Chapter 7 – Move Along

The next morning, after Jeff and Alan met up with Fermat for a late breakfast, they drove to the private apartment building established only a few miles away from MIT.

The building itself was relatively new, built only two years ago and spanned five stories, its modern stone structure a contrast to the historical look that MIT itself had to offer.

They parked in a special student lot for the building, and soon Fermat led them to the front of the building, where he took out a key card from his pocket and swiped it through a reader on the front door.

As Fermat led Jeff and Alan in the main lobby, Alan couldn't help but whistle in appreciation. In addition to the carpeting and intricate marble work everywhere, he swore that he could spot at least three different top of the line security systems in place. "Wow Fermat, when you said this place was secure, you weren't kidding."

Grinning, Fermat hitched a thumb over in Jeff's direction. "You can thank your dad for that."

Alan looked at his father with a questioning glance, and Jeff laughed at the unexpected attention. "I felt obligated to give to back to future generations of engineers. Besides, I can remember how dorm life was."

After Fermat signed them all in, he guided them to an elevator where they rode to the top floor of the building. As they exited the elevator, Alan noted that it looked almost like a regular apartment complex with a long hallway flanked by numerous doors, each with their own key card reader.

They stopped at the end of the hallway in front of one of the doors. Fermat used his keycard one last time, and the door slid open. He went inside and then beckoned to them. "Come on in."

Jeff whistled in appreciation as they stepped inside. The place was spacious enough, decked out in simple wood tones and grey and red fabrics. The living room had a spacious couch and a fully stocked entertainment center with what looked like every game system currently on the market. The kitchen looked clean and spacious, with a microwave, oven, and dishwasher, along with a nook for eating and some corresponding stools.

Judging by the raucous noise down the hallway, he knew that kids would be kids, but as they stepped inside and the door closed behind them, he was impressed to find that the sound had all been muffled out. "This seems pretty private."

Fermat grinned. "I-I'll be sure to thank dad for you. When he helped me move here, he set up some equipment to help maximize privacy and security while minimizing distractions."

Jeff then turned to Alan and watched as he eagerly moved around the place with his large duffel bag in hand. He had delayed the inevitable by having Alan stay with him last night, but the time had finally come. "You have everything you need for the short term?"

Alan laughed. "Geez. Dad, for the twentieth time, yes, I have everything!" He held up the duffel bag he was carrying. "I have enough change of clothes for a few weeks, and Brains is planning on visiting Fermat in about a week anyway. He's agreed to help me get settled in with anything else I might need."

Jeff smiled. "I just want to make sure that you will be ok. Once I leave, it will be a while before I can get back to visit."

Alan sobered. The call his father had received yesterday came back to mind. If the Hood was out, things would definitely get busy for his father and brothers. "Call me if you need me."

Jeff laughed. "That's supposed to be my line! Actually, speaking of calling, I have a surprise for the two of you."

Alan watched in anticipation as his father fished out two small boxes from his pocket. Handing one to him and one to Fermat, his father stepped back with a smile. "Open them."

Opening up his box, Alan was surprised to see what looked like a small watch. It had a round face and a weird looking dial, but otherwise it digitally flashed the current time at them.

Hearing a gasp from his friend, he turned to find Fermat with a big grin on his face. "Mr. Tracy! A-are these the tele-communicators that dad was working on?"

Jeff nodded. "Brains was able to finish them early with John's help, and I've already given the others theirs. By all purposes, it looks like a normal watch, but if there is an emergency and we need to call you, or if either of you are in trouble, turn the dial of the watch and it will turn into a video communicator tuned into International Rescue frequencies."

Alan nodded. There were some benefits to being in a group of engineers and inventors. "This is cool. Thanks." And on an impulse, he wrapped his arms around his father's neck in a fierce hug. "Be careful, dad."

As his son broke his hold, Jeff replied. "Count on it. And you behave."

Fermat and Alan walked him to the door. As the door slid aside one last time, Jeff turned around, offered one last wave, and then walked out.

After Fermat closed the door, Alan breathed a heavy sigh and went back into the living area, dropping his duffel bag on the floor and settling himself onto the sofa.

