Final Destination
"Well, there it is Tom, I'm sorry it has to be this way."
"Right."
"It's just that we haven't had time to automate it, no trials and we sure as heck can't have a foul up now."
"Right." Tom fixed his gaze on the rocket ship and barely registered the laments of his friend, boss, and fellow pilot Steve. It was huge, he thought to himself, of course it had to be, it was packed with enough explosives to blow up an asteroid, or at least that was the idea....
"The controls are nearly the same as the X-4," continued Steve, "you'll get the hang of 'em in no time."
"Right."
"Just don't do any barrel rolls." His joke fell flat and Steve knew it, but what else was there to say? He's sending his best friend off to die in a machine he'd helped design, one he'd fly himself if they'd let him, but someone had to run ground here. "Mary will want for nothing Tom, the kids too, I'll see to it."
"Right, well, I gotta go ole buddy. Times a wasting and that 'stroid ain't getting any farther away."
Steve was a bit put off by being cut short but smiled and extended his hand. Tom took it but did not return the smile and then strode up the ramp tugging on his gloves.
Steve watched for a few moments trying to etch his friends heroism and final steps into his mind so that he could accurately relay this days' sacrifice to Tom's kids when they were older then he too turned away from his friend and headed for Mission Control. T minus 42 minutes....
Final Destination
"Well, there it is Tom, I'm sorry it has to be this way."
"Right."
"It's just that we haven't had time to automate it, no trials and we sure as heck can't have a foul up now."
"Right." Tom fixed his gaze on the rocket ship and barely registered the laments of his friend, boss, and fellow pilot Steve. It was huge, he thought to himself, of course it had to be, it was packed with enough explosives to blow up an asteroid, or at least that was the idea....
"The controls are nearly the same as the X-4," continued Steve, "you'll get the hang of 'em in no time."
"Right."
"Just don't do any barrel rolls." His joke fell flat and Steve knew it, but what else was there to say? He's sending his best friend off to die in a machine he'd helped design, one he'd fly himself if they'd let him, but someone had to run ground here. "Mary will want for nothing Tom, the kids too, I'll see to it."
"Right, well, I gotta go ole buddy. Times a wasting and that 'stroid ain't getting any farther away."
Steve was a bit put off by being cut short but smiled and extended his hand. Tom took it but did not return the smile and then strode up the ramp tugging on his gloves.
Steve watched for a few moments trying to etch his friends heroism and final steps into his mind so that he could accurately relay this days' sacrifice to Tom's kids when they were older then he too turned away from his friend and headed for Mission Control. T minus 42 minutes....