Hope in the darkness
P2
The Green industry beacon cracked and showed a secret that has Zane spiraling, with more questions then answers, with him second guessing what happened 7 years ago when anderson Station disappeared. But it's a call to rescue, and international rescue are good at that
Part 1
Warning: death threats, mild swearing
——————
Zayne paced, it helped him think through lifes great curve balls that has currently sent him staggering with its newest release of hell
The morse code circulating in his mind, festering, popping the cork of 7 years of messy emotions that he's tried to control for those messy 7 years.
This new information, was far more impactful then Derek has tried in the past
And thats saying something
Could it be false hope?
It's been 7 years?
Why now?
What do I say to the families of the crew??
How??
A ruse to throw him off tilter? (That being half successful if it is fuck you Derek)
There has to be more to this?
This has to be bullshit...there was no evidence-
A throat cleared
He stopped pacing, his head snapped to the grey haired man stood in the door way
"Mr Tra-"
"You know to call me Jeff, Zayne" a soft smile on his face aged face as he walked over aided by that of his cane
"Brians showed me the beacon..."
Zayne turned his head away, chewing the inside of his mouth, taking a deep breath to try and atleast not burst into tears again
"Your nearly as bad as your pops, when he did have something troubling his marbles"
"Guess it's just genetics" Zayne sat down, digging his hands through his hair dark hair exhaling the breath he was holding, Jeff sit opposite him, letting the astronaut take a moment to collect his thoughts
"I was 17 when the Anderson team disapeared." Zayne breathed out, hands dropping to his lap with a light thud
"7 years Jeff...you..." He looked up finally at Jeff "you think they actually could be out there...alive that is?"
Jeff eyes locked onto his before smiling
"Mark, always had people he trusted to watch his back, always had experts he knew could help make a expedition successful....I trusted Mark with my life more times then once..." a bitter sweet smile on Jeff's face "I'm positive there is a chance"
Zayne rolled his jaw taking in the information
"But...it just doesn't make sense...they disapeared on an Anderson tech station...how is a beacon that's Green industry carrying their-"
His brow furrowed, as one thought passes through his mind, his hands crunched his space suit
"A look I never seen on your fathers face" a half joke and mild concern, watching the young Anderson stand sharply
"Wow...Zayne-"
"I'm going to tear Derek Green apart-"
"Okay. Before you do that" Jeff got in front of him hands on his shoulders to try and ease the anger rolling off the purple astronaut
"Brains did more digging"
"More digging?"
"We have a location where the rough origin of the beacon came from"
Zayne jaw clicked as he rolled it
"Whe-"
"The astroid belt past Mars."
Zayne blinked at Jeff dead in the eyes
"When I'm come back to Earth. I will actually kill the bastard."
Jeff inhaled sharp
"Oh...."
———
Zayne leg bounced, from where he sat, watching the holo-map, the location of the astroid was pretty easy, amongst the code of the SOS, a pin point location of origin, a mining operation ran by the Green industries, it was 'abandoned' a few years back, which made it likely perfect to keep the crew there, for what reason Zayne had no idea, but just increased Zayne likely hood of actually killing Derek greatly.
A slinded warm hand found his own and Zayne shifted his head looking towards Johns worried face
"How ya feeling?"
"Two second away from tearing Derek apart." He smiled slightly
"Ze-"
"I know, I know" John squeezed his hand looking at Brains who highlighted a key part of the astroid cluster, making the map zoom into it
"T-this here is the rough location that the beacon came from" Brains gave a half smile "it's one of Mr G-Green's mining operations caller the a-astroid K/46" Brians avoided Zaynes glare of death at mentioning the man's name
"Means we need Thunderbird 3" Scott looked at Alan who grinned Zayne stood "I'm coming wit-"
"No, Zayne"
Zayne shot Scott a glare
"With all do respects, you went after your all father knowing full well he may not be alive in that Oort cloud" Zayne snapped "I'm going up there with or without your agreement Tracy."
Everyone was silent before Jeff gave a soft chuckle
"He's got a point Scott, if you don't he'll find a way to follow you up" he patted Zaynes shoulder "I'll come too"
Everyone looked at Jeff in concern
"Dad?" Virgil blinked "you sure?"
