Chapter 15: Zero Gravity
**April and the kids charge through the doors into the cockpit, and Jimmy begins pacing up and down and muttering to himself**
CINDY: What’s the rush, Neutron?
NEUTRON: Huh? What? Oh…it’s nothing.
LIBBY: Jimmy, have ya seen Carl or Sheen? I thought they were with you?
JIMMY: What? No...I haven’t seen them.
CINDY: Does it really matter? I’m sure they’re getting themselves into trouble somewhere.
**A moment later, the doors slide open and Aurora strides into the room. Her eyes are fiery and full of danger**
AURORA: What’ve you found? Do you have the chemical formula for the antidote yet?
JIMMY: Yes…well, sort of. I have a list of the ingredients I’ll need, and many of them are readily accessible on the ship or can be easily produced by the food synthesizer. Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a problem.
AURORA: Cut to the chase, Neutron. I’m not in the mood for riddles.
JIMMY: I’m missing one critical ingredient. You see, when a person is exposed to Megalomanium, the chemical alters both neural cells and white blood cells. If we were to give my future self the antidote in its pure form, his immune system would recognize it as an invading body and destroy it before it could travel up the neural pathways into his brain.
AURORA: Hmm, that is a problem. But I’m sure we can afford to buy whatever you need to finish the antidote. The rebel forces have extensive funds, and…
JIMMY: (waving away her offers) No, no. Money’s not the issue. I need something that will immediately allow the antidote to invade his immune system. Unfortunately, this means I will have to obtain a very specific enzyme. The enzyme I need is called Flavohemoglobin, and it only occurs in one species of fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans.
LIBBY: Ugh, fungus? That’s just gross.
CINDY: (crossing her arms) Most things Nerdtron-related are, Libs.
JIMMY: This particular fungus has been known to attack organ transplant patients whose immune systems are weakened, but in this case it will allow the antidote to break down the Megalomanium without being hampered by his immune system.
AURORA: Fine, fine, whatever. Let’s just go find the fungus and get it over with. Where to?
JIMMY: That’s just the thing. This fungus only exists in one place…and that one place is on Earth. We’ll have to go back to Earth.
**A spark of fear alights in Aurora’s eyes**
AURORA: Absolutely not.
JIMMY: What do you mean? We HAVE to get this enzyme!
AURORA: (backing away) I’m NOT going back there. I can’t. After ten years…
APRIL: Jimmy is right this time, Aurora. You must face your past or you will never have a future.
AURORA: (looking from April to Jimmy in desperation) But I can’t…
CINDY: (stepping in) Yes you can! Now you listen to me! We’re going to go to Earth and we’re gonna find the stupid fungus so we can make the antidote and get this all over with! Now quit whining and put the pedal to the medal! I wanna see movement!
LIBBY: (under her breath, with half a laugh) You’re just full o’ surprises today, girl.
**Aurora seems shocked for a moment, then nods and takes her place in the pilot’s seat**
AURORA: (punching various controls) I’m setting the hyper thrusts to maximum. After I calculate our trajectory, we’ll be on our way. I suggest you hold on…the hyper thrust can be a bit jarring. Maybe you should all…
**Before Aurora can get in another word, a buzzing alarm light begins flashing on the ceiling**
APRIL: Oh no…that’s the alarm for the water release valve! Somebody has tampered with the water coolant system!
AURORA: Darn it all! Carl and Sheen probably got into the water supply room. You’d better go stop them before they flood the ship.
**An earsplitting siren begins to wail**
APRIL: Too late!
**April dashes from the cockpit, and Aurora turns her attention back to the control panel. She activates the hyper drive, and the ship seems to freeze in time as a crackling field of energy surrounds it**
JIMMY: Well, at least we’ll be able to refill the water tank once we reach Earth. Aurora, do you think we can stop in Retroville once we get there? There’s some stuff I’d like to retrieve from my lab.
AURORA: Uh…I’d be more concerned about holding on right about now if I were you…
CINDY: What’s that supposed to mean?
**A moment later the ship lurches forward with such force that the kids are sent crashing against the back wall. The sudden thrust pins Jimmy to the wall, and Cindy crashes into him, and Libby crashes into her**
AURORA: (pushing the shift into a higher gear) Yeeeehaaaawww!
