Hi, whoever is reading this! As some of you already know, I have a list of people I tag when I put out things. As I’m not a whump or gif or mostly not a screenshot person, my stories and art sometimes slip through the dashes and don’t get the visibility that they could, so this is the solution I found to help me (this may also have to do with the characters I chose to champion but that’s one more reason, right?).
When I put out my two latest stories/snippets yesterday and the day before, I have hesitated before tagging people and then decided against it because I felt it’s not the same as pictures. I didn’t know if people also wanted to be notified for stories that are not necessarily the type of things they usually read, but maybe people dowant to be notified for those as well, so I think it’s time for an update.
Here are the of people on my list so far and who/what they said they wanted to be tagged on–people in the Scott or Kayo list aren’t notified of Scayo unless they say they want to be as well :
Is this still accurate, do you want to change it, remove your name, etc.
Do you just want pics or stories or both?
Any new person that want to be added to the list, welcome! please indicate which characters if need be, what (pic/stories) and whether vayor is fine with you or not.
You can reply in this post or a DM, that’s fine. x
I’m still not coming on Tumblr as regularly as I’d like, but I get email alerts for everything I’m tagged in and always appreciate your Gordo content :)
I’d like to be on the list for both stories and pics please, and I’ll stick with just my boi. Thank you <3
Happy Valentine’s Day, but more importantly (at least in my little world), Happy Birthday to the best Tracy brother (again, in my little world!)
I can’t take credit for the topper and letters unfortunately. I had all the time in the world for last year’s cake, courtesy of lockdown, but have had to operate on a slightly tighter time schedule this year :)
Last year’s cake was TAG themed. Aside from the yellow icing, this year the theme is TOS, helped (I hope) by the orange icing accents and of course Four’s halogen bar.
Do you know, I think it might have been one of your pictures that inspired this fic ages ago! See, it’s all good, the scruffy boots are fine, we’ve got a work around in place
Problems of shopping with an American when you live in England number five hundred and two.
Me: Don’t go anywhere, don’t move from that spot, you got it?
Virgil: *nods* Got it. All good. No need to worry. Situation is under control.
Me: You sure?
V: I’m sure.
Me: I’ll be two minutes, I’m just picking up an order and then we can go.
V:*crosses his arms and leans casually against the nearest shop fitting* It’s fine, I don’t mind shopping.
Me: This is why you’re my favourite.
V: You said that to Alan yesterday because he shared his chips with you.
Me: Maybe I lied.
V: Maybe you’re lying now.
Me: I am, you got me, I’m gonna be at least ten minutes because that line looks huge.
V: Better hurry up then.
Me: On it *salutes and runs off deeper into the store*
V:This won’t be too bad…
Sales assistant: *pops up out of nowhere like a meerkat the second I leave* Hello sir.
V: *jumps out of his skin* Oh, uh, hello.
SA: What can I interest you in today?
V: Oh, nothing, thank you, I’m just waiting for my sister.
SA: You’re here now so you might as well take a look around.
V: Actually, I promised my sister I wouldn’t move.
SA: Oh, we won’t go far. Just follow me, and I’ll show you some of our newest items that might suit a strapping fellow like yourself.
V: No! I… *Gets hustled along and gives up trying to argue*
SA: What are you in need of?
V: Nothing, I’m good, got all I need.
SA: Nonsense, everyone needs something.
V: *pondering* I guess I could use a new pair of pants, I blew a hole right through my last pair.
SA: A hole? *eyes grow a little wide* Oh, erm *clears her throat, recovering her composure* Right this way, sir.
V: *follows along behind like a giant puppy*
SA: Do you have a style preference?
V: Not really, just standard pants, standard cut, but I do need them to be hard wearing as they’ll take a bit of a battering.
SA: *coughs delicately* Indeed, sir. And what kind of material?
V: I usually stick with denim.
SA: I… I’m sorry sir, but we don’t carry anything of that sort.
V: *looking confused, her tone indicating that ‘that sort’ was something displeasing and rather obscene* O…K, then can you just show me what you do have?
SA: Of course *stops near the department and looks him up and down* For sizing I’d assume a large or extra large?
V: *blushes a little, he thought he kept himself in reasonably good shape quite honestly* I don’t know I don’t usually have that kind of sizing.
SA: *straightens her shoulders, obviously wishing she’d never approached him in the first place* Then let’s stick with style, we have boxers, briefs or trunks along with the less traditional jockstrap style if you feel so inclined.
V: *chokes and splutters* Excuse me?
SA: * holds up a pair of boxers to his front* These look like they would suit you, they are quite hard-wearing, extra strong elastic, plenty of room for-
V: *snatches the boxers away, face bright red* I just want some pants, just a plain pair of pants!
Me: *ambling over with my order* Why are you screaming and waving a pair of pants around?
V: I’m not! *Still holding the boxers*
Me: *points at them* Pants.
V: These are boxers, underwear, not what I wanted at all. I just wanted some pants! I didn’t want to be paraded around the underwear section and have my size debated!
Me: You asked for pants. Those are pants.
V: No, these are pants! *Slaps his thigh then yanks at the seam of his jeans*
Me: Oh. He means that he wants a pair of trousers or jeans.
SA: Oh, well he could have just said that.
Poor Virgil, he’s never going to forgive me for leaving him alone in the menswear department.
It had been 20 hours since the Hood had sent the live link, with just 4 hours to go until he made contact again. The room was tense, Brains and John sat by the computer, working hard on trying to break through the Hoods tracking system. Alan and Gordon sat on the couch clutching warm coffees in their hands, Scott paced back and forth, while Jeff sat in a chair next to Penny, looking over the credentials of the Doctor and the hospital she had suggested. Meanwhile, Tin-Tin helped her father, Parker and grandma to bring in sandwiches for everyone.
Ruth Tracy placed the meal out on the table. “Here you go, come and get some food.” Alan and Gordon went over to the table and helped themselves to some sandwiches. “Scott, stop pacing and come and eat.” She demanded looking at her grandson sternly. “That goes for you to Jefferson!”
“What mom?” Jeff asked looking up from the paperwork he had in his hands.
Penny smiled and placed her hand on Jeff’s shoulder. “Your mother asked you to go and eat… And from the look on her face I would do as she says.”
“Yes, it’s always best to,” he replied with a smile and a light laugh, as he made his way over to the table with Penny and sat himself down.
“John… Brains… Can you please come and get some food?”
“Sorry grandma, can’t stop.” John answered not looking up from the screen. “I think we’re close to getting through their system.”
“What, you are?” Scott and Jeff said at the same time jumping out of the chairs that they were sitting in.
“It looks that way.” Brains replied.
“Then at least have something to eat while you are working.” Ruth added, making a plate up for the two of them and placing it next to them. Making her way back to the table she placed her hands firmly on both Jeff and Scott’s shoulders, and made them take their chairs again. “Sit… Eat… Now!”
Everyone sat and ate their food, hoping that Brains and John were as close as they believed to hacking through the Hood’s computer system and tracking Virgil’s location.
.. ..
1 hour later:
Parker and Kyrano cleaned the plates away while everyone else waited anxiously.
“Yes we’re in.” John shouted jumping to his feet.
“What… You are?” Scott said jumping to his feet and sprinting over to the computer, followed closely by Gordon, Alan and Jeff.
“Well, we’ve hacked into their system and we are currently hidden from their tracking device. However, we do still need to find their location.” Brains added.
“How long will it take you to find out where they are?” Gordon asked.
Brains started typing away and then sat back letting the computer do the work. “Shouldn’t take too long for it to give us the information we need… Hopefully we can get the information before they discover.”
At that moment, the computer screen went black.
“No, no, no, no!” John cried.
“What… What happened?” Alan asked hesitantly.
Brains tried to get the computer to work again, he then sighed heavily and sat back in his chair. “They blocked the link. They must have realised we got through and they crashed the computer.”
“But if they know… Then that means… They might kill…” Alan hesitated unable to get the words out.
Jeff looked at Brains. “Can you still pick up the live feed… If they send it?”
“Yes. I will just have to set up some new equipment… It won’t take me long.” Brains stood, grabbed the now useless computer and left the room.
.. ..
3 hours later:
The 24 hours were up. Brains had set up some more equipment, so they could receive the next live feed, and had been scanning for the signal for the past few hours, just in case the Hood decided to contact them early. However, no communications link had been sent, the family sat and waited, the 24 hours passed by, and still nothing was being received.
After another 2 hours of just sitting and waiting, John jumped to his feet and started pacing back and forth nervously. “This is ridiculous, you might as well stop tracking Brains… We all know that the Hood isn’t going to make contact… They found out we were trying to hack their system and find their location… And because of that he’s obviously made Virgil pay the price… And… And he’s killed him… Our brother is dead and gone, and there’s nothing we can do to get him back!”
Jeff stood from his chair and made his way over to John and pulled him securely into his arms. “It's… It’s okay son.”
“How dad? How is it okay?” Alan stammered angrily as he fought back the tears. “We go in and rescue other people. We stop other families suffering losses. Yet we can’t save our own brother… How is that fair?”
“We’ll find a way Alan!” Scott stated.
“Really… How?” Gordon questioned.
Scott pulled both Alan and Gordon into his arms. “I don’t know. I just… I’m doing what I should have done a few days ago, I’m following my gut, and right now my heart is telling me that Virgil is alive, we will see him again and we will bring him home… I have no idea how… But we will!”
Jeff looked at Brains hoping his son was on to something.
“I’ll check to see if it’s been activated.” Brains hit a few buttons on his computer and after a few moments looked back at Jeff and Scott. “Right, I can see here that Virgil’s transmitter is still viable, but it’s not been activated… If you are right Scott then it’s probably still in his chain, and unfortunately Virgil hasn’t been able to get to it and use it.”
