Trigger took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. It was silent except for the sound of engines and an occasional click from behind him. He chewed his lip slightly, as their base finally appeared on the horizon.

"So…" The clicks stop. He turned to look back at Prez.

"So?"

"Champ's gone…just like that." He lets out a long sigh.

"Thats how it goes Trigger. You take the time to look out for someone…then one wrong move and they're gone." She goes back to flipping the radar on and off, the clicking was helping. "It's not our fault, it's not his fault. Thats just how life works. Sometimes you'll have close friends and they will just stop talking to you. Nothing you did, nothing they did." She slaps her console again. "One day you say talk to you tomorrow, then you never talk to them again."

Trigger glanced back at her finally, watching as she stared out into the distance. "You alright?"

"Look…he was an ass. But he was a friendly guy, so rest in peace Champ." She sighs, clicking the radar off again. "I'm honestly going to miss him…I really wonder how he got here…He seems like a nice guy when he's not letting his rage control him."

"Attempted robbery…of a gas station."

Prez froze. "You're joking…"

"Thats what he told me." He shrugged. "None of us know why we're out here. We've got everything out here, from petty thieves to full blown criminals."

"I just want to get out of here Trigger. I want all of us out of here. This isn't right…" She goes back to messing with the radar.

Click.

"No…it's not…"

Click.

"But what do we do? We're trapped in this system…it's a prison. In the literal sense."

Prez snickers. "In the literal sense?"

"Well In the mental sense too."

Click. "Hmmm…yeah, true." She sighs again. "God damn it…" She growls slightly. "Why the hell are we still here!? Haven't we 'worked off' our so called crimes by now?"

Trigger frowned. "I think the real question is…will we ever 'work off' our crimes."

A crackle of coms broke the silence.

"Spare Squadron, we visual on you. Damaged planes get landing priority, allow them to land first. Cyclops and Strider are next after that due to low fuel. Keep the complaints to a minimum guys, we're in dire straights a-" Sounds of a door being slammed open came through, everyone expecting the worse from McKinsey.

"Attention Dumbass… and Spare Squadron." Avril's voice filled the coms.

Trigger groaned. "Damn it…she noticed already." He glanced back at their damaged wing fin.

"Ohhhhh we are so dead." Prez laughed brightly, barely able to get a breath in.

"I need all damaged planes to report to hanger fifteen, no exceptions. That means you too Cyclops…Four?"

A recon plane trailing smoke, waved it's wings in response.

"Yes you, I need to do repairs. Hanger fifteen, right after you land please, it going to be the last hanger at the end of the taxiway. Prez, you there?"

Trigger looked over his shoulder.

Prez's face paled quickly, she shook her head at record speeds.

"Prez…I can see you shaking your head. Answer the coms."

"Wait, wait, wait." Tabloid cut in. "How do you see her shaking her head?!"

"Yeah…how about it Scrap Queen? You got some secret x-ray vision you've been hiding from us?" Count snickered slightly. "Why don't you tell us your secret?"

"Oh you know, it's this wonderful new invention called binoculars. Very popular with the ladies these days."

"Oh….that makes sense."

"Yes Count, yes it does, also has the effect to make you look like a dumbass."

A chorus of chuckles filled the coms.

"Ooooo thats a burn."

"Shut up Tabloid!" Count huffed slightly.

"Prez! Coms, now."

Prez frowned and fidgeted for a bit. Then finally opened her coms. "Yes?"

"Thank god, look, I've got way too many planes to repair here. Can you and Trigger take care of the Strike Wyvern for me?"

"Ummm…" Prez looked a little shocked, to be fair, she was expecting more of a chewing out. "Yeah? I don't see why not…You need help with some of the F-15s? I have experience."

Avril sighed deeply. "Please…I will welcome any help. I'll get you guys a replacement by tomorrow, I've got to do that, try to train High Roller to do his own repairs, get him a new plane. But the recon squadron is top priority apparently… Damn McKinsey."

Prez sucked in a breath. "Gross…look we'll help where we can." She looked up at Trigger.

He shook his head quickly, crossing his arms then opening them out, repeating the motion a few times.

She raised a single eyebrow and glared. "Trigger will help too."

"Oh thank god, he may be a dumbass, but he does good work. Maybe I can have him teach some of the others." Avril laughed slightly.

Trigger sighed, leaning back in his seat, watching as planes started to land one by one. It's not like he didn't want to help, he did, just…damn it. All of this was a lot. First Brownie…Now Champ, the kid…Hell even a few of Strider Squadron. All people who were relying on him, all dead. He glanced around him, taking in the sight of their remaining squad members.

