The Tracy Family and Thunderbirds is the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Author's Note: Don't want you to get alarmed, you haven't missed a chapter. It's just the chapter numbering on Fanfiction seems to be out of it's natural order due to my numbering ch 57 in parts 1 and 2. So while I am numbering this ch 60 it is really ch 59! Sounds Irish doesn't it! But hey, I am so that's all right.
NovaGirl: Contrary to what I told you I would do I've decided to settle on this. I admire you for rising to the challenge and thank you for your public apology. I hope this puts everyone's mind at ease that I did not rip off anyone's rescue idea. Take it from the horse's mouth; it came entirely from my own thoughts.
Chapter 60
"Gee…now why doesn't that surprise me," Alan grinned, though his voice suggested more than a hint of sarcasm. Ok…guess you'd better give it to me."
"Eh…would that be the bad news….or the very bad news, little brother," John asked with a degree of hesitancy.
"You mean I have a choice!" Alan commented, continuing in his vein of sarcasm.
"Well the bad news is…we're talking winds rising to Level 11, Al…some 103-117 kph…56-63 knots…it's what they call Violent Storm Force," John informed him, giving him an almost apologetic smile as if it was somehow his fault.
Alan let out a low whistle. "Gee…you mean….this…isn't violent…storm force!" he replied with a forced smile, gritting his teeth against another shudder.
"Not even close," John responded, wincing as the picture before him shook.
"You said that was the bad news, John. Do I even wanna know what the very bad news is!" Alan asked.
"That area is due to be hit by underwater seismic activity….the seabed could rupture," John continued.
"Aww that's just swell….you don't pull any punches, huh Johnny," Alan commented, giving his brother a wry grin. "Ok John…how long've we got before nature decides to get real stroppy?" he asked, hoping for, at least, a little leeway in the time factor.
After a brief look at his console John looked back to the monitor. "You've got about 2 hours there, Al…but that's not to say these winds don't have a mind of their own. Sorry buddy, that's all I can tell you," John informed him.
"Yeah thanks John. Say…Virg isn't due here yet for nearly 30 minutes….is there anywhere near that isn't…let's say…just as windy! I'm beginning to feel like a 007 Martini here…ya know, shaken not stirred!" Alan inquired and doing a shuddering impression of James Bond.
"Yeah…I can see that, little brother," John laughed. "Ok…a couple of miles inland to your west you'll find somewhere a little less windy.
"Affirmative on that, John and thanks. I'll try and find out something more about the driver from the Bridge Authority, then contact Dad….and then I'm outta here till Virg arrives. Thunderbird One out," Alan acknowledged.
"Ok Al…standing by…and good luck. Thunderbird Five out," John finished, ending the transmission.
After having contacted the Bridge Authority and not getting any more information about the driver Alan keyed in his code to contact Base. "Base from Thunderbird One."
In the lounge the eyes of the youngest Tracy on the row of portraits just lit up as Jeff and Brains poured over marine charts, brought up on the central computer display monitor, indicating the dangerous currents of the Akashi Strait around the Bridge. "…and…eh…this..is…the…eh…d-d-deepest…part..of...the…c-c-channel…M-Mr…T-T-Tracy. Right…under…the…eh...central…s-span," Brains pointed out.
Their attention was now caught by the soft beeping which accompanied the flashing eyes, letting them know there was a call coming through. "Base to Thunderbird One…go ahead Alan. How's it looking out there, Son?" Jeff acknowledged in a more familiar way once the protocol was seen too. Both he and Brains could guess, though, at the difficult conditions Alan was experiencing, as from the shaky live feed they were watching they could literally see Alan shudder and bounce in the pilot's seat.
"I think Grandma would call it…a mite windy, Dad!" Alan replied with a light-hearted grin, causing his father to chuckle heartily and being the first time he had been able to smile all day.
"All right…what have you got for us, Alan? Has there been any more news on the driver?" Jeff asked, returning to a more serious mode.
