Home » The Archives » Chapter 5 » Learning to Live in Paradise
| Re: Learning to Live in Paradise [message #1322 is a reply to message #1321] |
Thu, 26 July 2012 19:48   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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The great door of the pod opened, and with practiced hands John manoeuvred Thunderbird Seven out into the open. The sky was almost black and the rain slashed through the air, shining gold as the lightening hit. Winds buffeted the hovercraft, and John's face was stony as he kept control of it. Just behind them, they saw the Thunderizer trundle out and begin to follow. The plan was to use it to launch climbing cables, and he and Dominic were to climb up to the limo.
"Thunderbird Two from Thunderbird Seven, come in Thunderbird Two," he said.
"Receiving you, Seven," Virgil replied.
"We're heading towards the bridge now." Another bolt of lightning hit one of the towers. Beside him, he saw Dominic flinch. "There are a lot of people; it's going to be tricky. Can you get Mobile Control to arrange us a security detail? Seven's going to be on her own when we head up the bridge."
"Done and done, Thunderbird Seven." As he spoke, they saw a group of police persons beginning to disperse the crowds. "It's going to be one hell of a climb, guys, in this weather. Be careful."
"FAB."
John resisted the roll of his eyes that strained to break through. Brothers, he thought, all overprotective. Including me, he added with a grin.
Dominic noticed without relish the crowds that were gathering to watch them, pointing and gaping. It's like some perverse theme park or something. But I can understand the attraction. He pulled his cap down further and kept his eyes forward.
"Ready for some climbing?" John asked.
"Definitely."
"Have you had much experience? I know Gordon's been training you on the island cliffs."
"I was a climber in university, and believe me, this weather is nothing compared to a bad climb up Slieve Donard back home. Scary stuff."
They reached the bottom of the bridge, where several cars were wrecked. Fire crews were dealing with ravaging fires on both sides of the bridge, but had cleared a narrow gap in the wrecks for the Thunderbird machines to get through.
"Thunderizer from Thunderbird Seven."
"Receiving you, Seven. Getting in place to fire the cabling," said Gordon.
"FAB." John turned to Dominic. "Go and get your medical bag and whatever else you need now. I'm going to get the climbing gear."
With a nod, Dominic went to open the cab door.
"And remember...Dak," John said with a grin, "Codenames."
"FAB, Quasar. See? I remembered."
Dominic nimbly hopped out into the driving rain, and John followed suit.
***
In the cab of the Thunderizer, Gordon swiftly manipulated the controls so the machine was facing in the right direction, and the cannon was at the right angle. He smiled. Piece of cake, he thought. He saw his crewmates hop out of the cab, wrapped up in their waterproofs, and run into the medical car behind. He checked his co-ordinates again, and toggled the comm.
"Mobile Control, Thunderbird Two, and Quasar from Thunderizer."
"Receiving you," Christopher, Virgil, and John replied, almost in unison.
"Ready to fire the cables."
"FAB."
Man, multiple communications are strange, he thought. He pressed the fire button, and two metal grips shot out of the cannon. A loud, "Ooh!" sounded from the crowd around them. He tracked their progress on the screen in front of him, and let out a quiet 'yes' when they hit their marks on target.
"Quasar from Thunderizer, the cables are up. Am heading back to Thunderbird Two. Good luck!"
"Thanks, Gor... Err, Cousteau."
Gordon backed the bulky craft out of the cleared area and headed back to Thunderbird Two. In this weather, brother, you're going to need all the luck you can get.
***
John winced as Dominic slapped his helmet down tightly over his head as he checked the couplings of Dominic's gear. He smacked Dominic's helmet back, and almost displaced the man's glasses.
"Contacts might be in order," he commented.
"I was thinking that myself."
Dominic fixed his glasses and then tightened the fastenings of his medical backpack.
"Ready?" John asked.
"As ever," was the reply.
They stepped back out into the freezing weather, the winds catching their clothes. They were glad for the amount of layers they were wearing. John signalled for one of the police to come over. A tall woman jogged towards them.
"Make sure no one gets near this craft. No pictures, nothing," John said, and the woman nodded. "Thanks."
"No problem, guv, it's us who should be thanking you," she said with a wink, and them set about organizing her people.
"Let's get to it," Dominic said, and the men went to affix their cables, and start the arduous ascent.
Post by ArtisticRainey on 17/04/2005
  
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