Danger of the Driver
By Lucas Elias
Parker's Language
H is added onto words beginning with a vowel
H is taken off words that begin with H
Chapter 1 - Parker's Odd Behaviour
FAB 1 raced down the road and in the distance a large plant exploded in a frenzy of fireballs and flying wreckage. Lady Penelope put her feet back while Parker drove on down the road. Lady Penelope used the videophone in the back of the front seat.
"Calling International Rescue, Calling International Rescue" she said and in the Tracy Island Villa, Jeff Tracy took his eyes off his magazine to see the eyes of Penelope's portrait flashing.
"Go ahead Penelope, how did the mission go?" he asked her.
"Splendid Jeff, mission successfully completed, we won't be having any bomb attacks in London for a while with their little factory down" she replied happily.
"Okay then Penny, well done and keep in touch, over and out".
"Ome M'lady?" asked Parker.
"Home Parker" replied Penelope as she put on the television in the seat. The news was on and a man was reading from a pile of papers.
"Our top story today is the breakout at H.M Holloway Prison in London, the breakout occured at 02 hundred hours and some of the city's biggest female criminals have been let out". This news report interested Parker who was not paying attention to the road and before he knew it. There was a smash as the pink Rolls Royce smashed through a farm gate and Lady Penelope, who was doing her lipstick had drawn a large red lipstick mark up her face.
"Parker!" she screamed as FAB 1 trundled on smashing into an oak tree. Nobody inside was hurt and soon help arrived.
Two days later and Brains had just taken off for home as he had come to fix FAB 1. Penelope was cross
"Parker! What is the meaning of this recent behaviour, you have been acting really strange, I find you galavanting near Holloway, putting up pictures everywhere of a women I don't know and to top it off you have been very depressed and your work is declining rapidly, and then you crash my car, how tiresome it has been" she fumed to herself.
"Sorry M'lady" replied Parker unbothered by Penelope's speech.
"That is quite alright Parker but it is your last chance, if your work declines anymore, I shall have to use alternative methods" she said and walked into the drawing room.
An hour later and her teapot bleeped and she picked it up, "International Rescue, Lady Penelope speaking" she said.
"Hi Penny, I have a mission for you, I want you to proceed to London Airport and check the Presidential Fireflash to see if there is a bomb on it" said Jeff.
"Okay Jeff I'll get there as soon as I can, over and out" she said and with that pulled the rope to ring the bell and after a minute, the doors didn't open "Where has Parker got to I wonder" she asked herself and proceed to Parker's office, only to find it empty. She looked at his mobile phone and went into the inbox to find a text message from a woman called Sam saying "Ok then luva, see u at Luvas Retreat". Penelope looked out the window to see FAB 1 returning and Parker heading inside the house with a grin on his face. He walked into the hall with Penelope tapping a foot.
"Ho, Ello M'lady, his there ha problem?" he asked innocently.
"Yes Parker, where have you been?" she asked crossly.
"Ho that M'lady, well hi went to get the Rolls Royce serviced you see ..." he said but Penelope interrupted him.
"Don't lie to me Aloysius Parker, care to explain this" she said, showing him the text message.
"Not really M'lady, hand hanyway, you shouldn't be sticking your nose hinto hother people's business, they say hi ham the nosy one" he said bitterly leaving Lady Penelope shocked.
"How dare you Parker! Well I'm sorry it has to come to this, you leave me no choice" she said pausing for a deep breath, "You're Fired!"
Chapter Two - Who's The Butler Now!
Lady Penelope was talking to Jeff Tracy via her powder compact and she told him about Parker's odd behaviour and that she gave him the boot.
"You sacked him!" said Jeff in astonishment "I meanthe President'sFireflash was fine".
"Well it was the only thing I could think to do, he was not doing his job properly and he was very rude" she said to him.
"Well okay Penny but if you do hire a new chauffeur, check and double check to make sure he isn't an enemy agent" he said worried.
"Will do Jeff, over and out" she said and her portrait went back to its original self.
"Gee, Penelope sacking Parker I never thought I would see the day" said Alan shocked.
"I don't think there is anything wrong with Parker he was a great butler" said TinTin equally shocked and unhappy.
