Disclaimer: Same as Chapter 1. Still a poor college student who doesn't own our famous lads.
Well here it is, a much longer and action packed Chapter 4 as I promised.
It's The Little Things That Get You
Unorganized was an understatement when it came to Wharton Academy's use of its emergency protocol. Students were wandering the campus without any sense of purpose, while some of the injured had yet to be seen by an EMT. At times Jeff wondered about the intelligence level of his youngest son's school administration, especially its headmaster. The IR commander could only shake his head as he listened to the babbling idiot rattle off his version of how the fire may have started to the Fire Chief.
Resisting the urge to bang his head into the nearest Thunderbird, Jeff tried to redirect the man's panicked state. "Have you contacted the parents of the students?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"NO! Heaven's, I'm just not thinking straight!" the man went further into his state of panic.
You can say that again, Jeff thought. "You need to get the children to safety while we handle the fire. I suggest you bus them out to a warming center and inform the parents of their location. The further away they are from the scene the better."
"Great Idea! I will take care of that right now," the man smiled and hurried off to make the preparations for the buses to arrive.
The Fire Chief just shook his head. "I sure miss the old headmaster. He was organized and at least he would remain calm in situations like this."
So do I. More than you know, Jeff thought. "Some people just don't understand how panic doesn't help a situation. How many men do you have attending to the classrooms?"
"Six and counting your man we will have seven."
Jeff looked to the main building of the school as he watched Gordon maneuver the Firefly. "Right, two more of my men are accessing the dormitory. If your men can keep the fire under control in that area we should have things under control soon. The Firefly will be able to put out the fire rather quickly, allowing us to put all our focus on the other building."
"Let's hope this plan works. These winds have been hindering us the whole time," the husky Fire Chief sighed. "We would've been able to handle this if it weren't for this approaching storm. If only we could get the rain its promising things would certainly improve."
"We can only hope luck is on our side today," Jeff said.
-TB-
Using their height to their advantage, Alan and Zach lifted debris that blocked them from the voice in need. Alan coughed, as they both tried to assure the voice that they were trying to reach them.
"You okay?" Zach asked as he adjusted the makeshift handkerchief that covered his mouth and nose.
"Fi-ine," Alan lied, as he felt his lungs constrict. The tightness he had felt earlier was slowly getting worse. He knew it was the smoke but he ignored it. Nothing was going to stop him. Tightening his own makeshift mask, he continued to dig. "We're almost through."
"Just a little more and then it's smooth sailing," Zach smiled.
Lifting the last bit of debris that seemed to stand in their way, Alan smiled as he could see into the west hall. Looking to Zach, he climbed through the hole they had made. The voice that had called for help was indeed a student. About six students now stood in front of them, relief filling their faces. Alan recognized them to be mostly freshman.
"Man, am I glad you heard us," one of the students said. Alan recognized this student to be the voice that had cried for help.
"We woke up and didn't know what was going on. Before we knew it smoke filled our room and the hallway. We tried to get out but everything caved in before us," another student confessed, the kid was obviously shaken.
"Everything's going to be okay," Alan assured. "Are any of you injured?"
The student who had been talking to Alan looked over toward a group of students. "Jared and Tony are. Tony hit his head pretty badly and his leg hurts too, but Jared won't wake up. Some debris fell on him, but we managed to get him clear," the freshman explained.
Alan quickly rushed over to the two injured. "You didn't move them did you?" he asked the freshman.
"No."
Alan quickly examined Jared. He could see evidence of a broken bone that protruded from the kid's right arm as it was twisted into a position it was never meant to go. A deep cut marred his right temple as well. Alan knew he was going to need help getting the kid out of here. Turning to Tony, he smiled at the younger boy. Looking at how awkwardly the kid's left leg was bent, Alan was sure the limb was also broken, although at least this wasn't a compound fracture. The injured student seemed alright otherwise but Alan wouldn't know until he examined him further.
Looking up at Zach, he knew this was where he would depend upon his classmate most. "Zach, I want you to take the uninjured and make your way out of the building. Tell the first firefighter you see that I'm still up here with two injured. One-"
"-Alan I'm not leaving you up here alone," Zach interrupted.
