Si in Space Read Online Free PDF Page A

universe.”
    “Ben, what’s our best option here?” Noble says.
    “Can I parachute?” you ask.
    Nobody thinks that’s funny. You win some and you lose some.
    “Sir, we haven’t tested it,” Parkhurst says, “but the ship has the capability to perform a horizontal drop and removal. It’s essentially the same as a landing, just a little quicker.”
    The crew waits and watches to see what the commander will say. Franco eats his cereal, Ashley looks over the reports in her hands, and Commander Noble stands and stares at you.
    “I approve of this decision,” he finally concedes. “But I have to tell all of you   —the lives of everybody on this ship may be endangered if we head to that moon.”
    “And we might be leaving some stranded souls behind on some weird moon if we don’t see what’s happening,” you remind him. Wasn’t he the one who wanted to respond to the signal in the first place?

    “Agreed,” Noble says. “But, Silas   —I need you to come out into the unknown with me.”
    “Man, I’ve been dealin’ with the unknown ever since I first started working at Duck Commander.”
    “We’ll give it an hour,” the commander announces. “Then I want everyone suited up and ready to go.”

    Shortly before the descent begins, John Luke asks if you’re sure about this.
    “We don’t know who’s making that distress signal. Couldn’t it be an alien?”
    “Jep could be an alien too,” you say. “You just don’t know with anybody these days. Humanoids and thyroids and all kinds of ’roids.”
    “I think you mean androids, not thyroids,” John Luke says.
    “Yep, those too!”
    “Then I’ll come outside with you.”
    “Nope. You stay in here. Gotta respect your parents’ wishes.”
    “What if something happens to you?”
    You take a sip of iced tea from your cup. Being the sponsor means they have unsweetened tea on board. All you can drink. But you can’t bring it to Phobos with you.
    “Use the focus, John Luke.”
    “You mean force?”
    “No, I mean focus. You don’t want the dark sight.”
    John Luke shakes his head. You wonder what it is you said.
    The landing only takes about ten minutes, but it seems to go on forever. The shaking and motion feel different. As they should, maybe. It’s amazing that a massive machine like the DC Enterprise can also be handled and flown like some small twin-engine plane.
    When Commander Noble gives the okay, you and John Luke unbuckle and head to the entrance/exit lift.
    “I want to go with you guys,” John Luke says again.
    You give Noble a look. He shakes his head as if it’s not a good idea.
    “What’s it look like out there?” you ask.
    “Mostly rock,” Ashley Jones says. “Subzero temperatures. Dangerous. Very difficult to sustain life outside.”
    “But you got an SOS, right?”
    “Yes. And signs of life. The gang back home will be very interested to see what we find.”
    “I’ll stay right with you guys,” John Luke says. “I promise.”

    Do you let John Luke come with you? Go here .
    Do you make John Luke stay behind in the spaceship? Go here .

THAT VOICE AGAIN

    LISTEN, JACK. Waitin’s usually for wussies, but sometimes you gotta be smart. Or sometimes you gotta pretend to be smart, at least. So for now, you wait in the hallway right next to the spaceship hangar, just like you were told. You can hear people banging on the door that Commander Noble programmed. They’re even taking some shots at it.
    You’re watching the commander to see if you can tell when he wants you to go over to the DC Enterprise . But then two things happen.
    Two not-so-good things.
    Hey, when it rains, it pours, even in the dark armpits of outer space.
    First, the DC Enterprise explodes! Or at least a portion of it does.
    “Aw, man, I liked that ship!” you say. Then you wonder ifanyone was nearby or still on it. Oh no   —Commander Noble! Is he okay?
    You turn and see the gold helmet of Mr. D. walking toward you.
    “How’d you get