Second chapter is up. I apologize if there are some weird grammatical errors. I don't have a beta just yet and might have overlooked some things. If there is anything you guys find let me know so I can fix it!

Another apology for certain errors I am sure to make. I'm not an expert on air combat or the military so a lot is me playing by what feels right and what I research. I am open for corrections and criticism.

Thanks for reading!

"Do you know where we are?"

I looked up at the man who was next to me dressed in an all black suit. "No I don't."

He pointed to a large crater off in the distance. The land surrounding the crater and the duo was a barren wasteland all around. Nothing seemed to live. The world around us seemed like something out of an apocalypse.

"That right there is one of the ground zeroes of the nukes we detonated from the last war."

I couldn't help but squint my eyes in confusion. Was I supposed to know what that meant? If so, I didn't. "I don't know what that really means. Is it just a really big bomb?" I asked.

I watched as a man stood a little straighter and his lips pressed together in a thin line. Was he upset that I didn't know?

"Yes, a really big bomb." He sighed. "It's fine I suppose. From what he told me, you wouldn't know much of anything really."

I couldn't help but bristle at his remark. "Hey! I'm not-" I stopped myself at the cold and dark eyes of the mystery man staring into my own. I felt a shiver go down my spine as his eyes bore into my soul.

"I say this now because you don't know better but think before you speak. And when you do speak, do so with firmness and authority. To do otherwise shows you aren't even good enough to use that brain that was given to you."

I bit my lips at the statement. I already hated this man but this was my ticket to a hot meal and a soft bed. So I held myself back.

"Your face gives everything away. We'll have to fix that, along with everything else." He let out a small sigh before walking ahead. "Now come on, you're gonna go meet your new life."

I quickly fell behind the adult and suddenly felt my stomach grumble in hunger. I stared at the strangers back but said nothing. I'd probably get yelled at for asking for more food.

I followed him to a car and jumped in the back seat. I barely had a chance to buckle in before the man glared at me from his driver's seat. Even through the rearview mirror, his eyes seemed to look into my soul.

"Don't say a single word, just close your eyes and sleep. It's going to be a long drive."

And I did that for a while. Exactly as told until I decided to lean my head against the cool glass window to stare outside at the passing scenery.

White.

That's how I would describe it. Nothing but an endless sea of white. After a while I fell asleep again.

I repeated the process a few times before I woke up to the sight of a small mansion. Finally something other than snow and trees.

"Get out."

My lips twitched at the command. Would it kill the man to be a little nicer?

I glared at him as I opened the door.

Once I hopped out, the first thing I noticed was the large concrete wall that surrounded us and the mansion. The yard was covered in more snow and so was pretty much everything else.

I hugged myself as a cold wind tore through the flimsy coat that was given to me.

"Come." The man barked.

Rolling my eyes, I followed him into the mansion. As I entered the warm building I looked around at the various decorations and flags hung up on the walls. I didn't say a word or ask any questions. I just followed the man to wherever I needed to be.

My stomach growled again. I held my stomach and turned my attention to the stone ground. I desperately wanted something to eat.

"There will be dinner soon. Be patient, kid."

"Ok." I softly responded. I continued the walk without lifting my head, finding the playing grey stone flooring, strangely captivating.

"Huh, so you're the kid the old man was talking about."

I was snapped out of my trance and looked up at the new voice.

He was fairly average both in height and in appearance, he had black hair, black eyes and was fairly thin. But something about the way he carried himself, gave me goosebumps up my arm.

He was cold, calculating and held himself confidently.

I leaned back as he knelt down in front of me.

"He certainly picked an interesting one. Never seen someone with different colored eyes before."

My eyes? They were different colors?

He smirked, as if reading my mind. "Yeah, you should take a close look when you have the chance." He lightly patted my shoulders before standing up and turning around.

I watched his retreating back with curiosity. Who was he?

Again, he reacted like he was reading my mind.

Turning his head slightly, he gave me an amused look. "By the way, names Ashley. Ashley Bernitz but you'll call me captain or sir. I'll be your flight instructor for the next few years. I'm gonna make you hate me kid."

