The Tracy Family and Thunderbirds are the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Author's Note: All facts relating to the past history of the country mentioned at the end of this chapter are true to the best of my knowledge and research. Facts regarding present day, as in 2063/65 however, are fictional for the purposes of this story.
Chapter 65
"It's not really…that….bad," Virgil commented, though without much conviction in what he was saying.
"Not that bad, huh!" Scott repeated, his face becoming more of a dark thundercloud. "He practically rips her open on that damn tower…and you tell me it's not that bad," he continued, fuming.
Well….put it this way Scott…..she can still fly!" Gordon said enthusiastically. "You….just wouldn't wanna take her….to a….fancy do," he added with a simpering grin to which Virgil rolled his eyes heavenward. Scott shot him an icy look.
"And that makes it all right, does it? The fact she can still fly. And this, after he was given that advice...
that warning to stay well clear of the tower. He was given that advice….wasn't he!" Scott went on, looking at his two brothers intensely as he asked the question and hoping that his father had taken his concern seriously enough to pass it on. Gordon and Virgil looked helplessly to each other, resigned to the fact they couldn't even offer that as an excuse and as though needing each other's approval before speaking; a fact which irritated Scott even more. "Well…did he or did he not get that advice…..it's a simple enough question," he demanded.
"Yeah….he got that advice," Virgil answered reluctantly.
"So….the kid did good, huh," Scott responded, his voice full of heavy sarcasm as he looked at both of his brothers. "Just what the hell was he doing so close, then," he added angrily.
"He wasn't that close….to start with," Virgil replied, trying to make a defence for his youngest brother. "Guess he….just kinda drifted," he added with reluctance, knowing that it would not please Scott in the least.
Straddling the work bench Scott shook his lowered head and let out a laugh as he listened; not the laugh of finding something funny but that of being incredulous of what he was hearing. "He just….kinda drifted, huh," he repeated slowly, as though taking it in.
Virgil, sensing his brother was building to even more of a furious outburst, interjected before he could speak, hoping he might be willing to leave things alone. "Look Scott….I'm sure Dad's already given him a dressing down…..he asked him to wait behind after our debrief," he told him.
"Well he sure hasn't heard from me yet," Scott continued to fume. He let out a deep sigh. "Damn it Virg…..he could have been killed…you know that," he added, frowning in annoyance, though an annoyance that was borne of worry and concern.
Virgil and, indeed Gordon, knew their eldest brother's anger only stemmed from his deep concern about their youngest brother's safety; that and, perhaps, a huge measure of guilt that he wasn't flying on this particular rescue himself due to his injury. "Yeah….I know buddy," Virgil replied quietly, only all to aware of how dangerous the situation had been.
But Hurricane Scott hadn't quite finished yet; there having been just a lull in the storm. "Then just what the hell did he think he was playing at!" he let fly, his face now a very dark thundercloud of rage.
Jenna had never seen Scott so angry and looked worriedly to Virgil who gave her a weak smile and slight shake of his head, as if saying 'Don't worry….this is quite normal…..for Scott'. She knew, too, of course, that this anger was only borne of his worry for his young brother; having witnessed the state he had got himself into the previous day. She was also beginning to realise just how dangerous it was for these guys to do what they do in order to protect and save lives, a fact that many people would not appreciate but now she was in this unique position to do so. It wasn't just a matter of jumping into a high speed, fancy rocket ship or any of the other craft in the International Rescue fleet and taking off into the wide blue yonder, there were so many other factions to have to take into consideration to effect a safe and successful rescue as well as their own safety and she could see in Scott now, despite his enforced confinement, a deep down sense of responsibility for his brothers.
It was at that precise moment, when Scott was venting his fury with his last remark that Alan chose to put his head round the door. Having approached the gym he was sure he heard raised, though muffled voices but since he wasn't yet aware that he was the subject, proceeded. He was wise enough, however, on opening the door to be cautious and tentatively poke his head in when he recognised his eldest brother's voice only to gulp nervously when he heard Scott's furious last remark.
"Oh oh….time I wasn't here," he told himself. Just at that, too, he caught Gordon, who had an unobstructed view of the door from where he stood, brushing his rigid straight fingers from side to side quickly across his throat in the silent signal for danger that divers would use.
