Author's note: This part is replacing the previous version of chapter 7. The original was a mistake on my part.
Chapter 7: Farewell to Innocence
November 29, 2010
Somewhere over the Ceres Ocean
There was a rare silence in the air. For people that had accomplished one great thing after another...there was no celebration. They held the lines at Bougainville, successfully defended the city of Kregin on the far edge of the Jilachi Desert, they had engaged and defeated so many enemies and not had a single loss in the 20 plane squadron. But there was nothing to celebrate...at least in Major Quara Quaramine's view. He remembered it clearly...
"1-1-0. He's dragging high...two on the left! One by six heading down at 7 o'clock low. He's on you 3! Watch it!"
"2, 2-1-0.Tango on nose. Fox 1, Fox 1! No good. Flares out. Breaking left at 2-7-7, heading down in tho stadium."
"Nadia, watch it! Don't to get too low. Drag him up to us! Three at...wait...one on the left. Alexei do you see it!"
"Negative."
"Tally ho. Confirm Texas. One on left. Take him!"
"On the left...one...revolver! Good hits on target. Not down, he's still up."
"Callisto, go double Archer!"
"Roger! Lock on!"
"Lock on!...Away! Missile's loose!"
"Mine's heading on...come baby, I got you baby! I got ya...hit! Wait...Jupiter, was that yours?"
"No...I don't think so."
"Wait..he's not going down...he's still smoking."
"He'll go down eventually. Focus on other tangos."
"Roger."
"What are they doing? Those idiots! Why are they going after the wounded Demon?"
"Ah! Again! Damned Eagle! Piece of...! I'm pulling out!"
"I got no ammo."
"Winchester. Damn these guys are good. Jupiter, suggest we pull out."
"Roger. Look at them...their still going...wait...he's gone. Callisto, you magnificent bastard...you did it!"
"Was that me...or you?"
"Hell, it was yours."
"Go to UHF secure. Val, you take it. I couldn't deal with that kind of pressure man. Think about it. Hell, if anyone needs the publicity it's you."
"Quara...you think I need publicity! Their already making a propaganda film about that damned Osean artillery strike that turned my wife into a paraplegic! Fuck you!"
"Fine. I'll take the heat! Makes me one fine hypocrite but I'll take it!"
"No. I'm sorry. I understand. Okay, you want me to have it, then I'll take it...Damn greedy politicians. They can all burn in Hell."
"Amen to that; and we'll bear witness to it...we'll have front row seats."
There was really no need for any discussion. The ride back to Yuktobania was long and arduous. They'd been "volunteered" for this mission; after all, they were the saviors of the Bougainville Islands. All five of the flight from the 107th had made it back. Only 6 of the 32 other planes that were chosen for the ambush returned.
Yet even now, it would be on Quara's mind, a year later.He had held the secret long enough. Everyone believed that it was Valentin that did it.But it had been awhile since he'd spoken to his friend. Perhaps it was time for reunion.
December 2, 2011
Detroit, Osea
It was all ready. Free of carrying her daughter, Jennifer Klein stood ready to fly her "gifts" to the couple who'd saved her family's life. To do this, she had recruited the help of a cousin...oddly enough it was Van Orel. The next was Adam Kamprand, her brother-in-law. His wife, Alice Kamprand-Matenopolis, was one of the few people that accepted Damien in to her families' exotic lifestyle. They had been in the hangar for some 5 months, but now they were ready to be flown; it was a pair of almost untouched P-51 Mustangs.
"Wow. This is incredible, and you're doing all this for one guy?" said Alice.
"Well, you know me. I have all this money, and I don't what to do with myself."
"I will say this. You're the most unusual rich person I've ever met." said Van.
"Okay. Let's get ready." Jennifer said while clasping her hands together.
"Wait. Are you flying one yourself?" asked Alice.
"Of course. I've flown these things before." said Jennifer.
"Okay. Well, we'll be right behind you in the Cessna." said Adam.
"Weather's going to be nice. All we have to do is follow the river east and bam...we're there."
