Disclaimer: I still don't own it . . . when will you people realise! And I aint 'lovin' it' either, Mr. Timberlake! Bloody McDonalds commercials!
Authors note: Wow . . . I don't think that anyone has called my kiddo since I was like thirteen! Go Willow! Makes me feel young as I near my eighteenth! Once again, thank you everyone for your reviews! You're so good to me! I'm glad that you liked the part with them being all chibi-fied! There's a similar part in this, although, I wrote that part before I even posted Chapter one, so please don't say it's an attempt at getting more praise, because this fic has a lot of flashbacks, to try to explain Suzan's character more.
Somewhere In Between
By Bubblegum Thai
Chapter Three: First mission, last mission?
Back at base, Jeff was zoning out when all of a sudden, Gordon shuffled into view wearing his robe and pyjamas,
"Hey, Dad . . ." He mumbled, shuffling into the seat before his father,
"Gordon," He said, being startled from his daydream, "Feeling any better?"
"A little," He admitted, twisting his fingers around one another, "I heard Thunderbird 1 and 2 take off . . . uhm, where's Suz'?" He asked cautiously,
"She went with Virgil."
"Is that wise?"
Jeff shrugged, uncharacteristic for the ageing man,
"We'll find out soon enough, I suppose. There was no other choice."
"Hmmm . . ." Gordon mused, scratching the side of his head, "I suppose . . ." He added before suddenly turning very pale,
"Son? What's wrong!"
"I don't feel so good again . . ." He muttered before bolting from the room,
"Oh dear . . ." Jeff sighed, shaking his head sadly as Scott's vidi-portrait began to bleep and flash, "Go ahead, Scott."
"Father, I'm just arriving at the danger zone now . . . it's mayhem!" He exclaimed.
Jeff let out a heavy sigh, cracking his knuckles as he leant forwards in his seat nervously,
"Ok, well, set up mobile control and assess the situation in time for Thunderbird 2's arrival."
"FAB." Scott replied before cutting off the communication. Jeff returned to leaning back in his seat, letting it turn slightly so his eyes fell upon the shelves to one side which were littered with items of family interest. His gaze fell upon that of his wife, Lucille, smiling down at him with a toddler in her arms. The toddler, a boy, sported bright blue eyes and dark brown hair. Scott, being the eldest had always been the closest to their mother and whilst Jeff stared up at the picture, his nerves began to return to him. Sweating, he sighed, wiping furiously at his brow,
"Luc', I need you right now . . ." He whispered, closing his eyes, "I . . . I feel like . . . like I can't raise her how I raised the boys, she's so much different to them, a whole new generation, different tastes and styles, different views on life. She's a lady and I know that my Mom and Tin-tin are trying to get through to her, but . . . but all she wants are her brothers and me. I just wish I knew what to do . . . she's so much smarter than me . . ." He chuckled, letting himself drift backwards to over two years prior, just before he'd purchased Tracy Island.
"Scott!" Alan whined, reaching up to grab something from his older brother. The nineteen-year-old seemed to whine more and more as the days went by, "Give me that!"
"What did Dad say?" Scott asked, raising an eyebrow, "That's Gordon's!"
"Gordon gets all the good stuff." He muttered, folding his arms over his chest,
"Ha!" Gordon laughed bitterly, "As if!"
"Boys, settle down . . ." Their Grandmother scolded as she bustled into the room, "Honestly! You're like a group of toddlers!" She scolded with her hands on her hips, "Scott! Put that down, for heavens sake! Your sister's going to be here any minute with this new boyfriend of hers, and you'd all better be nice to them both! No baby stories and NO bad jokes! Just be polite, nice, young gentlemen."
"Have you seen this guy!" Alan asked, arching an eyebrow, "He makes Alice Cooper look like a kids TV presenter!"
"Alice Cooper? Who tha hell!" Gordon asked, confused,
"Y'know . . . that weird guy with the snake? From the Twentieth century."
"Ahhh, Alice Cooper! Your Grandfather loved his music!"
Everyone stared at their Grandmother, shocked, but the awkward silence was disturbed by the sound of the door closing and keys jingling in the glass bowl beside the video phone,
"We're here!" She called.
At that point, Jeff emerged, trotting through the kitchen and into the hallway,
"Suzan," He said with a warm smile, "I was getting worried, the weather turned so quickly!" He exclaimed,
"Yeah, Dad, this is Alex, Alex, this is my Dad." She said honestly, motioning towards the tall boy which stood beside her, an arm looped around her waist. Jeff looked at the boy, trying not to frown.
From Jeff's point of view, the 'boy' which held onto his youngest child and only daughter looked as if he had escaped from hell. He had long black hair, brown eyes and several piercings about his face. Two through his lip and one through his right eyebrow,
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Tracy." He said seriously.
Jeff smiled, eyeing him warily,
"Yes, yes, well, uh, do come in! Dinner's almost ready, Suzan, why don't you take him into the dining room and introduce him to your brothers and Grandmother?"
