As Austin Goodmen wandered down the empty streets of the city, it felt everything but romantic. The city was literally empty at this time of night, and he's been walking for what feels like hours.
He came across a simply put 'bicycle', which strangely enough had a pen and sticky-notes in the pouch. He removed both the pen and the sticky-note pad and began writing.
Quote:Dear Owner,
As an emergency I've used your bicycle that was outside your house. Along with a pen and pad that I found in the pouch. I'm an Armed Forces Lieutenant that needs it for transportation, now this sounds like a trick, I assure you it's not. Your belongings, the bicycle, will be returned with everything in the pouch in a matter of time, along with a hefty sum of credits.
-- Lieutenant A.G.
He sighed lightly and placed the note gently on the door before walking over to the bicycle and picking it up. "It's been ages since I've used one of these." He mumbled lightly, he got on and started off towards the Armed Forces base, surely enough they wouldn't remember him.
5 Hours and Ten minutes since leaving the old mans house...
Continuing to push the pedals as slow as they can, he rode up the hill to a brightly lit compound. It was one of Leeds many Armed Forces outposts. He rode past the sight that said "Fort Menwith Hill". A Spot light was sweeping the outskirts of the base, as he continued to push towards the gates, the Spot light hit him and he came to a sudden stop, nearly falling off the bicycle.
"Oi! Who are you!" Came over the loud speaker. Knowing they couldn't hear him he remained quiet and raised his hands above his head, giving a signal.
Shortly after, Three armed Marines came running out from a passage way to the side of the heavy gates. Rifles pointed, a third man followed behind them. "Men, stand down." The man said, walking forwards and into the spotlight, the Marines lowered their weapons but continued to point them in Austin's general direction.
Austin slowly got off the bicycle and sat it down gently.
"Son, what's your name?" The man sad calmly.
"Lieutenant Austin Rodney Goodmen, 5th Fleet, under the command of Admiral Nelson. Sir." He gave a salute.
"Admiral Nelson eh? You must have been out of it for awhile, He's the Fleet Admiral now."
"Fleet...Fleet Admiral? When...when did this happen?"
"A few days ago, the old man is going into retirement. With that he placed Nelson in charge of the Fleet."
"Bloody..hell. That's a new one."
"Indeed it is, lad. You said your name was Austin Goodmen, correct?"
"Aye, it is."
"Well then, welcome to Fort Menwith Hill, son. Is that your bicycle?"
"With all due respect sir, No it's not. I left a note to the owner, need to return it here in a few."
"You can do that tomorrow, you need to get some catching up done."
"Rather just be in my uniform and back to where I belong."
"We could use you in space aswell. We have a transport that leaves for Suffolk here in a few minutes, I'm sure the Captain would squeeze you in."
"Thank you sir. Uhm, sir, what's you name again?"
"Sergeant Major John Oxford, and I should be calling you, Sir."
Austin coughed lightly "Well, Sergeant Major, Do me a favor and take this Bicycle back to 324th Street in the city down there, House number 43. I owe them some credits, but right now I'm poor as hell."
"Can do, Lieutenant, we'll make sure the family get's paid aswell for the use of the bicycle."
"Very well, I have a Transport to catch."
He smiled and headed through the small passage way and directly to the small space port where a Transport was lit up on the pad. Slowly walking towards it he smiled reading the ships name near the front of the vessel. "Ah, the Merlin, good to see this again."
"Lieutenant?" A familiar voice came from behind, causing Austin to turn around.
"Franklin James?"
"The only bastard that flies the Merlin!" Franklin said with a grin.
"Well, when do we leave?"
"We? You commin' along aswell, just like old times then, 'cept your not injuried, and I'm not getting shot at by Kusarians."
"This transport is heading to the Suffolk correct?"
"Aye, she is. Come on then. All aboard." Franklin said ushering Austin up the stairs and into the bridge.
Franklin walked over to the controls and the airlock door began to close. He pressed a few buttons, as the ship's core roared to life, he switched on the communications array.
"This is the Captain of the Merlin, Franklin James, we're carrying some cargo to the Suffolk in the New London system, requesting flight clearence for take off."
"This is Menwith Hill control tower B, you are clear for launch. Please be aware we have some orbital debris coming in, small meteorites, shouldn't do any damage to the hull. Continue the laid out flight path currently being uploaded now."
"Copy that control tower B, we recieved the flight path and are preparing to take off. Is the flight pad clear from your view?"
"Yes it is, Captain. Prepare to take off in Ten..."
Franklin sat down in the seat. "Lad, you may want to take a seat in that chair over behind you and strap in."
"Nine."
Austin nodded and went to sit down, the ship rocked slightly causing him to recapture his balance, he finally made it into the seat and buckled himself in.
"Eight."
"Seven."
"Six."
Franklin smiled and unlocked the controls, gentally easing the joy stick back to make the nose point up.
"Five."
"Four."
"Hold on, lad. Here's the fun part." He pressed a series of buttons and the ship sounded like it stalled out.
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"We have Lift off now!" Franklin laughed as he pushed the throttle forwards, the ship buckled slightly and lurched off the flight pad. Heading slowly and towards the docking ring.
"This is control tower B, Captain, You have cleared our air-space successfully, safe flight, the Docking Ring crew gives you an all clear for traffic. Godspeed."
"You aswell, Ma'am. Captain Franklin James of the Merlin, Out." Franklin shook his head and clicked the comms off just as the ship exited the orbit and through the docking ring, into the heavily smog-filled system of Leeds.
"Well then, shall we get on with life?" Franklin said turning around in the chair and looking at Austin, who was rather speechless at the time.
After a few minutes, Austin gave a nod. "I would have liked to go to my place on Leeds and get something other then what I'm wearing now. But I have a bunk on the Suffolk, and they'll bring me up to speed on the situtation." He paused for a moment remembering what the Sergeant Major had said. "James, did Nelson become the Fleet Admiral?"
"Lad," Franklin said turning just enough to look at Austin. "I work for a living. Don't keep track of this, and if it was true there would be an announcement made over channel 34, strangely that reporter has gone missing as of late."
Austin nodded once more. "Sounds fair, the lads on Suffolk will bring me up to speed as I said. Right now I'm going to try to get as much sleep as I can." He leaned back as far as he could, which wasn't far enough, and closed his eyes.