TSJ #36, Prologue: The Final Flight

IRENE GODDARD glanced down at the instrument panel in front of her. Less than ten minutes had passed since she had lifted off from the Brungarian’s secret base, carrying a vital electronic component she hoped would prevent the Swift reactor in New York City from going critical. I’ve just got to make it there in time, she thought anxiously. If I don’t the reactor is going to destroy New York City and almost certainly trigger a nuclear war. Tensions between the United States and Brungaria are already at an all-time high, and destroying the country’s largest city is an act of war the government won’t overlook. If I fail the world as we know it will end today.

The red-haired teenager fought to stay focused. She could already feel the creeping effects of the radiation that poured out of the hyperplane’s nuclear reactor. At Mach 15 she would reach New York in less than half an hour – but at a cost of her own life. In fact, she wondered if she would even survive the next thirty minutes. She was already feeling nauseated.

The equipment has been prepared, she thought. It should be able to survive the drop. I’d better call Tom’s father and let him know I’m on the way.

Irene flipped a switch and attempted to contact New York. After a few moments she was able to reach Tony Markos at the Swift nuclear power plant. She talked with him for a moment and then asked for Mr. Swift. After a short delay his voice was heard over the radio. “Hello?”

“Tom?” the girl asked. “This is Irene. Can you hear me?”

“There’s a lot of static, but I can hear you,” Tom Swift replied. “Where are you?”

Irene glanced down at her instruments. She was briefly surprised at how much distance she had covered. I guess Mach 15 can get you where you need to go in a hurry! “I’ve just left Asia and am over the Pacific Ocean,” she said aloud. “This message is being relayed through California. I wanted to let you know that I’m bringing you the spare parts you need to fix your reactor.”

Irene heard Mr. Swift gasp. She knew that was the news he wanted to hear. “What kind of spare parts?”

“Xanthus built a duplicate reactor in Brungaria,” Irene explained. “He used it to figure out how to sabotage yours. I have his unsabotaged version of your electronic brain on board a jet and am flying your way. I should be there in less than half an hour.”

“Half an hour! How can you possibly get here so quickly?”

Despite a growing feeling of dizziness, Irene smiled. “Xanthus had a hyperplane that I decided to borrow. Given everything that has happened I didn’t think he would mind. After all, I’ve heard the authorities have him kind of tied up at the moment. He won’t be missing it.”

There was a slight pause, and then Mr. Swift spoke. “If you can arrive in the next thirty minutes we may still have a chance of saving the city. I can’t promise anything, but it’s worth a try. It’s the only hope we have.”

“I’ll do my best,” Irene replied.

“Are Tom and Bud with you?” Mr. Swift asked.

Irene hesitated. Now is not the time to explain what I’ve done, she thought to herself. I need to keep him focused on the crisis at hand. I’m sure he’ll eventually figure it out but right now we have other problems. Still, he does need to know that his son is safe. Aloud she said, “They’re on another flight. Bud found another nuclear jet in Brungaria that he decided to liberate. They’re flying a bit slower than me but they’ll get to New York safe and sound.”

She heard Mr. Swift breathe a sigh of relief. “I still can’t believe you went to Brungaria. That was a very foolhardy thing to do, young lady.”

If only he knew what I was doing now, she thought to herself. He’s not going to be happy about this. “Let’s save that talk for later, ok? Besides, it was your son’s idea. I’m going to go but I’ll contact you again when I’m almost there. I’m planning on performing an air drop since there’s no runway on the island.”

“We’ll have a crew standing by to receive it,” Mr. Swift promised. “I can’t think you enough, Irene. You’re giving us hope. We had just about-”

Irene was suddenly pierced by a feeling of intense pain. She felt like she was about to pass out. “Thanks,” Irene said shortly. She hung up.

The young scientist fought to stay conscious. I can’t give up now, she thought. I’ve got one more call to make – and a package to deliver. Hold on, girl! You’re almost home.

It didn’t take long for Irene to contact Swift Enterprises. She talked with George Dilling for a moment and had him connect her to a recording device so she could leave a voice message for Tom Swift Jr. After she was connected and George had dropped off the call she took a deep breath and started talking.

