Soaring through the clouds lifted her spirits from the restless night, after chasing two sailors, only to lose them in the men's barracks, along with her tarantula. This on going vendetta between herself and Shipwreck had to stop. But would it ever will? Ever since that first encounter with the sailor, with his flirtious voice, asking her to a private rendezvous on the USS Flagg II, and her answer with a stern no, led to a humiliating scene in front of the entire base, which the sailor took as a gunfire, starting the battle.
The blue sky roamed around her, surrounding her and comforting her with its everlasting embrace. Flying through the air always relaxed her during troubled times, especially now with everything caving in from every corner. She gazed at her reflection in the glass, her image mimicking her own, pale, half hearted, and serious. Glancing downward, she gazed at the gray building which had become her home for the past four years, the four years that had made her world turn upside down many times, and never finding a way to stop the whirling.
From the corner of her eye she caught sight of the Greenshirts, running with a angry looking drill instructor, barking at their faces, as always. Everything never changing, somehow time never touched this particular base. Joes came and went, growing old, marrying, creating their worlds, but yet, their past always remained in the structure and always returned to the present. A small smile crept on her features, catching sight of her best friend, with her enormous pregnant stomach, walking with her husband, hand in hand, toward the Infirmary.
She shifted the plane, and watched the five other Strikers behind hers do the same, moving toward the same direction, following her Striker, following her.
The water from the river glistened from below, it's water glimmering with the early of spring, sparkling, like a diamond bracelet, shimmering, being worn for the first time. She caught sight of the Kennels and the smile spread further, watching the dogs race through the obstacle course, with two handlers racing along side them.
The Sky Strikers continued on, heading for a field, filled with several tanks, jeeps, and other machinery. All decoys. But their target was one Cobra Hiss tank, in the middle of the decoys. Simple exercise, destroy the tank, but do not harm any of the decoys. Right? Wrong- the tank was operated, constantly moving from Breaker's control in the Control Room, while the decoys remained in place. This needed skill, that and a lot of Irish luck, though she was not Irish, not even a fifth!
Her thoughts traveled to the man she loved, and the problem facing them now, like the tank below, moving around in circles, never stopping, until it would come to a stop- by a missile. How could this all happen? How? How could one mission divert people's lives and make them like that tank on the ground? A target! A target which will be destroyed. Just like a life, just like someone's world. She thought of Jeffrey, her best friend, Colleen, then her thoughts came to Scarlett, who had become like a second mother, to her commanding officer, who always tried to earn his respect, and then to Flint, who always stayed by her side during the missions, and came to her side when her parents were killed. He had become a friend, a father figure, and nothing more, like the rumors had been traveled like the river.
"Sky Dancer?"
Secrets, secrets had created more rumors, and more rumors, created more problems. She wished more then anything to let the secret out, find the piece of the missing puzzle, that leak, which made their world turn upside down, and vanquish the poser.
"Sky Dancer?"
She snapped her head toward the right, seeing Spades, his brown eyes staring into hers from his Sticker, worried lines on his forehead.
She brought herself out of her thoughts and back to reality. "Ready missile one!" she ordered the squadron, leadership in her voice, strong, alert, and yet had a slight sadness to it.
The planes positioned themselves in a V form, ready to fire, waiting for the order.
Her eyes looked at the target, watching, ready.
"Fire!"
The command came strong, and the missiles launched, flying straight to the target, creating a ball of fire from the impact.
"Yeah! We did it!" Spades shouted in the radio, giving her a thumbs up, letting go of his wheel, and flew upside down
"Watch it, Spades!" Sky Dancer warned, but it was too late, watching the plane descend fast, twisting in the air, and crashing through some trees. She could feel the blood drain from her face and fear entered her domain. "Spades!"
A static sound came from the radio, then the poker prince's voice, "I'm fine."
"Well, you definitely fly like Ace," Alpine chuckled from his Striker. "But you don't play like him!"
Sky Dancer shook her head. "All right, back to base." She turned the plane around, heading back toward the airstrip, flying over the Joe building. "Sky Dancer to control room, mission accomplished," she talked into her radio link.
Flint's voice came on the radio. "Excellent, I knew you could do it! Good girl!"
"Thanks, Flint, I'll wag my tail," she said into the radio, then immediately smacked her forehead, realizing what the others would conclude.
"OOOOOOOOhhhhh!" came from the radio, a choir of Joes.
'Oh great!' Sky Dancer thought, closing her eyes. There goes another rumor.
"Quiet!" Flint yelled from the radio, his voice sounding angry at the mocking team members.
