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Challenges Page :
Story Challenges
In the grand tradition of E! FanFic, these are story challenges, should you decide to accept them (Oops, wrong show). You can use them to start the story or have them in the middle somewhere but they need to be intact. Keep in mind what the area of Los Angeles is like but don't feel compelled to be exact, the show certainly wasn't! Regarding these situations - we work with the philosophy that truth is stranger then fiction so all of them are actually based (albeit in some cases loosely) on real events.
A little disclaimer and acknowledgement. We are not accepting suggested challenges. I would suggest that if you find a challenge that catches your eye, email us a query about it and we'll go from there. Also, I've got to say that without the groundbreaking work of KMS365, this page wouldn't even exist. Koodoos that great site.
There is no time limit on submitting your stories.
Have fun!
Challenge One: Revised
The night air was brisk as the motorcyclist expertly negotiated the canyon turns. He was glad that he had his thermals on underneath his jeans and chaps. Good investment, he thought to himself, still, it doesn't keep my face from getting frozen. Man, I can't wait to get home and thaw out. He hadn't passed anyone for ten minutes and didn't expect to - not at 2 in the morning. His headlamp lit the winding turns.
He spied a car in the distance heading his way. The guy has his brights on, he thought, I hope he remembers to flick them down when he gets to me. Last thing I need is to be blinded going around a turn. The car's progress was easy to track, each time it came around a turn the headlights were brighter and larger.
They were now one turn away from each other.
Oh, man, am I tired, he thought. I really should have taken Roy up on his invitation for dinner. Yeah, but, then, I would've missed the delights of Santa Barbara and Julie. He smiled, remembering.
The roadside lit up ahead as the headlights from the approaching car raked along the guardrail. It burst around the final turn, fast, right in Johnny's lane. The highbeams completely blinded him and he looked away to try and get his sight back. The driver of the car saw him at the last moment and tried to swerve back into the correct lane, but overcompensated and fishtailed, losing control of his rearend. The car started sliding perpendicular to the road and then started spinning as the driver made a futile effort to regain control. The driver never had a chance. The car plowed into and through the guardrail and down into the canyon.
Johnny instinctively put the bike down in an effort to slow his momentum and hung on for the ride. The bike slid towards the railing - no good, he realized, he was going to go through and follow the car over the edge.
Oh, man, this is gonna hurt! He felt the impact and then he was airborne, twisting and somersaulting. And, then, he felt nothing.
Well, what happens? Is Johnny hurt bad? Is he completely alone? Where did the car end up? What was he doing in Santa Barbara? Who's Julie?
Sidenote: It is mentioned in "Frequency" that Johnny has a motorcycle. You pick the make and model. Oh, you might note that this challenge has been revised. I made an error with the coldsuit. Those didn't come into play until much later.... Yum, Johnny in chaps though.... Heh. Heh.
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Two:
In the episode, "Loose Ends," Johnny is trying to get second place in ticket sales for the Fireman's Picnic so he can win the waterbed. He ends up selling the most which means he wins the trip to Las Vegas. At the end of the episode, Johnny turns to Roy and asks, "Wanna go ta Vegas?"
Okay! That's the challenge! What did the two of them do in Las Vegas and did they bring anyone else with them? Think of what Las Vegas was like in the 70's. Think of the trouble they can get into, especially if they get the rest of the guys to go with them.
Oh, my!
Have fun with this one!
Hint: No one flies to Vegas. Everyone drives.... Low level flying takes about 4 hours. So, it can take between 4 to 5 hours to get there. Most people drive during the night when it is cool and get there in the morning (just like we did when we went to the Project 51 event in Vegas). The city is up 24 hours and everyone only gets a couple of hours with all the gambling and shows. If you want an idea of what Vegas was like back then, watch the James Bond film, "Diamonds are Forever." Vegas is a city always re-inventing itself and is currently nothing like it was back in the '70's.
There are, it seems, always accidents on the road to Vegas.
So, this challenge can be a good comedy! Or, a sober tragedy.
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Three:
Roy patiently waited while Marco loaded his end of the second victim's stokes. He could see that Johnny was already setting up the second IV for the first patient. Roy handed in the bio-phone to the observer and leaned in.
"See you at Rampart," yelled Roy so he could be heard over the copter engine and rotors. Johnny, with IV bag in mouth, didn't even look up but did nod his head in affirmation. Roy took a step back, reached for the door handle and slid it shut.
