"Seriously? 'Cause if you're just messing with me, I will have my mistress wish a thousand sardines into your dresser. You'll smell of fish for years."
An uncontained laugh echoed around the hangar as Virgil stood in front of Thunderbird 4's docking station, the genie staring wide eyed and sceptical between him and the yellow sub. It had been only a handful of days since their father's return, the man rebounding impressively fast to Earth's gravity, but only in his ability to move around their home with shorter breaks and mild arguments that he could handle the stairs. Jeff Tracy was a lot of things and stubborn sat triumphantly at the top.
They'd managed to keep him from pushing too hard by setting Alan in his path. The kid's concussion was still fairly debilitating and kept him from video games, sunlight, and the holovids. The trick to handling a bored Alan was throwing an equally worried Scott or Jeff at him. The eldest son had been more than willing to hand the reins over to their father.
Now, however, they were one man down. It would be another couple of weeks before their little brother was ready and much longer before Jeff would take the helm of base command. That meant another brother would have to stay with the two in order to keep them out of trouble. Lady Penelope had offered as well, but her job required a lot more of her attention than she'd been able to delay over the week she had set aside to introduce Gordon.
Which led them to their current offer. If her ladyship wished it, Gordon could learn and take charge of their submersible. Alan's idea, but agreed upon by the rest. They would be lucky to have him.
"We wouldn't joke about this," Virgil's face hurt with how much he'd been grinning at the exuberance of the blonde. "We're going to be short handed and it's obvious how much you like her. How long do you think it would take you to learn her controls?"
"Ahhhhh - ummm... that could be a bit complicated." Gordon fluctuated between excited and regretful. "There's a really easy way, but with bad consequences, or we go with the slow way that's safer and read the user's manual."
"User's manual it is then," a dark brow rose with curiosity. "What's the first option, exactly?"
Gordon offered a weary smile, looking very much like Alan when he was trying to hide the fact he'd done something stupid or dangerous, usually both. "Well, if Lady Penelope wishes for me to have the ability to pilot Thunderbird 4, I'd have to get that ability from someone else who knows how."
"And the consequence to that?" It didn't seem like that bad an idea.
"That person loses the ability to pilot her," the genie's lips thinned, sucking in a breath through his nose before letting it out. "And I mean, they lose everything they knew about this sub. Not worth it, if you ask me."
"Ah, duly noted," the engineer felt a wave of nausea at the idea of losing any part of the 'birds, even the ones he didn't pilot as often. Thunderbird 4 tended to fall under Alan's care. Virgil would monitor from Two while his little brother tried to repair what he could and get out whoever had been trapped. That didn't mean he wanted to be useless around the sub.
Lady Penelope joined them as they made their way towards the simulation hub. "I take it you like our agreement?"
Gordon beamed, glancing over his shoulder to the Thunderbird in question. "Won't see me complaining!"
"So, what's the next step?" They stopped in front of the computer and Virgil got the impression Gordon was a bit concerned.
"Well," and he sighed like someone about to do something they hadn't had to in a long time. "I just gotta learn from here." He pointed to the simulator. "Wishing for some intense focus and the ability to learn quickly might help. I could just borrow those."
Virgil had to wonder who from when it came to their technology. "How about we just start with the basics. If you run into trouble, we can talk to Brains and John. Of all of us, they'd probably fit the description of focused and quick learners."
"Oooh, good call!" The genie agreed. "Good thing I don't need to sleep."
The ramifications of that hit the engineer full in the chest. They had a potential member of International rescue who wouldn't tire, suffer from fatigue after a twenty-plus hour rescue, didn't need a day to recover. It meant a great deal more could be done if Gordon were able to facilitate with all rescues. That's if he was willing. Virgil honestly hoped he was.
"Let's get started, then," he pulled up the first page of schematics. "This is the Thunderbird class deep sea submersible. She's rated for 36,000 feet, but Brains believes she can handle further."
The sheer delight that brightened Gordon's face as he leaned against the console to admire Four sent a thrill of admiration though Virgil. He could see the same love that he felt for his own ship, which only solidified their decision even more.
"I'll leave you boys to it then," there was laughter in Penelope's voice that showed she had seen it too. "Don't hesitate if you need anything." She eyed them both before heading for the elevator.