She shook her head, descending the Striker toward the hangar, landing on the airstrip, listening to wheels screech on the pavement, and come to a halt. She took a deep breath and let it out. Opening the cockpit, she jumped out of the Striker, before anyone else could attack the joke, and create another problem.
Her brown ponytail flew toward the kennels, heading straight for the two members, which would never allow something simple like a rumor, abandon her. She opened the dog run and took out both dogs, heading for the obstacle course. She needed to relax, and this was one of the few things that made her relax. She had taken one step in the course, when an authoritative voice came from behind her, making her frozen in time.
"Sky Dancer, we need to have a little chat," Duke said as he walked toward her.
She turned around, and slowly nodded. "Yes, sir."
"You are to go pack your bags with enough necessities to last you for two weeks," Duke said.
"Right away, Duke." Sky Dancer saluted. "What's Cobra up to now? Is it the new Water Dissolver machine they created in North Africa?"
"No, this is not a mission," Duke told her and motioned for her to follow him. "I'm putting you on leave."
Sky Dancer blinked, starting to walk next to him. Leave? No, she couldn't go on leave, not until the mission was complete. "But, sir, I... can't go on leave now."
"You can and you will," Duke said with authority, stopping and staring at her.
"But Duke-" she tried once again.
"You've got two choices. Leave or Court Marshall. I'm not going to stand by and watch you work yourself into an early grave," Duke decreed, observing her worn out state.
Her heart beat quickened in her chest. "Duke, at least then let me finish my work, and then I can take leave." Her hand flew to her locket.
"If you do not go on leave with Jeffrey tomorrow after the party, you will be off the team and facing a Court Marshall. Am I clear?" Duke commanded.
Sky Dancer slowly nodded. "Yes, sir." Her hand tightened around the locket, and she felt the dog's weight slightly touching her tights, protecting her.
"Good. You two will be spending the next two weeks up at the Faireborn's cabin. You need that time to reconnect," Duke said in a softer tone.
Sky Dancer glanced down to the Doberman, patting Apollo's head gently. "I'm not sure if that will work, sir," she stated solemnly. "He believes I betrayed him, and I don't blame him one bit."
"Next time don't lie to him," Duke said evenly. "Lies get you no where. If it's something you can't talk about, just tell him that you are working on something that you can't talk to him about."
"I did that, Duke," Sky Dancer glanced up at his face. "I didn't want to lose them.. that's.. when I told him about you, sir." Her voice turned softer. "I did tell him that I would tell him everything one day. That I couldn't tell him at that particular moment."
"You were sneaking around, Reena," Duke reminded her.
"I was ordered not to say anything about it, sir," Sky Dancer defended herself.
"Sky Dancer, do not take that tone with me. You were ordered to keep it quiet, but you were not ordered to sneak around," Duke retorted angrily.
"We were not sneaking around, sir," Sky Dancer stated, her voice braver than she felt. "But I did have to lie, I won't lie to you now. I did have to lie with an excuse where I was going."
The dogs felt her tense, leaning against her more.
"No, you did not," Duke said with authority. "All you had to say is that you and Flint were working on something classified." Duke was getting angrier.
"All right!" Sky Dancer admitted her face turn ashen, her color draining. "We made a mistake. I made another mistake! Just like those other mistakes I made a few years ago!"
Joes stopped dead in their tracks, glancing at the pair.
"Sky Dancer, you will stop acting like a grade schooler and start acting like a member of my elite team!" Duke said hotly.
Jaws dropped to the floor from the Joe leader's words, never hearing him speak harshly before toward the air pilot.
"She's dead," Anchors whispered to Shipwreck, who nodded, enjoying the woman's torment.
She stood there motionless, breathless, her eyes filled with surprise. She glanced to the others, before glancing down to her dogs, and then rested her gaze to her commanding officer. "I always tried to be part of your team, sir. I always did my best. But you are correct on being a grade schooler, I always try to make my teachers, my role models, proud."
"Then quit the woe is me act, it doesn't become you," Duke said sharply.
"Duke, I never complained under your leadership, I never valued myself lower or higher of any of my teammates. But I can never lose the sadness I felt that day when I saw him disappear! Can you?" Sky Dancer asked, her hand holding her locket.
"You think Apollo is going to bite Duke's ass?" Spades whispered to his wife.
"Probably, if she doesn't," Sammy whispered back, glancing around, seeing more Joes rush toward the group, knowing the news was spreading.
"Maybe they both will," Gung Ho whispered to the couple. "I got my cane here too if needed." He watched the pair, intensely, concerned.
