Walk on the Wild Side
By Sapphire
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Chapter 9: Getting Ready
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While Brains and Virgil headed for the base of the turbine the fallen windmill was leaning against, Gordon moved Thunderbirds 2 away from her pod and to their target.
Alan had taken Scott to a room in the lower part of Thunderbird 2, which contained a winch and a kind of large cage, which, as Scott surmised, could be lowered from Thunderbird 2 by a set of chains at the corners. At one side of the cage was a set of controls and there were several slots to put in rescue equipment that filled the rest of the space.
Alan helped Scott into a harness before donning one himself. Then he handed him a headset and Scott put it on.
"Have you done something like this before?" Alan asked, as he checked that all the straps on his harness were secure.
Scott, who had been doing the same thing on his harness, shrugged. "Not quite like here," he said, "the most I've ever done was taking the basic rescue training with the Air Force. Lowering yourself from helicopters and such."
"This is a little bit easier, actually, as we do have the rescue capsule," Alan explained, pointing as the cage. "There's room enough for four, so we can bring up people who are wounded."
He paused, a wan grin on his face. "You know, it's strange to have to ask you that. When I look at you I see Scott, I mean my Scott, and I know that he could do this. But then I need to remind me that you are not my Scott and I pretty much know nothing about you."
Scott grinned in return. "And I need to remind myself that you are not my Alan, too. You're different in a way, but actually, I don't think you are that different. And I hope I'm not too different from your Scott, really. Not where it counts."
With a crackle their headsets came to life. "We're on top of that turbine now. But the blades are still moving and they cause some fierce turbulence. No way can I get close enough as long as they are on."
"Virgil and Brains will switch them off soon," Scott said, a little bit more optimistic than he really felt.
He checked his watch and found that it was only a few minutes since their take off.
The whole rescue so far had gone by with the speed of light, even the flight to the wind farm had been filled with a hundred things to do and to learn on the spot. And now, suddenly, it grounded to an abrupt halt. As long as Virgil and Brains haven't stopped the turbine there was nothing they could do but wait.
They were ready.
He hoped.
Alan pushed a control on the wall and a part of the floor slid aside. They now could see the turbine underneath and the blades rushing by, seemingly only a few feet away, cutting through the air with alarming speed. Every time the tip of one of the blades close, Thunderbird 2 gave a shudder and a little lurch.
"I better never tell that Virgil," Alan muttered.
Scott looked up at the face of his youngest brother - well, technically not really 'his' youngest brother, but he had decided a good while ago that it didn't really matter, and that thinking too hard about all that would only lead to a nasty headache.
"Why?" he asked.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot. Well, Virgil - our Virgil - he's somewhat … well, protective, you could say of his baby. If I told him Gordon was flying so close to the blades - let's say, he wouldn't like it."
Scott grinned. He had noticed before that each of the Tracys had his favourite vehicle. And knowing them, he wasn't exactly surprised that Virgil would be protective of his. He guessed that each of them was to a certain degree.
And still, he also knew that each of them wouldn't hesitate for a second to throw that favourite vehicle - or themselves for that matter - into danger when it meant that they could save a life doing so.
Suddenly he felt a warm wave of pride rush through him. Yes, he knew that they weren't really 'his' brothers, but still, that they were doing this, were saving lives …
"Alan," he said, his voice suddenly thick. "I know it's not my place as I'm not really your brother, but still, what you guys do here, well, I think it's great. Dad must be very proud."
Alan blushed and looked away for a moment, but when he looked up again, Scott could see in his eyes that he was pleased.
"I think the blades are slowing down," he said, obviously glad that he didn't need to reply to Scott's remark.
Indeed the blades were decelerating. Scott checked his watch and was impressed. He had thought it would take longer for Virgil and Brains to reach the top of that tower.
"Okay," Gordon said over their headsets. "I'm moving in."
Thunderbird 2 banked away from the still slowly rotating blades and dropped a good hundred and fifty feet. Scott realized that with the blades stopped, they didn't have to go in from the top of the tower, but could move underneath the blades, getting much closer to the gondola where the maintenance workers were trapped. He only needed to make sure to keep enough distance so that the engine exhaust of the large transporter plane didn't affect the fragile balance of the two towers.
