Fan Fiction: Crossovers
Why Wasn't I There?
Part 1 (cont.)
"There is something very wrong here." Said the radar controller at the Boston airport to the man on his left. The second man was now also nervously watching the screen. "You still can't raise them?"
"No." said the controller, ignoring the reflection of his friends fire opal ring.
"Maybe its something on our end." The second man suggested. "Contact Dulles and Newark. See if they can't contact it."
"Okay." Said the first man, and then he spoke into his headset. "Dulles control, this is Boston control. Can you contact that plane? It isn't responding here, and its completely changed course."
"Negative Boston control," came the answer. "We have no contact with flight AA 77 either."
The two men shared a look. "Uh… you may want to recheck that board Dulles control. Flight 11 is the one going walkabout."
There was a pause. "Boston control, check your national grid. Flight 77 has changed course and is not responding."
The men shared another look, this one alarmed and saw that a second plane had also doubled back on itself and was heading back across the state line between Kentucky and Ohio.
In the Empire State building, on the observation deck, Stephen Cranston watched.
"A second plane?" whispered the controller. "What are the odds of that?"
"So extreme it's beginning to scare me. Try Newark."
"Newark control this is Boston control. Can you reach flights AA 77 and AA 11?"
"Negative Boston control," came the answer after a long silence. "While we're on the subject, can you talk to flight UAL 175?"
The men went back to their local board. The third lost plane had turned around and was heading for New York also.
"A third plane?" the controller practically shouted, panic clear in his voice. "What the hell is going on?"
Similar voices of panic came through the radio from Newark and Dulles. The fear was beginning to spread throughout the tower, until the second man broke in on his own headset.
"GENTLEMEN, PLEASE CALM DOWN." When there was silence, he continued. "I want Newark to continue trying to call the planes. Dulles, I want you to contact the weather bureau. See if there is something in the area bad enough to turn them back and fry their radios too."
The men, calmer now, went about their tasks.
"Tony." The second man said to the first, in a low voice. "You might want to contact Washington. See what the air force's take on this is."
In the Empire state building, on the observation deck, Stephen Cranston watched.
"The sun is shining." Said a man into one of the Boston airports outside line phones. The opal ring on his hand drew the eye of a few people as he took the phone into another room.
"It's me." He said after a moment. "Listen, you still have your Cessna? Great. You wouldn't happen to be taking it up this morning would you? I thought you might say that. Listen, in about 15 minutes, a large plane will be passing overhead. I need to know what's going on with that thing. I can't contact it here. Take your video camera too. It'll be heading in the direction of New York. You don't have to keep up with it for long. Just see if there is something the matter, and try to get some footage of it too."
Tony burst into the room, sheer terror on his face. "A-a fourth plane." He hissed. "Flight UAL 93!"
The man hung up his phone and practically ran for the screen. A dozen people were gathered around it now, worry and confusion on all their faces.
"It was supposed to go to San Francisco." Continued Tony. "But now it's heading for Washington, and we cant raise it either."
Just then, Flight 11 vanished from the radarscope, directly over New York City.
"Oh no." whispered Tony.
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