"I already do." I blurted out. I regretted the words as soon as it left my mouth. I covered my mouth with my hands instantly.

Ashley just laughed. "Well then, we're already making progress then."

And he left without saying another word.

Suddenly, I felt a firm grip on my hand. It was the other man, I still didn't know his name. "I'll overlook what you just said. That being said, tomorrow will be the start of your training and comments of that nature will be punished. You understand?"

I nodded quickly as his hand let go of my shoulder.

"Good. Now, your room is over there on the left down the hallway. Get settled in, dinner is at 1800."

I squinted at the ground, not understanding what "1800" meant.

The man just sighed. "If you have a question then ask. You make yourself a bigger fool by not asking questions. Understand?"

"Yes."

"You mean 'Yes Sir.'"

"...Yes sir." I locked eyes with him. Black eyes stared back at me emotionless, as if looking at an ant.

"Well? I'm waiting."

I clenched my jaw before relaxing. "What does 1800 mean?" God I felt so stupid asking. It was probably something simple anyway.

"In the military, time is referred to in 24 hours as opposed to 12 hours that most civilians use. So, 1800 is another way of saying six o'clock."

"Then why not just say six o'clock?"

"Because, it's simpler to communicate with." He saw my confused expression and continued. "When I say six o'clock, am I referring to the morning or the evening?"

I opened my mouth before closing them. Right, think before speaking. "...You would have to say am or pm right?"

"Correct and by referring to time in a 24 hours format, you avoid such confusions. For example, six o'clock in the morning is 0600 hours and six o'clock in the evening is 1800 hours. Once you get used to it, you'll understand why we do things the way we do."

"Ok...I understand."

He nodded at me, seemingly satisfied. For now anyway. "Good, now get settled in and come down the…..cafeteria at 1800 hours."

"Yes sir." I quickly took the chance to run off to my room.

I opened the surprisingly heavy door to my new room and found nothing much worth mentioning. There was a bed, a closet and a desk with a chair that was illuminated by a single window letting light in. The room was surrounded by the same depressing grey stone that made the rest of the mansion. I looked behind me and found that I was alone. I swallowed and closed the door behind me with a loud click.

So, this was my new life? Pretty boring.

I sat on the bed and looked around the room once more. I noticed a small clock on the table that read 1733. So I had some time to kill. I took the chance to lay down on the bed.

It was soft and the sheets were thick and felt soft to the touch. I couldn't help but nuzzle my face into the pillow.

I slowly felt my eyelids grow heavy, I quickly shook my head to try and clear the drowsiness but as soon as the haze cleared, I quickly found myself falling asleep again.

A quick nap wouldn't hurt.

When I woke up, the entire room was dark. I looked up confusingly, trying to gain my bearing.

I sat up from my bed and looked outside.

It was completely dark. How long did I sleep? And why did no one wake me? For the longest time I just sat on my bed, not knowing what to really do. In the end, I just decided to go back to sleep. However as soon as I put my head down on the pillow, there was a knock on my door followed by a voice.

"Hey! It's Ashley, I'm coming in."

I watched as the wooden door swung open with a loud creak and a figure walked through the doorway. I winced as a bright light was turned on. I blinked a couple times as my eyes quickly adjusted to the light and glanced up at the clock. I blanched at the time.

0500.

That was five in the morning right?

"So tell me, did you enjoy your little nap? Hope it was worth passing up your dinner."

I bit my lips. "I didn't know I would sleep for that long."

Ashley chuckled at me. "Neither did we but we figured you could use a little more sleep from the jetlag."

"Jetlag?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it, I'll teach you everything you need to know, from the ground up. Including what our plans are for you in the upcoming years. I really do hope you enjoyed your rest, it's only going to get harder from here."

I shivered at the ominous tone. What did I get myself into? I started second guessing myself, wondering that maybe I should've just jumped at the bridge when I had the chance. I took a deep breath and looked across from my bed, I only just noticed a small dresser and a mirror on top of it. From the bed, I could just barely make out my eyes and hair. A mop of brown hair laid on top of my head and fierce red eyes stared back at me.

