Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds Are Go.
AN: This is entirely inspired by 'Consequences' by Yarol2075, which you can find on AO3 at the following link: archiveofourown works/ 19707376
Admittedly, Penny is way more angry here, but she is a protective sister, so. Also, EOS makes a teeny appearance because really, what was up with her voice in this episode?
Huge thanks to LMC25 (*ahem* your theory is...a terrifyingly good one) and islandsandstars for your kind reviews! Enjoy!
It is almost offensive, actually, how quickly John finds out that Ridley O'Bannon had been temporarily suspended by the GDF and was undergoing an internal investigations regarding her actions attempting to save Global One.
It isoffensive, until John realises that this is very much intentional.
Only one person could have done this. One and a half, really.
John calls for EOS, and dials Penelope's number.
Penelope considers herself a very patient person. Espionage requires this sort of patience. Having a pet requires this kind of patience.
Dealing with her idiot of a brother requires this sort of patience.
She reminds herself of this fact as she orders Parker to dig up Ridley O'Bannon's file from the GDF, a task he completes solemnly and dutifully.
John is kind, but John is also used to dealing with strangers and uncovering their secrets. He is rarely this on-guard with friends and family, and this is why Penelope deals with all their domestic disputes. John is kind to a terrifying extent, and therefore oblivious to the manipulations of someone else, intentional or not.
Penelope finds out about Global One first, while Parker obtains the file of the astronaut who put her brother's life in danger for this digitised hunk of metal.
Nothingabout Global One stands out. Sure, it is one of the newest space stations the GDF had conjured up with, but nothing about it is even remotely on the level or importance of Thunderbird Five. And sure, this may be Penelope's anger speaking, but Penelope has also been taught to find the bare bones of basically anything, and this is what she comes away with from reading the report.
Parker hands her Ridley O'Bannon's file.
Ridley O'Bannon. Penelope settles down and reads. She can understand why this woman made friends with her brother so easily. The woman is smart, sharp, and tough as nails. In any other circumstances, Penelope may even overlook such transgressions in favour of being friends with her.
But then Ridley O'Bannon places her brother's life in danger. Plenty of people place the Tracy brothers' lives in danger, but never neverhad they been so clearly provoked into saving people.
There are people who disobey the Tracy brothers' orders, and there are people who place said brothers in deliberate danger by disobeying them.
Penelope is almost offended.
She drinks tea. Strokes Sherbert. Contemplates life without her brother.
Realises that there is someone else who cares for her brother's life almost as much as she, and who shares the same vengeful nature.
She informs EOS.
Then she picks up the phone and demands a line straight to the head of GDF aerospace.
"What did you two do?" John asks the second both are present.
Penelope tilts her head but doesn't answer. EOS feigns ignorance.
"Did you two just deprive me of my handball partner?"
Penelope lifts her chin haughtily. "I deprived you of a security menace."
"A what?" John demands.
"She placed your life – and hers – in unnecessary danger. She made you go over in Thunderbird Five to save a space station, which by all intents and purposes, has schematics and the resources to be rebuilt, while also having quite impressive insurance, if I do say so myself. Nothing justified her actions."
"She wanted to save her ship," John says. "Same as I would have demanded Thunderbird Five be saved."
"She was appointed head of Global One," Penelope snaps. "She was not in charge of its schematics or building it."
"I thought you would be pleased that I've made friends," John says idly. "Especially one who shares the same love of space with me."
Penelope's eyes narrow. "I would. If she hadn't placed your life in needless danger."
"The Hood and the Chaos Crew place our lives in danger. So do Langstrom Fischler and Francois Lemaire," John notes.
"Different," Penelope snaps. "They're idiots. O'Bannon should have known better."
"So you get her suspended."
"I would have gotten her fired if I hadn't felt so merciful."
"Understood," John says, though it is clear he doesn't.
"If someone completely random had pulled the exact same stunt on Alan, you wouldn't have hesitated," Penelope says. "You would have been the one to do this."
"This is different," John protests.
"Not really," EOS chimes in.
Penelope makes an effort to soften her voice. "You're my brother, John. And I didn't get her completely suspended – she still has pay and she will be undergoing retests to ensure her suitability to space." She exhales. "You are my brother. No one puts you in unnecessary danger like that, especially no one in any position of authority."
It works.
John's own expression softens and he pinches the bridge of his nose. "Alright."
"I won't apologise," Penelope reminds him.
"I know," John says. "At least you didn't get her fired," he acknowledges. "Did Parker talk you out of it?"
"EOS, actually," Penelope hums. "Thank her."
"Thank you, EOS," John says dutifully.
EOS whirrs happily, bright green. "You are welcome."
A chime from the ongoing disasters behind him. John turns. "I need to take this," he tells his sister.
She nods, already done with the conversation. "Go on, save some poor soul who isn't in the GDF nor holds some sort of position of responsibility."
"Penelope."
Penelope hangs up.