by Gary Weston
Cragg sat back down, folded his arms and sulked as Rocky stormed off to the galley.
Chapter 36
'Exactly fifty minutes until we meet up with the ship,' said Dillow.
Cragg got up, stretched and yawned. 'I'm off to bed. Goodnight, Dillow.'
'Craggy?'
'What? I can't fly this bird, and you and boy wonder made it abundantly clear the only rockets an old fart like me can fly are the ones you light the blue touch paper on. Wake me up when it's all over.'
'Craggy.'
'It's okay. I'll only be in the way. I'm sure you two can handle it.'
'Stella to Dillow. Stella to Dillow.'
'Come in, Stella.'
'Got some bad news. There's been a missile launch on Earth.'
'Shit,' said Cragg.
'Are they back at war?' Dillow asked.
'No, Dillow. At first we thought it was a misfire, but it's tracking our Big Bird.'
'Stella. You said there's a missile tracking Big Bird? Confirm, please.'
'Confirmed, Dillow. It's following the ship, but gradually gaining on it. Estimated time of impact, sixty seven minutes.'
Cragg sat back down. 'Seventeen minutes, Fawn. We have a window of seventeen bloody minutes between reaching the ship and the missile hitting it.'
'Sounds about right.'
'You still think this is a job for Rocky?'
Dillow said, 'Maybe him being younger he will be a bit quicker than you. Maybe...'
'Maybe he'll get himself blown to kingdom come.' Cragg took hold of her hand. 'Fawn. I'm eighty four. I've had my time. If I snuff it, no big deal. Keep the boy out of harms way, yeah?'
Dillow said, 'I can't make a decision like that.'
'Fawn. You're the captain here. This is what captains do.'
Chapter 37
Cragg kicked off. 'Rocky. Come on. Take a seat.'
'How long have we got?'
'Not long. The captain and I have been talking things over. There's been a bit of a development. It kind of changes things a little.'
Rocky sat down between Dillow and Cragg. 'Go on.'
Cragg told him, 'It seems somebody on Earth decided to launch a missile at Big Bird.'
Rocky looked at Dillow, who merely nodded. 'When does it hit?'
Cragg said, 'We'll get about seventeen minutes to take over the ship.'
'That,' said Rocky, 'is not a lot of minutes.'
'Agreed,' said Cragg. 'So, this is the plan. I space walk over to the ship. I'll be able to concentrate better, knowing you are looking after Dillow, here, right?'
'But...'
'Hear me out. I get over to the ship. You are the back up plan. If I'm struggling, you come over and show me how it's done, I'll step out of the way. Fair enough?'
'But...'
Dillow stepped in. 'Rocky. I'm relying on you. I need you with me.'
'Okay. I guess that's a plan.'
Chapter 38
Lance Dillow, Anton Forbes, Wendy Breeze and Stella were watching the screen in Dillow's ship, the Eye.
Dillow said, 'Craggy's going to try to take over the ship?'
Breeze said, 'That's what Fawn said. I think they're trying to keep the boy safe.'
Forbes said, 'She has to get her ship away from the target ship. If that missile's nuclear and they're too close...'
'My daughter wouldn't do that,' growled Dillow.
Forbes said, 'Craggy's been round the block a few times. He'll tell her to do just that. He'll tell her to get the hell out of the way.'
Dillow stood up and paced like a tiger, a long extinct tiger. 'I hate not being able to do anything.'
'We all do, Lance,' said Forbes.
'Look,' said Breeze. 'I see the freighter.'
Dillow spun around. 'Fawn?'
'Yes,' said Breeze. 'I'll zoom in.'
The Earth filled the screen. The twin blue plasma thrusters from the freighter, glowing like mad wild flowers in a black garden.
'Any sign of the Big Bird?' asked Forbes.
'Not yet. We should see it in a couple of minutes.'
'Seven minutes and they should be by the ship,' said Stella.
'There it is,' said Dillow. 'See it?'
'Yes,' said Forbes. 'Zoom in, Breezy.'
