I don't own Thunderbirds nor do I plan on making money off this. But its
here for everyone to read and review. Also all reviews are more than
welcome. This is my first R&R. Hope you enjoy it.
Dazed and Confussed
Prologe
It all started three years ago before International Rescue was formed, before a communications space station was built, otherwise known as Thunderbird 5 or any of the Thunderbirds crafts existed. The construction into International Rescue and Tracey Island was only into a few months of plans. A transport shuttle named the Galactic was leaving earth, which normally makes a lift off once or twice a month was on its way. But instead, the Galactic was being pushed to its structural limits, with a lift off and a landing daily. An unknown billionaire who was interested in forming research, which in fact was far from the truth, hired the shuttle company. With two members staffing the shuttle, a strong lightly brown headed with a license to pilot, Jason Winshime, a three-year employee of the company and then a blonde astronomer and astronaut, John Tracy, who was only into his first few weeks with the company, where on their way.
In 2064 the shuttle made its daily departure, with everything running soother than before. Just leaving the earth's outer atmosphere only encountering a few rips of turbulence and heat barriers. Then entering into the splendid view of the moon looking like solid glass ball with such a marvelous glow staring back at them. While John Tracy was punching the coordinates into the numerous amount controls as he thought god how I will never get tried of seeing that sight!
Then staring at the moon as if it was his very first time to see it, "The post lunch check list is complete" as John told Jason so many times before. . "That's good" as Jason replied to John looking at the controls. "Then we should have no complications this time around. Knock on wood. Should we head off to the normal spot?" and looked over at John.
"Sounds very good to me Jason, hopefully we can get back by dinner, I'm so wanting some of my grandmothers cooking." as he smiled knowing what the days worth of work was ahead of them.
Which the spot of that location which was their destination, Jason Winshime had no ideal of what was going to be formed, who thought it was just one big satellite for research, is the site of Thunderbird 5 the space station. In order for no one to find out about their plans, John went from company to company as different phases were being completed until the Thunderbird 3 was willing and able for space flight as it was in construction on Tracy island.
A few hours later with everything was running smoothly like before just heading on their way to their destination for work for the day to be completed. Instead they ran into a problem. The shuttle have seemed to be getting slower and slower.
"Hey John! Does it seem like we are loosing speed?" As Jason was looking outside and then glanced down at the controls wondering if they where loosing speed.
"The controls say that we are experiencing a problem with one of the engines. We are loosing speed fast. In a few moments we be at a stand still. I'll go and check it out to see what's wrong. You stay here and see what you can find out from up here."
John unbuckled his safety hardness and lifted it above his head. As he passed by Jason giving Jason a hand on the shoulder, to stabilize him from the difference of non-gravity, headed towards the air lock. Reaching for the palm print scanner, he opened the air lock hatch to get back into the rest of the shuttle. As he opened the air lock feeling cold, stale air come towards him and proceeded to enter into the equipment bay with all the tools and supply to build a piece of Thunderbird 5. And then John after a few short moments of him grabbing his instruments tools to help find the problem had reached the hatch leading into the engine bay. John raised his hand again and entered another air hatch entering into the engine bay. With having a minor in engineering, John looked at the engines. On the shuttle had two engines. The first one he looked at was working fine. And then the other one of the two was not working for some reason. John went to inspect it some more.
"Shit!!"
He noticed that the plasma coil on the number two engine was not working properly. As john said to himself, this was not going to be easy; we do not even have another replacement part on board either. Only if there was someway of bypassing the coil for the engine to work plus if we do not dock with the spot where we were suppose to end up at, well will run out of oxygen in a few hours. This is not good.
"Aww.Jason?"
"Did you find out what's wrong John? Nothing has changed up here" in a puzzlement tone of voice.
"You are not going to like this Jason. The number 2 engine plasma coil has gone bad. Its going to need to be replaced since it is required for the engine to run warm, not hot or not to cold to keep the engine from freezing. I am thinking that there might be way for me to bypass it but it will do damage to the engine. And its not like that there a spare coil stored away somewhere around here. And its not like we will make any progress with one engine."
"Can you make that at any more easy John?" Jason said sarcastically. "Can you fix it John?"
"Ha ha funny. Remind me to laugh next time. I don't see you down here trying to fix it. Oh yeah I forgot to mention this one little tiny thing. What about our oxygen supply? I think we don't have too much left, just a few hours worth. I'm going to try to fix it but its no grantee on what I can do with it."
"That takes up the stakes a bit more. Any bad news you wish to add? I'm currently doing the calculations for the oxygen supply so just hang on a sec." Jason started plugging in numbers of approximately how long John would take to repair the problems and how much oxygen would be used and if they would have enough time to dock with the space station or another shuttle for another supply of oxygen. The calculations were entered. It turned out not so good. Jason face turned troublesome. "The amount of oxygen that we have would only hold out for another four hours. More for you down in the engine bay since the oxygen hasn't been turned on for so long but it will run out up here at the cockpit at approximately four hours. But the next problem is if another shuttle fly by us we will not have enough oxygen to last us to get to the next available source of oxygen."
John's face grew more worried. Only if I had another replacement coil, he could get it installed now and very quickly. So that way we can try running into another shuttle least to get another supply of oxygen. I wonder if there is even a shuttle coming up from earth to take a tour of the space station. "Do you know if there is another shuttle coming up here today?" He asked Jason worried about the outcome of the situation.
"I asked the ground control. There said none are schedule for today but they are aware of our situation. They are trying to arrange a shuttle to leave as soon as possible to send us a supply of oxygen canisters. But more than likely they are not going to make it in time."