**They rocket forward, and space and time whir into the blinding vortex of hyperspace. The kids lift off the floor and begin floating in midair**
LIBBY: What…What’s goin’ on?
JIMMY: Aurora, this isn’t funny! Engage the artificial hyper-gravity!
AURORA: Why? It’s more fun this way. Besides…just think. Somewhere Carl and Sheen are floating around and have no idea what’s going on! Serves them right for messing with my water coolant system!
**She gives a rippling laugh**
CINDY: Hey Neutron, what’s up with this? We don’t float when you use the hyper thrusts in your junky tin rocket!
JIMMY: My rocket isn’t junky!…and it’s kind of complicated.
CINDY: (raising an eyebrow) Try me.
JIMMY: Well, when a physical object such as this ship is traveling through hyperspace, it moves faster than the speed of light…and thus by the laws of physics it exists outside of spacetime. Because of this, people on board aren’t affected by normal gravity…since after all, gravity is merely the warping of space and time. Normally I’d engage a special kind of artificial gravity, but Aurora seems to have her own ideas about doing things.
**He glares in her direction, and Aurora returns it with a smile. She floats up into midair, two glittering fireballs spinning around each hand**
AURORA: Zero gravity is the best place to practice combat skills.
**She closes her eyes and brings her hands together. Waves of energy ripple up and down her arms as she slowly twists the intensely green energy bolt around itself. She exhales deeply, then pulls her hands apart. She has molded the green fire into the shape of an atom**
JIMMY: (eyes widening) Incredible! How did you do that?
AURORA: (taking hold of the fire) I control the energy with my mind and my emotions. I can make it do whatever I want. I can make it angry…
**The fire surges in brightness and whirls around her in a frenzied, roaring tornado**
AURORA: And I can make it calm…
**Aurora sinks to the floor, and the light ripples gently over her. She gives a sigh, and it fizzles and winks out**
AURORA: (looking into the distance) You know, Neutron has the same suit as I do. Only it’s a darker color. And his fire is blue…
JIMMY: You mean…the dictator has the same abilities as you? I thought you stole this from him so he wouldn’t be able to use the suit’s powers!
AURORA: I did. But this suit was just a prototype…his is even more powerful.
JIMMY: Well isn’t that just great!
**Aurora doesn’t answer, but instead glides back down in the pilot’s seat. Moments later they fall out of hyperspace, gravity re-engages, and the kids crash down onto the floor. Jimmy pulls himself up and looks out the portal. Ahead in the void of space, a familiar blue planet twinkles invitingly**
JIMMY: Earth!
CINDY: Never thought I’d be so glad to see it…
LIBBY: Earth! We’re home!
AURORA: Ya. Home.
**Aurora speaks into her watch communicator**
AURORA: April, we’ll be arriving shortly. I suggest that you get down here before…
APRIL: (on her communicator) I am already here!
**April bursts in through the cockpit doors, sopping wet. Carl and Sheen, looking shamed and embarrassed, stand in front of her, dripping water from head to toe. A long trail of puddles winds its way into the hallway behind them**
APRIL: (pushing Carl forward) I found this one gorging himself on our food supplies in the main storage room. You should see the mess he made! There is food all over everything!
CARL: I’m sorry…I was just so hungry and…and…oh, I’m such a terrible person!
APRIL: (pushing Sheen forward) And I found this one in the women’s showers! He pulled the emergency release valve on the water tank and flooded the entire room! It is a wonder he did not drown!
LIBBY: Sheen, what on earth were ya doin’ in the showers?
SHEEN: (shifty-eyed) Nothing…
APRIL: (pointing at Aurora) And thanks to your anti-gravity maneuver, I became trapped in midair in the showers along with these two! I do not appreciate your methods of amusement, Aurora!
AURORA: (trying to hide her smile) I’m sorry, April. I completely forgot that you might end up floating along with them. You have to admit, though, it was pretty funny!
SHEEN: Ya, especially when Carl lost his…
**Carl puts a hand over Sheen’s mouth**
CARL: Don’t tell everyone Sheen!
**Everybody gives him an odd look, then Aurora speaks**
AURORA: Entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Touchdown in Retroville in approximately T-minus 10 seconds.
