[1.5] Implausible Perfection

Somewhere, Camilla Rosen gripped the desk monitor in a kind of trance, watching the screen as Vincent worked to reconnect with the Camalus.

The lobby, in dull shock, waited.

***

Stars fell, along with crashing, curving curtains of light that cut the malfunctioning lumia shields like a Desdairan claymore. A trail of fire followed the Camalus as it descended.

Above, explosions and death. The snake hit the detonating burst field. The snake, predictably, detonated along with it. Fortunately, he was far and away from that particular mess.

So, Conlan continued to fall, in his oversized tin can, through shafts of ribbed air. Remarkably uninterested eyes observed the lumia burst pass through his line of sight and back out of it.

He counted, under his breath. Did some calculations. A little geometry. Deduced how much fuel was actually left in the tank, as opposed to how much the gauge testified. The state of the air currents were slowing his descent, so he had more time than he thought he would for planning.  

Then he righted the ship and reignited the engine for the Camalu's last flight before being gutted for scrap.

***

Camilla watched on the restored diagnostic read-out as Conlan flew up in a perfect inverted arc, dodging the fallout of what must have been the most bloody luma explosion she had ever seen, and engaged the wand and net to bring the lumia burst home.

He had adjusted the fuel gauge. Even when it read empty, there was still just enough for one more Hail Mary. 

The burst of lumia entered the Camalus' turbine, and after a short load screen the monitor spelled it out for her and the whole audience in nodes.

Graham, up on the balcony, put it best:

"Jackpot."

***

"Hey, Vincent."

"Hold on a second, Conlan. Coordinating your rescue, at the moment."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I just need . . . " He coughed. ". . . a jump start, OK? I can fly this thing in on my own."

"You caught the burst. I think you've more or less exhausted everyone's wish for dramatics."

"I know. That's what I'm saying. I don't want a lot of guys out here trying to pull me in. Ship's a wreck. It's gonna . . . Just, minimum response, alright? Just get me enough spark to fly her in quietly."

Vincent sighed. Dialed up the response team. "Whatever you say."