Lieutenant Colonel Hal Sleet, Assistant to the Superintendent of the Nevada Aeronautical Survey, top-rated host of the Hal and Bone Show (noon to six weekdays, on Las Vegas Retro Radio Two), honorary member of the Aeronautical Returnee Rescue Response Squad (based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia), part-time member of the Dust Devils (based in Las Vegas), father of twin two-year-old foals, a leading member of the Subvets detachment in Las Vegas, settled in for a landing in the courtyard of his villa, located near the intersection of North Elevator Road and Lake Hills Street in Las Vegas. The pegasus was looking forward to a relaxing evening at home, with his wife, children, housemate and his wife, and his niece. He was not going to get it.
Not ten seconds after touching down, as he was opening the door to the kitchen while getting his wings furled, his wife, Raven Blacklight, hollered at him, “Get your ass in here, Hal! WE need to talk!”
“What’s bothering you, Raven? You usually wait a full minute before shouting at GLACK!” Hal’s words were cut off abruptly as Raven took the collar of his shirt (a LVRR2 promotional) and wrapped it around his neck before pulling him inside.
“WE are going to discuss selling this house and moving to a better location!” Raven yelled, shaking Hal with her telekinetic grip on his shirt. “I was out shopping with the kids, down by the shops on Reflection Road, when Kalie asked me why some of the mares were walking around with their tails to one side!”
Hal managed to take a breath deep enough to speak. “But, you loved this place when we bought it seven years ago…” he managed to say before another wave of shaking happened.
“That was BEFORE we had kids, Hal! We now have two inquisitive two-year-old foals and a four-month-old niece here. I do NOT want to raise them uphill of the Red-Light District!” she bellowed, finally letting go of Hal’s shirt.
Hal managed to take several deep breaths, reoxygenating his blood before answering his shouting wife. “I take it you have a place already picked out for us to move to?”
“That will be your job on Saturday, that and finding a buyer for this place. Between you and Wordy and Summer Sun and myself, we have enough contacts to find somepony in jig time to buy this place. Think you’re up to it?” Raven snapped.
“In fact, I do have an idea. Where are the kids?” Hal asked.
“Summer Sun took them and Nightlight (Wordy and Sunny’s earth pony filly) down to the park while we had a chat. When Wordy gets home tonight, Sunny will speak to him.”
“Let me make a phone call. I had an interesting chat with Harper Tune on the train home today. It can solve one problem, if all works out.
“I take it nothing’s ready for dinner yet?” Hal asked as he headed for the telephone.
“I was going to order out later. I’ve been too worked up to cook.”
Hal picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Understandable, Raven,” he said while waiting for the other end to pick up. “Bruce? Hal. Are you and Harper free for a chat tonight? I can be there in five minutes. Good. On my way!”
Hanging up the phone, Hal called to his wife, “Don’t worry about me- I’ll stop at Fat Stacks on the way back!” before taking to the darkening sky.
Hal sat on a cushion at the apartment of Bruce Morrow and Harper Tune, while they sat on a sofa. Their two children, Angela and Hard Charger, were napping in their bedroom, Angela willing to look after her little brother. “So, that’s the story. Raven wants to move to another part of town, and I want to offer you first crack at the house. Interested?”
Bruce and Harper looked at each other, then back to Hal. “It sounds like a good idea, but you forgot something, Hal.” Bruce said to his friend and part time mentor.
“Oh? What did I forget?” he asked, looking confused.
Harper pointed with a wing at the door to the kids’ room. “Angela is seven. Kalie and Onyx are two. Do the math,” she said quietly.
Hal looked so chagrined it was laughable. “Oh. Guess I didn’t think of that. I remember our chat on the train, about you two wanting a bigger place.”
“We do, but we don’t want to settle by the red-light district. You do have a great house, Hal, but I can’t bring our kids there. Sorry we can’t help you.” Harper said apologetically.
“Plus, with our cut of the 781 rescue, we’ll be able to build new. I have an appointment with a realtor Saturday, to see what land is available. Two million bucks for each of us rescuers is a big help.” Bruce added.
