thanks sam1!
From above, the area looked calm, gentle rolling hills rose up above flat, green valleys. Green, yellow and brown pastures were marked out by neat rows of bushy trees and bushes. Beyond this, there was a large river, cutting its way through the layers of soft rock, creating a spectacular valley. At the rescue site, a row of glass buildings were obscured by billows of thick black smoke, wafting upwards. Scott quickly landed a few metres from the site and quickly made his way on foot towards the area.
Scenes of chaos greeted him as he made his way towards the group of panicked workers, huddled together, their faces pale as they watched the rising flames. There were some paramedics present, but were busy dealing with injuries.
"Who's in charge here?" he asked a group of tour guides. "Anyone?" They looked at him with blank faces and Scott raised his eyebrows.
"No one?" he asked, not wanting to get exasperated with the shocked guides, but finding it more and more difficult. Turing away, he lifted his wrist comm, calling Thunderbird 2.
"I'll be there in five minutes exactly," Virgil said as soon as Scott spoke his name.
"I'm being serious," Scott said, through a small smile. "Anyway, it's completely insane here. There's no one in charge, everybody seems shocked, there are some minor injuries…burns I guess…looks like we're going to have to take control."
"Just what you like," Virgil smiled. "Well, see you in four Scott."
Gordon and Alan took charge of assisting with the fire as Scott and Virgil prepared to delve into the depths of the caves to aid in evacuating people.
"After you guys are done up here, get close to the entrance and help people towards the safe area," Scott ordered them. "Al…can you keep a watch on mobile control as well. We can all talk through the radio, but in case we loose contact for any reason, you can track us there." Alan nodded and followed Gordon to the Firefly. Virgil handed Scott a head torch, rock cutting equipment and hard hat. Scott looked at them, then back at Virgil.
"Just in case," Virgil said.
"F.A.B little bro," he said with a small smile. Since returning to the family and settling into a life without the girl he loved, Virgil had certainly been more like he was prior to New York, but every now and then, Scott caught a glimpse of a more serious, more responsible side coming out. It was as though previously he'd let Scott be the sensible one and he toddled on quite happily. Having been the only one looking out for himself in New York, Scott suspected that side of him had been exacerbated and now was certainly beginning to show face, especially on rescues. It was a side that Scott was only too pleased to see.
"What you looking at me like that for?" Virgil asked, tearing into his thoughts with unwanted force.
"Just checking I haven't forgotten to take anything or mention anything." Virgil nodded and took his first steps into the cave, immediately feeling the chill of the damp air against his skin.
"You ok Virgil?" Scott asked, noting his brother's pause. Virgil nodded.
"Yeah. Let's get going." He followed Scott, the shadows engulfing them for a moment before they switched on their head torches. The dim light did nothing to ease the anxiousness Virgil felt and Scott could sense his brother's unease. Scott studied Virgil for a moment, before he understood exactly what the problem was. He licked his dry lips tentatively and softly coughed, easing Virgil's attention to him.
"If this is too much like when you and Caitlin…"
"It'll be fine Scott," Virgil said quickly, forcing an optimistic smile and taking more determined steps into the hollow, but Scott had seen him start and had glimpsed that momentary anguish before he'd forced a more calm and collected composure. But Scott knew there had been a good reason Virgil had done this, he knew it was no good trying to draw this out from him and right now, the last thing Virgil wanted to do was have one of the worst moments of his life repeating in his mind. He reached out and touched Virgil's arm, a small gesture of understanding before taking the lead, letting Virgil fall in behind him.
"That fire is not going to be easy to control," Alan muttered as he made his way into the pod to collect the Firefly. Behind him, Gordon murmured similar sentiments and glanced towards the caves.
"Who do you think got the better deal?" Alan didn't reply as he clambered into the machine, taking his place at the controls. Gordon continued to look towards the cave entrance where people were beginning to exit and looking slightly confused and alarmed. The last thing anyone needed were people panicking and Gordon knew he was in a position to help.
"Hey Al…you can take that fire on alone, right? I'm gonna help those guys get clear of the cave. I'm not going right in, I'm just at the entrance, 'alright?" Gordon called. Alan looked at him for a second before he shrugged and nodded. Gordon smiled at his indifference before jogging towards the gathering group, their relief obvious.
The emergency lighting that had illuminated a path winding through the jagged stalagmites jutting up through the ground began to flicker as the last of the natural light began to fade. Scott glanced over his shoulder, catching Virgil's weary eye.
"Oh good," he sighed, rolling his eyes. Scott smiled at his brother's sarcasm and paused as he heard voices echoing off the limestone walls around him.
"There's the first of the groups leaving," he said, beginning to walk again. He saw the group leader first, his torch blinding Scott for a second. He shifted the beam and looked shocked when he saw their uniforms.
"Hey, International Rescue? What's going on up there?"
