Peter stopped pacing. “What’s that?”
“After she learned you were killed. The news…well…it was just too much for her to handle.”
“What happened? Is she okay?” There was a long pause. Peter began nervously tapping his finger on the phone.
“She lost the baby.”
Peter’s heart squeezed. He looked over to see Ying’s belly exposed as the doctor moved a rounded device over gel on her tummy. A big smile was on her face as she was seeing images of her child for the first time. She saw Peter look over and enthusiastically pointed to the monitor. He smiled before turning away. His smile fell. “Damn. Is she okay?”
“Physically, she’s fine. But emotionally, she’s a wreck.”
“Okay, thanks. I’m going to get to Houston as soon as I can.”
“Good luck. Anya will be thrilled. She’s madly in love with you, Peter.”
Peter grimaced at the pain she must be in. “I’m madly in love with her too.”
THE F-15E STRIKE Eagle looked impressive as Peter walked around the gray beauty, inspecting it while wearing a borrowed flight suit and carrying a helmet by his side. The Air Force had pretty jets, and to Peter, the F-15 was the queen of the ball. The sixty-foot plane looked like it was doing Mach 2 sitting on the ground. He couldn’t wait to get her in the air.
Pleased he was able to get in a quick shower and shave before suiting up for the flight, Peter slapped the back of the pilot who was stuck with the chore of escorting him home. “Tommy, I call the front seat.”
Tommy shot him a surprised look. “Sir, I was told you were to be in the weapon’s seat.”
Peter arched his eyebrow and assumed a cocky grin. “Why? Are we going into battle?” He pointed his finger to the back seat. “You don’t want to waste my talents back there, Son. Tell you what, you sit in the back and take a nap.”
Unwavering, Tommy said, “Sir, I need to check with my commanding officer.”
“Or you can check with my commanding officer.” Peter winked. Tommy was aware the President of the United States had given clearance to the base commander for him to have this ride. “Tell you what, I’ll just fly the first leg.” He would probably need sleep later on anyway. But right now, he had to get his hands on this baby and see what she could do.
Tommy started climbing up the ladder to the cockpit as he asked in a sarcastic tone, “You won’t crash it?”
Peter looked up. “Dude, I don’t have $30 million in change. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your precious baby. However, I might show you a trick or two.”
Peter got his way, and before he knew it, he had the F-15 engines roaring as the jet sat motionless at the end of the runway waiting to be freed. Peter held the mighty bird back as he teased his senses. The howl of the engines shot goose bumps all over his body. His hand tightened around the stick as he looked down the straightaway in front of him. It’s been awhile, baby. He had been given final clearance by the tower and was ready to play. He wrapped the oxygen mask around his mouth and locked it in place before lowering his visor. He yelled out, “Are you ready for an E-ticket ride?”
His young passenger questioned, “What’s an E-ticket ride?”
A mischievous smile crossed Peter’s face as he released the brakes. The jet shot forward with an unbelievable force. “Let’s see what 60,000 lbs of thrust feels like.” The afterburner kicked in as their acceleration increased. Peter couldn’t have worn a bigger grin. As they powered down the runway, Peter decided to give the tower a little show. “Hold on.” He pulled back on the stick and went vertical, shooting straight up into the sky as he continued to accelerate. After all he had been through over the last month, this was the release he needed. He couldn’t contain himself as he yelled out a wild, “Yeehaw!”
KUANG SLAMMED THE phone receiver down hard. His blood boiled after learning the military allowed the American to escape China. With the astronaut safely out of the country, he lost his last chance of forcing a false confession with the hopes of swaying public opinion. Boxed into a corner, he had no choice but to put into action China’s backup plan, put in place in case the moon mission failed. With the American beating them to the moon and exposing their lies, he had to play his trump card. Though the hoax would kill astronauts and affect future space exploration for the international community for years, there was no other option. China had to strike back after being embarrassed in front of the world.
