AN – thank you so much for the reviews I was worried everyone had stopped reading but you have proven me wrong and made me a very happy writer. I have been working hard writing the next bit and I hope it works okay for you all. To both of the guest reviewers thank you as I couldn't message you.

Now enjoy the next part of Felicity's day.

I do not own Arrow or Thunderbirds *sigh* I just wanted to play for a while

CHAPTER 8

Lunch was a frenzied affair. Felicity had never ever experience anything like it. The large white table now had the entire population of Tracy Island around it and the space in the centre of the table was filled with varying sizes of containers full of delicious smelling food. The meal consisted of a cold buffet type spread.

John and Felicity had not been the first to arrive at the table. That had been Scott, Gordon, Virgil and Fermat. They had arrived at the same time as Jeff, Brains and Tin-Tin. Jeff had given introductions to Felicity and Brains, and hellos were exchanged between Tin-Tin and Felicity.

Once the head of the house had sat down and been joined by Mrs Tracy, Kyrano and Onaha joined the group. There were two place settings that were empty next to Jeff and remained so for a further few minutes before the elegantly dressed, in a pink flowing dress, Lady Penelope arrived with Parker following.

"Sorry Jeff urgent business. I'm afraid I am going to have to leave this evening to attend to the matter." Lady Penelope apologised.

"Penny that is terrible but unavoidable. I hope it is nothing too serious and will it give you enough time to conclude other formalities?" Jeff asked.

"Oh yes everything is in hand on both counts. Now Mrs Tracy and Onaha what a lovely looking meal you have put on."

"Why thank you dearie, boys make sure you leave some for the rest of our guests." Grandma Tracy scolded the six Tracy men who were eagerly taking seconds of their favorite foods.

A chorus of mumbled "Sorry Grandma." and "Mother." Were heard and the men in question returned to eating what was already on their plates.

Felicity hid the giggle behind her sandwich that threatened to erupt. She had been on her own since she graduated school and her mum had seen her less than a handful of times since she had gone. This group that risked their lives to save the world now seemed so ordinary sharing a meal around the table together.

"Felicity dear." The clear British accent caught Felicity's attention and she turned to look towards its owner Lady Penelope who was sat Next to Jeff. "Do you think I could steal you away from John for a short time. It's just some formalities with becoming an agent."

Felicity felt her cheeks heating at the comment, she quickly answered. "As long as I don't have to pass a physical, me and exercise do not mix." There was laughter from round the table.

In between laughing John leant towards Felicity, "Only Scott and Gordon are the fitness buffs."

"Oh dear girl no. All of the current agents are recruited on their individual talents, skill sets and qualities." Penelope clarified.

"Hey Felicity did you like the view point? We were waving but you didn't wave back." Gordon changed the conversation.

"It was a lovely view up there." Felicity started to reply.

"I got a wave." Scott boasted.

"Yeah and let me guess, you did loops, spins and rolls." Scott feigned shock and Virgil smirked he knew the oldest brother couldn't pass on an opportunity to show off. "Show off." Virgil snarked all he could do was a fly past in his pride and joy.

"That's Alan. I thought I would demonstrate 1's versatile abilities." Scott replied matter of fact.

"You would never show off would you, smother hen." Virgil goaded with a smirk.

Scott dropped the sandwich he was raising to his mouth to stare his younger brother down.

"Oo low blow Virgil you've done it now." Gordon egged.

Scott opened his mouth to speak then paused as he thought through his answer. "I do not smother and I'm not a hen. At least I don't fly a frog about the sky." He retorted.

The smirk on Virgil's face dropped as annoyance replaced it. "Oh it's on." He started to say and pretended to roll up his sleeves.

Other conversations struck up around the table as they continued on with their lunch and ignored the escalating sibling rivalry.

Both men turned towards the other drawing their arms up ready to fight. Felicity watched worried for the two and concerned that no one else was trying to stop them, she dropped her hand and grabbed John's arm. "Shouldn't we…" She started to say but was cut short as both men grabbed the other in a type of headlock and embrace and began laughing before pulling away with large smiles and returning to their food.