A astronaut who was on her way to the space station, regretting going due to she would be the only female on the space station with 4 other males who have been alone for 5 months now with occasional visits from her to do repairs on the space station. Expecting their sexual sarcasm towards her. Treating her if she was a prize to win. Something broke her of her thought while she was on her way; something caught the corner of her eye and got her attention. She thought to herself what the hell was that out there! Looking down at her read out from the probe that she sent out. Its defecting metal alloy, its hard getting a read on it, but it seems like to her that was a space ship. That didn't look like a normal star to me. I'll better go check it out. What else better I got to do? Meet a group of lonely men waiting for my arrival as if I was a princess. She changed her course to go towards the abnormal star.
"NASA sent out none outer shuttle beyond the Galactic Shuttle Company for some research. It might be them"
She typed in the coordinates to direct her communications to the Galactic.
"This is NASA Primer calling out to the Galactic. Please respond."
There was nothing but emptiness. Again she opened the communications link to the Galactic.
"This is NASA Primer calling out to the Galactic. Your shuttle appears in need of repairs; I'm coming in for further assistance. Keeping communications open."
She boosted her engines up another level of speed. With in no time she has getting closer and closer to the shuttle.
"I was right!" As her eyes grew bigger. "That is the Galactic. They might be at short range of communications."
The Galactic was getting bigger and bigger by the minute. As soon as she was able into range of short distance communications, the Galactic sent out a communications signal to her ship.
Jason reached over to John side of the controls and punched in the coordinates best as possible to reach the Primer. Hoping that their would be a response so that way they would hurry up and get that supply of oxygen as the levels where getting lower and lower with every breath that they take in. Then trying not to look back at the oxygen gage to see how much oxygen was left. Each time he looked at the gage he would be able to calculate that amount of time they had before they would die of suffocation. Thus causing an uneasy felling like this was the end for him and John. Not trying to look at the gage gave him the chance to make his mind ponder about other things, which didn't help too much because his mind start wondering what it would feel like running out with any oxygen to breath, and what if there was another oxygen tank on board. Then the paranoia would start setting in due to he starting thinking what if the carbon dioxide levels where higher than normal thus making the remain oxygen run out sooner than they thought. Jason had to check it out. Making himself look at the oxygen gage that was right next to the carbon dioxide gage right next to it.
"Hey John how are things going back there?"
Getting up from his hands and knees John wiped off the sweet pour from his forehead.
"It's coming along but not as I like it to, it's harder than what you may think. If I clip the wrong wires we can loose complete power to the shuttle, or the engines will not start up when they are suppose too, or we can loose all communications together. I have to test the wire first just to make sure I got the right one instead of making a mistake. So I can try rewiring the coil."
"Well just hurry up.I am getting more paranoid up here by the second."
Then Jason opened the communications link.
"This is the Galactic Shuttle Company calling out to the NASA Primer. We are experiencing some technical difficulties. Please come in."
Jumping up from her position because of the difference of volume of the humming engines to a voice. She entered into her shuttle that she has received the communications for the Galactic.
"This is the Primer responding to the Galactic Shuttle Company. I have noticed that you are having problems. Do need any assistance?"
"We have figured out the problem and we are currently trying to fix it. But both of us are not too familiar with the engine since once of the coils have gone off line. We don't have another coil to replace the bad one. Allow me to get John to tell you what we are having to do."
"Hey John!"
Hitting his head against the panel from the sound of excitement coming from Jason, which he hasn't heard from him in a few hours.
"Owww!" while rubbing his head from the brief pain, "I am currently busy. If you got some good news then give it to me." Not knowing that they were in contact with another shuttle there to help them out.
"Well I am currently in contact with another shuttle who is willing to help us out. I need you to tell her about what you are trying to do."
"Oh okay that is good news to hear. Patch me through."
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes I can hear you. What is the main problem of your situation?"
"Hi there. My name is John Tracy. As Jason told you before that one of the coils to the engine has gone bad. It needs replacement, but we don't have a replacement. I thought there would be another way to rewire the coil to make it work. But it's taking longer than I thought it would be."
"Well you have the right ideal in mind. May I come aboard? Who is your communications expert on board?"
"Yes you may come aboard. I am the main communications expert on board. What do you have in mind?"
"Well what I am going to do is rewire like you had in mind to the working coil on the other engine, but I am going to need both of you guys up there in the pit. I need to try your best to keep comms open while I need your other guy to help out to up there. It would go a lot faster with the help. So I need you to move up there right now. I am making range to dock my ship with yours."
While she spoke she was punching in the control to make an automatic docking which was very easy since it wasn't her first time to dock with another shuttle. The computer activated and said "Automatic docking was locked and ready.counting down the last phase of procedure in 20 sec. With 5 second delay."
She unlocked her seat belt and headed towards the docking doors, while on the way she grab her tool belt that she knew she was going to need. Even though the shuttle does have their own tools to make the repair but since she was also a scientist, she made own tools a few years ago that cuts down her time down to half, which are still advance for the current times. She reached the air lock, which was connecting her with the Galactic. The computer was still counting down until the docking procedure was complete.
"18.............."
"17.................."
She just stared at the air lock wondering if this was going to be hard or not. She double-checked her belt. Making sure that she needed everything that she was going to need. The computer was till counting down.
"7..................."
And then she thought to herself, I wonder if they have enough oxygen since it was a short-range shuttle not made for long-range flights. He would have told me if they had oxygen problems.I guess not. Anyways their oxygen problem would have been more important than their engine problems.
"3......................"
"1........................"
