"YAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!" Brandon continued to scream as he plummeted down towards the ocean with the damaged Helicopter falling after him. He was more terrified than he'd ever been as he saw the still spinning blades of the main rotor getting dangerously close to him.

Goose could do nothing this time. Absolutely nothing.

But luck initially saved Brandon. The loss of power caused by the system failure soon made the main rotors come to a halt moments before both hit the water a few yards apart from each other. The two men aboard the Helicopter jumped clear moments before the crash. Brandon went under for a second or two but the lifebelt harness sent him back to the surface. He then sat watching on as the Helicopter began to sink beneath the waves.

Goose was frantically swimming towards the scene. "BRANDON! TAKE THE HARNESS OFF!" she yelled. "TAKE IT OFF!"

"WHAT?!" Brandon yelled back, having not quite heard what Goose had said due to the wind. But a few seconds later he realised why. The Helicopter had now disappeared from view and as the cable tightened, it dragged the harness and Brandon down with it. Brandon struggled to free himself but the harness was attached a lot tighter than he realised. He was panicking. There was no way out. He was moments away from drowning.

Goose didn't hesitate. The moment she saw Brandon get pulled under, she stopped, took a deep breath and then dived down herself. She used her extensive knowledge of swimming to try and swim down as fast as she could, just being able to make out the dark shapes of Brandon and the Helicopter ahead of her. The amount of air bubbles that were rising from both also helped.

Brandon had almost given up when he felt a pair of hands grab him from behind. It was Goose, having managed to catch up to them. She soon had the harness unfastened and together they pushed themselves back up towards the surface. They broke through and let out huge gasps for air before coughing and spluttering up yet more water as the lightning and thunder continued.

The crew of the Helicopter were also safe. Their orange inflatable lifejackets had deployed as soon as they'd entered the water and these were now keeping them safely above water. The pilot raised his right arm and pressed down on his wrist controller to activate an emergency locator beacon.

"The Cutter shouldn't be far away," the pilot said. "It should lock on to our position."

"Yeah," agreed the co-pilot. "But I can't see those kids!"

The two men looked around. There was no sign of Goose or Brandon anywhere.

The mayday call from the Helicopter was picked up by Thunderbird 5, and after overhearing some urgent talk amongst other members of the Coastguard, John soon relayed the bad news to Thunderbird 2. "Thunderbird 2, the situation has just taken a turn for the worse."

"What's happened?" asked Virgil.

"Lightning struck the Helicopter that was rescuing Brandon," John said. "It crashed. The crew are safe and a Coastguard Ship is coming to get them."

"What about Brandon and Goose?" asked Alan.

Virgil, John and Kayo looked at him. "Wait, you're showing concern?" asked Kayo.

Alan glared at her. "Hey, I hate Brandon's guts, but that doesn't mean I want him dead!" he snapped.

"John, do you have the coordinates of the Helicopter before it went down?" Virgil asked.

"Sending them now," replied John.

Virgil checked the coordinates with Thunderbird 2's radar. "We're not far actually," he said. "We'll go and take a look."

"F-A-B," said John. "And be careful. We don't want Thunderbird 2 to end up in trouble as well."

As John signed off, something more worrying caught Alan's eyes. There were some strange swirling objects he could see in the distance. "Wait, what are those?" he asked, pointing. "Tornados?"

Virgil and Kayo looked and saw them as well.

"Those are Funnel-Clouds," said Kayo.

"They shouldn't be a problem," added Virgil. "Unless they touch down in the water."

For Goose and Brandon, they were pretty much back to square one. They were still in the water, only this time they'd lost the piece of wreckage they'd been holding onto before the Helicopter had arrived. They could only do what they could to float where they were and hope that the current wouldn't take them any further away from the shore.

Brandon lay on his back, staring up at the sky. He was exhausted. Being in the water for so long had drained a lot of his energy and he was struggling to stay away. He almost slipped under the surface but managed to save himself.

"Brandon, no sleeping!" warned Goose. "Focus!"

"Sorry, Gabby," Brandon replied wearily. "I'm beat."

"Just hold on a little longer," said Gabby, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Hey, for all we know, a rescue team could turn up at any moment."

Both waited in silence. But this time nothing happened.

Brandon gave a slight chuckle. "You're losing your touch," he remarked.

Goose looked at him dead in the eyes, then placed her forehead against his. If these really were going to be their last moments, they both knew they needed to spend them together.

The Coastguard Cutter had located the crew of the downed Helicopter and the ship's own crew had thrown a climbing net over the side of the hull. The two pilots were soaked but otherwise unharmed and had plenty of strength to climb up the net and onto the deck.

"Those two kids," the pilot said, looking anxiously back out across the vicious rough sea. "They're still out there somewhere. We looked, but we couldn't find them."

