#scayo

"Captain Blue says the returns are clear Colonel." Lieutenant Green reported.

"Thank you, Lieutenant." White stood up and stretched. He loved his duty, but hated being chained to a desk. Perhaps a light sparring match with Grey would be a good idea. "I do wonder where our guest might be."

"Maybe she's having trouble finding the base, sir?"

White permitted himself a small twitch of his lips. "I rather doubt that, Lieutenant. But her time is not her own." Green took the mild rebuke with good grace and turned back to his board. Lunch came and went before his board crackled to life.

“Cloudbase Control, this is Thunderbird Shadow, over.”

Lieutenant Green only twitched a little at the feminine voice on the Spectrum frequency. He’d been told to expect it, but it was still just a bit jarring. “Thunderbird Shadow, this is Cloudbase Control, reading you five by five.” “Excellent Cloudbase.” The answer was bright and cheery. “Requesting clearance to land.”

Green blinked at his board, it was completely clear. “Thunderbird Shadow, where are you? You aren’t showing on our radar.”

There was a throaty chuckle. “Sorry about that Cloudbase. Is that any better?”

The board suddenly lit up with the yellow of an unknown aircraft that was far too close to the base. “Colonel!” Green turned to find White not at his desk. “I see her Lieutenant.” White answered, he was standing in the observation tube. A dark grey aircraft had slipped out of the clouds on the stern of Cloudbase to circle around.

Green turned back to his board. “How much clearance do you need for landing Thunderbird Shadow?”

“HUH!”

Green turned to see White step backwards as the grey aircraft hovered outside the observation tube. He couldn’t quite make out the pilot, but he had the impression of a grin.

“Zero, Cloudbase. Just tell me where the hanger lift is and I’ll land there.”

Visit

The dark grey craft looked out of place among the white, blue, and silver of the Spectrum fleet. It had a sleek elegance that just drew the eye. A rapier to Spectrum’s sabers, Adam shoved such fanciful notions to one side and stepped closer to the plane to get a better look. “No touching without permission, Blue.” Adam jumped at the whisper in his ear. Xanthic stood there grinning. “Bastard.” Adam shot back. Gordon rolled his eyes. “I wish.” He sobered, “But I mean it. There’s only two people who can touch Thunderbird S; Brains and Shadow. The rest of us only worked on her with permission or if Shadow was too hurt to do the work herself.”

Adam nodded but his attention was on the graceful craft before him. “What’s her top speed?” “Mach 15 if she’s in straight flight or playing tag with missiles, I don’t know about power dives, I had my heart in my throat for those.” Cobalt came up beside Xanthic.

“You in real time, the rest of us when we watched the footage.” Gordon shivered a little. “That was not fun.”

Adam locked his hands behind his back, Mach 15 was faster than he’d ever gone. He was also sure that he’d never find out why Thunderbird Shadow had needed to do power dives.

Gordon poked his brother. “What are you doing here anyway? I figured you’d be catching up with Shadow.”

“She hasn’t left the Amber room yet. I was hoping you might have something I could ransom her with.”

Adam blinked, Shadow had come on board near the start of his shift in the Information Room, which had been a bit of excitement when Thunderbird Shadow just appeared on the screens. But that had been over six hours ago. He knew the Angels were all interested in the mysterious Shadow, but he’d figured Kayo would have gotten free by now.

Gordon was listing things on his fingers. “Auer for Destiny, Sawahara for Harmony, I just got a fresh box of Delights for Rhapsody, peach fudge for Melody, and Fralinger’s for Symphony. We can get baked goods from the commissary and a basket from the Mart.” His eyes narrowed. “Fresh fruit would be good to fill the holes with.”

“You have Fralinger’s? When the hell did you get that?” Adam demanded. It was Karen’s favorite salt water taffy and stupidly hard to get ahold of. Fralinger’s had very restricted hours.

“I know people.” Gordon grinned. “I’ve got some sarawak for Shadow, but it needs to thaw.”

Scott nodded, his mission mask firmly in place. “Right. I’ll get the basket, baked goods, and meet you at your quarters.” He looked Adam over. “Take Blue with you, he can help to word the trade offer.”

“Nope.” Adam stepped back out of grabbing range. “You two are on your own for this one.” Gordon’s eyes sparkled. “Then you don’t mind if we bribe Symphony with her weight in treats to be a partner on any upcoming missions?”

Blue’s glare made arctic ice look warm and cozy.

Scott rolled his eyes at his brother. “I’ll snag Scarlet. He’ll know how to word it for the best chance with Destiny.” He gave Adam a pointed look. “No touching the Thunderbird, remember Shadow came to a deadlock with Scarlet and she can wipe the floor with the rest of us running a fever and a head cold.”

“Don’t remind me.” Gordon winced. “I still have nightmares about that.”

Adam blinked. “Do I want to know?” The answer to that was yes, but it was polite to ask. “She was running a fever of 39C and thought we were the Hood’s goons keeping her hostage. We didn’t want to hurt her, but she had no compunctions about hurting us.” 