"The docking procedure is now complete. Oxygen levels are at 100% in the docking terminal. Engines are now at standby. You are now able to enter the other shuttle." As the computer completed its programming.
The stainless doors on the Pioneer opened. She raised her foot a foot to get over the first step in to the terminal. Her foot echoed as it touched the ground. Allowing a huge clunk on the ground. Giving it a hollow sound. Following thought with her actions, her foot touched the terminal setting right next to the other one. She stood up straight. The Pioneer closed its door behind her. She looked to her side seeing the planet earth so clear through the translucent terminal. And then the Galactic's doors opened up. She proceeded to walk through, hearing every step she took. A clunk made by her foot was followed by another clunk, and another until she raised her foot like she did when she left the Pioneer.
She got out her palm pilot from her tool belt and started down loading the Galactic's designs plans. As soon as she was through the air lock, the cockpit was on her right and the way to the engine bay was towards her left. She turned left. Just as she turned left, John looked back to get a glimpse of her but misted her as she turned. He only caught was long beautiful shinny blonde hair.
"Hey John, are you there?"
"Yeah I'm here."
"Okay what I need you to do is to adjust the current working coil down to 30 degrees below its normal temperature and take it offline for right now and turn it back on every two minutes, since they engine will be turn on and off also I need Jason to keep it steady as possible."
John and Jason looked back at each other a worried face, since they both new that the warning label on the coils were both keep at 5 degrees around its normal and it would work but this time it had a chance of exploding since its plasma.
"Aww..." saying it with hesitation "But wouldn't the coil explode due to the major difference in temperature?"
She entered into the engine bay and looked at the current working engine and got out her clippers and clipped all the wires off. Then she separated them by color and left them alone was she went to go work on the other one.
While walking towards the other engine she replied. "What I am doing to the other engine it will not cause it to explode. Don't worry. Trust me. I'll explain it later. Right now I just need to get that coil offline and get these wires shorted. Okay?"
"I am turning off the engine now."
She kneed down and got on her back and slid underneath the plasma coil, which wasn't working. She sighed to her self. As noticed this wasn't going to be easy at all. All the wires got over heated since it looks like the coil's temperature plate gave out thus causing the coil to burn up along with everything else around it. The wires were melted into a big ball of a wire.
This is going to take sometime. I don't have any wires on my shuttle. I think I noticed some as I walking back here to the bay. I've got to hurry and get this wired up, other wise yes the coil would explode since its not being kept at its temperature.
"John, I noticed that you had some wires back there in the storage bay. Do they support electric current conductivity because the wires need replacement?"
"Sure take as much as you want from the pile of wires. I got more than enough. Do you need any help? I'll be more than willing to."
"I am fine right now. I just need you to keep turning the coil on and off."
John just couldn't stand the thought of someone who was doing the work while he was told to sit on his ass. He started to get more frigidly. Starting to shake is knee. He wanted to help. But then he said to himself, I got to let this feeling go. My brothers are going to be in the same situation but there would be nothing I'll be able to do for them while I am up in Thunderbird 5 for a month at a time. Dam it, this is now and that's then. I can easy set up the computer to turn the engines to turn on and off every two minutes.
He started punching in the instructions to the computer. Jason turned to look to at what he's doing. He looked at him with a face.
"What do you plan on doing? She told you to stay up here."
"I know, I know. But I can't stand the thought of us sitting here while she does all the work. I think two heads are better than one. And more heads we got back there, the faster we can get out of there. Plus I can program the computer to turn them on and off for me."
"I guess your right."
As soon as he started hearing footsteps enter the storage bay, John unbuckled his safety belt and head back there. He was rushing to get back there. He entered into the bay looked towards his right and just froze and stared. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Only thing he could think was what beauty.
Seeing the long strawberry blonde hair with the slight curls on the ends of her hair. Her skin was white as snow as if she has never been touched by daylight. She was shuffling through the box of wires making sure she got the right ones that would work or seeing if there was a better kind in there.
She stood up after she reached the found the right kind of wire that she was going to need. She was wearing an official NASA uniform, a skintight long sleeve white overall with a zipper on the back with the NASA patch on her right arm with her rank on the front, including her white boots which were 2 inch heels making her look slimmer. She turned around and was startled. She had noticed someone looking at her.
John jumped back when he saw her turning back towards him. Which he wasn't expecting at all. She saw him just standing there. For some weird reason, all of a sudden he had butterflies in his stomach, which felt like the bottomless hole filled with them. Then he went dumb when she smiled at him. He couldn't help it. Her smile put John in a puppy daze trance. Not knowing what to say. He has never seen a smile like that before, from someone who was so beautiful to even have at his side. Normally Scott usually got all the good ones while he was just left with bones to pick through. Finally able to shake loose from the hypnotic spell was able to come through and smile back at her.
"Hi! Can I help you?" With a smile on her face from one end to the other.
"Aguu....Aww, Hi, I thought you would like some help. I thought with two people with two different minds would be able to speed up the process. Plus, I just couldn't stand being up there while you were doing all the work."
"Well since you put things that way. And you can't stand still while I do all the work, you may come along to help. May I ask who are you anyways? Jason or John?"
"Oh! I am sorry.. My name is John Tracy."
"Nice meeting you. Now since we got that over with, can we now move into the engine bay or are we going to stand around here all day and try to get a Luna tan?" Joking around with the reflection of the moons light coming through the window. Relecting of the shine off her hair.
John just smiled at her remark. He proceeded to go back into the engine bay allow her to go first since he was a gentleman and all. He had learned that from the best! His brother, Scott; when he was going through his years in high school was teaching him how to sway all the girls off their feet thus getting the chance to practice on the post high school girls. But no one was better than Scott.
