AN: Notice how there is no disclaimer. And I'm sorry this took so long! I had writer's block. XP Some space shuttle specs for reference:

Cruising speed: Mach 23.5 (17,895.5 mph)

Landing speed: 220 mph

Force of deceleration on reentry: 3 Gs (people black out at 4)

Approach

The door hissed as Eragon entered the cockpit. All the different glass panels he saw before were flashing numbers, lines, dots... everything the crew understood but he didn't. In the window he could make out a vast strip of land flanked by blue water. I assume we're landing there, he guessed, sending Saphira the image.

"Eragon!" Commander Lindsey called, not taking his eyes off the window. "Nice of you to join us, someone get him a suit and help him strap in."

Ben stood up and rummaged through a small compartment. "Here," he said, handing Eragon an orange suit identical to the ones the crew was wearing. Eragon studied the multitude of patches on it.

"Why do I have to wear that?" he protested. "My clothes are perfectly fine!"

The man laughed. "Well, for one thing nobody on Earth dresses like that, and it would be a little suspicious if we walked off the shuttle with an extra guy who looks like he came out of the Middle Ages. It'll also keep you a little less crushed when we land."

Eragon reluctantly put it on. I look like... I don't know what I look like!

A diseased tree? Suggested a certain amused dragon.

He didn't respond.

"Now come sit in this chair and put that harness on." Ben instructed. Eragon did, but he almost got entangled in the straps before being rescued and taught the fine art of using a seatbelt.

"And wearing this will stop me from falling of the ship, right?" Eragon muttered sarcastically.

Ben had returned to his seat. "Yes."

Saphira would have laughed at her rider's new-found anxiety, but she was too busy trying to get her tail out from under her back legs to notice.

A long silence ensued, during which Eragon watched the land rush towards Discovery while the crew continuously monitored and adjusted countless strange instruments. Finally, the pilot's voice rang out. "Ten seconds to atmosphere! Nine, eight, seven... five... two, one..."

The shuttle jerked back violently before settling into a steady rumbling. Eragon understood why he has strapped to his seat.

Lindsey pressed something. "Mission control, this is Discovery, we're on course for KSC. ETA... Thirty minutes."

Something crackled. "Roger Discovery, weather conditions are good, proceed with landing."

The conversation was quick, rigidly formal, and, it seemed, followed a well established pattern. "Are you in the military?" Eragon guessed.

"Yes we are, now no more questions 'til after we land. Survival comes before curiosity." This time the pilot replied.

This time, Saphira had given up on her tail and noticed what was going on. Why does the trained flyer expect a chance of death? Eragon chose not to think about it.

The shuttle was silent again, except for the slight roar of rushing air outside. The Earth got closer. Soon they could see a few small buildings near a long black strip. We should be landing there. Just as Eragon came to that conclusion, the shuttle turned left, back out over the ocean. "Are you insane?" he wanted to shout. No one lands on water! The continued its turn until it once again faced the landing area. He sighed with relief. Then it happened again. After the third circle, they continued flying straight. What was that?

We're flying more slowly now, observed the cramped dragon.

An explosion pounded Eragon's ears. The crew didn't notice. Saphira!

I am fine, little one. A bit hard of hearing, but fine.

He couldn't keep from asking. "What happened?"

"That was perfectly normal. What did I say about questions?" Boe snapped. Eragon's head hung. "Sorry, that was just a sonic boom. Means we're slowing down." And he went back to guiding the shuttle to land.

The air crackled again before a voice spoke. "Discovery, you are coming in too fast, copy?"

No one responded. The Alagaesian visitors grew nervous.

"Repeat, you are coming in too fast, Discovery. Decelerate immediately or the runway will be too short."

The commander looked at Boe. "What's wrong?"

"We have a five ton lizard in the hold! Of course we're going too fast." Saphira muttered something about dragons and size and grandeur.

"And what are you going to do about that?" Eragon was surprised at Lindsey's calm. Clearly he trusted his crew.

"Land," the pilot shrugged, "It's not like we're gonna use this thing again."

"Smithsonian'll kill us – this thing put Hubble up."

"Look on the bright side – we'll be the only crew to ever survive a shuttle disaster." Boe finished drily. Eragon didn't like the "only crew to ever survive" part.

Another crackle. The previously stiff, military voice broke protocol. "Lindsey! What the hell are you doing? For God's sake, you're going too fast!"

As the gray strip loomed closer, Eragon heard the pilot mutter, "Planes get reverse engines. We spend two billion dollars on a shuttle and what do we get? A freaking parachute."

Yay for cliffhangers! Don't worry, chapter 5 won't take so long. Review!