Who would be next?

Could he save them?

Was there anything he could do?

When would Mister X show up next?

Could he protect Prez?

Looking over his shoulder, he watched as she giggled at some joke, but there was still pain in her eyes.

Pain…

Was that his fault?

He failed to protect Champ.

Had he hurt her with the G-forces of his turns?

Could she ever forgive him?

Or better yet, did he deserve that at all? Or was he better o-

A crackle of static, "Spare Fifteen this is the tower…Runway is clear. You have permission to land. You made it this far, don't screw up now."

Trigger frowned, "Thanks for the vote of confidence tower…" He sighed slightly as he brought the X-02 down gently.

"Hey…Trigger?"

He froze up for a moment, biting his lip slightly. "Yeah Prez?"

"I'm okay…It's not your fault…I know you were just trying your best. Try to take things easy in the future. Okay?"

His shoulders immediately untensed as air rushed out of his lungs. "Right…how did you?" He glanced back for a second.

"Eyes on the road mister." She giggled slightly. "You know I can read you well."

Trigger groaned slightly. He did know that, but even then, sometimes she could still surprise him with how easily she understood what he was thinking. She knew sign language too, so she was right, he should know that honestly. As the Strike Wyvern gently landed with a bit of a wobble, he quickly brought down their speed, hoping not to damage their wing fin anymore.

"Great work, nice job on not ruining a good plane. Unlike some others…" There was a sigh, "Your work's still far from done. Stand by for further orders."

"Thank you Tower." Trigger closed the com channel, he lifted his fist back, then froze.

Tabloid's Mirage was in front, waiting to go down the taxiway. It was riddled with holes, dripping oil, and there was a burn mark on the nose.

He pulled up the receiver from Brownie's radio, punching in a secure frequency. "Tabloid?" He watched as the man jumped slightly, scrambling for his headset.

Prez laughed slightly, watching carefully.

There was finally a click over the radio. "Trigger?"

"Nah, Prez is here too."

"Hello." She waved slightly to Tabloid.

"Well…yeah…You two are a pair, so that doesn't surprise me." He sighed, kicking the engine in, slowly pushing his Mirage towards hanger fifteen.

"Tabloid…the fuck happened?" Prez cut in. "I haven't seen a plane that messed up for a while."

"Well…you know…those two were tough. Not as tough as 'Mister X' But pretty damn tough, took me for a ride thats for sure." He laughed. "But it'll all be worth it! I'm sure one day there will be one epic story written about me for the shit I pulled."

"You did good Tabloid." Trigger smiled slightly. "You did really good. Thanks for covering our back."

"Oh! I…well…I…huh." Tabloid chuckled again. "Thanks Trigger…that means a lot."

"You're welcome. I'm glad we didn't loose you."

"Well, I really have you and Prez to thank for that. You've basically taught me everything I know about combat. Hell I could barely fly when I first came here…" He chuckled sadly. "It was the same for a lot of us…Champ was the one who gave us pointers before we went up the first time. Hell he had to guide most of us in when we had to land."

"Well then, seems like he really did have a big heart like I thought…" Prez let out a long sigh, slumping into her seat. "Damn it. I'm gunna miss the big lug."

"Same…he may have been an ass sometimes…but he was still a good guy. He would have made a good trainer." Trigger smiled behind his mask.

"It's a shame we're not paid at all." Tabloid huffed, "We're here." He slowed down his Mirage turning it towards hanger 15.

Trigger did the same, freezing up as he brought the X-02 to a stop. Seeing a figure standing in the shade of hanger 15. He slowly opened the cockpit canopy, pulling off his helmet and mask while giving his best smile. "Avril! How goes it?"

She stood there for a moment, cocking her head to the side.

He barely had a second to duck, dodging the wrench chucked at him.

"You DUMBASS!" Avril growled as she approached. "I am going to skin you alive! Look what you did!" She jabbed a finger at the wing fin. "What the fuck Trigger? And I know this was you!"

Prez poked her head out. "To be fair, it was either the fin, or the whole plane and possibly us." She smiled nervously, whispering to Trigger. "Well…at least I don't feel sick anymore."

Avril took a deep breath reaching for another wrench. "To be fai-" She froze, her hand slowly dropping to her side, then she sniffed the air. "What is that…" She sniffed more, before her face scrunched up in disgust. "Trigger…" She growled deeply. "What…the…hell?"

