Cooperative: The Destination

Chapter 1

James looked up and flinched, sending the ultralight aircraft into a spin. “Crap! What the hell?” 

“What?” his radio chirped.

He blinked hard and rubbed his eyes. For a moment, he saw Jupiter dominating most of the evening sky, silhouetting the distant Mount Rainier. At least he thought it was Jupiter. There was no red spot and the bands looked different. However it was huge and the detail was crisp. Like the Earth was one of its moons. He rubbed his eyes again, then tentatively opened them, hoping against hope that Jupiter was no longer there. Thankfully, all he saw was just the mountainous horizon and the darkening evening sky containing a relatively diminutive Moon. He twisted in his seat, staring at the Moon while the aircraft slowly spun.

“James?”

James reduced power and pointed the nose down, adding a little rudder to recover from the spin then looked back at the sky. “I, um. Nothing, Cory. Just, turbulence.”

“Don’t crash my Hawk.”

“You could get your pilot’s license and fly this instead of me.” James squinted at the Moon and rubbed his eyes again.

“Nope. I bought it for you. I got plenty to do down here.”

“Setting flaps now,” James said to himself, glancing furtively at the Moon. “Reducing power for final.”

“Huh?”

“Shush.” James banked the ultralight for the final leg. “I’m bringing her in.”

“You just launched a few minutes ago.” 

“Need to tweak the engine mounts. Lotsa vibration.” The engine was silky smooth, but what was he going to say? He was seeing things? James crabbed a little into the crosswind.

“It’s a Rotax, James. Two cylinder,” Cory said dryly. “Ooh, UPS just showed up.”

“Better safe than sorry. Got plenty of light left for another test flight.” He took a breath, looking back at the sky. “Assuming I’m not going Section 8.”

“I wanted…”

“Chill. Just gonna tweak things a bit and I’ll take her back up.” He straightened the aircraft just as the wheels touched down and quickly taxied off the runway to their rented hanger. 

“Dude, the new LIDAR is here! Gonna geek the hell out of this, man.”

“Move. Gonna pull right in.” James goosed the engine a little, then killed it as he rolled into the hanger. “Get the lights on, Cory, willya?”

“Yeah, sure.” Cory found the remote and hit a button while he looked at the instructions for the camera equipment. Bright LED lights lit up the hanger, illuminating their little shop area and various pieces and parts of ultralight aircraft. “This is a game-changer, James. Photogrammetry with lasers.”

“Neat.” James sat in the cockpit for a moment, rubbing his eyes. Maybe it was an eye thing. He blinked and looked at the instruments. They were sharp and easy to read. “Maybe I got something in my eyes. Yeah. Nothing some eye-drops can’t fix.”

“It is neat!” Cory brought the box over. “Dig this. You’ll be flying around stuff and I’ll be creating 3D of it, live. Like, castle ruins and stuff!”

“You need a real job.” James sighed. He couldn’t complain. Cory wasn’t remotely broke. James wasn’t even sure how Cory made his living.

“Sure, I can work at some day job I can’t tell anyone about. Super secret secrets that are secret. That’d be so fun.”

“It pays the bills. You’d be bored if I told you about it anyway.” James scratched his elbow. “Do you have your eye-drops?”

Cory held the box up. “This pays the bills. And the Hawk I got you. My latest contract paid for this.” He glanced at the entrance, then stood up quickly. “Brian?”

James looked around and watched a grizzled, elderly black man walk into the hangar, smiling at Cory. 

“I see you got the camera.” 

“Yes sir. This is going to change everything. Resolution, detail, accuracy. I need a little time to calibrate it then I’m ready for work.”

“Good. That your pilot?”

James extricated himself from the cockpit and stood up, bumping his head on the wing. He grinned sheepishly as he walked out from under the wing. 

“That’s my cousin, James.” Cory beamed. “He’s the best.”

“I’m sure there are better pilots. I just fly small aircraft for a hobby.” He looked over his shoulder. “And ultralights.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Brian smiled, holding a hand out. James took it, trying not to wince. Brian had a solid grip. “How’s the view up there?” He looked at the sky. “See anything interesting?”

James let go and tried not to fidget. “It’s beautiful as always. Cut the engine and it’s just you and the clouds.”

Brian smiled even wider. “I love to fly.”

“I need to ask, why not use drones?”

“For some of the sites I want to document, we need a human touch. Plus eagles keep knocking our drones from the sky.” Brian shrugged.

“Dude, I explained that already,” Cory said, elbowing him.

“Sorry. Just curious.” James rubbed his ribs. He looked at the sky again and saw Jupiter. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his temples. “Ah, my eyes are bothering me. Maybe we should call it a day? I have to get to work tomorrow.”

“Anderson Labs, right?” Brian raised a brow.

James gave him a look.

“Your cousin mentioned it. We’ve used them for data analysis.” 

