John headed through Thunderbird 5 and activated the mechanism which applied the exosuit to his body. He grabbed the handles and drifted through, letting the mechanical arms do their task, his mind set on the one goal that mattered to him. Getting to Alan as fast as possible. John knew he didn't need to tell EOS what to do, she was perfectly able to run Thunderbird 5 without him. One of his brothers, or Grandma if she was up for it, would take any calls that she couldn't pass on. As he reached the end, he let go of the handles and drifted into space. The Earth was below him. The controls flipped into his hands and John grasped them. He directed himself around his satellite and headed to Global One at full speed.
John reached the airlock. He pushed a button on the pad next to it. He knew it wouldn't open but it would alert them to his presence, and they were expecting him after all. The airlock opened, and John glided in and pressed the button to close the door. He impatiently waited for the room to repressurise. As the light turned green, John turned to open the door to the GDF satellite, only for it to start opening anyway.
"Welcome back, Tracy." Captain Ridley O'Bannon spoke, "I wish it were under better circumstances."
"Me too. Show me to the ship. I want to launch as soon as possible."
"Of course." Ridley O'Bannon walked down the corridor and John followed, taking a few extra strides so he was walking beside her.
"I've prepared the ship with five days' worth of supplies already. I have Michael running the major system checks, which should be completed soon, so we should be able to launch in about twenty minutes."
"We?" John questioned.
Ridley turned to him, a serious look on her face.
"Weren't you informed? The conditions of use for the ship is that a trained GDF pilot flies it."
"And you're the one they selected? I apologise now if I'm not my usual good company."
John looked down. He was glad it was O'Bannon accompanying him. At least she understood him and his ways, though considering the circumstances he'd have accepted anyone if it meant a prompt launch. Ridley opened the airlock and pointed out the necessary information as they headed to the helm. John stored the information for later. They entered the helm where a man in a GDF uniform was sitting in the pilot's chair. He turned around as they entered and vacated the seat.
"We'll take it from here Michael. Dismissed."
Michael gave a quick polite nod before leaving. Ridley took the chair he vacated and started running through the protocols on the display. John removed the exosuit and strapped it down, before taking the chair beside her.
"Have you got the current coordinates for Thunderbird 3?"
"Actually, where not heading to Thunderbird 3. Our scans picked up a small piece of what was thought to be debris, which changed direction. I believe it might be the space pod that is carried on Thunderbird 3. EOS has plotted its trajectory and predicted its course. I'd like us to intercept it first."
"That's not the information the GDF was given by your brother."
"Scott is unaware of this development. The oxygen on the pod is limited and there's no guarantee we'll make it in time."
John slipped the small tablet from his baldric and switched it on. The moment it was fully loaded, the data on the pod was on the screen, including the coordinates for intercepting it. Ridley had put up the navigation screen in front of him and John tapped in the coordinates. He slipped the tablet, still on, back into its slot. John knew EOS would be tracking their every move and would update him as and when required. He strapped himself in as Ridley released the little runabout from Global One and maneuvered it away. He felt the engines charge up and watched as Ridley pushed the throttle forward. The little ship shot away from Global One. John watched the speed dial and only sat back once it had reached maximum velocity. He called up the trajectory on the monitor in front of him, and made the computer do the calculations. He missed the way EOS predicted his moves and would have this ready for him. Twenty-three hours thirteen minutes until intercept. John hoped this would be enough.
The first thing Ridley did, once her little ship was on autopilot and all systems were functioning, was to quiz John. She knew what he was like, having spent many an hour visiting Thunderbird 5 for zero-G handball games. John could hide his lack of sleep and energy well, and considering the circumstances, Ridley would bet her right arm John was in need of food, drink and rest.
"When was your last meal?" She asked, releasing herself from the seat. John followed suit but was sheepish about answering the question.
"I'd have to ask EOS. I've been a little preoccupied."
"Right. There'll be plenty of time for pleasantries later. Let's head to the mess and get some food."
Ridley pushed herself along and made sure John was following. He looked out the front and sighed, but he did as he was told. She couldn't imagine what he was going through. Alan was a good kid, and a great pilot and astronaut. It was hard to believe he was stuck out there; floating through that mess in open soace. She grabbed some of the packets out of a cupboard.
"Curry and rice, Beef in black bean sauce with rice or Spaghetti Bolognese?"
Ridley watched as John surveyed the choices. She knew he had a wider variety of more satisfying food on Thunderbird 5. She'd almost requested he bring some, but decided against it.
"Curry." John spoke, and she could see his mind drifting off into thought.
She heated the curry for him and the beef for herself. She passed him a water satchel and got a good look at his face. His eyes were hollow and there were small dark circles under his eyes. He was tired and his body was tense. She imagined it was worry that did it. He drank the whole pouch in one go. Ridley passed the man the curry.
"Thank you."
John opened the packed and started eating, still in thought. They ate in silence. She wanted to say more, but no words could make the situation better. Instead she took the man to the sleeping quarters and left him to sleep. He was reluctant.
"You've been up too long already. If you want to be the one to go out to the pod, then you need to rest. I won't accept anything less than eight hours and you'll still have time to spare."
John nodded and she closed the door. The best thing she could do for her friend, and for International Rescue, was to keep the ship on course. Ridley headed to the helm and kept an eye on sleeping quarters to make sure John didn't stray too far. It was a GDF ship after all, and she was in charge.
John pulled himself into the bed and strapped himself down. He tapped his communicator. He wasn't ready to sleep yet.
"EOS?"
"Yes, John."
A small hologram of EOS hovered above his wrist. It comforted John, seeing her. It made him feel less alone on this journey.
"Any update on the pod?"
"The pod is still travelling on the predicted course."
