Ace Combat
Heart of Melting Blood
Written by
: Lone Wolf NEO
Conceived by: Lone Wolf NEO

Author's note: Ace Combat is copyrighted by NAMCO, and Lone Wolf NEO does not own any or all real-life features or whatever facts featured in this story. He does, however, own the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate it if readers do not plagiaries everything inside this story without his knowledge.

Chapter 10
New Wings

"Magellan City Police Department's anti-riot division has arrested 23 people in the most recent anti-war demonstration to take place in the city. Officials stated that the demonstrators were detained as they were responsible for vandalizing and destroying public properties in attempt to gain attention from the regime. However they were later released from custody after local leaders agreed to pay for their bailing. One source was quoted as saying Magellan City's pro-peace movement would not stop organizing demonstrations around the city until all sides agree to end the war, and at such will continue fighting for what they claim is right."

He turned off the radio. The news report of Bohemian troopers conquering more lands beyond the borders pissed him off. Everything -- everything that led to the war, he absolutely despised of. Previously the regions of Gebet, Recta and Fato had fallen to the Bohemian regime in their decisive Blitzkrieg, and the troopers were escalating to the south, threatening Ustio, Ratio and Sapin. It was the most unpleasant news he had heard in his life with the air force. He wished he could turn back the time and prevented the regime from expanding its reign.

He wished he could turn back the time.

"Damn, this is not the time for stupid nonsense."

Today, he and Grandpa Lancelot were appointed to lead a training mission with a new batch of pilots. Alley, who was supposed to conduct the pilots' training course, was assigned to assign a humanitarian mission in North Osea's southern border. He knew of that already; Alley was famous among organizations of human welfare for Operation: Heavenly Rhapsody.

"On March 19, 2017, OADF was called upon request by Ratio Initiative Committee for Refugee International Security, RICORIS, to lead an evacuation mission in Rhapsody Village near Osea-Belka border," Lone Wolf thought. "Under codename Little Fairy 2, Alley was called to commence the most daring unarmed mission to be taken by any OADF pilot. Despite the odds, all the refugees were safely evacuated, and the C-130J fleet was able to leave the area in one piece."

Lone Wolf also received news from the base commander that Radiance Island AFB was going to receive new airplanes, most of which were delivered from Osean surplus. This news was a warming welcome for the squadron; the current deployment of aircrafts in the base was inadequate to cope with the demand for the team's missions. Some, like the Phantoms, were obsolete and had to be replaced by more capable fighter aircrafts.

Knock, knock.

Lone Wolf's thinking process was disturbed. "Who might that be?" He approached the door, opened it and found himself staring at a female pilot. He was shocked, so did the person. "You're new here. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

The young pilot was startled. "I-I'm sorry for disturbing you, sir! I was asked to look for you here," said the pilot.

"You didn't answer my question."

"I'm sorry, sir!" The pilot made a salute and tried to smile, despite the shocked expression she had on her face. "My name is Henrietta Milano. I graduated from Air Force Academy in Dilectus and I'm assigned to this squadron by my superiors. Pleased to meet you, sir."

Lone Wolf stared at the pilot for a long time. A pair of sapphire eyes, innocent at first glance but burning with the passion of a pilot, attracted him. She looked young and naive, and he could not help but to think of what motivated her to become a fighter pilot. She has a lot to prove herself after this.

He saluted her. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Milano-"

"Please, sir. Call me Henrietta instead," she spoke. When he stared at her strangely due to the suggestion, she blushed. "Um… sir, I was supposed to escort you to the hangar right now-"

Lone Wolf shrugged. "Alright, alright. You go first. I'll catch up with you later."

"Yes, sir."

Lone Wolf hesitated for a while. He watched at the pilot who ran down the alley and went out of the barrack. He could only shake his head and left the room. "What's going on here?"

As soon as he stepped out of the barrack, he was surrounded. Not by angry enemy, but by a group of very enthusiastic children. "What the hell?" he exclaimed, even as the children started bugging him. "Who allowed you children to enter this airbase? This area is off-limit. Now get out before I call the guards."

"But the guards let us in!" the children exclaimed. "We told them we wanted to visit you!"

Lone Wolf snapped at the answer and almost roared at them when Hibiki called them back. Immediately they rushed to the shrine maiden, sticking their tongue at Lone Wolf as they did.

"Lone Wolf, these children have been given visitors' pass," she told him as he approached her. "They just want to look around this base. They won't cause anyone of us problem."

