Emergency

Li Min and Eric Alain were on their final test flight over the skies of New Mexico. Launch drills, emergency preparations, landing drills, they did each as pilot commanding, then let the other take over. For docking procedures, they used the simulator at base.

“Ready for re-entry checklist,” said Li, the pilot commanding the final flight.

“Re-entry checklist, roger,” responded Alain, who began the landing procedures. High up, in the thin upper reaches of the atmosphere, their craft glided silently.

“Prepare for braking maneuver,” Li said, manipulating the controls of the craft. The shuttle started to vibrate and drop. The deceleration G-forces pushed the two pilots into their seats. Alain was monitoring the systems when he noticed the power had dropped.

“Be advised, main bus A losing power.”

“Co-pilot, confirm this is not a drill,” responded Li calmly.

“Confirmed. We appear to have some kind of power loss developing. Shifting essential systems to alternate.” He flicked the switch required, and nothing happened. “Ok be advised we have no power on landing systems. Flaps, gear, and ‘chutes all non-functional.”

“Re-route power to auxiliary, start the check list.”

“Uh, roger… nothing,” he said, and began trying to flip through the checklist on his wrist. “Ugh, five gees.” The shuttle was now roaring down towards Earth with only half it’s systems running.

“Five gees, roger,” groaned Li under the weight. “Try to restart auxiliary, ugh, auxiliary power unit.” Alain could barely lift his arms above his head to the controls to do so, but he managed.

“APU starting,” he grunted, “negative function. Altitude 40,000 feet.”

“40,000 roger, levelling out.” Li started maneuvering the big shuttle into a more conventional flight path, using the stubby wings to glide. “We need to work the problem, restart APU and checklist for loss of power.” Alain started the checklists as ordered. He appreciated having something to do as co-pilot; he was too busy to feel fear. Li’s voice was calm and direct.

“Be advised Green Base, we are declaring an emergency at this time. Alain, can we land on the designated runway without flaps and gear?”

“Checking,” he said, frantically flipping through the checklists. “Negative. Coming in too hot to slow down and land without flaps.”

“Roger. Green Base, we aren’t going to be able to land without bleeding off some speed. Vectors to emergency runway with rescue gear,” she looked over to Alain. “Any suggestions?”

“You got this Li.”

“Hemes this is Green Base,” came the response, “vector 118 to Albuquerque, frequency 122. They know you’re coming.” Alain switched the channel.

“Albuquerque this is Hermes, we’re coming in hot, no gear no flaps, altitude… 30,000, vector 118, requesting emergency priority,” said Li to the controller.

“Hermes this is Albuquerque, you have priority for all runways, recommend runway 1 left, emergency vehicles standing by.”

“Hermes roger,” said Li.

“Dropping really fast now… 25,000,” reported Alain.

“We… we need to bleed off more speed. I am going put us in a bank and try to slow us down. I need you to maintain communication and monitor stall speed.”

“I got you Li.” She started steering the shuttle with the side stick, gently turning the big falling glider in a corkscrew pattern.

“10,000 feet. If you want to bail out, this may be our last chance,” said Alain, referring to the difficult egress system that involved them opening a door and jumping out with parachutes.

“We ride it down,” she said, her voice not betraying any fear.

“8,000, Albuquerque in sight,” reported Alain.

“Ok, last chance, try the gear.” Nothing happened. “Flaps?”

“Negative.”

“Alright, let’s land this bitch Eric.”

“Hell yeah. 6,000.”

“We have you in sight Hermes,” crackled the radio.

“5,000. Good luck, Li,” said Alain. She responded by briefly placing her space suited hand on his leg for a moment, a human connection amongst the crises. They were carrying way to much speed; the Hermes was a lead sled without flaps and spoilers. The runway was in front of them, and nearby, fire trucks were lined up with their lights flashing.

“2,000,” reported Alain, “1,500.”

“Brace for impact,” said Li cooly. At the last moment she pulled up, making the shuttle flair, reducing the descent speed. The runway was whipping past under them.

