Crash Landing (4 page)

“Ow! Watch where you put your feet, you clumsy primitive.”

John whirled round to see a figure rising from a nearby seat. Yellow eyes glared at him poisonously. The boy glaring at him was about the same size and shape as John, with two arms and two legs, but he had a great mane of black hair and two black, octopus-like tentacles growing from his ribcage. A small metallic ball was hovering behind him, a gleaming arm extended to brush microscopic specks of dust from his shoulder. With a sinking feeling, John looked down. He’d trodden on one of the boy’s sucker-covered tentacles.

“Are people on your world blind?” the boy spat.

“Perhaps it should be treated with kindness, young Master Talliver,” the metallic ball chipped in, its voice snooty. “One must make allowances for these barely evolved species.”

“Shut up, G-Vez. I was talking to the primitive,” the boy snapped.

John stepped back in surprise. “I’m really sorry,” he said. “Totally my fault, I should have been looking—”

“Don’t apologize. Mordant was trying to trip you. I saw him.”

Emmie Tarz was standing behind him, looking furiously at the black-haired boy. “Nice way to welcome a new student, Mordant,” she finished.

“A
student
?” said the hovering ball in a sniffy tone. “It seems standards are falling at Hyperspace High.”

“I said
shut up,
G-Vez,” Mordant hissed.

“Just as you say, Master Talliver.”

The metallic ball retracted its arm and hovered in silence. Mordant turned back to glare at Emmie. “So, it’s Tarz to the rescue,” he sneered. “The school’s most stupid student: Emmie Tarz from planet Thicko.”

Emmie’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“Surprised the Examiners let you back in this term, Tarz,” Mordant continued. “If I were them, I’d dump you in space. Hyperspace High’s supposed to have high standards.”

“I’d apologize to her right now if I were you, Mordant,” growled Kaal. The Derrilian stepped forward, towering over Mordant. Strong muscles shifted beneath his green skin.

“Apologize for what?” Mordant snapped back. “Telling the truth? She’s as thick as a Gullian Plankfish. Everyone knows it.”

Kaal’s fist lashed out, catching Mordant on the chin. The black-haired boy stumbled backward, knocking over a table and sending drinks flying. Brightly coloured liquid splattered onto the floor.

With a sudden shock, John remembered the headmaster’s warning about fighting with Mordant Talliver. “Don’t do it, Kaal!” he shouted. “Lorem said it wasn’t a good idea.”

Too late. There was no stopping the fight now.

Mordant’s tentacles snaked out and wrapped themselves around Kaal’s arms, holding him still. He stepped forward and landed a punch in Kaal’s stomach.

Roaring, the Derrilian tore the tentacles away and threw himself forward, his wings unfurling and beating in fury.

“Stop it! Stop it!” yelled Emmie Tarz, as Kaal began pummelling Mordant.

“Rule one eight four five A: Physical combat is not permitted on Hyperspace High.”

John looked up to see one of the egg-shaped Examiners glide through the doorway. In a flicker of green light, Kaal and Mordant were thrown apart and held still by the Examiner’s force fields. “Lorem was right,” Kaal groaned. “We’re in trouble now.”

“Report,” said the Examiner in its emotionless electronic voice.

Before Kaal could open his mouth, Mordant quickly said, “It was him. He attacked me for no reason.”

“Indeed, the Derrilian began the duel. Master Talliver was simply defending himself,” said the hovering G-Vez, sounding bored.

“That’s not true,” gasped Emmie Tarz. “Mordant tried to trip up the new student and insulted me. Kaal lost his temper, but he was provoked.”

“That’s right,” said John. “We didn’t start any trouble.”

“They’re lying!” yelled Mordant. “Don’t believe a word—”

In another flicker of green light, he was silenced.

“A most unfortunate misunderstanding, but young Master Talliver is quite innocent—”

The metal ball was silenced, too.

“Verifying,” droned the Examiner. It was silent for a second, then continued, “The reports of Emmie Tarz and John Riley are accurate. Discipline as follows: Kaal report to detention room three when classes terminate. Mordant Talliver report to the headmaster’s office immediately.” The Examiner’s green lights snapped off.

Kaal stood up, crossing his arms over his chest. “You should know by now that you can’t lie to an Examiner, Mordant,” he said quietly.

“Silence,” said the Examiner. “Mordant Talliver, report to the headmaster’s office immediately.”

