(This is a story I have been creating for years, but decided to do a fanfic crossover to see how it would go, hope you enjoy.)
(chapter 1)
The sun started to set across the ocean's horizon; a look of discontent appeared on Juan's face as he looked at the orange colored sky riddled with pink clouds. His eyes quickly shifted to the fuel gauges, all almost reaching empty. " How much more do you think we'll be able to keep her flying?" asked Joe. Juan looked at his co-pilot that he'd been flying with for almost five months, yet considered him like a brother. He had long dirty blonde hair that curled over the sides of his worried face as he took another puff of a cigarette. " Not very long I think" Juan replied. '' We're flying on three engines, our B-17 took a beating and Rick is trying his best to locate where we are at,but since his map and instruments took a flak burst, he's having trouble ". Joe looked away from Juan towards the sky which was getting darker and took another puff." We should lighten up our load; I guess the match is long over by now so I'm sure no one will shoot us down". Juan nodded and clenched his throat as he spoke into a mic that gave his order as he kept checking the ocean of dials and switches that was in front of him. "Boys, we're flying on three engines, so lets lighten up. The match is probably over and there is no enemies in sight, so we can loose our guns but, no matter what keep searching the horizon for anything that we can land on".
"Hey skip?" came a voice from over the intercom. "Yeah Brock?" replied Juan in a tense tone. " I've got some bad news and some good news" The entire aircraft went silent except the constant roar of the three remaining Wright Cyclone engines. "So far, I cant find any stations to make contact with, so we are in the dark in the most part. Chuck fully checked over the tracker in the back and the thing is shot to shit, so we cant be located. Along with that nobody has been able to find anything on the horizon except ocean". A feeling of sadness ran throughout the B-17. " On a lighter note, but I know it wont make any difference, but I found a AM radio station from somewhere so we can have some music." The crew still didn't make a noise. Juan stared straight ahead, unmoved; his mind lost in thoughts. Thoughts of anger, sadness and hatred for himself that were mixed in with memories of September, his ultimate failure. He wanted to scream, scream out how he felt. How he felt worthless, weak, pathetic and his feeling of not wanting to be there anymore. He kept delving deeper and deeper into his train of self hating thoughts. '"Should we play some music?" asked a voice. Juan snapped out of his trance and quickly looked at Joe in a confused gaze. "What?"
" Should we let Brock play the radio? Might ease the stress of knowing what will be coming in a few hours don't ya think?" asked Joe. After a few seconds, Juan finally responded"y-yeah, sounds like a good idea. Hey Brock, what kind of music is it?" There was a period of uneasy silence until the radio operator responded "I'm not sure, I think its hip hop or electropop". "play it " hastily remarked Juan. After a few seconds, a hip hop instrumental started playing on the intercom and gave the environment a new mood. "You alright Juan?" asked Joe in a concerned tone "You didn't seem like yourself a few moments ago." "I'm alright, just the nerves I guess" quickly replied Juan. "Something's on your mind isn't it?" Juan kept starring forward towards the now darkened horizon, his eyes slightly shifting to the panel. "I got a feeling on what it is, and I've already told you don't focus on it too much, all it will do is bring more pain." said Joe. Juan looked towards him with an agitated stare; "It wasn't your fault Juan, you did the best you possibly could." added Joe. Juan's face saddened a bit and his eyes turned away from his co-pilot.
The crippled four engine behemoth slowly kept flying throughout the star filled night sky. A full moon covered the entire ocean and the B-17 in a soft aura of white light as drifting cloud were scattered about. Lights from within the aircraft showed a couple of figures standing close to large windows slightly aft from the middle of the fuselage looking out. "I got a question Tony, one I've been wanting to ask you for quite some time" asked Chuck. His hazel eyes never leaving the sight he saw outside from his waist gunner window. His brown hair barely flickering under his tan baseball cap. "What do you want to ask me man?' replied a voice with a slight New York accent. "Why, in the hell did you decide to wear a damn Hawaiian shirt to this match?" asked Chuck in an amused tone. "Cuz I felt like it, besides, they said we were going to fly a match in Japan; So, I wanted to wear something tropical." remarked Tony. He had a slender face with a slight five'o clock shadow and shaggy black hair that looked like he barely got out of bed. "Well, you look like a stereotypical American tourist who always shits on other cultures" laughed Chuck as he turned towards Tony. " Well, fuck you too" replied Tony jokingly. "I myself think I look pretty fucking cool" he added.
