"Um, Alex? Like Spike said…what is it?" Jet asked. She climbed up to the cockpit and looked through the dirty glass to see it almost totally intact.
"It's the first space-worthy craft also suitable for racing. It's a Ford Pegasus GT, a spin-off of their highly popular automobile the Ford Mustang. Mustang production started back in 1964 and continued until they stopped producing cars all together. This is one of the first models ever made." She said sitting on a wing. She was getting covered with rust and dirt, but she could care less.
"Wouldn't you rather something newer?" Jet asked as he cocked his eyebrow.
"Yes, we have a brand new Pegasus model just delivered this morning." The salesman offered. She scowled.
"I've dreamed of having one of these since I was able to understand racing. I want this one. Pidge can restore it for me if I give him the cash." She said as she stood and put her fists on her hips. Jet sighed.
"How much for it?" he asked the salesman. He thought for a moment.
"Well, it's in poor condition and I didn't even know it was back here. That and since you are the daughter of a legend…half a million."
"SOLD!" Alex screamed before anyone could say anything. Jet shrugged his shoulders and shelled the money out.
"And how do you plan on getting it back to the ship?" he asked the girl.
"I will carry the damned thing if I have to." She said.
"Um, complementary tow service is available." The salesman pocketed the cash and made a note of it. Spike looked at him.
"Is it free?"
"Yes, otherwise it wouldn't be complimentary." He said as they started back across the field. They noticed Alex wasn't following. They turned to see her sitting on the wing again.
"Alex, are you coming?" Jet asked.
"I'll stay and wait for the tow." She said. He shrugged his shoulders and the three men walked off, leaving her sitting on the ship. She was incredibly giddy as she sat there, she couldn't wait to get back to the ship and call Pidge and tell him what she had. After a few moments, a tow ship pulled up and the driver hopped out.
"Jeeze, what a piece of shit. You sure you don't want to take it to a scrap yard?" he said as he hooked it up to move onto the flatbed. She nodded.
"I know what I'm getting myself into. Bondora's little girl knows what she's doing." She said as she helped hook it up.
"You're Bondora's daughter? Damn, you must know. You planning on racing it?"
"After it's restored." She said as she finished fastening the last of the connectors. She stepped back as it was raised into the air and was set down on the flatbed. The landing gear still had grass and sticks around it, but she could clear them off later. She jumped into the cab with the driver and they drove back to the Bebop.
Jet and Spike had arrived back at the Bebop before the tow and Alex had gotten there so they could make sure there was room to store the hunk of junk. There was plenty of room, now that Faye was gone and her zip craft wasn't taking up two spaces. They cleared it out and made sure there was plenty of breathing room for any needed storage of the tools and parts. Both of their crafts were at the other end of the hangar, which left plenty of space for the rusted out new purchase to be parked for a long period of time.
" You know, she's probably just going to get it back, work on it for a few weeks, and then give up to a scrap yard." Spike said with a sigh as they walked to the open doorway and runway.
"Nah, not her. Did you see the way she not only ran across the field for it but also seemed to see it through the bushes it was covered in? She'll work on this until the day she deems it done." Jet said as the tow ship pulled onto the dock next to the ship. Now that the Pegasus wasn't covered completely in shrubbery, they were able to get a better look at it. The overall body was boxy but thin and streamlined. Where the wings attached to the body, it curved in and opened up an air vent on each side that could be used as either airflow to the engine or a deceleration device in space. The dome of the cockpit wasn't the typical round shape; it was a pointed teardrop shape that was sleeker and more aerodynamic. The wings were almost the same as Spike's Swordfish II but the plates on the wing tips were set more forward than that of the ones on the Swordfish II. The landing gear was still entangled with pieces of shrubbery and dirt from when it was anchored into the ground. It was many different colors: green, blue, brown, and rusty orange. It was scratched, dented, torn apart, and the glass on the cockpit dome was cracked in several places with some holes that looked to be from bullets. The wooden planks groaned as the tow came to a stop right next to the large deck of the Bebop.
"Hey! You got a ramp for me to get up onto your deck?" the tow driver asked after rolling down his window. As he did this, Alex hopped out. She jumped from the wooden planked dock over onto the metal deck of the Bebop, still grinning happily. Jet held down a button on the inside of the large doorway of the hangar area and a sheet of metal extended from the side of the deck. He let go as it touched the side of the dock with a quiet thud. The tow driver maneuvered around to pull onto the deck and pulled into the hangar. The area that was clear in the back was where the Pegasus was unloaded and parked.
"Thanks a lot, would you like something to drink? A sandwich maybe?" Alex asked with a smile as the tow driver readied to pull back out and leave.
"Why thank you. Do you mind?" he asked as he parked the rig. Alex shook her head.