Now being in the engine bay. She got on her knees and lay down while she told which wire that John was to cut using the replacement wires and to what length. Along sorting out the different color marked wires.
She cut off all the old wires and proceeded to install the replacement ones.
"So what can I help you with?"
"Well, .............I need a red wire to be cut at a length of 2 feet, and then I would need a blue wire to be cut 2 ½ inches. And I need four sets of those." And so forth until it was complete. This speed the process tremendously.
Which by this time both John and Jason both forgot the oxygen levels dropping which they only had less than 30 minutes of air left in the cockpit while in the engine bay had an hour to go before all three of them would suffocate to death.
"What are you planning on doing?"
"What I am doing is cooling the working coil down below its normal temperature and going to be connecting two engines up with one coil."
"Oh I see what you are doing. Thus the working coil would not explode since it is right at its normal temperature taking the heat from the other engine. I am sure glad that you came along because all of us would be dead meat by now."
"And after I get done with this last wire, you should be able to move. That if nothing else has gone wrong. And now I am done!"
"Boy you made that look easy. It would have taken me days to fix it." Ramling like if he was a school boy about absolutly nothing.
"Don't worry its was I do all the time for NASA since I am one of their repair and maintenance technicians. Since I don't like to be left up in space with a group of males for long time of periods, I prefer to go home after I get done what I am doing. Don't get me wrong. I love space. Just can't stand males who make sexual suggestions towards me or atleast a for long time periods such as months at a time."
"Oh I would understand how that could be. Not a fun situation."
"Yeah tell me about it. Are you ready to fire up the engines?"
"Jason you can turn on the engines now. Jason?"
"Jason are you there?"
"Jason???"
He heard a slight mumbled in the background.
The computer came on to warn John.
"Jason has become unconscious."
John gasped. "Oh no! The oxygen!"
"What about the oxygen?"
"We were low on supply, did Jason tell you?"
"NO he didn't!"
John's heart sank. "What about Jason?"
"Follow me!"
"Where are we going?"
"To my ship!"
Both of them running hurriedly running back towards the air dock trying to get to the Pioneer, John wondered what they were going to do. All he wanted to go do was save his friend Jason.
They finally reached the air dock. "We need to get the extra container of oxygen off my shuttle on to yours!"
The air dock doors opened up and they both ran through the clear terminal. Then the Pioneers doors opened up. She turned left as followed by John. She went over to a storage container.
"Grab two while I'll grab two of the canisters and then go back!" as she ordered away.
They hurried back to the Galactic. They both ran over to where the oxygen canisters are storied. She plugged hers in followed by John. She ran to go up to the cockpit. The doors weren't opening until the supply oxygen was enough for the doors to reopen. This only took a few seconds for the air in the cockpit to be restored.
She ran in to grab Jason. First she felt to see if he even had a pulse. He felt extremely cold. He looked blue and lifeless. She reached over to unbuckle him from this hardness. John came over to help to lift him up and over his seat.
"This doesn't look good!"
"Jason, don't you dare go on me! I still need a pilot to get me back home! We are here for you."
They both laid him on the ground. They both knelled down to start S.P.R. She put her hand behind Jason's neck to open the airway. Then she opened his mouth. And she put her two fingers in his mouth to check if his tongue was blocking the airway. Which it the air flow wasn't not blocked.
She glanced up at John who was ready to pump the lungs.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
She pinched his nose and breathed into him. Watching his chest rise as she did it. Then listened for a returned air. She did this twice more until John started pumping his chest trying to get him to breath.
"1!"
"2!"
"3!"
"Again!" As John ordered her to do as he was in a panic.
She did it again. Breathing in Jason for a source of air. Trying not to get him brain dead in order to respond and then listened. No response.
"Dam it! Jason!"
Pushing harder on to his diaphragm.
"1! Come on!"
"2!"
And then a sudden burst of air intake and Jason chest rose.
"Aww, man! I thought I lost you there for a moment! You're going to be okay!"
With hoarseness in his throat, "Thanks man, I owe you one!"
"You sure do." Joking around with him.
And then she got up and told John, "I think he is going to be okay. I got to get going now. Well see you guys later if you're ever back in space again."
She walked away towards the dock doors.
"I see that you like her, why dont you go after her?"
"I don't know if i should or not. What if she dont like me back and I make a fool of myself trying to ask her out. All I could do while she was here was ramble about nothing."
"Go John! Go!"
"Go get her!" Smiling on his face with that he finally found someone who he actually can have.
John ran after her.
She was entering the airlock when John meets up with her.
"Hey, before you go what's your name?"
"Oh yeah...I never told you it! Sorry. I didn't mean to. It just got busy. My name is Audra Lu De Knox. You can call me Audra."
John let his hand forward in order for her to shake is hand. And she grabbed it in order to shake it. "Well you better get back to earth before anything else does go wrong." And she smiled back at him. Both of them shaked their hands and didn't want to let go. As she had to go, John held on until the plam slipped away until her finger tips left his.
Trying to muster up the will to ask her out but he couldn't. All he was able to think of was "Thanks for your help."
As she was leaving she told him, "If ever need to talk to a friend, I'm always on communications link #2676625.9. Then she turned back at him and winked at John as she left the air hatch to go into the terminal. Thus, causing a very very good friendship with John Tracy. Thus, causing the friendship to have a monthly get together to have visits to her. After a year of their meeting each other, International Rescue proceed with its first day of operations. As their friendship grows on.
