Chapter 1: The Call

The sun was setting over Los Angeles, casting a warm orange glow over the city as Bobby Nash, captain of the 118th Rescue Squad, finished a long day of training with his team. They had been preparing for an upcoming deployment and Bobby was proud of the progress they had made. As he walked back to the fire station, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. His team was one of the best in the business, and he was honored to lead them. As he entered the station, Bobby was greeted by the familiar sight of his colleagues, lounging on the couches or working on their equipment. He nodded to them as he made his way to his office to grab his jacket. Just as he was about to leave, the alarm sounded and the dispatcher's voice crackled over the intercom. "118, we have a multiple vehicle accident on the 405 freeway. Reports of multiple injuries and entrapments. Respond with Engine 118 and Rescue 118." Bobby's instincts kicked in and he sprang into action. He grabbed his radio and responded, "118, we're en route. ETA is approximately 5 minutes." As he and his team jumped into action, Bobby couldn't shake off the feeling that this call was going to be different. He had been on countless scenes like this before, but something about this one felt off. The drive to the scene was a blur of sirens and lights. When they arrived, Bobby was met with a chaotic scene. Multiple cars were smashed and twisted, with people trapped inside. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and gasoline. Bobby quickly assessed the situation and began directing his team. "Alright, let's get to work. Emma and Edmond, you're with me on the sedan on the left. We're going to try and get the driver out. Matt, I need you to work on the SUV on the right. See if you can get the passengers extricated." As Bobby and his team sprang into action, he couldn't help but notice the severity of the crash. This was going to be a tough rescue. As he worked to free the trapped driver, Bobby felt a sudden jolt of pain in his back. He grunted and stumbled, but managed to stay on his feet. "I'm fine," he muttered to himself. "Just a minor strain." But as he continued to work, the pain grew worse. Bobby's vision began to blur and he felt himself losing his balance. He tried to shake it off, but it was no use. He stumbled and fell to the ground, his back screaming in agony. The scene around him began to fade away as he lay there, his vision narrowing to a single point. He knew he was in trouble. He tried to call out to his team, but his voice was hoarse and barely audible. "Bobby, no! Bobby, get up!" Emma's voice was distant, but it was the only thing that registered. Everything went black.