"Next time you insult 2…" Virgil began humorously before Scott cut him off.

"Yeah I know you'll paint 1 purple." Scott finished.

John laughed at the banter between his brothers and placed his hand over Felicity's. "They don't mean it. We have a unique dynamic way of living with each other." In a lower voice he continued, "This is why I like such a long rotation on 5."

"What was that John?" Gordon asked a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and drawing the older siblings attention.

"I was just telling Felicity how much bigger and better 5 is compared to 1, 2 and 4." John teased.

The three other brothers inhaled sharply. "Did he just insult 4?" Gordon questioned Virgil and Scott.

"He did and your taxi ride." Virgil answered.

"Meh 2 is fair game BUT 4 is my baby and no one insults my little yellow sub." Gordon whined child like.

Scott grinned he knew how to get his own back. "Gords, Virg I think Johnny has over stepped the mark. Maybe we need to go and get space baby's photo album and reminisce, tell some stories and…"

"Alright, alright I give in." John put his hands up in the universal sign of surrender. "5 is five for a reason. I take it back. Just leave the baby albums hidden." He laughed and other laughter from around the table joined in.

"Oh no you are not getting out of it that easily." Virgil spoke this time. "I think I'll go find it this afternoon it'll be ready for this evening then after dinner entertainment."

"Virgil dear why don't you bring all of the baby albums I haven't seen them for years." Grandma Tracy interrupted.

Virgil froze along with Scott and Gordon their plan now backfired with the threat of their baby books being on show too. Suddenly all three began to talk at once with excuses as to why the baby albums couldn't be gotten that day.

"Boys." Jeff's voice rose over the racket and silence descended. "Virgil you can find the albums out for your Grandma." There was a chorus of moans from the four Tracy boys. "Mother."

"Yes Jeff." Mrs Tracy challenged what her son was about to say.

"Enjoy your afternoon looking back at your grandsons baby pictures." Jeff finished. He briefly thought about stopping his mother from embarrassing his sons but she would do it anyway.

Grandma Tracy smiled at her son and continued eating. The Tracy siblings went into a sulk as they finished clearing their plates. Felicity kept out of the family feuding this was something well out of her area, she kept her eyes down and ate her lunch.

A short while later the occupants of the table started to leave after finishing their meals. When Lady Penelope had finished she spoke to Felicity. "Felicity care to join me outside by the pool?"

"Yes, sure thing." Felicity glanced towards John as she stood up.

John stood up too as he was finished eating. "I'll come find you when I'm finished." Felicity continued.

"Okay, I'll be either in the library or my room." John replied. He watched as Felicity walked along side Lady P. When they left the room he turned to leave grateful that his brothers had already left when he met his Grandma's pointed look and felt himself blush. "See you later Grandma, thanks for lunch." He hurriedly fled the room.

Felicity walked with Lady Penelope into the lounge and out onto the decking area. Down near the edge of the pool were two sun loungers with a table between them and a pink parasol opened over them.

Lady Penelope invited Felicity to take one of the loungers and she took the other one. "Right I'm afraid it's a bit of boring paperwork to get through. Its all to protect International Rescue and yourself." Penelope opened up a document folder and pulled out several documents. "Could you read through these and if you agree please sign. One is a non-disclosure contract, you are not allowed to tell anyone of your involvement with International Rescue or that the Tracy name is behind the operation. The other document contains when and how to contact the Organisation if you have information or the when and how we would contact you. Then the third are the details my background check gathered on you if you can ensure it is all correct and fill in any gaps for me I would be quite appreciative."

Felicity picked up the first document, it was several pages long of small print writing. She began reading, 'NON-DISCLOSURE CONTRACT. This agreement is between International Rescue (The Disclosing Party) and Felicity Smoak (The Receiving Party). The Receiving Party understands that the Disclosing Party has disclosed or may disclose information relating to its operation, machinery and or identity, which to the extent previously, presently, or subsequently disclosed to the Receiving Party is hereinafter referred to as "Proprietary Information" of the Disclosing Party.'

