"Yeah! I guess so. I just had the worst dream, Doc! I just hope it doesn't come true!" Mike explained. "I couldn't get back to sleep!"
"You think you're all ready to go up, son?" Cooper asked, nervously, overlooking the remark.
"Sure, Doc, any time. The sooner the better. I want to get this part over and done with."
When the pair were inside and Mike had changed from his street clothes into Spirit Lad, Dr. Cooper looked him straight in the eye.
"I want to tell you something, Mike, before you go. I want you to know how much we've all appreciated your work at the lab. You're a wonderful friend and helper, and I can see you've learned and matured a lot during the time you've been with us. Please, come back to us safe and sound. We love you son. Good luck!"
It was an emotional scene as Mike was caught up in Cooper's arms and given a heart felt bear hug, along with a hearty pat on the back.
"Thanks, dad, I'll try my best. Don't worry too much about me, o.k.?"
"Please, don't let this be the last time I see you, son. Be careful. Be careful, but the most important of all, make it work!" There was a tear in his eye.
Mike was definitely nervous, but not so much that he wouldn't notice the beautiful scenery. The dawn was gorgeous. Jeanie would be up by now, he thought. He was sure she'd understand his early absence....God! He hadn't even left a note!
Climbing through the stars of space, he came again to the first MLC. The carrier was floating nearby in the spot he'd left it after it was constructed. He fastened the shield to his waist on its harness, and kept it at his back, so his hands would be free to accomplish their task. Then, he floated himself very carefully, over to the door to the control panel, successfully avoiding the ever watchful electronic eye of the protective device. With his acquired speed and superb skills with the switches and knobs, his fingers flew beyond the speed of light, and when Mike was finished, he was well satisfied to hear the proper click, and see the red operating light which told the hundreds of seconds to launch blink off, meaning the death machine had been properly rendered harmless.
"Phew!" Mike breathed aloud. He sighed heavily and let his body sink down a bit. "I can't believe it! I DID IT!" Then, realizing there wasn't much time to finish the job, flew the missiles to the carrier practically one at a time, placing them gently in their individual circular niches at super speed.
After that the rest of the disarming seemed to go smoothly, until Mike reached the fourth from the last device. As he went to remove the missiles he noticed they felt different from the others....lighter and not as smooth.
"Why, it's made of wood!" he gasped in surprise, running his gloved hand over it. "I'll bet they used it for a decoy...that the builders ran out of government materials so they had to fill in the empty places with something so the enemy