Hello! Hello! Back at it again. Hope you are all still with me. Enjoy this chapter!
My French isn't the best so correct me, if you see something wrong.
It has now been a week in the Tracy-household and by this time, even Jeff has got used to the existence of the Producers.
Currently, the family was at breakfast.
Jeff was reading the paper with his glasses (that he only wore out of fashion choices and not because he was getting old and actually needed them, or at least that's what he likes to say)
Tin-Tin had fully recovered and was as lively as ever. Alan was in conversation with her while Kyrano was sitting on the other side of her reading something, while drinking a black tea in silence.
Gordon drenched his fried eggs in such an obscene amount of ketchup that it should be counted as a crime against humanity. Next to him was Virgil who was drinking his coffee and smoking his "2nd during-breakfast-cigarette".
Virgil had his 'morning ritual', which included his first cigarette after getting up, and his cigarette after the first cigarette. Followed by his cigarette before breakfast, his two during breakfast, and his one after breakfast. Another four are occasionally added if he had a second course of breakfast.
Next to Virgil was Brains, who was shoving some scrambled eggs into his mouth while furiously writing cryptic things down on a napkin. Down by the end of the table, the Filmmakers were sitting, writing notes for the first instalment of their show.
But you might realise that someone is missing... I mean, besides the obvious fact that Josephine wasn't here, because no one liked him.
No, it was because Scott wasn't here. He had gone on leave with Thunderbird 1.
Now questions may arise.
Like: Why on earth would he take Thunderbird 1 instead of the usual jet? And why would he even take a leave, when he's on an island, with nothing much to do?
For the second question, we actually have an answer. For Scott had a 'surprise' appointment, made by his father at an 'ability restoring building'. Which was absolutely not an alcoholic withdrawal treatment help group!
Scott went away for a week, to this totally not a rehabilitation centre, and probably took Thunderbird 1 out of spite. Which is where we get our answer to the first question.
That he had to land it in a forest, miles away from his destination, as to not be seen, bothered him only half as much, when he thought about the faces of his family, when they found out that Thunderbird 1 was no longer in its hanger.
Well, he was returning today and once the welcome reception was over, Jeff would talk with him.
Otherwise, it was very relaxed today and everyone was anticipating the absolute storm that would rage once Scott touched ground.
A week earlier, on the other end of the world, history was in the making. We are shown a busy launchpad. A rocket was about to soar off into the skies. Cars, transportation vehicles and people who were going from here to there and from there to here, paused when the present Colonel made an announcement.
"Attention. Solar Control Centre to all personnel. 19 minutes to lift-off. Clear launch area. Repeat: Clear launch area."
We cut to a TV broadcast. A fancy dressed man from National Television Broadcasting Station (or NTBS for short) thankfully explained to us exactly what was happening, so that I don't have to do it.
"Well, viewers, excitement is mounting in block-house 42, here at Cape Kennedy, as the most daring rocket launching of all time counts down."
At the space centre control room was a dead silence. Everyone pretended to do something important in front of Colonel Benson. Like ... looking at a colleague ... or looking at a rolling tape ... or acting like they were re-reading a report, when they were actually trying to solve today's sudoku.
Colonel Benson was sitting at the end of the room behind his big, important desk. "Launch site clear in 15 seconds. Start thrust checks at lift-off minus 15 minutes.", he announced
He looks at a wall clock, and an almost holy silence spread across Cape Kennedy.
"Thrust checks minus five, four, three, two, one... ignition. Ignition go."
The rockets fire up and Benson could read off the power from the thrustmeter build into his desk.
Back on the TV broadcast the presenter, tells us more about the rocket. "This new launch technique has been made possible, viewers, by the use of a revolutionary new fuel, the manufacturing of which is top secret. Only about eight minutes to lift-off."
The clock counts further, and the rocket heated up. It shows us the exterior of the craft, which in large letters reads SUNPROBE, so the Cape personnel doesn't confuse it with the 'Star-Exploration' or something like that. Remember this machine, because it'll show up again later.
Finally, the rocket was at full power.
"Twenty million pounds thrust and steady. Gantry retraction green."
The gantry moves away from the rocket. It had done its one job and was promptly lifted onto a boat to be shipped off to New York, where it was 'borrowed' from two months ago. But what it was doing in New York is a story for another time...
