CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
There had to be a way of setting this damn machine on full auto-pilot. Danny surfed through help topics and manuals and instructions and diagrams and on and on. That was the problem with hybrids. There was a manual for each separate system and every system probably had its own version of auto-pilot. Who knew if they’d all actually communicate with each other once Danny figured out how to activate them?
Something started beeping. Danny looked around but couldn’t figure out which system was making the noise. It was a familiar pattern, too. He surfed through a diagnostic screen, but the beep persisted.
Then he realized the beep was coming from his cell phone. “Ugh!” He dragged out his phone.
Oh cool. Rachel was calling. His first thought was maybe she’d found someone who’d take Trouble.
“Hey Raych,” Danny said.
Wouldn’t that be the ultimate? If she found someone to take her cat and wanted to move in and live happily ever after? Yeah. That would kick ass. Danny leaned back in his seat, only semi-conscious that he was tapping through more instruction screens looking for auto-pilot.
“Hi Danny. Have you seen Jeuley?”
“Actually, not really, why?” He tried to sound casual.
“I went over to her place, but she wasn’t there. We were supposed to go out, but she stood me up. Do you know if she’s okay? Wait, what do you mean you haven’t really seen her?”
“Brad’s…uh…picking her up now.”
“She’s with Brad? I was so worried.”
“Yeah, he’s with her. I think. I’ll call you back.” Was there something else you wanted to tell me, Raych? Please?
“Oh, okay. Where are you?”
“I’m actually in Florida right now.”
“Florida?”
“Yeah. Me and Brad took a little excursion.”
“Wait. What are you doing in Florida? Jeuley’s with Brad…In Florida? What’s going on? Danny?”
“I…uh…can’t talk right now. I’m flying a wacky helicopter thingie and I gotta get back to it. Don’t worry about anything. Jeuley’s fine. I’ll call you later.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask about Trouble. He wanted to so badly, he could practically taste the words.
Then Captain Buzz, the Auto-Pilot Wizard blipped on one of the screens.
>>Hello!
<<Need to make a quick pit stop?
>> Would you like to set this bucket of bolts on full auto-pilot?
<<If so, I can show you how.
>>Tap here to begin.
“Danny! You better call me later. I’m worried about you…and Jeuley!”
“Everything’s fine. But can you do something for me?”
“Anything, Danny. Anything.”
Find a new home for Trouble? “Can you call the enforcers and tell them to lock on to my coordinates in this heliflyer.”
“Can they do that?”
“Yes. Tell them to intercept when I land. Did you get all that?”
“Why? Danny, what kind of trouble are you in?”
“I’m not in trouble. I’m trying to get rid of Trouble. I don’t know how long it’s gonna take, but I gotta go now. You call the enforcers, okay? I need you.”
“Okay, Danny. I got it. I need you, too. I love you.”
“I love you, too Rachel. I’ll see you soon. Thanks.”
“Bye.” Rachel hung up and Danny hoped she’d gotten all of his instructions.
Danny let Captain Buzz take care of keeping the heliflyer hovering in the water and not floating out to sea. Bringing up an inventory screen, Danny searched for another raft or something that could help him get to the building without having to swim for it. Brad needed his help. He couldn’t let him down.
