It has begun! This is the sequel to Enemy Mine, so if you haven't read that one yet, you might want to :D Im still working on improving my writing skills. Hopefully, the majority of this story makes sense!
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Nothing like the words 'experimental' and 'highly explosive' to add an extra amount of danger to a rescue. Gordon found himself staring at the large cylinder with the label indicating how volatile the contents were. A call down the corridor pulled his attention away and back on task.
A moderately sized section of the engineering factory had collapsed when one of the experiments had erupted, leaving many of the workers with non-life threatening injuries, but some trapped underneath the debris. The CEO had been dumbfounded as to how the accident had happened, something John had informed them of as they were on route. The company apparently had strict policies and procedures monitored by computer systems to prevent such a catastrophic event.
Gordon wasn't afforded the need-to-know how it happened, just that there were people in need of saving. He and Alan had come down to the lower sections of the building, while Scott and Virgil were busy with clearing the upper, more damaged levels. After encountering a small group of workers, a couple of whom were badly injured, Gordon had sent Alan topside with them. He would return once they had been secured. The only reason they had separated at all was the frantic plea from a woman saying there were more that they couldn't get to farther down.
He found them cowering between one of the vats of explosives and research tables. Part of the fallen upper floor was keeping them pinned.
"This is International Rescue." His voice was steady as he began the process of getting the group out. "Are any of you injured?"
"Nothing serious." A man's voice shook through the metal and sheet rock. "Can you get us out? There are three of us in here."
He smiled, relieved that they would most likely be able to crawl out once he relocated some of the debris. "I'm going to move as much of the ceiling as I can. Let me know when you can make it out."
Without Virgil's exosuit to help, moving the pieces by hand was taking longer than he liked. He was rewarded for his efforts as a voice, closer than before, called out.
"We can see you! We're on our way out!" The relief in the man's voice was palpable. It was followed by the voices of the other two workers, already crying out words of thanks.
The aquanaut gave each of them a reassuring smile as they climbed to their feet. "John? I've got three with me. Can you see any more in this section?"
There was a pause as his brother checked the readings. "Negative. You're all clear for that section. Head topside and you can help Alan finish getting the survivors set for transport. Scott and Virgil are already on their way out."
"FAB, John. We're heading up now." He turned to his charges, ready to get them moving. The relief he knew he shouldn't be letting out until they were all safe started to loosen the tension in his back. It flared again as the voice crackled over his comm.
"You've got three minutes, Squid-boy. Best hurry up."
Gordon couldn't help the chill that ran up his spine, his mind flashing back to the ordeal he had endured almost a year ago. If Fuse was here, then the explosion might not have been an accident. There was no time to dwell on that thought as he began directing the group as quickly as possible. They'd be cutting it close.
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"What are you doing?" Havoc hissed after hearing her brother's words to the rescue team member. "Why would you do that?"
"Calm down, Havoc. It's no big deal." His response just encouraged her rage.
Ever since she'd rescued him at the base of the mountain and he'd let the blond escape, she had been questioning his decisions in regards to the enemy. Today just solidified her concerns.
"Just get back to the-" Her dark tone was cut off by the sound of explosions ripping through the facility. She fell to the floor, covering her head as the room she occupied shook violently. As the tremors ceased, she jabbed at the comm again. "Fuse? Are you alright?"
There was no response from the device and she stood to look out of the room's plexiglass window. The section she knew her brother had been in was ablaze, smoke billowing around the cylinder's of fuel.
Her blue eyes brimmed with tears as the despair began to overpower her. The flash of blue movement on the walkway below pulled her attention away just enough to keep her from crashing to the floor. In that instant, anguish turned to a burning hatred.
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His ears buzzed with the high pitched whine that accompanied a shockingly loud noise. Pushing himself off the floor, he turned to see the three workers still with him, looking shocked and scared. Someone was yelling in his ear, but the words were muffled.
Gordon helped the closest of the group up, shaking his head to clear the fuzz. Behind them, he could see the remnants of their previous location shattered and burning. The fire was creeping towards the other cylinders, sparking a need in him to move.
"Gordon?" The call through his comm was clearer now.
"Here, John. We're alright." He started waving the group to continue on, not wanting to be part of another blast. Before he could comment further, he was crashing to the ground again, something heavy pressing into his back. He heard the startled shouts in front of him and saw the looks of confusion. A grip on his shoulder spun him onto his back and the pressure was on his chest now.