(Chapter 2 coming soon, more improvemnt with Scott, Virgil, Alan, esp John.)
Dazed and Confussed
Prologe
It all started three years ago before International Rescue was formed, before a communications space station was built, otherwise known as Thunderbird 5 or any of the Thunderbirds crafts existed. The construction into International Rescue and Tracey Island was only into a few months of plans. A transport shuttle named the Galactic was leaving earth, which normally makes a lift off once or twice a month was on its way. But instead, the Galactic was being pushed to its structural limits, with a lift off and a landing daily. An unknown billionaire who was interested in forming research, which in fact was far from the truth, hired the shuttle company. With two members staffing the shuttle, a strong lightly brown headed with a license to pilot, Jason Winshime, a three-year employee of the company and then a blonde astronomer and astronaut, John Tracy, who was only into his first few weeks with the company, where on their way.
In 2064 the shuttle made its daily departure, with everything running soother than before. Just leaving the earth's outer atmosphere only encountering a few rips of turbulence and heat barriers. Then entering into the splendid view of the moon looking like solid glass ball with such a marvelous glow staring back at them. While John Tracy was punching the coordinates into the numerous amount controls as he thought god how I will never get tried of seeing that sight!
Then staring at the moon as if it was his very first time to see it, "The post lunch check list is complete" as John told Jason so many times before. . "That's good" as Jason replied to John looking at the controls. "Then we should have no complications this time around. Knock on wood. Should we head off to the normal spot?" and looked over at John.
"Sounds very good to me Jason, hopefully we can get back by dinner, I'm so wanting some of my grandmothers cooking." as he smiled knowing what the days worth of work was ahead of them.
Which the spot of that location which was their destination, Jason Winshime had no ideal of what was going to be formed, who thought it was just one big satellite for research, is the site of Thunderbird 5 the space station. In order for no one to find out about their plans, John went from company to company as different phases were being completed until the Thunderbird 3 was willing and able for space flight as it was in construction on Tracy island.
A few hours later with everything was running smoothly like before just heading on their way to their destination for work for the day to be completed. Instead they ran into a problem. The shuttle have seemed to be getting slower and slower.
"Hey John! Does it seem like we are loosing speed?" As Jason was looking outside and then glanced down at the controls wondering if they where loosing speed.
"The controls say that we are experiencing a problem with one of the engines. We are loosing speed fast. In a few moments we be at a stand still. I'll go and check it out to see what's wrong. You stay here and see what you can find out from up here."
John unbuckled his safety hardness and lifted it above his head. As he passed by Jason giving Jason a hand on the shoulder, to stabilize him from the difference of non-gravity, headed towards the air lock. Reaching for the palm print scanner, he opened the air lock hatch to get back into the rest of the shuttle. As he opened the air lock feeling cold, stale air come towards him and proceeded to enter into the equipment bay with all the tools and supply to build a piece of Thunderbird 5. And then John after a few short moments of him grabbing his instruments tools to help find the problem had reached the hatch leading into the engine bay. John raised his hand again and entered another air hatch entering into the engine bay. With having a minor in engineering, John looked at the engines. On the shuttle had two engines. The first one he looked at was working fine. And then the other one of the two was not working for some reason. John went to inspect it some more.
"Shit!!"
He noticed that the plasma coil on the number two engine was not working properly. As john said to himself, this was not going to be easy; we do not even have another replacement part on board either. Only if there was someway of bypassing the coil for the engine to work plus if we do not dock with the spot where we were suppose to end up at, well will run out of oxygen in a few hours. This is not good.
"Aww.Jason?"
"Did you find out what's wrong John? Nothing has changed up here" in a puzzlement tone of voice.
"You are not going to like this Jason. The number 2 engine plasma coil has gone bad. Its going to need to be replaced since it is required for the engine to run warm, not hot or not to cold to keep the engine from freezing. I am thinking that there might be way for me to bypass it but it will do damage to the engine. And its not like that there a spare coil stored away somewhere around here. And its not like we will make any progress with one engine."
"Can you make that at any more easy John?" Jason said sarcastically. "Can you fix it John?"
"Ha ha funny. Remind me to laugh next time. I don't see you down here trying to fix it. Oh yeah I forgot to mention this one little tiny thing. What about our oxygen supply? I think we don't have too much left, just a few hours worth. I'm going to try to fix it but its no grantee on what I can do with it."
"That takes up the stakes a bit more. Any bad news you wish to add? I'm currently doing the calculations for the oxygen supply so just hang on a sec." Jason started plugging in numbers of approximately how long John would take to repair the problems and how much oxygen would be used and if they would have enough time to dock with the space station or another shuttle for another supply of oxygen. The calculations were entered. It turned out not so good. Jason face turned troublesome. "The amount of oxygen that we have would only hold out for another four hours. More for you down in the engine bay since the oxygen hasn't been turned on for so long but it will run out up here at the cockpit at approximately four hours. But the next problem is if another shuttle fly by us we will not have enough oxygen to last us to get to the next available source of oxygen."
John's face grew more worried. Only if I had another replacement coil, he could get it installed now and very quickly. So that way we can try running into another shuttle least to get another supply of oxygen. I wonder if there is even a shuttle coming up from earth to take a tour of the space station. "Do you know if there is another shuttle coming up here today?" He asked Jason worried about the outcome of the situation.
"I asked the ground control. There said none are schedule for today but they are aware of our situation. They are trying to arrange a shuttle to leave as soon as possible to send us a supply of oxygen canisters. But more than likely they are not going to make it in time."
