"How's it coming down there Matthew?" Krista checked the safety grid on her console as she readied the Shuttle Bay doors for opening. The glass that separated the control booth and the hanger was clean and clear giving an open view.

  Matthew, who was sitting in the pilot's seat in the cockpit of the Jabberwocky, flicked the communication's switch.

  "I'm cool. Just doing a redundant check on the life support system. Are we taking an AI with us?"

  "I'm afraid not. You guys are on your own today."

  "There's no shame in that." Matthew turned and glanced over his shoulder. "Are the environmental suits prepped and stored securely Heather?"

  Heather poked her head into the cockpit.

  "Check."

  Matthew sighed as he watched her turn away to complete her maintenance.

  Heather had a head of light red hair that Matthew had always been fond of, originally being a red-head himself before bleaching it into a lighter shade. She had come on board roughly around the same time he had. She was from a coastal town in southern California but had some how maintained a healthy pale tone to her skin instead of a deep tan that most beach dwellers had. Heather was of slightly less-than-average height and had a sleight dancers build. Some of the male crewman on board had come to the joined opinion that she also had, as they put it, 'one hell of an ass.' This was further validated by her predilection for wearing tight denim shorts, one of her guilty pleasures. She was quiet and shy, but also an absolutely brilliant engineer with a curious mind. She was keen on details and always liked to be thorough in her work.

  Matthew thought she was cute, but her demeanor made her seem sexually repressed; something that wasn't too prevalent among the crew of the Necronomicon. He knew, that if given the chance, he could help her break out of her shell. But he didn't have the time or drive to worry about that now.

  "Good, close that compartment up tight. We need to make sure they can't jostle around in there. There's nothing worse than being somewhere fucked up and having a malfunction in your environmental suit."

  "Gryphon is here."

  Matthew looked over.

  "Hey there stud; glad you could make it."

  Gryphon sat down in the co-pilot's chair and shook Matthew's hand.

  "Don't worry about a thing, Air Matt will get you there on time and in style."

  "That's cool, is Ramirez here yet?"

  "She's on her way now. She was picking up ordinance and going over some last minute security preparations with Gus." Matthew turned on the intercom, "Krista, we are ready for launch."

  "Excellent Matthew, just waiting for clearance from the bridge."

  "Ramirez is here Matthew."

  "Thanks Heather, strap in back there after you seal the hatches."

  Ramirez poked her head in the cockpit.

  "Hold on, first thing's first." She held up handweapons for each of them. "Safeties are on. Matthew one, Gryphon two," they took them and strapped them to their sides. She held up the other two and smiled, "Ramirez three, and Heather four." As she walked back into the cabin, Matthew looked at his palm and grimaced. He patted Gryphon on the shoulder.

  "Well sandman, are you ready to hunt down a runner?"

  "Huh?"

  "Never mind." The communication speaker crackled.

  "Matthew, this is Krista, the bridge has cleared the Jabberwocky for launch."

  "Affirmative Krista. Commencing engine ignition." Matthew began pressing keys on his console and turned a button on the panel to his left. The ship jerked and began to vibrate.

  "Opening shuttle bay doors."

  A siren went of and blinking lights shimmered reds and yellows."

  "Krista we are a go."

  "Decompressing Shuttle Bay."

  The atmosphere began to seep away into space as vents slowly opened. The hissing eventually ceased.

  "Lowering force field."

  A blue light flashed.

  "Have a good time guys."

  "Tell Rob I'll take that rematch when I get back."

  "Will do Matthew, be careful."

  The Jabberwocky began to drift forward. The three engines in the aft section pulsed and it shot out of the hanger; the force of it sent debris flying around the airless room.

  "HEY!"

  If they were still listening, they didn't care. Krista turned the force field back on and closed the Bay doors. When the atmosphere returned, Alyssa's face appeared on the panel.

  "I hate a mess."

  "I don't blame you," Krista began to secure her station.

