Far and beyond

Old favors

- Where are you going? And why are you going there alone? - Mike was running after Steph who wouldn't want to wait.

- Look, Mike, this doesn't concern you. I don't want to involve you into anything that could get you in trouble. - Steph made sure to not give out any details about his plan, fearful that Mike might tell Viktoria.

- Well, that's too bad, because trouble is exactly what I am looking for. And you are not going to stop me. - Mike insisted. He was walking next to Steph with determination.

- Mike, I am serious! Just turn around and walk away!

- No Steph. I won't. And you know why? Because I have been a shitty friend yesterday. Because I said stuff that I should not have. And because, other than you, I don't have any other friends here. And if you die, who am I going to hang out and drink cheep bear with? - Mike wanted to lift the spirit of his comrade and was doing his best. It did not seem to be working.

- MIKE! This is not a joke! This is not something that I can just laugh about. Maybe you never had anyone close be in danger so you don't know how that feels but this is not the time for jokes. - Steph entered the garage with Mike following him. He seemed determined to get rid of him.

- Hey! You can't say that. I do know how it feels! And I am doing my best, and I am sorry if it doesn't seem like something that you would do, but I am trying. I want to be a good friend. And what does a good friend do? He is there, side by side, when things are the hardest! Besides, you will need someone to have your back and you will need someone to drive because you are s**t at it! 

- Mike, is there a way that I can get rid of you now? 

- No. 

- Well, in that case, carry this. - as Steph said that he had already placed a heavy bag into his friends hands. 

- What's all this? - Mike struggled to hold the bag in one hand and he had to put it over his shoulder.

- It's our supplies. We will need a high quality drone and some extra batteries. As well as extra water. Oh and there is also something that will be a surprise for later. Just make sure you don't drop it. 

Steph went trough a door and started walking down stairs that were built in for some case when the elevator fails. Mike struggled to keep up with his fast pace, but still kept close.

- So why aren't we just using the elevator for dragging this heavy ass bag?

- Because I don't want anyone to see me. And by anyone, I mean Viktoria. And by the way, if you tell someone about this, I will kill you. 

- Woah okay man, don't worry, you can trust me. And where are we going exactly?

- You'll see.

The two men went two levels down and then proceeded to walk down a long corridor. It was wide and with high ceilings, clearly designed for big things to fit trough it. After they reached the end, they found themselves in front of a huge metal door. It was maybe seven or eight meters tall and even wider. And, on the right side of it, there was a smaller one, the size of a normal door. Steph stepped close to the normal door and knocked three times. After a couple of seconds there were three knocks from the other side. Then Steph knocked twice more and stepped to the side. The door began sliding. When it was fully open Mike and Steph found themselves staring down the barrel of a gun. On the other side of the door there was a behemoth of a man, tattoos were up and down the entirety of his arms. The gun that he held was made to looked like a kids toy by the size of his hands. On top of his head he had long blond hair and a beard that was braded and held together by several beads. 

- Ah, it is you. - the man said in a deep voice that was in place with his esthetic. He had an accent indicative of European origins.

- Well, of course it's me, who else would know the code Boo Boo.

- Being safe costs nothing. 

- Yeah until you shoot someone.

- Ah, I wasn't going to shoot you, the safety was on anyways.

- What's the point of the gun if your safety is on?

- You know, a deterrent. To make people think twice before trying something stupid.

- Oh boy, Boo Boo, you have a mirror. Trust me, you don't need a gun to make people think twice. 

- He... Anyways, it's ready. - Boo Boo let out a smile of pride. - I'm glad to see you old friend. I just wish the circumstances were different.

- Yeah, me too. Straight and to the right? 

- Yes.

- Mike, wait here for a second with Boo Boo. I just need to get something. - Steph ran off as soon as he said that leaving Mike with the giant man.

Mike was standing there not knowing what to say. The man was at least two meters. His hands were greasy. He had so much hair on his face and head, and it was fully blond. The blondest hair that Mike had ever seen. And his eyes, they were some green-gray variant. If not for the sweet smile and innocent look, this man would be very scary to look at.

- So, you must be a friend of Steph. - Mike finally broke the ice. 

- I am. And you? - Boo Boo replied with his deep as the ocean voice.

- Well, I am also a friend. You guys met recently?

- Oh, no, we know each other from Earth. We met once in the field. 

- In the field? You were a solider?

