A/N: Whew! I'm glad I finally got the chance to finish writing Chapter 41 so I can post 38. It's been over three weeks, but I have good news. After having dealt with some serious crunch-time in my classes this past week, I am now free to pretty much do what I want, outside of work and finishing out the rest of the semester at school. I had three papers to write over the past weekend, but now that those are all done, I got some time to continue writing this story. I will be taking a wintermester class, but it will be an online-only class. That means I can do my assignments pretty much any time I want.
Okay, so the next few weeks should be prime writing time, so I hope to get a handful of chapters done during this time. However, I have a bit of a quandary. Some, if not most, of you know that the Cataclysm expansion is coming out for World of Warcraft on December 7th, and I have just now started to seriously consider picking it up, despite having quit playing WoW back in February to write this story. I want to get the game just for the adventure of leveling from 80 to 85 and checking out the newly-designed world maps. I will have to avoid raiding, because that was the source of my downfall for the few years that I played it constantly. Right now, I'm just thinking about it, but if I do get it, I will have to promise myself that I will only play for, say... one month. Maybe buy a month's worth of subscription and subsequently cancel it, so it won't automatically renew. Perhaps the inconvenience of having to go into my account management will keep me from buying another month's subscription. That way, I can end my subscription just in time for the start of the spring semester at school. If I do get Cataclysm, that means I'll be spending a good portion of my free time playing that, instead of writing. Sigh! Life's full of so many important choices...
Don't worry, regardless of what I choose, I will continue this story until I am done. I have some really awesome story ideas in the pipe (five by five), and I can't wait to get to those parts in the story. It's gonna be fun to write them and I'm sure you all will enjoy reading it when we get there. For now, there's more character development in the story while our ragtag group of pilots enjoy their time off from duty. Enjoy! -(11/27/10)
A zombie-like Will slowly shuffled out of his bedroom and into the adjacent bathroom in the hallway. After spending a couple of minutes to take care his usual early-morning business, he emerged from the restroom while wiping his face with a towel. Now slightly invigorated, he took care not to make any noise as he entered the kitchen. He began to wonder why the end table lamp was still on; and when he peered over the couch to check on his guest, he noticed that the furniture had been restored to its usual positions. Cal had neatly folded his blanket and deflated air mattress, placing them on one of the couch cushions. A pillow sat leaning against the backside of the couch nearby.
"Huh... I guess he did have a lot to do today," Will told himself while he set the coffeemaker up to brew some wake-up juice. The situation was slightly similar to Cal's experience on the Quarter when they first arrived on Aimo just over a day before.
Far out in the ocean bay, the massive Island-1 colony ship remained moored to the sea floor. Sunlight had just begun to peek over the distant mountain range, striking the memorial hill in Island-1's cemetery. Each headstone represented the memory of a lost civilian, providing a conduit with which those left behind can use to communicate with the passed. Unfortunately, neither science nor theology can confirm that such communication actually works. It still didn't stop people from attempting it, anyway.
Cal chose to remain quiet while he paid respects to his late fiancee. Having already placed some flowers on top of the headstone, he seemed to be lost in his thoughts while he blankly stared forward. Usually, he would be speaking to Marie as if she were standing right in front of him, but this wasn't the case. Cal listened to the birds chirping in the trees and bushes nearby when one of them fluttered down and perched itself on top of Marie's headstone. Cal smiled when he recognized it as a mockingbird. "There you are," he casually said.
As if it was reacting to his greeting, the mockingbird began to trill various calls; that species of bird is notorious for doing so, hence its name.
Surprisingly, Cal began to carry on a conversation with the bird. "I know you've been following me around. I guess it was no use trying to remain out of my sight, huh?"
The mockingbird just remained perched upon the headstone, seemingly chirping directly at Cal. Every few seconds, it would change its call to something completely different.
"I'm not much of a believer in reincarnation, but if it is true, you certainly picked the perfect form," Cal said to the bird. He began to speak again, but it was tough to tell if his words were directed at the bird or towards Marie's headstone. "Well, anyway..." he said with a chuckle, "The last few months have certainly been nothing short of exciting." He took a seat on the pristine grass and continued, "I'm sure that you are aware of most everything that's happened, but I enjoy telling you about it anyway."
The mockingbird had stopped singing while Cal spoke, but as soon as he became quiet again, it loudly trilled a short series of calls.
"Well, I am now a member of an elite squadron in the NUNS. Apparently, I can fly those variable fighters just good enough to earn a spot in the prestigious Skull Squadron. I have been out there flying with some of the best pilots in the fleet. I don't know if you remember him from school, but Will Garrett is one of my wingmen!" Cal let the bird chirp in response for a moment. "I know! It was such a coincidence for he and I to get assigned to the same team. We've become the best of friends and he's even in love with our team leader. She's a Meltran and they seem to be perfect for each other. Cool, huh? Oh, and I even got promoted!" Cal said as he showed off his new rank insignia.
Cal's silence gave way to a long set of calls from the mockingbird. He appeared to be pretending to listen to the bird's calls, taking in every note as if they were whole words being spoken to him.
