Enigma

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Gerry Anderson, except General Yang, Sergeant Lee, Dr Smith and Dr White

Thanks to Nevair for beta reading this for me

It had been four months since Scott and Alan had been shot down on Mount Everest; four months of rest and recuperation to allow their injuries to fully heal. But it hadn't been easy. Alan moaned a lot, complaining about the pain in his chest from his broken ribs and the gunshot wound. No one said anything though, how could they? After all, Alan had nearly died at least twice.

He was extremely uncomfortable, especially when it came to sleeping. Due to his ribs Alan was forced to sleep sitting up so as not to risk his lung collapsing. Breathing caused incredible pain, but he couldn't stop breathing, could he?

Luckily, his ribs were healed after two months and he could breath easily again. He also didn't have to worry about the risks a sneeze or cough could have.

Scott however, was an entirely different patient altogether. He was the most stubborn person you could ever hope to meet. He refused to stay cooped up in bed all day, which wasn't easy considering his broken arm and leg, which meant that he had to rely on a wheelchair that he loathed with a passion.

He gave his grandmother hell during his recovery period with his disappearing act, usually getting his younger brothers into trouble in the process. Scott would threaten his siblings with bodily harm if they didn't get him away from the house for at least five minutes.

It got so far that even Jeff threatened to drag his eldest son to the sickbay, strap him to the bed, and lock him in there if he didn't do as he was told and stay in bed.

As soon as his leg was healed Scott was up and about like a sugar-high child. All the energy that had been locked away inside him suddenly came out in one big, long rush.

He spent most of the time bossing his brothers around, and keeping an eye on Alan whom he had become closer to since the accident. He also spent a lot of time in Thunderbird one's hangar.

Due to having two members of International Rescue off duty, Brains and Tintin hadn't been able to repaint Thunderbird one, so you could imagine Scott's surprise and Virgil and Gordon's horror when they discovered that Thunderbird one was still covered in polka dots.

"What the hell did you do to my 'Bird!" Scott shouted when he saw it.

Gordon paled and Virgil looked like he was about to throw up. "Well you see Scott," Gordon began, "we were really bored and…"

"And you just decided to paint an impression of Mr. Blobby on my Thunderbird?" Scott finished his brother's sentence.

"Oh no Scott," Virgil protested. "Besides, Mr. Blobby's spots were all yellow, these are multicolored."

Scott glared at him. "And that makes it alright, does it? I can't believe you two!"

Gordon began to laugh, "Well at least everyone will be able to see you coming."

"You'll see my fist coming in a minute," Scott threatened.

His younger brothers couldn't help it, they burst out laughing.

Well Scott hadn't been a captain in the air force for nothing, and when he gave orders you obeyed.

He commanded his brothers to repaint Thunderbird one and that he would inspect it himself.

Two hours later Thunderbird one was as good as new and it gave Scott great pleasure to watch Virgil and Gordon repainting his precious 'Bird while he stood over them.

"Do you have to stand there like that?" Gordon asked as he painted Thunderbird one's base, "and do we have to use paint brushes? My arm aches! Couldn't we just spray the paint on like normally?"

"Nope, I think a job looks much better when you've done all the work yourself."

"But what about the top half? We can't fly up there!"

"I'll think of something."

"Oh yeah," Virgil muttered. "I'll get Thunderbird two and fly up there shall I?"

"Nah, your bulk of a 'bird wouldn't fit in here," Scott grinned.

"Bulk of a 'bird!" Virgil was flabbergasted. His brother had just insulted his lady! "At least my 'bird doesn't look like it has a severe case of the chicken pox!"

Scott scowled. Gordon began to laugh again. "Look on the bright side Scott, at least once you get the chicken pox you can't get it again."

In the end it was decided to spray the paint on, but to make up for it, Scott had Virgil and Gordon clean the entire hangar inside out.

They were just sweeping the floor when the klaxon went off.

"FREEDOM!" Gordon bellowed, bolting through the door, his elder brothers hard on his heels.