“Two million Aussie, which works out to about a million two here in Colorado Territories. Where are you looking, if I may ask?”
“We have a few choices. Up Strada Cassano is our first choice, then up Aqueduct Avenue to the west end, but that’s a little distant.” Bruce said.
“I like down off Oasis Trail, that one mountain we pass shortly before the track splits to go to Meadville. I’ve heard they are opening that area for development.” Harper suggested.
“Yes, I remember you pointing it out on the train ride in. Gives me something to consider.” Hal said, getting up. “I’d stay longer, but I’m famished. Raven sprung this on me right as I got home. Hitting Fat Stacks on the way home. Harper, see you tomorrow on the train. Bruce, be careful at the fire station, okay?”
“Will do, Hal.”
Saturday morning, Hal was waiting at the realtor’s office for the realtor to come in, checkbook in his saddlebag. The deposit from the Australian Central Bank had arrived in his account (FINALLY!) and Raven had pressed him to get moving early. A floating cast iron skillet is a good persuader.
When the realtor, Hidden Hills, a gold and green earth pony mare, arrived, she and Hal got in to a discussion on where, when and how much. After a couple of hours, after which Hal was left feeling like a wet noodle in a colander, they settled on a quarter-acre parcel south of Oasis Trail, up on the mountainside, for a hundred and twenty-five thousand bucks, to be deposited on Monday in the realtor’s account. Hal was directed to a reputable contractor, one he knew for having done commercials for the company, to see about having the house designed and built. Leaving the filled-out check there while making sure the deed to the land was securely locked in his bag, Hal made his trembling way to the contractor. Fortunately, he could sit down on the trams.
Hal had a much better time of it at Brickleback Contracting, having done ads for the company before. By four that afternoon, Hal had the plans for a villa that not only will have all the modern amenities, it will have all the space needed for two growing families, and built-in expansion potential, so other rooms could be added without tearing the whole house apart in the doing. Hal headed home with not only the plans, but a firm quote, payable after discussion with the family. Estimated delivery time for the construction is three months.
Back at home, Hal laid out the plans on the kitchen table for all to read through, taking the time to outline the features of every room. Once he was done with the presentation, Raven smiled up at him. “You did a good job with this design, Hal. A side for each family to have space in, yet enough in common for us to mix harmoniously. How much for the place?”
“Three hundred seventy-five thousand, delivery in three months from the go-signal, and if they miss the delivery date, we will be refunded five thousand bucks a day, up to three weeks. If necessary, they will pay for lodging until the place is done.” Hal explained.
“Quarter-acre lot on the north side of Calico Ridge. I handle the landscaping?” Wordy asked.
“Wordy, I would not dream of anyone else doing it.” Hal said with a tired smile. “So, shall I drop off the check on the way to work Monday?”
“No, Hal. Wait until Wednesday. That will give us a couple of days to search for buyers for this place.” Summer Sun said.
“I’ll call Brickleback Monday morning and let him know.”
That Monday, at Las Vegas Radio, Hal told Harper Tune about his purchase. Harper asked for the exact coordinates of the lot, which Hal gave her. With a smile, she strode off to the Radio Three studios, Hal wondering why. His question was answered on the way home. While they generally took different trains in, they almost always took the same train home.
“I called Hidden Hills before my air time, Hal. I managed to arrange for the purchase of the lot just to the west of yours, on Silverplate Trace. I’ll let Bruce know when I get home, and we should have plans finalized by the end of the week.” Harper told her friend.
“Well, partner, it would be damn good ta have ya livin so close by.” Hal drawled out. “Just be sure to keep that little filly of yours on a short leash. Ah don’t want her givin’ my little filly any idears.”
Harper let out a warm laugh. “Other way round, Hal. Kaleidoscope teaches Angela, who teaches Charger.”
Hal pondered the news. “Hmm… maybe we both ought to spring for the childproofing options in the walls and wiring. I know I did, one of each in the house.”
“Not a bad idea. Not to mention the gate in the wall between the houses. You know Angela would want that.”
“Beats having Onyx open doors- his way.” Hal muttered, recalling a time when Black Onyx encountered a stuck door. Unicorn foal plus stuck door plus mana flare equals no more door, just sawdust. Onyx has a lot of his mother’s tendencies, as well as temperament. “Maybe also spring for leashes for them.”
