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Thank you for the reviews and the DM's! Just a reminder this is loosely based on the complete thunderbirds story comic segment from 1993 published by fleetway comics. This is my own take on it as a fan fic tribute, all rights belong to the comic. If you are enjoying this look it up!

He could hear the pitter patter of small stones as they continued to shower down from above. He coughed and wheezed, covered in a reddish dust. He could hear Scott yelling his name. He squinted towards the bright sunlight through the crack approximately twelve foot above him. "It's alright Scott! I'm ok I think I've just twisted my knee a bit." He tentatively stood up and found he could but he was experiencing discomfort when the joint turned at certain angles. It felt similar to when he's sprained his ACL at high school. He groaned.

"Thank god!" He heard his father say.

"What can you see Virg? Can you get out or are we going to have to come and yet you?" Scott shouted.

Virgil looked around. He couldn't see much further than the sun that streamed in from above. He opened his bag and grabbed his torch. "Give me a minute to look around and I'll let you know."

"Alright, we'll sit tight" replied his dad.

Luckily Virgil had slid down a slope rather than suffered a vertical drop or he could have done some real damage. He started off on a slow hobble sweeping his torch around as he ventured across what appeared to be some kind of natural cavern. The further he walked the more vaulted the ceiling became, it was impressive! He must have fallen in near the edge. He skirted around, mindful he'd have to walk back to update Scott and his dad (They had already established there was minimal phone signal here) he thought he could see natural light pretty close to his location and at ground level. He grunted in pain as he shifted towards it, holding onto the wall for support. He noted it was dry, he was expecting it to be wet or at least damp. Yes! This looked promising, there was a small gap, enough to squeeze through sideways. He could see the shrubs outside that concealed it partially. He guessed it was just down from where they had walked earlier. His face contorted with a grimace of pain as he pivoted too fast to turn back. His body had turned but his knee hadn't, there was a horrible crunch. "Hmm healthy" joked Virgil to himself wincing in pain.

He stumbled along cursing his quiet melodic voice. If he was Scott or Gordon he could have probably just hollered from here and been heard from back where they were. He got halfway back before he thought he would give it a try. He took a quick breath and belted at the top of his lungs. "I've found an exit! Come back down the hill and look to your left!"

"Virgil? I only heard you found something?" Scott bellowed back.

"For fucks sake" grumbled Virgil he limped a bit closer till the light from the crevasse he had fallen through engulfed him.

"I said there's a way in back down the hill on your left!" He balanced his weight on his good leg.

"Ok! we could just pull you up, we have a rope!"

"No! the edges are too unstable – you could fall in too! come round."

Typical his brother always wanted the quickest route not always the safest. "Alright, dad says stay put."

"Trust me I'm not going far!"

Virgil limped back halfway again so he could hopefully hear/see them if they came into the cavern before sliding down the wall and sitting on the earth. He propped his bag under his knee to support it which gave him some relief. He also tore the first aid kit off the side and activated the cold compress by scrunching it up to activate it. The instant coolness was a welcome relief even through his trousers. It would help with the inflammation. Virgil sighed and leaned his head back. Waiting whilst you were sick or injured was the worst. It always made it feel more painful then it really was because there was nothing to distract you. He hoped they would come soon. He remembered that fateful day where he had been buried under the snow, waiting for a rescue that never came. It was terrifying being trapped. It had felt like forever when in reality it had only been about twenty minutes. He had been sheltered behind a large rock which had created the smallest of gaps so he hadn't been crushed by the white wall that had moulded instantly around him. The air was thin and he was only able to take shallow breaths. Why wasn't anyone coming? He shouted, he screamed in desperation at the wall but there was nothing. his breath puffed in front of his face, his only companion. He huddled into himself more as the chill started to seep into his extremities, then pooling into his limbs. He felt his body start to systematically shut down, a mixture of shock and cold. He huddled even smaller. His mind drifting until all of a sudden that last rush of adrenaline had pushed him towards panic. No one's coming you need to move or die! A tiny voice shouted in his mind. He shuffled his feet and found his board was still attached. He struggled clumsily trying to get his thick gloved hands to unclip it. He managed on the fourth attempt. He then awkwardly pulled it up towards him as it dug into the snow around him. With his waning strength he thrust the board in front of him again and again trying to push through. The first few attempts yielded nothing then he broke through and a deluge of snow fell in covering his face, he yelled in panic as it swamped him constricting his chest. Then all of a sudden, his dad was there trying to grab his arm. He dragged him out, Virgil panting in exhaustion and gasping for air. the frigid coldness searing his lungs.