"Not at all! Please come in!" she insisted. Spike and Jet sighed. They'd have to share their food with a stranger. He stepped out and all four of them walked into the ship and to the kitchen. They made sandwiches and talked a while before the driver realized he should be working. Jet escorted him to his rig and left Alex and Spike in the kitchen alone.
"Alex, what possessed you to get that piece of junk?" He asked her as he took a few gulps of his beer. She was sipping her water when he asked.
"That so called piece of junk is the ship I've dreamed of owning since I was a little girl. As soon as I was able to comprehend the idea of racing ships and even cars, it was the one thing I've ever wanted." She said slightly annoyed with his tone of voice when he asked the question.
"Well, how are you going to work on it? You don't know the slightest thing about rebuilding ships!" He said with a grin. Alex stared him down. "Or do you?"
"I know some, not enough to rebuild it by myself." She said as she reached into her back pocket and pulled out her wallet.
"Well, I don't know a whole lot either so don't ask me to help out much." He said after taking another swig of his beer. She pulled a business card out of a pocket of the wallet and tossed it across the table to him.
"I never said you or Jet had to help. I have my own friends." She said with a smile. Spike picked up the card and read it. 'Pidge Bordeaux: Racer and Restorer' was arranged neatly in bold black lettering in the center.
"And how do you plan on getting it to him to work on?" he asked as he slid it back to her across the table. She smiled as she took it.
"See, I thought of this while I was waiting for the tow guy to come and hook it up. We dock here every Friday night and stay through Sunday afternoon or evening. The whole time we're docked, Pidge comes down and we work on the ship together until I feel it's drivable at least. After then, maybe we go every other week or so. Of course if we can't make it one weekend I'll call him and tell him that we won't be around that weekend." She explained with a smile on her face the entire time. Spike sighed and grinned.
"Damn, you have it all figured out. I should've known better. My sweetheart has everything figured out before I can even think things through." Alex smiled when he said this and then stood.
"Yup. What would you do without me hun?" she said as she headed to the living area but stopped next to him first. He pulled the beer bottle away from his lips and met hers as she leaned down and pressed her lips into his. With a quick smacking noise, they had kissed quickly and then she walked on into the living area. She sat at the computer and dialed his shop number up and waited for him to pick up. After a few rings, it clicked and an image of a greasy Pidge appeared on her screen in what looked like his garage. He was wiping his hands with an old rag as the image appeared.
"It's the first space-worthy craft also suitable for racing. It's a Ford Pegasus GT, a spin-off of their highly popular automobile the Ford Mustang. Mustang production started back in 1964 and continued until they stopped producing cars all together. This is one of the first models ever made." She said sitting on a wing. She was getting covered with rust and dirt, but she could care less.
"Wouldn't you rather something newer?" Jet asked as he cocked his eyebrow.
"Yes, we have a brand new Pegasus model just delivered this morning." The salesman offered. She scowled.
"I've dreamed of having one of these since I was able to understand racing. I want this one. Pidge can restore it for me if I give him the cash." She said as she stood and put her fists on her hips. Jet sighed.
"How much for it?" he asked the salesman. He thought for a moment.
"Well, it's in poor condition and I didn't even know it was back here. That and since you are the daughter of a legend…half a million."
"SOLD!" Alex screamed before anyone could say anything. Jet shrugged his shoulders and shelled the money out.
"And how do you plan on getting it back to the ship?" he asked the girl.
"I will carry the damned thing if I have to." She said.
"Um, complementary tow service is available." The salesman pocketed the cash and made a note of it. Spike looked at him.
"Is it free?"
"Yes, otherwise it wouldn't be complimentary." He said as they started back across the field. They noticed Alex wasn't following. They turned to see her sitting on the wing again.
"Alex, are you coming?" Jet asked.
"I'll stay and wait for the tow." She said. He shrugged his shoulders and the three men walked off, leaving her sitting on the ship. She was incredibly giddy as she sat there, she couldn't wait to get back to the ship and call Pidge and tell him what she had. After a few moments, a tow ship pulled up and the driver hopped out.
"Jeeze, what a piece of shit. You sure you don't want to take it to a scrap yard?" he said as he hooked it up to move onto the flatbed. She nodded.
"I know what I'm getting myself into. Bondora's little girl knows what she's doing." She said as she helped hook it up.
"You're Bondora's daughter? Damn, you must know. You planning on racing it?"
"After it's restored." She said as she finished fastening the last of the connectors. She stepped back as it was raised into the air and was set down on the flatbed. The landing gear still had grass and sticks around it, but she could clear them off later. She jumped into the cab with the driver and they drove back to the Bebop.