A good minute passed before Cal began to sink his head ever-so-slightly. "Well, I do have something rather important to talk to you about, though," he said as he looked to the side. "You know that I miss you a lot... but you told me that I should move on with my life and find happiness with another, whenever that happens. I just can't shake this feeling of guilt when I think of being with another, though."
Amazingly, the mockingbird changed its trills to a more sullen and somber tone to match Cal's mood.
"Yes, that means that I may have found someone who means everything to me. The problem is that I still think of you from time to time and it fills my mind with doubt and reserve. I know that's the last thing you want, but it's easier said than done."
Cal began to wince as if he was being hit by an invisible object. The mockingbird had once again changed its call; this time, to a territorial warning. It was as if Cal was being yelled at by the bird.
Cal looked at his hand, where he was rubbing his thumb in a circular motion over his engagement rings. The string that normally held them around his neck now lazily hung from his hand. Finally, he responded to the audible warning that was being cawed his way. "Yeah, I know. The other problem is that I just keep getting the feeling like she's been avoiding me. I know she cares about me, but it's like something is keeping us apart. I don't know what it is... I guess I'm just being overly paranoid," he said with a laugh.
Cal continued to sit and listen to the mockingbird sing its various songs; it seemed to help him find a bit of peace in the moment. Finally, he stood up and gathered his belongings nearby. "Well, I should get going. I know that sometimes I can be incorrigible and you were always there to put foot to ass to get me motivated again. Based on the series of events that have led me here, I get the feeling that this was your intention all along. As long as I keep telling myself that, I know that I can let my mind be at ease. You're still with me in some form or another and you're doing your best to help me find direction in my life as you always have done for me. Thanks for everything, Marie. I won't let you down."
With that, he clenched the rings in his fist and smiled in the direction of the headstone. The mockingbird continued to sing its random trills, signaling its approval of his words. He then turned away and began to walk down the hill towards the cemetery exit. The mockingbird remained perched on the headstone as it watched Cal walk away; its song filling the morning air with liveliness.
…
Cathy casually strolled down the hallway at the Office of the Joint Chiefs on her way to her office. Her step seemed to have an extra bounce to it and she cheerfully hummed a tune to herself. As she approached the reception area, the woman behind the desk greeted her.
"You seem much more lively than usual. Did you get a good night's sleep?" the receptionist asked.
Cathy beamed a huge smile and rolled her eyes upwards as she responded. "If that's what you want to call it!" she said, sharing a laugh with the woman.
"I'm glad you got your Ozma back for at least a little while," the receptionist said as she handed Cathy a few sheets of paper. "Here are a few messages- Oh! You have a visitor waiting for you, too. She said she was your sister or something... I didn't know you had a sister."
Cathy looked slightly confused for a moment and poked her head around the corner to look into the waiting room. A young girl sat in one of the chairs, watching the television set playing on the wall. She wore a tight-fitting knit cap to contain her hair and also wore a pair of glasses, but they appeared to be intended as a disguise. She looked over to Cathy, smiled, and waved. Cathy immediately recognized the girl's maroon-colored eyes and turned back towards the receptionist. "Ah... Don't worry. She's not my sister yet, but maybe sometime soon..." Cathy replied.
The receptionist still appeared to be slightly confused, but she bid Cathy a nice day and continued tapping away at her computer.
Cathy led the way to her office and closed the door after her visitor entered the room. "I'm glad you came to visit me, Ranka. What's on your mind?" she asked while she sat down and logged on to the computer on her desk.
Ranka had since removed her disguise elements and neatly placed them on the edge of Cathy's desk in front of her. "It's strange, Cathy. I should be happy now that everyone's back home, but I am getting some strange premonitions in my subconscious. I don't know if it's just me being paranoid, though."
"Why? What is it that's bothering you about all of this?"
"Well, I got called into this huge meeting with a bunch of NUNS officers and government officials. Even the President was there." Ranka turned her view to the side a bit. "I... I'm not supposed to talk about it-"
Cathy quickly interjected, "I know. I wasn't there, but I know all about what was discussed in that meeting." She then picked up a folder that laid on her desk and showed it to Ranka before putting it down again. It was clearly labeled as classified, but the contents within it were unknown to Ranka. She just had to trust that Cathy was authorized to gain privy to the items discussed in the meeting the day before.
"Oh. Well, what's worrying me is that I'm going to get thrown into a situation where I'll be used as a tool to further the endeavors of a small group of people. How do I know that there's not some kind of nefarious intent brewing behind the scenes, Cathy?" Ranka seemed desperate for assurance. The events of the past have given her a slight sense of caution, when it comes to working with the colony leadership.
"Don't worry, sweetie. I will keep an eye on things and make sure that they don't get out of hand. You can trust me when I say that this really is for the best. President Mulcahy is a good man... so is Fleet Admiral Perry. You'll be the first person I tell if I start to suspect anything, okay?" Cathy wore an assuring smile, but in her mind, she resented Leon Mishima's actions several months ago. She almost hated herself for loving him; and also felt slightly inadequate because she couldn't quite stop his agenda from taking fruition. If only she had been a little faster in reacting to the information she was able to gather up in such a short time, her father might still be alive today.
