Chapter 10
Two Stars
"We have arrived at Jupiter! The last planet inner planet of our Solar System. This planet is a gas planet, so we will be remaining on the ship because if we were to land we will fall right through!" we heard the intercom informing us "Well the intercom is pretty smart!" Beatrice observed. Carlos and i looked at each other rolling our eyes as we have had enough of that intercom. "So you see Beatrice, we have been trapped on this unexpected Field Trip! With no knowledge how this could have happened!" I said to Beatrice "Whisked Away! Literally!" Carlos told her, "Hmmm i see, well i'm sure you have many questions and yes i do have the answers but right now we need to focus on turning this ship around" Beatrice said in a concerned voice. "You do? Carlos and I both asked her in shock "All will be relieved in time kids" Beatrice said calmly as she was pressing buttons and typing things on the console then reffering back to her wrist watch. Carlos and I were too fascinated with what Beatrice was doing that we weren't paying any attention to the outside world or the infomation that the intercom was giving us about Jupiter and that we were about to leave for the asteroid belt "Oh no you don't" shouted Beatrice with a vengeance. She was pressing so many buttons by this point that it was hard to keep track.
Just then the lights started to flicker and the rocket began to shake. "What's going on now?" shouted Carlos "Kids, i think i might have had a break through, just keep remained strapped in those seats!" Beatrice informed us with a smile. Then in no time at all the lights suddenly went out, Carlos and i were feeling little nervous now! We heard the red headed women talking to us in a gentle calm voice as i think she noticed as we were not making a sound. She didn't seem to be too concerned about what was happening "Don't worry kids the lights should come back on in a jiffy!". It was pitch dark we were unable to see a thing, just the stars of outta space and the site of Jupiter's red spot as the rocket had come to a big sudden halt.
"Have we stopped?" i asked nervously shortly before the lights came back on in a magical flash. "Your observation would be correct Dorothy-Ann!" Beatrice said to me in a relieved sounding voice "This is looking very good indeed, now then a big red button on the console should now be present to us". "HA?" Carlos and i both said together as we were both confused as to what she was talking about. It didn't take long for us to spot it as it was sitting right in the middle of the console near the sterring wheel. "Ok kids, what i'm going to do is press that button and take charge of the sterring wheel to see if we have control...any questions before i do it?" Beatrice informed us as she was nearing her right pointing finger towards the button. Just then the mechanical hands appeared and they were moving around out of control looking very agressive well as the voice of the intercom was breaking out. "Press it!" Carlos and i shouted as there was no time for questions! "Ok!" Beatrice answered as she pressed her finger onto the button with great force. A beeping sound which lasted for 3 beeps was heard as everything fell slient. We were unsure to even question where the beeping sound come from. The intercom stopped speaking, the rockets no longer rumbling & the mechanical hands had disappeared. "Now then, lets so if we can control this thing" Beatrice said confidently as she placed her hands on the sterring wheel "Are you sure you know how to fly this thing, Beatrice?" Carlos asked her. She turned to face the two of us teens and smiled "I have had some flying experience in my life i have you know, esspecially when it comes to flying rockets!" she answered. I slapped Carlos for being cheeky "Ow! What was that for?" he shouted "Carlos! We women are quite capable in doing anything are hearts desire!" i shouted back at him as we all laughed.
Beatrice was pressing a couple of buttons on the console and began to start sterring with no trouble at all "Lookin good! Now off we go!" she called out. A screen was being lowered down from the ceiling above the console and which showed our flight pattern to get back to Earth leaving the remaining 4 planets behind "Beatrice your a star!" Carlos and i cried out. Carlos and got out of our seats as we were free to walk around, Beatrice had turned on the gravity function so we were not flying around. I was pleased that we were on our way home but something inside of me wanted to burst out and ask if i could make one last request. Carlos gazed at me, he was reading me like a book before he tripped over one of my books that was laying on the floor. He knew that i wanted to see my star. I took a deep breath and walked towards Beatrice who was sitting in the drivers seat.
"Excuse me Beatrice...", i had never felt so nervous when asking an adult a burning question. The women turned her head to face me as i stood beside her "Yes Dorothy-Ann or DA? Is that what you like to be called?" Beatrice said in responce "Ah yeah, DA is fine, could i make a small request now that we have control that we go an visit a certain star? Please?" i asked her. Beatrice looked at me, she had a warm inviting smile "I've got the coordinates in my diary!" i then told her "You do DA?" Carlos asked in shock "Yes, i keep my diary with me at all times and its the same one i've kept since i was 9, so when you and the rest of the class back then bought me that star, Ms Frizzle gave me quietly gave me all the info after the Field Trip". "Ok so is this it? i just tripped over it!" Carlos asked as he was picking up a book off the floor "YES Carlos, thats it!" i cried as he handed it to me. I showed Beatrice the page with the coordinates and she nodded with a smile the same smile she still had on her face when i asked the question. She then typed on a keyboard, pressed a green button beside it and then took hold of the wheel "Dorothy-Ann here we come!" she shouted with glee as the rocket began to take up speed and point away from the inner planets.
The rocket still had its magic as we were moving at such a speed. We were seeing all the stars move around us so quickly that it was hard to keep track of them. Just then a bright light appeared before us over the horizon "Have we died?" Carlos asks in concern, Beatice quickly answered him "Dont be silly Carlos, as far as i know we are very much alive! We are not going to heaven!". As we got closer, it got brighter "I know what that is Carlos, it looks like my star, it has to be!" i shouted with joy! "Your correct DA, welcome to the star (your star) Dorothy-Ann" introduced Beatrice as she put the breaks on. I was completely mesmerized it looked even more beautiful then its pictures i've seen or when i gazed it through my telescope in the past "Would you like to take a picture DA?" Beatrice asked "Oh yes, please" i answered as i went to look for my camera. Carlos helped me, till we eventually found it in a pile of books on top of a small cupboard. We then walked back towards Beatrice who was now standing up with a 2 space helmets in under both of her arm pits "Fancy taking a picture a little closer?" she asked.
Without question Carlos and i grabbed the helmets of her, she also gave us a special space hand held camera to take the photo. We equipped ourselves with our oxygen tanks as did Beatrice who was going to join us, nice to do it oursleves and not have a mechanical hand do it for you. Placed our helmets on our heads and got ready to enter the airshaft "Wait one more thing!" Beatrice using a motherly tone "We'll need our tether lines! So we do not float away!". Beatrice pulled a lever in the airshaft and tether lines appeared from the left side, one for each of us. We each got oursleves connected and were ready to go and explore "Ready?" asked Beatrice "READY!" Carlos and i shouted excitably!