...Dedicated to Garnets-and-Dragons grandmother...
Thankfully, no further interruptions were caused by their patient in question or natural disasters off base. A bonus since the long day was drawing to a close. Only now that evening hung heavy on the cliffs surrounding Piston Peak could the temperature change be felt. Wow, it really had been a hot one.
The last undamaged part of the Osprey was retrieved, checked and replaced, wrapping up Maru's task on Nova's engine until next time. If the replacements for her busted parts were located and ordered quickly, she could be up in the air, licensed, and back on track as early as next Tuesday. There wasn't enough interaction (surgery didn't count) for the tug to feel a huge loss whenever she'd be ready to leave, but he couldn't speak for Epsilon and the Smokejumpers. He almost wondered why Dipper hadn't shot over to say her hellos yet. Then again, anyone besides the famed Dusty Crophopper was just some average plane.
"Epsil planning on feeding ya before you leave?" he asked suddenly, borrowing a towel to free his tines of excess grease and oils. In a roundabout way, the tug was inviting Rex to mill around for awhile, at least until Nova came to without further complications. Surely Blade wouldn't mind an update on the tiltrotor's progress from someone other than him. Besides, tonight was pizza night.
"Well, I'd love to stay If you'll have me."
A tight grin spread smoother than peanut butter across the tug's face, "I'll let Chief know, but I don't see a reason why he'd refuse."
The incoming fighter jet, however, smiled her hellos before giving the sleeping Osprey a worried look, one reserved for the elite few. She'd become kind of fond of the tilt-rotor, if not intrigued by the prototype craft. Not all movements were so subtle however, as the former Alaskan shifted uncomfortably while flexing her ailerons in a desperate attempt to cool down. "How'd it go?"
Tossing his towel across the hangar to the worktable, Maru turned his attention to the jet and boxcar. "I think she'll be okay, not counting that "hiccup" earlier. A lot was a quick fix, but like you'd mentioned, that engine's gonna need parts we don't have here. Looks like she'll get her studying in after all."
It was at this particular moment that a wild Drip scurried back to his waiting pack, eager to relay the news regarding the downed Osprey. Sure there will be studying. But the breaks in between are where the real tests happen.
Rex and Epsilon eased away from Maru's hangar entrance to discuss unrelated matters without causing a traffic jam. Some distance away, an impressive Fairchild came to a stop outside of his designated hanger and glanced around the small airfield. He and the Jumpers needed to get ready to fly into town and pick up dinner; including a possible dessert. They'd be flying 20 minutes to the nearest town of Willow Bridge to pick up enough pizza for everyone. Which was a lot of pizza. Especially with a high energy fighter jet, himself and several hungry guests.
Upon finally spying the smaller vehicle culprits, Cabbie straightened up and taxied up next to the congregating squad. "Let's go. I want to be back before nightfall." Although they had a little over two hours and forty minutes before curfew, it was time to go. No point in pushing luck when they had little to spare in the first place. To emphasize the need to hurry, the old war veteran kept his engines running high while taxiing out to the runway. It was way past time to load up.
"The Osprey has landed!"
Only Drip would wait until everyone was packed nice and snug in Cabbie's hold before announcing the results of his spying, resulting in a mix of victorious yelps and defeated groans. Some bets were lost, and the non believers were shunned, but in the end everyone was going to enjoy the company of this interesting new aircraft.
As the Fairchild left the base, the five heavy lifters drummed up new plans and schemes for their guest. The aging fixed-wing hid a smile, with the newbie Osprey around maybe he's get some peace and quiet. Hmmm... maybe he'd get some reading done too. Summer just got a lot more fun.
Down below, Maru made the trek back to Blade's hangar to update him with the results of the impromptu surgery. When Nova wakes up, he'll tell her the same story, details edited by the air boss.
He'd just hope the next eruption was a little less volatile.
The crimson Agustawestland was still working, but had knocked out a good chunk, as well as several pages of emails to annoying news reporters wanting to know about the fires that COULD happen this year.
"Heh, I can actually see your face now."
Blade made an amused chuff, looking up over his desk at the intruding lavender tug. "How are the Osprey's repairs going...and have Cabbie and the jumpers left?" quizzed the air boss. He wanted to make sure the food-retrieval squad would be back before sundown. He did NOT need more paperwork… or emails.
"Hello to you too," Maru drawled, pulling the heli's blades a bit before answering. Chrysler, the guy could be so uptight sometimes. As usual, Maru took his time entering Blade's hangar space. To him, it was stuffy and too closed off, almost exactly opposite to his own open-air concept, but that was personal preference. Maybe the closure helped the heli focus better. Or it was sound-proofed against Avalanche's random outbursts. Whatever the reason, the atmosphere proved to be a place one didn't want to trespass, especially if it involved reprimand. "Well, Nova's all finished ... for now. Her port engine had quite a bit of damage done, so ...she's gonna need replacement parts. Epsilon's friend, that Blackhawk, Rex, says he knows some good suppliers that'll get us the parts fair enough. Soon as we get those taken care of, she'll be better than new by next Tuesday."