- Me? Oh, no, I am not a solider. I am a mechanic. I was maintenance on a ship in the North Sea. Steph was there on some kind of "no one needs to know" mission. I made sure that their transport plane had the proper modifications done to it. You should have seen it. I made it lighter by at least 10%, while adding additional armor. And from the condition that they brought it back in, I would say that it was totally worth it. - Boo Boo smiled as he was telling the story.

- North Sea? Scandinavia somewhere?

- Yeah, near my home town. Havøysund. From what I heard from the locals, they were doing something on some oil platform. Don't ask why or what.

- Oh, is it cold there? - Mike wanted to ask something more interesting, but not knowing anything about the place he just heard existed, this was the best thing he could come up with.

- Yes. Much colder than here. But I like it here. I have problems with circulation, so the cold wasn't really my thing. Actually, if you see, on my arms, I have tattoos, look, they are representing my ancestry. - Boo Boo was showing the tattoos on his arms as Mike lifted himself up on his toes to get a better view. - Here, see, the fish, do you see the fish? And this, the man with the beard, that is Njörðr. He is the god of the sea. My people were really dependent of the sea. It provided food and riches for us for many generations. 

- That's so cool. - Mike really did think that is cool. It was too much for his taste, but it was cool to see. - You seem to feel really strongly about your home.

- Yes, I love it.

- Well, what made you come here?

- It is frozen now... There is no more life there. - there was a change in the tone from the previously excited Boo Boo. He suddenly lost his smile when he talked about his home.

- And the name Boo Boo, it's your real name? - Mike tried to change the mood again since seeing a man of that size sad made his heart break. It was the weirdest thing.

- That's not my real name. No, no, hehe, my real name is actually Børk Asbjørn-Gjengedal Borgesen. It roughly translates to "spiritually entuned bear born from a mountain", but it sounds better when you don't translate it. But I lost a duel with Steph and now he calls me Boo Boo. 

- A duel? Like, Steph beat you in a fight? - Mike was really shocked to hear this, considering the size of the man.

- No, nooo, I mean, he probably would, you see, I don't fight. I never liked violence. He beat me in a drinking game. You see, we clap our hands at a rhythm and point to someone to drink, while we have music and chanting. And we go in a circle, taking turns pointing, until there is only one left. It was me and Steph last. And we made a bet, if he won, he could call me Boo Boo. 

- And Steph won? How? And what would have happened if you won? - Mike was captivated by the enthusiasm with which Boo Boo spoke every word. He seemed genuinely excited to tell the story. Maybe he didn't talk to other people that much while he is down here. 

- Ah, well, Steph could really drink back then. And he was not with Monsa, so you see...

- Mike, come one, we need to hurry. - Steph suddenly burst out of nowhere and cut off Boo Boo mid sentence. He grabbed Mike by the shoulder and pulled him. He had another bag in his hand. It was sealed so Mike couldn't see what is inside of it.

Mike wanted to ask what they were doing here, but before he could make up his mind whether to ask him or to just keep going, his question was answered. In front of them there was a transport plane. A small one, propeller using, plane. It was an antique. Those things weren't used in over a century. How or why that was there, he had no idea.

- Steph, are we really flying in this?

- Yeah, best I could do on such a short notice. Boo Boo is under tighter supervision these days.

- Yeah, I tried to play a bit with a new one and now I've been placed here to keep watch on the museum pieces. - said Boo Boo with a disappointed tone in his voice. 

- Museum pieces? For which museum? - Mike was starting to lose faith in this "plan".

- Museum of ancient technology. But it can fly, I fueled it and tested it myself. 

- Tested it?

- Yeah, I moved the flaps and span the propeller, and I also turned on the engine to run for a bit but I couldn't do it for long because they would notice it.

- Steph, are we really doing this?

- Oh yeah, we are. Don't you worry about it. The plane is in top shape, and I've flown similar models before.

Only now did Mike remember that these planes need a pilot to fly it manually. He wasn't sure if he wanted to do this, but he was already too deep. He couldn't quit now. Shaking his head he climbed of the steps on the side of the plane and sat in the cockpit. Steph did the same. They placed the bags in the back. Mike started to fasten his seat belt when Steph interrupted him.

- You won't need that. I wouldn't do it if I was you. 

Mike looked at todays pilot with a questioning look when the plane let out a loud roar. It started shaking and rattling. This thing better not fall apart on takeoff.