Ethan reached into an overhead cabinet and pulled out two small white containers the size of a school lunchbox and handed one to Tyler.
“Here you go. Let’s suit up.”
Ethan popped open the container and began extracting the material like a clown pulling a handkerchief from his sleeve.
Tyler mimicked his friend and yanked the fabric from the box, holding it at arm’s length.
“Are these space suits?”
The outfits appeared metallic with a bubble at the top—the helmet. Tyler flipped the suit upside down to reveal the boots. “And are these duck feet? I always wished I had duck feet!”
The boys laughed.
“We may require webbed footing because Ikzonia is a water planet. We’ll be walking on a very squishy surface and may have to swim. The webbing will retract to normal shoes if we have to climb the mountain.”
I hope we don’t have to climb the mountain, Tyler thought to himself.
The boys walked into the hanger holding helmets under one arm and swinging the other as if in a military march, like The Right Stuff meets Happy Feet.
Ralph stood in front of Junior’s open door, trying to hold back a chuckle. “Fellas, you look marvelous! Let’s hop on board and get this party started.”
Ethan and Tyler stepped into Junior and found Hooper once again flying in circles.
Ralph ducked in as he peeked around the corner. “Hoop-man, chill out. You’ll be fine. When you lock into the computer on the surface you’ll be on auto pilot.”
Ralph whipped his head in the direction of the youngsters for their farewell instructions. “Ethan, please keep your communicator open at all times. Tyler, you too. This is go-time gentlemen. No messing around down there, all right?”
“Yes, sir.”
Ralph gave him a wink, and patted the doorjamb before sealing them in the spacecraft. “Be safe. I’ll keep an eye on you.”
The airlock shut and the guys sat down in the navigation seats. Ethan began tapping at the dash as lights flashed as he touched the smooth surface. “Junior, you ready to go?” Ethan asked.
Junior’s voice shot over the intercom in a cracked tone. “Ready when you are, Ethan.”
“Cool, then let’s hit it.”
Junior hovered as the hangar floor opened up below and floated down like a feather out of the saucer. The nose tipped down toward the planet, the main engines kicked in and the Fire Truck started on a plotted course to the surface of Ikzonia.
“Okay, I’m going to teach you how to pilot a hyper sled,” Ethan said. “You need to focus and pay close attention. No distractions, this is very serious.”
“I can focus on anything,” Tyler responded. “Nothing distracts me. I will do my best to learn.”
“Then follow me.” Ethan waved to the rear of the ship. “I’ll show you the hyper sled.”
Hyper sleds are similar in appearance to an Olympic bobsled except for the sleek retractable roof. The models sitting in Junior’s cargo hold had a flat gray shell and somewhat unremarkable looking— until you peered into the cockpit. The pilot’s seat reclined back and practically laid down, just like Tyler’s dad on the couch while watching the Green Bay Packers on a Sunday afternoon.
“Tyler, please climb into one of the sleds.”
Eager with excitement, Tyler jumped into one of the vehicles. As he slid into the seat, restraints slithered over his shoulders, locking him into place. At the same time, the control panel slid up to Tyler’s chest. Ethan reached inside, pointing at the controls and reciting instructions.
“This button goes up, this button goes down, this allows you to hover, and here are your right and left buttons. This one is the accelerator. And this is the most important button, the stop button. The stop button responds directly to the pressure applied. In other words, the harder you push the faster you stop. Same goes for all the buttons. If you punch the accelerator, you’ll be slammed back in the seat and ripping.”
“Reminds me of a video game I’ve played on the computer,” Tyler said. “The controls don’t seem too difficult.”
Ethan assured Tyler he would be an excellent pilot. He went on to demonstrate the other controls that may be almost as important as the navigation.
“This toggle operates the gravity grappler.” Ethan grabbed the joystick on the right side. “This is what we’ll use to get the AMPP out of the cave. We’ll work together to pick up by locking beams to hold the AMPP between us.”
Ethan began to manipulate the toggle as he instructed Tyler on operating the device.
He soaked everything in like a sponge, nodding his head in agreement. “I understand,” Tyler said, then repeated the directions.
After reviewing all the controls, Tyler pointed at the only button Ethan seemed to intentionally ignore. The small red button pulsed on the far left side of the cockpit.
Tyler felt compelled to ask, “Ethan, what does the red button do?”
It was pretty obvious. A shiny red button in the cockpit of a cool vehicle like a hyper sled would draw the attention of a young Earth boy. It almost cried out to Tyler.
