FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

10:40a.m: Sydney time: Kyle ran his hands along the fuselage, searching for any cracks or deformities on the reflective metal surface. Once he reached the left landing gear under the wing, he did what he always enjoyed doing. He thrust his right foot onto the tires in an attempt to destroy them. After tiring himself out, he gave up; knowing how safe the multimillion dollar machine was. He went to the right hand side of the plane where he repeated the process with his left foot.

Janice was busy restocking bottles of Dom Perignon, Whisky and Cordon Bleu into the wine cabinet in the bar of the plane. The speakers were quietly playing a recording of Sam Barber's Adagio for String Quartet, a slow and mournful piece in a minor key, which only made things worse for Janice's mood. She felt like she on the verge of tears so she reached up and slammed the off button on the interactive flight attendant screen, abruptly ending the crying of the string instruments.

'Within the last 24 hours, Tangara, Qantas and Jetstar pilots have reported occurrences which relate to air pockets while flying over the borders of Queensland. Although we will be cruising at a high altitude of 47000 feet, I would like everyone to remain seated with their seatbelt tightly fastened for their own safety. Janice, please make sure Ms. Ruatha will be safe from injury by keeping her in her seat. We may all return to normal operations when I have announced that it is safe to do so.' Gwen had said ten minutes ago in the briefing room.

Janice sighed to herself, there would be no need for her to worry about such request. By the time they reached Queensland, her brains would have been blown out of the plane, and they would be falling at terminal velocity.

"Janice, this is Kyle speaking. Ms. Ruatha's limo has just arrived."

Janice threw away the empty wine cases and ran to the front entrance of the plane where Kyle, Gwen and Joe all followed her down the stairs onto the tarmac. The driver of the limo opened the door and a tired looking white dragon stepped out. Since Joe was legally the captain of the plane, he was the first to introduce himself.

"Good morning Ms. Ruatha, welcome to Sydney Australia. You will..."

The white dragoness stopped him mid-sentence and corrected what Joe has said with his manly voice.

"Nice to meet you, I'm guessing you are the captain." Joe nodded in response. "I am actually a man, not a woman which is a common mistake due to having an old British name."

Joe could feel himself blushing underneath his fur and the British dragon can already tell how embarrassed he was from his facial expressions.

"I apologise Mr. Ruatha, welcome to The Land Down Under. You will be flying on the Gulfstream G650, otherwise known as the G6. My name is Joseph Williams and yes, I will be your Captain on this charter flight. The other members of my crew are First officer Kyle Harrison, First officer Gwen Cooper, who with your permission will be running the flight under my supervision for the purpose of her final captaincy exams." The white dragon nodded his acquiescence, "And you have Flight attendant Janice Miles for your personal needs. So far there are only two of these planes operating around the world on a private basis and the other one is under the ownership of our airline as well. Now if you follow Janice, your personal flight attendant, she will give you a brief tour of the state-of-the-art business jet."

Janice guided Ruth onto the plane and the rest of the crew followed them up the stairs. Joe was the last to return to the cockpit as he locked the door behind him.

"Did you smell what I smelt?" Kyle asked.

"Janice was way too fucking nervous. Her scent was strong enough to choke a skunk!" Joe replied.

"We should ask her when she gets back." Kyle suggested. He took another big sniff and noticed that the smell was still there. "You smell that? It's strong enough to reach the cockpit."

"Look boys, Janice is just nervous about the mistake the airline made with the reservation. We girls are a lot more sensitive than you are so just because you can tear a pig in half, we can't! If I was serving that bloke, I'd more than likely pass out from fear since that fucking dragon from Wales or wherever can snap me in half, like a bite sized biscuit. I guess we should just brush it off, she will be fine."

"Yes Captain." Kyle and Joe replied. A click was heard and the cockpit door burst open.

"Captain, the cabin is secured." Janice reported, before slamming the door behind her.

Gwen shrugged her shoulders and checked the computer to confirm that the door is fully armed and locked.

"Sydney delivery, good morning. To go 69er X-Ray, ready to copy IFR to Cairns." Kyle reported into the radio.

"To go 69er X-Ray, cleared as filed to Cairns. Fly runway heading, climb and maintain 5000 feet, expect flight level four seven zero. Current altimeter 30.05, read back." A female voice replied over the cockpit speakers.

As Kyle was repeating his clearance to the controller, Gwen picked up the interphone and made an announcement to the lone passenger.

"Good morning Mr. Ruatha, my name is Gwen Cooper and welcome aboard this Gulfstream G650 bound for Cairns International Airport. Just receiving clearance from the control tower and we will soon be on our way. We currently have good weather in Sydney and we hope to arrive slightly ahead of time with tailwinds en-route. We will be cruising at an altitude of 47000 feet and our flight path can be viewed from the television with selectable channels in the main cabin. Janice is about to make a safety demonstration on the safety procedures aboard this aircraft. Otherwise, sit back, relax and enjoy the flight".

Gwen hung up the interphone and did the Captain's pre-departure briefing to Kyle.

"Alright Kyle, I'll be handling the plane on this leg, while you take her back to Sydney. On this flight, you will be handling radio communications and then we swap over on the return trip. ATC has requested that we do a non-transitional departure so everything should be pretty straight forward. We will maintain runway heading and climb to 5000 feet until departure gives us permission to proceed on course. Janice knows the standard procedure and has been warned about possible air pockets and wind-shear while flying into Queensland but we will need to watch the nav. display for any signs of further weather issues. During take-off, if there are any circumstances that could affect our flying below V1, I will call 'abort' to which you must respond 'affirmative' and I will pull the throttles back to idle. The auto-brakes and spoilers will kick in and bring the plane to a halt. If we have an engine failure above V1, I will continue to accelerate the plane to V2 before carrying out the late rotation and climb at V2+15. From then on we will assess the situation and divert as necessary. Any questions?"