“Not a bad idea. Charger’s getting off the floor, chasing his sister. Kalie, well, we all know about her.” Harper said, referring to the little pegasus’ habit of flying up and dive-bombing adult visitors who came by the house.
“It will be good having you and Bruce as neighbors, Harper.” Hal said as the Green Line train pulled smoothly into Vegas Central Station. “Catch you tomorrow!” he said as he exited the train car and took wing.
“Later, Hal!” Harper called as she walked to the Old Weston Boulevard tram for some more riding before nearing her home.
The hardest part of the deal over the next couple of months was finding somepony who wanted to buy the house Hal and family were currently living in. Most of Hal’s contacts and connections had kids, and they had no wish to live so close to the red-light district. Raven had a similar problem, talking to her colleagues at BUMA. Summer Sun could not find any takers at her job in the Department of Energy. It was Wordy who found a possible taker at his part-time job as a filmmaker for Newsreel Productions.
Wordy came home late one night (to the exasperation of his wife) with a colleague who had just started at Newsreel, a brown and gray earth pony stallion who had the name of Clapper Board, the reason for his name visible on his flanks. Fortunately for domestic tranquility, he brought home three mixed veggie pizzas from Nanapoli Pizzeria, the family’s favorite pizza joint.
After touring the house and environs, Clapper Board went up to the family. “I have heard this house is up for sale. I would be interested in getting more details,” the young stallion said to the group.
“Everything is sound, no leaks, no frays, no issues.” Raven told the potential buyer.
“The garden is tastefully done, the location very convenient to almost everything a stallion could want, and it even has enough privacy despite being near a main street. Definitely much different than Angels Valley.” Clapper Board said politely. “How soon will you be moving out?”
“When the new house is completed, which should be within a month.” Hal said, having gone there every weekend while the house, and Bruce’s, were being built.
“Would you entertain an offer of say, four hundred thousand bucks, payable the day you move out of here into the new place?”
“Where would you come up with that amount of bucks in a month?” Hal said, startled.
“Alas, my family’s fame has not yet reached here, I take it.” Clapper Board sighed. “My father, Cutting Board, is a noted director of films in Nueva Angeles, in high demand. He’s buying the house for me, so I can try to establish myself here in Las Vegas’ film community.”
“Cutting Board? Didn’t he direct Angeles Bound and Terror from the Sea?” Summer Sun asked.
“That he did. Glad someone reads the credits.”
“If I may ask, just what do you need such a big house for?” Raven asked.
“Space for filming and editing equipment. While I can work well in a studio, I’m like my dad in preferring to do editing at home. First thing I have to do is get settled here in Vegas, which is why I’m working for now at Newsreel.” Clapper Board explained.
Summer Sun said, “I’ll talk to the Film Board secretary tomorrow and see if you can get an appointment with her, to present your credentials.”
“You’ll do that for me?” Clapper Board asked, sounding surprised and delighted.
“Yes, I will. You’ll have to go through her secretary first, but I’ll put in a good word for you. Arthur’s a good pony. Rose rapidly through the ranks.”
“Arthur Lyles? I remember when he Returned.” Hal said. “So, that’s where he wound up.”
“So, do we have a deal?” Clapper Board asked.
“Tentatively, yes. Confirmed, well, the family should discuss it first before giving a final verdict. Where are you living?” Hal asked.
“For now, at the Hanging Tail Hotel,” he said. All four of the family adults cringed.
“Not exactly the best place to stay, Clapper.” Wordy managed to say.
Clapper Board exhibited a similar grimace. “I know, but as I keep telling myself, it’s temporary.”
“Just don’t patronize the basement bordello, Clapper, or you’ll have a real case of the clap.” Raven cautioned.
“Message received, Mrs. Blacklight. Until I receive word from you, I will head back there. I have an early day tomorrow. Thank you very much for listening to me.” Clapper Board said as he made his way to the door, Wordy going with him.