“So, can you do anything from here to get it to activate?” Scott asked, praying he was onto something.
“Well… Err… I’m afraid that unless Virgil swallows it then there is no way we can use it to track his location.” Brains answered.
“And there’s no other way you can activate it?” Scott questioned, the desperation now evident in his voice.
“Unless the trackers circuit board receives an electrical input then I’m afraid not.” Scott and Jeff both felt themselves deflate. Brains looked at them, wanting to keep their hopes alive he added. “I’ll keep checking the transmission feed… Just in case.”
“Thanks Brains.” Jeff replied.
“I really thought that would help.” Scott said sadly.
“I know son… For a moment, I did too.” Jeff guided Scott to the pile of blankets and pillows that were piled on the floor. “Now, come on Scott. I want you to try and get some sleep.”
“But dad.”
“No buts… Sleep!”
Scott grabbed a pillow and blanket and sat himself down, leaning against the sofa, Jeff sat down on the floor next to Scott and held him, stroking his head softly until he fell asleep.
Gordon made his way into the lounge with a hot chocolate in his hand while munching on a sandwich. He stopped and looked at his dad stroking a sleeping Scott’s head. “His he okay?” The last time I saw him I thought he was on to some sort of big breakthrough.”
Jeff glanced up at Gordon and beckoned him to come and sit down. Gordon sat down carefully on the settee so as not to disturb Alan, who was still sleeping soundly. “He remembered that Virgil kept his edible transmitter in his chain.”
“Oh, yes… Scott mentioned that the other day when we were in Virgil’s room.” Gordon added. “So, can Brains get it to work?”
Jeff shook his head. “No, not unless Virgil activates it himself.”
“Oh.”
“Here,” Jeff said, passing Gordon a blanket and pillow. “Try and get some sleep.”
Gordon grabbed the blanket and pillow from his father, finished his drink and sandwich, covered himself with the blanket and sat watching John and Brains working away, until he found himself drifting off to sleep.
2 hours Later:
Jeff woke to find himself leaning against the sofa, his oldest son was curled up in a tight ball next to him and was fast asleep, while Gordon and Alan were both passed out on the settee. Rubbing his tired eyes, Jeff stretched his aching legs, and stood up and made his way over to both Brains and John who were still working away at the computer. “Any luck.” Jeff asked quietly, so as not to disturb his sleeping sons.
John turned to face his dad, his face was pale and the bags under his eyes were evident. “No dad. Nothing. We… We can’t even get past their tracking system.”
“Boys, why don’t you leave this for a few hours and try and get some sleep.”
“Dad… But… Virgil… He… He might not have a few hours.” John replied, tears appearing in his eyes.
“I know son… I know… But you’re not going to be any help to him in this state.” Jeff checked his watch and continued. “Now, we’ve got about 10 hours until the Hood contacts us back, so come and get some sleep… Even if it’s only for a short time. Hopefully fresh eyes will be able to help.”
“Dad, I’m not stopping!” John snapped, turning back towards the computer.
“John Glenn Tracy, I’m not asking you again.” Jeff demanded. “Now stop what you are doing and get some sleep, that goes for you too Brains!”
Brains stopped what he was doing and nodded. “I’ll head to my own room. I’ll let you and the boys have some time together.”
“Thanks Brains.” When Brains had made his way quietly out of the room, Jeff guided John out of his chair. “Now son, are you going to join us all and get some sleep?”
John shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the floor. “Suppose so.”
Jeff shook his head, steered John to the sofa and made him sit down on the floor next to a sleeping Scott. “Now come on you… Sleep!” Jeff said sternly as he placed a warm blanket over John and handed him a pillow. John made a huffing noise, made himself comfortable, shut his eyes and fell asleep within seconds. Jeff smiled as he took in the sight of his four sons sleeping soundly. Turning to his desk he picked up one of the many photos he had of Virgil and made his way over to the sofa. He sat down on the settee next to Alan and Gordon and pulled the remaining blanket over himself. Clutching the photo tightly in his hands, Jeff looked at it intently. “Night son,” he whispered, feeling the tears slide down his face. “Don’t worry, you’ll be home soon!” Jeff clutched the photo to his chest and drifted off to sleep.
Tin-Tin made her way from the kitchen with a cup of tea in her hands and headed towards her room. As she made her way past Alan’s bedroom, she noticed a light coming from inside, quietly pushing the door open she noticed that the light was coming from his bathroom, upon hearing a loud sob coming from within, she placed her tea down and made her way into the room. “Alan” she exclaimed, when she noticed him slumped on the floor by the toilet crying bitterly. Alan glanced up at her and then leaned over the toilet and threw up. “Alan, are you not feeling well?” she asked tenderly, as she sat on the floor next to him and rubbed his back reassuringly.
“I’m not sick.” Alan replied.
Tin-Tin kept her hand reassuringly on Alan’s back as he threw up once more. “It’s the shock, isn’t it?” She said sympathetically. Alan looked at her and nodded his head as he began to cry once more. Tin-Tin rubbed her hand in a circular motion on Alan’s back. “It’s okay sweetheart… You know you can talk to me anytime and about anything?”
Alan nodded. “It’s… It’s just… Virgil,” he wept. “He’s the one who’s always been there when we’ve been hurt or ill. He hardly ever gets sick… And I’ve never seen him looking so… So, weak and scared… I hate to think of him being there all alone… No one there to hold him and tell him it’s all going to be okay… Like he’s always done for me… I… I just want… I want him home… So, we can look after him. So, so we can let him know that he’s safe… And comfort him… And let him know that nothing else is ever going to hurt him!”
Tin-Tin continued to rub Alan’s back, while whispering reassuring words to him. After a few moments of silence, Tin-Tin asked. “Where are Gordon and Scott, are they back down in thunderbird 2?”
“No. we finished a while ago. Gordon was really anxious waiting for Brains and John to crack through the Hood’s computer system, so he’s gone for a swim, which will hopefully help him relax a bit.”
“They’re not having much luck, are they?” Tin-Tin added sadly.
Alan shook his head. “No… No, they’re not.”
“And where’s Scott?” Tin-Tin asked.
“Scott’s in the lounge… Pacing!” Alan added.
“Come on” Tin-Tin said helping Alan to his feet. “I want you to come and get some water and try and eat something.”
A few hours later:
Scott dropped the pile of blankets and pillows he had carried into the lounge onto the floor, picking one up he placed it carefully over a sleeping Alan, so as not to disturb him, and then slipped a pillow under his head.
“What’s with all the blankets Scott?” Jeff asked making his way into the room.
“Well, none of us are going to get much sleep tonight in our own beds, so I thought we should all try and get a few hours’ sleep in here, and even if we don’t sleep at least we are together.”
“That’s not a bad idea Scott,” Jeff replied ruffling Scott’s hair and placing a gentle kiss on Alan’s sleeping head.
Scott looked over at Brains and John working away. “How are they getting on?”
Brains swivelled around in his chair. “No luck I’m afraid Scott. Their computer system is proving hard to hack into without alerting them to our presence… They obviously have someone working for them who knows what they are doing.”
Scott looked desperately in his father’s eyes.
Jeff placed a reassuring hand on Scott’s arm. “It’s okay son. We’ll find him… We… We have to.” Jeff looked around the room. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Grandma, Penny and Tin-Tin have gone to try and get a few hours’ sleep and I think Parker and Kyrano are in the kitchen,” Scott replied.
“Then where’s Gordon?” Jeff asked.
John turned in his chair. “I think he’s outside in the pool.”
“What… Still? But he’s been in there for what, 6 hours?” Jeff questioned, shaking his head.
“It’s okay dad, I’ll go and drag him out if I have to!” Scott made his way out of the room and headed outside. He stopped and shook his head when he reached the pool. Sure enough, there was his brother, lying fast asleep on top of the water bed which was floating in the middle of the swimming pool. “Gordon.” Scott said softly. “Gordon.” Scott said a bit louder this time after not getting any response from him. “Gordon!” Scott almost shouted.
“Ah?” Gordon half responded as he went to roll over, obviously forgetting where he was, and falling into the pool. “What the?” He spluttered, finally realising where he was and standing himself up in the water.
“Seriously, Gordon. You’ve been out here for 6 hours, that surely has to be a new world record… Pun not intended on that!” Scott added.
“I was just doing laps, then I thought I’d take a break, and I must have fallen asleep… I just… I… I needed to be on my own!”
“Come here.” Scott said, helping Gordon out of the pool and handing him his towel. “Why do you want to be on your own?”
“I feel useless!”
“What?”
“There’s nothing I can do to help… And sitting in there just waiting and watching as Brains and John try to find out where Virg is… And there’s nothing I can do to help them… Or him.”
“Hey. You are not useless.” Scott said reassuringly. “These past few days, you’ve been amazing, and so strong!”
“I’ve been falling apart inside though,” Gordon replied honestly.
Scott placed his arm around Gordon. “Gords, I want you to come inside, get yourself showered, dressed, have something to eat and drink, and then get some sleep.”
Gordon looked at Scott. “I don’t think I could eat anything or sleep!”
“Well, I want you to try. I need you to be fully alert and ready for when we get the location. I need you on top form… I’m going to need you to use some of that WASP training you are always prattling on about.”
“Yes sir!” Gordon responded suddenly snapping to. Gordon went quiet for a few moments and then continued. “You know when this is over, and we’ve got Virg back… I’m sticking a tracker in his arm!”
Scott laughed, and then suddenly jumped to his feet. “Oh, my god! That’s it… Gordon you are a genius!”
“What? I am?”
“Yes. Now get inside and once you’re showered and dressed meet me in the lounge.” Scott ran in the house and back into the lounge where John, Brains and his father were working away. “Transmitter… Chain… Find Virgil…” Scott stammered out as he ran into the lounge.
“Wow… Slow down son and start again.” Jeff said as he steadied his son.
