Hour Eighteen

The following takes place between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the day Washington, D.C. was destroyed.

05:01:19

"Gordon! Tin-Tin! What's going on down there? Braman, begin two-way vid!"

Braman's chest plate slid down and John's live image winked into existence on the screen behind it.

"John, we need to work fast!" Tin-Tin replied as she helped Braman set up the Blood Transfusion Unit. "I have got to get that bullet out of your father! But it's in there tight...I don't know if I can do it!"

"Braman can," John said simply.

They all stopped and looked at Braman's chest, from which John's solemn face looked right back at them. "You can't be serious!" Penny said.

"I've never been more so in my life, Penelope. He saved Brains. You should've seen him."

"You know, he's got a point," Gordon said. "Braman's more accurate than any human hand."

"Braman?" Tin-Tin said.

"Yes."

"What's the probability you can remove the bullet from Mr. Tracy's shoulder without complications?"

"One hundred percent."

The four humans looked at one another. Finally Tin-Tin said, "Gordon? John? Penny?"

Gordon nodded. John nodded. Penelope bit her lip. She looked at the pale face of Jeff Tracy lying on the bed beneath her, then back up to her companions. She'd never been comfortable with a mechanical human-like thing walking around, but Jeff...slowly she nodded.

"Braman?"

"Yes."

Tin-Tin pulled surgical gloves onto his mechanical hands. "Remove that bullet."

"F.A.B."

05:12:48

Scott grabbed the bar just in time. His shoulder was nearly ripped from its socket as he hung precariously from seven floors up. Megan's body began to slip. He tightened his hold on her legs. "No..." he growled. "Don't."

But gravity continued pulling at her until at last she fell toward the gaping hole beneath them. Scott cried out in pain as his hand caught her pant leg, the force of her weight yanking hard on his arm and shoulder. He tucked her legs up further into the crook of his arm, his face twisting as his body begged for mercy.

And then he heard a voice.

"Scott! Scott!"

"Virg!" he yelped as the building moved again. He strained to look up and saw Virgil's face along with a second one before he had to bow his head again.

"Hang on, Scott, we're coming!"

"Funny...Virg...what's it...look like...I'm doing?" Suddenly the second man was in his line of sight. He recognized Dr. Gray. "Get...Megan..."

Gray nodded and perched on the unstable landing. He reached out, but couldn't quite touch her. "Can you swing her over here?"

Just the thought of moving made Scott break out in a cold sweat, but he hadn't brought them this far only to allow them to fall to their deaths right before his brother's eyes. He felt a warm hand close over his own that held so tightly to the railing. He knew it was Virgil's.

"You can do it, Scott."

Gritting his teeth, Scott swung Megan back and then forward, letting out a guttural roar as stars exploded before his eyes and pain ripped through his body. Then suddenly he felt her become nearly weightless.

"I have her!" Dr. Gray shouted. He lifted Megan up over his shoulder and headed for the stairs. "Can you get him?"

Virgil nodded. He wound himself down around the edge of the banister and held his hand out to Scott. "I can't...hold on...Virg..." he gasped, tears of pain escaping his eyes. The hospital shook again. One hand slipped from the railing as the other flailed to find purchase.

"Scott!"

05:18:05

Penny held one of Jeff's hands while Gordon hovered near Braman, watching his movements carefully. Tin-Tin observed the syntheblood as it flowed from the BTU into Jeff's body. The hand that came to rest on her shoulder startled her. She turned to find one very pale engineer standing behind her.

"Brains!" she cried, wrapping her arms around him.

He returned the hug and mumbled into her hair, "Y-You're here, Tin-Tin! Y-You're h-here!"

"Yes, I am," she smiled, sniffling a little. "And look who else is here."

Brains backed out of the hug and looked across the bed at Gordon, who smiled. "Gordon," he breathed. "Thank God. M-Mister...I-I mean Jeff...was so worried..." Gordon looked down. Brains' eyes followed and then widened as he saw precisely who was lying on the bed in front of him. "Jeff!" he cried out. "What happened?"