He decidedly picked up the phone to call Lin Wu, the Assistant Director of China’s secret service. The MSS was the lead agency for the covert operation and had been waiting for Kuang’s approval to initiate the final stages. Kuang hesitated for a moment before dialing the number, making sure he was making the right decision. He peeked over at the picture of his parents. A quick flash of Americans celebrating their recent success was enough to convince him. He assertively punched in the Assistant Director’s number before patiently waiting for Lin to answer.
“Hello.”
Kuang spoke in a steady voice. “Lin, it’s Kuang.”
A cocky tone oozed from the phone. “I was expecting your call.”
It was obvious Lin knew the details of the failed mission. “Put operation Tianlong into action.”
“You want all phases initiated?”
Without hesitation Kuang answered, “Yes, immediately.”
“Consider it done. You have made a wise decision.”
PETER HUSTLED UP the front porch steps of his mom’s house, wondering if he had arrived before Anya. The F-15 did a great job getting him halfway around the world in record time, and a loaner military car was waiting for him at Ellington Air Force Base. He figured he had about a 60% chance of being first. If he wasn’t, then his mom was probably already informed her only son was dead. The news would be devastating and possibly a total shock if she still had no idea that he had been on the mission to the moon; for all he knew, she’d never been told about the top-secret assignment. He took a moment to peek through a small slit in the side window blinds to see if he could spot either lady. He moved his head around, but there was no evidence.
He repositioned himself with his face looking directly at the door as he nervously rubbed his hands together. These two ladies were the most important people in his life, and he couldn’t wait to see them. He looked down at the potted plant and considered using the front door key hidden in it as he often did. Not knowing what was going on inside, he felt it best to ring the doorbell. Besides, if his mom had been told of his death, then he would be pulling off a miracle for her. Opening the door and seeing her son standing there alive would be a shocker, and he had a flair for dramatics.
He took a deep breath before pushing the doorbell button. The chime echoed throughout the front foyer. He was surprisingly nervous as he waited, shifting his weight back and forth on his feet. After a few moments, he heard someone slowly walk up and unlock the door. He stood up straighter as the handle turned and the door slowly opened.
The sunlight followed the door inside and worked its way across his mother’s body before lighting her face. He could tell by her red eyes she had been crying, evidence Anya was there and had given her the bad news. Her mouth gaped wide open, obviously startled to see him. He smiled big as he raised his arms, “Guess who?”
Her whole expression transformed to joy. She yelled out, “Peter!” as she jumped into his arms. As they hugged, she said softly, “I thought I had lost you forever.”
Peter smiled. “Na, you didn’t lose me. Not yet anyway.”
She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “Anya’s here. She told me you died while landing in China.”
Peter shook his head. “Sorry about that, Mom. That was a bunch of crap put out by China.” He stepped back slightly and peeked into the house. “Where is she?”
His mom smiled big. “She’s in your dad’s office. She will be so surprised. I know she struggled to stay strong while telling me you didn’t survive. She’s hurting deeply.”
He patted his mom lightly on the back.
“I’ve got to see her.” He gave his mom a sweet kiss on the cheek before walking down the hallway.
“I’ll warm up some tea in the kitchen.”
“Perfect,” Peter whispered.
He worked his way through the house before reaching the end of the hallway where his dad’s office door was not quite closed all the way. Quietly, he pushed it open and peered inside. Anya’s back was to him as she stood looking at the photographs on the wall. She was dressed casually in a pair of jeans with an untucked purple blouse, her jet-black hair flowing past her shoulders. He grinned with pride. No matter how she dressed, she looked fabulous.
She was staring at the picture of their fathers together, taken during their training for the U.S.-USSR mission. He took a second to take in the moment, one he had felt he would never have after taking on the suicide mission. Finally he said, “Your father was one hell of a cosmonaut. He saved my ass a couple of times.”
