Disclaimer - don't own the Thunderbirds. Never have (sigh) never will.

To anyone in the USA - Happy 4th of July!!!

Chapter Nine – Bad Science Can Hurt You

Life had been quiet on Tracy Island since Alan's return. Jeff should be enjoying it. There had been no rescues, no arguments (well, no major ones) and no problems. Life was as it should be.

"ALAN SHEPARD TRACY!!! I'm gonna kill you!!!"

With that roar echoing behind him, a laughing Alan raced out of the villa and past the pool. Scott and Jeff looked up in surprise, while Kate merely kept reading the Tracy Industries report in front of her. Father and son completely abandoned their reports when it was Gordon who burst out of the villa after his only younger brother.

"Huh," muttered Virgil, approaching the group. "Usually, it's one of us after Gordon."

He followed his two younger brothers with his eyes, Alan already nearly out of sight. "Who wants to bet on Alan?"

Without looking up from her report, Kate responded. "No takers here Virgil. Gordon's only fast in water. I've seen Al run track, and I'm sure with all the practice with running from you guys over the years, that boy is fast. Besides," she continued, switching her report with Jeff's pointing out something she had circled, "I would have thought you would have learned not to make any bets on anything concerning your brothers. Or their love lives. Or" Kate raised annoyed eyes at her middle brother-in-law "their marriages."

Scott glared at the brother he was usually closest to. "You bet about my marriage?"

Virgil turned on his heels and hurried back into the villa, Scott quickly following him. Kate remained in her seat, smirking. Jeff sat back down, eyebrows raised, looking at his daughter-in-law. "Virgil bet with… Gordon?" Kate nodded. "So, you got back Virgil by making sure Scott found out." Another nod. "And you got Alan to do something to Gordon, right?"

Kate smiled. "Divide and conquer, Dad. Virgil and Gordon bet on my argument with Scott – actually, they bet against me. And let's just say you should carefully review the island security report I submitted this morning on misuse of resources." Kate began to read the report in front of her again, jotting down notes as she went. "Alan had his reason for wanting to get back at those two brothers. We just took one brother each."

Jeff smiled at his daughter-in-law. She may not have been born a Tracy, but she had adapted fast. Before he could say anything more, the alarm claxon sounded. Kate gathered up the Tracy Industries reports and followed her father-in-law to his study, which Brains had already begun to transform into command and control.

"John, Brains" Jeff nodded to his second son on the monitor and his chief engineer. "What do you have for us?"

"Dad, an experiment gone badly has caused an explosion on a college campus in southern California. A five story academic hall has begun to collapse, and rescue estimates sixty to seventy people can't be reached by traditional methods."

"In a-a-addition, M-Mr. Tracy, they b-believe a pr-professor may be tr-trapped in a b-basement." Brains added to the report.

The four earthbound Tracy sons had all entered the room, professionalism replacing – for the most part – glares at certain brothers. Jeff raised eyebrows at the boys, making sure they knew to put aside any difference until after the rescue. "OK, Alan, go with Scott, I want you to get some more time on Field Command. Kate, Gordon and Virgil, meet me in Thunderbird Two. Make sure we have the Firefly and the Mole loaded in their pods, we may need them on this one." The Tracys began to move to their portraits when Virgil asked "So what institute of higher learning tried to blow itself up?"

The Tracys had almost begun to chuckle at the dark humor when John responded solemnly "Cal-Sci."

A pale Kate looked at her brother-in-law in disbelief. Her Uncle Charlie, Aunt Amita and Cousin Ben were all professors at the prominent college. "John, do they know who the trapped professor is? I mean, do you have any names??"

Scott put a comforting hand on Kate's arm. John shook his head. "Sorry Kate, no names yet. But, I will try and reach your family, see what I can find out."

Kate steeled herself, patted her husband's hand and moved to her portrait, muttering "Ok, Thunderbirds, let's go."

a/n - short, but I need to set up the rescue. Besides, need to put another family in jeopardy. I'll put the boys in danger soon enough. Anyone want to guess what Alan did to Gordon? I tell you now, you will have to wait a few chapters. Aren't you glad I update frequently? Review and make me happy!!!!