Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own Ace Combat (Gets a hold of an axe).
August 4, 2010… Kevin was walking down Red Rock Ave, drinking a bottle of cold cola to stay cool on the hot summer day. He was doing one of his usual walks through town like he did when he was a teenager, fighting any punk that caused a problem on his path. It wasn't that Kevin went off looking for trouble; trouble always seemed to find him. But that was the past, now he was just out to get some fresh air and to help Mrs. Cameron with some things around her market. Kevin was glad to get out of his house, the air conditioner was broken and it wouldn't be fixed for another three days. On top of that, Mrs. Cameron hurt her back last week when she slipped in her tub and injured her vertebrae and it wouldn't be fully healed for about five months. He turned the corner and entered Mrs. Cameron's little fruit market where he was greeted with a loving welcome from Mrs. Cameron herself.
She was sitting behind the register with the AC on full blast and bins with less fruit in them then they normally had been spread all around the shop.
"Hello Kevin. I'm so glad you can help with everything. I can't do anything for awhile with my back like this, and Nick is still at summer camp and Roger is busy at the office. Are you sure you wanted to spend your day helping me here?"
"I'm sure, don't worry about it. What do you want me to do first?"
"I've got a few boxes of watermelons in the back; you can bring them to the front and stack them in this bin."
Kevin started to bring the three boxes out to the front and started to stack them. He was on the third layer when someone walked in through the front and the bell rang. Kevin didn't pay any attention to it; he thought it was just some ordinary customer. The stranger quietly got right behind Kevin and stood there watching him for a second.
"Always the humble type, are yaw Kevin?" said the stranger.
Kevin turned around and saw Henry standing there. The two hadn't seen each other in two years, since Henry left for boot camp. Both men were now official soldiers in the Osean military, one, a grunt of the army, the other, a nugget of the air force. And as Kevin looked at Henry, he couldn't help but notice the change in his appearance. He had gained about ten more pounds of weight in muscle alone. His hair was a lot shorter than it usually and he had a nice scar on his right cheek. But he still had that smile from fourteen years ago.
"Thought I would find you here."
"What, you practicing recon on me?"
"No, I saw you walking down Red Rock and knew you would swing in here."
"Since you two are here, maybe the both of you can help get this place up to speed." said Mrs. Cameron.
Henry just stared back at here with a blank face while Kevin shoved a melon into his gut and told him to finish stacking these. For the next few hours, Henry and Kevin stacked, swept, and cleaned fruit. During their work, a wannabe thief entered the shop but when he saw who was inside, he quickly ran out the door and past the corner. He decided that eating solid food now was better than getting beaten to a pulp. The two finally finished what they needed to do and left to Reggie's Diner for some lunch.
"So did you just get here?" asked Blaze.
"Yeah, but I can't stay for very long. I'm only here for a few days max., they have me stationed at Fort Shrapnel. And there, my service will begin."
"I've been here for over a month already. Few things have changed after two years."
"I know what you mean, besides the football team going downhill. Everything's still the same. So… How are things with that Nagase woman?"
Right after he said those words, he found Kevin's hand at his collar pulling him forward. "What did I say I'll do to you if you say that stuff again?"
"Relax Kevin, I see you still haven't developed a sense a humor yet." laughed Henry.
Kevin released his hold and things became quite for a few moments. Their waitress then came over and gave them their orders where the two "brothers" then continued to talk and catch up with old times. They are later walking down Kenwood Pl where they met at the front of Kevin's home. Mr. Hatcher is right at the mailbox when he sees the two and walks over.
"Well there's something I haven't seen in quite awhile. The two soldiers of Plymouth here at the same time, fully authorized and ready for service." said Mr. Hatcher with a laugh.
"Don't get too excited, I'm only here for a few days and there's no telling when Kevin here is going to be assigned to an air base." said Henry.
"Oh, by the way fellas, I got something here for you Kevin. It's from the Air Force so it might just answer that question."
Kevin opened the envelope and read what it said.
Dear Mr. Kevin Johnson,
We are aware of your completion of air force training and congratulate you on your accomplishment. This letter has been assigned to you to inform you that you will be stationed at Sand Island Air Base and are now proudly part of the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron. You are to report to base on August the 5th. A private airline ticket is concealed in her and you are ordered to be at the Oured Airport and board the selected plane and the arranged time. You are allowed to bring two pairs of civilian clothing and any three personal items. Don't be late and welcome to the Osean Air Force.
Sincerely,
Colonel Bernard Lee
"Well, it looks like I'm going to Sand Island tomorrow."
That's somewhere in the Crese Ocean. You lucky dog, you get to spend your duty on the beach while I have to go to some boring, gritty base probably in the middle of nowhere." said Henry.
"Your leaving again, that's a shame, they send you back home and when you start to feel relaxed, they call you back and we never see you for a year of so." cried out Hatcher.
"Can you guys excuse me; I need some time to think. I'll call a bit later and we'll have a good time alright." Said Kevin and he left the two, going into his home and plopping himself on the bed in his room. He just laid there, thinking calmly to himself, "That's cutting it pretty close. I get the letter and they expect me to say goodbye to everyone and leave with no idea when I'll be back. And what's expecting me at Sand Island? What the hell am I going to do since we are at peace? Is anyone else from Hierlarcke being there as well?" He laid there for a good while thinking when all of a sudden, he heard the phone ring. He picked it up to find Rev McDonald on the other end telling him to come over to the church for some spiritual counseling.