Tabloid had hopped out of his Mirage, he sniffed the air as well, then gagged. "Bleeeeeh…why does it smell like burnt lemons?"

"That Tabloid, is the wonderful smell of Trigger and Prez burning out my well kept engines because Trigger's a total hot dog of a pilot." she took another deep breath, held it for a good minute as she closed her eyes, then released it with a slow exhale.

"Honestly…they saved our asses…well…most of our asses."

Avril's face dropped slightly. "What?"

"We lost two, confirmed KIA." Tabloid frowned deeply. "It was almost a slaughter out there."

Avril growled slightly. "Who'd we loose Tabloid?"

"Champ, and the kid."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Spare Ten?"

Tabloid nodded. "Yeah, they both barely had a chance to react."

"Fuck…thats just a shame. Gunna miss Champ, the kid wasn't to bad either." She gently rubbed her chin with her thumb, glaring towards the ATC. "Fuck this place…I hope we get out soon."

"I couldn't agree more…" Tabloid sighed slightly, looking over at the Strike Wyvern. "You gunna let them get out now?"

Avril nodded. "Come on you two! I won't kill you today."

Prez poked her head out once more. "Promise?"

"Promise." She smirked slightly. "Just for today though."

Prez quickly scrambled out of the cockpit, pausing halfway down as she sniffed the air. "Ahhh shit we really did burn out the engines." She hopped off the Strike Wyvern.

"Honestly what did you fight? I've never seen you guys come back this beat up."

Trigger slowly climbed out of the cockpit, he looked down at Prez, holding out his palm as if holding something, then bringing it to his throat.

Prez tilted her head, then motioned to Avril "Who? Her? Or Mister X?"

Trigger made a so-so gesture, then climbed down.

"Ahhhh, I see." She chuckled, turning to Avril. "You're as threatening as the fucker we took on."

Avril's eyes widened. "Wait…all of that damage was from one guy?"

Prez quickly stopped chuckling, then nodded slowly. "Yeah…he came out of nowhere, got on Champ's tail, took him out, then went after Spare Ten, two of the VIP's, and then Trigger got into intercept range. It was only a few seconds between kills. Haven't seen shit like that since…Monarch." She frowned deeply, then shook her head.

Avril frowned, looking at Tabloid's plane. "Did that guy get you too?"

He quickly shook his head. "No! No, no, no! I would have been dead to rights if I did! I handled his wingmen. Trigger basically went head to head with the guy kept him off of all of us."

Trigger walked up, helmet hooked under his arm, frowning slightly. "You still did good." He slowly looked to his left. "I'm sorry about the damage Avril…tried to keep it to a minimum, but…" He looked back at the Strike Wyvern, watching as two F-15's approached. "Well…things were rough."

A F-15 pulled in and shut down it's engines, the pilot practically ripped the canopy open, jumping out. "Where the fuck does that bitch get off ordering us around?"

"Ah…Cyclops Four…" Prez tilted her head to the right, looking over at Trigger. "Seems like a bit of a hot shot herself."

He raised an eyebrow. "She flew pretty well to be honest."

Cyclops Four marched her way over to the group. Ripping off her helmet in one movement, flicking her hair back quickly. "This hanger fucking fifteen?"

Avril raised an eyebrow slightly, looking the pilot up and down. "Sure."

"Fuck you mean 'Sure' I swear t-…" Cyclops Four froze up for a moment, looking right at Avril, jaw dropping slightly as her face turned a little red.

Trigger raised an eyebrow. He'd seen that look before, many times before. It was usually the look his sister would have when she saw someone she had a crush on. She was probably worried sick about him...

"Oh…Hi…um…Come here often?" Cyclops Four broke the silence.

Avril squinted slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Yes…I'm stuck here." She stretched slightly, her shirt ridding up slightly.

Cyclops Four's eyes quickly glanced down, her face turning even redder. "Ah…yes…I…Hmmmm." She bit her lip. "You the bi-…Mechanic?"

Tabloid hissed slightly.

Prez's eyes went wide and started quickly going back and forth between Avril and Cyclops Four.

Trigger sighed slightly, pulling out a canteen, sipping water from it.

"The bitch? Yes, that would be I." Avril smirked, giving a mock bow.

"Eeep." Cyclops Four's face went white as a sheet.

Trigger coughed and spat out his water.

Tabloid sucked in a breath, quickly turning around, fastwalking over to his Mirage. Barely containing his laughter.

