Chapter 3
John tiptoed back to the room he had been allocated to share with Alan, his head buzzing with ideas. Before, everything his father had mentioned had seemed hypothetical but with all four of them in the room together it looked like this plan could be more than just a pipedream. Their father obviously thought they had the skills between them. With all the potential operatives together the discussions had continued long into the night. A rescue organisation with first responder, transporter, space rocket and communications satellite.
For him it would be the chance to live amongst the stars. A career in space was something he had been striving towards. Every extra credit course. Every summer camp and internship. Each had been a steppingstone towards his dream of working for the World Space Agency. And then his father had dropped the bombshell that there could be an alternative. He would still need to complete a training course at Tracy College, as would Scott and Virgil, but he was being offered a golden opportunity albeit one that would take several years to come to fruition. Never usually one to give in to flights of fantasy John found himself daydreaming.
The door latch clicked closed and John was half way to his bed before he realised anything was amiss. The room was dark and still.
Too still.
There was no restless turning of a sleeper disturbed by his return. No heavy breathing of a brother at rest. The room was silent and disconcertingly empty.
He didn't panic. John had never understood the point of panicking. It rarely achieved anything and was often a hindrance. Panicking was something other people did. John didn't panic, he used logic; he found it much more effective.
Alan's bed was not only empty of his missing sibling, it was also bereft of its coverings. The mattress stripped of its duvet and pillows. The floor length curtain fluttered slightly and a gentle breeze broke the heavy stillness of the room. John stepped over to investigate.
Alan was stretched out on his back on the balcony, the duvet forming a barrier between the teen and the hard planking. At first John thought he was asleep. The room itself was stuffy and he could see the appeal of retreating to the balcony even if it made more sense to just adjust the air conditioning. He was debating whether or not to wake Alan up and move him back inside when a voice spoke from the floor.
"Finally finished then?"
John chose to ignore the question. Jeff had made it clear that the plans were not to be discussed with the youngest two until things had progressed further. There was still a lot that could go awry, not least espionage, and secrecy was a pivotal concern.
"Trouble sleeping?"
"Something like that. Never had the chance to see the southern stars before. I was hoping we could look at them together. Thought you might finally have time now."
There was an accusatory edge to Alan's voice and John felt a stab of guilt. Ever since he had got back from college Alan had been asking him for an astronomy session but there had always been some excuse. His college work. Meetings with Dad. Or sometimes just wanting to be alone as he missed the freedom and solitude of his own apartment. Alan had latched on like a shadow. He'd even protested against having to share a room with Alan for this Olympics trip even if Scott and Virgil were also having to share, the penthouse apartment not being equipped with enough rooms for them to each have their own. All his little brother wanted to do was spend time with him. John realised he hadn't even given the younger boy a chance.
"Budge over."
Alan shuffled across on the duvet, making room for John to stretch out beside him. They lay close, side by side. Both were of a similar build and their lithe forms fitted easily on the impromptu mattress. Alan was still several growth spurts shy of reaching his full potential but it looked like he too, as had happened to all his brothers except Gordon, would one day exceed 6 foot. Under the stars they both loved the similarities were more marked than their differences.
"Seen anything interesting?"
"You missed Jupiter but to be honest the light pollution is almost as bad as L.A. I'd love to head out to the dark sky reserve and take a proper look but I guess this this will have to do. I don't know when I'll next be in this hemisphere again. Even Crux is hard to make out against the glow."
John followed the arm of his pointing sibling and could just make out the constellation that was one of the defining features of the southern hemisphere. Alan was right, the light pollution of the city meant the stars were barely visible. John had to bite his tongue over one thing though, if Jeff's plan came to fruition then the southern skies could soon become the norm for Alan.
The pointing arm began moving about.
"So if Crux is there. And Centaurus is there." There was a pause as Alan consulted his mental map and made a few calculations. "Then home must be over….there."
"You've worked out where L.A. is?" He made his own rapid calculations and came up with a similar answer. He couldn't help but be slightly impressed. Alan had always shown a similar interest in the stars to himself and it looked like this interest hadn't waned.
"Well I wouldn't trust it as accurate. I just like to test myself whenever I go somewhere new. I was thinking of Kansas though. L.A. isn't really home. Never has been." There was a pause then, barely whispered, "You guys aren't there."
John looked across but Alan was still staring resolutely up at the sky. He knew he didn't associate Los Angeles with home. He had stayed in Kansas for a year to finish school when their father had made the move to California, then headed straight to Harvard. To him the apartment in the city was just somewhere to visit between semesters. But surely Alan should have been more settled by now. He had lived in the city for several years with Dad and Gordon.
He thought back to his latest visit. With the exception of the bedrooms the apartment looked like a show home; devoid of personality. It was a place where individuals coexisted rather than somewhere that a family lived. It was a stark contrast to the slightly run down farmhouse with the mismatched furniture collected over the years. The marks on the walls that each told a story; the stain from when Alan got hold of Virgil's paints, the dent in the doorframe from when Scott threw a baseball inside. The apartment had no such stories. No memories. Alan was right, it wasn't a home.
