April 6th, 2061 - 16:46 NZST
"Last one there has to do dishes for a week," Scott says as everyone is racing home after going off on separate missions.
"Well, you'd better put on your rubber gloves now!" Alan says.
"You guys go for it. I'm just glad to be home," Virgil says.
"Hey, just because I'm dock with slowpoke here doesn't mean I'm sharing dish duty," Gordon says as Thunderbird 3 lands with the pool for Thunderbird 1 retracting.
"Looks like we're first Al," Kayo says.
"Thunderbird One coming in for landing," Marion says.
"Thunderbird 2 and 4, back to launch," Virgil says, "And technically speaking my body entered the hangar first."
"Well, looks like we have our winner, Gordon," Scott says.
"Ugh, dishes here I come," Gordon says with a sigh, "Better not be lasagne tonight!"
The brothers, Kayo and Marion head upstairs to the lounge and take a seat with Alan placing his feet on Kayo's lap and Gordon sitting across from them.
"Ah, another mission complete," Scott says as Alan yawns.
"What a day," Alan states.
"What a week!" Gordon exclaims.
"But you guys did great," Marion says as Alan sighs.
"I know it's been a tough week with missions back-to-back—" Virgil starts.
"To back," Gordon says putting his feet up on one of the sofas.
"To back," Alan says as Kayo puts the footrest up.
"And now we can all catch a break." Virgil finishes but immediately, a beeping sound signals John's call.
"Sorry, guys, we have a situation," John says causing everyone to scoff.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
"Destination Arctic Circle," John says.
"Aurora Borealis: The Northern Lights," Scott says.
"The lights are created by charged particles in the high atmosphere. All that electricity crackling in the air puts on quite a show. Now, this power station was designed to harvest energy from it. It's called the Aurora Generator," John explains.
"Let me guess. Something went wrong?" Alan asks.
"Give that Tracy a prize," John says with a slight humour in his voice, "The system was designed to discharge excess energy. But that failsafe has malfunctioned. We could be headed for a massive electrical explosion."
"What's the current status?" Marion asks.
"Approaching dangerous levels. This is a recording of the distress call," John says before playing it.
"I've done everything I can to stabilize the system, but nothing seems to work. We need immediate assistance," the woman says.
"J-John, if you can connect me with that engineer, I may be able to help," Brains says from his lab.
"FAB," John says.
"Is this something the GDF can handle instead?" Virgil asks.
"International Rescue are the only ones equipped and able to mobilize in time," John says.
"Understood," Virgil says.
"Well, you heard him." Scott says, "Mobilize."
"Let's do this," Alan says sitting up.
"Just tell me what you need," Gordon says just a Kayo's wrist controller starts to beep.
"Sorry guys, the GDF want me in Cape Town," Kayo says standing up and heads over to her chair, "I'll see you guys later."
"Good luck Kayo! Also, Scott, Marion and I will take care of it," Virgil says.
"We will?" Scott asks, quickly turning his neck over to Virgil.
"They stay here," Virgil says firmly to Scott.
"Ok Virgil," Alan says swinging his legs back onto the sofa, "Well we're here if you need any... cheeseburger." Before Alan can finish his sentence, he falls asleep.
"Just the three of you?" Gordon asks, "The mission sounds pretty unpredictable. Are you sure you don't need backup?" Brains then enters the room with Max close behind him.
"I'll be going too," Brains says.
"You will?" Gordon queries.
"Oh, not in person," Brains elaborates, "After vigorous testing I reconfigured Max for Arctic conditions. He'll serve as my eyes and ears for this t-trip."
"Ok Max, you're riding with me," Virgil says as Max whirs. Scott, Marion and Virgil then get up and go.
"Alright then. Looks like... Thunderbirds are go," Scott says,
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
April 6th, 2061 - 17:04 NZST
"Tell us what we need to know, Brains." Scott says as he and Virgil fly over the North Pacific.
"Your first m-mission will be to go straight to the core of the Aurora Generator and manually trigger the release of the excess energy. T-Time is of the essence," Brains says.
April 6th, 2061 - 18:36 CEST
"Coming in for our final approach." Scott says as they arrive on one of the Norwegian Islands in the Artic Circle, "I have eyes on the Aurora Generator." He flies towards it before he's hit with a red flash, "Thunderbird 1 is experiencing magnetic interference."
"The same for Thunderbird 2," Virgil says.
"I think I can make a forced landing without the guidance system," Scott says before Thunderbird 1 gets hit by another red spark, "Ugh, I can't get in close."
"The energy field is too volatile," John says, "Abort your landing."
"We'll have to go around it," Marion says.
