Hour Four

The following takes place between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on the day Washington, D.C. was destroyed.

03:00:19

To Jeff Tracy, Ned Cook seemed different than he had during his television broadcast. Thinking he knew what the problem was, Jeff said, "Ned, I can't thank you enough for your discretion. In your business, this has gotta be a tough can of worms to keep closed."

Ned smiled as he shook first Jeff's hand, then Kyrano's. The three had met inside a room at a small flea-trap in one of the less desirable areas of Los Angeles, California. It had been determined that neither Jeff Tracy, nor the head of International Rescue, would ever be suspected of hanging 'round a dump like this. That made it safe. For now.

"Well, Mr. Tracy, I recognized you as soon as you walked through the door. And since I knew I was meeting with someone from International Rescue, it wasn't too hard to put the pieces together. But you can count on my silence. I don't want to see you exposed any more than you do. Even though it would do wonders for my career..."

Jeff smiled knowingly. "Ned, if you can help us pull this off, you'll have the biggest story you've ever seen. An exclusive."

His face brightened. "You got that right!" Then his face darkened. "But I'm afraid I've made a grave error."

"How so?"

"I should never have broadcast that information about International Rescue, or about the two hostages."

"You were just doing your job."

"That may be true, but I failed to stop and take into account the consequences of my actions. Just like at the oil fire when Thunderbird 1 had to chase me down and erase the footage I had Joe take. I just wanted to get my story, and to hell with how it affected anyone else."

"I don't think I see the connection."

"Mr. Tracy, because I let it out about Acronym destroying D.C. as a precursor for wanting you to reveal yourselves, because I reported on the hostages...well, it's affected public opinion of you."

Now Jeff understood. "What's done is done, Ned. One way or another that information probably would've leaked out anyway. But given that you did report it, are you sure the members of International Rescuees want to help?"

"Oh, yes!" Ned nodded emphatically as he seated himself on the bed. "I've spoken to our board, and they've put the call out. Nearly half our membership is on their way here as we speak. The board is working on getting in touch with the rest of the families."

"Well, we've got an idea who this Acronym might be. We also think we know what those bombs were made of that destroyed D.C. I've got our scientists working on that angle right now."

"Mr. Tracy..."

They turned to look at Kyrano, whose eyes were closed.

"What is it?"

"Mr. Tracy, it's Tin-Tin. I'm finally picking her up again."

"Is she all right?"

"Who's Tin-Tin?"

"She's the female operative you referred to in your report."

"The one Acronym's holding?"

Jeff nodded, and then turned back to his friend. "Kyrano, is Tin-Tin all right?"

"Yes..." he said slowly, his brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly his eyes popped open and he gave a start. "Sir! It's Gordon! She's with Gordon!"

"Are they okay?" he asked, gut churning.

"Yes, they are okay. They are somewhere very dark. She cannot see Gordon even though he is right next to her."

Jeff let out the breath he'd been holding. "Well, at least we know they're alive. Kyrano, do you think you could find them through this connection with your daughter?"

The Asiatic man nodded, then exclaimed, "Sir! They're underwater!"

"Underwater?"

"Yes, they are in a submarine."

"Where?"

"I do not know. She is not certain of their exact location."

Ned listened, taking everything in, storing it away in his mind. So, the woman named Tin-Tin was this man Kyrano's daughter, and somehow he was able to contact her telepathically. And the other operative being held hostage was named Gordon. Wait...Gordon?

"Did you say Gordon!" Ned asked, jumping to his feet.

"Why, yes. Gordon's the other hostage."

"Isn't...isn't he the one...who saved me and Joe? In Thunderbird 4?"

Jeff smiled softly and nodded. "Yes, that was Gordon."

"He talked us in. We were outta air, we were nearly dead, but he talked us in. He wouldn't let us give up. He risked everything down there in that underground river." Ned walked up to Jeff and laid a hand on his arm. When he spoke, his voice had lost its normal joviality. "I won't let Acronym kill him. Not the man who saved my life. Tell me what you want me to do."

03:13:16

"John! What's going on?"

"I don't know, Grandma, I think something's happened to Alan!"

"We'd better get Jeff on the line."

"On it. John Tracy to Jeff Tracy. Emergency! Please respond!"

"Oh, dear!" Penny exclaimed from her hotel room as Parker brought in a tray of biscuits and tea. As soon as they'd gotten settled, John had patched her into the continuous communication going on between Tracy One, Mobile Control and the island base. "What could have happened?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't sound good. Especially if Scott's left Mobile Control."

"H'anythin' h'else I can do, m'lady?"

