Hour Twenty-Three

The following takes place between 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on the day Washington, D.C. was destroyed.

10:00:01

Ned swung the camera around. In doing so, it lost focus. He stopped and looked through the view piece only to find that Jeff Tracy looked like nothing more than a smattered blob against an even less clear background. His hand reached out to touch the focusing controls.

"NO!" came a voice from across the room. "NO! STOP! WAIT!"

Jeff leapt out of his chair and ran across the Lounge. "Kyrano!"

Kyrano grasped Jeff's arms tightly. He was out of breath and wheezing horribly as his bruised heart muscle raced. Gordon was at their side in an instant. "Stop...don't tell...don't...need...to..." he gasped, leaning heavily upon his friend.

"Kyrano, what are you talking about?"

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please wait for a moment," Ned said into the still-unfocused camera.

"Acronym..." Kyrano breathed. "Dead..."

"What? Acronym's dead?"

No longer able to speak, Kyrano just nodded before completely losing his internal battle and going limp in Jeff's arms.

"Kyrano!" Jeff and Gordon cried. Jeff lifted the man into his arms. "Ned, stop transmission!"

Ned smiled. He smiled broadly. "Ladies and Gentlemen, there has been a change of plans. You will not be meeting the head of International Rescue today." With that, he turned the camera off. He was quite sure there'd be hell to pay back at NTBS after this was all over, but suddenly Ned Cook didn't care. He rushed to where Jeff stood holding Kyrano. "Is he okay?"

"I hope so. I'll have to get him to the Hospital Ward. Listen, Ned, everything you said..."

Ned held up a hand and shook his head. "Don't say another word. Everything I said was true, and it's how I feel." He turned to face Gordon as Jeff left the room with all speed. "You're Gordon, right?" Gordon nodded and smiled, holding his hand out. Ned shook it vigorously. "I never got to thank you personally for saving my life all those years ago."

"That's what we do," Gordon replied. "Don't mention it."

Ned could only watch as Gordon jogged after his father. "Unbelievable," he whispered. "Thank God Kyrano came in when he did." Ned dropped into a nearby chair. "Thank God."

10:08:49

John sank back into his chair. He was drained. Completely drained. His father had been on the verge of telling the world who they were, of ending it all. He wasn't quite sure what had stopped him, but he was thankful something had. And now, Scott and Brains would be arriving in less than half-an-hour. The danger of International Rescue being torn asunder was gone for the moment. But the danger to the people of Southern California hadn't even begun.

10:10:15

Brains couldn't help himself. When Ned said the world wouldn't be meeting the head of International Rescue today, he hugged Scott fiercely. He was mildly surprised to feel him returning the gesture. "Gordon Tracy to Thunderbird 3."

Scott pulled away from Brains and hit the com channel. "Thunderbird 3 here."

"Did you hear what happened?"

"Not all of it. Only that Dad was saved from having to reveal our identities."

"Yeah, Kyrano came flying into the room. He said Acronym's dead."

"Dead?" Brains and Scott repeated.

"Dead. That's what he said. Then he collapsed. We're in the Hospital Ward now."

"How's everybody else?"

"Well, Tin-Tin looks like she's stirring a little. Virg and Al are knocked out. And Dr. Gray's in the operating room with Penny and Grandma. It looks like they're working on Dr. Crawford."

"Dr. Crawford?" Scott said, frowning. "What are they doing?"

"Can't tell for certain, Scott, but it looks like they've got her foot open."

"Her ankle. Her ankle was broken," Scott said. "Gordo, let Dad know we'll be arriving to pick John up in eight minutes."

"F.A.B.," Gordon replied. "And Scott?

"Yeah?"

"You and John and Brains...be careful. I've got a bad feeling about what you guys are doing."

Scott smiled. "You're starting to sound like Dad."

Gordon rolled his eyes. "Oh, God, a fate worse than death."

"I heard that!" Jeff said from across the room.

Brains, Scott and Gordon chuckled as Scott said, "Thunderbird 3 out."

10:14:26

The Hood awoke with a miserable headache. He'd been hit on the head so many times in the last few hours it was a wonder he was able to wake up at all. His anger grew has he remembered how he'd had Thunderbird 2 literally in the palm of his hand. And then he'd had to let that fool Jeff Tracy goad him into leaving its confines. Now here he was in a dark, dark place. Somewhere so dark he could see nothing at all.

"Where am I?" he growled. His voice filled the space he was in. It was only when he tried to move his arms and legs that he realized just how tight that space was. For his prison could only be described as a capsule. A metal capsule. He was lying inside what he presumed to be something like a torpedo tube. He couldn't raise his head more than eight or ten inches off the bottom of it.

"Very clever, International Rescue," he ground out. "Now to find someone to help me."

10:17:16

Ned paced the Lounge floor. He felt so useless right now, and had no idea where this Hospital Ward was that Jeff had spoken off. He nearly jumped out of his skin when a walking hunk of metal entered the room. In its chest, he could see John's face, a face he'd only seen twice before. He backed away as the robot approached him.

"Don't worry Ned," John said, trying to keep from laughing. "Braman's harmless."

