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@agent193-vj
*taps microphone* is this thing on?
okay so, Jeff wanted me to get back into the public service IR (to my absolute disgust), and so i’ve come here…
if yall can help me get into Jeff’s good graces, i can show him im capable of being independent.
i’ll make it up to yall
((welcome to my thunderbirds oc rp blog! any and all creators are welcome to interact :3))
((any asks from me will be signed as ❇️))
((Nirvana Jansen))
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
'Things,' Bird mumbled, 'specifically things with a certain Tracy's death. 02 may still be alive and functional, just her AI is hidden deep within source code and backups. I wouldn't tell Crypto. As much as I know it's delighting news; she has worked herself sick with the remains of her husbands demise and I don't want to resurface such memories again. Let me figure this out. If you want to help, you can.' She closed her eyes, before she sadly shook her head.
A hand on Bird’s arm, brought her out. Vani smiled softly at the craft and nodded. “Understood. And I would love to help an old friend. But this must be difficult for you too.” Gently squeezing, Vani spun her body to face Bird.
“Start from the beginning.”
’It started with Falcon. She received an encrypted distress call. It was through her inner homing processors so only 02 could have sent it- unless someone has hacked into our code which if so, that’s a concern.’ Bird flicked at the thought she could have never received the distress call because of her destroyed homing processor.
The rocket plane lifted her head for a moment, ‘the distress signal came from 02’s crash site. It was a NOVA ping. She should have never been able to send that. Frankly- she wouldn’t have had to. NOVA indicates something is threatening the entire fleet and Tracy’s. Ancient protocol. Before even there was 8 of us.’
Vani watches the rocket plane with a frown. She heard passing whispers about what happened to Thunderbird 02, how it sent shockwaves through the engineering world.
Meaning people would have access to many redacted files, and have sudden motive to retrieve technology. Like Alex. Which is one more issue they have.
“NOVA is the last resort, meaning Crypto can investigate further safely. Crypto made a ship before you right? Maybe they can help too.”
'I'm surprised Crypto hasn't gotten the ping, it should have bypassed everything and went straight to her,' Bird shrugged before a horrible clunk of her body explained that was not to happen as fluidly as she'd hoped. 'That is true, but I am not too sure where she would be, if she is still a used aircraft.'
“Once we get back to the island, hopefully we can get some answers.” Vani hummed, leaning back and opening her holoprojector, looking through some old files.
“Do you think it’s odd that this suddenly came about? It’s been years since the accident.”
‘It’s certainly odd. Crypto tried to reboot her AI many times to no luck. Her main housing was crumpled in the crash.’ Bird winced as she fiddled with a peice of metal housing that had came loose in the blast. Rawly exposing the wires underneath. A quick glance confirmed they were shot.
“Here let me.” Reaching forward, Vani started clearing away more of the shrapnel. She then looked up to Scott. “Where’s your toolkit Flyboy?”
“Right compartment, last shelf.” Scott smoothly replied. As Vani searched for the box, she returned with some tools to help clean up the wires.
“I can go to the crash and scope it out. It’s likely someone did something from the site.” Vani mused, clipping the frayed ends and intertwining them with others.
’That would make the most logical sense,’ Bird nodded and watched Vani carefully. 'Perhaps someone tried to fiddle around and try to grab her? Or take something within her body. Though still, none of those call for NOVA.'
“If someone tried to get to the hardware side of it, even if they couldn’t hack it, could there be something that could potentially bring it all down?” Vani mused.
'Perhaps. If they get access to the homing processor.. yes. That is the most important part of our interconnections.' Bird grimaced at the thought of the lack of hers.
Nodding, Vani gripped her friend’s hand tightly and looked to Scott in his pilots chair. “Step on it Scott. Let’s go stop this.”
“F.A.B.”
As they returned to Tracy Island, Crypto had hurriedly made her way to Thunderbird 1’s hangar, to see Bird after so long. Crypto hugged Bird, like a mother would a child, and held her close. “It’s good to have you home Bird. I missed you.”
