Things had been quite busy at the UPASRC base since General Cabanas had made his visit. Darla was busy building the striker unit for Tonya and that was taking up most of her time what little was left was used to maintain the strikers of the other girls. The 555th had been functioning primarily as a research unit was now being transformed into a genuine combat unit. Diana was busy learning the ins and outs of Military discipline and teaching it to the other girls. They were quite enthusiastic about becoming a disciplined military unit and worked hard at marching in formation, salutes and other parts of looking military. They approached the task with the enthusiasm that was typical of young children. Megan had taken on the job of whipping the girls into good physical shape and displayed the temperament of a typical Drill sergeant. And in spite of her mouth and hard ass attitude the little girls threw themselves into the training with great determination…their efforts soon showed major results as the group of girls developed hard bodies and could march in formations that older solders would envy.
Weapon training had become more serious as well. What had been something that had been almost an after thought was now primary, as the girls knew that fancy flying was not enough. They would have to be able to use their guns effectively to destroy the neuroi. The girls were now spending more time at the range as well as practicing group attacks on balloons and other targets and a lot of the practice was now done while flying their strikers. The girls also started to carry their weapons with them when flying the strikers at all times. This latter move was somewhat unnerving to the civilian population when the girls started to show up in public toting their weapons. Fortunately the girls made a point to not threaten people with their weapons indeed they went out of their way to not be threatening when armed.
The work on the special striker for Tonya proceeded rapidly as Darla worked tirelessly to keep her promises to have it ready as soon as possible. After about a month she had it ready for testing. She informed Tracie that the new striker was ready for testing. Tracie looked over the unit. Compared to the other strikers this thing was massive. Since it was to be used by a girl who had no use of her legs Darla had concentrated on making it capable of carrying as much of a weapon load as possible and maneuverability was secondary. It had twin magic engines that were a lot larger and more powerful that what the fighters had. Right away Tracie had some issues with how it looked.
"I don't like how it looks." She told Darla "it looks like it's going to hard to fly."
"I know" Darla agreed. "Tonya is not going to be able to move her legs like you can so she is not going to be able to turn well. It's going to have to make up for that by having a big weapon load."
Tracie looked at the striker and slowly climbed up on the cradle and looked at the leg sockets that were side by side she called up her magic and slid her legs in. The Cradle had been designed to be mounted sideways and then tilted upright. Tracie pulled the striker upright.
"Tracie Osborn launching" She called out and the striker powered up and she took off. The Striker had good speed and gained height quickly. Once airborne though it proved to be sluggish in turns it also took a lot more magical energy than Tracie's F4F Wildcat. After about twenty minutes of flying Tracie returned with the striker and maneuvered it back into its cradle.
"Are you really going to make that poor girl fly this thing?" She asked. "It doesn't turn and it takes a lot of energy."
"Well you have to remember Tonya's legs are paralyzed so she has to have a solid unit." Darla said. "And she has a lot of magic energy."
"She's not going to like this." Tracie replied. "It's really hard to fly."
Darla put her hand on the shoulder of the young witch.
"Tracie you have to remember that Tonya is in a wheelchair. "Darla pointed out "She only walked a few months before she got polio. I have a feeling that for her this thing is going to be wonderful"
"I don't know." Tracie replied. "I'll test it and help make it work as well as we can. But I still don't know."
"We'll have to do our best." Darla said.
The next two weeks were spent testing the weapon systems and adjusting the striker for optimal performance. Tracie remained skeptical about the machine while it had good speed and power and the weapon load was very powerful…that was something Tracie did like. Over all she was not happy with the performance and was convinced that Tonya would not like it. Finally satisfied that they had done all they could to make it ready for Tonya it was loaded on a train along with Tracie and Wendy's strikers and they along with Diana and Darla left for the Conch Republic after sending a telegram informing them of their arrival. Three days later the train pulled into the station where General Fred Cabanas met them. The three witches saluted smartly when he arrived…much to the puzzlement of the other people at the station. Fred returned to salute.