"Hey, just because it's been a year doesn't mean I won't miss saving a friend out of there own situation-"
"You do realise they'll also freak out knowing your alive right?" Alan half smirked
Jeff stopped
"You disapeared 2 months before hope crew did" Zayne added on
It was true, Jeff 'died about 4 months before the crew did, with some memory of senior also trying to help to look for wreckage and aid in supporting the GDFs effort in looking for the hood
"Back up pilot" Jeff grinned
An audible face plant from Scott
"It's settled then" Jeff nodded "Alan and myself will be joining a joint rescue with Anderson tech"
Zayne felt the soft shake to his shoulder and he nodded
"Yeah"
He watched Virgil follow Jeff, likely to poke the concern of Jeff joining them in space may lead to longer therapy and further joint issues, watching Jeff wave his hand with a smile calming the second oldest Tracy
Scott sighed
"Just...be safe alright?" He gave a slight smile at Zayne who nodded "I promise Scott...I'm..I'm sorry for snapp-"
Scott shook his head "no need to apologise Zayne, I understand it, I'll check in with Gordan make sure he's okay with the Alaskan clean up" Scott walked away
Leaving the astronaut stood in the hanger
"I'll head up" John voice pulled him out of thought before he was pecked on the cheek "I'll check orbital vectors and flight paths"
Zayne nodded, "John?"
He watched as he stopped mid step, before Zayne leant in hugging him tight, planting a soft kiss on the others mouth, seeing the faint blush form over his freckled cheeks
"Take care heading up" Zayne squeezed his hand
"I will" before John pulled away heading to the space Elevator
Alan stood beside him easing an eyebrow inhaling "right in front of my lemonade..."
Zayne gave a slight smile, feeling a little lighter now a plan was in motion
He ruffled the blonds hair much to the small tracy scowl
"yeah yeah, come on boots up and packed"
He gave a slight playful shove to the small Tracys shoulder, watching the blond gasp push him back
"Race ya!" Before running to go change into international rescue blues
Zayne exhaled, feeling the slight tightness in his chest return, mild doubt in his mind
looking up at Thunderbird 3 exterior before nodding, following after the Tracy
———
Alan was doing prechecks, Zayne sat in copilot seat, Jeff behind Alan, looking through the scanner
"Thunderbird 3 your clear for launch" John's voice came through clear as day, Zayne checked behind him "how you holding up Jeff?"
"Good to be back in the saddle" He grinned "even if the saddle has seat belts and leg braces"
Zayne would have laughed, but with bile rising up in his throat, He only hummed with a nod, turning back around to central position
"Zayne..."
"I'm fine...I'm fine" He waves Tracys worried glances away,
Breathing out, his hand coming to rest against his bouncing leg again to try and ease the anxiety that was festering.
Alan cleared his throat
"Welp, we're all good for launch, all preflight checks have come back green and we are clear for take off"
He flips a few switches, the silo encased thunderbird 3, and the roar of the engines met their ears.
They shot upwards
Zayne body pressed back a little into the seat with the force
Closing his eyes focusing on his breath trusting Alan to get them out of Earths orbit.
He opened them again, as the stars became more clear, the darkness of space welcoming them as the Earth pulled away from Thunderbird 3
"This is Thunderbird 3 we've cleared Earths gravity" Alan moved hands flickering over the control
"How the cargo?" Scott's worried tone cut through Alan glanced at both his dad who raised a thumb and then Zayne who nodded
"Both are alive and well"
A sigh from Tracy island
"Alright...be safe the three of you alright?"
"FAB Scott, oh and tell Gordan we went to go get space milk"
Barley just hearing Virgils cackle
"John how they looking?"
"About to meet perfectly in line with calculated trajectories"
Zayne glanced out, hearing the low purr take over the cockpit as the ion engine was charging
"FAB John" Alan smiled
"This is your captain speaking" Alan grinned "please keep your arms and legs inside the Thunderbird at all times, well arrive at the astroid innnnnnn" Alan checked "Ah, 96 hours"
"Would have taken us nearly 5 years back in the old days, just to reach Mars" Jeff chuckled
Zayne exhaled holding onto the seat, the nervousness setting in again
"Were all ready John"
"FAB, stay safe, I'll keep an eye on your progression"
"FAB, John"
The purr turned into the roar as Thunderbird 3 shot off toward the origin of the SOS beacon
Hoping to find some sign that the Anderson crew was alive