Bird gave a gentle smile and nodded to Crypto, 'thank you.' There was a pause as Crypto fussed around her. 'I'm okay,' Bird said at a near whine, like a child who wished they could run off before their mother finished their sunscreen, 'just some shrapnel hits.'
"'Just some shrapnel,' she says." Crypto huffs, as her fingers gently worked around her. "Well, Vani managed to clear out the debris, which means you won't be benched as long as you usually would." A small smile on her aged face, Crypto led Bird to the hangar, to where the other Thunderbirds sat, waiting for their next rescue.
As she sat the humanoid on the bench, Crypto turned to her kit and looked through for her ion tools. "Now as much as I love having you home, I do have to ask." Crypto began, turning to Bird. "What brings you home? You haven't been in months."
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
'Things,' Bird mumbled, 'specifically things with a certain Tracy's death. 02 may still be alive and functional, just her AI is hidden deep within source code and backups. I wouldn't tell Crypto. As much as I know it's delighting news; she has worked herself sick with the remains of her husbands demise and I don't want to resurface such memories again. Let me figure this out. If you want to help, you can.' She closed her eyes, before she sadly shook her head.
A hand on Bird’s arm, brought her out. Vani smiled softly at the craft and nodded. “Understood. And I would love to help an old friend. But this must be difficult for you too.” Gently squeezing, Vani spun her body to face Bird.
“Start from the beginning.”
’It started with Falcon. She received an encrypted distress call. It was through her inner homing processors so only 02 could have sent it- unless someone has hacked into our code which if so, that’s a concern.’ Bird flicked at the thought she could have never received the distress call because of her destroyed homing processor.
The rocket plane lifted her head for a moment, ‘the distress signal came from 02’s crash site. It was a NOVA ping. She should have never been able to send that. Frankly- she wouldn’t have had to. NOVA indicates something is threatening the entire fleet and Tracy’s. Ancient protocol. Before even there was 8 of us.’
Vani watches the rocket plane with a frown. She heard passing whispers about what happened to Thunderbird 02, how it sent shockwaves through the engineering world.
Meaning people would have access to many redacted files, and have sudden motive to retrieve technology. Like Alex. Which is one more issue they have.
“NOVA is the last resort, meaning Crypto can investigate further safely. Crypto made a ship before you right? Maybe they can help too.”
'I'm surprised Crypto hasn't gotten the ping, it should have bypassed everything and went straight to her,' Bird shrugged before a horrible clunk of her body explained that was not to happen as fluidly as she'd hoped. 'That is true, but I am not too sure where she would be, if she is still a used aircraft.'
“Once we get back to the island, hopefully we can get some answers.” Vani hummed, leaning back and opening her holoprojector, looking through some old files.
“Do you think it’s odd that this suddenly came about? It’s been years since the accident.”
‘It’s certainly odd. Crypto tried to reboot her AI many times to no luck. Her main housing was crumpled in the crash.’ Bird winced as she fiddled with a peice of metal housing that had came loose in the blast. Rawly exposing the wires underneath. A quick glance confirmed they were shot.
“Here let me.” Reaching forward, Vani started clearing away more of the shrapnel. She then looked up to Scott. “Where’s your toolkit Flyboy?”
“Right compartment, last shelf.” Scott smoothly replied. As Vani searched for the box, she returned with some tools to help clean up the wires.
“I can go to the crash and scope it out. It’s likely someone did something from the site.” Vani mused, clipping the frayed ends and intertwining them with others.
’That would make the most logical sense,’ Bird nodded and watched Vani carefully. 'Perhaps someone tried to fiddle around and try to grab her? Or take something within her body. Though still, none of those call for NOVA.'
“If someone tried to get to the hardware side of it, even if they couldn’t hack it, could there be something that could potentially bring it all down?” Vani mused.
'Perhaps. If they get access to the homing processor.. yes. That is the most important part of our interconnections.' Bird grimaced at the thought of the lack of hers.