  "Would you like me to instruct one of the maintenance robots to clean up?"

  "Sounds good, go ahead. I'm going up to the bridge to report; and to watch."

  "Yes sir," Alyssa blinked out and Krista smiled.

  As Krista left the Shuttle Bay, a large door slid away and a gleaming metal construct moved in and started collecting the floating debris; it's numerous arms extending and retracting as it crawled over the walls and floor.

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  "That was quite a good launch if I do say so myself." Matthew smiled as he turned the ship slightly to one side and straightened out. "As Karen would say, 'we're in the pipe, five by five.'" Matthew pressed a few buttons on the console between his and Gryphon's seat. "You've never flown with me before have you Gryphon."

  "Can't say I have, why?"

  "No reason."

  A bass guitar began to twang over the speakers all over the ship. Gryphon pointed up with a waving finger.

  "What's this?"

  "Nothin' but the best of 70's funk." Matthew brought up one of ship's control boards and changed a few of the settings. "Lowering inertial dampeners to fifty percent of normal." Somewhere among the bass rhythm, a drum set joined in.

  "Wait! Why are you doing that! That's the G-Diffuser system! We need that to stabilize the ship!"

  Matthew looked and Gryphon and smiled as he started to bob his head in time with the beat.

  "Aww, c'mon Gryph; smooth rides aren't any fun," he looked back forward, "this is supposed to be a ... ROLLER COASTER!"

  Matthew jerked the controls to the left as the lyrics began and the ship shot to one side. Gryphon's heart jumped into his throat as he was thrown against the wall.

  "...OF LOVE."

  Matthew leaned on the controls and the ship leapt into a dive, Gryphon felt himself starting to float out of his seat as his stomach was wrenched downward. His sudden shrieks began drowning out the music, forcing Matthew to pump up the volume.

  "ROLLER COASTER! WOO WOO HOO HOO HOO!"

  "Stop it Matt!"

  The moon danced in front of the Jabberwocky, spinning and swaying as the ship leapt rhythmically to the classic sound of the Ohio Players.

  "I order you to stop this at once!"

  "YOUR LOVE IS LIKE, A ROLLER COASTER; REALLY BABY," the ship hurtled into a roll and Matthew continued to sing merrily as Gryphon felt his lunch boil up into his esophagus, "I WANNA RIDE!"

  "PLEASE GOD! NO! AAAAHHHH!," Gryphon covered his eyes and continued moaning as sweat began to bead across his forehead. Matthew pulled up on the controls and laughed as he felt the pressure build on his body.

  "ROLLER COASTER!" He pulled off to the right and began to plummet towards the moon again. A loose package of gum flipped out of Matthew's pocket and began to tumble along the ceiling of the cockpit. "OF LOVE!" His smile grew a notch and he pointed down. "Look Gryphon, there's the alien vessel!"

  Gryphon pried his fingers apart while on the verge of hyperventilating. Just as his eyes began to peek through, Matthew veered left and sent him back behind shut lids.

  "WOO WOO HOO HOO HOO!" With a press of a button Matthew muted the music. "We're coming in for a landing, get ready back there."

  "Another kick-ass ride Matt."

  "Thank you Ramirez, how's Heather?"

  "She's asleep."

  "Hmm, how disappointing. Next time I'll whip out some James Brown; that'll keep her up. I think Gryph's a little worse for wear."

  "Oh god ... oh."

  "That's it bro. Just let it all out."

  Matthew turned the inertial dampeners back up to full and fired the retro rockets. The Jabberwocky glided to a stop and began to nestle down to the ground. The engines cut out and the ship settled into the soft dust. He smiled.

  "A perfect and smooth landing," he patted Gryphon on the shoulder, "huh?"

  Gryphon quickly undid his harness and ran into the back. Matthew heard the guttural sound of vomiting and of something wet and chunky splashing against the cool porcelain of the sink in the ship's commode. Matthew just shook his head.

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