Disclaimer: I don't own Thunderbirds in any way.
Here we go again…I'm on a role!
CHAPTER THREE – Inferno"Scott what's your E.T.A?" Jeff asked over the radio.
"My estimated time of arrival is in five minutes".
"We're right on your tail. E.T.A twelve minutes" Jeff confirmed.
Alan and Gordon were in Thunderbird Two with Jeff and Virgil at the controls. Alan hadn't said a word since they had taken off and continued to stare out of the windows of giant craft the whole way there.
Jeff looked back at Alan and noticed Gordon was looking at him with a puzzled expression. Gordon glanced at Alan then back at his dad and Jeff understood what he was asking. Jeff wasn't the only one to notice Alan's silence. Turning back to the controls he noted Virgil had also been glancing back at Alan every now and then and Jeff knew he was worried about the quietness of his younger brother.
Virgil being one of the more down to earth and mild mannered of all the Tracy brothers cared deeply for all his brothers but felt protective towards Alan, as they all did, because he was the youngest. When they were kids Virgil always looked out for Alan and Gordon. Virgil remembered one incident when Alan was just five years old, he had fallen and grazed his arm while Virgil and his brothers had been trying to teach him to play baseball. Alan had gone straight to Virgil and held out his arm crying that it hurt. Virgil had just smiled and took him inside where he fished out a band-aid from the cupboard. After that incident whenever Alan injured himself he always came straight to him. Virgil smiled at the memory.
"E.T.A three minutes. Thunderbird One is already on the ground" Virgil looked at the location monitor seeing Thunderbird One a good sixty yards from the rescue area, 'that must be some fire for him to land so far away'.
Glancing back at Alan again he couldn't help the worry he felt. He knew that Alan had had a hard time with the Hood when he had trapped them on Thunderbird Five and they were all worried about Alan, TinTin and Fermat that day when they were stuck on the Island being chased by that lunatic and his henchmen. But they had all come through and saved them all. Virgil shook his head trying to get his concentration back on the mission.
"Virgil, you and Gordon go get the firefly ready" Jeff ordered.
"FAB Dad" Virgil answered before he and Gordon left the cockpit.
"Thunderbird Two to Thunderbird One"
"Go ahead dad" came Scott's voice over the radio.
"Where just coming into land now. How does it look?" Jeff asked.
"Most of the school is in flames and there are still some kids trapped in the main building. The teachers are counting heads as we speak to confirm how many are missing" Scott replied.
"FAB Scott. When we land Virgil and Gordon will bring out the firefly and I want you to get into your fire gear understood?"
"Sure dad, Scott out"
Jeff turned back to Alan who was still gazing out the window, "Alan".
Alan started at the sound of his name, as his mind had been elsewhere
"Alan I need you focused son. Are you sure your up to this?" Jeff was still a little worried.
"Dad I'm fine, really" Alan answered smiling at his father.
"…ok son. Go get your fire suit and breathing gear on".
"FAB" and with that he left the cockpit.
Scott watched from the ground next to Thunderbird One ready in his fire suit as Thunderbird Two executed a speedy yet perfect landing. The legs lifted the giant cargo ship up off the ground and the Firefly rolled down off its carrier platform.
Scott waited until his father and Alan exited the ship and came running over, also wearing their fire gear, to meet him
There were people everywhere all shouting to each other in French. Over fifty fire engines and hundreds of fire fighters were working hard to stop the blaze in the 18th century school building. Paramedics and the police were taking care of the injured and controlling the scene as on lookers and terrified school kids watched from a safe distance. Scott could only describe the scene before him as controlled chaos.
"Scott what's the situation?" Jeff asked as they reached Scott who was helping the police.
"Teachers have confirmed that three kids are missing. They said that they were last seen on the first floor in the main building which is that one over there" Scott pointed to the largest building.
"Ok, this is what we're going to do. We're going to get as close to the entrance as we safely can then Virgil and Gordon will use the foam from the Firefly to dowse the flames at the front of the building. Once they're done you, me and Alan will go in and look for the kids" Jeff finished receiving affirmatives from Scott and Alan.
"Jeff to Firefly, Virgil, Gordon did you get that?" Jeff asked through his headset.
"FAB dad, we're already in position" Virgil answered.
"Just say the word" came Gordon's voice.
"Scott go and speak to the fire chief and tell him what we're going to do. We'll go and tell the paramedics to get ready," Jeff ordered.
"FAB" and Scott, who could speak basic French, ran off in the direction of the commanding fire chief.
Once the emergency services were notified the fire department were in position to assist the Firefly in the firefight. Jeff, Scott and Alan quickly got into position pulling their fire helmets over their heads.