Nodding, Vani gripped her friend’s hand tightly and looked to Scott in his pilots chair. “Step on it Scott. Let’s go stop this.”
“F.A.B.”
As they returned to Tracy Island, Crypto had hurriedly made her way to Thunderbird 1’s hangar, to see Bird after so long. Crypto hugged Bird, like a mother would a child, and held her close. “It’s good to have you home Bird. I missed you.”
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
'Things,' Bird mumbled, 'specifically things with a certain Tracy's death. 02 may still be alive and functional, just her AI is hidden deep within source code and backups. I wouldn't tell Crypto. As much as I know it's delighting news; she has worked herself sick with the remains of her husbands demise and I don't want to resurface such memories again. Let me figure this out. If you want to help, you can.' She closed her eyes, before she sadly shook her head.
A hand on Bird’s arm, brought her out. Vani smiled softly at the craft and nodded. “Understood. And I would love to help an old friend. But this must be difficult for you too.” Gently squeezing, Vani spun her body to face Bird.
“Start from the beginning.”
’It started with Falcon. She received an encrypted distress call. It was through her inner homing processors so only 02 could have sent it- unless someone has hacked into our code which if so, that’s a concern.’ Bird flicked at the thought she could have never received the distress call because of her destroyed homing processor.
The rocket plane lifted her head for a moment, ‘the distress signal came from 02’s crash site. It was a NOVA ping. She should have never been able to send that. Frankly- she wouldn’t have had to. NOVA indicates something is threatening the entire fleet and Tracy’s. Ancient protocol. Before even there was 8 of us.’
Vani watches the rocket plane with a frown. She heard passing whispers about what happened to Thunderbird 02, how it sent shockwaves through the engineering world.
Meaning people would have access to many redacted files, and have sudden motive to retrieve technology. Like Alex. Which is one more issue they have.
“NOVA is the last resort, meaning Crypto can investigate further safely. Crypto made a ship before you right? Maybe they can help too.”
'I'm surprised Crypto hasn't gotten the ping, it should have bypassed everything and went straight to her,' Bird shrugged before a horrible clunk of her body explained that was not to happen as fluidly as she'd hoped. 'That is true, but I am not too sure where she would be, if she is still a used aircraft.'
“Once we get back to the island, hopefully we can get some answers.” Vani hummed, leaning back and opening her holoprojector, looking through some old files.
“Do you think it’s odd that this suddenly came about? It’s been years since the accident.”
‘It’s certainly odd. Crypto tried to reboot her AI many times to no luck. Her main housing was crumpled in the crash.’ Bird winced as she fiddled with a peice of metal housing that had came loose in the blast. Rawly exposing the wires underneath. A quick glance confirmed they were shot.
“Here let me.” Reaching forward, Vani started clearing away more of the shrapnel. She then looked up to Scott. “Where’s your toolkit Flyboy?”
“Right compartment, last shelf.” Scott smoothly replied. As Vani searched for the box, she returned with some tools to help clean up the wires.
“I can go to the crash and scope it out. It’s likely someone did something from the site.” Vani mused, clipping the frayed ends and intertwining them with others.
’That would make the most logical sense,’ Bird nodded and watched Vani carefully. 'Perhaps someone tried to fiddle around and try to grab her? Or take something within her body. Though still, none of those call for NOVA.'
“If someone tried to get to the hardware side of it, even if they couldn’t hack it, could there be something that could potentially bring it all down?” Vani mused.
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
'Things,' Bird mumbled, 'specifically things with a certain Tracy's death. 02 may still be alive and functional, just her AI is hidden deep within source code and backups. I wouldn't tell Crypto. As much as I know it's delighting news; she has worked herself sick with the remains of her husbands demise and I don't want to resurface such memories again. Let me figure this out. If you want to help, you can.' She closed her eyes, before she sadly shook her head.
A hand on Bird’s arm, brought her out. Vani smiled softly at the craft and nodded. “Understood. And I would love to help an old friend. But this must be difficult for you too.” Gently squeezing, Vani spun her body to face Bird.
