21. MISSION COMPLETE FUNTIME
One hour later we landed with a final dramatic deceleration as our rockets lit up, landing legs snapped out and we settled tail first. The three gantry type cranks reached out to encircle us and then a retractable dock came out to the side of our vehicle and after a while, we could see our door opening. We were watching the whole ‘production’ on video screens. We could smell Toigan air for the first time after a week and a half. The passengers were unstrapping and disembarking slowly but methodically. This quick one hour trip was so very different than the quickly improvised one we had going up. This was much more like a trip on an airliner. We were just glad to go into the building and head to the ground floor getting glimpses of the surrounding countryside while in the lift. Finally we walked through a long corridor and there was a Buenafe, Breecher and our favorite Jongi waiting for us. Jessi and myself carried our now partly deflated Celeste air containing bags along with our backpacks and our ‘drag alongs’ which had been handed to us as we got to the ground floor. One had to admire the baggage handlers, they sure were fast and efficient indeed.
Buenafe, Breecher and Jongi were beaming with happiness and satisfaction at how well our first foray in space had gone. It was a bit emotional to see how Mischa and Jongi held onto one another with him stooped, almost kneeling to rest his forehead on her shoulder for many seconds, then walk off hand in hand, without saying a word to each other that any of us could audibly hear. The tutors sure exuded pride in their kids who had gone out there and conquered the unknown and with panache. We were so grateful to have had them as tutors and even more so glad to be back safely, with all of the mission fully accomplished. After a few specific questions from us and from them were answered, we were driven to a transporting bus and whisked forty five minutes to link up with the normal military transport aircraft at an airbase for the two hour flight to the city of Pommerose airbase. Our families and relatives were there to welcome us. I craned my neck out the transport bus to take a good look at the trees in the distance. I could hardly wait to get back on real terrafirma and reach down to run some actual blades of grass through my ungloved fingers and to walk on my parents farm on real ground. Smelling damp spongy soil under my feet took on huge importance for some strange reason.
Dad, Mum, Moog and Juliana plus Stacy and Jace who are Jessi’s parents were all there. The parents of the other members of Six were there too and so it was like one big family reunion. Everyone of the families who had never been to space before wanted to get a whiff of ‘space air’. Thus we spent about a hour milling around excitedly before in our case, heading for Jessi’s place. Once there, we all went inside still chatting excitedly. After all it was a first for us and everything about it was so fresh and exciting. That we each in Six would end up clearing close to a million credits too, seemed unbelievable. Yes we had risked our lives out in unforgiving space, and were luckily able to accomplish the mission but it still seemed almost magical. We were nothing short of blessed and lucky to boot. We were thoroughly enjoying being back on terrafirma and both Jessi and I wouldn’t take flushing the toilets or getting a real shower for granted any time soon. Those things out in space amounted to suction devices and sponge type baths, neither of which left one feeling squeaky clean and ready to romp!
Mom, Dad, Moog and his still new bride left us and headed back to the farm with the words, “See you soon son, planting season will soon be starting.”
To which I winked at them and said, “I can’t wait and I’ll bring help.” I was referring to Jessi of course. I said, “Prepare for some raucous parties Moog and Juliana, around your pool. Six is ready to party the stress off starting real soon.” Moog beamed, “You know how much we love to have fun out in the country, we will invite everybody.”
A few weeks later, we were all around Moog’s and Juliana’s newly redone country house that used to belong to his parents. That was before their tragic accident when he was only age one and his adoption by our parents Jonah Sr and Elma Capri. It had been a warm spring day and they had their large mostly glass enclosed heated pool with hot tub and nicely done outdoor kitchenette open. There was enough room for dancing. The fun started in his quite spacious home and spilled back and forth into and around his party pool. He had lots of parking, catered dinner, with music and dancing that started as the sun went down. My friends and his from the village, our tutors Jongi with her husband Choka, Breecher, Buenafe and even Captain Ronald with his family were there. All of Five attended too and with their families. We were a bit surprised that Captain Ronald had youngsters our age, a son Josh and daughter. His daughter Rona was quite a looker and all the eligible bachelors including Matt were enamored. Dillion and my noncom neighbor Mehia were inseparable that whole evening. It was a fun, fun afternoon and night. Things started to wind down at around ten pm and as our tutors headed out, we escorted them to their chauffeured rides. Jongi said, “We really enjoyed being with you all. You work hard, play hard and have a lot of fun. You all have made us feel young again. Thank you.”
As we walked back to the house Matt said ‘tongue in cheek’, “Welcome to Six, we play hard, work hard and have a lot of fun.”
We all shook our heads at that. We looked forward to a bright future.
END.
Already published 3rd book: Killer Gamers
First book of the series: Outlaw Badjans
About the author:
The author with roots in the Caribbean, studied in London England, New Jersey and Brooklyn NYC in healthcare now lives in Bowling Green Kentucky USA with his wife of thirty years.
BACK PAGE PROMO
Invisible hijackers marks the first foray into space by the amazing group of extremely talented teens called Team SIX from Toigan in the year 50234. There they are pitted against a group of high tech cloaking, ruthless, deadly hijackers from the nearby planet of Baclet. Six does have their telepathy and unique energy manipulation skills to help them survive, but against hard to detect missiles in space can they survive? It is fast paced, exciting and highlights the lovely and newly wed couple Jonah and Jessi’s blazing relationship.
Invisible Hijackers Page 13