They ended their carrier qualifications two weeks after the accident, all naval NEST pilots passing their final test… all but one. Kevin Galloway was discharged from the squadron the day Felice had been cleared of the charges pending against her. He was free to go back to his old squadron, but Reigart and Morshower had made personally sure that he was not to set a foot near Felice and her team ever again.
But returning to Oceana did not mean that they could relax now. Flying almost every day for the next three months, Felice and her team sharpened their skills as individuals and as a team for they all knew that they could be at war the next minute.
She hadn't seen Lennox since he'd departed from the carrier, but he'd called a couple of times, telling her that there had been Energon alarms, once in Argentina and once in Australia, but both proofed to be malfunctions in the system. There was no sight of the White Ghost whatsoever.
"Argentina?" Felice exclaimed as Lennox told her about the location on the phone one evening. "And you didn't call for backup? We are right around the corner!"
At the other and of the line she could hear Lennox chuckle.
"Eager are we?"
"Well, yes."
"You'll get your shot."
"Yeah, but not in the next weeks. God, I can't wait to see you guys."
Another week and she would be going to DC to train with her old NEST team. General Morshower had ordered her to be combat-ready in both teams – the regular NEST team and the naval NEST program – so she had to train with Lennox and his men in addition to her new duties. It was quite a challenge bring one's A-game in two such demanding jobs, but so far she'd managed it fine. And as much as she loved flying, she itched to get back on the ground with her team members.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot." Lennox teased.
"Haha." Felice snorted yet smiled.
"Try to stay in once piece until then, will you?"
"Can't promise anything." was her cocky reply, before she bid Lennox goodnight; excitement about seeing her friends raising her spirits.
A couple of days later, Felice was just returning from her first sortie of the day and heading back to the hangar when a young female Petty Officer approached her.
"Colonel Lennox on the phone for you, Ma'am." she said curtly after a crisp salute.
"Thank you Petty Officer O'Brian." Felice replied. "Lead the way."
Thankful for the excuse to get out of the blazing hot sun, she followed the solider inside the cool building, wondering why Lennox was calling her again. They'd just spoken to each other a few days before and there couldn't be anything new to discuss except… Felice' heart skipped a beat though she was not sure whether it was from excitement or from fear. There had been another attack and either they had captured the White Ghost at last or… she did not dare think about it as she nodded her thanks to the Petty Officer and stepped into the empty office, picking up the receiver.
"Lieutenant Commander Manning."
"Felice."
His tone made her heart dive immediately and she was not sure whether she wanted to hear what was coming next.
"Will, what happened?"
"There was another attack." he said slowly, his voice heavy and tired. "And… Mitchell… he did not make it home."
There was a long silence in which the news sank in.
Mitch, her fellow sniper, her team mate was dead. KIA. The first NEST solider in over a year. She'd been so looking forward to her team certification which was scheduled to take place for the next four weeks back at DC. Working with Mitch as the sniper team of the group was something she'd enjoyed very much though during the past few deployments their services were only sparsely needed. She'd liked the calm focused work with her team mate that was now gone. Gone…
"How…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"A Decepticon shot him. He had no chance."
He sounded so tired, so exhausted and sad, Felice could barely stand it. She wished she was with him, able to comfort him if it was even possible.
"I am so sorry, Will." she said quietly, leaning against the wall for support.
"Yeah…" he replied wearily. "Anyway, the funeral is at his home in Seattle and I just wanted to let you know I case you want to come…"
"Of course I will come."
"OK. Good…"
It pained her to hear him be so desperate, so discouraged.
"The service will be on Friday in one week. I'll send you the address."
"Thanks."
"Take care, Felice."
"I will." she whispered. "You too."
She arrived at the cemetery a shortly before her NEST team mates did. And as she watched them exit the Autobots' alt modes who had come to pay their respects as well, the news of what had happened truly and ultimately sank in.