“Start from the beginning.”
’It started with Falcon. She received an encrypted distress call. It was through her inner homing processors so only 02 could have sent it- unless someone has hacked into our code which if so, that’s a concern.’ Bird flicked at the thought she could have never received the distress call because of her destroyed homing processor.
The rocket plane lifted her head for a moment, ‘the distress signal came from 02’s crash site. It was a NOVA ping. She should have never been able to send that. Frankly- she wouldn’t have had to. NOVA indicates something is threatening the entire fleet and Tracy’s. Ancient protocol. Before even there was 8 of us.’
Vani watches the rocket plane with a frown. She heard passing whispers about what happened to Thunderbird 02, how it sent shockwaves through the engineering world.
Meaning people would have access to many redacted files, and have sudden motive to retrieve technology. Like Alex. Which is one more issue they have.
“NOVA is the last resort, meaning Crypto can investigate further safely. Crypto made a ship before you right? Maybe they can help too.”
'I'm surprised Crypto hasn't gotten the ping, it should have bypassed everything and went straight to her,' Bird shrugged before a horrible clunk of her body explained that was not to happen as fluidly as she'd hoped. 'That is true, but I am not too sure where she would be, if she is still a used aircraft.'
“Once we get back to the island, hopefully we can get some answers.” Vani hummed, leaning back and opening her holoprojector, looking through some old files.
“Do you think it’s odd that this suddenly came about? It’s been years since the accident.”
‘It’s certainly odd. Crypto tried to reboot her AI many times to no luck. Her main housing was crumpled in the crash.’ Bird winced as she fiddled with a peice of metal housing that had came loose in the blast. Rawly exposing the wires underneath. A quick glance confirmed they were shot.
“Here let me.” Reaching forward, Vani started clearing away more of the shrapnel. She then looked up to Scott. “Where’s your toolkit Flyboy?”
“Right compartment, last shelf.” Scott smoothly replied. As Vani searched for the box, she returned with some tools to help clean up the wires.
“I can go to the crash and scope it out. It’s likely someone did something from the site.” Vani mused, clipping the frayed ends and intertwining them with others.
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
'Things,' Bird mumbled, 'specifically things with a certain Tracy's death. 02 may still be alive and functional, just her AI is hidden deep within source code and backups. I wouldn't tell Crypto. As much as I know it's delighting news; she has worked herself sick with the remains of her husbands demise and I don't want to resurface such memories again. Let me figure this out. If you want to help, you can.' She closed her eyes, before she sadly shook her head.
A hand on Bird’s arm, brought her out. Vani smiled softly at the craft and nodded. “Understood. And I would love to help an old friend. But this must be difficult for you too.” Gently squeezing, Vani spun her body to face Bird.
“Start from the beginning.”
’It started with Falcon. She received an encrypted distress call. It was through her inner homing processors so only 02 could have sent it- unless someone has hacked into our code which if so, that’s a concern.’ Bird flicked at the thought she could have never received the distress call because of her destroyed homing processor.
The rocket plane lifted her head for a moment, ‘the distress signal came from 02’s crash site. It was a NOVA ping. She should have never been able to send that. Frankly- she wouldn’t have had to. NOVA indicates something is threatening the entire fleet and Tracy’s. Ancient protocol. Before even there was 8 of us.’
Vani watches the rocket plane with a frown. She heard passing whispers about what happened to Thunderbird 02, how it sent shockwaves through the engineering world.
Meaning people would have access to many redacted files, and have sudden motive to retrieve technology. Like Alex. Which is one more issue they have.
“NOVA is the last resort, meaning Crypto can investigate further safely. Crypto made a ship before you right? Maybe they can help too.”
'I'm surprised Crypto hasn't gotten the ping, it should have bypassed everything and went straight to her,' Bird shrugged before a horrible clunk of her body explained that was not to happen as fluidly as she'd hoped. 'That is true, but I am not too sure where she would be, if she is still a used aircraft.'