"And we want to play with Big Brother!" the children cheered.

Lone Wolf stared at the children, most of which returned stare at him. He later turned to Hibiki. "Hibiki, take care of these kids for me, will you?"

"Big Brother!" the children shouted.

Lone Wolf glared at them. "What is it? I've got works to do right now. And what's with the suffix you just called me with?"

Blatantly they said in unison, "BIG BROTHER MUST STAY WITH US!"

Hibiki almost laughed at the answer and glanced at the appalled pilot. "Oh, dear. Lone Wolf doesn't like being called 'Big Brother'." She, then, turned to the children, who were already now a group of eager little monsters. "I'm very sorry, children, but Lone Wolf doesn't have the time to spend with all of you."

The children cried in dismay and demanded that Lone Wolf wait. The pilot started to panic and looked at the hangar he was supposed to go. He looked back at the children, at the smiling Hibiki and back to them.

"Big Brother…" Then they frowned. "Can't we?"

Lone Wolf was in state of shock. Hibiki foxily giggled at him. Several military polices who guarded the front gate smiled to see his reaction.

Finally he surrendered. "Damn, I'm in a middle of an errand, and now I have to baby-sit all of you?"

"Big Brother!" they protested.

Lone Wolf laughed and knelt in front of the group. "See that aircraft over there?" he said, pointing to a MiG-31M parked near the bunker. "Go there and play some games, but don't go anywhere without me. If anyone asks you who told you to be there, tell them Big Brother Lone Wolf said so. I'll catch up with you later."

"Okay, Big Brother!" Excitedly the children ran toward the lone Foxhound and started playing rope-skipping. Lone Wolf stood back and observed in interest, as they took an unfortunate soldier to play with them.

Leaving the children with their activity, Lone Wolf approached Hibiki who had a big smile carved upon her face. "Deciding to have fun with the children already, Lone Wolf?" she asked.

Lone Wolf frowned at the question. "And you, Miss Hibiki, didn't even bother not to allow them coming here," he replied.

Hibiki laughed. "It was you who talked about them, wasn't it?" she suggested.

"Yes, it was me, but I didn't say they could come and play here," he insisted. He looked back at the children who were waving goodbye at the amused soldier and proceeded with their game of hopscotch. "Now what I'm supposed to do with them?"

"Lone Wolf, why don't we meet up with the recruits first?" Hibiki suggested. "Perhaps it's best to know them a little bit more. The children can wait."

He looked at the children, then at the recruits who were listening to Grandpa's briefing near the Hawk aircraft. "Good idea. Let's go."

They went to the group. Grandpa saw their arrival and waved to them. "Lone Wolf, Edge, I was about to call you just now. Come over here, you need to know these nuggets first." They approached Grandpa and stared at the group. "Bill just told me that the three of us are entrusted to train these nuggets in four weeks before they can return to their air forces."

"The three of us?" Hibiki asked.

Grandpa nodded. "Even the OADF officers wanted us to look after them while they're here."

Lone Wolf sighed. The children were already complicating his day, and now he had to train the 'nuggets'? "Whatever. I don't want to think about it right now."

He turned his attention to the waiting pilots. One of them stepped forward and saluted him. "My name is Seishino Akira, call-signed 'Poncho'. I'm from the 10th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ration Air Force. Pleased to meet you, sir."

"Ferdinand Alonzo, 112th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Sapinian Air Force," said the next pilot. "Everybody at the academy used to call me Marksman, and it's since then my call-sign." He later glanced to the man next to him. "This is Louis Philippe. He's my team-mate at the squadron. I call him Pooh because he likes honey very much."

Lone Wolf stared at the said pilot. He was saying nothing, but from his facial expression Lone Wolf could guess he was not amused with the explanation. "Oh, sir," Ferdinand interjected, "Pooh doesn't talk much. Sorry, I forgot to tell you about that."

Henrietta, as Lone Wolf noticed, was the last to speak. "My name is Henrietta Milano. My superiors in Ustio assigned me to fly in Raider squadron because they believe this team is among the best in OADF."

Hibiki was impressed. "It seems that our allies' air forces are entrusting us to train their pilots," she said and bowed to the new pilots. "Welcome to Radiance Island Air Force Base, everyone. I am Major Kawasumi Hibiki, and this is Lone Wolf," she spoke, pointing to Lone Wolf who just nodded at them. "And this senior citizen standing here is Andrew Lancelot or Grandpa as everybody calls him. From now on, Lone Wolf, Mr. Lancelot and I will be your flight instructors throughout your training. Should you have any inquiry regarding the training, don't hesitate to forward your questions to us. We will try our best to be of assistance."

