Dock’s return to Earth was uneventful. He passed the time analyzing data and compiling his findings. All in all, his trip to Mars was an overwhelming success. He had accomplished all he had set out to do, with the only setback being Wormhole’s escape. How this would affect Nomicon’s plans on Mars remained to be seen.
MEANWHILE…
Krate only laughed as he watched Lander flailing wildly in space. He chuckled into his radio, though Lander’s handset drifted further from him and the sound went out in rippling waves to the great beyond.
No line tethered Lander to the ship.
Righting himself to face his transmitter, he fired his vector boots, snagging the radio strap, then turned quickly about and rocketed back to the air lock.
Way to go, Ash came Krate’s voice.
Pretty slick, huh? Ash responded, and turned a few somersaults while Krate opened the air lock hatch. Ash pulled himself in and closed the door behind him while Krate began pressurizing the compartment.
How are you feeling? Krate asked, as was routine after repressurization.
Hungry came Lander’s reply.
Excellent! said Krate I’ll get dinner on while you change. Though food was not elaborate aboard the ship, the men always looked forward to mealtimes.
MEANWHILE…
Playing along with what seemed an obvious game, Bertha responded to Flash.
This is Alpha Control
Relieved, Flash sped closer and closer to Earth.
How was your trip? Bertha asked, not really up on the space craze that was sweeping the nation.
Well, for now, I’m relieved to be coming home he said.
Right. I’ll talk you down, Flash. Picking up a copy of National Geographic Magazine, Bertha looked for material to use in her dialog with Flash Meridian.
Let me know when you can see the eastern seaboard.
10-4 Flash replied.
Bertha works for the government. In fact, she is a clerk in the White House under the Kennedy administration. Her job is boring and her workload is heavy. For entertainment, she spends her free time talking on the ham radio in her basement. One night as she scanned for friends to chat with, she picked up a signal from a guy pretending to be a space man. Or so she thought. She unknowingly talked Flash Meridian down onto a residential street in Washington. Flash was unaware that he had gone through a time warp on his return to Earth placing him over one hundred years back in time.