A astronaut who was on her way to the space station, regretting going due to she would be the only female on the space station with 4 other males who have been alone for 5 months now with occasional visits from her to do repairs on the space station. Expecting their sexual sarcasm towards her. Treating her if she was a prize to win. Something broke her of her thought while she was on her way; something caught the corner of her eye and got her attention. She thought to herself what the hell was that out there! Looking down at her read out from the probe that she sent out. Its defecting metal alloy, its hard getting a read on it, but it seems like to her that was a space ship. That didn't look like a normal star to me. I'll better go check it out. What else better I got to do? Meet a group of lonely men waiting for my arrival as if I was a princess. She changed her course to go towards the abnormal star.
"NASA sent out none outer shuttle beyond the Galactic Shuttle Company for some research. It might be them"
She typed in the coordinates to direct her communications to the Galactic.
"This is NASA Primer calling out to the Galactic. Please respond."
There was nothing but emptiness. Again she opened the communications link to the Galactic.
"This is NASA Primer calling out to the Galactic. Your shuttle appears in need of repairs; I'm coming in for further assistance. Keeping communications open."
She boosted her engines up another level of speed. With in no time she has getting closer and closer to the shuttle.
"I was right!" As her eyes grew bigger. "That is the Galactic. They might be at short range of communications."
The Galactic was getting bigger and bigger by the minute. As soon as she was able into range of short distance communications, the Galactic sent out a communications signal to her ship.
Jason reached over to John side of the controls and punched in the coordinates best as possible to reach the Primer. Hoping that their would be a response so that way they would hurry up and get that supply of oxygen as the levels where getting lower and lower with every breath that they take in. Then trying not to look back at the oxygen gage to see how much oxygen was left. Each time he looked at the gage he would be able to calculate that amount of time they had before they would die of suffocation. Thus causing an uneasy felling like this was the end for him and John. Not trying to look at the gage gave him the chance to make his mind ponder about other things, which didn't help too much because his mind start wondering what it would feel like running out with any oxygen to breath, and what if there was another oxygen tank on board. Then the paranoia would start setting in due to he starting thinking what if the carbon dioxide levels where higher than normal thus making the remain oxygen run out sooner than they thought. Jason had to check it out. Making himself look at the oxygen gage that was right next to the carbon dioxide gage right next to it.
"Hey John how are things going back there?"
Getting up from his hands and knees John wiped off the sweet pour from his forehead.
"It's coming along but not as I like it to, it's harder than what you may think. If I clip the wrong wires we can loose complete power to the shuttle, or the engines will not start up when they are suppose too, or we can loose all communications together. I have to test the wire first just to make sure I got the right one instead of making a mistake. So I can try rewiring the coil."
"Well just hurry up.I am getting more paranoid up here by the second."
Then Jason opened the communications link.
"This is the Galactic Shuttle Company calling out to the NASA Primer. We are experiencing some technical difficulties. Please come in."
Jumping up from her position because of the difference of volume of the humming engines to a voice. She entered into her shuttle that she has received the communications for the Galactic.
"This is the Primer responding to the Galactic Shuttle Company. I have noticed that you are having problems. Do need any assistance?"
"We have figured out the problem and we are currently trying to fix it. But both of us are not too familiar with the engine since once of the coils have gone off line. We don't have another coil to replace the bad one. Allow me to get John to tell you what we are having to do."
"Hey John!"
Hitting his head against the panel from the sound of excitement coming from Jason, which he hasn't heard from him in a few hours.
"Owww!" while rubbing his head from the brief pain, "I am currently busy. If you got some good news then give it to me." Not knowing that they were in contact with another shuttle there to help them out.
"Well I am currently in contact with another shuttle who is willing to help us out. I need you to tell her about what you are trying to do."
"Oh okay that is good news to hear. Patch me through."
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes I can hear you. What is the main problem of your situation?"
"Hi there. My name is John Tracy. As Jason told you before that one of the coils to the engine has gone bad. It needs replacement, but we don't have a replacement. I thought there would be another way to rewire the coil to make it work. But it's taking longer than I thought it would be."
"Well you have the right ideal in mind. May I come aboard? Who is your communications expert on board?"
"Yes you may come aboard. I am the main communications expert on board. What do you have in mind?"
"Well what I am going to do is rewire like you had in mind to the working coil on the other engine, but I am going to need both of you guys up there in the pit. I need to try your best to keep comms open while I need your other guy to help out to up there. It would go a lot faster with the help. So I need you to move up there right now. I am making range to dock my ship with yours."
While she spoke she was punching in the control to make an automatic docking which was very easy since it wasn't her first time to dock with another shuttle. The computer activated and said "Automatic docking was locked and ready.counting down the last phase of procedure in 20 sec. With 5 second delay."
She unlocked her seat belt and headed towards the docking doors, while on the way she grab her tool belt that she knew she was going to need. Even though the shuttle does have their own tools to make the repair but since she was also a scientist, she made own tools a few years ago that cuts down her time down to half, which are still advance for the current times. She reached the air lock, which was connecting her with the Galactic. The computer was still counting down until the docking procedure was complete.
"18.............."
"17.................."
She just stared at the air lock wondering if this was going to be hard or not. She double-checked her belt. Making sure that she needed everything that she was going to need. The computer was till counting down.
"7..................."
And then she thought to herself, I wonder if they have enough oxygen since it was a short-range shuttle not made for long-range flights. He would have told me if they had oxygen problems.I guess not. Anyways their oxygen problem would have been more important than their engine problems.
"3......................"
"1........................"
"The docking procedure is now complete. Oxygen levels are at 100% in the docking terminal. Engines are now at standby. You are now able to enter the other shuttle." As the computer completed its programming.
