Work Text:
The Investigator Turns to the Professional
by Irena Adler
On a cool Saturday morning, a small crowd gathered at the old airfield. Nine adults – Alan, Charlie, Colby, Will, Don, Larry, Megan, David and Matt – and one child – Nena –formed a half-circle around another adult, though at a respectful distance.
"It is fortuitous that Dr. Galuski turned out to be a model rocket enthusiast," Larry said to Don. "With a launch window already prepared for this weekend."
"Yeah," Don agreed. "Thanks for finding that out."
"You are most welcome. I find myself harkening back to my childhood in the anticipation."
Don gave him a distracted nod, then went over to Ray-Ray, who was working on a `model rocket' almost as tall as he was.
"Do you have a license to drive this thing?" Don asked with a nervous laugh.
"Actually, yeah," Ray-Ray chuckled. "You can't just buy this at a toy store. You need to be certified. I'm Level 3 certified, top level."
Don looked around the airfield. There were many people and rockets, but none as large as Ray-Ray's.
"It's kinda big," Don said.
Ray-Ray laughed. "You bet! This beauty only has an `I' motor, but should fly straight and true and reach almost a mile high." He smiled fondly at the blue and yellow-checkered rocket. "The fin design is my own."
"Very impressive," Don agreed.
Ray-Ray straightened up. "Okay, set! Now we'll need to get everybody to a safe distance—"
"Wait," Nena ran up to them. "You're not ready!"
Ray-Ray jumped between her and the rocket, his arms stretched out. "Uh, not safe, not a toy," he said, eyeing Nena uncertainly.
Giving him an exasperated look, Nena held out a plastic bag she was carrying. "You need this to go up, too!"
Ray-Ray looked into the bag and his face scrunched up in confusion. "A frozen turkey?"
end