The Fire Chief, standing beside the main fire vehicle, wiped hi forehead, "This isn't working. The fire is still raging out of control"
His colleague monitoring the hose pressure unit shook his head, "Even with the hoses giving it all they got, we can't control the fire enough to get into the building"
The Fire Chief walked grimly to the Headmaster on the oval, explaining the situation.
"There must be something you can do!" exclaimed the Headmaster
Fermat stopped when he overheard the heated conversation.
"None of us can help those people" explained the Fire Chief
"Somebody can," said Fermat
The Fire Chief and Headmaster turned towards him.
"What are you saying kid?" asked the Fire Chief
"Make a c…c…radio call to international Rescue. The Thunderbirds can help," said Fermat
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
It had been an hour since John had called. Jeff sat at his desk anxiously, jumping when he heard the emergency siren.
"What is it John?"
John's face appeared on the telescreen, "Dad, Wharton Academy have sent out a call for International Rescue"
"Okay John, we're on our way"
Jeff activated the command and control centre, rasing the alarm. Within seconds Scott, Virgil and Gordon came racing in, followed by Brains.
"There's been a major accident at Wharton Academy, let's move!" called Jeff, "Alan and Fermat are fine, but there are a few people trapped" he told them at the horrified looks on their faces.
"Thunderbirds are go!"
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Alan paced on the oval where he stood with all the other students and teachers. It had been confirmed that three people were missing. Three people…including Corper. The emergency services had been unable to get inside the burning buildings and, although Fermat had told him his father was on his way to help, Alan was driving himself crazy with impatience. Corper had told him to be patient, but right now that was the last thing Alan wanted to be.
After another minute, he got Fermat's attention, "I'm going," he said
"What? Alan, you can't!" Fermat tried to keep his voice down
"Yes I can. I'm a Thunderbird Fermat, it's my job. I'm not standing around here waiting for him to die" with that, he ran off, evading the eyes of teachers.
As he approached, he could feel the intense heat from the flames still licking the buildings. Holding his sleeve over his mouth and nose to protect himself from the smoke, Alan dashed inside the building.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Jeff brought Thunderbird 2 down on the oval, unbuckling himself as soon as it was done. All of them donned fire gear including helmets, partly so they couldn't be recognised by Alan's teachers and peers "Scott, what's the situation?" he asked his son when he and Gordon made it outside.
His eldest son, also wearing a helmet, jogged over, "The Fire Chief said three people are missing. The fire originated in the lab and moved to three conjoined buildings. Since the explosion the fire has been steadily moving" reported Scott
"Right. Instruct the Fire Chief to clear the area of his equipment and staff. Virgil, we're gonna need the Firefly" he spoke into his telecomm
"You got it Dad" came the reply
He, Scott and Gordon left the oval, getting closer to the building.
Virgil appeared in the Firefly moments later and started attacking the flames. Jeff Gordon and Scott moved closer to the building, leaving the oval far behind
"Lets move in!" called Jeff
"Sir! Sir!" came a voice
Jeff spun around to see Fermat running towards them, "Fermat! Get away from here! There's nothing you can do on this one," instructed Jeff
Fermat panted, "N…n…no, it's not about me. Alan's in there!"
"What?" exclaimed Scott
"Why is he inside?" asked Jeff
"He went to l…l…search for someone. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't l…l…"
"Okay Fermat, we'll take care of it, get back to the evacuation area" instructed Jeff
The boy ran off.
"Why the hell didn't he wait for us? He knew we were coming!" cried Gordon as they made their way inside
"Lets just focus on finding him," said Jeff, quelling a possible argument
They made their way down the hall
"Wait!" called Scott, rasing a hand and walking towards a broom cupboard. He opened it to find a young boy huddling inside, "I found one!" he cried, "Come with me, you'll be okay" he told the boy, picking him off the floor
"Get him out of here" instructed Jeff
Scott ran outside.
Within moments they found another child and Gordon rushed him outside just as Scott returned, "The kids have been taken to a couple of paramedic vans well away from the fire" he announced
"Good" said Jeff, "We need to get closer to the lab"
Gordon joined them and together they walked deeper into the inferno.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Alan coughed through the smoke, his eyes watering. He was right in front of the lab now and he could barely take anymore. And the heat! The heat was unbearable! He called out for Corper but got no reply. He was afraid of kicking down the lab door. Afraid as to what might be inside. But he knew if he didn't Corper would die. Bracing himself, he kicked down the door, standing back. He was lucky he did for as soon as the door was down, a great ball of fire shot through the doorway. Smoke billowed towards him, making it impossible for him to see or breathe.