"Hold tight, Parker. I daresay Jeff will need us somewhere rather quickly."

"Yes, m'lady," Parker replied.

Penny was concerned for Ruth. As she watched from her vid portrait on the wall, she noticed the elderly woman looked quite tired. "Are you all right, Mrs. Tracy?"

"My dear, I think it's high time you called me Ruth. You know I don't stand on decorum. And yes, I'm fine. Just a bit tired."

Penny laughed lightly. "All right, then, Ruth. Are you certain you're well?"

"Don't you worry about me, Penelope. Jeff didn't get all his stubbornness from his father, you know."

03:15:03

"They shot you down?"

Tin-Tin nodded, even though she knew Gordon couldn't see her. "Yes, it was a small jet. I was so busy listening to what was going on back at Base, I didn't even see it until it was on me."

"Are you hurt?"

"Bumps and bruises, but I think I'll be fine."

"Tin-Tin, do you know what's going on? Who's holding us?"

She told Gordon the story of Washington, D.C. and Acronym, as well as the ultimatum his father had received regarding International Rescue. "Gordon, if...if your father doesn't reveal our identities, Acronym said...well, he said he was going to kill you."

Gordon's hand found Tin-Tin's, which still rested upon his leg, and he squeezed it. "Don't worry. We'll be okay."

"I wish I had your confidence. Oh, Alan and the others must be frantic by now!"

"If I know Alan, he's probably hijacked a plane and is on his way to rescue you as we speak."

"Not if your father has anything to do with it. International Rescue's needed in Washington...or what's left of it."

Gordon suddenly became silent. It was a few moments before he found his voice. "I can't believe they destroyed the entire city. I just can't believe it. All those people...and all because of us. What Father must be thinking..."

"I know. For all the lives we've saved over the years, that many may have just been wiped out in a single, vicious act. What do you think your father will do?"

"Move Heaven and Earth, Tin-Tin. Move Heaven and Earth."

03:29:44

Jeff heard the emergency signal coming through his watch. He raised his wrist to his face and found John's agitated countenance staring back at him. "John? What is it?"

"Are we in the clear?"

Jeff looked up to where Ned was speaking with Kyrano across the room. He turned to face the wall and whispered, "Yes, we are. What's happened?"

"Father, it's Alan."

The elder Tracy froze. "Alan?"

"Yes, Grandma and I don't know what's going on. We heard Alan tell Scott he was going to fire a nitro pellet into a pile of rubble. Then there was an explosion. Both Firefly and Alan's signals have disappeared."

Jeff closed his eyes. First Gordon, then Tin-Tin. And now Alan. "What's Scott say?"

"I can't raise him, Father. He left Mobile Control right after I told him I couldn't pick up Alan's GPS. I've been trying his watch, but I can't get him to answer."

Jeff sighed. "Has Penny arrived in Los Angeles yet?"

"Yes, Father, only just. She and Parker are in their motel room now, they've been trying to help us raise Scott."

"Well, we've just about wrapped it up with Ned. I think we've got a good plan of action here. Patch me through to Penny."

"F.A.B."

"Jeff, this is Penelope."

"Hi, Penny. Wish we were speaking under better circumstances."

"As do I."

"Have you been able to find Scott?"

"No, I'm afraid he's not answering. Parker's on the line with Virgil now, using Firefly's last known coordinates in an attempt to get him over to where the explosion occurred."

"Dammit!" Jeff swore, slamming the back of his fist against the wall. Ned and Kyrano turned to look at him, shocked by his outburst.

"What is it, Sir?" Kyrano asked, approaching him.

"It's Alan. Something may have happened to him, but nobody's been able to get hold of Scott to find out. This is just getting worse and worse by the minute!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tracy," Ned said as he came to stand next to Kyrano.

Leaning against the wall with his arm, Jeff's head hung low for a moment as he tried to think, tried to come up with solutions for a game that was changing faster than the rule book could keep up. "Maybe I should just reveal our identities," he said quietly. "If I did that, Acronym would let Gordon and Tin-Tin go. And no one else would have to get hurt."

Kyrano and the reporter exchanged worried looks. It was finally Ned who gave voice to their thoughts. "Mr. Tracy, I know I'm not a part of International Rescue, and I probably have no right voicing my opinion on the matter, but if I were you, I wouldn't give in. We still have time."

"Time for what?" Jeff asked, standing up straight and looking right into Ned's eyes. "Time for the public to end up hating us? Time for the rest of my family to die while I sit here trying to choose between their lives and International Rescue?"

