Story Notes: This story is another of my Alternate What if stories, and I have taken inspiration from the Calculus Affair, and the cartoon film. Warning for blood. The story is in the Captain's perspective, well for most of it anyway. Some small parts are from the perspective of the Syldavians. These comics are a little bit easier to work out due to the larger amount of friends and acquaintances that Tintin has. Once I reach the what if's for the comics before Captain Haddock's introduction, it may be difficult. There are certain scenes in those when Tintin only has Snowy to rely on if everything goes wrong.
Title: Into the Unknown
Category: Adventures of Tintin
Characters: Tintin, Haddock, Snowy, Unnamed Agents
Summary: As the Syldavian's get away with Professor Calculus, Tintin and the Captain chase after in a helicopter only things don't go to plan.
Genre: Friendship/Family
Rating: K+/T
Themes: Blood
Suggested Music
1. All Your Rage, All Your Pain - Secession Studios
2. Bold and Brave - Secession Studios
3. Frameshift - Hans Zimmer
4. Izzy - Steve Jablonsky
"Blistering Barnacles! What do we do now?" Haddock exclaimed as he pulled Tintin onto his feet, watching as the Syldavians disappeared across the lake taking Calculus with them.
Tintin's eyes scanned the grounds of the Bourdurian Embassy before finally settling on the helicopter.
"Follow me, stay low,"
x
The Slydavians assumed they had gotten away with it. One pushed Calculus down onto the seat, smiling at the boat pulled away from the jetty.
Finally, we have him.
"Radio into the others, tell him we've got him, and we'll meet at the designated coordinates,"
"Sir! They're following us!" Came a yell from the rear of the boat.
"Who's following us?"
"The Belgian and the Sea Captain!"
The leader rushed to join his comrade. Gazing up, he found the pair from the lakeside, pursuing them from above.
"We can't afford any more mistakes. Shoot them down!" He ordered.
x
Come on, Where are they? Tintin thought.
They can't have just disappeared.
As a whir of an engine echoed below them. Tintin finally focused, finding the boat with ease as it ploughed through the lake water.
"Got them!" Tintin exclaimed, pointing to the target below.
Snowy whimpered in annoyance as Tintin's legs slipped forward again and caught him. The distraction proved costly. As Bullets hit the window, Tintin couldn't prepare himself. The helicopter swung, nearly knocking Haddock out of the side.
"Blistering Barnacles! Climb higher!"
Haddock clung to his seat fasteners as Tintin attempted to climb higher.
I hope the glass is bulletproof, Tintin noted.
Without warning, a sudden crack split through the window.
Tintin's eyesight disappeared into an immediate blackness.
x
A sudden hail of bullets caught Haddock by surprise. As a crack pierced the window, the smack of metal on skin echoed through his ears. Tintin slumped forward in his seat, allowing gravity to overtake them as the dominant force.
"Tintin! TINTIN!"
Haddock shook him, trying to rouse him. As he pulled his hand away, his lungs and heart transformed into a state of panic.
Blistering ... he's bleeding ... he's ... shot!
Even as he attempted to control the aircraft, millions of thoughts wiped his composure clear.
What do I do! Thundering Typhoons, What do I do!
Alarms blared within the compartment, overwhelming Snowy's cries.
We're going down.
As they neared the water, Haddock's eye's darted around and settled on the seat restraints. Despite his heart palpitations and his numb fingers, he removed his restraints, then Tintin's, holding him as tightly as he could. Blood spread onto his arms as he did. As he prepared to jump, he exhaled deeply, trying to ignore the spots in his vision.
"Jump, Snowy! Jump!"
Snowy leapt just as Haddock did, pushing himself as far away from the helicopter as he could. Gravity overtook him faster than anticipated, pulling him through the cold midnight air without resistance. Haddock hit the water so hard he nearly let go of Tintin. As he resurfaced, he kept Tintin's head free of the freezing water. He swam for the shoreline as the water consumed the helicopter.
Tintin still hadn't regained consciousness.
As Haddock staggered on the shoreline, he gently laid Tintin onto the ground and pulled his coat open. Blood still spread across his shoulder, absorbing into his clothing. He pressed hard against the wound, but Tintin didn't react. He didn't even wake up.
