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GROOM LAKE, NEVADA:
When the jet enters the hangar, David waits while the engines shut down and the side door opens. He sees Alex coming down the steps and walks over to greet him. “I heard about what happened with Fala. I’m sorry”
“Thanks, David.”
Jadin gives Alex a hug and steps back. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” She looks at Okana. “You too.”
Both men nod, accepting everyone’s condolences.
Jadin notices the wooden crate Alex removes from the lower luggage compartment of the plane. “Is that the gravity machine?”
Okana answers for him. “Yes, the bane of my existence. I’ll be glad when it’s locked up.”
“Can I see it?”
Okana shakes his head no. “Don’t you dare open it, Alex. We are not letting that thing out of its cage. I’ll draw you a picture later.”
David indicates across the hangar bay. “I have a golf cart waiting. The Doc will meet us at the elevator down to the vault. Follow me.”
Rubin goes down the stairs from the jet. “Take your time, everyone. I’m going to get some dinner for Mack and me. We’ll be waiting in the plane when you’re ready to head home.”
Jadin turns to Rubin. “I don’t need a ride. I want to stay here so I can continue to study that ship. Do you realize we now have a viable means of exploring the galaxy?”
Alex sees Rubin give Jadin a questioning stare and interrupts by chuckling. “Yes, that’s what the engineers are saying about the new Z-29 rocket ship, but I wouldn’t get too excited just yet. You and Mack take your time. Enjoy your dinner. We’ll be ready to go after a while.”
Alex turns and gently grabs Jadin’s elbow, guiding her to the golf cart. “Come along, Jadin, we’d better not keep the Doc waiting. “
Jadin quickens her pace to keep up with Alex. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re outside.”
Alex allows Jadin into the back seat then sits next to her. He doesn’t speak until the hangar is shrinking in the distance behind him, then he looks at Jadin. “Rubin and Mack don’t have a high enough security clearance for that kind of information. Knowledge about the spaceship is classified higher than top-secret, so you can’t tell anyone about it or the gravity machine until you clear it with Director Donner.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll be more careful from now on. I promise. But I wasn’t lying when I said I want to stay and study the ship.” She puts her hand on Alex’s forearm. “It would help if you would put in a good word for me with Director Donner. I know if anyone can help me get a transfer, it will be you, Alex. In fact, how is this base listed? As a government facility? Area 51?”
Alex smiles. “Groom Lake, Nevada works better. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks, Alex.”
When David stops the golf cart in front of the base command center, everyone climbs out and he leads them down the hallway where Henry is waiting by the elevator.
Henry indicates for Alex to set the small crate on the cart. “What an incredible piece of technology. Perhaps one day we will know enough about how it operates to study it more closely.”
Okana stares at the crate. “No way. You had better put it under lock and key, then throw the key as far away as possible. I say good riddance.”
Henry reaches out and clasps Okana’s hand in both of his own. “I am so sorry for the death of your loved ones, my friend, and my heart shares your sorrow.”
“Thanks, Doc. That means a lot to me.”
Henry does the same with Alex’s hand. “You were so happy, and I am truly sorry for your loss.”
“I appreciate it, Doc,” Alex says, not having the heart to tell him or the others that it was his decision that got Fala and Halona killed in the first place.
Henry notices the weary expression on Alex and Okana and speaks to the group. “All of you deserve some time on your own to relax and be with your families. I will take it from here.”
When Henry pushes the cart into the elevator, Alex stops him. “Sorry, Doc, but if it's all right with you, I’ll feel much better if I can make certain this thing is locked up where Sloan can never get to it.”
Okana nods vigorously. “Me too. I know I’ve said it a hundred times, but I really hate that thing. I, for one, would sleep tons better knowing Sloan or anyone else can’t get to it.”
Henry sees the anxiety in Okana’s eyes. “But of course.”
Henry, Alex, and Okana step inside with the wooden crate. Henry notices that Jadin and David hang back. “Are you coming with us?”
David indicates he isn’t. “No thanks. I’ll start on the log entries again.”
“And I haven’t checked my phone in a while,” says Jadin. “I need to find out how my family is doing in Oregon.”
The elevator doors close, and the men begin their descent.
Jadin goes outside to get decent cell reception. She sees one missed call, a voicemail, and a text message from Aaron. He wouldn’t normally do all that just to say hi, so she knows something is horribly wrong. She quickly checks the text message and discovers the devastating news about Jerry. “Oh my goodness,” she gasps, trying to fight the tears. She turns to run back inside and bumps into David.
“Whoa,” he says. “What’s wrong?”
Alex and Okana come back up the elevator, and Alex sees the anguish in Jadin’s eyes. “What happened?”
“It’s my uncle Jerry. He’s been in a terrible accident.”
Alex puts his hand on her arm. “Come on, Jadin, we’ll get you home as quick as we can.”
Alex finds Rubin just as he and Mack are finishing their dinners. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to leave as soon as you’re ready. There’s been an accident and Jadin needs to get home right away.”
Rubin slides his chair back. “We’ll meet you at the plane.”
***
Okana, Alex, and Jadin head home, but David stays behind with Henry to continue examining the log entries. Jadin is dropped off first so she can be with her family.
As she exits the plane, she hugs Alex. “Thanks for everything.”
Okana stands, wondering if Jadin will hug him. He knows he hasn’t acted very mature on most of his encounters with her, and he won’t blame her for being reluctant.
Jadin reaches out to shake Okana’s hand. “Goodbye, Mister Okana.”
“I told you before, Jadin. It’s just Okana. I want to apologize for flirting with you so heavily. It was only in fun.”
Jadin smiles. “Don’t worry about it, Okana. Actually, I kind of enjoyed it a little.”
Okana’s mouth opens. “What? You mean I actually had a chance.”
“Oh no. You never had a chance, but the attention is nice.”
“Well, son of a gun,” Okana says with just a hint of sadness.
It’s just enough show of emotion to make Jadin feel sorry for him. She leans in and gives him a quick hug. “There. Do you feel better now?”
Okana smiles. “Yes, thank you.”
After leaving Jadin in Oregon, Rubin drops Okana off in Stillwater, Wyoming, then continues to Bozeman, Montana.