"Ditto!" Gordon shouted back as his hand spun the miniature version of Four in the hologram. "How do you get in?"
"There are two access points here and here," Virgil pointed to the rear and underside. "This one has a dry tube that allows you to dock with another vessel if the need arises. Most rescues tend to involve cycling through the back."
"You guys get a lot of underwater emergencies?" The question didn't surprise him, but the answer did. He hadn't given it much thought, but there were a lot of times when they just didn't have anyone available for rescues where Thunderbird 4 was necessary. They hadn't abandoned the victims, but it did involve a great deal of work on John's end, instructing distraught crews on how to rescue themselves.
"Yeah," he couldn't keep the sober tone out of his voice. "More than we can handle sometimes."
Gordon frowned, easily understanding what that could mean. "So the faster I learn, the better, right?"
"Right," yet Virgil had his own questions invading his concentration. "Can I ask -" the genie kept his attention on the sub, but nodded. "You're how old?"
Gordon chuckled, "I lost count after three hundred, but I'd guess almost twelve - hundred."
"Twelve hundred… years?"
"Give or take, but a lot of it I spent waiting for someone to run into my lamp." Virgil saw the flicker of discomfort in that particular topic. The thought of being trapped for centuries made him wonder how it might have affected the genie, but from what he'd seen so far, Gordon was a pretty good guy. The Tracys would just have to work to make his time spent with them worthwhile.
"That had to suck," Virgil tried to offer a sympathetic smile, but it felt insufficient. Gordon just grinned back and there was so much excitement behind his amber eyes that it eased the ache in the engineer's chest. "Well then, we'll work a little more and then I'll take you out for some hands on experience. Sound good?"
The genie's eyes lit up even more, their conversation from seconds ago lost to the eagerness to be out at sea. "Teach away!"
OoOoOoO
Penelope found the rest of the family in the lounge. Alan was laying against Jeff who was in the middle of reading through some very thorough mission reports that had involved the young astronaut. Alan's face had taken on a light shade of red at the attention and praise that rang through his father's voice and she felt her own sense of pride grow.
Even after the loss of their father, the boys had continued on, surpassing expectations to make Jeff's work worth the pain - or at least provide some semblance of joy to their grief. Alan had blossomed into an extraordinarily competent pilot, excelling in more than any one person could be asked. He had been so young when the accident changed their lives, but it had given him focus. It had taken her a while to see it, but when she had, a few choice words to Scott had ensured the boy got far more attention than the three elders were providing. Maybe they had wanted their little brother to live a more normal life, out of the path of danger, but normal wasn't in the Tracy genes. They came to realize that fact very quickly.
"How'd he take it?" Scott asked from his father's desk he and John had been using to listen to calls.
"He's entirely too excited for his own good," Penelope smiled, grateful to this family for being so willing to take in her friend. "Virgil has already started with the simulations."
"That's great, Penny," Jeff's voice sent a pang of warmth through her heart, the approval she hadn't seen in years bringing back memories from when she was still a teen working with her own father. "It still doesn't seem sufficient enough to repay him for everything he's done and is willing to do."
She nodded, fully understanding his sentiments, but Gordon wasn't like anyone she had ever met. "I think he's had to deal with some very trying times in his life. This is one of the few times it will be his choice to make a difference. That alone is sufficient."
"And what about you?" John asked.
Penelope gave him a quizzical look, "what do you mean?"
"We owe you too, Lady Penelope," Scott clarified with a toothy grin. "Anything we can do for you, just name it."
As a well known socialite, she had been offered many precious things in her life - usually in hopes of gaining her approval or support for some endeavor - but none of those touch her heart like that of the family around her. Penelope would do anything for them and knew they would do the same regardless of what Gordon had done.
"Thank you, but what you're doing for Gordon is enough. He's needed a chance to just be himself and not what other people want him to be." They understood and each had a pleased smile.
The rest of the day was quiet as they went about their own tasks. Penelope had delegated herself to contacting a few of her informants and members of World Heritage that needed a bit more attention. They'd seen Virgil once in the time between leaving Gordon in his care and tea after supper. The engineer had grabbed the makings for a sandwich, assembled it and disappeared without much input into how things were going other than a grunt.