"Alright, I know I can trust you. You are, after all, like a big sister to me." Ranka's face suddenly turned from apprehensive to excited. "Speaking of... have you worked on what we talked about a couple of months ago?" she said in reference to Cathy's desires, when it came to Ozma.
Cathy was initially confused, but quickly figured out what Ranka was talking about. "Hm? Oh, I've been sneaky so far, but I'm about to launch an all-out offensive until he surrenders. Ha ha..." She certainly has a lot on her plate, but there's one thing that's on the top of her priority list. "Have you noticed any erratic behavior out of him lately, by any chance?"
Ranka shook her head. "No, he's still the same hard-headed oaf he has always been. Do you need any help with him? I think I can beat a little sense into him if you want me to..." She balled her fist and shook it in front of her face to show Cathy that she meant business. However, she quickly put her hand back in her lap and laughed at the situation.
Following a short pause, Cathy asked something that was actually bugging her a bit. "So... How are you and Alto getting along? I bet you're excited that he's back, huh?"
"Yeah, I am, but..." Ranka lowered her head a bit, "I was wondering if I could get your opinion." Cathy simply nodded and waited for Ranka to continue. "Sometimes, I feel like he sees me as something of a little sister. It's just the way that he talks to me and reacts to the things I say and do."
"Well, I do see that you two get along really well. I've never seen you two fight over anything, so that's good, right?"
"I guess..."
"Well, that means he's comfortable being around you. What's the problem with that?"
"Yeah, but you know how you get those 'feelings'? My instinct tells me that that's all I'll ever be to him. What do I do?"
Cathy leaned forward and put her hands together in front of her face. "Ranka, you need to get over your self-doubt and apprehension. A man like that is looking for someone who will challenge him from time to time. He will do and say things to just test what he can get away with. It's up to you to make it known to him what you want. If you just keep acting like a little sister around him, that's all he's ever going to see you as." She then leaned back into her chair and put on a wry grin. "Alto reminds me of a young Ozma. I think that's why Ozma kind of likes him. If they're anything alike, that means that he's gonna need someone to be there to keep him in line. Are you up to the task?"
Ranka looked up and tried to hide her smile, but the fact that Cathy was comparing Ozma to Alto was more than enough to make her laugh a bit inside. "Well, I guess if I can handle Ozma, I can handle Alto," she confidently stated.
Just as they were beginning to enjoy the conversation, Cathy heard her computer notify her of a received message. It was clearly labeled "Confidential!" and she excused herself for a moment while she read the letter. Ranka patiently waited, but she noticed Cathy's demeanor slowly change into a serious one. Cathy tried to mask her reaction as she turned to address Ranka. "Hon, it looks like I have something important to take care of. Can we continue this conversation another time? How about I call you later and we can have dinner together or something?"
Ranka was slightly concerned about Cathy's reaction to whatever it was that she had read, but she calmly got up from her chair. "Okay, that's sounds good. Good luck with... uh, whatever it is that you have to do..."
After Ranka left the room, Cathy took her cell phone out of her purse and dialed a number. A few moments passed before the ringing stopped and the sound of someone picking up could be heard on the phone. "Yes, I'm alone. It's safe to talk," she said to the individual on the other side.
…
"Oh, I know how to get to the hangar," Cal cheerfully said to the receptionist in the lobby of the main building at Bell-Casse Dynamics.
Before he could walk two steps, the receptionist stopped him. "No, you don't understand. They're working out of a new hangar that they just completed construction on. I'll call someone who can escort you there."
Cal stopped and looked back at the receptionist with a bit of surprise and confusion on his face. "Oh? That's good news. I guess I do need a guide, then."
Several minutes later, Cal rode in a buggy with the Bell-Casse employee across the company's property until they turned the corner of a building. From there, Cal could see the brand-new hangar shining white in the sunlight. "Wow! It's beautiful!" he remarked.
"There's been a hiring explosion lately and they worked hard to get this new hangar built as quickly as possible. We've been busy as hell in the accounting department, trying to process the surge in bills and invoices going through there."
A door on the corner of the building was dwarfed by the immense size of the new hangar. From a distance, it looked like it was a means for ants to enter and exit the building. Eventually, the two reached the door and passed inside.
"Just wait here. I'll go and find David for you."
"Thanks," Cal said as he tried not to be distracted by the commotion going on throughout the expanse of the new hangar. He slowly drifted towards a more visible area, unable to resist the urge to find out all that's going on.
There were several variable fighters parked in the hangar, each with their own crew diligently working on them. Cal recognized the VF-171 that he had flown on his first day back on duty, but it was also accompanied by a VF-171EX and an RVF-25, just like Cal's. He was surprised to see a 25 making its way into a small military contractor such as Bell-Casse, but seeing as how he was their test pilot and they were planning on making munitions and enhancements to the future mainstay of the NUNS, he should have expected it.