Ah, Ned thought. So that's it. They're family. They're all family. Gordon must be one of his sons. No wonder he's so broken up about this. Aloud he replied, "How do you know Acronym will really let them go like he says? How can you trust a guy who wipes out a whole city with no warning whatsoever?"

Jeff looked from Ned to Kyrano, whose silent gaze told him he was in agreement with the reporter. He rubbed a weary hand down his face and nodded slowly. "You're right. You're both right. Okay, Ned, let's proceed as discussed. Keep in touch on that frequency I gave you."

"I will, Mr. Tracy. And good luck."

"You, too. And Ned? Thanks."

Ned smiled and nodded as Kyrano opened the door. Jeff lifted his wrist to his face. "I suppose you heard all that, Penny."

"Yes, I did. And let me tell you something, Jefferson Tracy, if I ever hear you speak in that manner again, I shall make your life utterly miserable!"

He chuckled. "The only way you could do that is by not being there for me, Pen." He thought for a moment before continuing. "I should really get over to D.C. and see about Alan."

"No, Jeff!" came Penny's alarmed reply. "You can't!"

"Whaddya mean I can't?" Jeff retorted as he and Kyrano entered their car.

"Listen to me. Scott and Virgil are there and Brains is nearby. You have nearly three hundred International Rescue agents, each one of them personally approved by you, who are also there to assist."

"But I'm his father!"

"Yes, you are. And you're also Jeff Tracy. You know very well you could easily be recognized. Showing such great concern for a member of International Rescue could very well be your undoing as well as the organization's."

Jeff silently contemplated Penny's words.

"That's not all, Jeff. It could also be the end of Gordon and Tin-Tin's lives."

Kyrano looked at his friend with fear upon his face. Jeff closed his eyes. All he wanted to do was steer his jet to the opposite coast where his sons needed him. But Penny's points were all valid. Taking a deep breath, he nodded at her, and she visibly relaxed.

"Well, if I can't personally be there for Alan, I will personally help Gordon and Tin-Tin."

"What have you in mind, Jeff?"

"Penny? Kyrano? Here's what we're going to do..."

03:40:26

"Alan! Oh, god, Alan!" Scott cried as he got a good look at his baby brother.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but please, you must stay back so we can try to save his life."

"Is he breathing?" Scott asked as one of the firemen escorted him out of the circle. He strained to continue watching. "Is he alive?"

No one answered. As the paramedics pumped Alan's chest and breathed into his mouth, Scott couldn't keep one tear from escaping an eye and rolling down his cheek. He couldn't even move to wipe it away as it landed on the mask over his nose and mouth. Suddenly, a familiar sound cut through the din. It took him a bit to realize it was his com watch. Scott's heart left his throat and sank right down to the bottom of his shoes. His family. How was he going to tell his family?

Scott's voice was flat and lifeless as he spoke. "Scott here."

"Scott! There you are!" Virgil's worried face appeared in the watch dial. "Everybody's been frantic trying to raise you! John said something happened to Alan! Is he okay?"

"I-I don't know, Virg. Get here. Please."

The unspoken but clearly implied meaning was I need you. Virgil read it loud and clear and replied, "Two minutes. I'm there in two minutes."

Scott stripped the oxygen mask off and handed it to one of the two firemen who flanked him. He could do nothing but stand there helplessly as the medics tried valiantly to save his little brother's life. From what Scott had seen, most of his hair looked singed, his body burnt. There was barely a scrap of uniform left. His face seemed to be in good condition, but one look at Firefly told Scott that whatever had happened didn't bode well for his baby brother.

"Do we know what caused the explosion?" he finally asked.

"Well, Mr., uh, Mr..."

"Scott. Name's Scott," he said, reaching out and shaking both firemen's hands.

"Right. I'm Aaron and that's Al."

Scott blanched at the man's name. Al is what he'd always called Alan, ever since he was a kid. He recovered enough to nod and reply, "Pleased to meet some of this country's bravest heroes."

"Same here, Scott. You fellas are our heroes, no matter what anyone says. Best we can figure, one of those little bombs that destroyed the city to begin with didn't detonate. Whatever your friend was doing, he must've hit it somehow and set it off."

Scott closed his eyes and shook his head. "The nitro pellet. He was firing a nitro pellet to blast through the last of the debris," he breathed.

"Oh, that'd sure do it," the fireman named Al commented.

Just then, the sound of loud machinery deafened them. Scott turned to see the Mole pull up behind the hook-and-ladder. As Virgil emerged from the metal beast, a sharp cry of joy pierced the air.

"I've got a pulse!"