“Here we goooo,” groaned Alain. The shuttle hit the runway with a sickening crunch and the pilots were slammed forward into their harnesses by the impact. Moving at 300kph, the shuttle screamed along the runway, sparks and debris flying off and past the cockpit. They careened past the emergency trucks and then onto the grass next to the runway, shuddering and making Alain think the craft would flip. Then, as sudden as the impact was, came stillness. They had halted sharply beside the runway. Inside the cockpit, it was silence for a moment. Smoke wafted past the cockpit windows.

“Evacuate,” yelled Li through her domed space suit helmet. The two unbuckled their harnesses and ran for the exit hatch behind the cockpit. As they jumped out, the firetrucks were already arriving dousing the small fire near the wing root. The two ran away from the smoking craft before stopping a hundred meters away. Alain fumbled with his helmet buckle, his hands shaking violently. He managed to yank off his helmet, and blood ran out of his mouth. First responders were running toward them.

“You’re hurt,” said Li, pulling off her helmet.

“I’m fine, bit my tongue I think. You ok?”

“I am OK yes,” she said, before suddenly hugging Alain tightly.

“I can’t believe we’re alive Li,” he said, hugging her back, “you saved our lives.”

“You would have handled it as well as me Eric, if you were in my seat.”

He wasn’t sure she was right. The fear and desperation that he’d suppressed when dealing with the crisis now felt stuck in his throat. A firefighter ran over to them, asking if they were OK. Alain started to notice how much his lower back hurt now that the adrenaline was wearing off. They were bundled into a waiting ambulance as the firefighters put out the fire and made the area around the shuttle safe.

They were taken for testing at Presbyterian Hospital. Both pilots were badly shaken up and sore from the impact but otherwise unhurt. They were placed in a room with monitors and staff hoping all around them. Alain was sure a dozen doctors and nurses looked at the small bite on his tongue. The pilot training director, Bill, arrived an hour after their ‘touchdown.’

“You two are some of the craziest pilots I’ve fuckin seen man,” he gushed.

“It was all Li, Bill. I was in the dummy seat shitting my pants.”

“You lie Eric. Bill, he was great,” laughed Li, in the bed next to him, rolling her eyes.

“How are you two doing? They said minor injuries on the phone.”

“We’re fine thank you Bill,” said Li reassuringly.

“Do we know what happened yet Bill,” asked Alain. The more he thought about the incident, the more angry and alarmed he became. It didn’t make sense.

“No, not yet. We’ll evaluate and salvage the wreck in the meantime we’ll get your thoughts on record, and we’ll see what went down. I can’t believe you two are alive, fuck. I brought ya’ll your clothes from the changing rooms, and if these fine people release ya, then I got a hotel voucher for you both.”

“Thanks Bill, you’re the man,” said Alain.

Bill went on to interview both pilots separately about their experiences. Discussing it with the benefit of hindsight, Alain was even amazed he was still alive. The more he recounted the incident, the more indebted to Li he felt.

“I still can’t believe this Eric. Fucking total power failure at altitude. It’s unacceptable and goddamnit, I’m amazed you’re alive man.”

“I am too Bill. Li, she saved my life. Both of our lives. What happened? Do we know?”

“Do we know? Technically, not yet,” said Bill, hesitantly. “Officially, it will be weeks of investigation, but unofficially, well, we think we might have a problem.”

“Define problem Bill,” said Alain, pointedly. His back was sore, his head pounding, he was in no mood for evasion. Bill sighed heavily. He took a long time to respond, seeming to be choosing his words carefully.

“We, by which I mean the company, believe that there was a hack.”

“Wait. Are you telling me someone tried to kill us Bill?”

“I’m not officially saying that Eric, but uh. Yeah kinda. It happened at pretty high altitude, so maybe they intended you bail, and we lose the bird. Doesn’t really matter which.”

“Fuck.”