Alan closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. Bad move. He coughed harshly as his lungs again struggled to handle the toxic smoke. Here was the fight he knew was coming. His stubborn friend was much like his brothers at times. Standing up, he looked Zach in the eyes. "Zach, we don't have time to argue. Thi-s building isn't safe and we can't mo-ve these two without ca-ausing further harm. I need a backboard and a neck brace for sure for one and most likely for the other as well. There's no sense in letting the rest of them stay here when th-ey can get out of here. You're my messenger for help. Take them and go, pleas-se."
Zach shook his head, almost smirking at his teammates plan. "I'm not leaving you, Tracy. I don't know why you think you need to play hero here but out of the two of us, I'm the one who should stay. The smoke is getting to you and don't deny it. I've been listening to you cough. You take the kids here and I'll stay with these two."
Several of the students stood toward the makeshift hole that had been created, while some stood over the two injured. They watched as the two seniors argued, not sure what to say.
An eerie sound filled the air above them once again. Alan quickly looked around looking for any instability in the structure around them. "Look, I appreciate your concern over me but I really am fine. I know what I'm doing here. Just go! We're wasting time arguing."
"Precisely why this is an easy choice. You should go and I should stay," Zach smiled, shoving Alan toward their exit.
A buckling sound could be heard above them once again. The building shook, as pieces of the ceiling began to rain down upon them. Alan looked up to see the hall above starting to crumble. Thinking fast, he shoved Zach and as many of the students forward.
"ALAN! NO!" Zach cried as a huge beam fell between them. He could no longer see his friend.
Dodging more debris that continued to fall around Zach and the four students that had made it with him, they rushed toward the stairwell. Knowing there was nothing further he could do for Alan; Zach knew he needed to get help. That was his only hope to save his stubborn friend.
-TB-
Fermat spotted Virgil as he walked toward a safe area. Running up to the middle Tracy, he smiled as the musician spotted him.
Virgil gently clasped the teen on the shoulder, making sure no one could hear them talking. "Fermat! I'm glad to see you're okay," he said softly.
Fermat smiled as he looked up at Virgil, though he was unable to see his face due to the helmet. "Have you been able to r-reach Alan?"
Virgil frowned. "No, we haven't, sport. You haven't heard from him either?"
Fermat shook his head "N-n-no. I hope he's o-o-alright. I haven't seen anyone come o-out from the dorms in awhile."
Virgil looked toward where Scott was talking to several firemen who had been in the dormitory. "I hope so too, kiddo. Alan's smart, he knows how to handle the situation. You both have been in training long enough."
Fermat looked around to make sure no one was watching them. "Thanks. Where is everyone?"
"Scott and I are handling the ground at the moment. We've been assisting the firemen in the dorm. Gordon's in the Firefly and Dad's talking to the Fire Chief. We've got things handled, don't you worry," Virgil smiled.
"I'm n-not. I just wish I could do something," the fifteen year old sighed.
"Sorry, kiddo but you've gotta play the civilian this time."
"I know," Fermat responded sadly. "I better g-get back before someone w-w-questions us."
"Good man," Virgil smiled under his helmet. "Stay safe and we'll keep you updated if we can."
"F.A.B." Fermat spoke and ran off toward the crowd of students that still remained on the campus.
Virgil couldn't help but smile as he watched the teen genius run off. Jogging up to Scott he noticed the uneasiness to his oldest brother's body language. "What's going on?"
"Conditions are deteriorating inside the building. If we have any chance of getting to the students we have to act quickly," Scott told his brother.
"We have four men in the dorms right now trying to battle their way to the top floors. It hasn't been an easy task. The infrastructure is starting to weaken due to the heat," one of the firemen continued to explain.
"I think it's time we use Thunderbird 2. We no longer have the luxury of time to rescue from the ground," Virgil said.
"I agree. Go get her ready and I'll be right behind you. I'm going to inform the Commander," Scott stated.
Virgil shook his head understanding. "F.A.B." he spoke and ran off to his bird.
