AN: For those who were waiting for Alan's POV of being on Thunderbird 5 here it is along with Tin-Tin and Fermat. Hope you all enjoy it!

John's POV:

"That Thunderstorm is about five minutes from being in your area," Tin-Tin reported from Thunderbird 5.

Looking out the cockpit windows I could see the storm clouds not far away. They didn't look all that friendly.

"Copy that, Thunderbird 5," Scott answered after which Dad echoed the confirmation.

"How you doing down there Virgil?" Dad asked over the radio.

A fishing vessel had collided with a whale watching boat in Cape Cod. The coast guard had requested our assistance in evacuating the two vessels which were both taking on water. The whale watching vessel had been sinking at a faster rate than the fishing vessel so we had helped the coast guard evacuate that vessel first. Now Virgil was on board the fishing vessel. There were crew members trapped below that he was trying to get out. Gordon was back in the hold with those we had already evacuated.

"I'm just about in," Virgil replied.

"Water level?"

"About knee level," Virgil replied.

"Use you head son. You don't want to get trapped down there yourself," Dad warned. I could here the worry in his voice.

"FAB," Virgil replied as the sky lit up with a flash of lighting.

"That one was close," I commented.

"Thunderbird 5 to Thunderbird 1 do you copy," I heard Tin-Tin ask over the radio. Her voice sounded just a little higher pitched than normal but other than that she seemed calm even though something had happened if she was asking for a radio check from Thunderbird 1.

"I copy, Thunderbird 5 but other controls are not responding. The lighting hit must have knocked them out," came Scott's reply. "I feel like I'm losing altitude though."

"Tin-Tin?" Dad asked questionly.

"FAB. Sensors show that Thunderbird 1 is slowly losing altitude."

"Tell Virg he's going to have another rescue to perform," Scott quipped.

I got up from the co-pilot's seat and back to one of the other stations. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dad glance in my direction but didn't ask me questions, for which I was glad. I had no clue if this was going to work or not and I couldn't waste time trying to explain it now.

"Thunderbird 5, keep giving me readouts on Thunderbird 1's altitude," Dad ordered.

"FAB," Tin-Tin replied her voice not quite as calm but she still seemed under control.

"At least this thing floats,"came Scott's comment.

"You're going to be fine Scott. We're working on the problem. Have you tried switching to the back-ups."

"FAB. Quite a few times already. At least I feel like I'm doing something."

Meanwhile, I was trying to use Thunderbird 2's computer to access Thunderbird 1's computer. If I could get in, I might be able to bypass the shorted circuits and get some kind of control of the craft by remote

"Thunderbird 2 do you copy," came Virgil's voice over the radio.

"Go ahead Virgil."

"I've got the crew members out. We're heading to the surface."

"FAB. Gordon you ready?"

"Standing by Dad," Gordon replied from the hold where he was controling the rescue platform from.

"Okay, I want these people on board as quick as possible. Not only is there a storm out there now but Thunderbird 1 took a lighting strike. We may have another rescue to perform."

"FAB," they both replied.

"So I'm just another rescue huh," Scott commented. "I feel so loved."

I could tell my older brother was nervous. If I could only get some control over his craft. Tin-Tin gave an update on Thunderbird 1's altitude. I was running out of time.

"Access acquired," the computer informed me.

I had accomplished step one. Now it depended on how badly the lighting strike had damaged the crafts computer if I could access the next step.

"Coast Gaurd cutter to International Rescue, do you require assitance."

"Negative Coast Guard," Dad replied. "We've got the situation under control. We're bringing up the last of the fishing boat's crew now. You can head back to port."

"Copy that, International Rescue."

"You know, I don't like seeing the water this close up from here."

"Don't worry Scott. We'll be ready to get you out of there if Thunderbird 1 goes down."

"Rescue Platform on board," Gordon radio up from the hold.

"FAB. Heading in Thunderbird 1 direction now."

"Thunderbird 1's altitude is now 500 ft," Tin-Tin informed us.

"Navigation control acquired," the computer responded.

"Yes!" I exclaimed. I had done it. I had gotten remote access to Thunderbird 1's navigation control. Typing in some commands, I had Thunderbird 1 gain altitude.

"What's going on?" Scott asked alarmed.

"Thunderbird 1 this is flight control, I now have control of your craft. Sit back and enjoy the ride home," I replied over the radio. "Thunderbird 2 to Thunderbird 5."

"Thunderbird 5 here."

"I've got control of navigation but I still need you to relay to me altitude and GPS information from Thunderbird 5's sensors."

"FAB," Tin-Tin replied.