"Braman? It has a name?"

"Yes, he does."

"He?"

"Yes. He."

"Ah," Ned replied. He wasn't altogether sure about this thing John was referring to with a human pronoun.

"Listen, Dad wanted me to ask if you could find out how the members of International Rescuees are doing. Thunderbird 3's on its way with the counter agent."

"Oh, so that was the deafening roar I heard earlier."

"Yep."

"Sure, I can get a report on their progress. Um, how do I get a line out?"

Braman walked over to the vidphone behind Jeff's desk. "Right here," came John's voice.

Ned approached cautiously. Braman turned so John could see him, and John laughed out loud. "Okay, okay, I'll back off. I have to get Braman back to the Hospital Ward anyway."

"Say, how do I let you know what goes on in California after you leave?"

"You see that button marked H on the panel to the right of the vidphone?"

"Yes."

"That's a line into the ward. Just press it and someone will answer."

"Okay." Ned watched as Braman walked out of the room. "Jesus Christ, they even have mechanical rescuers," he said as he dialed the number for IRee base. "What's next?"

10:20:39

John watched the approach of Thunderbird 3 on one monitor while he listened to the chaos breaking out on television stations all over the world. Phil Epstein was having a fit, while live feeds from different locations around the globe came through with one resounding theme: public opinion had changed thanks to Ned Cook's broadcast. John was grinning from ear-to-ear. Now all they had to do was pull off the biggest rescue of their lives.

"Okay, Thunderbird 3, I'm ready for you."

"F.A.B., John. Extend docking tube."

"Docking tube extended."

"You know, no matter how many times I hear you say that, it never fails to strike me as just being plain wrong."

John laughed. "Just slip her in tight, Scotty, and watch the tip."

Scott groaned. "John, you're completely hopeless."

"Now that's the pot calling the kettle black. I've heard you and Virg when you're doing a mid-air refuel between 1 and 2."

Scott had the good sense to turn an appropriate shade of pink as he fired retros. John just laughed some more as his brother maneuvered the rocket's long nose into the docking bay. "Yes!" he cried as it clicked into place.

"John..."

"Sorry. I couldn't help myself."

"All right, we don't have time to come on board. Set auto-relay and get over here."

"F.A.B."

John switched on the auto-relay and walked to the round door. It slid open, and he stepped into a long tunnel. He had with him his usual traveling bag as he walked quickly through to the airlock and stepped inside. One door swished closed behind him and he waited as Thunderbird 5 did a check to ensure the connection between it and Thunderbird 3 was airtight. Then the door in front of him opened, and he found himself facing his older brother at last.

They hugged and Scott said, "You're the only one of us who looks halfway decent."

"Thanks a lot, you just jinxed me," John replied as he pulled away. "I'll head down to the Lounge and stow my stuff."

"F.A.B. Bring Brains back up with you. I'm gonna head for the skies above California."

John nodded as he entered the elevator. He waited as it descended, then opened onto the Lounge area. Brains was kneeling next to a funny contraption that surrounded the square where the settee usually was. But the settee had been removed and pushed to the side, leaving only empty space.

"Brains," John said, stepping out of the elevator.

The engineer came to his feet and smiled. "John." He held out his hand, which John began to shake, then was surprised when he was pulled into a hug.

"Boy, am I glad you're okay," John said.

"Me too. Uh, thanks, John. I hear you saved my life."

"Naw," John replied as he pulled away. "Braman did all the work. I just yelled at him."

Brains chuckled.

"What is that thing?" John asked, nodding toward the circular apparatus on the floor. "Powder storage?"

He nodded. "Yes, the, uh, UH-3 counter agent is stored in there. Once we, uh, get into position, one o-of us will, uh, have to be just below Thunderbird 3's tail with the diffuser I put together, while the other releases the powder."

"Lemme guess who gets outdoor duty."

"Well, uh, it's probably up to you a-and Scott to decide that."

John thought for a moment. "I think Scott should handle flying Thunderbird 3. After all, I'm in better shape than he is and can probably handle things out there much more easily. He looks like he's been through the wringer."

"Oh, he has."

"You don't look much better, Brains."

"I-I'm fine, John. I-I'm a lot tougher than I look."

"I guess you are. Come on, Scott wants us back up in the cockpit."

"All right. I guess everything's, uh, ready to go down here."

As they entered the small elevator, John asked, "You really think this'll work, Brains?"

"Uh...well...keep your fingers crossed."

"That's not the answer I was hoping for."

10:33:14

Ruth came out of the operating room to give the others an update. But first, she hugged her son so hard Jeff was amazed at the strength she still seemed to have. "How's it going in there, Mother?"

"Oh, they're doing okay. Dr. Gray's just finished inserting rods and pins into Megan's foot. She'll be hobbling for a while, but she'll heal." Ruth's eyes wandered and she saw Kyrano lying pale and unconscious on the bed next to Tin-Tin's. "Kyrano!" she gasped, rushing to his side. "Jeff, what happened?"

"He collapsed. I don't know where he was or what happened, but he came running full boar into the Lounge just as we...as I..."

