Anyway, this is the last chapter. I don't own Advance Wars characters, just the game. I'm aware that they are just characters in a screen, but I'd like to have Eagle. Will you excuse me?
Chapter 4: "Good luck, commander"
A week has passed since Jess and Eagle's last argument. Blue Moon had ceased its attack, as promised and Green Earth's soldier were starting to get dispensed from their duties, only remaining the most essential ones, the ones in charge of the regular protection of the country.
The situtation, though, was very tense after the news about Jess' departure had become public. Most of the soldiers who used to work with her showed sympathy, even though knowing that to her, the change was supposed to be a good thing. After all, she was finally going to be a Commanding Officer, the higher spot she could reach in her carrer so far. And they all know she deserved it. In the end, they weren't sorry for her, but for themselves.
In the past week, Drake and Jess went to have dinner together almost every night. They talked about how he should take care of the troops she was leabing behind, she giving him all the tips about how to deal with the ground fleet he was going to command now. He didn't tried to make her change her mind though. He wanted it a lot, but he knew it would be no use.
Eagle, however, never spoke to her again after that day. He avoided any accidental encounter by coming earlier to his office and waiting until it was very late to leave. He often had lunch with Drake, but even knowing about the dinners, Eagle never talked about them. Not even to tease Drake about some romantic interest, like he was trying to do in that same drastic day. He just wanted to make a joke out of it back them. But Jess wasn't a joke matter anymore to Eagle. In fact, Eagle believed that Jess didn't actually matter at all anymore.
By the end of that week Jess was going to leave. Packing her many gifts she got from her workmates and with the General's letter of recomandation in hands, she got prepared to present herself to Commanding Officer Nell from Orange Star. Drake offered himself to drive her to the airport where an Orange Star special fighter was waiting to get her to the country.
- Drake... - Jess started in the car.
- Yes?
- Thank you for everything, my friend. I won't never forget you what you've done for me in my time here.
- Oh, come on, Jess, stop it - Drake smiled good natured - We both know that you will come back. It's just a training time after all.
- Not really - she sighed. - As long as 'you-know-who' remains the commander-in-chief I think I'd like to stay as far away from Green Earth as I can.
Drake looked at her surprised.
- Please, Jess, you can't be serious! You really going to let him win? You, of all people? Besides, I know Eagle will regret what he has done as soon as you leave this place!
- Oh yeah? - she asked not really beliveing her friend - Did he say anything about it?
Drake stopped. He couldn't really lie to her.
- Well... no, but...
- Face it, Drake. He hates me. I don't know why, but he does. And, to be honest, I think I don't really care about it anymore. He's just not worth it.
- See? You said yourself! He isn't worth it! You can't leave because of him!
- I thought you were his friend too?
- I am. But I'm your friend as well. So, I ask you, as a friend of both of you: do come back whenever you can, Jess. Don't let him be an obstacle. I don't wanna blame him for what you're doing.
- Then don't. It's my decision. There's nobody to be blamed for. Now, let's just drop this conversation, please. We've been avoiding this the entire week, I don't think this is the time to start an argument.
- Hah! I don't argue, mate. He does. - he winked at her.
- Ha-ha, very funny - she smiled at him, punching friendly in the arm.
But despite his smile in the end of the conversation, Drake was sad. "Oh well" he though. "She can always change her mind. Besides, I'll be here, trying to get some sense into Eagle's head. He's not a bad person and even being as stubborn as he is, I'm sure he knows how to reconize a mistake."
- We're here. - Jess interrupted his thoughts.
- Ok. - he stopped the car. - I wish I could wait until your plane leaves, but I have tons of paper work to deal with. - he said with a very disapointed tune.
- Don't worry, my friend. You've done more than enough. Thank you so much for everything.
They hugged for a second, then she left the car. Drake still had one last try.
- Could you at least visit me?
- Oh Drake - Jess laughed carring her suitcases - You're impossible. Ok, I'll come to visit you whenever I can. I promise.
- Great! - he gave her now the biggest smile he could.
- But... - she interrupted his happiness - ... I won't stay.
- It's ok. More than enough, as you said. Good-bye and congratulations, mate. - he smiled once again - You deserve it!
He waved good-bye and left. She still waved at the car for a few moments. Then she stopped and looked around her. Yes, she was going to miss her homeland. But she wanted to be a CO. Sentimentalism wouldn't get her anywhere near her dreams. She looked around once more. "Not even a goodbye..." Jess thought with a hint of anger, but a lot of disapointment too. With a deep breath she took her baggage and got in the airport.
The Orange Star fighter hand't arrived yet, So, she decided to sit and study a bit more for the test she was going to take about Orange Star's history, politics and geography. She was very concentrated in her books and notes when she heard a voice in front of her:
- Your airplane is here.
Startled, she looked up, only to get more surprised.
