Rush awoke, finding Firefly still asleep. It was morning, still rather early, and only the soft sound of breathing could be heard. Streak was laying with wings spread across his own, on his back, with his ears hanging down in front of the plane's eyes. Shifting, annoyed, beneath the dragon's weight, he tried to inconspicuously get the other jet's attention. "Spsst, Firefly," he whispered softly, feeling Streak's mass shift some as he said it.
The F-18 stirred a little, waking up at the sound of the other's voice. "...Why is Streak laying on you?" she asked quietly, more confused than anything. That, and her systems weren't completely awake yet.
"Because he always does. I don't think that's the most important thing right now. Today we leave. I can practice flight in space, and you can continue to analyze whatever you need to as well."
"I think I've already made as many connections as I'm going to make here. I haven't been in space, either, so it'd probably be easier for both of us to focus on that." I ran a system scan last night. Even if I can't synthesize the complete database, it'll still likely be accessible… as far as I know, anyways.
Still startled by the ability to pick up her thoughts, he took a moment to respond. "Good. We have to tell Felix about our departure… Then we should hurry…" So that we can get off earth ASAP, he finished off so that none could overhear.
"Understood. Though I assume you probably need to get Streak off of you first."
Rolling his eyes, he tried to gently slip the dragon off his back. Landing with a thud, the reptile stirred, glanced around, and promptly went back to sleep. He's used to it.
He didn't even flinch...doesn't that hurt?
Rush shrugged, If there's one thing I've learned about dragons is that they're hardy creatures.
Odd. she watched the dragon sleeping for a moment, just out of interest, before pushing the hangar door open quietly and exiting. ...what was it we were supposed to tell Felix about?
That we need to leave. If we just up and went, I'd feel like everyone here would worry… he corrected himself, no, Propwash will worry, but at least Felix, Streak, and Neko won't think the government got to us.
Firefly still didn't understand the concept of worry, but didn't bother to ask… it would only result in more confusion. Understood… let's go find him, then.
Right. Deciding to leave Streak alone for the time being, he carefully attempted to sneak around the dragon. Successful, he slipped outside. "I can't say I know where Felix would be," he told her once they got out into the open. "He tends to wander."
It didn't seem logical. Especially not this early in the morning. "...wouldn't he stay in a hangar or something?"
"Possibly," Rush stated, moving towards one of the abandoned hangars first and foremost. "We'll check his 'home' first. Beats me why he'd decide to hide out in one of these things."
"Agreed. It doesn't really follow logic." Firefly quietly went up to the hangar door, knocking against it somewhat quietly with her wing. At least she knew that much about social norms. When there was no answer, she pushed the door a little. It wasn't locked - in fact, the building wasn't even occupied. "...I'm guessing he moved?"
"Like I said, he's a wanderer." To be honest, Rush was annoyed at Felix's elusive nature. It would serve him well when they left, but they needed to leave and now. Part of him wanted to leave a note, but he knew it would be better to get approval from Felix first - just for one final check to make sure everything in both he and Firefly was running smoothly. "I'd suggest a quick flight to try to spot him, but…" he glanced uneasily at his wings. He wasn't sure he wanted to risk it without knowing he could go to the far extent of Earth's atmosphere.
"That wouldn't work, though. Not if he's in a building." Firefly looked around, only to find that they were the only two out and about at the time. "...it might be better to wait and see where he shows up. It's pretty early."
Rush was anxious, worried, and the longer they stayed, the more he felt they were risking their mission. "Sure… Yeah," he muttered, obviously very impatient.
"Besides, we can run more test flights while we wait." We don't have to try going into orbit yet. Not unless you want to, anyways. For whatever reason, she didn't exactly want to, either.
I think it's best we not, he agreed, but I agree more flight tests are a good idea. He took it into his own wings to head towards the runway. I still need to figure out how to switch between warp and jet engines.
Firefly followed Rush, not exactly having anywhere else to go. ...it might not be a good idea to test that yet… last time, you were distorting the sky around you with your warp engines. I don't know if anyone saw or not, but the probability is high that they did.
It doesn't matter much now, anyways, Rush thought, but you're right. Probably not a good idea. Still he was worried about that factor… if he didn't switch from jet to warp engines on time in space, it could be dangerous.