We need help!
Tintin, wake up!
Haddock pulled himself to his feet. He found it difficult to move without collapsing back onto the ground.
"HELP! Someone help me!"
As some torchlights appeared in the distance, Haddock's knees buckled. Gravity pulled him yet again. As he landed on his back, voices called in the distance. He could barely make them out.
"The helicopter went into the water. There could be survivors. I saw someone on the bank,"
As his body gave in, Snowy's high pitched pierced the near silence of the night.
x
As Haddock's eyes flickered open, he could have sworn moments had passed. A white ceiling materialized above him. As his eye's focused, the room revealed itself piece by piece. He eased himself up from the bed and pulled the soft cotton sheets from his body.
How did I get here?
As Haddock struggled to his feet, several disapproving tuts entered the room from the others upon the ward. He gazed around, looking for a nurse or doctor. None entered, not at first. As a young nurse entered the room, she immediately rushed to him.
"Sir, You should be in bed,"
"I'm okay, I'm fine," Haddock protested. "Where is my friend?"
"Your friend?" The Nurse asked. The Nurse stared at him for a few moments then her eyes lit up.
"A young ginger man?"
"Tintin! Where is he? I need to see him,"
"He's been given treatment on another ward. He suffered a serious injury to his shoulder,
As Haddock recalled the shattering glass, his eyes started to water.
"Is he okay?"
"He's responding very well to treatment. He should be up and about in a few days,"
A few days? Tintin will not sit in a hospital that long. I know him too well.
"I'll be back soon," She replied, gently leading Haddock back to the bed. He was grateful for the aid even though he didn't require it.
As he lay back down, his thoughts slowly overcame his mind.
How did we get here? Who found us? Are we out of danger?
Then a much more important thought dominated.
What about Calculus?
How long have we been here?
As the nurse reappeared with a wheelchair, another man followed. Haddock could only presume he was the doctor.
"My Name is Dr Michal Marek. It's good to see you awake, sir. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, my friend .. he," Haddock started, dismissing the need for a wheelchair.
"He's responding extremely well. He should be up and about quite quickly,"
"He's a strong-willed lad. Nothing fazes him," Haddock smiled. Even Dr Marek smiled warmly in return.
" How did we get here?"
"From what I know, a couple driving near the area witnessed a helicopter come down. When they reached the bank, they found you and Tintin unconscious,"
After pulling on a dressing gown to hide the hospital pyjamas, Dr Marek and the nurse led him to a ward several rooms down. Haddock's eyes sparkled as he laid eyes on his best friend. Even Snowy was asleep under the bed. Tintin sat up in bed as he approached.
Thundering Typhoons!
Despite his arm being in a sling, he still appeared to be his normal self.
Haddock gripped Tintin's hand the moment he stopped by his bedside.
"It's good to see you, lad," Haddock exclaimed, patting Tintin's shoulder. "We got lucky,"
"Very lucky," Tintin replied as Dr Marek, and the nurse left the ward.
x
Tintin stayed on the ward for another day. The pain had lessened further, and he could move around without any aid.
As Tintin sat down next to the window, he pondered their next move.
We'll never be able to find Calculus now, Tintin thought. Where do we start?
His eyes narrowed as he caught a headline on the front of the paper. Grabbing the newspaper from the other seat, Tintin fell back onto the seat in shock.
No ..
BORDURO-SYLDAVIAN INCIDENT
A Syldavian aircraft intercepted in Borduria, containing three Slydavians and a fourth unknown man ...
No, The Professor! That's got to be them!
I can't just sit here!
We need to go to Szohod!
x
"Tintin, I just found .."
As Haddock came face to face with an empty bed and neatly folded sheets and clothes, he sighed. He managed to hold in an exclamation just as he noticed a flash of ginger hair from outside the window.
Blistering... I knew this would happen.
Haddock gripped his jacket and rushed from the building.
It's a waste of time trying to talk him out of it, Haddock concluded as he caught up with Tintin and Snowy.
"Where to then?" Haddock asked as a smile spread across Tintin's face.
Yay, I've wanted to write this for a long time, but I could never finish it so this has been a long time coming.