“Thank goodness for Brains and the tranq guns.”

“Noted.” Adam looked at the sleek aircraft again. “If I asked very nicely, do you think she’d take me for a flight while she’s here?” “I think you’ll have to get in line behind the Angels for that, Blue.” Scott grinned suddenly. “But I will tell you, S is one hell of a plane. Almost as good as One.” 

“You’ve flown her? I thought you said Shadow only.” The dimples deepened. “You think I’d let any of my family in a vehicle I hadn’t tested first? The only Thunderbird I haven’t handled is Five, and that’s because I’m not an astronaut. Space rated yes, but not an astronaut.”

“And yet you still nearly crashed Four because you wouldn’t listen to me.” Gordon shot back.

"Yeah, well, I wasn't in the best head space right then." Scott admitted.

Gordon had the grace to wince. "Yeah, a lot of us weren't." He clapped his hands together. "Right! Treats and a trade offer. Spectrum is go!"

Visit

"And why am I the negotiator again?" Scarlet asked in a slightly put out tone.

Xanthic was checking the contents of the basket to make sure everything was as elegant as possible. They'd had to borrow a floor dolly from Maintenance to move the thing. The staff at the SpectraMart had been more than thrilled to get rid of it. Someone had bought it by mistake, didn't want it, and it had been left to languish in the storeroom. It was about half the size of Scarlet's bed.

"Several reasons," Cobalt was checking Scarlet's uniform, making sure everything was parade neat. "You're a decent negotiator, have a rapport with Destiny, Rhapsody adores you, and if they rip your spine out for being presumptuous, you'll get better."

Scarlet blinked several times then tilted his head slightly. "I can't really argue with any of those points." He narrowed his eyes a bit. "Though I feel a bit taken advantage of on that last one."

"Oh, we are so taking advantage of that." Xanthic tweaked the placement of a pear. "You have a talent we don't. So using it is just good tactics."

"If it makes you feel any better, you weren't our first choice. Blue was, but he noped out." Cobalt picked a nearly invisible bit of fluff off Scarlet's sleeve.

"I'm the backup, why?"

"Because two of the five Angels like you and the rest respect you. Surviving their possible ire is just a bonus."

"Remind me to flatten Blue next time we spar." "Will do!" Was the chirped answer. Scarlet was nudged in front of the door to the Amber Room and the handle of the floor dolly put into his hand. He shot the brothers a look, then pressed the intercom. "Captain Scarlet here, I've come to negotiate an exchange."

Rhapsody opened the door, grinning broadly. "An exchange of what?" There was feminine laughter sounding behind her.

"For your most esteemed visitor." Scarlet doffed his RadioCap and bowed. If he was going to play the part of diplomat, he was going to be a diplomat. Besides, amusing the ladies was always a good course of action.

Her eyes sparkled with even more mirth. "Then please, do enter and tell us what you are offering us to part with her company." She stood back and waved him inside.

He stuck his 'cap on his head at a jaunty angle, towed the danegeld in behind him, and only felt a little ridiculous. "Not that anyone outside of Cloudbase would even understand this." 

"Oh my goodness!" 

"Wow!" "Who do you want us to kill?"

"Capitaine." Destiny looked over the basket and raised her eyebrows at him. 

Scarlet put himself into a parade stance, he saw no reason to do so with half measures, even if it was slightly ridiculous. "Destiny Angel, Ladies, Thunderbird Shadow." Kayo was standing next to the ready seats, obviously she had just been talking to Symphony and Melody. "I've been nominated as the 'most likely to survive' negotiator to secure the release of Thunderbird Shadow."

There were laughs all the way around

"Please note, not the most diplomatic negotiator, but the one most likely to survive the mission."

"And if we do not wish to lose Thunderbird Shadow's delightful company so soon?"

Scarlet gestured toward the massive basket. "Hence the bribe, or danegeld, or whatever you want to call it." More laughter from everyone but Shadow. Who was watching carefully. 

Destiny made a show of tapping her lip in thought. "Two more hours of her delightful company." 

Scarlet blanked his face. "It's already been six." There were murmurs of disbelief at that. "Captains Cobalt and Xanthic would like to spend some time with Thunderbird Shadow as well."

"Allors! It has been six hours, truly?" "Truly."

Destiny turned to Shadow. "My most profound apologies, I did not realize it had been so long."

"To tell the truth, I hadn't either." Shadow headed for the door. "So is that enough to 'buy' my release?"

"Bien sûr! You are more than welcome to visit us anytime however." Destiny gave Scarlet a look. "You will see her safely to the others?"

"You wound me. Of course I will." He held his arm out for Shadow to take.

She gave him a small smile as she took his arm. Scarlet doffed his cap to the ladies and escorted her out. 

"Shadow!" Came out of two throats. 

Scarlet dodged out of the way as Shadow engulfed in a multi-coloured hug. 