Two men were witnessing the magnificent spectacle from a bunker on the premise.
"Rocket fuel from water. It hardly seems possible, Borender.", said Sir Jeremy Hodge
"If anyone could hear you, and I'm glad they can't, they would think that you had nothing to do with this new process.", answered Professor Borender in a strange accent, which I will no longer comment on.
Both were brilliant scientist in their own right, with Sir Jeremy Hodge behind part responsible for the Thunderbird machines we know and love, and Professor Borender having studied the better part of his life on how to make this new fuel type. Together, they finally found the right procedure.
The TV host quipped in again to tell us more things. "Only a few moments remain, viewers, before we see the lift-off of Sun Probe, so named because with its enormous power, it will fly to the Sun and collect matter. History is indeed in the making here at Cape Kennedy."
Colonel Benson checked everything over one last time.
Hodge and Borender looked out of the window with bated breath.
The Colonel gave another message. "Stand by solar module. 13 seconds. Commencing final countdown. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Full power! Lift-off."
The Sun Probe shot into the sky.
At the improvised Television-studio, the team was about to wrap-up their broadcast, with these last words: "She looks good all right! It was known all along that the risk of failure on this project was at lift-off. But the lift-off was pretty, very pretty indeed. This success could not be better timed, coming as it does two days before the all-important International Conference at Paris."
We make a hard cut to a country road in the middle of nowhere. Or maybe not really in the middle of nowhere...
"Paris is now 20km away, m'lady. Where do you desire to go when we get there?", Parker asked Lady Penelope. They were speeding through the countryside in FAB 1.
"The Café Atalante, Parker. I'm meeting Sir Jeremy Hodge there at midnight."
"Ooooooh?"
"He seems to be in some kind of trouble."
"Oh."
Parker then thought. Jeremy Hodge. The names ringing a bell.
"Isn't he the scientific gentleman who 'elped to form our h'organisation?"
"Yes, Parker. He helped Brains to get certain components for the Thunderbirds machines manufactured secretly in Europe."
"So, 'e's one of h'us, then, m'lady?"
"Yes, Parker. He's one of us."
"Ooooooh?"
"That doesn't mean that we show him our ugly underbelly. We are still professionals and display nothing less than absolute perfection!"
"Oh."
Just minutes later, Penelope was already sitting with Jeremy in front of the Café / Restaurant / Hotel / Wedding venue / dance studio on Thursdays / Santa's Workshop during the Winter holidays.
They heard a man playing music on an accordion. It was the musician's favourite piece of music to play ... it was also the only piece of music he could play. The Café had hired him a year ago for a cheap price, and now he's been sitting there every night playing the same song on repeat.
"Ah, Paris in the spring! What could be more romantic?", Penelope stated, while looking out into the dark but comfortable night.
"Well, I must say, dear Lady, it's dashed decent of you to come all this way to see an old friend."
"I always obey the call of friendship, Sir Jeremy."
Jeremy looked at her sheepishly. "Let's drink to that. Now, what would you like? I'll pay."
"Oh, thank you Sir Jeremy. In Paris, I always drink Pernod."
"Very Well."
Sir Jeremy turned to the waiter "A Pernod for madame, and a whisky and soda for me."
"Nous sommes en France et vous ne parlez pas français ?"
"Yes, yes. Merci, merci, merci. Just get our drinks."
"Salaud", the waiter mumbled as he went away. Penelope refrained from smirking at the words.
Unbeknownst to her or Sir Jeremy, they were watched. A man dressed in grey was also sitting at the restaurant 'reading' a newspaper. He looked over the paper with his sunglasses, which were reflecting a light source that shouldn't be there.
"But come now, you didn't bring me all this way for nothing. Why this air of mystery? Why this midnight rendezvous?"
"Is it safe to talk? Did anyone see you come here?"
"No one... apart from Parker. Nobody knows I'm in Paris."
"Good. What I am going to disclose is for your ears only. You know of my old friend, Professor Borender?"
"You mean your colleague at International Research Laboratories? The small man with the accent?"
"Two nights ago, after the International Conference here in Paris, I saw him off by train to Anderbad. When the train reached its destination, he simply was not on it."