"There's a safe landing area beyond the ridge, 500 aeronautical miles north, north-west," John says.
"No, that'll take too long. I can do this," Scott says. He comes in again above the station and tries to lower Thunderbird 1 down. However, the magnetic field cuts out his instrumentation again and reluctantly, Scott aborts the landing.
"It's our only option. We can travel back to the generator in pods," Virgil sighs.
April 6th, 2061 - 18:45 CEST
Thunderbirds 1 and 2 land on the ice away from the station. Thunderbird 2 raises to release Module 2, to allow pods A, B and C to convert into Pod Explorer's. The ramp goes down and Scott, Marion and Virgil have their own Pod each with Max in Virgil's.
"Alright, Pod Explorer is go," Virgil says, "The Pods are configured for Arctic conditions, so we should get there safely."
"Great. Then let's blast it," Scott says.
"Not so fast," Virgil interjects, "We're surrounded by ice hazards. I've plotted a route that will skirt us around most of the more treacherous landscape. We'll head just North of this ice cliff."
"But the Generator is South." Scott says and starts to leave, "The fastest route between two points is a straight line."
"Scott, follow the route it's too dangerous!" Virgil says and sighs, "What's up with him?"
"I don't think he particularly wanted to come out," Marion offers.
"I guess so," Virgil says, "Buckle up Max."
"We'll be fine," Scott says, re-joining to coms, "Trust me."
April 6th, 2061 - 19:22 CEST
Scott ends up crashing and Virgil and Marion go off to retrieve him. Scott sighs as he looks at Virgil slightly regretting not listening to him earlier.
"Can we do it my way now?" Virgil asks.
"Fine," Scott says and climbs into the back of Marion's pod and they start trekking through the snow again.
April 6th, 2061 - 20:37 CEST
They are now taking Virgil's route at a swift pace which surprises Scott though, he's slightly relieved that he isn't driving. Virgil decides to talk to Brains once they had passed the half-way point.
"Brains, will Max be okay once he's out there?" Virgil asks.
"Thanks for your concern, but Max can withstand temperatures as low as -150°C or -238°F," Brains explains, "This is actually quite fun. Whoo-hoo!"
"You're enjoying it?" Scott asks amused.
"I have m-modified Max's programming to allow me the virtual experience of feeling the surroundings," Brains says.
"So whatever Max sees... you get to as well?" Marion asks.
"Without the f-freezing temperatures of course," Brains jokes.
"Well, we're happy to have you both along for the ride," Virgil comments.
April 6th, 2061 - 21:14 CEST
"Can't this thing go any faster?" Scott asks, getting impatient.
"It sure can," Marion replies.
"Then why aren't we?" Scott counters.
"My pod, my rules," Marion states firmly which causes Scott sighs in dismay. The call signal beeps, and John's hologram form appears.
"Thunderbird 5 to Pod Explorer," John says, "Just got word, the situation at the generator is deteriorating."
"Brains, how much time before it blows?" Scott asks.
"There is such a flux in the Aurora activity that it's not p-possible to p-pinpoint exactly how much energy is being harvested," Brains explains.
"Best guess?" Marion asks.
"Closest estimate is six to fourteen hours," Brains says.
"You need to get there as fast as possible," John says.
"We'll do our best," Virgil says.
"You guys can go faster than that. Step on it," Scott demands and reluctantly Marion and Virgil speed up, "Now that's more like it!"
April 6th, 2061 - 21:51 CEST
As time passes a thick ice fog falls and Marion and Virgil slow down to a snail's pace with Max whirring unhappily.
"Why are you slowing down?" Scott asks.
"I can barely make out two feet in front of me," Marion says.
"It's just a little ice fog. We've been through worse," Scott says.
"It's not just the fog I'm worried about," Virgil defends, "We're driving over, and ice field littered with cracks, some of them hundreds of metres deep. There's no way our sensors can cut through this suit."
"Virgil, this would be a p-perfect opportunity to test Max's scanning ability," Brains explains, "He can plot a safe c-course around even the tiniest of cracks."
"Sounds good to me. Even a small one could swallow this pod whole," Virgil replies, "Alright Max, time to live up to your name."
"Huh?" Marion asks.
"Mechanical Assistant Experimental," Virgil explains.
"Oh," Marion says. POD A opens up and the arm of the pod lifts Max from the back seat and onto the ice field. He whirs and starts moving, scanning the ground as he goes.
"That's it Max. Steady as she goes," Brains say to Max as he bleeps and whirs before moving forward with Pod Explorer starting to follow slowly behind.
