Driving Miss Daisy crazy part 2

<Snip>
Johnny was glad that he was only teaching these guys basic piloting,
and not combat stuff. O'Riley probably had the makings of a good
fighter pilot, but Johnny was glad he didn't have to teach him once he
passed the basic test.
<end snip>
Who: Johnny B. Goode & Arthur Roberts
Where: Flight Deck 8
When: After previous post.
Johnny had been dreading this lesson. Roberts had little knowledge of
ships, and had never even driven a hovercar. At least his insurance
was up to date.
This was to be Arthur Roberts' first practical piloting test, aboard
Starbug 88. It had just been repaired from when Dean caused CJ
Boddington to crash by 'Taking control of the controls so the
inexperienced CJ wouldn't crash the recently repaired Starbug'. Or
something like that anyway. Johnny had heard that Keto was in the
cargo bay and Dean wreslted the controls off CJ so he could aim for
Keto. Of course, Dean missed by a mile (well, 30 yards).
Johnny waited for Roberts to arrive in full uniform, then opened the
Starbug and sat in the co-pilots seat.
"Can you remember where the ignition is from the diagrams and pictures?"
"I think so." Came the nervous reply, as Arthur Roberts flipped a switch.
Johnny tapped his fingers as some rock music came on over the speakers.
"Try and remember, please." JOhnny said patiently.
Roberts pressed a couple of buttons and flipped another switch, and
the music changed to country and western. Johnny quickly changed it
back to the rock music.
"It's over there, remember." Johnny pointed to one part of the pilot's
console.
"Ah, here it is." Roberts flipped some more switches before eagerly
pushing a big button clearly marked 'ignition'.
The starbug rumbled to life before coughing and spluttering, and then
dying. Roberts nervously tried it again, this time starting successfully.
"See if you can slowly navigate the starbug around the flight deck a
little." Johnny instructed.
The starbug lurched forward and then stopped about three times before
Roberts was able to find the right speed and get a little air. Roberts
smiled proudly as he managed to keep the starbug flat and steady for
five meters. Then the front left dropped, and Roberts panicked,
causing the whole ship to thud heavily against the ground.
"Try to keep calm, as it will help you to recover from situations like
this. I think we'll leave it there today, Arthur."
Johnny made an appointment with Roberts for his next flying lesson,
then walked gingerly to the elevator and went to what had by now been
coloufully (and imaginitively) re-named 'Level Parrott's/Nivelo
Drinky' by someone on the level chart.
Johnny entered Parrott's to see Eric Lustbader and McJohn seated
talking to someone who he hadn't seen before. He ordered a scotch
schooner and sat down, joining them.
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