Through the Looking Glass...
The Stark Device was suddenly throwing out streaks of lightning again, one of which shot toward the cockpit, causing everyone to duck.
But within a few seconds and as suddenly as it started, the flashing stopped.
“Everyone still here? Anyone here now that was not here a second ago?” Scott yelled.
“Awe man.” Skye moaned “It thought that was my ticket… home” she looked out the windshield.
The landscape outside had changed. The clouds and the sky were familiar to her, not the bright clear blue it had been just before.
“I’ve lost visual on I-95 and the Jersey Turnpike.” Scott reported “GPS is out. And I don’t have a signal on comms. I’m gonna need to go full manual.”
Scott shut off the auto pilot and throttled back on the engines. This action was greeted with a loud bang to his left followed by an alarm and the center console projecting a hologram of the plane showing a large part of the left wing in red.
“Great, flame out in port turbojet. I’m gonna need to find a secure place to set her down less we lose the other engine. Captain Sully Sullenberger, I am not. Someone watch the inertial guidance system, the rest of you keep your eyes peeled.”
“Air field a 2 o’clock” Jemma called out a few minutes later
“Looks like the Aberdeen Army proving ground” Daisy said, looking at the digital map.
Scott switched off the active camouflage and his radar warning lights lit up like a Christmas tree.
A voice came over the normal radio “Unidentified aircraft, you have entered restricted airspace. Identify yourself or we will open fire.”
“MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY! This is SHIELD 79203 declaring an emergency. I am transporting volatile cargo and am having a cascading systems failure. I’m down to one engine and I’m not sure I can keep it running.”
“This is restricted airspace,” The voice replied “turn away now or we will open fire.”
“I represent a government sanctioned organization. I’ll answer any and all questions you might have, just not here or now.”
“This is your final warning…”
“If I end up crashing into someone’s house, this is on your dumb ass buddy!”
Skye quickly pulled Scott’s headset off him.
“SSR authorization Tango Wisky One One Alpha Three.” She said into the mic
The radio went silent for a moment
“Authorization accepted. Clear to land runway 22. Do you require any other assistance?”
“Yes” Skye responded “Contact SSR headquarters, ask them to come meet us. Tell them Lt. Skye Simmons sent you. Code word is Breadcrumb.”
“Rodger that, lieutenant.”
The others glanced at Skye
“I’m home…” Skye said with a tear in her eye.
Not wanting to revel the repulsors, Scott just managed to maintain control long enough to set Zephyr Zero down on the runway the old fashioned way.
Once the plane came to a stop, the group quickly clambered out.
“How did the machine turn on? We took the cube out.” Fitz asked, panting.
“We’ll think about that later” Daisy said “We’ve got company.”
About 15 jeeps and trucks were driving towards them. Dozens of solders, all carrying M1 rifles cambered out and surrounded them.
“Get down on your knees, hands on your head.” An MP barked at them.
“I’m Lt. Skye Simmons of the”
“I said down.” He repeated, pointing his gun at her.
“OK… OK…”
Another jeep rolled up and an officer climbed out.
“orders from HQ are to detain them. Take them into the administration building and put them in the stockade.”
“Up, one at a time. Keep your hands on your heads” The MP yelled.
He then marched the five towards a nearby building.