Just as he was about to turn to walk back to the waiting area, Cal could hear an approaching mecha from outside of the opened main hangar doors. After a few moments, a plainly-colored Queadluun Rhea entered the hangar and walked over to near where Cal was standing. Once it came to a rest, the hatch popped open and a male Zentraedi pilot prepared to exit the suit. Suddenly, Cal was startled by a voice from behind.
"I see you managed to survive...!"
Cal whipped around to see David Nguyen in his usual labcoat; he was standing there with his hands in the labcoat's pockets and smiling. "Of course I survived. You didn't think I was going to become cannon fodder out there, did you?" Cal said as he firmly gripped David's hand for a shake.
David was very happy to see Cal again, seeing as how there's been nothing but good news coming from his test pilot. "So, I hear you really liked our toys. I read the report you sent to us last night and everyone's pretty damn happy about the results of the testing."
"I have to say... everything worked magically for me. I can confidently say that the goal of extending the survivability of the RVFs was a complete success... I'm living proof!" Cal joked while tugging the front of his uniform with both of his hands. He turned to watch the Zentran pilot finally climb out from the cockpit of the Rhea. For obvious reasons, it reminded him of something he'd seen done several times in the past few months. "So, what's going on here? You guys got all these new toys and this bitchin' new hangar! I'm actually quite jealous!"
"Well, let's just say that there's been a lot of demand for our latest products, if you know what I mean," David replied with a wink, "There were also some lucrative contracts up for bid, but they required more spacious facilities before the customers would consider us as a contractor. The board of directors was quick to approve construction of this new hangar, since it would most definitely lead to more opportunities for us to land some huge contracts. So far, it's been nothing but exciting news around here."
"I see that! So, you guys have some new toys, including this Rhea. Got yourselves a new test pilot, huh?" Cal asked while pointing sideways towards the Queadluun with his thumb.
"You could say that. Seems that the NUNS has a new Queadluun model coming out soon and there's a few contracts for new weaponry and subsystems to install into it. Even though we've cooperated with LAI on several of our projects, it looks like we might be able to slug it out with the big boys on this scale of defense contracting. We're competing over a couple of the same projects right now, as a matter of fact."
Cal began to chuckle to himself while he listened to David talk about the "new" Queadluun and about LAI.
David was curious to know why Cal found this funny. "Why are you laughing?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Cal replied. Cal was thinking about how he flew in the same squadron as one of the heirs to the LAI corporation, Luca Angelloni. Unbeknownst to David, he was also thinking about how he knew the new Queadluun's test pilot on a bit more than just a personal basis. However, it was probably not a good idea to talk about it, for fear of revealing classified information to a civilian contractor.
David didn't really feel like prying a response out of Cal, and instead introduced the new Zentraedi test pilot to Cal as the pilot approached them both.
"Hi, David. Who's the uniform?" the pilot asked of the miclone engineer standing in front of him. The giant knelt down to reach as personal of a level as his stature allowed.
"This is Lieutenant Calvin Wagner. We just call him 'Cal' around here, so feel free to do so if you wish. He's been a test pilot for us since almost the beginning. Right now, he's combat-testing some toys for the variable fighters for us," David replied.
"You're Cal Wagner? I've heard a bunch of stories from the guys around here. Everyone seems to speak highly of you. I'm honored to finally meet you in person!" he said as he extended his hand forward. Unfortunately, it was a bit awkward for both the pilot and Cal, since the pilot was several times larger.
With some apprehension, Cal put his hand out between the giant's thumb and index finger, allowing him to squeeze it with extreme caution. "Um... They exaggerate," he replied with a nervous laugh before he was allowed to retract his hand. He instinctively checked both sides of his hand before putting it back down. "Sorry, it's just that I've never shaken hands with a full-sized Zentran before," he replied when he noticed a look of confusion on the pilot's face. Just as he said that, he began to realize that he hadn't really physically interacted with any full-sized Zentran, outside of an occasional physical contact with Klan. Seeing as how he had spent so much time around her in the last couple of months, it was a bit sad that he was still uncomfortable when physically interacting with someone who towers over him in height. "...and your name is...?"
"Oh! I'm sorry!" the Zentran replied, "I'm Cale Grimm."
"Nice to meet you, Cale." Cal replaced his apprehension with amicability before he spoke to the Zentran pilot again. "Well, good luck with your new job. I'd put my full trust into these guys, if I were you. They're all good people!" The Zentran smiled and nodded in acknowledgment before Cal and David walked away.
As they began to approach the RVF-25 parked in the hangar, David initiated the business-end of their conversation. "So, it seems that the testing phase is now over for some of the countermeasures you were testing. The NUNS has put in some orders for mass-production of the flashbang and fold-magnetic chaff, but only on a limited-deployment basis." David stopped for a moment when he noticed a look of slight disappointment on Cal's face over the news. "No, that's good! It's not unusual for the military to be a bit hesitant when it comes to buying up new technologies. They'll eventually get over their 'shyness' and start to loosen their purse strings. I'm not worried about it in the least."