Over Sir Jeremy's shoulder, she could see the waiter approaching and warned him to stop his talking. "Careful!"
"Voici vos boissons!", said the waiter, and went around the table to give them their drinks.
"Un Pernod pour la dame."
"Et un whisky et soda pour la tête de con."
"Merci beaucoup!", answered Lady Penelope for them both. The waiter did a small bow with his head and walked away from the table.
"Strange...", Penelope thought. The barkeeper had not yet properly mixed the water with the alcohol, making her drink appear somewhat clear. Penelope stirred it with a teaspoon until the drink finally had the cloudy colour she desired. That usually doesn't happen.
Both had their drinks in hand and Penelope tried to bury her worries by announcing, "Ah, well. Down the hatch!"
She raised her glass and was about to put it to her lips when ...
BANG!
Her glass shattered, the liquid fell to the floor and all over her nice coat. Sir Jeremy nearly jumped out of his chair in surprise. Penny had shock written all over her face.
"I beg your pardon, m'lady, but the drink was drugged.", Parker informed via microphone.
He fired the bullet from one of FAB 1's machine guns.
"Well, thank you Parker, but couldn't you have called or something?"
"We can't take risks, m'lady..."
While they were talking, the mysterious man had got up from his seat and left. Sir Jeremy saw this and followed.
"Hé!", yelled the waiter after the man with the glasses, "L'addition n'a pas' encore été réglée!".
He then turned to the startled Penelope. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Madame! I had no idea. The gentleman asked me for a light and he must have put something in your glass when my eyes were blinded by the flame."
"Oh, how tiresome...", Penelope stated. Then she realised something.
"Wait a minute! You speak English?", she asked the waiter.
"Of course! Which European doesn't?"
"Well, it's just that you spoke nothing but French..."
"If a person isn't bothering to get my language right, I'm not putting in any effort either!"
Just then Sir Jeremy returned.
"Any sign of him?", asked Penelope
"Not a dashed thing, Penelope."
Parker had also left the FAB 1 to talk with his employer "I'm afraid he gave us the slip, m'lady."
But Penny spotted something on the table the man sat at. "It looks as if he's left something behind."
A book of matches lay there. It featured a crest that was unfamiliar to her.
"I don't think I recognise the crest. Do you, Sir Jeremy?"
"Afraid not, old girl. But we could pop along to the Heraldic Archives and look it up."
"Yes, we can go in the morning. Sir Jeremy, perhaps now you would be so good as to escort me back to my hotel. You'd better tell me what this is all about."
The FAB 1 was once more racing down the streets. Penny and Jeremy were sitting in the back, while Parker was trying his best to follow the traffic regulations.
Penny pressed a button. It revealed a tape recorder, which began to turn.
Then Penelope asked, "First of all, you are certain that Professor Borender travelled on that train?"
"Absolutely. I saw him off at the station myself, but the attendant on the train swears that I'm mistaken, and that no one of that name travelled."
"Can you think of any reason why the professor should disappear like this?"
"One excellent reason. For the past year, he and I have been engaged in experiments with sea water. Cigarette?", he asked out of the blue. Penelope was surprised, but still took him up on his offer and grabbed a cigarette out of his metal box.
He then lit his lighter to set alight her light cigarette. All in a glide. What a delight!
Then Sir Jeremy replied in a plight- erm- I mean: Sir Jeremy continued, "The Professor Borender and I have just perfected a method of converting sea water to fuel. But to convert water into fuel is a very delicate process and can be performed only with the facilities that the Professor and I have devised. In the wrong hands, this process could contaminate the oceans of the world."
"And the consequences to mankind could be pretty terrifying. Now I understand your precautions."
"I don't think you do. Not completely. You remember the launch last week of the new Sun Probe rocket?
Penelope, who until this point looked on straight, as to not get carsick, turned her head to Jeremy now. "Don't tell me that rocket was launched on your new fuel?"
"It was, indeed. So, apart from the dangers I've mentioned, it's possible the discovery could upset the balance of power and start a world war."
Penny was silent for a moment. "That is indeed very serious...". She snapped out of this mood right away. "International Rescue owes you a great debt, Sir Jeremy. We are at your service. What would you like us to do?"
