Previously on THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!...

International Rescue tackles a blaze at the Bensheba Oil Refinery and is successful in putting it out.

The refinery's owner Warren Grafton fires a worker for calling IR and also gives Scott & Virgil a hard time.

Alan freaks out whilst rescuing an astronaut forcing Kayo to save the day at the last second.

Kayo insists that Jeff gets Alan some help and Grandma says she knows the right person for the job.

Jeff and Grandma take Alan to meet psychiatrist Dr Daniel Charles in Chicago.

Alan and Dr Charles have a one to one and uncover the cause behind Alan's issues.

Alan hears a song over the radio about the Dakar Rally and decides to take part.

Scott, Virgil and Gordon go to help the stricken Cruise Ship Miranda in the Caribbean.

Whilst trying to talk the Captain into leaving, Scott finds himself trapped on the bridge when the ship capsizes and sinks.


5!

4!

3!

2!

1!

"Thunderbirds Are Go!"


"GRIEF" - Part 2

GORDON's heart was in his mouth as he stared, frozen to the spot, at the frothing water where the Miranda had been seconds before. Even though there were people trying to get out of the lifeboats and onto the module ramp, he found himself unable to do anything.

Virgil was still desperately trying to call his brother. "Scott?! SCOTT?! ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!"

"Virgil, calm down!" John said.

"C-Calm down?!" spluttered Virgil.

Gordon now found his voice having heard. "John, how the hell can you tell us to calm down?!" he fumed. "Scott's still on the ship!"

"Well then why are you just standing there staring?" John answered. "You've got Thunderbird 4. Go get them!"

Gordon looked to his right where the yellow submersible was sitting near to the module. "You're damn right!" he realised. "Why the hell am I standing here!" He grabbed his helmet and put it on. "Virgil, take over the loading of the module. I'm gonna get Scott!"

"You got it!" said Virgil, putting Thunderbird 2 on autopilot and setting it to position above the module. He then left the cockpit to get his helmet and then lower himself down to the module so he could take over the transfer of people from the lifeboats to the module.

Gordon meanwhile had dived off the module ramp and into the water. He swam as fast as he could to the underside of Thunderbird 4 and entered through the airlock hatch. Within seconds he was inside the cockpit and grabbing the controls. He set the craft to dive and it submerged quickly before heading off at top speed down after the sinking ship.


It was fortunate that this particular part of the Caribbean wasn't deep. Only about one-hundred feet to be exact. With a heavy CRUNCH, the Miranda hit the seabed and came to rest on its Port-side. The impact crushed the Port bridge wing and caused several windows to shatter allowing water to gush into the bridge.

Scott and Captain Pringle were thrown about a bit during the sinking. The Captain sustained a nasty hit on the back of the head after colliding with one of the instrument panels whilst Scott felt only some minor bruising. He was lucky for his suit to protect him from any serious harm.

"Not good. Not good!" Scott remarked when he saw the water coming in. He managed to pick himself up and hurried over to the Captain. "Are you alright, Captain?"

"Owwwwww…" groaned Captain Pringle, rubbing the back of his head.

Scott managed to pull them both up along the back wall of the bridge until they reached a fixed panel and sat the Captain on what was now the right-side now facing upwards. "Sit there for a moment," he said. He then pressed his sash. "Thunderbird 2? Thunderbird 5? Do you read me?"

"Scott!" John's voice answered. "Thank God! Are you hurt?"

"No, but the Captain's hit his head," Scott replied. "And the bridge is filling up with water."

"Don't worry, Thunderbird 4's already on its way to you," said John. "Have you got a breathing respirator for the Captain to use? You'd be best waiting for the bridge to flood fully before attempting to escape."

Scott fiddled around inside the pouches of his sash. "Errrr…Ah yes, I do!" he said, pulling one out.

"Good," said John. "Give it to him once the water reaches his neck. Those don't last long."

"Understood," said Scott. "How far away is Gordon?"

"Thunderbird 4 should be there any moment," said John. "Thunderbird 4, what's your ETA?"

"Approaching the ship now, Thunderbird 5," Gordon answered from the cockpit of Thunderbird 4. "I can see the ship now. Scott, do you read me?"

"Loud and clear, Thunderbird 4," said Scott. "It's good to hear your voice."

"Not as good as it is to hear yours, bro," said Gordon. "How's the bridge looking?"