David's reaction was well-received by Cal and a smile finally returned to his face. "I'm just glad to have been a part of the team again. It looks like you guys are doing very well without me hanging around. Maybe I should stop giving you a hard time about being such a huge nerd," he said with a wry grin.
David laughed before responding, "When I was growing up, my mother always told me that even though I got beat up all the time by the bullies in school, that I would be their boss someday. I didn't believe it at the time, but now that I think about it, she was kind of right!" They both shared a laugh while they watched a couple of technicians working on the RVF-25. "Look, Cal... I'm not going to beat around the bush about it," David said as he put a hand on Cal's shoulder, "We wouldn't be enjoying this success if it wasn't for you and Marie. Her wonderful mind gave birth to much of what we have here, and your passion for your job and the excellence of your piloting skills has given us the means to produce a finished product worthy of adulation from the NUNS."
It was hard for Cal to not let David's words stroke his ego at least a little bit. However, he was able to accept the compliments with poise. "It's been nothing but good times, old buddy," he replied, "I do have some requests for you guys, though. I've had a couple of um... 'issues' come up out there in combat, and I was hoping you might be able to come up with something to help me out."
"Sure, pal. What did you have in mind?"
Cal turned to look at the RVF-25 parked in front of them. He nodded to the RVF as he began to make his request, "The 25 is an incredible machine. LAI has outdone themselves on the production of this baby, but I am beginning to notice a glaring design flaw that's holding back its maximum performance."
These words captured every bit of David's attention, seeing as how he was beginning to see LAI as a competitor to Bell-Casse. Juicy tidbits of information such as the one Cal was ready to give could mean another opportunity to create a better product and capture some more market share for the company.
"The ISC and EX-gear systems work really well together to absorb the g-forces the pilot has to deal with while piloting. However, I've managed to get to the point where I can fly that machine beyond the capabilities of those systems. While I was in combat with a 27-gamma, I literally lost control of my own body, due to the g-forces wreaking havoc on me," Cal stated with the right volume level, so as not to clue anyone else in on his revelations.
Looking at David, you could almost see the gears turning in his mind and a light pop on over his head, even though there was nothing physically located above his cranium. "Wait, wait... you mean to tell me that their highly-touted ISC/EX-gear combo is still not enough to close the gap between pilot and plane performance? When the 25 was formally announced, they bragged about how their design was the ultimate in boosting human capabilities to meet the machine's capabilities." David put his hand up to his chin as he thought about this for a moment. "That gives me an idea. Follow me."
The two made their way through the hallway of offices built inside of the hangar until they reached David's new office. As Cal looked around, he noticed a model of the Macross Quarter sitting on a table on one side of the room. "Quarter...!" he quietly exclaimed.
David stopped walking and noticed Cal's attention was focused on the model. "Um, whoops... you're not supposed to see that," he said with a nervous laugh. David threw a light sheet over the table to cover up the schematics and the model that laid on the table.
However, Cal was able to recognize some of the mathematics and crude drawings scribbled out on the whiteboard above the now-covered table. Upon realizing what was going on, he simply grinned and reassured David. "Don't worry, I didn't see anything."
David looked at Cal for a moment before sitting down at his desk to type something out on his computer. "Anyway, we're supposed to notify the manufacturer if we find a flaw in a product. I'm going to contact LAI to discuss this issue with them and see if we can't get you something to try out as a fix. Nobody has bothered to touch the ISC/EX-gear system, since it was previously deduced that there was no point in improving them. If the VF's frame can't handle more g-forces than the pilot, there's no point in improving the ISC/EX-gear. However, one of my engineers has been tinkering with the EX-gear, in preparation for the next generation fighter. Even though it will probably be at least ten years before the 25 is eclipsed as the top-performance fighter available, it never hurts to be prepared."
An idea popped into Cal's head. "David," he said as he waited for the typing to stop, "I can think of someone who will work as a great intermediary to handle this issue."
As if David could read Cal's mind, the same idea popped into his mind as well. "Oh yeah! What was his name...?" David said as he repeatedly snapped his finger and winced to come up with the answer, "Luca... Angelloni!" Seeing Cal smile in reaction, David knew that he was right. "Yes, that's a great idea. I'll type up this letter and you can give it to him. Hopefully, we can get something to you quickly by working with your squadron mate." David was already familiar with Luca, since he had authorized Luca to carry the same countermeasures that Cal was testing.
While Cal stood there waiting for David to finish his letter, his PDA chimed from an incoming message. After reading it, he sighed and typed in a quick reply before sending it back.
David continued to stare at his screen while typing, but he decided to say something in response to Cal's reaction. "That your woman, or something?"
Cal put his PDA back onto his hip as he replied, "No, but a good friend, nonetheless. Looks like I am expected company for lunch today and I don't have a choice in the matter."
"Well, take this with you and give it to our esteemed colleague, Mr. Angelloni, while you're out," David said as he grabbed the printed letterhead just as it exited the printer on his desk.