"Negative on that…they haven't been able to raise him so we still don't know what condition he's in," Alan reported. "Dad, there's nothing more I can do here until Virg arrives….and he's not due for another 20 minutes. I'm going to fly inland a few miles….find somewhere outta this wind or this Bird's gonna be shaken to pieces. I'll be back when Virg gets here," he added, explaining why he was to about to break from the normal protocol. Although it wasn't procedure to leave the scene of a rescue after having arrived until it was completed and especially before it had even begun, Alan felt he was in the best possible position to make that judgement call.
"All right Son, if you feel that's necessary," Jeff replied, trusting his son's assessing of the situation. "Oh and…eh….Alan. When you get back….make sure you stay clear of those towers….keep above them if you have to….and the cables too," his father added as he remembered Scott's anxious advice; well…it would do no harm to remind him.
"Say Dad…you're beginning to sound like Scott. That's like something he would say," Alan commented with a wry grin.
Jeff coughed and shifted uncomfortably. Apart from the fact Alan recognised the advice as coming from his eldest brother and not him he didn't want to worry Alan with his brother's condition but needed him to fully concentrate on the task in hand. "Yes….well….you just keep that in mind….and report back when the rescue is under way. Base to Thunderbird One…out." He found himself wishing that Scott were at the controls and not his youngest son, not that Alan wasn't a good pilot; it's just that Scott flew by gut instinct and would not have needed such advice.
"Yes Dad….and don't worry….I know what I'm doing. Thunderbird One…out," Alan responded. On cutting the communication, though, Alan couldn't help but feel a little irked. "Stay away from the towers Alan….stay above the towers Alan….mind those cables Alan…..," he mumbled to himself. "Gee…you'd think I was a novice."
Alan cut the stabilizing underbelly thruster, powered her up and pushing the controls forward, the right one a little more, banked One round to face westward. Still muttering to himself he engaged full power and shot off inland.
After having told Virgil what he was doing and some 20 minutes later, Alan was heading back to the Bridge. "Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Two…come in Virgil."
"Thunderbird Two to Thunderbird One….receiving you. Hey Al…is that you bouncing around there or do I need my monitor fixed," Virgil quipped. Even though he was getting a jumpy live picture he could still see his brother shaking in his seat.
"Yep…it's me all right. How…are you at….bronco bull ridin!" Alan returned with a forced grin as he continued to wrestle with the controls. The wind velocity was now steadily increasing making the slim craft harder to control and demanding every ounce of concentration.
"That bad, huh," Virgil winced and automatically gripped his steering control, preparing himself to encounter the more turbulent winds. The fact that his brother just laughed didn't exactly inspire confidence.
"You'll soon find out….what's your E.T.A. Virg?" Alan inquired.
"Another 5 minutes yet…these winds have been against us. So…what's the state of play when we get there, Al?" Virgil asked. Both he and Gordon now listened intently, knowing that when they turned into the Strait it would, not only, be harder to hear the instructions but Virgil's concentration would be taken up with just trying to keep the great transporter stable.
"Ok….well I hate to tell you guys but this baby is set to reach Level 11. John figures in…less than 2 hours now. Virg…when you get here you're gonna have to bring her in low…and you're gonna have to put Gordon down in the shallow part of the channel, where the currents are less severe….that'll be the Awaji Island side. You can't risk dropping the Pod from the usual height or she's liable to break apart. You're gonna have to practically set her down…..just like a big momma hen laying her egg!" Alan informed him.
Virgil cocked a wary eyebrow. It was a delicate enough procedure to drop the Pod under normal conditions, as he was always more than aware he had precious cargo aboard and he was not referring to Thunderbird Four so much at to the life of his brother, but to set her down in conditions like these with what he guessed would be a heavy swell, was not so much delicate, as downright dangerous.
"You're not asking much, are you!" Virgil commented, though not particularly to his brother, knowing the weather conditions were hardly his fault. "What's the swell like, Alan?" he asked so that he could mentally prepare himself for the manoeuvre.
"It's getting…up a bit Virg…my best guess is it's running at about 6 meters….but hey…for a great pilot like you…that won't be a problem…right," Alan grinned cheekily as he endured more bone jarring shudders. Virgil shook his head with a resigned laugh at his flattery. "Ok Gordy, listen up…this is for you," he continued, turning serious again.
"Shoot…I'm listenin," Gordon answered from the safety of his seat.