As luck would have it, for Alan's sake anyway, Scott was facing Virgil; having swung himself off the bench onto his feet and with his back to the door didn't see his young brother dart back out. Unfortunately, though, for Gordon, and ultimately Alan, Scott caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the young man who had dropped his hands behind his back and who was now grinning at him in a sickly sweet fashion, trying for all the world not to look guilty. If Gordon thought he had just helped his youngest brother escape the fury of their eldest brother's wrath he had another think coming.
Guessing that Alan may well want to avoid him Scott turned to look at the door, then rounded on Gordon. "Was that Alan? That was Alan….wasn't it?" he asked then answered his own question when all he got from Gordon was that same simpering grin.
He took a few steps towards the door. "ALAN TRACY! YOU BETTER GET YOUR BUTT BACK IN HERE…..AND FAST….IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU," Scott shouted in a commanding tone, making everyone wince.
Would Alan be foolish enough to obey such a directive! Or perhaps a better way of looking at it would be, would Alan be foolish enough not to obey such a direct and obvious order. This was the tantalising, unspoken question that hung on everyone's lips as all eyes were now transfixed on the door in this intense and compelling mini-drama. The seconds seemed to tick by like hours with Alan not having made an appearance then, slowly, a blonde head peered round the side of the frame.
"Did someone call!" Alan asked with a nervous laugh, knowing full well his presence had been summoned.
Scott fixed a serious gaze on his youngest brother, his face poker taut and tense; so much so, his facial muscles began to twitch. "You better damn well get your butt in here…NOW……cus you've got some explainin to do," Scott helpfully suggested, trying to keep his temper under control.
Knowing there was no other way out of this now but to face his brother's wrath Alan nervously entered the gym, though making sure he kept his distance from his obviously annoyed brother. Being full of concern for both Scott and Alan Jenna came to Scott's side, putting her hand on his arm. "Scott," she called gently.
He turned at the sound of his name and the touch of her hand on his arm but for her there was no frowning scowl or face tense with anger, only a tender look of love as his face softened. He knew what was on her mind, what she was concerned about and he smiled in reassurance. "It's Ok Jen….I'm fine...in fact, I feel pretty good," he assured her. "And don't worry about Alan…..he and I just need to have a little talk….he just needs straightened out on a few things….and I aim to straighten him out," Scott further assured her, keeping his voice low when he followed her gaze in Alan's direction. "And he needs to be reminded of the dangers involved, Jen," he added seriously.
"I know," she smiled with quiet understanding. She withdrew back to where Virgil and Gordon were now sitting astride adjoining exercise bikes, peddling ever so slowly and trying to remain unobtrusive to the ensuing proceedings. "He….eh…..says they're…eh…just going to have a little talk," Jenna informed them to which both boys just nodded, all embarrassment from the previous evening having now dissipated amid this more serious situation as they awaited the outcome together.
Scott took a few determined steps towards Alan. Alan automatically took a few steps back. "So Al….I hear you pulled off a pretty fancy stunt with One's thrusters," Scott commented in an alarmingly deceptive show of praise which took the young man completely off guard. "A stunt I would have been proud to pull off myself.
"Well…eh….yeah….eh…thanks Scott……gee…it was hard to keep her steady in all that wind," Alan responded, hoping this wasn't going to turn out too bad after all.
"Yeah…I bet it was Al…..sure gotta watch out for those tricky conditions…..never know when they're gonna change," Scott continued to say nicely, far too nicely in fact. "And that was another pretty fancy stunt you tried to pull off," he added, his tone now changing in manner.
"O..o..ther stunt!" Alan repeated dumbly, yet knowing they were just getting to the place where his brother wanted to be with this little talk. He took another few steps backwards, though instead of being near the door where he thought he was he found himself backed up against the wall.
Scott advanced. "Yeah Al….you know….the one where you tried to wrap One round the tower….the one where you weren't concentrating on the conditions….the one where you just….drifted…..the one where you didn't heed the advice you were given…..that little stunt," Scott replied, the sarcasm and intensity rising in his voice all the time as he advanced closer.