…
Even though there were many patrons nearby, Cathy and Ozma seemed to enjoy their lunchtime together; ignoring the bustling activity going on around them. The happy couple sat in the center of a well-lit terrace somewhere in the Folmo Mall, while surrounded by other customers and the occasional waiter walking by. Farther in the background, Zentraedi shoppers went about their business. Some of them would pass by near the terrace, but most were oblivious to the goings-on at the restaurant.
Cathy finished her bite and used the cloth napkin in her lap to wipe her mouth just before she continued with their conversation. "I must admit, though... I do have a bit of an ulterior motive to joining you for lunch," she said with a slightly nervous laugh. Ozma didn't even flinch, he just smiled as he waited for her to spill it out. She sighed and became a bit more serious before speaking again. "I've been keeping an eye out for any opportunities that you might be interested in taking a part in."
The very notion seemed to tickle Ozma a bit. "Opportunities?" he asked with a slight laugh.
"Well, I mean for your career. You've been leading Skull Squadron for a long time now and I figured you might show some interest in progressing to a more challenging role. I had some ideas to discuss with you, if you're interested..." Cathy said, looking off to the side to show a little bit of nonchalance. It was a move designed to make Ozma chase her suggestion.
He had a slight idea as to what she was getting at. Leaning forward over the table and propping his head up with his hands, he responded, "Why, Cathy, are you trying to clip my wings so I don't fly off again?"
Ozma's answer actually took Cathy by surprise. She shot backwards into her chair and blushed ever-so-slightly. "No! Do you really think I'm stupid enough to make the same mistake twice? I almost lost you forever the last time I tried such a thing!" Ozma didn't even flinch and she calmed down once more. "I just wanted to open some doors for you and see if anything looks enticing."
"Okay, I just had to make sure," Ozma said with an evil chuckle, "It will take a lot to make me want to give up flying, you know. Doing combat evaluations for the 25 has been the highlight of my career, to be honest."
Suddenly, Cathy remembered something extremely pertinent to Ozma's words. "Well, that's interesting that you say that. It appears that LAI is ready to enter contract negotiations for the mass-production of the 25. The NUNS has shown interest in deploying the 25 as a special-ops fighter. The 171EX's performance is currently sufficient to meet their needs, as far as the mainstay fighter goes. However, if things go through with the contract negotiations, we're going to be seeing some 25s showing up in more regular use. They're going to need someone to train new pilots, you know..." Cathy looked up into the corner of her field of vision while wearing a nonchalant smile. Perhaps this is what she meant by "opportunity".
Unfortunately for her, Ozma seemed to be uninterested. The position of commander of Skull Squadron had grown on him. "Hmph. So, what else is going on in Cathy-Land? I'd like to know what it is that you've been doing all this time. Any other interesting rumors you've managed to dig up?"
"Well, there is this one thing..." Cathy said as she looked downwards onto the table and lowered her voice, "I got a message from one of my 'informants' today. The information he gave to me was actually quite disturbing." Cathy then looked around to see if anyone was watching, and leaned forward towards Ozma. "I tell you what. We should discuss this in a more private setting later. I may need your help on this again."
Ozma was surprised at Cathy's concerted effort at remaining secretive. "'Again'?"
Just then, the waiter approached the table and handed Cathy the tip tray with a receipt on it. "I just need your signature here, Ma'am," he said, handing her a pen.
Ozma quickly glanced at the check, but noticed that it looked more like a finely-printed contract of sorts. Already, his instincts were telling him that something wasn't quite as it seemed here.
After signing the "check", Cathy handed the waiter his pen and the tip tray. The waiter then gently grasped Cathy's hand and pulled it closer to himself so he could kiss the backside of her hand. "We thank you for your patronage, Miss. We hope to see you both here again real soon."
Ozma was immediately filled with a sense of jealousy upon seeing this very personal gesture from some anonymous waiter. However, when he saw Cathy retract her hand, he could see that she immediately placed a shiny object into her uniform's pocket.
Cathy casually smiled at Ozma. "Ready to go?"
Ozma got up from his chair and began to walk towards the restaurant exit alongside Cathy. He couldn't help but make a comment over the exchange that had just taken place. "They sure are extra friendly with you at this restaurant, aren't they?" he said with a wry grin.
"Shh!" Cathy shushed him as she jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
Ozma slightly grunted upon receiving the blow, but tried not to grimace. He then felt Cathy grab his hand and put hers into his. At that point, they looked like a normal couple leaving a restaurant. Ozma knew that she'd eventually clue him in as to what she's up to and just kept on smiling. However, he recognized someone at the restaurant and tugged Cathy into their direction. "Hang on. I see someone I would like to hassle a bit."
Just as they both approached a table where two patrons sat chatting with each other, Ozma interrupted them. "What's going on here? Wagner, I didn't know you and Wentz were so close."
Cal and Jen were surprised by Ozma's sudden appearance and shot up from their chairs to salute the superior officers standing next to their table. They both stammered to deny what Ozma had already assumed, "No, it's not like that." Nervous smiles crept across their faces while they attempted to deal with the situation.
