![plp.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmew7z3YN6kB8qFsceCubm8YQLr44iwxDEwMBfvuiWmkn1/plp.jpg)


Astin folded his small frame into the high impact bucket seat which had previously graced an experimental glider. The cabin was crammed with screens, dials and levers spread on all sides while the windshield covered the top half front panel.  At 12 years he knew he was not supposed to drive, but he had to test Bety. This was his project. His baby. His whole life for the past 7 months. After all, the children brought to the Einstein Institute(EI) were all encouraged to  think out of he box.

It had started when his experiment had failed. Professor Rerigram made fun of his "tantrums and toys". Astin like his classmates had an IQ that was over 200 so to speak. And formidable when he chose he could put it to extra-ordinary use. His only regret was that Bety could not seat 2 people. Maria had helped a lot after all; not only  giving him support but also showing confidence in his ability and the concept behind Betty. 

They had filched not only from the EI labs and the student and teacher's private workshops but also from the Government facilities they visited very month. Yes most of it was destined to be junk when Astin and Maria had got their hands on it but some of it was very very expensive tech. Between them they had also gotten sanctioned a considerable amount of specialty equipment lease from EI. But they were caught out,   and by morning; Astin was sure he would be thrown out of EI. It was Maria who had said that this was not luck that they knew about tomorrow, it was fate.

Astin brought the quantum computer to life and pressed the sequence for ignition. Betty thrummed into life and the right hand side of the windshield glowed with  florescent icons representing various systems and the efficiency numbers. Astin prepped the engine and sat there taking a moment to calm his fears. He peeked out of he windshield trying to spot Maria and took heart when he saw her wave and walk away. The fear that this could blow up like his experiment refused to leave his thoughts. Astin clenched his jaw, took a deep breath and accelerated.

The morning saw the entrance of EI  blocked by a crowd of army  people and trucks. People who were slowly gathering at the site could only see the smoke rising from the center of the cordoned area.
Colonel Tyler sat in the command module, one hand massaging his temples. He sighed and read the order again and the confirmation which he received on his tablet. "OK you can take the kid- Astin-  away. What of the crashed craft?" He asked Lord Channing, the cabinet minister who had coptered in with the order. "You will need to transport it on to the research ship off the coast. Details will arrive within the hour. Colonel I cannot stress the importance of collecting every piece of Bety"
"Do you really think the kid flew it that high? and this is not something else entirely."
Lord Channing glanced at the report in his hand titled  -The Baryon Electricity Trimorgenic Yield Engine (BETY) and replied. " Yes! he is the first kid to fly at a height of 22 kilometers. My department verified the data. He went almost straight up and then down. I don't think he even thought about triggering off so many alarms across so many countries."