Thank you to all those who gave me feedback on the last chapter, especially Whirlgirl, since I can't reply personally. I really wasn't sure where to end this - there was another section, but I finally decided it would work better in the next chapter. I'll get that one up just as soon as I can. Bee
Chapter Four
Tin-Tin and Brains waited for the rest of the organisation to gather in the lounge for the briefing. John seemed unusually agitated as he waited for everyone to arrive.
"Okay, guys," he told them, "It's a big one. There's been an explosion at the Wells Research Station. They were digging out a new shaft when they hit an undetected pocket of gas."
The grim faces of the others told him that they'd immediately grasped the seriousness of this one. Even Alan, who usually struggled to mask his excitement at the prospect of a rescue, however perilous the situation, looked genuinely worried.
The Wells Complex was an underground Canadian city, with a population of over three hundred. Around three kilometres below ground, it had been built as an experiment in endurance, to see if it was possible to survive underground on a permanent basis with only the minimum of technological support. Those who lived there had to sign up for a minimum of one year. Even John, who was happy to spend weeks at a time cooped up on Thunderbird Five, had voiced the question of why anyone would want to deprive themselves of fresh air and sunlight for that long, especially when contact with the outside world was strictly limited. At a conference some months ago, Brains had met several men who'd recently returned to the Earth's surface after completing their tour of duty and their pale faces and watery eyes had convinced him that, however fascinating the experiment might be, it took a particularly dedicated person to agree to take part.
"How bad?" Jeff asked.
"The eastern sector is completely destroyed," John told them. "No chance of survivors. Thankfully most of the remaining personnel were able to make their way to the exit shafts but there are around thirty people unaccounted for. The explosion started a fire which seems to be gaining ground, but they can't risk blocking off the air shafts to quell the flames, not whilst there's a chance people might still be alive down there."
"How long can they hold out?" Jeff asked.
"Five hours if they've got into the crisis shelters. If they haven't, then it depends on their air supply. Probably not more than a couple of hours - assuming the fire doesn't get them first. We're going to have to-"
He broke off and turned to his console for a moment. "Sorry about that. I've just had an update. It gets worse, guys. The underground reservoir that gives them their water supply has been damaged. There's a breach in one of the walls. If it gives way the water will put the fires out but it's not going to be good news for anyone trapped in the corridors. Apparently it could flood the whole place. There's an emergency drainage system but someone's going to need to get down there to activate it manually."
"What's the plan?" Scott asked, already inching towards the entrance to One's hangar.
"Brains?" Jeff asked. "Are you listening to all this?"
"Y-yes, Mr T-Tracy." Brains pulled himself up straighter in his bed and thought for a moment before listing all the equipment they were going to need. His biggest worry, he informed them, was the risk of more explosions which might cause the whole complex to become structurally unsound. Then, as Jeff began to issue orders to his sons, he pushed the bedclothes aside and started to get out.
"Brains, what are you doing?" Tin-Tin cried.
"Brains?" Jeff's voice came through the wrist-comm.
"I-I need to g-go with the b-boys, Mr T-Tracy," Brains insisted. "They'll be p-pushed to the l-limit as it i-is."
"You can't go, Brains," Scott told him. "We can't risk taking someone who's not fully fit."
"B-but the reser-reservoir..."
"I'll handle it, Brains," Virgil told him.
"I-I think it's going to b-be a t-two man j-job," Brains said, pushing Tin-Tin's hands away as she tried to settle him back against the pillows. "N-no one else knows w-what to d-do. I-I have t-to go."
He wondered why Tin-Tin gave him an extra-hard shove backwards, and he hissed in pain as his sore body objected to the sudden movement. He looked at her in bewilderment as she glared back at him.
Tin-Tin felt a momentary flash of remorse at the realisation that she'd hurt her friend, but it only lasted a second before frustration and annoyance swept over her once more. This was exactly why she wanted the job at the new base. When even Brains, who knew her talents in engineering better than anyone, forgot that she was fully qualified to go on the mission, what hope was there that anyone else on Tracy Island would ever really take her seriously? But before she could open her mouth to demand that they gave her the chance to show what she was capable of, Alan spoke up.
"Tin-Tin can do it."
Tin-Tin was so shocked that she had to sit down on the bed, almost landing in Brains' lap. But she didn't even register the man's clear discomfort at her closeness, instead trying to work out if she'd really heard what she thought she had. Alan had spoken up for her? He'd actually realised that she was more than just his on-off-on-again girlfriend? He was finally treating her like an equal part of the team instead of a fragile female who needed to be protected from the slightest hint of danger or discomfort? She couldn't believe it!
