When Blaze walked in, Nagase heart jumped before stopping. She was hopping that it was Captain Bartlett. From the expression on his face, Nagase knew that something was wrong. Nagase and Chopper watched him as he past around a little.
"Adam." Nagase called out his first name to get his attention, "Is something wrong?"
God, he hated this. Blaze took a deep breath and said. "The rescue chopper that was sent to pick up Captain Bartlett didn't find him.
"What 'a mean that didn't find him?" Chopper cried out as he stood up.
"I mean they found spy vessel and they found the wreckage of the drones we shot down… they just didn't find him. While they are sending a search team to look for him, High Brass is going to declare Captain Jack Bartlett MIA tomorrow." Blaze sighed before saying, "Lt. Colonel Howard Ford is coming in tonight to take control over the 108th squadron in his absence." As Blaze finished his sat down heavily.
"On a side note, because of our actions, you and I…" Blaze pointed to himself and Nagase as he spook, "… are being promoted to First Lieutenant. Lt. Colonel Ford wants to make it official in person. This is the info I got from Perrault and Hamilton."
Nagase started looking down. Blaze stared at her for a moment, studying her. She was a pretty one, black hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. She was about 5'6", weigh about 100 pounds. She took things so seriously.
Blaze finally said, "What happened wasn't your fault."
"What?" Nagase asked suddenly.
"Bartlett getting shot down wasn't your fault." Blaze said, "No one knew that ship had any missile launchers on it. Even Bartlett didn't notice until it was too late. Besides, the Captain took the missile in the wing. You would have taken it in the engine… or the fuel tank. He saved you life. Don't go and blame yourself. It wasn't you fault." Blaze then stood up from the table and said, "Think about what I said, Kei."
Blaze then left the table.
Blaze sat down at took out a small case and some paper. Opening up the case, he took out a drawing pencil and started to draw. At first, he didn't really know what he was going to draw, but it slowly came into his mind. A face. Just a face.
"Excuse me."
"Yes."
"Hello, I…"
"Albert Genette, the photographer making the report on the Sand Island Squadron." Blaze said without looking at him, "I know. How can I help you?"
"I was just hopping that you could answer a few questions." Genette said as he slowly entered the room.
There was a wall covered with paper, a mixture of short stories, poems, and drawings. Then there was another wall covered with designs and schematics for various jets and choppers. He seemed highly educated for a fighter pilot.
"You are the pilot which took over lead in Captain Jack Bartlett's absence, correct." He asked, almost certain that he was in the wrong room, even if he had seen him with the other pilots.
"Yes, that's right."
Genette asked the question that had been nagging him even since he entered the room. "Well, why do you want to be a pilot at all?
Blaze finally stopped drawing. He turned to him, which made Genette fear he made some sort of offense. "You mean why not become an engineer or something like that, right?"
"Yes."
"Like the freedom of being in the air." Blaze said, "When I flew for the first time, I knew that it was something I wanted to be. At least of a while." Blaze then returned to his drawing. "Anything else?"
"I hope I didn't…"
"You have made no offense." Blaze said, "I'm just not good at answering questions." Blaze then smiled, "Talk to Chopper. He'll talk about anything."
"Isn't that Second Lieutenant Nagase?" Genette asked, as he notice the picture Blaze was drawing.
"No." Blaze said with a smile, "That is First Lieutenant Nagase. I don't know any Second Lieutenant Nagase."
Genette frowned for a moment before it dawned on him. "She was promoted?"
"Yeah. So was I." Blaze said, "And don't ask her any questions either. She taken the Captain's disappearance pretty hard."
"She blames herself."
"Correct." Blaze said as he pointed his finger at him and fired an imaginary gun. "So don't talk to her about it. Just leave her alone."
"Thanks for talking to me." Genette said.
"Hey, no problem." Blaze said, "As I said, I'm just not very good at answering questions."
Blaze then sat down and finished his drawing. Sometimes, having a photographic memory was useful.
"Who is going to lead the squadron now?" Chopper repeated when Genette asked the question. "I wouldn't worry about that. Remember, we're an auxiliary squadron."
Genette, who had taken Blaze's advise, nodded. "From what the Kid, That would be soon-to-be First Lieutenant Adam Blaze, Lt. Colonel Ford is coming in from the mainland. He is the official head of the 108th Squadron."
Chopper led back, "Oh man! I love this song!" he said as Puddle of Mud was playing on his repaired stereo, "I am going to sleep well tonight."
It was at that point that the warning sirens started going off. "An Air Raid! You've got to be kidding, man!"
It isn't really well recorded when the promontions happened, so forgive me if someone did better then I did.