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tagsecretsanta · 6 years

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From Photowizard17

To @such-a-random-rambler

Secret Santa does not own this piece of work, full credit goes to the author mentioned above.

It was wet, it was cold and it was miserable. Unfortunately there was a job to be done and International Rescue answered the call. It was the worst recorded blizzard in Ontario, Canada since 2013. Houses were buried, streets were unusable and power had been out for 28 hours already. Just like the storm back in 2013, this particular weather phenomena also started just before Christmas.

“Are you sure there is nowhere else these people can go?” Gordon asked the local fire marshal. “They are really exposed to the elements out here, I don’t think many of them can last very long.”

“Unfortunately son, our town hall collapsed just before you arrived and the roads are closed, we don’t have anywhere for them to go.” The man was in his late sixties, clad in winter firefighting gear and ready for battle with an unforgiving Mother Nature.

With this being such a small town, nothing really happened around here, so to have something of this magnitude happen this quickly, was devastating. All Gordon could do was help direct people into the Pod bay of Thunderbird 2 and hope for the best. Virgil and Scott were out in two modified Pods trying to clear snow for emergency equipment, but the 90 kilometer per hour winds and the fact that the snow was still falling, were not helping. The wind pierced through layers of clothing, sending shivers down people’s spines, mens mustaches and beards were freezing with snow and slush.

Gordon had begun packing people into the Pod bay of Thunderbird 2 to help get as many people as possible out of this blizzard. Without the Pods inside, the bay could hold approximately 250 people, the towns population was near 1000.

“Thunderbird 5, this is Thunderbird 2, where is the nearest safe location within quick flying distance of Thunderbird 2?”

“Thunderbird 2 there is a town about 200 kilometers south of your location that is not having nearly the same weather difficulties you are having. The problem is I don’t know if you will be able to take off in those winds with all of those people onboard below,” John answered. He had been wracking his brain for a solution ever since they arrived, but moving that many people at a time who were not strapped in, in those weather conditions was just a bad idea.

“What if I asked them?”

“What if you asked them?”

Gordon looked around, these people were desperate, all they wanted to do was have a nice Christmas at home with their families and now each one of them is having to practically fight for their lives. “Yeah ask them, ask if they would be ok being transported like this, that way at least we know that we tried everything. Besides we can’t wait for the GDF their ETA was another 10 hours.”

John sighed, Gordon honestly had a point. “Scott, did you hear that?”

“Yeah John I heard. If Gordon thinks it will work then we have to try, but we also have to take all necessary precautions. That also means having EOS do predictions and probability.”

“Already done,” the AI chimed in. “the probability of success, while transporting 244.5 passengers in these weather conditions is 61.5%. The percentage will increase if Virgil is piloting Thunderbird 2.”

“Hey?!” Gordon was slightly touched by the comment, but he understood. Virgil was the best pilot of Thunderbird 2.

“EOS,” John interrupted, “how much will the probability of success increase if Virgil pilots?”

“Probability increases to 72.8% success.”

“Then it is settled, we are not asking we are just doing. Virgil head back to Thunderbird 2 and get ready for launch. Gordon count exactly 244 people and get them in the Pod bay. I’ll start notifying local officials of the plan,” Scott ordered.

A chorus of FAB’s followed and the plan was set in motion. By the time Virgil arrived back at Thunderbird 2 Gordon had loaded the first set of passengers. There would be a total of four trips to carry civilians and then one more trip to carry all of the local rescue teams and any stragglers that were left behind.

The ride was rough and crammed and uncomfortable but the plan was working. So far 488 people had been transported to the other town and were now safe from danger. “Thunderbird 1 this is Thunderbird 2. Scott, Thunderbird 2 is taking a beating, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this up.”

“FAB Virgil, EOS? What is the probability of Virgil transports more people at once?”

“Taking into account the two successful trips plus the physical problems Thunderbird 2 is having, Virgil should be able to transport 270.2 people safely.”

“FAB, in that case Scott I think I am going to do one more trip and then come back for the rescue crews and stragglers.”

“Sounds good Virgil,” Scott answered. “From my heat sensors it looks like there are only 12 people left on our end who need help getting out. We may get home in time for Christmas after all.” Scott smirked.