Breeze zoomed in so she had a clear view of both ships. The freighter looked tiny next to Big Bird. They watched as Fawn did a smooth U turn to be in the same direction as the target ship. She moved in, matching the speed at the same time. For a second, it looked as if they were going to collide, but they missed. They were side by side, and the seconds were flashing by.
'The airlock's opening,' said Stella. She zoomed in closer and they could see the suited Cragg leap out of the airlock, the safety line trailing behind him.
'That is one brave old coot,' said Dillow.
'He always was,' said Forbes.
'Easy, Fawn,' said Dillow.
The ships were matching speeds with minutes to go before the missile was to catch up with them. They watched the tiny figure floating in space, the thin line securing him to the ship. It took two painfully slow minutes for Cragg to reach the hatch of the big ship. He wiped his gloved hand across the locking sensor. Nothing happened, and they could imagine a frustrated Craggy, swearing at the hatch, demanding that it opened. He tried again and on the third attempt, the hatch opened. Cragg unhooked the safety line and climbed inside. The hatch closed up, locking him in the ship.
'Go, Craggy, go,' said Forbes.
'Look,' said Stella. 'The missile.'
'Why isn't Fawn getting the hell out of the way?' said Forbes.
'I told you. She's my daughter. She won't leave Craggy.'
'That missile's closing in,' said Breeze. 'Come on, Craggy.'
Forbes called Fawn. 'Fawn. That missile's on your tail. Get your ship out of the way.'
'No way. We're in this together. That's right, isn't it Dad?'
'Your call.'
'Yeah, like you'd ever leave an officer of yours to slug it out on their own. Craggy's my friend. He would never leave me, I'm not leaving him.'
Stella said, 'Does Craggy know what he's doing?'
'You explained the procedure to him before he jumped over. If anyone can do it, Craggy can.'
'Four minutes until missile impact,' said Breeze.
'Come on, Craggy,' yelled Dillow.
Chapter 39
Cragg stared at the array of lights, sensors and things he couldn't even put a name too. Not normally a man of a nervous disposition, it started to concern him that he was sitting in ship with a missile with his name on it, about to do away with his problem of early retirement.
'Stella?'
'Here, Craggy. See a pale red sensor right at the top?'
'Got it.'
'Take your gloves off. Now, wave your palm over the sensor, about two centimetres from it.'
'Which hand. Left or right?'
'Either.'
Being right handed, that was the one he waved over the red sensor. Nothing happened.
'Stella?'
'Again, Craggy.'
With a silent prayer to the god of all astronauts, Cragg tried again. Success.
'Gone green.'
'You now have control.'
'Music to my ears. Now which one of these is the gas pedal.'
'Craggy?'
'Which is the go faster button?'
Stella said, 'There's a long narrow sensor right along the bottom.'
'Got it. It's got a red bit at the left hand side.'
Breeze said, 'Two minutes to missile impact.'
'Thanks for that little reminder, Breezy,' said Cragg.
Stella said, 'Palm of your hand, left to right.'
Cragg did as he was told. He couldn't get the sensor to respond and after much frantic gesticulation, the sensor things happened. The ship slowed down instead of speeding up.
'Oops!'
'Craggy...'
'I know, I know.'
'Hurry up, Craggy,' said Forbes.
'Keep your wig on. Here we go.'
Forbes and the others stared at the screen as the ancient missile ate up the precious distance. Suddenly, there was neck jolting acceleration and Craggy said, 'Whooowowoo.'
Forbes yelled, 'Fawn. Get the hell away. NOW!'
She didn't need telling twice. With a scary turn of speed, she was away in the opposite direction to Cragg. It was anyone's guess which ship the missile would follow. It wasn't anything personal, but it chose Cragg.
Chapter 40
'I'm going to follow Craggy from a distance,' said Fawn.
She followed Cragg and the persistent missile from a safe distance but something didn't look right.
'Craggy. You're heading for Earth.'
'No shit. Stella. Where's the steering wheel?'
'See a ring shaped sensor in the middle?'
'Yep. I can take it from here.'