Felicity continued reading the document, when she reached the end of the document she placed the paper on the table and took up the pen that had been lying in wait on the table. She signed her name and dated it before pushing it towards Lady Penelope. "That's the non-disclosure done." She said before picking up the next document that contained her information. Keeping the document on the table Felicity twiddled the pen between her fingers while she concentrated on the information she was reading. They had her name, date of birth, all of her medical records to date including the missing details about the gene therapy, so they hadn't uncovered anymore than she could and it seemed that her secret was still safe. They had all of her qualifications and reports from academics. There was even the police report from back in university. Then there were all of the Vigilante reports from the Starling City Police and any news reports that had been produced. "Do you need to know when I started working for the Vigilante?" She asked.

Penelope looked up at the question, she had assumed Felicity had been involved from the beginning. "Well it is not required we know you help him but now that you have mentioned it I am curious I thought you had been involved form the start of his activities."

"Uh no, my IT skills were sourced to help with cases he had at the time. Then when he questioned Moira Queen she shot him and he needed medical attention he found me out and I took him to his secret base. There was another person there who had been working with the Vigilante for a while who had medical training and patched him up. I signed up to help in the search for my boss Walter Steele and took over the tech side of the operations. When we found Mr Steele I saw how much good he was doing and how hard he tries to look after the city I opted to stay on."

"That is quite a story. I won't ask you who he is but I do have my suspicions, is there any reason why he has gone into hiding since the earthquake?" Lady Penelope asked.

"I, he, uh I'm not really sure how much I can say really. Vacation?" Felicity answered.

"I hear Europe is lovely this time of the year." Lady Penelope commented testing the waters on her theory.

Felicity's eyes widened in shock and then she started to panic. "Oh Oliver Queen has gone to Europe, he lost his best friend in the earthquake and with his mother being involved with the conspiracy of the Undertaking he left for a while. I don't know where the Vigilante has gone, I know he wasn't injured in the earthquake." She replied hastily.

"Don't worry the secret is safe with me. Should he return will you have any issues keeping this secret from him?" she asked.

"No it will be fine just so long as you don't come knocking on the basement door." Felicity half joked.

"Noted." Lady Penelope replied before returning to her own paperwork.

Felicity looked back down to the information pack on herself flicking through the remaining sections on her work, housing and other little bits. They had been extremely through in the checks Felicity was shocked and impressed by her own standards. An idea crept into her mind, she had been struggling to find something and wondered if Lady Penelope could achieve it. "Lady Penelope." She started to speak as she flicked through to another page this one empty of information and asking questions of Next of Kin and Emergency contact.

"Yes."

"The information you found on me is extremely through. Can you find anything or anyone?" She asked.

"Well information is part of my forte it depends if the subject of question wants to be found." Penelope answered suspecting where this conversation was heading.

"Okay so you have your suspicions of who the Vigilante is. He went missing shortly after the Undertaking and I can't trace him. He is not where he said he was going I've been tracking his funds and using facial recognition programs and I can't locate him."

"Okay I will have a look into my sources and contacts and see what I can do to help."

"Thank you." Felicity replied than focused on her paperwork making sure she filled out the details correctly.

Once she had completed her personal details document she moved onto the final one detailing communication protocols between agents and International Rescue. Felicity settled back into the sun lounger to read the document. As she got into the first paragraph a clinking of glasses caught her attention and she looked in the direction the sound had come from to see Kyrano walking towards them.

"Lady Penelope, Miss Smoak, would you like a drink? I have tea, coffee or tropical fruit juice." Kyrano asked.

"A cup of tea please Kyrano." Lady Penelope replied.

"Fruit juice please." Felicity answered.

Kyrano poured out the tea and then the fruit juice. "Enjoy and if you require any more please call for me." And he walked away.

"Thank you Kyrano." Lady Penelope thanked.

