The Sovereign

The Hangar

It was dark by the time I stopped the historical car to rest. I twisted the ignition to turn it off, reclined the seat, and closed my eyes.

•••

I had nothing but nightmares, once again.

I saw myself, running as fast as I could, repeatedly checking my watch. Then I saw through Jade's eyes. She was crying, beaten and bruised, her hands bound over her head. Grid stood before her, a whip in one hand, a gun in the other. He whipped her several more times before raising the gun to her. "He said he'd come back," Grid said. "He knew you'd die, and he left you to. We made the conditions clear."

Jade screamed my name.  "Des, HELP!"

I ran into the room much too late. Grid had pulled the trigger, and Jade was scrunched up on the floor. I turned to Grid. "You cheated," I said.

Then everything dissolved.

•••

I woke up with the Sun beaming powerfully into my eyes. I wasted little time. I had to move, or my dreams would become reality. Why had the apparition of me on my dreams told Grid that he'd cheated? Was my time not up when he'd killed her? Was that going to become a morbid déjà vu?

I shook myself to reality and pounded the gas pedal harder. I could see a long, narrow Tarmac, a few dozen miles away. Not unlike the one from back in Cape Canaveral. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. That had been the last time I'd seen her. Limp, bleeding out on the floor. I wondered how she was managing the captivity she was in. Did she know I left? Did Grid tell her?

Was she hurt?

I knew to be worried about her, but I also knew I couldn't be.  I had to get the diamond.  I had to move.

I had thirteen days until Jade would be killed.  I couldn't waste any more time.

I drove straight on the Tarmac and continued on to the hangar bay.  Within its dilapidated titanium jaws was a single helicopter.  No other hangers were around. 

I cured and slammed my fist into the dashboard. 

I had to use it.

It would be slower, but I couldn't afford to find another airport.  Throwing the door open, I began unloading the car and putting my small food rations into the chopper, eating an expired granola bar as I worked.

When I had filled the helicopter as well as my stomach, I climbed into the cockpit.  For the first time it occurred to me that I had no idea how to fly a plane, let alone a helicopter.

I made the sign of the Cross and wished for the best. My best wouldn't be good.

I fumbled around, looking for an ignition amongst the hundreds of buttons and meters in the cockpit. I opened a red flip-cover, unveiling a small switch. I thought so much that it would be the ignition.

I could not have been more wrong.

I heard a computerized beeping accompanying a red warning light. The light continued flashing and the ear-piercing alarm increased in volume. I realized with dread that I may have activated a self-destruct. Was it a military copter? What kind of standard helicopter has a self destruct?! What maniacs would build that.

I practically threw myself out the cockpit and pounded my sneakers across the concrete to the other side of the runway. I dove into the light snow that had accumulated on the grass, over-dramatically so.

I waited a long moment before rising and brushing snow off my body. Nothing had blown up. Maybe I had started the engine, after all.

I took a slow stride back towards the hangar, before realizing the issue. The heli wouldn't be able to lift off if there was a roof over its head.

I laughed.

Here I was, picturing myself running in slow motion and diving into snow, and it was just a warning that a roof was overhead.

But how the heck could I move the chopper out? More importantly, how did it get in?

I was looking around the inside of the hangar for a taller door or something, when I noticed small motor boxes in the corners of the arched steel ceiling. They attached to a thin tracks that the roof hung from.

I turned my gaze to the walls, scanning every door for one that led to the control room.  None were labeled, and most probably led to hallways with more unlabeled doors.  Too many possibilities, not enough time. 

My heart nearly jumped when I saw a duraglass window, which was blurred and stained to the point where it was impossible to see through. Next to it was an inch-thick steel door, likely leading into it.

I wondered what would need to see the helicopter as it took off, trying to reason of it could possibly not be a control room, but thought of nothing.  I rushed to the door and attempted to pull it open.  It didn't budge.  I tried pushing it the other way.  Still nothing.  It was locked.  I cursed under my breath.  I saw the mist erupting from my nose and mouth and I sprinted back to the helicopter, looking for a bludgeon, or anything to pry the door open.  Food was useless, and my gear wouldn't work.  I reasoned that I had to go through the window. 

I climbed down from the mechanical beast and looked for something to throw through it.  Prying the tattered license plate off the car, and hurtling it through the browned glass, I dove down as glass chunks flew all around the hanger.

I walked to the open chasm where the window had once been, gently wiped the edge clear of glass, and climbed through. 

I examined the control panel, and found it to be quite simple.  Six switches controlled lighting concealed in the corners of the ceiling, and one long handswitch lifted or lowered the hangar door.  Finally, a few lights showed occupancy of other rooms in the building, and a green button labeled open roof would do as it said.  If the motors still worked.

I pressed it, praying silently.  Clanging sounds outside were overwritten by an alarm.  What's with all the alarms in this place? I wondered.

I looked up through the hole where glass spilled out into the open hangar, and saw sunlight gently streaming in.

Thank God.