However, Cal quickly recognized Cathy from when he had been interviewed by her several months before that moment. "Holy crap... It's you!" He took a moment to recall her name, since it had been a little while. "Um... Commander Glass, that's right. It's so good to see you again!"
Ozma was feeling a bit confused, since he was out of the loop once more. "You two know each other?" he asked.
"She's the one who basically put me on this career path. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be standing here today," Cal put it succinctly. Of course, he did leave out the details and maybe he was embellishing a bit, but he was pretty excited to see Cathy again.
She simply laughed and turned to Ozma. "He's exaggerating... I simply assigned him to the position in which I felt he would be most useful." She then turned back to Cal. "You did the rest on your own. By the way, congratulations on your recent promotion," she said. It seems that as usual, Cathy is well-aware of the ebbs and flows within the NUNS.
"Thanks. All the same though, I owe you a debt of gratitude. The last few months have been an incredible journey. I could go on all day telling you all about it..." Cal said as he took Cathy's hand to express his gratitude.
Before he could do anything more, Ozma shifted forward a bit and smacked Cal's hand. "Okay, enough of that. Get your own girlfriend, Wagner," he said with a bit of sternness, but pridefully smiling. All of this attention being directed towards Cathy was starting to get on his nerves a bit. First, it was the waiter, now it's one of his own pilots.
Jen had been quiet up until now, but she decided to lighten the situation by introducing herself. "Hi, I'm Lieutenant Jennifer Wentz. I understand that I replaced you as Quarter's FCO, Commander," she said to Cathy, "Bobby and Company have told me a lot of stories about you, so I can only imagine the kind of shoes I've had to fill for the past few months." It was easy to tell that Cathy and Jen seemed to have an instant rapport with each other.
"Yes, they already told me everything they could about you, Lieutenant. It seems that we have quite a bit in common, according to them," Cathy casually replied. Almost as if they could read each other's minds, they both sat down at the table, leaving Ozma and Cal standing there to stare at each other while the two ladies decided to talk about whatever they could think of at that very moment.
Ozma smiled at Cathy and Jen, seeing how quickly the two of them appeared to get along. With a slight chuckle, he turned to Cal to initiate a conversation. "I might as well get some business out of the way while we wait..." he said, "I haven't been able to find out your address while we're here on Aimo. There's no record of your lodgings anywhere. Where have you been staying?"
"Well, I was going to stay at the barracks on the base, but Will- I mean, Ensign Garrett insisted that I stay at his place," Cal laughed as he continued, "I suppose sleeping on his living room floor has a certain... charm to it."
"Ahh... How come you don't have a place of your own- Oh wait, you were in the hospital the whole time you were on Aimo, weren't you?"
Cal started to feel a bit inadequate upon realizing that he had not even gotten a chance to start his new life on Aimo before he was deployed again. "Yeah, my home went down in flames with the colony islands several months ago when we tried to purge the Vajra from their homeworld. I'm basically wearing all that I own, along with the contents of my duffel bag. Since leaving the hospital, I've only been able to call the Quarter my 'home'."
"Well, if you need a place to stay, I have an extra room with a real bed at my place if you're interested..."
"That's okay. I guess I don't really mind at all. Thanks, though!" Cal said with sincerity.
"I'll let the offer stand, if you happen to change your mind, then." Ozma shifted to his next subject, "Did you get your request in to customize your bird's colors yet?"
"Yes, Sir. The techs told me they'd have it done this afternoon. I was planning on going back to the Quarter to work on my RVF for a bit and to see the results of the paint job," Cal replied.
"What colors did you decide upon?"
Cal laughed as he answered, "Oh... heh. You'll have to see it for yourself."
Before Ozma could badger Cal for a straight answer, Cathy looked upwards to him from her seat at the table. "Ozma, we should get going. Are you two men going to stand there and talk all day?" she said with a hint of jocularity in her voice. She turned to Jen, who was still sitting across from her, "I swear, men... They never shut up, do they?" She rhetorically asked. Jen laughed and agreed.
Cal turned to Ozma, after laughing a bit at Cathy's remarks. "Damn, Commander. You got yourself a good woman there. Make sure you don't let her get away."
Ozma angrily folded his as he replied to Cal, "Are you giving me an order, Lieutenant?"
Cathy interjected before Cal could get himself into trouble with one of his smartass remarks. "Yes, Ozma... you make sure that you don't let me get away. I can think of some ways to make sure that I will always remain at your side," she said as she began to drag him away.
Cal felt Ozma's piercing gaze; a retaliation for getting Ozma into a bit of a difficult situation with Cathy. Cal winced a bit and practically emoted a "sorry!" to Ozma while he watched his commanding officer get a stern talking-to from Cathy.
…
While the afternoon sun had just begun to approach the horizon line, Cal confidently stood on the flight deck of the Quarter. The natural sunlight was already beginning to take on an orange hue, slightly changing the colors of everything it illuminated. The flight deck was somewhat crowded, with several other VFs parked nearby. However, Cal chose to remain quiet while he proudly inspected his new paint job.
