Wounded in Action
It had been a carefully laid trap, but as an aeons old adage says: ‘no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy’.
That said enemy was the Chaos Crew – who were charitably considered to be a ‘blunt instrument’ even by the Hoods rapidly dwindling standards – meant that first contact was Fuse’s ‘Basher’ vehicle bursting through the wall.
Lady Penelope rather grudgingly awarded them points for knowing how to make an entrance – even though said entrance was a £700,000 hole in the wall that destroyed two Ming Vases – reproductions, of course, but of an age and quality that meant they were of cultural and monetary value in and of themselves.
From there chaos had spread. Kayo, Lady Penelope and Parker, playing Keep Away with a briefcase that supposedly held a rare and immensely valuable star sapphire – second only to the famous ‘Star of India’. Exactly the kind of thing a cash-strapped Hood seemed to be targeting of late.
As the situation continued without either side managing to gain the upper hand, Kayo summoned their backup – Scott, Virgil and Gordon, along with Captain Rigby and his hand-picked team of GDF fighters.
Slowly the defenders made headway against the Chaos Crew’s all out attack. Fuses’ explosive charges were being defused before they could detonate and Virgil’s shoulder-mounted laser had scored a direct hit on Fuse’s power suit, disabling his ‘Power Punches’. While Havoc’s decoy hologram emitters were systematically destroyed, and well placed beanbag rounds had put enough of her acrobatic landings off that she was now moving with a distinct limp.
The Chaos Crew had been in retreat towards the Basher for five minutes, when there was suddenly, shockingly, a canine scream of pain.
Everyone froze in place, and all eyes swung to where Fuse stood, balanced awkwardly on one foot, his face stricken as Sherbet cowered at his feet, his left front leg pulled up against his body, whimpering pitifully.
“Bertie!” Penelope rushed forward to rescue the dog, hugging him to her breast and retreating to where Virgil was already pulling out a medi-scanner.
Gordon and Parker advanced on Fuse, their body language and expressions telegraphing violent intent.
Fuse backed away. “I didn’ mean ta…” he protested, his eyes wide, his lower lip wobbling dangerously. “I wouln’…”
Rigby and the closest of the GDF fighters joined in the advance as Fuse backed towards the Basher. He jumped as he bumped it to it, and scurried inside, looking back out as Havoc jumped up onto its roof.
“I’m sorry.” It was almost a whimper, and Penelope went to respond but Havoc chose that instant to strike, one of her reinforced lines flashed out, and snagged the briefcase, tugging it out of Scott’s unresisting grip, and whipping it into Havoc’s hands.
Scott gave a wordless yell of shock, as Havoc saluted sardonically and jumped onto the running board before launching herself into the vehicle yelling, “Get moving!” at Fuse.
A moment’s hesitation and the engine of the Basher revved violently, before careening back towards its entrance hole, sending several people jumping for their lives before it.
Kayo and Rigby didn’t hesitate, running at full tilt after the departing vehicle; Kayo already summoning Thunderbird Shadow via her wrist controller, and Rigby barking rapidfire orders for GDF flyers and road blocks stationed discreetly around the area.
It was later that day when Colonel Casey, with Captain Rigby – newly showered and in a fresh uniform – in tow, paid a visit to Creighton-Ward Manor.
“Eyes front, Captain,” she ordered, trying to keep hide her amusement at her subordinate’s open mouthed gawking at the combination of ultra-chic and traditional furnishings. “You wouldn’t want to be mistaken as casing this house, believe me.”
Rigby flushed, embarrassed, as Parker snorted his disdain, and didn’t quite keep his muttered “HI’d like ta see ‘im try pull hoff a caper,” from being heard.
“Colonel Casey, h’and Captain Rigby, M’Lady,” Parker announced at the door to the sitting room, before hurrying off to the kitchen for a fresh pot of tea, newly brewed coffee and appropriate cake and biscuits for the visitors. It was all well and good for some to sit around all day, he reflected, but a good butler was never idle when there were guests in the house!
Lady Penelope was much calmer than when Rigby had seen her at the ersatz auction-house. She sat in the centre of the main sofa, Gordon Tracy sitting as close as he dared to her on the left, and Sherbert, his left forepaw so solidly wrapped it looked like he was wearing a boxing glove lay on a large squashy velvet cushion to her right, submitting to Virgil Tracy’s petting from where he stood reaching over from behind the lounge. Occasionally, as Virgil’s hand paused, Sherbert whimpered pathetically, prompting the pilot to keep moving.
Scott was standing by the large picture window, half-watching the scene outside as he nodded his acknowledgement of the newcomers.
“Colonel, Captain, please do come in. We’re expecting Kayo shortly.”
Colonel Casey nodded regally and took a seat on the low backed sofa opposite Lady Penelope, as Rigby continued to stand awkwardly at the side.
“Do sit down, Captain,” Penelope’s voice was amused. Rigby flushed again, and perched awkwardly on the far edge of the sofa.
“Kayo’s here.” Scott’s voice came a heartbeat before the distinctive whining roar of Thunderbird Shadow’s engines passed over head.
It was only a couple of minutes more before Kayo strode into the room, unaccompanied. “Parker’s just on the way,” she reported, taking a seat on the small upholstered ottoman close to the door. Penelope nodded, as Scott, apparently having been waiting for Kayo to arrive, moved into the room from the picture window. He sat down in time to gingerly accept a delicate-looking cup with steaming coffee from Parker.
Once everyone was suitably fed and watered, and with Parker standing ‘guard’ at the door, Penelope spoke. “Colonel Casey, was our little trap successful?”