"It's gaining in intensity. We don't have that much time. Oh, pick up the pace Max!" Scott cries impatiently. Max continues forward, bleeping and whirring at a slow pace. Suddenly the ice beneath him crumbles and he disappears from sight.
"Max!" Virgil yells, bringing his Pod to a halt to see Max holding onto the edge of a cliff, "Hold on." Virgil lowers the pods arm down to reach Max. "Can just about reach," after a few seconds go by, Max eventually manages to grab on, but the ice begins to give way again with Pod Explorer tipping over slightly causing Max to jump over to grab onto a different part of the ledge. "Woah! The weight of the pod is making the ice unstable," Virgil states and reverses back out of the danger, "Hang on Max, I'll try another angle." He reverses back and round to the other side and lowers the arm again, "Come on Max." Max climbs up the ice ledge to try and reach the arm but keeps slipping back down but just as Max is about grasps the arm, he slips again, "Oh no!" Virgil yells and lowers the arm quickly before bringing it back up having managed to grab Max, "I got him."
"Few," Marion and Scott say and watch as Virgil moves away from the ledge before stopping on safe ground.
"T-Thank you Virgil," Brains says.
"That's it. We are going to have to wait until the fog clears," Virgil says.
"If we stop now, we'll lose precious time," Scott complains.
"And if we don't, we may not make it at all," Marion counter, "Virgil is right."
April 6th, 2061 - 23:28 CEST
They set up an igloo device that Brains made and get inside to get warm and to rest.
"What's going on with you today?" Virgil asks.
"Me? We're on a mission," Scott says, "We need to do everything we can to get there ASAP and you're taking the scenic route."
"It's the safe route," Virgil says and Scott scoffs.
"I didn't come here to be safe," Scott says.
"You can't keep pushing everyone and everything to the limit," Marion says.
"I don't push anyone harder than they need to be pushed," Scott says.
"You are so darned determined; you don't see the danger. We almost lost Max!" Virgil says.
"Max is just a machine," Scott says, "Brains is constantly breaking him apart and rebuilding him stronger. You don't know what you are capable of unless you keep pushing."
"But we're not machines!" Marion says.
"Someone has got to step forward! I'm just doing what Dad did," Scott says standing up, "He never gave up."
"Dad worked hard but even he knew there were limits," Virgil says, "He couldn't do it all."
"But I have to do it all! I couldn't save Dad, but... maybe I can make up for it," Scott says.
"By saving everyone else?" Virgil asks and Scott nods, "But keeping our family safe is equally important. And we all need you to be around."
"I miss him," Scott says.
"I miss him too," Virgil says, "We all do. It's hard to think he's gone."
"And to help each other out so we don't push ourselves over the edge you brought me in," Marion says, "And I'm forever grateful for that."
"If I let myself think about... Keeping busy with International Rescue... is the only thing I have to keep me from going crazy," Scott says.
"Hey, you've still got us," Virgil says causing Scott to chuckle.
"Yeah, yeah," Scott says, "Though if I'm perfectly honest with you Marion bringing you in to relive pressure wasn't the only reason."
"It isn't?" Marion asks.
"Well... This is probably the wrong time to say it," Scott mumbles turning away.
"No, no. You've started now," Marion says.
"I, er... kinda had a crush on you," Scott says.
"You're kidding?" Marion asks blushing.
"I take that back," Scott quickly says.
"NO!" Marion cries, a bit too loudly causing Scott to look back at her, "I mean that's kinda cute of you to say." She takes a breath before looking back at Scott, "I feel the same way."
"Really?!" Scott asks surprised.
"Really," says Marion and the two smile.
April 7th, 2061 - 02:41 CEST
After the ice fog dissipates, they head to the generator.
"I just hope we made it in time," Scott says.
"Me too brother," Virgil responds.
"The generator is moments away from a massive b-blow out," Brains explains as they approach the station, "From my calculations the magnitude of the discharge will cause a geomagnetic reversal."
"Which means?" Scott asks.
"The Earth's magnetic poles will flip," Brains deadpans, "That event might be considered... catastrophic." As they get closer, it is clear to see that the generator was taking in too much power and needs to be shut down.
"What exactly happens if the poles flip?" Marion asks.
"The most likely event will be a dramatic c-change in weather patterns resulting in crop damage and world-wide starvation," Brains explains as everyone climbs out the two pods and go the last distance on foot.
"Oh, that sounds pretty catastrophic to me," Scott comments.
"According to the schematics, the m-manual override is housed at the core section. I've sent Max the route. Lead the way Max," Brain says as Max whirs and goes, entering the generator with the others close behind, "The energy core should be just through those walls."