"Well boys it isn't really our problem at the moment, unless Parker starts shooting his mouth off which I hardly doubt since lives are involved, no right now I'm more worried about the new butler she has and whether he can be trusted" said Jeff anxiously.
Back in Foxleyheath in England, LadyPenelope was in the library looking where anyone who wanted the butler/manservant/chauffeur job would come to the door and ask for it and she would audition them to see if they were any good. Penelope was soon tired after going through many useless candidates and she heard someone coming down the stairs from the library, she went into the hall to see Parker with two suitcases.
"Well Parker this is it I guess, I'm sorry it had to come to this" she said.
"So ham hi M'lady, so ham hi" he said glumly and they bid each other farewell and Parker left. Penelope was sad about Parker but in her eyes, there wasn't much she could do but she really wanted to find out what was going on and why Parker had suddenly started acting strange.
Her thoughts were set back for a minute when somebody came knocking on the door and she answered it to see a man with short brown hair and a beard,.
"Is the butler position still going?" he asked her.
"Oh yes come in" answered Penelope leading him into the library where he sat down in the chair opposite her. "Now firstly" she said "Have you ever worked as a butler before?"
"Oh yes I worked with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, here is my reference" he said producing a piece of paper, Penelope read it carefully.
"Arthur Spode, imaginative name" she commented and she continued to ask him questions on butler related things and watched him bring in the tea, drive FAB 1 through the nearby village and showing him only the minor features of the car. She also tested his skills of answering the door and his fighting and gun skills. She was very impressed and thought she couldn't have found a better catch.
"Well your the best person asking for the job that I have seen today so I'm going to give you the job" she said, Arthur looked confused "You're Hired!" she said slowly and carefully for him to understand.
"Oh thank you, thank you, I will not disappoint you" he said and they both stood up.
"Yes I'm sure you wont" she answered "Right you're uniform is waiting in your bedroom, you will live here and drive FAB 1, I've told you what you're duties are so get to it Park.... I mean Spode" she said firmly.
"Oh ehh yes Madam" he said and Penelope walked out leaving him in the room. Slowly he grabbed his face and pulled it off to reveal a mask and Lady Penelope's new butler was none other than the Hood.
Chapter 3 - Calling Hinternational Rescue
John was having a cup of coffee in Thunderbird 5 when suddenly there was a flashing over at the radio
"Calling International Rescue, Calling International Rescue, come in please!" the voice said. John recognised it as a female cockney voice.
"Go ahead this is International Rescue, receiving you" said John.
"I need elp, we're trapped under a plane at London Airport, please elp us, me and me boyfriend" she said.
"Okay we will get help to you as quickly as possible" said John.
On Tracy Island, John's portrait flashed and Scott activated the speaker.
"Gordon go get Dad, he is in the kitchen" he said, Gordon was heading to the kitchen when he saw Jeff.
"Father its the..." he said.
"Yes I know the emergency signal come on there is not a moment to lose" he said rushing to the lounge, Scott stopped talking to John.
"Dad, two people are trapped under the wheels of a jet at London Airport and they could be crushed at any moment" he said.
"Right Scott take off for London" he said and with that Scott rotated against the wall to Thunderbird 1 Silo. Virgil walked into the lounge.
"Ah Virgil good, stay here I may need you" he said, he looked out the window to see the pool slide back and Thunderbird 1 blast into sky, Scott's eyes flashed on his portrait "Go ahead Scott" said Jeff.
"I am flying to the danger zone will be at London Airport in about forty five minutes Father, also if these people are under the wheels I recommend Thunderbird 2 with Pod 5, the Firefly and the Recovery Vehicles to pull the plane away, and also tell Virgil to take Alan and Gordon with him" he said.
"Okay that can be organised, Virgil take off for London Airport, Pod 5, Alan and Gordon take the passenger elevator" he said ushering his sons when Brains walked in.
"Ah Brains what do you make of this?" he asked him referring to the assignment.
"Well Mr Tracy, I'm p..p..puzzled since how d..d..did these people g..g..get under the w..w..wheels in the f..f..first place?" he asked.
"Well we don't know but we soon will Brains" said Jeff as Thunderbird 2 took off into the skies.
Thunderbird 1 arrived at the danger zone waiting for Thunderbird 2 and soon Scott went to find the people, returning quite soon.
