Disclaimer: see chapter one.

AN: Thanks for the great reviews.

Chapter Three- Meet the Team

"Gentlemen, there has been much speculation surrounding this mission." The commander of the project, Gene, boomed out to Jeff and his two pilots. "This is a meeting to clarify this mission, and for us to answer any questions you have."

The three astronauts nodded their understanding.

"The aim for this mission is simple. You are to land on the moon, and bring back particle samples. You are also there to observe for any new identifying marks on the moon, such as craters or mounts. No more, no less. Provided that everything goes to plan, it will take four days to reach the moon, and four days return. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir!" Three voices recited back.

"Good." Gene smiled. "In the evening, there will be a press conference, introducing the team of Orbita 13 to the rest of the world. Now, I'll take you to see your home for the duration of the mission." He led them through several winding corridors, until they reached the assembly line. "These are the components that will make your LLC, Lunar Landing Capsule. They are made from the toughest, strongest materials known to withstand friction and G-Forces."

Jeff nodded approvingly. Technology had improved tremendously since his last trip in space, which was a promising and reassuring sign.

"And over here," Gene pointed to the left. "Is the rockets that will boost you up into space."

Jeff looked up at the sleek, white booster towering over him.

Gene clapped Jeff on the shoulder. "She's a beauty, isn't she, Jeff?"

"Yes." Jeff agreed, awestruck by the sheer size and power of the booster. "She is."

Scott stumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen, ignoring the pounding music coming from Virgil's room, and the squabble between Gordon and Alan.

"Hi sweetie." Josie looked up from the kitchen counter. "You're back early."

Scott shrugged, leaned into the fridge and poured himself a glass of milk. "Dad's gone, hasn't he? I haven't seen him around today."

Josie nodded. "He left at the crack of dawn. His training started today."

Scott placed his glass down on the table. "So he's going. He's really going."

"Oh sweetie," Josie moved over to Scott, and hugged him tight. "I know you don't approve of this."

"It's not that I don't approve. I just don't think he's thought this through. He's leaving at the worst possible time."

"Explain, Scott. I don't quite understand."

"We're up to our eyeballs in debt-"

Josie's jaw dropped. How did Scott know that? Jeff's financial situation was Jeff's business.

"I'm not an idiot. I can add. We're borrowing more than we can pay back." Scott pierced Josie with laser beam eyes. "Anyway, Dad's been ignoring Alan ever since the avalanche, but now, it's different. They've bonded. And didn't Dad leave NASA to spend more time with us?"

"Your father didn't exactly leave NASA." Josie explained. "When he agreed to work with them many years ago, part of his contract stated that he could be called up for any mission, if he qualified for it, regardless of whether he works for them."

"Doesn't change anything. He's gone for three months. The bills will keep rolling in and we'll struggle even more. There's one more thing; what happens if Orbita 13 goes wrong? What'll happen to us?"

"Sweetie, you can't think like that." Josie gently admonished. "And if the worst does happen, you've always got your old Grandma, haven't you? You're so intent on thinking about the worst case scenario. I want you to consider the best case scenario."

"Now?"

"Now."

Scott took a sip of his milk. "The Orbita 13 launches into space, orbits the moon, lands on the moon, launches back into space and has a safe splashdown."

"And after that," Josie continued. "You're father will earn plenty of money from the publicity he'll receive, and the debt will practically disappear."

Scott tilted his head to the left and smiled. "I never thought about that." He gave the elderly lady a quick kiss on her cheek. "Thanks, Grandma."

"Anytime, sweetie, anytime."

"Jeff, long time, no see. How's it going?" Ben, one of Jeff's oldest friend, colleague, and fellow astronaut, said.

"Ben! Good to see you again. It's been five years, hasn't it?"

"Five long years." A voice behind Ben drawled out.

Jeff peered round Ben, only to see another old friend and astronaut. "Jack! You haven't changed much, have you?"

Jack shook his head. "Not a bit."

"Can you believe they've asked us three to go up?" Ben cried out ecstatically. "Us three! Of all the possible astronaut combinations, it was us!"

"Well," Jeff reasoned, grinning. "It makes sense from their point of view. We've all gone up into space together. We know each others strengths and weaknesses. We get along really well. What more could you want?"

Jack laughed. "Always the logical one, aren't you? So, how're the boys?"

"They're fine. All growing up."

"Got a photo for us to see?"

Jeff nodded, and pulled out his wallet. "The one on the right's Scott. Next to him is John and then Virgil's next to John. Gordon and Alan are the ones clinging onto Scott and John."

Jack did a double take. "They've changed since I last saw them. Scott's grown."

"Yeah. He's six foot two, towers over me, and he knows it. He keeps telling me, he's not a child; he's taller than me." Jeff grumbled. "John's headed that way too. Luckily for me, I think Virgil's destined to be slightly shorter and more stockier than his brothers. I think he takes after his maternal Grandad in that respect."

"What about Gordon and Alan?" Ben asked.

"Gordon breathes, thinks and lives in water, and completely uninterested in space and flying. How I managed to get a son like that is beyond me, but that's Gordon for you. I reckon Olympic swimming is just around the corner for him."

"Still playing pranks?"

"God yes!" Jeff moaned. "I'll have to check my case, just to make sure he didn't slip something inside. He's a nightmare, that one. But a pleasant nightmare. And Alan is obsessed with speed. Fast cars, fast planes, fast boats, he doesn't care. As long as it goes faster than a hundred miles an hour, he's as happy as a pig in the mud."