It was true, sure enough, but actually, Alan had been thinking none of those things. Still reeling from Tin-Tin's announcement that she wanted to leave Tracy Island, he'd had a sudden flash of inspiration when Brains had stated that the mission would need another engineer. So Tin-Tin wanted to prove herself? Well, she didn't have to move halfway across the world to do that. If he encouraged his father to give her more of a role in rescues, then surely she wouldn't feel the need to move on. He didn't like her putting herself in danger - that would never change - and if he was honest, he'd rather she stayed put and kept Grandma company, but if it meant he didn't have to leave the place where he was most comfortable, then he'd happily go along with it. Virgil would be there to keep an eye on her, so she'd be safe enough - he'd rather do it himself, but he knew from experience that even if the mission didn't demand that the two engineers be paired up, there was no way Scott would let him and Tin-Tin go off together, not trusting them to keep their minds fully on their work, especially not when they were in one of their make-up phases, as they were right now.
He realised the rest of his family were staring at him in surprise. "What?" he asked. "Tin-Tin's easily as good an engineer as Virgil. Or Brains, for that matter."
"Of course she is," Jeff agreed. "It's just that you don't usually want her taking part in rescues."
"Well, I've changed my mind. She deserves the chance to show what she can do, Dad."
"Okay. Tin-Tin, are you up for this?"
Tin-Tin couldn't stop smiling as she informed her employer that she was more than ready. Instructed to get down to Thunderbird Two as quickly as she could, she jumped to her feet, hugged a speechless Brains and set off at a run.
In the lounge, Jeff gave the order to launch the 'birds. But even before Scott and Virgil could get to their respective wall panels, John called in with news that there had been yet another explosion.
"This is going to be a tough one," he told them. "Good luck, guys."
For all her efforts to remain detached, Penny couldn't help herself as Scott reached for the lamps which would spin him round into One's hangar.
"Be careful, Scott."
"Sure, Penny," he grinned. "Don't I always come back in one piece?"
Then he was gone. With Jeff having turned to John's portrait and Gordon already heading towards Two's passenger elevator, it was only Alan who saw the look on Penny's face as she gazed at the empty space where Scott had been.
Despite the tension over the forthcoming rescue, Alan couldn't remember a more pleasant flight in Thunderbird Two. Tin-Tin had been so thrilled by the way he'd spoken up for her that she'd flung herself at him just as soon as the pair met up, forcing an unusually embarrassed Gordon to leave them to it and hasten up to the cockpit. In no hurry to join them, the others had gone into the crew quarters so that they could spend some time together. Tin-Tin was determined to be professional, much to Alan's disappointment, but she promised him she'd make up for lost time once they were back on Tracy Island.
"I guess I can see why the guys want to get away for a while," Alan said as he sipped his coffee. "Who do you think will meet someone first? My money's on Scott."
Tin-Tin laughed. "Maybe he's already met the right woman."
"Huh?"
Tin-Tin hesitated for a moment. She'd never voiced her suspicions to Alan, knowing that she'd just give him ammunition with which to tease his eldest brother. But he'd been so much more mature lately. It could be a test, she decided. She'd see what he said - and swear him to secrecy if he didn't offer to keep it quiet voluntarily. The way things were between them right now, she knew he'd do anything she wanted.
"Lady Penelope's in love with him. He's just too stupid to see it."
"What? Penny? I know we've teased Scott about it, but she's seeing this other guy now. You know, "darling Simon"." He finished with a fairly appalling attempt at an English accent.
"She's just trying to make Scott jealous."
Alan thought back to the scene in the lounge, remembering Penny's wistful expression when Scott had left for Thunderbird One.
"She told him to be careful just now," he told her. "And she looked kind of worried about him. You might be onto something, Tin-Tin." He was silent for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Scott does like her. I remember what he said about her when Dad first introduced her to us. I can't see why he wouldn't be interested if he knew she felt the same way. Hey, this is great. I could-"
"Alan, no! You're not to tease Scott. Or Penny."
"I'm not going to! This is the new Alan, remember. The one who's mature about relationships."
They exchanged meaningful smiles for a moment.
"I was thinking maybe we could try to help Penny out."
"I don't know, Alan. Your grandmother's tried but nothing's come of it." Tin-Tin was just grateful that the old lady's plans to reunite her and Alan had met with a little more success.
"That's because she's a woman. Romantic movies and flowers will never work on Scott. I'll talk to the guys."
"Alan..."
"Okay, just Virg, then. I'll leave Gordon out of it. That's what you're worried about, isn't it?"
"Maybe." Tin-Tin adored the second-youngest Tracy, but there were a lot of things she wouldn't trust him to be sensible about and this was one of them. She wasn't entirely sure she'd done the right thing in telling Alan. Still, he did seem to genuinely want to help his brother so she'd give him the benefit of the doubt - for now.
Alan sat in thought for a moment. He really did want Scott to be as happy as he was right now and, since he liked Penny too, the thought of the two of them pairing up made a whole lot of sense. Who knew, maybe if they did get together Scott would reconsider taking charge of the new base. After all, he'd be closer to Penny. His father wouldn't want to lose two sons so Alan would have to stay on Tracy Island. Tin-Tin wouldn't go without him, he was sure of it. He smiled. Everything was coming together just perfectly.