The tenth deck was also where the canteen was. Of course, since the hangar was on the other side, they had to go across a catwalk bridge to the hiber-sleep column, through a central passageway, out the other side and across another bridge.
Jade was careful to stay in the middle of the group as they walked. The rails on the catwalk bridges were only five feet high and she could see over them. She was still too nervous to walk near the rails, though she wasn’t quite as terrified as before. Still scared, but to a lesser degree. Maybe her acrophobia was getting better. She hoped so.
She still hadn’t deliberately tried to levitate. She thought she might try it later this week - assuming she figured out how to get it to work. In a small room. With padded walls and floors. Heavily padded. Staying within two inches of the floor.
She stopped in front of the door to the hangar. “This is it.” She opened the door.
They followed her in, the lights coming on as they entered the huge area. At the far end, to their right, they could see the four small airships lined up neatly in a row. They were tethered in individual cradles and there were empty spaces where other craft would have been. The larger one was closer, on their left.
They walked over to it.
“Well, they’re here all right,” said Morgan, looking at Jade with a pleased smile. He was finally convinced, and felt a little awed at this power of hers. He was beginning to understand what an asset to the expedition she could be.
Hah! My cute little goddaughter. Daniel would be so proud of her, he thought, missing his old friend.
Alex walked around the vehicle studying it, and discovered a recessed lever at the bottom of one of the doors. He pulled it and the door slid open from the middle, going into the frame.
He jumped back as, with a swoosh, a set of metallic steps slowly swung down to the floor. He climbed up to look into the interior of the vessel.
“It looks like a cargo vehicle,” he called down to the others who had crowded around when they saw the door open. He climbed back out.
“Lots of room in there if you remove all the junk,” he said, enthusiastically. He was already visualizing taking the craft out for a flight. He was sure he’d be able to fly it.
It strongly resembled ones he’d practiced with in the simulator at school. Of course, this was an ancient model which meant it wouldn’t have evolved technology or anti-gravity function, but he didn’t think he’d have trouble lifting off and landing. He was excellent at operating manual vehicles.
Jade was getting hungry, and announced, “I don’t know about all of you but I’m ready for some lunch.”
Alex’s stomach gave a loud growl, eliciting a giggle from Ro.
Rachel chuckled, “I think Alex’s stomach agrees with you, Jade. Let’s head back to the canteen. There’s food in my pack.”