Jet and Spike had arrived back at the Bebop before the tow and Alex had gotten there so they could make sure there was room to store the hunk of junk. There was plenty of room, now that Faye was gone and her zip craft wasn't taking up two spaces. They cleared it out and made sure there was plenty of breathing room for any needed storage of the tools and parts. Both of their crafts were at the other end of the hangar, which left plenty of space for the rusted out new purchase to be parked for a long period of time.
" You know, she's probably just going to get it back, work on it for a few weeks, and then give up to a scrap yard." Spike said with a sigh as they walked to the open doorway and runway.
"Nah, not her. Did you see the way she not only ran across the field for it but also seemed to see it through the bushes it was covered in? She'll work on this until the day she deems it done." Jet said as the tow ship pulled onto the dock next to the ship. Now that the Pegasus wasn't covered completely in shrubbery, they were able to get a better look at it. The overall body was boxy but thin and streamlined. Where the wings attached to the body, it curved in and opened up an air vent on each side that could be used as either airflow to the engine or a deceleration device in space. The dome of the cockpit wasn't the typical round shape; it was a pointed teardrop shape that was sleeker and more aerodynamic. The wings were almost the same as Spike's Swordfish II but the plates on the wing tips were set more forward than that of the ones on the Swordfish II. The landing gear was still entangled with pieces of shrubbery and dirt from when it was anchored into the ground. It was many different colors: green, blue, brown, and rusty orange. It was scratched, dented, torn apart, and the glass on the cockpit dome was cracked in several places with some holes that looked to be from bullets. The wooden planks groaned as the tow came to a stop right next to the large deck of the Bebop.
"Hey! You got a ramp for me to get up onto your deck?" the tow driver asked after rolling down his window. As he did this, Alex hopped out. She jumped from the wooden planked dock over onto the metal deck of the Bebop, still grinning happily. Jet held down a button on the inside of the large doorway of the hangar area and a sheet of metal extended from the side of the deck. He let go as it touched the side of the dock with a quiet thud. The tow driver maneuvered around to pull onto the deck and pulled into the hangar. The area that was clear in the back was where the Pegasus was unloaded and parked.
"Thanks a lot, would you like something to drink? A sandwich maybe?" Alex asked with a smile as the tow driver readied to pull back out and leave.
"Why thank you. Do you mind?" he asked as he parked the rig. Alex shook her head.
"Not at all! Please come in!" she insisted. Spike and Jet sighed. They'd have to share their food with a stranger. He stepped out and all four of them walked into the ship and to the kitchen. They made sandwiches and talked a while before the driver realized he should be working. Jet escorted him to his rig and left Alex and Spike in the kitchen alone.
"Alex, what possessed you to get that piece of junk?" He asked her as he took a few gulps of his beer. She was sipping her water when he asked.
"That so called piece of junk is the ship I've dreamed of owning since I was a little girl. As soon as I was able to comprehend the idea of racing ships and even cars, it was the one thing I've ever wanted." She said slightly annoyed with his tone of voice when he asked the question.
"Well, how are you going to work on it? You don't know the slightest thing about rebuilding ships!" He said with a grin. Alex stared him down. "Or do you?"
"I know some, not enough to rebuild it by myself." She said as she reached into her back pocket and pulled out her wallet.
"Well, I don't know a whole lot either so don't ask me to help out much." He said after taking another swig of his beer. She pulled a business card out of a pocket of the wallet and tossed it across the table to him.
"I never said you or Jet had to help. I have my own friends." She said with a smile. Spike picked up the card and read it. 'Pidge Bordeaux: Racer and Restorer' was arranged neatly in bold black lettering in the center.
"And how do you plan on getting it to him to work on?" he asked as he slid it back to her across the table. She smiled as she took it.
"See, I thought of this while I was waiting for the tow guy to come and hook it up. We dock here every Friday night and stay through Sunday afternoon or evening. The whole time we're docked, Pidge comes down and we work on the ship together until I feel it's drivable at least. After then, maybe we go every other week or so. Of course if we can't make it one weekend I'll call him and tell him that we won't be around that weekend." She explained with a smile on her face the entire time. Spike sighed and grinned.
"Damn, you have it all figured out. I should've known better. My sweetheart has everything figured out before I can even think things through." Alex smiled when he said this and then stood.
"Yup. What would you do without me hun?" she said as she headed to the living area but stopped next to him first. He pulled the beer bottle away from his lips and met hers as she leaned down and pressed her lips into his. With a quick smacking noise, they had kissed quickly and then she walked on into the living area. She sat at the computer and dialed his shop number up and waited for him to pick up. After a few rings, it clicked and an image of a greasy Pidge appeared on her screen in what looked like his garage. He was wiping his hands with an old rag as the image appeared.