//------------------------------// // Night 3: Flaming at the Mouth // Story: 8 Magic Nights // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// Katrina's journey, compared to her friends Tom and Jimmy's, had been quite pleasant in comparison. She had travelled to Epcot by monorail, having boarded at the Grand Floridian's station, and then travelled around the lake through the Contemporary Hotel, much like Tom had two days earlier, past the station for the Magic Kingdom, and into the Transportation and Ticketing Center (as Americans spell things funny). She had then got off the train, transferred to the Epcot shuttle, and waited in line for that to arrive. A few minutes later, Katrina looked out of the window as Spaceship Earth loomed into view before her, glowing as a great, glorious symbol of human progress before her. And then, the monorail came to a stop, ready to offload before moving around the loop to pick up the passengers wanting to go back to the Transportation and Ticketing Center. Once through security, Katrina headed for Mission Space. As she wasn't so keen on the more intense version of the ride (and movement through both X and Y axis made her feel sick) she had decided to go with Green Team. This only simulated a flight around the Earth, and was noticably less intense. As she joined the queue, however, Green Team not having Fastpasses due to the queues never being more than 10 minutes, she began to feel a little off. "Hopefully I won't get motion sickness," she said, before stopping. "Wait, what?" Her voice was off, noticably raspier, and this concerned her a lot. Just then, the world around her began getting smaller, but only slightly, as she gained a few inches in height. "Well, this is a first." Her skin turned yellow, before her hair shrank in length (another first) and repositioned itself to sit atop her head, in a fiery, flame like manner. It turned two different shades of orange, with her eyes going an even deeper shade of orange. She felt her muscles tense up a bit, then tightly corden themselves. It seemed this character had a lot of hidden body strength and musculature. Athlete or pilot, maybe? Nothing else happened, but then her clothes joined in on the lark. Her shoes changed into a pair of formal parade shoes, done up with laces, and polished so finely she could see her reflection in them. Her jeans became a pair of formal parade pants, and her shirt gained buttons and a collar, before turning completely white. The top button sealed itself up, and her neck was suddenly adorned with a black tie, followed by a blue parade jacket appearing on top. This had the badge of the United States Air Force set above the left hand breast pocket, and two rank slides on her shoulders with a pair of metal bars linked by two horizontal thin bars. Finally, her glasses changed into a pair of Aviators. Keen to find out which character she was, Katrina removed her glasses and looked in her shoes. A certain officer looked back. "Well, Spitfire, huh? Gotta say, this is the first one where I've aged a bit." She looked to be in her early 30s, which made sense for a commissioned officer, and certainly looked the part too. "Excuse me, ma'am?" asked a person behind her. "Could you please move along? There's a bit of a build up to the queue behind you." "Of course," Spitfire replied, and stepped forward. Mercifully, there were no British fighter aircraft in this one! After ending the queue, Spitfire ended up in the briefing room for Green Team. The Green Team entrance was on the left, with the Orange Team (or More Intense Training) on the right. The doors closed behind them, and the screens flickered on, to reveal a woman in her 40s standing in front of a desk. "Welcome," she said, "to the International Space Training Center. You’re here today to train for the the greatest adventure in the history of mankind: space travel. I know you’re probably feeling a little nervous right now, but don’t worry — every astronaut has felt that way at one time or another. Even the heroes who went to the moon. But there is one thing they had that you don’t have yet: training. You’re here today for flight training — the most thrilling experience that any astronaut candidate will ever have." She walked over to a digital display. "Before you decide if it’s right for you, let me introduce you to your spacecraft: the X-2 Space Shuttle. It’s powered by solid hydrogen and can accelerate from zero to 6,000 in 60 seconds. So when you hear the words, “Go for launch,” you’ll definitely want to hang on." There was another pause, and some lights came up to indicate crew positions. "Now, you’ve already been organized into teams, and soon each of you will be assigned a position — Navigator, Pilot, Commander, or Engineer. The success of your mission will depend on all of you working together as a team. I’ll be your Capcom, and in a few minutes, I’ll give you your specific assignments. But first, our flight director has some safety instructions for you. Lieutenant?" A young man glanced up at them. "Remember the team number you’re standing on. When the doors in front of you open, you will be directed to a flight station with that number on it. When you get there, please