"Thanks." Felicity said as she picked up her glass and took a long drink. It was cool, refreshing and bursting with sweet flavors. "Wow that is amazing." She said to no one.

"Kyrano has a way with drinks. I believe he grows the fruit in the garden and made the recipe himself." Penelope commented.

Felicity took another drink before returning the glass to the table and returning to her reading.

The document covered every possible reason to why she might need to contact IR and why IR may contact her. Then it went into detail of how to contact, in a dire emergency any transmission made with 'International Rescue' or 'Thunderbirds' are immediately identified and put through to the space monitor. In any other circumstance Felicity will be provided with a covert communications device that will connect her to either Lady Penelope, Jeff Tracy or the space monitor. If for any reason none of the above are contactable the device has a preprogrammed protocol to be activated in such a case and further instructions will be given at that time.

Felicity was now curious what the communications device would be. Sitting up she put the paper on the table. "Finished." She announced.

"Wonderful. Now we need to kit you out with your communicator. What do you keep with you at all times?" Lady Penelope asked.

Felicity thought about the question. The only thing she could guarantee to be carrying all the time was her phone it never left her side except she had left it in her room since this morning, damn she thought. "I would have said my phone I've always got that but for the first time I've left it in my room. I'm not really sure of anything else I keep with me or what you would be looking for."

"Well." Lady Penelope began as she lifted her purse from her side and reached inside before pulling out a pink round compact. "This is my mobile communications device, I am never without it." She opened it up to reveal a mirror and seemingly normal looking ladies compact. "Calling International Rescue, Thunderbird 5." She stated. A few seconds passed before the mirror became a video feed with a young blonde filling the screen.

"International Rescue receiving you strength 5 go ahead." The reply came through.

"Lady Penelope here Alan. I am just demonstrating the communications for Felicity." As she said Felicity's name she moved the compact to face Felicity.

Felicity watched as Alan looked at her and she held her hand up in greeting. "Hi."

"Hello Felicity. Welcome to the team. What do you think?" Alan enthusiastically asked.

Felicity smiled wide. "It's brilliant like being in a James Bond movie although not sure a compact will match with me I've never carried one about before." She replied.

"Brain's can put it into anything, we all have watches, I think all the guys have a watch. You ladies are the funny ones with teapots, compacts, lockets, pictures." Alan said.

"What type of lockets?" Felicity asked. She had always wanted a locket and she could wear it all the time without it looking unusual and it would be easy to explain its appearance if anyone asked.

"I think you should go and see Brain's he has a box full of them." Alan replied.

"Thanks Alan." Felicity said as she waved goodbye and Lady Penelope moved the compact back to herself.

"That is where we are heading to next Alan. Thank you for your assistance." Penelope thanked.

"No problem Lady P, anytime. Thunderbird 5 out." Alan's image vanished from the compact and it was once again a mirror.

"Well then we shall go and visit Brain's then hopefully he won't be too busy to see us." Lady Penelope packed away her compact and rose to her feet.

Felicity took another drink before following Lady Penelope back into the Villa and into the lower levels.

Brains' workshop was another incredible sight. Felicity couldn't believe the equipment in just this one room. The technology was even more amazing.

Lady Penelope walked into the room without knocking, her reasoning was that Brain's never heard anyone unless they were stood next to him and if the project was particularly interesting or difficult he would still be oblivious.

Voices started to be heard as they entered the room and Felicity looking like an owl followed Lady Penelope.

When they reached a fairly empty workbench they found two men, Felicity recognized both one being Fermat and the other Brains. They were bent over a box full of wires and circuit boards discussing something to do with interference.

Lady Penelope cleared her throat before speaking. "Excuse me for interrupting are you free to make Felicity her communicator."

The two men looked up from their work and smiled at their guests. "H-h-h. Afternoon Lady Penelope and F-felicity. Y-y-yes of cou-course." Brains turned to Fermat, "C-c-c. Have a try a-at your I-I-I, thought."

"S-sure thing D-Dad. H-Hello Lady P-Penelope, F-Felicity." Fermat answered Brains and greeted the guests.

