Sixty Two - BF
The beginning was fairly easy going. The only obstacle was the smoke and to Scott this wasn't an obstacle. "Where do I need to go Virgil?"
His brother's voice came out of the speakers in his hood. "Keep heading in the same direction. You've got to go another two thirds as far."
"F-A-B."
There was silence inside the building and no communications over the airwaves, but still Scott was listening. The tiny "Sonar Sender" attached to his collar was emitting tiny pulses that he was receiving via even smaller earpieces in his both ears. To Scott this was one of the best inventions Brains had ever made. Between his cane and the "Sonar Sender" he was aware of every obstacle in his path.
Another feature that Brains had added in was that he'd programmed the sonar to receive signals from each family member's watch. Each signal was unique to that individual and caused the earpieces to emit a tone that was just as unique. It meant that at meal times Scott had to turn the "Sonar Sender" off or else the cacophony of sound would send him batty, but it also had the bonus of alerting him to the presence of any of his family within a radius of five metres. Once alerted, his own hearing would tell him if the person was moving stealthily or normally.
Gordon wasn't aware of this feature. It was the reason why he'd never managed to catch Scott out.
Scott moved on with assurance. He knew the way ahead was clear.
***
"What does he think he's doing?" Jeff yelled. "Scott doesn't have recent rescue experience! He could kill himself!"
"He's aware of the danger, Dad." John tried to reassure him. "But, to quote him, he's the best qualified to undertake the rescue. The others aren't used to getting around in complete darkness."
"Is it really that dark?"
"According to Alan, yes."
Jeff slammed his fist onto an intercom button. "Brains! Get up here now!" he shouted angrily.
Brains and Professor Bunsen answered the call immediately. They came running into the lounge. "What's wrong?"
"The direction finders aren't working." Jeff frowned at Brains. "Scott's gone into the building to rescue the victim. What's gone wrong with them Brains?"
They stared at him.
"Scott's d-done what!?" Brains stammered.
"But he could be killed." The professor complained. "I'll never find out if my machine works or not."
"He is tr-trying to save a l-life." Brains said contemptuously.
"I realise that, Robot Head, and I admire his motives, but couldn't one of the others have gone instead?"
"No." Jeff struggled to calm down. "Scott's in charge. He made the call. He's doing what he believes is best, what has the best chance of success."
"And what's his chances?" Bunny Bunsen asked.
"I don't know." Jeff snapped. "But what's gone wrong Brains. I want answers. I don't like International Rescue being caught on the back foot like this."
"I-I d-don't kn-know M-Mr T-Tracy." His employer's fierce stare was making Brains uncomfortable and exacerbating his stutter. "I-It w-would b-be v-very unu-usual f-for more th-than one d-direction f-finder to f-fail at th-the s-same t-t-time. S-Something m-must b-be b-blocking th-the s-signal. W-What d-does th-this c-company d-do?"
"We don't know Brains." John informed him. "They've been uncooperative from the start."
***
The "Sonar Sender's" signals changed. Scott reached out and felt a wall ahead. "Virgil. I've reached a dead end. Which way do I need to go?"
Virgil checked the monitor that showed Scott's location relative to the victims. "He's ahead of your position and a little to your right."
"Thanks." Scott felt along the wall and found a corner. He followed it round and found a ridge that could have been a doorframe. His fingers tracked over it and found something protruding. He grasped and turned it. To his relief the door opened. He stepped forward and closed the door behind him again in the hope of minimising the smoke in this new room. "Where to now Virgil?
"You're more in line with him. You need to keep going in the same direction you were before."
Scott felt along the wall for a couple of steps before he felt confident that he was once again heading in the right direction.
***
Outside, Alan and Gordon were cooling their heels. John was with them in spirit as he waited impatiently on board Thunderbird Five.
"I hate this." Gordon moaned. "I should be in there with him."
"If he needed your help he would have asked for it Gordon." John reminded him. "Just be ready in case you've got to go in."