Scott raced back to the circle surrounding his fallen brother. He knelt next to Alan's head and stroked his blackened hair as his chest rose and fell softly. A shiver ran through him as his hand came away covered with strands of hair.

"Oh, Al," he said softly. "You're gonna be okay now. You're gonna be okay."

"Scott!" Virgil cried, running up and kneeling next to him. He looked down at Alan, whose face had just been covered with an oxygen mask. A huge burst of air escaped his mouth as his chest heaved, only a strangled cry escaping his throat.

Scott felt stronger already, both because Alan was alive and because his closest sibling was now there. He placed a hand on Virgil's shoulder and rose to his feet, bringing his brother up with him. Neither had taken their eyes from Alan's prone form as the medics stabilized him and placed him on a hover stretcher.

"Is he...is he..." Virgil choked out.

"He's breathing. They just got him breathing," Scott replied, fighting the urge to lose control of his emotions.

Virgil nodded slowly as the paramedics rushed Alan to the ambulance. "One of us oughtta go. He shouldn't be alone right now."

Scott was torn. The big brother in him wanted desperately to hop into that ambulance with Alan. But the International Rescue part of him knew he was badly needed there at the Danger Zone. Just then, Brains and three others rushed up behind them.

"Scott! Virgil! I-I heard the news from Base that something's happened to A-Alan! Nobody knows what's going on!"

"Dammit, I have to get in touch with 'em," Scott said. He looked at the ambulance again, where the medics were settling Alan in for what was sure to be a bumpy ride out of the city.

Brains followed his gaze. "I'll go," he offered quietly.

"No, Brains, I need you here to operate the equipment. With Alan gone..."

A woman who looked to be about their age stepped forward from behind Brains. "Hi," she said, holding her hand out to Scott. "Agent One-Thirteen."

Scott nodded slightly and shook her hand.

"If you want someone to stay with him, I'll go. I'm doctor of forensic medicine, I can keep an eye on what's going on at the hospital and maintain contact with you."

Scott, Virgil and Brains exchanged glances. They all nodded in silent agreement.

"Okay, 113," Scott said. "I'd greatly appreciate it." As she began walking away, he ran after her. "Here!" he said, removing the com watch from his wrist. "Use this to stay in touch. It's a direct link to Mobile Control."

113 turned, smiled and took the watch from Scott's hand. "I know we don't use names much here, but if you don't mind my asking..." she said, nodding her head toward the ambulance.

"Alan. His name's Alan," Scott replied.

She nodded and leapt into the back of the ambulance. "I'll take good care of him!" she called out. The two firemen, Aaron and Al, closed the doors behind her and pounded on the sides of the vehicle, letting them know it was okay to go.

Virgil and Brains came to stand on either side of Scott, and they watched the ambulance speed away, sirens blaring and lights flashing.

"Her name," Scott said. "I didn't even think to ask her name."

03:50:21

Ruth and Penny turned at the sound of an incoming transmission. The portraits on the wall soon revealed who was calling in.

"Scott!" Ruth cried as she jabbed the line open. "Scott! Where have you been?"

"Sorry, Grandma," he smiled tiredly.

"Is Alan all right? What happened?" Penelope asked.

"Hi, Penny," Scott acknowledged from his spot on the next wall. "Alan was using Firefly to clear debris, and best they can figure, he fired a nitro pellet right into an unexploded UH-3 bomb."

"Alan," Ruth said, rising to her feet. "What about Alan? How is he?"

"Well, he's alive, but he's in bad shape, Grandma. One of our agents, a doctor, is going with him to the hospital."

"I'm going, too," Ruth announced.

"Ruth..."

"No, Penny. I'm not going to sit here while my grandson lies in a hospital somewhere with only a stranger to look out for him."

"Scott? Mother? Penny? What's going on?"

"Ah, Jeff. Scott's just rung us with news about Alan," Penny replied.

"How is he, Scott?"

"Not too good, Dad. We sent Agent 113 with him in the ambulance. I'm getting ready to deploy Virgil again in the Mole, but Firefly's shot."

"113, you say?"

"Yeah, Father, do you know her?"

"Sure, she's in forensics. I met her two years ago in Brazil. It was pure happenstance, but I knew she was agent material. Dr. Megan Crawford. Now, listen up. Kyrano says Gordon and Tin-Tin are underwater somewhere. When we get back to Base, we'll need to try and pinpoint their exact location."

"Jeff, I will not sit idly by while Alan's thousands of miles away! I want someone to take me to Alan immediately!" Ruth practically ordered.

He sighed. Jeff understood exactly where she was coming from. He wanted to see his son, too. "All right. I'll pick you up and take you myself. Kyrano will have to man our equipment on Base."

