To The Moon And Back

Chapter Seven

"Last passenger clear and air pump active," Scott reported.

That was the signal John had been waiting for. With a brief, "F.A.B.," of acknowledgement, he resumed his spot in the mouth of the tube and shut the airlock of the cargo ship.

Making sure he had a tether secured to the evacuation tube's docking clamp, he set to work unhooking it from the ship. It swung free with little effort.

"Evacuation tube free," he told Scott as he seated himself more securely in the opening and held on tight.

"Good man, commencing flight in 5...4...3..."

John counted down with him, bracing his feet against the inside of the tube for extra stability. As he felt the mighty rocket's engines burst into life he had a quick moment to think about how Selene would react if she could see him now. He was perfectly safe, he had enough oxygen left in his tank and they only had to travel across the Moon, the space equivalent of driving five minutes to a shop, but he had a feeling that the thought of him hanging onto the inside of a tube that was being dragged alongside a speeding rocket would put her into a meltdown.

What he didn't understand though, was why she had reacted in such a way when she had found out that he would be staying behind and would meet them there? They had only just met yet she was acting like he was just as precious to her as any one of her friends that she needed to worry about. It was strange, but he had to admit, he didn't dislike it.

As the rocket lifted off he tightened his hold. There was nothing he could do but wait and enjoy the ride. Gazing out of the end of the tunnel over the Moon's surface he felt a wide smile stretching his lips, he'd always loved space, ever since he was a small boy, and the sight of the stars around him never grew boring. His father had been one of the first men on the moon and it always gave him a thrill to think how far they had come in just a few short years.

But all too soon his enjoyable ride was over. He felt the ship slow and the tube change orientation as Scott pulled the rocket up and then brought her down. The landing wasn't as gentle as John would have managed himself, something he would undoubtedly tease his brother about later, but they, and Thunderbird Three, were in one piece and that was all that mattered.

"Ready for docking?" he asked Scott.

"I'll winch, you position," Scott answered immediately.

Using the last of the rapidly depleting fuel in his jetpack, John helped to ease the tunnel back towards Thunderbird Three's hull as Scott collapsed it back enough that it would fit between the rocket and the moonbase.

Once in position, John climbed inside again and locked it in place on the dock of the moonbase. As he worked he made a mental note to congratulate Brains on another brilliant upgrade to their already superior technology.

"Locked on," he called to Scott. "Activate airflow."

"F.A.B."

Almost instantly John heard the telltale hiss of oxygen being released into the tube. The places where it had collapsed in on itself puffed out again, leaving a clear gangway from ship to base.

"Seal reads green," Scott reported. "You are go for entry."

"F.A.B.," John responded before saying to himself, "Let's hope that Alan got through to them."

Locating an intercom on the outside of the dock he pushed the button. A buzzer sounded on the other side, though it was so muffled it was barely audible, and then the intercom crackled into life.