed returned to the view of water.

"On the return now, John."

"FAB Virgil."

John's finger's danced through the air. The information of the boat collision was just a small button at the top and had been replaced with a scan of the mudslide. Jeff could see the original scans from Thunderbird Five slowly increase in clarity, details appearing as the data from the drones was received. Occasional red dots denoted trapped souls while the amber dots of the more fortunate residents moved about the map. There was a single blue iR insignia among them. As Jeff was scrutinising it, another map appeared with pulsing waves going across it.

"John, I have detected movement in the soil above the village. The probability of another mudslide is now 42.3% and I forecast it will increase. The highlighted area not too far, has a relative stability index of 9.6 and is statistically unlikely to be in the path of a mudslide. I recommend evacuation to this point."

"Thank you EOS. Forward the coordinates to Scott so he can start the evacuation."

John activated communication with his brother a moment later, but waited until his brother had finished trying to get people to move.

"I'm having problems with the language barrier, John. They aren't listening."

"I'll have EOS translate for you. You need to evacuate everyone to the green area on your map. The risk of another slip is increasing and this is the safest spot."

"FAB."

"Why wasn't EOS translating from the start?"

"Most of the time language isn't a problem. It is the smaller, more remote areas that tend to cause problems, though normally there are a few people who can understand us. It helps that most people recognise our uniform and will follow us. Simple hand gestures are often enough."

Jeff nodded. He knew his boys understood a variety of languages between them, the school they had been sent to priding itself on its language program. Lucille had chosen the school and Jeff had agreed as it also had a great sports program alongside its academic prestige. It had nurtured all their boys well, providing the stimulation John needed to stop him from getting bored while encouraging Gordon in his swimming dreams. Memories from those tough years flooded back. Arguments with Gordon about his attitude and behaviour both at school and home, the fear that Alan would copy those bad habits all of which occurred while he juggled Tracy Industries' global expansion and paving the way for International Rescue. He knew he'd fallen short at times, relying too much on his mother, Scott and Virgil. That guilt sat amongst other instances, which he'd had many lonely years to ponder over. So many days spent watching the rocks around him in a state of disbelief. He'd felt everything, sorrow, anger, frustration, abandonment, hopelessness and fear to name a few, as he stared up at new constellations. A nurse had found him outside one evening when he was meant to be in bed, gazing up at the stars. It had been odd to see those old familiar balls of gas. He'd pointed a few out to her, just as he'd done with John when he was a boy. Jeff's eyes fell on the ginger man beside him and his heart filled with love. He fought the urge to pull the man into a hug and run his fingers through that hair, knowing both would be a distraction at the current moment. He would save it for later.

Instead he stood, leaning hard on his crutch and stepped slowly up to the window. The view of the island's runway was obscured from this angle, however he would still be able to see Thunderbird Two approach. Moments later a growing speck appeared on the horizon and a smile crept across his face. Thunderbird Two slowed on the approach giving Jeff a fantastic view. Some things hadn't changed. The ships were just as he had left them, on the outside at least. There had been a few modifications that he was aware of, and probably many small ones he knew nothing about, but he could learn. If the boys let him. There was a sense in the air of trying to protect him, now that they had him back they were going to keep him safe. Jeff knew he might have a fight on his hands. Right now he was too weak for it but once he was adjusted, he wanted to fly his Thunderbirds again. He knew they wouldn't deny him that, but he knew that his presence in the field would not be wanted. The boys had been in charge of International Rescue for the past eight years and they ran it their way. Scott had yet to relinquish anything to him, but the man had too much paperwork for one person to do alongside running two organisations. Jeff knew it was Tracy Industries that Scott would want to hand over first, but Jeff was behind in the business world now, people would take advantage of that, he wouldn't be able to slip back into the role. At the same time he knew he wouldn't be able to slip back into a role in International Rescue. Time away had changed everything. The aches in his bones as he watched Thunderbird Two fly off again spoke volumes. There was a new reality for him to accept.

Leaning more on the crutch than he liked, Jeff returned to his seat. The data John was reviewing had changed to the scan of the hillside where the mudslide had originated. John's aquamarine eyes darted about the images as his hand paused in thought. After careful consideration, John finally marked out what needed to be done on the scan to stabilise the area and make it safe.

"Once Thunderbird Two reaches the danger zone, Virgil will get to work on rescuing those trapped, starting with the weakest lifesigns first. Hopefully we'll be able to get to them in time. Obviously, the order will change depending on the readings. If someone starts to deteriorate they shoot up the list."

Jeff nodded. The scans were so much more advanced than they were before. The fact that they could monitor people who were buried was incredible.

"Can you tell what state that individual is in? Whether they are hurt or not?"

