Snowbound: Eagle

It was times like this that made me really happy. No Spectran attacks. Everything had been quiet for some time now, and I was able to relax and tinker with my plane.

The upcoming week was going to be a little strange, though. Princess and Keyop had decided to go skiing for a week on Frozatica.

It was weird to think I wouldn't have them to hang out with at Jill's place. I wondered why they didn't invite me.

Ah, it was just as well. I had a bunch of deliveries to make, anyway.

As I wiped the sweat off of my forehead with an oily rag, I heard a familiar sound coming up my driveway.

It was Keyop. I figured he probably wanted to borrow my skis or something. I watched him park his dune buggy and come bounding up to me.

"Whatcha doin', Mark?" He burbled.

"The ususal. Getting the old girl in top shape for this week." I gestured toward my beloved Cessna.

"This week?" Keyop asked. He looked upset.

"Yeah. Just making a few deliveries. Nothing special." He appeared to be in deep thought.

"You ok, little buddy?" The wheels in my mind started turning. He made me wonder if something happened between him and Princess.

"Yeah." He sighed. "It's just…Princess…"

I felt my heart skip a beat. "Is something wrong? Is she sick?"

"No…not going…on trip…" Keyop stared at his shoes.

I frowned. Now I was getting worried. "Why not? She loves skiing!"

"Doesn't want to go…alone," the Swallow burbled.

"Wait…you're not going with her?"

"No….going with Tiny…to Comic Con…on Aquatica…" The kid shuffled his feet in the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust. Then he looked up at me with pleading eyes and held out a transport ticket. "Will you go?"

I scratched my head. Me? And Princess? Alone?

It sounded great to me, but what would she think? Would she like the idea? Or would it look bad for me to go on a trip with her…alone? I'm her commanding officer…and this would be way too tempting.

"Is Princess ok with this?" I reached for the ticket and examined it carefully.

Keyop nodded his head, but something told me he wasn't telling the truth.

The kid was always trying to throw Princess and me together. Heck, everyone was. They always said Princess and I were made for each other. I could honestly say that I had feelings for her, but this just wasn't the right time. We had responsibilities…

I handed him back the ticket. He looked devastated.

"Sorry, buddy….not this time. I don't think it would look good for her Commanding officer to take her on a ski trip, alone."

He stumbled over his parting words. "I'll…leave it here….in case you…change your mind."

He placed it on the shelf next to my tools, and slowly walked back to his dune buggy.

My eyes were mysteriously drawn back to the ticket.

I had to give him credit. The boy was persistent.