An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Dadâs back was to him, sweat soaking a line up the center of his t-shirt as he welded the needed piece in place. Then he pushed up the goggles and turned to look at Zev.
âYou want to do the honors?â he asked. Those grey eyes were serious, but Dad, accepted his hand to his feet.
âAll right,â Zev said, trying to ignore the way his heart thundered in his chest. He trotted back to the cockpit and blew out a breath as he stared at the control board. The start up sequence was three buttons. Power down was oneâthe orange toggle to the left.
Life and death represented in those little pieces of plastic.
Zev nodded to himself and tapped the start up sequence.
Immediately the shuttle hummed into life, everything glowing about him and thenâ-
âShut it off!â roared Dad, and Zev smelled acrid smoke.
He slammed his hand onto the control and immediately the ship went dark again. He stumbled back toward the hold where Dad knelt before the panel, swearing filthily as he ignored the burns on his hands in order to pull at a wire.
âWhat happened?â Zev asked breathlessly, nauseating dread filling his stomach.
âThis wire fritzed and started melting the plasma casing,â Dad panted, using clippers to detach it from the part. âI donât think it damaged the interior. ButâŠâ
He held up the burned wire.
âDoâŠdo we have another one?â Zev asked, hoping he didn't sound like a scared child.