Scott breathed in, caught his breath and continued. “Brains. Can you track Virgil’s edible transmitter? If I’m correct, then it’s in his chain!”
The room fell silent, no one moved, unable to comprehend what had just occurred. Eventually, the silence was broken.
“Damn it!” Scott screamed, punching the wall he was standing next to repeatedly. “I’m going to kill him… I’m going to hunt him down and I’m going to kill him!”
“Scott!” Jeff cried out running over to him and grabbing him by the shoulders. “Just stop… Scott… Just stop!” Scott felt his legs go as he fell to the floor. Jeff scooped him in his arms and held him tightly, looking at Brains Jeff spoke once more. “Brains, please… Please tell me… Can you still find the location?”
Brains hesitated. “I… Err… I’ll see what I can do… It will be difficult though, it may take some time to get through their system without alerting them.”
“Can I help Brains? Please… I… I need to do something,” John pleaded.
“Sure John, that would be a great help.” Brains replied.
John stood up and made his way over to Brains to begin their work.
Jeff looked towards his youngest two boys clutching onto each other as if their lives depended on it. “Gordon, Alan”
“Yes dad?” They both answered looking at their father.
“Will you two go with Scott,” Jeff looked in his son’s eyes and saw he was staring into nothing. “Scott… Scott… Scott!”
Scott came around and looked at Jeff. “Yes dad?”
“I want you to go with Gordon and Alan… Make sure Thunderbird 2 is ready. I want us to be able to launch as soon as we get a location. Also, make sure all the medical equipment is fully stocked and maybe take extra… Just in case.”
“Okay,” Scott responded finally pulling himself together. “And dad, what about the pod?”
“We really can’t be sure what we will need.” Jeff said.
“Maybe it would be best to take the firefighting equipment?” Gordon suggested. “We’ve already seen what these guys did at the Metals Foundry.”
Jeff nodded. “Yes… Yes, that’s a good idea Gordon.”
“And the Hover Bikes as well? Scott questioned. “We don’t want to alert them to our presence, so we may need to land about a mile away, depending on the location.”
“We should also make sure we have extra ammunition for the tranquilliser guns.” Alan added looking at his father for confirmation.
“Definitely, I want to know that we can take these guys out!” Jeff replied.
“Don’t worry dad, we’re on it.” Scott stated, a determined look now showing in his eyes as he placed his arms reassuringly around his two youngest brothers.
“Scott, I can help with the medical items,” Tin-Tin offered.
Scott nodded and all four of them made their way to the medical bay and then down to Thunderbird 2.
Jeff stood and made his way over to his mother, kneeling next to her he looked directly in her eyes. “Mom, are you going to be okay?”
Taking his hands in hers, she nodded. “Yes… Yes Jeff. I’ll be fine. You know, I’m not as weak as I look.”
“I know mom but…”
“No buts Jefferson… Please… Please don’t worry about me… I want you to concentrate on bringing our boy home.” Jeff nodded feeling his body deflate. “Come here son.” Ruth whispered pulling Jeff into a warm embrace.
It had been many years since Jeff had needed his mother like this, but now was one of those times. He gratefully accepted the hug and felt the tears begin to run down his face as he gently sobbed onto her shoulders.
Ruth Tracy rubbed her hand in a circular motion on his back and whispered soothing words in his ear. After a few minutes, Ruth sat back up and gently wiped away Jeff’s tears. “Now, me, Kyrano and Parker are going to go into the kitchen and prepare some food for you all… Now, I don’t want any arguments Jeff… I now you probably don’t feel like eating but you are all going to need to keep your strength up to make sure you do bring Virgil home.” She stood up and turned towards Parker and Kyrano. “Come on boys… Come with me.” She added making her way out of the room as both Kyrano and Parker followed closely behind.
“Jeff,” Penny said softly.
“Yes Penny?” He replied, looking towards her.
Penny sat down in the seat next to Jeff. “When we do find Virgil.” Jeff took her hand and smiled back at her, grateful for the optimism. Penny smiled and continued. “When we find him, he’s going to need immediate medical attention. Now I know you have a good setup here and you have a lot of equipment to hand, but it’s looking likely that he will need to be in a hospital, even if it is just for a short time.”
“What are you suggesting Penny?” Jeff asked.
“There’s someone I know. A fantastic doctor, he was a close friend of my fathers and has always been a good friend of mine. He works at a hospital in New Zealand. Now, I know that if needed he will get the best team together for Virgil, he will hide someone in the hospital system, so their identity will not be discovered, and I personally believe he can be trusted with your family’s link to International Rescue.”
“Penny, I trust your judgement one hundred percent! Call him and inform him of the situation. Ask him if he can put a team together and to be ready on standby if needed. Mention International Rescue but keep our identities a secret until it’s essential to let him know who we are.”
“Will do Jeff,” Penny replied, leaving the room to make the call.
Jeff turned and made his way over to Brains and John. Ruffling John’s hair, he sat down next to them, waiting and hoping that they would be able to get around the tracking system, and find the location of his missing son before the 24 hours were up and the next transmission was received.
A Gordon centric one-shot: A grey mist. No idea where he was, or how he had got there. Plus, a person in the distance waiting, and a choice to make.
He opened his eyes, but all he could see was a dense grey mist swirling around him.
Where was he? How had he got here? The last thing he remembered was… “Shit!” he exclaimed when he realised he had no recollection…
“Okay, think… I’m Gordon Cooper Tracy, I’m 18, my dad is Jeff Tracy and I have four brothers who annoy the hell out of me, but yeah, still love them – just don’t tell them that… Oh, and I work for WASP… Okay,” he sighed with relief, “I haven’t lost my memory, just don’t remember what I was doing before I found myself here…” He sat himself up… Wherever here was?
And why was he soaking wet? Not that there was anything unusual with him dripping water everywhere, but the fact that there was no water nearby. Well, not that he could see anything through the fog, but he could smell a swimming opportunity from a mile away, and… Gordon sniffed the air… Definitely no pool or ocean, but there had to be some form of civilisation… Bringing himself to his feet, he glanced around… He wasn’t here alone, there had to be someone nearby… Right?
“Hello,” he called out… “Ouch!” A sharp pain hit him, rippling through his body… Okay, maybe not that way.
He turned and began walking in the other direction, well, this seemed good… No pain, and the fog was dissipating… Plus, Gordon paused, was that… Yes, it was… An outline of a person up ahead.
“Hello?”
They didn’t answer, but this person was definitely staring in his direction… Were they waiting for him? And why? Stepping forwards the persons features became more prominent… It was a woman, and she looked familiar… Golden hair like his little brother… He felt a slight hitch in his breath… Could it be? Moving even closer… He hoped, he prayed it was her… Then her face came into focus, a glowing smile similar to Virgil’s, and eyes sky blue like Scotts… Tears pricked… an utter of disbelief, at the person he had dreamed of seeing but never believed he would again.
“Mom?”
A beat of silence…
“Hey Gordy.”
“Momma” he exclaimed, reaching his hand out to touch her.
“No baby,” she said stepping backwards, “I can’t hold you.”
“But I’ve missed you.”
“Oh darling, I’ve missed you too.”
“Am I… Am I dead?”
“No, but if you come to me then you will have to stay.”
“That’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t,” she pointed behind him, “you need to go back.”
Gordon looked behind him to the darkness, to where he had felt the lightening pain shoot throughout his body… “Why?”
“Your dad and your brothers need you.”
“Can I stay with you for a short time, and then go back later?”
“I’m sorry, you’ll need to go back now.”
“Then I choose to stay here!”
She shook her head. “Gordon, please…”
He looked behind him for a second time. “But that way hurts.”
“I know,” she sighed, “and I wish that I could reassure you that it would only be a short-term thing, but unfortunately it won’t be. If you go that way, then it will be extremely painful, and you will have to fight so hard to regain control of your own body… But, I promise you it will be worth it.”
“It will?”
Lucille nodded. “There are exciting and rewarding times awaiting you, and your brothers… Including a blue suit and your own submarine!”
“Really?”
“Yes, and it will look just like the one you used to play with in the bathtub when you were little.”
“Except…”
“What sweetie?”
“Can it be yellow, that toy was green and that was always Virg’s favourite colour, even though he never played with it!”
“Of course, my little aquanaut,’ she chuckled. ‘it can be any colour you want.”
“Cool,” he remarked, looking behind him before glancing back to his mom.
“Gordon,” she said sadly, “you need to go now, before it’s too late.”
“Okay mom… But I’ll miss you!”
Lucille offered him a heartfelt smile. “Whenever you do just close your eyes and think of me and I’ll be there.”
“Okay,” he nodded, wiping away the tears that had slowly fallen, “love you mom!”
“I love you too Gordon.”
Gordon turned, but paused, no… he needed to see her one last time… He glanced back but she was gone… “mom?”
Oh god, why had he looked away… he should have stayed, he tried to move back to where she had been, but the darkness was now pulling at him, yanking him backwards with all of its might, and the pain was now hitting… Oh god it hurt… it really hurt… And now it was pitch black… ‘oh, why did he leave his mother?’
“Gordon?”
A voice was calling to him. Soothing just like his mother’s… Maybe it was his mom
“Gordon… Can you hear me?”
Okay, it definitely wasn’t his mother. That was a man’s voice… And one that he recognised… Serene, comforting, tranquil… A speck of light suddenly hit… he cracked his eyes open and stared at the exhausted but relieved face of his space loving brother… Of course, the voice had been John’s…
“He’s awake…”
Other faces appeared… His father, and his other brothers… They also looked relieved and tired, but very happy….
If he hadn’t come back, then they would have lost him just like they’d lost mom. She had been right… He was meant to come back, and now he had so much to tell them, about seeing mother and the promise of his own yellow submarine… But he couldn’t right now, due to sleep calling… His eyes flickered shut… He’d tell them tomorrow.
