Return to the land down under
Posted on Sun Jan 11th, 2026 @ 4:30am by Ensign Pearl Bijoux & Lieutenant Commander Johnathan "Jack" MacGyver
1,761 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Mini Mission-Adjustments [USS Orcrist]
Location: Sydney, Australia, Earth
On:
Materialising in Sydney’s transport terminal, Jack took a breath in as he looked around the familiar streets. The CBD hadn’t changed much since he’d left. Leading Pearl out of the central station, they walked out into the bustling streets. “Pearl, welcome Down Under”
"Woah this is amazing!" Pearl looking around, with wonder in her eyes and holding onto Jack's hand.
She closed her eyes, taking in a breath, feeling the breeze go through her hair and brush against her cheek. "The air seems to be alive." opening her eyes once more.
Jack nodded, “oh yea. Sydney’s full of fun things to do. I’ll have to bring you back here.” He said as he waved down a shuttle cab. “Tamworth please mate”
About an hour later, the shuttle cab landed in a small country town. Stepping out of the shuttle, Jack took in a deep breath and smiled, “ah, that’s a familiar smell” he said as he took in the country air.
Pearl breathed in deeply of the air, and smiled.
"I like it!" Pearl taking a look around, "I can hardly wait to see more." wrapping her arm around his waist.
Putting his arm around her shoulders, Jack walked with Pearl through the streets of the town. For a country town, it was a pretty busy morning with people going about their lives. The buildings ranged from old colonial styles to more modern designs. As they walked, the pair came across stores of various kinds. Book store, food vendors, clothing stores. Everything you’d need within walking distance of each other.
After a little while, Jack turned them into a workshop, filled with old earth vehicles in various states of repair. Cars, bikes, even an old pick up truck. Looking around, Jack searched for a familiar face. “Is he in today?” He asked, more to himself then anyone.
This town was so much different for Pearl compared to the ramshackle huts and shanty homes the people llived in where she was from.
"This is how a proper town should look. Almost paradise" She paused realizing that Jack had uttered something quietly.
"Is something wrong, Jack?" noting that he seemed to be looking around.
"Just looking for someone" Jack replied as he looked around the workshop, spotting a pair of legs underneath a nearby shuttlecraft, Jack smiled as he walked over, "Still on your back after all this time?"
"Better then flying around with my head in the cloud" Came the reply from a gruff voice. After a moment, the person slid out from under the shuttlecraft and stood up. He was just a little taller than Jack, with the same features, if a little more wrinkled, "been a long time Jackie"
"Too long Bobby" Jack said before giving the man a smile, "It's good to see you" he said, giving the man a hug. After a moment, Jack pulled back to introduce Pearl, "Pearl, this is my cousin, Robert"
Pearl glanced from Robert to Jack and back to Robert.
"The family resemblence is there. I guess the handsome gene runs strong in the family. " Pearl giving an impish grin.
Robert smiled at Pearl, "I like this one Jackie. Where'd you find her?"
Jack smiled, "in a Gym. She kindly offered to spot me on some weights"
Pearl wrapped her arms around Jack's waist, pulling him close, just beaming towards Robert. "That was the luckiest day in my life, and I feel rather blessed that he's in my life. He is so amazing,"
Robert chuckled, “amazing? Jackie? He’s just a grease monkey with a title. Like his old man” he said, giving the pair a warm smile. “So, what brings you two here?”
“Just showing her around the old hometown. Wasn’t even sure if you were still here” Jack replied
“Oh I ain’t leaving this place any time soon. Put too much time into her” Robert said, looking around his shop, “why don’t you take her to the stage where they hold the music festival. It’s pretty empty right now, but she’ll get the idea”
"I love the shop but now you've got me rather curious as to the stage." Pearl feeling a bit giddy but in a good way. She was feeling that the universe was making up for all the crap she'd gone through before. Should she be worried? Nope not as of yet.
Thinking it over, Jack shrugged, "sure, why not. I'm sure she'd enjoy being 'centre stage' for a while"
Robert rolled his eyes, "whatever Jackie. Go ahead and take the bike. it's where you left it out the back"
Jack froze for a moment, not sure if he'd heard his cousin correctly, "wait, you still have it? I thought you scrapped that years ago"
Robert shook his head, "oh Jackie, you know i'd never do that to you. Besides, our uncle knew you'd be back one day. Go on, take it for a spin"
"Bike?" Pearl was really wondering just what the two cousins were talking about. " A two wheeler, one that you pedal?"