Saying nothing, but shooting a look of pure hatred at Kaal, Emmie, and John, Mordant turned and walked quickly out of the café, followed by the metal ball. The Examiner floated after them.

The room fell silent. John pushed his blond hair out of his eyes and looked at Kaal.

“The Examiners are in charge of discipline,” his roommate explained. “They take it really seriously. You do
not
want to mess with them.”

“Who
was
the idiot with the tentacles and the freaky ball thing?” John growled.

“Just because his father’s got loads of money, Mordant Talliver thinks he’s the greatest thing since hyperspace technology. And the ball is G-Vez – a Serve-U-Droid. They’re sort of a cross between a pet and a servant; massively expensive and completely loyal to their owners. Most people think they’re a bit weird.”

“No kidding—” John was interrupted by a loud chime.

“Oh no, it’s later than I thought,” Kaal hissed. “Classes start in five minutes and we’ve got to get to the hangar deck. We’ll never make it.” He clutched his head. “First day of term and I’m gonna get
two
detentions. Plus, extra work. Sergeant Jegger
hates
lateness.”

“Who is Sergeant Jegg—”

“No time for questions. Just run!”

John and Kaal were already sprinting, when a voice behind them shouted, “Hey, wait for me!” Glancing over his shoulder, John saw Emmie Tarz pushing her way through the crowd. “I’ve got the same class,” she panted as she ran up beside him. “Come on.”

The three sprinted into a lift and hit the far wall in a jumble. “Hangar deck C!” yelled Kaal. “As fast as possible.”

The lift plunged downward at heart-stopping speed. After a few seconds it lurched sideways, flinging them in a different direction. “Whoa, not
quite
so fast,” said Kaal, catching Emmie’s slim figure just before her head slammed against the wall. The lift slowed obediently and a few moments later the door slid open.

“Just in time,” grinned Kaal. “Quick, before Jegger gets here.”

“What class is this?” John whispered to Emmie, as the three students joined a neat line on the deck. He looked around at the empty space.
Perhaps it’s PE
, he thought to himself. Running circuits of the vast space would be perfect for long-distance training.

“Shhh,” Kaal replied on the other side of him. John looked round to see the massive Derrilian stiffen and stand straighter. “Jegger,” Kaal hissed from the corner of his mouth.

A figure was approaching from the far side of the deck, marching briskly, but with a strange, rolling gait. As it came closer, John realized why it looked so odd: Sergeant Jegger had three legs. Two hours earlier he would have gasped in shock, but he had already seen much stranger sights. Apart from the extra limb – plus three eyes, one of which was hidden under a patch – the teacher looked almost human, with a bristling moustache and a ring of iron-grey hair around an otherwise bald head.

“Attention!” Sergeant Jegger barked, coming to a halt in front of the line of students. As the students tried to stand even more stiffly, he continued, “Welcome to Intermediate Space Flight, cadets. As you all mastered the basics last term, this term you will be going solo in a class two training-dart.”

As Jegger spoke, the floor behind him began to revolve and move away. Before John’s eyes, a row of spacecraft rose from a holding bay below. Each was made from gleaming metal, shining under the bright lights of the hangar deck. Each ship had a long, sharp nose with a cockpit behind. At the rear were short, sleek, swept-back wings. Through clear glass, John could see what looked like control panels and a large joystick. With a quiet
clonk
, the floor locked into place.

“Let’s not waste any time,” barked the sergeant. “Board your t-dart. You will find a helmet on each seat. Put it on and fasten your safety harness securely.”

“Brilliant!” John heard Emmie Tarz breathe. “Solo flying!” She was already moving towards the nearest craft. Kaal, too, was making for a ship.

“Wait,” said John. “Umm... excuse me, Sergeant Jegger, sir.” His hand shot up. “I’ve never—”

“Get in your t-dart, cadet,” barked the teacher, turning away. “I want everyone in the air in thirty seconds.”

“But—”

“Now!”

With a gulp, John walked across the deck towards one of the last two ships. Around him, students were scrambling aboard with whoops of glee. “How hard can it be?” he muttered to himself. “Joystick, control pad. Just like playing a video game.” He gulped again as he approached the small craft. “Except video games don’t
actually
fly.”

Watching what the other students were doing, John pulled a handle on the side of the ship. The roof of the cockpit slid back. With a hiss, a panel opened in the machine’s side, dropping steps. On trembling legs, John climbed in and put on what looked like a metal motorcycle helmet. At once, foam-like material inside it swelled to cushion his head.

