The Thing in the Valley

Chapter 7: Morning

Disclaimer: Still own nothing.

8 hours later, the island worked again. The rescue volunteers became the repair crew, headed by Doc Greene and ordered around by Kade Burns. What was left of The Thing was collected on flatbeds and tow trucks and brought to Doc Greene's laboratory. The Rescue Bots were gathered up and flown, towed, carried back to the fire house.

("How did you get here with a punctured leg, anyhow?" Heatwave asked Chase, the police car strewn about his shoulders.

Chase blushed. "Boulder... tossed me."

Heatwave would have smiled. He wasn't quite feeling ready for it yet.)

9 hours later, the cell phone towers were working again. Chief Burns called the Mayor, who told him that the kids were fine, sound asleep on the day bed in the foyer, good kids!, the family should visit more often, was the thing taken care of?, ("Yes, May-"), good!, keys to the city, maybe not, free frozen yogurt courtesy of the city, creepy thing, wasn't it?, ("Yes, May-"), darned creepy!, free frozen yogurt for life for the kids, maybe not for life, for the month, what month was it?, ("Um-"), nevermind, he was dead tired, talk to you later Charlie Burns, bye.

Chief Burns and Doctor Greene shared a look and figured would probably be a repeat of the first call if Doc called to check on Frankie.

10 hours later, the citizens slowly moved back onto the island, wondering why they were evacuated but too apathetic to ask. Cody and Frankie came home in a limousine courtesy of the Mayor. ("There was a TV in the back seat," Cody said. "We watched the Spongebob movie.") Hugs were shared between Cody and his family, hands were shook between the Mayor and the adults, and all the Burnses ran back inside before the Mayor could start talking again.

It all seemed so... easy. Like what had happened yesterday hadn't happened at all.

Then Cody went downstairs.

It was completely quiet. Boulder, Blades, and Heatwave sat huddled together on one sofa, shoulder snug together, television off, none of them moving. A chill went through Cody's heart, and he ran to the Rescue Bots's feet.

"Is Chase okay?"

"Injury to his hydraulics," Blades spoke, voice hollow and shocked. "He's just in the statis pod."

Cody breathed out in one big puff and let Heatwave pull him up into the collective Rescue Bot lap. "I was watching you guys from the boat. I saw the thing stop moving. Is it...?"

"Yeah," Heatwave replied. He pulled his hands close to himself, folding them under his arms, away from Cody. "It's dead."

"What'd they do to it?"

Boulder's hands moved gently as he spoke, all small movements and tiny twitches for emphasis. "I think I heard Graham say that Doc Greene was going to melt it all down and recycle it, but I can't be sure. I only heard one half of the phone call."

"But that's not important right now," chirped Blades, forcibly cheerful. "How are you? Did you enjoy your trip to the mainland?"

Cody sat down and crossed his legs, keeping his eyes on Heatwave's hands. They twitched. "The Mayor payed Frankie fifty dollars to install his stereo. She payed me ten dollars for keeping him busy while she worked, so... that was cool."

"That's good!" Blades laughed in two sharp bites before leaning back heavily on the couch, smile falling. "That's really good..."

Boulder similarly sagged against Heatwave's shoulder, while Heatwave didn't move, back upright and stiff. His optics went right over Cody's head, staring intently into the floor.

Cody got up and fell forward, hugging the back of Heatwave's hands tightly. "You'll be okay, guys."

Heatwave smiled at that, but couldn't make himself return the hug. The Thing's blood still weighed heavily on his hands.

Somewhere deep in the island, fed by geothermal heat, the parts slowly melted into so much slag, and Doctor Greene breathed a scorching, happy sigh of relief.

That's the end. Thank you!