It might have been the middle of a corridor of the most advanced military post, off or on the planet, but for two brothers and a sister, it was a tiny bubble of space to reaffirm the bonds of family. The hug broke apart, but not far: Xanthic’s arm was curled around Shadow’s waist and Cobalt’s arm was interlinked with Shadow’s on the other side. It was well known on Cloudbase how tactile Cobalt and Xanthic were, so it surprised no one that Shadow was as well. 

“I’ve - “ Shadow started but was cut off by a chime, then a squawk from Xanthic. “Hagfish! I’m due on duty.” He hugged his sister again. “Breakfast?”

She looked at Cobalt. “I hadn’t planned to spend the night.” 

“There’s an empty guest quarters, I’m sure the Colonel won’t mind. Especially if you share any ‘alleged’ gossip with him.” 

The smile was in her eyes but not on her face. "I've got something better than gossip for him."

Visit

White met Thunderbird Shadow in his office. He was quite sure she'd learned a great deal about Spectrum in general, and Cloudbase in particular. But he was comforted by the fact that she was on their side. "Sir?" Cobalt was everything formal.

White touched a control, "You can enter, Captain."

Thunderbird Shadow entered first, her gaze swept the room: noting him and location, possible weapons, and the exits. It was rather like having the newly minted colour captains meeting with him for the first time.

He rose. "Thunderbird Shadow, it's a pleasure to meet you." He gestured to a chair. "Thank you Captain, you are dismissed."

"Yes sir." Cobalt nodded and left without the glance that White had been expecting.

"So Thunderbird Shadow -" She held up her hand. "Shadow will work just fine, Colonel White. The whole thing is a bit of a mouthful." She grinned.

"Noted and thank you." White compared her grin to the one Magenta would sport with an especially juicy bit of news. "So what can Spectrum do for you?" She pulled a piece of paper out of a pocket of her flight suit. "I was hoping to spend the night." she held out the paper, "I also have a list of code phrases from Five about the situation on Tracy Island when 'Feather' happens."

"A good thing to have," he looked the list over; Downfall: We can get away under our power and are in no real danger Skyfall: We might need help or an escort Thunderfall: Worst case - we can't escape and are in active danger

"Appropriate names." He nodded. "It is my hope that only the first is used." He set the paper aside. "You are more than welcome to spend tonight, or any other you need here on Cloudbase Shadow. I already have a demand from the Angels that you be permitted to visit again. I also think that two of my Captains would be glad to see you as well."

Her smile lit up her entire face. "Actually meeting the Angels and delivering that to you was the reason for the visit. Seeing my brothers is just a bonus. They both could have been on missions."

He nodded. "Very true. So how did you find our Angels?"

"If I'd known about the Angels before I joined IR, I'd have tried out for them in a heartbeat."

"So any chance of you joining Spectrum?" He was certain what the answer would be, but he was interested in seeing how she responded. "In a different life, at a different time, the answer would be yes. But this is the life I have, so, with regret, the answer is no."

"As I expected, but you would have made an excellent Angel." He stood up. "If you'll forgive me, I have a great deal of work ahead of me." She stood and he walked her to the door. As the door opened, White, "Lieutenant Green, please arrange for an escort to take Thunderbird Shadow to the V.I.P. guest suite."

"I'll be glad to take care of her, sir." Cobalt literally appeared next to Green.

White arched his eyebrow and tilted his head slightly, which usually made his Captains shuffle like small boys. Cobalt just stood there, waiting. White let the moment stretch, then nodded. "That would be good, Captain." He turned to Shadow. "Thank you again for the information, it will prove to be quite interesting."

"The Lady and I are glad to help." She graced him with a smile that lit up her eyes. Then she turned to Cobalt. "So, you're going to be my escort?" "Yes'm." He held his arm out.

She turned back to White. "It's lovely to see proper manners, well done Colonel." She moved and took the offered arm.

Visit

The trip to the V.I.P. was far shorter than Kayo was expected. Cobalt opened the door and bowed her in with a small smile. She kept her face impassive, this was an old game between them. She walked in and came to a standstill. The appointments were in line with a better class hotel, not exceptional. The view however, was incredible. The outer wall was one giant window, showing the vast expanse of the sky and the clouds that passed under and around the flying base. She took several steps toward the window. 

"It's quite the view." Scott said softly. Kayo laid a hand on the transteel as she peered out. "It most certainly is."

Scott chuckled and turned to make sure that the door was locked, and found himself spun around and pinned up against that same door. A peridot gaze searched his face, then he found himself on the receiving end of a soul searing kiss. He let himself melt into it, it had been far too long since they’d been alone for more than a few stolen moments. 

Kayo finally pulled back, nipping at his lower lip as she did so. “Hi.” 

“Hi, yourself.” Scott knew there was a broad grin on his face. “Miss me much?”

“I missed you every moment, of every minute, since I last had you in my arms.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “That much huh?”

Kayo plucked his ‘cap off and tossed it to the side. “That much and more.” She arched an eyebrow at him. “You said something about several hours alone?”