"And the engineer?" Virgil asks turning on his torch.
"Max has located her heartbeat," Brains states, "She's inside the main shut up area."
"She's still here?" Marion asks horrified.
"Pushing to the limit: remind you of anyone?" Virgil asks, following Max through to the next compartment, where the engineer is climbing up the generator, "You've got to leave. Now."
"Not a chance. I have to get this grounded before it blows," the engineer says but the loss of concentration causes her to fall, but she manages to grab onto part of the generator. Scott quickly springs into action, running forward and grabbing her hand as she falls, pulling her back up.
"How can we help?" Virgil asks her.
"I've been trying to get this grounding receiver to the top of the generator ever since I spoke to your engineer," she says handing the receiver over, "Can you help?"
"FAB," the trio say. Scott hands Virgil his grapple and starts towards the generator to start climbing. Virgil fires the grapple onto one of the stanchions above, allowing it to flip over like a pulley system, the magnetic grip attaching to the ground receiver.
"I'll be at the control station," the engineer says and walks away. Virgil raises the receiver up to Scott who pulls it from the grapple and climbs the last bit of the way with it. He connects it to the top but is hit by an energy surge. The massive surge causes Scott to fall backwards, dropping the receiver.
"Scott!" cries Marion and fires her own grapple in his direction and catches Scott, similarly to what he did to her in the mine last year. Once he was safely back on the group the trio head over to the engineer.
"Scott, Virgil, the energy build-up has reached critical," Brains explains.
"We have to go," Virgil says sternly.
"We have to keep trying," the engineer cries and goes to leave but is stopped by Scott, who grabs her arm.
"Sometimes you have to say there's nothing else you can do," Scott says calmly.
"Actually, there is. We can use Max!" Brains interrupts, "I've just finished running the calculations. His c-conductivity has been rated up to 2.5GW. That should be enough."
"Let's hope so," Marion says turning to Scott.
"Ok Brains, send Max in," Scott says and Max moves towards the generator, beeping and whirring. He grabs tools from his back and fires a grapple of his own onto the stanchion, raising him up. He then fires a magnetic grapple to pick up the fallen ground receiver, reeling it in and placing it on his back before firing the grapple again at another stanchion. Releasing it, he swings over onto the generator and struggles to climb the last bit with his left side traction belt falling off.
"We need to get out of here," Virgil says again and the group quickly leave the generator with Scott taking one last look at Max as he goes.
"Here we go Max," Brains says as Max continues to climb, "You were built strong for situations just like this." Max eventually reaches the top and takes the ground receiver from behind him. "You can do this Max. You can d-do it," Brains says and with that, Max connects the ground receiver, causing an energy influx, "You're doing great Max, just a little longer."
Outside, the engineer, Virgil, Scott and Marion climb back out of Pod Explorers to watch as the energy dissipates suddenly.
"Energy grounded," John says over the coms.
"It worked," Marion says and Virgil sighs with relief.
"You can say that again," Scott says, "Good work Brains. You and Max."
"I knew he could do it," Brains says, "Would you mind going back to get him? I should warn you it is likely he suffered some damage."
"FAB," Virgil says and heads back into the generator.
April 7th, 2061 - 19:05 NZST
Later at Tracy Island, Marion, Scott and Virgil arrive back with only remanence of Max being his memory chip. Scott looks at Brains sadly while Virgil holds up the memory chip.
"Sorry, Brains." Scott says, "This was all that was left."
"Max was a real hero," Virgil says.
"Hi Max!" Brains says picking up the chip, "You made it seem like it was a complete loss."
"But we couldn't salvage the rest of him," Marion says.
"This is Max," Brains says as the chip whirs and beeps, walking away from the group, "Everything else is simply spare p-parts. You really shouldn't get emotionally attached to your equipment, gentlemen. Come on Max, let's go find you some legs."
"Ah, it's so good to be home," Scott says and sits down next to Marion.
"Yeah, it is," Virgil says going over to an empty sofa.
"Let's get some rest," Marion says.
"You gonna tell us what happened out there?" Alan asks.
"Nope," Virgil says as Scott yawns and Marion puts her feet up across Scott's lap. Suddenly, the coms start beeping and John appears on the hologram.
"Sorry guys, we have a situation," John says and looks over to Scott, Marion and Virgil asleep on the sofa, "Scott! Virgil! Marion!"
"No, not the cookies, Grandma," Virgil mumbles in his sleep.
"We'll take this one," Gordon says.
"Head to launch. I'll give you the coordinates in flight," John says.
"Last one to launch pad does laundry for a week," Alan says and the pair run away.