First off, I'm sorry this next chapter took so long to be edited. Looking over it, the original draft for Skara which was ok when your 15 just didn't work, and it was sometime before I worked out what to do with her. I've also had to stop myself editing, as I can suffer from doing too much and end up destroying the tale - I'll keep my fingers crossed that that hasn't happened.
Thunderbirds and all the Tracy's belong only to Mr Anderson. The aliens Ktara, Fe'la and Skara are my own creations.
Thank you for reading. Also Thank you to Tikatu for pointing out the massive error the gremlins decided to put in... I hope it's sorted now.
Gordon staggered backwards and was quickly caught by Alan, Jeff frowned grimly, pushing forward heedless of Scott beside him.
"What have you done to my son?" Like any parent, his children's safety came first and any harm visited on them… well, they'd just better watch out.
The woman turned towards him, after staring at Gordon a moment longer. When she did speak, it was heavily accented, as if she was still trying to understand all the nuances.
"My ... sorrow... apologies; I do not mean to bring harm… to him. To learn this… speech… language, I ... need ... require contact… it drains… somewhat. He will recover… fully... to hurt… bring harm is not my nature"
"I'm ok Dad; just tired… gee that was some ride"
"Maybe you should think first, before diving in" Alan muttered to him, Gordon shook his head and grinned.
"And miss what I saw? No way, you're only jealous"
Jeff watched the two and calmed a little. Gordon sat on the sand now, rubbing his forehead. He was amazed at the images he'd been shown, more so the ones that related to her home world. Evolved from feline-like creatures? well that explained the eyes and tail.
"Very well, I'll accept that. I'm Jeff Tracy and these are some of my sons." Jeff introduced them one by one; each smiled – slightly in Scott's case, ever on guard – and greeted her. "I don't know what brought you to our world, but I'd like to welcome you in the name of humanity"
She inclined her head slightly at his introduction and placed a hand on her own chest.
"Ktara, I am a … healer… medic. We were hit by a … meteor… comet. Landed here, yet have no knowledge… of where here is"
"Lost huh?" Virgil muttered Scott spoke up.
"You said we, so there are more of you inside?" Ktara nodded slowly, watching him.
"We are three in total"
"Well, their more than welcome to come out, we won't hurt them"
"I must warn you though "Her use of the language was improving, the accent was slowly disappearing. "They are not like myself"
She moved back to the silver craft and placed a hand near where the portal had been, the seamless metal opened once more, and a being the size and shape of a medium dog emerged. It resembled – for want of better words – a mad mans idea for the Cheshire Cat. The fur was pale green, shot through with darker stripes, large turquoise eyes regarded them without blinking; even the marking on its face gave the impression of a fixed smile.
"This is Fe'la, being my navigator is one of her many talents. And this…"
Ktara let her hand drop from the silver surface and slowly took a few steps back; she stared fondly at the craft and smiled. The bright metallic sheen dimmed and a duller, mottled pattern begun to emerge from inside. The surface seemed to undulate as they watched giving the impression of a fluid rather than solid, there was also the feeling of something watching them.
"Is my ship; Skara"
"It's alive?" More a statement then question, Ktara nodded.
"She is my ship, my companion and my friend"
Jeff was thankful once more for choosing such an out of the way island for his home and secret base. No planes flew over on trade routes, and anything coming near – either in the airspace or by sea – they would have warning of. It seemed this day there was more than one secret on Tracy Island, that didn't need bringing to the worlds attention. The heat was starting to rise and as the crisis seemed to have passed, he glanced at his sons.
Scott met his gaze; who still frowned, but shrugged his shoulders slightly. Virgil just stared at the visitors, and Jeff knew his son would be painting latter. Alan's gaze was flitting between the three with undisguised pleasure – Alan was still so much a kid at times, no matter how grown up he thought himself. While Gordon remained seated on the sand, one arm on his raised knee the other behind, his gaze rarely left Ktara. Jeff couldn't help but wonder what his son had experienced. Given a choice, he would have offered himself, but she, Ktara, he corrected his thoughts, must have had a reason for choosing his youngest sons. Perhaps it would have been worse for one his age?
"Least we can do is offer our hospitality while you get yourselves sorted; our home's this way if you'll like to join us?"