Prez snickered, sucking in breaths, doing her best not to descend into a mess of giggles. "To be fair Avril…oh man…it's not the worst you've been called."

Avril smirked more, giving Prez a playful shove. "Oh shut up."

"Oh…Oh…you heard that huh…shit…" Cyclops Four frowned, shaking her head quickly, "Sorry, just…"

Avril puts a hand up, shaking her head. "Don't worry about it. You guys are probably shaken up." She points over to a idling pushback tug. "Hop on that, we're waiting for a few more people, they'll lead you to the mess hall." She gave a smile and a wink.

Cyclops Four blushed a little once again, then quickly ran over to the pushback tug.

Prez giggled a little. "Well...think it's time to start an official scrap queen fan club?"

Avril grinned widely at that. "You saying there isn't one already?"

Prez guffawed.

Two other damaged F-15s slowly approached, shutting down their engines as the pilots stepped out.

The first hopped out and went straight for tug Cyclops Four was sitting on.

The second slowly made their way over to the group as Tabloid returned.

Tabloid squinted slightly. "Uh oh…they're coming this way…"

"Now I know I was told to not get involved. But…" Cyclops One removed his helmet slowly, a grin covering his face. "I think in this case I will. Call me Wiseman." He held his helmet in the hook of his arm, holding out his hand to Avril. "First of all, thank you ma'am, for doing our repairs. Please forgive my subordinate, we lost a few people out there." He frowns slightly.

Avril looked shocked for a second, then slowly took his hand, shaking it. "Well, you're welcome. I'll warn you though, it's going to be a weird looking repair. But, your planes will be running better than ever."

Wiseman laughed heartily. "Well then! I won't complain." He gently let go of her hand, looking over the rest of group. He glanced back at the Strike Wyvern and Mirage. "So, you three are the ones who took on Mister X and his wingmen?"

Trigger nodded. "Yes sir."

Prez smiled. "We're glad we could help."

Tabloid nodded slowly. "We're sorry we couldn't protect everyone."

"Don't worry about it, seriously, you did the best you could. I can tell. I have to ask though…which of you two were in the Strike Wyvern?"

Tabloid and Avril pointed at the X-02 pilots.

Prez gave a small wave. "Hiiii…"

Trigger's eyes widened slightly, then said nothing.

The wind whistled.

Avril cleared her throat.

The sea lapped against the shore.

Tabloid bought his palm up to his forehead with a resounding smack and a groan.

A seagull squawked in the distance.

Prez glared at Trigger.

Wiseman frowned.

"Oh! Right! Sorry…Ahhhh awkward." Prez elbows Trigger, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Introduce us!"

Trigger winces in pain, but steps forward quickly, standing at attention. "Spare Fifteen reporting sir."

Wiseman's frown quickly turned back up into a wide smile, "Oh man, nah, nah, nah." He holds up a hand. "No need for that."

Trigger tilted his head, squinting slightly. "Sir?"

"And none of that sir business, I'm not your superior, I'm just another pilot." He huffed slightly. "Look, callsign, and where did you serve before you got here?"

Prez's eyes widened a bit, then she looked to Trigger, shrugging slightly.

Trigger had to agree, what was the harm really? He turned back to Wiseman, then nodded. "Trigger, former IUN Peacekeeper. Mage Squadron."

Wiseman's eyes went saucer wide. "Wait, wait, wait. You're Mage Two? The man who supposedly assassinated Harling?"

Suddenly, everyone got a bit defensive.

Tabloid had balled his hands into fists, knuckles white from the strain.

Prez growled slightly, moving in front of Trigger slightly.

Avril suddenly hefted a wrench over her shoulder.

Trigger bit his lip, "I didn't do it."

Wiseman huffed. "Oh I know, I saw the footage. You went guns on the drone. That missile came from no where, missed the drone completely, went straight for Mother Goose One. I don't think you're an assassin at all. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Everyone calmed at that.

He frowned. "I think they threw out my testimony…Never saw it brought up in the trial…Still…I thought you were in prison with five life sentences."

"I am…we all are. This is a penal unit."

That got the squadron leader to freeze up. "A…a penal unit? When the hell did Osea give permission to have a penal unit?"

Tabloid scoffed. "With how the Osean prison system is? Probably the moment the war started."

Wiseman's frown deepened more, he motioned to Prez. "And you Ma'am?"

