Chapter 25

"…you are going to come with me. I will train you personally. There is something honorable about you, and I feel it may be necessary for our operation."

To say Chase was shocked would have been an understatement, the understatement of the year. Chase's beak was open, unmoving, and he was staring into nothingness. His left eye twitched slightly.

Mobius 1 tilted his head to one side, and waved a wing in front of Chase's face. He sighed when he got no response and clicked 2 of his talons together. (Human terms, snapping fingers)

Chase's body jolted slightly and he blinked. "What were we talking about?" he asked as his mind recovered.

Mobius 1's reply was mixed in with chirring. "I hope you don't plan on freezing up on us in the air," was what Chase would get back; fallowed by even more chirring from Mobius 1.

The rest of the room soon joined in, and Chase looked down as his gizzard squeezed, (the closest thing an owl can do to resemble blushing) slightly embarrassed, but he had a smile on his face never-the-less.

I'll be flying with the best, of the best, of the best. And he promised to teach me what I need to know. How could he be happier?

End of flashback.

Chase thought back to this as he walked down the corridor, just before walking the briefing room. He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder back to that day. He smiled remembering that moment... and others after that one as well. Learning how to start the engines, practicing different maneuvers in simulations on the ground, how to align with the landing perches, and so many other things that had been explained in the past 3 weeks.

It's like when you arrive for your first day of work, or when you go to a different school for the first time that year. You don't really know what'll happen, it may be exhilarating, or even terrifying, but you still don't give up. Like the stated examples, what he had done in the past with the others had brought along both good and bad memories.

He let those memories savor in his mind before snapping himself back to reality.

He opened his eyes, took in a deep breath, and pushed through the door.

22 minutes later.

Once more, Chase found his mind wondering. Before he had just tried to write his dreams, and see how the story played out. But now, now he was becoming a part of that story. Now he would take off with the top aces of both Osea and ISAF.

He had studied about these countries, more specifically about their history. Their past for the most part had been peaceful, but in recent years things had taken a darker turn. The world had been plagued with a seemingly endless stream of war.

1995 had marked the Belken war. It had been so severe it had almost been classified as the third world war, and for the longest time it had been shrouded in mystery. Even after the war had officially ended, there was still fighting. An organization known as A World With No Boundaries soon formed after the peace treaty was signed. As their title suggested, they were bent on world domination. But had been stopped by a lone Ustio mercenary, his name was Cypher, Call sign Galm 1. He had named his most memorable battle with the code name 'Zero'. The date was Dec 31, 1995. After the final battle, and after he shot down Solo Wing Pixy, he seemingly disappeared from existence. What no one knew though, was that he would show himself again.

That brings us to the next war, the Usian continental war. It had been obvious by what transpired on Mobius 1's first sortie that he had had some prior experience. I mean really, come on. How believable is it that a rookie, flying in an outdated armor, could down 8 bombers and their escorts? On his first sortie, no. He had named his most memorable battle the code name 'Shattered Skies'. It had been the most massive air battle ever fought in history. The battle's date was Dec 31, 2004. But he still remembered the final battle vividly. Its name was Megalith. A super weapon designed to shoot fragments off of asteroids and have them come raining down on the country of their choice. To put it bluntly, Mobius 1 blew up the whole thing.

He had told Chase all this himself.

With that, Chase finished writing the chapter he was on, sat down the pen, and headed for the door.

A/N: might post mini chapter after this one. I misplaced my manuscript for the next couple chapters. Hope to find it soon. Also, if you are confused on a few details regarding this story, check out my side story the Hoolian war prequel.