EPISODE CXXXVII - GOLDIE THE HEADLESS GOLDEN RETRIEVER AND THE TEMPLE OF JELLY
The Jennings bothers had just set down their payload in the main docking bay. Though formation flight was their speciality, towing the spherical, two ton, Mercurion sample through
the Earth's atmosphere had been challenging. Given the fact that Triple J was still recovering from the residual effects of a binge drinking weekend, the mission's success had been anything but assured.
Yet, as so often happened, Ghostrider compensated for his brother's shortcomings, bringing the monstrous mineral compound in and setting it lightly onto the deck. Engineers detached the cables, waving when
the ships were clear, and the pilots slipped back out into space en route to the fighter bay.
"Piece of cake.", Triple J observed over his comm.
Ghostrider bit back an angry retort and let the silence convey his feelings.
"Piece of cake, I said.", Triple J repeated more loudly this time.
Ghostrider's anger got the best of him. "Sure", he shot back, "anything's a piece of cake when you sleep through it!!"
"I just dozed of that once.", his brother managed on his own defense.
"For three minutes.", Ghostrider replied grimly. "Which happened to be the three minutes we were dragging that thing through the Earth's gravitational field."
"Still", Triple J countered weakly, "it was just the once."
Ghostrider shook his head wearily. "At least we can go back and get some rest", he mumbled, "I haven't slept in two days."
"Me neither", Triple J remarked agreeably, "except for those three minutes, I mean", he added belatedly, "and when you thought I was..."
"Reed to Ghostrider.", the commander's voice cut through their conversation.
Ghostrider switched his comm. over to the bridge frequency. "This is Ghostrider, sir."
"We have an unidentified ship in a close orbit of the planet.", Reed relayed. "They haven't spotted us yet and we need you to go in and take a closer look."
Ghostrider sighed and rolled his eyes. "Copy Escort", he said with little enthusiasm, "we're on our way."
"Another thing, Lieutenant", Reed added, "we believe it's the Wyzenhymers."
"Great.", Ghostrider replied shaking his head dismally. He switched the communicator back to its previous setting. "You ready, bro?" There was no reply. "Ghostrider to Triple J.",
he repeated, "Are you ready?"
There was a moment's pause. "Huh, oh yeah, yeah", Triple J confirmed, stifling a yawn, "let's go."