"Ah Virg, Alan, Gordon, come and take a look at this" he said and they all went to the wheels of a jet where a woman and a man were waiting.
"Ah gentlemen hi was beginning to fink you would never come to find hus" he said.
"Parker!" exclaimed Alan.
"Parker what are you.." asked Virgil.
"Quick we aven't got much time" he said "The reason hi ave been hacting strangely is because hi fell hin love with er" he said pointing to the woman "Er name his Sam, M'lady caught me bidding er farewell hat Olloway prison, hand so did hanother gentleman, e hengineered that breakout hand got Sam has ostage, e told me hi must quit my job so hi started to hact strange so M'lady might be hable to guess hand figure it hout, the breakout startled me causing me to crash the Rolls Royce, hand hi wasn't there when she needed me because e told me to meet im at Lover's Retreat" he finished.
So it was all a trap by the Hood, he had taken Parker's girlfriend hostage after a breakout and made him get sacked.
"Penelope is in danger" thought Gordon and soon they all got back into their craft. At the mansion, Jeff called Penelope to warn her, she was just about to answer when the doors opened and the Hood came in. His eyes flashed and Penelope fell to the floor.
Chapter 4 - Penelope in Danger
Thunderbirds 1 and 2 rushed to Creighton Ward Mansion, where the Hood had picked up Penelope and secured her in the seat of FAB 1 with the restraints. The Hood put on his disguise.
"Now Lady Penelope the end has come!" he said and drove off down the road at top speed. In Thunderbird 1, Scott registered FAB 1 moving away from the mansion.
"Right, I will pursue FAB 1 and Virgil head to the mansion and investigate. Thunderbird 2 landed at the mansion and Alan, Virgil and Gordon all made a search of the mansion.
"Negative Scott, she isn't here" said Virgil.
"We're coming to follow" said Alan.
"F.A.B" said Scott "I should sight FAB 1 soon".
Lady Penelope started to wake up and she asked, "Where am I?" and the Hood turned around.
"You are in your car but you won't be for long as we are heading for the white cliffs of Dover where I shall force you out the car and throw you off the cliff to your death, that will be revenge for the plans of mine you and International Rescue foiled" he said and laughed, then Thunderbird 1 flew over FAB 1 just as the Hood rammed a gate and went through a field, Thunderbird 1 flew directly over the car and inside Penelope pressed the emergency button which gave the Hood a massive electric shock forcing his foot on the accelerator.
Scott looked down "Virgil, the driver is shocked and the car won't stop and I'm going to use the winch" he said.
"F.A.B" replied Virgil. Thunderbird 1 lowered the machine gun and started shooting the canopy and Penelope managed to get it open but was still restrained. The winch which held a stand similar to that of Thunderbird 2 which held a person was lowered and Parker was holding on tight.
"Now remember Parker, get Penelope out and watch out for her arm when you shoot the restraints" said Scott over the radio. Parker was lowered just above the canopy and Parker took good aim shooting the restraints on her arm and she was free just as the Hood started to wake up.
The winch started and raised Parker up and he pressed a button which shot a wire down "Old hon M'lady" said Parker and Penelope grabbed on just as the Hood grabbed her leg, she kicked him and he fell onto the dashboard and Parker reeled her in and Scott raised the winch into Thunderbird 1.
"Why Parker, you are a sight for sore eyes" she said "Now perhaps you can explain what was with all the odd behaviour?" she asked and so Parker explained but was stopped in midspeech when the Hood screeched the brakes on FAB 1 and stopped just in time and just before the cliff edge, he got out waving his fist as Thunderbird 2 arrived and he escaped.
"Damn, we lost him" said Scott as Penelope and Parker were sitting in the cockpit, Parker had explained to Penelope about the strange behaviour trying to act as a message.
"Well Parker, I must thank you for saving my life and I am quite alright with what happened, it is forgotten" she said.
"Well thank you M'lady" he said happily.
"Also there is just one thing I want to say" she said to him.
"Ho hand what his that then M'lady?" he asked.
"Would you like to come back to work for me?" she asked.
"Hi would be delighted" he said and so Penelope and Parker were reunited again and Thunderbird 1 dropped them off at the car. Parker took hold of the wheel again.
"Ome M'lady?" he asked.
"Home Parker" answered Penelope.
The End