'Craggy, Before...'
The big ship did a loop-de-loop not recommended in any training manual. Not to be outdone, the missile did the same. Out of the loop, Cragg lost control, and put the ship in a spin. His desperate waving at the sensors, any sensors, had the observers staring open mouthed as the ship missed a dead satellite by a hairs breadth. Missing that was one thing, but he was still heading for Earth.
Fawn yelled, 'Craggy. Pull away from there.'
'Good idea. Wish I'd thought of it myself.'
A wrong turn and Cragg was still hurtling down to Earth. The enticing gravitational pull wasn't helping. Six people yelling advice at the same time was doing strange things to Cragg's mind. It had been a very long time since he had taken any ship into Earth's atmosphere. He remembered it involved lots of heat, precisely calculated trajectories, slow speed, and something really important.
'Must not crash. Any brakes on this bus?'
Stella yelled, 'Long sensor right hand side. The other right, Craggy.'
'Glad we clarified that.'
At a blinding speed, hurtling to the ground with a missile still on his tail, Cragg didn't fancy his chances of surviving this one.
'If I don't make it, will somebody feed my goldfish?'
'You don't have a goldfish,' said Forbes.
'So buy me a bloody goldfish.'
The ship started to level off, but at the speed he was moving, it looked like being a hard landing. The ship skimmed the ground cutting a swathe through some rare patch of forest. The tenacious missile, glowing an ominous orange from the heat, was closing in again. As the ground gave way to ocean, Craggy contemplated trying for a soft landing in the water. Before he could decide, he was back over land.
'Time to get out of here.'
Then he saw something familiar. Westmont. The volcanic capitol of the West. The very people responsible for his present predicament and not top of his greeting card list, lived there. An idea formed in his mind. It required split second timing and consummate piloting skills, but Cragg went for the seat of the pants, blind faith and sheer luck option, instead.
'Bye, bye.'
At the second before crashing into Westmont became inevitable, a flick of both wrists and the ship did a subtle left banking manoeuvre with an upward blast from the plasma thrusters. The missile didn't quite make it. All Forbes and the others saw was the explosion on the side of Westmont.
'Oh, Craggy,' gasped Stella.
Lance Dillow placed a comforting arm around her. 'He was one hell of a guy.'
Forbes added, 'He went out doing what he loved the most.'
Fawn Dillow held her head in her hands, letting the tears flow.
Rocky said, 'I should have been the one to go.'
Dillow looked up at him. This boy. A ninety two average. In the simulator. Even if he could grow whiskers, she would never have sent him out there. It was a job only a real man like Craggy could even try to tackle. She looked at the screen and could see the black smoke making it look for all the world as if the dead volcano had suddenly come to life.
Chapter 41
Cragg was still demanding some kind of cooperation from the unfamiliar controls.
'Another couple of years at this, I might just get the hang of it.'
The Earth disappeared below him, and the ship took to the heavens, keen to leave hell behind. He carried no guilt for slamming the missile into the mountain. At best it would create a little confusion and maybe give the inhabitants headaches. It was all about sticking them with the middle finger salute. All he had to do now, was to make it home in one piece.
'Hi. Anyone around to help an old man across the road?'
A chorus of “Craggy” made his ears ring.
'What? You didn't think I would make it or something?'
'I never doubted it for a second,' said Fawn Dillow.
'Bloody liar. To be honest, I'm kinda lost. If I circle the Earth, think you can find me?'
'See if you can get yourself Moonside.'
'Any indicators on this thing?'
'Just do it.'
Cragg slowed things right down, and on what he admitted to himself was an untidy flight, got the big ship Moonside. His heart sank when he didn't see the freighter anywhere. He had survived by a wing and a prayer, and he didn't fancy pushing his luck. He needed help.
'Craggy here. Anybody home?'
'We see you, Craggy,' said Fawn Dillow. 'Just try to cruise and we'll be right with you.'
'Cruising.'
The small screen was an add on, supposedly unnecessary on what was intended to be a pilot-less ship. It didn't afford much of a view from the cramped flight-deck. He didn't have to wait long before he saw the freighter loom into his line of vision.