stand on the circles. During your Green Team – Less Intense Training mission, you will be enclosed inside X-2 flight simulators that produce sensations of acceleration. Those who are made uncomfortable by enclosed dark spaces or simulators should bypass this experience." Text on screen reinforced this information, before the camera cut back to the woman, or CAPCOM. "As you can see, astronaut fight training isn’t like anything you’ve ever experienced before. If you would like to opt out, just ask any member of the ISTC crew for directions. As for the rest of you, report for your pre-flight briefing. It’s go time." The doors rolled open, and the Cast Members began directing people through the doors. "Come on people, let's move it!" they called. "Get moving, newbies!" Spitfire added, from the back. They walked along, and stood on a marked number, in the case of Spitfire's team, 3. Another video appeared on screen. "Attention, astronaut candidates," said the Flight Director. "You have selected Green Team – Less Intense Training. However, if you are made uncomfortable by enclosed dark spaces or simulators, you may exit the flight training area now. Ask a uniformed crew member for directions." Nobody did. CAPCOM spoke again. "Congratulations, team! You have been selected to train for a spectacular mission around the Earth. Your flight path will take you west across North America, Asia, Europe, and back home to Florida. You’re gonna love it!" "T- minus three minutes and counting." The countdown clock suddenly swung into action. More visuals appeared on the screen, with the words NAVIGATOR, COMMANDER, PILOT, AND ENGINEER. The floor numbers lit up in sequence with the positions being read out. "Okay, listen up, here are your assignments. Navigator, you’ll be adjusting the pitch of the X-2 if necessary and firing thrusters for your decent. Pilot, on my signal, I’ll need you to trigger first stage separation. You’ll also be triggering the landing sequence." The lights then came up on Spitfire's floor position. "Commander, you will be responsible for activating the flight sequence and for activating manual control if needed. Engineer, you will activate the flight cameras when we reach altitude. You will also extend the wings for landing. Don’t worry, when it’s time to push the buttons, they will light up — then I’ll give you the go. One last thing. In the event of an emergency landing, there are control sticks at every crew position. Okay, Lieutenant, any final instructions for our new kids?" "When the flight bay doors open, follow the markings on the floor to your capsule. Then move all the way across, taking your crew position in the cockpit, and stow all personal items in the compartment in front of you. Young cadets wearing a lanyard will need a special X-2 Booster to train for this mission. When you enter the capsule, insert the Booster as shown. Once you have secured all cargo, help your young cadets lower their restraints. Then take your seat, reach up, and pull down your restraint. After you have completed your mission, remove your X-2 Booster and place it in the recovery bin on your way out. They’re all yours, Capcom." "Well, I guess that’s everything. Good luck, Earth team. You are on the clock." The display turned off. A woman standing next to Spitfire turned to her. "Do you have experience in this sort of stuff?" "Yeah," Spitfire replied. "The ones the Air Force uses are way more intense though. This is a walk in the park!" "Follow the markings on the floor to your X-2 Trainer and begin boarding now." The doors opened, and the four of them followed the floor markings to the training module that was marked for them. They took their seats in their correct positions; Spitfire, as the Commander of the mission, was second from the left. "Store personal items in the compartment in front of you. Then reach up and pull down on the restraints." The four of them reached upwards, and pulled the restraints downwards to keep them in place. Spitfire checked it was locked, and smiled. "Busman's holiday," she grinned. "Warning," said the computer. "Instrument panel closing. If needed, space sickness bags are located on the instrument panel." "Capcom to X-2: Welcome aboard, team. After you get settled, check out your buttons. Navigator, welcome aboard. During the mission, you will be adjusting the pitch of the X-2 if necessary, and firing thrusters for your descent. Pilot, the X-2 is an excellent ship. Your job will be to trigger first stage separation and trigger the landing sequence. Surgeon, how we doing?" "All good for launch!" said another voice. Other chatter was echoing about the capsule. "Commander, your assignments are to activate flight sequence, and for landing, activate manual control." "Loading flight plan," the Flight Director interrupted. "Engineer, just a reminder: You will activate the flight cameras when we reach altitude. You will also extend the wings for landing." More radio chatter echoed about the room as the last checks for takeoff were made. "Good luck, team. All of us here at Mission Control wish you a safe journey around the planet!" "It should be easy, right?" asked one of the others, a young man who looked nervous. "We have a real pilot on board!" said the first woman. "It'll be fine." "As long as we all do our jobs, that is," Spitfire added. As the screens switched on, the shuttle suddenly began to lurch into the upright position, leaving the crew flat on their backs. "Mission Control, this is the firing room. Give us the “go, go, go” for launch!" "Network, you are go for launch." "We have main engines start. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Liftoff!" The thrusters began to roar, and the X2 began to lift off into the sky, the cockpit shaking and Spitfire and her fellow flyers pushed backward into their seats. "Mission Control, the tower is clear! They’re all yours." "Mission Control to X-2: You are go and throttle up. Pilot, initiate first stage separation, now!" The pilot hesitated. "Which one's the first stage separation button?" "The one that's glowing!" Spitfire exclaimed. "Oh!" the pilot hit the button. "Initiated." By this point, the shuttle had entered low Earth orbit. The sight before them was incredible, unlike anything Spitfire had ever seen before. She'd flown pretty high in the atmosphere before, but never into space. "Commander, initiate flight sequence, now!" "Aye ma'am!" Spitfire replied, and punched the flight sequence button. With a roar, the shuttle began to fly in orbit at speed. Initiated. "Navigator, initiate thrusters to adjust pitch, now!" "OK!" called the navigator, punching the button. This pitched the nose of the craft forward. "Initiated." "Engineer, activate flight cameras, now!" "Yes ma'am, activating flight cameras!" called the engineer, everybody inspired by Spitfire and getting into character. "Initiated." As the Earth started to fly by them, CAPCOM narrated what was going on. "Your flight path today is taking you across the United States, past the Grand Canyon and leaving the continent at San Francisco." As the X2 cleared the continental United States, the Space Station flew by them. "The Space Station should be coming into view. And down on Earth, the Hawaiian Islands." Up ahead, a rocket could be seen lifting off. "They'll be off on the Mars Mission," Spitfire commented. "In a moment, you’ll be crossing paths with another X-2, just launched from the Pacific." The rocket flew straight over Asia. "Up ahead, you should see Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. As you cross into China, you’ll pass Beijing, the Great Wall, and we’ve got reports of a storm brewing over the Gobi Desert. Passing over the Himalayas, you should have a gorgeous night view of India." Then, they flew over the Middle East. "By now, you’re over the Middle East, and to the left is the Nile River — snaking its way towards Cairo, and the Mediterranean. You should be seeing Greece and Italy. And up ahead: Paris, the City of Lights." In the skies above them, a spectacular display of lights could be seen. "Tonight, there’s a spectacular Northern Lights show on your horizon." Suddenly, Mission Control contacted the crew. "We’re getting reports of a strong storm cell directly in the landing path." "Okay, listen up, team: Change of plans. It’s going to be a challenging approach and we’re going to need all of you working together. Pilot: Initiate landing sequence, now!" "The glowing button, right?" the pilot asked. "No, the one that says Mickey Mouse. WHAT DO YOU THINK!?" the engineer asked, sarcastically. "Computer override: initiated." "Navigator, initiate descent, now!" "Understood!" the Navigator called, punching the switch. There was a push as the rocket began to slow down for landing. "Rockets fired." "Engineer, extend wings for gliding, now!" "Yes ma'am!" "Computer override: wings extended." Suddenly, the craft was hit by lightning, and a loud beeping echoed through the cockpit. "We’ve lost auto pilot!" called Mission Control. "Commander, activate manual control, now!" "On it, ma'am!" Spitfire replied, punching the button as hard as she could without breaking it. "Activated." "All hands on the control sticks," CAPCOM ordered. "Pull right!" The craft lurched to the right. "Now left!" The X2 moved to the left. "Right. Left. Back to center. Hold it steady…" "They’re coming in too hot!" "Brace, brace, brace!" Spitfire called. "Pull back!" The crew pulled back on their sticks, and the rocket slid along the landing strip before colliding with the wire net at the other end. "Down and clear!" As applause echoed around the control room, CAPCOM addressed the crew directly. "Mission accomplished. Good work, team, and welcome back to Earth, and welcome to the Astronaut Corps!" The Flight Director spoke one last time. "Okay, heads back, and release the restraints. Now, push the restraints up. Before you exit your capsule, please remember to gather your personal items and remove any X-2 Boosters. Thanks, and see you next mission." Spitfire sat outside at Mission: SPACE's exit. Whilst she was used to far rougher rides, that was no spring chicken. In fact, she needed a few moments to get her breath back. Whilst sitting there and thinking, she idly took out her phone to check for texts. Nothing. She imagined that Tom and Jimmy (or whoever they would be by now) were fine. She hopped out of her seat, and headed for the Electric Umbrella for lunch.