Warning. The following chapter contains some dark scenes, torture, and whump.
Previously:
“Now are you ready Mr Tracy? I really think it’s time that we spoke to your family.”
…
Virgil felt the Hood release his grip on his hair and watched as he gave some instructions to the man who was sitting by the computer. Glancing at the camera Virgil watched as the light changed from red to green, signalling that his family were now witnessing his torment unfold. A cry came from the speakers and filled the room, one that sounded like his father although Virgil wasn’t too sure, he hadn’t heard his father in that much pain since his mother had passed away. Confirmation that it was indeed his dad’s voice arrived when he saw the Hood walk in front of the camera and his father spoke once more.
…
“Hood!” Jeff shouted at the screen in anger.
“Ah, hello. Welcome Mr Tracy, I believe you are missing a son?”
…
They watched as the Hood walked over towards Virgil. “Now, I believe my prisoner here is one of your boys. I don’t know his name, he hasn’t been pleasant enough to divulge that information.” The Hood added, grabbing Virgil by the hair again and pulling his head up to look at the camera.
“Boss. They are trying to track our location.” They heard an unseen voice say.
The Hood glared into the camera. “Stop tracking us or your son dies!”
Brains looked over to Jeff, who shook his head in defiance.
“They are still tracking us.” The unseen man responded once more. “I can hold them off for a bit longer, but they will gain access to our location.”
…
Virgil watched in fear when the Hood walked over towards the table which had the torture devices on it. Virgil saw him select a handgun and some bullets, walk back into view of the camera, load the gun, turn and walk behind him.
The Hood lifted the handgun and aimed it at the back of Virgil’s head. “As I said, stop tracking… Or your boy here dies!”
…
Jeff clutched his mother’s hands for support. “Brains. Stop tracking them… Now!”
Brains switched the computer in front of him off and looked nervously at the screen. They all watched, holding their breath as the Hood kept the gun aimed at the back of Virgil’s head.
“Now listen carefully, as you may have worked out we are checking the transmission. If you follow some simple rules, then this boy here will not end up with a bullet in the back of his head… So, the rules… Rule 1: Start trying to track our location, then he dies! Rule 2: If you cut the link and stop watching, then he dies! Now, if that is understood then we can continue.”
The Hood finally lowered the gun from Virgil’s head and the whole family felt themselves able to breath once more.
…
Virgil felt his body sigh in relief as the gun was lowered, but the reprieve he was feeling was unfortunately not going to last long, when the Hood signalled to one of his men, who walked over to the torture table and picked up one of the items. Virgil knew his dad and brothers had not yet seen the device that had been picked up, but the look of horror that spread across his face had warned them that something awful was about to occur.
…
“What’s happening?” Alan whispered to Gordon with tears in his eyes, when he saw the look of fear on Virgil’s face.
Gordon shook his head and grabbed onto Alan to offer comfort and for the support he also needed.
They watched as the Hood turned back towards the camera and signalled to someone who was out of view, they then saw a man walk next to the Hood revealing the Cat O’ Nine Tails in his hands. Jeff, all off the boys, and the rest of the family looked on in horror as the man then made his way behind Virgil.
“Let him go!” Scott cried out when he saw what was about to happen.
“Now, why on earth would I do that?” The Hood returned with a mocking laugh.
“What do you want?” Jeff growled at the screen.
“I want many things Mr Tracy!”
…
The Hood pulled out Virgil’s chain from his pocket, opened it to reveal the picture inside, and then placed it on the floor in front of Virgil, he then removed the gag and leaned towards him whispering in his ear. “I thought you might want some comfort from your dead mother.” Turning back to the camera the Hood continued. “Now, I’m really interested to know how long it will take for your son here to crack and maybe answer some of my questions.” With another intense laugh the Hood walked away from the camera signalling to the man who was standing behind Virgil.
Virgil tried to brace himself for what was about to happen, but nothing could prepare him for the searing pain he felt shooting across his back as the Cat was brought down on to his bare skin again and again and again.
…
“Oh God! Please no!” Scott screamed, as he watched his little brothers anguish unfold.
Alan and Gordon were both sobbing, John held his head in his hands, Penny and Tin-Tin both held their grandma as she quivered in shock, and Brains, Kyrano and Parker stared at the screen in disbelief.
“Stop… Please stop!” Jeff cried out as he watched the whip being brought down onto Virgil’s skin repeatedly.
…
The Hood held his hand up signalling for the man to stop. He then walked back over to Virgil and grabbed him by the hair once more. “If you want this to stop boy… Then tell me what I want to know… Where’s your base located?” Virgil shook his head in defiance. “Tell me what I want to know.” The Hood growled as he leaned towards Virgil.
“Go to hell, asshole!” Virgil snapped back spitting in the Hoods face.
The Hood sneered, wiped the spit away and signalled to the man standing with the whip in his hands. “Keep going.” The Hood ordered as he made his way off screen.
Virgil felt the burning sensation from the whip each time it hit him. He tried to hide the pain, but he knew he hadn’t been successful. He knew the agony was obvious to see, as he still desperately tried not to cry out, he really wanted to spare his family anymore hurt, but he knew his body and his mind wouldn’t let him as he finally let out an intense scream.
…
“Stop… Please, I’ll give you anything you want! Just let my son go.” Jeff begged.
The Hood lifted his hands and signalled for the man to stop. “Anything?” He queried.
“Yes. Anything!” Jeff responded.
…
Virgil had heard what his father had said. Lifting his head, he looked at the camera and started shaking his head, desperately trying to warn his father that no matter what he did, or what he gave the Hood, he would not be allowed to leave alive.
The Hood turned towards Virgil and grabbed his hair, signalling to another man who then made his way over to Virgil with a needle in his hand. “Will you really give me anything I want for this boy’s life?”
“Yes.” Jeff promised. “Just leave him alone.”
“Mm, I’ll have to think about this… While I do think, this troublesome son of yours really must sleep.” The man who had recently joined the Hood inserted the needle into Virgil’s neck, as soon as Virgil had slipped into unconsciousness the Hood continued. “I’ll contact you back in 24 hours.”
…
Everyone stared as the image vanished and the screen went black.
Jeff, Gordon and Alan stood staring at the now blank screen, Scott was still slumped on the floor, tears flooding down his face while John sat next to him, his arms wrapped tightly around his older brother.
“Mr Tracy?”
Jeff blinked his eyes as he finally relinquished his glare from the screen. “Err… Yes Brains?”
“Do you want me to set everything up and start waiting for the live link to be sent?”
“Yes… Yes brains, please… Err… Brains, can you… Can you do anything to find out where this link came from?”
“I will try Jeff… But I will be able to track the location of the live feed,” Brains replied.
“Okay, set everything up and do what you can… And let us know as soon as the live feed is sent.” Brains nodded and quickly went to work. “Boys, will you all be okay while I call the others and tell them what’s happening?” Gordon nodded to his father, pulled Alan onto the chair, and wrapped a reassuring arm around him. “Scott… John?” Jeff inquired.
“Yes dad, make the calls. I’ve got Scott,” John said, rubbing his hand soothingly on Scott’s back.
“Okay, I’ll be about 5 minutes,” Jeff added leaving the room quickly. The boys sat in silence, as soon as Jeff returned he went and sat on the floor next to Scott, pulling him into a warm embrace. “Scott, look at me,” Scott looked in his eyes. “This is not your fault. We all thought that Virgil was gone. If any of us had been there at the time, then we would have come to the same conclusion.”
Scott shook his head, tears still running down his face. “I… I should have known… And the thing is, a part of me did. After the explosion, my heart kept telling me he was alive, but I didn’t listen and then the dreams I’ve had… I’ve heard Virgil calling for me, begging me for help… And I ignored them… Believing them to be just nightmares… But what if it was Virgil calling for me to help him? And I didn’t listen… And now he’s been taken by the Hood… None of us know what’s happened to him… What if the Hood’s already killed him? What if we are too late?”
“Scott, listen to me,” Jeff whispered reassuringly. “What does your heart and your gut say, right now?”
Scott went quiet and then wiped the tears from his face. “He’s… He’s alive!”
“Then, we will find him, and we will bring him home!”
Scott nodded, a determined look creeping onto his face as he wiped the remaining tears away and pulled himself onto the chair.
Brains hurried back in the room, while Jeff dropped on the chair between his four boys and wrapped his arms around them. “Everything is set up Jeff.” Brains stammered.
“Thank you, Brains.” Jeff replied pulling his sons closer.
The rest of the family soon gathered with them in the room, waiting for the transmission to be sent.
… …
Meanwhile:
Virgil blinked his eyes as he slowly came too, unconsciousness had once again claimed him, and the same incessant nightmare had stalked his dreams. As he slowly became aware of his surroundings, Virgil shivered realising that he was still gagged, kneeling on the floor with his feet and ankles chained behind him, and his hands were still lifted above his head and tied to some restraints that hung down from the ceiling. He lifted his head slowly, he could feel his head throbbing and feel his whole-body aching, he knew he needed to do something to get out of there, he knew his already weak body wouldn’t last long to whatever torture the Hood had planned. Virgil looked up at the surroundings and suddenly became aware that he wasn’t alone in the room. He could now see a computer set up behind the camera, a man, one Virgil had not yet seen was sitting behind it. He then noticed the Hood talking quietly to the other six men who had moved Virgil to his current position.
The Hood turned towards Virgil and noticed his prisoner was now awake. “Ah, Mr Tracy, how were the nightmares?” Noticing the chain hanging from Virgil’s neck, the Hood yanked it off and examined it. “What’s this then?” Opening it the Hood grinned at the picture inside. “Oh, how sweet… Your poor dead mother!” Virgil started pulling at the ropes in anger. The Hood let out a piercing laugh. “I think you really should save some of that energy for your torture. You really will need it!”