"No. We normally rely on verbal communication with the survivors for that. Normally someone has a phone on them so communication can be secured, however in such a situation as we have here, people often aren't in a position to make a call. In this case we monitor heat signals and with the drones we can get a rough heart rate reading. We monitor for changes as that's the biggest indicator that something might be going on. It's not very scientific but it's the best we can do."

Jeff nodded. There had been marked improvement in medical scanner technology since he was a child, with memories of sitting on his mother's lap and being read to from various medical journals. It had been a failsafe way of sending him to sleep. Yet there were always going to be limitations. Of course his boys always appeared to push the limits, but in this situation Jeff could let them off.

John continued to coordinate the rescue, directing his brothers while explaining his actions and thinking as he went. It was engrossing, time flew by as the red dots slowly moved to the safe zone where doctors had set up a triage point under Scott's guidance. It was strange to see his sons as little iR symbols darting around the map. Only a few hours ago they had all been here with him. Jeff was so caught up in the rescue that he jumped when a hand landed in his shoulder. He turned to see Lady Penelope smiling down at him.

"Jeff, dear, how about you come join me for some afternoon tea?"

He was about to say he was fine where he was, but John spoke first.

"You should take her up on that offer, Dad. Her tea is exquisite and this is only going to go on much the same for the next hour. You can join me again for the clear up."

Jeff hesitated, still not used to the way everyone treated him like he was fragile, his boys especially. He knew he could sit longer, but appeared he was no longer wanted.

"Let me know if anything changes."

"FAB, Dad."

Giving John's shoulder a squeeze, Jeff used his son to stabilise himself as he stood up. His body complained as he hobbled slightly. Penelope looped her arm through his, a reasonable and normal gesture for the lady, even if it was so she could steady him. It felt so different from the last time she'd done it, at a party where they had 'taken a turn about the room' in order to exchange a few observations about a potential leak in their organisation. She had been so young then, but her father had encouraged him to train her up as an agent on his behalf. Lord Creighton-Ward had been right, she could get into places they couldn't and was able to obtain more information than he possibly could.

Jeff was led down to the poolside where Parker had set up an elegant table and chairs, one of which had significantly more cushions than the others. His mother smiled from her seat at his arrival, squeezing his arm after he'd taken his seat.

"It's so good to have you back, son."

"It's good to be back."

Parker served the tea from the flowery porcelain teapot into the delicate matching cups as Penelope took the last chair. There was a small array of British biscuits on a matching plate which Jeff helped himself to. Technically, he was still being treated for refeeding syndrome, and his digestive tract was still getting used to proper food. The doctors were still baffled at how he'd survived so long with so little at his disposal. The small amounts of vegetation he could grow on various rocks had sustained him, even if he had returned with multiple vitamin deficiencies. He was sure people would push him for information on space survival eventually. He'd be able to write a book about his experiences, though to do that he'd have to include the psychological trauma which he had endured, and still haunted him. The isolation induced madness that would sometimes overcome him; the phantoms of family or famous people he would see one moment but not the next. Just as his body still needed time to heal, as did his own mind. At least he had an excellent therapist who he trusted entirely.

The wind through his hair brought him out of his thoughts. It was so easy for his mind to wander. His eyes gazed across the pool and out to sea. The island had changed, as all lumps of rock do. Trees that had been small were now giants. The soil that had been struggling to recover since the construction of the house was now a bushy expanse of native plants, with hidden paths winding their way through the undergrowth. There were birds he couldn't name that flew overhead. Yet within all this change stood the villa that barely had. Yes, Alan and Gordon's photos now contained them in iR uniform, there were new books on the bookshelf and a few new stains in the carpet, but the rest was just as he'd left it. He sighed as the wind wafted a sweet-smelling pollen their way and the sun warmed his skin.

"It has always been a little oasis, hasn't it Jeff?"

He turned to Lady Penelope but his mother answered first.

"As long as a Thunderbird isn't launching."

A smile crossed the young woman's face as she nodded before taking a sip of tea. Jeff chuckled.

"A minor disruption in our lives, compared to the alternative."

"Very true. The world is privileged to have International Rescue."

Jeff finished his tea, covering the cup when Parker moved to fill it.

"I'm quite alright with one."

"Very well, Mr Tracy. Though h'I do remember you being more h'of a coffee drinker."

"I am. Unfortunately, my caffeine intake has been restricted and is being monitored," Jeff glanced at his mother, "I'm slowly building up my tolerance again."

"H'I will remember that, Mr Tracy. H'I shall enquire about your favourite variety of beans next time h'I'm out."

"There's no need for that, Parker," Jeff refuted despite knowing it was futile. The man would do it anyway.

