Wicked Comet part 13
"Elphaba, are you alright?" Fiyero and Rich asked at the same time before Elphaba shushed them.
"Shh! Listen... Do you hear that? It sounds like somebody in pain!" Elphaba said to Rich and Fiyero.
"It's probably just the wind" Fiyero said to Elphaba in a comforting tone.
"You're probably just stressed after what has happened" Rich added.
Elphaba would have none of it however as she continued to stare into space, an expression of fear on her face.
"My sister's in danger!" Elphaba exclaimed.
"What? How do you know?" Fiyero asked.
"Elphaba has these visions now and then; they often turn out to be true. They've saved our backsides multiple times over the years" Rich explained.
Elphaba then gasped in pure fear!
"Elphaba what's wrong, what is it?" Fiyero asked in concern.
"Don't you see it?" Elphaba asked, as if what she was seeing was obvious.
"What do you mean? What do you see?" Fiyero asked.
Elphaba narrowed her eyes in confusion as she concentrated on her vision.
"It doesn't make any sense... It's a house but it's... it's flying through the sky? I have to go to Nessa!" She said.
"I'll go with you" Fiyero volunteered.
"No, you mustn't, it's too dangerous!" Elphaba protested, not wanting to put the man she loved in danger.
"Listen to me, listen! My family has a castle in Kiamo Ko. Now, no one is ever there except for the sentries who watch over it. We've never lived there." Fiyero suggested.
"So where do you live?" Elphaba asked, confused.
"In the other castle" Fiyero replied in a tone that said what he was saying was completely obvious to all, before Rich Spoke.
"That was supposed to be obvious?" Rich asked aloud but Fiyero ignored him as he continued speaking to Elphaba,
"It's the perfect hiding place; tunnels, secret passageways. You and Rich will be safe there."
"We will see each other again, won't we?" Elphaba asked worriedly.
"Elphaba, we are going to be together always." Fiyero reassured her.
Rich, by this time had gotten up and was striding over to the Comet after putting out the fire.
"Elphaba, I'll take Fiyero up in the Comet and attempt to intercept the house in the tornado. Whilst we do that, you can go and protect Nessa" Rich said to Elphaba.
Elphaba seemed hesitant at first until Rich said "The Comet's been through just as much hell as we have. I'm sure it can handle a storm"
Elphaba nodded, still not fully convinced, and hugged Fiyero tightly and kissed him passionately goodbye before she took off on her broom in her race against the storm.
A few minutes later, Rich and Fiyero took off in the Comet and flew the aircraft as fast as it would allow in order to intercept the storm.
Climbing high over Oz, the Comet zoomed over the Emerald City and soon the aircraft was in Munchkinland and penetrating the edges of the storm.
"You might want to hold on tight Fiyero, this is going to be a bumpy ride!" Rich warned as the Comet entered the storm and immediately hit a strong bout of turbulence.
The delicate and high performance aircraft was flung about like a toy as merciless winds blasted at the aircraft's thin aluminium skin. The four Ghost Jet Engines were working overtime in-order to keep the Comet flying!
"you're going to rip the Comet apart!" Fiyero shouted over the noise of the storm.
"Nah, the Comet's been through storms like this before, it can take it." Rich shouted back as he struggled with the Comet's flight controls to keep the powerful aircraft flying. Another powerful jolt sent the Comet lurching so hard that anything not secured down (which wasn't much) flying everywhere!
Fiyero had to use one of the Comet's emergency sick bags since the motions were so violent. Eventually though, the Comet finally flew into the heart of the storm. And yes there was a house, not unlike the many farmhouses you would see in Munchkinland flying in the middle of the tornado.
"Ok Elphaba, I see the house. Bloomin Eck it's huge!" Rich shouted into the radio over the noise of the storm.
"Is there anything you can see otherwise about the house?" Elphaba asked.
"Not that I can see!" Rich replied but as he said this, he caught a glimpse of movement in one of the Houses upper Windows!
"Hold that thought Elphie. I see something" Rich shouted as he opened the Comet's throttles open a little bit more in order to get closer to the house.
The brilliant silver aircraft moved closer and closer until Rich saw something that shocked him greatly.
"THERE'S SOMEONE ALIVE IN THERE!" Rich exclaimed. But as he said this, part of the houses framework flew off and was sucked towards the Comet!
Rich saw this and attempted to avoid the projectile but the huge fragment of wood splintered and was sucked into engines three and four, shredding the delicate parts inside and the cores of both engines exploded shaking the Comet even more violently than the storm!
"Crap." Rich said aloud, trying to calm himself down as he immediately cut off all fuel and power to the damaged engines three and four whilst deploying the fire extinguishers.
"ELPHABA, I'M IN TROUBLE HERE!" Rich shouted to Elphaba over the radio.
"What is it?" Elphaba asked over the radio, fear in her voice.
"Debris has come off the house and has wrecked engines three and four. I've shut the engines down but I will have to put the Comet on the ground immediately!" Rich replied.
"Do what you have to Rich, just don't get yourself or Fiyero hurt. I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened." Elphaba said back.
"Don't worry about us. We'll be fine" Rich replied.
As Elphaba was about to reply, the Comet's radio suddenly failed!
"Dammit!" Rich cursed.
"What's going on?" Fiyero asked.
"radio's gone. We have no contact with Elphaba." Rich replied simply.
Fiyero looked terrified before he took a deep breath and said as calmly as he could,
"We had best land immediately before anything else breaks"
"That's what we are doing. It might be a very bumpy ride though. Hang on tight" Rich replied, and so began Rich's desperate attempt to Land the damaged Comet.