Birth of a Pilot

The researcher’s maniacal laughter assaults the young ranger over the speakers. “Of course you're still alive! I told you you’d be safe! Is that not what I said?” says the man who had been shouting frantically moments earlier.

“You… did.” Angelo faintly hears Emil answer. He’s not as cheerful as he normally looks.

“Besiiides, you weren’t even going that fast. The most you might’ve come out with is a couple broken bones. A boy your age should be used to that kind of thing.”

Angelo is not.

Roxie’s smile is also gone. Angelo is fairly far away, but he still notices she looks a little pale. “Actually, with the way the cockpit is protruding toward his abdomen, he would’ve ruptured a few things before any bones got broken. And the bones he probably would’ve broken are his skull and ribs, which are… not optimal. And if the shield broke--”

“I think you’ve made your point, dear.” Romero fails to notice the looks of scrutiny coming from Mia, Aiden, and Jun. 

“What I meant to say is, not all bone fractures are equally benign!”

Leon says nothing. That’s enough to worry anyone who knows him. Like Roxie, the elder Summers brother’s skin has also taken on a pallor tone. He briefly smiles when he notices his younger brother staring at him, then returns to a troubled expression. Another reason to worry about Angelo is the last thing Leon needs, according to Angelo.

Emil nudges the captain, who looks to be contemplating something. The captain looks over to his brother, nods, and speaks up. “Staff Major Romero, we would like to thank you for showing us your, um, invention, but I think we must be leaving soon.”

“That’s odd, son. Other than collecting more rock samples, your father told me your crew didn’t have anything scheduled. He seemed more than happy to offer you guys over to me.”

Emil turns away from the scientist and drags his hands down his face. He then shakes his head, mouthing something that Angelo estimates to be “Dad, why?”

“I’ll have the boy here demonstrate one more little test for you guys, and then the rest of you can go!”

“The… rest of us? What’s going to happen to Ranger Summers?” questions Captain Galhardo.

“I was planning to keep--” Romero looks at his screen, “Angelo here for a little bit to run a couple more tests. Maybe even let him walk on the surface for a little bit. He could even pick up some boulders and return them to the lab, that way you guys won’t have to do any work! I figured you scratch my back, I scratch yours.” he shrugs. “Besides, I’m getting attached to the little guy. I kinda wanna adopt him as my own son.”

The captain and the lieutenant give each other a skeptical look.

“To be frank,” the captain begins, “I’m not so sure if it’s a good idea for me to let one of my crew members test out something as experimental as this. Especially not when we’re supposed to be leaving so soon. If he gets injured, we’ll have to stay back and our mission will be off schedule.”

“But-but-but!!” the researcher sputters. “I don’t understand, surely you’ve tested out other experimental equipment! That’s what the Celestion units are for, other than the whole… exploration thing your crew specifically has going on. Besides,” Romero adjusts his glasses, “this is your assignment.”

“Our assignment?” Emil asks.

“He’s correct.” the captain confirms. “That is why we’re here right now. I got direct orders from Chief Commander Galhardo this morning to report here along with the staff major.”

The lieutenant captain sighs. “I guess we don’t really have much of a choice right now.”

“I can see why you’re all worried, though, son. The little guy spooks easily and can barely speak above a whisper. He looks like he might crumble if a stiff breeze blew at him too hard. But I can guarantee that underneath it all, he’s a real man’s man! Someone who can really stand up to the challenge, right, Angie?”

Angelo doesn’t know what to think, but he would rather the researcher not call him Angie.

The staff major swivels around in his chair. “Otherwise, I can’t see how he’d be useful to the IF. I’ll make you guys a deal! Let me finish up the last test with him, and then I’ll allow you guys a--” He checks his watch. “30-minute break period. If he decides he doesn’t want to go through with this, then I won’t make him do any more work.”

Emil smiles. “Deal.”

Romero shakes hands with him. “Remember, he has to be the one to say yes or no. I know the Chief Commander is a trustworthy man; I’d imagine his sons live up to that as well.”

The captain nods. “I hope to.”

“Alright!” The researcher talks into his microphone. “We can get back to business. So, you probably understand by now that the left pedal turns you around, and the right one moves you forward. Kind of like driving the car, except the brakes are replaced with the steering wheel!”

Angelo doesn’t know how to drive a car, so this comparison is useless to him.

“The last thing I have to teach you is how to open and close the claws. They’re controlled by the buttons on your handles. One for each claw. Go ahead and press ‘em!”

The young star ranger holds down the button on the right handle. The right claw opens slowly. He does the same with the left. Angelo presses the right button again, and the right claw begins to close.