It's odd… we have to find the balance between practicing too much and not enough, Firefly observed. If our warp drives work, though, we could outfly anything the government would send after us. Like you said… it doesn't matter much.
We should probably practice after we tell Felix that we're leaving. That way if anything goes wrong, all we do is point our noses up and get out of here…
True. But that leads us back to the question of how to find him.
Rush visibly tensed, annoyed by Felix's unpredictability. "That is the question, isn't it…"
I can't believe they're getting along already… speech patterns between them are odd, but it was already going to be rather awkward… and at the very least they're speaking. I'll have to ask about that just to make sure nothing in their programming's amiss somehow…
Firefly stopped quickly, almost startled at the new input of information. It wasn't Rush… and it sounded too British for it to be Felix, even if instinct told her it was. …did you pick up on that? Or am I just malfunctioning?
"What?" he spoke aloud, having not heard the same voice as Firefly. It just seemed more natural to physically talk… it was less secretive, and old habit always came faster than new one.
"Nothing," she said simply, lying for the time being. Glancing around quickly, she realized that the car had to be able to see them to be thinking something like that… and sure enough, she spotted him at the Fill N' Fly, watching the two planes with casual interest, though he didn't seem to notice that Firefly had figured out where he was. "Found him."
Rush slid his eyes towards Firefly, then towards Felix. "He can't seem to get it out of his head that we're not just experiments," he commented on Felix's casual staring, "Come on." The F-18 moved to greet the Jaguar, trying to erase the idea of mind reading from his thoughts.
"Obviously," Firefly agreed, preoccupied with trying to figure out how she was reading Felix, of all vehicles… and he didn't even seem to realize that she was.
As soon as the car saw the two planes roll over to him, he snapped out of his contemplative state of mind… or, rather, he focused on what was going on in the outside world for the time being. He pulled out of where he was parked, meeting them halfway. "Hello," he said, "How are you two doing?" He had so many questions… but there were other vehicles out and about... and he had no idea where Maristella was. It was better to wait.
"Good. We have to leave soon," Rush stated cryptically, and casually, "possibly even tonight. Just for a while, at least… we'll be back as soon as possible."
"Oh." Felix was surprised - Rush, of all planes, wanted to leave sooner. "...if you're absolutely sure you're ready, then I see no reason why not," he replied, watching his words as carefully as possible. "Just make sure everything is operational before you go. Your own system scans should be sufficient."
"Really?" he was surprised that Felix was so easily ready to let them go.
"Yes. There's been… developments. You need to run a few more flight tests before you try anything long-distance, but be careful. And if anything goes wrong with either of you, report it to me immediately. Understood?" Felix noted that Firefly was being rather quiet… but she was watching a couple other planes at the runway. Whether it was observation mode or simply zoning out was anybody's guess.
"Rodger that. Firefly and I were thinking that it'd probably be best to experiment in the air some and then leave - the next time we take off is the last time we're setting tire on that runway for a while."
"Only if everything checks out. If anything - absolutely anything - seems amiss, you're coming back down here," the Jaguar said, sounding much more British than normal… the accent was typically nonexistent.
"Rodger that," Rush nodded, irritated by the order. If something went wrong, it was likely that the government would be there immediately. Maristella was here, and even if she was only a student, she was enough to make him uneasy. "I'm… I'm going to say my goodbyes to the dragons," he said, trying to shove that anger away with a pang of sadness. "So I'll be on my way."
"Do you want me to keep Firefly here while you go do that?" Felix asked, "...I don't know if it'd make it any easier at all, but the offer stands."
"It's up to her…" Rush sighed heavily, "It's not going to make it any easier if she's there or not…"
"Ask her, then," Felix said, turning his attention to the other plane. She was still watching the other planes, like she was stuck in a loop of some sort. Or frozen. "Firefly!"
She blinked a couple times, refocusing back to the situation at hand. "Yes? Sorry, I was... nevermind. Not the time."
"I need to say my goodbyes to the dragons," Rush said, holding back emotion from his exterior expressions and voice. "If you'd like to join me, that is fine. It's up to you."
"...I'm not sure what else I would do," she replied, her expression only betraying confusion. Her thoughts were unreadable.