Scott swallowed hard, that throaty purr did things to his system. “As many as I can give you.” Kayo stepped back, hooked a finger into the ring of his zipper, pulling him with her as she started to pull it down. “Then we’d better get started, <handsome>.”

"Ma'am, yes Ma'am!"

He let Kayo deal with his gun belt while he pulled his undershirt off. When he came free of the material, he found her staring at him. Her face an unreadable mask. “Tanusha?”

Her hand came up and ghosted over still red scars on his chest and then down to the long one his stomach. “I really wish you’d learn not to dodge to your right.” The plea was barely audible.

He caught the hand and placed a kiss on those fingers. “I’m trying <beloved>, I really am.”

Her lips twitched. “You are trying in so very many ways, <handsome>.” She gently pulled her hand free to hover over the raised and bumpy skin on his right shoulder. “Had to make a quick exit from a moving vehicle.” He answered the eyebrow arched in question.

She shook her head and leaned in to kiss it. “I think I’m going to have to learn your body all over again.” The throaty purr was back. Scott heaved a mental sigh of relief, though what she was going to say when she saw the new scar on his upper thigh was slightly terrifying. However, that was in the future… “You <beloved> have too many clothes on.”

She gave him one of her very rare, teasing grins. The one that lit up her entire face. “Are you going to try and do something about that?”

He caught her hands and grinned back. “Oh, I’m going to do more than try.”

Her eyes gleamed as she pulled to get free. His grin broadened and he tugged her closer so he steal a kiss. Only to find himself midair for a moment, then he landed back first on the bed. Kayo straddled his waist, and pinned his hands above his head. "More than try huh?"

"You cheated." But he couldn't stop smiling. 

She nuzzled his jaw. "Of course I did." She kissed him, long and slow. "Much better without the beard." 

He just tried to gather his scattered thoughts. "G-glad to hear that. But you're still over dressed." She pushed up into a sitting position. "I thought you were going to try to do something about that." Her grin was teasing.

He grinned back, brought a leg up, around her waist, and flipped her onto her back to straddle her waist. "So, about that try. . ."

Visit

"Cloud, do you know where Cobalt is?" Gordon rolled his neck and winced at the dull crack from the base of his skull. Yeah, this was sleep on the floor session.

I do, Captain Xanthic. 

Gordon finished pulling  his undershirt off and squinted at the ceiling. There were no cameras in quarters, but looking up was now a habit among the residents of Cloudbase. There was something about the AI's tone. "Which is?" I am sorry, Captain Xanthic, I have been asked not to tell anyone.

That got both of Gordon's eyebrows going. "I see." He balled the shirt up and tossed it into his laundry basket. "Can you tell me where Thunderbird Shadow is?" There was a very long pause, nearly a minute, before Cloud answered. I am unable to do so, Captain.

Gordon nodded, a smile curling his mouth. "Uh-huh. When they are finished getting to know each other again, please tell them I want to see Shadow too." 

I believe that is within the parameters I was asked to conform to. 

The only ones surprised when Scott and Kayo won the draw were Scott and Kayo. They both eyed John but he was practiced at keeping his countenance straight and expressionless.

The next two weeks were full of discussions about what costumes they were going to wear, but if John could keep expressionless in the face of their big brother’s eyebrows then none of them stood a chance getting an answer out of Scott. They didn’t even both trying with Kayo.

Three nights before they were due in New York Kayo finished her evening ritual and turned to Scott. He was in bed but was finishing his last report of the day. At least, he was supposed to be, but the tablet lay abandoned on the bedside table and Scott was busy watching her instead, a happy smile on his face.

‘Do you think they have any inkling of our costumes?’ ‘Nope.’ ‘Not even John?’ ‘Not even John. I haven’t bought a costume and if he’s stupid enough to spy on you, well…I don’t think that he has that much of a death wish.’

Kayo laughed and joined Scott, settling down to sleep. She was pretty sure John would know – he wouldn’t be the Eye in the Sky if he didn’t – but it wasn’t for her to shatter Scott’s illusions.

There were three rescues in the next two days and by the time they due to fly out both were over their hours so Gordon volunteered to take them.

If he was hoping for a peek at whatever costumes they had chosen he was sorely disappointed when all there was aboard Scott’s personal jet was a suit holder with a fancy black tux.

The pair stayed in the penthouse of TI New York for the night and spent the day going over their own individual work, Scott with the quarterly financial reports and Kayo with a check on security in various departments but in particular the R&D department where Virgil and Brains were due to visit in December.

They both worked through lunch, as did the majority of the workers, and once 3 pm hit there was a sustained noise as person after person closed up desks, offices and suites and headed for the exit.

TI New York Halloween Party was a big affair, and had this year hired out the old Wall Street Bank, a space spread over two floors that could easily hold the headquarters personnel and any others who wanted to attend from the multitude of smaller satellites around the country.

