My first attempt at a longer story. The idea just grew.
This is my version of "Liftoff". I took liberties with the ep.
Thanks for all the reviews for my previous bits so far. I've been on a writing high.
I don't own Eureka, or any of its characters - but I'm a big fan.
to the moon and back
"I'll see you around Lupo. You can't avoid me forever." Zane and his smirk headed out of the rotunda.
Jo was looking at Zane's retreating back, stewing "Oooohhh. Why can't he just leave things alone".
Fargo shrugs beside her "You know Zane will never leave a puzzle unsolved Jo.
"But can't he do the solving under a rock…or on the moon? Anywhere but here so I don't have to deal with him everyday!"
Fargo notes the frustration in Jo's voice. He knows its not just Zane pestering Jo for answers that's getting her so worked up. Even if she says she's moved on, seeing Zane on a regular basis still has its effect on her.
Fargo puts a hand on Jo's shoulder "Well, the mucous lab is the best I can do for now."
Jo smiles and pats Fargo's hand "Thanks Fargo. That's far enough for now."
Something beeps in Fargo's pocket "Ooohh. Gotta boogie . Blueberry cobbler day in the cafeteria. It goes fast!"
Jo shakes her head as Fargo rushes off. Sometimes she admires how far Fargo has come to fit into the role as head of GD…then other times she wonders….
Fargo is seated inside the space capsule.
"Accelarate to attack speed. Pchew pchew pchew.!...Kapow!"
Zane peeks inside "Seriously? This is how you got to be head of GD?"
Fargo looks up at Zane, embarrassed and pissed at the same time. "Two words. Mucous lab!"
Zane puts his hands up "Relax Luke Skymuncher. I just brought your ion pulsation dampener. And just to make you extra happy, I installed it as well. "
Fargo gets off the chair "You finished it?"
Zane grins "Yup. Although I don't know why you'd bother to put a pulse engine in this bucket." He looks around "You and Henry took out the navigation, altitude control, comms…you're not planning an unmanned launch now are you?" his eyes twinkling.
Fargo was itching to get rid of him "That'll do Zane. That'll do"
"So, since I did you such a big favor by finishing AND installing your precious pulse dampener, can I get something in return?"
"What do you want Zane?"
"Answers, Fargo. I just want answers."
Fargo didn't like where this conversation was going. "Um, is there a physics equation you can't solve?"
Zane snorted. "Yeah right. Not those kinds of answers, Einstein. It's about Jo."
"Er, maybe I'm not the best person to ask."
"Well you will have to do since Jo has been doing such a great job at avoiding me. And don't think I haven't noticed you're helping her do that by sending me to the mucous lab"
Fargo swallowed hard. "I really think it's best you sort out your unresolved issues with Jo." Mentally he added "I'm more afraid of what she can do to me than whatever nuisance you can be"
Zane knew that look of fear on Fargo's face. Jo the Enforcer has that effect on people – to be honest, he actually finds that hot.
"Ahem."
Zane turns around to see Jo standing behind him, arms folded across her chest.
"Well hello Jojo."
"You're not supposed to be here Zane. Shouldn't you be in the mucous lab? You have a test run in an hour"
Zane stands up to his full height. Jo hadn't anticipated that he would be THAT close when he stood up. "Keeping tabs on me, Lupo? I knew you cared."
"In your dreams Donovan."
Zane leans closer and whispers in her ear "You always are Jo. You always are."
Jo couldn't stop herself from blushing. "Damn you Zane" She didn't realize she said that aloud.
Zane figures he's harassed her enough…for now. But maybe he can push her just a little bit more…
He says to Fargo over his shoulder, while keeping his eyes on Jo to watch for her reaction "Thanks for filling me in on the details Fargo. You really cleared up a lot of things for me today. Now I know…" and he throws in a wink at Jo for good measure.
The color was draining from Jo's face with every sentence.
Gotcha! Zane lowers his voice "You and I have a lot to talk about." Then he jumps off the platform and was out the door before Jo could react.
"FARGO!"
Jo gets inside and slams the capsule door shut in her anger. "What did you tell Zane?" she snarled.
"I swear Jo! I didn't tell him anything!"
"Well he knows something!"
"I told him nothing!"
"Then what…what the hell is that noise? And why is the ground shaking"
"Oh God!"
"Fargo, talk to me!"
"Zane said he installed the pulse dampener!"
"So?"
"When you closed the door you activated the launch sequence!"
"Launch! What launch?"
"Hold on Jo! Hold on to anything and everything!"
"Fargo I am going to kill yahhhhhhh"
Carter was looking at the launch site…or what was left of it.
Not that anything in Eureka surprises him anymore but an unscheduled rocket launch was still a big deal.
He asks one of Jo's security team "Has anyone seen or heard from Jo yet?" It was so unlike her not to be on the scene of a disaster within minutes.
"No word Sheriff. And her comms seem to be off"
Odd. "Has Fargo been notified?"
"Yes but we haven't gotten a reply from the Director as well"
Again, odd.
Good thing Ali has taken the lead on this crisis. She knows the protocol better than anyone else. Carter smiles to himself and thinks she's even enjoying this just a little bit.
His phone rings. Speak of the devil. "Carter?"
How come we're back to Carter? What happened to Jack?
"Yes, Ali?" Emphasis on Ali.
"We haven't located Fargo yet. And at the rate that rocket is moving into space, we need to execute the protocol for a renegade launch already"
"Just what exactly does that mean?
"We have to initiate counter measures. We blast it with space missiles. "
"Oh. Great."
"I'll see you at mission control. We don't have much time"
"Ok."
Zane comes rushing in. Carter has never seen Zane in such a panicked state.
"Oh shit! It's true!" He goes down on his knees.
"I should have known you'd have something to do with this."
"I didn't. Not directly. But Jo might never forgive me."
"Uh, I think she's used to your shenanigans, Zane."
"You don't understand Carter…I think I just sent Jo and Fargo into space."