"Hello Fermat. What exciting project have you got there?" Lady Penelope asked.

"Hi Fermat." Felicity helloed then listened to the coming answer to Lady Penelope's question she was curious what the box was.

"I-It's meant to be a n-n-new system for Thunderbird 1 a remote c-control u-u-unit o-o-only we are having controlling issues." Fermat answered.

Felicity's interest was peaked, she had done a topic on remote systems at MIT. "What system are you using?" She asked.

Fermat looked a little shocked at Felicity's question before answering. "W-w-we have taken a few of the s-systems on the market for d-d-drones. Customized the areas of e-each that we need and combined them then made o-o-our o-own adjustments too. I-I-It work's flawlessly with a UAV but when w-we introduce a piloted aircraft the c-c-control systems fight against each o-other." Fermat answered.

"How do the aircraft manual controls work are they mechanical or digital?" Felicity queried.

Lady Penelope by this point had moved over to another bench where Brains was working on the communication device for Felicity. She looked through the assortment of silver and gold pendants they had and selected one she knew would look lovely on Felicity. She handed it over to Brains.

"D-Digital, but so are the U-U-UAV's." Fermat responded.

"That might be the problem. If the manual controls are sitting idol and the remote controls are requesting to move there is a conflict on the same input. You need to disrupt control from the manual input…" Felicity explained her theory but Fermat interrupted.

"G-Genius why didn't w-we think of t-t-that. We c-c-can use the autopilot system, w-when that is engaged t-the manual input can be r-r-removed from the s-system. The a-autopilot system will o-only respond to the r-remote system until it is d-d-deactivated." Fermat continued on Felicity's idea and started to move around the lab gathering laptops and cables returning them to the workbench. He was that absorbed in what he was doing he didn't hear Felicity or see her move on over to Lady Penelope and Brains.

"I think Fermat has come up with a solution to your problem Brains." Felicity said as she approached the bench.

"Huh." He said as he looked up and met Felicity's gaze. His eyes were magnified through the thick lenses of his blue-rimmed glasses. Both Father and son wore almost identical spectacles the only difference being Fermat's were smaller and more designer shaped compared to Brains' large round and thick rimmed ones.

"The issues you have been having with the remote controller unit I think Fermat has figured out how to resolve the issue. It sounded like a digital input conflict between he two systems and I think Fermat is going to break the manual input away using the autopilot system." Felicity explained.

"T-That makes p-p-per logical thinking." Brains replied before continuing with the work in front of him.

"Well done Felicity." Lady Penelope congratulated. "I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of selecting a pendent. I think it will be a perfect fit for you."

"Thanks I don't mind I'm not the best at picking jewelry. Uh what did I do well at?" She asked confused.

"Helping Fermat. I saw the dear boy get absorbed into his work immediately."

Felicity cut Penny off. "Its okay I get like that too so I fully understand and no thanks required I like to help."

Both ladies waited in silence for Brains to finish the communicator. Felicity watched him placing the very small components into the pendant. He was using a magnifying glass with an LED ring around it for light. Suddenly she wondered what pictures she would put into the locket, you didn't wear one without pictures of those you were close to. She would have to get a photo of Oliver and Diggle, maybe she could get a picture of John too, wait where did that come from she thought. Oliver and Diggle I've known for over 6 months, I've known John for a few days that's not long enough to be wanting to put his picture in a locket stalker much, she scolded herself.

Thankfully Brains interrupted her internal argument. "F-F-F all ready." He said removing the locket from the vice it had been in and closing it before handing it over to the waiting had of Lady Penelope.

"Thank you Brains. We will leave you to your work." She replied.

"N-N any tine Lady Penelope. B-bye." Brains said as he began packing away his tools.

"Goodbye Brains. Goodbye Fermat." Lady Penelope called as she left the room.

"Bye and thank you." Felicity called after.

They headed back they way they had come and back to the poolside.

Back at the poolside the ladies found fresh drinks waiting for them. Once they had returned to their loungers they both took their drinks and enjoyed them.

