Here comes chapter 2! Thanks for waiting!
Chapter 2. The Proposal
One month ago, Nellis Air Force Base, NV
It was a sunny, warm day in Nevada.
Lazily draping her left hand on the steering wheel, Irene leaned back into the comfortable leather seat and hummed along the music from the car radio. She glanced over her shoulder and grinned at the small pile of shopping bags that sat at the backseat of her car.
The squadron will love these gifts, she thought. After all, most of her fellow pilots had not gone out of the base for six months and surely missed many things outside the base. She was lucky enough to get out of the base to drop off her commander's family at McCarran International Airport since her commander had an emergency meeting and she was asked to do this job instead.
Speaking of her squadron…She slightly frowned, thinking of some stranger behaviors of her teammates in these days. She caught Alyssa and her wing-mate, Dylan whispering at the corner of the corridor several times and whenever she asked about this, they acted like nothing had happened, which made her become more suspicious. Some of the pilots were missing during the lunch time. Even Josh-her wing-mate and boyfriend, seemed to act a-little- too-mysteriously to her taste and hide something away from her. She had been asking around what was going on but almost everyone seemed to avoid her questions.
Maybe I have to catch a couple of guys for interrogations…She accelerated her car as she spotted the buildings of the base at the horizon.
"Guys I'm back! Look at what I brought for you-"Irene looked around the empty bunker. Where are they at this time? Her roommates, Alyssa and Katiewere not at their barrack as usual. Changed into her usual military attire- a grey T-shirt, ABU pants and combat boots, she walked to the mess hall to look for her teammates.
The corridor was strangely quiet on the way to the mess hall. When Irene started to wonder if something happened at the base during her outing, she heard some muffled voice from the control room.
".. are you sure this is ready?" She heard Katie's voice.
"Trust me, guys. Everything is under controlled!" It was Edwin, the team's control technician.
"You can't miss a single thing. This is a huge, huge day for her!" Alyssa said in an excited voice.
" Check the time. When will she come back?"
"Maybe in an hour or two. After all, we asked her to get some personal stuff, so she wouldn't be back that fast."
"Great. We still have some time for double check-"
"Why are you all scrambling at here?" Irene pushed the door.
Those three people in the room almost jumped at her voice. Edwin hastily shut down the monitor as Alyssa greeted Irene in an exaggerated, almost unusual manner.
"Oh Irene! Girl, glad to see you back. We missed you so much-"
"I saw you in this morning, Allie." Irene said, startled by her friend's unusual action. Before she said anything about it, Katie interrupted. " Did you get my snacks and new maroon 5 CDs?"
"Yes, yes, ma'am. I already put them inside your bunker. Katie, seriously, how could I forget? I don't wanna chase by a sugar-deprived-zombie-like-Katie when I am back to the base."
"Great! Let's go back to the bunker! Sweetstime!" Katie shouted and rushed out of the room, dragging Irene along the way.
"By the way, what were you talking before I stepped-"
"It's-s nothing! Really! We just talked about Ed and his girlfriend. Their anniversary is coming and Eddie is planning some events-"
Irene stopped at her track and eyed Alyssa questioningly. "Wait, I thought you told me they broke up a couple weeks ago?"
"Oh! They made up and Eddie wanna do something to please his girl-"
"As long as I know, Edwin is not an event guy," now Irene started to get suspicious."Honestly, all of you guys have been acting weird in these days. What are you guys hiding?"
Alyssa laughed rather awkwardly and stammered. "We-e? Hid-ing? Hell no! Irene, you know there is absolutely no secret between us-"
"-Seems like you have it now." Irene said with a hint of irritation in her voice. "Now, spill it out."
" Hey, Rin! Did you get my video games? I've been waiting for three months for the newest version of Call on Duty!" Matt Osmond, the mechanic of the squadron, appeared nowhere at her back, almost making her jump.
"Matt, could you please not pop up suddenly and give me a heart attack? Yes, I got that and I will give you at the cafeteria."
"Ah, come on! Can you just give it now? Please?" Matt tried to give his best smile but Irene shoved him annoyingly.
"Payment first, you still owed me 20 bucks from last time's flying competition."
"Hey, that was just a practice drill!And I was not in the best condition-"
Irene smirked."No excuses. It was YOU suggested the game and I WON."
"Yeah, Matt. Act like a man and keep your promise." Katie chimed in. Matt sighed in exaggeratedly.
"Fine, I will give you money as soon as I get my paycheck. But can I have the game now?"
"Alright, Sergeant Soap. Let me get you precious video game now. Wait me in the hall."
"Yes! You are the best, Irene!" Matt rushed to his own barrack to get his playstation.
"Eh, video games. I don't understand why boys are crazy about them."Alyssa said.
"Same for your obsession for Star Wars." Irene elbowed her teammate playfully as they walked to their barrack.
"Hey! You can't compare these epics to those boring video games!" Alyssa yelled and the rest of two women busted to laughter.
" Guys, have you seen Josh by the way?" Irene asked when they arrived at their barrack. "I didn't see him the whole day."
"Another meeting with General, I guess..? Oh, Irene's missing her Prince Charming already.." Katie said slyly, wiggling her eyebrow.
"Shut up, Katie. One more time-" Irene stopped and stared at the bunch of red roses on her bunker bed.
"Aww, speaking of the devil, look at what your sweet Prince Charming had for you!" Alyssa cooed.