"There's a fire in the Visitor Centre, but don't worry. Two of our other operatives are working on it. As a precaution, my colleague and I are making sure the caves get evacuated as quickly as possible." The tour guide looked perplexed and Scott could see him wanted to ask more questions. Virgil quickly interrupted.
"If you could just get back to the surface as quickly as possible then we can assess the situation here. There's really nothing to worry about," he smiled confidently. The tour guide relented and nodded at the two men before him.
"Well, all right, though this is crazy. Whatever is going on up there, we're probably safer down here."
"Please Sir, we need to get everyone out," Scott said politely though Virgil could see he was beginning to grow impatient. He stepped to the side, allowing the group of tourist to hustle past him, the tour guide following somewhat slowly behind. As the disappeared from site Scott let out his breath in a long sigh.
"Idiot," he muttered. "What was that comment about being safer down here?"
"Yeah…weird. Probably doesn't make much difference where he is to be honest. I suppose it's just better to get everyone out of the area." Scott nodded as the path began to narrow.
"After you," Scott said, gesturing grandly.
"Oldest first Scott," Virgil returned, pushing his brother forward gently. Scott smiled and stepped into the narrow passage first.
"Age before beauty," he said over his shoulder.
"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that."
Alan swore as soon as he saw the flames licking the gas canisters that stood outside the visitor's centre and began to back off. An explosion would surely destroy the Firefly and probably incinerate him inside. It was a risk Alan wasn't willing to take, especially when the evacuated workers and tourists were at a safe distance. He abandoned the machine inside the pod and made his way towards the group, warning them of the impending explosion, but not to panic and as soon as it had occurred, he would be right back in to quench the flames and finally control the fire. They looked confused, alarmed, but no one voiced any of this. As Alan moved to tell Gordon and call Scott and Virgil, a tour guide grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the crowd.
"That explosion…what kind of force will it have?"
"I guess it depends on how much gas the canisters contain. The area that will be most at risk I imagine would be the ground below. We will be safe here."
"What about those in the caves?"
"An explosion is unlikely to cause any damage there. The rock is secure and will absorb the force."
"If it's stable and secure, right?" Alan nodded slowly, but felt a growing doubt inside of him.
"Uh…these caves aren't." The comment rocked Alan and for a moment he stared blankly at the man in front of him. The tour guide lowered his eyes guiltily and Alan stepped back, making his way towards the caves, but not knowing exactly what he could do now. An explosion could cause the whole maze of caves to become desperately unstable…or, as Alan feared, a complete collapse and with both Scott and Virgil in the deepest depths of the system, he knew he had to act now.
"Guys, there's going to be an explosion…get out!" he yelled over and over, not aware if his brothers were hearing him or not. Gordon was close to the caves entrance, just as Scott had ordered and was slowly directing the groups of people who meandered out of the cave, confused at the sudden panic, annoyed at the interruption to their tour. Blinking against the sunlight, Alan took an elderly man's arm gently.
"If you'd like to make your way towards the car parks…the staff want to check everyone has been evacuated safely," Alan said politely, while inside he was screaming at everyone to drop everything and run. The man nodded and Alan ran towards Gordon. He glanced up on hearing him and smiled.
"Alan…hey, help me a minute. I've got two guys here needing help out. I'm near the surface…" Gordon asked him and Alan rolled his eyes, sprinting to the cavern entrance where he saw his brother helping two men limp towards him.
"You're okay now," Alan assured them, pointing them in the direction of the medical staff in attendance.
"Move Gordon, this place is going to go in a minute…" Alan told him.
"What about Scott and Virgil?"
"If they have any sense, they'll be on their way out. Come on!" Gordon hesitated, looking into the black depths of the cavern.
"Scott! Guys!" he yelled. Alan cursed under his breath and ran into the cave, grabbing hold of Gordon's arm and tugging him.
"Look, we don't have time…I'm sure they'll be fine…" he began, but was cut off when he felt the explosion rock him. The gas canisters had exploded and the force was rippling through the limestone caverns below. The youngest brothers looked towards the entrance; escape was so close…They staggered forward, their progress hindered by the falling rock. Suddenly Gordon's arm was ripped from Alan's grasp and he watched in horror as his brother disappeared from his sight.
"Gordon!" he yelled, but his words were swallowed by the deafening rumbling. Alan crawled towards the entrance, but knew he wouldn't make it, as a rock tumbled from the ceiling and blocked his only path of escape.
Scott felt the aftershocks of the explosion below his feet and glanced over his shoulder to where Virgil had stopped dead and was looking in horror at the crevasse above them.
"Stay still…" he breathed as the first fragments of soft creamy limestone began to crumble around them.
"Find cover," Scott cried out as the mass collapsed between them. Scott tried to cover his head and began running deeper into the caverns, unaware of the rocks right behind him. He felt nothing as they tumbled on him, trapping him against the ground, and deep within the maze of caves.