"You girls are looking good." He said "Your new uniforms are ready I'm looking forward to seeing you in them. Tonya already has hers."
Diana smiled.
"We have been working hard to make the 555th look like a military unit." She said. "This will complete the transformation."
"So did you show those guys that film you took of the girls unloading the plane? Darla asked.
"Yup" Fred replied. "They just stared at it I think you girls sort of shamed them."
Darla chuckled. "Yeah I bet they did."
"Well let's get your bags and load them in the car while they load the strikers into trucks." He told the girls. "Your new uniforms are waiting at the airfield. You have your own hanger and the barracks are attached to the hanger. Once you have your uniforms you'll get to meet Tonya."
The luggage was brought out to the car by a porter and loaded once it was in the girls piled in and they drove to the hanger. The hanger doors were open and Fred drove right in and pulled to the back of the hanger. At this point there was a clear spot where the striker cradles were going and across the hanger were four Grumman F3F biplane fighters with the conch shell markings of the Conch Republic on the wings, fuselage and tail. In the wall by the clear spot was a door and on that door was the Emblem of the 555th Joint Fighter Wing. Fred parked the car in front of the door.
"Ladies Welcome to your southern base"Fred announced as he climbed out of the car.
The girls piled out of the car and grabbed their luggage. The younger girls called up their magic to have the strength to lift their heavy bags. Fred opened the door and they lugged in their bags. Fred showed them their uniforms and their room. The girls grabbed the uniforms and started to change Fred barely was able to get out of the room and close the door while the girls were still decent. Since Darla was not changing and already was wearing her cover-alls she went out with him and giggled at his red face.
"Are you embarrassed?" she asked him.
"Uh they could have waited until I left the room." He said.
"Yeah they should have" Darla agreed.
After a few minutes the three witches came out in their new uniforms. Fred nodded and smiled.
"You girls look very good in your new uniforms." He told them. "One thing though…I'm really not interested in seeing you naked. Next time let me leave the room before taking your clothes off."
The three little girls blushed as they realized what he meant.
"Sorry, it won't happen again." Diana assured him.
At that point a large flat bed truck pulled into the hanger with three striker cradles on it.
"It looks like your strikers have arrived." He observed.
Darla climbed up on the truck and inspected the strikers while the hi-low drove up to start unloading them. It took about ten minutes to unload the strikers and the spare parts and Darla's tools. Darla was checking out the strikers along with Wendy to make sure they had made the trip without damage. While they were checking out the strikers Tonya rolled up in her wheel chair. Diana was the first one to see her since the other girls were more concerned with checking out the strikers. Tonya was in uniform so Diana quickly figured out who she was and walked up to her.
"You must be Latonya Morris." She said" I'm Diana Evans."
Tonya realized that this was the commander of the 555th Joint Fighter Wing and sat up straight and saluted. Diana smiled and returned the salute.
"Looks like you have been working on your discipline." She replied.
"Yes Major I want to do a good job." She responded.
"Well that's what my big sister told me." Diana replied.
Tracie saw Diana talking to a black girl in a wheel chair and nudged Wendy and both walked over to join them. Diana saw the two younger girls walk up.
"These are the girls who are going to be in charge of your training." Diana informed Tonya as she pointed to each one in turn. "This is Captain Wendy O' Brian and this is Sergeant Tracie Osborn. Wendy will be your commander if you make it"
Tonya sat upright and saluted. Wendy returned the salute. She looked at Tonya in the wheelchair and decided to see if her healing power could help. She reached toward the blanket that covered Tonya's crippled legs.
"Mind if I take a look?" She asked.
Tonya nervously nodded. Wendy noticed the nervousness.
