August 14th, 2061 - 18:24 NZST
"Alan get up!" Scott yells, bursting into Alan's room.
"Oh, what?" Alan asks, confused.
"We need you," Scott states.
"What is it?" Alan asks.
"Get suited up and join me in Thunderbird 1," Scott replies, "We have a situation."
"Huh?" Alan questions and follows Scott.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
"Why are we with you in Thunderbird 1?" Alan asks indicating to both him and Kayo, who is sitting in the passenger seat next to him.
"Just wait Alan," Kayo smirks.
"If you're here, has The Hood redirected a comet towards the Earth? An underground earthquake in the Tokyo subway system? Oh, a fusion reactor about to melt in, I'm guessing here, Belgium?" Alan lists in a hurry.
"Bigger than all of those things," Scott states.
"Huh?" Alan questions, "And if you're here, where's Marion?"
August 14th, 2061 - 08:59 BST
Thunderbird 1 arrives at Lady Penelope's Manor in the peaceful Surrey countryside. Alan blinks confused as he, Scott and Kayo exit and walk towards the manor.
"This is our situation? Lady Penelope's house?" Alan questions as Parker opens the door with his full suit on and walks out to meet them.
"'Ello Alan. The time 'as come for you to learn to drive," Parker says with a smile and watches as Alan's face falls with a smirking Kayo and Scott behind him.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
Scott walks away and gets back into Thunderbird 1 before taking off and leaving Alan and Kayo.
"Ah. Oh, driving lessons, are you serious?" Alan asks.
"Oh yes, Mr Alan, Sir," Parker says shutting the door and walking down the steps to meet the pair at the bottom, "H'I've taught h'all the Tracy brothers to drive h'and your father and all his brothers before them. And his father and h'all 'is..." Parker trails, "Oh, no, wait a minute. I'm not quite that h'old."
"Great Parker," Alan says with a nervous chuckle, "Hey, do you teach 'parking', ha, ha."
"No lip at Parker's motoring school if you please, Mr Alan, Sir," Parker says sternly. It's at this moment when Penelope opens the door and exits with Sherbet who barks at Parker and runs down towards him, with Penelope following them.
"Hello Alan, Kayo," Penelope greets, "Now Parker, remember what we talked about. No teaching him any of the old tricks from your misspent youth. No fast getaways, evasive manoeuvres..."
"Hey, that sounds awesome," Alan says as he watches Penelope walk by, but shuts up when he sees the look Kayo is giving him.
"M'Lady h'is right. It wouldn't be h'appropriate," Parker states, "I'll be sticking to the fundamentals."
"By the way, Parker," Penelope calls, "Lady Sylvia is coming for tea this afternoon."
"You're Great Aunt, Ma'am? Lady Sylvia Creighton-Ward? Coming for tea?" Parker questions.
"Yes Parker. You know, that drink we pour out of pots and cups," Penelope says sarcastically.
"Actually, this could be fun," Alan interjects, "So what kind of fundamentals you talking about? How to fly FAB1? Deploying the smoke screen canister? Oh, the oil slick dispenser?"
"Oh, no. Nobody drives FAB 1 h'except me," Parker says, "You see, at the Parker School of Motoring, Mr Alan, Sir, all pupils learn in the same car." He passes a hat over to Kayo, who gives her signature smirk and places it on Alan's head.
"Really Kayo?" Alan complains but only receives a wink in response.
August 14th, 2061 - 09:11 BST
"What... is... that?" Alan question as he stares at an old light pink Rolls Royce.
"Don't be rude Alan," Kayo whispers harshly.
"This is FAB 0. And it's been in the family since before you were born," Parker explains and walks over to runs his hand across the bonnet.
"Uh-uh. No way am I getting into that thing," Alan declares, "It's practically an antique!"
"What was good enough for your brothers is good enough for you, Mr Alan, Sir," Parker responds sternly, "And I 'appen to like h'antiques. Lady Sylvia for example."
