Virgil had to land Thunderbird 2 a little way from the main dock area as the only possible clear space was still taken up by Thunderbird 1.
However, the hover bikes made short work of the trip to the Harbour Master's office building and soon Virgil and Alan were shaking hands with a number of officials and workers at the docks. Alan was handed the wrist comm and scrap of blue material and he saw immediately that they were Scott's. He passed them to Virgil who took one short glance and then stuffed them into his pocket as if he didn't want to address what their presence might mean.
"Any more news?" Virgil asked, coming straight to the point.
"I'm afraid not; your colleague seems to just have disappeared."
"Well, that's not possible so let's look at the facts and find him. What were your last communications with him and where have you looked?"
One of the four men gestured to a nearby room. "If you'd like to come through here we've laid out a map so we can show you on there. Mike, here, was talking to him the most and he can let you know what was said."
Virgil was pleased that the staff seemed eager to help but he was concerned that he was about to spend more time talking about the predicament than actually doing something proactive about finding Scott. He swiftly turned to Alan and spoke in a quiet voice.
"I'll get the information here, you go outside and scout around, see what the situation is."
"FAB," replied Alan and slipped away as Virgil moved into the side room.
Meanwhile, their brother Gordon was pacing back and forth, back and forth in a waiting room in the hospital, waiting for news of his father. His grandmother was starting to find the pacing tiresome.
"Come sit by me, Gordon, before you wear holes in your shoes."
"I'd rather stand, Grandma."
"I'm sure you would but you're wearing a hole in my patience as well."
Gordon stopped and gave Grandma a small smile. He sat down next to her. "I'm sorry. It's just that the waiting is getting to me and it's making me agitated."
"I know, Gordon. You've never sat still your whole life and I guess I should be used to it. You're always on the go and doing something. I should be pleased. That time you were in hospital all those months I prayed every day that you'd be up and rushing about like normal."
"I'm sorry about that too, Grandma."
"But you made it through and your father will too."
"Are you sure? He seemed pretty bad. That doctor wasn't exactly being optimistic, was he?"
"His job was to manage our expectations," replied Grandma with the wisdom of a lifetime. "He didn't want to promise us something he couldn't be completely sure of. The surgeon looked like he was up for a fight and your father certainly is. There's nothing we can do but wait."
"I know, and I hate that!"
"You may be an expert aquanaut but you're not an expert surgeon. For once you'll have to wait for someone else to do their job."
"I'm beginning to see why some of the people we rescue get impatient."
"It's always good to see things from other folks' perspective. As well as your father I'm worried about Kyrano. He doesn't look too good, does he?"
Gordon glanced over to the other side of the room to where Kyrano was sitting with Tin Tin who was holding his hands and speaking quietly to her father.
"You're right, he must be very worried."
"Perhaps you could go over and reassure him, dear?" Grandma suggested.
"Of course," Gordon replied getting up. Grandma smiled to herself. If there was one thing she knew about her grandsons it was that it was best to keep them busy when they were acting up.
Gordon went over to Kyrano and Tin Tin. As he got closer he saw Kyrano grimacing as if in pain and Tin Tin looking at him anxiously. Gordon crouched down in front of them.
"Kyrano, are you okay?"
It was Tin Tin who replied. "I know he's worried about your father but it seems more than that; like soemthing's hurting him."
"Should we get him a doctor? I'm sure we can find someone to take a look at him."
"Do you think you could?" asked Tin Tin but then Kyrano spoke, clearly finding it difficult."
"No…doctor…I just have to…. stop him…. I…"
Gordon and Tin Tin exchanged concerned looks. "Do you know what he's talking about?" Gordon asked?
"No, I don't. The only time I've seen him like this is when he has one of his dizzy spells."
"You mean, when the Hood is trying to influence him?"
"I don't know, but why would the Hood know about Mr. Tracy being in hospital?"
"Beats me, Tin Tin. Nothing about today has made any sense so far."
Gordon gave her a wan smile and then stood up and resumed his pacing.
Back in Bristol, Virgil was getting the lie of the land and starting to marshal his new colleagues into an efficient search team. Still in the conference room, he was firing questions at them and working out the quickest way to get the ground covered. If, indeed, Scott was still on the ground and not in a boat somehow. This was going to be tricky and it wasn't like the weather or darkness of night was going to do them any favours.
John appeared on his wrist comm. "Virgil! Come in!"
"What's up?"
"I need you to get to Alan's location now! Go!"
Virgil didn't reply or make excuses to the people around him. He got the urgency in John's voice. He ran.