The party was in full swing when Kayo and Scott made their entrance. They greeted and were greeted by everyone, comments made about their costumes and how they suited them so much.

Drinks in hand, the pair mingled, drank and nibbled for over an hour until the band switched from quiet background music into a soft violin introduction, and Scott lit up.

Holding out his hand, once Kayo had taken it he led her to the dance floor and the people cleared a space for them.

He stood still, their arms raised above his head as Kayo walked around him before stopping in front, her back to his front, and held her arm out straight to the side.

Scott moved, gently taking her hand and pressing kisses up her arm, around the back of her and down the other arm, and then back again until Kayo held up her hand to stop him.

The music flared into life.

Dropping her arm, Scott spun her and Kayo did several turns until Scott stopped her with hands to her hips.

They faced each other. Scott once more held out his hand and Kayo placed hers into it. Scott pulled her close with his other hand.

And they danced.

Light on their feet they swept around the room, Scott occasionally dipping Kayo around in a circle as they danced. Backwards, forwards, left and right, they covered the space, their eyes completely locked on each other.

The crowd around them began to clap and chant and the music sped up.

The footwork was intricate, their feet a blur. Turns, spins…and then came the finale.

Unlike their characters, instead of spinning Kayo around the floor Scott lifted her up, hands firmly on her hips, and they spun for a moment before he slowly lowered her into a tight embrace and finished it with a deep and long kiss.

The crowd erupted.

On Tracy Island John, Gordon and Alan had watched the live feed, two of them open-mouthed. John looked entirely too pleased with himself.

‘Did you know? John?’ ‘Know what?’ ‘That Scott could dance? Like that?’ ‘Of course I knew.’

John sat back and smiled. It wasn’t often that their eldest brother got to be anything other than Commander and CEO, and it was beautiful to see Scott being Scott.

Scott scratched at his jaw for the third time in as many minutes. The fake beard hid his dimples and made his face more round. Add brown contacts, rearrange his hair, and it was an easy disguise, but it didn’t mean he had to like it.

“Gently mon chéri.” The elegant blonde on his arm chided. Or maybe he was on her arm. The mission briefing hadn’t been too clear on who the arm candy was. Not that Scott minded being arm candy, but - gah. Sneaking around, spy stuff was not his strength. But he could speak French and knew aircraft, both of which made him perfect for this mission. Much to Blue’s annoyance. How often did you get the chance to go to the Paris Airshow on Spectrum’s dime? With Destiny Angel as your partner?

“It itches.”

Amused brown eyes turned his way. “Then we must hurry to catch our thief, so you may remove it, no?”

“Only if we can figure out who the thief is,” Scott growled back softly. To anyone watching they would just be a couple having a low voiced conversation. Not that you could hear much with the constant hum of nearly 500,000 people filling not one but three aerodromes at the extravagant ball held to mark the occasion. Which was part of the problem, too many suspects. What also didn't help were the scramblers set up to keep the media and anyone else from eavesdropping or doing any stock buying or selling based on things they'd overheard here: it meant they had no external comms. But there were only a limited number of buyers for the plans of a stolen, bleeding edge, in-atmosphere ion fusion engine, so that narrowed the field and meant they had a short list. What privately amazed Scott was that Brains hadn’t come up with it first.

‘I wonder if it’s because it’s too chancy,’ was Scott’s thought as he mentally reviewed the limited specs they’d gotten from the designers. When Three had been built, Brains had been very careful to educate them on the safety factors and what the minimum safe distances were for each planet before they could ignite the ion fusion engine. If Three’s reactor ever blew… well… the results wouldn’t be pretty. 

He unlinked his arm from Destiny’s long enough to accept two champagne flutes from a passing waiter, offering one to her before faking a small sip from his. “At your three, who’s that?” 

Destiny made as if to adjust one of the locks of ringleted hair cascading down her shoulder to cover her look. “Monsieur Jacob Arkson, Aerospace International. He could be a buyer, he certainly seems to be looking for someone.” 

“Agreed. Ah, there’s Professor Kwark at your six, glad to see her here, her Icarus has a lot of potential.” Scott faked another sip from his glass. 

“Oui, Melody in particular was pleased to see she had gotten the contract for the new Interceptors.” Destiny curled her hand around his bicep as they began casually meandering through the room again. They’d almost reached one of the small clusters of velvet-upholstered chairs placed for people to sit and rest their feet when she squeezed his arm once in warning, guiding him away from the area. “C’est pas vrai!” she hissed the words out under her breath, but her smile didn’t falter at all. “I should have expected this, with the TI stand here. It is Jeff Tracy.” 

Scott’s gut knotted. He couldn’t - didn’t - want to face Jeff. Not unless it was in a courtroom or possibly over the barrel of his sidearm. He was also on a mission and wasn’t about to jeopardise that. “We should have. But we can stay out of his way. Monsieur and Madame Alard are beneath his notice, their company is too small for him to be interested in it.”

Destiny shook her head. “I still should have thought of it. My apologies.”

