Out Of Place

AN – Again, I can't thank those that have taken time to review enough. It really motivates me to keep writing – I'm glad you are all enjoying it! Also Harlow - my confession is that I've never been to Malaysia! I've set it there as in canon that is where the Hood is from, but I'm having to use a lot of google so I apologise if any of it sounds terrible \0/

Disclaimer – I don't own Thunderbirds

Chapter Nineteen – A Touch of Chaos

Kayo skimmed the waves in Thunderbird Shadow as she approached Tracy Island at the end of her usual patrol. She technically hadn't needed to perform another sweep but had wanted to relieve her frustrations with the lack of progress on tracking the Chaos Crew or the Black Phantom. All three had disappeared from the face of the earth, which was not only impossible but also very annoying. Or at least, she would have said it was impossible before the events of the last couple of weeks. She was the head of security for International Rescue, right now they had agents at risk and she was powerless to help them. A sharp bank to the right and the accompanying rush from the g-force made her feel a little better.

"Tracy Island to Thunderbird Shadow, come in Thunderbird Shadow." Scott's voice requested the connection and for one moment Kayo entertained the childish notion of just ignoring him. After all, the fact it was Scott calling and not John was a reminder of her failure to protect them. She dismissed the thought as soon as it arose, it was hardly Scott's fault that she felt resentment that the normal order hadn't yet been restored. Pressing a button, a blue hologram sprung up in her cockpit showing the man in question.

"Hi Scott, receiving you loud and clear."

"How did you get on over at the GDF base? Did Captain Rigby have anything for us?"

Kayo thought back to her latest visit to the mainland, introducing the other Scott to Captain Rigby had been interesting. Even more so when Scott proceeded to wipe the floor with Rigby on the shooting range. The GDF captain had been able to do nothing other than grant Scott the licence to keep a firearm on him, given that no one in the facility was actually able to outshoot him. Colonel Casey had obviously been involved somewhere, but her working relationship with Rigby had improved exponentially since they first met and she had no intention of messing that up by pointing out to him that he really had no choice but to let Scott carry arms. Even if he really didn't.

"Nothing on the Chaos Crew, all trails have gone cold. But the good news is that they were prepared to grant the other Scott a temporary firearm licence so he can be as prepared as possible for when we do find them."

The hologram frowned and crossed his arms, a gesture Kayo correctly interpreted as annoyance about any International Rescue operative – whether from their dimension or not – carrying a firearm.

"I see. Well, they've made their decision so we'll have to live with it. Shame about the Chaos Crew though, we really need to find where they are hiding out."

"More importantly, we need to find the Black Phantom." Kayo replied. "I'm on my way in now, I'm guessing Virgil won't be much further behind me with his passengers." Virgil had, on Scott's request, gone to collect the other Scott from the GDF base. Alan had asked to go with them to see their Thunderbird 2 in action.

"FAB Kayo, fly safely." Scott's hologram disappeared and Kayo let out a sigh. No longer having a reason to delay her return, she turned Thunderbird Shadow back towards Tracy Island.

On entering the den, she only found Scott waiting for her. "Where is everyone?" She asked curiously, looking around as though expecting to see other members for the family popping up from hiding places.

Scott rolled his eyes, Kayo could almost feel the stress rolling off him in waves. "Gordon went with Virgil to show off Thunderbird 2, they won't be long now. Tintin had some kind of break through with the device thing and dad went down to have a look at it. Grandma is in the kitchen, whipping up something for dinner."

Kayo pulled a face. "Any chance we could get takeout?"

"I heard that, young lady!" The voice floated up the stairs, followed by Grandma carrying a tray of… something. "I made samosas!" She declared happily, waving the tray towards Kayo and Scott. "You should try one." Kayo looked down at the tray in alarm.

"Are they meant to be green?"

"Well of course!" Grandma huffed at her. "That's the brussel sprouts. Can't make samosas without sprouts, you know."

"Really, Grandma? How… interesting…" Kayo began sidling towards the stairs leading to her bedroom. "Unfortunately I've just got in and need to freshen up, I'm sure Scott can have my portion and tell me all about how good it is, can't you Scott?"

Scott just glared at her as she ran away up the stairs, blue eyes promising retribution.

When Kayo had freshened up and returned to the lounge it was much busier than it had been. Thunderbird 2 had returned along with all her passengers. Virgil was talking to both their Scott and the other Scott by the piano, gesturing expansively and if Kayo had to guess they were probably talking machines or some sort. The other Alan was sat on a sofa with Gordon giggling about something, and wasn't that sight so familiar that she almost felt an ache in her chest. Damn, but she missed Alan and his youthful enthusiasm. Just like she missed Brains and his sarcasm and John with his calm patience. The other Alan saw her and twinkled his blue eyes at her, causing her to find something else very interesting. Well, that was a reaction she never felt from her Alan, at least. The man in question had stood up and was now making his way over to her.

"Scott told us all that you didn't have any luck with the GDF?"

"No," Kayo sighed. "They didn't seem to have anything on the Chaos Crew or the Black Phantom. Which might be expected, but Penelope hasn't managed to find anything either and that's really unusual."

