He was a pilot. He liked the feel of a ship reacting under his fingertips. He didn’t understand all the math and science bullshit that JC breathed for, and he knew he never would. Nothing made Justin happier than being behind the controls and feeling a ship come alive for him. Unfortunately, on this trip, he really hadn’t had the opportunity to fly.

He wandered down to the bridge, where JC and the captain had been watching the probe since it’s arrival at the energy source. Lance was down there, too, since he was “behind the wheel”. He looked very proud of his creation. Justin was actually surprised to see Joe standing against the back wall, arms crossed over his chest, watching the console with hooded interest.

“The gang’s all here,” Justin announced, causing everyone, except JC, to glance back at him. Lance grinned and Joe winked at him. The captain only regarded him for a moment before turning back to the screen.

“This still makes no sense,” JC said. “I mean the probe isn’t able to read anything more than Min had been able to. I figured, given more sensors and a closer proximity, maybe we could get some useful data. I just… I don’t know what that Thing is outside the ship.” He sounded exasperated, which was something he rarely was.

“Why don’t you send it inside?” Justin asked. Again, all eyes turned toward him, and this time, JC’s followed.

“Oh,” he said. “Hrm. Yes, send it in. That’s a good idea, Justin.” JC scratched his head idly, and then ran his hand through his curls. Justin was always amazed by how absent-minded he could be, especially since Justin knew he was a genius. Lance shrugged, tapping the console to change the probe’s course, his green eyes going to the screen to watch.

It felt like everyone in the room was holding their breath. The probe spun before the object, before charging directly into the center of the swirling colors. Justin blinked, and it was gone.

“Whoa. Hey!” he said, blinking again to make sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him.

“Where’d it go?” Joe asked, stepping closer to where JC and Kirkpatrick sat. Kirkpatrick stood from his chair, placing a hand on JC’s shoulder. JC’s fingers were typing madly on the console, his eyes wide as he looked from the console back to the screen.

“Oh. Oh! Wow!” Justin could feel the energy coming from his friend, and knew something big was happening. JC started to explain then, tripping over his words, speaking so fast that Justin had no real idea what he was talking about… something about quantum gravity and space-time. It made Justin’s head throb trying to decipher it.

The high was lost when the probe went dead.

JC spun in his chair. His eyes, large and fiercely blue, met Justin’s. “I need to go out there. Take me.”

“Wait a minute, Jace,” Kirkpatrick said, keeping him in his chair with a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. That probe is gone. You know, as in ‘No longer out there.’”

“No, it isn’t,” JC told him. “It was still there… just… just on the other side. I need to see for myself. Justin can take me.”

“On the other side?” It was Joe this time. JC nodded.

“Yes. See, I believe we’ve found a fold in space-time. We’ve theorized these, but have never been able to observe one directly. This could mean…” His eyes went back to the swirling colors on the screen, his thought unfinished. It could mean fame and fortune, among other things. Justin itched to go out there.

“I’ll take him,” Justin told Kirkpatrick, hoping the captain would let him go. His hard eyes softened for a moment when he met Justin’s gaze.

“I don’t know exactly why the Doc wants to go, but you can take him. Just do NOT go inside. I am not taking this ship after the two of you.” Justin felt absolutely giddy, grinning like a madman when JC smiled at him. Finally, he would see some action on this lame ass trip.

“Come on, C, let’s get this party started.”

JC was out the door and on his way down to the Sirius before Justin had time to smile at the others.