Meanwhile below the suface, Gordon and Alan continued transferring victims
from the trapped sub to TB4. They had successfully saved three when Gordon
realised they would be too heavy to take the fourth.
'Alan, we're not going to be able to get them all aboard without sinking TB4' he told his brother.
'What?' Alan asked, then 'oh Gordo it'll be fine we can get them all up.'
'I don't wanna take the risk Alan' Gordon interrupted in a tone not to be argued with, 'I'd rather get three up to safety, than lose all them all if the pressure becomes too much and TB4 crumbles under the pressure.'
'Fine' Alan said in exasperation, knowing that nothing and no-one could change Gordon's mind if he set his mind to something. 'What do you suggest we do?'
Gordon looked like his mind was already made up, 'I want you to take these three back to the surface..' he said gesturing to the sub crew members, before turning his steely gaze on his brother, 'I'll wait with the fourth till you come back'.
Alan immediately looked mutinous, 'ah ah, no dice Gordo!' he declared.
'Alan' Gordon sighed, 'I can't leave him alone down here, under water, I know what it's like'.
Alan saw the depth reflected in his brother's eyes and knew he was referring to his own accident. 'Which is why I can't leave you down here Gordo.' He said softly.
'Alan.' Gordon began, but his brother interrupted him.
'I just can't do it.'
Gordon nodded at him, but even as he did so he thought of an idea. Alan was surprised it wasn't like Gordon to back down so easily. Gordon walked slowly to the controls in TB4 and knew what he had to do,
'The crew come first' he repeated to himself as he set the controls to auto pilot- timer. Leaving himself a minute to leave the craft. Alan would understand, and he'd be back to pick them up in no time. As soon as he saw his brother's back was turned he grabbed the oxygen mask and in one fluid moment wrenched open TB4's door and slammed it shut. Alan immediately spun around and tried to open the door, and then the engines started.
'Good' Gordon thought as he felt the cold water clamp like a vice around him. 'Auto-pilot's on'.
Before he turned to swim back to the sub and the fourth member, he saw the realisation dawn in Alan's eyes as he pressed his face to the glass in TB4' door.
'Sorry Alan' Gordon mouthed and then swam back towards the sub.
All he could hear was Alan's voice from his transmitter water-proof watch.
'GORDON' he was yelling, 'COME BACK!'
but Gordon didn't.
Alan was furious, he only stopped yelling when he realised that the rescued crew were staring at him like he'd gone mad. He should have known Gordon would pull a stunt like that, he thought to himself. Alan was only really angry to mask his fear. He didn't want Gordon down there alon with that man. He knew that the pressure in the sub wouldn't last much longer. It had already been trapped there over an hour and the air was failing.
'Damn it Gordon!' he yelled in his head, 'Why do you always have to play the hero?'
As TB4 asscended towards the surface, he only hoped that Virg and Scott would be back to take care of the crew so he could get back for Gordon. One thing was for sure, if Gordo thought he could get rid of him that easily, he had another thing coming. Afterall, hanging around was his speciality, he'd had four older brothers to perfect the art on.
Scott almost laughed with relief as he began to descend back on the rig, which was rapidly sinking. Scott didn't know how much longer he could leave TB1 on her surface, but right now he was more concerned about his brothers.
'Virg, I'm at the danger zone' he radioed his brother, 'how far away are you'.
'E.T.A 4.5 minutes Scott' Virgil's voice replied.
'Hey well done Virg' Scott replied 'you've really caught up fast'.
'Well' Virgil answered mimicking Scott's baratone, 'I tend to break records if I'm worried enough'.
'Alright' Scott said with a smile, 'I deserved that one, I'm gonna see how I can help those kids.'
'Geez Scott, how old are you?' Virgil asked laughing at his brother's turn of phrase.
'Oh just hurry up will you' Scott answered and Virgil became serious again, all joking gone form his voice.
'Get them out quick Scott' .
'I'll do my best Virg'.
Bringing TB1 into a landing position, Scott perfected an expert landing, and as quickly as possible radioed base ,
'I'm back at danger zone Dad'
'FAB' Jeff answered the strain echoing in his voice, 'Hurry Scott, according to John, you fellas don't have much time until the heat of the oil gets too much.' his voice trailed off.
'I get ya Dad'. Scott said hurriedly, 'we'll be as quick as we can'.
