Non-Participation II - Ten.
Both Scott and John were away from their machines and didn't hear Virgil's warning calls, but made a dash for the radio in the 'Firebus' when they saw the fireball. "Virgil!" Scott panted over the communication link. "Can you hear me?"
We could only hear the crackle of static and the roar of explosions as they followed the pipeline through the complex. Each blast seemed to be louder and more ferocious than the one before.
"Come in 'Firefly'!" Scott ordered.
We held our breath.
I was receiving more bruises from Trixie. "Oh Chris!" She whispered. "Do you think he's alright?"
I couldn't answer. I didn't know.
Scott tried again "Virgil! Come in Virgil! Can you hear me?"
"I hear you Scott." Virgil's voice came as a welcome relief to us all. "I was concentrating on putting out the fire but nothing seems to be working."
"Then get the heck out of there!"
But Virgil had anticipated Scott's order and his bulldozer scoop could be seen emerging from the complex.
Beside him the pipeline ruptured again sending the great machine rocking. Explosions continued out of the weakest points of the pipeline. The pipeline that ran around the edge of the park.
The pipeline that Thunderbird Two had landed beside!
"Chris!" I heard Virgil yell my name. "Push that red button!"
"What!" I hesitated momentarily.
"Push the red button NOW!" There was a real sense of urgency in his voice.
That, coupled with another explosion closer to us, spurred me onto action. I quickly flicked back the clear protective cover and slammed my hand down onto the button.
The resulting roar made me think that I'd been too late. I was forced down into the pilot's seat as Thunderbird Two was thrown skywards.
It took me a moment to realise that we'd taken off and were gaining altitude.
Another fireball rose into the air, grazing our starboard wing.
As we gained altitude the g-forces pushed me back into the seat. I could feel the blood rushing through my head. That coupled with the pressure build up in my ears made it very difficult to hear clearly. I swallowed and felt one of my ears pop.
"Chris!" Trixie yelled excitedly. "You're flying Thunderbird Two!"
"No I'm not! She's flying herself!" I retorted as the other ear popped and I found that could hear more clearly.
"Push the red button again!" I was glad to hear Virgil's voice again. Fighting against the g-forces I punched at the button.
We stopped.
It all became relatively quiet.
I took some deep breaths to calm my nerves and looked back at Trixie. She was sprawled across one of the seats. "Are you okay?" I asked in concern.
She sat up slowly. "I think so. What happened."
"We've taken off. We're flying, or more correctly hovering." I looked at the video screen's. The men of International Rescue appeared to be trying to contain the fires. "Looks like we're going to be here for a while."
"Mobile Control to Thunderbird Two."
"Go ahead Scott." I said.
"Are you two alright?"
"Yeah. We're fine." I told him.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until we've got things sorted down here. Okay?"
"Okay Scott. At least we're out of harms way." I told him as he signed off.
"So." Trixie sighed. "What do we do now?"
"I guess we wait."
Both Scott and John were away from their machines and didn't hear Virgil's warning calls, but made a dash for the radio in the 'Firebus' when they saw the fireball. "Virgil!" Scott panted over the communication link. "Can you hear me?"
We could only hear the crackle of static and the roar of explosions as they followed the pipeline through the complex. Each blast seemed to be louder and more ferocious than the one before.
"Come in 'Firefly'!" Scott ordered.
We held our breath.
I was receiving more bruises from Trixie. "Oh Chris!" She whispered. "Do you think he's alright?"
I couldn't answer. I didn't know.
Scott tried again "Virgil! Come in Virgil! Can you hear me?"
"I hear you Scott." Virgil's voice came as a welcome relief to us all. "I was concentrating on putting out the fire but nothing seems to be working."
"Then get the heck out of there!"
But Virgil had anticipated Scott's order and his bulldozer scoop could be seen emerging from the complex.
Beside him the pipeline ruptured again sending the great machine rocking. Explosions continued out of the weakest points of the pipeline. The pipeline that ran around the edge of the park.
The pipeline that Thunderbird Two had landed beside!
"Chris!" I heard Virgil yell my name. "Push that red button!"
"What!" I hesitated momentarily.
"Push the red button NOW!" There was a real sense of urgency in his voice.
That, coupled with another explosion closer to us, spurred me onto action. I quickly flicked back the clear protective cover and slammed my hand down onto the button.
The resulting roar made me think that I'd been too late. I was forced down into the pilot's seat as Thunderbird Two was thrown skywards.
It took me a moment to realise that we'd taken off and were gaining altitude.
Another fireball rose into the air, grazing our starboard wing.
As we gained altitude the g-forces pushed me back into the seat. I could feel the blood rushing through my head. That coupled with the pressure build up in my ears made it very difficult to hear clearly. I swallowed and felt one of my ears pop.
"Chris!" Trixie yelled excitedly. "You're flying Thunderbird Two!"
"No I'm not! She's flying herself!" I retorted as the other ear popped and I found that could hear more clearly.
"Push the red button again!" I was glad to hear Virgil's voice again. Fighting against the g-forces I punched at the button.
We stopped.
It all became relatively quiet.
I took some deep breaths to calm my nerves and looked back at Trixie. She was sprawled across one of the seats. "Are you okay?" I asked in concern.
She sat up slowly. "I think so. What happened."
"We've taken off. We're flying, or more correctly hovering." I looked at the video screen's. The men of International Rescue appeared to be trying to contain the fires. "Looks like we're going to be here for a while."
"Mobile Control to Thunderbird Two."
"Go ahead Scott." I said.
"Are you two alright?"
"Yeah. We're fine." I told him.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until we've got things sorted down here. Okay?"
"Okay Scott. At least we're out of harms way." I told him as he signed off.
"So." Trixie sighed. "What do we do now?"
"I guess we wait."