"How's your oxygen supply?" Alan asked.
Gordon checked the gauge. "Full."
"Got a couple of spare canisters."
Gordon patted the straps of the backpack he wore. "Yep."
They waited some more.
***
Jeff couldn't wait any longer. "Base to Thunderbird Five."
John's image replaced his portrait. "Dad?"
"Any news?"
"Virgil says he's getting closer. He should be with the victim at any moment."
"Good! I won't be happy until he's out of there."
"We all agree with you on that one Dad."
"Scott." He could hear Virgil's voice. "You're in line with our victim. You need to move about three metres to your right."
Scott took two steps and found himself up against a wall. "I'm going to have to find a door." He felt along the wall until he found the obvious outline of a door. He found the handle but didn't turn it. "This is International Rescue!" He yelled through the obstruction. "Can you hear me?"
He heard a scuffle on the far side of the door. "Yes! Yes! I can hear you!"
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"What's your name?"
"Percy"
"Okay, Percy. Is the door locked?"
"Yes."
"Can you open it?"
"No."
"Can I open it from this side?"
The voice sounded a little perplexed. "No. It's on automatic lockdown. If you could cut away the lock you'd be able to get in."
"Okay." Scott acknowledged. "Percy! I want you to get as far away from the door as you can, and get down onto the floor. Have you got any water in there?"
"I've got my drink bottle, if I can find it in the dark."
"Good. Wet a bit of cloth and hold it over your face, like a mask. I don't know how much smoke will get in there when I get inside and I don't want you breathing any more than you need to. I have a protective suit for you, with an oxygen mask. As soon as I get the door open let me know where you are. Are there any obstacles in my way?"
"No the floor's clear."
"Good. Stand back!" Scott got the spare protective overall out of his bag and strung it across the backpack's straps so it would be within easy reach when he got inside. Then he removed the laser and once again felt the door's handle. Satisfied that he'd found the right place he started to cut through the door. 'At least I don't have to worry about safety goggles.' He thought grimly.
The laser made short work of the lock. He stood back and kicked at the door. It swung open. He stepped into the room.
"I'm over here." He heard Percy call. He made his way over to the victim. He felt his cane touch him.
"Here!" he pulled the overall out from the backpack's straps. "Can you get into this? Put the hood on first."
Percy complied. "Have you got a torch?"
"Ah, no. Our equipment means we, ah, don't need torches." This was one piece of equipment that Scott hadn't thought of bringing. He could hear the man struggle into the overalls.
"This is impossible when you can't see what you're doing." Percy complained.
'Not really' Scott thought to himself with a grin, as he assisted where he could.
"Done!" Percy exclaimed. "Now what?"
"Give me your arm and we'll get out of here."
"I'm glad you know where you're going. I don't have a clue."
'Just the blind leading the blind.' In the cover of darkness, Scott was still grinning to himself. He was enjoying being in action again. "Can you hear me, Virgil?"
"Loud and clear."
"We're on our way out. Are we headed for the door?"
"F-A-B." Virgil watched Scott's blue mark and the victim's green one move in tandem towards where he now knew the door to be. Then they started moving back along the hallway.
***
Everyone was unprepared for the explosion.
***
Scott found his grasp ripped from Percy's arm as he was thrown back against the wall. Stunned he lay still for a moment until the sounds of falling masonry caused him to curl into a ball to try to protect himself.
***
A pillar of flame appeared from within the black pall of smoke and shot towards Thunderbird Two. Virgil didn't have time to think. He threw the motors into action and sent Thunderbird Two screaming forward away from the imminent danger. The starboard wing was singed as the flames shot skywards. Warning buzzers started blaring at him from his control panel.
***
John stared at the video screen as Mobile Control's camera started shaking uncontrollably. He saw the shockwaves of the blast throw Alan off the stool, and Gordon dive to the ground covering his head. Then he couldn't see anything as black smoke obliterated his view. "Alan!" he yelled. "Gordon! What's happening?"