"You must help me find the professor, dear Lady."
"Of course. And we've got to work fast. We are up against men who will stop at nothing.", she promised.
After finally reaching her hotel room, Lady Penelope called Tracy Island.
Jeff picked up, while Gordon, Virgil, Alan and Tin-Tin were also in the living room, doing nothing. Why they were there in the first place is also questionable, because the Producers would film nothing today.
"I shall require information about Prof. Borender and the recent conference at Paris. Sir Jeremy and I are taking the night train to Anderbad."
"Think you'll need any help?", Jeff asked.
"Not until we get to Anderbad. We just want to make a few investigations on the train. We'll be playing it pretty cool."
"I bet you will.", added Alan in a sarcastic tone. Everyone else ignored that statement.
"OK, Penny. I'll send Virgil with Thunderbird 2 and the equipment I think you might need. He'll meet you at Anderbad."
"Very well then, Jeff. Over and out."
Penelope just closed her powder compact radio when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in", she called.
It was Parker. "Will you be wanting h'anything else tonight, m'lady?"
"Have you made the reservations on the train to Anderbad?"
"Yes m'lady. I have secured adjoining Pullman compartments for yourself and Sir Jeremy."
"Excellent."
"Then good night then, m'lady.", the butler was about to turn around and leave.
"Oh, Parker..."
"Er... yes, m'lady?", he hoped whatever she had to say wouldn't take too long, for he was already pretty tired.
"That was good shooting tonight, Parker. Thank you.", and Penny showed a smile.
"Oh uh – You're welcome. Good night, m'lady.". He certainly could live with that... Parker closes the door and both he and Penelope went to bed.
On Tracy Island, Virgil was getting ready to board Thunderbird 2. Jeff and Tin-Tin were watching the commotion.
"Well, Tin-Tin, another rescue is under way."
"I'm sure the boys are sorry they're not joining Penelope in Paris. And I can't blame them." Tin-Tin herself had never been in Paris before, as every time she planned the trip something would always come in between. Whether it was herself getting sick, or a natural disaster taking place at her departure airport, or the travel agency going bankrupt, or a family event.
"There'll be time enough for sight-seeing later. Right now, they're needed at Anderbad to make investigations at that end."
Meanwhile, Virgil was doing his usual procedure. Sliding down, turning on Thunderbird 2, relighting his cigarette, choosing Pod 6 (which included the Monobrake, a craft they might need on this mission), and quickly dressing into his uniform, while the massive craft lowered itself on the Pod like a hen. Gordon and Alan follow him into the Cockpit via passenger elevator.
"Here we go again."
"Alan, this is literally your first mission. What are you talking about?", Gordon questioned.
Before someone could say anything, Jeff spoke over the radio, "Good luck then, boys. Keep in touch at all times."
Thunderbird 2 was gliding along its path. Virgil was at the wheel, while Gordon and Alan looked up on a map where they were going to land once they were in Anderbad.
"It looks like a fairly empty place. We'll have no problem to land."
"Gordon, you're looking at the wrong side.", said Virgil.
Gordon turned the map on its 'backside'. "Uh–yeah, I knew that."
"And would you two please sit down properly? We are about to take off and I don't want anyone flying through the cockpit like a volleyball.", Virgil demanded and after some complaining, the brothers followed.
"Now, you can stand up again!", Virgil said.
Thunderbird 2 was well in the air and at save cruising height.
"Virgil, how long until we are in Anderbad?", Alan asked.
Virgil looked at the calculated length that was displayed on the dashboard. "About 11, maybe 12 hours"
"12 HOURS!?"
"Yes, 12 hours! Alan, we live on the other side of the planet! What were you expecting?"
"But when you needed to go to London Airport, you arrived there in 2 hours!"
"That's because I flew over the North Pole. We can't do this now, because then I could get a dangerous amount of cosmic radiation! Now please just sit back and be quiet. We got a lot of time to spend!"
Gordon also wasn't aware that the journey would take so long. He saw a box in the corner and stretched his neck to look inside. It was full of audio cassettes. Gordon was interested and went through them to see if Virgil had something good in there.
But as soon as the cassettes had grabbed his interest, they made him lose it again, because Virgil's music taste was pretty boring.
"Virgil, how come you only got trash in there?"
