Man it feels good to be back on this story! But it'll take me some time to adjust to THIS style... Anyways, I'm excited for this and hope you enjoy!
"We see it, Swoops. Just hang in there until that smoke clears. It's too thick for you to go through." Ariel advised. Swoops screeched.
The pink lighting was growing more and more as the smoke cleared. Red faint lighting was also seen as their DSUs were all going off. Multiple beeping noises were heard from them.
"The smoke is clear, Swoops, get in there and find out if they're alive!"
Swoops screeched as he immediately flew into the wreckage of the airship. Swoops landed next to a body. He started pecking at it. Soon enough, it was Spinelli he was poking.
"Ugh… I never thought trucks were that damaging…" Spinelli sat up and held her head. Gerald was under a pile of debris. Swoops squawked to point it out. "What the… Gerald!" Spinelli got up and started to remove the rubble.
Arnold soon gained consciousness, and so did Star Sapphire.
"Is that my ears ringing, or our distress signal units…?" Arnold was too dizzy to understand.
"Pheebs, I'm heading over there for immediate evac!" Ariel said as she put on her gloves. Phoebe nodded.
Sapphire soon noticed where they were, and also noticed Arnold on top of her. "Uh, Arnold? I thought you said you were married…" Sapphire blushed. Arnold went wide-eyed for a moment and immediately rolled off of her.
Gerald was soon out of the rubble. "Thanks…" He panted for air. "Thank me when this is over…" Spinelli gasped for air.
Just minutes later, the QR Jet was soon there. Ariel dropped down from a tether. "You guys alright?"
"Is that ringing in my ears, or is it just me…?" Arnold held his head. "Impulse, deactivate those DSU devices."
"Right away, Ms. Flyer."
"Let's get you guys outta here."
"And in good time too, I'm picking up multiple arson reports down in Chicago."
"Chicago? Why's that?" Spinelli asked. "We'll find out once we get out of here." Arnold replied.
Later
The QR Jet landed in the garage area along with the Hyperjet as Impulse was in control of it.
"You guys are all stable, you'll just need a little rest." Ariel said as she finished cleaning a cut on Arnold.
"Yeah, yeah…"
"Pheebs, everything I asked for done?" Arnold whispered to Phoebe. "Everything is in place and ready for an unveiling. Oh, Arnold? You have someone waiting upstairs." Phoebe lightly smirked.
Arnold soon headed upstairs. He found Rhonda with her parents. "Oh, there he is now!"
Arnold greeted his wife with open arms. "Sweetie! Gee, you don't look too good."
"I don't feel too good." Arnold replied.
"My goodness, Arnold. Shouldn't you get cleaned up?" Buckley asked as he approached his son-in-law.
"I will."
"Arnold, I'd love to talk with you, but Buckley's right. You should get cleaned up." Brooke soon said. Arnold could only nod as he soon walked away.
"Look honey, it's not that we're trying to offend him, he simply needed to get cleaned up! You can't blame anyone that he had a bunch of black smoke stains on his face!" Brooke told her daughter, who wasn't amused.
An Hour Later
"Look, sweetheart, it's not that I want to baby you or Rhonda, all I want is for you guys to be safe. Again, I said that I don't want to baby you, but I feel as if you're my own son, and I do know that you already have a mother, it's just…" Brooke sighed as she was sitting down with Arnold.
"Mom, I know what you're trying to say, and trust me, we all work and function as a team. I've been trained by my actual mother to encounter things like that, trained in so many things! Even on the medical side of things, detective work, etc. Mom, there's nothing to worry about. Okay?"
Brooke then smiled at Arnold. "I can always trust you, Arnold." Brooke then hugged Arnold. Arnold hugged her back. "Stay safe, sweetie." Brooke told Arnold and kissed his cheek, leaving a slight mark of red lipstick.
Arnold soon left and Brooke smirked when she saw the lipstick mark.
"So what's with these arson fires?" Spinelli asked as she was with Ariel and Phoebe.
"I wouldn't EXACTLY say fires, because once firefighters reached these fires, they were apparently extinguished." Ariel replied. "Are we on the same page here?" Spinelli gave a confused look.
"Yes, we are. These arson attacks not only killed several people, but many firefighters as well." Phoebe added. "What?!" Both Spinelli and Ariel exclaimed.
"Many firefighters were killed, leading to several stations being shut down. And with this, it's leading to short-handed departments. They need our help stopping the arsonist!"
"We're headed to Chicago tomorrow and stopping this arsonist!" Ariel said as she looked at the map of shutdown stations. "I'm pounding my fist into whoever is behind this!" Spinelli exclaimed.