As he sat, the flight seat moved forward automatically and the controls dropped until they were within reach. Across the screens in front of him, strange symbols appeared and quickly vanished and were replaced with English. Even so, the electronic panels still looked incredibly complicated. Among the few that John could understand were panels marked “Fuel”, “Power”, and “Velocity”; other screens showed complicated graphs and what looked like 3-D star maps.

“Preflight checks,” said Jegger’s voice through his helmet. “Close and lock.” John turned his head to see Emmie in the t-dart next to him lean over and pull something near her feet. Looking down, he saw a small lever. He gave it a tug. At once the steps folded back into their panel and the cockpit door closed overhead.

“Power up your engines!” barked Jegger’s voice. “That’s to the right of your panel, for anyone who’s forgotten over the holidays.”

John stretched out his hand to the touchscreen panel.

“Wait!” snapped Jegger. “Do NOT start engines.” Slightly muffled, as if the sergeant were speaking away from the microphone, he continued. “Mordant. Why are you late?”

Through the speakers in his own helmet, John heard Mordant reply from a distance, “I was attending a meeting in Lorem’s office.” The tone of his voice made it sound as though he and the headmaster had been locked away discussing important business.

Sergeant Jegger wasn’t fooled. “In trouble again, cadet?” he snapped.

John couldn’t help breaking into a grin inside his helmet, as he heard Mordant splutter.

“Save it for someone who cares,” Jegger said over Mordant’s protests. “Just get in a dart. On the double, you’re holding up my class.”

A few moments later, Jegger’s voice came through clearly again, sounding annoyed. “Right, if everyone is
quite
ready,
power up
.”

John pressed a red glowing panel on the touchscreen and felt his seat begin to vibrate gently. In his helmet, Jegger’s voice barked again. “Orders, cadets. Listen up and listen good. As this is your first solo flight, we won’t be going any further than the hangar deck. You’ll be flying
very
slowly.”

John felt his shouders sag with relief. He might just be able to handle the t-dart after all.

“Now, let’s get moving. Punch the power up to three.”

John found the “Power” screen and touched it experimentally. In the top corner the number one flashed and the ship vibrated a little more urgently. John touched the panel twice more until the number changed to three.

“Grip the control stick firmly.”

Obeying the instructor, John felt the landing gear fold back into the craft beneath him. It was now hovering a metre above the deck. Gritting his teeth and feeling a bead of sweat break out on his forehead, John tried to keep the control stick perfectly still.

“Now, one at a time, when I call your name, pull back gently and click back the flight button on top. Ascend to thirty metres and circle the deck. Ready... Tarz, go!”

John watched as Emmie’s t-dart tilted and flew smoothly upward. Levelling off, it began to fly slowly around the hanger.

“Excellent, Tarz,” said Jegger, with a tiny hint of approval in his voice. “Rabbus, go. Keep at least twenty metres behind Tarz.”

One by one, the t-darts took off. None as smoothly as Emmie Tarz’s, but Jegger gave instructions to the pilots until they were flying in good order around the perimeter of the hangar. Soon, only two were left on the deck. “Talliver, go,” the sergeant ordered.

As Mordant’s craft rose up to join the line of ships, Jegger’s voice barked in John’s ears again. “
You
. Last cadet. Who are you?”

“John Riley, sir.”

“Go, John Riley.”

“I-I’m not sure this is a good idea,” John stammered.

“I don’t want to hear excuses. Get up there.”

“But I wasn’t here last—”

“Get flying, cadet.”

Sudden panic gripped John; the complete craziness of the situation hit him with full force.
What was I thinking?
I can’t fly a freaking spaceship, I’ve only ever ridden a bike before.

He jerked the control stick back. With a lurch, the front of the spaceship swung up until John was blinking at the distant ceiling. “
Gaaah
!
” he yelped, his stomach twisting itself in knots.

“Gently! I said
gently
!” an exasperated Jegger bellowed in his ear.

John looked around for a way to escape. Sergeant Jegger glared at him from across the deck, as if he knew exactly what John was thinking and would stuff him back into the cockpit if he tried to get out. There was nothing else for it; he would have to try and fly the ship.

Squeezing his eyes shut, John pushed the stick away from him a little. The front of the t-dart dipped.

“Better. Now the flight button.”

Half opening one eye and reminding himself to breathe, John flicked the button on top of the control stick. The ship began to move forward.