"About three windows have broken and there's a lot of water coming in," said Scott. "We'll be underwater in about a minute. "I've got a respirator for the Captain."

"Okay," said Gordon. "I'll position Thunderbird 4 by the broken window closest to you. I'll open the back doors so all you have to do is swim with the Captain into the back. That way he'll spend as little time in the water as possible."

"F-A-B," said Scott. The water was just coming level with his and Captain Pringle's heads now. "Take this, Captain," he said. "Breathe normally. It'll keep you alive until we get to Thunderbird 4."

The Captain was too dazed to argue. As the respirator was placed in his mouth, the water covered them both.

Looking across, Scott could see the bright lights of Thunderbird 4 out in the dark, murky water. He waited until he was sure that the submersible was in position before carefully guiding himself and Captain Pringle across the sunken bridge and out through the broken window, right into the back airlock of Thunderbird 4. "We're in, Gordon. Close the hatch."

Gordon flicked a switch and the airlock doors closed. He then pulled Thunderbird 4 away from the wreck of the Miranda and began to head towards the surface, putting the craft onto autopilot before heading out to see his brother.

"You sure gave us a scare, bro," Gordon said to Scott once they'd made sure Captain Pringle was comfortable.

"Likewise I guess," replied Scott. "I expected that the ship would go down but not quite like that and certainly not as quickly as that. I hope everyone else was off?"

"Yes, that last lifeboat got clear seconds before she went over," said Gordon.

Scott smiled. "I bet Virgil was pulling his hair out when he saw it go down?" he remarked.

"I don't think I was far off that myself," Gordon chuckled.


Virgil had discovered that he could only fit one fifth of the entire ship's complement of passengers and crew into the module at any one time. However, due to the nearest landfall being only thirty miles away, it didn't take him long to make several return trips transferring everyone from the lifeboats to dry land. By the time he'd come back for the last lot, some salvage tugs had arrived to take away the now empty and discarded lifeboats. They couldn't be allowed to become shipping hazards themselves.

At long last, Virgil and Scott were able to be reunited. Virgil already knew that Scott was safe but to see him with his own eyes made him feel somewhat emotional. So much so that he ended up giving his older brother a hug, much to Scott's surprise but also delight. "So glad you're okay," Virgil said when he'd finished. "You had us kind of worried there."

"I had myself worried," Scott answered. "May I therefore make a suggestion?"

"What's that?" asked Virgil.

"That we go home now?" asked Scott.

Virgil and Gordon laughed and fully agreed with the suggestion.


The Tracy family jet was returning to Tracy Island following Alan's meeting with Dr Charles. Things hadn't exactly been peaceful for Jeff had objected to Alan's idea of going to compete in the Dakar Rally. Grandma on the other hand had fully supported it. Dr Charles admitted that it wouldn't have been his recommendation to go and do such a dangerous event, but did say that it was Alan's decision to make, not anyone else's. Jeff therefore had had no choice but to begrudgingly agree.

As Tracy Island came into view on the horizon, the radar showed Jeff that two contacts were coming up from behind. One icon was blue, the other green. He knew immediately what they were. "Looks like we have some company," he called back to Grandma and Alan.

Grandma and Alan looked out of the Starboard-side windows of the aircraft to see Thunderbird 1 pulling up alongside. Alan gave a thumbs up and Scott waved back in response, even though Thunderbird 1's hull prevented them from actually seeing each other. Then Alan looked out of the Port-side to see the giant green bulk of Thunderbird 2 overtaking them. Virgil and Gordon grinned and waved back as they passed. He then hurried forwards to the cockpit to see the two ships flying ahead of them. Thunderbird 1 then performed a rather unusual manoeuvre, zipping underneath Thunderbird 2 and then doing a victory roll up and over the top of it to where it had been before.

"Show-offs!" laughed Alan whilst Jeff scowled disapprovingly. However, he decided to keep quiet about it.


With everyone back home and safe, it was time to share news. Jeff, Grandma and Alan were first shocked and then relieved after hearing about Scott becoming trapped inside the Cruise Ship as it sank before being rescued by Gordon and Thunderbird 4. Then it was the turn of Scott, Gordon and Virgil along with Kayo and Brains plus John who was taking part via hologram link to learn of what Alan had decided to do for his vacation.

"So…let's get this straight," said Gordon. "You were advised by the doctor to take a vacation…and you are going to take part in the world's most dangerous motoring event rather than sit and relax on a beach?"