"Where's that mark of lipstick from?!"
"I-I think it must've been your mom who gave me this lipstick stain! Besides, I'm not cheating on you, I SWEAR!"
Arnold closed his eyes as if he was going to get slapped. Instead, Rhonda pressed her lips on the opposite cheek. Arnold blushed furiously as he noticed.
"You want more where that came from? Just follow me, honeybun." Rhonda winked. "Look, Rhonda, as much as I want to fool around with you, I think I should get some rest. Is that ok with you?"
"Oh, well alright. Can I at least be beside you?"
Arnold smiled. "Sure, sweetie." Arnold held her waist as he kissed her cheek.
As the night came, the two cuddled up before heading to sleep. Meanwhile, for Ariel, she could barely sleep, knowing that an arsonist was on the loose down in Chicago.
"Calm down, Ariel. Just get some sleep, and we'll soon catch that arsonist." She told herself. She then started taking deep breaths.
Meanwhile In Chicago
Firefighters were responding to another arson attack. Two rookies were on their first callouts. One wasn't all that serious and was mainly goofing around since he was drunk, while the other rookie, was the lieutenant's younger brother.
A burned body had crashed through a car windshield as a result of the arson explosion.
"This the real shit, Brian! Wooo!" The excited young rookie said as he walked away to see his team.
Brian, the rookie, felt like there was something wrong with this. Brian thought about Tim, the other rookie, and the accident.
"You're late, little' bro!" A voice was heard. "Huh?" The rookie turned around to see his Lieutenant brother. "I said you're late, dumb ass." The Lieutenant had years of experience, and was now facing a challenge, guiding his little brother through this dangerous career.
"Stephen, you're really gonna count this as my first day? I just got assigned to the station!"
Stephen rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. I expect you to be early tomorrow. If you miss the first call out, that's on you." Stephen said as he walked away and got onto his chest radio.
"Lieutenant to Ladder 5, what's your status?"
"No sign of anyone else, Lieutenant. Building's clear."
"Alright, I want you guys to exit the building, you copy?"
"Yo, Bull! We're gonna need another saw! SOMEBODY didn't check the tools this morning!" A firefighter soon said. "I did check it!"
"Saw coming your way."
The Next Morning in Hillwood
The sun shined through the bedroom window and Arnold was soon awakened by the sun's rays.
"Damn sun…" Arnold stretched and yawned. Arnold then looked at Rhonda, who was sound asleep. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty." Arnold smirked before kissing her forehead again. Rhonda soon awakened as she felt Arnold kissing her forehead.
"You're up bright and early, honey." She teased.
"I think you should know why." Arnold lightly smirked. "Ugh, do we have to get up so early? I want some more sleep! And sleep more with you." Rhonda whimpered as she rested her head on Arnold. Arnold put a hand behind her ear.
"I know you're tired, sweetheart, but we have a job to do. I promise you, we'll cuddle all night once we're done, ok?" Rhonda nodded as she soon kissed Arnold's neck.
Later
"This better be worthwhile, I'm tired over here!" Spinelli complained. "You and me both." Rhonda replied.
"Surprised to see you here so early." Gerald said to Ariel. "I could barely sleep, alright?"
"So what do we have?"
"Just last night we had another arson attack. Killing another person. No ID yet, but we'll have to see once we get there."
"Which also gives us the perfect opportunity to unveil something new… Phoebe, would you do the honors?" Arnold looked at Phoebe.
"Why, of course, Arnold! Team, I'd like to introduce a new upgrade! Now, while it may be the same stuff you guys currently wear, it's a little more bulkier." Phoebe then clapped as Impulse unveiled the upgrades from their lockers.
"Woah!"
"That's pretty cool!"
Essentially, it was their same suits but made of a more thicker material than the current slim-fitting suits, providing more protection against the heat and flames. Radios were on the chest part of the suits along with flashlights on the other side of the chest. Oxygen masks and oxygen tanks were behind the suits as well for more smoke-filled missions, it even carried the oxygen level meter. Every suit had metal-toe boots. They had the same Distress Signal Units sewed into the suits.
"Hey, uh Pheebs? Is it possible we can also wear those oxygen tanks and masks with these suits?" Spinelli asked. "Yeah but, you'd have to adjust them tighter."
"Awesome!"
"I also have one more surprise. Follow me to the garage area."
They were all in the engine room, where both the Hyperjet and QR Jet were ready. The Hybrid and Helicopter were both stored in the Hyperjet.