The four adults discussed matters for a couple of hours, finishing the pizza leftovers. They decided to agree, pending a background check of Clapper Board, which Summer Sun would initiate the next day. “I hope this works out.” Hal said at the end.
“We can but hope, Hal.” Raven replied.
The background check came back clean, and so Hal sent word to Clapper Board the deal was on, effective the day they moved out. With that out of the way, the family set out to do something few ponies enjoyed- packing. What to keep, what to sell, what to dump, what to donate… the decisions and second-guessing took the entire month to finally hammer out, not without more than a few disputes between the adults. The kids thought it was a grand adventure. Kalie especially loved hiding in boxes and springing out, startling all who were near.
Finally, the long-awaited Moving Day rolled around. The day before, Hal and Raven inspected the house, said it was good, received the keys, and checked out all the appliances. On Moving Day, four ponies from Top Card Movers arrived, shifting furniture, boxes, and other assorted stuff into the big wagon pulled up in front of the old house. With Raven staying behind to supervise stowing, Hal led Wordy, Summer Sun and the kids to Oasis Trail and the tram line on that street. Getting on, they rode the tram out to the Calico Ridge station, a place that was as new as the subdivision. New enough that the Review-Journal had yet to put a newspaper kiosk in.
Hal led the family up Calico Ridge Road about half a mile, to Silverplate Trace, passing the various businesses and apartments along the road in varied states of construction. Only a few places at the bottom of the hill were complete. Hal had to warn the twins not to go in the trench where the tram line up the hill would go in a few more months. Turning right, he led them to the villa on the corner. “Welcome home, one and all, to our new place in the west,” he announced before opening the door. Make that TRYING to open the door.
After checking his nose to see if it was broken, Hal fumbled for the key in his saddlebag. Unlocking the door, he tried again. “Welcome home, one and all, to our new place in the west,” he announced for a second time before faceplanting into the door again. Everyone started laughing, even the kids.
“Let’s try the back door, shall we?” Hal mumbled before leading everypony around to the gate in the wall. Opening that easily, he led them into the spacious back yard.
The twins squealed happily as they saw the sandbox and playground swings, racing each other there, Onyx to the sandbox, Kalie to the swings. Hal led them to a back door. “Take three.”
“Hal, forget the speech, just open the door.” Wordy snapped.
Hal shrugged and pressed down on the door lever with his hoof. The door opened easily. “Come on in,” he said. Big mistake, as Wordy, Summer Sun, Onyx and Kalie barreled in, leaving the pegasus in the dust of the yard.
Hal picked himself up and shook the dust off before going inside. “Welcome home, all,” he muttered. Once inside, he went to the front door to find out WHY it would not open. A doorstop was wedged in, under the lock. “Wonder how that got there.”
He could hear everyone squealing happily as they explored the spacious house, with ceilings high enough for pegasi to fly over ponies without clocking them, and wide enough in the halls and doors to allow passage. Hal wandered into the kitchen, checking the refrigerator to see if the six-pack of Mule Kick beer he had put there yesterday was cold enough to drink yet. A touch with a fetlock proved they were. A look in the freezer showed ice cubes in their trays.
“Hey, Hal, thanks for putting in a kitchen big enough for a pony to really cook in!” Wordy said from right behind him. Hal jumped, whacking his nose on top of the freezer.
“Wordsmythe…” Hal muttered. “You saw the plans.”
“I did, but seeing plans and seeing actuality are entirely different. I can do some REAL cooking in here!” Wordsmythe exclaimed.
“Enough to bake more than four cookies at a time, Uncle Wordy?” Black Onyx said from where he was standing, up on the kitchen island.
“Onyx, what are you doing up there?” Hal asked.
“Lookin’” Onyx said simply.
“Okay, young colt, HOW did you get up there?”
“I jumped, Daddy. Mommy showed me how.”
Hal just shook his head. “Just be careful, Onyx. We’re farther away from Doctor Green Mane now, and I don’t know if the telephone is working yet. Don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Okay, Daddy.” Onyx said before jumping off the island to the floor.
