Sixty Three - BF
Virgil brought Thunderbird Two around so she was facing the danger zone and examined his control panel anxiously. The warning alarms that had gone off had all been silenced. Most of them had been the result of his sudden acceleration. Only one warning light remained on. The gauge that kept a close watch on his starboard wing's temperature. As he watched the temperature decreased and the warning light winked off.
Satisfied that he'd sustained no real damage, and could safely remain airborne, he turned his attention to the scene in front of him.
It looked no different to how it had been before. That thick, black cloud of smoke still hung over the building obliterating the view. He had no way of knowing how things were below that cloud. He switched his attention to where he'd last seen Mobile Control.
***
John anxiously scanned his video screen for signs that the smoke was dissipating. He was relieved when a hooded figure swam into view. "Alan! Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah. We're fine, John. Few bruises, that's all."
"What happened?"
"Something exploded. Hang on, I've got to try to reach Scott."
John waited impatiently for some sign that his older brother had survived that explosion.
***
Scott uncurled slowly, feeling bits of debris fall off him. 'It's like Regnad all over again.' he thought. Apart from a general soreness he appeared to have escaped any real injury. "Percy?" he asked. "Can you hear me Percy?"
There was no reply.
"Percy?"
He received a reply, but this was from the speakers within his hood. "Scott, are you reading me?"
"I'm here, Alan and I'm okay. I don't know about our victim though, I'm going to have to try to find him. What happened?" Scott was feeling about for his "Sonar Sender". It had been detached from his collar during the melee. He found it hanging from its safety chain and, with difficulty because of his gloves, reaffixed it. Satisfied that it was still working he felt about to find his cane. His searching hands were unable to seek it out.
"We don't know. Something exploded."
"Are you guys okay?" Scott was searching for Percy now.
"We are. Thunderbird Two's a mile away. I guess he took evasive action, hang on, he's calling us. Go ahead Virgil."
Alan didn't shut down the link and Scott could hear him conversing with Virgil. "So you've got no damage, Virg?"
"Nothing we need worry about. I'm going to get back into position."
"Sorry about that Scott." Alan's voice became clearer. "He's fine. He'll give us a reading on your victim's position shortly."
"Percy."
"Huh."
"Percy. Our victim's name is Percy." Scott's hands were still feeling over the rubble, trying to find the missing man. His "Sonar Sender" picked up something with a softer texture than the rest of the rubble. He felt his way closer and touched something that yielded.
It was an arm.
He felt his way up the arm and found the switch that activated the Vital Signs Monitor. "Alan. I've turned on Percy's VSM. How is he?"
"I've got a reading, Scott. He's out cold, there's a slight reduction in blood pressure, but otherwise seems fine. Are you going to be able to get him out of there?"
"I don't know that I can carry him over all this rubble alone, and I've lost my cane. Anyway, I don't want to risk moving him any more than I have to. Better tell Gordon to get suited up and bring a stretcher."
"He's already got that under control. How's the "Sonar Sender" holding up?"
"Another of Brains' miracle gadgets. It's working like a charm." Scott started to clear the debris away from on top of Percy.
"Thunderbird Two to Scott."
"I'm here Virgil."
"So I see. I've got you on my scanners. Both of you."
"Did you hear what I was talking to Alan about?"
"Yes. I guess I'd better direct Gordon to your position."
***
Gordon stopped at Mobile Control one more time before he headed into the inky blackness of the smoke filled building. "Any last instructions, Alan?"
"Yeah. Be careful. Virgil's going to guide you."
"Good." Gordon pulled his hood over his head and made sure the collapsible stretcher was strapped firmly to his backpack. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck."
Gordon approached the writhing mass of black smoke with some trepidation. He'd felt a profound sense of unease when he last entered that black hole with Scott, and now he was going to have to enter alone and find his way to his brother. "Nothing to it!" he told himself, but his own bravado was failing him.
Nervously he took his first steps through the smoke.