"Nope, do you want me to call the ground staff for engine start-up?"

"Please," Gwen answered.

"To go 69er X-Ray, ready to start our engines."

"To go 69er X-Ray standby...To go six niner X-Ray left and right are both clear."

"Engine two please." Gwen requested.

"To go 69er X-Ray is starting engine two." Kyle reported.

Kyle reached the left hand overhead panel and hit the ignition button for engine number 2. The air conditioning was automatically cut off. A high pitched whine was heard as the engine began to start up. With the pneumatic system, spinning the engine up to its maximum speed without fuel. Gwen turned on the engine masters and the surge of fuel made the fans spin up to speed before idling.

"Start engine number one." Gwen requested.

"Starting engine number one." Kyle reported.

Joe watched as the two of them start the remaining engine and turn off the APU generator.

"To go six niner X-Ray, you are cleared to taxi when you see the hand signal. Bon voyage!" The ground crew reported over the radio.

An Australian Collie walked backwards to at least 10 metres away from the plane where he held up a red tag for the crew to see. This notified the crew that the plane is all set for departure. Kyle tuned the radio to ground frequency and contacted the tower while Gwen reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a pair of aviator sunglasses.

"Sydney tower, to go 69er X-Ray request taxi."

"To go 69er X-Ray, taxi to runway 16 right via outer taxiway."

"Runway 16 right via outer taxiway, to go 69er X-Ray."

Gwen reeled the tiller hard to the left and advanced the throttle to make a U-turn. Once she was in line with the taxi line, she slowly centred the nose-wheel. Kyle pulled the flaps lever down to take-off position and switched on the exterior lights from the overhead panel.

"Gwen, do you mind if go bare feet?" Kyle asked.

Gwen looked at Joe who shrugged his shoulders.

"I guess. Why?"

"Just want to stick to my roots. You do realise I'm Chinese."

"What about your surname? It's clearly British." Gwen asked.

"Long story short, I was adopted. I Came from the Northeast of China where there are lots of Russian Chinese." Kyle said as he set his shoes and socks aside.

Joe noticed Janice's fear scent was still penetrating the cockpit.

"Are you sure Janice is fine? She's still giving of her fear scent."

"Lay off it Joe! What more could happen? I'm sure she's just embarrassed with the screw up over Mr, Ruatha's gender."

"Joe, I've been hearing rumours about a hook up amongst Janice, Gwen and Sarah. Is that true?"

Gwen and Joe looked at each other and didn't know what to say.

"TURN!" Kyle shouted as he glanced out the windscreen.

"FUCK!" Gwen cursed, as she hit the brakes and turned the plane to the right. "Don't talk about it asshole! I'm warning you!"

Kyle shrugged his shoulders and tuned the radio to tower frequency.

"Sydney tower, to go 69er X-Ray. Ready for departure runway 16 right."

"To Go 69er X-Ray, wind calm. Cleared for take-off runway 16 right. After departure maintain runway heading, climb and maintain 5000".

Gwen made an announcement to the cabin while Kyle acknowledged the radio call. She took one last glance at her LCD screen to confirm that the take-off checklist is complete. Gwen removed her feet from the brakes and advanced the throttles as she slowly turned the plane onto the runway.

"Take-off checklist complete." Kyle confirmed.

Gwen pushed the throttles to the take-off position and the jet began charging down the runway.

"Take-off power is set." Gwen reported.

Kyle was completely focussed on the his LCD screen as the airspeed indicator continue to increase at a rapid rate.

"80 knots!" Kyle declared.

"V1."

"Rotate."

Gwen pulled the control column back and the G6 rose smoothly into the sky. Joe couldn't help but notice how sexy his fiancée looked with the morning sun reflecting off her red fur and lipstick.

"Positive Rate." Kyle reported.

"Gear up!" Gwen requested.

Kyle pulled the landing gear lever and the usual hydraulic hum was heard as the wheels were stowed away.

"To go 69er X-Ray, contact departure. Good day." The radio sounded.

"Off to departure to go 69er X-Ray cheers blue."

Gwen pushed the nose forward and pulled the throttle back to climb power, easing the rate of climb as the plane passed through 3000 feet. Kyle retracted the flaps and made a call to departure.

"Sydney Departure, to go 69er X-Ray. With you, out of 3800 for 5000."

"To go 69er X-Ray, continue your climb to flight level 470, proceed on course to Cairns. Altimeter 30.04."

"Continue to flight level 470, proceed on course, altimeter 30.04, to go 69er X-Ray."

"Still can't believe how fast this thing climbs!" Joe commented.

"Same thing, annnnnd we just passed 10,000 feet."

Gwen moved and turned on the autopilot altering her seat back. The plane continued to climb through 21,000 feet when Kyle hit the seatbelt sign to free Janice and Ruth from their seats. As the atmosphere started getting thinner, the computer automatically reduced the rate of climb to keep the plane maintaining its climbing speed.

"You got a girlfriend?" Gwen asked Kyle.

"I wish." Kyle replied, who was shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

Joe noticed an erection forming in Kyle's trousers so he decided to change the subject.

"What do you think of this 'white Brit'?" Joe asked.