Roy waved at the pilot to go ahead and lift and swiftly moved out of the way of the helicopter but not the small dust storm it created. Man, this happens almost every time, he thought to himself as he tried to rub grit from his eyes. It wasn't helping. Damn. He approached Stanley.
"You okay, Roy?" looking at Roy's heavily tearing, bloodshot eyes.
"Yeah, rotor wash got me, again," replied Roy disgustedly, still rubbing his eyes. "Can you give me a hand? I want to irrigate before I fall into a ravine."
"Sure thing, Pal." Stanley reached over to loosely clasp a hand on Roy's shoulder and began to lead him back to the squad.
Every head of every firefighter jerked up to look at the departing helicopter already one ridge over when they heard what sounded like a rifle shot echo through the canyon.
"Copter 10. Experiencing malfunction. Am going down," came the calm but urgent message from the pilot over all the firefighter's radios. A burst of static, then, there was dead silence.
The tones started sounding over the radios as Stanley pulled out his H.T. from his pocket.
"Jesus," said Stanley. He keyed the H.T. and said, "L.A., this is Engine 51. Copter 10 has gone down near our location at Tonner Canyon, estimate 15 minutes to crash site."
"10-4, 51. All units responding to Copter 10 emergency. Location is Tonner Canyon. Repeat, Tonner Canyon."
Roy, instantly turning pale when the pilot first voiced his emergency, mutely followed the path of the chopper in its fatal downward spiral. Then, it was gone beyond the ridge.
"Johnny."
Okay, take a deep breath. Remember, Johnny doesn't die. But, I bet it's gotta hurt! Most hill/mountain sides in the L.A. area are quite steep and very hard to get down-slope easily without killing yourself as we've seen on several E! rescues.
Oh, by the way, the transmission did not blow -- the helicopter would have fallen like a rock and not spiraled in. The sound of metal flying apart, especially when involving a copter can sound very much like a rifle shot. You pick the damage and why it went down from that information.
Tonner Canyon does exist except nowhere near Station 51 area. Just a little tribute to my stomping grounds.
Challenge Response:
"A Day To Remember"
"Now, For My Next Trick...."
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Four:
The K12 quickly cut through the door and the two men pulled it down - Johnny on the left, Marco on the right. The door came down onto Johnny's foot.
"Hey! Hey! My foot's under there!" exclaimed Johnny.
"Sorry," replied Marco.
Johnny pulled his foot out of the way and kneeled down onto the door to get his head down far enough to get a look at the jammed seat.
"Let's just try and move it forward Marco," said Johnny.
After the two grunted over it for a full minute, Johnny sat back and said, "No, that's not going to work."
Meanwhile, Chet, continuing to watchdog one Anne Burton and still unnerved from earlier, lamely said for the umpteenth time, "Everything's going to be all right. Just stay calm."
"I AM calm," said Anne through gritted teeth. If he says that one more time, she thought, he's dead meat.
"How about a prybar?" asked Marco.
"Yeah," affirmed Johnny.
A prybar materialized from behind them and after some concerted sweating, the seat popped out.
"Okay, Anne. Now, we can get you out. How ya doin'?" asked Johnny.
"Just fine," replied Anne.
Johnny scrambled onto the trunk where he could easily reach down and get to Anne. For the first time, he got a good look at the fatality that was in the backseat with her. He blanched. He shook himself mentally.
"Now, just let us do all the work," said Johnny, getting his composure back.
"Sure, why not," replied Anne.
Johnny carefully reached down and crossed her arms being careful of her wrist and got ready to lift her. Marco had stepped into the car and crouched down near Anne's feet, ready for Johnny's say-so. Chet leaned over the frame, ready to lift her midsection.
"Okay, guys, on three. One, two, three."
Anne let out an involuntary grunt but said nothing when they lifted her. They quickly carried her over to the waiting stretcher. Belliveau had Rampart on the line again and informed them that the victim was free. As soon as she was somewhat settled onto the stretcher, Johnny re-inflated the BP cup. Belliveau came around her other side and took a new pulse rate. After being cramped up for over ninety minutes, straightening out was an excruciating experience for Anne. She started to shift around, trying to get comfortable, the pain making her cringe.
