Yet another Thunderbirds one-shot from me. This one is based on a conversation I had many years ago with my dad and a friend. Not sure whether anyone's done anything like this before, so I hope you like it. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Thunderbirds.


As usual, the bright sunshine was illuminating the luxurious atmosphere of Tracy Island. It was a beautiful day - which all of the residents had chosen to take advantage of.

They were relaxing at the swimming pool. Jeff's eyes which were hidden behind his sunglasses ran over the small print of the newspaper he was reading as he lay back in his sun lounger. Penelope was sitting next to him in a chair, enjoying a cup of tea while Parker stood beside her, his hands behind his back. Brains and Virgil were intensely quiet as they focused on their chess game whilst Alan, Gordon and Tin-Tin laughed heartily as they tossed a beach ball amongst them, splashing about in the pool.

"My, what a splendid day," Penelope commented in a relaxed voice. "Just the sort where you are feel as though nothing can go wrong."

"That's right, Penny." Jeff peered over the top of his magazine towards the young agent. "But we are International Rescue. Anything can happen when we least expect it."

"Gee, Dad." Virgil lifted his gaze from the chess board to direct it at his father. "It sure is a shame Scott can't be here to enjoy this sunny day with us."

"I agree, Virgil. But those newly-improved thrusters installed on Thunderbird One aren't going to test themselves. I sure hope they're as powerful as you say, Brains."

"Oh, uh, they sure are, M-Mr Tracy," Brains stuttered. "You'll see for yourself when Thunderbird One launches out of the pool in less than twenty seconds..."

"What?" Jeff blinked behind his sunglasses over hearing what the spectacled scientist had said in his stuttering voice. "What did you say, Brains?"

"Ah-I said Thunderbird One is due to launch out of the pool in less than thirty s-seconds," Brains repeated. "Scott should be docking be-be-beneath the pool now."

"Wait..." Virgil frowned thoughtfully. "If Scott about to launch now ... and we're out here at the pool ... that means there's nobody here to open it for Thunderbird One ... which means..."

Virgil didn't get to finish what he had just realised as the sound of Thunderbird One's thrusters blasted suddenly through the atmosphere. Knowing exactly what was about to happen, Jeff stood up quickly from his sun lounger to shout at the three figures still in the swimming pool.

"EVERYBODY OUT THE WATER!"

"WHAT'S HAPPENING, FATHER?!" Alan shouted over the thunderous noise.

"WHAT'S ALL THIS RACKET COMING FROM BENEATH THE POOL?!" Gordon hollered.

"WHAT'S GOING ON, MR TRACY?" Tin-Tin yelled, equally as puzzled as the two boys.

"NEVER MIND WHAT'S GOING ON!" Jeff bellowed. "JUST GET YOURSELVES OUT OF THE POOL THIS MINUTE! THAT S AN ORDER!"

Realising that something was very wrong indeed, Alan, Gordon and Tin-Tin did exactly as they were told. They quickly pulled themselves out of the water, leaving the pool to join Jeff, Virgil and Brains on dry ground...

...just in the nick of time.

There was an enormous blast as Thunderbird one burst through the surface of the swimming pool. The slick rocket soared upwards as it shot out of the water, it's blue and silver body glistening from how wet it was. Blasts of air errupted from the rescue craft's thrusters, causing the surrounding palm trees to shake - and blowing away Jeff's sunglasses and magazine, along with Virgil and Brains' chessboard, Penelope's cup of tea as well as Alan, Gordon and Tin-Tin's beach ball. Large showers of water also came plummeting down - to drench all of the stunned people standing in the way.

"Hey!" Virgil cried as he was soaked. "I've already had one shower today!"

As Thunderbird One took to the sky, it left Tracy Island far below - as well as the members of International Rescue it had drenched. They all stood at the poolside with dripping wet hair and clothes.

"Thanks a lot, Scott!" Alan grumbled as he shook his fist irritably at the rocket which was soaring away.

"Did you forget you're in Thunderbird One and not Thunderbird Four?" Gordon hissed. "You leave piloting the watercraft to me, big brother!"

"Oh dear." Tin-Tin sighed as she took in just how saturated Jeff, Virgil and Brains' summer attires were. "This would happen straight after laundry day."

"Just look at me." Penelope brushed her wet blonde hair out of her eyes to look down at herself and see that her expensive designer outfit was completely soaked. "The aroma of chlorine is difficult to dispose of. You will have to take my clothes in the Rolls Royce to the cleaners, Parker."

"Yes, M'Lady..." Parker pulled his hat away from where he was holding it above the London agent. It had barely been able to shield her from the large deluges of water her manservant had attempted to protect her from. He returned his flattened hat to his heat. It was as the rest of his uniform.

"W-Well, Mr Tracy." Brains' was now stuttering with nervousness as he wiped the soaked lenses of his large glasses. "It appears Thunderbird One's new thrusters are c-certainly working well. Now the craft launches f-f-faster than before."

"Yeah, I saw that alright, Brains."

Jeff's sunglasses were now hanging off of his face by one arm. The head of the International Rescue standing in a large puddle of water one which floated soggy pages from his wrecked newspaper. He stared in his bemusement at his trusty engineer, keeping his cool in spite of what had just happened to him, his sons and his staff.

"Now you can move onto working on the next improvement I have in mind for you to do."

"W-What's that, Mr Tracy?"

"Allowing the swimming pool to open automatically when Thunderbird One is about to launch!" Jeff tapped his foot inside the puddle he was stood in. "That way, should the rest of us be having a relaxing day at the poolside, nothing like this can possibly happen again!"


Several thousand feet high and away, Thunderbird One was soaring swiftly through the air, having switched to horizontal flight. Drips were flying away from the blue and silver craft as it quickly cleared off the water it had been soaked in - with the use of the new speed it was going at.

"Well that's one way I can give Thunderbird One a wash..." Scott smiled as he sat comfortably in the cockpit with his hands on the control. "And with these new thrusters Brains installed, she'll be dry in no time. Can't say the same about those fellas back there..."

The eldest Tracy brother chuckled to himself as he skillfully flew Thunderbird One through the sky, all clear and shiny after launching through the swimming pool - literally.


Thank you for reading. Yes, my dad, my friend and I wondered what it would be like if Thunderbird One launched from its silo - and actually came out through the water of the pool! Decided to actually write out how it may actually go! Hope it gave you some laughs! XD

Until next time, hope the rest of your day is F-A-B! :)