Bill went on to interview Li while the doctors gave Alain a final look over. They concluded that, in spite of the soreness, he was healthy and required no further treatment. He had sustained an enormous G **** impact, and they warned him of soreness, headaches and other symptoms. His tongue hurt, but there wasn’t much to be done about that. He put on the blue mission coveralls he was brought gingerly, and by the time he was released, Li was ready to go too. They got in an Uber and took the short ride to a nearby hotel. It was a decent chain hotel, and after they checked into their next-door rooms, they agreed to meet again in Li’s room. They sat together in the two chairs and table in the room. Alain drank the bitter, yet thin hotel coffee while he drummed his fingers on the table. It was the only way he’d found since the landing to stop his hand from shaking. Li looked so completely calm to Alain; her delicate features still, her eyes calm and warm. She looked so in control, he thought. So collected. He didn’t want her to see his hands shaking.

“Did Bill tell you what he thinks,” Alain asked. He liked Bill but he wondered if he’d said more than he was supposed to.

“He said someone has tried to kill us, yes,” she said, simply. “Is this what he told you?”

“Mhm,” he grunted, “some kinda hack.”

“Who Eric? I am new to this company. Who would try to kill us? Why?”

“My guess is SpaceY,” he said, referring to their rivals in private Martian colonies. “They’re the ones most aggressive about this. The others, they are government agencies, not direct competition.”

“My God,” she said in a low voice. Is this why they are so nervous? About the project, security. Sometimes I even feel…” she trailed off and took a sip of tea.

“Yeah, they’re… Are you OK Li,” he asked. “That landing, was amazing and…”

“Yes, I am well, thank you Eric. My neck and back are a little sore.”

“It was an amazing landing Li, you saved both of our lives. But I mean are you… Ok?” She took his hand in hers, and held his hand still, her eyes looking kindly into his.

“I am ok thank you Eric. It, well, it wasn’t scary until later, I guess. I was too busy. Anyway, you saved our lives as much as I did. We were there together. If it were my turn to co-pilot, it would have been you.”

“Well I won’t forget it, Li. It was one of the coolest things I’ve seen, and I am very impressed, as a pilot you understand. She smiled warmly.

“That means a lot, Eric, thank you. It’ll just be us up there and, well, we need to trust each other. We know now what we can do together, and I think that’s good. A bit of a silver lining?” Alain felt calm, finally. His hand, with hers still wrapped around them, small and warm, were still.

“We know who we can trust, and who not to trust. We know how to fly our ship,” he said, and smiling added with some passion, “the others can kiss our asses!” Li laughed, and released his hand, and brushed a rogue hair back from her eye. Alain felt like he was looking at a different woman from the quiet, reserved co-pilot he knew in the class sessions. She was so, alive and beautiful. Her blue mission coveralls, loose and baggy as they all were, seemed to cling to her slight frame. Her short black hair shone in the dim light of the hotel room.

“I’m not scared because I know I have a good pilot beside me, Eric,” she said after a pause. “I was, I don’t mind you knowing. I am, in a sense, but I feel better. Good, actually. I feel more ready for this mission than I ever have.” He smiled and excused himself to go to the restroom. She seemed to brush his leg, intentionally, he wasn’t sure, as he walked by. When he returned, Li was standing in the center of the hotel room, next to the King-sized bed. She walked over to meet him and put her arms around him in a hug. Then she looked up at him, and without any words, leaned in and kissed him. The kiss was slow, passionate, and soft. Her hands on his back pulled her body against his. He wrapped his hand around her head, running his hands through her hair.

“Ow merde!” He had forgotten the bite out of his tongue. Li laughed playfully at his pain.

“I forgot my wonderful co-pilot had sustained such an injury,” she whispered, her face a few inches from his. Her hands, now on his ass, held her body up against his.

“I will survive, don’t you worry,” he grimaced dramatically, smiling through the feigned hurt. She leaned closer still, her mouth next to his ear, her warm breath on his neck.