Jumping from his seat he quickly exited Thunderbird 1, just as he heard Virgil's engines roaring overhead. Running across the dangerously unstable rig Scott leaned himself as far over the railing as he dared to without falling in. Scanning the water desperately for his younger brothers. He wanted to contact them but he also knew it was imperative that they concentrated on what they were doing. He'd give it five minutes and then professionally or unprofessionally his big brother role would come to the surface and he'd have to make sure they were ok.
Virgil couldn't get out of his seat fast enough, as soon as he brought TB2 down next to TB1 on the rig, he launched himself from the craft, not bothering to call base. For a second as he was hurrying towards the end of the rig and his elder brother he thought how unstable the rig was but the thought quickly vanished.
'Any sign?' he asked breathlessly as he joined Scott, peering desperately at the water.
'Nothing yet.. I think I'll call them.'
'SCOTT!' Virgil interrupted
'I know Virg' Scott began raising his eyes to Virgils, 'You think I'm a nag but sometimes you guys need looking after and that's my job. Do any of you think for one second how I feel when...' He trailed off as he saw Virgil pointing at the water.
TB 4 was surfacing!
'Yes!' the eldest Tracy siblings cheered together and hurried down to where TB4 was docking.
They got as close as possible and saw the hatch open. Then Alan's head popped out.
'Virg, Scott, give me a hand would you?' he asked impatiently, pulling a crew member through the hatch.
Virgil could hardly keep his heart from pounding, and Scott was grinning like a dope as they helped the crew members onto the rig. It was only when they helped the third crew member on to the rig that Virgil noticed Alan's demeanor. His youngest sibling did not look happy, in fact he looked far from it. That's when he noticed Gordon's absence. Confusion coursing through him Virgil looked at Alan.
'Where's Gordo?' he asked as Scott's smile vanished and he looked about him.
'Back down there, that's where he is' Alan spoke vehemently , gesturing to the sea, 'he refused to leave the fourth crew member and we couldn't take all the weight in TB4.'
Virgil's confusion turned into a sick panic and he turned to Scott who was looking positively frantic.
'ALAN!' Scott shouted, 'WE HAVEN'T GOT TIME FOR THIS, LOOK AT THE WATER, A FEW MORE MINUTES AND IT'LL BE ALIGHT!'
'I know that Scott' Alan hit back , 'but you know what he's like. He shut me in TB4 and stopped me from stopping him.'
Virgil was just staring at the bubbling water the nausea building in his stomach.
'I'm going back for them' Alan spoke, snapping both of his brother's back to earth.
'No way!' Scott asserted
'No you're not!' Virgil agreed
'I'll go' Scott announced , 'I'll go get him.'
'No Scott,' Virgil put in , 'I want to go!'
'LISTEN' Alan shouted causing both of his brothers to shut up , 'one of you has to fly the crew back to safety and the other has to winch the rig up and try to stop it sinking. That's just the way it is! Now I'm going to get Gordo, we haven't got time to stand here arguing about it!'
Scott and Virgil immediately began to argue.
'Alan, you're not experienced enough to handle this.' Scott began.
'DON'T YOU DARE BABY ME SCOTT' Alan roared, 'I'M 21 NOT 5 AND HE'S MY BROTHER TOO, I'M JUST AS EXPERIENCED AS THE REST OF YOU!'
Virgil shot Scott a sarcastic, 'well done you've gone and upset him now' look. And spoke up, 'No one's doubting your experience Alan' he said, 'I just think that I should go, I'm a calming influence on Gordo, you two are too alike.'
'Virg!!!!' Scott turned his attention to his other brother, 'I said I was going!'
'Uh I don't think so...'
'I'm the eldest!'
'But that's exactly why you shouldn't go, Gordon feels pressured by you.'
'He does not!!'
'Yes he does, how about the time..'
As Scott and Virgil argued back and forth over who was going down, Alan took a leaf out of Gordon's book, shut the hatch while the two remained squabbling, and turned on the engines.
Both Virgil and Scott froze as TB4 's powerful thrusters roared to life, and she began to descend beneath the surface.
'ALAAAAAAAAN!!!' Scott screamed as the top of the craft disappeared .
Virgil just stood staring his jaw hanging open in shock as the yellow of TB4 diminished as the murky depths swallowed it up.
'Wow you guys sure do a lot of yelling!' said one of the crew..................