'Hi, Craggy.'
'Hi. Nice to see you again. Take it nice and slow and I'll follow you home.'
'No you won't,' said Dillow. 'You are out of there and Rocky's taking over.'
'He is?'
'I am,' said Rocky. 'You've done a fantastic job, Craggy, but I know those controls. I don't think you are quite ready to land that ship in one piece.'
'That makes perfect sense, Rocky. Come on over.'
Dillow lined up the two ships and matched speeds. Cragg saw the freighter airlock open and rookie Rocky Ramshorn standing on the edge. He dived off into space for his first ever space walk. The safety line trailed behind him as he crossed the gap between the ships. As he approached, Cragg opened the airlock hatch and with much relief, prised himself out of the seat. Hanging outside onto the side of the hatch, he waited for Rocky to reach him, stretched out his arm and grabbed the slack line and reeled the rookie in.
'I warmed the seat up for you.'
'Thanks. Now it's my turn.'
Rocky undid the line and Cragg hooked himself to it. The young man with a ninety two average and something to prove, climbed inside the ship and as the hatch closed up, Cragg said good luck to him. Cragg made his way to the open airlock of the freighter, closed the outer door, unhooked the line and entered the ship.
'Come here and let me kiss you,' said Dillow.
'Hold that thought. I have to go somewhere in a hurry. They really need to fit an en-suite in that new ship.'
Dillow laughed as Cragg made his way to an urgent appointment in the wash-room. Fifteen minutes later, Cragg returned for his kiss. He got a hug and a kiss on each cheek from Fawn Dillow.
'Nice,' said Cragg. 'Mind if we go home now?'
As they buckled up, Dillow called Rocky. 'Ready, Rocky?'
'As I'll ever be. Ladies first.'
'I hope he wasn't referring to me,' said Cragg.
'Let's go home,' said Dillow.
Chapter 42
Forbes said, 'Lance. Which do you think is the best option to fly a brand new multi billion dollar ship. A pilot of nearly fifty years experience who hasn't a clue of the latest technology, or a rookie who knows the tech stuff inside out, who has never flown solo in his life?'
'Pity we couldn't put the two in a blender and come up with something special.'
'You must be so proud of Fawn,' said Stella.
'I always was. Just make sure they come home.'
* * *
It was a slow flight home, Dillow allowing Rocky maximum time to get used to flying solo. Speed was not of the essence. Dillow had one eye on the controls, and one eye on the huge ship behind her.
'You are quite something,' she told Cragg.
'I met my match with those controls.'
'You could learn if you wanted to.'
Cragg shook his head. 'Out there, no idea what I was doing, I finally realised. You and Rocky. You're the here and now and the future.'
'No regrets?'
'Regrets? I have a few. Then again, too few to mention. He's a good kid.'
'Rocky? Looks like I get to be his step mother for a couple of years.'
'Like I'm your step dad? I know you have an awesome real father, but I always thought of me as another father figure to you.'
'Do you have kids?'
Cragg looked away. 'Once.'
'Tell me about it. We have time. I'd like to know.'
Chapter 43
'It was a very long time ago. Everything is, with me. His name was Leo.' Cragg drifted away to another time and another place. 'Curly dark brown hair, sparkling brown eyes. He had the cheekiest grin. Leo would have been about your age had he lived. Things on Earth were so much different, then. So many billions of people, it was impossible to know quite how many there were. Life was a struggle, but we had adapted. That's what humans do. Adapt.' Craggy smiled. 'You know something? I had a garden.'
'No way.'
'True as I'm sitting here. Almost six feet square. We grew tomatoes.'
'We?'
'Maria and I. My wife. She was the one good with the plants. But it seemed every time I stepped out the door, another hundred story apartment block had grown up overnight. I was lucky. I was a freighter pilot, getting home for a couple of months each year. I could leave it all behind and not see it. I'd see stars, planets. My wife and son couldn't even see the sky. Only one child per couple was allowed.