"You are most kind, thank you" Fe'la stretched, again recalling to their thoughts a cat, and padded towards where Jeff had indicated. Ktara fell into step behind him and followed him up to the house. The boys were quick to follow, though Virgil did linger for a few moments watching the patterns drift over Skara.
The first thing Jeff did when they entered the main room was to open the com-link to Thunderbird 5.
"Hi Father, is everything ok, no damage?"
Ktara noticed the family resemblance – another son it seemed: the missing brother from Gordon's thoughts.
"Couldn't be better John, thought you'd like to know the outcome of our little incident earlier"
Jeff beckoned Ktara over to him, and John gave a small whistle when he saw her.
"Whoa! She's hot… sorry" Virgil laughed at his brother's discomfort and Scott muttered, folding his arms as he sat down.
"We'd noticed"
"This is Ktara; John, she'll be staying here with her companions while they get themselves sorted. We were just about to have a talk, and I knew you'd want to be in on it. Unless something's brewing I should know about?"
John shook his head, after checking his monitors.
"Everything's FAB on the world front Father, thanks for cutting me in"
Sitting down Ktara rested a hand briefly on Fe'la beside her; the other turned her head and blinked once slowly.
"What do you wish to know?"
"I think it's more a case of, what are you allowed to tell us. You'll have realised that we're rather limited in the space exploration department. I imagine there's a standard way of going about things like this for your people, but anything you tell us will not go beyond this family. You have my word on that"
She nodded, knowing his word was his bond – she'd picked so much up from the brief encounter with Gordon's mind – plus he also had his own secret.
"Very well, we are members of a federation spanning many planetary systems. While most member races pursue their own goals and way of life, some of us choose to offer our talents to the good of the whole. I am a Healer, one of many from all member races of the federation. It is our task to travel where needed and deal with any medical emergency that is there. I bring aid to the sick and hopefully prevent deaths. "
"So you were heading somewhere then?" She nodded at Scott
"Yes, to the Callabast system. A sickness has broken out at one of their major centres; some are convinced it is due to off-world visitors. It is my task to identify and hopefully neutralize this, before it grows too large"
"So what happened?" Virgil asked as he absentmindedly stroked the fur on Fe'la's head. To her surprise, the navigator closed her eyes, allowing the contact.
"Most systems are surrounded by a cloud of matter from which stray meteors and comets arise. I'm not certain, but Skara believes we were hit by one such as we passed by. Unfortunately, we have no idea how long any of us were unconscious for. Skara sustained some damage to her outer sensors during the blow, so hence no true idea as to where we are"
"What'll happen when you don't turn up? Will they send a search party out?"
She shook her head.
"We will be reported missing and that will be all. They will not waste resources looking for us, it would be pointless"
"I'm sorry; we'll do what we can to help you get back"
"Thank you. Now tell me, if you will… is this truly normal for your world?" She gestured towards the holograms of his sons, of John in full uniform. Jeff shook his head and smiled.
"That's another story, and after you've been open with us, it's only fair to tell you"
They both listened as Jeff explained about his dream, about the creation of the Thunderbirds, of International Rescue and all it entailed. It sounded not unlike the views held by the federation's member races.
~" Seems like their getting there"~
Ktara could only nod, both to Jeff's descriptions and to Skara's inner voice. He continued with his tale, about the people worldwide that helped them, and about their continued need for secrecy.
"Your aim is similar to that of the federation, there are many who think that way also. Though to find someone so young, who could design all this is truly amazing"
"I'd be happy to show you around, if you like?" Scott said standing up; Virgil frowned.
"Do you believe I can be trusted with this?" Scott opened his mouth to reply but his father spoke first.
"You trusted us enough to come out and speak with us, Ktara that took a lot of guts. Least we can do is show you around "He looked at his sons, it wasn't hard to tell that both Scott and Virgil were interested in their guest. John looked a little crest-fallen, but knowing him, that was because he couldn't spend hours talking to her about space.
"But there is one condition" Jeff looked at each of them in turn.
"You show your own craft. No one else's, understood?"
There was a reluctant chorus of "Yes Father" and Scott indicated that Ktara should follow him. Fe'la remained where she was on the sofa and rested her head on her arms.