"Frankly I think he's just like any of the other British business people we fly. Arrogant, self-centred what more could I say?" Gwen replied.

"I think he's okay. I bet he'll down all the Dom Perignon and call it a posh act. Fuck me! I'm Asian! I have no idea about all your fancy schmancy western shit!" Kyle commented.

Joe couldn't help but laugh at the racist remark but Gwen decided the best call of response would to punch to him.

"Oww," Kyle laughed, as Gwen's fist hit his shoulder. Kyle stopped laughing when he heard a faint sound of something ripping, followed by a scream.

"Did you hear that?" He asked.

"Hear what?" Gwen asked.

The crew heard Janice's scream again, followed by the sound of a breaking glass.

"I think she just dropped a bottle of wine. She's way too nervous today!" Joe suggested.

Gwen and Kyle shrugged their shoulders. Joe took sniffed the cabin air and realised Janice's pheromones were releasing a scent he has never encountered before.

"SSSSTTTTTTOOOOOPPPPP, WAIIIT, HEEELLPPP!!!" The sound of more glass breaking followed shortly to the dismay of the 3 pilots.

"Oh my god!" grunted Joe as he unfastened his seatbelt. It's more than likely that Janice is being attacked by the white dragon.

"Joe, sit down. Let me handle this" Gwen ordered.

"Gwen, keep flying the plane. Don't declare an emergency until I've got the situation under control."

"But Joe, I'm Captain! I can handle this as a woman. Don't you be so fucking protective!"

"GODDAMN IT GWEN! OF COURSE I'M GOING TO BE OVERPROTECTIVE BECAUSE YOU ARE CARRYING OUR PUPPY!" Joe paused for a bit, realising that he may have hurt her feelings. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to shout at you. But please, do this for me."

Gwen looked at Joe and nodded her head in agreement.

"Joe, you'll need my help" Said Kyle as he unfastened his seatbelt and left his seat.

Joe unlocked the cockpit door and came around the crew partition, and saw the White Dragon in his boxers harassing his female colleague. Joe tried to stay calm as his pupils began to dilate; walking slowly into the cabin he had to somehow take the dragon down. The cabin was a complete mess, there was broken mirror glass all over the place and he somehow managed to break a table with a lamp on it. Joe decided the best course of action would be to warn the dragon of his actions.

"Mr. Ruatha, you are to release Miss Miles at once!"

Kyle was also shouting at the dragon but Joe was too busy to decipher what he is saying.

"Mr. Ruatha, if you do not comply with our instructions, the plane will be diverted to the closest airport where you will be arrested by the authorities."

The dragon still wasn't giving up, leaving Joe with no other options than to take action. He jumped and gave a firm grip onto the dragon's shoulder, heaving with all his strength to take him down. His effort was fruitless as he grunted with every muscle straining to get him let her go. Within the blink of an eye, Joe felt a sick feeling to his stomach as he was thrown away from the beast, smashing headfirst against the side of the bar counter. He was completely dazed as his vision became slightly blurred. Joe watched helplessly in horror as Kyle attempted to take the dragon down down himself.

Kyle ran for the dragon after seeing Joe thrown clear, but stopped in his tracks after feeling a sharp blow into his flesh. He fell back screaming from stepping onto a piece of glass from the broken mirror. He fell back against the passenger station, crying from the burning feeling of his muscles spewing blood onto the carpet.

Joe gasped in horror as he heard a harrowing blow to Janice's skull. The beast let Janice fall freely onto the cabin floor. Joe struggled to get to his feet when the creature finally spoke.

"Stop please...go and look by the bar...she was trying to suicide...there is a gun..."

Joe tried to ignore the head pain as he stumbled towards the kitchen bar. He heard Gwen call his name with a sobbing voice.

"Joe... Please... Answer me...I beg of you..."

Joe felt himself start to recover and he responded to her call.

"Gwen... I'm alright... Stay in cockpit, Janice just tried to kill herself... The dragon wasn't trying to attack Janice, he was trying to save her... Don't declare an emergency yet!"

Joe stumbled into the bar area and found what he was looking for, it was a hand pistol with the trigger pulled back. Joe bent forward and picked up the gun with a look of horror on his face, there is no way Ruth could have gotten through security with it. Without thinking, Joe passed the weapon to the white dragon who seemed familiar with the weapon.

"Hmmph German Luger, officers pistol from the war...My grandad had one as a trophy before he surrendered it a few years back." Muttered the white dragon. He pressed the stocks button, removing the clip, then hooked a talon under the cocking bar, pulling it up, turning the gun upside down and allowing the chambered round to drop into his other hand, then he walked over to the workstation and placed the pieces next to the still moaning Kyle. "There, safe. Now I assume you carry first aid kits..." he commanded.

Joe regained his composure and nodded to the passenger's question. For once, the first aid training his company gave him had to be put to use.

"Right, go and tell...Gwen wasn't it?"

Joe nodded his head again.

"Go and tell Gwen to engage auto and get her arse into here. We have a problem, a very big problem to sort out, and I am not happy. Fetch whatever kits you have back with you. She's out cold..." he gestured at Janice," but I want that gash patched up on her shoulder before she wakes. We need to sort him out as well..." Ruth gave another gesture at Kyle.

Joe got his act together and realised how it could endanger the safety of the aircraft.

"But that's against regulations, I can't the flight deck unsupervised..."

The dragon is starting to lose his patience.

"And this isn't against fucking regulations, you bloody idiot! Now save your own fucking skin and fucking do what I tell you. We need to salvage the situation the best we can."