“Hey there Tom,” she began. She coughed and then continued. “Do you remember months ago, when we had dinner by the lake? It was before you ever started the hyperplane project, right after your father perfected Tomasite. You were depressed that evening because the press made much of your father and treated you like a little kid. Do you remember that?”

Irene paused as her head started pounding. She knew radiation sickness was quickly killing her. She forced herself to concentrate on what she was saying. Tom needs to hear this. If I leave him without saying anything he’s going to be consumed with guilt. He needs to know that everything is ok. He’s got a bright future ahead of him, if only he’ll see that. “I told you that you could prove them all wrong. That you were a genius and had the rare ability to make your dreams come true. If you wanted to build rockets and explore outer space then you could do it.”

And you will do it, she thought. I just wish I could be there with you when it happens! She knew she was about to cry so she hurried on. “I still believe that, Tom,” she said, her voice wavering. “I know right now you’re really upset. I know you think your life has ended, but it hasn’t. I’m sorry I won’t be there to share that future with you. I really am. It breaks my heart. But that doesn’t mean the future doesn’t have to happen. You are still surrounded by people who love you and care a great deal about you. I don’t want you to throw away all that talent and spend the rest of your life sitting there, doing nothing.”

Irene glanced down at her control panel. She saw that she had almost crossed the entire Pacific Ocean and was about to enter American airspace. Almost there, she thought. “I love you, Tom. I’ve enjoyed spending my life with you. Thanks for being there for me. Take care of yourself.”

“And one last thing,” she added. “This is where my story ends. I know you’re going to be tempted to somehow fix what happened today, but don’t. Don’t live in the past. Look toward the future. You’ve got a world to make, so go out and make it.”

Irene took a deep breath. “Good bye, Tom, and good luck. I love you.”
She closed the connection and passed out.

The teenager awoke with a start. She struggled to open her eyes and glanced down at her position. The girl gasped when she realized that she was now soaring over the United States. I must have passed out, she thought to herself. The girl struggled to breathe. I feel so sick.

The early symptoms of radiation sickness were already taking their toll on her small frame. She felt severe nausea and was having trouble staying conscious. Her thoughts were erratic and she found it almost impossible to focus on flying the plane. My head is killing me. I feel so weak and disoriented.

Irene looked at the controls in her hands and forced herself to concentrate. With all of her remaining energy she corrected her course and began to cut her speed. There’s no way I can drop the package at Mach 15. I’ve got to slow way down if the computer is going to have any hope of surviving the drop. But slowing down means taking more time, and we don’t have any time to spare.

After she made the final adjustments to her course and speed she activated the timer. The cargo bay doors would open after a set number of minutes. If she calculated everything correctly the package should drop close to the nuclear plant. I wish I could double-check my figures but I just can’t think anymore, she thought sadly. But there is one more thing I have to do.

For the last time she contacted New York. This time Mr. Swift answered the call. “Hello?” She could hear the nervousness in his voice.

“Hey,” Irene said, struggling to speak. The very act of talking was almost impossible. She knew she had only a few moments left to live.

“Irene?” Mr. Swift said, with concern in his voice. “How are you feeling?”

The girl ignored his question. “I’m almost there. I’ve set up a timed drop. You should be able to track the package on radar after it leaves the plane. It should land near you.”

“We’ll be watching for it,” Mr. Swift replied. She heard him hesitate. “My son called. He wanted to know if there were any problems with your hyperplane.”

Irene smiled despite her pain. “So he figured it out.” She suddenly started coughing for a minute, but finally regained control of her voice. “He’s a smart kid. Yeah, the jet has some problems. I think this will be its final flight.”

“Where you are going to land?” Mr. Swift asked quietly.

This jet won’t be landing, she thought to herself. And I won’t be landing either. She paused and looked at the controls. The hyperplane was on course and functioning perfectly. She knew the plane was going to make it and she knew the drop would work. Somehow, she knew everything would be fine. Tom Swift would save the day and the world would be spared a nuclear holocaust. Life would go on, even though hers was about to end. She had made the right choice.

I might as well tell him, she thought. Aloud she said “I won’t be conscious that long,” she said quietly. “Sorry.”

“Can you eject?” Mr. Swift asked. She was about to speak when she suddenly felt a tingly sensation, as if something was pulling at her. A moment later she disappeared, leaving the hyperplane’s cockpit empty. Her last thought before vanishing was Oh, Tom, what have you done?