“Once we get back to the island, hopefully we can get some answers.” Vani hummed, leaning back and opening her holoprojector, looking through some old files.
“Do you think it’s odd that this suddenly came about? It’s been years since the accident.”
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
'Things,' Bird mumbled, 'specifically things with a certain Tracy's death. 02 may still be alive and functional, just her AI is hidden deep within source code and backups. I wouldn't tell Crypto. As much as I know it's delighting news; she has worked herself sick with the remains of her husbands demise and I don't want to resurface such memories again. Let me figure this out. If you want to help, you can.' She closed her eyes, before she sadly shook her head.
A hand on Bird’s arm, brought her out. Vani smiled softly at the craft and nodded. “Understood. And I would love to help an old friend. But this must be difficult for you too.” Gently squeezing, Vani spun her body to face Bird.
“Start from the beginning.”
’It started with Falcon. She received an encrypted distress call. It was through her inner homing processors so only 02 could have sent it- unless someone has hacked into our code which if so, that’s a concern.’ Bird flicked at the thought she could have never received the distress call because of her destroyed homing processor.
The rocket plane lifted her head for a moment, ‘the distress signal came from 02’s crash site. It was a NOVA ping. She should have never been able to send that. Frankly- she wouldn’t have had to. NOVA indicates something is threatening the entire fleet and Tracy’s. Ancient protocol. Before even there was 8 of us.’
Vani watches the rocket plane with a frown. She heard passing whispers about what happened to Thunderbird 02, how it sent shockwaves through the engineering world.
Meaning people would have access to many redacted files, and have sudden motive to retrieve technology. Like Alex. Which is one more issue they have.
“NOVA is the last resort, meaning Crypto can investigate further safely. Crypto made a ship before you right? Maybe they can help too.”
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
'Things,' Bird mumbled, 'specifically things with a certain Tracy's death. 02 may still be alive and functional, just her AI is hidden deep within source code and backups. I wouldn't tell Crypto. As much as I know it's delighting news; she has worked herself sick with the remains of her husbands demise and I don't want to resurface such memories again. Let me figure this out. If you want to help, you can.' She closed her eyes, before she sadly shook her head.
A hand on Bird’s arm, brought her out. Vani smiled softly at the craft and nodded. “Understood. And I would love to help an old friend. But this must be difficult for you too.” Gently squeezing, Vani spun her body to face Bird.
“Start from the beginning.”
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
'The doors annoying, have no clue why its jammed,' Bird let out an exhale as she chose the next words with careful precision, 'I am finding loose ends, things lost for a little too long, in which... need to come to light.'
“What do you mean?” Scott asked, glancing back.
“Can we help you in any way?” Vani looked at her with a softened gaze.
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
‘I am not…’ Bird countered before she took a moment to think, ‘I took shrapnel for Vani, I’m alright. Crypto isn’t going to be too happy though.’ Bird lay her head back against the vibrating hull within the younger ship. The rumble was weird to feel, usually the ship herself didn’t feel that, just the breeze over her nosecone and lift under her wings. She itched for the feeling. It’d been a while since she’d been out in rocket form.
“Well once we get you looked over, we can get you back to the hangar and hopefully fix that door.” Scott hummed. “What have you been doing over there?”
“Yeah Ma,” Mercury began. “Why haven’t you come home?”
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
'Never would I think there was a day I would be transported by you and not fly beside you, Mercury,' Bird grumbled against the fact she in-fact didn't quite mind.. or have as much of a distaste as she did initially before her daughter ship was sentient. 'Don't fly stupid,' Bird mumbled.
“Careful Bird, you’re sounding a lot like a mum.” Vani chuckled and patted her arm. As they settled into Mercury’s compartment; Scott took the helm as the rocket plane prepared for take off.
“What happened Ma, are you okay?” The sentient ship asked.
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
'Thats not a flex, Scott,' Bird scrunched her face up at the thought of a required lift from the smaller version of her. She'd spent a bit too much bent in hatred for the younger plane, seen as a replacement to her.
