"Please."

"No!"

"Pretty please."

"No!"

"Pretty, pretty please?"

"No!"

"Pretty please with a cherry on top!"

Atlantis and Max had been at this for several hours and the boy showed no signs of stopping. Atlantis had to admit, the boy was persistent. But what he was asking was impossible! Her, take him an inexperienced civilian with little training, into space?! Out of the question!A few months ago, Atlantis would've jumped at the chance. The competition amongst the Shuttle Fleet to take the first civilian into space was high. Well look how well that turned out!

The thought of her deceased sister made Atlantis' heart twinge and she worked to keep her voice level as she said "What part of no don't you understand?!" She asked with a sigh.

"Only that you're being a spoilsport." Max pouted.

"I am not being a spoilsport I'm being realistic here. There is no way in hell I'm taking you even a foot of the ground, no way!" Atlantis hissed.

Their argument was interupted by the sound of a bugle call. NASA allowed its shuttles to wonder free on base as long as they stayed out of trouble. But they always made sure they could hear when dinner was served. Atlantis straightened up and gave an answering bark.

"You win this round." Max said with a sigh. "But I'll be back Atlantis."

"Oh I'm sure you will." The shuttle snorted as the kid left.

...

Max was back early the next morning and he had reinforcements. Katheryn was with him this time. He started off by sneaking into Atlantis' hanger while she was sleeping and climbed onto the rafters before dropping down on her back with a clang. This woke Atlantis who yelped, leaping upright. Max lost his balance and would've fallen if Atlantis hadn't deployed her cargo arm at the last second, catching him by the ankle.

The kid had the decency to look sheepish. "Um, morning." He said.

An annoyed growl was his answer and he was set down rather roughly on the ground. "Don't you have to be somewhere?" Atlantis asked, stifling a yawn.

"Um no?"

"So you thought it okay to come and pester me. Real nice kid. Yeah, that'll earn you some brownie points." The shuttle snorted, this time yawning for real. Her big canines became fully visible and Max actually shrunk back a bit.

"Sorry." He shrugged.

Atlantis didn't think he really was but she let him have this one freebie. "You're scheduled for a tour after lunch. Go on." She shooed him out of her hanger. "Hmph, kids." She snorted, settling back down to hopefully get an hour more of rest. She'd gone to bed late the previous night. Columbia had come down with fuel poisoning and she'd been taking care of her until Discovery took over.

...

Atlantis' reprieve lasted only until lunch when all the kids were allowed to have a tour of her. Max and Katherine climbed onto her wing, being extra gentle as they clambered up onto her back. Max started bouncing up and down.

"Please. Please, please, please, please, please!" He begged.

Atlantis stifled a groan. "Here we go again." She thought.

Katherine was more mellow and began stroking the shuttle's side. "I think it would be rather exciting."

"And dangerous!" Atlantis growled. "The last time ended badly."

"We know." Max's tone had taken a more somber tone.

"Don't think I haven't forgotten. That was my sister for star's sake!" Atlantis cried.

"I guess I didn't think of it that way." Katherine mused.

"But Challenger," Atlantis winced when Max used her deceased sister's name. "died in adverse conditions. It was far too cold for her to be launched and everyone knew it."

Atlantis had her own forbiddings that morning yes but she wasn't willing to tell these kids that. Instead she replied "We don't know if it was the weather. We don't really know anything!" Though she was beginning to warm up to idea of a quick jaunt, if only to get these kids to shut up about it!

Max seemed to sense her indecision for her lie down on his stomach and leaned over her forehead, looking her right in the eyes with a big pout face. "Please?" He asked again quietly.

Five months ago, Atlantis would've just ignored the "puppy eyes" trick and that would've been the end of it. But there was something about the boy's face that reminded her starkly of Challenger when she wanted something. And Atlantis had never been able to refuse that face.

"Ugh, oh..." Atlantis grumbled. She finally glared up at the boy. "This is cruel and unusual punishment." She said. "So you better suit up. I'm not going to be gentle about it."

Max grinned, leaping upright so fast that Atlantis had to wonder if he was all human. "OH YESSSS!" He cried.