Suzan nodded, taking Alex's hand and leading him off towards the large dining room. Jeff shook his head in disbelief before following after them. The looks on Scott, John and Virgil's faces were all priceless. Scott seemed to have his mouth partially open, his eyes wide with horror. John was obviously terrified whilst Virgil was trying to figure something out, whatever it was. Gordon looked totally amused whilst Alan just sulked,
"Ok, that's Scott, he's the oldest," Suzan introduced, "Then there's John, Virgil, Gordon and finally, little baby Alan."
"Who're you calling a baby!" Alan muttered, "You're younger than I am."
"But I'm a girl." She said seriously, "Anyways, everyone, this is Alex." This statement was followed by silence, "Everyone, say Hi!" She said with gritted teeth,
"Uh . . . hi, so, how old are you, Alex?" Scott asked as John and Virgil were still speechless, Gordon still looked totally amused by the whole state of affairs and Alan just did not want to know,
"I'm seventeen."
"Seventeen!" Scott asked, arching an eyebrow, "You're . . . quite a few years older than my sister then."
Alex shrugged,
"Age doesn't really matter."
Jeff frowned,
"It does when my child was fourteen and still very innocent and sheltered." He thought.
At that point, Ruth entered carrying a tray of drinks,
"Oh my!" She giggled, "Hello there!"
"Oh, this is my Grandma!"
"Hello, ma'am." Alex said politely,
"Grandma, this is Alex."
"Hello there, love. Please, take a seat, don't let these preppy boys intimidate you, and don't you take any notice of what Scott has to say!" She giggled as Alex took a seat between said brother and his girlfriend.
Jeff was jolted back to the present by Virgil radioing in,
"Go ahead, Virgil." Jeff sighed, rubbing at his temples slightly,
"I'm arriving at the danger zone now, Father . . ."
Jeff smiled weakly,
"That's good . . ." He mumbled somewhat shakily,
"Everything alright, Dad?"
"Yes Virgil, I'm just a little tired, that's all."
"Well, don't worry; you can get some rest once this mission is over!" Suzan chimed in brightly,
"Yes . . . I suppose so . . ." He mused, "Well, good luck, update me on your progress if and when you get a chance."
"Yes Father." Both said together before transmission was cut,
"Mr. Tracy, would you like some tea?" Kyrano offered as he entered, carrying a ray,
"No thank you, Kyrano, although, I wouldn't mind some coffee."
"Right away, Mr. Tracy." He said, shuffling back to the kitchen. He set the tray down on the counter and looked over at Ruth Tracy, Jeff's mother who was standing beside the window, nibbling her nails nervously, staring out across the sea. She turned and sighed, noticing that Kyrano was in the room,
"Oh, sorry dear, I didn't hear you come in!" She exclaimed,
"Something wrong, Mrs. Tracy?" He asked, gently bowing his head,
"No . . . no . . . I'm just a little on edge . . . it's nothing to concern yourself with!" She laughed nervously, "Didn't Jeff want any tea?"
"He wanted coffee," Kyrano said kindly, heading towards the coffee pot, "Mr. Tracy looks very worried also, perhaps you should try to talk to him?"
"Hmmm . . ." Ruth mused, "Thank you Kyrano, I think that I will." She grinned before trotting off to chat with her son.
- - -
As Thunderbird Two's engines cut, Scott trotted over, coming to a halt at the foot of the large machine where he soon met up with his younger siblings,
"What's the situation, Scott?" Virgil asked, adjusting his hat, which he'd accidentally knocked partially off of his head whilst exiting the craft which he piloted.
Scott motioned towards the cliff face which was covered with rubble,
"Well, that's the main entrance," He began, "I had a word with the owner of the tour company, they took over the mines after they closed about twenty years ago." He continued, waving his right hand about a bit as he talked to Virgil as opposed to both of the new arrivals, "He said that there was a back entrance which was used as an extra safety precaution when they first opened for tourists, however, they sealed it a few months ago."
"Is it too much to assume that they have cutting equipment?" Virgil breathed, arching an eyebrow,
"We wouldn't have been called if they had." Scott snapped,
"Ok, sorry!" Virgil huffed,
"Guys . . . this isn't the time to start arguing. First things first, if we can't go in that way, which I'm guessing we can't . . ." Suzan cut in,
"Right, if we use the mole, it could all come crashing down on top of us and them, we'd have no way to reinforced the walls which the Mole would make."
"Right." Scott agreed, "So, we get the cutting equipment, go around to this sealed exit and start working our way through it . . . we'll go from there."
"Ok, I'll grab the cutting equipment; you let the emergency services know what's going on, 'k?"
"What about me?" Suzan asked, looking at Scott expectantly,
"You . . . stay here." He said before turning and walking off.
Suzan huffed, folding her arms and glowering at Virgil who raised his hands in defence,
"Sorry kiddo, but, what Scott says, goes!" He said before also disappearing,
"Damn their over protectiveness!" She growled, slumping against the side of the large green Thunderbird.
- - -
Round the side of the mine, the pair of brother's soon found the old emergency exit. It had been welded shut because of the draft which it had caused was blowing old dust and dirt into the tourist areas of the mine, making people's breathing difficult. Scott rolled his eyes,
"This is stupid." He muttered, lowering his mask and clicking his cutter into its flame-like state. Virgil did the same and within a minute or two, they had successfully cut through the thick iron which made up the emergency door.