"L..l..ook…I can explain, Scott," Alan babbled out nervously, all the time trying to keep it in his mind that his brother was only annoyed because he cared and remembering that their father had told him Scott needed to be sedated, though he might have been wiser, at this point, not to have said anything at all than to hit his increasingly irate brother with his next comment. "Well anyway….she still flies," he tried to add helpfully.
By now Scott was right up on his brash young brother, so much so, that Alan could see every muscle tense in his eldest brother's face. "I just wouldn't wanna take her to a fancy do, huh," Scott retorted icily, using Gordon's previous quip.
Alan frowned in puzzled bewilderment, though it seemed an apt way of putting things. "No I…..eh ….guess not," he responded in agreement.
Scott lowered his head briefly and took a deep breath. "AL….JUST WHAT THE…HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE PLAYING AT!" Scott fumed, finally letting go the full fury he had been building up to and making Alan flinch in the process. "You were told about those towers…..you knew the conditions……you've flown Thunderbird One…I don't know how many times. My gawd Alan….you're not some dumb ass little rookie pilot who's still wet behind the ears," he thundered, venting his anger. "SO WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!…..….I oughtta……," Scott started to say but just as he made a movement he stopped short when he saw something in his young brother's face he hadn't seen before.
The look he saw was that of cold, naked fear, tiny beads of sweat having broken out on his forehead; it was only brief but it was there, he could sense it in him as well as see it in his eyes. Scott automatically took a step back, wincing as he did so, feeling as though he had just been kicked hard in the gut and feeling like he had just been kicked again when Alan breathed a sigh of relief at his withdrawal. His brother was afraid of him, really afraid. His little brother who he had helped raise, his little brother who he had stood up for when he got picked on, his brother who he had patiently sat with and helped with his homework, played sports with and countless other things too many to mention and he was afraid of him. Like all brothers that ever were and ever would be they had had their differences, fights even; being in such close proximity to one another for such a long time it was only natural they wouldn't always see eye to eye but never were any of his brothers actually afraid of him. Even at times like this, when it was necessary for him to pull the big brother routine, the fear factor was never anything more than nominal, a younger brother's healthy respect. This was different and it hurt him to the core.
"Al!….what's wrong," Scott asked, wincing with the hurt he felt. "You acted like you were really afraid of me," he added and wondering what could have made his brother act the way he did. In all the dressing downs Scott had ever given him Alan remained one of two things, either so casual and laid back that Scott wondered at times was he even getting through and irritating the heck out of him or so childishly petulant that he had an answer for everything and feeling he was hard done by but never, ever had Alan been physically afraid of his eldest brother. Did Alan really think he could ever hurt him in any way!
Alan wished he could have kept his feelings more under control, his body only reacting the way it did to what it perceived to be an imminent threat, fuelled by the unanswered question that had been in his mind from last night. Ever since he came into the gym he had been looking at his eldest brother and wondering, so when he had caught Scott's sudden and apparent move towards him his body had reacted instinctively. Perhaps if he had an answer to his question he could put his mind at ease, though such was Alan's innate curiosity to know things it usually transcended everyone else's feelings.
"What! Me! No…of course not," Alan assured him. Scott eyed him warily, though just when he was about to resume their unfinished business Alan could contain himself no longer. "Scott…..did you…..did you…..kill somebody?" he asked outright.
If Scott felt like he'd been kicked in the gut before, this felt like a hammer blow to his chest. For an instant time stood still and it felt like an eternity for him to gather his thoughts. His mind was in a daze and like the floodgates of a mighty dam bursting open the memory of a deeply buried and deeply painful time in Scott Tracy's not too distant past came flooding back to haunt him. With the asking of a curious question, events that were best forgotten began to play themselves again in his mind like a never-ending scene. Scott's face darkened, though his eyes were heavy with the crushing pain he felt.
"Where did you hear that? Who told you that, Al?" Scott demanded, the sudden vehemence in his voice making Alan so flustered he couldn't get his words out. "Tell me Alan…..where did you hear that?" he demanded again, having never thought anyone would want to make him relive that over again.