She turned to Lone Wolf. "Lone Wolf, do you have anything to say?"

Lone Wolf looked at each of the pilots. "I don't care of which air force they're from or why they bother to be here," he spoke, much to the surprise of the pilots, "and I do want to ask them of why they want to join the air force, but not right now."

He pointed to Henrietta. "You, I forgot to ask this question. Did your superiors give you a call sign before they sent you here?"

She was surprised by the question. "No, sir. I mean… I didn't remember anything about that. Why do you ask, sir?"

Lone Wolf shrugged. "Fine. Then I'll call you Vixen. From now on, you'll be identified with the call sign until your training ends. Is that clear, Henrietta?"

"Y… yes sir," Henrietta replied. "Thank you, sir."

"Alright, nuggets," Grandpa spoke aloud. "Time's up. Gear yourselves up in five minutes. Today you're going to have a training mission with me. Now move!"

All the five 'nuggets' rushed to their barrack, running past the children who waved to them. Lone Wolf watched at them for a while before he turned his sight to the runway. Four Su-30MK Flankers had just landed and were heading to the hangar. At the same time, he saw the F-16/F-4 group waiting for take-off clearance at the taxiway.

"Lone Wolf," Hibiki called him. "Is there anything wrong? You weren't very happy a while ago. Didn't you want to see them here?"

"You look like you have problems handling new intakes, Lone Wolf," Grandpa said. "Are you alright? You don't have to join me in the flight if you don't want to."

Lone Wolf said nothing. Then he shrugged and went to the arriving Flankers, waving to them without looking at them. "And he didn't even say he'll meet us later," Grandpa uttered.

"I wonder whether Lone Wolf is alright today," Hibiki spoke. "Grandpa, what should we do about him?"

"He might be tired, I think," Grandpa suggested.

Hibiki excused herself and returned to the children. She was greeted with a very wide smile, and she chuckled. "Have you done playing, children?"

"Is Big Brother going to fly again?" they asked.

"Yes, I'm afraid he has to." The answer caused them to frown in disappointment, and she noticed how hopeful they were to spend time with Lone Wolf. "Don't worry, children. I'm very sure he won't forget you. He is just busy; he's a pilot, after all."

The children cheered at the guarantee and danced around Hibiki. "Hurray! We get to play with Big Brother after all!" they shouted in unison. "Ring-a-ring of roses! A pocket full of posies! Atishoo! Atishoo! And we all fall down!"

One of the children stopped dancing. She looked up at her, her eyes shining in curiosity. "Big Sister, is Big Brother a great pilot?"

Hibiki smiled at the question. She knelt beside the girl that led the group and asked her. "Why would you think he is?"

"We saw him on TV, and the reporter said something about Big Brother's successful missions," the girl told her. "They said something about… rescuing soldiers. Do you still remember it, Big Sister?"

"Yeah, and remember the super-big bomber that came to our island?" the boy asked, stretching his arms to emphasize the word 'super-big'. "The news said that one pilot destroyed the big bomber alone. We were wondering whether Big Brother was the pilot they were talking of."

"Can you tell us more about Big Brother?" the children asked. "Can you?"

Hibiki just smiled. "What should I say about him? He never talks of anything about him," she said. "He's a secretive man."

One of the children approached her. "Big Sister, can I ask you something?"

Hibiki turned to him. "Yes. What is it, my dear?"

"Do you like Big Brother?"

Hibiki blushed in a sudden. Startled, she tried to keep herself calm and not panicked. "Why… why would I?" she asked.

"Because we saw you and Big Brother talking with each other," the kid said. "So we figured that you and Big Brother must have something."

"Is it true?" the girl later asked. "Is it really true that you like Big Brother?"

The children started bugging her. "Can you tell us, Big Sister? Can you? Can you?"

Hibiki blushed again. She had no idea that the innocent children would ask her with such a curious question.

"Come on, Big Sister!" the children kept begging, mischievously laughing as she helplessly tried to deny the question. "You must let Big Brother know your feeling, or he'll go and look for somebody else!"