"Once you're on board 4 John's gonna patch you through the marine charts of the Strait….they'll show you the flow and strength of those currents. And…eh…hate to have to tell you but there's seismic activity forecast for down there too. John says a couple of hours," Alan informed him, though he wished he could have given him better news. Gordon groaned audibly. "So I don't want you messing around down there…you get in and outta there as quick as you can…do you hear me," he added rather tersely.
For a brief few moments Virgil and Gordon looked at each other with more than a little surprise before Gordon broke into a grin and both boys nodded to each other. "Say Virg, did you just get the strangest feelin. I thought we left him behind tucked up in bed," Gordon laughed, saying it loud enough to be heard over the comm.
"Yeah…me too. I could've sworn I just heard him," Virgil responded as he joined in the banter.
"And what do you mean by that?" an irate voice came over the comm.
"You're just startin to sound awful like an older brother we all know and love," Gordon said light heartedly.
"Well I'm not…Scott. I'm Alan….and I'm in charge of this mission….you got that!" he snapped, leaving his two brothers wide-eyed and stunned.
"Yeah…I think we got it…loud and clear," Gordon returned with a decidedly frosty tone in his voice as he gave his brother's voice a smart salute.
"Alan….I'm gonna take a few minutes to bank inland here…I wanna give Gordon time to get down to Four and get himself strapped in before I take us into the Strait," Virgil explained and hoping that by getting back to business it would take Alan's mind of whatever was annoying him.
"Yeah Ok Virg….just get here when you can," Alan acknowledged, having calmed down. "Thunderbird One…out."
"Sure thing Al…Thunderbird Two….out," Virgil said, signing off.
"Gee…what's got into him? Who rattled his cage?" Gordon remarked to Virgil, still feeling a little surprised at his younger brother's outburst.
"You mean more like what! His cage is gettin rattled pretty hard at the minute," Virgil replied with a note of sympathy. "And…maybe the pressure's gettin to him or maybe Dad's said something,"he suggested helpfully.
"Yeah….suppose," Gordon mused and both boys shrugged their shoulders.
"Well…guess you'd better be gettin down to Four Gordon and get strapped in. I'll bank her round slow to give you time. Just let me know when you're ready and I'll take us in….and I'll try to set down as close as I can. But you know I can't take her down all the way Gordy….the Green Lady here isn't fond of water….if I get hit by a swell……," Virgil explained but promising to do the best he could.
"Yeah…I know Virg," Gordon acknowledged, knowing his brother would do his best but expecting a bumpy ride just the same. Gordon unbuckled his seat harness and made his way to the rear of the cabin, to the door leading to the elevator that would take him down to the Pod where TB4 was waiting. "Say…I wouldn't mind being tucked up in bed right now….especially if I had a girl like Jen to look after me," he sighed wistfully with a half laugh, wishing he were anywhere but here and totally unaware of his brother's condition.
"Yeah…me too Gordy….me..too," Virgil agreed with an equally wistful sigh. He turned slightly in his seat, looking back over his shoulder to the rear of the cabin. "Anyway…you be careful down there…you hear…..and do like Al says…..don't be too long," he added, imparting a few last minute words of advice. "And anything goes wrong….you just get yourself outta there….even if you don't have that driver….promise."
Gordon turned in the doorway. "Yep…sure Virg…no worries," he responded confidently. Both men now gave each other a smile and a silent nod of mutual respect in appreciation of the dangerous task they were both about to undertake. And with that he was gone.
It was an equally dangerous and sometimes painful time for Gordon as he would brace himself for the drop from the main body of the great ship; painful because of the jarring on his weakened back when the Pod hit the water. In conditions like these the very great danger would be if the swell and the wind rolled the Pod over on its side.
Virgil turned his attention forward once again and began to bank slowly inland, trying to keep her as steady as possible. Now why did he get the feeling that Gordon had no intention of taking his or, indeed Alan's, advice in making sure he got out of there at the first sign of trouble, before that seismic shock hit. It was because he knew his brother only too well and knew he would not come up without that driver, if it was at all in his power, even if it meant risking his life, for that's what they did. That's who they were. Honourable men who would put their life on the line to save those they didn't know.