"What have we got, Father?" Scott asked as they reached the lounge.

Jeff was getting details from John in Thunderbird five. "An oil factory has exploded in Gobi desert."

Both Scott and Alan looked uncomfortably at one another, obviously thinking the same thing: 'of all the continents, it had to be Asia; the very place where we nearly lost our lives.'

But they couldn't let that stop them; people needed their help, depended on their help.

"Scott, take Thunderbird one and make a rendezvous for the danger zone. John will give you the coordinates once you're airborne." He turned to Virgil; "Take Thunderbird two with pod three and the Firefly, Gordon and Alan will accompany you."

His sons replied with a chorus of "FAB's" and proceeded towards the entrances to the hangars.

As the wall rotated, Scott found himself hoping that he didn't have to fly over Mount Everest.

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The Hood stared at the muscular man in front of him, face set in a heavy scowl. "How do you know this will work, General Yang?"

The general grinned menacingly. "Trust me it will work, I know it will. From what you've told me International Rescue wouldn't miss a rescue like this. And when we have hold of them all the technology will be ours, fifty-fifty. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Excellent. Now, when International Rescue get there Sergeant Lee and Dr Smith will be ready for them."

"Fantastic."

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"Thunderbird Two from Thunderbird one, I have arrived at the danger zone."

"FAB Scott, we're thirty-five minutes behind you, we're going as fast as we can."

"FAB. And Virg…?"

"Yeah?"

"Go faster."

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Hidden behind a sand dune, Sergeant Lee and Doctor Smith watched through binoculars as the sleek silver aircraft landed in front of them.

"What a fantastic machine," the doctor commented. "The general will be very pleased to have it."

"Indeed," replied Sergeant Lee. He was busy staring at the dark haired pilot who had emerged from the craft. He looked strangely familiar…..

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"What have we got?" Virgil asked as he, Gordon and Alan emerged from the recently landed Thunderbird two.

"There's been an explosion in the main generator room. Some technitions were working in there and have become trapped by the flames. Virgil, I need you take the firefly and put out the fire, and then Gordon will follow you to get the technitions out of there. Alan will need to stay out here to help when they come out." Scott explained the situation and the plan to his brothers in true commander mode.

"Sounds like a plan, Scott," Gordon agreed. He went to get his protective suit on, while Virgil went to release the Firefly.

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"Ok Scott, the fire's out, send Gordon in."

"FAB Virg," he turned to his younger, "Ok Gordon, in you go and be careful."

"Always."

Alan watched his older brother enter the building, carrying his hand-held scanner. He turned to Scott. "And then there were two."

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"Do we have to take all of them?" Doctor Smith asked, his eyes still locked behind the binoculars he held in his hand.

"No, the general said to bring only two."

"Those two?"

"They're the easiest."

Sergeant Lee reached behind him and pulled out two tranquilizer guns, one of which he handed to the doctor. "I'll shoot that one, you shoot the other."

"Very well."

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"Gordon Tracy to mobile control, the victims are coming out now."

"FAB"

Scott turned to Alan and was about to tell to meet them, when a sharp pain shot through his leg. He looked down and was surprised to see a dart protruding out of his thigh.

Alan's eyes stared in horror as his older brother crumpled unconscious to the floor.

"Scott!" Alan sank to his knees to check his brother. Putting his first two fingers of his right hand against Scott's throat he was relieved to find a pulse.

He was about to call Virgil, when he heard footsteps behind him. Spinning around, he was surprised to find two men behind him, both carrying a tranquilizer gun. One of them was dressed in what looked like a typical medical uniform: long white coat, dark trousers, etc. The other was dressed in a military uniform.

The Doctor-or whatever he was-raised the gun. "Sleepy time Blondie."

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"Where are they?" Virgil looked around where his older and youngest brother should have been.

Virgil and Gordon had become worried that something was wrong when Alan hadn't met them at the entrance to help with the victims.

Both had tried, at least three times, to call them on their wrist coms but to no avail; neither of them was answering.

Scott and Alan were gone.