"N…nobody told me Scott…honest….it…it was at the debriefing last night….but…it…it was more what Dad didn't say….I…I just wondered if it was true," Alan stammered out an explanation.
"Dad!" Scott exclaimed in surprise. "What brought this on? And how the hell did your debriefing about you tryin to rip One open turn into my killing someone?" he continued his fury trying to mask his pain.
"Well…I…was getting in a bit of a strop…..you know me, Scott," Alan confessed with a nervous laugh. "…..and I..I was mouthin off about your medals….well Dad has always been proud of you and…..Ok…so I made a dumb ass comment about 'did you kill someone'," he continued, as his brother listened in stony silence. "A..anyway…Dad told me it was more or less none of my damn business how you came by your medals…..you saved Jerry and that was all we needed to know…..I swear," he finished wondering what furious reaction he would get from his brother now and steeling himself for the tirade to follow.
But to Alan's surprise the tirade never came; instead it seemed as if everything just drained from his brother and heavy with the pain and burden of what was part of his life Scott simply turned and walked out of the gym.
From another part of the gym three faces looked at each other with a mixture of surprise and concern at the events that had just taken place. One minute Scott had been getting nicely warmed up in his little talk with his kid brother, the next he had sombrely walked from the gym as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. They had no idea, of course, of the conversation that had taken place, being unable to hear from where they were, though it had seemed in stark contrast to hearing Scott's raised voice earlier.
Just what was it that could have made Scott Tracy, in the process of just getting warmed up in his 'straightening out' session with his youngest brother, turn and walk away without finishing what he had started. Scott Tracy was no quitter, of that Virgil, Gordon and now Jenna were quite sure, having proved time and time again by pulling himself back to full fitness after injury. The only one who could answer their question now became the focus of their attention. They lost no time in getting up to Alan who, in Virgil's estimation, looked a little too guilty and, if he wasn't mistaken, ashamed of himself, for his liking.
Alan simpered a grin as he returned Virgil's suspicious glare and did indeed feel ashamed of himself when he thought of the anguished pain he saw in his brother's eyes just before he turned and left.
"Ok Al…spill it…..what just went down there?" Virgil demanded to know, to which Alan helplessly shrugged his shoulders, making Virgil more than a little exasperated.
"Yeah…come on Al….what'd ya say to him…..Scott doesn't just walk in the middle of a roastin….you oughtta know that," Gordon joined in, concerned for his eldest brother's sudden out of character behaviour.
"Alan! Tell us….because I can promise you, that as a nurse, I know 101 ways to hurt you without leaving a mark," Jenna found herself saying with narrowed eyes, so desperate was she to know why Scott seemed so forlorn and dejected. Alan gulped while Virgil and Gordon did a double-take, breaking into a grin at how determined she was to know what had hurt the man she loved and reminding themselves on the quiet not to ever make her angry.
"Alan! Just tell us what the hell did you said to Scott to make him walk out," Virgil demanded again and getting so near to the end of his patience that he felt like throttling him.
Feeling now like there were hundreds of accusing eyes boring into him Alan at last spoke up. "Ok…Ok. Look…all I asked him was, did he kill somebody," Alan said casually, as though it were the usual kind of thing you ask your eldest brother. "But…he didn't answer….he just had this awful look in his eyes and walked out," he added, at least having the good grace to sound contrite.
"Alan!" Jenna exclaimed, incredulous of what she was hearing.
"Yeah…like Al….are you crazy!" Gordon snorted a laugh. "This is Scott we're talkin about…..he couldn't hurt a fly……look….he roars a bit….but he's really just a big pussycat….think of him like one of those sweeties….he's hard, crisp shell on the outside but inside he's all soft and gooey," he added, as if trying to emphasise just how ridiculous that idea sounded. "And you know all about his soft and gooey side….don't ya, Jen," he grinned cheekily to which she shook her head in good natured exasperation, though she had to smile at Gordon's analogy for she could definitely vouch for that.
There was one surprisingly absent voice among the protests, though, his silence sounding out louder than the call-out alarm, the one voice they had expected would have been the first to deny such a claim about his brother. All eyes looked curiously to Virgil. He had lowered his head and was shaking it in quiet exasperation as he listened; now he gave vent to his feelings.