"I doubt we can make it out to the dark sky reserve, the schedule is pretty tight, but if you want we take a trip out to the mountains when we get back. Take the telescope."
"Really?" The eagerness was barely disguised.
"Sure. I'll still have a couple of weeks before I have to head back east. I'm sure we can wrangle a few days away."
They lay side by side staring up at unfamiliar skies until they drifted off to sleep, lulled by the perpetual murmur of the city below them.
xoxoxox
John awoke to the sun in his eyes and cramp in his foot. In a moment of disorientation he couldn't work out why his bed was so hard or the room was so bright as he clutched at the offending limb and attempted to stretch out his toes.
His startled flailing woke the figure to the side of him. Alan stretched, bounced up off the floor, then held out a hand to his incapacitated sibling. John grasped it gratefully and levered himself up. The cramp might have eased but his whole body felt stiff from the unintentional slumber on the decking. He wondered how on earth Alan was able to move about so freely.
"You want first shower?" Alan asked as they headed back into the room.
John nodded gratefully. He hadn't meant to bed down under the stars and as such was still wearing his clothes from the day before. After travelling across continents and then sleeping outside the outfit was decidedly rumpled and worse for wear.
He stepped into the en-suite and shucked the dirty clothes onto the floor. The shower was hot and powerful, the steady stream of drops beat against his aching muscles. He could have stayed there all morning but the sound of Alan rapping on the door reminded him that this was a shared space and there was a schedule to be adhered to.
Breakfast was a quiet affair in the lounge area with plenty of coffee to fuel the day although Alan stuck to juice and water, commenting that he couldn't understand why they all felt the need to drink the bitter brew. This just drew amused smirks from his elders, sure that one day he would discover the delights of the bean. Coffee was treated with reverence by the other Tracys. Virgil didn't like to venture outside before his second cup. Jeff insisted on a fresh ground beans of single origin. Scott and John were less particular in their tastes but even they liked to start the day with a strong fix to kick start the senses.
The morning was spent pool-side watching a mixed assortment of heats and races. Alan had the whole schedule memorised and counted down the events until Tracy four was due to take his turn in the water. He seemed to know every statistic of every competitor and chattered away to any brother that would listen.
At last, towards the end of the session, the men's 200m butterfly was announced. The family sat forward expectantly. Gordon was tipped to do well but his heat was a difficult draw. Both the Australian and Dutch competitors would be in the water with him and all of them had their sights set on medals. Three medal hopefuls but only two places available in the final. There could be no saving himself; every lap mattered.
At the sound of the gun Gordon launched himself into the water. Five sets of eyes tracked him from above, barely daring to blink. Five hearts thumped as the battle was fought. Five collective breaths were released as the timing board announced what they had all thought they had seen; second place for USA. Gordon would live to fight another day.
Emerging into the bright sunshine of early afternoon the family found themselves basking in the refreshing breeze that wafted through the Olympic Park. The gallery had suffered from the intense heat and humidity common to swimming pools the world over. The echoing acoustics had made the cheers of the crowd deafening and it was a relief to step back into outside world.
"Well, that's it for today" Jeff announced to his assembled brood. "There are some taekwondo and athletics tickets for tomorrow and then Gordon's final is the day after. For now though I've got to head back to the hotel and catch up with some work, don't make plans for me for dinner."
Leaving them to sort it out amongst themselves Jeff turned and headed back to the hotel. The brothers knew their father well enough to read between the lines. He evidently didn't want to be disturbed and the expectation was that they would stay away from the hotel, at least for the next few hours and preferably until nightfall.
Scott was about assume responsibility for the group when John spoke up.
"I thought I might take Alan out to where the mountain biking is taking place. You don't need tickets for that." Alan's eyes lit up at the prospect of spending time with his favourite available brother and watching people hurtling at speed down steep hills and over rocks. "You two don't need to come if it's not your thing."
"You sure you'll be ok with him?"
"Seriously Scott, we don't need a chaperone. Alan and I will be perfectly fine by ourselves."
Scott shrugged in an 'if you're sure' sort of gesture. As much as he knew Alan would love to see people risk life and limb in the name of sport he also knew it most definitely was not John's usual choice of activity. Still, if it got him out of an afternoon of playing sheepdog he wasn't going to question John's motives too deeply.
He turned to Virgil. "Looks like it's you and me then. Unless you also want to watch the mountain biking?"
"Not really. I'd rather stay central. Maybe head over to the marina."
"Sounds good to me. You'll give me a ring if you need anything." John just rolled his eyes in response.
The siblings split into pairs; one set heading off to the taxis that would take them to the artificial hill course, the other set heading to the waterfront.
The harbour area was packed with visitors and a little too crowded to be comfortable. Scott and Virgil headed away from the Olympic area, following the esplanade until the crowds thinned out. They had had enough sporting hype for one day and were ready to just relax. Scott's leave was only a few days for the duration of Gordon's events and he knew he would soon be immersed back in Air Force life. Best make use of the opportunity for some rest and relaxation while he could.