"Don't worry I'm a healer I might be able to fix this." She assured her as she slowly pulled the blanket away. Wendy called up her magic and the traits of her turtle familiar came out then she knelt down. She looked at Tonya's shriveled legs and laid her hands on them. A magic circle formed under her as she started the spell…Sadly it was too late the change in Tonya's legs was permanent. After about a minute she stopped.
"I'm sorry" She sadly told the crippled girl. "It's too late."
She sadly hung her head. Tonya reached out and placing her hand under Wendy's chin lifted her head.
"It's all right I'm used to it now." She told her
"Well I had to try." Wendy replied with a weak smile.
At that point Darla pulled her head out of Tonya's striker.
"Well Tonya's striker is ready to go once she gets here." She announced the turned around and saw Tonya and blushed beet red. "How long you have been here?"
"You got to excuse Darla." Diana said. "When she works on a striker she is oblivious to what is going on around her."
Darla wiped the grease of her hands ignoring her little sister's crack.
"Well if you are ready your striker is waiting Tonya." Darla told her.
"Yes I'm ready." Tonya responded.
She wheeled over to her striker in her wheelchair and looked it over as she did so she was nervous as she realized that this was real. She was about to become the first strike witch that used a wheelchair. Tracie watched her and was worried. She had tested that striker. She already had respect for the girl in the wheel chair. Tracie knew that striker was a lot harder to fly than her own it used much more magic and was a slug compared to her F4F Wildcat. Tracie was afraid that Tonya was going to be badly disappointed. Darla spent several minutes explaining to Tonya how that striker was going to work finally she stood up.
"Tonya it's time for you to try it out." She told her. "Wendy is taking over now."
"Call up your magic" Wendy told her"
Tonya called up her magic and displayed the traits of the alligator that was her familiar.
"Okay, remember what Darla told you." Wendy said. "Mount up."
Tonya rolled up to the back of the striker unit she grabbed her legs and quickly lifted them up and pushed then in the leg sockets in the striker then she pulled the lever that brought the striker to an upright position. Tracie did not even wait as she mounted her own striker.'
"Okay Tracie will take off first then you Tonya, I'll follow you." Wendy told them
"Tracie Osborn Launching!" A Magic circle appeared under Tracie and she took off easily climbing and turning around.
Tonya was next. "Latonya Morris Launching!" A large Magic circle formed under her and the big A-20 Havoc lumbered into the air. Tonya had to make a fairly wide turn to face the direction Tracie was.
Wendy took off last. "Wendy O' Brian Launching!" A magic circle formed under her and her F4F Wildcat quickly took off and she flew up and faced the other two witches.
"Okay Tonya how does it feel?" Wendy asked.
"I'm FLYING!" Tonya exclaimed, "I'm really flying!"
"Okay let's see what you can do." Wendy said.
They spent almost an hour in the air The A-20 lumbered through the air making wide turns and was not near as maneuverable as the F4Fs. It was however slightly faster. Tracie watched Tonya fly and was convinced that she was going to be disappointed. After Tonya's first flight in her striker Wendy called it and they landed. As she powered down and returned to her wheelchair tears were rolling down Tonya's cheeks. Tracie saw them and since she had tested the A-20 figured that she knew what the problem was. She walked over to Tonya.
"You alright?' she asked.
Tonya looked at Tracie with tears in her eyes."
"I flew!" she said, "I really flew!"
With out warning Tonya reached out and grabbed Tracie and pulled the smaller girl into her lap. Tracie gave a little squeak as she was yanked into a big hug.
"I know you tested my striker." Tonya said. "Thank you so much…you have made my dream come true!"
Tracie was caught off guard by Tonya's reaction. She had thought that Tonya would hate the A-20 Havoc because it was so hard to fly and unresponsive.
"You like it?" she asked surprised by Tonya's reaction. "I don't like it, it does not fly as well as my F4F."
Tonya smiled at Tracie's reaction.
"Tracie I have been in a wheelchair since I was two." Tonya told her "For me flying the A-20 is heaven!"
