5

Thank you for your patience! I apologise for the delay it's been pretty tough for me to find some downtime to write this, thank you to those following, and reviewing so far!

Gordon was almost out of danger. The help that had been due to arrive had finally caught up with him and he was now under the protection of the Australian air force. He breathed a sharp sigh of relief safe in the knowledge that he could see at least five fighter jets surrounding him. He had been constantly checking for hostile craft even after Scott had radioed to confirm he had eliminated the threats. Two was too badly damaged to reach home so they were guiding him to a secure air base where they had been guaranteed security and privacy. Medical and emergency teams were on standby to receive them. How strange thought Gordon; that they had been placed into a situation where they needed to be rescued themselves. He couldn't believe they had been sabotaged so easily. The plane had been like a Trojan horse, a deadly trap.

Gordon was given clearance to land. He found that as much as he racked his brain he couldn't figure out how he had flown here. He was starting to shake and it scared him. The adrenaline was threatening to consume him even though the danger had long past. He glanced across at his brother in the seat next to him. It wasn't ideal, he literally had time to check that Virgil had a pulse and to strap him in to the nearest unoccupied chair because they had still been plummeting out of the sky. Gordon's knuckles turned white gripping the wheel at the memory. Right now, Virgil's face was pale against his golden-brown locks, which were partially obscuring his face as they cascaded downwards. There was blood dripping on his yellow sash from some unseen head wound. He hung forwards, limp like a marionette without a puppeteer. Gordon was worried about his brother's airways, potential internal injuries, trauma to the head and neck….God! he would be glad to land. He needed to know that Virgil would be ok. How could this happen! Gordon flinched as he turned to face forward in preparation to land. He was pretty confident he had whiplash and soon his ability to turn his neck at all; would be greatly compromised. He also felt like a lead weight had suppressed part of his upper torso, his arms shook as he brought her into land. It was going to be bumpy, he wasn't a skilled pilot at the best of times (It not being his primary skill) and not having any useable landing gear left didn't help. 'Sorry Virgil' he muttered to himself as his brother's beloved bird crashed into the asphalt tearing it up and her underside to pieces as she skidded to a halt. Gordon cried out as he was thrown forwards into his harness. Christ! It hurt! After what seemed like an eternity and almost tipping off the edge of the runway thunderbird two ground to a halt. The groaning and screeching of the hull was replaced by a gentle hissing and crackling of flames beginning anew from the damaged engines.

Sirens sounded and emergency services sped into action; Gordon fumbled with his harness and dragged himself out of the cockpit to rush over to his brother. He released two's door as he did so. He bent down over Vigil and was relieved to feel his brother's breath on his cheek. He checked his pulse, it was weak but present. He was gently trying to rouse his brother as the paramedics entered.

He didn't remember much apart from a sea of green surrounding his brother, hands grabbing apparatus and communicating quickly with each other. At some point he realised he had been taken aside and sat in the chair opposite. He sat stunned and motionless as a paramedic scanned a torch at both his pupils. He asked him to follow his finger. Gordon did as he was told and felt something drape around him. The next thing they knew he was being walked out of the cockpit. He tried to shake his head before wincing in pain. 'I can't – I can't leave. He wouldn't want me to. The craft shouldn't be unattended.'

The medic turned to face Gordon with his lapis lazuli eyes. Gordon was almost lost in their depth; it reminded him of the ocean at home. 'We need to get you treated, you're in shock. The ship will be guarded; one of your operatives is already on the way to reclaim her. Scott – the name came to Gordon unspoken as he visibly relaxed. Scott would make all of this ok, he knew what to do. He always had done since they were young. Gordon allowed himself to be walked off into the ambulance.

Scott slammed his hand down on the arm of the pilot seat in anger. How could he have been so stupid as to let them get away with four!

'Base to Thunderbird one, come in'

'Go ahead father' Scott tried not to frown as he was faced with an equally worried and stressed patriarch.

'Scott, Gordon has landed safely. They are receiving treatment now including Virgil.' Scott released a breath he hadn't been aware he was suppressing. 'What's your current situation, are you hurt?' Jeff face was etched with lines of worry. He was trying not to think about the fact that he could have lost all three of his son's today.

'No, maybe just my pride. We have bigger problems though, I successfully terminated three enemy craft but in doing so, I lost thunderbird Four.'

'Lost her?' There was that tone that Scott didn't like, the one where it signalled the calm before the storm.

'Yeah, when I doubled back I discovered that someone has cut into the pod and stolen Four, she's gone father. I'm sorry I should have dealt with the situation quicker.'

It was the first time Scott had seen surprise followed by shock register on his dad's face. Scott looked at the floor, downcast.

'Don't you blame yourself son, you were out numbered and your brothers in danger. You did the best you….

'Thunderbird 5 to Thunderbird 1' John's crisp American accent cut through the conversation.'