“Better check the phone, Hal. Don’t want to be cut off for too long.” Summer Sun advised.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll check the extensions, too.” Hal went out to do just that. First, the one in the front room. A dial tone was audible. Nodding, he checked the extension in Wordy’s bedroom. That worked. Crossing the atrium to the other side, Hal then checked the one in his and Raven’s bedroom.
“Three down, one to go,” he said, going in to what will become his office. All that was in the bare room was the telephone on the back wall. He picked it up, and a stream of cold water came out of the mouthpiece, spraying Hal in the muzzle.
Dripping, Hal hung up the phone. “Raven, I’m going to get you for this…” he muttered before sneezing to clear his nose.
Hal went back to his walk through. Kalie trotted up to him. “Me an’ Onyx have our own rooms now?” she asked, not like she hasn’t been asking for one since she could talk coherently.
“That you do, Kalie. Want to see?”
“Yes, Daddy! Which one’s mine an’ which one’s his?”
Hal put his nose under his daughter and flipped her onto his back. “I’ll show you!” he said, going back down the hallway a few paces to a door. “This one’s yours, Kalie.”
Hal opened the door to reveal a room painted in gray up to head height to him, pink to the ceiling, and the ceiling itself painted a nice sky-blue, with puffy white clouds. “Wow…” Kalie breathed, fluttering her way off Hal’s back to the middle of the room, looking around in awe. “My room?”
“Your room, Kalie. Onyx has the room next to you. It’s painted in his colors. Now, it will be up to you to keep things neat. If Mommy or I have to clean up after you, it’s going to cost you some fur or feathers. Onyx will have the same rules, too.”
Kalie ran to her father and hugged him tightly. Hal sat down to return the hug. “Thank you, Daddy. Love you,” she said between sniffles.
“Love you too, Kalie.” Hal said, sniffing a little himself.
“Which one’s mine?” Onyx demanded from the door, interrupting the daddy/daughter scene.
Hal let go of Kaleidoscope. “Right next door, Onyx. Want to see?”
“Yeah!” the little colt yelled, prancing in place with eagerness.
Hal got up and walked to the door to Onyx’s room. With a practiced flick of a hoof, the door opened, to reveal a room painted black to head-height, light purple to the ceiling, and a dark blue ceiling. “What you think?”
Onyx walked in and looked around, the black colt almost vanishing against the black paint. “It’s great, Dad!” he said, before rushing up to Hal and tackling him in a hug, or trying to. Hal hugged his son back.
“Glad you like it. Now, all we have to do is wait until the movers get here, so we can put your beds and rooms together.” Hal said. “You two look around the house, while I check on Uncle Wordy and Aunt Summer.”
“Can we go play in the sand, Daddy?” Kalie asked from the door to Onyx’s room, hesitant to go in, as reluctant as Onyx was to enter her room.
“Sure! That’s what it’s there for! Both of you!” Hal found himself trampled by his son as he ran out of the room behind his sister.
“Once more and I’ll just have ‘Welcome’ tattooed across my barrel…” Hal muttered as he got up.
Hal went to the other side of the house to check on his housemate and wife. He found them in the bedroom, Nightlight in her basket on the floor. “Hal, you outdid yourself on this.” Summer said, looking about the big bedroom.
“Don’t thank me, thank Brickleback. He had the designs, I just approved and paid for it.”
“It’s still wonderful, Hal. Enough room for us to be our own families, yet enough in common for us to function as a unit. Since Nightlight came along, the old place was getting a bit small.”
“With the jobs we all have, someplace good to come home to will be essential for all of us. Here, we can be ourselves, and enjoy the fact of being together, all of us.” Hal said.
Wordy looked at his friend and housemate. “Didn’t know you had such words in you, Hal,” he said in surprise.
“So, I learned from you and your days as a greeting card salesman.”
“Wordy, you never told me you sold greeting cards Before.” Summer Sun said.
“Because I wasn’t a greeting card salesman. I was a writer Before.”
“So, you wrote greeting cards?” Summer Sun asked in confusion, Hal quickly leaving the room before Wordy can stop him, leaving Wordy to fume and mutter.
Fortunately for Hal, the movers showed up at that time, parking their wagon out on Silverplate Trace. Raven trotted up to the front door, Hal getting it open in time. After a hug, Hal asked his wife, “Want to see everything before unloading?”