Ignoring her teammate, Irene picked up the roses. This is not like Josh's style..what's up with him? Her curiosity increased when she noticed a small note between the roses. She pulled it out and read it.
Come out to the hangar -Josh
"What are you waiting for, uh? Go and find out what's next!" Katie playfully slapped Irene, who was still puzzled by the whole situation.
"Okay.." Irene murmured. She failed to notice the sly smiles on her teammates' faces as three of them headed towards the hangar.
The hangar was strangely empty – only a few aircrafts were left in their usual spots. Irene started to wonder if her squadron was out for a secret mission or something when she jumped by a loud voice from the speaker.
"Okay, fellas! She's here and get in your position-"
"Damn it! Edwin! He turned on the speaker instead of the link AGAIN! " Alyssa screamed frantically as she yelled at the speaker. " Shut up, Edwin Brannen! She can hear you!"
"Brannen! Turn it off before you ruin everything!" Katie shouted at a phone-like device. "I swear I warned you thousand times-"
"Alright, calm down everyone!" Irene grabbed Katie's shoulder. "Seriously, What's all of this? Now stop hiding and spit it out!" She said in a frustrated voice.
Katie looked at Alyssa and signed. Both of them knew Irene was running out of her patience and a frustrated Irene was not a good sign. "Alright, I give in. It was Josh's idea-" She was cut off by a soft singing voice from the speaker.
Oh, her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful
And I tell her everyday
"Josh..?" Irene stared at the speaker ."What is he doing in the control room?"
"Good timing, Josh! Irene, come out the hanger!" Alyssa grinned broadly and pulled Irene, still confused and bewildered about all of this.
I know, I know
When I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so
Sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me, "Do I look okay?"
I say,
Outside the hangar was a huge open spacewith a fair view of the sky. It was late afternoon and the sky was crystal blue with a faint glow of sun yellow. And there was a wave of F-22 jets in the air. Irene recognized the jets instantly. It was her squadron.
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
As the waves of F-22 approached the sky in front of the hangar, several jets changed their positions in their flying formation- some moved down and others slowed down. Irene watched in amusement and glee when the jets flew above her in a heart-shaped formation.
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are
"Wow…" Irene gasped and turned to her teammates, who were grinning like Cheshire cats. "So this is what you have been hiding?"
"Well, kind of. Actually, the real surprised is not here yet, girl!" Alyssa squeled excitedly. "Here they come!"
Irene turned her attention to the sky. Now the jets were no longer in the flying formation. Instead, each of them was swiftly maneuvering upside down in different directions. Moments later, thin, white contrail lines formed behind the aircrafts in the shape of alphabetic letters.
IRENE WILL U MARRY ME
"Oh my God…" Irene put her hand over her mouth with shock. Slowly, her face broke into a huge smile. Josh just asked her to marry him!
Someone tapped her shoulder. It was Katie. She grinned at Irene. "Well? So what is your answer?"
"Yes,"said Irene breathlessly. "A thousand times yes!"
"He can't hear you from here." Alyssa passed her the phone-like device she was holding. " This is the wireless radio we used for communication. Now say yes to him!"
"Captain? This is Valkyrie speaking. Affirmative, A thousand times yes!"
"Copy, Valkyrie. Edwin, this is Captain JCG. Talk to you later, Valkyrie!"Josh replied through the link.
A few minutes later, Josh's raptor slided inside the hangar, followed by the rest of the jets. As soon as Josh jumped out of the cockpit, Irene dashed towards him and kissed the glass surface of his helmet. Josh laughed inside his helmet.
"Calm down, Valkyrie! You can kiss me after I take off my helmet!"
"Calm down? How? Captain, this is the most wonderful moment in my life-" Josh cut her off by sealing her lips with a long loving kiss, which she returned with equal amount of passions. Irene felt her heart swell with joy and wished the time never ended until Josh broke the kiss and took out a small black box from his chest pocket. He knelt down before her and opened the box, revealing a beautiful platinum gold ring with a small diamond adorned at the center. He smiled warmly at Irene.
"Irene Valerie Madison, my beautiful, valiant, wonderful Valkyrie, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"A million affirmatives! How many times I have to repeat? You silly, ridiculous muttonhead!" She laughed and reached up to kiss him again, before whispered," I love you."
She heard his deep, soft chuckle as he mumbled through the kiss. "I love you too."
"Romeo and Juliet, sorry to interrupt your fantastic time, but don't forget to thank us! Josh made us to practice this for two weeks!" Dylan said, stepping out of his cockpit.
Alyssa punched her wingmate. "Quiet, Dummy! You are ruining the moment!"
"Easy Allie! Guys, I don't know what to say.. thanks for everything! This is so amazing." Irene smiled at her teammates, who cheered and high-fived each other. Several of them, including Katie and Alyssa, hugged the couple and expressed their congratulations. Irene looked up and met Josh's eyes. His warm chocolate brown eyes filled with love and tenderness; she silently wished this movement never end…
Suddenly, a sharp alarm sound rang, startling everyone in the hangar. Edwin's urgent voice came out of the speaker.
"Squadron three-oh-seven, report to the meeting room 105 immediately. "
A/N: For reference, Valkyrie is Irene's call sign (kind of like nickname in the squadron) and Captain is Josh's call sign.
A huge thank to Doragon Prime, IlxTigerLillyxll, Lady Minuialwen, and Skyress98 for favorite/follow!