"Wait here if you like, or come, but either way I'll be back," although his thoughts ran clear, they were muddled with the emotions spiraling through him. Turning around towards his hangar, there was one frightened and doubtful sentence that rang clear: This might be the last time I'll see them…
Firefly was quiet for a second, still trying to process what she was picking up. "I guess I'll go with you, then," she said, looking back at Felix for a second. ...I wish I could be more help than just being there. Your emotions are so confusing.
I've known Streak and Neko a long time, he hated himself for bringing it up in the first place. Once you get to know someone for that long, they become part of you. Their inputs become… become part of your usual routine. Hopefully those were words she understood.
When they arrived, Streak was atop the hangar, his wings spread and head tilted towards the sun. He looked perfectly content and serene: ignorant of Rush's leaving. The dragon's eyes snapped open when Neko warbled a sound tainted with slight panic and shock. "You're leaving? Now?" The lizard jumped down, half gliding, half falling off the building. "Why now? Why not tomorrow… or next week?"
"Because the longer we stay on Earth, the more dangerous it gets for all of us," Rush answered, trying to sound reasonable. "If we have any chance of succeeding in capturing Starfleet's attention, we have to leave now. Today."
Streak tangled himself atop Rush, his neck resting across the plane's nose and head tilted towards his windscreen. "In how long?"
"A few hours at most… We've already cleared it with Felix," Rush said, the ache of leaving Earth tainting his voice. "You and Neko take care of the hanger for me, alright?"
Neko chittered something in response, and Streak, whose eyes were now glossy with tears, spoke, "We will."
Steeling himself, Rush shook Streak off him gently. "I'll see you soon, then. Don't let Felix burn the town down while Fire and I are gone." Neko chirped, rubbing his face against the huge plane's landing gear. Rush couldn't see it, but the dragon's eyes were orbs of blackness: his violet pupils not even visible.
Good luck.
Startled by the new voice in his head, he rolled back a few paces. Neko scampered away from the danger, climbing up upon Streak and leaping onto Rush's nose. You heard me. Good luck. Then, chattering in Dragonese again, the dragon's eyes returned to normal, Neko gave a nod and scampered back to Streak.
"I wish you didn't have to go," Streak whimpered, for once respecting the plane's personal space: one which he often invaded, but knew Rush didn't like tampered with.
"We have to, Streak," Firefly said, having separated herself slightly from the others. "If we don't… the government will find us soon enough. There's already an agent here, and it's unknown if she saw what happened yesterday or not."
Nodding solemnly, Streak understood… but it didn't mean he liked it. "Then you should go now," he said, starting to slink towards the runways, "I'll see you off."
Firefly continued to stay a short distance from Rush, even as they went back over to the runway. This was… she thought it was sentimental, but she couldn't be sure. Even if she didn't want to ruin the moment, she spoke again anyways. "...why are you sad?"
"Me?" Rush asked, quickly switching to telepathic conversation. This is the last time I might see these two. If anything goes wrong in space, we could be stranded there for eternity. If anything happens on Earth… even the thought was too dangerous to think. Nevermind. It won't happen.
Nothing will go wrong in space, either… the statistical chances aren't as high as what they could be, anyways. Getting caught here or while escaping the atmosphere is a higher probability… 99 point 3 percent was the last estimate.
Rush visibly flinched at the numbers. Charming.
...I'm assuming that was sarcasm. The .7 percent chance that we DO make it without confrontation is working in our favor, however. We should have been caught by now… it's the phenomenon of luck, from what I understand. Firefly was no longer focused much on conversation - only on the task ahead. Whatever happened, they had to make it off the planet. Or, more importantly, Rush did.
You can't say something positive for once? He thought bitterly, Let's just get off this planet. The sooner we leave, the better our chances. Let's just hope I can transition well enough into warp engines… He glanced over to Streak, who was giving them odd looks as Neko relayed the telepathic waves he was picking up from Rush.
"You'll be fine," he said in a voice supposed to be strong.
"You were doing better yesterday." It was a weak attempt to be encouraging. "And you have more experience than I do..." Even if it doesn't have to do with space specifically, it's still something.
Rush tried to shove the thoughts away and focus on the task ahead. What would happen would happen. There was no changing the next events for better or for worse. "Rush 36 to Propwash Tower, a flight of two is ready for takeoff," he relayed, taking a breath. He gave a lonesome smile towards Streak and Neko as the two planes got clearance to take off.
"Good luck."