The stainless doors on the Pioneer opened. She raised her foot a foot to get over the first step in to the terminal. Her foot echoed as it touched the ground. Allowing a huge clunk on the ground. Giving it a hollow sound. Following thought with her actions, her foot touched the terminal setting right next to the other one. She stood up straight. The Pioneer closed its door behind her. She looked to her side seeing the planet earth so clear through the translucent terminal. And then the Galactic's doors opened up. She proceeded to walk through, hearing every step she took. A clunk made by her foot was followed by another clunk, and another until she raised her foot like she did when she left the Pioneer.
She got out her palm pilot from her tool belt and started down loading the Galactic's designs plans. As soon as she was through the air lock, the cockpit was on her right and the way to the engine bay was towards her left. She turned left. Just as she turned left, John looked back to get a glimpse of her but misted her as she turned. He only caught was long beautiful shinny blonde hair.
"Hey John, are you there?"
"Yeah I'm here."
"Okay what I need you to do is to adjust the current working coil down to 30 degrees below its normal temperature and take it offline for right now and turn it back on every two minutes, since they engine will be turn on and off also I need Jason to keep it steady as possible."
John and Jason looked back at each other a worried face, since they both new that the warning label on the coils were both keep at 5 degrees around its normal and it would work but this time it had a chance of exploding since its plasma.
"Aww..." saying it with hesitation "But wouldn't the coil explode due to the major difference in temperature?"
She entered into the engine bay and looked at the current working engine and got out her clippers and clipped all the wires off. Then she separated them by color and left them alone was she went to go work on the other one.
While walking towards the other engine she replied. "What I am doing to the other engine it will not cause it to explode. Don't worry. Trust me. I'll explain it later. Right now I just need to get that coil offline and get these wires shorted. Okay?"
"I am turning off the engine now."
She kneed down and got on her back and slid underneath the plasma coil, which wasn't working. She sighed to her self. As noticed this wasn't going to be easy at all. All the wires got over heated since it looks like the coil's temperature plate gave out thus causing the coil to burn up along with everything else around it. The wires were melted into a big ball of a wire.
This is going to take sometime. I don't have any wires on my shuttle. I think I noticed some as I walking back here to the bay. I've got to hurry and get this wired up, other wise yes the coil would explode since its not being kept at its temperature.
"John, I noticed that you had some wires back there in the storage bay. Do they support electric current conductivity because the wires need replacement?"
"Sure take as much as you want from the pile of wires. I got more than enough. Do you need any help? I'll be more than willing to."
"I am fine right now. I just need you to keep turning the coil on and off."
John just couldn't stand the thought of someone who was doing the work while he was told to sit on his ass. He started to get more frigidly. Starting to shake is knee. He wanted to help. But then he said to himself, I got to let this feeling go. My brothers are going to be in the same situation but there would be nothing I'll be able to do for them while I am up in Thunderbird 5 for a month at a time. Dam it, this is now and that's then. I can easy set up the computer to turn the engines to turn on and off every two minutes.
He started punching in the instructions to the computer. Jason turned to look to at what he's doing. He looked at him with a face.
"What do you plan on doing? She told you to stay up here."
"I know, I know. But I can't stand the thought of us sitting here while she does all the work. I think two heads are better than one. And more heads we got back there, the faster we can get out of there. Plus I can program the computer to turn them on and off for me."
"I guess your right."
As soon as he started hearing footsteps enter the storage bay, John unbuckled his safety belt and head back there. He was rushing to get back there. He entered into the bay looked towards his right and just froze and stared. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Only thing he could think was what beauty.
Seeing the long strawberry blonde hair with the slight curls on the ends of her hair. Her skin was white as snow as if she has never been touched by daylight. She was shuffling through the box of wires making sure she got the right ones that would work or seeing if there was a better kind in there.
She stood up after she reached the found the right kind of wire that she was going to need. She was wearing an official NASA uniform, a skintight long sleeve white overall with a zipper on the back with the NASA patch on her right arm with her rank on the front, including her white boots which were 2 inch heels making her look slimmer. She turned around and was startled. She had noticed someone looking at her.
John jumped back when he saw her turning back towards him. Which he wasn't expecting at all. She saw him just standing there. For some weird reason, all of a sudden he had butterflies in his stomach, which felt like the bottomless hole filled with them. Then he went dumb when she smiled at him. He couldn't help it. Her smile put John in a puppy daze trance. Not knowing what to say. He has never seen a smile like that before, from someone who was so beautiful to even have at his side. Normally Scott usually got all the good ones while he was just left with bones to pick through. Finally able to shake loose from the hypnotic spell was able to come through and smile back at her.
"Hi! Can I help you?" With a smile on her face from one end to the other.
"Aguu....Aww, Hi, I thought you would like some help. I thought with two people with two different minds would be able to speed up the process. Plus, I just couldn't stand being up there while you were doing all the work."
"Well since you put things that way. And you can't stand still while I do all the work, you may come along to help. May I ask who are you anyways? Jason or John?"
"Oh! I am sorry.. My name is John Tracy."
"Nice meeting you. Now since we got that over with, can we now move into the engine bay or are we going to stand around here all day and try to get a Luna tan?" Joking around with the reflection of the moons light coming through the window. Relecting of the shine off her hair.
John just smiled at her remark. He proceeded to go back into the engine bay allow her to go first since he was a gentleman and all. He had learned that from the best! His brother, Scott; when he was going through his years in high school was teaching him how to sway all the girls off their feet thus getting the chance to practice on the post high school girls. But no one was better than Scott.