“Okay, you’ve got the hang of that! Double tapping on either button will snap them open or shut depending on what position they’re in. Try it out on the left claw!”

Angelo double taps the left button, and the left claw snaps shut.

“The last thing I want you to do for right now, is-- See that table over there? Where I was originally sitting? I want you to take the Starwalker, pick it up, and bring it over to me. Can you do that for me?”

Angelo nods.

“I can’t hear you shaking your head over the speakers, son.”

“Oh, sorry! Y-yes, I think I can do that for you…” 

“Remember to be gentle with the right pedal. There are no brakes.”

Well, that’s comforting.

“Theoretically I mean!” Romero corrects, as if he could hear Angelo’s thoughts. “Just let go of the right pedal when you want to stop. You got that?”

“Got it.”

“Good.”

Angelo almost presses down on the right pedal, but realizes his mistake just in time. He steps on the left one to orient himself until he has a straight shot at the table. After a deep breath, he gently taps on the right pedal. The Starwalker moves ever so slowly, but he prefers that over careening into a wall. He stops a little short of the table.

“Remember, the arms can extend!” With that helpful reminder from the inventor, Angelo lifts up both handles and yanks on them. 

The table explodes into a shower of splinters. Angelo shrieks in terror. 

“Whoops, don’t forget about the punching mechanic!”

He forgot about the punching mechanic. Most of the table flies behind him, and when he gains the courage to turn around, he sees that it landed in the place where he first started. Angelo repeats the process of slowly walking back over to the table. When he gets there, he carefully pushes forward the right handle, extending the right arm toward one of the overturned table legs. He’s able to grab it with the press of a button.

Angelo isn’t even done completely turning around when the researcher begins cooing over the speakers. “Alright, now come to Papa! Come on now, you can do it!” He outstretches his hands as if welcoming over a child.

The young star ranger feels his inner angsty teen begging to say “You’re not my dad!” His politeness and fear of displeasing others quells the yearning within.

“This is just like when my little Rachel took her first steps!” The staff major begins to tear up as Angelo gets closer. He motions for the ranger to stop. “Put it down gently now.”

The table is set down with all the delicacy and care of a newborn child. Then, Angelo picks it up again, not realizing he hasn’t unclasped the Starwalker’s claw yet. He sets it down again, a little less gracefully. Finally, he lets go. His crew and the inventor applaud him. Angelo presses the power button, and unbuckles his seatbelt to see that a new problem awaits.

“Um, how am I gonna get down?” the ranger stares down at the daunting six-foot drop.

“You might be able to land on your feet if you duck and roll.” Aiden says, as if that’s not terrifying.

“Is there a ladder?” Mia asks.

“Afraid not, dear. Not in this vicinity.” Romero replies.

Jun nods toward Aiden. “Aiden, why don’t you go help him down? You should be tall enough to reach him right?”

“Yeah.”

“...Soooo, are you gonna do it?”

“Don’t feel like it.”

“Aiden.”

This came as no surprise to Angelo. It would’ve been more startling if Aiden agreed to go along with it.

Leon outstretches his arms. “I’ll catch you, buddy!” 

“I will also volunteer to catch the falling muffin!” Roxie forms a barrier with her arms and Leon’s.

“I’ll help you guys!” Emil positions himself between Roxie and Leon.

Angelo feels more comfortable with the prospect of jumping. He slides himself out of the cockpit and on to the Starwalker’s leg. From there, he takes a leap of faith into his friends’ arms. He falls face-first into Emil, whose body provides the least comfortable landing of the three. Luckily, he didn’t seem to break any of his or Emil’s bones. Angelo finds himself hugging the lieutenant captain, who wraps him in a strong, tight embrace. The young star ranger could stay like this for a while longer, but that decision is not made by him.

“Oh, I could just hug you right now!” The staff manager rips Angelo out of Emil’s arms. “You did great out there, son!” Angelo doesn’t care for this turn of events, but a hug’s still a hug. Thankfully, it ends quickly enough when the older star ranger pries him away. “Okay, you’re free to take a break now, you earned it, kiddo!”

“Th-thank you sir.”

Emil nudges Angelo toward the door. “We’ll see you in 30 minutes!” he calls back to the staff major.

“See you then!” Romero responds. The group begins to walk away, but the staff major interrupts once more. “By the way! I overheard some of the medical staff discuss taking on students from one of the Celestion crews. By the looks of it, your crew doesn’t have a ship doctor. They said they’d leave the offer open until you guys and the Celestion-6 leave. I can’t imagine how much you’d learn in a couple days, but I guess every little bit counts!”

“Thank you for the information.” the captain replies.

“Anyway, see you in a half-hour! I’m counting on you guys!”