Virgil turned around and saw Gordon with his Audio-cassette collection.
"Hey! Leave my cassettes alone. They are high-class masterpieces!"
"Yeah! If you like boring stuff! 'My fair Lady', 'West Side Story', 'The sound of Music', 'Daphnis et Chloé', 'Orpheus in the Underworld', 'Madame Butterfly' and readings of 'Moby Dick', 'A Midsummer night's dream', 'Romeo and Julia' and 'Odyssey' in 13 parts! Who even listens to that anymore? All these things are at least a hundred years old!"
"I listen to it! And if the two of you don't shut up, I'll turn this thing around and you can explain to Lady P. why we weren't there! Okay!", Virgil fumed.
The two were quiet. More out of fear than respect, because it was pretty rare for Virgil to blow his top. They probably struck a nerve.
"I won't mind listening to 'Odyssey'...", Alan uttered.
"Good, because I won't mind, either", Virgil said, and struck his hand backwards towards Gordon and the box of audio cassettes.
At this point, Gordon was already frightened of Virgil and put the cassette of the first part in his hand without questioning. Virgil put it into the cassette player, and Book 1 began to play.
"Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide..."
And from then on, Gordon and Alan knew it was going to be a long flight...
In Paris it was morning again and Penelope, with Sir Jeremy in tow, went to the Heraldic Archive. A man, which looked awfully familiar, sat at the desk and examined the matchbook Penny had picked up.
"Ah, yes. A most interesting heraldic device. Yes, I think you've come to the right place. If you go down to our lower vaults, you'll find what you're looking for."
"Capital! And where might they be?", said Sir Jeremy.
"Down these steps, Monsieur."
Simultaneously, Penney and Jeremy turned their heads sideways. In literally any other situation, Penelope would have walked out. Right then, right there. The door was half opened and didn't show the bottom of this 'basement'. It practically screamed trap.
"Say Monsieur ... have we met before?", Jeremy asked the man behind the desk.
"Uh–non ... not that I know of...", answered the addressed men, clearly nervous.
Penelope and Jeremy got up and took the stairs down to the lower vault. The entire room was illuminated by a single lightbulb which hung from the top. The books lay scattered across multiple shelves. It looked like nobody had been down there for a long time.
"Where do we start then?"
"Let's try over there for a start," and she pointed to a random shelf.
Penelope walked over and saw that one of the books had seemingly been cleaned. "I say, looks as if someone's been here recently."
"Found something?", asked Jeremy when joined Penelope's side.
"This one's had the cobwebs wiped off lately."
Just as the two were hunched over the book, a shadow appeared at the door. The English guests looked through the pages until they came upon a crest that looked like the one on the matchbook.
"Look. These crests are remarkably similar.", said Penny.
"Right. Turn the page and we should find what we're looking for."
They turned the page ... and found it missing. Someone had ripped it from the book.
"It looks, Sir Jeremy, as if someone was expecting us.". Just as these words left Penelope's mouth, the door of the vault has been slammed shut.
"What the? Not very friendly, what?", stated Jeremy. Penelope's facial expression darkened when she heard a noise.
"Hush. Listen!", she told Jeremy. The man quieted down and listened, too. They heard a hissing noise. Was it snakes? No, that would have been much easier to fight off.
"By Jove! It's gas!", yelled Jeremy.
"And not a window in the place... A very clever way of disposing of us."
"Penelope! How come you react with a maximum of annoyance in the face of certain death!? How are you that relaxed!?"
In truth, Penny was not relaxed at all. She was actually very frightened. But there was no way in heck she would ever let these feelings surface.
"Hey, you out there! Are you listening? Open this door! Do you hear? Open this door at once! I thought the librarian was a phoney.", Sir Jeremy yelled, while constantly knocking at the door.
Penelope had finally connected the dots. "Of course! He must be the stranger at the café who tried to poison me. He must have remembered leaving the matchbook behind."
"Oh my god! We are going to die in here. The gas is simply pouring into the room.", Sir Jeremy cried out while striking a dramatic pose.
"Never mind, Sir Jeremy. Parker will have us out of here in no time.", Lady Penelope said, while trying her best to stay optimistic in this situation.