Joe nodded his head as he returned back to the flight deck where Gwen was wiping away her tears.

"Are you alright baby?"

Gwen realised it was Joe and pulled him in for a hug.

"I thought I lost you."

Gwen couldn't help but cry again. If she were to become a single mother, she will never have the strength to explain why her son doesn't have a father.

"Gwen, Mr. Ruatha wants to see you. Do you think ATC will call upon us when the flight deck is empty?"

"Don't think so... Just got handed over to Brisbane control and the plane is on IRS navigation mode"

Joe gave broke the hug and spoke directly to Gwen.

"Honey, you need to stay strong. Keep your professionalism. You will become a good Captain. Most importantly, you're a woman."

Joe grabbed a first aid kit and walked back into ground zero. Gwen wiped away her tears, unfastened her shoulder harness and followed Joe into the cabin. Gwen gave a loud gasp at the site of the wrecked cabin.

"Right...Gwen isn't it?" Asked the dragon.

Gwen nodded her head at the simple question.

"You make Janice as comfortable as you can over by the couch. I will come and stop the bleeding when I get him sorted." He gestured to Kyle, and Gwen did as she was told and went to help her unconscious friend.

"I had first aid training at work...never had to use it but it sticks in the mind." Declared the Dragon. He walked back to the worktable and knelt next to Kyle.

"Captain, remind me of your name and his please. And bring me that box now thank you."

Joe wasn't sure whether he should be addressed by his birth name or nickname.

"My name is Joe, Mr. Ruatha..."

"Stop!...It's just Ruth, alright! We are all in the same mess...no more formalities Joe." The dragon said with a smile.

Joe gave a slight grin, turned out he was a friendly person to interact with after all. Joe was about to open the first aid kit and bring Kyle back to shape but decided that Ruth would be more experienced than he was. Joe passed the green box to Ruth and took a glance at Gwen who had shifted Janice up against a couch.

"That's better, now did I do any damage to you, I'm sorry I had to throw you off..."

Joe started feeling ashamed with himself. Due to his prejudice amongst his kind, he had made the wrong assumption when he saw Ruth trying to stop Janice.

"Just bruises...I.. I'm sorry I misjudged the situation...I shouldn't have..."

Ruth cut him off abruptly.

"Nonsense. If I had run into a scene of destruction and seen a bloody great stranger fighting with a hysterical colleague, I would have assumed he was the one at fault. Stop the self blame, and try and work out what we can do about it now."

Joe nodded his head and looked at Kyle's wound. His bleeding had begun to subdue as a scab began to form around the glass.

"Shit you have glass in there...this is going to hurt a lot," Ruth commented.

Ruth pinched the edge of the glass and pulled it out sharply with his talons.

Kyle screamed painfully at the sharp movement and his eyes began to water. Soon the obstructing pain was replaced by a stinging sensation as Ruth began licking his foot-paw.

"Joe, that should hold until Cairns. Can you apply a bandage to cushion it? He will need stitches when we land."

Joe nodded, and Ruth stood wincing as his tail caught on the tables legs. "Ruth, your tail...do you want me to..."

"Not yet...need to stop her bleeding first." He walked over to Gwen and Janice, kneeling next to the unconscious retriever.

**** Janice...

Hey diddle diddle The cat and the fiddle The cow jumped over the moon....

And the little girl laughed to see such fun, And the dish ran away with the spoon...

I can hear my mother singing my favourite nursery rhyme, over and over again. Where am I? Why are there people talking all around me? Why is there a noisy machine in the background? I tried killing myself. Am I in heaven? That voice, it's the voice of Joe, I know him, he's wanting to report this incident. That must be Mr. Ruatha, he doesn't seem to agree with the idea of getting me into trouble. That's Gwen, confessing about the rough night we had at Joe's place. That must be Mr. Ruatha again, making a few comments before being rudely interrupted by Kyle. Ruth is confessing of his love for me...I can see him as my mate.

There I am, back in my apartment after returning from a trip to Beijing. He's fondling with my breasts as I run my hands across his scaly back. Then I move a hand to his trousers and slowly undo his zipper. I'm fiddling with his boxers and I find his large member, then I slip it into my deep hole. He responds by grabbing my thighs and lifting me up, making love to me while standing up. He will impregnate me with his sperm, bonding our two chromosomes together. Why is this vision fading away from me? Why does my head and shoulders feel as if they've been torn apart?

I slowly opened my eyes, why am I feeling so exposed. Wait, where are my upper clothes? It's him. I see him. There he is smiling at me.

"How do you feel dear?" he asked.

I want to scream in pain but I'm too weak. What's wrong with me?

"L...Like my head has split in two..." I whispered.

"Sorry about that...I had to stop you before you damaged yourself and me further..."

Wait, I didn't make it. My attempt to find eternal peace has failed. I want to cry, I want to feel the embrace of someone I love.

"Why did you stop me?...You could have let me finish it...you could have let me have my peace finally..." I asked.

I crawled up to my lover and rested my head against his chest. I felt myself bursting into a fit of tears like a small puppy again. Mr. Ruatha's making smoothing noises as he runs his hands and talons across my back. That's what Brian used to do that when I was feeling down. I can feel Mr. Ruatha warming me with every breath. Brian would do the exact thing to lullaby me to sleep. I stick out my tongue and gave my lover a small lick on the chin. He returned the favour onto my nose.

"Why protect me?...I am a stranger to you..."