"Yeah," replied Alan. "I can relax on a beach whenever I want to. We don't need to go to Hawaii or anywhere when there's a perfectly good beach right outside our front door…almost."

"He does have a point there," Kayo agreed.

"But all the same, Alan," said Virgil. "Don't you think doing the Dakar Rally is a bit too dangerous?"

"No less dangerous than going into space," Grandma said. "Or diving the far depths of the oceans."

Everyone fell silent. That was a hard point to dispute.

"I think that's kind of the problem though," Scott finally spoke up. "We face danger every single time we go out. I think today's has proven that. So why go and do something as dangerous when you're so used to it, Alan?"

"It's just something that I've always wanted to do, Scott," Alan answered. "Plus I haven't seen Kenny for so many years. I feel it's the perfect way to, you know, get away from it all."

Jeff sighed quietly and came over to his youngest son. "I won't lie, I am not entirely comfortable with the idea, Alan," he said. "However, it would be cruel and unfair of me to not follow the doctor's advice and let you make your own call on this. But when you do go and do it, make sure you remember one thing."

"What's that, Dad?" asked Alan.

"That you follow the strict rule of International Rescue," said Jeff. "Not to give up at any cost."

Alan smiled. "I can do that."

Jeff now smiled too. "Come here, son," he said, pulling him into a warm hug which in turn warmed the hearts of everyone else.


Now that it had finally been approved, Alan began making plans with his friend Kenny Malone about getting to the Dakar Rally.

"So you'll need me to come and practise with the car, right?" Alan was saying.

"Yeah, she's a real beauty, she is, Al," replied Kenny over the tablet projector. "5,000 brake horsepower. Top speed of 300 miles per hour. She'll knock everything sideways in this year's race."

"Cool!" said Alan. "I'll fly out the day after tomorrow and meet you in LA, right?"

"You got it!" said Kenny. "Then you have two weeks to learn how to handle her before the big race."

"Awesome! I can't wait," said Alan.

"Neither can I," replied Kenny. "It's been too long, buddy."

"Agreed," said Alan. He had meant that he couldn't wait to try out the car but realised that seeing his old buddy was going to be great as well. 'See you soon, bud."

"Later, Al."

As Alan switched off the tablet, there was a knock on his door. "Yeah?"

The door opened and Gordon poked his head around. "Hey, Alan. You're gonna want to come and see this."

"What is it?"

"Grafton's on the Kat Cavanagh Show."

Alan jumped up off the floor. "Ho-ho! I need to see this!"


Alan and Gordon joined the others in the lounge watching the holographic TV from the projector in the table. It showed Kat Cavanagh sitting in one chair with Warren Grafton sitting in the other on her show. John was watching with EOS aboard Thunderbird 5.

"You know it's very rare for something such as a sinking ship catastrophe for everyone to get off safely," Kat was saying. "History has taught us that. The Titanic, Lusitania, Andrea Doria and Costa Concordia all had fatalities. And yet the Miranda didn't lose a single person from either the passengers or the crew."

"Firstly, Kat, let me point out the obvious," Grafton said. "None of those incidents that you have mentioned were accidents. They were all acts of plain stupidity with the exception of the Lusitania. That was cold-blooded murder on the Germans part!"

Kat raised an eyebrow. "How exactly were they acts of stupidity, Mr Grafton?"

"Simple," said Grafton. "The Titanic didn't heed the ice warnings and didn't slow down. The Andrea Doria was hit by another ship whose crew were being careless. The Captain of the Costa Concordia was a coward and after crashing his ship on rocks then abandoned it and left the passengers to fend for themselves. As for the Miranda, it was the Captain's life-long ambition to be in charge of that ship. So much so that he got complacent and hit a reef!"

"Reports state the Captain wasn't on the bridge when the Miranda struck the reef," Kat said. "Does that still make it his fault?"

"That's irrelevant," said Grafton abruptly. "And as for International Rescue. What right did they have to go sticking their noses in? Ninety percent of the people aboard had already been evacuated by the time they got to the ship! There was no need for them! Those people would have survived until real help had come."

The Tracy's were having to bite their tongues.

"You really don't like them, do you, Mr Grafton?" Kat remarked. "Would you care to tell us why that is?"

"What's there to tell?" asked Grafton. "They do the work of proper rescue workers. Police! Fire! Paramedics! Coastguards! They're trained and paid to do such work. And yet here comes International Rescue to take all the glory! It isn't right. And if I recall, Kat, there was a time when you were didn't think much of them either."