Were those my eyes. I found myself slowly getting lost in my own eyes, taking in the small details of red and streaks of yellow of my eyes. Was this what they were talking about yesterday?

I looked away from the mirror and faced Ashley. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, it felt strangely calming to do so. When I opened my eyes, Ashley's black eyes met my own. I gave him a small smirk, hoping that I came off confident enough. I didn't want to be a pushover to these people. I had enough of that on the street. "I'm ready, do your worst."

I watched as Ashley slowly walked over and leaned down. He placed his hands on my shoulders in a firm grip. "Good, let's get to it then, I've been told to make you into a competent fighter pilot by the time you are 18 minimum. You're what? 7 or 8 by now? That gives me a lot of time but no time, you understand?"

I really didn't understand but I figured asking him to explain himself would annoy him so I just nodded along.

"He expects a lot from you but don't worry…. you got a group of aces teaching you. By all means, you should be one of the best in the sky once we are done so. Don't. Waste. Our. Time."

"Yes sir!"

The days slowly blurred from one another. Most of my time early on was spent on basics like math and science and of course history. Anything less than perfect was remedied with supplemental classes and instructions and I was never allowed to leave the mansion. The most I was allowed was to go outside. I quickly found out most of the days here were cloudy and there was snow year round. On the rare occasion there was a sunny day, I was outside for as long as I could, dreaming of the day that I would one day be flying high among the clouds.

The pilots often went to a nearby airfield where they kept their planes for sorties.

No matter where I was, I would always glance up whenever I heard one or more of them buzz past the mansion.

I'm not sure when it happened exactly but things got complicated and fast. They expected more and more out of me as I got neck deep into training. On top of all the lessons and countless hours pouring over books, I started working out everyday. They wanted me in perfect condition. Day by day I felt myself getting more and more fit as the fat was burned off of my body.

One day, they took me out of the mansion. It was a fairly long drive and they wouldn't tell me where I was going, only that I was in for a surprise.

And what a surprise it was.

"We're going ahead and starting your High-G training. Use everything you learned from our lessons over the last few years, we're gonna see how many G's you can withstand and for how long before you pass out."

I looked at the strange contraption in front of me with glee.

"That will be our benchmark and we can continue from there."

I barely heard the words, I only felt excitement at finally doing something other than reading books. I quickly stepped into the human centrifugal machine and tried to strap myself in. It took me a quick few moments before I figured out the harness and got strapped in. I looked over at Ashley and gave him a thumbs up.

He nodded at me and fiddled around with some sort of control panel and the world started moving around me. I grunted as I felt myself get thrown around in a large circle faster and faster.

Colors started fading away but I continued to flex my muscles and control my breathing but it was only a matter of time before I blacked out completely. When I woke, Ashley was in the process of loosening my harness.

I blinked a couple times before finding my voice. "H-how'd I do?"

"You pulled 7 g's before passing out…."

Ashley had an unreadable expression on his face as I climbed out of the harness. "Is that bad?" I asked.

"Hmmm well, let me put it this way. The average untrained adult can just maybe withstand 5 g's before passing out. You almost hit 8 g's before you passed out, on the first try no less."

I raised my eye at the comment. "So pretty decent?"

Ashley gave me a hard, calculating look with his dark eyes. "Pretty decent…..yes let's just leave it at that."

On the next try, I managed to hit 9 g's for a couple seconds before passing out again and that was the last time I did that training. Soon they put me in an old Cessna or whatever it was. I knew it was prop driven and slow.

Not the high flying fighter jet I wanted to be in but it was a start.

The next few years went by so fast and I was probably 18 or 19 when they strapped me into a Mig-21. That was also the time Ashley gave me my callsign.

Blaze. Fitting I guessed.

Afterwards he told me to "try not to die in the coffin."

The old junker looked like a brick and flew like one too.

How in the hell did Huckebein the Raven fly that pile into battle and not die outright?

