JOHN looked down at the Earth from inside Thunderbird 5. Every so often, a small robot of Brains's would pass by. For the past two weeks, they'd been working on the special present that Brains had brought up with Alan on the day Professor Kwak had attempted her space speed record. All the components had been there, but too much to do in between had prevented them from even getting started. John didn't need to do anything except wait for the little construction robots to complete their job.

"There, John," said Brains at last. "It is f-finished."

"I cannot wait to see this, Brains," said John as he went over to a control panel. "I hope it was worth your time and effort?"

Brains smiled "T-Trust me, it will," he said. "Go ahead."

John pushed a button. The top of Thunderbird 5 opened up and a large long-range telescope emerged from within. It was a big one. At least ten metres in length with the most powerful zoom of any telescope that had ever been made before. "Woah…" said John in amazement.

"You've always loved s-star gazing," said Brains. "I c-cannot believe I never thought to include one in the original design for T-Thunderbird 5."

"It never needed one," said John. "But I am very happy it has one now. Thank you, Brains."

"M-My pleasure," said Brains. "Let me know how you g-get on with using it. Tracy Island, out."

As Brains's hologram disappeared, John climbed into the special seat that had been added with a scope that lowered from the ceiling to allow him to look through the telescope. He used the controls to adjust the direction of it and focused it on the closest object - the Moon. "Oh, wow!" he gasped in amazement. "The zoom on this is incredible! I can actually see the surface of the Moon! And there's Shadow-Alpha One! Or rather…what is left of it."

EOS's camera pod came over. "That was your father's base, wasn't it?" she said.

"And Captain Taylor's," John answered. "Hmm. I wonder how he's doing? It's been a while since we've heard anything from Mars, come to think of it."

"No news is possibly good news?" EOS asked.

"Possibly," said John. "Although more often than not, it can often mean the opposite." He thought for a moment. "EOS, what's Mars's current position?"

"Calculating," said EOS. "Found it. It's actually visible from our current position. Rotate the telescope forty degrees to the left."

"Forty degrees left," said John, adjusting the controls of the telescope. The scope turned to the left and lowered down a little bit then John looked through the viewfinder again. Sure enough, there was Mars. it was very clear, as if it were only the same distance from Earth as the Moon was. "There it is. Wow. I don't think I've ever seen Mars with my own eyes before."

"You've never been to Mars, have you?" said EOS.

"No," John replied, shaking his head. "Think I'm about the only one of us who hasn't been. Except Grandma of course. Dad was the first there of course. Scott, Alan, Virgil, Gordon, Brains. Heck, even Lady Penelope has been to Mars. so that leaves me, Parker, Grandma…oh, Kayo actually hasn't been either I don't think. Oh, well. Maybe I shouldn't feel left out after all."

"I'm sure you'll get your chance one day, John," said EOS.

John looked at the camera of his Artificial Intelligence partner and friend. "Thank you, EOS," he said. He chuckled. "You know I sometimes wonder what you would look like if you had a body."

EOS giggled. "Maybe for your next birthday you should ask Brains to make me one?" she joked.

John laughed as well before turning his attention back to Mars through the telescope. "Now…let's see how close to Mars we can look?" he said out loud. He was just adjusting the zoom when something caught his eye. Down on the bottom right side of the planet was a small green light. It wasn't big, but was just bright enough to be noticeable. "Hmmm. That's strange," John remarked. "EOS, are you seeing this? Can you combine yourself with the telescope?"

"I can," said EOS. "I presume you're referring to that green light?"

"Yes, I am," said John. "Let's see if we can WOAH!"

In a split second, the mysterious light shot upwards from the surface of Mars leaving a plume of what looked like luminous green gas

John was aghast by what he'd just seen. "What the hell was that?!"

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! will return on December 18th with the start of the Christmas Special