"I hope the weather holds up. Mallora Island's weather can be a bit fickle." said Van.
"Well, I don't want to put this off any longer." replied Jennifer.
"Okay..." said Van.
So it was that the planes were beginning take off, Jennifer had nothing but happy thoughts. Van however, was in a much different frame of mind. He was not usually a cynic, but for some reason he had a sinking feeling. Yet no one would
The next day...
Damien Klein was a unusual man in a rather mundane situation. He sat scooping a small spoon of puree preparing to feed his infant daughter, Evangeline Apalone. She was only three months old. He'd occasionally have his own fun with it and make humorous airplane noises while sticking the spoon into his laughing child's mouth.
"You know when we mommy gets back we're going to go the annual boardwalk party were I took mommy out after we met. I can't wait. I can't believe it, a second anniversary." he said to her.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Damien set the bowl and spoon down and walked over to a phone.
"Yeah, go...huh? Wha...what, calm down honey! What the hell happened? What! No way! You...you're kidding me. This is a joke right? They're...dead! Where's the others? Oh my god...How did this happen? What about David and them? Are they...okay...wait...what the...I thought you said the weather was fine! What? Okay, start from the beginning. Nice and slow. Breath. It's okay. I'm listening." he said.
The conversation continued. A rather bittersweet incident had occurred. As Damien listened to his wife's panicked words, he could wonder the true extent of the tragedy that has unfolded out of his sight and mind...
December 2, 2010
Mallora Island
They were waiting on their visitors like they were preparing to open Christmas presents. In the low lying control room sat David, Kei, Anna Lovecraft(who was temporarily staying with them), And one other guest, one David knew quite well: Pops. Chloe and Grimm were out for the time being.
"You guys have done an excellent job with this place."
"You're telling me. Can this get any better? All this plus, Jennifer's giving us Mustangs! Mustangs for crying out loud! In perfect condition." said David excitedly.
"What's a mustang? Isn't that a horse?" asked Anna.
"It's only the greatest fighter plane ever made." replied David.
"I thought you said your Mirage was the best ever made." said Pops.
"Well, one of the best. But man, I feel like a kid waiting to open a birthday present."
"Okay, they should be here any second now."
"Hey, the skies getting dark! It's gonna rain."
"Oh dam...I mean, oh crap!" said David correcting his language, "The weather's acting funky again. Of all times! We need to get the landing lights on."
"Can Jennifer fly in the rain?" asked Kei.
"I hope to God she can. Or she's in trouble. We may have to call it off."
"Maybe, maybe not. It's passing pretty fast. They may miss it." said Pops.
"I hope..."
Meanwhile...
It was good to be in the air once again. Jennifer Klein handled her own gift like a professional. But Van was flying perfectly. He even pulled some rolls and flips, much to the chagrin of Jennifer. But what does one expect from a Air Force veteran?
"0-7-1, prepare to turn to 2-6-0." said Jennifer.
"Roger. Hey, the sky's looking nasty over there. Maybe we should wait it out?" asked Adam in the Cessna.
"Don't worry about it! I've flown in this weather before."
Famous last words, Adam thought.
"I have visual of the island. We're getting close. Here goes!"
The three planes plunged into the heart of the storm. Visibility was not so poor, but the rain and wind were tricky on the handling as Jennifer struggled to right her airplane. The three planes were close together.
"Back off a bit."
"Got ya. Slowing." said Adam.
"Okay, you're fine. Charlie-Delta-Zero-One this Bravo-Sigma-Two-Zero, do you copy?" Jennifer said in a louder voice than usual.
"You don't have to say that. We hear you loud and clear. Recommend careful approach from 3-4-0 to 2-7-0, be advised we are getting heavy wind here. Recommend you land quickly. Over."
"Thanks. Coming in."
"Okay...here we go. You okay honey?"
Alice had not moved an inch or spoken a word. She too was feeling something was about to happen. Van was moving his plane into position. The runway was going to be a rough landing. It was old, bumpy and slippery because of the rain.