"Excuse me?" Alan and Kayo ask in horror.
"Nothing," Parker dismisses, "Now then, h'onto the fundamentals."
August 14th, 2061 - 09:15 BST
"How to open the door," Parker says with his arms crossed looking over at Alan, who sighs and opens the door, "How to shut the door." Alan shuts the door again in a huff as Kayo stands back amused. "How to doff your cap," Parker demonstrates which Alan copies, "H'And now the most fundamental fundamental, how to h'address your passenger. This needs h'a lot of practise. H'Alright?"
"Yes, all right," Alan sighs.
"Kayo would like to be the passenger?" Parker asks.
"Certainly," Kayo says to Alan's dismay and watches Kayo walk away before coming back towards him, "So Mr Tracy, where are we off to today?"
"I... er... London?" Alan stutters.
"Excellent. I'd imagine I'll be meeting up with the Prime Minister to discuss the upgrades that'll be happening on the Royal Navy's radar systems," Kayo explains and walks with Alan over to the door. Alan freezes for a second but manages to regain his composure and opens to door to allow Kayo to enter the car, "Thank you Mr Tracy." A throat is then cleared from behind and everyone turns to see Penelope standing there holding Sherbet.
"You're very good at this Kayo. Beautiful deportment, but if you're going to be playing me, would you mind looking after the dog," Penelope says presenting the dog to Kayo who smiles and happily takes Sherbet out of Penelope's hands and onto her lap.
"Certainly Lady Penelope," Kayo says, "I would be honoured."
August 14th, 2061 - 09:32 BST
Parker slowly drives FAB 0 along the gravel drive, while Alan and Kayo sit in the back with Sherbet between them.
"So h'of course, the speed limit on h'our grounds for a learner driver is four miles an hour and do be ready to brake," Parker says braking to a stop before resuming, "That's the middle peddle."
"So, we can throw off someone tailing us?" Alan asks.
"In case a stray h'animal runs h'across your path," Parker dismisses and Kayo chuckles.
"Oh yeah, there's that," Alan realises.
"You know," Kayo says, "You're such a child sometimes Alan, I forget that you're 17." Alan goes red in embarrassment and diverts his eyes over to Sherbet and starts to pet him for comfort.
"So, are we going to be doing any real driving?" Alan asks shyly.
"Safety first, Mr Alan, Sir," Parker responds.
"Could you possibly show me some bodyguard moves? That's part of being a chauffeur, isn't it? Security? Protecting your passenger?" Alan throws.
"It is, but we don't have to worry about that now," Parker chuckles, "Only a fool of a criminal would try something at the Creighton-Ward Estate."
August 14th, 2061 - 09:36 BST
Alan is now slowly diving with Parker walking alongside the car and Kayo in the back with Sherbet. As he drives a red button on the side starts to beep and flash red.
"What does that mean?" Alan asks and Parker looks over worried.
"That Lady Penelope is in trouble," Parker exclaims.
"What?!" Kayo cries.
"What shall we do?" Alan asks.
"Get back to the 'ouse," Parker says opening the door and grabbing Alan's arm to get him out of the driver's seat.
"No, let me do it," Alan declares.
"Sorry, Sir, this is an emergency," Parker says.
"I can do this. It's only back to the house," Alan says but Parker grabs the steering wheel.
"Come on Alan just le—" Kayo starts but is cut off by Alan pressing his foot down on the accelerator and Parker falling into the back of the car. The tyres squeal and screech as Alan tries to drive the car. However, he knocks into a statue and then crashes the car into another one causing FAB 0 to end up upside down.
"Ohhhh," Parker groans as Sherbet barks from Kayo's arms.
"Alan, you're a fucking idiot, you know that," Kayo says hanging upside down and Alan looking in the opposite direction from her in shame.
"I'm so, so, sorry," Alan says upset.