Virgil realised he had zoned out; he was still in the cave not surrounded by the avalanche. At least here he just hot. He wiped his eyes, mom and grandpa had died over two months ago. It still felt like yesterday. God, he missed them. He missed his mother's smile and the way she used to accompany him on the piano sitting together side by side as they would try and outdo each other in speed and dexterity the tune becoming more and more jaunty until one of them tripped up and they would laugh at each other, the family joining in at their antics. His mother's green eyes sparkling with warm amusement. It was the memory his mind replayed the most.

He glanced at his watch; twenty minutes had passed he frowned his eyebrows pointing downwards in a V shape. They should be here by now. His knee was now throbbing. He shifted uncomfortably. What a day this was turning out to be.

"Virgil!"

"Virgil!"

He could hear them! He tried to stand up "Ow!" He slid back down again.

"In here your close! There's a small gap in between the rockface behind some shrubs!" he called.

Scott traipsed over the vegetation, skimming his hands along the vines and rock face as he tried to find the entrance his brother had described. Jeff did the same on the other side. The rustle of the leaves running under their hands was the only sound as they strained to keep hearing Virgil's calls. Jeff's hands gripped around an edge. He yanked the vines away in desperation.

"Scott! Over here!" Jeff was already squeezing though it was just passable. Scott being a bit taller had to shimmy down a little to fit. When they made it in, they discovered it was surprisingly well lit, there must be a larger entrance somewhere.

"Wow, did not expect this" Scott uttered looking above him in wonder briefly.

"I'm here!"

They both whipped around to the right where they could make out Virgil in the gloom propped against the wall. They knelt down on either side.

"Son are you ok?"

"Yeah, just a bit sore, don't think I'll be doing much more exploring today, sorry father."

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault. Accidents happen. How hurt are you?"

"My knee is pretty sore, it crunched."

"Before or after you stood on it?" sighed Scott in exasperation.

"Err…. After?" Virgil replied somewhat sheepishly.

"You should have just let me come down on the rope."

"Never mind what's done is done, the most important thing is we found you. Are you ok for a minute with Scott if I just have a quick look around here then we will get going?"

"Yeah sure that will give me time to wrap my leg."

"Give me that" Scott swiped the support bandage.

Jeff smiled as he rose from his crouch and stepped off to survey the area. He pulled out his scanner to take a 3D scan of the interior. The cavern was monstrous he guessed it must be an old volcanic chamber in the heart of the island. He walked further into the darkest part of the cave. It was absolutely huge certainly the largest cave Jeff had been in and it was giving him grand ideas. This would make the perfect hangar! They could store all the aircraft underground in silos and no one would even know what they were walking on. It provided perfect concealment from the outside world.

He turned around and strode back purposefully to his sons. "Are you ready?" they both nodded. He ducked under one of Virgil's arms and supported him whilst Scott dipped under the other much to Virgil's protest. "Seriously! I can manage!" he then yelped as he stepped on a rock jarring his gait which caused him to grit his teeth. "Fine!"

They got him to the entrance where he managed to slowly shuffle through himself effectively leaning on the rock face to take the weight off his leg before Scott was holding him again on the path. Jeff pushed Virgil's bag in front of him the passage to narrow to wear it. They had left theirs outside.

They managed to get back to the terrace where they set Virgil down. "Right I'm going back for the helicopter, I reckon I could land her on here." Scott looked round. It was the best option it would take hours to get Virgil back down the hill and he was in enough pain already.

"Ok son, take it steady."

Scott saluted and grinned as he set off running.

"I said steady!" Jeff shook his head and sat down next to Virgil.

"Dad?" Jeff stopped fussing with Virgil's support and cushioning his knee to look at him.

"Back there I came to a conclusion. It reminded me that I know what its like to feel your life force ebbing away, knowing that no ones coming to save you. No one should have to feel that way. I want to be the one to inspire hope when there's none left. I want to save those in need." Virgil was resolute. "Dad, I want to be part of international rescue."

Jeff knew the incident his son was referring too. He looked at him sadly, his son shouldn't have had to suffer like that. He wished he could have got there sooner the panic etched on his face that day was another memory that wouldn't leave him anytime soon. "I'd be pleased to sign you up."

Virgil smiled to try and lighten the mood. "Well I got myself into a right mess today, guess I'm going to have to work on those rescue skills. Or maybe I just gave us our first training exercise?" Jeff chuckled.

"Well this might not be any consolation but I think you actually helped solve a major problem." Jeff stood as the chopper started to descend, waving Scott in.

"I did?" questioned Virgil.

Jeff smiled. "I know where I'm going to put the aircraft." Jeff shouted over the sound of the rotors.