Chuckling to himself, the Hood turned away from Virgil and then made his way to the video camera. Virgil felt the energy he had just displayed drain from his body as he watched the Hood place the chain in his pocket. Yes, the chain had a picture of his mom in which meant the world to him, but it also contained his only hope for escape, his edible transmitter carefully hidden behind the photo of his mother.
After a few moments, the Hood turned and made his way back towards him, grabbing his hair and yanking his head up to look towards the camera. “Now, when the light there goes green your family will be able to see and hear everything I am about to do to you. Now, unfortunately we won’t be able to see them, but we will be able to hear them plead for your precious life.” The Hood sneered. “Now are you ready Mr Tracy, I really think it’s time that we spoke to your family.”
… …
Four hours had passed since they had started to scan for the link and still nothing had come through. Brains was sitting behind the computer. Scott was now pacing as he held a cup of coffee tightly in his hands. Gordon, Alan and John sat restlessly on the sofa staring at the screen. Jeff was sitting next to his mother, who had insisted on being there when she had heard the news. Penny and Tin-Tin stood next to Brains, while Kyrano and Parker continually topped up their drinks.
“What’s taking so long? They should have contacted us by now!” Alan asked looking over at his father.
“They’re obviously trying to psyche us out, wear us down for when they do finally contact us.” Scott replied.
They all stopped, looked up at the screen as it flickered on.
“Oh God!” Jeff cried out, clutching his stomach in shock at what he was seeing. The image of Virgil was being flashed live onto their screen. He was gagged, on his knees chained to the floor, his International Rescue top removed, and his arms were suspended above him and tied to some sort of restraints. He looked small, weak and was clearly already hurt badly. At that moment, another figure with his face covered walked in front of the camera and let out a deep laugh. “Hood!” Jeff shouted at the screen in anger.
“Ah, hello. Welcome Mr Tracy, I believe you are missing a son?”
Alan lay in his bed looking up at the ceiling, observing the different patterns that he could make out. Insomnia was new to him, he had never had a problem sleeping before. In fact, unless the alarm sounded to signal an emergency he would usually sleep through anything. Alan let out a deep sigh and glanced over at his clock. 6am, and altogether he had probably managed around 3 hours of broken sleep. ‘Maybe I should just give up and get up?’ He thought to himself. Agreeing with his decision, Alan pulled himself out of bed and made his way to his bathroom. After showering and dressing, he once again looked at the clock to see that only half an hour had passed, suppressing a yawn Alan made his way out of his room and headed towards the kitchen. “Grandma,” Alan exclaimed with surprise as he opened the door to the kitchen. “You’re awake early, are you feeling okay?
“Oh, morning sweetie,” Ruth replied, lifting her head from her hands. “I’m okay, I couldn’t sleep so I thought I would make an early start.”
Alan looked at her sitting in her usual chair and noticed how tired and frail she had suddenly become over the past few days. Making his way to the teakettle, Alan glanced over at his grandma again. “Grandma, would you like me to make you a cup of tea?”
“Yes please,” she answered looking up at her youngest grandson.
Just then the kitchen door swung open and Gordon entered.
“Morning Gordon, do you want a coffee?” Alan offered.
“Not if you’re making it bro!”
Alan playfully smacked Gordon on the arm and finished making his grandma her tea. He then took his own coffee and sat down while Gordon finished making his own drink.
Gordon sat down next to Alan and observed his grandma. “Grandma, are you feeling okay?”
“I’ll be okay, just a little tired,” She said with a forced smile.
Alan nudged Gordon and signalled his intentions to him. “Hey grandma, me and Gordon are never too old for a hug!”
Ruth lifted her head up from her hands once more and looked at them both with a genuine smile. “Oh, that would be wonderful!”
Alan and Gordon moved their chairs next to their grandma and wrapped her into a warm embrace.
A few moments later Jeff Tracy walked into the kitchen, stopped and smiled at the sight of his two youngest sons holding his mother, making his way towards the kettle, he ruffled Alan and Gordon’s hair and planted a kiss on his mother’s head.
Ruth Tracy looked up at her son with concern, and squeezed his arm reassuringly. “How are you feeling this morning Jeff? You don’t look like you’ve slept much.”
Jeff began to make himself a coffee. “I managed a few hours. I’ll be okay mom, I promise!” Glancing at the kitchen door as it swung open, Jeff watched John enter with concern. Noting that he still looked like he was half-asleep, as he slumped into a chair and dropped his head onto the table. “Here you go John, take this one.” Jeff passed John the coffee he had just made. “You look like you need this more than I do.”
“Thanks dad,” John yawned, holding the coffee cup tightly in his hands.
Jeff finished making another drink for himself and sat in the chair next to John, while Alan and Gordon pulled themselves out of their grandma’s arms and sat back up, observing their brothers dishevelled form with concern.
“Hey John.” Gordon said tenderly. “How are you today?”
John offered a half smile towards Gordon. “I’ll be okay bro.”
“Morning,” Scott said to them all as he also made his way into the kitchen.
“Did you finally manage to get anymore sleep son?” Jeff enquired observing Scott.
“A little,” Scott responded, making himself a drink. Noticing John, Scott ruffled his hair and sat down in an empty chair. “How are you?” Scott mouthed towards him.
“Mm… I’ll be fine.” John answered without glancing up from the coffee he was now cradling in his hands.
“Where’s everyone else?” Scott asked.
“I gave Kyrano the morning off, I believe he’s gone with Tin-Tin, Penelope and Parker for an early morning walk. Brains kindly offered to finish up some Tracy Industries work for me, so I could spend some time with all of you boys.”
“We’re not all here though are we!” John snapped, without looking at any of them. “There’s an obvious empty chair in this room, which should be filled but it isn’t!”
“Right, who’s having breakfast.” Ruth asked, breaking the silence. “How about pancakes for everyone?”
“I’m not hungry grandma.” John stated, standing up to make himself another coffee.
“Anyone else?”
“No thank you grandma.” The rest of the boys replied.
“How about you Jeff… Any breakfast?”
“No thanks mom. I’ll have something later.”
John stood gripping his coffee tightly and stared at the only empty chair in the room. He sipped his drink and grimaced. “Sugar?”
Ruth smiled at him. “Second shelf, just behind you sweetheart.”
John turned and reached up to get the sugar but managed to knock it off the shelf. “Oh God!” Grabbing a cloth, John went to wipe it up without watching what he was doing and sent the remaining coffee cup that was next to the kettle flying onto the floor, smashing it to pieces. “Oh, no, no, no, no!”
Ruth looked at him with concern. “Sweetheart, It’s just a mug!”
John fell onto the floor picking the broken pieces of the green mug up in his hands. “But it isn’t just a mug grandma. It was Virgil’s and now its broken and it can’t be fixed… And… And…” John broke down into tears.
Jeff bent down and pulled John up into his arms and held him tightly while Scott, with obvious tears in his eyes, cleaned up the broken pieces and dropped them into the bin.
“Come on boys, why don’t we all head to the lounge and spend some time together. Maybe a film day, like we used to have when you were kids?” Jeff suggested as he still held John tightly in his arms.
The boys all agreed and headed towards the lounge with their father while their grandma headed back to her room for a lie down.
“Ah, Jeff. I was just about to call you.” Brains stuttered as Jeff and his boys entered the room. “We’ve had a call from the fire marshal… Apparently, they have received an anonymous video link, which was locked, they can only seem to open the first image which showed a message.”
“What does the message say?” Jeff inquired.
Brains continued. “It says: For International Rescue!”
Virgil knew he was dreaming, but the nightmare world the Hood had promised him still seemed so real. He and his family hadn’t been here in 15 years, not since that day that had taken their mother from them, and now here he was, experiencing that day again.
The dream began with Virgil standing on the slopes, he was watching the families, who were all oblivious to him, skiing joyfully, without a care in the world. As he continued to glance around Virgil caught sight of three boys, helping their mom and dad teach their two youngest brothers how to ski. Although, the younger two both seemed more satisfied with throwing snow at each other than the actual skiing. The family all looked so content, unaware that tragedy was about to strike.
Virgil looked up at the top of the mountain, he could see someone standing up there, with their eyes transfixed on the young boys playing happily with their parents. Virgil realised immediately who the man was and what was about to happen. He turned towards the family, his family, and yelled at them to run but they couldn’t hear him, no one did. He was merely a spectator, unable to help, unable to stop the tragic events from occurring.
As the avalanche began, Virgil watched in horror as he saw his mother and father look up and see the snow beginning to fall. He saw his dad dart for the youngest two, swooping them into his arms and running for safety. He saw Scott and John heading in the same direction. Then he saw something he had forgotten in the trauma, something he had wiped from his memory, now that memory was being forced back to the surface and he was being made to relive it once more.
He saw his younger self running next to his older brothers, but then he slipped and fell forwards, he then saw his mother and Scott stop, turn and yell his name. He heard his mother tell Scott to keep running, while she ran back towards him and pulled him up into her arms. She started to run once more but it was too late. Virgil saw the look of fear and shock in his dad and his brother’s eyes as the snow hit his mother and his younger self, and the others who had been unfortunate to be caught in the avalanche’s grasp.
Virgil began to feel the fear of his mother, he could feel the snow and the freezing cold ice cutting through her body like a knife. He could feel her body shudder with the coldness as she tried desperately to protect her child’s life.
Virgil felt the tears coming to his eyes as he saw people digging for any survivors. Then he heard a woman shout for help saying that she had found someone. He saw other people rush over and pull his younger self from the snow, he saw someone wrap a blanket around him and then pass him carefully to a waiting medic. He saw his dad and his brothers run over to him in relief that all he had sustained was a concussion and some possible side effects from the cold.