"And what the hell made you ask something like that?" Virgil stormed as he glared at his young brother. So Alan filled them in and told them. "Yeah…sounds about right for you Al. And what……you just wanted to know if your brother was a cold-blooded killer so….you just came out and asked him!" he added with heavy sarcasm, incredulous of their youngest brother's insensitivity and drawing his open palm sharply up the back of Alan's head .
"Ouch………no…..no Virg….it wasn't like that…..I mean….," Alan flustered. "I….just….wanted…to know…..is it true,Virg!" he asked quietly then, as one who just wants to understand.
Again all eyes looked to Virgil. He sighed heavily, knowing this was one subject that was not going to just disappear. "Al…you prat…you absolute prat….why couldn't you just leave things well enough alone," he continued, shaking his head in exasperation, knowing that from Alan's one careless remark and his innate curiosity his eldest brother was off somewhere, bowed down by the weight of emotional pain that he had fought so hard to overcome from things best left where they should have been, buried in the past.
From Virgil's manner and his still not having said anything to the contrary they were beginning to think that it must be true, though Jenna was sure of one thing, that whatever the story behind this, Scott would have done what he had to do, that was without question.
"So it is true then, Virg…….It's to do with his Medal of Honour….isn't it?" Alan asked.
"Yeah….it's to do with his Medal of Honour," Virgil replied quietly and with a great deal of pride in his eldest brother.
"He never talks about it right enough…..and even when he got it……is that why, Virg?" Gordon inquired after having thought back and trying to sort out this new information about his brother.
"Yeah……and don't go thinkin Scott has anythin to feel ashamed about….cus he hasn't," Virgil was quick to point out defensively.
"So how come you know, Virg?" Gordon asked, wondering why it was they hadn't known. "And does John know?"
"Yeah….John knows," Virgil replied quietly and seeing the puzzlement on his brothers faces as to why they were the only ones who didn't he went on. "Look…we weren't even supposed to know. It was after he got home on leave…..that first night…..I heard sounds coming from his room and got up…..when I went into the hall…John was at his door…..he was goin to get a drink from the kitchen and heard him when he was passin…..so we went in," he continued, his face clouding over as his own memories came back.
Go on, Virg…..please," Gordon asked plaintively and along with Alan and Jenna they hung on his every word.
"He was havin nightmares…..tossin…..he was bathed in sweat…..and his eyes…..his eyes were starin…like he was seeing indescribable horror…..anyway…John bent over him….was gonna try and wake him out of it….and next minute….quick as a flash…..Scott clamped his hand over John's mouth….rammed his fist up under John's diaphragm and had him on his back….took the breath right outta him…..I had to wrap my arm round Scott's neck and try and pull him off him….it wasn't easy…..I mean…he was back there. I tell ya…..the guy was a mess. We sat with him all that night…….and it was the same every night……well…we just made sure we didn't get too close too soon…if you get me….it was after the fifth night….we made him tell us what was eatin him up…..and he did," Virgil told them, realising this was all news to them. "Look guys….he needed to talk to somebody…..he couldn't keep that bottled up," he added, begging for their understanding.
Gordon nodded understandingly. "Yeah….I remember when he came home on leave…..he was really distant…..took himself off for hours along the beach….didn't he," he mused, wincing at the thought of his brother's pain. "But we just thought it was cus of his ordeal in that jungle…..it took two days to get him out with Jez….didn't it……and then he was wounded too. Gee….we thought that was bad enough….but what else was there,Virg…..and why didn't he tell us?" he asked as he thought back and wondering just how bad it could be.
Virgil looked at his two young brothers now with the hopes that they would understand. "Tell you that he had to kill to survive! Why do you think? It's not exactly somethin he's proud of…..he was trying to protect you guys like he always has," he explained to which Alan was beginning to feel somewhat ashamed of himself. "And….he didn't want you guys to look at him any differently," he added finally.
"But we wouldn't 've Virg," Alan protested assuredly.
Virgil gave a half laugh. "You sure about that Al!…….Alan….you were nineteen!" he responded, knowing his brother's sometimes immature behaviour even now. He then looked to Gordon for his response.