Tracie smiled at Tonya's statement.
"I'm so glad you like it." She said. "I was so afraid that you would not."
"I have been paralyzed since I was two." Tonya replied. "If I could walk like you I might not either. But I like this. I'm a strike witch now."
"Well tomorrow you are going to go up with a full weapon load." Darla informed them.
"And you are going to be staying on base now too. "Diana added. "You are now officially a Strike Witch Welcome to the 555th Joint fighter Wing.
Tonya sat stunned for a few minutes then her eyes slowly teared up.
"I'm really a strike witch?" she asked.
Tracie walked over to her and leaning over the side of her wheelchair gave her a big hug.
"Yes you are." She said then added. "I like you."
Tonya hugged Tracie back.
"I like you too." She replied.
Both girls smiled. General Cabanas drove up and parked his car outside the hanger Diana saw him get out of his car.
"Attention!" she barked out.
All four of the Strike witches instantly came to attention Tonya sitting upright in her wheel chair the others standing and all saluted. General Cabanas returned the salutes. Darla in the mean time was working on Tonya's striker and had not even noticed the General's arrival.
"You'll get used to her." Diana told him. "When she's working on stuff she is in her own little world."
He chuckled at Diana's observation.
"Considering that the lives of your girls are in her hands I guess that is probably a good thing." He replied. "So how did the test flight go?"
"It went well." Diana told him "Right Wendy?"
"Yeah Tonya listens well and follows direction well too." Wendy agreed. "She works hard. I think she is going to be a good Strike Witch."
"I think so too." Tracy told them. "I flew that striker before she did. It's hard to fly. I did what I could to help Darla make it fly better but it's still EEP!"
Tracie was cut off when Tonya grabbed her and pulled Tracie into her lap.
"It flies good." Tonya declared as she hugged Tracie. "Because of you and Darla I'm a strike witch now!"
Tracie blushed beet red as she was hugged.
"Tonya," Tracie said. "You are a strike witch because you work hard to be one."
Tracie hugged Tonya back
"I'm glad you are in Beta flight." Tracie told her. "I like you a lot, you don't give up and you are so tough."
"Do you really like me?" Tonya asked.
"Of course I do!" Tracie replied in a tone of voice that implied that it was a question that had an obvious answer. "Why wouldn't I?"
Tonya said nothing she just looked down. Tracie looked at her.
"I don't care about the wheelchair." She declared. "I still like you."
"It's because I'm black and you're white." Tonya quietly replied.
"So what?" Tracie countered. "I don't care about that!"
Tracie punctuated her comment with a big hug.
"I don't care what color you are!" She announced, in her wonderful naiveté the little yooper girl knew nothing about racism and would not care if she did. Tonya was her new friend and that was that.
General Cabanas watched the interplay between Tonya and Tracie with mild amusement. He was glad that the other girls easily accepted the little black girl in the wheelchair. He could tell that there was a bond already forming between her and Tracie. While he had not expected trouble the fact of the matter was even he had not anticipated how well the yooper girls would accept the little southern black girl in her wheelchair. He could tell that it was not pity but respect. Tonya had already proved herself worthy. But right now he had to get Tonya's clothes and personal gear because the girls were all going to stay on base.
"Okay ladies I hate to break this up but we need to get Tonya's stuff." He announced, "So who is coming with us?
All three of the strike witches announced they wanted to come Darla finally pulled her head out of Tonya's striker and announced she wanted to come too. Fred looked at the group of young girls that wanted to go and realized that he had a problem. His car was not quite big enough to carry five more passengers plus Tonya's wheelchair and her luggage. That's when David Horan pulled up and parked his car.
"So how did she do?" He asked."
"Real good." Wendy told him. "She listens well and has good power. Tomorrow we are going to have her go up with a weapons load. That's when we really find out what she can do"
"That sounds good to me." Dennis replied. "So I know Darla and Tonya already who are these other girls?"