He then saw them turn to their mother, who had been placed on a stretcher, she was being attended to by another medic. Virgil then saw his father rush to his wife’s side and grasp her hand, begging her to keep fighting, begging her to live, and then finally he saw his mother look up into his dad’s eyes before taking her final breath, as she left their world forever.
Virgil backed away from the scene that was unfolding, unable to take the pain anymore. As he moved away everything began spinning around him. He then found himself once again standing on the slopes, the families all around him skiing happily without a care in the world.
“No, no, no, no!” Virgil cried. “Not again!”
He looked up and he could see the Hood looking towards him laughing. Virgil dropped down onto his knees and buried his head in his hands.
“Oh God… Please stop!” The tears were now falling freely down Virgil’s face, as the Hood continued his menacing laugh.
“Scott! Please. Please Scott! Help me!”
“Scott!” Virgil screamed out, suddenly coming to.
Virgil felt the tears flowing down his face. He could feel the sweat from the nightmare on his body and the beating of his heart in his chest. He breathed in and out, desperately trying to calm himself down but to no avail. Noticing that he was once again alone in the room and no longer hooked up to the IV. Virgil, anxious to free himself, struggled against the ropes that still held him tightly to the table but every time he did, just like before, the ropes tightened and dug into his skin. Abandoning his struggle, Virgil looked at the table which had been set up next to him, he could see that the table was now ready for his torture to begin. He glanced straight ahead and saw that a camera had been set up ready to capture his torment. After a short while, Virgil heard some men talking to the Hood as they entered the room. Virgil closed his eyes and listened.
“So, what’s next boss?” He heard one of the men say.
“Now the tape is ready I want you to make sure that the fire marshal at the metals foundry receives it. When they discover that it is a locked message for International Rescue, they will no doubt contact them and then when they have seen it, they will contact us.” Virgil heard the Hood reply.
“Why not contact them directly?” Virgil heard another man ask.
“Because you imbecile, as I mentioned earlier my plan is working much better than I expected. International Rescue have already made an announcement saying they are out of action for the unforeseeable future, it seems that the suspected death of his son over there has hit Jeff Tracy harder than I expected.” The Hood continued, “now, I want you to get that boy ready for when they do contact us and make sure that tape is sent.”
“Yes sir,” the men replied.
Virgil heard the Hood leave the room. He then heard the men starting to walk towards him. Virgil’s eyes shot open as he felt one of the men gagging him. He looked around and saw six men surrounding the table he was on. Four of them held him down while the two other men untied the ropes. Virgil, fought to free himself, but it was hopeless, and the men just tightened their grips. Once he was untied, the men lifted him up, forced his arms up into the air and tied his wrists together, then they bound his wrists to a long restraint that hung from the ceiling. They then forced him painfully onto his knees and chained his ankles to some floor restraints. Laughing at his predicament as they did so. Then finally, to Virgil’s horror one of the men picked up a small knife that had been placed on the torture table and walked up to Virgil’s chest. Virgil gulped trying to keep his obvious fear at bay. The man let out a mocking laugh and grabbed Virgil’s International Rescue top and cut it off him. The man then placed the knife back on the table and signalled to the other men to follow him. They turned from Virgil and left the room, taking his shredded top with them and locking the door behind them.
When the men had finally left, Virgil tried to free himself once more, but found there was no escape. Glancing ahead at the camera and then at the torture table, Virgil felt his body shudder at the now cold room. He felt exhausted, dirty and frightened for his life. Most of all, he felt utter rage, rage at what the Hood had done to his mother, and to his family. At the loss and pain, he knew that his dad and brothers were feeling. At the shock, anger and fear they would all have when the Hood revealed that he was still alive. Then their terror as the Hood tortured him and finally killed him in front of them. He didn’t want his brothers, his dad, his gran, hell, any of them experiencing that.
‘Oh God!’ Virgil thought to himself as he once more felt the tears begin to cascade down his face. ‘Please let this nightmare end!’
Scott stood in a dense forest, he could see a grey mist beginning to engulf the woodland around him, swallowing it whole. The thick haze started to wrap itself around him, while tightening its grasp on his body. He couldn’t see, he couldn’t feel, he couldn’t think. Where was he? How did he get here? Where were his brothers? Oh God! His brothers. He needed to find them. Scott began running through the thick fog, shouting their names in desperation. Out of nowhere, a clearing appeared in front of him, one where the smog had yet to gather, Scott could see his three brothers sitting on a grass verge, with their backs facing away from the woods. “Gordon, Alan, John! What’s going on? Where are we?” He called out to them. They didn’t move, so Scott began running towards them, desperate to reach them and make sure they were alright.
“Scott!”
Scott ground himself to a sudden halt.
“Scott!”
A voice, one he recognised, one he had longed to hear was screaming his name.
“Scott!”
Scott turned to face the forest once more.
“Scott! Please.”
“Virg?”
“Scott! Please help me!”
The desperation and fear in his brother’s voice made Scott feel physically sick.
“Virgil, where are you? I can’t see you.”
“Scott! Please. Please help me!”
“Virgil, stay where you are. I’m coming to get you.” Scott shouted, hoping his brother could hear him.
Scott started to run in the direction he had come from, only to be stopped by an invisible wall that now surrounded the forest.
“Scott! Please. Please Scott! Help me!”
Scott started banging his fists against the invisible wall in front of him, screaming his brother’s name as he did so.
“Virgil,” Scott cried out as he woke from the nightmare which had gripped him. Scott sat up in his bed and pushed his hands through his hair, trying desperately to calm his beating heart, and slow down his heavy breathing. Once he began to feel calm, he pulled himself out of his bed and made his way quietly out of his room. There was no way he was going back to sleep after that nightmare, even if it was only three am. The woods, the fog, the distress and terror he had heard in his lost brother’s voice, it had all been too much, and the dream had seemed so real. Scott made his way into the kitchen intent on getting a coffee to help keep him from anymore nightmares. After making his drink, Scott quietly slipped into the lounge and was surprised to find his father already sitting on the sofa with a coffee of his own. “Dad, what are you doing up?” Scott asked.
“I could ask you the same thing young man?” Jeff responded looking at his, obviously sleepy, eldest son.
Scott looked down at his coffee and decided to answer honestly. “Nightmares.”.
Jeff tapped the empty seat next to him. “Come on son. Sit down and talk to me.”
Scott sighed and went and sat down next to his father. “There’s not much to say, it was just a nightmare, a horrifying one, and one that felt so real.”
“Virgil?” Jeff queried sadly
“Yes,”
“What happened?”
Scott shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, it felt real, but thankfully it wasn’t. Although, when I woke I was wishing that this was all a dream.”
“Me too Scott.” Jeff replied, bowing his head but placing a reassuring arm around him.
“So, why are you awake?” Scott questioned looking in his father’s eyes.
Jeff swirled the coffee around in his cup. “I had some decisions to make and things to sort out. I had been thinking about what you and the boys were saying about continuing with International Rescue… Now, don’t worry, I agree with you, and we will continue. However, I’ve made the decision that we all need to have a break for a while, we need to be together as a family and we all need… We all need time to grieve. So, I’ve released an announcement to the authorities and press, that International Rescue will not be operating until further notice.”
Scott nodded his head. “How long do you think it will be dad?”
“I’m not sure Scott, as much time as you and the rest of the boys feel you may need.” Jeff let out a sigh and continued. “I need to stop too. I remember what I was like when your mother passed away, throwing myself into work, not being there when you all needed me. I’m not putting you boys through that again.”
Scott took his father’s hand and gripped it tightly. “So, what’s our next step?”
Jeff glanced sadly into his son’s eyes. “We, need to let anyone who knew Virgil know that he has…” Jeff breathed in deeply and then carried on. “That he’s passed away. There will be some official documents I have to sign as well, and then we can arrange a funeral.”
“How are we going to do that dad. Without implicating International Rescue and without his… Without his…” Scott paused unable to get the words out.
“I know son, I know.” Jeff said reassuringly as he squeezed Scott’s hand. “We’ll figure something out.” A moment of silence crept over them as they mused over their own individual thoughts. “Scott, I… I need to know, the last time you spoke to Virgil, did he… Did he sound happy?”
Scott looked down at his now cold cup of coffee. “He sounded like typical Virgil.”
Jeff nodded with a slight smile. “And what was…” Jeff was unsure whether to carry on.
“What was what dad?” Scott asked.
“What was the last thing he said to you?”
Scott half smiled and let out a slight laugh. “He told me I should stop looking so worried.”
Jeff smiled and laughed softly to himself. He then paused a moment before continuing to talk. “I hope… I hope he didn’t feel anything, I really hope he didn’t see those bombs… Before they exploded. I hope… Well, I really hope that his last moments were happy.”
“Me too dad.” Scott glanced up at the clock. “Its four am. You should get some sleep, and don’t take any of those sleeping tablets. You rely on them too much.”
“Hey, when did we swap roles?” Jeff replied mockingly. “I’ll sleep, if you promise that you will try and get some sleep too.”
“Yes, okay dad.” Scott replied reluctantly.
They both stood, Jeff placed his arm around his eldest child as they both made their way to bed.
The Hood leaned in closer to him. “Have you ever wondered Mr Tracy, why it is I hate International Rescue and your father so much?”
…
Virgil glared at the Hood. “Let me see, you hate anyone who helps others. Oh, and you crave power, fame and fortune. Basically, you are a sociopath, who will stop at nothing to get his own way. Personally, I think you are a complete and utter asshole!”
The Hood sneered to himself and continued. “You were partially correct. Power, fame and fortune. Yes, yes, I do crave these. When I first heard about International Rescue, I needed to know more, and I needed to see everything in action, which is why I caused the first rescue on the Fire Flash, and some others since then… By doing this, I have been learning more about International Rescue. With your money, equipment, and the riches I am yet to discover at your base, my powers, well, they would become unlimited. I would have total control over anything or anyone, and nothing would be able to stop me.”