"No, I can't. It will always be there. But you have to stop living in the past cause it's destroying your future," Duke told her, his voice softening.
Sky Dancer swallowed hard, looking into his crystal eyes, just like his son's. "It doesn't matter if I bury the past, it always comes back. It comes back, no matter what we do." Her voice quivered. "But I will not let the past destroy anything!"
Rob The Tech glanced toward his friend, a small smile on his face.
"Maybe Athena will hump Duke," Alpine whispered, as more Joes neared the kennel area.
"Everyone out of here now or you will have extra P.T. with Beach Head!" Duke barked at the crowd of Joes that surrounded both him and the pilot. His face irritated by their curiosity.
"Yo Joe, Retreat!" Shipwreck hollered, running away from the angry leader, while everyone dispersed.
Sky Dancer looked back at her commanding officer. Her dark brown eyes turning sincere. "I am sorry," she apologized, "For not following your orders."
"What orders?" Duke asked confused.
Sky Dancer blushed. "Sir, please forgive me what I have to say, I'm only quoting you." She patted Apollo and Athena before she continued, "The Quit Fucking Around orders, sir."
Duke looked at her with realization. "There is nothing to forgive."
She nodded in understanding, her hand still clutching the locket, while the other remained on Apollo's back.
"You need to start sleeping," Duke told her gently. "It's making you edgy and confrontational."
"Duke, I have been sleeping," Sky Dancer replied truthfully, watching his face, which tried to decipher her truth. "I'm sleeping little more then I used too. I'm even taking Cayden's prescription, but I'm still having restless nights."
"Which is why you need a break," Duke informed her.
"I don't think the break will help," Sky Dancer stated, starting to walk slowly, glancing down at the green grass. She wanted to tell him about her concerns, her fear that haunted her during the nights, but he was only a commanding officer, not a therapist. But maybe Flint was wrong on keeping the information from him. From them all. Her heart raced in her chest.
"Well, it can't hurt," Duke told her, walking along beside her.
The two Dobermans followed them, Apollo stationed right between the Joe leader and the air pilot, while Athena walked besides the commanding officer, staring up at him, her ears perked up at full alert, saying, 'You hurt her, I hurt you.'
Sky Dancer exhaled slowly. "No, it can't hurt. I will try, just like I tried before."
"You can also get to work on the wedding list. Shana says you haven't done anything with it yet," Duke informed her.
She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to him with a soft expression. "The list is already done, sir," she said, watching his features change to confusion. She pointed at the dogs. "Two guests."
The Dobermans barked, wagging their stubby tails.
"Both my parents had no other siblings, and my grandparents are deceased. And now my own parents as well," Sky Dancer explained. "When I lived in Athens, Greece, my parent's work was considered dangerous. So for my own protection, they had hired a private tutor. The only other friend I had when growing up was Elena, whose parents worked in the same department as my own. I haven't had contact with her since I left to join the Joes, and there is no way of contacting her."
"Oh, Reena," Duke said his heart going out to his son's fiancée.
She looked at him, startled from hearing her name coming out of his mouth for the first time. "It's all right, sir," she said, understanding his concern. "The Joes are my family. I would do anything for them." Then quickly added, "Even for the sailor."
"I know how you feel. The Joes are my family too," Duke told her in understanding.
Sky Dancer nodded, starting to walk again toward the river's edge. "And you would do anything to protect that family." She turned and looked at him once more. "No matter what the cost, no matter what the danger." Her eyes hid a secret within. "And no matter what the result can endure to the ones you love the most."
"What you are doing is not worth losing the man you love. Trust me," Duke told her honestly.
"What I'm doing is worth not losing the man I love. Trust me," Sky Dancer echoed his words differently in true honesty. She crossed her arms, and glanced toward the river, watching the water race downstream. She stayed silent for a moment, then gently said, "He still can't remember some things. I wish with all my heart, he could. He doesn't even remember about my pet tarantula."
"He went through hell trying to get back here to us. You need to be grateful that he's back and not worry that he can't remember some things. He might not ever be able to remember and you obsessing over his memory problems will not help," Duke told her as he too looked off over the river.
"I'm beyond grateful, Duke," she said to him gently. "More grateful than you can possibly imagine. And you are more grateful than anyone else." She could see him from her corner of her eye. "It's him I love, not his memories, or his practical jokes, or the things he gives me."
Apollo came to her side, leaning against her, feeling her emotions.
Athena went to the Joe leader's side, sitting next to him, staring up at his face.