'You are aware I am able to fly, just this body isn't particularly happy?' Bird gave a slight huff, 'stop giving my puppy-dog eyes. Fine, I'll come in the small red nose-coned one. Don't make me regret this. Both of you are smiling like idiots.'
Scott and Vani, with wide smiles on their faces, helped Bird’s humanoid form stand. As they escorted her out to Thunderbird 1, the sleek plane rocket plane whirred in acknowledgement.
“Hi mum!”
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
’Hey,’ Bird gave a glare, ‘like trouble doesn’t follow you around.’
There was a slow sigh as she watched Nirvana then her gaze switched back to Scott, ‘besides if you were there same thing would have happened, and I would have had to save you too.’ She shook her head for a moment as the watched the two, Scott who stared around like the walls held answers and Nirvana who held focus lines on her face.
"What can I say, trouble follows us children of Jeff Tracy." Scott chuckled, watching Nirvana finish working at the wires.
"I can't do much else without Crypto." Standing, Vani quirked an eyebrow. "Wanna go for a ride in your daughter?"
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bird huffed, 'this body is expendable to me, yours isn't.' Her head fell back to the concrete as she finally took in the nicked wires and inner workings Crypto worked so hard on exposed and raw. Naw, she wouldn't be particularly impressed. 'Don't cut yourself,' Bird's eyes narrowed as she spoke, 'some of that looks sharp.'
“Okay mum.” Vani smiled a little teasingly, gently starting to remove most of the debris. Footsteps approached from behind as Scott entered the scene, bewilderment on his face.
“What the hell happened?” He cried out.
“Alex got away, blew up part of the hangar as a smoke screen.” Vani hummed, chucking another piece of shrapnel down.
“See this is what happens when I leave you two alone.” Scott murmured.
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
Dull alarms lulled Bird back to the state of her humanoid body that had quite thoroughly been ripped apart. Her arms refused to work to her command. There was an aggravated whirr in her annoyance at the lack of response the metal shell she inhabited wouldn’t pick itself back up. Though- Vani was safe for the most part so that had to count for something, ‘you okay kid?’
“If I wasn’t in complete shock, I’d scold you for such a reckless act.” Vani breathed, gently holding her close, as if hugging her.
Glancing to the side, the absence of Alex’s form slightly irritated her. God he was slippery. But they were safe. And that’s what was important.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
’Idiot,’ Bird hissed before she was sent flying backwards she forced her body to at least attempt to shield Vani from any perhaps wayward shrapnel caused by the blow force. Much better cut wires then a humans body which was much less expendable.
The fact Alex planted a detonation device didn’t surprise Vani. That man was a cockroach, and wouldn’t go easily nor quietly. What did shock her was the lack of pain she felt. Was her nerves fried or damaged that much from the explosion she lost all sensation?
Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of metal and wire, sparking and twisting. Bird.
*The crackle of static* Unidentified figure in abandoned IR Hangar identification 001. Hooded figure, 6ft. Seeking immediate assistance- roof is damaged- won't open upon command. - Bird
Nirvana looks at the transmission, frowning at the message that's broadcast. The familiar sentient voice, usually so stoic now sounding what humans would considered panicked, worried Vani. She remembered Jeff showing her the old hangars when she started at International Rescue. If someone went there, it was never good. If someone intimidated Bird, it was worse.
Pressing a button, Vani leaned forward and spoke into the receiver. "This is IR Agent 193 - I'm on my way Bird."
Running down the hall, she made her way to Scott and told him about the broadcast. It wasn't long before both air force pilots were speeding to old hangar in Thunderbird 1. Vani hoped she wasn't too late.
There was a long pause as the rocket plane didn't wish to draw attention. While with the lack of a homing processor she could still send a signal to those she wished to- it was unable to come through as silent communication. She didn't want whoever snooped around in this hangar to hear her distress signal. Again, she hacked the mainframe for the hangar door controls, yet they refused to budge. So- she silently waited, the only indication of her close presence a faint blue glow from her window and the small rotation of her exterior cameras.