General Cabanas smiled as he introduced the newly arrived girls, pointing to each one in turn.
"This is Major Diana Evans The commander of the 555th Joint Fighter Wing, This is Captain Wendy O' Brian commander of Beta flight and this is sergeant Tracie Osborn a member of Beta flight. Tonya is now in that unit " He told him.
"Okay so these are some of the strike witches." He said. "Are there more?"
"These are the only ones that came down there are six more up north," Fred replied. "Anyway I'm glad you're here now. I have a little problem."
"What's that?" Dennis asked.
"Well it's like this." Fred started out. "When I asked the girls who wanted to come with me to help get Tonya's stuff they all want to. My car is not big enough to carry all five of them plus Tonya's wheelchair and her luggage.
Dennis looked around at the group. He figured correctly that all four witches would want to ride together.
"Okay you carry the witches and Tonya's wheelchair and I'll carry Darla and Tonya's luggage." Dennis said.
"We don't have any luggage." Tonya said.
"You don't?" Tracie asked in shock.
"We don't travel because I can't" Tonya sadly said looking down.
"Well that's changed now!" Fred told her. "Because you are going to be traveling a lot now."
"You can use mine for now." Tracie and Wendy declared in unison as they ran off to get the luggage.
"You'll have your own luggage in a day or two." Fred told her.
Tracie and Wendy quickly ran to the bunkroom and emptied their suitcases on their bunks then ran out and tossed them in the backseat of Dennis's car. At the same time Darla was helping Tonya get in the back seat of Fred's car. Diana climbed in the front seat and Wendy climbed into the opposite passenger door. Tracie looked up and pouted since she wanted to sit next to Tonya. Tonya looked out the window and figured out what Tracie was pouting about. She pushed the door open and with some difficulty slid over and waved Tracie in. Tracie smiled and climbed in and hugged Tonya when she sat down. Darla climbed into the passenger seat of Dennis Horan's car. Both cars left once the girls were settled down for the short drive to Tonya's house. Mrs. Morris was startled when the two cars pulled up in front of her house. She went to the door to see who it was. As she looked out the door she could see several young girls climb out of the cars. Most of them were wearing the CRAF uniforms that were like the ones Tonya had been given Darla called out.
"Hey Mrs. Morris I'm back."
"Is that you Darla? She asked. "I didn't recognize you with out your dress."
Diana immediately burst into laughter.
"My sister is always dressed like that!" she exclaimed. "She almost never wears a dress"
"It's hard to work on strikers in a dress." Darla replied." I really don't like dresses anyway."
"Sister?" Mrs. Morris asked.
"Yeah Diana is my little sister." Darla replied. "She's a major and is the 555th commander."
Diana pulled Tonya's wheelchair out of the trunk and opened it up by the back passenger side door of the car.
"Yeah and Tonya is now officially a member of the 555th Joint Fighter Wing." Diana announced. "She flew for the first time today and did really well. She is going to be a strong witch."
While Diana was talking to Mrs. Morris Tracie had called up her magic so she would have the strength to lift Tonya out of the car and into her wheel chair. Mrs. Morris looked over and was shocked to see this little girl who looked to be around three and a half start to lift Tonya.
"What are you doing?! Mrs. Morris screamed as she started to rush toward them. "You'll hurt yourself and Tonya too!"
"No I won't" Tracie replied as she easily lifted Tonya from the car to the wheelchair.
"It's okay Mama." Tonya replied as her mother made it to her. "She's a lot stronger than she looks."
"Yeah Tonya's my friend I would never hurt her!" Tracie declared as she hugged Tonya.
Mrs. Morris was surprised first by the ease that the little girl had lifted and carried Tonya then by the fact that a white girl had made it clear that she considered Tonya to be her friend.
"Tracie is really nice." Tonya said, "She tested my striker for me and helped make it fly right. She's why I'm a Strike Witch new."