"Children!" Hibiki girl started chasing the children around the base. Laughingly they scattered away, teasing and making fun of the shrine girl.

x-x-x-x-x

24 August 2017. 23:32 hours. Radiance Island AFB.

Lone Wolf's lack of experience as flight instructor limited his role in the team, thus he had to hand over the task to Hibiki and Grandpa. He could only follow the progress of the trainees via ground control. He was aware of that; he was the kind of person who would rather let trainees practice on their own accordance rather than guiding them.

Nevertheless whenever he was asked to lead the pilots in training flight, he was dedicated. So dedicated he was, at one point his method of instructing the pilots was questioned by General Mercury as 'harsh, ruthless and unsystematic'. The trainees often complained to Grandpa that they could not follow Lone Wolf's lead aircraft, and even said that they would not be able to finish the training course in four weeks if they had to keep up with his pace. Lone Wolf did not care; it's been three weeks since the training started, there was no space for turning back. They had already reached this far, and they would transform from green nuggets to beefed up, battle-ready fighter pilot.

On top of that, he could not stand one person.

Henrietta.

Of all fours, she got the lowest ranking. For many times her points had to be deducted due to her lack of attention to training The trainees' first flight, as he remembered, had to be delayed because she could not strap herself onto the ejection seat. During one of the flights, she accidentally shut off her aircraft's engine and went into a stall. It was a careless mistake that could have killed her, had he not shouted at her over the radio to go to full throttle and pull up. He was frustrated; how would she be able to keep up with her team-mates and finish the training?

"Sir?"

Again, his thinking process was disturbed. He looked upward and saw the anxious face of Henrietta, as she stared down at him. "What is it?"

"I saw you sitting outside here, all alone," Henrietta said. "I thought you might need someone to accompany, so--"

"So what? Look at the time, Henrietta," he spoke in high tone. "You're supposed to stay at your barrack. What brought you here?" When he saw Henrietta stepping backward in fear, he shook his head in dismay and ruffled his fingers in his hair. "Damn it! I didn't mean to scare you off."

"But sir, you look… upset," she spoke. "I was wondering whether--"

He stared at her. Straight into her eyes. Was she trying to be a busybody? "Whether what?"

"Whether…" Henrietta calmed a bit and went on. "Whether you need someone to talk to. Like… me?"

He was about to reply to the question when noticed a violin held between her arms. Curiosity began taking over. "Is that a violin you're carrying?"

"Oh? This violin?" She made a little laughter when she showed him the violin. "I brought it here. I thought I would be lonely if I don't have something to do."

This time, Lone Wolf grinned. From disgrace, he began to change his attitude toward the trainee. "I don't know why you want to bother yourself carrying violin around, but here. Take a seat. Perhaps we should have a little talk."

"I was thinking of that too, sir." Carefully Henrietta sat on the bench and moved herself a bit away from Lone Wolf. "I'm sorry, sir, but every time a guy asks me to sit beside him I tend to get nervous."

Lone Wolf laughed. "Oh, really? Who do you think I am? Someone else's boyfriend?" The reply caused Henrietta to blush, and she turned around to hide her flushing face. "Hey! I didn't mean to tease you. Come over here, I'm not the type of man who would take advantage over someone's daughter."

Henrietta warily glanced at him. "Are you… sure you won't do anything to me?"

"Look, Henrietta, all I want to know about you is that," he said, pointing to the violin. "Why are you carrying that around? Can you actually play it?"

"Of course I can play it, sir," she said, albeit surprised. "It's my birthday present, you see. My parents gave it on my 14th birthday."

"And how old are you now?" Lone Wolf asked.

"I'm going to be 21 this weekend, sir," she said.

Lone Wolf laughed again. "21? You're two years older than Edge!" he exclaimed.

"Really, sir? I thought she's older than me because I addressed her as 'senior officer'," Henrietta replied.

"Well, yeah, she acts like she's older than she looks," Lone Wolf said between his laughs. "Okay, okay. I'm going to stop laughing now before it kills me." He calmed down and stared at Henrietta. "You know that you're on the lowest training ranking, don't you?"

"…yes, sir. I'm aware of it," she said. "I've been very anxious of my ability for the past 3 weeks, and I don't even think I can finish it by the end of this week. I was thinking of quitting this training and return to my hometown, so…"

"Henrietta."

She looked at him. "Yes, sir?"

"The truth is," Lone Wolf said, "you really can do it. It's just you who don't realize your potency. Why would you become a pilot when you said you couldn't?"

