Crash Landing by Zac Harrison Read Free Book Online

weird.”
    “No kidding—” John was interrupted by a loud chime.
    “Oh no, it’s later than I thought,” Kaal hissed. “Classes start in five minutes and we’ve got to get to the hangar deck. We’ll never make it.” He clutched his head. “First day of term and I’m gonna get two detentions. Plus, extra work. Sergeant Jegger hates lateness.”
    “Who is Sergeant Jegg—”
    “No time for questions. Just run!”

Chapter 6
    John and Kaal were already sprinting, when a voice behind them shouted, “Hey, wait for me!” Glancing over his shoulder, John saw Emmie Tarz pushing her way through the crowd. “I’ve got the same class,” she panted as she ran up beside him. “Come on.”
    The three sprinted into a lift and hit the far wall in a jumble. “Hangar deck C!” yelled Kaal. “As fast as possible.”
    The lift plunged downward at heart-stopping speed. After a few seconds it lurched sideways, flinging them in a different direction. “Whoa, not quite so fast,” said Kaal, catching Emmie’s slim figure just before her head slammed against the wall. The lift slowed obediently and a few moments later the door slid open.
    “Just in time,” grinned Kaal. “Quick, before Jegger gets here.”
    “What class is this?” John whispered to Emmie, as the three students joined a neat line on the deck. He looked around at the empty space. Perhaps it’s PE , he thought to himself. Running circuits of the vast space would be perfect for long-distance training.
    “Shhh,” Kaal replied on the other side of him. John looked round to see the massive Derrilian stiffen and stand straighter. “Jegger,” Kaal hissed from the corner of his mouth.
    A figure was approaching from the far side of the deck, marching briskly, but with a strange, rolling gait. As it came closer, John realized why it looked so odd: Sergeant Jegger had three legs. Two hours earlier he would have gasped in shock, but he had already seen much stranger sights. Apart from the extra limb – plus three eyes, one of which was hidden under a patch – the teacher looked almost human, with a bristling moustache and a ring of iron-grey hair around an otherwise bald head.
    “Attention!” Sergeant Jegger barked, coming to a halt in front of the line of students. As the students tried to stand even more stiffly, he continued, “Welcome to Intermediate Space Flight, cadets. As you all mastered the basics last term, this term you will be going solo in a class two training-dart.”
    As Jegger spoke, the floor behind him began to revolve and move away. Before John’s eyes, a row of spacecraft rose from a holding bay below. Each was made from gleaming metal, shining under the bright lights of the hangar deck. Each ship had a long, sharp nose with a cockpit behind. At the rear were short, sleek, swept-back wings. Through clear glass, John could see what looked like control panels and a large joystick. With a quiet clonk , the floor locked into place.
    “Let’s not waste any time,” barked the sergeant. “Board your t-dart. You will find a helmet on each seat. Put it on and fasten your safety harness securely.”
    “Brilliant!” John heard Emmie Tarz breathe. “Solo flying!” She was already moving towards the nearest craft. Kaal, too, was making for a ship.
    “Wait,” said John. “Umm... excuse me, Sergeant Jegger, sir.” His hand shot up. “I’ve never—”
    “Get in your t-dart, cadet,” barked the teacher, turning away. “I want everyone in the air in thirty seconds.”
    “But—”
    “Now!”
    With a gulp, John walked across the deck towards one of the last two ships. Around him, students were scrambling aboard with whoops of glee. “How hard can it be?” he muttered to himself. “Joystick, control pad. Just like playing a video game.” He gulped again as he approached the small craft. “Except video games don’t actually fly.”
    Watching what the other students were doing, John pulled a handle on the side of the ship. The roof