Before any of the ship's crew could respond, another giant wave sprung up and splashed over the side of the ship. Luckily it wasn't powerful enough to capsize the large vessel but it did cause it to list hard over to Port and making everyone on board cry out in alarm.

Thunderbird 2 was now closing in on the position of the downed Helicopter. Virgil focused on keeping the craft straight whilst Alan and Kayo watched the radar screens. They had set them to detect any kind of body heat in the water, and soon Kayo noticed two red dots appear on the scope. "I have two contacts!" she said. "It must be them!"

"Then we'd better move fast," said Virgil. "Kayo, prepare an Air-Pod and equip it with the Sonic-Cannons. When you're airborne, I'll give you instructions."

"F-A-B!" replied Kayo, unfastening her seatbelt and hurrying out of the cockpit.

"Sonic-Cannons?" repeated Alan. "I thought those were only for use against fires?"

"They are," replied Virgil. "But they may be our only hope to save Brandon and Goose."

Alan was still confused but he said no more.

Kayo was soon in the module configuring one of the two Green Pods and fitting it with air-jets as well as the Sonic-Cannons. Once these were completed, she climbed into the cockpit. "Pod configured, Thunderbird 2. Ready to launch."

"F-A-B," answered Virgil. "Be careful out there."

The double doors underneath the module opened and the magnetic clamp that was holding the Pod in place was released. It dropped down and out into the ferociously strong winds. Kayo felt it pushing the Pod off its course and had to battle hard to try and counteract it.

For Brandon and Goose, their ordeal was about to take yet another turn. They looked up in horror at the sight of a very strange swirling cloud that was dropping down from the sky not far from where they were adrift.

"WHAT IS THAT?!" cried Goose.

Brandon didn't know, and before he had a chance to say anything, the Funnel-Cloud touched down in the water and began to suck it up like a whirlpool.

"SWIM FOR IT!" Goose yelled to Brandon. "IT'S OUR ONLY CHANCE!"

They tried as hard as they could to swim away, but the force of the Funnel-Cloud was too strong and they quickly realised they were fighting a losing battle.

"IT'S PULLING US IN!" cried Brandon.

They struggled and struggled but it was all in vain. The Funnel-Cloud was moving along in the exact same direction that they were - almost like it knew they were there and was deliberately trying to suck them in. Very soon it had caught up to them and they found themselves being sucked upwards by its immense power. There really didn't seem to be any hope for them now.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" they both screamed in fright as they saw the ocean dropping further away.

What they didn't see though was a great green goliath flying towards them.

"LOOK!" Alan cried, pointing towards the Funnel-Cloud.

Virgil looked and was as alarmed as Alan was. "Kayo, do your thing!" he ordered.

Kayo didn't waste a second. She positioned the Pod as close as she dared to the Funnel-Cloud and then pushed a button. With a throbbing hum, the Sonic-Cannons activated, sending beams into the Funnel-Cloud and causing it to separate. What was underneath dropped away and back into the sea whilst everything above was being forced out to the sides of the beams.

Brandon and Goose had been underneath the sonic blasts and had dropped back down into the ocean below. At first they were bewildered by what was causing the strange noise and why they were no longer in a whirlpool in the sky. But as they looked up, they saw why.

"W-What's that?" asked Brandon, looking at the Air-Pod.

Then Goose saw something else and gasped. "Brandon, LOOK! THUNDERBIRD 2!"

Brandon then saw the green ship and went suddenly pale. He said nothing as Thunderbird 2 dropped down towards them.

"It's working, Kayo," Virgil said, watching the sonic blasts disrupting the Funnel-Cloud.

"You and Alan need to hurry, Virgil," Kayo replied. "I can't hold it for long!"

"Hold it as long as you can," said Virgil. "Alan, you're up."

"F-A-B!"

Alan ran to the Evac-Chairs mounted in the middle of the module. He put on his helmet and used a line to secure himself to the chairs. "In position, Virgil," he said. "Lower away!"

Virgil opened the module doors again and began to lower Alan and the chairs down towards Goose and Brandon.

As soon as a bolt of lightning illuminated the figure on the side of the seats, Brandon's heart skipped a beat. He recognised the red sash that belonged to Alan - the one person he was really hoping not to see.

Alan wasn't at all pleased at the sight of Brandon either, but he knew he had a job to do and he was not prepared to let his family down by refusing to rescue him. "Left-left, two degrees, Virgil."

"Left-left, two degrees," Virgil acknowledged and adjusted Thunderbird 2's position accordingly.

Soon the chairs were just above the surface of the water and within reach of Brandon and Goose. "OKAY, YOU TWO!" Alan called out to them. "CLIMB INTO THE CHAIRS! LADIES FIRST!"

"NO! BRANDON'S BEEN IN THE WATER THE LONGEST!" Goose shouted back. "HE NEEDS TO GO FIRST!"