Sky Dancer glanced at her commanding officer, then slowly stated, "You went through hell trying to get back to us too, sir, and we are all grateful for that."
"Please let's not talk about that," Duke almost begged. It was obvious that he has not talked to anyone about his experiences.
"Yes, sir," Sky Dancer said gently, understanding his torment, knowing what she had seen in the room. "I promise I will never talk about it, until my dying day." She patted the dog's head gently with her hand, feeling the smooth coat underneath.
"Thank you," Duke said solemnly.
"This must be the longest conversation we had," Sky Dancer pointed out softly, a smile creeping on her features, becoming more at ease with the man next to her, sensing the wall between them start to crumble. "But there's one question that haunts my mind, and I'm afraid to ask it."
"Never be afraid to ask me anything," Duke said giving her permission to ask what she needed to ask.
She looked at him, while he continued to watch the river, flowing, its waters rushing passed them. "Why..." Her voice betrayed her for a second, swallowing the question and then bravely continued, "Why didn't you let me shoot?"
Duke sighed, closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Then it would have been more than just me captured."
Sky Dancer's eyes turned softer, teary. She slowly took a step toward him, and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, Duke," she said in her angelic voice, filled with gratefulness.
Duke hesitated for a moment then returned the gesture.
A body crashed down from above their heads, allowing only to catch a glimpse of blue and white, with a few broken tree branches.. Shipwreck jumped from the ground, his face giddy, catching them in the moment. "Eh...he...he.."
Sky Dancer's eyes widened, breaking off the hug. She glanced to her future father-in-law. "Shoot him out of the cannon?"
"No," Duke said, causing Shipwreck to smirk. Duke then smiled wickedly at the sailor causing his smile to fade. "Run him over with a Wolverine."
"Yes, sir!" Sky Dancer saluted, taking a step forward.
"Oh crap!" Shipwreck shouted, pivoting and racing away from the air pilot.
Sky Dancer looked back toward her commanding officer. "Works every time." She smiled at the older man. "Permission to go and see Jeffrey?"
Duke chuckled. "Go. Have some fun," he said, watching her salute and dash away.
She raced toward the barracks, her heart pounding with each step she took, the dogs at her heels, panting, matching her beat. She ignored the stares and the looks, her brown ponytail sailing with her speed, flying straight back, flying with her heart. Her eyes wide with excitement, filling her entire body, creating a warm world. She raced up the stairs and down the hallway, her heart beating faster, pounding in her ears, throttling her with its impact, bursting her legs faster with its power.
She knocked on the door, to the suite she knew so well. Her breathing heavy, but her face shinning. She waited, hoping, but knowing he was inside.
"Reena…" Scarlett answered the door, her face surprised, then changing to concern. "Did anything happen?"
"May I come in?" Sky Dancer asked politely.
Scarlett smiled at the young pilot. "You don't have to ask," she said, opening the door further. "He's in his room."
Sky Dancer walked into the suite, spotting Cover Girl, Sammy, and Rowan at the table, playing cards. She smiled at them, placed the dogs in down position, and headed towards the third bedroom in the suite. The smallest one, which had its door closed, shutting everything and everyone out. She took a deep breath, and slowly opened the door, listening to its creaking sound.
She poked her head inside, finding a lump on the bed, covered with a thick blue blanket. Bravely, she took a step inside, but the lump did not stir, nothing, remaining silent and still.
"Jeffrey?" she whispered to the air, hoping he would answer her back, but no answer came, not even a grunt, and her hand flew to her locket.
Walking over to the bed, she noticed his blond hair poking out from underneath the covers, and a small smile spread to her lips. Bending slightly down, she reached toward the blanket's edge, pulling it downwards, revealing his sleeping features. She noticed something white sticking close to his chest, and knew it must be his penguin Icicle. The blanket fell off the stuff animal, uncovering it, revealing its true identity, and her heart skipped a beat. The penguin was not a penguin, but a dog, a white dog. Her dog. Her missing Samoyed, which her parents had given her on her eighth birthday.
She crawled slowly into the twin bed, careful not to move him, afraid he may lose his balance and fall to the floor. Her brown eyes turned softer, staring at his closed ones, and her hand reached out, touching his blond hair, feeling the softness against her touch, treasuring the moment. She closed her eyes, making her own memory, for both of them. This is how it would be, now and forever, their world, if she hadn't destroyed it.