"Not your fault." Scott faked a third sip from his glass. “David Barnier from Space Innovations is on your nine and he’s headed toward Arkson. They could be meeting up.” 

“Then by all means, let us see what may be so interesting for them.” Destiny’s smile would look adoring to anyone who didn’t know her. To those who did, it was the snarl of a hunting lioness. 

They kept a discreet distance behind the two men. Both of them noting who they spoke with and what booths they stopped at. Even here in the VIP area, there were displays to look at and reps to speak to. 

Scott had to split his attention between the men, Destiny, and keeping a weather eye out for Jeff. That man might not recognize him under his beard, but he couldn’t take that chance. 

Fortunately, Jeff was clearly more interested in hobnobbing and glad-handing with the high rollers here, but it didn’t miss his notice that Professor Kwark was given a generous berth. 

Someone else, however, made a bee-line for the professor and greeted her with the courtesy and enthusiasm she was due. 

“Destiny, Lady Penelope’s here.” Scott muttered as he turned to take over tracking Barnier- getting a fresh glass of wine - and Arkson - busy chatting up the rep for... ‘How the hell did Fischler Industries get a booth here?!’  Scott made a mental note to give John a heads up and put that problem aside for later. 

“Lady Penelope?” Destiny’s reaction was contained to a blink. “Another surprise, nes-pä? Shall we make contact?” 

“Odds are good she’s here for the same reason we are,” was Scott’s thoughtful response. “If she is, she’ll come to us.” At the curious look Destiny tipped to him, Scott added “Yes, she’s that good. She trained Rhapsody, remember?”  

“D’accord.” Destiny gave her assent and went back to tracking their suspects under the guise of crowd watching. 

‘If Penny’s here,’ Scott looked around carefully, ‘Parker isn’t far behind.’  Even knowing Penny’s partner in ‘alleged’ crimes, it was difficult to spot the man if he didn’t want to be seen. That also brought one other person to mind, but again, like Parker, if Kayo didn’t want to be seen, she wouldn’t be. Scott only hoped that she wouldn't try to knife Jeff if the opportunity presented itself. 

Scott felt the tiniest of tugs on his suit coat, causing him to let go of Destiny for the moment it took to check his wallet and pockets. But instead of something missing, he found something added: a small piece of paper with ‘SST 10’ written on it. He glanced around and caught sight of a woman in an utterly forgettable olive pantsuit, with her black hair pulled up into a crown braid. One eye flickered closed in a wink, before she slipped away into the crowd.

He bent close to Destiny. “We’ve been contacted. Think we can work our way over to the Concorde display in ten minutes?”

“Assurément, contacted by who?”

Scott’s gut unknotted just a touch. “Thunderbird Shadow.”

“Ah, understood. Follow my lead, mon chéri.” Destiny smiled at him and slipped her arm back in his. 

Scott had always known he was good at working his way through a room, but Destiny took it to an artform. At one point they were obliged to tarry for a few minutes, engaging a Boeing engineer in polite chit chat to give that man time to make his way into the small knot of executives who’d been trotted out for the occasion, then they were underneath the nose cone portion of one of the prototypes of the original Super Sonic Transporter, more popularly known as the Concorde. 

“Thought you might ‘ave gotten lost for a minute there, Mister Tracy,” Parker drawled as he appeared from behind the bank of potted palms that surrounded the display. He frowned and mock tsk'ed. “‘H’if h’I might say so, brown h’is not your colour, sir.” 

“Good to see you too Parker,” Scott told him with a smile as he took Destiny’s champagne flute and placed both on a nearby table. It was technically a breach in etiquette for Parker addressing him as ‘Mister Tracy’ when that title belonged to someone else, but Scott decided that he liked the gesture. One day he intended to reclaim his name as his. He’d earned the right to be recognised under his name and by his own merits. This… this was a good first step. 

“Scott.” 

Kayo appeared at Parker’s elbow, the olive pantsuit lending her a surprisingly high amount of camouflage. Contacts changed her brilliant eyes to a more muted hazel and tortoiseshell glasses altered the profile of her face. With the clipboard tucked in her arm and a pen behind her ear, she was perfectly disguised as one of the legion of assistants, organisers and supervisors who made an event like this possible.

“Thunderbird Shadow, Parker, meet Destiny, Angel Flight Leader.” Scott made the introductions. 

“Call me Kayo,” Kayo said as there were brief handshakes exchanged. 

“Ah, le mystérieuse Thunderbird Shadow!” Destiny looked delighted. “You must visit us with your magnifique aircraft! I and my girls, we all adore your Thunderbird. If Thunderbird Five can come, I am certain we can convince the Colonel to have you aboard.”  

“I’d like that.” Kayo’s glance flicked to Scott for only a fraction of a second - so quick that it was only someone who’d grown up with her and knew her tells would have been able to spot it - and then she was back to the job at hand. “Stolen plans for an in-atmo ion engine, right? British Government asked us to take a look, turns out the developer was using some proprietary tech the British have to make it work and they don’t want it getting out into the wild.” 