Despair filled him. Corper couldn't be alive. Not in this. He had failed.
He should've got here sooner, then he might have had a chance.
He wasn't a Thunderbird. Thunderbirds saved lives. He hadn't.
The smoke was choking him as he gasped for air. He stumbled blindly, intent on getting out. Finding a place where he could see. But all he could see was blackness. He fell to his knees, desperate for air. Blackness surrounded him and he slumped to the hot floor.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Jeff flashed his torch, hoping to see through the thick smoke that had just appeared out of nowhere.
"Dad, we're never going to find anything in this" called Scott
"We're not leaving!" replied Jeff, franticly waving his torch
He shuffled his feet so as not to fall over anything when suddenly his foot hit something soft. He bent down and concentrated all the light on the object. It was Alan!
"Boys!" yelled Jeff
"Oh God, Alan!" exclaimed Scott
"Lets go!" said Jeff, just as the roof started creaking.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
"Vitals…respiratory…stable…"
"Smoke…inhalation…"
None of these words made sense as Alan groggily returned to consciousness.
He tried opening his eyes but they felt like they had been glued together. He tried to call for someone's help, but all that came out was a weak groan. Someone caught his flailing hand and held it, "Alan, Alan, its Dad, can you hear me? It's okay, I'm here"
Alan tried to reply, but nothing came out. His throat felt like sandpaper. Instead he just squeezed the hand holding his.
"Alan, can you open your eyes?" called his Dad, "Look at me Alan, come on"
Alan wrenched his eyelids apart and they stung. He instinctively shut them again, cringing.
Someone wiped them with a cold wet cloth, which felt like heaven, allowing him to open them again. His father came into focus, smiling.
"Alan, don't you ever do that to me again" his Dad sounded scared
"Wha…" Alan tried to speak again but was immediately sent into a fit of coughing. Pain ripped through his chest and for the first time he realised there was a mask on his face. He tried to take it off to breathe better, but another hand stopped him, holding the mask down, "No son, leave the mask on," said an unfamiliar voice
Alan panicked, I can't breathe!
His Dad's voice soothed him, "Shhhh, Alan, just calm down. Take deep breaths, its ok. That's it"
Alan's coughing eased, but he still shook, feeling cold.
"Dad, what's…" he tried again
Jeff looked him in the eye, "You were inside the building Alan, do you remember? The fire?"
Alan's eyes darted as he remembered. Suddenly he shot up, "Corper!"
Jeff held him down, "Shhhh, Alan calm down. He's safe. He made it out" he told him, "He was the one you were looking for wasn't he?" he said quietly
Alan nodded, "Dad…I'm…"
"Alan it's okay. Just relax. You're suffering smoke inhalation" soothed his Dad
"Where am I?" Alan finally managed to say a whole sentence
"You're in a paramedic van at school. You were rescued by International Rescue," replied Jeff raising an eyebrow discreetly
After taking some time to process all of this information, which was muddled by the fact that his father was dressed in normal attire, Alan caught on. But this realisation brought no comfort. His family had needed to come to his rescue. Alan felt even more like a failure.
"But how…" Alan went into another fit, this time it made him gag and he vomited. Hands tried to roll him over before he could choke and removed the mask, holding a small basin for him to be sick in.
Alan panted, shaking violently
Jeff held him firmly, "Shhhh, its okay. Just relax. You're going to be fine"
After a few minutes a man with black hair in a paramedic's suit stood over him, "Son, I'm just going to check your airways, I need you to tilt your head as far back as you can for me, can you do that?"
Jeff helped Alan as the paramedic opened his mouth and shone a small torch down his throat.
"Good job son, well done" commended the paramedic, replacing the oxygen mask
"Dad what's happening?" asked Alan, getting tired
"What do you mean Alan?" asked Jeff softly, rubbing his son's arm
"What's…going to happen now?" Alan struggled to say
"I'm not sure Alan. Everyone's being sent home," Jeff told him
Alan nodded, the whole world swimming, "Dad…I'm…" he tried to tell his father,
"I know Alan, I know" soothed his Dad, "Just go to sleep, just relax"
Those were the last words Alan heard before sinking into darkness.
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