Moment's later, Fermat walked in and gave him a hard look. "I-I know that sigh. What's wrong Alan?"

Alan sat back up and looked at the door that his dad had left from. "I don't know, Fermat. I am just worried I guess." He then looked around the room. "This is a pretty nice place to be set up on a scholarship with that college."

Fermat nodded and then grinned. "It'll be good to be roommates again. I appreciated the solitude for a while, but even my books on quantum theory got old fast. Y-you know, I have some pizza in the freezer and I don't have any early classes tomorrow."

Grinning, Alan followed his friend's lead. "I get your drift. Why don't we check out some movies on TV tonight and have ourselves a late night movie fest?"

Jeff flew his personal jet alone out over the open water back towards the island. He would have preferred to have made the journey with one of his sons, but it couldn't be helped. They were all growing up so fast. He smiled as he remembered leaving Alan back with Fermat. It was almost as if he was leaving him, there in preparation for another school year.

Considering the path Alan chose? In a way, it was.

He chuckled to himself at the different times of his life that he has offered the same summer opportunity to his other sons: Scott chose to be on a game show, John with his science fiction novel, Gordon with his swimming, and Virgil with his music. Each of them had unique experiences that would be memorable in more ways than one.

An hour later, as the island came into view, he saw that Thunderbird 3 had taken off into orbit. It was then that he remembered that John was due to be spelled from his three month rotation. Had that much time passed already? He rubbed a hand over his weary face. Maybe it was time that he considered handling International Rescue from behind the scenes.

Pushing all other thoughts aside, he contacted the island and requested clearance to land.

President Marilyn Winters sat in the Oval office and frowned at the official reports from London with a growing sense of dread. Running a hand through her short brown hair, the situation couldn't have been any stranger or dangerous.

Britain's Prime Minister kidnapped by persons unknown…what could be next?

She heard a knock on her door and looked up to see that her Vice President had walked into the office.

Vice President Gene Prescott had all of the hallmarks of an up and coming statesman. Dressed in a dark blue suit with a white tie, he could have easily blended in with the Secret Service. His red hair also did well to hide his age, which he had only told her, though Mary chided that forty-five was hardly old for someone in political office.

She rose briefly, and then motioned to him to take one of the overstuffed chairs in front of her own desk before she sat back down in surprise. "Gene, I wasn't expecting you today. I thought you were busy with a Senate vote."

Gene waved her off. "I have at least an hour before I need to be there. Besides, I wanted to come by when I heard that you were planning on canceling your outing to your hometown's race track in a month."

She shook her head. "Call me paranoid, but with the kidnapping of the Prime Minister still fresh in everyone's minds, I don't feel like offering myself up as the next victim."

Leaning forward, Gene gave her a sympathetic smile. "Mary, I wouldn't worry. You know full well our intel has been quiet on the US shores for the past few months. Besides, this is a reelection year - we need all of the exposure we can get. Our Secret Service along with the local authorities can have a net around you so tight, not even a gnat could get in, so if you want to go to Polonica Sands in a month, why shouldn't you?"

She looked up at his smiling face and visibly relaxed. In the four years that they had worked together, Gene had proven to be an apt and shrewd strategist, keeping an eye on world affairs and helped more than once to form alliances between countries that she had thought to be lost causes.

Her decision made, she felt better than she had when she first read the report. "You are probably right, Gene. Besides, I haven't been to a good race in a while. Thanks."

Gene nodded as he got to his feet. "It is my pleasure. Now if you will excuse me, there is a meeting of the senate that I need to get to."

She nodded, turning back to her paperwork as he left her office.

Walking down the corridor, Gene couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. He had waited four long years for these events. His contacts had promised action for the past few months, but judging by what happened in England, plans were ready to finally move forward.

After all, he had joined Shadow Force to gain power. He would just have to make sure that when the time came, the President of the United States would disappear for good.

Then as promised by General X, the United States would be his to control.

Evil is popping up everywhere – next chapter, John gets a ride back to Earth while Alan reports to the racetrack. Hope to see you then. :)

Till later,

Time Guardian