She smiled slightly. "Prez, Spare Fifteen's WSO." She gave a small salute. "Former mercenary of Sicario, Hitman team."

Wiseman pursed his lips. "I've heard of them! Monarch's squadron right?"

She nodded quickly.

"Damn good pilots, a little on the wild side, but damn good. I flew in a sortie along with Sicario back when I first joined the OADF. Always kept tabs on them since then."

Prez's eyes sparkled slightly. "Woah…Really?"

"Mhmm…they had some crazy moves. Those AOA's are no joke. I do have to ask though…" He frowns once more. "Why are you here?"

Prez clicks her tongue as she sucks her breath through her teeth. "Got shot down and captured by an IUN peacekeeper patrol…Sicario didn't come back for me." She shrugs. "Got transferred in with Trigger here."

Wiseman pouted. "Why pilots that are good enough to go head to head with Mister X are here…this is going to bother me…"

"Bandog did say to not get involved." Prez smiled sadly.

"That just got me more curious either way." He smiled again as he looked to the left. "And you, taking on two of Sol Squadron's best, I'm glad to see you made it out."

Tabloid blushed and smiled. "It was my pleasure. Was worried they'd go after you, they were both a pain in the ass, but Trigger did most of the work."

Wiseman shook his head. "Nah, you did a good job, if you didn't do what you did, we'd have much heavier losses. Especially since we were out of ammo. I'm not letting the top brass make us run a sortie like that ever again." He sighed slightly. "So, where'd you serve before this?"

"Ah…" Tabloid clicked his tongue. "I worked a desk job…"

"Oh? What branch did you work for?"

Tabloid tilted his head. "Grüder industries?"

Wiseman squinted slightly. "Didn't know Grüder had that for pilots…"

Avril laughed. "They don't…He's a civilian."

"Wait…what?" Wiseman shook his head slightly. "Then how did you…"

Tabloid just points to Trigger. "He taught me most of what I know about combat. Everything else I had to learn on the fly, or was taught to me by…well…Spare Eight."

"What was he before he was assigned…no…brought here?"

Trigger sighed. "Commercial pilot. Airline let him go, he couldn't get a job, had to resort to robbing a gas station. Ended up here somehow."

Wiseman gasped sightly. "I'm sorry…he…he didn't deserve that." He scratched at his cheek. "What about you…miss?"

"Avril, Avril Mead. I was flying a plane in Osea, right when the war started, I got shot down, captured, roughed up, then charged with breaking 'wartime aviation laws'." She growled. "Fucking bullshit…"

Prez nodded. "Oh and she does mean, right when the war started, happened to be in the air when Osea was hit with those drone strikes."

Wiseman's lips formed a thin line. "Well then…Looks like I'll be having a word or two with your base commander…and maybe some of the other higher ups…" He nodded slowly. "Thank you, all of you for your hard work, and for saving my squadron. We are in your debt. Hopefully we can repay that one day." He waved slightly. "I hope we meet again under better circumstances as well!" He turned, making his way over to the pushback tug.

Avril turned towards the rest of them. "So…what the hell did you three saved those guys from? Might as well have been a evil dragon from how Wiseman was talking about this 'Mister X' guy." She smiled.

Tabloid grinned. "Well, well, have I got a story for you." He leaned on Trigger's shoulder. "I remember that day well." He slowly waved a hand in front of him, as if wiping water off a window.

Trigger frowned. "It was barely a few hours ago…"

"Amidst the swirling clouds, a fighter squadron was trying to help it's allies reach safety."

Prez smiled. "Thats a pretty good opening line."

"You think so? I plan I writing a book about this once it's all over." He smiled brightly.

Avril chuckled, "Well you do have a love of fiction Tabloid. I think you'd do a good job."

"Thank you!" His grin widened. "Anyways…there we were, clouds thicker than the ocean fog. Grand spires of stone towering above the clouds." Tabloid began to excitedly tell the story of their grand battle, the heroic last stand of Champ, and the duel between Spare 15 and Mister X.

Eventually, Trigger just smiled, letting Tabloid and Prez lean against him as they talked.

Good friends were rare finds.

He realized he had hit gold, in one of the weirdest places.

He wasn't going to complain about that at all.

So, thats the Fanfiction side of things all up to date. ^^ Hope you've all enjoyed the updates. You'll starting seeing them once a month after the next update. Been loving all the Reviews I've seen so far, so keep em coming!

Also Ghostly: You'll see how things go story wise, as for training, there is barely any time to train everyone else, most of their time is taken up.