Will emerged from the other side of a large piece of equipment and found who he was looking for. "There you are! I've been looking all over for you. You never returned my call!" he said.
"Sorry, I completely forgot to call you back. I've just had a lot to do today, that's all. What's up?"
Will finally stopped and stood next to Cal to take part in his point of view. "Nothing, I was just wondering where you were since you left my apartment before I even got up this morning." He suddenly noticed that Cal's RVF had new colors. "Oh shit! They finally let you pick your colors? I'm jealous!" he exclaimed. Cal simply nodded and Will walked around the RVF to see the new color scheme.
The body of the RVF was mostly a light gray, but the engine nacelles and wings were a much darker gray; they had a slightly brown tint in color. The colors were blended at the wing roots to show a gradual transition from light to dark, though. A prominent, wide, off-white stripe was painted front-to-back on the wings close to the ends. Even the tail fins were white at the tips, gradually blending to dark gray to match the color of the nacelles.
After a minute, Will walked back over to Cal. "It looks really nice, but... I don't get it. Is there a motif?"
"Well, there's actually a story to it. This color scheme mimics the colors of my favorite bird, the northern mockingbird." Will looked very confused at this point, but Cal kept on telling his story. "I still remember the first time I saw one of those birds. When I was very little, we had one that lived in our front yard. He would frequently perch himself on top of the bush in front of my bedroom window and I watched as he surveyed his territory every morning. I don't know how to put it any more plainly, but watching him fly around the yard literally inspired me to become a pilot. There was something about the way he would so skillfully fly straight through thick brush and bushes, and come out without a scratch. It was amazing to see the precision of his flying, and that's what made me want to fly too."
"Sounds pretty appropriate, then! In combat, I've seen you weave through nearly impossible amounts of projectile fire and come out unscathed," Will remarked.
However, Cal was not done with his story. "When Marie and I moved into our own place together, we were once again blessed with the presence of another mockingbird, who had already called our backyard his kingdom. She tried to put a birdfeeder up to attract other birds, but mockingbirds are extremely territorial and she had placed it within his realm. He would constantly swoop by the birdfeeder whenever another bird would stop to get some seed, and scare it off. Eventually, we had to move the birdfeeder to the front yard. She'd almost curse that bird for being so mean to the other birds. I had to explain to her that he was there before us and told her about the mockingbird I had in my front yard as a kid. She then started to accept that maybe we could see him as sort of a 'neighbor', but she still had difficulty understanding why I'd sit in the backyard and almost talk to him from time to time. She just didn't get how much I respected that bird for its flying prowess and unflinching determination to protect that which mattered to it the most. It would even try to stand up to any housecats who happened to wander nearby."
"Damn, you really put a lot of meaning into your colors, then. I honestly haven't really put a lot of thought into what colors I'd want; whenever they decide that I am worthy of customizing my bird the way I like it, that is."
"It will probably come to you when you least expect it," Cal replied, "But anyway, now you see where my inspiration comes from. I draw motivation from the behavior of the mockingbird; I will do anything to protect that which is important to me, even if it gets me killed." A moment of silence passed before Cal nudged Will's arm. "Remember yesterday when I told you that I was being followed by a bird?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"Look," Cal said as he pointed towards his RVF. Near one of the wing roots perched a certain gray bird, whose calls kept changing every few seconds.
Will's eyes opened wide in disbelief. "Is that what I think it is?"
"I told you I was being followed, dude! That is most definitely a mockingbird and he has absolutely no business being on this ship in the middle of the bay. Yet, here he is..." Cal casually stated.
"That's so true! What does it mean?" Will asked.
"As crazy as it sounds, I am sure this is the same bird that's been following me around since we got back from service." Cal looked downwards as he shook his head and chuckled. "I'm not a religious man and the concept of an afterlife is still a huge mystery to me. However, I am inclined to believe that maybe... just maybe, Marie has something to do with all of this. Not just the mockingbird, but everything that's been happening to me since I got out of the hospital and returned to service."
"You think she's reincarnated as a mockingbird?"
"...or the bird is a guardian angel of sorts..." Cal said with a slight laugh. "It's all enough to bake your noodle isn't it?"
Will didn't answer. He simply nodded and gaped at the situation as he tried to grasp ahold of everything that Cal had just told him.
They both stood in silence for a couple of minutes before Cal put his arm around Will's shoulder and started to pull him away from where they were standing. "Come on, dude... it's starting to get dark. Let's go get something to eat. I've got a hankerin' for some burgers."
Will broke from his nearly-catatonic state and heartily agreed, "I have the perfect place to go, then. But I'm buying!"
"Yeah, right! I'm the superior officer, so that means that I have to pay," Cal argued. They both continued to fight over who was going to pay for what while they walked away. However, through all of that, Cal managed to look backwards one last time to see his beautiful, newly-painted RVF; and to subliminally wish his "guardian angel" a good night.