Kīkīao.
A/N: I own nadda, but this is an idea that plagued me for years... Kīkīao means 'Burn with Passion' in Hawai'ian, where this is set.
Chapter 1, The Flag is at Half Mast.
Retired naval diver Malcolm Willoughby placed the small dish on the kitchen floor for the little grey cat purring her delight around his ankles. He watched for a moment as she dived into her breakfast. She glanced up when he turned away to fill his travel mug with coffee, before continuing with her meal. Willoughby bent down to give her a scratch and then grabbed his car keys and headed for the door. "See you later Ches," he said to the cat as he left. He heard her meow her own good bye and smirked. He'd found the cat when she was just a tiny kitten and named her Chesapeake, because her dark grey coat reminded him of Chesapeake Bay.
The former Joe, known as Deep Six had retired after a distinguished naval career and had taken a job with the Navy to train new deep sea divers. Deep Six was a hard task master and most of the applicants to the program washed out before the third week. Those who remained endured eight weeks of sheer torture, learning about deep sea diving and submersible combat. The program was based in Hawai'i, because the underwater topography of the islands had everything except ice floes. Those who survived the Hawai'i course were shipped off to Alaska for another two weeks of training before becoming certified US Navy deep sea divers. As one group left for Alaska, Deep Six prepared for a new group.
Today's assignment was evaluations. Fifteen had entered the course and only four remained. Their performances in a recent series of tests would be scrutinised along with their performance over all in the program so far. A light day for Deep Six, he'd be done by noontime. As he drove through the main gate of Pearl Harbour, he looked towards the water. The flag was at half mast over the stark white memorial in the water. Another crewman was being returned to the USS Arizona for all of eternity. He pulled into the parking lot of a nondescript grey building that served as the diving program base. As he stepped from his car, he turned to face the memorial and saluted for a full minute. Then he took his brief case and travel mug and headed for the door.
"That was a longer salute than normal, Sir," a young lieutenant observed as he came to the front door.
"A show of respect," Deep Six replied. "The flag is at half mast." The lieutenant looked up at the flag fluttering on the nearby flagpole and Deep Six shook his head. "On the Arizona. One of her crew is being returned to her today," he murmured. The lieutenant nodded and turned to give his own salute before opening the door and holding it for Deep Six. "Evaluations start in an hour...I'll be in my office," Deep Six muttered as he walked away.
He'd barely settled at his desk when the phone rang. "Willoughby," he answered tersely.
"Hey Sailor, how are you doing this fine morning!" a cheery female voice replied. Deep Six's features softened and he smiled.
"Fine Courtney, and you?"
"Never better," Army liaison Courtney Krieger replied. "Now that I've got you Steeler on the phone, I want to know if you boys would like to join me later today."
"For..." Major Ralph Pulaski asked over the conference call.
"Well a plane full of soldiers returning from Afghanistan, just took off from Edwards a few minutes ago and should be arriving at 1400 at Hickam," Cover Girl explained. "I was wondering if you two wanted to join me in welcoming one of those soldiers in particular, home," she said.
"No kidding? Who?" Steeler asked.
"Whose home state are we all currently in?" came Cover Girl's cheeky reply.
Deep Six laughed. "Too bad his old man is on the Big Island for the Merry Monarch."
"You saved me a phone call," Cover Girl chuckled. "I forgot that Kimo left last week."
"Well he'll be back on Wednesday...and I have the house keys," Deep Six replied. All three of them had met their comrade's widowed father at one point or another, and had all become good friends with him since being station in Hawai'i. Deep Six lived just down the road from the elderly man and would join him twice a week for coffee and a chat. When Kimo Leialoha had left for the important event, he'd entrusted Deep Six to keep an eye on his home for him.
"Torpedo will be glad of that," Steeler laughed. "You picking Kimo up then?"
"Yep. I can't think of a nicer surprise than having his son meet him at the airport...you?"
"He'll love it!" Cover Girl laughed, picturing the look that the man would have at the sight of his son. "Anyway boys," she said returning to the reason for the conference call. "Hickam, 1400. You two coming?"
"Yep."
"Wouldn't miss it," Steeler added.
"Great! Meet me at my office at 1330 then, and we'll all head on over together. I'll even nab the fancy car," Cover Girl replied. The two men could hear the wink in her voice as they ended the call.
At Schofield Army Base, Major Ralph Pulaski got up from his desk and stepped out to his receptionist's office. "Anna, I'm taking off at 1300 for Hickam...so unless it is vitally important, just leave it for me for tomorrow," he told the young woman at the reception desk. She replied with a crisp 'yes sir'.
At the appointed time, the trio had met up outside of the office building in Pearl Harbour where Cover Girl worked primarily from. A sleek black limousine whisked them across the base to Hickam airfield and the terminal there. There were several higher ranking officers milling around awaiting various planes. The runway was right on the water and they could see across to Ford Island and the USS Arizona Memorial. Cover Girl had two leis with her and she stepped up to the edge of the water and tossed one in. Steeler fought the urge to hold her and comfort her, when he saw the glint of tears in her eyes. The brass milling around would most likely not approve of such an intimate display between two uniformed personnel. In the distance, they could just hear the sound of Taps, as it was finishing at the interment ceremony.
"Seaman First Class, Charles Wilson," Cover Girl murmured, breaking the silence. Part of her job as a liaison was to help with arrangements for interments at the memorial, so she knew the names all too well. "He had just turned nineteen the day before," she added softly.
"What a hell of a birthday present," Steeler added solemnly. "Brutally thrown into a world war."
"May the sea keep you Seaman Wilson," Deep Six added. Cover Girl sniffled and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He was a civilian now so any brass who looked their way couldn't really disapprove. Steeler nodded his thanks to the diver before returning his gaze to the memorial. The trio stood in silence as the ceremonial twenty one gun salute rang out across the water. They could see the puffs of smoke from the discharges floating away in the breeze. Once it was over the three of them saluted the deceased veteran for a last time.
Steeler caught a glimpse of something over the ocean and looked. "This it?" he asked as a plane came into view and prepared for touchdown.
"Six minutes ahead of schedule too," Cover Girl said, glancing at her watch.
Onboard the plane, Navy SEAL Captain, Edward Leialoha looked out the window and saw that the flag was at half mast over the beautiful white memorial. Having grown up in the hills overlooking the harbour, he knew what that meant. The plane came to a stop and people started disembarking. Once on the ground, Captain Leialoha stepped aside and snapped a sharp salute towards the memorial. "Mahalo nui loa," he murmured.
"Captain?" a subordinate of his asked.
"One of her crew is being returned to her," he replied softly, his gaze never leaving the memorial. The subordinate also saluted as a show of respect.
"Well this is where we part ways," the Joe known as Torpedo suddenly piped up.
"It's been an honour, Sir," the subordinate replied. A few other men who had served with him in the Middle East concurred.
"And for me with you," Torpedo said. "Now go on, I'm sure your families are dying to see you, eh?" he said as a dismissal.
A few them were privileged to see the first genuine smile they had ever seen on their commanding officer's face as Torpedo spotted the trio waiting for him. He took off at a brisk pace towards them.
"Aloha a hui ho, Kid," Deep Six greeted with a smile.
TBC...