Now being in the engine bay. She got on her knees and lay down while she told which wire that John was to cut using the replacement wires and to what length. Along sorting out the different color marked wires.
She cut off all the old wires and proceeded to install the replacement ones.
"So what can I help you with?"
"Well, .............I need a red wire to be cut at a length of 2 feet, and then I would need a blue wire to be cut 2 ½ inches. And I need four sets of those." And so forth until it was complete. This speed the process tremendously.
Which by this time both John and Jason both forgot the oxygen levels dropping which they only had less than 30 minutes of air left in the cockpit while in the engine bay had an hour to go before all three of them would suffocate to death.
"What are you planning on doing?"
"What I am doing is cooling the working coil down below its normal temperature and going to be connecting two engines up with one coil."
"Oh I see what you are doing. Thus the working coil would not explode since it is right at its normal temperature taking the heat from the other engine. I am sure glad that you came along because all of us would be dead meat by now."
"And after I get done with this last wire, you should be able to move. That if nothing else has gone wrong. And now I am done!"
"Boy you made that look easy. It would have taken me days to fix it." Ramling like if he was a school boy about absolutly nothing.
"Don't worry its was I do all the time for NASA since I am one of their repair and maintenance technicians. Since I don't like to be left up in space with a group of males for long time of periods, I prefer to go home after I get done what I am doing. Don't get me wrong. I love space. Just can't stand males who make sexual suggestions towards me or atleast a for long time periods such as months at a time."
"Oh I would understand how that could be. Not a fun situation."
"Yeah tell me about it. Are you ready to fire up the engines?"
"Jason you can turn on the engines now. Jason?"
"Jason are you there?"
"Jason???"
He heard a slight mumbled in the background.
The computer came on to warn John.
"Jason has become unconscious."
John gasped. "Oh no! The oxygen!"
"What about the oxygen?"
"We were low on supply, did Jason tell you?"
"NO he didn't!"
John's heart sank. "What about Jason?"
"Follow me!"
"Where are we going?"
"To my ship!"
Both of them running hurriedly running back towards the air dock trying to get to the Pioneer, John wondered what they were going to do. All he wanted to go do was save his friend Jason.
They finally reached the air dock. "We need to get the extra container of oxygen off my shuttle on to yours!"
The air dock doors opened up and they both ran through the clear terminal. Then the Pioneers doors opened up. She turned left as followed by John. She went over to a storage container.
"Grab two while I'll grab two of the canisters and then go back!" as she ordered away.
They hurried back to the Galactic. They both ran over to where the oxygen canisters are storied. She plugged hers in followed by John. She ran to go up to the cockpit. The doors weren't opening until the supply oxygen was enough for the doors to reopen. This only took a few seconds for the air in the cockpit to be restored.
She ran in to grab Jason. First she felt to see if he even had a pulse. He felt extremely cold. He looked blue and lifeless. She reached over to unbuckle him from this hardness. John came over to help to lift him up and over his seat.
"This doesn't look good!"
"Jason, don't you dare go on me! I still need a pilot to get me back home! We are here for you."
They both laid him on the ground. They both knelled down to start S.P.R. She put her hand behind Jason's neck to open the airway. Then she opened his mouth. And she put her two fingers in his mouth to check if his tongue was blocking the airway. Which it the air flow wasn't not blocked.
She glanced up at John who was ready to pump the lungs.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
She pinched his nose and breathed into him. Watching his chest rise as she did it. Then listened for a returned air. She did this twice more until John started pumping his chest trying to get him to breath.
"1!"
"2!"
"3!"
"Again!" As John ordered her to do as he was in a panic.
She did it again. Breathing in Jason for a source of air. Trying not to get him brain dead in order to respond and then listened. No response.
"Dam it! Jason!"
Pushing harder on to his diaphragm.
"1! Come on!"
"2!"
And then a sudden burst of air intake and Jason chest rose.
"Aww, man! I thought I lost you there for a moment! You're going to be okay!"
With hoarseness in his throat, "Thanks man, I owe you one!"
"You sure do." Joking around with him.
And then she got up and told John, "I think he is going to be okay. I got to get going now. Well see you guys later if you're ever back in space again."
She walked away towards the dock doors.
"I see that you like her, why dont you go after her?"
"I don't know if i should or not. What if she dont like me back and I make a fool of myself trying to ask her out. All I could do while she was here was ramble about nothing."
"Go John! Go!"
"Go get her!" Smiling on his face with that he finally found someone who he actually can have.
John ran after her.
She was entering the airlock when John meets up with her.
"Hey, before you go what's your name?"
"Oh yeah...I never told you it! Sorry. I didn't mean to. It just got busy. My name is Audra Lu De Knox. You can call me Audra."
John let his hand forward in order for her to shake is hand. And she grabbed it in order to shake it. "Well you better get back to earth before anything else does go wrong." And she smiled back at him. Both of them shaked their hands and didn't want to let go. As she had to go, John held on until the plam slipped away until her finger tips left his.
Trying to muster up the will to ask her out but he couldn't. All he was able to think of was "Thanks for your help."
As she was leaving she told him, "If ever need to talk to a friend, I'm always on communications link #2676625.9. Then she turned back at him and winked at John as she left the air hatch to go into the terminal. Thus, causing a very very good friendship with John Tracy. Thus, causing the friendship to have a monthly get together to have visits to her. After a year of their meeting each other, International Rescue proceed with its first day of operations. As their friendship grows on.
(Chapter 2 coming soon, more improvemnt with Scott, Virgil, Alan, esp John.)