"Never mind that now," Parker says calmly, "We 'ave to get back and 'elp Lady Penelope."
"Okay, what do I do?" Alan asks.
"Right well... you see that button on the dashboard, below the read flashing light," Parker indicates, "Press that."
"Okay," Alan says and presses the button and transforms FAB 0 into flight move, "Cool."
"Good. Now use the rotor joystick to direct them round," Parker instructs.
"Alright. Just a... yeah!" Alan calls as he flicks it forward, lifting FAB 0 off the ground. Sherbet whines in Kayo's arms as Alan flips the car over and then lands it. He doesn't notice Parker holding his arm in discomfort as he turns FAB 0 back into land mode, "Great. Ok, you were right, I can't driver this thing. Take the wheel, Parker. Let's get back and help Lady Penelope as fast as possible." He gets up and moves to the back seat.
"Yes Sir. I would h'only I think h'I just broke my h'arm. Or rather, you just broke my h'arm, Mr Alan, Sir," Parker states.
"Sorry," Alan sighs.
"Luckily, I can drive this thing," Kayo says getting up and sitting in the driver's seat. Pressing her foot to the floor, she speeds off down the drive and back to the manor without crashing like Alan had down.
August 14th, 2061 - 09:52 BST
FAB 0 screeches to a halt by the fountain, stopping at the front of the house. Alan races out still holding Sherbet, with Kayo hot on his heels. They both enter the house and look at the destruction in the tearoom.
"They've been robbed," Alan states.
"It's worse than that, Mr Alan, Sir," Parker says by the window which causes Alan and Kayo to run over only to see Penelope, an older woman and two guys in FAB 1.
"Right, that does it," Kayo says and sprints out of the room to get to FAB 1.
"Oh shit, she's mad," Alan mumbles and chases after her back outside the house. He exists the first doors and goes left in the direction Kayo went and round to the side, to were FAB 1 is currently parked.
"HEY!" Kayo yells, charging at the car, "No one steals FAB 1." However, before she can get close the car suddenly starts and drives off, knocking Parker over in the process. Kayo attempts to run after them but gives up and returns to where Alan is helping Parker back onto his feet.
"Oh dear, Mr Alan, Sir. Ms Kyrano, Ma'am," Parker complains, "That's done my arm in again. I'm in no shape for a chase."
"I guess I'll have to take the wheel again," Kayo sighs, shooting a dirty look at Alan, "I just hope I can remember what each button does."
"FAB Kayo," Alan sighs, hurt.
August 14th, 2061 - 10:04 BST
"Stay on his tail," Parker calls, "Don't let him get away."
"And don't be a backseat driver Parker," Kayo angrily states, frustrated at Alan and pushes her foot further down on the accelerator as FAB 0 makes it onto the M3 Motorway towards Southampton.
"These thieves h'aren't too bright," Parker says, "No one ever escapes a pursuit once you've gone on the motorway."
"Well, that's good news," Alan says to lighten the mood.
"No, that's terrible news," Kayo bursts, "FAB 1 in the wrong hands in a very dangerous thing." The two cars charge down the motorway at ridiculous speeds of over 150mph with no sign of the chase coming to an end soon. "I can't stop them safely unless I can cut them off," Kayo says and watches as a sign for exit 7 and 8 goes by, "If I wait a few more seconds, I should be able to cut them off before they reach Winchester." What would be a 2-minute drive (if you were travelling at normal motorway speeds) turned into a 20 second drive as the pair of cars speed past the last exit before Winchester. "Parker, which button is flight mode again?" Kayo asks.
"Just h'under the steering wheel, Ma'am," Parker says.