Alan sighed before flashing her a smile. "Guess you get to put up with us for a bit longer! We'll sure miss you guys when we do go home, you've been really good to us."

"Well you are practically family," Kayo replied, trying to ignore how closely he was standing.

"Practically, but not quite." God, he was almost purring with a frequency that did something strange to Kayo's insides. Step away Kayo, this is a very bad idea.

Luckily, Eos chose that minute to call in from Thunderbird 5.

"What's up, Eos?" Scott asked, assuming the commander role he had been wearing for so long.

"I have been monitoring all frequencies for any mention of the Black Phantom," the AI replied curtly. "There has been a communication at a remote outpost in Siberia that has been referencing a Ghost. Due to its synonymity with the Phantom I have been intercepting the transmissions."

"Really?" Kayo swept forwards, leaving Alan standing at the bottom of the stairs. "What do they say?"

"I have not yet been able to correctly translate the calls." The AI sounded almost affronted about that. "The outpost appears to be acting as a relay station, there are no life forms that I can detect but it receives calls and it makes calls seemingly by itself. There is no onward transmission."

"That is odd," Scott frowned. "Well keep an eye on it, Eos. If you can translate the calls that would be very useful. It does seem odd, though, why would a random outpost in Siberia be receiving calls to no one?"

"Unless it's doing the same kind of thing Tintin does here, transmitting information across dimensions." Alan spoke up, looking around the room. "It would probably seem as though the calls go to no one to Eos, as she wouldn't be able to see the receiver at the far end."

"Polite Alan could be correct," Eos added. "I cannot track your calls when you speak to John, I can only hear your half of the conversation."

"Now that's a thought…" The other Scott stepped forwards. "So if this station is receiving calls from our dimension – why there? And also, where do the calls go once they leave the station? What do they say?"

"I shall endeavour to find out," Eos told them all. "I will communicate again when I have something further to add." With that, the hologram of the AI vanished.

"Well she was as chatty as ever," Gordon commented, lounging on the sofa.

"I think we need to talk to Penelope," Kayo thought out loud. "She might be able to unearth something about the outpost that could give us a clue about who owns it – and why there."

"Penelope?" Gordon sat bolt upright. "You're calling Penelope?"

Kayo raised an eyebrow. "From the lab," she confirmed. "I want to talk to Tintin first and I think your father is there too."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Gordon sprung upright. "Let's head on down." He nearly ran from the room, Kayo following with a fond shake of her head.

Alan watched them go. "That's going to take some getting used to," he thought out loud.

"Gordon and Penelope?" Scott asked, Alan replying with a nod. "It took us a while too. Aren't they together in your dimension?"

Alan looked shocked. "No! Geez, she'd kill him. Or he'd kill her. Just... no. He definitely isn't the right brother for Penelope."

Scott frowned. "So is there one that is better suited? We were all surprised when it turned out that Penelope actually reciprocated Gordon's feelings, but they do seem to work."

"I don't... um..." Alan's eyes scanned around desperately, noticing both his oldest brother and Virgil's shaking heads frantically. "Um...no? But there is... someone else. Yes. Someone else. Penelope is seeing someone else."

Scott looked confused, Virgil relieved. Alan's brother just put his head in his hands. "Well now that we've cleared that up," Virgil started. "Why don't we go and see..."

Whatever Virgil was going to suggest seeing was interrupted by an incoming call from Thunderbird 5.

"Eos?" Scott asked, stepping down into the den. "What's up?"

"I am receiving a distress call from a transport ship in the mid-Atlantic," Eos informed them without preamble. "It has been impacted with some form of projectile and is taking on water, there is a crew of six that are currently at risk."

"OK, sounds like a job for Thunderbird 2," Scott directed, although Virgil was already jogging towards his chute.

"There is more," Eos continued, causing Scott to call for Virgil to wait. "There is a suspicious aircraft that the crew have reported was responsible for their hull breach. I'm sending the images now."

A large, hulking machine with four VTOL engines appeared above the table in the den. "The Chaos Cruiser!" Scott exclaimed. "Virgil, I'll send Gordon with you. You might need backup if the Chaos Crew are there. Do we know anything about what they are doing, Eos?"

"They appear to be taking advantage of the situation to commandeer some of the cargo of the ship," Eos told him. "I am currently attempting to access an inventory, but have had limited success."

"Well there is more than one way to skin a cat," Scott stated. "I'm taking Thunderbird 1 to go and find out what they're up to." He called Gordon to tell him to meet Virgil on Thunderbird 2 before bounding up the steps towards the access lift for Thunderbird 1. He paused before pulling the lights down and looked at the other Scott, still standing with Alan in the lounge.

"Go with Virgil, if the Black Phantom is around we may need more backup. But don't put yourself in danger and don't get involved with the rescue!" With a quick flick of his wrists, Scott was gone.

"FAB," the other Scott murmured, shrugging at Alan. "Guess I'm up after all."

"Well yeah," Alan looked around. "But how are you going to get to Thunderbird 2?"

The siblings looked around the deserted lounge as Scott had to admit his little brother had a very good point.