"I would not let anyone do that to themselves...there is always an alternative. How much did you overhear?"

I remembered Mr. Ruatha telling Joe not to report me.

"I...I heard you tell the Captain not to report me...t...to cover...Why?" I stuttered.

"Because the last thing you need now, is to be charged with endangering an aircraft and attempted suicide...you do realise how powerful that little thing over there on the table is? If you had pulled the trigger the bullet wouldn't have stopped in you skull, it would have gone through the roof."

I had no idea how my selfish actions could have impacted my fellow crew members. I feel guilty for what I've done. Who's that gasping? Wait, I didn't know Gwen was also listening to the conversation. There she is, sitting on the worktable. I need to apologise to her.

"S...Sorry...I...I didn't think of that...Gwen?... Forgive me?"

"I forgive you dear..."

I feel a bit better now, knowing that she forgives me. She looks sad, is she feeling sympathetic for me? Or am I just pathetic?

"I do too...Now, what happened to cause this...?" Ruth...yes Ruth asked, he is no longer Mr. Ruatha to me, shifted me into a more upright position.

I looked at Ruth and Gwen before shaking my head. "Everything," I whispered before closing my eyes and allowing all of my darkest memories to come back to me. The only thing I had to do was spill the truth from my tongue.

**** Gwen's view. Joe helped Kyle back into the cockpit, after we had knocked together and agreement to solve the problem the situation had caused. I joined Ruth on the couch with Janice...

"It started when I was six...just a puppy...It was Fathers' day. I woke up all excited and fetched the card I'd made him at school from my bag...I...I ran to my parents room and opened the door..." Janice started crying again.

I tried to reassure her by laying a hand on my thigh.

"M...my mum was crying...I...I looked up and saw my dad, my dad was hanging from the ceiling...he...he was dead," her sobbing increased. "I didn't understand...my dad, my dad I loved him...why did he...why wouldn't he wake up? Why wouldn't he hug me for the card I had made...I just collapsed next to my mum...just hugging her, trying to stop her from crying..." she paused again, trying to regain composure a little. "It turns out he was in debt...lost his job...Mum didn't work, so after the funeral the bailiffs came and took the house...we ended up in a flat...Mum became a prostitute...I couldn't understand where all the men came from...why some of them tried to hug me...why mum used stop them...why I fell asleep every night listening to my mum panting...screaming sometimes when some of them beat her..."

Within the two years of knowing each other, I had no idea that Janice didn't have a father. I exchanged glances with Ruth who also appeared to be taken back by her story.

She seemed to blank for a moment then continued..."I somehow made it to high school...my mum was smoking weed to forget by then...I knew what was happening now, she kept me out of her clients sights...my grades were terrible and the teachers started to get angry...blaming me...calling me a 'lazy good for nothing'...If only they had known...

"I turned fourteen...The class bully found out about mum...he cornered me with his gang at school...said I must be like her...tried to strip me, ripped my uniform...A teacher saw and stopped them in time...the teachers then started to watch me...didn't stop them catching me outside the gates though, never actually forced me...but always beat me for money...

"I fought back one day, had, had enough...I snapped...they beat me badly...teachers sent me home all bloody and torn...mum was off her head on weed, saw me...thought I had asked for it... and lost it...threw me out...disowned me...forgot about me...I ended up on the street at fourteen, nowhere to go." she paused and started to cry again, huge sobs tearing through her body..."Why mum...Why?" She sputtered.

"What about..." I interrupted. I didn't want to hear more of her story but Ruth stopped me to let her continue.

"Let her continue...I have a feeling there is more, it's to long ago..." he whispered.

"I vanished from the authorities radar...never went back to school...hitched out of town, living from scraps I found in rubbish bins...starving some-days...washed up for meals on others. I stole charity clothes from donation bags...washed in rivers out of town where people couldn't see me...kept myself tidy...

"I turned fifteen, and ended up in Bankstown...I found dry culvert near the airport, and used to just lie there in a shelter I scavenged from scrap, watching the planes take off and land...It was so relaxing...so comforting imagining where all the people were going... escaping to...wishing I was with them. I fell asleep one day in the car-park...leaning against a car. The owner came back and found me...Brian."

"She was muttering his name before I stopped her..." Ruth whispered into my ear, trying not disturbing Janice's trance.

I couldn't help but shake my head. I did my best to comfort her but what bothered me the most was how could a child grow up like this? There is no way my son will have a similar fate as Janice. It was absolutely dreadful. I was on the verge of tears but I did my best not to cry. I had to stay strong for Janice to carry on...

"He took pity on me...He was nineteen and a newly qualified flight instructor...took me home...adopted me unofficially and fed me up. He had just moved away from home himself into a flat...a bachelor flat." She laughed quietly, wrinkling her nose slightly, recalling to herself what it had looked like when she had first walked in. I shared a grin with Ruth. "He found out I was only fifteen after I had a bathed and cleaned up...I found a space on the couch and we sat and talked. Nothing happened then, nothing happened between us other than petting for three years, but I fell in love...he was so kind...I agreed to keep house for him in return for a bed of my own, and food when I wanted. I told him I had enjoyed watching the planes, and wished I could fly away myself...escape what had happened to me...

"He took me onto the airfield...told his bosses I was his younger cousin. Started to take me on short flights when he could, teaching me how to fly...I loved it." She went quiet again, then pulled a hankie from what was left of her uniform, and dabbed at her eyes with her free hand. "I got my students licence at sixteen, and my full pilots licence at seventeen...