"No I'm not." Tracie insisted. "You are a strike witch because you work hard and you're tough. That striker is hard to fly I didn't think you would like it, but you can fly it better than I can. I'm glad you are in Beta flight because you are so tough and strong. Like I told you you're my friend and that's that. I don't care about your wheelchair or that we are different colors. You are good people."
Mrs. Morris was amazed by what she had just heard. Southern white kids would not show the respect, admiration and affection to a black girl that Tracie did. It was clear already that they were becoming close friends. Darnel came home at that point and saw all the girls gathered around.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"I flew today!" Tonya announced. "I'm a strike witch!"
"Really?" Darnel responded.
"That's right." Wendy informed him. "Tonya is now officially a member of Beta Flight of the Five Hundred and Fifty Fifth Joint Fighter Wing."
Darnel looked at his sister for a moment then at Wendy
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Captain Wendy O' Brian." She replied." I'm the commander of Beta Flight. I'm Tonya's commanding officer.
"And this is my friend Tracie" Tonya announced as she hugged Tracie
"That's right!" Tracie said as she returned Tonya's hug. "Tonya is going to be a really good Strike witch too!"
"Yeah but right now we have to pick-up her stuff so she can get settled in before it gets too late." Diana stated.
"Get her stuff?" Mrs. Morris asked in surprise.
"Momma I'm going to move to the base to stay with the rest of the witches." Tonya replied.
Mrs. Morris was caught by surprise by Tonya's announcement. Up until this point the only time Tonya had been away from home was when she was in the hospital. Now she was going to be away from home for what was clearly going to an extended period and even though she would not be far still she would be under somebody else's care. She got a big lump in her throat as she realized that by securing her dream Tonya would soon be leaving her.
"Tonya, Are you sure you are ready for this?" She finally asked…though deep down she already knew the answer.
"Momma." Tonya said then hesitated. "Ever since the neuroi killed Papa I wanted to get them back. That's why I wanted to be a strike witch...Now I am one. I want to go out and make them pay for killing Papa."
"Cindy all over again." Diana muttered as she winced.
"What was that?" Mrs. Morris asked with an edge to her voice.
"Cindy Jablonski" Diana replied. "She lost her father too. She joined the 555th just before Darla came down here. She's two as soon as she manifested her power she wanted revenge." Diana looked up at Mrs. Morris with sad eyes. "It's too late you can't stop her now you won't be able to live with her if you try."
"I know." Morris said. "I know."
Darla walked over and gave Mrs. Morris a hug.
"I'm sending my little sister out." She told her. "I know it's not the same as sending a daughter but it's close."
"Well it's more like your parents are sending your little sister out than you." Mrs. Morris replied.
Darla paused and looked Mrs. Morris right in the eyes.
"All of these girls are going to war because of me." She said in a firm voice. "I make it possible. I make the strikers that allow them to fly and fight. I am responsible for all of them going and if it goes wrong then it's my fault too. None of them could go if I had not figured out how to make striker units that little girls can fly. If this fails…" Darla looked down. "Then it's my fault."
Mrs. Morris stood and looked at the young teen for a long time. She realized that this young girl barely into her teens had taken on a load of responsibility that could crush a lot of adults.
"Darla" Mrs. Morris said. "You are wise beyond your years. I feel a whole lot better about Tonya going with the 555th now. I have good reason to trust you and your little sister. You are very responsible…and please call me Camille you are entitled to do that."
"All right Camille" Darla replied. "I have done a lot of heavy thinking in the past couple months. For all the work and equipment testing we had been doing it was still more of a game than reality… Then first little Cindy comes along and makes it clear that she wanted to be a strike witch to get revenge. Then General Cabanas enlists the girls into the Conch Republic Air Force and now they are converting a ship into a carrier plus now Tonya wants revenge too. These girls are going to war…And God help me I made it possible. General Cabanas said that now the lives of these girls are in my hands.
