THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!
ABLE
WRITTEN BY ZARIUS
(Contains spoilers for "High Strung")
"Don't do anything stupid down there Scott" John advised over the two-way com link to his brother.
Scott reckoned the blizzard would probably shield his intentions from John's view, and that by the time he regained contact, it was likely Scott would have went ahead with his bold but brash alternative method of latching on to the capsule.
Still, he couldn't resist a quick response to John's warning.
"Define stupid" he said, and, with sharp and swift confidence, surprising himself with just how bold and brash he was being, took a running leap off of the rocky cliff edge and dived straight into the frosty abyss.
He clipped his heels together like Dorothy in the Land of Oz, and from that sprung his suit's special air gliders.
Again, John tried to reach him.
"I'm picking up a ton of interference here, have you changed positions?" he asked.
"You could say that" Scott replied back as the gliders carried him forward, braving the treacherous winds to take a frenzied lead in pursuit of the capsule.
Usually a million different thoughts would race through someone's mind as they tried to pinpoint a specific strategy cut off from the central hardware, but here Scott was concerned with two things, sticking the landing, and making sure John was concerned with the mission and not him, he was trying to master his element without Thunderbird One.
He wanted to try something else, because in his line of work, he had to be something else.
Someone who could afford to risk life and every limb to yield the necessary results. Not held up in a machine that could not always meet its mark. To rely too much on the machine over your own able hands would undermine the measure of a man's ability and their character.
Scott wanted to define himself not as stupid, but someone who was both willing, and, above all else, able.
"You're gonna miss the capsule" said John, having regained visual tracking of his brother
"I'm not aiming for the capsule" said Scott, as his able determination was in overdrive. He made sharp eye contact with a piece of rope dangling from the air capsule, and pushed him further towards it.
Finally, he managed to grab it with both hands.
Now came the most uninviting stage of the trek, hanging on as the capsule swayed from side to side through the howling, sweeping winds of the ice cold canyon.
To hang on, and to make it to the capsule itself.
Scott urged himself on, throwing himself into the effort and climbing the rope attached to the capsule, making it all the way to the railings attached to the craft. As he let go of the rope and latched on to the rails, a wild turn and a small burst of air saw fit to nudge him off. He was able to latch onto the bottom railing with but seconds to spare.
Perhaps the term 'stupid' would be best applied to the pilot of the craft more than him. He was badly in need of flying lessons.
Scott should know, he had just taught himself a few things in his own showdown with the sky.
Each mission forced the Tracys to redefine themselves, and here he had done so once again.
Ready. Willing. Able.