"Acronym shot him," Gordon said, his voice low and dangerous. "The bastard."

"W-What is Braman doing?"

"He's getting the bullet out, Brains," Tin-Tin said. "Mr. Tracy's going to be fine. His blood pressure's rising even as we speak."

"Oh, God!" Penny exclaimed.

"What?" they asked in unison.

"Acronym! The Hood! They're still outside!"

"Oh, no!" Tin-Tin cried. "We forgot them! How could we have forgotten them? Brains, how are you, can you get out there with Penny?"

"Uh...I-I'm fine, I guess. Just, uh, drained. A-And a bit, uh, woozy."

"Gordon?"

"Penny, come with me," Gordon said. "Brains, you stay here and help Braman and Tin-Tin."

Penny looked at Jeff one more time before following Gordon out of the ward. They ran to the elevator and waited impatiently as it descended to open onto the tarmac. As they raced across the asphalt, their worst fears were confirmed.

Thunderbird 4 still sat on the runway where Gordon had left it. But the subjet...was gone.

05:24:11

Virgil had reached out just in time to grasp his brother's free hand as the one holding the railing lost its grip. He groaned under the strain as Scott tried to bring his left arm up. But his shoulder was dislocated; he couldn't get the arm to obey him.

"Come on..." Virgil ground out. "Come on, Scott." He used one hand to haul himself slowly up the railing, pulling Scott up inch by inch until he gave one large heave-ho and yanked him clear of danger. The brothers landed atop one another on the stairs just as the structure swayed.

Scott grunted as he looked into his brother's eyes. "Virg..."

"I know, Scott. That's another one you owe me. Now let's get outta here."

Scott winced as he tucked his arm into his sash, which had somehow managed to remain intact through everything. Virgil tried to walk up the steps, but he tripped over his bad leg and lost his balance. Scott reached out with his good arm and steadied him, and together they finally made it to the top of the stairs.

Using Scott's arm as a makeshift crutch, Virgil managed to keep up with him as they headed back toward the end of the hall; back toward the room that had once held them both...back to the fire escape. Scott's arm came around Virgil's waist, and before he knew what was happening, he'd been lifted into the air, enabling him to pull his bad leg up and stick it through the window with his good one.

Scott gave him a push out the window and followed suit as the building moved again. Dr. Gray was part way up the fire escape ladder when he saw them emerge. "Quickly! It's gonna give way any minute!" he yelled up.

"All right, Virgil, onto my back."

"Huh?"

"Piggyback."

"I'm not six, Scott."

"No, and I'm not nine. But you're getting onto my back and that's an order!"

Virgil harrumphed, but knew Scott's logic was sound. There was no way he'd make it back down those steps in time. "You're askin' for it." He wrapped his arms around Scott's neck and hiked his 6'1" frame onto his brother's 6'2" one. "We look ridiculous."

"Better than looking dead," Scott said. Then he yelped. "Dammit, Virg, watch the shoulder!"

"Sorry."

Scott started racing down the steps. One of Virgil's legs was wrapped around his brother's waist, but the other dangled lifelessly near Scott's right leg, and kept banging into the railing on the way down. Virgil kept his comments to himself. He knew it wasn't Scott's fault. It didn't really matter anyway. At this point, his leg was so battered it had started going numb.

"Thank God for small favors," he mumbled.

"What?"

"Never mind. We're almost there."

"I can see that, Virg," Scott replied testily.

When they reached the first landing, Scott backed up and handed his brother down to Dr. Gray, who waited on the ladder. Gray helped Virgil descend, with Scott close behind. Once on the ground, they forced Virgil between them and lifted him, running with all their might toward the crowd gathered over eighty yards away.

Scott looked up and saw his grandmother pushing her way to the front. A great cheer erupted from the onlookers as a second person emerged to stand by her side. "Alan!" he cried.

Sighing like an enormous, exhausted giant, the entire north wing of Arlington Memorial Hospital fell at last.

05:33:07

"It can't be! They can't both be gone!" Gordon cried as he emerged from Thunderbird 4.