"When I turned eighteen we arrived home after a celebratory meal, and he told me that he would return my love fully...I was overjoyed. I joined him in his room that night for the first time. We set up a camera for memories...I finally lost my virginity that night...I...I still watch that video..." she zoned out again for a few minutes. I just sat there with Ruth, never letting off from the comforting strokes.

"He put me in for my full commercial exams the next day...didn't tell me, just took me to the airport as usual, and handed me to one of his colleagues. I passed...I qualified, then became an instructor in light aircraft alongside him two months later. We did different shifts, but always ended up at home together, even if he left before me in the mornings..." she smiled again, then started crying. "I...I left an hour later than him...he was going to take me up in a larger jet for the first time as a treat...I got to the flight school and found that he had not arrived...He had been in a car crash on the way in...It took three days for him to die in the hospital...three days of sitting by his side...he never managed to say goodbye..."

I couldn't hold myself back and I cried. I tried to mute myself by covering my mouth and nose but it didn't do much. Little did I know, she wasn't finished even then.

"I was walking home from the hospital in a daze that night...forgot my car...I ended up in town and a group of teens ambushed me...they dragged me into an alley. A...the leader, a lion overpowered me and forced me to give him a blow-job...then he threw me at the others and they gang-raped me...I...I blocked it...I couldn't comprehend what was happening...I had just lost Brian...I loved him...I didn't fight, just let it happen. They dumped me, and I gathered what was left of my clothes and made it back to the flat...I couldn't get myself clean...four hours I spent in the shower...ran out of hot water...started shivering...never been clean since..."

Ruth started to clean her tears by licking around her nose and lips. He seems to have noticed that I've broken down myself.

"Tried a bath the next morning...had to go to work...didn't help... I never told anyone about that night...never admitted what had happened to me...My colleagues at the flight school knew I had lost Brain, they tried to comfort me, not knowing that my hurt went much deeper than that...I paid for a tank of fuel and told my boss that I needed to think alone, and as I had no lessons booked, I was going for a solo flight...he allowed me to take the planes keys and left me to it...

"I did the pre-flight checks, got into the cockpit, strapped myself in and started the engine...The noise broke something inside me...everything from the day of my father's death to the previous night hit me like a sledgehammer. I hadn't cried then... since Brian had found me that day...It was like being shot...I froze and just sat there on the apron...propeller spinning...I lost control...I broke down..." she paused again, going misty eyed for a few minutes, no tears left to shed.

"I killed the engine and just sat there. I left the plane, locked it and went to the staff bathroom...I left the keys on a toilet cistern with my security I.D...then strolled out, telling the receptionist that there was a blockage so that they would be found...I never went back...never saw any of them again...didn't answer the phone to their calls, or the door of the flat if they came knocking...I didn't even go to his funeral...but I visit his grave...

"I walked away...left our flat...decided I would never become a commercial pilot now...the dream had died with him. I booked into a motel for a few days...just lay in the room all day...crying until I thought I could cry no more...then started again...I left the motel and as I walked past a newsagents and saw a copy of his favourite magazine in the window...The Australian Aviation magazine...I went in and bought it...flicked through and read the classifieds. Air Tangara were taking on new stewardesses. I applied and hid my flight qualifications...got accepted and here I am now two years later."

I just took Janice into my arms, pretending that she was my daughter. I wished I could be her mother and give her back her childhood.

"Janice," Ruth prompted Janice..."What happened today...what happened to trigger this mess..." he waved a hand around the wrecked lounge.

"I...I...A lion...A lion was on my last flight...He looked like the gang leader...he died in the toilet...I...I...thought I was over it...b...but his death brought a closure to me...I..." She paused, then continued "I thought it was time to join Brian and Dad..." she started dry crying again, switching her attention back to Ruth.

****

"Cairns approach, to go 69er X-Ray. With you flight level 470."

"To go 69er X-Ray, roger. Descend and maintain flight level 210."

Joe readjusted the autopilot to descend to 21000 feet and the engine began to idle.

"Descend and maintain flight level 210, To Go 69er X-Ray." Kyle responded.

"Kyle, I'm going back into the cabin to let them know of our arrival. I'll need you to temporarily take over for me while I'm out of the cockpit. For safety reasons, keep the autopilot on. I don't want a wounded man flying the plane."

Kyle gave Joe a thumbs up signal and he left the flight deck. Joe walked around the partition curtains and found Ruth sitting with his fiancée by a heartbroken Janice.

"Ruth, we are starting descent. We land in twenty minutes, you need to get strapped in..."

"Forget strapping in...I need to get ready." Ruth sniffed at himself and looked slightly disgusted. "Look enough regs. have been broken today, a few more won't harm...I need a shower and to get changed into my suit. Leave Gwen here with Janice on the couch, I am sure they will be okay if there is no turbulence expected...?"

"No the air is reported clear on the Dopplar..." Joe was slightly worried about Ruth's decision. If they were to hit unexpected turbulence, it's more than likely he could die.

"Then leave it at that...my choice. Okay...Now what have your control said?"

Joe reached into his breast pocket and pulled out Ruth's phone. He passed it to Ruth as he started to stand. Ruth gently slid Janice onto the couch cushions, leaning her against Gwen for re-assurance. He whispered a few words to the Golden Retriever before Joe gave his reply.

"Well they wish to extend their thanks to you...but they won't transfer you to Singapore on this plane..." Joe started.

"Oh?" Ruth looked up exasperated...

"No, they are sending our other G6 up with pilots only...it should be on the tarmac by the time you get back from the meeting. We will be flying you to Singapore on that." Joe smiled.

