DRABBLE TRIO by CATHRL RATED FRC

These drabbles were written in response to the 2006 Tracy Island Writers Forum's Drabble Challenge. The challenge was as follows:

Choose three of the following six topics and write one drabble for each of the topics you chose. You will wind up with three 100-word drabbles on whichever three topics you chose. Here are your choices:

A) Scott during a rescue (could be his thoughts, someone observing him, something he's actually doing, etc.).
B) Virgil while playing the piano (again, could be his thoughts, someone observing/listening, etc.).
C) Gordon's and Alan's relationship as brothers (one or both of them thinking about it, one of them thinking about the other, someone else ruminating on their relationship, etc.).
D) Lady Penelope (either her thoughts or someone else's about her/what she does, etc.).
E) The Thunderbirds (perhaps the ship's actual POV or someone's thoughts about one or all of them, etc.).
F) Parody drabble (anything goes, parody style).

Drabble One

Set down. Set up. Get briefed. Give instructions. And then wait.

Wait, while Virgil demonstrates that Thunderbird Two can dance on the head of a pin. Wait, while Gordon does underwater what most would consider impossible on land. Wait, while Alan hangs inches from death on the end of a winch line. Wait, while John sifts information from three continents in five languages.

Wait, when communication stops and for minutes at a time I don't know whether they're alive or dead. Then, it suddenly becomes interesting.

This job is better when it's dull.

Drabble Two

One note is simple. Two, not much harder. But string them together, one after the other in perfect sequence, and everyone's amazed. Smooth and gentle, fast and staccato. And then there's the other hand. They can't understand how I can make one hand do what mine does, let alone two simultaneously.

They're all listening now, and wondering. How does Virgil keep it in time, hold it together, stop his fingers running away from each other, and still play all the right notes?

I don't see why they're confused. On rescues, we're five people acting as one. Just the same, really.

Drabble Three

"So how did it go then?"

"As usual. I did all the work, while One just sat around. Not a scratch on her, paint gleaming. And just look at me!"

"You are rather, well, dusty."

"Dusty? That's more than dust. That's volcanic ash, mixed with acid rain. Mud underneath. And you see that black mark, right behind my left windscreen? That's a dent. You should have seen the size of the boulder! One, now, she was parked miles away. And what happens? I land my cargo of rescuees back safe, and what do they do? Run over and admire her!"