Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Nehemiah felt triumphant. Despite the fact that he could be shot down any minute, he felt like he had proved himself. That slingshot maneuver had shown his skill to the officers he knew were watching. Even if he lost, he felt like the exercise had been a success.
“Might as well win though,” he said to himself. As if to disagree with him, his com flipped on.
“Nehemiah! Go back!”
Nehemiah looked at the com in shock
“Els??” he asked.
“Yes. Me. Turn around!”
“Why? I can still win this.”
“Enough with the exercise! Look behind you. It’s Jonah. He’s in trouble.”
Nehemiah snorted.
“Help Jonah? Are you crazy?”
Pure anger seemed to suddenly steam from the com.
“Crazy?! I’m not crazy! Jonah needs help, Nehemiah! His ship is disabled and heading for the planet. He might die!”
Nehemiah shook his head.
“It’s his own fault Els. Besides, one of the monitoring crew will get him.”
“No one is coming, Nehemiah. I don’t know if they know.”
Nehemiah groaned.
“Why should I help him? He’s been rotten to me since I got here.”
“Nehemiah Smith!! It doesn’t matter! He needs you. If you don’t go, then I might be rotten to you as well. Maybe you deserve it.”
Nehemiah didn’t respond. His mind was racing, going over scenarios, outcomes.
Els’s next comment was surprisingly quiet and calm. And one of the most potent things anyone had told Nehemiah.
“Why do you believe it if you don’t live it out?”
The comlink switched off. Els had said all she was going to say.
Time seemed to slow down for Nehemiah. The words stung. A lot. He recalled his last argument with a friend. With Kelin. He didn’t want that to happen again.
With a sigh, Nehemiah disengaged the harpoon that held the flag. He turned on his com to the general frequency.
“Hold your fire!” he called. “I’m going after Jonah.”
Then he swung his ship around, and shot right back towards the fleet again.
This time though, they didn’t shoot. They just watched him as he hurtled through their ranks, back towards the station. And back to Jonah.
Jonah was still drifting to the planet. Gravity was beginning to have an effect, and his speed was increasing. Nehemiah pushed his fighter to the max speed. He could spy the debris below them, thrown through the edge of space by the incredible wind of Neptune.
“Cadet Smith! Turn back!”
The SDI monitor officers had finally noticed what had happened. But they were too late.
“He needs help,” Nehemiah replied.
“It is too dangerous! Your life is at risk.”
“Can you reach him in time?” Nehemiah asked.
No response. To tell the truth, Nehemiah wanted to turn back. To save your friends is one thing. To save a bully you hated was another thing entirely. But he kept on course, for Els’ words still rang in the back of his head.
The SDI still hadn’t responded. They knew that Nehemiah was Jonah’s only chance. They had warned him. If he wanted to risk his own skin, then let him.
Nehemiah flipped off the com for good. He was in it for good now. He had to focus.
Nehemiah reached Jonah the same time as he reached the space rock and winds. They howled below Nehemiah’s fighter, trying to reach up and drag him down, down, down into the gaseous belly of the planet. Nehemiah tightened his grip on the control stick.
Nehemiah positioned himself so that he could harpoon Jonah’s fighter. The space debris was getting close. Too close. He had to shoot.
Nehemiah pressed the trigger, and the harpoon was away. And at the same time, Jonah reached the maelstrom proper. The wind caught his fighter, and he was swept into a storm. Nehemiah’s harpoon missed by a few feet.
“Blast!” cried Nehemiah. He reeled the harpoon in and then gave chase. He could still see Jonah’s fighter, its red lights proving a useful beacon of his location. Nehemiah shot above the wind storm, trying to keep up. But it was no use. The wind was faster, and the distance between the fighters was getting larger and larger.
“If only I had the Accipiter,” Nehemiah muttered. He took a deep breath. Then, he dove his ship down into the wind and rock.