Grateful for Thunderbird 1's engines being able to reach places within minutes, Vani jumped out of the sleek silver craft before Scott could even land her. Quickly surveying the land, Vani noticed the ajar door leading to the hangar. Slightly charred, sudden break - opened with a detonated device. This person didn't care for being subtle - they wanted in, wanted something.
Glancing to her friend, Vani pointed to the door. She caught Scott's brief frown, before signalling him to make his way to the secondary entrance. In that way if there was a dangerous person inside, Vani could make enough noise to warn Scott to get out in time.
As they split up, Vani's hand took hold of her blade as she approach the door. Nudging it open with her foot, she listened for noise. Nothing. Peering inside, she caught a glimpse of her friend sitting almost tense. The faint glow in her pilot's visor, Vani took it as a sign of caution. Stepping inside, she only hoped Scott was safe.
Cameras rotated to Nirvana as she entered, before they slowly turned to the intruder, a holographic arrow flickered within the cockpits window to help Vani find her way.
Bird tried to deflect every attempt the hooded figure made to crack the encryptions years ago Crypto has put on the entire place. They wanted something. Perhaps information, perhaps Bird herself or the NOVA protocol. But that was only a fraction of the information stored on that laptop.
Catching the arrow in her visor, Vani’s eyes followed their gaze and saw a shadow around the corner.
Nodding to Bird, Vani signalled her friend to stay where she was. She slowly crept towards the intruder, grip tightening on the handle of her blade. The only encrypted files that would be here, would be that pertaining to the original development and manufacture of the sentient ships. Ones that the Hood has killed for. Could it be him again?
Light as a feather, Vani stood a few paces behind the figure as they hunched over a bench top. An all too familiar cologne stung at her nose, Vani’s body tensing as it recoiled. Flashes of life spent in dark rooms and pain inflicted unfairly crossed her mind. No, she refused to be consumed by them again. While she had the upper hand, Vani quickly moved behind him. Drawing the blade from her holster, she pressed it against the base of his spine. One quick motion, and he would be on the floor.
“Stealing outdated blueprints are we, Black Phantom?”
The hooded figure chuckled, a deep unsettling sound. “I really wished you would call me Dad, Nirvana.”
Bird's wings tucked inwards with an annoyed thunk. The rocket plane waited, in absolute disgust at who the man turned out to be. If Nirvana wouldn't have been in the firing line, this whole place would be up in flames to get rid of the heartless man. That, however, was suboptimal, the AI mused. Especially with Vani right there. There would be other ways.
With eyes on the situation; she busied her main processing ability to the wipe of the information he tried to gain, uploaded back onto her own computers until Nirvana and Scott could put it somewhere away from prying eyes. Within a few minutes the data was complete, only the faint holographic '01' behind where the Black Phantom and Nirvana glared at each-other to tell the AI was always listening, and ready to move to Nirvana's aid the instant it was called for.
Noticing the faint '01' behind Alex's form, Vani inhaled sharply.
"I never expected you to get your hands dirty." She mused, looking at the man before her, with a raised blade.
"Well, my usual operative is now sitting in a high-security prison. Simply for a B&E charge." Alex sighed. "Besides, I had to see what exactly," He started, gesturing to the hangar around him. "Has enraptured my daughter so much."
"It's everything you're not. That's good enough for me." Vani snarled.
"Oh come now, is that anyway to treat your dear old dad?" Alex frowned mockingly, before taking a step towards her.
"You're not my father."
"No, I suppose Jeff Tracy took on that title when he mentored you." Vani's gaze hardened. It wasn't surprising that he knew about that - she wouldn't be shocked if he admitted to keeping tabs on her this whole time. As silence filled the space, Alex took that as an invitation to keep poking. "Left your brother to rot, to be maimed at my mercy."
"That was all you, not me!" Vani roared, her stance wavering a little.
"Perhaps it was. I mean after all, it was me who gave the order to kill Jeff Tracy."
