Chapter 3:
Three weeks later
Kei Nagase was in the crew room of the Sand Island squadron, "Wardog", she was looking out the window thinking about her time at Heirelark and what she was doing now.
After the party, the graduation ceremony was a few days later, needless to say Randy Gornell had got the biggest cheer. Ironically Randy had also been assigned to Wardog squadron but yesterday he tested positively for steroids and was promptly kicked off the island before he could flex a muscle.
The captain of Wardog, Captain Bartlett was fuming, he couldn't believe what Gornell had done, he'd spent the last two weeks training him and the rest of the pilots into a half competent squadron and now he had to train some nugget all over again. Nobody knew who Gornell's replacement was, but he was coming that very day.
Nagase was also pondering what had happened to Blaze, the day after the party he had completely disappeared and had only reappeared literally minutes before his name was read out at the graduation ceremony five days later. He had looked completely drained and his eyes had lost all there shine. Nagase noticed how Blaze struggled to smile for the camera and the way he trooped off stage fuelled her concerns. She tried to ask him what was wrong, Blaze simply said it wasn't her problem; even Blaze's best mates were in the dark over what was going on.
Blaze had then quickly made a swift exit from the ceremony and Heirelark -nobody had heard anything about him since. Looking around the crew room, Nagase could see all her fellow pilots, the only one from Heirelark was Chopper, just her luck she thought to herself, "The one person you know is officially the worst trainee in history!" He was friendly though and even though his constant talking could be a little annoying at least it added a bit of spark to the base and kept up people's spirits.
Even the mystery over the new squadron member had worried Chopper.
"He better not be Gornell 2.5" he was saying, "The last thing we need is another Hulk tearing up the place, he better be friendly, I don't want no grumpy gits 'ere"
"We should be more concerned about his flying skills" quipped Nagase, "Hopefully he will prove to be an adequate replacement for Gombrich"
"Don't mention his name, this guys from Heirelark anyways he's gotta be half decent, that's why I'm more concerned about his personality. What if he likes classical music?! Ah it would be like the opera!"
"I don't know many pilots that play the violin anyways at least it wouldn't be an incessant rave like we've got already! Did you say he was from Heirelark?"
"It's rock not electro, you don't rave to rock.... you rock! Yeah he's from Heirelark but I don't know when he graduated so it could be anyone really"
"But Bartlett said he was a nugget to Hamilton"
"I'm a nugget and I'm 29 so it could be anyone!"
"I think your a special exception Chopper" smiled Nagase
"Better late then never... Bartlett and Hamilton's argument over this nugget nearly drowned out my rock and roll"
Hamilton had been the one who had broken the news to Bartlett that he was getting another nugget. They then went on to have a blazing row about how he always gets the 'nuggets'. They had since made up but Nagase could sense there was more to that spat then met the eye.
Since Chopper had mentioned the new pilot was from Heirelark, Nagase couldn't help but wonder if it was someone she knew.... perhaps Blaze. Although the way he was acting on graduation day suggested that his arrival could be a bad thing.
As the hours past Chopper became more and more nervous, even turning off his rock before returning to pacing round the crew room, not listening to his fellow squadron members telling him to relax. Finally they heard a rumbling.