Virgil brought Thunderbird Two around so she was facing the danger zone and examined his control panel anxiously. The warning alarms that had gone off had all been silenced. Most of them had been the result of his sudden acceleration. Only one warning light remained on. The gauge that kept a close watch on his starboard wing's temperature. As he watched the temperature decreased and the warning light winked off.
Satisfied that he'd sustained no real damage, and could safely remain airborne, he turned his attention to the scene in front of him.
It looked no different to how it had been before. That thick, black cloud of smoke still hung over the building obliterating the view. He had no way of knowing how things were below that cloud. He switched his attention to where he'd last seen Mobile Control.
***
John anxiously scanned his video screen for signs that the smoke was dissipating. He was relieved when a hooded figure swam into view. "Alan! Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah. We're fine, John. Few bruises, that's all."
"What happened?"
"Something exploded. Hang on, I've got to try to reach Scott."
John waited impatiently for some sign that his older brother had survived that explosion.
***
Scott uncurled slowly, feeling bits of debris fall off him. 'It's like Regnad all over again.' he thought. Apart from a general soreness he appeared to have escaped any real injury. "Percy?" he asked. "Can you hear me Percy?"
There was no reply.
"Percy?"
He received a reply, but this was from the speakers within his hood. "Scott, are you reading me?"
"I'm here, Alan and I'm okay. I don't know about our victim though, I'm going to have to try to find him. What happened?" Scott was feeling about for his "Sonar Sender". It had been detached from his collar during the melee. He found it hanging from its safety chain and, with difficulty because of his gloves, reaffixed it. Satisfied that it was still working he felt about to find his cane. His searching hands were unable to seek it out.
"We don't know. Something exploded."
"Are you guys okay?" Scott was searching for Percy now.
"We are. Thunderbird Two's a mile away. I guess he took evasive action, hang on, he's calling us. Go ahead Virgil."
Alan didn't shut down the link and Scott could hear him conversing with Virgil. "So you've got no damage, Virg?"
"Nothing we need worry about. I'm going to get back into position."
"Sorry about that Scott." Alan's voice became clearer. "He's fine. He'll give us a reading on your victim's position shortly."
"Percy."
"Huh."
"Percy. Our victim's name is Percy." Scott's hands were still feeling over the rubble, trying to find the missing man. His "Sonar Sender" picked up something with a softer texture than the rest of the rubble. He felt his way closer and touched something that yielded.
It was an arm.
He felt his way up the arm and found the switch that activated the Vital Signs Monitor. "Alan. I've turned on Percy's VSM. How is he?"
"I've got a reading, Scott. He's out cold, there's a slight reduction in blood pressure, but otherwise seems fine. Are you going to be able to get him out of there?"
"I don't know that I can carry him over all this rubble alone, and I've lost my cane. Anyway, I don't want to risk moving him any more than I have to. Better tell Gordon to get suited up and bring a stretcher."
"He's already got that under control. How's the "Sonar Sender" holding up?"
"Another of Brains' miracle gadgets. It's working like a charm." Scott started to clear the debris away from on top of Percy.
"Thunderbird Two to Scott."
"I'm here Virgil."
"So I see. I've got you on my scanners. Both of you."
"Did you hear what I was talking to Alan about?"
"Yes. I guess I'd better direct Gordon to your position."
***
Gordon stopped at Mobile Control one more time before he headed into the inky blackness of the smoke filled building. "Any last instructions, Alan?"
"Yeah. Be careful. Virgil's going to guide you."
"Good." Gordon pulled his hood over his head and made sure the collapsible stretcher was strapped firmly to his backpack. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck."
Gordon approached the writhing mass of black smoke with some trepidation. He'd felt a profound sense of unease when he last entered that black hole with Scott, and now he was going to have to enter alone and find his way to his brother. "Nothing to it!" he told himself, but his own bravado was failing him.
Nervously he took his first steps through the smoke.