Leading the group of men, all wearing their A-class uniform just like she did, was Lennox and he looked terrible. The people around him might not have even noticed for his expression was the same as at work. But when their eyes met, Felice saw them filled with anguish. Her team members had spotted her and their expressions lightened up a little as they made their way over to her.
"There's our girl." Epps said with a smile as he embraced her.
"Glad you could make it." Jones added as he too pulled her into a hug.
"Of course." she replied with a small smile as she'd said hello to each team member before she stood in front of Lennox. For a moment she hesitated, then more out of instinct than an actual decision, she closed the gap between them and embraced him too.
"I am so sorry." she whispered, her voice trembling as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" she asked quietly, letting go of him and looking into his eyes.
"Yeah." Lennox replied softly in a tone that was meant not to worry her, but she knew it was a lie.
The ceremony for Master Sergeant Andrew Mitchell was proper fitting a man who had rendered his country great service for many years, but tragically paid for it with his life. While the priest spoke, Lennox and his team stood guard of honor at each sides of the casket, eyes directed straight ahead and unmoving as it was recommended by protocol.
Felice had taken her place almost opposite of Lennox, her Full Dress Whites sticking out from the dark colors of her – their – team mates, highlighting not only her affiliation in the armed forces but also her general presence. It was like she was shining from the inside, Lennox thought as he watched her; standing there among their team members, being not only the sole female on his team but something she had been from the very beginning. Something special.
As the ceremony went on, Lennox kept looking at her though she did not return his glances. She seemed her usual composed professional self, but he could see the tears streaming from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks.
When the service ended, Lennox and his team followed the invitation of their fallen team mate's family to come to a nearby restaurant for lunch. The atmosphere was quiet but not overwhelmingly sad. Everybody seemed to have found consolation in the ceremony. People stood in small groups around the room Mitch's family had rented, chatting quietly while drinks and food were served.
After taking a glass of white wine from a waiter, Felice stood near the entrance, observing the people in the room. Dwelling on thoughts, she did not notice that Lennox had made his way over to her until he spoke to her.
"How are you holding up?"
Felice turned to face him. He was looking somewhat tense while he stood there next to her.
"I'm alright." she replied cautiously. "Why are you asking?"
"I watched you at the funeral."
Felice took a deep breath, shaking her head. So he had seen her cry while the ceremony had taken place. She sighed.
"I am sorry, Lennox. I shouldn't have…"
But Lennox waved off her defense with a small smile.
"Don't apologize for that. I know that you two had spent quite some time together as sniper and spotter."
Felice nodded, remembering their first ever mission together in China where she and Mitch had watched their team's back while they had fought the Holoforms. Now, neither of them was there to do the job. And suddenly, she didn't feel like she was part of this team at all. She felt like she had abandoned them the second she'd taken the job offer of General Morshower and Director Mearing. If she still had been with the team, maybe Mitch… she swallowed hard, fighting against the overwhelming feeling of guilt.
More to distract herself than actually wanting to know she asked Lennox where they had been deployed when it happened. Lennox started to fill her in with the details, but Felice only paid half attention. All those missions, all those injured and dead soldiers. All to catch a man who was as tangible as fog.
"…the Intel from our source in Mexico seemed solid so we…"
Mexico.
Felice' head jerked up. As soon as Lennox had spoken the name of the country, it was as though a switch had been turned over in her head. The Colonel continued speaking for a few moments before he trailed off, seeing the look on the young woman's face.
"What?"
"He's coming closer." Felice mumbled, more to herself than to anybody else.
"Say again?"
"The White Ghost. He is coming closer to the US. Think of our last missions. Well, don't count Iran, but North Korea, Argentina and Mexico… He is watching us and I bet anything he's going to hit us as home next time." she heard herself saying and knew at once that it was right. It was the only explanation.
Lennox stood there for a few seconds, staring at Felice. But the young Navy officer misread his expression. So she pressed on.
"Tell me that the last missions were basically SAR."
"Yes…" Lennox confirmed hesitantly.
"And they were a success, at least concerning the hostages."
Again, Lennox nodded.