"Jeff?"

"I was on the verge of telling the world who we are."

"No."

Jeff nodded. "But Kyrano stopped me at the last minute. Somehow he found out Canton's dead."

"He is?"

"That's what Kyrano said just before he lost consciousness."

"I've got to get Dr. Gray out here. His vitals are awful weak."

"I know. How close is he to finishing up on Megan?"

"Pretty close, I think. I'll tell him to hurry."

Ruth disappeared back into the OR as Gordon frowned. He walked slowly to Tin-Tin's bedside, and reached out to touch her. His hand rested on her arm and he closed his eyes. Jeff checked Alan and Virgil's life monitors, and then turned to watch Gordon, wondering what he was doing.

Gordon could hear them. In his mind, he could hear them.

10:39:04

Braman peeked through the door to one of the containment units. John had given him specific instructions before leaving Thunderbird 5 to check on the Hood and then proceed to the Hospital Ward. Not only was the Hood lying within the empty torpedo tube, he was also inside Containment Unit 2 again. But this time Jeff had entered a high-level code known only to him and Scott. Even if the Hood managed to get out of the tube and con someone into trying to release him, they'd never be able to do so without that code.

Satisfied that their prisoner was staying put, Braman boarded the monorail. His mind worked through a multitude of equations and problems, events and timelines. It was only as the monorail came to a stop at its destination that he came to one particular idea that caused his inner alarm to go off.

"The diffuser," he intoned as he headed for the Hospital Ward. "The diffuser."

10:44:14

The Hood had sensed a presence nearby, but hadn't been able to locate a mind to go with it. He reached out beyond the confines of his makeshift prison and found his half-brother and niece together in the Great Void. Both were unconscious here, and would be of no use to him. He discarded that contact and decided the best course of action was to try and manipulate the capsule's sealing mechanism. If he was right about what exactly it was, he should be able to unlock it with his mind. It would take nearly every ounce of power he had, and in his weakened condition, he knew it was a long shot. But he had to try. If for no other reason than to put a stop to Jeff Tracy once and for all.

10:48:38

Tin-Tin?

Gordon?

Kyrano?

Yes, Gordon. We are here.

Where are you?

We are in the Great Void. Gordon, quickly, I must explain to you about Acronym. I haven't much time left.

Gordon heard Tin-Tin begin to cry. He couldn't see them, he could only hear them.

What do you mean you haven't much time left? What are you talking about?

My heart is failing. The strain of finding Michael Canton's mind and running from the Cliff House to the Lounge to tell your father has been too much for it, I'm afraid.

No! Kyrano, you're not going to die! Father won't let you!

Tin-Tin's crying moved to all-out sobbing.

Listen to me, Gordon. Listen to what I must tell you. It is important for the world to know.

10:50:52

Jeff watched in fascination as Gordon's lips moved but no sound emerged. He had an idea that his son was somehow communicating with Tin-Tin, Kyrano or both and was amazed. He had no idea Gordon had those capabilities and wondered how he'd come to learn of them.

Jeff grew alarmed as one of the indicators above Kyrano's head bleeped a warning. The man's heart rate was decreasing and his breathing had become shallow and forced. He looked through the window of the operating room and saw that Dr. Gray was closing up Megan's foot with a laser. Then he went to the bed that held his friend.

"Kyrano," he whispered, grabbing his hand and holding it tightly.

10:53:19

"This is Braman calling Thunderbird 3."

"We're here, Braman."

"Scott. There is potential difficulty with the diffuser."

"Difficulty?" Brains asked. "What difficulty?"

"There is a .three percent probability that the suspension apparatus will not withstand the pressure caused by Earth's gravitational field. If it becomes dislodged it will not properly spread the UH-3 counter agent throughout the atmosphere and there is a .three percent chance it will pull Thunderbird 3 off balance."

"Brains, he worries too much."

"He can't worry, John," Scott said. "He's a robot."

"Braman," Brains said, "uh, don't worry. It'll be all right. .three is an a-awfully slim chance. We'll, uh, just be careful."

Scott cut the channel and turned to face their engineer. "Brains? Is this really something that could happen?"

"Uh, well, yes, I-I suppose it is."

"Then you were right. We will have to be careful."

"Yeah, and don't forget who's gonna be hangin' alongside that thing," John said. Outside he projected joviality. Inside, he was just as worried as Braman had sounded.

10:57:05

So you're saying it wasn't about going after Dad at all?

That is correct, Gordon. You must ensure the world is told the truth. You must.

Kyrano, you're going to make it through this.

Father, Gordon is right. We will share our life force with you. You will survive.

Do not, my child. Please. And do not trouble yourself so about my passing. I will always be here for you in this place.

Tin-Tin began to cry again. Father, no! I won't let you go!

Kyrano! Gordon could feel the older man's mind slipping away. Kyrano, no! No!

Jeff looked up in horror as the warning bleeps coming from the monitor turned into one steady tone. His attention was ripped from that to Tin-Tin, who suddenly sat bolt upright in bed and screamed, "Nooooooo!"

10:59:58

10:59:59

11:00:00