She didn’t move. The room was still for a moment. In a frail voice she said, “I hear your dad was a hell of an astronaut, too, and that he even walked on the moon.” Without turning around, she slowly lowered her head as he walked up from behind. Her voice trembled as she said, “This better not be a dream.”
Peter put his hand on her shoulder. “Baby, it’s no dream.”
She turned, tears swelling in her blue eyes. “Oh, Peter.” She flung herself into his waiting arms as she wrapped hers tightly around him. Peter never felt so good in his life. He picked her up and twirled her around as he said, “Anya Alexandrov, I missed you so much. I love you.”
Her whole body was shaking. She squeezed even tighter as she responded, “Peter Novak, you have no idea how much I love you.”
5
BACK IN THE FIRE
Late for an urgent meeting with the director of the Space Intelligence Division, Peter had a confident strut in his step as he hustled down the long narrow corridor of the CIA building. He couldn’t hide the elation that bubbled within, happy to be back on Earth and to have spent the last few days with his true love. He came close to proposing to Anya while in Houston, but with the loss of the baby, the timing wasn’t right. He knew they were destined to be together and that moment would come.
Unfortunately, their time was cut short by an early morning wakeup call from Gavin Ross, requesting him to report immediately to the Virginia headquarters. Although he was not given any details, the urgency in the director’s voice, along with a waiting jet to fly him to D.C., convinced him it was a serious crisis. He hated leaving Anya so soon after getting back; however, he was excited about rejoining SID. Peter had to resign from the agency before accepting the secret mission to the moon, ensuring he had no direct ties to the government. The President wanted to make sure America could not be directly blamed for the operation if it failed.
Peter was pleased he caught Gavin’s assistant before she took off for her lunch break. Lola Peterson immediately lit up when she saw him, sending a surprising jolt of joy through him. The attractive sixty-year-old grandmother jumped to her feet and extended her arms. Peter swooped in for a hug. She squeezed tightly. “I thought we had lost you.”
From the genuineness in her voice, he realized she must have known that he had been on a suicide mission. He tried to lighten the mood. “Then you wouldn’t have to worry about some cocky agent flirting with you.”
Lola pulled back. Her eyes locking on his as her expression grew serious. “You would be the one I would miss.”
Considering all the agents she had dealt with over the years, that was high praise. “Thanks, Lola. I appreciate that. So I guess you can tolerate my flirting?”
Lola gave him a final squeeze before pulling away, her face glowing again. “Tolerate it? I insist on it.”
“Great.” Peter arched an eyebrow as he slowly looked her up and down. “Well then, you look as sexy as ever.”
She blushed as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “Keep ‘em coming, young man. Can I pour you a cup of coffee before you go in?”
“That’d be great.”
As always, he watched her from behind as she walked over and poured. She quickly turned around to catch him staring. He just smiled. She carefully handed him the cup as she winked. “You better get in there.”
He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.” He took a whiff of the freshly brewed coffee before proudly marching through Gavin’s open doorway. He barked out, “Good afternoon, Boss.”
Gavin quickly swung around in his chair and looked up from the paperwork he was reviewing. A warm smile instantly appeared. He stood and extended a welcoming hand. “Good to see you, Peter.”
Peter nodded as he approached the empty chair in front of the desk. “Glad to be here.” He gently placed the coffee on a coaster before he took the outstretched hand, and gave a firm handshake.
Gavin mashed his lips before he spoke, his voice laced with sincerity. “I’m so happy you made it back. That was a hard call for the agency to make, sacrificing one of our best.”
Peter tried to put the director at ease as he let go of his hand. “It was my decision. I did it for my dad and my country. You put no pressure on me. I’m just happy China saved my ass.” Peter pulled a thumb drive out of his pocket and tossed it on Gavin’s desk. “Here is a copy of the pictures taken at the moon. Hopefully it wasn’t damaged from the water.”
Gavin picked up the drive and looked at it. “Water?”
“Yeah, we landed in a river.”
“Well I am glad you survived. That was some adventure you were on.”