Back on board Thunderbird One an irked young pilot mumbled to himself, his aching muscles not exactly helping his mood. "Very funny guys….very funny….I don't think. First Dad wishes I was Scott….he wouldn't have to be reminded about those towers…..then those two jokers…..they tell me I am Scott….cus I tell Gordy to be careful down there. Where did Alan go in all this! Well Alan's right here. And Alan's…..heck…who am I kiddin…..I wish you were here Scott…..I like to fly this baby, sure….but bro….you can have the agro any day."
Down in the Pod Gordon teetered and swayed his way across the open floor to TB4, putting his hands out to steady himself with each lurch and shudder. He laughed inwardly at the thought he must look like he'd had just a little too much to drink. Finally, after congratulating himself he had made it without falling, he climbed inside the little craft and went immediately to the locker and began changing into his wetsuit. It always paid to be prepared, as he never knew if he would actually have to get out there and get wet, though he hoped in this case he wouldn't have to leave the safety of his ship, not in these conditions. He was a strong swimmer but even at that he felt he would be no match for the treacherous currents and after having scanned the now downloaded marine charts he was convinced, still, he would have to wait and see what it was like down there.
Back up in the cockpit Virgil now had the Strait in sight after bringing the mighty transporter round in a wide arc. "Thunderbird Four to Thunderbird Two….you still up there Virg?" Gordon's voice came over the comm., causing Virgil to smile.
"Thunderbird Two to Four….receiving you loud and clear. Yeah…course I'm still here Gordy ….where'd you think I'd be?" Virgil responded lightly.
"Dunno…thought you might've set us down and you were off getting a rub down from one of those pretty Japanese girls without tellin me…..I hear they give a pretty mean massage…know what I mean!" Gordon quipped cheekily.
Virgil laughed. He could just imagine his brother's cheeky grin and the twinkle in his eye but with his increasingly stiffening and sore muscles it did sound like an appealing idea. "That's not a half bad idea, Gordy….maybe when this is all over….," Virgil replied.
"Say, I've got a better idea," Gordon said with a definite hint of mischief. "Think Scott'll let us borrow Jen for a while….bet she's got great hands for a rub-down!"
"Gee Gordy….I don't know," Virgil replied with mock seriousness, sucking in a breath for effect. " I reckon you're playing with fire there, buddy. Tell you what, though…..I'll come visit you in hospital….after he's ripped your head off…..what kinda grapes do ya like by the way?" he added, still laughing at his brother's cheeky suggestion.
"Yeah…the guys seriously in love, isn't he," Gordon mused. "Don't think I've ever seen him this bad before…not even with what'sherface. Think Jen's the one!"
"Could well be, Gordy," Virgil answered, his face softening into a quiet, knowing smile.
"Hey Virg….don't envy ya one bit. When he's well enough and outta there….and they get together….you ain't gonna get much sleep," Gordon snorted out a laugh. "If I'd had to hold back on makin out with my girl as long as Scott has….well…hey…I'd be makin up for lost time….know what I mean!" he added, it being his turn now to be mockingly serious. "Still….don't worry Virg…..that couch in the lounge is pretty comfy…..or you can even doss down in the Green Lady here," he continued, finding it so funny he could barely contain himself.
Virgil groaned and rolled his eyes. The same thought had crossed his mind. Virgil's room was next door to Scott's, and much as he loved his eldest brother and had become very fond of Jenna, he was not looking forward to the idea of hearing or being kept awake by his brother's forthcoming active love life and he certainly didn't want to be reminded of it by his prankster brother.
Scraping his fingers over the console and intermittingly cutting communications he pretended there was interference. "So.ry Go.d.n c.n't mak. you .ut. Mu.t be stat.c."
"Yeah right Virg," Gordon grinned to himself.
As Virgil brought Thunderbird Two closer to the inland sea of the Akashi Strait he began to feel the force of the turbulent winds. Gripping the steering wheel tighter he fought to keep the great machine stable as she bucked and heaved and once he cleared landfall the shaking and shuddering became more violent. "Gee…Al wasn't kidding. It is like ridin a buckin bronco," Virgil thought to himself.