"That is true, Mr Grafton, yes," said Kat. "I was convinced they were in league with supervillains like The Hood and The Mechanic. That was until they rescued me and I realised how wrong I was."

"Well, I'm not wrong," Grafton sneered. "They're a menace to society who don't think of the consequences of their actions. When they came to my refinery, they used bombs to put the fire out! Causing more damage than the fire had already done!"

"Man, shut up already!" grumbled Gordon but he was shushed by the others.

"Ah, yes, I was going to come onto that," said Kat. "Is it customary for you to fire employees when they do something you don't like?"

There was an awkward silence, both from Grafton and the Tracy's,

"Could she be referring to what I think she is?" Scott whispered to Virgil.

"Excuse me?" Grafton asked.

"Whenever an employee of yours does something that doesn't sit well with you, do you always kick them out?" Kat asked.

"I honestly don't know what you're talking about," said Grafton firmly.

Kat then spoke into her ear piece. "Play it, Steve."

Behind where they were sitting, the TV screen began showing the footage from Gertie Benson's mobile camera taken at Bensheba. It showed Grafton shouting abuse and the confrontation between him, Mr Broskitt and the young controller.

"Broskitt, you had no business to even call them in!"

"I didn't call them, sir."

"What, they just randomly turned up out of the blue?"

"I called them. I saw just how bad things were getting and thought we needed help."

"You're fired!"

This was then followed by the uproar from the rest of the people there over Grafton's words.

"Firing him because he called International Rescue?" said Kat, giving Grafton a hard stare. "Isn't that what's called unfair dismissal, Mr Grafton?"

Grafton had gone white when the footage had started playing. But now he was turning red with anger. "WHO FILMED THIS?!" he bellowed suddenly, leaping out of his chair, making Kat and the cameramen jump. "THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO BE ON MY PROPERTY!"

"Mr Grafton, calm down!" Kat exclaimed.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" he thundered. "THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! I WILL-"

"CONTINUE TO MAKE A SCENE OF YOURSELF ON LIVE TELEVISION?!" Kat shouted back as she too jumped to her feet to stand up to him.

Grafton stopped dead. He turned to look at the cameras as the realisation of what had just happened hit him like walking in front of a speeding truck. He took three steps back and was seething.

"Steve, how many people do we have watching?" asked Kat.

"About seven million estimated," the producer's voice was heard to answer.

For Grafton, that was the final straw. He kicked the coffee table over, spilling his and Kat's mugs onto the floor. "DAMN YOU ALL!" he screamed into one of the cameras and then stormed off the stage, leaving the entire studio silent with shock.

Everyone who had been watching was just as shocked by the revelation and even more so at the outburst.

"Wow…" said Gordon. "That escalated quickly."

"Too quickly," agreed Jeff. "Scott. Virgil. Did you know there was a reporter there?"

"No, we didn't," they both replied.

Jeff's eyes narrowed. "There's going to be hell to pay for this then," he remarked. "Grafton's going to kick off big time."

Alan stood up. "Ah, to hell with him," he said. "All he's done is make himself look like the bad guy. Do you really expect people to take him seriously now?"

"No, but that's not the point, Alan," said Jeff. "Grafton never backs down. We've definitely not heard the last of this."


Alan chose not to let Grafton get to him like some of the others were. He had enough on his mind without having that added to it. He therefore continued with his plans and flew out to near Los Angeles where Team Fusion were getting ready for the Dakar Rally. After having his long overdue catch-up with Kenny, he was soon introduced to the rest of the team. Manager Russ Jenkins and mechanics Wolfgang Schmitt and Jessica Hatt. All they needed for their team was a driver and now they had one in Alan.

For the next three days, Alan got to try out the Fusion XK-3 - an incredibly powerful rally car of which he had never seen the likes of before. By the end of the three days, he had won the entire team over and had mastered the art of driving the car not just on regular roads and tracks but off road as well on sand, dirt and other pieces of rough terrain.

"You're the man, Alan!" said Kenny. "You completed that last lap in less than a minute!"

Alan grinned as he removed his race-helmet. "Hell, yeah!" he said delightedly. "Does that mean that we are ready?"

"It does indeed," said Mr Jenkins. "Tracy, you've exceeded expectations. There's nothing that will stop us from winning the Dakar this year."

Alan's grin got even broader. "Africa…here we come!"