"Now, onto the business at hand," Sally interrupted, "I don't know if our Alan has told you, but he graduated high school just before we launched the Zero-XL and thus missed the ceremony. The boy has kept the whole thing quiet, hasn't told anyone, so I think it's best if we surprise him with a graduation of our very own."

It hurt to know his son has reached such an important milestone silently, and without him, though it was exciting to have an opportunity to be part of the celebration.

"What do you have in mind, mother?"

Tea with his mother and Penelope had turned out to be much needed. Plans had been formulated and he knew his part in it all. His mother had already ordered everything they needed, and had even dug out Lucy's old graduation hat, which she'd never given back. So it was with a smile that Jeff rejoined John an hour later. As promised, the boys were still out and it appeared John was rather hands off at this point.

"Alan has managed to stabilise the hillside by digging a diversion trench, so that if it were to shift the town will be okay. It's not a permanent solution and considering the incoming weather front, the trench will be required. The authorities have been informed but I don't know how much they will be able to do. Sometimes nature cannot be stopped."

It was a truth that kept International Rescue in business. Humans had changed the planet and the planet was still trying to set a new equilibrium for itself.

"So, what are they up to right now?"

"They are still working to free people. I imagine it'll be another three hours before they are done. The drones will have to confirm no more lifesigns. We'll then hand the site over to the authorities so they can start the recovery process. Only then can I give the okay for them to head home."

Jeff sighed, it appeared his first dinner back would be without his sons' company. This has always been a possibility, especially with the amount of rescues they did, however he'd hoped it would have gone in his favour. No, instead it had been a long one, with multiple casualties and fatalities. Something that made the rescue harder. There was always a death count in these scenarios. A number that even they couldn't stop entirely. Instead Jeff had started International Rescue to reduce it, and at times that did mean no one died. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't save everyone. His thoughts were interrupted by a sunshine voice.

"Hey John, any ETA on a pick up? As much as I love the sea, I kinda want to come home."

"What happened to you?" Jeff exclaimed

The hologram of his second youngest son had an ice pack pressed to his face and a split lip. His mind rushed to Gordon's rescue, which had been sidelined by the severity of the mudslide.

"He was assaulted."

"Just a couple of unruly customers Dad, nothing I couldn't handle."

"I'll have your grandma check you over on your return."

"Dad, there's no need. It's just a little bruising."

"No, Gordon. You will be examined so charges can be pressed. We have their names right?"

"Names and footage of the incident," John stated, "we will submit a report to the police, however we need an independent doctor to review Gordon's injuries. I have our usual one on standby. Virgil will take him straight there before returning home."

"So how long do I have to stay here?"

"A few more hours at least."

A groan came from the man. With all the new technology at their disposal, there must be a way to get Gordon home.

"Is there nothing we can do?"

John turned to him, with his thinking face on. His eyes darted about the room as a plan formulated. His fingers bought up a ring of projected triangles and he tapped one that contained a little robot face.

"Brains, does Thunderbird Shadow still have the modifications that allow it to carry modules?"

"It does, though I would advise against it for extended periods."

"How about from the Caribbean home?"

"That should be within range. I'll check her over to be safe when she's home."

"Thanks Brains."

John's fingers tapped another triangle which contained an image of what he believed was Thunderbird Shadow. He hadn't seen the new stealth ship in person, but from the reports it had come in handy during a few rescues. He was still unsure about Tenusha's tendency to ignore orders and take on a more police-like role. They were first and foremost a rescue organisation. As much as he understood her desire to be proactive, there were other ways of going about it.

"Kayo, are you busy? Gordon needs a pick up."

"What's he done now?"

The woman, who was clearly halfway through a workout, was not impressed.

"He's currently floating in Module Four with Thunderbird Two unavailable for pick up."

"Can't we leave him to fester? Call it payback for messing with my stuff."

"Please, Kayo. He'll be bugging me on the comm for the next three hours if you don't, and I want to get him to the doctor sooner rather than later."

"Doctor? You didn't say he was hurt."

Her stance changed with that information, proving what Jeff had always known. His boys were like siblings to her and she had grown to care for them as such. Her school holidays had been spent with them and they had all welcomed her.

"Minor assault. We just need it officially documented by a doctor for legal purposes."

"So he's not dying?"

"No in the slightest."

"I'll finish my routine, shower and launch in about forty minutes."

"Thank you Kayo."

Jeff smiles, happy knowing Gordon would be home soon. He'd also have a chance to see this new Thunderbird in action. John selected the yellow triangle and updated his brother. Although Gordon might not be back in time for dinner, Jeff hoped the two of them might be able to spend the evening together.