"I say, open this door at once! We're British!", Jeremy yelled and knocked at the door again. What he particularly meant with this statement is open for discussions. Please send your analyses to: www.
Penelope talked into her powder compact radio. "Come in, Parker. Come in Parker. Can you hear me?"
Out on the street, Parker was waiting in the FAB 1, reading an issue of 'Save & Secure Monthly'. He was looking up new locks for the Creighton-Ward Mansion. The Butler looked up from his magazine. "Loud and clear."
"Keep a lookout for a stranger leaving the building, probably wearing a green jacket."
He looked around and saw the one man standing outside. "Yes, m'lady. I see 'im. He's leaving the building. Going in pursuit, now."
Penelope had barely enough air in her lungs to breathe, let alone talk. She quickly spluttered between coughs, "No! No, Parker. I- I think you'd better come and get us out of this prison first."
Behind her, Sir Jeremey felt much the same, coughing constantly now.
Parker thought fast and reversed the FAB 1 backwards to the building. The breaking lights moved out of their way and two harpoons with cords attached shot out. They hooked themselves into the door. The Rolls Royce then pulled at the rope until it ripped the door out of its frame.
Jeremey took a good breath of the fresh air that came in. He turned to Penelope. "Just in time! Are you all right, Penelope?"
"Yes, perfectly. I knew Parker wouldn't let us down."
Parker had stepped out of the FAB 1 and walked into the building to look after the Lady. "Sorry to keep you waiting, m'lady."
"It's alright Parker. The next step is to get to Anderbad. Come, Sir Jeremy, you and I have a train to catch."
And together they walked out of the building.
We see a bustling Railway Station. People are running to catch their connections, loud sirens announce the departure of a train and the arrival of another.
The Anderbad Express Monotrain departs. Yes, you read that right – Monotrain. Over the last few years, humanity had abandoned their bi-rail-ways, and had opted out to Monotrains for all public transport.: From long-distance rides, to underground connections, and light rail.
And sure, Monorails are expensive to build, difficult to maintain, switching to another track is nearly impossible, and any simplicity, that comes with normal rail, is thrown out of the window ... but, it looks really cool, and you get to feel like you live in the movie Metropolis, so it's justified.
Lady Penelope and Sir Jeremy were on the train that had just departed. It was soaring along its beam. As soon as the two had got on the train and saw the attendant, Sir Jeremy had asked him about the missing Professor Borender.
Jeremy and Penelope were sitting in the 1st class lounge, having a smoke when the Attendant came back to them. His name was Alfred, and if there was anything he was proud of, it was his own service on this train. He would go through enormous length to ensure the safety and the comfortability of his customers. But there were things even he wasn't invincible to - Like being threatened with certain death.
"I have told you before, Monsieur, I had no Professor Borender on this train."
"Well, I'm telling you, young fellow, that you had, because I saw him off at the station.", Jeremy argued, but it had no use.
"Come now. Perhaps you were mistaken.", suggested Penelope to the attendant.
"No, no! Not mistaken. Excuse me, please. I must go.", and Alfred left hurriedly.
"Perhaps, after all, I'm the one who's mistaken. Perhaps I imagined the whole thing.", Jeremy contemplated, but Penelope was quick to dismiss the thought.
"Nonsense. That attendant is clearly hiding something. Well, come now, Sir Jeremy, it's cocktail time. No one is going to deprive me of my Pernod this time."
We follow Alfred to his attendant's compartment. In which he wasn't alone.
"I told them nothing, Doctor Godber. Nothing."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?". It was the same man who had tried and failed to dispose of Penelope and Jeremy twice by now.
"You must believe me!", Alfred begged.
Godber saw no use in interrogating Alfred further, and cursed Jeremy and Penny. "Those interfering fools will be sorry they ever set foot on this train! Twice in Paris, they outwitted me, but I am setting a trap that not even the lovely Lady Penelope can escape from."
Alfred cut in while his blackmailer made his dramatic monologue, "I'm really busy, you know. Can I go now? Someone ordered room service like 15 minutes ago... I need to get going."
"Yes, yes, you go on ... But you will return to here afterwards!"
"Yes, Monsieur..."
And the Anderbad Express carried on driving through the French countryside, with close to no one knowing, just in how big of a danger they were...