“Make love to me Eric,” she whispered, leaving light little kisses up his neck. “I feel so alive, and I need you right now.” He responded by taking her face in his hand, and kissing her, gently this time, and his other hand slid down to her waist, then to her round, tight little butt. Their tongues swirled around each others mouths, then she backed away and unzipped her jumpsuit. Under it she was wearing a white singlet and no bra, and Eric watched as her tits jiggled as she pulled her arms out of her suit. He stepped in closer and started to kiss her neck. His hand massaged her breast through her singlet. She a gave a pleasant ‘mmm’ when he found her hard nipple through her top and rubbed it gently. He felt her hand find his crotch, and she grasped the bulge of his hardening cock through his jumpsuit. Alain slid his hand up her loose singlet. His hand almost fit around half her waist. Her tit was warm and soft in his hand.

“Take this off,” she whispered, unzipping his jumpsuit. He obliged, stepping back to undo it and as he did, she pulled hers off too, then her white panties and singlet. She reached into his bulging underwear and started stroking his cock slowly, while she whispered, “I want you so bad,” into his ear.

“Lay down on the bed,” he croaked, and she did so, sitting gracefully on the end of the bed then laying back, her legs over the side. His cock sprang to attention when pulled his underwear off. He lowered himself down and opened Li’s legs and started to kiss his way up her slender thighs. Her hips gyrated slowly in anticipation. Her pussy was smooth, and wet. He got closer and closer to her, kissing his way up until he placed a gentle kiss on her clit. He felt her ragged intake of breath when he did, and he started to gently lick around her clit. Her moans got louder. When he started to gently lick her clit, she moaned loudly and her hand ran through his hair, holding his head down on her. Alain quickened the pace.

“Oh right there yessss,” she moaned in response. He licked her a little quicker, darting his tongue up and down, over her clit and down to her soaking wet entrance, savouring her taste. “I’m going to cummm,” she moaned, bucking her hips against his face, holding him tight against her, crying out from to his relentless licking. Her hips lifted off the bed, then she collapsed back into it, gasping for air and moaning with pleasure.

Alain backed off a little, letting her recover for a moment. His lips and face were wet with her cum. Her feet, in the air and on her back, tried to pull him up toward her. He followed her lead, climbed on top of her, and started to kiss her again. He didn’t care if his mouth hurt anymore, he needed her. He felt her hand grasp his cock, giving his hardness a slow stroke, then guided him to her wet entrance. She moaned loudly when he slid himself into her. She was soaking wet and tight, her pussy quaked and squeezed him as he thrust slowly, deeply. Each time he thrust fully; she gave a sultry “ohh.”

He sped up his pace. He held himself up on one arm, and with the other, he fondled her tit. “I’m going to cum baby,” she moaned in his ear, “yeahyeahyeah! It’s so good good it sooooo fuuuu-!" He was thrusting deep and hard into her now, and he could feel the orgasm rising in him. Her pussy clamped down on him, so tight he thought he might get squeezed out of her. He kept slamming into her as she screamed.

“Cum inside mee, ooh cum baby, cum in me cum in me,” she cried out. It sent him over the edge. He groaned as he exploded deep inside her, his thrusts becoming animalistic.

“Fuuuuckfuck,” he half yelled, pumping his load inside her, his thrusts and body weight pinning her to the bed. The profound exhaustion of orgasm swept over him, and his thrusts slowed. When he stopped, gasping, he stayed inside her for a moment, kissing her again, savouring the feeling of his still throbbing cock inside her. A messy stream of cum leaked out of her when he pulled out and collapsed into the bed beside her. The two lay together in silence, catching their collective breaths in the post orgasmic calm sweeping over them. After laying there, sticky and sated for a few minutes, Li rolled over to Alain, kissed him, then laid on his shoulder, her arm around his chest.

Laying there with this confident, beautiful, formidable, and incredibly hot pilot made him happy in a way Alain couldn’t explain or describe. She pulled a blanket over them both and seemed to nod off, and he hoped Li felt the same as he did. That morning he thought he was dead, now he felt more alive than he ever had.