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Columbus, Ohio
"Good morning. I present the notion
that there is a Martian sitting next to you." She paused
to listen to the gasps and chuckles. Connie Biblet, Ohio State
University alumna and NASA astronaut, spoke to the graduating
class.
"By the year 2018, mankind will begin a mission to Mars.
The first person to step on the red planet could very well
be one of today's graduates. Therefore, it's likely there
is a Martian in our audience."
Just then, Connie saw a refrigerator sized State Patrol officer
confidently walk on to the stage. She felt it in her gut;
something terrible had happened. He looks like the guy they
send to notify next of kin.
The officer in a baritone voice, "Doctor Biblet, I'm
Officer Sullivan of the Ohio State Patrol. NASA has instructed
me to escort you immediately to the airport."
Connie started to ask a question. He lightly grabbed her elbow.
His whisper softly boomed, "Please come with me."
She turned to look at the university president, and mouthed,
"I'm sorry."
The president nodded and walked to the podium.
"I apologize for the interruption. It seems NASA requires
Doctor Biblet's expertise. Maybe they've just selected her
to fly to Mars. Let's give her our support."
Applause followed Connie off the stage.
"What's happened?" Connie insistently asked as the
officer hurried to the patrol car.
"All I know is that something hit the shuttle."
Connie stuttered her walk.
"How bad is Atlantis damaged?"
"All I know is what I heard on the news. Something impacted
the shuttle and the crew's in trouble." The officer reached
down to adjust the volume on a small portable television in
the cruiser.
"For those of you who have just joined our program, the
Space Shuttle Atlantis was in the middle of a live press conference
at seven-thirty this morning when space debris hit the space
shuttle. The impact seriously injured the 16-year old high
school astronaut. NASA reports that Atlantis has lost all
air pressure in the main cabin. Five of the crew members have
evacuated safely into the CargoHab."
Just then a figure appeared at the car door.
"Connie, what's going on?"
"David, Atlantis has been hit by space debris. Laney's
injured, and it appears the cabin's depressurized. We have
to go."
"Excuse me!" Officer Sullivan bellowed, "I'm
instructed to escort Doctor Biblet to the Airport."
"I'm sorry, Officer, this is Astronaut David Hill. He
flew us here. We'll follow you in our rental car."
During the high-speed ride, Connie called the astronaut office.
She listened for a couple of minutes, then closed the cover
of her cell phone and turned to David.
"The press is having a field day. Millions of people
are seeing reruns of the debris hitting Laney and her blood
spraying all over the cabin. They want me to fly the MMU backpack
on the rescue mission."
"You have the most experience flying the Manned Maneuvering
Unit in the astronaut corps" David replied.
"We've been given presidential permission to fly supersonic
to Kennedy." Connie added.
# # #
Near Chattanooga, Scott's head hung heavy in thoughts as he
walked from the hanger to his motorcycle. She broke off our
engagement and didn't even say goodbye. I wonder why I still
want to help her. I wish I could do something to help. He
put on the one-piece black leather racing-suit and then a
black full-face helmet. Riding out of the hangar with the
helmet visor down to hide his watery eyes, he waved at Suzy.
She replied with a middle finger.
At Lookout Valley's small private Skyranch airport, Scott
raced down the manicured grass-strip runway, and into the
open door of the hanger. He rolled past the rare and expensive
antique aircraft and parts, parked next to a brand-new black
colored four-wheel drive Excursion.
"Scott! Come see the stuff I picked up at the government
surplus sale yesterday." His cousin Randy struggled to
speak through battered facial bones that had never healed
properly from a jail beating.
"Wait a minute. Did you hear about Atlantis?" Scott
asked.
"No. What happened?"
"Space debris hit the shuttle. The whole crew, including
Amber, is trapped up there."
"No way! I'll turn on the TV!"
"One more thing. Can you come to lunch at my mom's? She
has some friends for us to meet."
Randy picked up the remote and turned on the TV. "Sure.
I'm always ready to meet some new women, as long as they have
a nice rack," Randy said with a crooked grin. "They
got nice hooters?"
"I don't have a clue," Scott said with a sigh. "Look,
it's a blind date. I don't care what the women look like as
long as having lunch makes mom happy. This is as much for
her as it is for us."
"How's she doing?" Randy asked.
"Not good. The cancer is spreading. All the medicines
seem to do is make her sick."
"Oh. So how'd your tandem flight go?"
"Perfect flying weather."
"Don't tell me about the weather." Randy asked as
he searched for a news channel. "I want to hear if you
had a cutie pie passenger that hugged you like she wanted
you."
"I'm waiting for the Soaring School owner to call and
fire me because I flew her through a few loop-de-loops."
"That probably got her all hot and bothered. Is she pretty?"
"She was pretty, but sooo nervous." Scott sighed.
She's trying to get over her ex, just like me.
"Nervous is okay. Pretty is even better. The best is
if she's single. Did you find that out?"
Scott rolled his eyes, "I'll tell you about that if you
tell me about your progress."
Randy and Scott silently watched the rerun of the disaster.
"I'm sorry about Amber," Randy said. "Anything
you can do to help?"
"Staying out of the way might be the best thing to do,"
Scott said. "Anyway, what's the status on that flight
pack?"
Randy pulled the tarp to reveal what looked like a flight
pack used by the space shuttle astronauts that was suspended
from an engine hoist.
"It's beautiful, Randy. You do great work." Scott
said.
 
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