While they conversed another crewmember walked up to them. He had dark hair coming out of the edges of his tan flight helmet. He had thin round glasses and a gold cross necklace around his neck. "You two seem pretty happy due to our circumstances." he commented. "Oh hey Doc" said Chuck; " Doc" added Tony as he nodded. Chuck looked over where Doc was standing. "Yeah, I mean, like the feeling is still there Doc, but-". paused chuck as his face turned serious. "But, it feels so far away you know? Like, something out of a dream or something." Chuck continued he looked at Doc. Doc looked back at Chuck with a face that was unmoving, yet had a sense of curiosity. "You know Doc, its funny; I had never expected death to take so long to come. But when he finally does show his sorry ass up, I'm going to chew that fucker out on why he took to long hehe" said Chuck as he slightly grinned at Doc. Though he saw him grin, Doc knew behind that grin was an individual who was scared. He heard fear and sadness in Chuck's tone. He didn't want to bring in more reality into the situation, though it kept growing by each passing minute. "I like your sense of humor" he stated at Chuck as he tried his best to make a smile. "Help us Father, please" he thought as he smiled.
"Cut fuel, feather prop" said Juan as he looked at the engine that was outside his window. "Got it" replied Joe. The propeller slowly stopped then the blades turned inwards. "Two engines" silently whispered Joe. A wave of sadness hit Juan; "yeah" he responded. Both Juan and Joe had faces that showed defeat and acceptance as they both continued looking forward. They had given up hope on any chance of salvation, yet pressed on because it was the only thing they could do. "Did you expect to die like this Juan?" Suddenly asked Joe. Juan kept starring forward as he replied in a tone that easily showed how he truly felt." To be honest, I never put much thought into it. I just thought when I die, I die. I never really thought on the details." Joe knew from his dull tone that he was truly depressed, more than anything he witnessed before. Joe expected a question in return, but was only met with silence.
Music was the only thing that echoed throughout the bomber. All conversations had all but stopped as time slowly progressed; all the crew stared out their windows or were doing things that they thought seemed appropriate in their hopeless predicament. "Uh skip, I think I might know where we might be at" said a voice over the intercom. Juan slightly regained an inkling of hope as his eyes widened. "What is it Rick?" he replied in a curious tone. "Well, I found out where we are by using what's left of my star chart and map" announced Rick. "And?" asked Juan, his curiosity and hope rising every second as he hoped that the reply would give him news that would make him scream and cry in joy. " I finally figured out we've been flying southeast from mainland Japan, and in the process we bypassed a lot of islands that were south of us. We're are heading deeper into the Pacific, hundreds of miles from any strip of sand; and due to us being on pretty much fuel fumes, we wont make it back if we decided to turn around. I'm so sorry boss." Juan felt his soul was finally crushed and he started to silently sob. Joe glanced over to Juan, but he didn't say anything, he too was on the verge on breaking down.
" You did the best you could" said Erik as he looked back at Rick. " Not many people can figure out where they are at with a fucked up map". he grinned; Rick looked towards the bombardier. He had dark slick back hair under his tan crush cap and a white t-shirt with a bright yellow life vest. Rick's face was unmoved, but he could tell the words were genuine. Erik's eyes shifted to something that was on what was left of Rick's desk . "I'm still surprised you brought that damn anime figurine you bought back in Tokyo with us, and I'm still trying to figure out how that fucker survived while your station got shot to shit". Rick quickly tuned to his figure and smiled. "Maybe she's just as lucky as the Legend hehe" he chuckled as he studied the eight inch scantily clad Neko girl. He kept staring at it until he looked back to Erik." It was a privilege to fight next to you my friend, and navigate you guys game after game." Rick said as his face saddened. "Don't mention it, I'm glad I fought next to you and the guys. You guys became my second family to be honest, and yes I know it sounds cheesy as fuck, but I mean it; you guys are like brothers to me." replied Erik. Then he suddenly stuck his hand in front of him; Rick looked at it and he did the same. Erik gave a cocky grin as they shook hands. "Might as well enjoy the view since it'll be the last time we'll be up here" he said as he turned towards the Plexiglass nose. He stared to the night horizon that was in front of him. He glanced to the right and was about to look left when something caught his eye. "Rick, pass me the binoculars!" he exclaimed. Rick quickly grabbed them and passed them to Erik. He quickly snatched them and looked through them towards something in the distance. His heart raced and he was quickly overrun with emotions. "Oh my god!" he exclaimed under his breath.