Author's Note: Prompt suggested by Molly.


U is for Underdog


"You will be the underdogs."

The retiring Chief looked Blade straight in the eyes and for a moment Blade started to doubt whether he had made the right decision taking on the mantle of chief. If he was ready to take on the responsibility of caring for the base on his own.

"You will constantly be underfunded…"

The plane's word rang true. Even though Blade hadn't had to take the hard decisions yet, he had seen the budgets. He knew just how empty the team's bank accounts were, just how many repairs was constantly delayed due to lack of funds.

"…Understaffed…"

Blade nearly flitched at the Chief's words, because the helicopter know just how bad their staffing situation was. They were literally one batch of flu or a couple of bad landings away from not being able to do their job. Being that close to the edge terrified him.

"…And under-respected."

Which was a depressingly true statement and one of the primary cause for problems one and two.

"You will lead a team of misfits."

Missfits was putting it nicely. Both Blade and the Chief knew that their team was made up of the dregs, the lost causes, the people who simply didn't fit anywhere else. They had an ancient jump plane that refused to take command unless there was no other choice, skycrane who made no sense half the time, a couple of SEATs who were using this billet as a place to build time, a gaggle of smokejumpers who seemed to start as many fires as they put out, and a washed-up actor who was about to become their leader. From the outside Blade knew they looked like an absolute mess…from the inside they also looked like a mess, but they also felt like a family. And that feeling of family was the only reason he had agreed to become the new Chief.

"But, Blade Ranger, I want you to take one piece of advice to heart."

Blade bit his tongue to prevent him from making a sarcastic remark in reply. He was past the point of needing platitudes blown up his exhaust system. But he knew that this was going to be one of the last conversations that he was going to have with the outgoing chief and if he thought this was an important tidbit of knowledge, Blade was going to make sure to do his best to internalize it.

"Remember, that everyone underestimates the underdogs…" There was a nearly predatory glint in the old plane's eyes that made Blade perk up a bit. "And that means they never expect a team of underdogs to run as a pack…nor do they realize that a pack of underdogs can be scarier than a pack of alpha dogs because, unlike the alphas, the underdogs have had to fight for everything that they have. And that is what allows people like us to walk away with the win."

And at the bottom of Blade's engine, he knew that the words were true.


End Note: So, what are your prompt ideas for the letter V?