Kevin arrives at the church's multipurpose room where he was greeted to a big surprise. Henry, McDonald, Hatcher, Cameron, ect where all throwing Kevin a big going away party. Kevin couldn't help but give one of his rare smiles and the festivities began. Everyone was enjoying themselves when Henry and Kevin got face to face with each other. The two really didn't say anything to each other but both understood what was going through the others mind and that was good enough for them. Kevin also got some goodbyes from others which sort of gave him a sense of purpose in what he was going to do. He later got home at around 10:30 and packed up. He made sure to bring his guitar and pictures, and McDonald assured him that he could bring his motorcycle to the base which was sent to the airlines earlier. Kevin fell to sleep easily in his bed for the last time and dreamed of being up in the sky.
The next day… Kevin is at the Oured Airport saying more goodbyes to everyone and shaking hands. He was told that he would be in everybody's prayers and that he would be missed. He was also told not to get himself killed in anything and was joked about a parade in his honor when he got back. The last person that Kevin said bye to was Henry where the two shook hands and said their farewells to each other.
"Don't go off getting killed in something stupid. After both of our services are up, we'll have a drink. They'll be on me." said Henry.
"I'm going to stick you to that." replied Kevin.
Both than gave a brotherly hug and Blaze entered the tunnel to where his plane was. Unknown to the two, they would both be on the same battlefield in the future. Glory would find them both.
The next day… "So your one of the new nuggets that was assigned here. Well I got just one thing to tell you, boy. While you are here, you are under my command, just like everyone else here. This is my island got it? If you piss me off, you will be finishing your service flying freight planes from Belka, transporting crates filled with rubber dog vomit. Do I make myself clear to you?"
"Yes sir." answered Blaze.
Colonel Orson Perault then turned with a scowl on his face and walked away back to his office. At that moment, Blaze knew he wouldn't like that man at all, the so called "Emperor of the Island." In truth, no one really did, but they never said it to his face.
"Follow me please." said Hamilton.
Now Captain Hamilton on the other hand, seemed a whole lot different than Colonel Perault. He actually greeted Blaze when he got off the plane. He told warned him about the Colonel and to just say "Yes sir." after his intimidating speech to him. Blaze really didn't pay much mind to Perault's threat about pissing him off. He followed Hamilton to the end of the hall and turned right and showed him what was called "The Briefing Room." He told him his new squadron was in there and that they were primarily full of nuggets like him.
"Fortunately you're the last one to be here so you can begin immediately. Good luck." said Hamilton and he left to take care of some other business.
Kevin entered the room and saw that it was full of other people. Nuggets just like him, except for the two sitting in the front of the room. Kevin could tell that they were experienced fighter pilots and that they were going to be under their wings through everything. He walked over until he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"Hey Blaze, glad to see ya buddy."
Kevin turned and saw that chatterbox, Chopper, giving him a salute. Blaze couldn't believe it. What were the odds that the two would wind up in the same squadron? He started to think, that this was a sort of punishment by God for something.
"Kevin is that you?" says another familiar voice from behind.
He turns around and finds Kei Nagase standing there with a sort of shocked look on here face. She was also assigned here as well and for some reason, deep down inside Kevin, he was glad that she was. She was about to say something else, but before the words got out, another voice cried out; "Alright, quite down. Let's not have this take longer than it should." It was a hard, old voice from a man who had seen much action back in his younger days. Kevin sat down at the seat near him and turned his head to the front where he saw a gritty, old man sitting between the other two experienced pilots. "My name is Captain Jack Bartlett, that's Captain Bartlett to all of you. You all have been selected to serve as both guardians of this base and Osea. Despite as this place might look; this is not an island getaway with those fruity drinks. This is the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron or Wardog Squadron. As for me, whether you like it or not, I am your squadron leader. That means up there, I'm in charge. You follow my orders and follow the exactly as I tell you to. As for these two, they are your senior officers, Baker and Sevson. You are to listen to them unless I say otherwise. If you listen to us and follow our lead, you'll do okay here. I suggest you all get your beauty rest people because work begins tomorrow. You are dismissed."
At that, the nuggets got out of their seats and headed to the door while the three senior officers continued sitting at their seats calmly. The rookies were directed to exit the building through the double doors at the end of the hallway. When they went through the doors, they found their bags sitting along the building, waiting to be picked up. Attached to each bag was a room number and key. Blaze found his black bag and guitar case and saw that he was to be in room 8. An officer was directing people over to the living quarters which were across the runway, in a double-story building. Blaze found his room on the first floor, praying that Alvin wasn't going to be his roommate. He opened the door into the empty room with two desks and a double bunk bed. He laid out his bag and laid on the bed, quietly, to himself. About 10 minutes later, Kevin heard a knock on the door. He answered it and found Alvin standing there with his usual goofy smile on his face.
"What do you want Chopper?"
"Nothing, just checking up on you. Oh, by the way, you'll be glad to know that we each get our own rooms. I know how you like your privacy so that's why I came." said Chopper.
There was a few seconds of silence when Chopper broke the ice and said "They have a lounge up stairs and some of the guys are playing music. Why don't you come up? You can play your guitar. I'm sure they'll all enjoy it."
Kevin thought for a second and decided. "No, I think I'll just crash here for the night. Besides, I'm not really that big on parties or stuff. I'd probably just hang out with my back against the wall, watching everyone."
"Alright! Guess I'll see you tomorrow man."
Chopper left and headed to the lounge thinking "He's not normal. What kind of person skips out on a party? Aw well, it's his decision. Time to rock." But Blaze did tell the truth. At his own, going away party, he just stood against the wall watching. Everyone came to him to talk and say goodbye. Though they primarily did most of the talking. In Blaze's room, he got out his guitar and started to play some of his own songs on it alone. It made him forget about reality for a while. He just played long into the night. It wasn't until midnight when he decided to turn in. He tucked himself in and slept soundly, excited about the coming day.