29
Disclaimer: Just a midway reminder I don't own thunderbirds :-)
"So, let me get this straight you own this?" Scott hopped down from the helicopter and surveyed the immediate area. He flicked his aviators on, the sun was already blinding and it was hot. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and loose cream walking trousers.
"I told you on the way over son. I brought it at the beginning of the year. It was meant to be a private holiday home eventually but - well I think its new purpose will suit it better."
"And you're sure it's completely uninhabited?" Virgil asked. He pushed up his sleeves in response to the heat - he knew he should have worn a short-sleeved shirt. He was envious of his brothers choice in attire.
"Yep, just us and the local wildlife. Come on." Jeff started up the hill ploughing on ahead. Scott gave Virgil and incredulous look before he just shrugged and set off after their father. The island from above looked pretty insignificant as they had flown in, nothing more than a rocky terrain formed from volcanic activity millions of years ago. On the ground however was a different story. There was a sandy costal area framed with palm trees which they had landed near. As they hiked up the cliff face it was obvious that the vegetation was dense in places; rich in several species of plants, shrubs and palm trees. It didn't take long for them to break out in a sweat as they continued to trudge upwards. Scott was glad to have the forethought to wear his combat boots. Who knows what insects dwelled here? The bird chatter was the only sound that kept them company along with the stomping of their own footsteps. They had to walk in single file because there was no set path and too much vegetation. Eventually they reached a naturally flat terrace where they paused for a break. Jeff took a sip of his drink from his bag whilst the boys chewed on some energy bars from theirs.
"Well it sure is a beautiful view from here, father. It would be perfect to capture in a painting. The play of the light and the colour of the ocean is quite something." Virgil was already thinking about the colors he would need to bring the portrait to life.
"Yes, I thought the same that's why I thought I'd build the villa here." Jeff stated casually.
"A villa?" Scott asked.
"Well we'll need somewhere to live if this is to be our base. We need to be close enough to launch the rescue vehicles quickly and the launch could be well concealed here. We wouldn't be governed by any restrictions or attract unwanted attention." Jeff was walking around using a measuring scanner he pulled from his backpack to record the square footage measurement for the villa's foundations. It automatically recorded the data so he could review it later.
"Hang on, you want to sell the farm and we would live here!" Scott exclaimed astounded. Virgil looked surprised too.
"Well, I don't think I could ever part with the farm but yes we'd live here. I mean it would be like living in paradise - a small sacrifice don't you think? The villa would have all the mod cons and everything we needed to be comfortable including a gym and an outdoor pool for training and leisure."
"Well that's Gordon sold then, he's always wanted a pool." Said Virgil.
Jeff smiled, that's what he was banking on. Scott remained silent, turned away from his family as if admiring the view but frowning in concern. His plan wasn't going to work then. He was still weighing up whether he really wanted this or not. He loved the concept and he was pleased at the positive effect it was having in helping his father come to terms with his mother and grandfather's deaths but…. This was a lot to take in. He didn't want to be the one to let his father down and disappoint him but at the same time he didn't want to leave his air-force career behind just yet. He was only 28, he had plenty of service years left in him as long as he didn't get injured. In his mind he had formulated a compromise in which he thought he could have served as a reservist for some of the time and with IR for the rest but he couldn't do that if he couldn't be near base for the training. If he was to be assigned out here, he would have to give it up completely.
"Scott!" Virgil called for the second time exasperated. Scott glanced around.
"Are you coming?"
"Sorry, yeah on my way." He saw his father had already moved on and was walking towards the left-hand side of the terrace back down towards the beach. He jogged a little way to catch up with Virgil who had hung back to wait for him. Their father had forged on ahead in his excitement. Scott adjusted the straps on his bag and fell into step next to Virgil, it was rockier here making it easier to traverse side by side.
"Are you ok?" Enquired Virgil.
"Yeah fine, dad's pretty serious about this huh?"
"What about you?" Virgil quizzed.
"Am I serious about this?" Scott pointed at his chest.
"You seem… concerned, no - unsettled." Guessed Virgil.
"Well, aren't you? dad just brought a freaking uncharted island in the pacific and plans to build us a new home here?"
"This isn't what its about though is it? Not for you anyway. You've been at uni/posted from home since you were eighteen and lived in several foreign nations. the point is you don't want this for a job, do you?" Virgil looked sympathetic. His honey amber eyes staring through the blacked-out aviators trying to gage his brother's real sentiments on the whole thing.