- Eagle? - She half-asked, half-exclaimed with her eyes wide open.
He just looked at her emotionless. They started at each other for a few seconds. Suddenly, he went to take her suitcases from the floor. Jess smirked.
- Can't wait to get rid of me, can you?
He didn't answer that. Annoyed at his attitude, she got up and took her baggage out of his hands.
- I don't need your help, thank you.
An Orange Star soldier approached them:
- Commanding Officer Jess, ma'am! We are ready to take you to Orange Star's headquartares, ma'am!
Jess smiled unconciously at the the lack of the word "sub". It sounded a lot better to be acalled just 'Commanding Officer'. Eagle was looking at them with arms crossed on his chest. Since she hadn't said anyhting to the soldier, he did it for her:
- She'll be right there.
- Yes, sir!
Jess looked at him furious and exploded:
- Who the heck do you think you are? Do you think I'm still under your command? Do you think you're still my boss? You little...
- Save me from the outburst, will you, Red? I just wanted to give the man an answer, since you started to trip after hearing your name just after the title without the prefix 'sub'.
Jess stopped. Still annoyed, but he had a point. Besides she wanted to keep her promise that they wouldn't fight again. Taking another deep breath she said:
- Thank you then.
- Well - he started towalk away from her without looking back.Enjoy.
"What the..."
- Wait! - she cried.
He stopped rolling his eyes annoyed, but still not looking back. "Darn it, why must this guy be so hard!" Jess thought now heavilly annoyed.
- Why you came here, after all? Just to ruin it one more time?
He thenturned backat her, a smirk in his face.
- Don't gave me this stupid ironic look of yours! You haven't spoke to me this entire week and now you just come to the airport, not to say farewell, but just to irk me once more. Don't you have anything else to do besides of making fun of my chance? Don't you have anything better to do?
- All I said was "enjoy". - he had the same look - How's that gonna 'ruin it' for you, as you put it?
- Oh, screw it, Eagle! You know damnwell how you said this 'enjoy' of yours. Mockinly, as if you were saying, 'enjoy it while you can' or something like that.
- The way you interpret my words is your problem, not mine. - he said matter-of-factly.
"Dammit! I promised myself I wouldn't do it again, but..." She thought while fighting the urge to another heated argument with her former boss.
- Farewell. - he interruped her thoughts.
She looked at him surpirised. He didn't have the sarcastic smirk or look on his face anymore. He just got back to the indifferent actitude. He turned his back to her once more and started to walk away again. She looked at his figure until he left the door. "What the heck was that?" she thought, confused.
- Ma'am? - the soldier called trying to get her attention. - Sorry to rush you, commander, but we need to get going now.
- It's ok. - she finally said something to the Orange Star man. - Sorry about that. I mean... oh, nevermind. Let's go.
They took off and got in the plane. Taking her seat, Jess looked throgh the window to see her homeland once more. Closing her eyes to hold back a tear who insisted to form, she sighed and smiled to herself. "I lied to you, Drake. I will be back. As the best CO Green Earth ever had. I will make Eagle choke on every word he ever said to me. I will come back to Green Earth."
- Ready to go, Commander Jess?
She opened her eyes and just nodded to him without a word. As the plane started to take off, she started one last time throgh the window, her mind racing to every memory she had from her childhood as an only child raised by a single father who had leuchemia, working ever since she was 6 to help in the house. Her father passing away two days before she graduated in the military school. Her days as a ground soldier, working with recons, then tanks and medium tanks. The years she had been waiting to be promoted and the constant denial in Eagle's public notes annoucing that they wouldn't promote anyone anytime soon. Drake being hired, she being denied again and every argument she have had with him ever since.
Jess closed her eyes again. "Dad. I made it."
A lone figure sitting on a motorbike on the airport parking could be seen in the end of the afternoon looking at a plane flying away. Putting on his googles, his so-called 'lucky' googles he smile to himself.
"Good luck... commander."
The End
How's that for a cheesy ending? Meh, I actually liked it, honestly. I have this ending in my mind ever since I started to write this fiction. But I have to admit that it was a bit cliche and not very original. Oh well... maybe it was and I'm just to hard on myself.
Anyway, many many thanks for every feedback you guys left, keeperofthescarf, ChessRules, MuTaNtFiSsIoN and my dear friend, Victory March! Not a huge amount of people, but I don't really care about quantity. Yeah, I'm cliche like that, lol. I'm all about quality.
Well, well, whenever I get the time (and the knowledge), I'll try to fix the atrocities I made with the poor english. But if you could understand, I'll be more than happy about my english. Not that good, true, but at least it serves the main languages purpose: communication.
That said, I hope I can write another serious non-scripted fanfic again. I actually have some ideas, but since I have a lot in my mind right now I don't think I'll have the time to work on them.
Blah! Why am I still talking here?
Long story short: Thank you all and I hope you liked!