And then my 22nd birthday happened, or what we assumed was my 22nd. A lot happened, I was given an official name and it was also the day of my first mission.

"How do you like your name Blaze?" Ashley asked as he stood next to me in the hanger.

I pressed my lips together in thought. "Johan Mattis…..it works I guess. I prefer Blaze though. You guys called me that for years now, it's basically my name." I sighed. "But it's nice having an actual name, not everyone is going to want to call me "Blaze" or "Kid."

"Blaze suits you better too." He added.

I nodded silently to the statement before turning to the active runway in front of me.

"Why us Blaze?" He suddenly asked.

I looked at Ashley, he had a thoughtful look on his face. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Why did you decide to join the Grey Men, do…..do you understand what that entails?"

I chuckled. "Well even if I didn't, it's too late to back down now isn't it?" I paused and looked down and continued in a quieter tone. "To be honest, there wasn't much of a choice. I was given an option between having a purpose and dying so I chose to have a purpose. Before I met him, all I had were the clothes on my back and some change and a rag. Now, after all that's passed, after everything you all have done for me over the years, I truly know where I belong. I have my purpose and mission for the Grey Men and for Belka." I looked the older man in the eyes with whatever resolve I could muster. "I don't mind being a pawn if it means I can do my part in the upcoming war."

"At first, all you wanted to do was to fly." Ashley pointed out. "I think out of everyone here, you are as pure of a pilot as one can be. Mission or not, you can't hide that and up there." He pointed to the blue sky. "Mercy and distractions will get you killed. This is my final lesson for you Blaze, steel your resolve for this war because it won't be pretty."

"Understood."

"Good."

I closed my eyes and took a long breath. Finally, I was given my first mission and it just so happened to be the last time I would see the members of the 229th Tactical Fighter squadron of Belka. Grabacr would be sent over to Osea under their new program to recruit Belkan pilots to help bolster their airforce. I was actually kind of sad to see them go. As much as they were hardasses to me day in and day out, they were the only people I could even consider friends or…..family.

The cogs were starting to turn. Everything was starting here, on the day of my "birth."

I turned around and saw my craft sitting in the hanger, an older SR-71 Blackbird flying the Osean flag.

"Hey." Ashley firmly grabbed my shoulders. "Good luck on your mission. Goodbye for now." He bid his farewell and began walking to his fighter, helmet in hand.

It would be a while before I would hear that voice again.

"You too! I'll see you on the other side!" I bid my farewell to the man and quietly watched as 8492 started up their planes and slowly taxied to the runway. One by one I watched the Belkan pilots fly high into the sky. Ashely and his signature Su-47 was the last one to take off the runway. I watched as the ace pilot sharpley pulled his craft up into the air in a high g climb. At the top of his climb he rolled over inverted for a moment before flipping back over and leveling off in a showy manner.

I smiled at the sight before taking a deep breath.

My turn.

I walked over the recon plane and gently ran my hands along the craft. I would be putting my life in its hands for the mission.

"Here goes nothing." I muttered to myself as I reached the ladder for the cockpit. I quickly climbed up the ladder and got myself settled into my seat. I heard the ladder get pulled away and the canopy closed around me. I quickly ran through the preflight checks and pulled my helmet over my head.

The aircraft roared to life with a short sputter before turning over. I smiled as the plane pleasantly hummed around me.

I clicked the radio. "Tower this is Blaze, awaiting taxi to runway."

"Tower to Blaze, we copy. Taxi to Runway 1 and hold for takeoff."

"Copy, taxing to Runway 1 to hold for takeoff." I repeated back as I gently throttled up to get the plane moving.

As my plane got closer to the runway, I felt my palms get sweaty under my gloves and my heart rate spike from nervousness. I slowed my plane to a stop at the runway and took a deep breath, trying to get the jitters out.

"Blaze you are cleared for takeoff!"

My hand paused on the throttle before I firewalled it to max power. "Blaze, taking off! It's been a pleasure Tower!" I replied with firmness.

I felt the powerful engines of the Blackbird push me against the seat as I rapidly gained speed on the runway. In what felt like a blink of an eye, I was in the air for my first sortie.

