Jack Kelley. 25 years old and the best goddamn pilot in the US Air Force during 1941. His full title was 1st lieutenant Jack Kelley, clearly he wasn't able to make it to captain because of his behavior… well, sort of.
He was reckless, so reckless that he risked being removed from the Force and put back in sanitation, cleaning the toilets and washing the latrine with a single used red toothbrush.
But of course, General Pulitzer would not remove his "favorite" pilot, even if he always manages to give him a hell ton of paperwork every other day... Quite literally.
He was a star pilot along with his best buddy Davey, his wingman. Davey usually tries to drag Jack out of doing anything stupid, but, if he couldn't beat Jack, Davey would join him. So naturally, they both get sent to Pulitzer's office and have a really loud lecture on their recklessness. Their eardrums would be ringing for hours.
One training drill, Jack managed to push it a little too far and he met the unexpected.
The drill was that they had to get the other off their tail and get into attack position, as they were required to do when they're in the actual field against their enemies.
(The Japanese in this case.)
Davey was flying really close behind Jack, who was supposed to shake him. Davey was nearly as good as Jack in terms of flying, so it was a tough match.
"Hey Davey." Jack spoke into his communications device. "Can't ya give me a break? I'm kinda dyin' over here."
Jack could imagine Davey shaking his head. "No can do Newsboy, (that being his pilot name) I ain't letting you do anything stupid again."
"Dammit Davey, what did I do to you?" Jack smirked, fully knowing what he did do something to Davey. "I ain't got nothin on my hands!"
"You set me up! You told me that the girl I liked was there waiting for me at HQ, then I came, dressed up in a damn tuxedo, and walked into a meeting OF THE GENERALS while I was holding flowers!" Davey said quickly, very tired with Jack's antics.
Jack laughed. "With perfume and slicked back hair."
"Jack!"
"Good times eh?"
"Good times for you!" Davey sighed.
"Ah well Davey. You'll just have to..." Jack stopped mid-sentence as an idea blossomed in his mind.
"Jack. Don't pause like that." Jack could hear Davey's nerve. He knew he was gonna do something reckless... Of course he was always on point. "What are you thinking again?!"
"I think I know how to shake ya." Jack wiped his nose with his finger.
Davey scoffed. "Yeah right you do."
Jack smirked wider. "You bet I do Davey."
He suddenly pulled the wheel towards him and sped straight up.
"Is that all Kelley?" Davey challenged him. "That isn't gonna do you any good, we've done this before."
"Nah. I'm just getting started!" Just as he was about to hit maximum height, he straightened out and started a nosedive... A spinning nosedive.
"Don't you dare!" Davey cried over the comm. "Do you have any idea how-"
"Dangerous, reckless and irresponsible this is? Davey stop giving me a damn lecture and try keeping on my tail." Jack pushed for more speed and made sure he was seen from the control tower.
"Kelly." Another voice came on the radio. "Pull-"
Jack switched of the radio connection to the tower. "Ah shut up Spot. You don't own me." Kelley kept pushing for more speed.
"Jack!" Davey cried again from the other side of the communication. "I ain't keepin on your tail!"
"Well good." Jack was still smirking. "You better pull away then."
Jack looked back and saw Davey was still hot on his tail.
"Come on... Come on..." The water was getting closer and closer... Almost too close for comfort, he'd have to pull it up quickly. "Aww Davey, you love me so much." Jack smiled. "You don't want to stop following me."
"Jack stop this!"
"Nope!"
Davey groaned over the comm and pulled up, away from Jack. "Pull up goddamit!"
"Oh yeah that's right Da- Oh crap." He saw the water was way too close, most regular pilots wouldn't be sane enough to fly.
Good thing he wasn't a regular pilot.
He straightened his aircraft (stopping it from spinning) and pulled up with all his might.
Jack yelled defiantly as the water still got closer and closer. At the last possible second, the bottom of the aircraft skimmed the surface of the water and Jack climbed back up to the proper flying height.
"WHOOOO! That's what I'm talking about!" He yelled triumphantly. "How was that Davey?"
"Jack Kelley." Davey's voice came out from the comm.
"Yes Davey?"
"You're one goddamm reckless idiot." He said, but he clearly sounded relieved in Jack's ears.