"Good work son," Dad said. "Virgil, Gordon, situation is under control. We'll drop our passengers off at a hospital and then head on home."

"FAB," Virgil replied.

"John."

"Yeah, Scott?"

"You do realize if you crash this thing, I'm never going to forgive you."

"Relax, I'm the only Tracy that hasn't crashed a Thunderbird yet. I don't plan on changing that today."

Tin-Tin's POV:

With a sigh of relief, I leaned back in the chair. My nerves were shot. What if I had misread the information or just given John the wrong coordinates just once? For the first time I realized just how important this position was. It wasn't just monitoring and waiting for calls to come in. If things started to go wrong during a rescue, Thunderbird 5 could suddenly become very important. How did John stay so calm all the time.

I looked down at my hand. It was shaking. I had never been so scared in my life. Not even when Alan, Fermat, and I had been fighting the Hood last spring. I took some deep breaths, trying to calm down. Everything was fine. Everyone had been rescued off of the two vessels. Thunderbird 2 and Thunderbird 1 had both gotten safely back to base.

A light started blinking indicating an incoming call. Reaching out I opened the channel.

"Thunderbird 5 here," I said trying to sound calm and in control. Whoever it happened to be on the other end, I didn't want them thinking I couldn't handle things up here.

"Hey Tin-Tin, how you doing?" John asked as his face appeared on the screen in front of me.

"I'm fine," I responded quickly.

"Eye opening mission huh? Bet you realize just how important you can be up there when things go wrong."

I nodded.

"I was so scared," I admitted. "All I could think about was what might go wrong if I made one little mistake."

"It can be frightening up there. You did a great job though. You kept calm under pressure."

"I sure didn't feel calm."

"Been there plenty of times," John said with a smile. "I'm proud of you Tin-Tin. I can rest easy tonight now, because I know my 'bird is in good hands."

"Thanks," I said feeling a huge smile come to my face. It probably looked silly but at this point I really didn't care.

"I got to go. I promised Brains I'd help him fix Thunderbird 1."

"Okay John. Thanks for calling. I feel better now."

"That's what I was hoping for. Tracy Island out."

His face disappeared and the screen went blank. I was alone once again.

Having John's confidence meant a lot to me. Growing up on Tracy Island, IR had become a natural part of my life. I knew how possessive the boys had gotten of their primary crafts. Thunderbird 5 was John's baby. He had spent roughly half the year every year up here since the station had gone online. If any of us could call the station a second home, it would be John.

I looked over the data that was coming in from Thunderbird 5's sensors. It still took me some time to figure out exactly what was where. John made it look so easy. I didn't think I'd ever know the systems like him. The Thunderstorm that had crippled Thunderbird 1 was starting to dissipate. No other severe storm systems were threatening inhabited land masses and none of the transmissions that were being picked up were being flagged by the computer as situations to keep an eye one.

Things were quiet for now, for which I was thankful. Just that one rescue had been enough excitement for me. I looked out the viewport at the Earth below. It was such a beautiful sight. It still filled me with the same sense of awe as it had the first time I had been up here.

Glancing at the time readout on the computers in front of me, which was in sync with Tracy island, I saw that it was six thirty at night. The sun would be setting on the island. Sunset had always been my favorite time of day because no matter what had happened during that day it was over with. Tomorrow held only possibilities.

It just didn't seem the same from here. Sure the day was ending but there wasn't much to signify that passing. There was no disappearing sun. No brilliant colors in the sky or on the water. No, this time just didn't hold the same charm from space.

I leaned back in the chair. John was right. I had proved I could handle the pressures of a real rescue on my own. The hardest part of my first solo on Thunderbird 5 was over or was it.

Sitting there, I was starting to realize just how confined the station was. Sure the view ports gave you a view of space but it wasn't the same as feeling the sun on your skin. The wind in your hair. The sounds of the birds above you. The crickets signing at night. The feel of the earth beneath your bare feet when you took your shoes off.

I had a feeling I was getting a sense of what claustrophobia felt like. I knew it was impossible but the longer I sat there the more it felt like the walls were actually starting to move in on me. Feeling uncomfortable, I stood up and headed off the command deck. Maybe walking around the station would help. Make it not feel so small.

It didn't help much. Even when I climbed in bed at then o'clock that evening I was still feeling confined.

The others had always said they didn't like being up here because they felt alone. Like John, being alone didn't bother me none. However, I didn't like being up here. I missed the feeling of being outside. Of being one with nature.

I wouldn't complain though. Being a part of IR was something that I wanted. Taking my turn up here on the station was part of being part of the team, and I'd grin and bear it as graciously as possible.