"Is the probability still the same?"
"The probabilities have not changed."
John stared into the darkness of the room. The light EOS cast created eerie shadows on the unfamiliar walls. The weight of the knowledge that Alan may be just be out of reach, just outside the possibility of survival, held John down. He knew Scott would be feeling guilty whether he knew or not. John knew this ship couldn't go any faster, at least the modifications couldn't be performed in the required time frame. If Alan had a chance, even if it was as small as 1.3% in the best-case scenario, this ship was that chance. John's mind wasn't tired, but his body was exhausted.
"Shall I contact Tracy Island?"
"No." John wasn't ready to face Scott yet. "I've been instructed to rest. Only disturb me if there is any deviation of the pod's path."
"Sleep well, John."
EOS blinked away and John gazed into the darkness. He just lay there, thoughts rattling around his head and worry weighed heavy on his heart, as he waited for his brain to exhaust itself. Eventually he fell asleep. His dreams were full of stars and a single lone red pod slowly passing them by.
John woke. He had no idea how long it had been. He quickly reached for his communicator and was surprised to see that fifteen hours had passed! Only seven more until they intercepted the pod! John tapped the small EOS icon and she was transmitting seconds later.
"Morning John. Scott attempted to call you an hour ago, but I informed him you were resting. Still no change in trajectory, seven hours and twenty-six minutes until intercept."
"Thank you, EOS. I'll call Scott in a while."
John unstrapped himself and made himself comfortable before putting his baldric over his shoulder. His stomach growled and he headed to the mess and grabbed some of the standard issues GDF porridge. He tapped his communicator and called Scott.
"John, anything to report?" Scott's face was filled with worry and the dark circles on his face made John certain he hadn't slept.
"Negative. Still en route, no changes. How are you getting on with your transport?"
Scott sighed and ran his hand through his normally pristine hair.
"The weather is going to delay the launch. The crew arrived an hour ago and are being briefed and prepared. They aren't rushing John. The GDF wants to follow the procedure to the letter."
"Scott, they have every right to, and you know it. You, getting into orbit a day later isn't going to save Alan. You do have time to follow the procedures."
John knew his brother and understood his angst. He'd seen it so many times before. Scott sighed.
"I know, but it's Alan, John." Scott sobbed.
"Scott, get some rest. You need to be at your best for this. I need you to be at your best. We all do. Go to bed, Scott."
Scott looked him in the eyes. It was an exhausted and sorrowful gaze, but he could see Scott thinking. His brother's shoulders sagged, and he nodded.
"Fine, John. Just keep me updated."
"FAB."
Scott disappeared and John couldn't help but feel conflicted. But telling Scott the whole truth would make him worse and the family didn't need that right now. John floated down the corridor to the helm and joined O'Bannon. She yawned and gave him a smile.
"Good sleep?"
"As good as it could be, considering. Do you need me to take control so you can get some?"
Ridley laughed.
"Don't try that one on me, John. I'm on strict instructions NOT to let you fly this ship. I've just caught my scheduled eight hours."
John pulled himself into the chair and strapped in. He pulled up the flight plan and destination. They were still on schedule.
"We'll be in scanner range in just over four hours."
John nodded. EOS had informed him that the ship's scanners were programmed to pick up life signs, though from a very limited range. It made sense when it came to policing, and he knew they'd use them the minute they were in range. It could confirm John's theory, but it would only work if Alan was alive. Though it didn't change Alan's oxygen situation, and John was fearful he'd be watching Alan die.
John sat back and slipped into light conversation with Ridley. They were friends after all and talking helped keep their minds busy. As they neared the edge of the scanner's range, even Ridley started to show signs of being anxious. A display popped up the moment they were in scanning distance of the pod. John's stomach lurched, and he swallowed as he grasped the arms of the chair. Ridley gave him a nod before running the scan. They both watched, the air around them tense. A life sign popped up, and the screen displayed its location as the current coordinates of the pod. John let out the breath he was holding in. There was no guarantee it was Alan, but if it was the pod, it would be his baby brother flying it. The small fragment of hope inside him flickered, though John tried to hold it back. The odds were still against Alan.
Ridley set the scan to run every five minutes, so every five minutes John held his breath and hoped that there was still a life out there. There was little chatter over the next hours as they lived scan by scan, relieved that the person was still alive yet fearing the next scan would show the opposite. As they neared the target coordinates John slipped back into his exosuit and started to prepare. Ridley left him briefly and returned with a small oxygen canister and attachment.
"If he's running low on oxygen then he'll need this. It doesn't take long for cerebral hypoxia to occur. The quicker he gets oxygen the better."
"Thank you."
John clipped the tank to the exosuit and watched as Ridley started to slow the ship down so he could safely exit. The little red pod was insight now and John's heart started to race. He knew the limits of the GDF scanner. He knew that it was all based of heat signatures, and that meant they had no idea what condition Alan was in or if he was just a warm body. John headed to the airlock and set it to depressurise, ready to release him into space. As he waited, he closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to calm himself. He could feel the adrenaline in his system, and he knew he was going to need in, but he also needed a level head and to stay focused.
The airlock opened and John flew out. He controlled the suit, turned and headed to the pod. He was coming at it from below and carefully flipped himself, so he flew up and alongside it. He glanced across and his heart skipped a beat. It was Alan! John quickly reached, grabbed hold of the pod and hung off the side. As he reached for the handle he gazed down on his younger brother. Alan hadn't moved or responded to him, and John could now see why. His baby brother was unconscious. His eyes closed facing forwards toward the Earth, head resting on the controls with his hands still hanging on them. John's heart skipped a beat as he pulled the hatch open. Please, don't let it be too late.