"I may have a motorcycle, but I've always preferred flying," Kayo smirks and presses the button that converts FAB 0 into flight mode. With that, she takes off at a faster pace and overtakes FAB 1 on the ground. Once she was a safe distance ahead, Kayo lowers FAB 0 again and lands back onto the motorway carriageway. Pressing slightly on the brake, FAB 0 matches a speed that is just under the one FAB 1 is travelling at, to allow the vehicle to catch up. Once close enough, Kayo scans the dashboard until she finds the button she is looking for. "Now if I remember correctly..." she trails, pressing the button and creating an oil spill on the road, "That will lead to a slippery end." FAB 1 tries to break, but it's too late and skids out of control, coming to a complete stop. A redlight begins to flash on the screen.
"Er, Parker, what's that flashing light mean?" Alan voices.
"Teensy thing h'I didn't tell you h'about FAB 0," Parker says, "She runs on petrol."
"Ah, she just ran out," Alan says as the engine stutters and splutters.
"Oh, thank the stars, she's h'alright!" Parker says running out of the car and over to Penelope, who's gotten out of the car, "She's h'alright!"
"I got it Parker. You're talking about FAB 1," Alan calls from where he stands next to Kayo, taking off the drivers cap he had on and placing it on her head and receives a death stare in return.
August 14th, 2061 - 11:38 BST
Kayo manages to tow FAB 0 home by driving FAB 1 at a much suitable pace. She still hasn't spoken to Alan and Alan understood why. He had injured Parker and it almost cost them Penelope and Sylvia who were luckily unharmed by the events. Scott arrives a few minutes later and comes down to greet everyone.
"Hey, Alan, how was your driving lesson?" Scott asks.
"Full of shit," Kayo answers and walks past him and into Thunderbird 1.
"Alan?" Scott raises an eyebrow.
"I might have crashed the car and injured Parker when the emergency warning light went off to indicate that Lady Penelope was in trouble," Alan rambles, "And I'm sincerely sorry for that Parker."
"That's alright Mr Alan, Sir," Parker says, his arm now in a sling, "I don't think that h'I'm the one you should be h'apologising to." Alan looks over to Thunderbird 1 and sighs shaking his head.
"Gosh Alan!" Scott groans, "You're such a child sometimes Alan, I forget that you're 17." Alan looks even further depressed at that comment and a small tear escapes his right eye and he runs off towards the manor.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Alan says. Scott looks over in the direction he went in and sighs. He decides to go and see Kayo's side of things.
"It was nice to see you again Lady Penelope. Parker," Scott comments and walks back to his ship.
"You too Scott," Penelope calls, "Send my regards to Gor— your brothers."
Scott enters Thunderbird 1 and takes a seat in the one next to Kayo. Kayo seems to be reading something off her wrist communicator and doesn't acknowledge Scott sitting next to her.
"I've never seen you guys like this before," Scott says, "You never fight."
"Every friendship has its ups and downs Scott," Kayo deadpans.
"Yes, but I've never seen to friends like you and Alan before," Scott continues, "Everything you do together is so in sync, and you always seem to know what the other is thinking."
"That's because we've known each other since 2049 Scott," Kayo says, "I can't remember my life where he wasn't in it... and you would think that by now I would have gotten used to his childish behaviour, but I clearly haven't. It almost cost Lady Penelope for fuck's sake."
"You know as well as I do that Lady Penelope can look after herself just fine," Scott counters, "Though I agree that you guys might need some time apart. Just to cool down and readjust."
"You think?" Kayo asks.
"Sure," Scott says, "You've been side by side since you came to the island in 2058 and maybe this time apart will do you good." Kayo stares at Scott, thinking of what she should reply with and sighs.
"You're right, Scott," Kayo says with a hint of sadness.
"Okay, when we get back to Tracy Island, I'll organize with the GDF to send you over to one of their bases in the Middle East," Scott says, "That's sure to keep you busy."
"Sounds good," Kayo replies, "How long do you think?"
"Let's say until early-October," Scott responds, "That should be plenty of time to..." He stops as he sees Alan making his way back over to Thunderbird 1 ready to head home.
"I get it Scott," Kayo says with a smile, "Thank you."