Jack smiled. "Come on Davey, let's get the lecture I've always been ready for." And Jack and Davey turned around towards the landing strip.
-LINE BREAK-
Katherine Plumber, 25 years old, daughter of the famous General Pulitzer. She doesn't want to be known as his daughter. She wants to create her own reputation.
She enlisted in the army at 16, (since she wanted to and it was easy to streamline her application since her father was a big shot there) with a drive to prove she is as good and even better than her father.
Her father didn't stop her at all. He wasn't around enough to be able to stop her.
She wanted to rise above the ranks, not because of her Father being this big shot General, but because of her own merits.
She did.
She was there for eight years. She aced military school at the age of 20 and managed to rise to the rank of major in four years, for a total of nine years in the military.
She didn't accept the military regime of "men reporters" only, she was a female major (about to be promoted to colonel because of her bravery in battle) and she wouldn't let anyone tell her otherwise.
She watched all the men who enlisted with her neglect themselves when they were promoted to at least major, since they're of a high rank.
Not Katherine. She kept herself in shape and worked out and kept her head high, just to gain the respect she deserved.
She defeated the norm and was better than anyone, but of course no one noticed her efforts since it was a male oriented society, until she was sent into the field and managed to rally her troops to victory.
From then on she continued to bring down anyone in her way, in the field and at home.
She got the recognition she deserved.
Admittedly though, even if she was tough to her comrades, to her friends and family (excluding Pulizer), she was soft on the inside. She laughed like a normal girl and she even squealed, did normal girl stuff.
When it was time for duty, she was one tough cookie.
Lieutenant Colonel Katherine, or Ace as they called her, was the best in the Army (though not everyone would admit it) and she wanted nothing to do with the air. Nothing.
Well today was her lucky day.
She received a telegram at her office to go to her father at the Air Force base couple of miles from where she is.
"What the hell is this?" She crumpled it and threw it in the trash can. "I don't even want to..."
"Ms. Katherine, it's your father." Clare, her lieutenant poked her head inside her office. She had the ears of a hawk. "You can't possibly ignore a summons from him."
Katherine huffed. "Alright... Fine." She put her hands on her hips. "But if he's requesting for another report or if I have to file another one, remind me to bring my pistolthe next time he calls me up."
Clare smiled. "Will do ma'am."
-LINE BREAK-
Jack and Davey got down to the landing strip safely. Their whole crew was there to greet them once they disembarked from their respective planes.
Jack went out of the cockpit and took of his helmet to reveal a set of sparkling brown eyes and tousled dark hair.
"Yo Jack. Did ya see Conlon's face when he saw you switched off your radio?" One of them asked.
"Well I'm pretty sure that it wasn't... Spotless no more!" Jack laughed and lightly punched his arm. "Bet you he spilled coffee all over his stupid shirt!"
The whole crew laughed, even Davey had a small smile.
"Ah come on Davey." Jack put an arm around his shoulders and shook him. "I ain't dead and you ain't in that much trouble."
"Much?" Davey looked at him incredulously. "Following you into a spinning nosedive? You're kidding right?"
Jack laughed whole heartedly and patted him on the back. "Don't worry, if it's anyone who's gonna get the damn blame, it's me-"
"Well serves you right for that reckless behavior."
The team cleared a path and stood up straight for a woman Jack doesn't know.
Beautiful brown hair and strict eyes... She was beautiful, but she carried herself well. She looked strong, yet she still had an aura of femininity. Jack tried to hide his cocky smile when she stormed straight through the path the team created. "A woman Davey." Jack clapped him on the back. "I totally got this."
"Jack. I don't think-" Jack cut off Davey with a pat on his shoulder.
She didn't seem happy to see him.
-LINE BREAK-
Katherine drove to Pulitzer's office and probably broke a billion traffic rules while doing it.
She was going to do this quickly and get it over with. She was chasing a mission back at her HQ and she needed to get back to it.
She parked her car in its usual place and briskly got out and walked to the office.
"What do you need me now for father?" She muttered to herself. Her standard army green top was well decorated and went perfectly with her black pencil skirt.
The pistol hidden in her skirt didn't prevent her from moving.
The pilots who were roaming around, either shirtless, or only with a towel, or in full flight gear, or in uniform, or in pants and a shirt and at one point she did catch one of the less sober pilots buck naked, regarded her as an item.