Her fingers trailed downward to his forehead, down his angled nose, and to his soft lips, which hers knew so well. She traced her finger at the edges, letting it dance for a moment, before it trailed down to his neck, and stopping on his chest, above his heart, then trailed downward to the soft head of the snow white dog, while his own hand cuddled with it. Her eyes caught sight of a picture of herself next to his nightstand, and a lump rose to her throat. Her hand rested on his, and she softly spoke his name, "Jeffrey."
"Mmmm...just five more minutes," Kastor groaned in his sleep.
Sky Dancer giggled lightly then changed her voice, making it deeper. "Kastor, Sky Dancer is sleeping with a man at this moment!"
"WHAT?!" Kastor exclaimed instantly becoming wide-awake and falling out of bed and onto the floor with a thump.
Sky Dancer watched his back, while he tried to rise to his knees, then pulled the blanket over her head, hiding. She smiled at herself, snuggling under the blanket.
Kastor lifted up the edge of the blanket looking underneath.
She shifted her position, crawling away, making him wonder who was underneath the blanket and in his bed. She held her breath, swallowing the giggles that wanted to escape.
Kastor stood up and pulled the blankets off the bed.
Her features came revealed and she sent him an innocent smile. "Didn't you hear the rumor about Sky Dancer sleeping in a man's bed right at this moment!" she said in a dramatic flare. "What are you going to do about it?"
"I think you're in the wrong bed," Kastor said evenly as he walked over to his closet to get his clothes out.
Sky Dancer sat up in the bed. "I'm not in the wrong bed. I never shared another's bed, that's the truth," she stated truthfully.
"Oh yeah?" Kastor asked, his back still to her. "That's not what I've heard."
"Well, I don't know what you heard, and frankly I don't care," Sky Dancer answered him. "But I'll tell you this, Hauser, those rumors are only rumors and nothing more!"
"I've got eyes, Reena. I've seen the two of you sneaking around," Kastor said as he pulled on a t-shirt and headed for the door.
"Sergeant Hauser, about face and sit down!" Sky Dancer ordered, from the bed. Her tone had turned authoritative, yet had a hint of sadness within, for pulling rank on him for the first time, ever.
"Not going to work, Reena. I'm not on duty today," Kastor informed her, reaching for the doorknob.
Her gaze shifted downcast to the blue blanket on the floor, which now Wolfie had claimed as his own. Then found herself jumping off the bed, rushing to the door, placing one hand on the door, while the other covered his, which went to turn the knob. "Please, sit down," she pleaded.
"Why?" Kastor challenged, glaring down at her.
"So you can hear the truth, from me and no one else!" Sky Dancer claimed, her gaze right at his eyes.
"I'm not sure I want to hear this right now," Kastor said, with a hint of sadness in his voice.
She nodded slowly. "Fine, if you don't want to hear this right now, so be it." She looked away from him, her tone filled with sadness. "I might as well get to the suite. I have to pack before I leave."
"What is it? Another secret mission?" Kastor asked sarcastically.
Sky Dancer turned and glared at him. "No, orders from your father. And I quote, Leave or Court Marshall. I chose the leave. He's right! I'm wearing myself thin!"
"So you're leaving the team?" Kastor asked angrily but she could hear the sadness within.
"No!" Sky Dancer answered, her eyes widening from his conclusion. "I'm not leaving the team, but I am going on leave. A two week leave." Her voice grew softer. "A two week leave with someone I care about."
"I can't believe the two of you are going to do this to Aunt Allie," Kastor said, turning around and walking to the window.
Sky Dancer heaved a sigh, and walked over to him, stopping inches away, but too timid to touch him. "No, Jeffrey. I'm not going on leave with Flint, not now, not ever. He's my friend, I won't lie to you, maybe more like a father figure, but nothing more. I want to go with you, and no one else."
"Yeah, well, I can't," Kastor muttered. "I've got duty."
"Sorry Hauser, but you are under orders with a two week leave," Sky Dancer stated defiantly.
"By who's orders? You don't have the authority to order me on leave," Kastor reminded her. He was defiant but had lost some of his angry steam.
"Not my orders!" Sky Dancer replied, matching his tone. "You father's direct order. You, me, and two weeks at that Faireborn cabin, which no one knows what is going on there, unless you are there!"
"Why did he do that?" Kastor asked more to himself.
She gently touched his shoulder with her hand. "Don't you know the answer?" she asked him, her voice soft. "So we can be together, and rekindle what we lost."
"Is there anything left to rekindle?" he asked her.
"Jeffrey, I never stopped loving you. You are always in my thoughts and in my heart. Especially when I had to read every file known to Joe base," she answered sincerely. "All I thought is when I finish what I had to do, then I would forever be yours and yours alone."
