"What have I gotten myself into?" Atlantis groaned. She was all fueled up and ready to go, her 7 passengers were strapped in tight. She fired up the starboard booster first which sent her into a spin. She quickly spun up the port and straightened out, lifting off the ground once she reached 85 knots. She continued to pick up speed with altitude. "Hold on to your helmets, you might need them." She called.
"For what?" Kevin asked just in time to hear Max retch into his.
"For that." Atlantis was unable to hide her smirk. Served the kid right for pestering her so much.
Passing 50,000 feet Atlantis rolled on her back, enjoying the feel of the wind as it passed her. It'd been too long. But when it came time for throttle up, the shuttle hesitated. Challenger was too fresh and strong in her mind, she couldn't cope with it.
Kevin quickly took the controls. "Trust me girl." He murmured and pulled the right levels.
Atlantis accelerated, her jaw unclenching as she passed that stage of the launch. "Kevin, thank you." She murmured.
Kevin gave her console a pat before allowing her control once more as she reached the outer edges of earth's atmosphere. The solid rocket boosters were jettisoned and the distinctive orange fuel tank shortly thereafter. Blue faded to cobalt which faded to inky black.
Max's puke began to float out of his helmet much to the disgust of the others. Atlantis however merely chuckled. "Welcome to space, kids." She said.