Maybe she should've glared at them or something, but she just walked on.
She reached General Pulitzer's office with her nerves frayed and her temper high.
She went in without knocking.
"Sir." She said and saluted her father.
"Morning Katherine." He replied without looking up from his paperwork. "Take a seat."
Katherine yielded to the seat in front of her father's wooden desk. "Why did you summon me here?"
"Can't a father summon his own daughter to his office?" he replied and looked at her.
She stayed silent.
He scribbled something on the paper and asked, "How was your last mission?"
"Easy recon sir, no one was detected, minor injuries and no casualties." She said with pride.
Pulitzer had a small smile dance across his face. "Is that so?"
"Yes Father."
"You were the leader."
"Yes." She clenched the pistol strapped to her leg.
"Well, excellent work on your part I suppose." He eyed the new decorations on her uniform. "Heard you're going to be promoted-"
"Dad." Katherine cut him off. "Why am I here?"
He raised an eyebrow, Major Plumber was the only one who treated him like an equal, even if he was one of the most decorated Generals in the Air Force. He does know that she did not like the Air Force since he himself was in it. She went somewhere else.
"Straight to the point as always… Major Plumber." He said her last name sarcastically. He stood up and faced the window, watching the planes speed by.
"I was going to discuss your-" He was cut off by a private barging in.
"SIR!' He exclaimed, clearly out of breath. The poor guy's hair was messed up and all over the place.
"What is it now Anuncio?" Pulitzer sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Can't you see I'm…"
"Sir, Conlon wanted you to know that-"
"Kelly again?"
The poor private nodded. '"He demands you get them now."
"And why can't he do that himself Private?"
"He said he might snap their necks sir."
Pulitzer smirked and eyed Katherine. "Do you mind getting him for me Major Katherine?"
Katherine stood up stiffly. She couldn't refuse in front of a soldier of her father. She saluted her father. "No sir."
She said through gritted teeth.
"Dismissed."
Katherine walked out of the office, she started grumbling once she was out of earshot.
"I knew he wanted me on one of his errands." She groaned. "Stupid… son of a… pilots! Ugh!"
She quickly strode to the landing strip where a bunch of heavily testosterone-fueled men are crowding around a man with his arm around another man's shoulder who had a smaller stature.
"That's probably him." She said and stood up straighter as she walked towards them, her heels clicking the pavement.
-LINE BREAK-
"Good Afternoon Miss." Jack said cockily. "How may I help you?" He was clearly unaware of the aura of leadership this woman showed. He clearly ignored the decorations on her uniform. His team made a line for her and stared at the scene.
"I am here to bring you to General Pulitzer." She replied.
"Joe again?" Jack smirked at Davey who was subtly shaking his head. "No offense lady but, I don't think you're in the position to-"
"Why?" Katherine resisted the urge to snap his neck.
"Because you're…" Jack studied her.
"Because I'm a woman? No offense boy but you aren't in the proper place to say this to me."
Jack tilted his head to meet her eyes. "Really Miss? You know I'm-"
"I know exactly who you are." Katherine stepped closer to him. She poked his chest hard and he moved back. "And thatMs Major Plumber to you Newsboy." She said firmly as she read the name on his grey helmet. "Or rather, Lieutenant Jack Kelley."
Jack's cocky smile faded as he looked at her decorated uniform. He realized his mistake. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Well?"
She heard the faint "ohs" of the pilots and muffled laughter."
"Sorry Ma'am." He stood up straight and saluted her.
"That is more like it." She studied Davey for a brief moment. "And you?"
"Lieutenant Dave." He said and saluted her, nearly dropping his helmet.
"Wingman?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Then you both have to come with me. Remove your flight suits and I shall lead you to General Pulitzer's office."
"Yes ma'am." They both said stiffly.
She turned around and walked away.
"Goddammit Davey." Jack whispered as they followed the woman. Jack was still watching her. "I think I've found my girl."
Davey shook his head and gripped his helmet. "Don't even think about it."
"She's beautiful Davey." Jack looked at him with a look that made Davey roll his eyes.
They continued to follow Major Plumber.
Unknown to them, she felt a little something to when she looked at Lieutenant Jack Kelly.
-LINE BREAK-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A GREAT FRIEND JULIA! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. JACKxKATHERINE FOREVER! 3 Marius
