Jefferson Smith gets to the hangar just as the Hawk touches down.
The normal organized chaos of the hangar is subdued. It's still full of noise and the burned-in stink of oil and ozone – but the main deck is clear. Everyone is busy finding things to do, off to one side or the other, as the news spreads.
But the boss doesn't have the luxury of hiding.
Jefferson watches the Hawk land and the engines spin down. The canopy opens and Max jumps down easily.
"Dad!" he says. Forgetting their roles. He's grinning. "Tell me the good news."
Jefferson looks into his son's eyes. Puts a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, son," he says, and his heart breaks as Max's grin fades into horror. Déjà vu – they've had this moment before, a lifetime ago. Miracles don't always happen, and they both know that. But the next three words are still hard.
"It didn't work."
.
.
END