"But sir, even if I can become a pilot… can I face the war?" she spoke. "You see, the reason I joined the air force is because…" She stopped. Lone Wolf was staring at her, and she lost all her strength to continue her speech. "I'm sorry, sir. I wish I knew the reason. I didn't even know why I'm here in the first place, with Senior Officer Hibiki, Senior Officer Lancelot, and you…"

"Whatever." He outstretched himself and corrected his pose. "Henrietta, do me a favour and play me a song. Any song; I'm kind of bored right now."

She was surprised. "Right now? But I thought you want to have a talk with me, sir," she insisted.

"Yes, I did, and it's over," Lone Wolf told her. When he saw Henrietta staring at him strangely due to the answer, he just laughed. "Come on! You've been playing that violin for 7 years, right? You must be a natural-born violinist."

She was unaware of what he was talking of, but she wanted to fulfil the request. "Okay, sir." She stood up and walked to the front of the bench, holding the violin between her chin and her shoulder. "Sir, would you like to hear 'The Journey Home'? I first played it on my 14th birthday, but it's not as perfect as the one sung at November City."

"The Journey Home…? Yeah, sure. Go ahead."

She nodded. Taking a deep breath, she held the violin close. She closed her eyes, her posture relaxed.

Then it began.

The familiar rhythm of The Journey Home came out as the strings rubbed against the bow. Lone Wolf was fascinated; behind the innocent, naïve eyes were a gifted violinist. Why would she become an air force pilot instead of a violinist, he did not want to know, because all he wanted to do now was to listen to the song.

The song was finished. Henrietta stopped playing the violin, and she bowed to him. Lone Wolf cooed in amazement and made a loud applause. "That was fantastic, Henrietta! You're really good!"

She blushed. "Thank… you, sir. I really appreciate it." She corrected her pose and sat back on the bench. "Sir, I'm curious about you. You don't interact with people around here a lot. I always see you sitting either here or inside the hangar. Is there anything you don't want to let them know?"

Lone Wolf sighed. His eyes rolled to the night sky. "I don't know, Henrietta. It's just… me. I'm not used to mixing around with people. Even I find it hard working with my own subordinates. An old habit of mine, you see."

"Oh, I understand." She coughed a little and stared at Lone Wolf. "Sir, if you may, would you like to have a talk with me? Anything other than being an air force pilot. Is that alright with you, sir?"

Lone Wolf stared at her. The sapphire eyes were very convincing and trustful, he pondered. He smiled and looked back to the sky. "Sure. Sure. I'm alright with it."

Henrietta smiled widely. "I'm looking forward to have a friendly conversation with you from now on, sir."

"Just… call me Lone Wolf," Lone Wolf chuckled. "No official designation when I'm off duty, okay?"

"Yes, sir… Lone Wolf."

And they did. Throughout the night, they talked. Of anything they could think of -- outside the context of air force and fighter squadron. The conversation grew warmer and fonder as minutes passed by, and they seemed to be oblivious of the chilly night.

Little that they knew that two people were watching at them from faraway.

"Well, well, well," Cougar cooed. "Looks like another rival is coming." He, then, glanced at the irritated Hibiki and chuckled. "This is not just going to be a triangle love. It's multi-dimensional love!"

"What in the name of my ancestor is that supposed to mean!" Hibiki demanded.

"You're just jealous to see other women hanging around with Lone Wolf," Cougar insisted.

"But I am not!" she denied.

"Admit it, Edge! You like him, and you don't want to tell him your feeling!" laughingly he replied. "He's your boyfriend, for God's sake!"

"I don't--- hey! What was that for!"

"Gotcha!" Cougar ran for cover, even as the pissed off Hibiki started chasing him around the airbase.

x-x-x-x-x

Author's note:

On the next episode of Ace Combat: Heart of Melting Blood

The trainees get to finish their training weeks as fighter pilots when they're asked to join Grandpa's demonstration team for an aerial display over Sudentor in North Osea. Things don't go very well for them when Bohemian troopers invade the city, threatening to detonate bombs around the city. Will the Raiders decisively rescue the city from brink of destruction?

Edge is having serious problem with Lone Wolf. Not only she has to listen to Lone Wolf's complain about Illiya, she also has to accept Lone Wolf's condition to become Henrietta's personal instructor. But what she does not know is that Henrietta, like Lone Wolf, shares a secret so deep she dares not mentioning. What is it?