Scott was uneasy about the whole situation, the Mechanic was in Brains' lab currently going over plans for a new T-Drive with him, and everyone was acting as if nothing in the house had changed. Scott had been pacing the lounge ever since the Mechanic had left it, and the endless back and forth motion was starting to wind Kayo up.

"He saved me, Scott. I doubt he's going to double-cross us whilst he's here," Kayo crossed one leg over the other where she sat on the sofa.

"This feels wrong to me, having him here. How many times has he tried to get us out of the way in the past? He attacked you, he's almost killed Virgil and Gordon, heck he went after Alan! And now Brains just welcomes him into the lounge with a handshake."

"If Brains trusts him, then maybe you should too."

Scott sighed as Alan returned to the lounge, "I'm just not sure about any of this. Hey Alan, did Rigby get back to his base?"

"Yeah, he's fine, a bit shaken up from the ordeal, but he'll be okay."

"What ordeal?"

"Dodging air mines, the usual. That was fun," Alan moved to the sofa but Scott grabbed his shoulder stopping him.

"What do you mean fun?"

"Well, who do you think saved him?" Alan frowned. "There was no other option."

"You flew into a minefield!" Scott half yelled. "When were you going to tell me that?"

"This is kinda why I didn't," Alan sighed then squeaked as he was pulled into Scott's arms in a tight hug. "Oh. Okay."

"Are you alright, does anything hurt?" Scott asked stepping back, scanning his brother from head to toe with concerned eyes.

"I'm fine Scott, I only got knocked out for a second."

"Alan! You're going to be the death of me, are you sure you're alright?"

"The board took the worst of it, I only got dizzy," Alan ducked out of Scott's next embrace. "What are you going to do about the Mechanic being here then?"

Scott sighed as Alan sat down on one of the armchairs, "I don't know. There's nothing I can do. As much as I hate to admit it, he is our only hope in getting dad back. Fourteen fails and that drive is nowhere near ready. If it doesn't work this time, then we're never going to get to the Oort cloud."

Kayo gazed at him sympathetically, "he can do it, Scott. I watched him build himself a working pair of Jaws of Life out of scrap metal, not to mention he knew how to fly the space pod."

"I hope you're right, Kayo, although, it's rare that you're not," he smiled lovingly at her and she smiled back.

Virgil stared at the painting he had started in the lounge earlier that day in remorse. The young lines on his father's face wouldn't be there when they found him and he wondered if his father would even recognise them. With a sigh, he sat back on his bed and stared at the eyes of his father again, then the painting became blurry and he blinked away tears before hitting his bed angrily and leaving his room locking the door behind him. He entered the lounge hoping for it to be empty but found it wasn't much to his disappointment.

"Virgil, you look like you've been crying, are you okay?" Scott asked as his brother sat down on the sofa opposite him and Kayo.

"I'm fine," came a blunt reply.

"Virgil?"

"What!" Virgil snapped fiercely, and Scott noticed the red rim around his eyes.

Alan jumped slightly, "whoa."

"We miss him too Virg, you know we do, but we're going to find him," Scott's voice softened as Virgil's head drooped. "Maybe the Mechanic can help us, maybe not, but he's something to go on." A simple nod told Scott that his brother agreed with him, and he held Kayo's hand on his leg.

Alan decided to change the subject, "when did you and Riggs become such friends, Kayo?"

Scott shot him daggers and even Virgil raised his eyebrows, "Riggs now?"

Kayo grimaced, "we talk on Mybook sometimes."

"Wait, he's that guy who basically told you to get lost when we first met the Chaos Crew," Scott's arm slipped off Kayo's shoulder.

"We spoke about that afterwards and we've been buddies ever since. He makes me laugh, and in this business, there's not usually much to laugh at," she rolled her eyes at Scott's expression. "Will you relax? You know I'm not interested in Riggs like that, it's workplace banter."

Virgil smirked which made Alan smile to himself for cheering the musician up, "Riggs."

"It's just a nickname. The GDF sent him to guard the Mechanic. May I remind you he's responsible for preventing Thunderbird 2 from being blown up by the Chaos Crew when you went to rescue Gordon, we owe him gratitude."