Kastor said nothing only drew her closer to him.
Sky Dancer leaned her head against his chest, listening to his beating heart. She closed her eyes, a tear escaped out of the blue, and found herself crumbling in his embrace, holding him tighter, and sobbing against his chest.
Kastor held her against his chest. "Shhh...please don't cry."
"I don't want to lose you, ever," Sky Dancer softly cried, holding him tighter, missing his touch.
He kissed the top of her head. "I'm not going anywhere."
She looked up at his features, which stared down at her teary ones. "Please don't think I ever loved another, because I haven't. My heart belongs to you, and no one else." Her eyes pleaded him, and her hand traveled to his, taking it in her hold, letting him feel the ring on her finger, his mother's ring.
"Please forgive me, Imzadi," Kastor said for the first time in a long while.
"Only if you forgive me, Agape," Sky Dancer replied tenderly.
"Hey did you just call me an ape?" Kastor said teasingly. It was a joke he often said to her when she called him that.
Sky Dancer's eyes widened with surprise, and her hand jumped to her locket. She lost her voice for a split second, recalling the teasing line. "You...you ...remembered...that." Her voice quivered with excitement. Then pounced on him, wrapping her arms around his neck, making him lose his balance, and both fell, landing on the floor.
"You remembered!" she cried out in excitement, lying on top of him, her eyes sparkling.
The door swung open, and Scarlett walked inside. "Is everything thing all right in here?" She stopped in mid-step, spotting the pair on the ground, and nodded. "I see it is, well, carry on." She turned, her red ponytail swaying and closed the door behind her. "Courtney! Call Spades! ASAP!" Her voice floated from the other room.
Sky Dancer looked down at her fiancé. "I can only imagine the rumors now!"
"Let the rumors fly," he said as he claimed her mouth with his in an earth shattering kiss.
Sky Dancer pressed harder, deepening in the kiss, making him feel her love for him from its power.
"Cooties!" Rowan scolded at them, her hand on the door, while two Dobermans stationed themselves next to her.
Kastor was immediately on his feet. "Come here so I can share them with you."
Rowan shrieked and raced at him, jumping in his arms. "I think I like cooties!"
Sky Dancer burst out laughing, standing up, watching them interact.
The alarm suddenly went off, a long high pitched sound.
"Cobra," Sky Dancer whispered, glancing out the window, spotting Joes racing to the building, "Jeff?"
"Rosey, you go with Mom and you stay with her," Kastor requested as he put her down and quickly put on his pants and boots. "Come on, Sky!"
"Move it, Snail Head," Sky Dancer returned, another lost joke between them, running out of his bedroom.
Rowan raced to her mother, watching Cover Girl jump out of her seat and race out the door.
"Right behind you, Slug Breath." Kastor yelled as he ran out the door.
"Enjoy the view, as you are going to be seeing Spade's in a while!" Sky Dancer cried out, several feet ahead of him.
"Whatever. I'm on ground detail this week. Bazooka's in the Infirmary," Kastor called to her as he ran past her toward the weapons room.
"Jeffrey, stop!" She called to him, making him turn. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly. "Be careful."
"You too," Kastor said and as she started away, he swatted her butt.
"Wait till you come back!" She threatened playfully, rubbing her rear. "Ouch." She then raced toward the Sky Strikers, heading for her own, when she saw her squadron with Duke, she ran toward them, while they ran to their Strikers, and she raced to her commanding officer. "Duke, what are your orders?"
"I want you to stay with Gung Ho. We need you here as back up," Duke ordered her.
"Yes, sir!" Sky Dancer saluted, then started to head toward the main building, her dogs by her side, her heart pounding, watching the Joe leader run to his plane, jump inside and roll down the airstrip, before ascending into the air, the squadron following his lead. She wished more than anything to fly, by their side. But she felt like a parakeet whose wings were clipped from being able to spread its wing and fly. Her brown eyes watched the team pull out. Her hand flew to her locket, "Be careful, all of you."
Rushing into the building, she headed straight to the control room, where she found one warrant officer, Breaker and Comp. Link hard at work.
Flint sat in one of the chairs, watching the monitors closely, he didn't even glance up, knowing she had entered the room. "Staff Sergeant, you are on leave. I'm ordering you to go to the suite and relax."
Breaker and Comp. Link both arched their eyebrows and looked at one another.
Sky Dancer nodded. "All right Flint, but call me if you need backup." She turned around, not even waiting for his reply. The Dobermans right beside her, following her back to the women's side of barracks. She looked down to the ground, her eyes hiding her thoughts.