"Wha-" Gordon's words were cut off as the woman jabbed something hard into his neck. A spark of panic at the murderous look on her face had him pushing against her purple armor, trying to free himself. The jolt came quick, sending flashes of white through his vision before everything went dark.
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"What do you mean he's not answering?" Scott moved another survivor into the pod bay of 2, trying to listen to John at the same time.
"He said they were alright, but since then, he's not been answering his comm." John sounded through the helmet.
"I'll head back down. Can you send me his location?" Scott was already waving at Virgil and Alan who were listening.
Silence as John began working on the request. "I've only got his last location. It looks like his GPS is out. There are three lifesigns heading your way. Scott, the fire caused by that last explosion is spreading. You'll need to move fast."
"FAB, heading down now." Collecting the extinguisher pack he'd been wearing earlier, the eldest Tracy was back in the building in a matter of seconds.
A minute later he was rendezvousing with the small group of survivors. Their faces were frantic as they reached him, all talking at once.
"Whoa!" His voice was a calming force in a building that could come down on them at any moment. "You." He pointed to the one closest to him, a woman, her dark brown hair skewed and out of place.
"She just took him! I think she's going to kill him!"
Scott's heart had jumped into his throat, seeing the nods from the other two in confirmation. His voice was strained as he spoke. "Keep heading up. My men will meet you up there." He was already moving past them, sprinting towards his brother's last known location. "Guys! I think Gordon's in trouble. Three workers are on their way up. John, are you getting any other lifesigns down there?"
"Negative. There's a lot of heat, but… wait. Scott, I'm getting something, but it keeps flickering. I'll try to boost the signal." John was quiet for a few seconds before there was a ping from his holocomm map. The sprint increased as he was given a new location to search.
As he cleared the final stairs into the room John had last spoken to Gordon, he could see the flames attacking fallen debris. He could also see that his brother was nowhere in sight. He checked the map again and realized the lifesign was coming from underneath a pile of smoldering drywall. Three seconds and he was there, dousing the remaining flames before pulling pieces away with gloved hands. Debris scattered across the floor as he tossed it, not worrying about where it landed. At the back of his mind, he knew he should be more careful with his actions, but the drive to find his brother was overwhelming. And then he uncovered the form that had been hidden underneath. The purple armor was distinctly recognizable.
"You!" Scott stared in horror at the man whose figure was starting to shift now that he was free. The groan told him that his enemy was dealing with some form of injury.
"Ugh… what happened?" The large man was pushing himself up to his knees, shaking his head. He finally glanced up at his rescuer and grimaced. "Cats out of the bag, I'm guessin'?"
Letting his anger and fear take charge, he lifted Fuse to his feet, barely noting the bolt of pain that ran through the man as he stood. "Where is my brother?" He watched the man's brow crease as he shook his head. "Gordon! What did you do with him?"
"I don't know what you're talkin' about!" Anger was flaring in the villian. "I told him to get out, next thing I know there's an explosion and I've got a ceilin' on top of me."
"Scott!" John's voice was loud in his ear. "Get out now! The fuel readings are going critical!"
"I still don't have Gordon!" The desperation was apparent.
"Do what you want." Fuse made to limp past the pilot. "I'm gettin' out of this inferno."
She took him… that's what the worker had said… "Where's Havoc?" The question was dripping with anger. "The survivor said she took him. Where is she?" It seemed to catch the man off guard as he lifted his wrist, noting the cracked and sparking device.
"Don't know. Comm's busted." He didn't stop, already climbing up the stairs. "But if she saw me go down, she's probably not in her right mind." Scott swore he sounded sorrowful. "And if she has your brother…" Something had Fuse running now, taking the steps two at a time. The brunette couldn't be sure what it was, but he knew he needed to move.
"John, there's a possibility that Havoc has Gordon. Can you get a reading on any other vehicles in the area." He knew his brother had to be frantically running scans for the aquanaut while keeping track of the rescue situation. It couldn't be easy.
"You won't find her that way!" The villain called over his shoulder, reaching a turn that would take them out into the open.
As Scott took the turn, he nearly came to a halt. The space was empty. Fuse was gone. "Fuse!" He received no answer, scanning the landscape as he exited the doomed facility.
"Scott!" Alan called from the base of Thunderbird 2 with a mix of confusion and concern. He nearly fell as the ground began to tremble. Recognition hit in an instant and he drove forward, pulling his youngest brother into the 'bird as the explosion ripped through the building. TB2 rocked on its stilts. The sound was deafening as he lay with the astronaut on the floor of the pod, surrounded by terror-filled faces of the survivors.