Pike spoke. "If you're looking for the men's bathroom, it's two doors down."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48T5rEqdkq
A medium-sized man in a dark business suit was standing with his head thrust into the module. Ignoring Pike, he addressed himself to Kirk. "Jim, I need you and your crew to please follow me."
Kirk blinked. "Cyrano, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"This is an emergency," replied Cyrano Jones.
"What kind of emergency?" McCoy wanted to know.
"Let me put this way, you guys: If you want to live, follow me now."
"This is crazy," said Kirk. "We're about to..."
"Jim, for God's sake, trust me," said Jones in a loud, anxious voice. "All three of you, come along. Quick!"
"I had this happen to me once in college," said Pike, while extricating himself from his harness. "All set to hop into the sack with a stacked co-ed and then her dad unexpectedly..."
"Hurry, there's very little time," Jones told them.
"This is one part of the mission we didn't rehearse," McCoy moved toward the hatch. "Where exactly are we going, Cyrano?"
Jones shook his head. "Someone will explain. The urgent thing now is to get the hell out of here."
"Just when I was starting to like the neighborhood," remarked Pike.
"This is Robert Sarnoff, Enterprise Control. We are coming up on T-minus 5 minutes and counting. The space vehicle final checks have been completed. The access arm is swinging into a full retreat position. This means the destruct system is now fully armed."566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ478gyTgsQw
"TLR pressure reading is 45.2."
A door on the back side of the gantry swung open. Hidden from the view of the launch spectators, the three astronauts emerged, led by Jones. A van was waiting at the exit, back doors hanging open.
"In here, quick," urged Jones.
Kirk stopped short. "Will you, damn it, tell us what in the...."
"In, in, for Christ's sake." Jones grabbed Kirk's arm and hustled him up into the back of the van.
"I feel like we're one step ahead of a lynch mob," said McCoy as he somewhat reluctantly followed Kirk into the shadowy interior of the van.
When the three astronauts were inside with Jones, he shut the doors and locked them. The van made a skidding U-turn and went roaring away.
"This is Robert Sarnoff, Enterprise Control. We are at T-minus 3 minutes, 6 seconds. The launch officer has given a go to begin the Firing Command Automatic Sequence. From now until T-minus 50 seconds the system is preset. At T-minus 50 seconds the launch vehicle, Enterprise IX, will be on full internal power, which begins the actual launch sequence. All systems are go, all lights are green."
The chopper's blades were chopping at the air as it sat on the landing strip. T he van came to a jerking halt near it. Jones came out first, brushing at wrinkles in his trousers. "Right over here now, Jim," he said, motioning to the other astronauts. "We want all of you in the chopper."
Kirk eased out of the van and stopped when he was facing Jones.
"We're not going any farther, Cyrano, until you...."
"Jim," said Jones, after an anxious glance at the waiting helicopter, "you've got to trust me. Believe me when I tell you I'm not crazy. We all have your best interests at heart."
"Our best interests are in that damn rocket," said McCoy, angry, joining Kirk on the strip.
Jones was breathing through his mouth, his head ticking slightly from side to side. "I'm acting on Roddenberry's orders, for Christ's sake."
Ambling up to them, Pike asked, "Why would Roddenberry order us to do a damn fool thing like this?"
"He'll tell you that himself," said Jones. "Now for the love of God, get into this damn chopper!"
Pike, an eyebrow raised, looked at Kirk. "Your orders, chief?"
Kirk lowered his head for a few seconds. Raising it, he said, "I guess we go wherever it is they want us to go and see what Roddenberry has to say."
"Right, that's the best thing to do," said Jones, urging them over to the helicopter.
The three astronauts were soon inside the chopper. Jones hurried back to the van. He didn't stay to watch the chopper climb into the sky.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