A hand wrapped around her shoulder and a familiar voice came to her ear. "Hey, Sky Baby," Gung Ho greeted softly. "They are just worried about you."
She glanced to the baldheaded man, she had grown fond of from the many times he had tried to lighten her spirit during the missions. "Hey, Swamp Mud," she smiled at him. "I know."
"Need a needle?" A second voice made her snap her head to her other side, spotting her friend, Rob The Tech, a smile on his face, and his brown eyes smiling at her.
"Do and die," Sky Dancer stated seriously, making both men laugh.
"Don't make me use the cane!" Gung Ho smirked, shaking the cane in the air. "Did I tell you this thing came from a Cobra base?"
"Only four thousands times," Sky Dancer and Rob The Tech chuckled, walking inside the barracks and heading up the stairs.
Gung Ho let out a loud guffaw. "Well, this is four thousand and one," he said to his teammates.
Sky Dancer turned to the medic with a wink. "Can I have that needle now?"
"No. I have to listen, so do you," came the amused answer.
Apollo walked closely to the pilot sniffing around in the air, his eyes alert, while Athena roamed around them in circles as they continued to walk.
"Athena! Will you cut that out, you making this old Joe dizzy," Gung Ho stated, faking a dizzy spell.
"Come on, Ho," Rob The Tech grabbed hold of the man's arm, leading him away. "How about that beer?"
"Yep, owe you one Virgin Beer!" Gung Ho answered, heading toward his quarters. "Sky Baby?"
Sky Dancer shook her head. "No, thanks. I'll make some tea when I go to the suite." She waved at them, while they laughed and entered the Louisiana resident's suite. She rounded the corner and collided with something solid, sending her a few feet backwards.
"Oops, sorry, ma'am," the Greenshirt apologized to the air pilot.
"It's all right, Patterson," Sky Dancer said to him gently, heading to her quarters, the dogs following her. She took out her passkey, and entered the dark room. A sigh escaped her throat, and dropped the key by the side table, ignoring her mail. She headed for the kitchen, took out a cup, and filled a pot of water, placing it on the stove. She reached at the counter, grabbing hold her pill bottle. "Why do I even bother?" she asked herself, shaking her head.
Several minutes later, the tea was ready, and she swallowed the sleeping pill, hoping to have at least a few hours of rest before the Joes returned. Taking her cup of tea into the living room and placed it on the coffee table, she laid down on the sofa, and clicked on the DVD player, starting to play the Star Trek movie, which Jeffrey had given her for Valentine's three years ago. Her eyes slowly closed, drifting to sleep, her mind relaxing for a moment, feeling lightheaded.
Barking, the sound of barking woke her, making her stir from the blackness, and back to the real world. She rose her head, spotting Apollo barking at the door, then watching the letters from the side table tumble down.
"Platz!" she commanded the animal to lie down, and not even before the command raced out of her mouth, her faithful companion fell to the ground.
Sky Dancer rose from the sofa, and bent down to gather the fallen articles. But one letter caught her quick eye and her blood froze like a cold winter's storm. Her hand quivered, taking hold of a yellow envelope, and slowly opening it, already knowing its contents,
Death is in the air, Pilot. Your parents were last, the next target is closer to home. Back off before it is too late.
"Jeffrey!" she cried out to the empty suite. They were going after Jeffrey!
She rose from floor, swiftly, grabbing hold of the door, and glancing outside in the darkness. "Fuss!" she commanded the two dogs, and instantly they were by her side. She headed down the hall, knocking on Gung Ho's door, only for snoring to answer her.
Flint! She had to go to Flint! Her brown eyes counseled the fear inside her head that made her weak in the knees. Rushing out of the barracks, and out to the night sky. Her legs moved for her, quickly, swiftly, racing toward the main building.
"Sky!"
She turned, hearing her name, watching the kennel master race toward her, Trasher at his side.
"What's wrong, Mutt?" Sky Dancer asked, spotting his features, stone hard, ready to work.
"Trouble. We have ten overdosed Greenshirts!"
"What?" her voice managed to say.
The dog handler nodded. "Bring Apollo. We need to search the barracks. Now."
Apollo barked, knowing already what had to be done, smelling the adrenaline in the air.
"Fuss!" Sky Dancer commanded to the Dobermans, following the other canine handler, and Rottweiler.
They reached the barracks, finding the medics already rushing the patients towards the Infirmary. She spotted Cayden already hooking up an IV to one of the Greenshirts, his face, a mask of professionalism. Walking into the barrack building, she took note that this particular building was close to the right side of the kennels.
