***
Harvey and Herstaff loaded their bags into the back of the Century Hawk. The space ship looked more like a large van than the usual futuristic transport that most people used. There was the driver’s cockpit at the front, and an open space in the back of the van shaped ship that was officially referred to as the ‘hold’. In the ‘hold’ there was a fridge, a small single bed, a cupboard, a table and three chairs that were all bolted down. When they’d filled the empty space with their possessions they closed the two rear doors and walked round to see how the repairs were going.
Indy and the Baron were tinkering around under the bonnet, while two large bears stood behind them, offering advice.
“Just twist that nut to the right now” one of the bears growled slowly and deeply. “Then it should be sorted.”
Indy twisted the nut tightly that held the yellow glowing core onto the engine and stepped back to admire his handiwork. “Baron, do you mind starting her up?” Indy said, passing him the keys.
The Baron walked round the side of the ship and lifted himself up into the cabin. He put the keys in the ignition and the vehicle roared into life. The yellow power core flared red then settled into a calm blue that bathed the vibrating engine in an ambient light.
Indy gave a thumbs up sign to the Baron who was looking down through the windscreen. He then closed the bonnet as the Baron jumped down out of the cabin and stood with him in front of the ship.
“See you on the other side, brother.” The Baron said giving Indy an embrace, “Don’t’ you go dying out on this quest of yours either.” He used his most official voice to get this across.
“I promise you, I will never die” Indy looked him right in the eyes. He then walked past the Baron, said goodbye once more and jumped up into the driver’s seat.
Harvey and Herstaff clambered into the passenger seats in the cab and strapped on their 5 point harnesses while Indy found the ‘space’ gear. They all waved to the Baron his bear entourage as the ship rose slowly straight up into the air. The Baron and
Indy negotiated his way through the space port, avoiding a terribly piloted pirate ship that was swinging erratically throughout the area. They rose up through the pre-sunset sky and left the asteroid’s atmosphere on their journey into space.
As soon as they had got settled into the groove of space travel Harvey un-belted himself and clambered over the seats and into the back of the Century Hawk to make cups of tea.
“Two sugars right Herstaff?” He called into the cab, where Herstaff was looking at an A-Z map of the Vorgon 5 system.
“Yes, danke,” he called back, not looking up from the map. While the kettle was boiling Indy was hurriedly tying to de-mist the inside of the windscreen with a rag.
“I love this ship, but it ain’t half a hunk of junk!” He turned the heaters up to try and increase visibility through the glass, which worked slowly, by the time the teas were ready the windscreen was two thirds clear. Harvey passed the cups over the seats and into the cab where they took the hot drinks gladly.
“What are the co-ordinates we’ve got Herstaff?”
“bv567.835 lateral by 89F7.009A longitudinal with a depth of 560FR and a curvature of 65v577.” Indy took a look in his mirrors and over his shoulder at his blind spot. Satisfied nothing was there he punched in the co-ordinates, put on the autopilot and hazard blinkers and sat back with his hands behind his head.
“That’s sorted, it looks like we have 3 days before getting to Vorgon 5. What do you guys want to do in the mean time?” He opened the overhead compartment above him and rummaged around. “Choices are: Monopoly, or, Risk and, wait, at the back here, aha, Cluedo.”
“Vhat about risk?! I love taking over ze world!” Indy agreed with this sentiment and jumped over the seats into the back of the spaceship. He put the box down on the small table and began to set up the board game. This is going to be one long journey, Harvey thought to himself, looking down at the hundreds of tiny plastic soldiers.
grigori Brosputin