"What does he call you?" Scott asked coldly.

"I can't believe you're being so hostile," Kayo laughed with astonishment. "Are you really that jealous that I talk to other men?"

"No, only curious."

"Nah you're jealous. Then again, you two are as bad at each other. I remember your expression when Scott said he had met up with Marion Arkel again a few months ago, Kayo," Virgil shrugged as he twisted his bootlace around his finger absentmindedly.

"Well, what does he call you?"

Kayo sighed. "He calls me Shadow sometimes. They're nicknames Scott, nothing more," she squeezed his hand. "I'm not leaving you for him, okay?"

Scott smiled, "FAB. Sorry, I'm just protective."

"Overprotective," Alan added as he whipped out his phone. "And I was fine on that mission."

"Fly into space mines again, and I'll ground you for life."

"When dad gets home, I'll ask him to remove that grounding and he'll ground you for being mean to me." Alan made the noise of a gun, "shots fired!"

Gordon ran into the lounge, "okay, what the hell is the Mechanic doing in the lab? When did this happen!"

Scott laughed, "you've got a lot to catch up on, therapy boy."

"Hey, I'm only getting better for you guys. So, what's going on?" Gordon slid onto the table.

Alan took a deep breath. "Brains attempted the T-Drive Engine again and there was a big flash and an explosion which rocked the house, and before we knew it, Kayo and I were in Thunderbird 3 and on our way to the Hex to rescue the Mechanic, but he got captured by the Chaos Crew. Then Kayo got captured, and I had to rescue Captain Rigby who got trapped out in space. Stuff happened, and suddenly Kayo comes flying towards me after being thrown into space by the Mechanic and the Hex blew up. We thought the Mechanic had died. Scott was annoyed, and it was all depressing. Then suddenly, Scott's chute was activated and the Mechanic appeared in the lounge and here we are. He has begun helping Brains to build a new T-Drive so we can get Dad. Done."

Gordon smirked, "not sure I got that, what was the bit about the Chaos Crew again?"

"Don't be a jerk," Alan threw his shoe at Gordon, but Scott caught it midair. "Dammit."

"Go get it puppy!" Scott chucked the shoe out of the lounge and heard it land in the pool.

"Scott!"

Virgil watched Alan run out of the room, "how are the sessions going, Gordon?"

"They're alright, I'll be back to normal soon. Is the launch date still unchanged for our Zero X?"

Scott nodded. "Yes. I know I'm putting too much pressure on Brains, but we don't know what condition dad is in. Either way, he's alone and that needs to change."

"And I'm with you until the end," Kayo rubbed his arm. "We're lucky Casey let us go to get the Mechanic, she was against it according to John at first."

"Well, she blamed the T-Drive failure of the first Zero X on him and assumed dad was dead. I can understand her point of view if I'm honest," Scott sighed as he leaned on his elbows.

"Lady Penelope talked her around. She told Casey that Jeff is possibly alive and showed her the new footage," Kayo smiled. "I only hope that no one heard the news apart from her."

Gordon grinned, "Penny?"

"Yes, your girlfriend is on our side," Virgil smirked. "She convinced Casey to follow our lead. That's why dad made her an agent, she has a way with words."

Gordon nodded, "she certainly does. Are we taking turns watching the Mechanic?"

Kayo shook her head, "I've just boosted security measures on the Thunderbirds, now no one but us can pilot them."

"The Mechanic is a good hacker," Virgil shrugged.

"Not as good as Havoc, but Brains will be keeping an eye on him 24/7."

"FAB. So he won't mind us going about our business?"

Scott frowned, "why would he?"

"Because we can be reckless on our days off. I mean Alan is trying to catch a trainer on a fishing hook right at this moment."

Scott laughed, "why doesn't he just jump in and get it?"

"It's Alan, he doesn't think rationally like us."

"We keep the organisation going. The Mechanic will just have to work around us. He's doing a favour for us, not the other way around," Kayo pulled her knees up to her chin. "I only hope he doesn't tell me stories of my uncle, that's all."

Scott wrapped his arms around her comfortingly, "he can't get to you here."