Through the hole in the floor, the maintenance gondola of the fallen turbine came into view. Alan pulled on the rescue capsule, and the contraption moved over the hole and locked into place.
Scott rushed to get into the cage and waited impatiently for Alan to follow. The metal mesh on the sidewalls went only to hip height and he attached his harness to the centre pole for additional security. Alan, who had brought in some equipment, followed suit and closed the half height door.
"Gordon, are you ready?"
"FAB."
Alan turned to the controls and with a metal bang the capsule started to lower through the hole.
Gordon had parked Thunderbird 2 about thirty feet above the turbine's gondola. Scott looked down, trying to see if there would be a good way to get inside. He knew that there had to be some external hatch for the maintenance workers to reach the blades of the turbine in order for them to perform small repairs outside. And indeed, it didn't take long for him to spot the hatch on top of the gondola. Due to the current position of the wind turbine, the hatch was not on top but on the side, tilted by a good thirty degrees.
"Alan," he called, and, after his youngest brother turned to him, pointed towards the hatch.
Alan nodded.
"Gordon," he now contacted the pilot of Thunderbird 2, "there's a hatch about fifteen feet ahead. Can you move that bird a little closer?"
Again Gordon replied only with a short "FAB."
Thunderbird 2 moved forwards seemingly at the snail's pace. Scott checked his progress and after a moment called out, "That's it, Gordon. Now five feet to the left and we'll be directly above the hatch."
Alan, meanwhile, had lowered the capsule so that they were less than two feet away from the access. Before Alan could act, Scott unlocked his harness and opened the cage door. Alan looked annoyed, but Scott ignored him, and after a moment, Alan backed off and let Scott be.
Even though Gordon tried his best to keep Thunderbird 2 steady, the capsule still moved a foot or so every time there was a gust of wind pushing against the large frame of the 'bird. Scott waited for a moment when the capsule was closest to the hatch and then he simply jumped, ignoring the fact that he was still over fifty feet above the ground and a fall would probably result in injury if not in death. There was a short, heart stopping moment, then he found a grip and held tight.
"Alan," he commanded, "give me that cutter."
For a moment it looked like Alan wanted to protest, but then he handed him the tool.
There was not enough room for them both to find space on the gondola close to the hatch. Luckily the builders of the turbines had considered that one day people might be required to climb around – though they most likely had never considered exactly the current situation - and there were a couple of hooks Scott could use to fix his safety harness to the turbine.
Having some hold, he took the laser cutter and attacked the hatch. He made short work of the lock and within seconds he was able to open the hatch.
He unhooked himself and slipped inside.
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Fifty feet below, Virgil and Brains opened the door of the standing tower. As they stepped outside, they looked up only to find their view of the sky blocked by the frame of Thunderbird 2. Though the 'bird looked still impressive, it was dwarfed by the cheer size of the turbine next to it.
In the forward section, a hole had opened and they could see something lowered to the gondola of the fallen turbine. But there was no sign of Scott and Alan, who should be working somewhere up there.
'Let them be save', Virgil prayed silently.
"Thunderbird 2, here is Brains," Brains spoke into his wristcom. "We h-h-have reached the foot of the tower again. Can w-w-we do anything else to help?"
"Here's Thunderbird 2," Gordon promptly replied. "Right now, there's nothing you guys can do here. Best is for you to return to the pod."
"FAB," Brains said.
Virgil hesitated, but when Brains mounted his hover cycle he followed suit. He didn't really want to leave, but there was really nothing they could do here anymore, and the least they could do was to be at the pod when Thunderbird 2 returned with the rescued people.
As they reached the other ridge, Brains re-opened the pod and they stowed the bikes inside.
Having nothing else to do, they both got out again, and watched the rescue on the other ridge.
Thunderbird 2 had moved away a little from the turbine, waiting for Scott and Alan to come back out. Virgil could only guess that inside, his brothers were working on getting the two trapped men outside. He hoped that they wouldn't run into any difficulties.
"Excuse me," a strange voice suddenly said at his side.
He turned around and saw a bald man standing there, holding a gun in his hand. Virgil didn't have time to take in much of his looks, as suddenly the man's eyes seemed to light up. Involuntarily, he had to look into those eyes. He heard a soft gasp from Brains, then his world turned blindingly white and he didn't know anything anymore.
TBC
uhoh, trouble is here ... next chapter: Mysteries And Complications