International Rescue: The Next Phase


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Re: The Call Goes Out [message #168 is a reply to message #167] Sun, 22 July 2012 20:21 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Tikatu is currently offline  Tikatu
Messages: 813
Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina
Karma:
Field Commander
Ubiquitous one
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2068, Time: 4 p.m., Place: Tracy Island

Marty Tisevich landed in the swimming hole with a satisfying splash! The rope he used to swing over the water swept back, and newly minted eleven-year-old Alex took his place.

"Geronimo!" he shouted as he swung out and then dropped, arms and legs tucking into a neat cannonball.

"That's the way to do it, Bud!" Gordon called encouragingly from the water's edge. He handed his father one of the cans of soda he held and then opened and gulped from the other. Together he, Jeff, and Virgil watched the boys who were there to celebrate Alex's birthday continue their water play.

"Too bad we didn't find this little place when we were building the Villa, huh, Dad?" Virgil said as he leaned forward on the rock where he was perched.

"No, Virgil, it's just fine. The spring doesn't put out enough water for the needs of the complex, and it goes down to a trickle if we get a real dry spell. Desalination was our best option," Jeff explained. He took a sip of his soda. "Besides, I would never have met Brains if we didn't go that route. It was his paper on desalination plants for the single dwelling that caught my eye and sent me looking for him. I just hope that our current set up will handle the influx of new people." Jeff looked out at the engineer, who had been cajoled into the camping trip by his student, Alex. He was about to take his own turn at the rope swing.

"Go, Brains! Show 'em how it's done!" Gordon shouted, whistling loud enough to make Jeff wince. The scientist took a running start, grabbed hold of the rope and swung widely over the swimming hole. He tucked into a cannonball then spun in the air a couple of times as if he were doing a fancy dive. However, he didn't let go of his tuck and landed in the pool with a tremendous gush of water.

"Woo Hoo!" Gordon called, standing up and applauding as Brains came up, shaking his head and scrubbing his face.

Jeff turned to Virgil. "I see Brains has been taking lessons."

"Nah. He's always known how to do that, Dad. You just haven't seen him at the pool too much," Virgil explained.

Now Gordon ran along the edge of the swimming hole, grabbed the rope, and making a noise that was half-Tarzan, half-Apache, cannonballed into the water.

Scott joined the small group. "What does Alex think of his gift?" he asked as he sat down beside Jeff and picked up Gordon's soda.

"The hoverbike? He can't wait to use it," Jeff said, grinning. "Unfortunately, since it's IR-issue equipment, he can't use it in front of his friends. That's where the mountain bike came in." Alex had been presented with a top-of-the-line mountain bike complete with safety equipment at the formal part of his birthday at the Villa that afternoon. Then the men in the family took Alex's guests and moved out to the wilds on the other side of the Island to camp around the swimming hole overnight.

But at the family party the night before, Alex had been stunned into speechlessness when Jeff gave him a hoverbike of his own to ride.

"Wow!" was all he could say when he found his voice. "This is the coolest present I've ever gotten!"

Jeff's attention was turned from his reverie to the present by the sound of a familiar "Whoa!" coming from the swimming hole. He glanced over just in time to see Tyler falling from the sky, limbs flailing, making what looked to be an uncomfortable splash in the clear pool.

Jeff started to get up, but Scott motioned to him to stay put. He drained Gordon's soda, and said, "I'll get him, Dad." Jeff relaxed. Scott had spent so many years helping him raise the four younger boys that it was natural for him to pick right up with these two new adopted brothers when they came. Besides, Tyler's admittedly favorite brother, John, was back at the Villa, manning the command desk in case a call came in. With Brains at the campsite to help out, one or more of the Tracy brothers could sneak away and back to base if necessary and not really be missed.

Gordon came back to the knot of Tracy men and sat down again. He looked around for his soda can, picked it up, turned it upside down, and frowned. "I could have sworn there was more in there." Virgil rolled his eyes but kept a straight face while Jeff turned a mild countenance to Gordon.

"You must have been mistaken, son."

Gordon shrugged and got up in search of another soda. Virgil and Jeff looked at each other and chuckled. Virgil glanced up and Jeff followed his gaze.

"You gonna come try out the swing, Dad?" A dripping Alex stood there, a hopeful look on his glistening face. Virgil chuckled behind Jeff and gave his shoulder a playful push.

"Go on, Dad. Show 'em that there's life in the old man yet!"

Alex extended a hand, and Jeff took it, levering himself first into a crouch, then to his feet. The two walked together for a moment, then Jeff took the lead and began to run, looking back at his second-youngest son with a twinkle in his eye.

"Last one in is a rotten egg!" he called.

Alex's eyes widened and he yelled, "Hey!" before sprinting off in pursuit of his dad.

Post by Tikatu on 18/06/04

Jeff heartbeat Dianne plain My IR:TNP OTP!

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