The Hood continued. “However, my hate for your father goes back much further than this, around 30 years ago, to be precise. No one has seen my true face since that time, I have used many disguises, and since then everyone has referred to me as the Hood. My real name is Balah Gaat. My powers came from the traditions and beliefs that my home have always instilled into each generation. I was the strongest within my family, the powers I developed came naturally to me. My half-brother, you know him as Kyrano, he was weak, because he only practised what he was told, never experimented, but I, I embraced my powers, and all that they could be and because of that I became stronger. I first met your father, when he was a younger man, he was in the army, and he was delivering humanitarian relief to my village after an earthquake had hit nearby. From the very first time I met him I knew I hated him, his generosity was sickening. He and my half-brother Kyrano seemed to get along particularly well, which made me dislike him even more. As was the custom with my village, I had been married at 16 and had a child, a boy, a short time after, he was now only 4 years old, and he had already begun to develop his powers. One day, I had been away in seclusion, studying my craft, when a second earthquake had hit, devastating my home. I had returned to the village to check on my family’s safety. When I reached the clearing, I could see that your father had been drafted in to help with the rescue relief. I saw your father pulling adults and children out of the rubble. I saw him save many lives, including my pitiful younger brother, but when it came to my wife and my boy, no, he had not been quick enough, he had pulled them out and they had already been killed. They had not survived because your father chose to save the others first. People who had not deserved to live, people who were weak, when my son could have become so powerful, just like me! I swore revenge on your father, I stowed away, I honed my skills, I became stronger in my craft, I bid my time, until I was ready to seek my vengeance.”
The Hood paused and then leaned in closer to Virgil. “I think it would be best if you see my retribution for yourself. Now, this will hurt.” The Hood’s eyes began to glow as he placed his hand on Virgil’s head. Virgil felt an intense heat coming from the Hood’s hands, causing a burning pain to shoot into his head, which made him scream in pain. The Hood let out a mocking laugh. “You will now see, hear and feel everything I am about to tell you.” The Hood continued. “I took it upon myself to research Jeff Tracy. I was sickened to find that he had become successful in his new career as an astronaut and then later as a business man, he had married and had become a father to five boys, how is that fair when I had lost mine? I wanted your father to suffer, I wanted him to experience unimaginable pain. And then, like a bolt of lightning an idea came to me, my imagination was sparked and the time for my retribution had come!”
The Hood paused, his eyes changed from yellow to a piercing gold, which caused Virgil to let out another intense scream. “Cast your mind back, it was about 15 years ago, by looking at you, I would say you were 7 or maybe younger. You, your brothers, your father and mother were taking a vacation at a ski resort. You and your family were enjoying the break and having so much fun, when a disaster occurred. You see Mr Tracy, with my powers, natural disasters, like avalanches are very easy for me to cause.”
The Hood let out a chilling laugh and continued. “Do you see it? Can you see your mother being hit by the avalanche? Can you feel the ice? Can you feel the cold air? Can you see your mother being pulled from the snow? Do you see her? You can’t help her, she’s cold and she’s been hurt and by the time the rescue services have pulled her free, well, it is too late. There is nothing you, your brothers, or your father can do. Your precious mother, well, she’s gone! She is dead! These images you are now seeing in your mind will plague you, whenever you fall asleep, until the sweet relief of death comes to you, which luckily for you maybe sooner rather than later.” The Hood released his hand from Virgil’s head and freed him from the images he was seeing. Virgil began to shake, as he tried to supress his tears. “Ah, a little upset?” The Hood scoffed as he leaned in closer to Virgil.
“Go to hell!” Virgil spat into the Hoods face.
The Hood let out another distressing laugh, wiped the spit from his eyes and continued with his story. “After I had killed your mother, I believed I had won. Your father’s loss was so devastating to him, and his young boys. It must have been so sad to lose a parent at such a young age. Then I learnt about your fathers continued achievement within the business world and the money he had made. This infuriated me. Everything he wants, he gets! I knew Kyrano, had begun to work for him, they had become closer over the years, so I delved into Kyrano’s mind to find out what your father’s next business adventure would be. Imagine how I felt when I discovered the details for International Rescue. Yes, I was intrigued and wanted to see what he had created, but a rescue service! If no one saved my family then why should others experience being saved, when my own family were left to die! I was also disgusted that instead of embracing the hate, and the resentment that I wanted your father to feel, he had instead begun to help others in need, saving them from disasters, saving their families and friends from pain. So, now I’ve decided to take my next step in destroying him, and what better way than by torturing and killing his own flesh and blood. Yes, Mr Tracy, tomorrow my retribution will finally come to fruition, but for now, I think we will let you sleep, and let you enjoy the nightmares that I have planted in your mind.” The Hood nodded at one of his men, who then pulled a syringe from a small box. “Sweet dreams Mr Tracy.”
The needle was plunged into Virgil’s arm and although he tried to fight it, the darkness came, and the nightmares began.
Throughout the past few days Virgil had felt himself drifting out of his unconscious state, many times, too many to mention, only to be plunged back into it by a sharp needle being stabbed into his arm, which delivered a warm sedative into his system. Each time he had woken, even for those briefest of moments, he had felt the tightness and the burning from the ropes holding him down, he could feel the coldness from the table that he was lying on and although he couldn’t see anything or take stock of his surroundings, due to the blindfold wrapped tightly over his eyes, he knew that the Hood was always close by.
Virgil felt himself drifting out of his forced sleep once more. However, this time he found the light from the room warming his eyes and face. He blinked his eyes and was relieved to find that the blindfold had finally been removed. Looking around, Virgil could instantly see that he was now on his own in a large room and there was no natural light coming from anywhere. The only light that he could see was from the one spotlight that was above him and was focussed on where he lay. Seeing if he could free himself, Virgil tried to pull against the ropes but felt them tighten every time he struggled. Virgil breathed in and out, as he desperately tried to focus himself, so he could form some sort of escape plan.
‘Okay,’ he thought to himself; ‘I need to get out of here. So first, injuries, how bad are they?’ Virgil looked towards his chest. ‘Right, I can feel obvious bruising to my ribs and abdomen. Maybe cracked a few ribs? But hopefully not.’ Virgil looked at his arms ‘Ligature Marks to my wrists and arms from the ropes, most likely to my legs as well. Also, a twisted wrist, doesn’t feel broken… That’s good!’ Virgil sighed to himself, ‘pain in legs… No fracture… Hopefully…’ He breathed in and out once more and then continued. ‘The pain from my legs is shooting into my back, which hurts like hell, and that could mean severe bruising to my back, plus ligament damage in my legs or nerve damage in my legs and in my back or, or …’ Virgil breathed in deeply. ‘Calm down, breathe in, breathe out. Keep calm. Just keep calm.’ He kept saying to himself over and over. ‘You can feel your legs, it’s just bruising, nothing too serious.’ Virgil breathed out, finally feeling himself calm down.
‘Okay, what else? Lips feel dry but I don’t feel dehydrated, which is weird because god knows how long I’ve been here, I know it’s defiantly been a while because I am defiantly hungry. Man, I would love a home cooked meal right about now, followed by some of grandma’s apple pie’ Virgil suddenly felt his stomach growl. ‘Damn it, Virgil. Stop thinking about food.’ Once he felt his stomach stop rumbling, Virgil continued to try and figure a way out of his current predicament. ‘Right, now think. I’m obviously not going to get very far with these injuries, so I need to work out some way to contact my family and let them know I’m alive… Think… Think Virgil think… Wait, my edible transmitter! Which is inside my chain, which I still have on… But I can’t reach because I’m tied down.’ Virgil could feel himself becoming frustrated and tried to calm himself once more.
At that moment, Virgil heard a key turning and a door screech as it was opened. He could hear two men entering the room, as they came closer, he could see that they had their backs to him, and they had not noticed that he was awake. They had brought in a large table and had placed it next to him. They then left the room, returning after a short time with various items, clearly meant for torture, which they then proceeded to lay out on the table. Virgil let out a dry laugh. “Trying to taunt me?”
The two men turned towards him in surprise. The one man shouted at him in a language that was unknown to Virgil, while the other man stormed out of the room, and quickly re-entered with something in his hands. Followed closely behind him was the Hood! “So, you’re awake Mr Tracy. Ahead of schedule, you caught my men here unawares. “
“Oops. Sorry if I’m messing up your plans.” Virgil replied sarcastically.
“Never mind Mr Tracy, we can always be adaptable.” The Hood nodded towards the man who had come back in the room with him. The man then turned towards Virgil and stuck a needle into his arm. Virgil felt himself flinch and gasp with the sudden shock. “Now Mr Tracy, my men here are giving you another saline IV, it’s for your own good Mr Tracy, you see we really don’t want you dying from dehydration now do we?”
“What, so now you want me to live? Geez, make up your mind.” Virgil answered back.
“As I told you earlier Mr Tracy, I have big plans for you. I really don’t want you dying before your appointment tomorrow with some of my wonderful torture devices here. Like this Mr Tracy.” The Hood picked up one of the items from the table and held it softly in his hands. “Do you know what this is?” The Hood looked towards Virgil and continued mockingly. “This is a Cat O’ Nine Tails. It has nine knotted thongs which are made with just simple cotton cord, but the damage this can do to a man’s skin is simply amazing.” The Hood glared at Virgil. “Yes, I believe I will enjoy using this on you Mr Tracy, I will enjoy hearing your screams and your pitiful cries, begging for me to stop.”
Virgil looked at the Hood and rolled his eyes. “You know, I really think you need a hobby.”
“Excuse me?” The Hood asked, unsure if he had heard correctly.