The beginning was fairly easy going. The only obstacle was the smoke and to Scott this wasn't an obstacle. "Where do I need to go Virgil?"
His brother's voice came out of the speakers in his hood. "Keep heading in the same direction. You've got to go another two thirds as far."
"F-A-B."
There was silence inside the building and no communications over the airwaves, but still Scott was listening. The tiny "Sonar Sender" attached to his collar was emitting tiny pulses that he was receiving via even smaller earpieces in his both ears. To Scott this was one of the best inventions Brains had ever made. Between his cane and the "Sonar Sender" he was aware of every obstacle in his path.
Another feature that Brains had added in was that he'd programmed the sonar to receive signals from each family member's watch. Each signal was unique to that individual and caused the earpieces to emit a tone that was just as unique. It meant that at meal times Scott had to turn the "Sonar Sender" off or else the cacophony of sound would send him batty, but it also had the bonus of alerting him to the presence of any of his family within a radius of five metres. Once alerted, his own hearing would tell him if the person was moving stealthily or normally.
Gordon wasn't aware of this feature. It was the reason why he'd never managed to catch Scott out.
Scott moved on with assurance. He knew the way ahead was clear.
***
"What does he think he's doing?" Jeff yelled. "Scott doesn't have recent rescue experience! He could kill himself!"
"He's aware of the danger, Dad." John tried to reassure him. "But, to quote him, he's the best qualified to undertake the rescue. The others aren't used to getting around in complete darkness."
"Is it really that dark?"
"According to Alan, yes."
Jeff slammed his fist onto an intercom button. "Brains! Get up here now!" he shouted angrily.
Brains and Professor Bunsen answered the call immediately. They came running into the lounge. "What's wrong?"
"The direction finders aren't working." Jeff frowned at Brains. "Scott's gone into the building to rescue the victim. What's gone wrong with them Brains?"
They stared at him.
"Scott's d-done what!?" Brains stammered.
"But he could be killed." The professor complained. "I'll never find out if my machine works or not."
"He is tr-trying to save a l-life." Brains said contemptuously.
"I realise that, Robot Head, and I admire his motives, but couldn't one of the others have gone instead?"
"No." Jeff struggled to calm down. "Scott's in charge. He made the call. He's doing what he believes is best, what has the best chance of success."
"And what's his chances?" Bunny Bunsen asked.
"I don't know." Jeff snapped. "But what's gone wrong Brains. I want answers. I don't like International Rescue being caught on the back foot like this."
"I-I d-don't kn-know M-Mr T-Tracy." His employer's fierce stare was making Brains uncomfortable and exacerbating his stutter. "I-It w-would b-be v-very unu-usual f-for more th-than one d-direction f-finder to f-fail at th-the s-same t-t-time. S-Something m-must b-be b-blocking th-the s-signal. W-What d-does th-this c-company d-do?"
"We don't know Brains." John informed him. "They've been uncooperative from the start."
***
The "Sonar Sender's" signals changed. Scott reached out and felt a wall ahead. "Virgil. I've reached a dead end. Which way do I need to go?"
Virgil checked the monitor that showed Scott's location relative to the victims. "He's ahead of your position and a little to your right."
"Thanks." Scott felt along the wall and found a corner. He followed it round and found a ridge that could have been a doorframe. His fingers tracked over it and found something protruding. He grasped and turned it. To his relief the door opened. He stepped forward and closed the door behind him again in the hope of minimising the smoke in this new room. "Where to now Virgil?
"You're more in line with him. You need to keep going in the same direction you were before."
Scott felt along the wall for a couple of steps before he felt confident that he was once again heading in the right direction.
***
Outside, Alan and Gordon were cooling their heels. John was with them in spirit as he waited impatiently on board Thunderbird Five.
"I hate this." Gordon moaned. "I should be in there with him."
"If he needed your help he would have asked for it Gordon." John reminded him. "Just be ready in case you've got to go in."