Ruth laughed. "Very funny, what about you, the crew?"

"The new pilots will take this one back to base. We four will take you onward as you requested. Op's control have agreed that no action is to be taken against Janice, but she will have to go on a counselling course...on full pay. They are going to hit the security measures hard though at the crew stations. Make sure it can't happen again."

"Good. And you?"

"I will have to run a full debrief as the Captain...I might get a ticking off but nothing serious...the others will have no further action taken against them."

"Right...well that is satisfactory. Remind me and I will give you all my card later...I want a call or email from any of you if they try and renege on the agreement. Tell them that I will go to the press if I have to. Now I must go and clean up, I gather the medic will be waiting for us?"

"Yes, and they are trying to dig up the acrylate you asked for...I am afraid it's not standard kit with there not being many of your type around." Joe confirmed.

"Hmmph...I think it may be soon if this contract I'm here for goes ahead..." He turned to Janice and knelt next to her. "Hear that kiddo...everything is going to be alright...I am going to wash up now, but I will see you before I leave for the meeting."

Ruth planted a long kiss on Janice's forehead, and licked her nose, then stood and headed for the bathroom and a long shower.

Joe nodded. "Gwen, sit with your back to the cockpit, and hug her close. When Ruth comes out of the shower tell him I will give you five minutes warning on the intercom before we hit the runway. He needs to brace himself somehow." He left to take control of the plane for final approach.

Joe re-entered the cockpit and strapped himself into the left hand seat.

"Anything new Kyle?"

Kyle pointed to the approach chart displayed on the LCD screen.

"We just descended below 10000 feet and we are now flying at 250 knots indicated air speed. Tower has vectored us in for a straight in ILS approach into runway 33. We will be flying to the HENDO NDB before the localiser will guide us in for a full auto-land. I've programmed the computers so we should be all set for arrival and altimeter has been set to local settings for standard arrival. How's Janice by the way?"

"She's doing fine. Gwen is currently taking care of her. Just wondering though, did seeing her like this put you off?"

"Not a bit. It increases my desire to have her as my girl. She's broken and she needs someone to lead her on the right way."

"To go 69er X-Ray, continue descent to 1600. Cleared for the ILS into runway 33. Contact tower on 124.90."

"Continue descent to 1600. Cleared for the ILS into runway 33. Contact tower on 124.90 to go 69er X-Ray."

"Set flaps to 10 degrees. Ruth also wants us to warn him when we are 5 minutes from touch down." Joe instructed.

Kyle pulled the flaps lever and the flight surface began to extend itself.

Joe kept monitoring the computer as the plane was getting closer and closer to HENDO NDB.

"Flaps to 20."

Kyle pulled the flaps lever down one more notch and the flight surface continued to extend itself.

"Gear down!"

Kyle pulled down the landing gear lever and the plane began to rumble. Joe picked up the interphone and gave Ruth his warning over the PA.

"We are five minutes from landing, please brace yourselves..."

"What's going on?" Kyle asked.

"Ruth is in the shower." Joe switched the autopilot to approach mode and the plane made a slight bank to the left to line up with the runway. Kyle switched the radio to the tower frequency and identified himself to the tower.

"Cairns Tower, to go 69er X-Ray. Inbound on the ILS into runway 33."

"To go 69er X-Ray, continue approach into runway 33, altimeter 1015."

"Continue approach, to go 69er X-Ray."

"Set flaps to 39." Joe requested.

Kyle pulled the flap lever to the full position and the aircraft entered its final approach stage.

"1000." boomed the GPWS.

Joe monitored the LCD screens as the computers guided the plane in for an automatic landing.

"500."

"400."

"300."

"Decision?" Kyle asked.

"Land." Joe replied.

"200."

"100."

"50."

"40."

"30."

"20."

"10."

The computers pulled the throttles back to idle and moved the control column back. The tires were burning rubber as they contacted with the asphalt and the nose was slowly brought back to earth. Joe pulled the reverse thrust while the auto-brakes slowed the plane as it decelerated down the runway.

"80 knots." Kyle reported.

"60 knots."

Joe hit the reverse thrust levers and idled the engines. Joe slowed the plane down and made the next exit off the runway.

****

Ten minutes later, Kyle pulled the engine masters as he shut the engine down at the VIP ramp. The LCD screen changed displays and showed that the main door was opened. The two boys unfastened their seatbelts and moved their seat back to return to the main cabin.

"You need help mate?" Joe asked.

Joe walked over to Kyle and supported him with his arm over his shoulder. He then unlocked the door and then dragged himself and Kyle past the partition curtain before making his way into the cabin. The two pilots took notice of the dingo which confiscated Janice's luger in a plastic bag.

"Will he..." Ruth started.

"Not if he wants to keep his job...they only gave him a rough brief, and that he wasn't to touch her, normally she would have been secured before the gun." Joe said as Janice emitted a whimper.

"Good." Ruth strolled over to the couch and laid a hand on Janice's unbound shoulder, gently patting it in reassurance as two medics came on board with a Koala in a suit.

Joe and Gwen did a double take. "Sir!...I didn't know you were up here...I..." They both started to say.

"Don't worry Captain Williams, First Officer Cooper...congratulations by the way," Gwen blushed, "I have been briefed on the situation. I just happened to be having a few days off in Port Douglas up the coast. I was mid-round on the Sheraton Mirage when Op's alerted me to the situation. I took a chopper down to see Mr. Ruatha personally, got here five minutes before you landed."

