International Rescue: The Next Phase


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Re: Gear Up and Buckle Down [message #2072 is a reply to message #2071] Sun, 29 July 2012 13:30 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Tikatu is currently offline  Tikatu
Messages: 813
Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina
Karma:
Field Commander
Ubiquitous one
Tracy Island, Tuesday, April 3rd 5:30 p.m.

Sitting in the cockpit of Thunderbird Two, Elise thumbed through the flight manual for at least the twentieth time, taking notes and fiddling with this and that. The simulator had been overwhelming enough, but this machine was something else completely!

She sighed, shutting the manual and looking out of the window despondently. She was a good pilot; she knew that, but to fly this gigantic contraption? Who was she kidding?

"I'm never going to get this right," she said to herself as she slumped back in the pilot's seat.

"Get what?" came a voice from the doorway of the cabin.

Elise turned abruptly to see Virgil casually leaning against the door frame, arms folded.

"This!" Elise replied, waving her arms to indicate her surroundings.

Virgil smiled and walked over to her, positioning himself with his back against the control panel and leaning on it.

"You will," he stated, and then asked, "Just how long have you been up here?"

She smiled slightly. "I dunno. A while, I guess. I got curious, wanted to see the whole enchilada, and get the feel of it, you know?"

"Yeah, I know." He returned her smile with one of his own.

Elise stared out of the window once more. "I'm a chopper pilot, Virgil, small aircraft. What on Earth gave your father the idea I could fly something this big?"

She turned towards him again, only this time she didn't smile.

Virgil thought for a moment before answering her. He could see she was struggling with the idea of being in control of 'Two and lacked the confidence he knew she had buried down inside her somewhere.

"Well, for one, Dad trusts you with his life. He knows your skill and devotion to flying. Scott knows it, too. They've both seen what you can do and what more you can be capable of."

She wasn't impressed. "Yeah, right. Your dad has seen my capable skills fly him straight into the side of a mountain!"

Virgil had to chuckle at her blunt way of describing the chopper accident.

"It's not funny!" she said, noticing his laugh.

"I know. It's just the way you put it, that's all. Look, Elise, you'll do fine. Once you get a feel for her in the air, she's a baby! All she takes is soft hands and some gentle coaxing now and again, and she'll give you everything she has."

Elise listened to Virgil talk about the craft, fascinated by the way he talked about it. Now it was her turn to chuckle.

"What?" He looked at her, not sure why she was chuckling when a moment ago she was quite annoyed.

"Oh, nothing, I'm just not sure if you were talking about some girlfriend, or your Thunderbird! Or are they one and the same?"

"Funny!" came the droll reply.

Elise gave in. "Joking aside, I understood what you were talking about. I only hope you're right."

"I am, you'll see."

Elise noted the same cocky self-assured attitude in Virgil that she'd seen in Gordon. Must be genetic, she mused. They stayed in the cockpit for a while, Virgil answering questions Elise had and demonstrating various controls and procedures.

"It's getting late." Virgil said, glancing at his watch.

"Yeah, and I'm getting hungry." Elise closed the manual and got ready to leave.

Virgil walked ahead of her towards the door. Elise suddenly remembered she had yet to thank him for his help the other night when she'd had the nightmare. She was a little embarrassed and not sure where to start, so blurted out his name almost urgently.

"Virgil! Wait...um..." He turned back to her, but didn't say anything.

"I ... um... well, this is kinda embarrassing... but I wanted to thank you for being there the other night when I had a nightmare."

There! I've done it!

Virgil walked back to her and spoke softly. "It's okay. There's no need to feel embarrassed. I'm glad you're all right."

She looked up at him. "Guess I'd had a lot on my mind and didn't sleep as well as I'd hoped I would. Anyway, thanks, Virgil." She smiled sheepishly.

He squeezed her arm gently and replied "Anytime. Now let's go eat." Smiling, he turned to lead the way and she dutifully followed.

Post by FrankieCTB2 on 07/02/2005

Jeff heartbeat Dianne plain My IR:TNP OTP!

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