“So they h’asked a ‘private contractor’ for an h’assist,” Parker finished.   

Destiny was the senior officer on this mission, so Scott looked to her for the direction to take. There was obviously more than just proprietary tech and the dangers of an in-atmo ion engine going on. 

Destiny’s eyes narrowed as she sorted through ramifications and then sighed. “I fear this is a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. Our orders are to catch the thief and recover the plans. I trust yours are the same?”

“They are. Though I doubt His Majesty’s government actually cares who stops them, just as long as they are stopped.” Kayo gave a graceful shrug.

“Assurément, -”

“Oh bloody 'ell!” Parker turned and darted through plants that surrounded them. 

Only Scott knew that the darkening of Kayo’s complexion was a sign of her fury. “What happened?”

“We have short range comms,” Kayo explained as she touched one of her earrings. “The CEO of TI just accosted Penny.” Even muted, her eyes flashed. “And I don’t dare go to help.”

“Nor may Capitaine Cobalt.” Destiny’s smile was so cold it glittered. “But I can. Please tell - Monsieur Parker?” Kayo nodded. “That air support is on the way.” She vanished through the foliage. 

"And while that draws every eye, we get the plans." Kayo's lips were thinned, but she regained her composure. "You have suspects?" 

"David Barnier and Jacob Arkson." Scott reported. 

"We had Arkson pegged as the seller, so Barnier must be the buyer. Where did you last see them?" She tapped the rim of her glasses. "I have a feed into the security cameras." 

"Near the Fischler Industries booth." 

"Ugh, how the hell did he get a booth here?" Kayo muttered. She tapped her glasses again and frowned in concentration, her eyes moving quickly behind the glass. "Got them, going towards the service area."

"F.A-" Scott caught himself, then shrugged it off. "F.A.B." 

“What was your plan?” Kayo slipped out of their cover. Scott was right next to her. “Catch the thief, get the plans, and if we could, nab the buyer as well.” 

“Quite the change from ‘International Rescue doesn’t do that',” she teased.

Scott shrugged and didn’t bother to hide the flash of regret from Kayo. “I’m not Thunderbird One anymore, I’m Captain Cobalt of Spectrum, and he has a very different playbook.”

“I didn’t mean -” Kayo looked guilty but kept heading for the service areas. A woman with a clipboard, walking fast, worked better than a man in a Spectrum uniform for having people get out of the way.

“I know. Gordon and I joke about the old things too.” Scott waved it away. ‘Hopefully soon they won't be the old things anymore.’

The crowds thinned the further they got from the movers and shakers. No one would remember a serious, dark haired woman in an olive pantsuit and a dark haired man in a dark suit, and with his photojammer the surveillance records wouldn’t be of any help either. 

A duck around more plants in pots and they were into the service area. The back area where the work happened was far less glamorous than the areas that the customers were allowed to see. Unused dividers, broken stands, stacks of chairs and trolleys lined the walls and people were bustling and hustling. The kitchen area was organised chaos and billowed with steam from the sterilisers as wait staff brought back trays of used glasses and swapped them for trays with freshly filled flutes or laden with mouthful sized morsels. No one paid them any mind. 

Finally they left all that behind them and they were into the areas used when the aerodromes were in operation: offices, workshops, a staff kitchenette, storerooms and meeting rooms. There were a couple of security lights and the glow from various appliances and machines on standby, but aside from that it was dark. 

“Just up ahead, empty office two doors down on the right.” Kayo set her clipboard down on a cabinet, palming a long stiletto knife that’d been hidden amidst the papers. 

“Acknowledged.” Cobalt unbuttoned his jacket and took his service pistol from a kidney holster. It wasn’t the most comfortable way to carry a pistol this long, but between the size of the gun and the low profile Kevlar vest he had on, it was far more comfortable and accessible than the small of his back. 

They both half crouched, Cobalt taking the lead as they edged towards the door. There wasn’t a window, but light glowed around the edges of the doorframe. Cobalt hand signed for Shadow to take the door. She glared at him in response. “I’m armoured, you aren’t,” he said softly. That got him a blink and then a nod. She tested the handle, held up her free hand, and counted down from three to a fist. Then she shoved the door open and Cobalt dove into the room, rolled, and came up in crouch, his gun covering the middle of the room. 

Their suspects stared at the sudden appearance of an armed man in their supposedly private meeting before reacting. Arkson shoved the desk he’d been standing behind toward Cobalt and Barnier bolted for the open door. 

Cobalt didn’t flinch at the movement, but reacted by vaulting the desk and kicking Arkson in the chest. Arkson went down in a tangle of limbs. Cobalt spared a glance toward where Barnier had fled, only to see Shadow kneeling on top of him. 

Arkson thrashed, trying to get up, only to still as Cobalt’s gun centred on his nose. “Captain Cobalt of Spectrum, you’re under arrest. Please don’t try to resist, I don’t need the paperwork.”