"Jeff, I thought we discussed this already."

"Dammit, Penny, I know we did. But I can't just leave him there without seeing him. I can't."

There was a moment's silence until she replied, "I understand."

Jeff nodded his thanks. "What've you come up with on your end?"

"Well, your mother briefed me on the theory that it is Michael Canton who's engineering this whole thing. Based on that supposition, I made some inquiries and discovered that he's in possession of at least seven homes the world 'round. He also owns many undeveloped properties in the United States, but I couldn't tie him to New Zealand at all."

"Mother? John? What about Tin-Tin's signal?"

"It's odd, Father," John replied. "It stopped for a while, then continued. Next thing I know, its shooting so fast it can only mean they took her somewhere in a plane or helijet."

"Yes," Kyrano said, his voice confident. "She was transported in an aircraft. She then boarded a submarine." The air waves were silent for a moment as they waited for more. "They're in a metal room. I feel her clearly."

"Jeff, I want to come with you," Penny said. She had the feeling he shouldn't be alone right now. She wanted to be there for him.

She could hear the smile in his voice as he replied, "Right. Okay, here's the action: Kyrano and I should be home in less than an hour. When we arrive, we'll refuel and I'll take Mother to Los Angeles. We'll rendezvous with Penny and wait for Scott to arrive - he can get us there faster than Tracy One. John, tell him to take off immediately."

"F.A.B., Father."

"H'and wot of Mister Kyrano and meself, Sir?"

"Parker, if you don't mind, I'm going to deploy you in FAB One. I don't have a way to transport you quickly, but I'd like you on the water. Hang about two hundred miles off the coast of California."

"Yes, Sir!" Parker said, glad to be of use.

"As for Kyrano, he'll be manning Base, but his primary objective will be to keep in contact with Tin-Tin at all times so we know what's happening over on their end. I'll also set him up with our monitoring equipment. Once we have a fix on all subs in the Pacific, we can start eliminating them."

"In contact with Tin-Tin?" Ruth questioned. "How?"

"With his mind," Penny replied, as if it was the silliest question she'd ever heard. "What shall we do once we've delivered Ruth to hospital?"

Jeff's face quirked into a half-grin at Penelope's use of his mother's first name. "We're going after Gordon and Tin-Tin."

A smile spread across Penny's face as she replied slowly, "F...A...B."

03:58:17

In spite of her best efforts, Megan Crawford wasn't allowed in the hospital's operating theatre, but watched from the viewing window as the staff struggled to bring Alan's blood pressure down and stabilize his heart rate. As they cut away what was left of his uniform and began to clean his skin, Megan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Doesn't look like his burns are as bad as we originally thought," she said to herself.

"Heart rate's dropping!"

"Ten cc's of dobutamine, stat!" the doctor ordered.

A nurse injected the drug directly into Alan's arm, but his pulse continued to decline.

"He's having trouble breathing, we need to intubate!"

"Get the paddles!"

"BP 91 over 42 and dropping!"

"Hold off, I need to get this tube in!"

The others raised their hands and waited for the doctor to insert a breathing tube into Alan's throat. A quick glance at the monitors showed he wasn't responding well.

"It's in!" the doctor announced.

One nurse moved to hook him up to the ventilator as another nurse brought over the atrial fibrillation machine. A third nurse cleaned Alan's legs, groin and stomach, while others applied gel medication to the burns to relieve pain and decrease the blistering. A sudden distinct mechanical whine froze them all in mid-action.

"I've lost the pulse! He's flatlining!"

"Ready AF!" A nurse placed two electrode patches on the skin directly above Alan's heart. "Stand clear!"

Everyone backed away as the doctor pressed a button. Alan's body lurched off the bed before thumping back down. The steady alarm and telltale line did not waver.

"Another ten cc's of dobutamine!"

A nurse elbowed in and jabbed Alan's arm with a syringe.

"Ready AF! Raise two points!"

She raised the voltage on the machine.

"Clear!"

Everyone stood down. The doctor pressed the button, and again Alan's body vaulted into the air, then pounded back down onto the bed. Still no heartbeat.

"Come on, Alan!" Megan shouted, palms against the viewing window. "You can do it! You can do it!" She thought of the bravery of this organization's members, an organization she was so honored to be a fringe member of. "He can't die. He just can't!"

"Ready AF! Raise three points! Ready? Clear!"

Alan's body arched upward one last time. Megan had to strain to see beyond the nurses to where the monitor hung above the bed. When at last it came into view, her eyes widened...

03:59:58

03:59:59

04:00:00