"And why would they take the subjet rather than Thunderbird 4? Especially the Hood? All he's ever wanted is your technology!"

"I don't know. Do you still have your watch?" She nodded and removed it, handing it over as she looked out toward the ocean. "Thunderbird 5, come in."

"I'm here, Gordon. Did you find them?"

"No, John. They're gone. Both of them. And so's the subjet."

"What? Oh, God, they've escaped?"

"Looks like it. Unless..." Gordon stopped and looked at the ground beneath his feet. Then he looked up toward the rock cliff.

"What is it, Gordon?" Penny asked.

"Footprints," Gordon said, pointing down to the asphalt. "Wet footprints. And they lead..."

Penny followed the direction his finger was pointing. "Oh, no! The Hood! He's inside!"

They raced for the hangar, but just as they reached the small door it moved upward, cutting them off. They were too late.

"God! Penny!" Gordon cried, heading for the elevator to their right. "Dad's in there! And Tin-Tin, and Brains!"

"No!"

05:38:47

John opened a line to Braman. "Thunderbird 5 to Braman! Come in!"

"Braman speaking."

"Braman, quickly, the Hood's inside Base! Open two-way vid!"

John saw Brains removing the rest of his father's DDS and thermal suit as Tin-Tin sealed the wound with syntheskin. "Tin-Tin! Brains!"

"What, John, what is it?"

"Tin-Tin, listen to me. The Hood's inside Base!"

"He's what?" Brains exclaimed.

"Penny and Gordon are in the elevator on their way up...but the Hood's in Thunderbird 2 hangar. Who knows where he's heading? Seal the Hospital Ward now!"

"But Penny! And Gordon!" Tin-Tin cried as Brains ran for the control panel at the ward's entrance. She pulled a clean sheet over Jeff's body and turned to find Braman heading toward the next room. "Braman! Where are you going?"

"To help Gordon and Lady Penelope," his monotone voice replied. "I will seal secondary entrance upon leaving."

"Brains! What's he doing?"

Returning to Jeff's bedside, Brains watched his greatest invention ever leave the room. "He's doing just what he said."

"But how can he help them? He's not meant for combat! He can't possibly know what to do!"

"With John controlling him, he can."

05:43:25

Scott reached down and pulled Alan into a gentle hug, mindful of his burns. Virgil came over next, and the three brothers held on to one another for a moment, their heads touching, silently drawing strength from their bond, trying to give themselves the energy they'd need to face whatever came next, grateful just to be together and safe. Ruth hugged Dr. Gray just as someone yelled, "It's International Rescue!"

The crowd of nearly fifty people, who moments before had been cheering, became silent when they took in the uniform worn by one of the men who'd just escaped from the hospital; the man now standing huddled with two others who wore hospital gowns. Another voice yelled out, "It's their fault this happened! They're the ones to blame!"

"Oh, God," Dr. Gray said, his arm remaining protectively around Ruth's shoulders. "We're gonna have an angry mob on our hands in a minute!"

Scott, Alan and Virgil just looked at the throng of people, some of whom wore hospital gowns, many of whom looked as though they'd gotten out of bed just to come and see what all the ruckus was about.

"How many more people have to die before you tell us who you really are!" a woman screamed.

"They're not responsible for this!" Dr. Gray yelled, waving his free hand toward the ruined hospital. "Acronym is!"

The people murmured until another voice was heard. "That's only because he wants them to give themselves up!"

A chorus of 'Yeah!' and 'That's right!' showed the crowd's agreement.

"Grandma, where's Megan?" Scott whispered as he and his brothers began to back up.

"Dr. Gray put her in Thunderbird 1," Ruth replied.

"You guys get outta here," Gray said, pushing Ruth away from him. "I'll try to stall them."

"No, Dr. Gray, we won't leave you! We need you!" Ruth protested as Scott grabbed her arm.

Virgil and Alan stopped and turned. "Come on, Doctor," Virgil said. "Come with us. Grandma's right. Megan's hurt, and we're not in that great of shape either. We do need you. If you want to come."