After they had finished their refreshments Lady Penelope got back down to business. She handed the locket to Felicity. Felicity stared down at the shining silver locket. It was beautiful, it was an oval shape and about 2 inches in length. It was fairly heavy but a weight Felicity would be happy to wear knowing that it meant she was connected to International Rescue. The front of the pendant was plain polished silver and when Felicity turned it over it had an inscription 'Protecting the Rescuers'. "It's lovely, I love it." She said looking up at Lady Penelope.

"Here let me help you put it on then you can have a little practice using it." She said as she took the locket back and undid the clasp before wrapping it around Felicity's neck and securing it.

"It has a long chain so you can use it while wearing it. If it is too long." Lady Penelope retrieved her purse and removed a jewelry box. "There is a shorter chain in here as well. It's fully waterproof and submersible up to 100 meters if you require it and it is impact protected to 10 tones not that that will ever affect you." Lady Penelope handed the box over to Felicity who took it with her free hand while the other lay over the locket resting just under her bosom.

"Now we need to set up the communicator to you, it is voice activated so anyone else if they gain access to the locket and know the words it won't work however it will transmit the audio to Thunderbird 5 on the basis you maybe in danger. So if you open the locket and say the words 'Calling International Rescue, Thunderbird 5.'"

Felicity lifted the locket and opened it up. The inside was like 2 mirrors the silver surface was so highly polished. "When you have some pictures you would like inside we can put them into the internal memory to display on the screens." Lady Penelope explained.

Felicity nodded and then began the call. "Calling International Rescue, Thunderbird 5." There was a brief moment of quiet before Alan's live feed appeared on the right screen upside down.

"International Rescue receiving you upside down." Alan's confused voice came through.

"Oops, sorry Alan." Felicity quickly turned the locket in her hands to that where the chain connected was now at the top not the bottom.

"Well that was new." Alan said. "That's better, I am guessing you found a locket you liked.

"Yeah Lady Penelope picked one out." Felicity replied.

"Well your voice recognition has been accepted you're good to go." Alan informed.

"Thank you."

"Thunderbird 5 out." Alan said before ending the call.

The screen went back to its shiny silver finish and Felicity closed the locket and lay it back down.

"I don't want to insult your intelligence but do you want to try making another call or are you happy with using the locket?" Lady Penelope asked.

"No its simple enough thanks." Felicity replied.

"Well then that's you all done, normally I would have gone into looking after yourself and self defense training but given how you reacted when we met and other activities you partake in I think it would be a waste of our time." Lady Penelope finished up.

"Oh uh yeah." Felicity stumbled over answering, that night had spooked her and she had been in some difficult situations with Oliver, she didn't like it but she knew it was worth it to help others.

"Now I think I have taken up enough of your time." Lady Penelope said as she started to collect the paperwork together. "I will see you later at the evening meal."

"Yes, thank you. See you later." Felicity said. She remained on the sun lounger looking around, her empty hand absently moved to fiddle with the locket.

After a long while of thinking Felicity stood up and she picked up the finished drinks and took them inside towards the kitchen to return them.

The kitchen was in a state of commotion when Felicity entered, she could see Grandma Tracy, Onaha and Kyrano moving about stacking food on plates and preparing food. Felicity moved across the room and made it to the sink before being spotted by Kyrano.

"Miss Smoak you shouldn't be doing that you are guest." Kyrano admonished Felicity.

"It's okay I was walking past anyway and you all look really busy. Is there anything I can help with?" Felicity asked.

"Thank you Felicity dear. No we are alright here why don't you go and freshen up for dinner we are having a barbeque on the deck tonight." Grandma Tracy informed Felicity.

"Thank you if you're sure I will go and do that."

"Perfectly dear. Dinner will be at 5:30." Grandma answered.

"Okay bye then." Felicity called as she left the kitchen the three occupants calling out their goodbyes behind her.

AN – I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please leave me reviews they make my day when I read them and help inspire more writing.