"Now, don't move," said Johnny putting a restraining hand on her leg. Anne recoiled from the touch and tried to sit up.
"Will you just let me do this!" said Anne. I've got to get comfortable, she thought, just let me get comfortable.
More hands reached to hold her down. More hands holding down her legs and applying pressure. She shrieked from the pain and continued to move.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" exclaimed Johnny, trying to keep Anne still.
Anne, already frustrated at the firemen for not letting her straighten out on her own and since no one knew, not even Anne until just now that her legs were heavily bruised, was being unintentionally hurt by their attempts to hold her down. She kicked out, almost as a protecting reflex, with her right foot? and, made solid contact with that same foot that was clad in a steel-toed, paratrooper boot.
"Ugnnn!"
Johnny fell backwards landing on his butt and then rolled over onto his side, not quite passing out but seeing stars and unable to breath from the incredible pain focused on a certain part of his anatomy.
Uh, huh. Now, who would do that to our brave little Johnny? Guys, having sympathy pains? Gals, wanting to kiss it and make it better? If Belliveau is there, can Brice be far behind? Just who is this Anne Burton and why is she wearing paratrooper boots? What has Chet so unnerved? Why isn't Roy there? Why, why, why?
You decide.
Special nod to the E! News Group. Coincidently, Brice's partner's name was posted there. Thanks!
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Five:
"All right, you guys! Roll call!" yelled Captain Stanley, not quite tapping his foot impatiently. He glanced at his watch.
The quiet stationhouse fairly exploded with pounding and skittering feet as Station 51 clamored to the closet to pull out their hats. Chet and Johnny grabbed the same one, with Johnny pulling harder.
"Will you let go of my hat!" said Johnny tightly through clenched teeth.
Chet let go, reluctantly and reached for the remaining one. "This isn't mine!" he said indignantly. He was left standing at the closet as the others were already sliding into the line-up.
"Kelly!" bellowed Stanley.
"Coming, Cap!" as Chet scooted around the corner of the squad and elbowed his way between Johnny and Marco. More elbows flew with accompanying grunts.
Stanley looked up from his clipboard and glared.
Station 51 finally settled down.
I'm running a camp of ten years old, thought Stanley. He managed to keep from rolling his eyes and maintain his stern demeanor.
"Okay. Glad you could join us, Chet."
Chet smartly decided to just nod to that.
"Marco, dorm. Johnny, Roy, kitchen/rec room. Mike, apparatus bay. Chet, latrine. Now, today's going to be a real ballbuster. We've got to do the hose test on that new hose we got last week," said Stanley.
He waited for the groans to die down.
"Uh, huh. That's what I thought you'd say. I say, the sooner we start, the sooner we get done. So everybody out back."
Stanley strode back into his office and stowed his hat and clipboard. Then, he headed to the rear door passing his crew as they filed past the closet returning their hats. Stanley hit the door controls and ducked under when it cleared high enough for his tall frame. Everyone else slowly made their way outside. Johnny hung back a little, prompting Roy to turn back questioningly.
"Oh, joy," said Johnny.
"Well, like Cap said, the sooner we get started?," smiled Roy.
"I know. The sooner we get done," replied Johnny.
Chet and Marco where already getting the first length of hose unrolled at Roy and Johnny's approach. It was going to be a long morning.
As the group of men worked companionably, they were startled suddenly by the loud horn of a tracker-trailer stridently, urgently sounding. It was followed by the unmistakable screech of multiple tires and brakes locking-up and the sickening crunch of heavy metal objects impacting.
"Holy...!" "What the...?" "Good God!"
Stanley ran into the station house after the first frozen seconds to call it in. As the horns and crunching sounds continued, Johnny and Chet ran to the cinder block wall and jumped onto the hood of Johnny's rover to get a clear view of the source - the 405 freeway.
"Oh, f....!" exclaimed Chet. Johnny immediately turned to jump down grabbing Chet's arm -- hard. "Run!" yelled Johnny for all his worth to Roy and Mike.
Then, the wall exploded.
Weeeelllllll. Take a step back and take a look at that carnage. Or is there? You decide. Did Johnny and Chet clear the wall? Were Roy and Mike out of the way? Hey, where'd Marco go? Here, Marco, Marco. Here, Marco. Vengas aqui, por favor!
Challenge Response:
"Deja Vu?"