Hey! Red button here! I bet you really want to press me to see what I do!
Ethan gave a concerned expression and explained in a very serious tone. “That is a weapon. I hope we don’t need to use it.”
Ethan leaned over Tyler, and pushed the button. Up popped the kind of joystick you’d find in a fighter jet. Simultaneously, small barbs sprouted out around the entire hyper sled. Ethan pointed at the thorns. “These are where the energy pulse is discharged. You control them like this.” He moved the joystick and pressed the switches all over the toggle.
“Tyler, we have about thirty minutes before we enter the planet’s atmosphere. I want you to use the simulator function onboard and practice.” Ethan pressed another control, revealing a holographic screen over the top of the cockpit canopy.
“Cool!” Tyler whispered under his breath as he began practicing.
Ethan stood up from the hyper sled and bonked his head into Hooper who was silently hovering over the boys, eavesdropping.
Ethan rubbed the back of his head, exasperated. “Hooper what are you doing? That really hurt. Why are you back here?”
“I wanted to confirm you and Tyler are prepared for the task.” Hooper's shoulders slumped.
Ethan patted Hooper on the back. “Don’t you worry old friend. In thirty minutes Tyler will be a better pilot than I could ever dream to be.”
Completely engrossed with his simulator training, Tyler lost track of time.
Ethan’s voice filled the cockpit. “We’re about to enter Ikzonia’s atmosphere. Please return to the bridge.”
Tyler shut down and put everything away. He hopped out and scurried up to the front of the ship.
As the small crew gazed out the screen to the planet below, a quick shiver ran down the spines of the occupants, including one nervous robot.
Ethan squinted at the storm clouds below. “Not the friendliest place I’ve seen for sure. No wonder they decided to hide the AMPP on this rock.”
Junior shook and jerked as they descended through the dark cloud layer. Stark blue lighting cracked around Junior, startling the crew.
“Are you sure the AMPP on this planet?” Hooper asked in a panic. “I think the prudent thing to do would be to return to the saucer.”
Tyler put his hand on Hooper’s forearm. “Take it easy Hooper. We’re all going together. It’s the buddy system. We won’t leave you behind.”
Hooper gave a relieved sigh. “Upon locking into the AMPP computer, I will be on auto-pilot. I will click back in once we return to the ship. I am still nervous about the mission.”
As if choreographed, Ethan and Tyler both patted Hooper at the same time. “You’ll be okay.”
Considering the tension in the room and the odd timing, everyone cackled with nervous laughter.
The chuckling sputtered out when they broke through the cloud layer, which revealed the swelling seas below.
“Holy cow!” Tyler blurted out, almost involuntarily. “This totally reminds me of the Deadliest Catch!”
Ethan’s head snapped to the side as he locked eyes with Tyler. “Excuse me? Deadliest what?”
Tyler explained, “It’s a TV show my Dad likes. The Deadliest Catch is about crab fishing. The show puts camera men on a real fishing boat and they watch the guys fish.”
Ethan still seemed confused. “So these men are just out having fun fishing and you watch this?”
“Oh, they’re not having fun at all,” Tyler said. “They’re working. Fishing is their job. They fish on an ocean similar to this one so their jobs are totally dangerous.”
As Tyler explained, the planet rushed up from below. Ethan scratched his head. “So let me get this straight. Men are willing go out on an ocean that looks like that,” said Ethan as he pointed at the violent seas below, “and these men do this as their employment?”
“Yes.”
“And you observe these fishermen working in peril for your entertainment?”
Tyler shook his head and grinned. “Yup, one of the most popular shows on TV.”
Ethan furrowed his brow, muttering. “Strange, yet fascinating.”
Junior gently set down on the beach of a small island. The Fire Truck parked at the foot of a huge mountain twenty yards from violent surf crashing on the beach.
Ethan thought he should run the siren and lights as a safety maneuver. Considering the limited visibility from the ferocious weather, he wanted a beacon to keep their bearings while traveling to and from the ship.
Staring out at the blue and red lights reflecting off the cliffs and surf, Ethan whispered under his breath, “Tyler, I’m so sorry your first step onto another planet has to be this one.”
“Me too, but I am glad I’m here to help,” Tyler replied in a quiet voice.
The boys unbuckled and marched back to the hyper sleds.
“Okay, let’s mount up!” Ethan ordered, as the young pilots climbed into the cockpits.