"Yeah….I can understand, Virg……gee….poor Scott," Gordon assured him and thinking now about his eldest brother, knowing he had been reminded all over again.
It was with almost sudden realisation that Virgil remembered Jenna, that she had been listening to all of this and wondering, now as he turned to her, what she must be thinking. "Don't think too badly of him Jen….please…..he's really gonna need you after this," he gently pleaded before turning to Alan and fixing him with an icy glare for being the instigator of this little revelation.
"Oh Virgil….I could never think badly of him….I love him….and I'm sure that Scott had to do what he had to do," she assured him. Even though her nursing ethic was ingrained in her heart, to preserve life and not to take it, not to do harm to anyone, it never entered her head for one minute to stand in condemnation of the man she loved with all her heart and soul. As she listened though, she couldn't help the one question that rattled around in her head. Would she take a life to save this man she now loved with such totality, if there was no other way! And her answer. Who knows what one would be capable of in such extreme circumstances but if she was being totally honest with herself and knowing the strength of her love for Scott she would do anything she had to if it was up to her. She hoped, of course, that would never have to be put to the test, that this was just one of those hypothetical questions you ask yourself from time to time.
"What happened then, Virg…..will you tell us…..please," Gordon asked and once again all eyes looked to Virgil.
He sighed heavily, knowing there was no other way now than to tell them and rather than have them think all sorts of things. "Well….it was that last overseas tour of duty they were on…..," he began, his mind drifting back to what he knew.
"When they went to Nam!" Gordon offered as they now walked over to the workout benches and sat down, ready to listen to what Virgil was about to tell them.
"Yeah….Nam," he replied heavily, with all the enthusiasm of one who would rather not be reminded that the place existed.
Nam, or to give it its proper name today in 2069, The Republic of Vietnam. It had been formerly The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, having been named following the liberation of Southern Vietnam in 1975 after which the country was unified, named in the 1st meeting of the National Assembly in 1976 and coming under Communist rule. Today, though, and for many years the National Assembly was no longer communist in its thinking or outlook. It was a country so steeped in tradition, however, that even today, when the world as a whole was supposed to be living in peaceful harmony, it was still divided, emotionally if not physically. Although a beautiful country for its stunning scenery, especially along the coast, this ancient land had, for a long time, always been a bugbear, a thorn in the side of the United States and a particularly painful thorn at that. A century earlier, in the late 1960's, the infamous Vietnam War was fought, a bitter war that deeply divided the great country of the United States of America like no other war; the country that was dedicated to the cause of liberty and peace, freedom for all.
It was a war that saw many innocent young men and women leave their home shores full of idealistic fervour and hope for the future only to see them return, deeply traumatised by horrific experiences that they found hard coming to terms with.
Was it any different now that we were supposed to be in an age of peace and harmony? Sad to say, it wasn't. Yes, while on the surface things may appear to be more harmonious with the worldwide Peace Alliance in force the same old tensions and divisions were always brewing and simmering away underneath, old hatreds being stirred like a boiling, bubbling cauldron. While much of the free world longed to live and was able to live in peace there were always those countries that would not adhere or conform and there where always those whose hunger and greed for power kept their countries and people in poverty to satisfy their own needs. And it was into this setting that the United States once again found themselves in this troubled land, having been requested to establish a presence in the country by The National Assembly, just to keep an eye on things and to try to establish the strengths and potential threat of militant forces in the north. However, it was not the same as before, with the Americans having established bases all over the south and up as far as the DMZ, the Demilitarised Zone, which was a buffer zone between the then Communist North and the more liberal South. This time their presence was strictly limited to Da Nang, situated almost half way up and on the coast, the site of their former Air Base, which was once famed as being the busiest airport in the world and which they had now utilized again, though of course it had been extensively modernised and upgraded. And it was to here that Scott had been posted with his squadron for a three-month tour of duty back in 2063, two years prior to the starting of International Rescue.
"Go on, Virg," Gordon urged him.
"Well….it was in the morning……they were ordered out on a Reconn……," Virgil began as he looked around his attentive audience.