“A hobby,” Virgil continued, “it’s quite sad really! All you ever seem to do with your life is hunt down International Rescue, I mean it can’t be good for your health focussing on just one thing all the time. You really should try becoming more social, get out more, try and make some friends. You should try a new activity, like, like running.” Virgil paused and looked the Hood up and down. “Actually, let’s scrap running! From the looks of you I don’t think you would manage any decent sort of distance and it would definitely be a bit too physical for you.” Virgil pondered to himself. “Oh, wait, I’ve got it.” Virgil continued with a dry laugh. What about a nice indoor board game like scrabble or checkers?”
The Hood stared at Virgil, unsure on how to answer the unexpected mocking he had just received. After a few moments of silence, the Hood stepped closer towards Virgil and looked at him with contempt. “So, Mr Tracy, you think you are funny! Well don’t worry, once we are finished with you, you certainly won’t be laughing, or making anymore sarcastic comments.” The Hood, paused and then sneered towards Virgil. “In fact, I believe I know something that will stop that humour instantly.” The Hood leaned in closer to him. “Have you ever wondered Mr Tracy, why it is I hate International Rescue and your father so much?”
Scott sat leaning against the piano and gazed up at the clock. Seconds had seemed like minutes, minutes had seemed like hours, the hours had seemed like days, and the days had seemed like years. Only 78 hours had passed since everything had stopped, only 78 hours since his world had come crashing down around him. Scott stood up, moved to the window and gazed out at the view. He frowned to himself, and wondered how the sun could keep shining and the birds could keep chirping when everything felt so black and dismal within him.
He sighed to himself and glanced around the room. Alan and John were sitting together on the settee, each of them quietly in their own thoughts. He continued his gaze and noticed his dad in his usual chair. He was holding a small photograph in his hands, he was staring at it intensely, no doubt a picture of Virgil from when he was a child with his mother. Lady Penelope, Tin-Tin and his grandma were sitting at the table, while Parker and Kyrano served them all tea. Scott looked once more around the room, searching for his other younger brother but when he couldn’t see Gordon he decided to slip out quietly and see where he was.
Scott walked along the corridor and noticed the door to Virgil’s room slightly opened with a light which was coming from inside. He walked quietly up to the door and peaked into the room. Gordon was sitting on the bed and was flicking slowly through a sketch book of Virgil’s. Scott listened outside, undecided on whether he should enter or leave his brother to his own personal thoughts. His choice was instantly made when he heard a loud sob come from the room. “Gords,” Scott said as he slipped into the room, onto the bed and scooped Gordon into a warm brotherly hug. They hugged for several minutes until Gordon composed himself, sat back up and picked up the sketch pad once more. Scott kept a reassuring arm around his little brother as they both looked through the artwork.
“He was so talented,” Gordon finally stated.
“I know,” Scott replied with a half-smile.
They continued to examine the drawings and stopped when they came to one that made them stare in admiration. It was a pencil drawing of all five of them with their dad. “Wow! That’s, that’s amazing!” Gordon gasped.
“Yes, it is amazing… Just like him!” Scott added. They both smiled at each other and continued to look at the picture. After a short silence, Scott decided to finally say what was on his mind. “Thank you, Gordon.”
“What for?” Gordon asked looking puzzled.
“You were there when I couldn’t be. I’m so sorry I let you down.” Scott replied with a tear in his eye.
“Hey, you didn’t let anyone down,” Gordon replied reassuringly. “You’re not invincible Scott, despite what Virgil thought.”
Scott laughed. “Did he really think that?”
“He certainly did when we were kids, I’m sure he thought the sun shone out your ass!” Gordon replied laughing. They both sat there smiling at the memories that had formed in their minds. “Scott, this wasn’t your fault. You were in shock!”
Scott smiled back at Gordon and ruffled his hair. “I’m so proud of you Gordon. The way you stepped up and took control like that. I know the others feel the same way.”
“Thanks Scott. To be honest though, I have no idea how I managed to hold things together like that. I thought I was going to lose it at any moment. If I’d been there, and I had felt the force of the explosion like you did, and then seen that building collapsed like that, then I know I would have completely lost it.”
Scott looked towards his brother, as tears formed in his eyes. “Everything just stopped. My heart was beating so loud that I thought it was going to explode. Then everything seemed to start swirling around me. My heart was saying, ‘he’s alive, he’s alive.’ My head was saying, 'he’s gone, your brothers gone!’ Then my heart and my gut would start screaming at me. 'He’s alive, keep looking, he’s alive’ and everything around me just kept swirling. Then I found his broken watch and his sash, it was just lying there amid all that destruction, and then everything just stopped.”
Gordon pulled Scott into his arms and held him tightly until a short tap came at the door.
“Do you mind if we both join you.” Alan said poking his head around the door.
“Sure, come in.” Scott answered.
Alan came into the room followed by John. Alan slumped onto the bed next to Scott while John sat down by Virgil’s desk. “You know, Virg would kill us if he knew we were in here messing up his room.” John said with a half-smile.
“He was such a clean freak” Gordon added with a slight laugh.
Alan started sniggering. “I remember this one time, I was probably about 5 or 6 and I had gone into his room and I had decided to use his paints. The paint had gone everywhere! You should have seen his reaction when he came in.”
“Oh, wow, I remember that,” Scott added. “I had to bribe him with the promise of some new paints and some new sheet music, just so he wouldn’t throttle you. He was fuming!”
Gordon started chuckling to himself. “Did you guys ever find out what I did on his birthday to him and Thunderbird 2 last year.”
“Oh no! What did you do to his precious bird?” John asked with a laugh.
Gordon continued to laugh. "Well, he was always catching me out on my pranks. So, this time I decided to distract him with a diversion, I deliberately let him catch me with some paint outside of Thunderbird 2. He was so distracted by the thought of me painting his precious bird yellow that he didn’t see the next part of my prank coming. When he went inside to check what I had done, he was instantly covered in pink feathers and greeted by Thunderbird 2 decked out with pink balloons, party streamers and banners saying, 'Got You’, his face was a picture. I was cursing myself after for not setting up a camera.”
They all started laughing at the image of Virgil’s face at being covered in pink feathers and his reaction to the mess in Thunderbird 2. John looked towards Scott. “Hey Scott, do you remember that silver chain he used to wear all the time when he was a kid? We teased him rotten for it.”
“Yeah, I do. I caught him wearing it about four months ago, he confessed he had recently started wearing it again, he would wear it under his uniform when he was out on a mission. Apparently, he kept his edible transmitter inside for safety. He had it hidden behind a picture of mom. He said he had a feeling he would need it one day and called it his 'Good Luck Charm’, made me swear to secrecy.”
They all sat in silence for a while, each one of them recalling their own special moments. A short time later a knock at the door broke the silence. “Hey Boys,” Jeff Tracy said softly as he entered the room and sat down on the end of the bed. “Tin-Tin said you were all in here, what are you up to?”
“Just sharing some memories about Virg.” Scott replied.
Jeff smiled, but the sadness behind his eyes betrayed him.
“Dad, what is it? Alan asked hesitantly.
Jeff let out a heavy sigh. "I’ve heard back from the Fire Marshal, they thought that International Rescue should know the results from the investigation so far. It’s bad boys. The initial fire, as you know Scott, had multiple starting points. It seems they were started by timed ammunition devices.”
“So, it was done deliberately.” Alan replied in shock.
“I’m afraid so Alan, and unfortunately it doesn’t end there. They have told me they don’t suspect any of the management or workers at the metals foundry, they believe that someone may have deliberately done this to lure in International Rescue.”
“What?” John said jumping from his chair.
Jeff looked at them all, not wanting to continue, but knowing they had a right to know the truth. “It seems that the building Virgil was in had contained at least 6 small explosives. They were not timed like the others. They believe they were placed there after the initial fire and were most likely set off remotely once their target was inside.”
Scott jumped off the bed at hearing this news. “Are you telling me that someone deliberately killed our brother?”
Jeff nodded his head sadly. “I’m afraid it looks that way Scott.”
Scott flew into a rage. “So, someone out there deliberately killed our brother. Our sweet, gentle, kind-hearted brother who would risk his life to save complete strangers and would do anything for his friends and family!” Scott slumped onto the floor by his father. “My beautiful brother who would literally not even hurt a fly! And I mean literally! I saw him save a fly! Grandma had been really annoyed by this fly that had got itself caught in the house, she had gone to get some fly spray, so Virgil went over to it, somehow managed to catch it and then let it go outside.” Scott was now sobbing uncontrollably. “How could anyone do this to him. He… He… He didn’t deserve this!”
Jeff pulled Scott into his arms and held him tightly.
“So, what happens now.” Gordon asked, as he tried his hardest to suppress his tears.
Jeff released another heavy sigh. “If there is someone out there who is intent on destroying us then I think it’s time that we called it a day on International Rescue”
“No!” All four boys said at once.
“I’m sorry boys, but I can’t risk losing anymore of you.”
Scott pulled himself out of his father’s arms and looked in his eyes. “Dad, we need to continue, if we stop then whoever has done this has won, besides I know Virgil would have wanted us to go on without him!”
Pulling himself onto the bed, Jeff pulled all four of his sons into a warm embrace. “I know he would. It’s just the thought of losing anymore of you. It makes me feel physically sick.” Jeff let out another heavy sigh. “When I look at each of you, I always see you as a small vulnerable baby wrapped up tightly in my arms… And when I think about what this person has done to my little boy… My baby, it makes me not want to let go of any of you ever again.” His tears now started to flow freely. “Virgil, he… He was so much like your mother! When I heard him play the piano after we lost her it hurt so much. Then there came a day when I suddenly realised that we hadn’t lost her, that I still had a part of her in his talent for art and music. It became so good to hear him play and now, now we’ll never hear his music again!”
All the Tracy boys wrapped themselves deeper into their father’s arms. Each one crying their own bitter tears.