"Bravo-Sigma-Two-Zero, this Alpha-Echo-Zero-Three I have visual contact with the runway, and I am starting my approach." said Van professionally. The rain intensified and the wind picked up. But Van slowly made his appraoch swinging around the airfield as David's contingent looked on. Everyone waited as Van finally hit the runway and eventually came to a stop. Adam would land next. Alice seemed to have a mild fear of flying.
In the control room, everyone watched as the storm picked up.
"This is getting really nasty. We gotta get em on the ground now."
"They seem to be doing fine. Look, the Cessna's coming in. It's doing pretty good."
"Yeah, holy crap! Did you see that!"
In a flash of seconds, all hell broke loose. A lighting bolt hit Adam's Cessna. Jen's heart stopped and her blood turned cold. The screams intensified, and the flaming plane was forced down by gravity...not 50 yards from David's position.
"Get down!" David yelled. Everyone got down as best they could.
WHAM! The plane hit the older hangar on the right side of the runway directly in front of them and exploded. David tried his best to protect Kei, just has he done when he was Blaze in the cockpit of a fighter jet. The resulting blast shook everything and debris went everywhere.
"What happened. Adam? Alice? Alice! Somebody? Anybody!" she said, her voice obviously cracking.
Jennifer could not be in more danger. The fires had consumed the upper part of the runway. She only had 950 ft to land rather than 2000. She could try and overshoot it, but she risked crashing the plane. But with no knowledge as to whether or not who was dead or alive, she had no choice.
God, I've never asked you for much. But please...let me live through this. Please let me land this airplane.
She came in, eased on the brakes, lowered the landing gear and aimed perfectly past the flames. She slowed down so much she nearly stalled the plane. But when she landed the plane, relief turned to shock.
"Tree!" she shouted, trying to turn right but to no avail. She hit the tree with her right wing and the plane tumbled and rolled. Jennifer was bounced around like the ball in a aerosol can. But she was alive as the plane turned right side up. She was unscathed.
"Thank you. Thank you." she said silently.
Meanwhile...
David quickly recovered from the initial shock of the blast. He picked Kei off the floor. They wre lucky. Most of the flimsy structure had been blown away. Pops too was fine with only a few bruises. But relief gave way to horror.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna go see if the others are alright." said Pops.
"You be careful buddy." said David.
Pops went out and braved the strange mixture of rain and fire. As they prepared to evacuate, another concern presented itself.
"Where's Anna?" asked Kei.
"Anna? Anna! Where are you! You alright?" David said frantically.
As David frantically looked around, he noticed the pieces of sharp shrapnel everywhere. Then, Kei found her. She was cowering under the table near the door, that had all but blown way. She noticed a streak of blood by her and on the wall there was a sharp tool of some kind.
David ran over. "You alright?"
Anna did not speak. She kept the same expression the entire time.
"Anna?" he asked again.
As David tried to help her out from under the table, he noticed something. She was in the fetal position, almost as if she was clutching something. As he turned her over, blood spilled out from her. He turned her over only to find a heartbreaking sight. She had been impaled cleanly...but the tool he saw on the wall. Her eyes were bleeding as she had a piece of metal stuck in her head and her white clothes were soaked in her blood. It took David a full minute to speak. He stepped back and let out an anguished, saddened sigh that was almost unheard of unless in the movies.
"Ahhh! GOD! ANNNNA! Why? Why did I...I should have..." David sputtered out.
Kei was too shocked to even to even speak. For the first time ever, she was seeing him cry. But this was no ordinary cry. This was a cry that bellowed out the very soul. As he simply held the corpse of what used to be his little sister, the only thing she should do was hold him...
"She wanted to be just like me." he said through his tears.
It then became clear to Kei. She remembered what his mother said of the relationship between the two.
I swear sometimes, the way they act around each other...if David was a little older he could be Anna's father. So I wouldn't worry about him not a good father, he's getting plenty of experience.
To be continued...