“Hal, I know this place better than you do. I ported up here yesterday while you were at work. I’m going to supervise offloading and installation. Why don’t you take Kalie and do some grocery shopping?” Raven said.
“Kalie is tripping out over the paint in her room, and the play area in the back yard. I don’t think she would want to go anywhere just yet.”
Raven nodded. “Good point. You just go, okay? Take your saddlebags. Just get enough for today and early tomorrow. I’ll do more shopping tomorrow.”
Hal sighed. He knew when he was outmaneuvered. “Okay, I’ll go. I need to familiarize myself with the landmarks, anyhow. Back in an hour or so.”
“Your saddlebags should be right outside, Hal. I made sure they would be first off the wagon.”
Hal took over an hour to shop, taking his time flying down the mountain to Oasis Trail and into town. He hit three stores, getting enough for several meals, not forgetting sweetstraw for the kids, a greatly restricted treat. Thus laden, he made his way back to the new house, working more to get the directions memorized. Beyond Calico Ridge, he could see the industrial area of Henderson lapping up towards the peak on the southwest side. Farther out, the Stratosphere Tower and, to the right, the Returnee Center. Twisting a little, Nellis was to his starboard aft quarter. Looking the other way, the five skyscrapers of the Las Vegas CBD stood tall and proud near the shore of Lake Las Vegas.
Turning his attention ahead, he could see the Calico Ridge neighborhood taking shape. Several homes were completed lower down the ridge, but his and Bruce’s were the only two completed homes higher up. In between, about two dozen more villas were in various stages of construction. Higher up, nearing the peak, crews were laying in utility lines, earth ponies handling the digging into the rock for laying of cables and pipes. “So much neater than using big backhoes.” Hal thought as he neared his new home.
Landing in the atrium, he went into the kitchen, putting his saddlebags on the kitchen island for unloading by his wife and roomie later. Extracting the package of sweetstraw, he carefully opened it. The patter of little hooves was heard, and within seconds, Kalie, Onyx and Nightlight were there, halos held up by their horns. With a smile, he doled out a portion of sweetstraw to each of them, making the foals happy.
Wordy was next in. “Spoiling my daughter, are you?”
“Every chance I get, Wordy. Not like you didn’t do the same thing when the twins were that age. With the stress of moving, I said why not.” Hal said, watching Nightlight enjoy her treat.
“Looks like you got enough for me to get some baking in. Cornbread with dinner tonight?”
“You know I’m a sucker for your cornbread, Wordy. Has the kitchen been unpacked yet?”
“Did that a while ago. Raven’s got your side, Summer’s got my side, putting things in place. They dumped the kitchen on me.” Wordy said with a smile.
“Best pony to dump it on. You know what I can do with a kitchen.” Hal said, the kids giggling, recalling the times they saw Mommy chase Daddy out of the kitchen, waving her skillet.
“Speaking of which, all of you clear out, so I can get started fixing dinner, okay?” Wordy said sternly. Three little contrails left the kitchen, two curling right, one curling left. Hal left at a more sedate pace, heading up his side of the villa.
Hal had to dodge the unicorn movers once, hauling in one of the kids’ beds. He ducked into his office, to find his desk in place, as well as the boxes labeled ‘office’. Finding a hammer and nails, he started putting up his awards and photographs, thus keeping him out of the way while the furniture was put in place. It was not until almost sunset when Raven stuck her nose into his office.
“Hal, dinner’s ready. You hungry or not?” she asked.
Hal looked around at Raven. “You bet I am! How goes the move?”
“Furniture is in place. All we have left are the boxes and boxes of boxes and boxes. You help Kalie unpack after dinner, and I’ll take Onyx?”
“Second best idea I have heard all day.” Hal said, putting the hammer down on his desk, stepping around it to hug his wife. “Happy now, Raven?”
“Yes, I am. No more red-light district to worry about,” she said, snugging back.
“A bit of a walk still to do shopping, but that problem will sort itself out in time. You can handle it.”
“That I can.”