Unfortunately for them, they had not been prepared for the door to fall instantly without prompt,
"Damn!" Scott growled as it fell inwards, bringing light onto the pitch black mine. It was a long way down, they soon found out, as they watched the door plummet into the waiting pool of water below. People screamed as the heavy object caused a small tidal waved, drenching those which had fallen off of the ledge where most of the people had sheltered on.
Virgil leant heavily on the remains of the door, peering in with his torch,
"Is everyone alright in there?" Scott called,
"Help! Oh please help!" Cried a distressed woman, "The water is freezing and it's rising so fast!"
"Don't worry; we'll have you out of there soon!" He called back before turning to Virgil. As they disappeared from the civilians, they could hear screams and crys for them to return. Virgil shined his torch back down into the mine,
"It's alright. We'll be right back."
"Please don't leave us!" Sobbed a small girl, "Please!" She begged.
The brothers exchanged looks before Scott suddenly smirked,
"Stay here! I'll be right back!"
- - -
"Ok, so, all I have to do is stand there and talk to these people?" Suzan asked, a little confused,
"Yeah, kiddo. They just need a little reassurance whilst Virg' and I get the stuff we need, think you can handle that?"
"I can." She said with a nod of determination,
"Great . . . ok . . . you got your torch, yeah?"
"Yep!"
"Right . . . go for it!"
"What should I say!" She blurted as they walked away,
"Uhm, hello!" Called a man worriedly.
Scott began to rub irritably at his temples,
"Tell them your name, that your part of international rescue and just keep calming them down, got it?"
"Got it."
"Good. Right, we'll be back in a second, DON'T fall in! Be careful, Suzan! I don't want to have to rescue you too!"
"Yeah . . . Dad . . ." She muttered as they retreated, rolling her eyes before perring into the darkness, "Uh . . . hi there!"
"Who're you!"
"My name's Suzan, I work for International Rescue!"
"I don't remember there ever being reports of a little girl on the International Rescue team!"
"I'm new."
"Oh yeah, how do we know that you're not some punk kid?"
"Jeez . . ." She muttered, "Give me some credit! I'm six-teen years old! And do I sound Welsh? Why would I be hanging around a boring tourist resort in a country that isn't my own?"
This comment was followed by a few titters and chuckles,
"How much longer is it going to be? The water's rising fast!"
"Not long now, I can see the others returning with their gear. They'll probably take one of you out at a time, starting with the people in the water. Any small children will probably . . ."
"Just hurry up!" Someone snapped.
Before Suzan could answer, Scott had taken over again and she had been told to return to Thunderbird Two, out of the way and so on and so forth. Grumpily, she trudged back; settling against Scott's mobile control unit and watching the Emergency services fuss about with nothing to do.
- - -
Scott soon found out, that lowering himself into the pitch black mine was not as great an idea as he had originally thought. It had been an incredibly long way down from the crumpled staircase which had originally led up to the emergency exit, into the freezing cold water. Unfastening the harness from around his waist, he waded towards the group of four people, who waited there for him,
"Thank heavens!" Gasped a shivering woman, "We thought we'd never get out of here alive!"
Scott nodded, placing the harness around her waist. He flashed his torch up to Virgil twice before she began to lift from the water. Next was another young woman, clutching a small child to keep his head above the water,
"Alright, you two next and then you, sir."
"Wait a minute . . . why can't I go next!" The man demanded,
"Because this woman has a child . . ." Scott said dryly,
"That's unfair! We should all be treated fairly!"
"Where's your sense of honour?" Scott frowned before turning his back on the man was the harness returned to the water.
Once he had sent the people from the water, Scott used the harness to gain access to the ledge where the remainders of the people were waiting anxiously.
It was another half an hour before Scott finally left the mine to get back out onto the open surface. He was covered in dirt, leaving the cold water which had risen to his feet on the ledge.
- - -
Meanwhile, Suzan was in charge of managing all of the injured towards the ambulances. She huffed, continuously glancing the direction which her two brothers would emerge from. Finally, they appeared, harnesses slung over their shoulders. There was a loud cheer as everyone began to clap and shout for the pair of rescuers. This continued right until the three were re-united. The cheering did not stop, people were whistling and crying, sirens began to echo around the valley, but soon a low rumbling began to join in on the din. The three Tracy's looked at one another,
"Another Earth tremor!" Virgil exclaimed,
"It can't be . . . is it!" Scott replied,
"Look!"
Scott followed Virgil's finger to where rocks were tumbling down the cliff face. His eyes moved down to where a small child stood, looking terrified, sobbing at the foot of the cliff. All of a sudden, Suzan shot out, grabbing the small child, wrapping her arms around him protectively. She was about to dash away again, carrying the child to safety, but time ran out and a large pile of rubble tumbled onto the pair,
"SUZAN!" Both Scott and Virgil yelled, frozen to the spot as the dust began to clear.
- - - To be continued . . .
I've seen the movie commercial twice and I've read character profiles . . . does the new movie look crap to anyone else but me?
Thanks again, please RnR . . . reviewers are well loved!