“Signs are positive, Lady Penelope,” Casey replied. “It was disappointing that The Hood didn’t show up himself, but we were prepared for that possibility. Thanks to the tracker in the briefcase, we were able to follow the Chaos Crew to what appears to be one of the Hood’s centres of operation. Maybe even his main one for the London area. The Hood didn’t appear to be ‘in residence’, as it were; but every resource we deny him is another brick removed from the wall of secrecy he has erected around himself.”
Penelope nodded as Scott moved in. “And the Chaos Crew?”
“Likewise evaded capture, I’m afraid. But Fuse’s suit appears to be damaged, and Havoc injured, so that will, thankfully, slow down their rate of operation, maybe even stop them for a time.”
Kayo frowned. “That just means that they’ll have time to better plan their next attack,” she cautioned.
Casey nodded. “We are hoping we’ll have leads on what they’re planning on doing next,” she responded. “There was a computer system in place in the Hood’s hideout, I’ve got techs going over it now. Hopefully we’ll be able to tap into his files, see what he has planned in the future. Maybe even work out how to tap into his communications so we can monitor him remotely.”
Penelope nodded. “So all in all a successful operation,” she mused.
“I wouldn’t say an unqualified success,” the Colonel frowned. “I don’t like casualties during my operations. How is Sherbet, Lady Penelope?”
Penelope reached out to stroke the pug. “There are a couple of bones broken in his foot, but the vet is confident they will heal properly provided he leaves his bandages intact,” she said softly. “He’ll have to rest, of course. No public appearances for the forseeable future, which is a great pity. Wimbledon is on soon, and Bertie does so enjoy it.”
“Runs h’off every year h’and chases the balls, y’mean.” Rigby was starting to think Parker actually intended everyone to hear his muttered commentary.
Penelope shot him a look that from anyone else would be called ‘dirty’. “He is, of course, an honorary ballboy. But I’m afraid this year they will have to do without his services.”
“Of course,” Colonel Casey said gravely. “I know our original plan called for someone to feign injury if the Chaos Crew couldn’t manage to get the briefcase away, but I am most upset that an actual injury was sustained.”
Her demeanour hadn’t changed in the slightest, and Rigby couldn’t help but agree with Parker’s, “Whouldn’t ‘urt you ta h’act like hit, h’even hif it is for th’ mutt.”
The Colonel continued as if she hadn’t heard. “Unfortunately, there is no avenue for me to recommend Sherbet for recognition of his injury in the line of duty. Please accept this as a substitute. Captain?”
Rigby stood and presented Lady Penelope with the large gaudily wrapped basket he had been holding awkwardly.
“Thank you, Captain, Colonel. It is very kind of you.” She set the package down on the coffee table and began to unwrap it, pulling out each item and offering them to Sherbet for his inspection.
Rigby wasn’t much fussed on dogs, to be honest, but he knew Lady Penelope loved hers, and that Penelope was a good friend of Kayos, one whose opinion Kayo valued. He had hoped to win points with Kayo by offering a gift to the ‘sick’ dog. He’d been quickly trying to shop online while waiting for Colonel Casey to take his report, when she had appeared at his elbow, demanded an explanation for what he was doing, and nodded at her explanation before disappearing into her office.
A moment later his email pinged, and he found a list of recommended products, along with authorisation to charge expenses to the mission. As Rigby deleted his hastily cobbled together cart, and went of in search of the recommended products, he was soon grateful for the authorisation. In the end, the ‘gift box’ for Sherbet was almost two months of his wages. And all for a dog!
Once all the items had been removed from the box, and thoroughly sniffed by the pug, her Ladyship lifted the dog off it’s cushion. “And what do we say to Colonel Casey and Captain Rigby, Sherbet?”
The animal wiggled impatiently in her arms, and she set him down on the ground to trot limping over to the Colonel, he put his front paws up on her knees, and barked once, tail wagging madly. The Colonel lifted him up to her lap, Sherbet once again stood on his hind legs and the Colonel only just managed to turn her head in time to avoid a doggy ‘kiss’ direct on her lips. Sherbet barked again, and leapt off her lap, to trot across the sofa to Rigby. He received the same treatment, but wasn’t quick enough to avoid a ‘kiss’ on the lips.
To Rigby’s surprise, instead of opting to return to his cushion, Sherbet lay down on his lap, and nudged at his hand until he started stroking the animal down the back. Rigby looked up at Lady Penelope when the little animal promptly began to snore.
“Well, Captain, I can see Sherbet has correctly deduced who was truly responsible for his present,” Penelope said. “Although I am not quite certain of the paygrade for a captain of the GDF, I trust Sherbet’s favourite treats were not too much of a financial burden?”
Rigby flushed again. “As the Colonel said, Ma’am, it was a gift from the GDF. I can, uh, assure you I endured no financial burden.”
Penelope smiled benignly. “Then I am touched by the GDF’s consideration.”
Kayo spoke up, “And, of course, by yours. Don’t think we didn’t notice you didn’t deny that you were responsible for coming up with the idea.”
That prompted a general chorus of agreement from the room, and Rigby flushed again, both in embarrassment and pleasure. He was embarrassed now to remember how he had original dismissed International Rescue as a bunch of rich kids playing hero and getting in the way of the ‘real’ heroes.
He had been proven comprehensibly wrong and was now proud to work with them.
Even the dog.
Notes:
Well, this went on a winding roadtrip to nowhere. What started out as ‘Fuse steps on Sherbet – whoops’, ended up with Rigby being a soppy bugger. Did not see that one coming.
The standard disclaimers, I do not own Thunderbirds, either the Original Series, the Movies (both Supermarionation and Live Action), or the Thunderbirds Are Go Series. (Although I do own copies on DVD.)
I do not do this for money, but for my own (in)sanity and entertainment.