"And I am confident that that those hands are capable of handling the job." Fred stated.
"I hope so." Darla said looking down at her hands.
Diana walked over and put her hands on Darla's
"When we go to war these are the hands that are going to be responsible for them." Diana told her. "I'm the one who will actually be taking them into battle. If there is a screw-up it's mine. I'm the commander."
Camille walked over to where the Evans sisters were and took their hands in hers.
"I trust my daughters safety in these hands." She told them then she gave them both a big hug.
Both girls blushed. They were interrupted by a child's cry of pain. Wendy was off like a shot the others following. The others followed as she ran around the corner. The sight that greeted her was disturbing. A little boy about four years old had been playing on a pile of salvaged building materials and has slipped and his leg had gone through a used window and the entire side of his little leg was laid wide open and he was bleeding badly. Wendy knew she had to work fast. The little witch called up her magic as she ran toward the boy. She picked up the boy and placed him on the grass away from the broken glass.
"It's okay I'm a healer." She told the little boy as she knelt down and started her healing spell. Soon a large magic circle formed under them and her hands started to glow as the energy flowed from them into the injured boy.
His mother arrived as Wendy was doing her work. She saw a white girl with strange markings on her face and neck leaning over her little boy and there was a lot of blood.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY BABY?!" She screamed.
"She's healing him" Diana called out.
"It's okay Carrie" Camille yelled out "She's a witch she can be trusted."
Wendy finished healing the boy and sat back breathing heavily spent from the exertion.
"You'll be alright now." She told him
The little boy looked down at his now healed leg and gave Wendy a hug and a little kiss. "Thank you."
Wendy smiled and hugged and kissed him back. "You're welcome."
"Hey Wendy! It looks like you have a boy friend now." Diana observed.
"Yeah he is kinda cute." She said rubbing his close-cropped head. "I like his hair."
Carrie by now was standing over Wendy and her son who by now was in Wendy's lap
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Captain Wendy O' Brian I'm commander of Beta Flight of the 555th Joint Fighter Wing." She answered." I'm their healing witch." She looked down at the little boy she had just healed. "What's your name?"
"I'm Pauly." He shyly replied. He slowly reached up and touched Wendy's cheek. "Why you got these marks on you?"
"It's because my familiar is a painted turtle and when a witch calls up her magic she will show some of the traits of their familiar." Wendy told him "Mine is the painted turtle so I have the markings on her face and neck on my face and neck I have a tail like she does and if you feel my back I have like a turtle shell too."
Pauly reached around and touched her back and felt her shell. "WOW!"
Tonya rolled over in her wheel chair after calling up her magic so she would have the strength to push her wheel chair over the rough ground.
"Yeah my familiar is the alligator so I have a larger tail and scales on my neck and back." Tonya said.
"Do all witches do that?" Pauly asked.
"Yup" Tracie said calling up her magic. "My familiar is the mallard duck so I get these green feathers on my head and feathers on my tail.
"And I get white feathers on my head and a feathered tail because my familiar is the bald eagle." Diana added calling up her familiar.
Carrie looked at all the girls as they manifested their familiars.
"You're ALL witches?" she asked incredulously.
"Yup. We are all strike witches." Diana replied. "I'm Major Diana Evans I'm commander of the 555th Joint Fighter Wing. The other witches here are Beta flight of the 555th."
"What about Tonya?" Carrie asked.
"She's a strike witch too now." Wendy replied, "and she is now in Beta flight. She flew her striker for the first time today and did real good. She is going to be a good strike witch."
"Wait you mean that she really did it?" Carrie asked. "She really is flying a striker?"
"Yup she is the first witch in a wheel chair ever to fly a striker." Darla announced. "I built a special striker for her and she is doing a lot better than I thought she would"
"That's because she is so tough and strong." Tracie added. "She really works hard at being a strike witch. She is going to be a really good one"
Tonya would have been blushing if she were not so dark. She did not say anything…she just grabbed Tracie and pulled her into her lap and give her a big hug. Tracie returned her hug.