“Oh. Well, yeah.” James nodded. 

“We need to mount the camera.” Cory held up the box.

“You can. We’ll test it tomorrow after work.” James looked back at the sky. It was normal again. 

Brian looked over his shoulder at the sky then back at James, amused. “I’ll be in town for a bit. You two get things squared away. I want to see a test of the system… this weekend, perhaps?”

“Certainly, sir.” Cory nodded enthusiastically. “It’s going to be awesome!”

“Awesome is what we are shooting for.” Brian held out his hand and James shook it again. “James, it was really nice to meet you. I think working with you is going to be epic.”

“Thank you, sir. Epic is what I do.” James laughed nervously. Brian clapped him on the shoulder then casually walked back to his car.

“He likes you.” 

James looked at Cory. “Well, I wouldn’t want to screw things up for you.” He noticed Jupiter again and sighed.

Cory looked over his shoulder at the sky, then quizzically at James. “What?”

“You’re gonna think I’m crazy.” James rubbed his brow. Who else would he tell? “I think I’m going crazy.”

“I already think you’re crazy.” Cory grinned. 

James just gave him a look. “I think stress is getting to me. Greg moved out so now I’m alone again. Maybe that’s it.”

“Crap, he took the Erin Hanson artwork, didn’t he? I was going to buy one from him.” Cory put the camera box on the workbench. 

“Get a print.”

“Her art is genius. I wanted an original.” Cory sighed.

James waved a hand and looked at the sky. “I am seeing things. Like, sci-fi things.”

“Aliens?” Cory grinned. “They’d starve if they tried to suck out your brains.”

“No, stupid.” He rubbed his temple. “It’s nothing. This had better not get back to work.” 

“Lips are sealed.” Cory said. “You okay? What are you seeing?”

“Right now, I am looking at Jupiter where the Moon should be. It’s just filling up the sky.” James waved his hand. “Then it goes away.” 

“Cool.” Cory gazed at the Moon, brightening as the evening progressed. “I saw someone do that with Saturn. Artwork. Looked freaky cool.”

“This isn’t freaky cool. Just freaky.” James said, trying to ignore the monstrosity in the sky. 

“It’s like, a full Moon tonight.” Cory held his hands out. “Maybe…”

“Full Moon is in three nights.” James grumbled. “You don’t see it? It’s like half of the sky.”

“Go to bed early tonight.” Cory started packing up his gear. 

“Yeah. I haven’t slept well lately.” James nodded.

“Bet the house is quiet now. His wedding was epic, man. Greg took his drums too, right?”

“Yeah. Quiet. Drums never bothered me much. But he married a groupie. They’d both get loud while I was trying to sleep.” James sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Still, he’s the third best friend roommate I lost to marriage.”

“Well, get married then. I did. It’s great.” Cory smirked.

“I think I’m cursed or something.” James looked at the sky. “I’m boring. I can’t even talk about my job.”

“Um, you fly.”

“Sure. The last time I took a girl up she puked all over the Cessna. Lost my deposit for that.” He shook his head. “Twenty-seven and destined to be alone.”

“Bullshit. Just gotta get out there. Hell, take the Hawk to some of the fly-ins even. It’s tandem for a reason. Just, keep barf-bags handy.”

“Sure, because ultralights are babe magnets.”

“Give it a chance. Hit up Oshkosh with me. You just need to stop hating yourself so much. Loosen up. You reek of desperation.”

“Probably fumes from the Rotax. Maybe that’s it. Did we mount the exhaust right?” James looked at the ultralight, but the exhaust pointed away from the cockpit. He sighed. “I don’t hate myself. But I think I’m just broken, somehow. And I am boring. I crunch data on computers all day, then hang out with you. And now I’m seeing that.” He pointed at the sky. 

“Chicks dig a guy with vision. Embrace your crazy.” Cory grinned. “Seriously, get some rest and stop being so lonely. You’re my cousin, so I know you got mojo. Just gotta believe in yourself.” He grabbed James’ arm, giving it a squeeze. 

James blinked and pulled away, rubbing his arm as he looked curiously at his cousin. “I appreciate it, but you think I’m hopeless.” 

“I think you’re a repressed nerd who needs a swift kick.”

James looked at his arm. “Touch me again.”

“Sorry, that’s not how I swing.”

James looked at him.

Cory waggled his brows and wrapped an arm around James’ waist. “How’s that, honey?”

“Shit.” James looked at the sky again. “Something’s happening, Cory. Something… shit.”

“Huh?”

“You’re jonesing for a BBQ burger from Lady Jaye’s. Cory, you… let go. You think I’m cracking.”

“Like you’re reading my mind?” Cory put his hands on his hips. “Dude, I am always jonesing for a burger there.” He looked down. “Except, Jenny is meeting me there tonight. It’s Thursday Special night.”