Alan grimaced. He really didn't want to have to touch Brandon, but he then noticed how tired Brandon was looking. He shook off his resentment and reached down. "GIVE ME YOUR ARM!" he shouted.

Brandon was likewise reluctant but he did as he was told. He lifted his right arm out of the water and Alan grabbed it, pulling him up out of the water and placed him in one of the seats before lowering the safety-bar over the top. Then he reached out a lot more willingly to grab hold of Goose and pull her out as well.

"Got them, Virgil!" Alan said into his helmet radio. "Bring us in!"

"F-A-B. Hang on tight," answered Virgil.

The winch was reversed and the Evac-Chairs were hoisted back up into Thunderbird 2, just as Kayo was starting to lose her battle with the Funnel-Cloud. "Guys, I can't hold it back any longer!" she cried.

"You don't need to!" Virgil answered sharply. "We've got them. Break off!"

Kayo switched off the Sonic-Cannons and swiftly reversed the Air-Pod away from the Funnel-Cloud which now dropped down to the water and began swirling it up again. She then turned the Pod around and hurried back to Thunderbird 2. She got underneath and lifted up through the bottom of Thunderbird 2 and redocked inside the module. "I'm in!" she said. "Go! Go! Go!"

Virgil spun Thunderbird 2 around and activated the aft-thrusters, sending the ship rocketing away from the Funnel-Cloud and out of danger.

Kayo exited the Pod and walked over to the edge of the Module where she found Alan draping a large thick towel over the shivering and soaked Goose and Brandon. "Are they okay?" Kayo asked.

"They'll be fine once they dry out," Alan replied.

Alan and Kayo walked away, leaving Goose and Brandon to huddle together in order to warm up.

"Gabby?" Brandon said after a few moments. "You kept me alive out there. If it wasn't for you-"

"Shush, don't think about it," Goose replied. "You know I could never let my boyfriend perish."

Alan and Kayo re-joined Virgil in the cockpit just as he was filling John in on the situation.
"I'll alert the Search & Rescue and tell them they're safe," said John. "In the meantime you might want to take them to Australia for medical treatment."

"Australia?" repeated Kayo. "Why can't we just drop them at the nearest hospital?"

"The weather has made the Hawaiian Islands a strict no-fly zone," replied John. "Plus the hospitals have got their own backlog of patients to deal with. You'll need to take them somewhere else to get checked over."

"What about the one Sophie's sister works at?" suggested Alan.

"Good idea, Alan," said John. "I'll call ahead after I've spoken to the Coastguard and let them know you're coming."

"Thanks, John," said Virgil as John's hologram disappeared. "How are they?" he then asked.

"Snug as a couple of bugs under a rug - literally," Kayo replied. She pressed a button to look at the CCTV footage of the inside of the module. Then she blinked. "Huh?"

"What is it?" asked Alan.

"I can only see Brandon," Kayo replied. "And why's he lying on his side like that?"

"HELP! HELP!"

All three jumped and looked around as a frantic Goose came running into the cockpit.

"Goose?!" exclaimed Alan, leaping out of his seat. "What's wrong?"

"Please help!" wailed Goose, tears streaming down from her eyes. "I think he's dead!"

The two brothers and Kayo exchanged horrified looks. Alan sprinted out of the cockpit with Kayo and Goose close behind. Virgil swiftly set Thunderbird 2's autopilot to head to the hospital near Sydney and ran out after the others.

Alan was the first to reach Brandon and rolled him out onto his back. "Brandon? Hey, buddy? What's up?"

Brandon didn't answer. His skin had gone very pale. Alan pressed his ear against Brandon's chest and then froze. "Oh, no…his heart's not beating!" He turned to Goose and Kayo. "His heart has stopped! I'm going to perform CPR."

Kayo had to hold Goose back as Alan blew into Brandon's open mouth and then started to do chest compressions.

Virgil joined them moments later and came over to join Alan, medical kit in hand. He then began to perform a scan whilst Alan continued to blow into Brandon's mouth and perform the compressions.

"What's happened to him?" sobbed Goose.

"I'll be able to tell you in a minute," Virgil replied as the scan was processed. "Jeez! His lungs are full of water!"

"Wait, you're saying he's drowned?" asked Alan.

"I can't say for sure," replied Virgil. "But his heart's definitely not beating."

Alan began doing more compressions, a lot harder this time. "Brandon? Buddy, wake up! Please! Don't do this to me!"

Goose was sobbing her eyes out whilst Kayo did what she could to keep her back.

Suddenly, Brandon let out a gasp, shot bolt upright and began choking, spitting large amounts of water out of his mouth.

"Woah! Woah! Easy!' Alan said as he and Virgil held him up. "Easy there, buddy."

