~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For 40 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:
Patreon - Twilight_scribe1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Henry stopped and turned back toward George Stacy.
The police commissioner's expression was serious and focused. He didn't look like someone preparing to scold a fool for spreading nonsense. Instead, he seemed genuinely interested in hearing the reasoning behind the warning.
Pointing toward the two smoke-belching skyscrapers, Henry said:
"The reason is right there—in that abnormal smoke.
"This isn't an ordinary high-rise fire or some typical disaster. Two commercial airliners have crashed into two skyscrapers.
"That amount of black smoke means the planes' aviation fuel is burning. The temperatures inside are likely beyond imagination.
"And fuel flows. We can't tell from outside how far the fire has spread."
He continued:
"Temperatures that far beyond the building's original design specifications could ignite fireproofing materials that were approved under construction standards from twenty or thirty years ago.
"And beyond that, they could soften the steel framework itself.
"Once that happens, the floors above the impact zone become a massive load pressing downward."
Henry gestured with his hands.
"Imagine you're carrying a hundred-kilogram weight and suddenly your legs give out. What happens?"
"No matter whether that load—thousands of tons, possibly much more—falls outward or collapses straight downward, the result is catastrophic.
"The only thing capable of supporting it at that point is the Earth."
"If it falls outward, it'll destroy the building's foundation. The towers won't survive.
"And regardless of which direction they fall, they'll devastate surrounding structures."
He pointed upward.
"If it collapses downward, the result is basically the same.
"The floors beneath the impact zone will be crushed like a cake beneath the weight above.
"With gravity accelerating everything, even intact lower floors won't be able to withstand the load."
Henry looked directly at George.
"That's why I'm saying: get people out.
"Don't keep sending more people in.
"Doing so isn't being responsible for their lives."
---
George Stacy hesitated.
The Fire Department certainly had structural experts.
But before today, nobody had ever faced a disaster involving passenger jets crashing into skyscrapers.
There were no precedents.
No one could confidently predict what would happen next.
All anyone could do was rely on past experience.
George couldn't determine whether Henry's explanation was correct.
But at least the man had provided a plausible rationale rather than simply shouting that the buildings would collapse without explaining why.
Do I believe him?
George glanced toward the highest-ranking fire official currently on scene—the Manhattan Borough Assistant Chief.
The Fire Department commissioner hadn't yet arrived from headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn.
Although the police and fire departments weren't part of the same chain of command, George still held considerable authority as NYPD commissioner.
And it wasn't just firefighters inside the towers.
Police officers had also entered to assist with evacuation efforts.
The assistant chief stepped forward.
"If you're saying the buildings will collapse," he demanded, "when?"
Henry spread his hands.
"I don't know.
"But I can tell you it'll be soon.
"In fact, if you spend time bringing in experts to study the question, you probably won't need the answer anymore."
The assistant chief's face darkened.
Henry's tone sounded almost flippant.
"Do you realize this is a race against time?" the firefighter snapped.
"Every extra minute our people spend inside could mean another life saved.
"We can't pull firefighters out simply because of a possibility.
"We can't tell them to abandon their duty to save lives."
His voice rose.
"And if nothing happens?
"If we waste precious rescue time for no reason, are you prepared to take responsibility for that?"
---
Henry's response carried a hint of mockery.
"Oh, so you're just afraid of being held responsible."
The assistant chief's expression immediately worsened.
Henry continued:
"I agree that the atmosphere here feels like a battlefield.
"But this isn't actually a battlefield.
"This isn't a situation where people have to die in order to achieve victory."
He pointed toward the towers.
"The firefighters and police officers you've sent inside—aren't they human lives too?
"I hope you'll feel just as comfortable with your decision when they stop being rescuers and become people needing rescue themselves.
"Or when they become missing persons.
"Or casualty statistics."
The assistant chief exploded.
"Who the hell are you?
"What gives you the right to say any of this?"
Henry immediately took a step back and raised his hands in surrender.
"I'm just a kind-hearted citizen passing by.
"I'm not a structural engineer.
"I don't have the relevant degree.
"You're right—I don't have the qualifications to say these things."
He shrugged.
"So believe me or don't."
---
In truth, this wasn't as simple as the classic trolley problem of sacrificing one life to save five, or five to save one.
The decision wasn't easy.
Most people—including the firefighters and police officers themselves—would agree that rescue personnel should hold the line until the very last moment and never give up hope.
The problem was:
When exactly was the last moment?
If nobody knew, was it morally acceptable to gamble with the lives of firefighters and police officers?
Or should those already inside be treated as sacrifices and used until they could contribute no more?
Henry watched the unfolding drama with interest.
Their choices would determine how much effort he himself was willing to invest.
If everyone else was coasting while he stood out as some extraordinary savior, what exactly would that accomplish?
With great power comes great responsibility?
And eventually everything becomes my responsibility?
If anyone's unhappy, somehow it's all my fault?
This was Spider-Man's world.
Henry saw no need to compete with Spider-Man over who suffered from a more advanced case of hero syndrome.
---
Then, unexpectedly, George Stacy made his decision.
"Notify all police officers and firefighters."
His voice rang out clearly.
"Withdraw from the World Trade Center immediately."
The surrounding personnel froze.
George continued:
"Bring out anyone you encounter.
"Do not continue advancing deeper into the buildings.
"Evacuate immediately."
The Manhattan assistant chief stared at him in disbelief.
"Commissioner Stacy... are you sure you want to issue that order?"
"Yes."
George's answer came without hesitation.
"I will take full responsibility for the consequences.
"I am the incident commander on scene.
"I am ordering all fire personnel to comply as well."
---
Under his direction, officers immediately began broadcasting evacuation orders over the radio.
However, the first responders who had entered the towers earliest were not only the closest units.
They were also among the bravest and most dedicated.
Many couldn't understand the order.
Some openly threatened to ignore it.
George Stacy had no patience for arguments.
He snatched a radio from one of his subordinates and personally took over.
Using language far stronger than departmental guidelines would ever approve of, he ordered everyone to get out.
At one point he even barked:
"Don't make me come in there myself and drag your fat asses out!"
And he didn't say it only once.
The commissioner unleashed an increasingly creative assortment of curses and insults over the radio while demanding immediate compliance from every firefighter and officer inside the Twin Towers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
🎉 Power Stone Goal Announcement! 🎉
I'll release one bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones we hit!"
Let me know what should I do
Your support means everything—let's crush these goals together! Keep voting, and let the stones pile up! 🚀
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~