Parking Lot by the Causeway, Tuesday Evening

[faithandscience]

So plans had been made, and after a quick trip to the garage to pick up some tools he figured they were likely to use, Will headed out to the parking lot to meet up with Ariel, all the while rationalising what they were about to do.

It wasn't a crime, he figured, if it was done in the name of scientific advancement. Never mind that he wasn't

Comments

[shes_got_legs]

Ariel could totally go with calling it scientific advancement, totally!

"Ohmygosh!" she said, bouncing up to William and spotting the shuttle almost right away, even if she'd never even ridden on it herself. "There it is! It's so big!"

And the engine must be amazing! This was even more exciting than learning about saxophones earlier!

[faithandscience]

"It certainly is impressive, isn't it?" Will had to admit. He hadn't really had much time to look at the carriage when they'd all been crowding on to it from the airport. The trip to Baltimore had lessened his awe at the machines somewhat, but they were still new enough to be incredibly fascinating.

[shes_got_legs]

"Well," Ariel laughed. "What are we waiting for? Let's crack this thing open! The engine's in the front of it, isn't it?"

[faithandscience]

"Indeed," William nodded. "I don't suppose you know if there's a- latch or something?" he asked, moving closer to inspect the front of the vehicle.

[shes_got_legs]

"Clearly" Ariel looked over at William with a grin, "we should have watched a program about the hoods, too. But I think there's gotta. Or a button maybe. Something's got to hold it in so it's just a matter of finding it...."

Ariel's hands started passing all over the front of the vehicle, and under the front, off to the sides...

[faithandscience]

William was doing much the same, and happened across something that looked like a lever. Cautiously, he pressed it... and up sprang the hood!

"Success!" he said, giving Ariel a pleased smile.

[shes_got_legs]

"Hooray!" Ariel's arms went up in celebration of William's victory.

But her celebration only lasted so long when there was a shiny engine to look at.

"Ohmygosh, that is beautiful!"

[faithandscience]

"It really is," Will said in awe, reaching out to touch it. And getting his hand covered in engine grease as he did so, but like he cared. "Now comes the hard part: actually getting it out."

[shes_got_legs]

"The hard part?" asked Ariel, smirking and trying not to giggle at the grease on William's hands, especially since, as she plunged her own in, hers would soon follow suit. "You mean the fun part!"

Pause.

"Where is it?"

[faithandscience]

"I think it's..." oh my, there were rather a lot of parts here, weren't there? All the diagrams and such that he'd studied in preparation just didn't do justice to the real thing. "I think we start by loosening this part here?" he said, handing Ariel a wrench. "You take that side, I'll take this one."