Innundation

Rain lashed at Thunderbird 2's viewports, making it hard for Virgil Tracy to see anything outside his craft. The driving rains, coupled with dangerous lightning, were swamping some inhabited islets off the coast of Louisiana. Many residents of these tiny islands had made their way to the largest of them, but the rising waters caused by tropical storm Bernice had cut them off from the mainland. And this largest islet was being flooded itself. Already many buildings and homes had been washed away in the flood waters, along with their stubborn inhabitants. But many of the taller buildings had survivors standing on rooftops, waiting for rescue.

International Rescue, to be precise.

"Thunderbird 2 to Thunderbird 4. Any luck finding any survivors after that last big wave?"

Gordon Tracy, in the submersible craft, Thunderbird 4, replied.

"Yes, Virgil. I found an entire family! Parents, three children and one dog."

Virgil didn't know if Gordon was joking or not about the dog.

"What kind of dog, Gordon?"

"A Labrador retriever. Good swimmer."

Virgil was still unsure, but decided that maybe his brother was telling the truth this time.

"I'm sending down the rescue capsule." An elevator-like affair winched down from the belly of the large green aircraft. The bright yellow submersible rose up from the violent waves to meet it. The hatch on top opened, and Gordon climbed out, dressed in a gray wetsuit with red trim, his copper hair whipping in the wind. He held on to the rescue capsule with one hand and helped the family climb out through the hatch and into the metal box. Then he dropped back into the hatch and came out with a large black dog in his arms. He put the dog in the box with the family.

"All set, Virgil! Pull them up!" he shouted into his telecomm watch.

"FAB, Thunderbird 4!" Virgil told his brother. Then he called over to the blond man who was operating the winch. "Alan! They're ready!"

"FAB, Virgil!" Alan Tracy, the youngest of the Tracy brothers, brought the rescue capsule up slowly. He kept a watchful eye out for lightning, a potential threat to the box that was coming up on the winch cables.

"By the way, Virgil, he wasn't kidding about the dog." By this time, the rescue capsule was safely in the confines of Thunderbird 2 and Alan was showing the family, dog and all, to a dry place to sit. He handed out towels and blankets, while Tin-Tin assessed each family member for injuries. There were already three people in Thunderbird 2's sickbay and a dozen more sitting in what little passenger area there was.

"Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbirds 2 and 4. Found another rooftop full!" Scott Tracy's voice sounded over the radio. "They are at vector 128/88A."

"FAB, Thunderbird 1." was the response from both the green aircraft and the yellow sub. Each craft began moving in the treacherous winds and seas to rescue another group from the fury of the tropical storm.

"Thunderbird 4 to Thunderbird 1. It's getting rough for me down here, Scott," Gordon told his brother "A lot more debris blocking my way. Hey, I've got an intact building in front of me at vector 128/84C. Can you come over here and use the thermal imager on it, Scott? There may be people trapped inside."

"Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbird 4. FAB, Gordon. Virgil is here and is sending Alan down with the rescue capsule. I am over your position. Using thermal imager now."

Gordon waited for a response from Scott.

"Thunderbird 4 from Thunderbird 1. You were right, Gordo. I have two life signs at the very top of the house. You won't be able to break in from the top though; it's already under water."

"FAB, Scott. I'll have to go about this the hard way. Thunderbird 4 to Thunderbird 2. Virgil, can you use the remote access to hold Thunderbird 4's position for me? I don't trust the stationkeeping in these heavy swells."

"Thunderbird 2 to Thunderbird 4. FAB, Gordon. Establishing remote access link, now." Virgil moved over to a single panel station to his right. The display lights on the smooth console in front of him went from whites to reds, indicating that control of Thunderbird 4 now resided with the pilot of Thunderbird 2. It was the first new system to be added to Thunderbird 2's cockpit as part of her refit.

"FAB, Virgil. I am exiting hatch now." Gordon left the safe confines of his vessel and swam out into the rough, battering seas. He carried with him a bright light, two scuba masks, a tool kit, and a small harpoon gun. The lights from Thunderbird 4's light bar illuminated the scene for a good distance. He found that most of the windows were boarded shut from the outside. He selected the hammer from the tool kit and used it as a crowbar, taking a panel of wood from one of the windows. Then he used it to shatter the glass of the window, being very careful not to leave jagged edges. He swam through the window and began his search.

The inside of the house was eerie. Furniture floated to the ceiling, clothing sometimes entangled him, and the whole house was at an angle, giving it the feeling of an amusement park haunted house. He found the stairs going up and followed them to the second story. Then he searched for the access to the attic. He shone his light in each closet, looking at the ceiling. Finally, in what must have been the master bedroom, he spotted the open panel. He swam through, pushing debris away, heading for the two pairs of legs he saw near the top of the house. His head broke water, startling the man and woman who were desperately treading water.

"I'm here to get you out." Gordon was always a man of few words when he was working. He helped first the man, then the woman to put the scuba masks over their faces.

"Can you swim?" The man nodded an affirmative, but the woman looked doubtful.

"Take my hand, ma'am. Sir, you take her other hand. We'll both guide you out. Breathe easy, you've got plenty of air." With that, he plunged back beneath the water, pulling the woman with him. She began to panic, but the man grasped her other hand, and it seemed to calm her down. Together, they swam through the submerged house, finally coming to the open window. Gordon helped both of them through it, then swam through after them. He looked around for Thunderbird 4, but she was nowhere to be seen!

"Gordon to Thunderbird 2. Virgil, where's my ride?" Gordon asked through the computer access link in his ear.

No reply.

Worried about his brothers and his Thunderbird craft, Gordon began to shepherd the couple up to the surface. His light didn't penetrate as far in the open water as it had in the house, and there were fallen trees and other debris to skirt. Finally, they reached the surface. He motioned to the couple to leave their masks on in the swelling seas.

He tried reaching Thunderbird 2 again.

"Gordon to Virgil. Do you read me? Gordon to Thunderbird 2. Do you copy?"

Still no reply.

"Gordon to Thunderbird 1. Come in, Scott."

Silence.

Gordon was really worried now. What could have happened?