Alan had been ushered off the bed with Jeff, Scott only agreeing to go since they were a man down and he would need as much rest as deemed necessary to legally fly. John was on late night monitoring, as he preferred it.
Offering the astronaut a tired smile, Penelope headed for the lift and down to check on the Genie and Virgil. She found them in the middle of what looked like a very frustrating lesson. Virgil was pinching the bridge of his nose while Gordon stared at - from what she could make out- a jumble of Thunderbird 4's inner workings.
"Alright, let's try this again," the engineer hadn't noticed her presence yet, looking back up to the schematics. "In case of hull perforation, there are three pumps that will activate to protect the engine and life support systems. This is the primary pump -"
"- and this is the secondary and tertiary - right," Gordon interrupted, "by why does she need three when only one of them is going to be used?"
"Redundancies, Gordon," Virgil visibly restrained his frustration before continuing. "If one fails, then it's up to the next to take over."
"And I get that too, but they take up so much room. The third one just makes her heavier and bulkier." Though they seemed to be arguing, the effects were one sided as she caught the twitch of the genie's lip. Gordon was trying not to smile. "Just get rid of one and add some cool scanning tech or something."
Penelope sighed, stepping forward to relieve Virgil of the obvious torment. "Gentlemen, perhaps a break is in order?"
Dark brown eyes darted in her direction and it was clear Virgil hadn't been paying attention to anything else around him. "Lady Penelope - I was hoping to get another hour or so in."
"What about these? Why do we need four?" Gordon teased, pointing to a set of boxes lining the walls of the sub.
Virgil actually growled, "On second thought, we can continue in the morning." He rubbed at his face, the stress melting away. Virgil regarded her, missing the knowing smile that split the genie's face. "Have a good night."
"Night, Virg!" Penelope shot Gordon a sharp look and the man had the common sense to look abashed. Once the engineer disappeared into the lift, Gordon let out a sigh. "Finally! That man just wouldn't take a hint to get some sleep. Sorry, I'll make it up to him tomorrow."
"Thank you," she meant it for how he had cared enough to try to get Virgil to leave, along with the intention to apologize in whatever way he found suitable. "I'll be heading to bed as well. Is there anything you need?"
He shrugged as he pulled a more detailed version of the pumps. "I'm good. I'll just be reviewing more of Thunderbird 4's systems before Virgil gets up."
"Ah, yes, that might take a while so feel free to review to your heart's content." Penelope smiled with the intensity and passion that floated between the genie and ship. "I'll leave you two alone. Goodnight, Gordon."
"Goodnight - oh wait!" He jumped up, surprising her with how quickly he closed the distance between them and arms wrapped around her back. He pulled her into a warm hug that made her laugh as he lifted her from the ground. The genie held her there for what felt like a minute before he spoke. "Thanks, Lady P - for bringing me here. This has been unbelievable!"
She returned the embrace, reveling in the sensation that traveled through her. She hadn't thought to ask him about it before, but now, she couldn't help asking as he released her. "Gordon, what is that - that tingling you give off when you touch people?"
He cocked a brow at the question, his lips pursing as he thought. "I'm not really sure what you mean."
Penelope thought for a moment, running her fingers over her bare arms where his hand touched. "It's like, electricity almost."
That sparked something and his smile widened. "Ah! Wow, okay. I've only ever heard stories of this, but it kinda makes sense. On rare occasions, a master or mistress will be sensitive to their genie's elemental core. It shouldn't - well, it can't hurt you, but it probably feels like standing too close to a bug zapper."
"Oh, that sounds rather unpleasant," she frowned, trying to figure out if that was what she had experienced. "I don't believe I would call it a bug zapper. More like a chill from an open freezer."
"Ah, good, then! I wouldn't want to cause you any discomfort." A sheepish smile and he ran a hand through his hair. "Just let me know if it changes?
"I will," her hands knit together in front of her with the added information. "Have a good evening, Gordon."
"Goodnight, Lady Penelope. "
She left him to his training, the genie wearing contentment like a blanket as he scrolled through the readouts. It gave her hope to in knowing he had a purpose far beyond serving her and that he reveled in it. With any luck, International rescue would have a permanent member to carry on the family's legacy.
With one last glance through the closing lift doors, Penelope caught his eye and returned his smile. Yes, tonight was a good night.