After dinner, Hal helped his daughter unpack and put away her things. He did his best to make sure to teach her to put everything away in its proper place, but he was unsure about how well the lesson would stick. Once Kalie’s effects were stowed, the families gathered in the front room to listen to the radio or read, as they chose. The kids played quietly on the big rug, Kalie and Onyx having fun with Nightlight.
Suddenly, the music cut out and the tones of the EAS system rang out. Not a weather alarm, though. “This is a code yellow alert for the Greater Las Vegas Metropolitan area. An F-35 fighter jet has Returned and is attempting to make it to Nellis. It is approaching from the direction of Kingman, but the pilot has doubts on having enough fuel to make it. Stay tuned to your radio for more detailed information as it comes in. We now return you to your regular broadcast.”
The family looked at each other. “Shall we go out and watch?” Summer Sun asked.
“I doubt we could see anything at night. We can look in the direction of Kingman. Maybe we could see some lights.” Hal said. “Back yard.”
The family trooped outside, Raven turning up the radio so they could hear any additional information. Looking southeast showed nothing, just a clear sky with stars. The EAS tones sounded again, level two this time. “This is a code yellow alert. The incoming fighter has cleared the Colorado River, heading northwest to Nellis. Greater Las Vegas residents look to the southeast.”
Hal spotted the lights of the plane first, pegasus vision being better than average. “That way!” he called out, pointing with a hoof.
“I see it.” Raven said. “It looks like it’s coming this way.”
The lights of the incoming plane settled lower and lower as it neared. Suddenly, a burst of light came from it. “The pilot’s bailed out!” Hal shouted as the plane impacted on the next ridge over from the house, a fireball coming up from the impact point, debris flying. “Under the wall, everyone!”
Hal gathered his kids in his wings as he ducked under the shelter of the wall. Raven and Summer Sun put up shields around the others as debris pattered down around them. “That was close.” Wordy said from behind his wife’s shield.
“Got that right.” Hal said, letting go of the kids and standing up. “I’m going to search for the pilot. Kalie, stay here!”
“Be careful, Hal!” Raven called up as she got the kids under her shield.
“Will do!” Hal called back, taking to the sky.
It wasn’t long before Hal spotted the parachute, dropping towards the ground not far from the house. He took wing that way, aiming to get up close to the pilot. He circled the pilot as it fell slowly. It was a pony, that he could tell, hanging limply in the harness, looking like it was slipping out.
Hal did not hesitate. He flew under the pony, catching it on his back just as it slipped out of the parachute and seat harness. The parachute, relieved of the pilot’s weight, flew off into the distance. Hal headed home, carrying the pilot. “Hey, buddy, are you all right?” he called back.
Getting no answer, he managed to land in the back yard. “I got the pilot! He’s out of it!” he called out as he landed. Raven and Summer Sun came running over, their combined glows getting the helmet and flight suit off the pilot, revealing a pegasus stallion, sooty black with a grey-silver mane and dark gray wings.
“Summer, get the first aid kit. Wordy, call the authorities. Hal, help me. Fellow’s broke a leg on bailout. Let me see how much healing I can do.” Raven directed. All sprang into action, the kids staying close but out of the way.
“This is going to hurt him, but it needs doing. Hal, get me some sticks and two towels. I’ll straighten the leg before splinting it.”
“Right, love.” Hal said, heading in to the house. Raven reset the leg, which caused the pilot to wake up with a yelp. “Sorry about that, but it was necessary.”
“I can imagine. Where the hell am I anyhow? What in hell happened?”
“Details to follow. I need to get that leg splinted. What’s your name?” Raven asked, using her glow to hold the leg in place.
“Captain Harmon Black Feather, USAF,” the stallion managed to say, teeth clenched from the pain.
“I knew a Myron Black Feather years ago.” Raven said as Hal came out with some towels and some wood from the fireplace store.
“Fort Peck?” Harmon asked.
“Fort Peck.” Raven said as her glow broke strips off the log for splints.
“Myron was my older brother. We moved to Billings when I was seven.”
“Ever go to Byrd’s Diner?”
“Best chicken on the res. Oof!” Harmon grunted as Raven put the splint in place and started tying it off.