"How's your oxygen supply?" Alan asked.
Gordon checked the gauge. "Full."
"Got a couple of spare canisters."
Gordon patted the straps of the backpack he wore. "Yep."
They waited some more.
***
Jeff couldn't wait any longer. "Base to Thunderbird Five."
John's image replaced his portrait. "Dad?"
"Any news?"
"Virgil says he's getting closer. He should be with the victim at any moment."
"Good! I won't be happy until he's out of there."
"We all agree with you on that one Dad."
"Scott." He could hear Virgil's voice. "You're in line with our victim. You need to move about three metres to your right."
Scott took two steps and found himself up against a wall. "I'm going to have to find a door." He felt along the wall until he found the obvious outline of a door. He found the handle but didn't turn it. "This is International Rescue!" He yelled through the obstruction. "Can you hear me?"
He heard a scuffle on the far side of the door. "Yes! Yes! I can hear you!"
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"What's your name?"
"Percy"
"Okay, Percy. Is the door locked?"
"Yes."
"Can you open it?"
"No."
"Can I open it from this side?"
The voice sounded a little perplexed. "No. It's on automatic lockdown. If you could cut away the lock you'd be able to get in."
"Okay." Scott acknowledged. "Percy! I want you to get as far away from the door as you can, and get down onto the floor. Have you got any water in there?"
"I've got my drink bottle, if I can find it in the dark."
"Good. Wet a bit of cloth and hold it over your face, like a mask. I don't know how much smoke will get in there when I get inside and I don't want you breathing any more than you need to. I have a protective suit for you, with an oxygen mask. As soon as I get the door open let me know where you are. Are there any obstacles in my way?"
"No the floor's clear."
"Good. Stand back!" Scott got the spare protective overall out of his bag and strung it across the backpack's straps so it would be within easy reach when he got inside. Then he removed the laser and once again felt the door's handle. Satisfied that he'd found the right place he started to cut through the door. 'At least I don't have to worry about safety goggles.' He thought grimly.
The laser made short work of the lock. He stood back and kicked at the door. It swung open. He stepped into the room.
"I'm over here." He heard Percy call. He made his way over to the victim. He felt his cane touch him.
"Here!" he pulled the overall out from the backpack's straps. "Can you get into this? Put the hood on first."
Percy complied. "Have you got a torch?"
"Ah, no. Our equipment means we, ah, don't need torches." This was one piece of equipment that Scott hadn't thought of bringing. He could hear the man struggle into the overalls.
"This is impossible when you can't see what you're doing." Percy complained.
'Not really' Scott thought to himself with a grin, as he assisted where he could.
"Done!" Percy exclaimed. "Now what?"
"Give me your arm and we'll get out of here."
"I'm glad you know where you're going. I don't have a clue."
'Just the blind leading the blind.' In the cover of darkness, Scott was still grinning to himself. He was enjoying being in action again. "Can you hear me, Virgil?"
"Loud and clear."
"We're on our way out. Are we headed for the door?"
"F-A-B." Virgil watched Scott's blue mark and the victim's green one move in tandem towards where he now knew the door to be. Then they started moving back along the hallway.
***
Everyone was unprepared for the explosion.
***
Scott found his grasp ripped from Percy's arm as he was thrown back against the wall. Stunned he lay still for a moment until the sounds of falling masonry caused him to curl into a ball to try to protect himself.
***
A pillar of flame appeared from within the black pall of smoke and shot towards Thunderbird Two. Virgil didn't have time to think. He threw the motors into action and sent Thunderbird Two screaming forward away from the imminent danger. The starboard wing was singed as the flames shot skywards. Warning buzzers started blaring at him from his control panel.
***
John stared at the video screen as Mobile Control's camera started shaking uncontrollably. He saw the shockwaves of the blast throw Alan off the stool, and Gordon dive to the ground covering his head. Then he couldn't see anything as black smoke obliterated his view. "Alan!" he yelled. "Gordon! What's happening?"