Dr. Gray turned back to face the masses. As much as he hated to do it, he raised an arm above his head and pointed behind them. "There's one of 'em now! He's getting away! After him!"

They turned like a herd of cattle, a great cry erupting from their lips, and headed in the other direction. Only one woman and her small child remained. Gray turned and followed the others to Thunderbird 1. By the time he reached the rocket plane, Scott had unlocked the hatch, and Ruth and Alan were already inside. He helped Virgil climb the ladder, then started up himself.

Scott was surprised to see a small boy who couldn't have been more than three run up to him. He moved to one knee so he was more eye-level with the youngster. He could see a woman in the distance jogging toward them. Scott reached out and ruffled the towhead's hair. "You'd better stand back, young man," he said, a sad smile forming upon his lips. "We're gonna blast off soon."

By this time the horde realized they'd been duped, and were now heading straight for Scott and the boy. "It's not safe for you here," he said. "What's your name?"

"Joshie," the boy replied. "What's you name?"

"I'm Scott."

The people had reached them, but stopped short when they saw the toddler hold a dandelion out to the man they'd wanted to capture. The boy's mother ran up and stood right in front of the two.

Scott took the bedraggled flower, a lump forming in his throat.

"Scott. You Intoonashnoo Wescue?"

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Intoonashnoo Wescue. That's us."

"What happened you awm?"

"I hurt it."

"Be okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah. It'll be okay."

Suddenly Joshie threw himself on Scott, wrapping his arms around his neck and jarring his shoulder, but Scott held his grunt of pain in. The boy placed a slobbery wet kiss on his cheek and said, "You save my Mommy. I no be here if you no save my Mommy. I wuv you."

Joshie's mother began to cry, her hand flying to her mouth. Yes, International Rescue had saved her life once. Hers, her older son Tommy's and her husband Joe's. Scott couldn't help the tears that formed in his eyes as Joshie let him go. He looked up as he rose to his feet, watching the boy go back to his mother. And when he looked at Joshie's mom...he knew exactly who she was.

Blanche smiled. "We still believe in you," she said, holding her son close.

"Thank you," he whispered. Then he looked up as Ruth's face appeared from above.

"Scott..."

He turned back to look at Blanche and Joshie. "We have to go."

Blanche nodded. The crowd, only a moment ago bent on hauling Scott and the others off for a proverbial tar-and-feathering, stood in stunned silence.

"Bye, Joshie."

Grinning from ear to ear, the little boy waved his small arm with all his might. "Bye-bye!" he called out.

Scott waved and disappeared into his ship. The ladder retracted and the hatch slid closed. Several long minutes passed as Virgil and Dr. Gray worked Scott's shoulder back into place. He nearly passed out, but managed to remain with them as he grasped Joshie's dandelion in his good hand. When at last he made it to the pilot's chair, Scott fired up the engines. The crowd, moving as though it were one single being, stepped back.

"What happened out there?" Virgil asked from one of the seats just below and to the right of Scott's suspended pilot's chair.

"Yeah, Scott. Why didn't those people attack you?" Alan asked from his position next to Virgil.

"A weed," Scott replied, placing the dandelion on his leg. "A weed and a little boy who's got more sense than fifty people ten times his age." He fired Thunderbird 1's booster rocket and the ship began lifting into the air. He hovered for a moment, looking out the right viewing window. Blanche and Joshie were waving. And to his surprise, so were the rest of the people. "Thanks, Joshie," he said, wiggling his fingers one last time.

And they were gone.

05:58:30

Brains and Tin-Tin paced the floor, alternately looking out of the ward's windows and checking Jeff's vital signs. Suddenly there was banging and yelling from the door. They recognized the voices.

"Penelope!" Brains cried.

"Gordon!" Tin-Tin yelled.

They raced to the door, but just as Brains' hand moved to unlock it, he saw a sight that froze him solid.

Standing right behind Gordon and Penelope was none other than the Hood.

05:59:58

05:59:59

06:00:00