“My father ran it. I’m sure we must have met at least once. Lakota?”
“Lakota. Now, where am I and what happened?”
Hal took over. “Just outside Las Vegas. It’s about thirty-two hundred years after you think it is. The authorities will take care of your re-education.” Hal fluttered his wings. “You’ll even learn how to use these. Hell, I did.”
Sirens can be heard in the distance, slowly nearing. “I hope I can find my way back here,” Harmon said.
Hal smiled down at the black and gray pegasus. “Just let the ponies at the Rehab Center know that you have the backing of Lieutenant Colonel Sleet.” At Raven’s snort, Hal said, “What? I carried him down on my back, right?”
“Hal, you’re impossible.” Raven said as she made sure the splint was tied tightly.
“No, my dear Raven, just merely incredible.” Hal replied, buffing a forehoof against his chest. Unseen by him, a bucket of sand levitated over his head and emptied itself.
Everypony present started laughing, including Harmon. “Why is it always me?” he said, shaking his head to get the sand out.
“You make it too easy, Hal.” Wordy said as lights passed by the house.
“I better go get them.” Hal said, lifting off. He chased down the ambulance and brought them to the house, where they treated the pilot for pain before loading him onto a gurney.
Harmon raised a hoof before he was put into the ambulance wagon. “Hope to see you all again soon.”
“You will, Harmon. We’ll make sure of it.” Raven said as the attendants loaded him up. “Get better first!”
“We will make sure of that!” one of the attendants called out as she shut the tailgate door.
Several months later, at the monsoon call-up, Colonel Strong Wing looked over the assembled ponies. “Okay, ponies. You know which team you are on, what your piece is, and where your board meets here. Let’s hear it for the Rainbow King, who took time out to be here!” The hangar erupted with the stomping of three hundred plus sets of hooves as Hal flew in the door, wearing his Rainbow King shirt, waving to the assembled ponies as he expertly backwinged and landed on the stage, narrowly missing Chessmaster One with a wing tip.
“Ponies, you don’t need me to deliver a pep talk, but I will anyway. Just a short one.
“All of you know how important Weather Control is. To the veterans, I say teach the rookies well, because your wing pony may save you some time. To the rookies, listen, learn and obey your superior officers, because they have earned the right to be listened to. Who knows, maybe some time, I’ll come out and fly a shift or two, just to see if everypony learned how to work together. Or, maybe, help save the city. Do us proud, do the city proud.
“What do winning chess players say?” Hal shouted.
“CHECKMATE!” all three hundred plus ponies shouted back.
“Okay, ponies, head for your chessboards!” Hal said, walking off the stage, catching the eye of one of the front row rookies.
“I didn’t expect to see you here this early, Harmon.” Hal said to his friend.
The sooty black pegasus tossed his head some. “Best place for therapy is actually being out working. Have not done much with weather control yet. Lack of opportunity.”
“You’ll get your chance. Go on, join your team. You’ll see me about every now and again.”
“Out to save the city from rampaging weather?” Harmon said with a smile.
“No, just my part of it. Dinner at my place Saturday after training?”
“Sounds good to me. I know Onyx likes his uncle Harmie.”
“That he does.” Hal said as the leader of the training flight, Major Screaming Breeze, came up.
“Stealing my recruits, Hal?” she said with a laugh.
“No, just inviting a friend to dinner Saturday. He knows I’ll always back him up.” Hal replied as Harmon facehoofed himself.
“Raven was right, Hal. You ARE impossible!” Harmon groaned.
“I’m missing something here. You can fill me in on it as we go to your chessboard, pawn.” Screaming Breeze said as she tapped Harmon with a wing tip.
“Be nice to him, Breezy!” Hal called out as he watched his new friend head off with his instructor. Something told Hal that Harmon would turn out very well indeed. He took to the skies, heading back to downtown Las Vegas and his office at the Nevada Aeronautical Survey. Monsoon season meant more work for him there, as well as changing his hours on the radio station, now two to six instead of starting at noon.
Author's Note
This arose out of a discussion Mix and I had over his map of Vegas. Unwittingly, I put Hal's old house by the red-light district. One thing led to another, and this is the result.
