Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 21:58:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: resq merman <merman_resq@yahoo.com>
Subject: Responders chapter five

Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction.
Certain characters are based loosely on people known
to the author, other similarities to actual persons,
places, and events are purely coincidental. This story
also includes graphic homosexual acts, some by minors.
If this material offends you or is illegal in your
area please stop now. The name Aquatic Rescue Response
has been used with permission of Aquatic Rescue
Response of Maine, a Division of R and G Enterprises.
Thank you.


Chapter Five: Smoke on the Water

BEE-BEE-BEE-BEE-BEEP!!! CAR ONE, AIR ONE, MARITIME ONE
RESPOND TO SAND BAR LAKE FOR A BOAT ON FIRE, REPORTED
ONE PI TWO SOULS. TIME OUT IS 1246.

Brad jumped up from the recliner and bolted to the
locker room to quickly change into his wetsuit and
survival harness. Luke signed off the computer, headed
to the apparatus bay, hitched the boat trailer to the
pick-up, and climbed behind the wheel. Mark and Robbie
also jumped in. As Luke started the truck and hit the
button to open the door he heard the whine of the
helicopter firing up.

Car One, Dispatch, Car One, Maritime One responding.

Ten-Four Car One.

As soon as the trailer cleared building, Luke hit the
siren and stood on the gas. A boat fire with two
people aboard, one of them injured, was definitely a
bad thing.

Air One, Dispatch, responding.

Ten-Four Air One. All units fire is reported to be
still burning at this time.

Luke glanced in his rearview mirror just in time to
see the chopper flash by. As the chopper pulled ahead
of the truck Luke could see Brad hanging out the side
door. Luke shook his head knowing his lover, although
being all business, was enjoying himself. Leaning out
the door Brad could see the heavy black smoke cloud
billowing up from the lake. Swooping low over the lake
Brad saw two people in the water and a boat burnt
almost to the waterline. The chopper circled, Brad
nodded to Mike the crew chief who spoke into his
headset and unhooked Brad's safety line, the chopper
flared, and Brad jumped the thirty feet into the
water. The noxious smell of burning fiberglass and the
acrid smell of burnt flesh permeated his nostrils.
Just as Brad was jumping Luke pulled the truck to a
stop at the boat launch. The area surrounding the
launch was crowded with ambulances and fire trucks all
with every possible red, white, and amber light
flashing. Mark and Robbie bailed out of the pick-up to
unstrap the boat then climbed aboard. Luke backed the
truck and trailer with precision down the ramp between
the vehicles parked in all directions leaving barely
enough room for the truck and trailer. As soon as the
boat was free drove back up and parked the truck
before also climbing aboard the boat. Turning away
from the launch area Robbie headed the boat toward the
circling chopper while Luke and Mark made ready to
recover the victims and Brad. Meanwhile, Brad had made
his way to the people in the water instantly
recognizing them as the boys he had met the day
before. Both looked shaken up but the red-head, though
barely conscious, was protecting his badly burnt right
arm and was being kept afloat by the dark haired boy.
Swimming over he removed the waterproof radio from its
pouch.

Air One, I need the basket down here.

The helicopter banked and came to a hover over Brad
and the boys. The rescue basket descended on its cable
landing in the water near by. Brad loaded John into
the basket, saw the crisp blackened flesh dangling
from his arm and chest, swam away from it, waved to
Mike, and the basket lifted from the water into the
helicopter as the chopper started to fly off. Brad
turned his attention back to the other boy.

Are you hurt?

No.

Pete croaked, shaking his head. A siren died off near
by and the rescue boat glided to a stop not ten feet
away.

Can you swim to the boat or do you need help?

Without answering Pete started paddling toward the
boat. Reaching over the side Luke grabbed one shoulder
of Pete's lifejacket and Mark grabbed the other, with
one smooth motion the boy was aboard. Luke sat him
down on one of the bench seats and started looking him
over as Mark helped Brad aboard. Aside from being a
little shook up and having some of John's blood on his
hands, he seemed only to have a small cut on his leg
from abandoning ship. As Luke dressed the wound Robbie
piloted the boat back to the boat launch. Pete was
obviously shocked by what had happened, stunned he sat
back, watched Mark tend to Brad as he was also checked
over. At the boat launch the fire and rescue vehicles
had been joined by local police, state police, a
county sheriff, a game warden (they have jurisdiction
for boat and ATV accidents), and of course the media,
adding to the excitement of the scene. Pete was passed
into the waiting hands of the ambulance crew, just as
he was being loaded into the ambulance he waved for
them to stop, looked up at one of the police officers,
and asked where John had been taken.

Directly to the burn center. You can go see him after
you get checked out yourself.

Ok. What about my parents, they're at our camp?

We'll send someone to get them right away, which camp
is it?

Pete told the cop, who turned and sent one of his
patrolmen to get the Nueclo's.




Thank you for reading at least this far. This has is
my first story I have been confident enough of to post
online. Feedback and comments are welcome, however if
you feel the need to flame I will, as the firefighter
I am,  assume that you are on fire and take
appropriate action comenserate with my training. Thank
you again.  Merman_Resq@yahoo.com