Chapter Text
DATE: 25.02.2070, 06:01AM - Icoming distress call. Capsized vessel, off-coast Queensland
Tracy island was for once not bustling with activity, there was no lively games, no teasing or even fights. Everybody was finally asleep after a long week of saving lives from the south of Africa to the north of Europe until the familar distress beakon went off.
Within minutes everybody was awake and in the lounge. Kayo rushed in first answering a grogy John's call, Virgil followed close behind dragging his feet a bit. Gordon had been half awake, getting mentally ready for swim, reluctantly leaving Penny behind and Scott stopped by Alan's room to get him up. The only exceptions were Brains and Grandma, who didn't awake if they weren't needed, thank you EOS for not setting the alarm off in their rooms, Grandma was not a force to be reckoned with before 8am.
"What's the situation John?" Kayo asked, crossing her legs as she sat on the sofa, masking her sleepiness like a true profesional but she's still a human who had to stifle a yawn.
"Sorry to wake you all up, but this is mainly for Gordon." That earnt a couple groans of protest and a large, unhidden sigh from Gordon who stood up and a stare from Virgil that could only be described as a look of irritation and questioning.
"A whale-watching tour capsized not too long ago off the coast of Queensland, Australia, so no need for TB2. However, the boat was hosting a small group of children from an orphanage and not all of them have been recovered from the sea. All but one apparently." Gordon woke up at the sound of that, they all hated when children were involved and their lives were in danger. ESPECIALLY when the ocean is involved, anything could be lurking down there and Australia was known for it's dangerous sealife. like blue-bottle jellyfish or great white sharks. He had to deploy fast, the sooner the better.
"FAB, let them know I'm on my way." "FAB."
TIME: 14:32PM - Mission success?
The mission thanfully had gone without a major, catestrophic event taking place but was honestly baffling. The child had been discovered sitting on a low rock formation about 2.1km from the capsize sight nearly three hours after the call, which is part of why it took so long. Currents were extremely slow that morning and the kid was only about nine so no way could he have swam ALL that way by himself, and during the medical examination Gordon discovered small cuts and scraps up the kids back as well as severe bruising to the back of his ribs and spine. Blunt force trauma, it would make sense but they were all said to be wearing life jackets when the boat flipped and there was no sign of a jacket with this kid and with that kind of padding and safety protocols informing everyone to jump in feet first that shouldn't be possible. He seemed to be dizzy and sunburnt as well as dehydrated, clear signs of heatstroke.
After getting him aloe lotion and plenty of water, Gordon soon found out from another, older kid that the boy's name was Percy and he was a mute since birth and never learned to talk properly. He was 9 1/2 and his favourite animals were whales. He was really shy and went missing earlier that morning just before the sun came up, the escort nuns from the oddly traditional orphanage apparently said he was sea sick and was lying down below deck, but below deck was off limits to the kids. Well that certainly complicated things...
"Hey bud, my name is Gordon. Do you think you can answer a couple questions for me?" Percy nodded, staring at Gordon with the widest, green eyes. That was enough for Gordon to smile and keep going, holding up a laminated chart with six cartoon fish on it. "Great, can you see the fish in the picture?" Once again, Percy nodded. "How many are there?" Thankfully, he knew how to count and held up six fingers. "Great job little man. Now, you lie down for a bit whilst I talk to the teachers." Gordon pat his shoulder and stepped away from the shelter they had been taken to back on the main land, he quickly waved over the head nun for a chat.
"He's doing fine but I noticed some concerning injuries he couldn't have gotten from the capsize, care to explain?" The head nun in question seemed to bunch up her face like she ate a sour fruit, it went all red and she frowned so harshly she added more wrinkles to her skin. Her fists clenched around the rosemary in her hands and she seemed pissed off, scoffing dismissively. "I would not have a clue what you're implying, but I am certain it was the capsize which caused those injuries. As a matter of fact, I don't know why you're asking. Your job is to rescue, not interrigate. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got a long drive back to the orphanage. Come along Percy." The nun seemed snappy, holding out her hand for the child. Snatching him up harshly, the nun dragged him out toward the others causing poor Percy to stumble and trip. Then nun didn't hesitate to turn around and raise her hand to back hand him if Gordon hadn't gotten there first, shoving her out the way.
"Now I hate hurting people, especially those past 40. But I will personally- " Gordon cut himself off, best not to say that in front of children...and whilst on the job, yeah. He quickly scooped up a now crying Percy and took him back to the shelter to patch him up. "Hey buddy, scrape. Look, uhm oh! Look Percy, I've got a whale band-aid right here." Percy stopped crying and sniffled, nodding.
Once sorting Percy out Gordon turned around connected his comm. "Hey John, get me in contact with the local authorities, I've got a situation."