Thanks for the reviews! On to chapter 6!
Previously- The emergency call has been sent out, and Thunderbird 1 has arrived, with Thunderbird 2 on the way. Will they be able to save them?
Disclaimer: it's been said. If only.
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Thunderbird 1 touched down with ease. The ground held.
"Virgil, you have to land near further back from the cliff. It's the only chance."
: FAB Scott: Quickly, Scott exited the rocket plane, taking a hand held radio with him. Remembering that John was not alone, he realised that he had to act as if he didn't know him, much like he had done when it had been father in trouble on the faulty run-away monrail. John waved him over.
"They're down here!" Kneeling down next to his brother, Scott could hear firsthand the dire situation they were in.
"Ok. Erm, what's…you're sister's name again? Karol isn't it?" Scott asked, hoping that he sounded believable.
"That's right. And the boy is called Jake."
"Right. Karol? Jake? It's International Rescue. The equipment will be arriving any moment now, but I need you to tell me what the situation is down there." There was an ominous rumble as the roar of the Ocean mixed with the plummeting stone. Yet, above that, he could hear the reply from his sister.
"It's not good, International Rescue! The current is pretty strong; I'm having a tough time holding onto the ledge. Jake is ok, for now, apart from a fractured ankle and prolonged exposure to the cold."
"You sound like you know what you're talking about. Alright, here's the rescue equipment." On cue, the thundering of Thunderbird 2's mighty engines overcame the roaring of the waves below. Another sound was soon added to the throng. A red convertible car screeched to a halt on the road, a man and a woman practically leaping out of it. The teenager had contacted her parents, having finally found her phone. That's what she had been running back to John for, Scott assumed.
"Mom! Dad!" Sylvia ran up to them, collapsing into her parents' arms.
"Sylvie! Oh, sweetheart! We're so sorry! If we hadn't been arguing, this wouldn't have happened!"
"Well, there's still a way to go yet. We have to get them out, first." The woman nodded, clutching to her firstborn in an almost desperate bid to not lose her, also.
...
Karol wasn't kidding when she said she was having a tough time holding on. By now, the water had risen up to her chest, with the sheer ferocity of the sea current, coupled with the damp, moss and seaweed covered rocks making it nigh impossible to cling on. Every so often, the current would almost win and she would be dragged off the ledge, only for pure will to survive to prevail and she would grab on for, quite literally, dear life.
"Miss Tracy! Hold on! I'm coming down to you!"
"Don't you dare, Jake! I'll be fine, I'm stronger than you. Besides, you're injured!" Jake hated it. He hated the fact that this lady who he had just met could suddenly lose her life. He wanted to do something for her. But what? Above the water, Karol heard the telltale sounds of the carrier. I hope they brought 4 with them. They're going to need it. New voices joined the ones they could already hear. A wave crashed into her, pulling her under for a few seconds until she recovered her strength and grasped the cave wall, forcing her head above water, coughing and spluttering. Jake felt helpless. So he did the only thing he could.
"Hurry! Please! Hurry!"
"Hold on down there. We're going to send a one of us down. When they reach you, they'll clip you into a harness. All you have to do is hold on. We'll do the rest."
...
Above, the weather was taking a turn for the worst. The wind was picking up, causing greater waves to crash into shore.
"We've got to get them out of there and fast! With the size of those waves, they could be washed out at any moment!" There were desperate, worried gasps from the family.
"B-but, they'll drown!" Sylvia stammered. She hugged onto her parents. She hated this. Sure, this was International Rescue, and, as far as she knew, they hadn't failed yet. But what if they did on this one? What if she lost her little brother? What if…shaking her head, she mentally batted the thoughts away. This was International Rescue. If anyone could save them, they could. Just hold on, Jake. And you too, Karol.
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Before long, the equipment was in place. A mobile winch had been set up on more solid ground with Virgil at the controls. Gordon tied the first rope around himself, checking it and preparing to be lowered down.
"Ok, Scott, all set."
"Right. Virgil, start the winch."
"FAB." Virgil activated the controls, keeping check on the speed he was sending his younger brother down. Flipping on his helmet light, Gordon carefully eased his way down into the hole. It was going to be a tight squeeze, but knowing Karol, she would want him to get the boy up first.
"Scott, I can see them! Jake is sitting on a ledge with Karol clinging on just below. Keep lowering, I can almost reach them!"