“S-Spectrum?” Arkson stammered, eyes wide and glancing over at his similarly pinned co-conspirator and the knife at his throat. 

“Yep. Where are the plans?” Cobalt demanded. 

There was a gulp, a glance over at Bernier again, a little frown as Jacob tried to run the odds, then a change of expression as he realised that he, an older man well into the later stages of middle age spread, had very little chance against the fighting fit officer pinning him. “Interior pocket of my jacket.” 

Keeping the gun trained on his captive, Cobalt flicked open Arkson’s jacket, quickly searched him, then found and pocketed both the man’s phone and the high security data chip with the plans. “Okay, on your feet, keep your hands where I can see them.” Cobalt backed off just enough to let him up, he’d check the chip once his prisoner was secure. “Shadow, you good?” 

“Just peachy,” Kayo responded, a knife-edged grin in her words.

Cobalt just shook his head and pulled a pair of mag-cuffs out of an inner pocket. He tossed one to Shadow, then looped the thin metal cables around Arkson’s wrists, and activated the tiny electro-magnet. It would take highly specialised bolt cutters to get them off without the matching key. His prisoner taken care of and not worried about Shadow with hers, he pulled his phone out and slid the chip into the built-in reader. Not that he could see what was on the chip, just know if it was the real deal or not. The flash of green let a knot of tension unravel in his shoulders. 

“All good - Cobalt?” Kayo had Barnier on his feet. 

“Yup, got them and the plans. The colonel is going to be pleased.” He left the chip in the phone, he would turn both in when they got back to Cloudbase. “Any word from Destiny or your team?”

There was a murmur of conversation, a moment of listening, her head slightly tilted to one side, then her eyes widened and a smile cracked her facade. “...let’s get these two into custody first, then I’ll update you.” 

Cobalt cocked a curious eyebrow at her, then nodded. “S.I.G.” 

Tidying up the loose ends didn’t take long - a hustle out a back entrance and the two of them were handed over to the waiting Spectrum team of local agents, led by Blue - and then they were back inside to link up with the other halves of their teams. 

Kayo waited until they found some privacy in the service area, tucked away between two unused catering towers and shadows, to brief him. 

“...Destiny slapped him?!” Scott exclaimed, eyes wide. The Angel Leader was a ferocious woman, he absolutely believed that she’d done it, the question was how she’d managed to pull it off in such a way to not lead into further complications. 

“Slapped him and absolutely tore him to shreds in very loud, very angry French,” Kayo informed him, her eyes glittering with mirth. “She was intervening ‘because some barbarian was being rude to her dear friend’ and when he turned to address her, he accidentally knocked the glass in her hand and spilled champagne all over her dress. She yelled he’d done that on purpose and when he stepped closer to ‘be a gentleman and assist’ - because people were looking - she managed to move in such a way that his palm brushed the front of her bodice, and she shrieked and slapped him. Penny says it all looked completely natural and the media are swarming.” 

“Wow.” Scott leaned back against the concrete wall to absorb that. “I think I’ll buy her a spa day somewhere for that.” He canted a grin at Kayo. “We’ve got a saying on base, ‘Happy Angels means living Captains'. Perfect example of why right there.” 

“I like that.” Kayo grinned back, then she softened. “Scott?”          

“Yes?”

She stepped close enough to lay a hand on his arm. “I couldn’t say so before, but I’ve missed you.”

The weight of those words hit like a freight train. Scott swallowed, gave a brief scan of the area then reached out, and pulled her in close. “Oh, sayang, I have missed you so much as well.” He held her in his arms and gloried in the fact he could do so. Her arms slid around his body, even as she pulled back a little. There hadn’t been a chance for them to be alone in New Haven like this, especially with how secretive they both were about their relationship - hard learned habits of 'keep myself safe by keeping it secret' weren't easy to shake. Gordon and John knew about them, but no one else. Scott bent his head slightly and gently brushed her lips with his; an unspoken plea for consent.

Kayo rose up on her toes and captured his mouth with hers. Over two years was far too long to go without kissing her beloved. It was a timeless moment of stolen joy. They broke apart before the need to breathe got too great. Kayo wrinkled her nose at him. “I don’t think I care for the beard.” 

Scott chuckled and tried to pull her even closer, storing up the sensation of her in his arms against the coming drought. “It’s just for this mission, it’s going to be gone as soon as I get back to base.” 

“Good.” She caught his mouth again for another soul searing kiss. She was hoarding her own memories against the famine to come.

They broke apart far too soon for either of their liking. Scott made sure any damage to her hair or clothing was settled and Kayo erased any marks that anything private had happened on his. She settled his suit coat and lightly gripped the lapels. “I’m going to take Destiny up on her offer. Just to let you know.” There was a playful lilt in her voice.

“If I can pry you out of their clutches and the Amber Room, I know just the place.” His grin was slow. “How does several hours alone sound?” Her eyes widened. “Like bliss.”