Heading up the channel they made slow and steady progress until at last the vast structure of the bridge came looming into view, a structure that never failed to take Virgil's breath away. Being an engineer he appreciated the awesome feat of engineering that it was and still was by today's standards, the central span being stretched out at an almost impossible length. The closer they got the smaller and more insignificant he began to feel with Thunderbird Two being dwarfed in the presence of this monument to man's building achievement. If he felt dwarfed he could only imagine what Alan in his sister ship must feel like, Thunderbird One being so much smaller and slimmer than Two. Searching the skies ahead he couldn't even see his brother, with him being pointed into the wind it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"Thunderbird Two to Thunderbird One….are you receiving me? Say Al…..where are you? We've just arrived….can you see us?" Virgil inquired as he continued to strain his eyes, though trying to pick out a small silver/grey rocket against a greying sky while being bounced and buffeted was nigh on impossible.
Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Two…I read you loud and clear. Yeah, Virg…I see you. I've got you on my rear view visual. I'm standing just off the Awaji side tower. Come on up…join the party. Don't know about you Virg but I'm gonna have muscles on me like Mr Universe," Alan joked after giving him his position. Although he was pointing into the wind and facing the bridge he could see Virgil coming up the Strait behind him by observing the monitor which was feeding him the picture from the rear mounted camera, giving him a wide-angled view of the channel.
"Yeah I see you Al….know what you mean," Virgil responded, at last catching sight of his sister ship as he drew nearer. He grimaced, shifting position in his seat as he flexed his back and shoulders. "And I'm headin for the hot-tub when I get back," he added, sighing at the thought of the relaxing warm water soothing his now aching joints.
"Not if I get there first…Field Commander privileges!" Alan replied good-naturedly, causing Virgil to laugh. "Anyway…let's get this…show on the road…….before this weather…turns nasty!" he added with a light sarcasm.
"Gee…you mean it hasn't already," Virgil retorted, returning the banter through clenched teeth as he wrestled with the steering. It was as though his very ship was fighting against him.
"This Virg! Why…this is just a mite windy…as Grandma would say," Alan joked, doing an impression of her and making both men laugh. "Ok Virg….you know what to do and….good luck bro. Thunderbird One standing by," he said, finishing with the usual protocol.
"Yeah…thanks Al…Thunderbird Two…out," Virgil acknowledged. "We're sure gonna need all we can get," he muttered to himself.
"Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Four….acknowledge," Alan instructed.
"Thunderbird Four….I read you," Gordon answered, as he continued to familiarise himself with the currents on his monitor and checking that all his systems were functioning.
"Just wanted to wish you luck bro and…..sorry about earlier…..guess I let it all get to me a bit," Alan apologised, wanting to clear the air before getting down to serious business.
"That's all right Al….no sweat. I know it's rough out there. Heck….I can feel it in here and I'm tucked up nice and cosy," Gordon replied understandingly.
"Thanks. Seriously though Gordy….you be careful down there….and that's an order!" Alan added with a half laugh "Thunderbird One….out."
"Sure thing Al. Four out," Gordon signed off.
Virgil opened up communications between himself and Thunderbird Four. "Gordy…we're here but this swell's more than I thought so I'm gonna have to turn us. We're facing the bridge at the moment but the swell's comin right at us….if I put you down facin it…when you open the Pod door you're likely to get swamped," he explained, trying to give Gordon a visual picture of what he was seeing outside as Gordon's only view was of the inside of the Pod. "You'd better brace yourself…we're gonna turn side-on to the wind….then I'll go as low as I can."
Gordon gripped the sides of his seat, bracing himself as he felt the great ship around him begin to turn. He knew they were sideways on to the wind when looking out into the Pod everything shook violently and stacked equipment started falling. The noise all around was deafening, with things falling, the winds battering the ship and the sound of Two's engines straining as Virgil boosted the power in order to hold her steady.
As Virgil took her round the strain on his arms and shoulders was becoming almost unbearable; gritting his teeth he fought to pull the wheel in the direction he wanted her to go, powering her engines to prove Two was stronger than any wind. At last they had their back to the bridge, though now with a tail wind he had to engage his reverse thrusters in order to keep the same position or risk being blown farther and farther from the bridge.