A loud noise erupted from the building before them, causing everyone to turn their attention to the eight story high dormitory. Scott watched in horror as flames shot out of the windows and the top of the building began to sag.
-TB-
Haze encircled them as they raced down the smoke filled stairwell. The only thought filling Zach's head was getting to safety and helping Alan and the remaining students now trapped on the sixth floor.
The students quickly reached the fourth floor, as they hurried down they were surprised to meet a team of firefighters.
"Whoa!" one of the men exclaimed as he nearly crashed into Zach.
"We just came from the sixth floor! There's been a collapse!" one of the students exclaimed.
"There's fo-ur students stuck up there. I kno-w two are injured for s-ure but I don't know how the o-ther two are. You have to help them," Zach explained quickly, covering his face as the smoke caused him to cough more.
"We'll take care of them. You boys run down and get to safety immediately," a firefighter instructed.
The students quickly continued down the stairwell. Zach stopped, looking up from where they had come. "Go, son. We'll make sure your friends are safe," a firefighter said, grasping his shoulder. "Go."
Zach looked at the firefighter. "Alan Tracy is one of them up there. W-we were trying to help c-lear the building. You have to save him. He's a hero. He saved my life. "
"We will, son. Now please go," the man urged. "Make sure you're seen by someone. You need to clear your lungs."
Zach nodded, looking up the stairs one last time and continued down the steps. As he exited the building he was met by several other firefighters and two men in a uniform he could only identify as a Thunderbird's. He spent entirely way too much time with Alan. The track star knew everything that came to the Thunderbirds, he smirked. Alan knew the ships, and what they would do next. He could probably be one of them if he tried hard enough, the blonde thought. Oh no! I forgot to tell them what Alan needed, he suddenly realized.
"They need help in there!" Zach told them, as he ran up to the group. "I forgot t-to tell the other firefighters what Alan needed!"
"Calm down, son. What are you talking about?" a firefighter asked him.
"My friend and I were trying to help get everyone out. H-he's still up th-ere. His name is Alan Tracy. He sai-d he needed backboards and neck braces for those injured. He may-y be injured himself now. You have to help him, he's a hero. He s-saved our lives," Zach choked out as he tried to suppress his own coughs. "He shoved us o-out of the way when the ceiling collapsed."
"Did you tell the other firefighters this?" the Thunderbird identified as Scott asked him.
"Y-yes, mostly," Zach said, his body began to shutter with coughs.
"Alright, we need to organize. Get him to an EMT," Zach heard a voice speak. His mind was becoming fuzzy as his chest felt tight. Was this how Alan was feeling? Please let him be alright.
-TB-
Many thoughts ran through Scott's head as he and Jeff boarded Thunderbird 2 and prepared for their rescue of the dormitory. Scott felt proud of his baby brother but he also felt worry. He was proud to hear how selfless Alan had acted but he also feared that that same selfless act may be what could get Alan killed. He couldn't bear to think that there was a possibility that his baby brother could be seriously injured or dead. Alan was his baby brother and the joy of his life, as well as the bane of his existence. It was always the little things he would find himself missing while Alan was away at school - his laugh, his humor, his attitude, and most of all his stubbornness. It was a trait they all inherited from their father and most likely their mother as well. The kid was only seventeen and he had so much still to do in life, so much ahead of him.
He watched Virgil as he maneuvered the ship toward the burning building. His middle brother gripped the controls of the ship tightly. Scott wished he could make this nightmare disappear as fast as it came up. He knew that all he could do was hope they would find Alan okay. They just had to.
"Thunderbird 5 to Thunderbird 2, do you copy?" Scott heard John call.
"We read you, John," his father's stiff voice answered.
He heard his space bound brother sigh, apprehensive of his next words. He knew what John was about to tell them was bad. In fact, it was their worst nightmare coming true.
Please keep Allie safe, Mom. He needs you right now. Please bring him back to us.
TBC…
Well I'm off to hide under my rock now! CC's Writers Protection Program will be my savior while you all want to kill me. You may reach me by leaving a review below and I shall return soon once it is deemed safe.