Hurrying out the back of the shop, Jack practically ripped the tarp off of the top of an old earth motorcycle. Taking a moment to look it over, Jack slowly stepped around it, running his hand over the handlebars. "hello old girl. How've you been?" he said in a low, almost sultry tone.
Pearl followed after Jack, him moving like a man possessed. When he turned back the cloth from machine she was intrigued. "Jack what is that? Its not a bicycle." stepping close to look at it closely.
“Pearl, this is a motorcycle, a two wheeled mechanically driven vehicle. When it was originally designed and built, it ran on a combustible liquid called Petroleum, or Petrol for short. My grandfather and I modernised it to run off of a hydrogen fuel cell.” Jack explained, swinging his leg over it and flopping onto the leather seat, causing the suspension to compress with a slight squeak. After a moment, Jack kicked the bike over, causing the engine to roar to life, sounding like a wild animal before settling down into a low purr. “Oh that’s the stuff……Purrs like a kitten”
"A motorcycle?" The way the sound of the engine filled the area where they were at she could feel it deep within her chest, well make that her whole body. Pesrl commented above the engine. "Purrs? That is a roar like a lion!"
She felt a slight twinge of jealousy it was as if Jack were seeing his first love, and for some reason that bugged her. It was only momentary though. "Why don't you introduce me to her?"
Looking over at her, Jack held out a hand for her to take, “I can do better then introduce you. Come on, hop on” he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He could hear that slight hint of jealousy in her voice, and he could understand it, even though he found it foolish. He had a special connection to this machine, but it wasn’t quite what she thought it was. To Jack, this motorcycle was his childhood. Every weld, every bolt, every rumble from the engine reminded him of better and more innocent times. A feeling he was more then happy to share with the woman who had claimed his heart.
"Okay so I get on just like you did." Pearl taking Jack's hand and climbing on the machine behind him. "Kinda reminds me of getting on the back of a horse." the wheels in her mind were starting to work. The rumbling vibrations coursed through her, Pearl giving out a slight gasp. Such power beneath her. As if by instinct, her arms went around his waist, if this was like riding a horse and riding double both riders needed to be connected. Her heart was pounding with anticipation, goosebumps rising.
Jacks smile grew wider as Pearl wrapped her arms around his waist. Pulling a pair of goggles off of the bike’s handle bars, he handed them to her. “You might want these, it’s gonna get windy.” He said, putting on a pair of sunglasses, giving the engine a rev and pulling out of the garage and out into the street.
Pearl put on the goggles as what Jack instructed her to do and stifled a squeal of excitement as the powerful machine roared down the street. She didn't want to deafen him with a yahool directly in his ear. He would feel her squeeze tightly but not to tight but enough to convey her delight. The ride was thrilling, Pearl held onto Jack as they made their way down the road where he guided this piece of machinery. This magnificent machine, no wonder Jack was in love with this. And she was falling under its spell as well.
Making herself heard, Pearl said to Jack, "You've got to teach me how to ride this. I'm falling in love with this! Such freedom!"
When the ride came to an end, coming back to where the motorcycle was kept. Pearl climbed off the seat, moving to the side to where she could see Jack.
She leaned in and gave him a kiss. "That was an incredible experience. Thank you." then she leaned forward to whisper to the machine.
"You're going to have to share, and I know I will have to share him with you. I can do that. And I hope that you will do so as well." Pearl caressing the handle bar of the machine.
Yes, Pearl was a little bit jealous but she can now understand why he loved the motorcycle. It had good memories attached to it. Standing up from where she was leaning forward, looking at Jack.
"What do you say love shall we get to the ship?"
Giving her a smile, Jack nodded, "sure. why don't we take her with us? I'm sure I can find some room for her onboard. Maybe one of the cargo bays where we can work on her" he said, pulling her into a hug while still on the motorcycle. "and I think she needs a name"
"A name? I've never named anything before. This will be my first as well. And definitely has to be a special name." giving a firm nod, Pearl gave Jack another kiss, wrapping her arms around him. "Yes, lets take this beauty with us."
Ensign Pearl Bijoux
Security
USS Orcrist
Lieutenant Commander Jack MacGyver
Chief Engineer
USS Orcrist
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