Hello everybody!

I know I haven't posted ... well, anything in a while. You see, in addition to having mental and learning disabilities, I am also a full time college student. (Yay.) Because this takes up so much of my time, I made a promise to myself not to post anything that is not finished, so that I might be able to post daily and not leave people hanging. However, when inspiration would not let me go to sleep, I started this new story tonight. (Needless to say, it is not finished yet.) However, as I am on summer break, as is my fabulous beta, I will post within 24-48 hours for each chapter. (Please hold me to this so I can stay motivated.)

A huge thanks to my beta, 1monster2, for her late night help getting this thing ready.

I would also like to dedicate this story to nhsweetcherry and TheFABFive2015 for writing the awesome stories that inspired me to try my hand at writing for TAG 2015.

DISCLAIMER: This story is for entertainment only. I do not own the Thunderbirds, as I have no actual yard with my apartment and they would not fit on my seven foot long balcony.

Please enjoy ...

Prologue

Alan waited in the hallway, pacing up and down every few seconds. Thunderbird One had landed almost five minutes ago, how long did it take to get into an elevator? Finally the door slide open and the teen nearly jumped inside to greet its passenger.

"Scott, I have to talk to you!"

"Whoa, what's wrong?"

"I still don't have a uniform."

Scott sighed and brushed past him, as if the matter wasn't a big deal. Well, it may not be to their fearless leader, but Alan had waited long enough to join their ranks. Besides, he had one card to play that his brother had to listen to. He didn't want to go this far, but Scott left him no choice.

"Dad said he was making one for me. What happened to that one?"

Alan held his breath as Scott froze halfway into the lounge. It was a low blow to use their father, especially after what happened to him, but it was true. Jeff Tracy had promised him that he could join his brothers just as soon as he finished his training on Three, and he had … just before their dad's crash.

He should have received his uniform then, so he could join the search, but Scott had vetoed it. It was like his brother's new position of head of the household had automatically reinstated his own role as baby of the family. Well, he was not a baby and the only way he could see to prove it was to officially join International Rescue, just like their father intended.

"What's going on here?" Virgil asked, as he and Gordon joined them at the lounge door.

"Alan wants his uniform," Scott answered quietly.

Suddenly all his brothers were serious, even Gordon's ever present smile had been replaced by a frown. It wasn't like he was asking to join a militia and go off to war! He just wanted to be part of the same thing they were. Was that really too much to ask?

"Dad said he had one made for me," he repeated. "It should have been finished ages ago, why can't I have it?"

The silence went on for so long, Alan was about ready to scream. Finally, Virgil stepped forward and tried to explain.

"It's not that we don't want you out there-"

"It isn't?" Gordon interrupted, earning a glare from the other two.

"It's just that … the suit is not ready yet."

"It's not or your not?" Alan snapped.

Seeing the hurt in the eyes of all three of his brothers, Alan regretted his words. Still, their expressions hinted that there was some truth to his words. He got it, he really did. International Rescue is dangerous; he'd seen enough of their injuries to know that much. But the fact was that his father promised him a spot on the team, and that promise was one of the few things Alan had to hold onto. He had to join the team … he just had to.

"Alright," Scott sighed.

"Really?" Alan half shouted, even as his brothers echoed his words in a more questioning tone.

"You can get your suit by the weekend," Scott promised. "Just as soon as Brains finishes a few modifications."

Fair enough. Most of his brother had things added to their uniforms to suit their needs, like Gordon's breather and Virgil's high powered flashlight. Alan couldn't help but wonder what was going to be on his. Since he had already been training for Three, it would probably be something space related, like a jet pack. It would be awesome if he got a built in jet pack … or rocket shoes, those would be good too.

He spent the rest of the week thinking up what he might get, but his top choice was still the jet pack, when Scott called him down to Brain's lab. Everyone was present for the unveiling, except Grandma who was trying to make a celebratory cake … and hadn't been seen for some time. Maybe once he got his new suit he could take it out for a spin until someone was able to dispose of his baked "present."

"Ready, Alan?" Brains asked, holding the edge of the sheet covering a tall case.

"I was born ready!"

The scientist smiled and pulled away the fabric to reveal … a basic uniform. No flashlight or breather, which was not as crushing as the lack of jet pack. The only difference from the rest of their uniforms was an added material around his shoulders and torso. Wait–

"Is that … body armor?"

"Yup," Scott grinned. "The best Brains can make."

Alan rolled his eyes. Seriously? They gave him armor?! What did they think he was gonna do, play rugby in an asteroid belt? Scratch that; rugby players didn't even wear armor!

"I don't need armor!"

"Oh really?" Gordon raised an eyebrow.

"Really," Alan insisted. "I mean, none of you wear armor, so I don't need it either."

"Uh, yeah, you do," Virgil stated.

The teen crossed his arms and glared, trying to look older than his sixteen years, but not doing well based on the smirks he was getting in return.

"Name one time, one time I needed body armor."

"Seriously?" John asked, as his holographic form joined the conversation. "Alan, we could give you an alphabetical list …"

So, what do you think?

With stories like this I like to leave it open for viewer participation. So if you have any ideas of things Alan could hurt himself on that start with A, feel free to let me know. In any case, I'll try to have the next chapter posted by next midnight. (About 24 from now, Oregon time.)