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Six:
In "An Ounce of Prevention," Johnny seems to know quite a bit about how cameras work and terminolgy used in the industry. Hmmm.
The challenge is: how does Johnny know all this? This information isn't something you can pick up in a magazine article. Did Johnny date someone in the industry? Did the boys rescue someone and that's how they met? Johnny does know a stunt coordinator.... Could he have gone to location shoots to "help out?" Note: there are always EMS personnel at location. Sometimes, they are nurses. Could a nurse that Johnny was dating been doing some moonlighting?
You decide.
Have fun!
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Seven:
This is a fill-in-the-scene challenge.
In "Frequency," what happened when Johnny and Roy returned to the station? They had a whole shift to complete.
The challenge is: write a short story about the rest of the shift. The twist is that Johnny finds comfort from none other then Chester B. Kelly. This should show, once again, how much Chet really cares about Johnny.
This is a great opportunity for some serious angst.
Sorry, Johnny!
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Response:
"The Rest of the Shift"
Challenge Eight:
In "Drivers," Johnny and Roy talk about how the squad almost got wiped out on the previous shift. He starts to say, "you know, one of these days, somebody's gonna...." And, then, the tones go off.
The challenge? What if "one of these days" happened? With both Roy and Johnny in the vehicle? A driver coming out of nowhere?. Is the engine there to witness it? Did the MVA happened in an isolated area? What does Charlie the mechanic think about all this?
And, the kicker here is.... Johnny is the one driving!
Please email your response for posting to Emergency Universe.
Challenge Response:
"Some Day Is Today"
Challenge Nine:
In "Hang Up," Johnny has taken in enough radiation to require a hospital stay. Write a little vignette about the stay. Roy can't let the Adam-12 episode go because now he got hooked on it so he has got to find out. Maybe he lets it slip out and Johnny isn't happy. At first. You know, the whole crew probably would like to know what happened. They just won't admit it because Johnny is involved....
I don't know why someone didn't do this for the Puking contest on another website but we're going to consider this a "Fill-in-the scene" bit.
To find out what are the effects of radiation sickness go here.
Have Fun!
Sorry, Johnny! Again!
Challenge Ten:
In "Loose Ends," the episode starts with Chet telling the tale of a troup of mime midgets! He worked over at Station 60 which is on a studio lot....
Here's your chance to do a really different kind of Chet story! Just what did happen during his 24 hour shift at 60's? A studio lot can be working 24 hours, too. You can get everything from WWII to a western to a little kids show being filmed. You can have artificial rain, explosions, fire.... You get the idea. Not to mention the troup of mime midgets!
Have real fun with this Chet story!
Please email your response for posting to Emergency! Universe.
Challenge Eleven:
Now for something completely different (oops, wrong show, again!). Challenge Eleven is based on a poem!
I'M ALIVE!
Crushing, shooting pain
flares through my chest and it's so
hard to breath - where, what....
Happened -- darkness, pain....
Where am I, God, it hurts, it
Hurts, gotta get to....
Roy? right beside me....
Not there... not there... oh, God, Roy!
I hear groan? from where?
Hurts - I hear groaning --
That pile of debris moving....
Roy? Roy? Is that you?
Move.... I've gotta
Move..., get to Roy... drag myself
To him, get to him....
Breathe, hard to breathe - Roy?
God, No... Roy, he's not breathing!
Mouth-to-mouth... come on!
Roy - breathe! Coughing
Wracks through me.... Something broken
Inside?. Gotta breathe....
For Roy - give him my
Breath to live... come on Roy, Live!
That's it breathe, in, out....
Coughing... wracking cough --
taste of blood in my mouth.... No!
Darkness fills my sight....
Not now... can't fade out....
Now, Roy needs me... I... the pain....
I lose my battle....
--------------
Broken bodies in
Collapsed brick building....
Are they still alive?
Dig - come on dig -- they
Must still be alive in there...
God, Squad 51....
We'll find you.... Yes!
They're alive. They're alive! Yes!
...Contacting Rampart.
Please email your response for posting to Emergency! Universe.
Challenge Response:
"Some Things You Don't Talk About"
Challenge Twelve:
The flames topped the ridge with frightening swiftness, easily two hundred feet high. It looked even more impressive as the flames divided the blackness of the mountains and the sky.
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