"All right, Gordy…we're round. Gee….Al was right…this swell's runnin at about 6 meters," Virgil informed him and, after doing a quick calculation. "The best I can do is take her down to 25 meters, buddy….and even at that…just hope we don't get hit by a freak wave." He had worked out his calculation to include, as well as the height of the waves at 6mts (just under 20ft), the clearance he needed for the Pod, and with the mighty aircraft standing at just over 18mts (60ft) he knew he needed at least 25mts (82ft) to effect a safe drop.
"Yeah….I gotcha Virg," Gordon acknowledged with as much bravado as he could muster, knowing he wasn't in for an easy ride.
"Gordy…you well strapped in down there?" Virgil asked, for he wasn't prepared to drop the Pod until his brother gave him the say so.
Gordon gave his lower back a final pat and nodded to himself, glad now that he had decided to don the brace, under his wetsuit, that would give his back that valuable support. "Yep Virg….we're good to go here," he affirmed as cheerfully as he could.
"And we're good to go here….so….on my mark," Virgil called out, ready to give him the countdown. "Three….two….."
"One," Gordon counted out audibly with his eyes squeezed tight shut. Then! "Yeeeee…haaaaaa." As the magnetic clamps holding the Pod to the main body of the ship suddenly shot back into their housing he experienced that adrenalin pumping rush of stomach lurching freefall where it feels as though you have left your insides behind, as the Pod dropped away to the angry waves below. It hit the water with a resounding crash and immediately the surging swell took the Pod into a violent rocking motion.
On the Pod having cleared Thunderbird Two, Virgil backed off, boosting his power to lift him clear enough to get a good view. What he saw now alarmed him greatly. The green Pod, though equipped with flotation devices, was at the mercy of the turbulent waves and being tossed about like nothing more than a lightweight toy. At times it seemed as though it was in slow motion as the swell took it alarmingly to more than a 45 degree angle. Rocking back to the same degree on the other side it was now in perpetual motion with no means of being stabilised and the great danger now was that a few more degrees would take her right over. And who knew what effect that would have on Thunderbird Four inside, though more importantly on her human occupant.
Although TB4 was anchored to her slipway until such times as she would be launched, it had never been put to the test before just how secure that was should the whole Pod be tipped on its side. More than likely her own weight would tear her free and send her crashing down on the side of her Pod with who knew what results to either pilot or machine, or indeed, for that matter, to the Pod itself.
"Gordon! Gordon! Talk to me. Are you all right?" Virgil called out over the intercom, trying not to sound frantic.
It took Gordon a few moments to adjust to having landed. "Yeah, I'm Ok Virg," he called out. "I think," he said to himself. He could tell he was rocking violently, apart from feeling the motion, when he looked out into the Pod and saw one side rise up until he was practically looking up instead of across. If he thought it was bad before in the wind he just realised how much worse it was down here in the water. More equipment that had been stacked on racks at the side of the Pod came crashing down with each pitch and roll and something heavy and metallic had just hit the hull, sending a clanging noise ringing through the small craft, making him cover his ears. "Gee great….there's another paint job," he remarked sarcastically.
Thunderbird One to Four…..come in Gordy," Alan called out worriedly as he, too, had been observing the behaviour of the Pod.
"Four here….yeah I'm all right Al……just remind me to start keeping a stock of barf bags when we get back, will ya…..this keeps up I'm gonna need one," Gordon joked, trying to retain his sense of humor. Gordon was well used to the motion of the sea, after all, it was his playground but there was only so much even he could take.
Alan let out a laugh of relief. "Gordon….are you going…to be able…to launch?" he asked, suddenly becoming aware of the potential problem as he watched the pitching and rolling of the Pod.
"That's a negative on that Al. Unless we can stabilize this baby there's no way I'm gonna be able to get Four outta here," Gordon informed him. "….you guys got any ideas!"
A heavy frown creased Alan's young face. This was what it meant to be in charge, having to come up with a viable solution and pretty quick. "Come on, Al…think. What would Scott do? He would be inventive….use his initiative….whatever was at hand….even if it was…..," Alan muttered to himself. A slow grin then crossed his face as he looked about him.
"Ok Gordy….I got it. Now this is what I'm gonna do," Alan informed him.