Thankyou for the kind reviews, you guys are great and you make me want to write more.
'Alan, we're not going to be able to get them all aboard without sinking TB4' he told his brother.
'What?' Alan asked, then 'oh Gordo it'll be fine we can get them all up.'
'I don't wanna take the risk Alan' Gordon interrupted in a tone not to be argued with, 'I'd rather get three up to safety, than lose all them all if the pressure becomes too much and TB4 crumbles under the pressure.'
'Fine' Alan said in exasperation, knowing that nothing and no-one could change Gordon's mind if he set his mind to something. 'What do you suggest we do?'
Gordon looked like his mind was already made up, 'I want you to take these three back to the surface..' he said gesturing to the sub crew members, before turning his steely gaze on his brother, 'I'll wait with the fourth till you come back'.
Alan immediately looked mutinous, 'ah ah, no dice Gordo!' he declared.
'Alan' Gordon sighed, 'I can't leave him alone down here, under water, I know what it's like'.
Alan saw the depth reflected in his brother's eyes and knew he was referring to his own accident. 'Which is why I can't leave you down here Gordo.' He said softly.
'Alan.' Gordon began, but his brother interrupted him.
'I just can't do it.'
Gordon nodded at him, but even as he did so he thought of an idea. Alan was surprised it wasn't like Gordon to back down so easily. Gordon walked slowly to the controls in TB4 and knew what he had to do,
'The crew come first' he repeated to himself as he set the controls to auto pilot- timer. Leaving himself a minute to leave the craft. Alan would understand, and he'd be back to pick them up in no time. As soon as he saw his brother's back was turned he grabbed the oxygen mask and in one fluid moment wrenched open TB4's door and slammed it shut. Alan immediately spun around and tried to open the door, and then the engines started.
'Good' Gordon thought as he felt the cold water clamp like a vice around him. 'Auto-pilot's on'.
Before he turned to swim back to the sub and the fourth member, he saw the realisation dawn in Alan's eyes as he pressed his face to the glass in TB4' door.
'Sorry Alan' Gordon mouthed and then swam back towards the sub.
All he could hear was Alan's voice from his transmitter water-proof watch.
'GORDON' he was yelling, 'COME BACK!'
but Gordon didn't.
Alan was furious, he only stopped yelling when he realised that the rescued crew were staring at him like he'd gone mad. He should have known Gordon would pull a stunt like that, he thought to himself. Alan was only really angry to mask his fear. He didn't want Gordon down there alon with that man. He knew that the pressure in the sub wouldn't last much longer. It had already been trapped there over an hour and the air was failing.
'Damn it Gordon!' he yelled in his head, 'Why do you always have to play the hero?'
As TB4 asscended towards the surface, he only hoped that Virg and Scott would be back to take care of the crew so he could get back for Gordon. One thing was for sure, if Gordo thought he could get rid of him that easily, he had another thing coming. Afterall, hanging around was his speciality, he'd had four older brothers to perfect the art on.
Scott almost laughed with relief as he began to descend back on the rig, which was rapidly sinking. Scott didn't know how much longer he could leave TB1 on her surface, but right now he was more concerned about his brothers.
'Virg, I'm at the danger zone' he radioed his brother, 'how far away are you'.
'E.T.A 4.5 minutes Scott' Virgil's voice replied.
'Hey well done Virg' Scott replied 'you've really caught up fast'.
'Well' Virgil answered mimicking Scott's baratone, 'I tend to break records if I'm worried enough'.
'Alright' Scott said with a smile, 'I deserved that one, I'm gonna see how I can help those kids.'
'Geez Scott, how old are you?' Virgil asked laughing at his brother's turn of phrase.
'Oh just hurry up will you' Scott answered and Virgil became serious again, all joking gone form his voice.
'Get them out quick Scott' .
'I'll do my best Virg'.
Bringing TB1 into a landing position, Scott perfected an expert landing, and as quickly as possible radioed base ,
'I'm back at danger zone Dad'
'FAB' Jeff answered the strain echoing in his voice, 'Hurry Scott, according to John, you fellas don't have much time until the heat of the oil gets too much.' his voice trailed off.
'I get ya Dad'. Scott said hurriedly, 'we'll be as quick as we can'.