"Ok Gordon open her up" Jeff called through the radio and the Firefly's heat resistant foam smashed through the fire, and the burning giant 12 foot oak front doors, ripping them off their hinges with ease. At that signal the firemen turned on their hoses to assist.
The flames reseeded and were slowly extinguished at the front of the building, but Jeff and the boys knew that they only had a short amount of time to find the children before the fire would spread again.
The fire had receded just in time as the Firefly abruptly ran out of foam.
"Ok we're out, its now or never dad" Virgil called over the radio from the Firefly.
"Lets go!" Jeff shouted and he, Scott and Alan ran into the burning building to find the kids.
"We need to get to the first floor. Boys don't get separated ok. The stairs are just ahead," they made their way to the end of the wide stone and wood corridor and up the old wooden staircase.
"Dad the fire is already starting to take hold again," Scott shouted ahead as they reached the first floor.
"Yeah we have to move fast. Come on boys" Jeff led the way.
"Check all the rooms. Alan take the ones on the right, Scott the ones on the left, I'll check the rooms further up but stay within sight of each other and whatever you do don't break radio contact understood?"
"FAB dad"
"FAB". Alan and Scott started to check the rooms on either side while Jeff headed on down the corridor.
It was starting to get hotter and the corridor quickly filled with thick smoke. They continued to search each room they came to and were going deeper and deeper into the building.
"Any sign of them Alan?" Scott asked meeting his brother as he walked out of the room he was searching.
"Nothing. Are you sure they said they were on this floor?" Alan asked turning back to his brother.
"Yeah the first floor. They must be here. I'm going to head further down but you'll still be able to see me if you need any help" Scott looked in the direction his father had gone then back at Alan.
"Sure, I'll be fine here." came Alan's response.
Scott set off down the corridor. Alan watched him go feeling a little annoyed that Scott felt he needed to watch over him all the time. Shaking off the thought Alan walked to the next room when a sound caught his attention.
Stopping he looked round, but all he could see was heavy smoke and a distinct red glow as small fires were starting to burn all the way down the corridor.
Alan shook his head, 'the heat must be getting to me', he thought and he went to open the next door. All of a sudden Alan stopped and spun round to face one of the many adjoining corridors that they had come across. 'No….I didn't imagine it' Alan thought to himself.
"That sounds like...like voices. Kids voices!" Alan's smile spread across his face as he recognized the noise.
Without a second thought he ran down the adjoining corridor following the sound of the voices. As he went further into the building the noises got louder and louder. It felt like the corridor had gone on forever until he came to a room with modern looking double doors. Opening the doors slowly he stepped inside the dark and dingy room.
Alan noted that it wasn't so much a room but a hall, 'a dining hall by the looks of it' he thought as he walked slowly onwards.
"HELLO? IS ANYONE IN HERE?" Alan shouted and an echo resonated through the large hall. There was debris everywhere and the ceiling didn't look like it was going to hold up for long.
"HELLO…IS ANYONE THERE?" Alan tried again.
"Over 'ear" came a quiet voice.
Alan quickly walked over to the far end of the hall and he sighed in relief as he spotted all three children sitting huddled together under a large oak table, their faces black from the smoke and ash.
"Guys its going to be ok I'm going to get you out of here. Are any of you hurt?" Alan asked as he lifted two girls and a boy one at a time out from under the table.
"We is not 'urt sir" said one of the girls.
Alan could see the fear in their faces as they huddled together. 'Man they can't be much older than seven or eight, no wonder they're scared' Alan thought.
"Ok listen to me I want you to stay close behind me ok? We're gonna get out of here." Alan reassured them.
Alan led the way and the children followed close behind, one of them never letting go of the back of Alan's fire suit, as they made their way through the dining hall.
"Dad, dad do you read me?" Alan called over his headset.
"Alan, I told you to stay within sight of each other, we've been looking all over for you." came Jeff's reply.
Alan could tell his father was angry with him for running off. "Dad I've found all the kids, we're in the dining hall." Alan continued.
"Alan the fire's spread back down the corridors. We've got your location so we're coming to you, just stay where you are." Jeff replied.
"Ok but hurry dad the cei…." All of a sudden the kids screams were heard, followed by loud rumbling and then a crashing sound echoed over the radio waves.
"ALAN" shouted Jeff and Scott in unison.
"Alan come in," Jeff repeated.
"Alan please respond".
"ALAN!", but the only sound that came through the radio was the endless buzz of static."
TBC
Will Alan be ok?
Will things begin to unravel?
Next chapter will be up shortly!