Almost a week, couldn't be that bad right? "And yes, Cabbie and the Jumpers left about fifteen minutes ago."
Blade's first response was a thoughtful but short "Hmmm..." as he considered the downsides to keeping the Osprey longer than he'd thought. They COULD afford it, thanks to the acquisition of most of their budget, but did they have time? Well, it would be rude just to leave her hanging.
"Alright, I think we can house her until she gets her flight papers," he concluded, running over the numbers a few times in his head. Of course, most went to repairs and equipment at this point, but some could be diverted if needed. A hull-creaking stretch gave the chopper a chance to release some pent up energy, adding a spin of the tail rotors for good measure. "I trust Cabbie not to stay till after dark. Did you invite this friend for dinner? I think it would only be appropriate to thank him for his assistance."
"What kinda mechanic do you take me for?" the tug grinned, knowing his hunch was right on the money. "For as long as Rex put up with us, he can have two whole pizzas if he wants."
From there Maru was satisfied again, another day survived under their fan belts. "She'll be studied up and ready to fly by the time those parts come in. Just expect the unexpected when she comes to, and give Windlifter the heads up as well. With part of her wanting to run while the other part fights, who knows what'll happen. I'm leaving that muzzle on also, just until she gets back to her senses."
What was it with these military types and their thirst for vengeance?
"Good. The last thing we need is repairing a flattened Smokejumper." Blade said, pushing his work away and setting down his pen. Reading his mind, Maru watched with the most mild pride imaginable as the air boss rolled his way around the desk, joining him near the threshold of his hangar. Bringing the heli lunch wasn't too big a deal, maybe even dinner if he was that pressed for time. But the mechanic knew the Augusta could spare the rest of the evening without falling further behind. Some mind-numbing entertainment did the focus good. "How long until she wakes?"
The tug chuckled at such a statement. "Of course 'we' means 'me' ..just so the audience is clear on that."
"'We' Maru, I have to fill out paperwork for that too, unless you plan on doing that. Now, how long?"
"I'll give her until after dinner ... maybe," answered the tug, heavy on the speculation at this point. "Remember how a light knock-out will last you or Windy half the day? She blew through that in less than three hours. She's had a stronger dose since then, and it's held up this long. All I can say is when we hear that snarling again, she's close."
He hated dishing out uncertainties, but this V-22 was nothing less than a wildcard for them all. And scrap him if he didn't love the challenge.
"Keep an eye on her until she wakes," Blade cautioned, subconsciously casting a wary glance in the direction of the medic hangar. "I don't want to risk anything with someone who can shrug off such a drug."
Maru nodded grimly and lead the air boss in the direction of the main hangar. Night watch wasn't the first on his list of 'most exciting things to do', but for the sake of everyone on base and Nova herself, he wouldn't mind. "I haven't been able to tell Rex yet, but he's hanging around just for that reason. Brute force's gonna help better than knocking her out again, but it's best if we can find a way to keep her attention jumping around until she's completely awake."
Everyone figured out how bad a mouth Epsilon had on her later rather than sooner, so this dance with the prototype tilt-rotor should have the same moves.
... Should.
"I certainly hope it won't be required," the Chief said as he taxied into the main hangar, ignoring the fact that Dipper was watching race reruns again. Sliding past the Grumman G-21 Goose fangirl, he moved towards an obscure corner of the hanger and lifted a folding table from where it lay propped against the wall. There were only a few, but it was a decent investment that made sure there was a place for food to be set when the shopping team returned with dinner.
"Why? Forget where you put your dancing tires?" grinned the tug, tossing a card to signal that the worst of his bad news was over. To make the load lighter and direct his attention elsewhere of the TV, Maru helped with placing said tables. If the jumpers took their coolant this morning, everyone would have a chance at seconds, or even thirds. But expectations could only be set so high.
"I've never been much of a dancer, anyway." If that wasn't the biggest load of slag.
"Mmhm." A tone that meant such a statement was only half believed, without assistance. Glory days aside, at least two hangar roofs were raised way back when the chopper Chief was in another place and time. Such a show was twice as spectacular under the haze of a few well placed cans of oil. Blackmail that never came to the surface between the two that used to be a trio, but was oh so sweet to hold onto.
Not like the tug had some Hollywood hi-jinks of his own.
Maru's gaze drifted a few buildings over to the medical bay, keeping tabs on Epsilon's body language since she'd deemed herself the watchdog for the time being. Nothing had come of the tiltrotor just yet, which was a good thing. It could also be bad unless she woke up before they all called it a night. Heaven forbid he mis-measured the dosage and put her under for a lot longer than expected.
Talk about a 2am inconvenience.