Both Ben and Jack laughed, while Jeff looked at his watch.

"Gentlemen, I think it's time we left to get ready for the press conference."

"Boys," Josie called, as she turned on the TV. "Come down here please. The news is coming."

Alan, Gordon and Virgil all groaned and shuddered theatrically. John placed his book down on the floor and gave the TV his undivided attention. Scott leaned casually in the doorway, his eyes glued to the screen.

Watching at least one news broadcast every day was a rule in the Tracy household. Jeff felt it would help his sons keep up with current affairs and factors that affected the rest of the world. Josie agreed with his rule wholeheartedly, and loved enforcing it whenever she could.

"Welcome to News Nightly at Eight with Bill Bailey. Tonight's stories; air baggage handles have gone on strike, demanding a pay rise. Oil prices are set to rise, due to slow down in production.

But first, NASA officially announces the astronauts flying on Orbita 13. We cross over to our live link at Cape Canaveral for the official press conference."

The image on the TV changed, revealing a royal blue background, with the NASA and Orbita emblems centred on the screen. Several flashing light-bulbs could be seen, as well as furry microphones and silhouettes of jostling journalists, along with the babble or reporters shouting out their questions, hoping to be heard.

"Are any of you worried about the numbers for this voyage?" One loud reporter's voice boomed out over the din. "I mean, this is Orbita 13, launching at thirteen hundred hours, thirteen minutes, thirteen seconds, landing on the moon four days and thirteen hours later and having splashdown in waters that are only thirteen hundred metres deep."

Jack cleared his throat. "The number thirteen is symbolic and coincidental. We're controlling Orbita 13, so it made sense that most things had thirteen in them. Even if this wasn't Orbita 13, the number thirteen would still be considered as the launch time, and the splash down depth."

"So you don't see it as an omen."

"Not at all. The only time I'd be worried was if we were launching on a Friday." Ben shook his head. "Personally, I think thirteen is a lucky number."

"Yeah," Jack ribbed quietly, as his hand covered the microphone so only the three astronauts could hear. "Maybe you'll have a good thirteenth marriage this time, not left standing at the altar, before you fly off into space."

"Mr. Tracy, what about you?"

"Thirteen doesn't bother me too much. I have five lucky numbers looking out for me."

"What would they be?" Another reporter called out, pen poised in hand.

"Twenty seven, fifteen, nine, thirty and six." Jeff replied with a smile, as he was one of the only people who knew why those numbers were significant.

"How do you feel about going back into space?"

"It's great. Seeing the Blue Marble… something you'll never get over, no matter how many times you go up there." Jack smiled.

"Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

Jeff looked guiltily at the camera and mumbled his response. "Um, yeah. If there's anyone from the IRS watching, I… forgot to file my… my 1040. Um, I meant to do it today, but uh, I… forgot." His voice trailed into nothing.

Back in Kansas, Gordon and Virgil were in peals of laughter.

"Dad forgot something! He's not perfect!"

"I know! It's unheard of!"

"Well," Virgil grinned slyly. "Now we know where Scott gets it from."

"Virgil, Gordon, stop teasing your brother." Josie ordered, as she pursed her lips. "Hmmph! That boy! So disorganized! I thought I taught him better! When he gets back, I'll tan his hide for that!"

"At least Dad's not worried about the IRS." John picked his book up of the ground. "That's gotta be something. I mean, they're the scariest people alive." John's face screwed up in concentration, as he stared at the screen. "Hey, Grandma, aren't they the astronauts who flew with Dad on his first journey to the moon?"

Alan turned around to face his grandma, schooling his face into a puzzled expression. "I don't get it. I forget things all the time and no-one minds. Why is Daddy so worried?"

"Because," Scott said, as he lifted Alan up. "When Daddy comes back, he's gonna get in trouble."

Alan's face cleared up, and he frowned. "I don't want Daddy to get in trouble." He yawned, and burrowed his face into Scott's shoulder.

"OK, let's get you off to sleep." Scott walked out the door, carrying a protesting Alan.

"But Scotty, I'm a big boy! I'm not tired!"

"Alright." Scott gave in. "I'll tell you a story then."

Scott held Alan's model rocket ship high in the air. "And he'll keep going up and up and up, until he reaches the moon."

"Scotty," Alan slurred sleepily. "Will there be a fire?"

Scott froze, just for a moment. "What makes you say that?"

"Virg told me there was a fire just before I was born." Alan yawned for the third time in five minutes. He was clearly fighting sleep. "Scotty, did Daddy know the people in the fire?"

Scott nodded sombrely. "He did. He knew all of them."

"Could that happen again?" Alan's lower lip wobbled.

"I'll tell you something about that fire, a lot of things went wrong. You see the door?" Scott pointed to the hatch on the model rocket ship. "It's called a hatch. The astronauts couldn't get it open when they needed to get out, that was one thing. A lot of things went wrong."

"Did they fix it?"

"Oh absolutely they fixed it. It's not a problem anymore. Nothing will be a problem anymore."

Alan nodded, as Scott tucked the blanket under his chin. "Night Scotty."

Scott turned off the light, and closed the door to Alan's darkened, hoping he told the truth to Alan.

AN: please review.