Disclaimer: As much as I wish I could lay claim to them, I can't. The Thunderbirds and those gorgeous Tracy brothers belong to others.
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Chapter Two: Tunnel Crawling
Ten years later
International Rescue had been called to Vienna, Austria. Explosions had ripped through the underground passages underneath a cathedral and people were trapped. They were unable to use the Mole since the foundation was too unsteady and the last thing they wanted was for that to crumble underneath the weight of the massive building on it. John, stationed aboard Thunderbird Five, was using thermodynamic imager to find the people still trapped. Since Alan was prepping for his rotation on Thunderbird Five, it was only Gordon, Scott and Virgil on this rescue. And since Virgil was the smallest of the three, he got chosen to go tunnel crawling.
"John, can you still hear me?" Virgil asked. It was the same question he posed to John every other minute since he was underground.
"I'm still reading you," John replied.
"You sure you're reading heat signatures here?" was the usual follow-up question.
"Yes, Virgil, for the fiftieth time, I'm sure. You're not too far away now."
"That's what you said ten minutes ago."
"Not my fault you crawl slow."
"I want to see you do this faster."
"Both of you!" Scott's voice came over.
"You want to come down here, Scott? I wouldn't mind getting out of this de…tunnel," Virgil said, deciding not to use the term 'death trap' in case there's anyone in hearing distance.
"You okay, Virge?" Scott asked, catching that last second change of words.
"I'm in a tight tunnel a good twenty feet below the surface. I'm just peachy. How are you doing up top on Terra Firma?"
Scott sighed audibly. "Waiting for your slow butt to get to those people."
Virgil muttered something in German that earned a snicker from John.
"What did he say?" Scott asked.
"Nothing," Virgil immediately answered.
"Nothing I'm translating," John added.
Then the ground shook again, and Virgil knew that the foundation wasn't going to hold for too much longer. Virgil flattened himself against the tunnel's floor and waited for it to cave in and bury him alive. He was relieved that didn't happen, but didn't want to stay there any longer.
"Virgil?" John asked.
Nothing. Virgil had yet to open his eyes.
"Virgil?" John repeated, his voice louder.
Virgil got his eyes open and looked around. He wasn't buried alive.
"Remember that parade…" Virgil began.
"You're still that claustrophobic?" Scott asked.
"Not that bad. But I'm now feeling like I'm going to get buried alive."
"Back out of there before we have to come get you too," Scott said.
"Negative, not after all this. If I'm as close to those people as John says I am…"
"You are," John threw in.
"Then I might as well stick it out. Just don't expect me to come back in here once I'm out there," Virgil finished.
"Alright, but don't you dare start hyperventilating on me. You scared me enough then," Scott replied. "And keep talking to us."
Virgil kept going, albeit his pace was a little quicker. But he did so in silence, and neither Scott nor John liked it.
"Almost there, Virgil?" Scott asked once the silence from his younger brother had gotten the best of him.
"I don't know. Ask John," Virgil answered.
"Yes," John sighed.
And again, Virgil muttered something in German. This time it was meant for John.
"Now what?" Scott asked.
"Nothing that was meant for your ears," Virgil answered.
"John?"
"I'm not about to translate that. I just want to know where he learned that brand of German from," John answered.
"I did have a girlfriend from Germany when I was in college, remember?" Virgil said.
"We'll have to talk about that tomorrow once I'm planetside," John replied.
"About…hey! I hear voices!" Virgil exclaimed.
"Told you that you were close," John muttered, but he was ignored.
It took some work, but Virgil managed to get the five trapped people free. Once those five were on the surface, Virgil climbed out. At the beginning, they dug a hole straight down into the tunnel. So Gordon, who'd been listening in on this banter and had no idea what they were talking about the parade for, helped Scott get the people out of the tunnel. And then it was Virgil's turn. Once Scott hauled Virgil to his feet from the hole, they went about their business until everything was secure and they were given clearance to go.
Virgil helped Scott pack up Mobile Control while Gordon finished other things. Inside Thunderbird One, Virgil stopped just short of leaving when they were both done.
"Hey Scott," he said, catching his brother's attention.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Keeping me going down there. After that tremor, I was beginning to get nervous all over again."
"Virgil, if you weren't…"
"Before then I was okay. It was just the thought of being buried alive down there that got me started. You kept me going… you and John. I'll thank him tomorrow when he gets back."
"Hey, anytime."
Virgil left to help Gordon while Scott prepared Thunderbird One for takeoff. Once everything as done and they were in the air, Gordon asked about the parade.
"It was nothing, Gordon."
"Liar."
"Gordon?"
"It wasn't nothing. I knew it then and I know it now. Something happened there."
"I had a panic attack brought about by claustrophobia," Virgil sighed.
"You're claustrophobic?"
"Yes. It doesn't bother me much anymore, I've gotten used to it. Just sometimes it hits me out of the middle of nowhere."
"How come you didn't tell us then?"
"Yeah, I'm going to tell my kid brothers that I'm claustrophobic. Hell, I expect to get tormented over it now."
"Not from me."
Virgil looked over at Gordon. "Huh?"
"How many times have you put yourself in tight spots, literally? C'mon, to be claustrophobic and still be able to pull that off, that's cool."
"You heard John, right?"
"He was about to wring your neck."
"That's why we were going back and forth like that. It was to give me something else to focus on. We learned that by distracting me, I don't focus on the tight space I'm in."
"So that's why Scott picks fights with you so often?"
"Scott would do that anyway. Now he just as an excuse."
"I take it Alan doesn't know."
Virgil shook his head. "I didn't want either of you to know."
"Hey, you've got enough on me as it is," Gordon replied. "I'll keep this one for you."
"Thanks, Gordo," Virgil replied.
The rest of the flight back was made in either a comfortable silence or a comfortable conversation.
The next day Jeff and Alan went up to Thunderbird Five so that Alan and John could switch off.