by A J Britnell
Healey toasted the group and while their champagne glasses were still raised, he thanked them for their support, “I know it’s been hard for you to wait so long to see your families but it won’t be long now; just this event and then the time is yours.”
Claus downed his glass, “I have enjoyed the rest Healey but I don’t understand why there has been this secrecy; my mother is desperate to tell her friends I'm back.”
“I’m just looking after your wellbeing.”
Haruka was more sceptical. “You just don’t want us to embarrass you, and your precious EVAC name,” she said knowingly.
“I can’t get anything past you, Haruka!” He smiled ruefully and tipped his glass in her direction.
To begin with, the others seemed surprised at her assumption but the penny soon dropped around the table that there was obviously no other explanation for Healey’s overprotective management skills.
“I’ll be honest with you; if the press caught sight of us crawling off that spacecraft on our hands and knees like wild men out of the Amazon, we’d be a laughing stock.”
The imagery sent the group reeling in painful laughter, considering their pitiful repatriation.
Healey continued with the honesty, “Look I want them to meet EVAC Rapid Response Team,” he drew his hands across the air, tracing the words in lights, “it’s all about image after all.” He pushed his empty plate to the centre of the table and leaned back in his chair, satisfied, “I can’t begin to tell you how hard it’s been maintaining the media blackout.”
Incredulous gasps expressed their combined shock and admiration.
“You, cheeky sod!” Marcus mocked, “I wondered why the paparazzi weren’t beating down my door for an exclusive interview.” He smoothed his palm down the left side of his face and freeze-framed for his imaginary close-up.
Stefan gave him a playful shove as he made his way into the kitchen for more beer, “Marcus, you are a disgrace to manly astronauts everywhere!”
“And where would these manly astronauts be?” Eileen cried, spilling her wine on the table.
The frivolities continued until the staff decided to call it a night and lock the rest of the alcohol away. They crawled into bed, a little worse for wear but their bond was stronger than ever.
The morning arrived and the team gradually dragged themselves from their comfortable beds and dressed for a late breakfast. Each found their own custom fit uniforms hanging on their wardrobe door; orange and white.
Haruka posed in front of the full-length mirror. She smoothed down the suit over her full hips and turned to view her rear; tutting to herself,” Well this leaves nothing to the imagination!”
“You look gorgeous!” Stefan enthused, pulling on his matching boots. “I’m looking forward to showing you off.”
Haruka shot him a - I’m not your property look- but she could not deny, belonging felt a lot less lonely.
Healey was surprised how good his team looked after the previous evenings indulgence. They had got to grips with their new grooming regimes and even John looked trim in his flight suit; the sit ups paying off.
“Well look at you all!” he beamed, moving around the room to shake hands. “Eat up everyone, we’ll be leaving in an hour. I can’t tell you how proud I am of you all. This is your day to shine, finally the world will meet the amazing EVAC Rapid Response Team!”
His enthusiasm, though appreciated, made the group feel slightly uncomfortable and they sat at the table, nervous of the coming event.
Keeping to the tight schedule, the group sped off to Kennedy and the waiting Adriatic. She was fuelled and ready to go, gleaming through the heat-hazed tarmac. Technicians hastily pulled the loading vehicles away as they approached and stood in a line as if awaiting inspection from royalty. Healey headed the group and paused to speak to the chief engineer; one of his own. Satisfied with the report, Healey ushered his prodigies aboard to the admiring glances of the ground crew.
The younger members of the team seemed embarrassed by the attention; hanging back from the group but after jostling for position the team walked to the craft in single file in order of seniority, Herman bringing up the rear with EMO. He took a sneaky peak back to gauge their reaction as EMO rolled beside him; they were smiling, hopefully not in ridicule.
Flying through the blue atmosphere, the Adriatic felt like a completely different craft. Haruka relished the responsive controls, banking hard, pushing her to her limits as it cut the air. Stefan persuaded her to give him a turn at the stick and he took a supersonic detour over the South Pacific Ocean until Healey reminded him of the time.
“Doesn’t matter if we’re a few minutes late surely, the race doesn’t start for a couple of hours.”
“First rule of rapid response - never be late!”
Stefan reluctantly pulled back the throttle and turned for Peru.
After requesting permission to enter Peruvian airspace, Haruka reduced altitude and glided over the desert, searching for her landing site. “These co-ordinates don’t make sense, there’s no runway.”
“We’re not using a runway, we’re landing at the track, Healey shouted, pointing out the window.”
Haruka grimaced, “When are you going stop surprising us? You do realise that most people aren’t this adaptable – you know – would like an accurate flight plan.”
“You aren’t most people and anyway, where would be the fun in that?”
“Okay but this is the last time – promise me.”
Healey just replied with an ambiguous grin.
A colourful circle of buildings and vehicles caught her eye, out of place in the barren desert-scape. The Adriatic’s engines pivoted for vertical landing. They hovered on the outskirts until Stefan pointed out the landing spot; three- metre tall letters painted on the ground: EVAC. “Subtle, Healey.”
Haruka, conscious of their proximity to the crowds of spectators, took extra care as she descended. Plumes of sand billowed beneath them, radiating a sand storm causing her to land as quickly as possible to minimise the destruction.
“Did you think this through Healey? Look at the poor people running!”
“Don’t worry about them, they knew they were in the splash-zone.” The crew couldn’t help but laugh at the carnage below; people shaking the sand from their clothes and dragging back windswept canopies from the neighbouring stands.