“An adventure of a lifetime. It was amazing flying over Dad’s old stomping grounds, seeing his footprints after forty years.”
Gavin placed the drive into his desk drawer. “I’m sure you made your dad proud, and you definitely made your country proud.” Gavin motioned toward a chair. “Have a seat.”
As Peter sat, the director continued to stand, holding the paperwork by his side. “I appreciate you coming out on such short notice.”
Peter flashed a sly smile, remembering his frustration at leaving Anya in a warm bed. “I could tell by your voice it was urgent.”
“It is.” Gavin sat down and set the papers on his desk before shuffling through another stack. His eyes widened when he found what he was looking for. He studied the paperwork for a moment before looking up with hope. “How would you like to rejoin the team?”
Without pause, Peter answered, “Absolutely.”
“Great.” Gavin leaned over and placed the paperwork in front of him. “Here are your reinstatement papers. Sign them, and I can brief you on the mission.”
Peter grabbed one of Gavin’s pens from a holder and started initialing the highlighted areas. “I think I might hold off taking any suicide missions for awhile.”
“Let’s hope I never have to ask an agent to do that again.”
Peter signed the last page before handing the papers back.
Gavin spiritedly grabbed the papers. He flipped to the last page and signed it. “Okay, it’s official. You’re back on board.”
Curiosity had been gnawing at Peter ever since Gavin’s call, wondering why he was needed over other agents. “So what’s this crisis?”
Gavin leaned back in his chair and studied Peter for a moment. He answered in a tight and efficient voice. “The Soyuz that launched yesterday for the ISS had an explosion in orbit and is stranded. The explosion happened in the service module, damaging the descent module. All three cosmonauts have been forced into the orbital module until they can be rescued.”
Peter’s jaw dropped as he straightened in his chair. Though he hadn’t watched much news since getting back, he remembered hearing a civilian was going to the ISS. “Isn’t there a space tourist on board?”
Gavin nodded. “Yes, and apparently he is some billionaire’s spoiled ass kid who is not handling this very well.”
“How much time do they have?”
“NASA figures they have less than forty-eight hours
before their air supply runs out.”
Peter lifted his hands, palm side up. “So why doesn’t Russia just send up a Soyuz to save them?”
Gavin shot him a dejected look. “They can’t. The damaged Soyuz is the newer model K, which unluckily happens to be what’s sitting on the pad for an emergency rescue. The Russians fear the same problem can happen again, and there’s no reliable Soyuz model TMA ready. They can have one on the pad by tomorrow, but it will be minus an orbital module. So it can’t be used for the rescue.”
Peter shook his head, amazed at Russia’s shortsightedness. He understood there wouldn’t be enough room to house all three men along with the rescuing pilot in a Soyuz without an orbital module. Since the damaged ship the cosmonauts were in also had no airlock, there wasn’t the possibility of saving two of the men and transporting them to the ISS before returning for the other.
Peter raised an eyebrow. “What was the rush launching without a TMA model ready?”
“Apparently there was some clause in the space tourist’s contract that said he had to launch by July 15th or it would be null and void.”
Peter rolled his eyes. He knew how important money was to the Russian space program. “So why don’t they just pick them up with the escape pods from the space station?”
“Well, if you remember, you stole one,” replied Gavin with a smirk. “And the other one was brought back on schedule with three ISS astronauts.”
Peter took a sip of coffee. He was starting to get the picture. The only potential lifeboat out there was the Galileo parked at the space station, which he flew up. He figured that must be why he was needed. He leaned back in his chair, putting both hands on the armrests. “So what do you need me for?”
Gavin spoke without hesitation. “The Galileo is our only option at saving those men, and you are the only man who has flown it.”
Peter looked out the window. Though Galileo could be returned to Earth by mission control, it would need to be piloted by an astronaut to rendezvous with the disabled Soyuz. “So I fly up on the Russian rocket being put on the pad?”
Space Hoax (Hoax Trilogy Book 2) Page 5
