Hello everyone it tis I, the author just putting out another chapter, like always reviews welcome. Happy Memorial Day!
Chapter 8: All for one and one for all.
'Rock Café' 7pm
You know, life is a funny thing. One moment someone is alive and well, the next, not so much. They say Cisco went out with little pain. I would hope so, but I'd rather not think on the situation. His death was untimely, and unnecessary, and I caused it. I shot his plane, his engine lit and that was the end. Of course it was deemed an accident, but I knew better, I just hope the rest of the squadron doesn't. Then Jess walked in and spotted me, great.
"Jim, you alright?" Jess asked softly. I was sitting in a corner both by myself, a really didn't want to talk right now.
"I'm fine." I replied, trying to keep the conversation short.
"I saw what happened-"Jess said, trying to keep the conversation alive, taking a seat across from me, out the window the sun started to set, what a beautiful sight.
"Then you know I killed him." I said blatantly, no use in hiding it.
"What? No Jim you didn't kill him, if you actually read the report on his wrecked plane you would've known that the engine had a small fuel leak and ignited when he tried to pull a maneuver." Jess said.
"Well what about the cockpit then?" I wouldn't let the blame go to someone else. This was my fault.
"They said it was melted shut from the heat." Jess replied. "Hey it's Friday, why don't you come to my pad for a bit and hang out." Jess said starting to get more to her hyper active self.
"Why not." I said gloomily, and it's not like I wanted to talk to my squadron anyhow.
Jess' apartment, 8pm
It took a while to walk to her apartment, but in the end I felt better. I just couldn't stay depressed around her, and before I knew it I almost felt good.
"Make yourself at home." Jess said, walking in her apartment.
"Nice place." I said, looking around. It was your standard apartment, with a few posters here and there.
"Thanks, I take pride in keeping it clean." Jess replied.
"You got Netflix?" I asked.
"Yeh, I should be logged into it already if you wanna watch something." Jess replied.
"Have you ever seen Monty Python and The Holy Grail, by a chance?" I asked.
"Nope." Jess said.
"Were watching that and it is final, this is the best movie you'll ever watch." I stated.
"If you say so." Jess said grabbing herself a glass of water. She sat down next to me and I started to movie. About twenty minutes in I fell asleep sitting up, the day had been exhausting and I was just relieved not to be hated or accused by someone.
Jess' apartment, 8am.
I woke up on the couch, time to face stupid reality again. I also smelled eggs.
"So you're finally awake huh?" Jess said, cooking eggs on the stove.
"Thanks for letting me stay the night, I don't want to over stay my welcome, so I'll catch you later?" I inquired.
"Later, and don't blame yourself too much about Cisco." Jess said as I was walking out the door. That's right, Cisco died, just when I forgot. Man life is a bitch. I went to the 'Rock Café' to get some breakfast, and I saw my squadron in the corner both we usually sat at. I walked up to them.
"You guys order yet?" I asked, they were a bit jogged to see me.
"No we just got here, take a seat." Cassidy replied. "Jim we were looking for you all night, where were you?" She asked.
"I was crashing at a friend's pad." I answered.
"Are you o.k. though? After yesterday, I would be a bit shaken up." Lee said.
"I…. worked it out in my head, how are you guys doing?" I replied. Cassidy started to tear up.
"Excuse me." Cassidy said, walking to the rest rooms.
"She alright?" I inquired.
"Yeh, it's just that Riker died the same way. It brings back memories best left untouched." Lola answered. The waiter then came over, took our orders, and went to put them in to the chef. Cassidy came back, more composed.
"Just missed the waiter Cass." Lee said.
"Its fine, I'll catch him when he comes back." Cassidy replied.
"So, what's the plans on the funeral?" I asked.
"It's later today, around noon." Lola replied. The waiter then came over with our food and took Cassidy's order. We then ate and talked about some more stuff, one we were done eating we just sat there for a while.
"Hey, guys cheer up! We can't become depressed, Cisco wouldn't want that!" I said to break the silence.
"He has a point." Lee said.
"C'mon, all for one and one for all!" I said trying to get everyone out of a death like trance. I raised my glass.
"All for one and one for all." Everyone said, raising their glasses, and they started to smile.
"That's it, now, who wants to go for a walk down town? I know a really good shop…" I said. They agreed, so we walked into town, and checked out that shop where I got my new gloves. We bought time until noon where we went to Cisco's funeral. We had an outdoor funeral, after this he would be shipped to his parents, who would decide what to do next. It was in the middle of the Lexington's forest, a relaxing place, truly. I spotted and ax stuck in a tree stump, and I thought of how Cisco couldn't open his cockpit. You could hear Taps playing in the back ground, and in an effort to lift our spirits, the commander gave us permission to decal our planes, not like it made a difference though, Cisco was still dead and nothing could change that. I walked over the stump with the ax in it after the funeral was winding down, and I took it to the hangars with me. I found a nice spot where it would fit and bolted it in place using some spare tools.
"I see I'm not the only one down here." Lola said.
"Yeh, I just wanted to fix something in my cockpit." I replied.
"So how are you gonna decal your plane?" Lola asked.
"I'm going to make this look like a BF-109-F4 to fool our opponents." I said.
"Want me to help, I'm pretty good at painting." Lola said.
"Suit yourself." I replied. It took until 8pm but we did it, it looked exactly like a BF-109-F4, there was a few things we couldn't 'convert' but it was very hard to distinguish it from a F4.
"Well I'm going to throw in the towel and head home, catch you later." I said to Lola.
"Later." Lola replied, staying in the hangar. I wonder what she was doing. Anyhow, I headed home.
Jim's Apartment 9pm.
It was a sad day but once I got home I took a shower and fell right asleep. Wondering what was to come in the following week, we were one man short in the squadron, and we couldn't get a recruit mid-season. It looked rough, but as I stated in the 'Rock Café', we are all for one and one for all.
_Well I hoped you enjoyed, I'll take suggestions on how this should go. Sorry I didn't update yesterday, I forgot, and finals are coming up. Until next time- Sho'reg