"Just the last time, he managed to kill one of ours." Felice stated. "He is checking out your tactics. The attacks on the SEALS and other special forces were just a cover to get your attention. Remember the man I saw in the bunker in North Korea? I bet that if we go through sat-imagery, traffic cams whatever, we will see him at the other locations too. He's not going after Special Forces teams in general, Lennox, he's going after NEST."
There was a moment silence.
"Come with me."
The sudden command startled Felice and for a second she was tempted to refuse, but when she saw the look in Lennox eyes, she complied. She followed him out of the restaurant and towards Optimus who was waiting in his alt-mode at the parking lot. Lennox opened the driver's door and seized his tablet pc, flicking through the files for a few moments while Felice watched his expression change.
"You are some smart girl." he said somewhat in awe and finally looking up to her again.
Felice shot him a sly grin.
"Well, thank you Colonel."
Lennox returned her grin before showing her the tablet.
"Here." he gestured towards a list he'd opened. "Scott's after action report. He said that he saw a man hang around one of our check points right before we raided the facility were Mitch was shot. Male, White, American or European, 6 feet tall. He matches your description of the person you saw in North Korea. It might be nothing but as soon as I get back to DC, I'll have that checked out."
"It's just a wild guess." Felice reasoned as she saw the optimism in Lennox' eyes.
"I know, but it's a start to catch this son of a bitch." he replied and for a moment Felice could see the old decisiveness flicker in his blue eyes. She nodded.
But before she could make any further suggestions, Jones approached them.
"Lennox, our flight leaves in two hours. We need to get going."
"I'll be there in a second." the Colonel replied.
He watched his second in command walk away towards the building before he turned to Felice once more. She looked a little startled and he wondered whether it was because of their unexpected lead on the White Ghost or Jones' announcement. Before he could say something however, she spoke up.
"I guess this is goodbye then." Felice said; surprised about the sting in her insides Jones announcement had caused.
It was only a few days until she would see the Colonel and his team again, but contrary to her hopes it hadn't become easier to see Lennox off since they'd split up. And even though she tried her hardest to deny it, she never stopped worrying about him; especially in the light of the most recent events. Looking up into the blue eyes of the man standing in front of her, she could see her emotions mirrored in them.
"Yeah… When do you leave?" he asked quietly.
"I'll come with you to the airport if you don't mind. My flight leaves about the same time as yours." she replied, still confused by the emotions she'd just seen in his eyes.
But before Lennox could say anything else, Felice spotted the team gathering at the restaurant entrance, saying their goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell.
"We should get going."
Lennox nodded and followed Felice towards their comrades. They said goodbye to Mitchell's family and followed their team to the Autobots who were waiting in their alt modes. The ride to the airport went silent, Felice having deliberately chosen to ride with Epps and Scott. And although she managed to engage in their casual conversation until she departed for her plane that was to take her back to Norfolk, her thoughts were wrapped around the White Ghost and his schemes. He'd already killed one of their friends and if he was really attacking NEST they had to get him; and they'd better do it fast.
On the ride back to base Felice dwelled on her thoughts. The more she thought about the idea that the White Ghost was targeting NEST, the more convinced she was about it. And thinking about her dead friend, all she wanted was to catch that son of a bitch. She wanted to help and so a plan had formed in her head while flying back to Norfolk.
Back at NAS Oceana, she pulled into the parking lot and walked towards the administration buildings instead of her apartment. After a quick conversation with the chief of base, explaining her motives and getting her permission to leave early for DC, she packed her duffle bag with what she deemed necessary for her trip, before she sat down behind the steering wheel once again. Still doubtful about the rightness of her decision and if it was appropriate to drop in unasked, she sat in her car looking outside. After a few moments, she sighed and straightened her back. It would not matter whether she was arriving in DC early or not and she could use the time to do some good. Or could she? Should she?
Oh to hell with it. Here goes nothing, she thought exasperatedly about her hesitancy and fired up the engine, heading off into the dawn.