"Pleasure is ours and the skies are clear Blaze! Godspeed on your first sortie. For Belka!"

I took another deep breath focusing on the next steps. "For Belka." I muttered as I climbed to altitude. I left whatever doubts I had on the ground and turned for Yuktobania all the while climbing to operating height. I wouldn't need to reach the record holding 80,000 feet service ceiling but I would need to be at 65,000 feet for the majority of the flight.

It didn't take too long for the powerful SR-71 to reach that altitude. I quietly marveled at the technological prowess of the craft. Despite it being older than him, the reconnaissance plane didn't show its age even at a supersonic cruise.

After a fews hours of flying I slowly lowered my altitude as I approached the mid air refueling point. I glanced down at my radar and found a singular hit. It had to be the refueling craft. By the time I reached the desired height I quickly came up on an unmarked KC-130.

The boom was already lowered and ready for me. I slowly crawled up the extension. It was a lot harder than it looked in the books. It took me a couple tries before finally getting it perfect. I quietly watched as my fuel gauge was topped off for the remainder of the mission.

Once the process was finished, the boom retracted and I was given the go-ahead to continue on. I gave the boom operator a thumbs up before peeling away onto my destination.

Time seemed to fly by as I lost myself among the clouds. I really wished I had a co-pilot to talk to but this was his solo mission. Eventually, after a long and boring flight I was nearing the Yuktobanian coast. I lowered my speed from my supercruise and dropped my altitude as I came up on the country. I just needed to make sure they knew that I was here.

It didn't matter that my plane should've been operating at heights nearly 4 times where he was at and at speeds triple of what he was doing right now. Yuktobania would see his SR-71 on rader and send up interceptors if not try to shoot him down with their SAM sites all over the coastline. In the direction he came from, there was only a tiny island called Sand Island and then the rest of Osea.

I was the perfect bait and they took it.

I heard the hails coming through my radio but ignored them and kept silent.

Suddenly, the missile warning was blaring in my ears. I broke off course and turned around and lit my afterburners to full power and began to slowly climb. With the massive power of the SR-71, I could just outrun whatever missile that was coming for me, hopefully.

For the longest I heard the chime of the missile warning system before it finally went off. He was in the clear now. I lowered my output and continued my climb towards my final destination. However, my relief was short lived as I saw four pings on my radar. They were rapidly closing in on me.

Too fast for anything but a MIG-31. Worst of all, they had a lock on me from beyond visual range. I leveled off and firewalled the throttle again. I felt a harsh shove as the afterburners were opened up. I had to outrun these guys and fast. With no weapons to speak of and the only form of defense being some flares and his own skill, he would be in big trouble if those Foxhounds ran him down.

My eyes were glued on my radar and gauges as I sped well past mach 2. Suddenly, as fast they came, they pulled back. I didn't let myself get complacent and continued for a few more minutes, gaining as much distance as he could.

Eventually I relaxed a hair and lowered my speed slightly. At this rate, he'd be over Oured in a matter of a few hours.

Those hours went by fast, my mind still working overtime after the previous encounter. Those Yukes certainly weren't playing around sending up those Mig-31s at him like that.

By the time he reached Oured, night had fallen. He passed through the airspace with no issues, just like he had been told. Nobody even questioned why he was there in the first place.

The Grey Men really had people in the right places. Of that he was very thankful for.

I looked down at the lit city as unpleasant memories began washing over me. I shook my head clear of those thoughts.

He landed at the closest air force base near Oured after getting clearance from the control tower.

I had barely parked the damn plane before there was a security personnel waiting for me. I quickly shut off the plane and got out. As soon as my feet touched the ground, I was escorted to my room. There was no debrief, it wasn't needed as he knew exactly what was going to happen.

And so did the base commander.

Come morning, he would be shipped out to Sand Island and relax as the others did their parts.

Everything was going as planned to the letter. It was kind of frightening to think about, that he was a part in such a powerful organization.

I didn't even bother taking off my flight suit before flopping down on the bed. Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.