“Keep the stick firm and fly to thirty metres. Join the line, keeping plenty of distance between you and the t-dart in front.”

The spaceship wobbled alarmingly ,as John’s hands trembled in their grip on the control stick. Gulping a deep lungful of air, he forced himself to relax. The ship stabilized. John moved the control stick slightly to the left, until he was moving towards the end of the line.

“I’m flying it,” he whispered through clenched teeth. I’m actually
flying
it.”
The ship was rolling and tilting, but he was flying.
Awesome
.

“Thirty metres!” barked the voice in his ear, making John jump and the craft roll. Glancing at another panel that gave his altitude, John brought the little spaceship under control and managed to glide in, clumsily, behind Mordant and at the right height.

“All right,” said Jegger. “That was mostly terrible. Keep formation for a while, then we’ll try some simple manoeuvres.”

After a few minutes John felt like he was starting to get the hang of flying. The control stick was more sensitive than any video game he had ever played, but the craft was simple to fly and his t-dart flew smoother as his confidence increased. Looking down, he could see the tiny figure of Sergeant Jegger below, giving orders into a microphone. Around the hangar, ships began flipping, turning, and flying a little faster on his command. With a grin, John waved at Kaal as his t-dart shot by within a few metres and gave him a thumbs up.

“...John Riley,” said Jegger’s voice.

With a start, John realized he’d been too busy looking around and hadn’t been paying attention to the flight instructor’s voice.

“Execute manoeuvre,” came Jegger’s voice again.

Panicking, John’s eyes swept over the screens. He half-remembered Jegger saying something that sounded like
axle
.
What was it
?

Next to the power screen was a large panel with the words “Accelerate boost”. That must be it. John reached out for it as Jegger’s voice came again. “What are you waiting for, cadet? Give me an axle roll.”

It was too late to correct the mistake, John’s fingers were already touching the panel. Beneath him, engines roared suddenly. The ship leaped forward at a terrifying speed.

“What are you doing?” Jegger’s voice roared in his ears, “Slow down, slow down
now
! You’re going to hit the—”

John dragged the control stick back only a second before the t-dart crashed into the wall. The spaceship flipped and hurtled back in the opposite direction, with John now flying upside down. Ships scattered as students manoeuvred out of its path. He yanked the stick this way and that, trying to avoid them. Within seconds, the ship was rolling uncontrollably as it tore around the hangar.

Sergeant Jegger’s voice roared in his ears: “Get a grip, cadet. Pull back,
pull back
. Decrease speed.”

Not daring to take his eyes off the view ahead, John reached out and jabbed at the panels blindly, trying to slow down the t-dart while struggling with the control stick to bring it under control.

“Are you trying to kill yourself, you crazy rookie? Cut your speed
NOW
!”

Whatever John pressed made it worse. The ship plunged and spun wildly around the vast hangar. John felt his face freeze in terror. Another wall. He pulled the stick again, forcing the craft to flip once more. Now there was another t-dart directly in his path. John threw the stick forward, but it was too late. For a second he saw Kaal’s face, eyes staring and jaw moving as he shouted something. Then a huge crash — the sound of tearing metal.

Everything went black.

* * *

“It’s OK, he’s just stunned. Move back.”

Sergeant Jegger was above him, staring down coldly. “Kaal,” John gasped. “Is Kaal all right?”

His friend’s face moved into view above. “Fine,” Kaal grinned, showing off his impressive fangs. “These training ships have amazing safety features.”

“What happened up there?” demanded Jegger, pulling John roughly to his feet. “It was a simple manoeuvre.”

“I... uh... wasn’t—” John started. He was about to admit that he hadn’t been listening properly when Kaal interrupted.

“It’s his first day at Hyperspace High, sir. He’s never been on a spaceship before and he didn’t do the basic course last term.”

Jegger uttered what John thought must be a curse under his breath. The ship’s computer didn’t translate it. Glaring down at John, he snapped, “Is
that
what you were trying to tell me?”

John nodded, expecting the sergeant to react furiously. Instead, he looked John up and down, shook his head and said, “My fault, then. Report to me at zero eight hundred hours tomorrow. I’ll soon have you up to speed.”

“Yes, sir,” said John.

“Only not so much speed as today, eh?” Jegger’s mouth twitched at the corner.

Before John could reply, the chiming sound he had heard back in Ska’s Café rang again.

“Class dismissed!” barked the sergeant.