They walked in companionable silence until, as if by mutual accord, their steps led them to a waterfront bar. The sun was starting to dip towards the horizon but the evening was still warm and the parasols at each table gave some welcome shade. The brothers found themselves drawn to an empty table. They were soon comfortably settled, the ocean glittering in front of them mirroring the sparkling condensation on their beer glasses.
Scott took a deep pull and sank half his drink before Virgil had barely sipped an inch earning himself a disapproving look from the younger man. Scott chose to ignore it. He rarely got down time. There were always so many responsibilities. His squadron. Younger brothers. But John had taken custody of Alan and Virgil was old enough to look after himself meaning Scott could enjoy not being in loco parentis for a while. If he chose to enjoy that freedom by drinking a little too much a little too quickly then so be it.
A second drink swiftly followed the first and the conversation flowed just as freely as the beer. Of all the sibling bonds Scott's and Virgil's was probably the strongest despite them rarely getting time together any more.
As the glasses stacked up Scott beckoned to a nearby waitress who was collecting empties from the outside tables. He beamed at her causing the dimples in his cheeks to appear like craters.
"Hey beautiful, could we get another couple of drinks over here? And maybe some scotch chasers?"
She nodded and Scott turned to watch her as she headed back inside, his eyes raking up and down her body.
"Put your tongue away" Virgil commented. "You're practically drooling."
"Can't a guy appreciate the finer things in life?"
"Not if it means perving over the locals. She's just trying to do her job."
"I am not perving. I'm admiring. I thought you were meant to be the artist seeing the beauty in everything?"
They arrival of said waitress with the next round of drinks soon put an end to their argument and cause the re-emergence of the dimples. He fixed her a look with his startling blue eyes that he knew most women found irresistible.
"Thanks. Say, are you working late tonight?"
"Late enough."
"Only I was hoping someone with local knowledge could help show me the sights."
"Sorry boys. No moonlighting as a tour guide. It's company policy." She stacked the empty glasses onto her tray and headed back inside.
"Well that shot you down." Virgil smirked. "We've barely been here twenty four hours and already you're trying to get laid. Can't you keep it in your pants for one trip? We're here to support Gordon, not so that you can add more notches to your bedpost. And had you forgotten we are sharing a room?"
Scott snorted. "So what if I fancied having a little fun, it's not like I get much chance back at base. The Air Force isn't exactly awash with opportunity between postings and combat missions. And if Dad's plan actually happens and we're all dragged in to it it's not like any of us will have much of a life."
"What do you mean 'dragged in'? I thought you were on board with this whole rescue business?"
"Well you thought wrong."
By this point yet another beer had been drained, swiftly followed by the scotch. The burn of a cheap blend hit the back of Scott's throat with a kick.
"Seriously, what does he hope to achieve with just four of us? All that bull crap about saving the world one family at a time. The world already has rescue services and the World Security Patrol. It doesn't need us sacrificing ourselves too."
"But surely if we can make a difference?"
"I already make a difference. I like my life Virg and I'm good at what I do. Dad is asking me to give up the career I've worked hard for just to fit his idea. It's not easy being a Tracy in the Air Force; everyone always has some story about Dad but I'm finally making it in my own right. And now he's talking like this is some foregone conclusion."
"You'd really rather follow the orders of some Air Force brass than help save lives? Your unit isn't exactly a humanitarian force. What about doing it for Mom? He said this was her legacy."
"Of course I want to save lives but sometimes the defence of our nation calls for a more forceful response; eliminating the few to save the many."
"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that." This was one area where Scott and Virgil never had seen eye to eye. Scott was proud to serve his country. Some days though, when the intelligence was flawed or the benefits didn't seem to justify the costs, he found himself wondering if the family pacifist had a point.
"Even if I did leave the Air Force I'd still be following orders, they would just be Dad's orders. I can't see it being run by committee, can you? And he can leave Mom out of this. Her legacy was Dad burying himself behind a mountain of paperwork or at the bottom of a scotch bottle while we picked up the pieces. Or have you forgotten having to juggle school work around getting the kids to swim meets and after school clubs?"
"He isn't like that any more."
"Ok, so there are fewer empty bottles in the recycling but there was still a massive Alan shaped hole in his plan. You know what Dad is like when he gets his teeth into something; anything not directly necessary gets pushed to one side and that includes his own family." There was a drawn out sigh as the fire burnt out. "I don't think I'm ready to take that on again."
Virgil knocked back his own scotch as he considered Scott's words. His elder brother was right; Gordon and Alan were conspicuously absent it the run down of how the organisation would operate. Ok, Gordon wasn't so much of an issue but Alan still had several years of school ahead of him. He just had to trust that there was some plan in place in the background for the youngest.
He shrugged and shivered slightly as the wind changed direction and blew in off the now black ocean. Around them tables were being wiped down and lights were being dimmed, a clear indication that it was time to call it a night. The pair hailed a cab and rode in silence back to the hotel, each lost in their own thoughts.