Jumping from his seat he quickly exited Thunderbird 1, just as he heard Virgil's engines roaring overhead. Running across the dangerously unstable rig Scott leaned himself as far over the railing as he dared to without falling in. Scanning the water desperately for his younger brothers. He wanted to contact them but he also knew it was imperative that they concentrated on what they were doing. He'd give it five minutes and then professionally or unprofessionally his big brother role would come to the surface and he'd have to make sure they were ok.
Virgil couldn't get out of his seat fast enough, as soon as he brought TB2 down next to TB1 on the rig, he launched himself from the craft, not bothering to call base. For a second as he was hurrying towards the end of the rig and his elder brother he thought how unstable the rig was but the thought quickly vanished.
'Any sign?' he asked breathlessly as he joined Scott, peering desperately at the water.
'Nothing yet.. I think I'll call them.'
'SCOTT!' Virgil interrupted
'I know Virg' Scott began raising his eyes to Virgils, 'You think I'm a nag but sometimes you guys need looking after and that's my job. Do any of you think for one second how I feel when...' He trailed off as he saw Virgil pointing at the water.
TB 4 was surfacing!
'Yes!' the eldest Tracy siblings cheered together and hurried down to where TB4 was docking.
They got as close as possible and saw the hatch open. Then Alan's head popped out.
'Virg, Scott, give me a hand would you?' he asked impatiently, pulling a crew member through the hatch.
Virgil could hardly keep his heart from pounding, and Scott was grinning like a dope as they helped the crew members onto the rig. It was only when they helped the third crew member on to the rig that Virgil noticed Alan's demeanor. His youngest sibling did not look happy, in fact he looked far from it. That's when he noticed Gordon's absence. Confusion coursing through him Virgil looked at Alan.
'Where's Gordo?' he asked as Scott's smile vanished and he looked about him.
'Back down there, that's where he is' Alan spoke vehemently , gesturing to the sea, 'he refused to leave the fourth crew member and we couldn't take all the weight in TB4.'
Virgil's confusion turned into a sick panic and he turned to Scott who was looking positively frantic.
'ALAN!' Scott shouted, 'WE HAVEN'T GOT TIME FOR THIS, LOOK AT THE WATER, A FEW MORE MINUTES AND IT'LL BE ALIGHT!'
'I know that Scott' Alan hit back , 'but you know what he's like. He shut me in TB4 and stopped me from stopping him.'
Virgil was just staring at the bubbling water the nausea building in his stomach.
'I'm going back for them' Alan spoke, snapping both of his brother's back to earth.
'No way!' Scott asserted
'No you're not!' Virgil agreed
'I'll go' Scott announced , 'I'll go get him.'
'No Scott,' Virgil put in , 'I want to go!'
'LISTEN' Alan shouted causing both of his brothers to shut up , 'one of you has to fly the crew back to safety and the other has to winch the rig up and try to stop it sinking. That's just the way it is! Now I'm going to get Gordo, we haven't got time to stand here arguing about it!'
Scott and Virgil immediately began to argue.
'Alan, you're not experienced enough to handle this.' Scott began.
'DON'T YOU DARE BABY ME SCOTT' Alan roared, 'I'M 21 NOT 5 AND HE'S MY BROTHER TOO, I'M JUST AS EXPERIENCED AS THE REST OF YOU!'
Virgil shot Scott a sarcastic, 'well done you've gone and upset him now' look. And spoke up, 'No one's doubting your experience Alan' he said, 'I just think that I should go, I'm a calming influence on Gordo, you two are too alike.'
'Virg!!!!' Scott turned his attention to his other brother, 'I said I was going!'
'Uh I don't think so...'
'I'm the eldest!'
'But that's exactly why you shouldn't go, Gordon feels pressured by you.'
'He does not!!'
'Yes he does, how about the time..'
As Scott and Virgil argued back and forth over who was going down, Alan took a leaf out of Gordon's book, shut the hatch while the two remained squabbling, and turned on the engines.
Both Virgil and Scott froze as TB4 's powerful thrusters roared to life, and she began to descend beneath the surface.
'ALAAAAAAAAN!!!' Scott screamed as the top of the craft disappeared .
Virgil just stood staring his jaw hanging open in shock as the yellow of TB4 diminished as the murky depths swallowed it up.
'Wow you guys sure do a lot of yelling!' said one of the crew..................
Thankyou for the kind reviews, you guys are great and you make me want to write more.