Scott sighed loudly. "Is it that obvious? I really wish I could say I would be the field commander he wants (Jeff had since filled Scott in on exactly what his role would be) but I don't know if I have the heart for it when I am already doing what I'm passionate about, what I have always wanted more than anything. I know its selfish of me, I can see how much this organisation means to dad and he's made such progress recovery wise since he started this venture. I don't want to be the one to derail that. Not now John is definitely in and he's set to recruit Brains. John is so excited too; I can't take that away from him." John hadn't stopped talking about it in their group chat since he accepted the role. It was fast becoming his dream career. Scott couldn't take that away from his younger brother not when he knew exactly how it felt when you'd found your one true calling in life, you had to grasp it with both hands when it was offered. Scott concentrated on his feet, deliberately avoiding eye contact as he worked his way around the loose scree.
"Scott! you can't just sweep your feelings aside like that just to make dad and John happy. Sure, dad's recovery has been aided by this venture but I am sure he will understand if you don't want to join. He's never said its compulsory and he knows what a wrench this might be for you compared to the rest of us. He wants your happiness more than his own. It's what parents do."
"I know but that doesn't mean I can just shut the guilt off and parents shouldn't be expected to give up their aspirations for their children either. There must be a way I can balance this. I really believe in what dad's trying to create here. I know he has the gall and determination to see it through when others would give in. The fact that dad wants to use his wealth to not just help people but to save their lives is just amazing. I really think this will work with or without me but I can't help thinking I could be missing out on an amazing opportunity and it would provide me with the progression I'm looking for...but at the same time I am so close to be promoted where I am. My evaluation is in next week." Scott was nervous, he would find out if he'd done enough to earn the rank of captain.
Virgil was silent for a few minutes contemplating his brother's dilemma. He couldn't see how Scott could do both jobs he would ultimately have to choose eventually. "You need to talk to dad. He would understand, he was in the air force himself after all. He knows the attraction of it better than anyone, seriously Scott I don't think he would begrudge you for it at all."
"Hmm"
"Boys! Look at this!" Their father was waving them down excitedly and pointing at what appeared to be a cove.
As they got closer, they did indeed see it was a natural inlet that was actually quite a size but they couldn't venture in to scope it out fully as the tide was in. "Yep Gordon's going to love this, he can have his own personal underwater liar." Scott poked his head around as far as he could. Virgil chuckled and took some pictures to show Gordon when they could.
"This would be perfect for the launch of the water craft when it didn't need to be airlifted." Jeff explained to the boys but also recorded it as a sound byte for his analysis.
"Yeah about that, this island is effectively an extinct volcano it's not exactly ideal for take-off is it? Where would we store the craft? They'd need hangar space too." Scott pondered aloud. Jeff frowned it was a valid point.
"Hmm, it's a good point. Let's head around this headland a bit and see what's on the other side- maybe we'll find something?
"I'll scout ahead father, I fancy a change." Virgil gave Scott a pointed look as he passed to the front of the group. Scott silently cursed him; he knew exactly what he was doing.
Jeff fell into step with Scott. "So, how's it going back at base? It's your evaluation next week right?"
"How do you know?" Scott asked surprised, he's only just told Virgil no one else outside his unit knew.
Jeff winked. "I know people who know people." Scott shook his head he should have known. His dad was still very invested in the politics of his previous regiment. He had a way of getting his contacts to talk when they shouldn't too.
"Yes, it is. I've completed all my training and Brody is really coming on with her fighter training (Scott was referring to his 2nd lieutenant who he was tasked with mentoring as part of his own development as a 1st lieutenant). Virgil was some distance ahead now.
"That's great Son" Jeff paused. "Look I can see that the IR business has been weighing on you."
"Dad, it hasn't" –
"Scott don't lie, you've not got your brother's gift (He was referring to Gordon who Jeff had been convinced was a pathological liar until very recently) I can tell when you are. You know Scott, I don't want you to give up the air force."
"What? But…. How would that work?" Scott spluttered as he looked confused.
"What I mean is this business isn't going to take off overnight, you've got time son. I'm hoping that when you are ranked captain, you'll have at least two or three years in that role to get some crucial team leadership and flight commander experience. Those skills will be essential to you as part of your IR role… but only if you want it. I don't want you halting your life for this Scott. You do what you want to do."
"But what about the others? Who would take my position?" Scott was relieved that his dad wasn't expecting him to leave straight away or to even give an immediate answer, it made him feel less anxious about the whole thing and he was hopeful that we would still get to complete part of his career as a Captain.
"I'm sure your brothers would be fine without you and it may be tough but I could find someone to cover the field commander role in time. That's not your concern to be worried about." -
"AGGGGGGGHHHHH!"
Jeff and Scott halted abruptly as a yell followed by a rumble of rock and soil interrupted their conversation. They realised that Virgil was no longer in front of them where he had been moments before. The both looked at each other before sprinting ahead. Scott outpaced his father easily as he limped behind. Scott slipped on scree before quickly back peddling and throwing a hand out to steady himself against the cliff face. He'd nearly fallen into the six-foot opening that his brother had just fallen through.
He fell to his knees at the edge of the crevasse and peered down. "Virgil!" he yelled in horror.