Bird had enough, the glow in her cockpit faded as sentience was transferred to the humanoid body which waited in the wings for her. She stretched her arms backwards with the small clunk and shook off the dust as she clambered down from her rocket self, eyes locked to the man that she felt a horrible disgust for. Her mouth pulled into a thin line.
‘Back away, Alexander.’ Her head cocked sideways mechanically.
Alex, at the new voice, turned in confusion. Then his eyes widened. The very technology he came to see. The technology that changed lives. The technology that could make his empire unstoppable.
“I’d do as the Lady requests.” Vani agreed, watching Alex with anger simmering behind her hazel eyes.
“I don’t take orders from scrap metal, and certainly not from wayward daughters.” Alex began. “But I’ll gladly take the former, over the disappointing latter.” Suddenly drawing his gun from his belt, Alex aimed and shot towards Nirvana.
With quick reflexes, Vani dove to the side and hid behind some shelves. She just hoped Scott was somewhere safe.
Unbothered by the gun once she knew Vani was safe, Bird took a step forward. 'Scrap metal,' she mused, 'funny words for a man that wants my technology. It'd make him rich. Imagine the possibilities. Better yet, imagine the possibilities of an AI rocket plane at your perfect disposal. A robot, unlike humans, doesn't make mistakes, and can't be put in jail. Pity he ignores to see the potential by labelling it as scrap.'
Bird circled him, eyes trained to the small details of his hood, garments and otherwise, 'you are an interesting human. I would almost like you, if you didn't just offend me. Not good for social situations are you? Might be just like your son you try so desperately to 'fix'.'
“Don’t insult me, robot. I didn’t come for you. I came for the technology you possess. Perhaps the rumours are true - you’re as cocky as your pilot.”
Before he could angle the gun at Bird, a creek of metal from above was the only sign of an overhanging walkway falling from the skies. Alex dove out of the way just as it hit the ground, Scott landing beside the debris.
“You could’ve said your dad was visiting, Vani. We would’ve cleaned the place up.” Scott hummed. Looking up at the metallic woman, Scott gave a small smile. “Hey Bird.”
With an aggravated clunk, Bird went to lunge forwards. It was only Scott’s not so graceful decent that stopped the AI from punching the man repeatedly with a metal fist. ‘Doesn’t need me but needs my tech how exactly does that work. Package deal idiot,’ she hissed. She gave Scott a brief head dip in acknowledgement. Icy gaze unsettlingly locked to Alex. With a slide of a hand she fished a weapon from her utility belt.
“Bird, wait.” Scott holds up his hands and looks to at her humanoid form. “Trust me, I would love to kill this madman for all he’s done. But unfortunately there’s a lot of other people that want a taste of vengeance too.”
“Not only that, but we can’t touch him.” Vani begrudgingly admitted. “But,” Vani looks at Bird and smiles. “There may have been an instance or two of injuries sustained from reckless flying.”
Bird snarled and slowly hooked her weapon back into her belt, 'damn. Humans and their damn morals.' Though, Bird mused she was the one who kept listening, so perhaps that was more on her.
'Well I do like myself a good low-altitude aileron roll,' Bird shrugged, 'just need the damn roof to open up. Somethings jammed it.'
“Leave that to me.” Scott smirked and jogged out.
Glancing to her friend, Vani smiled and gently nudged their metallic arm. “Nice humanoid form.” She hummed, as she bound Alex’s hands behind his back.
Bird dipped her head into a thanks gesture, ‘Crypto did well on it. Gives me a bit more freedom,’ she took in the hangar from their new angle for a moment before she turned back to Alex.
‘Looking hopeless suits you,’ she grinned which got a grunt in response.
“I wouldn’t act so cocky.” Alex huffed, then smirked a little too victorious for Vani’s liking. “I usually get what I want. But when I don’t,” The way he glanced to the side, as if looking at something intently. Patiently.
Was there always the faint beeping?
Before she could even ask, a sudden burst of energy exploded from their right, sending all three bodies across the hangar.