"FAB, Gordon." A great wave crashed into the now narrower cave mouth, spraying all three with foam and freezing water. Gordon silently thanked Brains for creating their uniforms. They were made to be water proof and kept them warm. He felt his insides clench when he suddenly lost sight of Karol, about to call up when she resurfaced again. He reached for her.
"No. Jake. G-get Jake out f-first!" She was now beginning to succumb to the temperatures.
"No! Miss Tracy, y-you're in m-m-more danger than I am!" Karol shook her head, words failing her. She wasn't going to be able to hold on much more; her hands were starting to go numb. But she would not let herself be taken first. With much hesitation, the boy finally gave in, allowing his rescuer to clip on the safety harness.
"Hold on, now. We're going for a little ride up. Miss Tracy, I'll be back down for you in a moment." Another wave, followed by coughing. He took that as an answer, spotting her nodding her head. "Ok, I've got the boy, pull us up!"
"Right, Gordon. Virgil, start the winch!" Thunderbird 2's pilot nodded, flipping a lever and keeping check on the rope. It was reeling up smoothly. Scott quickly grabbed a couple of towels and one of the flasks his grandmother had prepared on hearing about the rescue. Within moments, Jake appeared. Gordon had adjusted the harness so that he was pulled up in front of him. There was a tremendous cheer from behind them, followed by arguing as Scott held the elated parents back.
"Please, not until we have him on safe land. We don't want any more accidents. And we still have one more person to get out." They nodded in understanding, fighting back the urge to just rush up to their son and hold him tight. He was shivering badly as Gordon unclipped the harness from around him, allowing himself to be wrapped in the blankets and carried by the field commander. Then, and only then, did the pain in his ankle truly kick in. He cried out, trying to grip his leg and finding the blankets constricting.
"Hold on, little buddy. We'll soon have that ankle sorted out," Scott soothed. He handed him to his father, who almost immediately sat down with him. Scott grabbed the first aid kit and the flask, handing the container to the boy, who almost immedialtely began drinking from it, allowing the warm soup inside to warm him up again. The woman took the kit from the rescuer.
"I'm a doctor, let me sort him." Scott nodded, appreciating the fact that she wanted to be near her son. Scott turned back to the others.
"Right. Let's get… Miss Tracy out of there. Gordon, get into position."
"FAB, Scott." Turning his back on the hole again, he leaned back, letting the harness take his weight. "Ok, Scott. All set."
"FAB, Gordon. Right, Virgil, the winch." And down he went. John stood next to his older brother, checking over his shoulder. The family were too busy concentrating on their son and brother to notice them.
"Do you think we'll need Thunderbird 4?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"I'm not sure yet. It depends on if Gordon can get her out in time." John was cut off by the sudden approach of the teenager.
"Mr Tracy?" Scott stiffened, reminding himself that they wouldn't know they were brothers if he pretended that she hadn't said his surname as well. John turned to her.
"What is it, Sylvia?" he asked, calmly. She suddenly leapt into his arms, pulling him into a shocked embrace. He couldn't help but blush and return it.
"I hope Karol is going to be alright. Thank you for everything. We're taking Jake to the nearest hospital. Maybe we'll see you there? You never know, Karol might need to go, too."
"Well, maybe. And if not, I'll get in contact somehow and let you know. Ok?" Sylvia pulled away, nodding. Reaching up, she gave him a quick, friendly peck on the cheek before reaching into her pocket.
"This is my number. Please let me know, ok?" She handed the card over before running back to her parents. Scott tried to hide the smile.
"Well, that was unexpected, huh?"
"Yeah, very." John looked at the card. On the back was a small, simple message. 'Please, call me?'
...
Down in the cave, Gordon had run into a problem. The rock fall had finally stopped, fortunately. However, the water was now too deep for him to go any further. But it wasn't that that was troubling him. Wave after wave crashed into the cave, and Karol would disappear for longer underneath the angry torrent. Until it happened.
"Scott!" he shouted.
"What is it Gordon? What's the problem?"
"It's Karol! She's keeps going under! And she's getting further away from the wall! She's being pulled out to sea!" He reached down, grabbing at her hand as reached for him. But the current was winning the battle. She was getting tired and numb from the cold. She knew she was getting into difficulties, losing the fight. She grabbed his hand, only for the current to finally win.
"Scott! She's gone under!"
TBC
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Oh, aren't I evil. Will she survive? Will they get to her in time? Will I ever stop asking questions I already know the answers too? Stay tuned for the next chapter.