Healey gathered the team at the exit of the Adriatic for their final pep-talk, “Well this is it, the grand unveiling!” He tilted his head, “Look I know none of you signed up to all this…. Razzmatazz crap, but try and enjoy it. You all deserve it.”
They knew there would be a welcome but this exceeded their wildest dreams. A stage appeared, dragged behind a four by four, and was set just in front of the Adriatic’s steps. Yet again, Healey went first and the crowd went wild. The deafening cheers reached the crew still waiting to exit the craft. Eileen clasped her cheeks, “Oh my god, do you hear them!”
John took her hand and dragged her to the hatch, the sun blinding their view. “We’ll go together,” he said.
It was awe-inspiring. The group slowly descended the steps and made their way to the stage, tentatively waving to the appreciative crowds. Herman remained at the back to ensure EMO’s safe disembarkment. As designed, arms extended from EMO’s side casings and hooked onto a purpose-built runner on the steps enabling him to glide effortlessly to the bottom; another immense roar of approval filled the stadium.
They were joined on the stage by a news reporter; none other than Sam Weismann. The crowd cheered for her but with less enthusiasm. She wore white, linen trousers and high heeled ankle boots. Auburn highlights shimmered through her blonde hair, let loose over her pale blue blouse. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you in person,” she smiled sincerely, shaking hands with each in turn. “I bet you weren’t expecting this kind of welcome!”
The group smiled back inanely, a little star-struck.
“I’ve been following your story from the beginni
ng. Have you been watching?”
They all nodded, still haunted by the exposé into their private lives.
Sam turned to Healey and they embraced warmly; as they touched cheeks, she whispered, “Thank you for this.”
Engineers swarmed the stage and connected microphones to their suits and positioned them, so all could be seen on the jumbo screens around the track.
Sam mimed the words, “Ready!”
They weren’t at all ready, but they were resigned to their new celebrity status.
“Welcome everybody to the Peruvian Melee tournament!” Sam hollered out the words as if headlining a stadium concert. She waited for the cheers to subside; giving a cheeky wink to her petrified special guests.
“But to make this event even more incredible, we have been joined by our EVAC heroes!” The crowd erupted with applause and whistles.
Sam stretched her arms wide, “This unlikely bunch of pilots, engineers and doctors, were expertly retrained by the talented James Healey the Third,” she lifted his arm; her conquering gladiator, “and turned them into this incredible, fearless rescue team.”
The friends squirmed in silence, trying to brush off the clumsy insult. Claus let his mind drift to the Mars transfer route, lonely and timeless.
Sam hushed the crowd like a conductor, “Let me speak for everyone around the world when I thank you for your bravery in saving so many lives.” A ripple of respectful applause grew around them.
A chaotic image entered Eileen’s mind; a re-enactment of screamed instructions on a radio link - her Uncle’s near-death experience that had changed both their lives.
The anchor-woman continued, “So many people wanted to be here to welcome you back, especially your families…” Sam pointed to the jumbo screen which now showed a VIP box crammed with familiar faces, “and here they all are, obviously extremely proud!”
“Oh, my god,” Haruka exclaimed, the words catching in her throat.
“Look John,” Eileen said, “all your brothers!” Their excited chatter, picked up by the microphones was thankfully drowned out by the growing cheers that engulfed them. It was overwhelming, the camera took time panning the family members who had apparently drawn their own media attention by the crowd’s reaction. They waved frantically, mouthing messages of love as their family received their close-up and introduction.
Claus could not keep it in, shouting, “Ich Liebe Dich Mama!”
Herman and Marcus jumped up and down with Gopy struggling to remain professional between them.
Sam let Healey respond to their welcome. He genuinely appeared emotional when he thanked the audience and introduced his team. “Thank you for this amazing welcome; it was quite unexpected!”
Stefan looked sideways at Haruka.
“But don’t let me take all the credit, this team have been doing amazing things out in space for years; I just brought them back to orbit!” The crowd cheered again. Healey called each by name and they stepped forward to wave to their fans. “Captain Stefan Andersen, Haruka O’Brian,” a few wolf whistles arose, “John Boyd, Claus Hartman, Eileen Nash, Marcus Sekibo,” wolf whistles from the ladies,” Herman Palmer, Goby Kapur and not forgetting…. EMO!” The revamped robot rolled forward, pirouetted and took a little bow to crazy applause.
Healey turned to look at his team while he waited for the cheers to die down. Covering his microphone, he said, “I am extremely proud of you all.” The praise was heartfelt, the group could tell from his eyes; they were softer, they glistened and he had trouble keeping their gaze as they returned their thanks.
He moved to the front of the stage and cleared his throat, “It is wonderful for my team to receive such praise and we are excited to be here to start the South American leg of Melee, but I most wanted to take this opportunity to remember those lives we could not save.” The crowd hushed. “So, before we start, I would like us to take a minute’s silence to remember those we have lost.”
Haruka reached out for Stefan’s hand and bowed her head along with her colleagues. She breathed out to lower her heart rate. A myriad of emotions jostled for attention. She had not dared to dwell on the death she had seen, preferring to focus on the excitement of their new lives. But this was the appropriate time and she allowed the ghastly images to return; opening the door to that room and the scenes of death. She bit her lip and looked up momentarily to see the faces being honoured on the massive screens. Haruka noticed Claus watching too but he quickly recoiled when the photos of the elderly couple appeared; their rescue - too late.
In that long minute, they were able to replay their story. They had allowed themselves to be drawn into the media machine, but fame and glory aside, they were happy with their choices and their reasons for making them.
“Let’s start the race!”