As Virgil took off with the last load of civilians all he could think of was Christmas. He loved the carols and the food, but he was never really fond of Christmas. It had been years, before the start of IR, that all of his family had even been together on Christmas. He knew his work was noble and that this is what he had signed up for, but Christmas used to mean sitting by the fireplace while Grandma told stories and the smell of rich, creamy hot chocolate filled the air. But now, if he even gets to two of his brothers on Christmas it’s a miracle.

Right now though there was a job to be done and he needed to focus. The last of the people had been dropped off and were being treated in a nearby set up clinic in the local church. Maybe they would get home for Christmas. “Thunderbird 1 this is Thunderbird 2, I’m leaving the drop off zone…” Virgil trailed off.

“Virgil?”

“Scratch that, I was leaving.”

“What do you mean you ‘were’ leaving?” Scott was now standing beside Gordon with the last of the survivors and the rescue crews.

“My front left VTOL is all iced up and the landing gear won’t retract. Until I can get it cleared I won’t be leaving.” So much for getting home in time for Christmas. “I’m going to divert all auxiliary power to the heating systems for the VTOL and the landing gear bay.”

Twenty minutes had passed and the front VTOL was still iced up. “Virgil, how’s it going?”

“S-Slow Sc-scott,” Virgil replied. “I tr-ied diverting all heat t-to the VTOL’s. That i-is not working either. But I hav-e one more idea.”

All Gordon could do is glance at each other, they didn’t know what was going on and now people were starting to get really cold without and shelter other than Thunderbird 1 blocking the wind. On the other end of the comm they heard Virgil mumble something about ‘here goes nothing’ then earth shaking creaks and shutters coming from Thunderbird 2. “Virgil?” Scott shouted over the noise, much to the confusion of the civilians around him. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I took of-f Scott. I was hoping the increased power build up would f-force the ice off or at least melt i-t.” Virgil didn’t need to see his older brother to now that he was worried, this could go very, very wrong. There was one last shutter over the comms before all went quiet.

“Virgil?” Scott inquired. “Thunderbird 2?”

“I can’t believe that actually worked.” Virgil responded, “Scott ETA 10 minutes.”

“FAB Virgil, nice work.”

After Virgil returned with Thunderbird 2 Gordon helped load the last remaining passengers and the Snow Pods into the Pod bay. By then the snow had stopped falling and the wind had died down considerably. After one last sweep of the premises Virgil and Gordon took off in Thunderbird 2 towards the town for one last dropoff while Scott followed closely behind in Thunderbird 1 should any more problems arise.

Turns out Thunderbird 1’s vertical thrusters had frozen as well, but there was enough space for Scott to take off using his main thruster. They were lucky this time.

Now they were on their way home. Although Thunderbird 2 could push it and get home in just over an hour, Virgil thought it safer to push the systems, but not to their max. Now they would be home in about two hours. “Thunderbird 1 if you want to go ahead and get home Gordon and I are fine with that. We know you’re itching to get home.” Virgil said smirking at Gordon.

“That’s ok Thunderbird 2, we are nearly there anyway.”

About 10 minutes later Tracy Island appeared over the horizon. 7:23am, Christmas Day.

Thunderbird 1 descended into the pool while Thunderbird 2 landed on her runway and made her way into the hidden cave. Post flight checks were done and the three brothers changed into their street clothes ascended the stairs to the lounge together.

The sun had just begun to rise over the ocean horizon. A Christmas tree standing nearly nine feet tall was glowing and twinkling in the morning light. Above each brothers and Kayo’s portraits hung a string of delicate lights, and tinsel hung off the railing of the stairs. In the lounge sat seven people.

John was passing hot chocolate around while Grandma told stories of her adventures from her youth. Alan sat with Kayo curled up on the couch in blankets, while Brains fiddled with stubborn tree lights.

A welcoming surprise was Lady Penelope and Parker who were sitting on the other couch with little Sherbert. Gordon strode over to Lady Penelope and gave her a kiss, while Scott walked over to Kayo and did the same.

Virgil stood in the entryway looking at all of his family gathered together. The rich, creamy hot chocolate, the stories and most importantly the company. It was all like he remembered. They had made it home for Christmas.

Grandma walked over to Virgil and gave him a kiss on the cheek, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Welcome home boys,” she said. “Merry Christmas.”