James waved his hands in the air, then rubbed his temples again. “This is nuts. Nuts. Totally nuts. Yeah, that’s it. You’re always wanting me to go there with you.” He looked at the sky with Jupiter in it. “Maybe I’m asleep. Dreaming.”

“Want me to pimp-slap you?” Cory said, rubbing his hands together.

“Cory, I’m freaking right now.” James paced, then sat down on a stool. He stood back up. “I don’t need this. I… no. I’m just freaking. That’s all. Panic attack.”

“I’m not getting weed for you.” Cory crossed his arms.

“I don’t toke,” James said absentmindedly. The more he tried to control his breathing, the more panicked he got. He sat down again and just trembled as he struggled to catch his breath.

“Dude, you’re wigging. Look at me. Look… good. Focus on me. Man, something’s crawled into your head. Greg just got married, right? That’s all. He didn’t die or anything.” Cory grabbed James’ arms, holding him still.

James gaped at him, then shut his mouth and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, man. You’re right. I’m boring. I like boring. I like normal. I’m… maybe it’s a midlife crisis. You guys are moving on and I feel stuck. Like really stuck.” He shrugged, his eyes still closed. “No. CBD oil ain’t gonna help. And I’m not going to bother my parents in Ireland while they’re golfing.”

“I didn’t say…” Cory stopped, then let go of James. “I didn’t say anything about that.” 

James opened his eyes, looking at a stunned Cory. “Maybe we just think alike?” He took in a shuddering breath. “Cory, am I going crazy?”

“No. You’re not allowed. And who goes crazy in like, half an hour? You were fine putting the Hawk together. Bitching about being alone, but fine.” Cory shook his head, then looked at the aircraft. “Maybe flying the Hawk blew your mind. You gonna have to take me up.” 

“I have a great job. I have a neat hobby. I have a very nice house. Life is good, right?”

“Yeah. Yeah, man. Focus on that. We’ll get you hooked up and you’ll be peachy.” Cory knelt down before him and hesitantly put a hand on James’ arm. “And James, you’re my pilot. You’re not allowed to go off the deep end.”

James grit his teeth. “You’re worried about your business.”

“Of course I am. But I’m worried about you too.” Cory waved a hand. 

“No… I feel it. I feel it here.” James put his hand on his heart. “There, you let go and it’s gone. Is it you?”

“Is what me? What, James?” 

“I don’t know! Some sort of telepathy crap?”

“Okay, now we’re both freaking.” Cory paced then knelt back before James again. “Deep breath. We’re okay. You’re okay. Good jobs, good health, you’re a little lonely, I have a wife…”

“She’s expecting?” James looked up sharply.

“Oh shit, no.” Cory let go of him again. “Okay, okay, that’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone. Don’t you dare… James, what the hell?”

“I didn’t do anything!” James half stood up, then sat back down. He looked at the darkened sky. Jupiter glowed brightly in the twilight, like a gigantic Moon. “It’s gotta be me. I’m seeing that shit.” He pointed.

“I don’t see anything but a few stars and the Moon.”

“Exactly.” 

“Okay, okay, okay.” Cory fanned his hands for a moment. He gave James a stern look, then grabbed his arm.

“Oh god, man, not the test thing. That’s so cheap TV…” James rolled his eyes. “Scooby Doo. Something about… you used to watch Barney?” He blinked. “Is that why purple is your favorite color?”

Cory sat down on the floor, looking up at James. “Dude, you got it.”

“Got what? I feel like I caught a disease or something. The crazy disease.”

“But I have to touch you, right?”

“I didn’t get a thing from Brian.” James shrugged. “We’re cousins. Maybe we just think alike?”

Cory shook his head. “You know about Jenny.”

“But, Brian…”

“Maybe it’s still… you know, coming in.”

“Cory, is this really happening?” He looked at the sky. Jupiter was nearly completely above the horizon now, brightly glowing in the sky. “What about that?”

“I don’t know what you are seeing, but superhero shit is happening, man.”

“Oh don’t even go there. Maybe we got fumes or something when we unpacked the Hawk and are both just… hallucinating.” 

“Fumes.” Cory gave him a look.

“I don’t know! I’m guessing. Yeah. Shrooms do funky stuff to your brain, right? Maybe something like that. We touched something or… like right through our skin.” He looked at his hands. “Crap. My job does regular drug testing.”

“Dude, I’m normal. And I handled everything you did.”

James slumped. “It feels like I’m awake. Maybe just a really really real dream?”

Cory stood up and patted his pants off. “Your dream had better have me meeting up with Jenny at Lady Jaye. I’m starving.” He looked at James for a moment. “You’re coming too.”

“I don’t want to freak out your wife, dude.” James said as Cory pulled him to his feet. 

“You are not going to be alone right now. A good burger, some booze, nice company, that’s what you need.” He stopped then squinted at James. “Not…”

“Not a word about the baby. I know.” James finished his sentence.