Brandon was groggy but soon began to regain his senses. He turned his head and looked at the youngest Tracy brother. "A-Alan?" he said. "What happened?"

"Your heart stopped beating," Alan replied. "You've also swallowed a heck of a lot of water. I had to do CPR on you to try and revive you. Looks like it worked."

Brandon was in shock as he tried to take this in. "You revived me?" he asked, stunned. "Why would you do that? I was a complete moron to you last time we met."

"Hey, rescue is my job," Alan said. "I may have developed a resentment of you for that, but I realise that I was wrong to hold a grudge. You'll always be extreme, Brandon."

Brandon was deeply touched by this and he threw his arms around Alan's neck. "Thanks, bud," he said. "I mean that. I really do."

Alan was as taken aback by this as the others were, but he decided not to push Brandon off. "You're welcome."

Virgil, Kayo and Goose said nothing. They just exchanged relieved glances with one another. Then as soon as Brandon had let go of Alan, Goose came in to embrace him.

Goose, Virgil, Alan and Kayo waited outside the ward whilst the doctors and nurses examined Brandon. It was a long and agonising wait - for Goose mainly, but also for Alan. His resentment of Brandon had completely gone and instead he found himself feeling guilty for even having the grudge in the first place. However, he chose to keep that to himself.

Eventually, Dr Grace Telford emerged from the ward and came up to them. "It'll take a while for the water in his lungs to get pumped out," she said. "However I expect him to make a full recovery in due course."

Goose wept with joy. "Can I see him?" she asked.

"Of course," replied Grace. "Go ahead."

"We'll give you two some time alone," added Kayo.

Goose smiled gratefully and went into the ward to see Brandon.

Grace then turned to the International Rescue team. "I hear he's alive because of you, Alan?"

"Yes, I guess he is," replied Alan.

"You did great, little brother," said Virgil. "Despite your resentment of him, you put it aside to help."

"Nobody deserves to die like that," Alan said. "Even Brandon Berrenger."

Kayo meanwhile was observing a large number of flowers and gifts on Grace's desk that was nearby. "I am guessing something special is going on for you, Doctor?" she asked.

Grace chuckled. "Not exactly," she replied. "I am leaving at the end of the week."

"You are?" repeated Alan. "Where are you going?"

"To the Moon," said Grace. "Sophie's accident meant Base Endeavour has been short of a medic. Nobody has been able to fill it. So I have been offered the job."

"Wow, that's great!" said Virgil. "What are Sophie's thoughts on that?"

"It was her idea," chuckled Grace.

"Don't you need astronaut training first?" asked Kayo.

"I've had it some years ago as part of my family's business," Grace replied. "But I'll get a full refresh as part of my initiation. I won't need any medical training up there. I am fully qualified."

Alan had stayed silent during this conversation. His mind flashed back to the mission on Victory Day Island where Sophie and Hayley had fallen into the bomb crater. Sophie's injuries were so severe that she'd been declared unfit to return to Endeavour. For that reason, Alan felt extremely guilty.

"Are you okay, Alan?" Grace asked, noticing his sad expression.

"I know it was an accident, but I still feel responsible for the way Sophie is now," Alan replied. "Not to mention that I haven't seen her in months. What state is she in now, may I ask?"

"You can see you for yourself, love."

Alan, Virgil and Kayo spun around to see Sophie enter the room, sitting in a motorised wheelchair and coming towards them. She still had the warm and bubbly expression on her face that she'd always had whenever they'd seen her.

Alan's eyes lit up. "SOPHIE!" he cried and ran forwards.

The young couple embraced. "Hey, sweetie," Sophie said. "It's been a while. Virgil. Kayo."

"Hey, Sophie," said Kayo. "Good to see you again."

Sophie smiled. "Thanks. This feels weird, but I'll get used to it over time." She turned to Grace. "She told me you were coming. So I thought I'd come and catch you."

"Glad you did," said Alan. "Sorry I haven't been in touch very much. Life's been…somewhat hectic."

"Not to worry," replied Sophie. "I understand what it's like for you guys. You're never resting."

"True that," agreed Virgil.

Sophie then spoke to Grace. "Have you told them?"

"Right before you arrived," replied Grace.

"Quite a leap from an Earth hospital to a Lunar one," remarked Virgil.

"Yes, but I'm sure I'll settle in quickly," said Grace.

Kayo turned back to Sophie. "Nice wheelchair," she remarked. "If you don't mind me asking, Sophie, how long before you're back on your feet?"

Sophie's smile faded away and she let out a small sigh. "I was wondering when someone would ask me that," she said. "I'm afraid, never."

"But I thought your legs needed to heal?" asked Virgil.

Sophie looked at him. "What legs?" she asked. She then pulled off the blanket that was over her lap.

Virgil, Alan and Kayo's mouths fell open in shock. Sophie didn't have legs anymore.