The plan didn't work… So I still don't own anything
Chapter 3…
Virgil practically whooped when he saw his father and brothers staring at him through the monitor. But his mood was soon changed when Gordon yanked him off the chair and onto the floor, taking his place in what was normally their fathers seat. This joy was was short lived though as giant crash sounded behind the three space bound Tracys.
The image on the screen flickered between static and blurry images of the stranded Tracy's. Before they could begin to adjust the calibration on the connection another explosion filled the screen before it went black, with a small message in the centre saying 'No Visual Detected'. Despite there being no image on the screen the audio was still going strong.
No one on Tracy Island spoke. Brains had opened his mouth to speak but the words had been lost before they even got a chance to get jumbled. The Tracy sons just stared as they listened to the shreds of hope they had wither to almost nothing. Finally Alan spoke "Dad?"
Through the monitor they heard some shuffling followed by something muttering and something that sounded distinctly like cursing. This time it was Gordons' voice that broke the silence, yelling his brothers names as loud as possible at the screen of black which faced him. The muttering intensified on the other side followed by more shuffling and a pain filled moan. Virgil stayed silent, just watching the screen. Waiting. Hoping. Needing to hear his Father or brother tell him that everything was fine – nothing a couple of nuts and bolts wouldn't fix. But it seemed as though nothing would break the pattern of mumbling and shuffling.
Then, after an agonizing wait, a voice from the other side of the monitor sounded. "Hey guys, sorry about that. Seems the heat exchange not only wanted to stop working but felt the need to blow up as well". Scott spoke carefully, not wanting to cause any unnecessary panic. There was a brief pause followed by more muttering.
"Scott? Is everything okay?" Virgil asked with just as much trepidation.
"Yeah, sorry Virge. Me and Dad are fine nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises" he stopped again, this time no one spoke knowing there was more to be said "Brains?"
Brains stepped up to the control panel "Y-Y-Y- what is it Master Tr-Tr-Tr-Scott?"
On the other side Scott smirked, it was times like this Brains' impediment came in useful. Assuring them all that something's were permanent, they were stable. "How fast do you reckon you could override Thunderbird 5 and get us control?"
"It c-c-c- might take thirty minutes, depending on the damage c-c-c-c-sustained by the meteorite sir" Brains stammered into the microphone. This was followed by more muttering and some definite cursing. Then another sound rose above the muttering, a loud ragged coughing and then a low moan dripping with agony.
"Scott?" Gordon asked "Where's John and Dad?"
Another moments silence followed this, then more shuffling and a light groaning. "Brains, I want you to start attempting the override immediately, the faster the better understood?" Jeff's commanding tone came through the monitor, strong but tinged with panic.
"Yes Sir, w-w-w-how is Johns' condition Sir?" Brain asked, gaining thankful glances from each of the Tracy brothers for asking the question they couldn't. This time there was no talking for a couple of minutes, prompting Brains to ask the question again albeit slightly more softly.
When there was still no answer, Alan moved closer to the monitor "Dad? What's going on? Where's John?" he asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"Sorry, he's uh…he's not great. We need to get back as soon as possible" he stopped for a moment and more muttering was heard, "Okay just try to keep him conscious" he said just loudly enough to be picked up by the microphone. "Brains I want to be back online in half an hour, I don't carer how you do it, just… just do. Boys if you need us shout – we're going to see whether we can save any parts of Johns bird" he chuckled lightly then said "Believe it or not it was the first thing he asked about when he regained consciousness. Thunderbird 5 out".
Virgil smiled, he would have done the same thing if it had happened to Thunderbird 2 – no matter what physical injury was sustained, a Tracys prime concern was his bird. "F.A.B Dad. Base out" he said before cutting the connection.