"You take the second floor, I'll take the first," Mutt ordered her, already starting his search.
Sky Dancer turned to Athena. "Platz!" she commanded the dog, then turned to Apollo. "Such!" Both dog and handler raced up the stairs, starting to search each room. Room upon room was searched intensely, and each one clean. Nothing, no drugs, not even a needle in sight. Beds were turned, closets were opened, boots were checked, even dirty underwear was sniffed. Anything, and everything remained cleaned.
Apollo sniffed around each room, his nose always working, never stopping, until he would be commanded to stop.
After the thirtieth room came up clean, Sky Dancer leaned against the wall out in the hallway, and slowly slid down, exhausted. "Hier," she told Apollo, having the dog come to her and sit down. She touched his shiny short black coat, while listening to his panting. "Can't believe we came up empty! Again!" she scolded to herself.
She closed her eyes for a second, listening to the silence, knowing that none of the Greenshirts wouldn't be allowed in the building until Duke's approval when he returned from the battle. She felt her hand slip off Apollo's back and felt him stand up, leaving her side. She opened her eyes, watching him.
Apollo glanced at her, looking alert, his noise sniffing the air, and he gave off a short bark.
She glanced towards one of the rooms, at the end of the hallway, close to the large window, which showed the darkness outside, like a black coverlet. Standing up, she headed for the last room, Apollo right by her side. Opening the door, she took a step inside, going into the darkness. Her hand touched the light switch, only to uncover it didn't work, and wondered if this room was used at all.
Apollo raced forward, immediately taking action, searching, his nose to the ground, his legs constantly in movement. He headed toward the closet, stopped for a moment, sniffed the area, then continued on.
Sky Dancer took out a small flashlight from her pouch, switching it on, roaming the light around the room, spotting the unmade bed, the pizza containers, and several cloth articles around. "Looks like housekeeping forgets this room," she uttered to herself. Something yellow caught her cunning eye, on the bed, just under something green. Taking a few steps forward, she reached out and uncovered the yellow article that made her blood stop flowing, realizing what it was. Then something else caught the thin beam's path, a manila folder, next to the bed, on the nightstand.
"What this?" she asked herself, picking up the folder and opening it up, casting the light on the documents. Numbers greeted her, many numbers and letters, like a code. Some had been crossed out, others circled. It took her a moment to realize what these numbers and letters meant. She held on to the folder, and reached to pick up the phone next to the bed.
Apollo suddenly let out a small low even growl, which made her hand stop in mid air, and turn to her partner. "What is it?" she whispered.
The dog snarled, baring its teeth, turning to the door and lunging towards it, but seconds later flew in the air and landed on the wall, just next to her, his body slumping downward, not moving.
"APOLLO!" Her strident voice filled the room, covering the sounds close to her position.
The attack came quick, hurling her toward the wall, her right shoulder smashing against the hard surface, sending a sharp pain throughout her body, before she could even react, a kick came to her stomach, sending her down to the floor, gasping for breath. She looked up, just in time to spot the black end of the boot coming her way, and she rolled to her side, letting the foot kick the wall instead.
A growl came from above her head, and she reached for her fallen flashlight, only to feel a pair of arms around her torso, lifting her off the floor and into the air, hurling her toward the wall once again, this time smashing her head against it, making her see dancing spots in front of her face, and not allowing to see her attacker's features.
"You were warned, Pilot," came a snarl close to her ear, sending chills up and down her spine. "But you couldn't keep your pretty head out of it, could you? Had to be a hero."
She was pinned against the wall, feeling his hand reaching upward, knowing where it was heading. She gulped and taking a deep breath, she bit the hand hard, before it even touched her throat.
An agonizing cry sounded in the room, and the hold on her became loosened. That was all she needed, pivoting around, and thrusted forward, kicking her attacker in the abdomen, sending him backwards, stumbling, near the bed.
But then, like a bolt of lightning, he composed himself, reaching for her once again.
'Fight!' Her mind commanded. 'Fight!'
A punch. A kick! She stood her ground, recalling everything Scarlett had taught her. Her body moved, fighting for its battle, hoping not to lose it. But he was quick, quick like Quick Kick, springing to his feet, and launched himself at her with a powerful throw that landed her to the floor, dazed, her head throbbing. She went to rise on her feet, not giving up, when she felt a powerful blow on her head, making her world spin, losing her strength and an groan escaped her throat, seeing the dancing spots grow around her, and fading slowly. The darkness began to spread, covering her like a black blanket, knowing that she may never see her crystal blue world again.