Phoebe pressed a button on her wristwatch and the Hyperjet opened from underneath, revealing a different vehicle.
"Woah… What is that, Phoebe?" Gerald asked while amazed. "I don't want to take all the credit but Arnold and I thought of it. Introducing the UFRT. Ultimate Fire Rescue Truck."
It had all-terrain tires along with water cannons at the top, and the back stuck out like spikes. The left side had the usual big water tank.
"Yeesh. I didn't think just because we have such advanced technology, we have to have everything be advanced tech." Spinelli chuckled.
"Alright, let's hurry and get to Chicago now!" Ariel said. They all nodded.
"You know, since I'm a lantern, most of this doesn't apply to me, right?" Sapphire asked Phoebe. "No, why?"
"Eh, nothing. I bet they're gonna be using those water cannons to clean the Jets now." The two chuckled.
Forty Seconds Later
The entire team was now suited up in the new rescue uniforms and ready to head to Chicago.
"If anything, the noises of a real firefighting suit were well replicated." Spinelli facepalmed.
"Would you rather have this, or suffer burns from those slim suits? That's what I thought." Arnold smirked at Spinelli, who only crossed her arms.
"Hang on, Spinelli. Just one last adjustment… There!"
Phoebe added an extra flashlight onto her beanie. "I was wondering why that extra flashlight was there…"
"So essentially, Spinelli's the only one who has that sort of lighting?"
"I hate to say it but…pretty much." Phoebe shrugged. "Besides, you all have shoulder lighting feature so that should help. Alright, now that that's all done… Good luck down in Chicago, guys."
"Mom? Dad?" Arnold and Rhonda looked back to see Olivia, just recently awakened. "Olivia? We thought you were asleep." The two ran up to her and hugged her.
"Mom, Dad, where are you two going? And without me?! As your daughter?"
Arnold sighed. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry but… you have to stay here. We're headed to Chicago, not for a vacation, but to investigate arson fires. But-"
"But nothing, Dad! You can't keep babying me my entire life! Please, I… I want to go with you guys. I'll never be able to be as good as you guys if I don't ever see what happens!"
"Olivia, your father's right. It's not that we want to baby you, you're our little Princess and you should know that! We just want you to be safe, and the reason we haven't taken you along is number one, you're still in training, you're bound to be a rookie alongside us, but…" Rhonda looked at her daughter.
"But what, Mom…?"
"We want you to be safe… You have no idea how painful it is…" Rhonda had a tear slip down. "To see you in harm's way. Let alone seeing you hurt!"
The others were all silent as they were mainly feeling bad for the three.
Arnold took a deep breath through his nose. He then looked at Olivia. "Are you sure you really want to go with us?" Olivia nodded as she looked at her father.
"How about this? We'll take you with us, BUT, you're under our watchful eye, not as your leader and captain that we are, but as your mother and father. We'll be deciding where and when you see action."
"You're the best, Dad!" Olivia gave Arnold a big hug. "I try to be." Arnold shrugged. Rhonda giggled at Arnold as she gave him a small kiss on his cheek.
"Just remember, you're under our supervision, not as leader and captain, but as your Mom and Dad. Got it?" Arnold reminded his daughter. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll be right beside you if you need me."
"I think you two are making a good choice here. Sure that we're headed into an unknown problem in Chicago, but it gives her some learning experience for the future! And hey, maybe one day she will continue your legacy as team leader." Spinelli smiled at the three.
"Thanks, Spin." Rhonda smiled back.
"Alright sweetie, time to suit up now. And hurry since we wasted a bit of time here." Olivia nodded and immediately towards the lockers where all the uniforms and equipment were stored.
"Great to see her finally use those lockers, don't you think, Arnold?" Rhonda said as she gripped his hand. Arnold only nodded as he smiled at his wife.
Thirty Seconds Later
"Fast response time… She'll make a great team leader one day. Of course, after us." Arnold smirked as Rhonda playfully rolled her eyes before smirking.
"Alright team, we don't have another second to waste. Let's go!"
"Good luck, team. If I find any updates on the Militia, I'll radio in as soon as possible." Phoebe told the team. Arnold gave a thumbs up as the Hyperjet's cargo doors closed.
The roaring engine sounds of both the Hyperjet and QR Jet came to life as the two aircrafts were ready to hit the skies once more.
Maybe the suits were probably a little unnecessary but uh yeah... Stephen's name is pronounced like "Steven" and not like "Stephen" like the famous basketball athlete Steph Curry. Probably weird but I went with it *shrug*