<strong>Dane, in the cockpit</strong><br/><br/><br/>"Radio check?"<br/><br/>"Clear as the proverbial bell."<br/><br/>"Nav systems check?"<br/><br/>"VOR is clear, DME is clear. Running GPS diagnostic.. okay, it's clear."<br/><br/>"Security systems check?"<br/><br/>Dane Riley blinked then looked up from the Gulfstream's control panel at his co-pilot. "There aren't any security systems on the checklist, Stoj," he objected.<br/><br/>"True," Michael Stojanovic grinned. "But if Congress gets word about this we're gonna need armed guards to keep them away from this plane. Can you imagine some Beltway Brat keeping it in his pants with hotties like Kira and Jessica on board?"<br/><br/>Dane rolled his eyes. "I thought your time in the Air Force would have given you a lot more respect for the leaders of this nation," he asked dryly.<br/><br/>"Hardly. It just opened my eyes, that's all. Most of them are just frat boys who never grew up," Stojanovic protested.<br/><br/>"Whatever," Dane shrugged. "It's not like we're in Washington anyway, so the girls are pretty safe. Now, finish off the checklist, okay? I want to be ready when Kira let's us know the passengers are on board."<br/><br/>"All right," Michael nodded, turning his gaze back towards the sheet of paper in his hand. "Um.. surge protection check."<br/><br/>"Surge protection.. clear. Backups check out clear."<br/><br/>"Hydraulics check."<br/><br/>"Hydraulic pressure is.. confirmed. Good to go."<br/><br/>"Henweigh check."<br/><br/>For a moment Dane froze then his head whipped around to glare at his copilot. "No. No. Hell no!" he growled.<br/><br/>'Why not?" Michel smirked. "It doesn't do any harm."<br/><br/>"It's old!" Dane protested. "That line's older than my career behind the stick. Hell, it's older than<em>me!</em>I'm not doing it, Stoj!"<br/><br/>The copilot's smirk broadened into a grin. "Henweigh check," he repeated.<br/><br/>"You're not going to let this go, are you?" the dark-maned pilot grumbled. "I can't find it in the flight manual, copilot. What's a Henweigh?"<br/><br/>"About five pounds before you pluck the feathers off."<br/><br/>Dane shook his head as his copilot laughed at the lame joke. Michael Stojanovic was a good pilot but his sense of humour could be a bit trying at times.<em>Still, at least we've got the checklist cleared aheada of time. Now all we're waiting on is Kira giving us word that everyone'saboard and then we can take off...</em>