Day 28. Presumed Dead
Characters: Jeff, Gordon
Warnings: hydrofoil crash, dead bodies
The hydrofoil reaches 400 knots.
Gordon whoops and his fellow WASPs cheer alongside him.
Then…
...
Jeff Tracy had made millions developing fuels and aircraft, something he adored and shared with his eldest son. And he shared his love of space with John, his knack for engineering with Virgil and Alan took both flying and space.
But with Gordon, his fourth-born…there was no overlap of interests.
So when WASP contacted him with an idea for a superfast hydrofoil, Jeff's interest was piqued. He didn't have the experience to design and build one himself, but if this hydrofoil worked WASP had offered him the possibility to being the next one to design and build the next generation.
Thus Jeff was in the stands along with other VIP's watching with pride as his son commanded the foil.
Then…
...
One minute he's flying over the water. Gordon thinks to himself 'I wonder if this is what Scott feels,' and in that second he understands his brother's obsession with flying.
Sixty seconds later and all there is is darkness and noise and oil and PAIN. He's in the water, really deep in the water considering he was just on the deck of an experimental hydrofoil.
Something brushes past him, and he opens his eyes. They widen in shock as he recognises his best friend beside him. Paul is most definitely dead, eyes open and staring at nothing. It takes all of Gordon's control not to release the breath he is holding.
There are other bodies in the water. His was a five-man crew, and as he spins around he counts four.
He is the only survivor.
He won't survive long without air.
The rebreather has evidently been knocked free and he looks for help. Nothing is within reach. He is sinking with the bodies of his friends and comrades.
If he doesn't find air soon he will be joining them.
...
Jeff watched in horror as the foil just seemed to disintegrate. One minute it was there, the next it was flame and smoking debris on the water.
There were no signs of life anywhere.
He wasn't even aware he was screaming his son's name as he attempted to climb over and down the scaffolding of their viewing platform, fighting the guards that were trying to stop him.
'Mr Tracy, wait! This way.'
Hands grabbed him and led him down the stairs and out to a waiting buggy. He was buckled in by someone.
Jeff tried very hard not to hear the words.
'No survivors. No bodies in the water, Sir.'
'Before we presume that they are all dead I want divers out. Now.'
'Aye aye, Sir.'
Not his son. Please. Not Gordon, his sunshine boy.
...
He doesn't have the energy or ability to avoid the cabin as it descends to swallow him. But here is his first piece of luck.
There is an air bubble.
Gordon draws in a stuttering breath that is all fire and pain.
He just needs to be rescued now.
...
It was worse close up.
The smell of burning oil, hot metal and something else caused Jeff to gag. There was nothing bigger than a cupboard door.
How could his son have survived this?
Hands were once again holding him back as he attempted to wade into the water. He needed to find his son, and once more he was fighting.
The hands tightened until he couldn't move, and suddenly there was a prick in his arm. The fight went out of him alongside his consciousness, and by the time he was on the floor he was out like a light.
...
'Sir! Sir! I've found a live one!'
'Thank god.'
'Medics have him and he's already on his way.'
'Who is it?'
'Lieutenant-Commander Tracy, sir.'
'I'll let his father know.
...
Jeff woke up in a bed. A hospital bed. Beside him sat his son's CO.
'Presumed dead. No bodies.'
The words were the first things on his mind as consciousness cleared, and he didn't hold back the tears.
'Colonel Tracy, you're awake!'
'Any news?'
'They found him, Sir.'
'Gordon?'
'Yes. He's alive.'
Jeff stared at the man. Alive?
Alive. His son was alive.