'Go ahead thunderbird 5; Base and Thunderbird one receiving you.'

'I have W.A.S.P on the line father; they are at Scott's location now. They reached the location after our distress call. They have some information I think you should hear.'

'Ok John, patch them in, would you?'

'F.A.B'

'This is Thunderbird one, I understand you have some information?' Scott cocked his head to listen to the audio. No video screens were permitted to maintain secrecy on outside calls.' Jeff and John listened intently. Scott could see the little metallic blue and yellow sub below, bobbing on the oceans surface.

'This is Troy Tempest of Stingray. That's right Sir. We received your distress call whilst on training exercises. As we arrived we saw a large submarine speed off with a yellow craft attached. We tried to pursue but were fired upon. By the time the debris cleared we had lost them.'

'They might still be in the area! We could trace them but we can't catch them, Thunderbird Four is our only water-based craft. Can you hold the line Tempest?'

'Sure, thing international rescue.'

Scott changed to a secure line. 'Father could we give them Thunderbird Four's tracker? Then they could try and retrieve her for us?'

'Brains is ready to relay the information to them now, meanwhile I need you to return to Tracy island to collect Alan and Brains so we can retrieve thunderbird two and your brothers. I don't like this at all, we are too vulnerable. Too many parties involved.'

'What choice do we have Father, we are going to have to trust people. At least we know W.A.S.P are a sound organisation.' Scott was referring to the fact that his brother had been a W.A.S.P personnel.

'Your right we have no choice but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Tell W.A.S.P they must keep in contact with us in regards to the situation. Hourly.'

'Ok I'll finish up here and then I'll be back to base.' Scott signed off.

'Stingray, this is Thunderbird one'

'Receiving you, go ahead.'

'Would you be able to help us retrieve Thunderbird 4 If we supply you with her trace details, she has a tracker installed?'

There was a pause whilst Troy consulted with his co-pilot.

'An ordinary day just got exciting. We'd love to help. Send us the details and we will do our best for you International Rescue.'

'Great, my colleague will be sending over the details now, it's imperative that Thunderbird Four is retrieved. Please remain in constant contact with us. I would stay to assist you but I need to retrieve our other pilots as a matter of urgency, their craft was destroyed in the attack.'

'You can rely on us international rescue, we'll be in touch. I Hope your colleagues are safe now'.

'Thank you, they are. We owe you one Tempest.'

'I might hold you to that' Troy Tempest smiled.

'Over and out.'

Scott had already secured the winch to the pod and had set off towards base. He took longer than usual to get home, doubling up on himself a couple of times. He did not want to be followed and it was awkward lugging thunderbird 2's pod along. It was a good hour and a half by the time he got back and darkness was descending. Scott dropped the pod off outside Two's hangar ready to be stored. No doubt his father and Brains had already planned for it to be thoroughly checked for evidence. Scott wearily reversed one into her hangar. He was exhausted but he knew it was far from over yet. He ran a hand over his face, catching his gauze on his cheek as he did so.

Back in the living room he was greeted by his father and Kyrano with a plate of heated up dinner. The others had eaten hours ago. Scott began to scoff it hungrily whilst his father updated him on the situation.

'First of all, Virgil is still unconscious'… Scott paused with a forkful of beef to his mouth in concern. 'but stable.' Scott carried on eating; he knew he needed to keep his strength up. It meant he could see his brothers quicker and make sure that they were ok himself.

'They say he does have severe concussion but no other substantial injuries, they will reassess him when he is awake. Gordon was in shock but has since recovered; he has sustained a nasty whiplash injury. Both are unable to fly so you will need to take Alan with you as well as Brains. Brain's is loading the spare components into the carrier plane that Alan will pilot. It's a good job that after the last incident we decided to keep spares here. It would have taken months to rebuild two otherwise.' Jeff paused to neck the whisky next to him. He noticed his son had finished eating all ready. He must have been starved as he had missed lunch too. Jeff was still internally debating whether to join them, he was more concerned about Virgil then he would let on for Scott and Alan's sake. He could also see how dog tired his son was but he needed to make sure that Thunderbird 4 was found.

'Are we ready to go then?' Scott asked as Alan walked up to the desk in his uniform.

'As long as you are sure son, you have had an intense day. Do you need to rest?'

'I'm ok; I'd rest easier when we are all safely back here.'

'Agreed. Good luck all of you, I will continue to monitor the situation with four and John is advising emergency services across the globe of our current predicament.'

Scott dumped his plate on the coffee table with a clatter and strode to the portrait in the corner. He swivelled around into the silo where his Thunderbird had barely cooled down from its last outing. Brains and Alan took the passenger elevator to the hangar ready to fly the rented carrier plane with Thunderbird two's new parts. It was going to be a long night Scott reflected.