He turned and extended his hand to Ruth. "John, John James, Mr. Ruatha. Deputy director of Air Tangara. Friends call me J J before you laugh."

Ruth smiled. "Better call me Ruth then."

John smiled. "Now about your trip, I must apologise about the inconvenience..."

Ruth held his hand up to stop him. "John look, I am quite happy with the arrangements your company has agreed to, if you hold to them nothing more needs to be said."

"Hmmph, well we have a limo waiting for you when you are patched up. Your plane to Singapore should be waiting for you when you return. You sure you want the same crew?" He gestured towards Janice who was now sitting upright, still with Ruth's hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, that is part of the deal for my silence. I have given all the crew here my contact details...they will inform me if you try and break the deal..." Ruth said ominously.

"Yes, well of course...I will ensure that we keep to our end of the bargain then..."

"And I will keep mine..."

Ruth turned to the medics. "Now, Kyle there needs stitches in his foot paw, I got all the glass out. Janice needs her shoulder patching up, use sterile cotton stitches, not tag adhesive on them as they need to hold until they get back to Sydney. They will need a thorough shower to get rid of the blood from their fur before then. Which one of you has the kit I need?"

The wombat medic raised a hand. "Right you deal with them," he directed the other, "Can you come over here to the table, I will need a hand." Ruth asked the wombat, dismissing John as he walked over to the workstation.

John paused with his mouth open, and then turned to Joe, beckoning him to follow him into the jets kitchen. Joe placed him on one of the sofas and followed him.

"I believe you did a great job as Captain in command."

"Thank you James, I believe the company has trained me well."

"I'm not sure if you have been told already but I did a quick search of the name 'Janice Miles' in the CASA database. I managed to find that she carries an expired Commercial Pilots License with an Instructors' rating and has over 800 hours of experience. I'm thinking about taking her off the flight attendant roster and training her to becoming a pilot. What do you think?"

"I never knew she was a pilot. What got you searching?"

"When Gwen flew to Bali, she sent me an e-mail saying that Janice seemed very familiar with the flight deck when she served her the pre-flight coffee so I did a search by myself."

"Frankly, at her current mental state, there is no way she can touch a plane," Joe insisted.

"We'll give her therapy as she does her training. She will also get paid benefits during her suspension so she should be fit for the job by the time she graduates."

"I think this will benefit her greatly, well you should let her know."

John followed Joe as they returned to the 'first aid station' in the cabin.

"You leaving for your meeting now Ruth?" John asked.

"Yes, it should take about three to four hours. I think the offices are in the commercial district."

"The limo driver should know...he is local."

"Good, now something emerged from that little crisis...Gwen should back me up on this as well. Janice has already got her commercial pilot's licence, and her light aircraft instructors qualifications...maybe when she is recovered you can consider training her to be your second female pilot in your team..."

Janice gasped behind him, and Ruth smiled.

John turned to Gwen. "True?" he queried.

"Bankstown, about two years ago from she said." Gwen confirmed.

John shook his head, continuing the appearance of his ignorance. "Well, I am sure we can check on it, if she cleared for active..."

"Ahem!" Ruth warned.

"Ah...yes...When she is cleared for active duties again," John quickly corrected, a little flustered at being backed into a hole. "We would be happy of course to gain another female pilot..."

Ruth turned and winked at Janice, happy to see her smile again. "Well in that case I am sure that as long as you can keep your ground staff quiet, nothing more needs to be said on the matter..."

John decided to take punt in the dark..."No...nothing at all...Erm, Mr. Ruatha..."

"Yes, John?"

"If you ever find yourself in need of a job yourself..."

"I am quite happy handling inanimate cargo John...I will leave the talking cargo to you!" Ruth laughed, "I will keep your offer in mind though, Thank you."

John laughed, relaxing a little, but disappointed that he had his offer dismissed. "I will do Ruth. I am just glad this happened to someone that could handle it this way. You are a very good at handling people, you know."

"So I have been told J J, maybe our paths will cross again in the future..."

"Maybe they will, maybe they will Ruth. Now I believe you will be late if you don't catch that limo."

"I will hop to it now. Thank you again, now you get back to your golf..."

"Good luck with the meeting."

"Thank you, and good luck with your golf..." John watched as Ruth strolled out the door and headed down the steps to the limo.

****

"First Officer Cooper, there's been a mix up this morning at catering and I just wanted to confirm that this afternoon, Captain Williams would like the T-Bone steak, you want the Singaporean Hainan Chicken Rice, First Officer Harrison would like the Beef Goulash and Flight Attendant Miles would like the Tandoori Chicken." A member of the ground catering staff was talking to Gwen.

"I'm not sure about what the others ordered but I'll get back to you on that." Gwen noticed Ruth leaving the plane. "Give me one second."

Gwen ran up to Ruth looking slightly concerned.

"Ruth..."

"Yes, Gwen?"

"We need to talk...about Janice before you come on board the new flight...I think we may have a problem..."

"Oh?"

Gwen glanced up as John appeared at the top of the steps, shaking his hand with Joe. "I will tell you when you come back," she said. "Nothing to worry about, I hope."

She saw Ruth feel the steps shake as John stepped onto them. "Very well...I will try and catch you then..." He paused. "Gwen thank you for helping me with her...I suggest that you help shower her clean, you could do with getting rid of the tear streaks and sweat yourself..." He wrinkled his snout comically at her.

Gwen laughed at the implied olfactory insult and returned into the cabin to confirm the crew's lunch orders.