"See she's strong." Tracie said with a smile. "I tested that striker she's flying now…It takes a lot of power to make it fly I'm tired after twenty minutes." Tracie looked Tonya in the eyes. "You flew it for almost an hour today! You are really strong!"
"I'm not that strong." Tonya replied. "I'm in a wheelchair."
"That's not what we mean." Darla told her. "Your magic power is REALY strong. You may be the most powerful witch in the 555th. That striker took a lot out of Tracie when she was testing it for you she had to take a nap after a test flight. You flew it three times as long and I don't think you are that tired.
"No I'm not tired at all." Tonya admitted.
"I didn't think you would be.' Darla replied. "That's why I really loaded your striker down with weapons. I know you have the magical power to handle it."
"Well we will know that for sure tomorrow." Diana said. "Because you are going up with a full weapon load. You will have about half a ton of ordinance on your striker then."
"That sounds like a lot." Tonya nervously replied. "Did you fly it with that load Tracie?"
"Yes I did." Tracie said remembering how hard it was for her.
"Was it hard?" Tonya asked.
Tracie winced, when she had flown it with that load she was barely able to take off, flew less than fifteen minutes and barely made it back to the cradle. Tracie's answer was indirect.
"You're stronger than me." She told her.
"So it's hard." Tonya concluded.
"It might not be for you. You're stronger than me." Tracie told her. "How many times have you pulled me into your lap today?"
Tracie punctuated her comment by hugging Tonya.
"You like me doing that?" Tonya asked
"Yeah!" Tracie giggled as she hugged Tonya tighter.
"You're just a big baby," Wendy teased.
"Yeah…Goo-goo Gaga." Tracie teased putting her right thumb in her mouth.
Tonya joined in the fun by picking up Tracie and started to rock her
"Rock a by baby on the tree top when the wind blows the cradle will rock." She sang.
General Cabanas chuckled as he watched the tiny witches acting their ages while the two mothers were surprised by how fast and easily the little white girls had made friends with the black kids. They showed no signs of prejudice Tonya had Tracie in her lap and Wendy had Pauly in hers. But it was time to break this up they still had to get Tonya's gear and the girls had to get settled in before it got too late.
"Okay girls I realize that you are having fun but we have to get Tonya's stuff and you all have to get settled in." He told them
Wendy looked up at Pauly's mother.
"Is it okay if I come over to see Pauly again?" She asked.
"I guess so." she replied.
"Thanks." Wendy said as she eased Pauly off her lap and gave him a little hug. "I'll see you later."
Tonya still had Tracie in her lap and still had her magic called up when she spun her wheelchair around and headed toward her house both girls giggling as they went. The other witches followed. While they were helping Tonya pack her stuff to move on base Darla went over to Camille.
"I still want you to teach me how to make biscuits and gravy I want the girls to see how good it is." Darla told her.
"You really liked that didn't you?" Camille observed.
"Yup I sure did I told the girls how good it was and they want to try it now." Darla informed her.
"But it's so simple." Camille protested "it's not that much at all."
"Simple is often the best." Darla replied.
"I have had a background check done on you." General Cabanas told her. "It seems that you are under employed. I believe that you would make a fine cook for the contingent of the 555th based down here."
"Well that sounds easy I guess like there are what less than half a dozen to cook for?" Camille replied.
"Actually there will be around a dozen." General Cabanas replied, "You have the girls of Beta Flight, the pilots of Gamma Flight and their support personnel."
Diana looked at General Cabanas with a look of surprise on her face.
"Gamma flight?" She asked.
"So that's why those Grumman F3Fs are in our hanger." Darla said
"That's correct." Fred replied. "You are a bit short on witches so I figure that they could help fill in the gaps."
"With Tonya we have ten now." Diana pointed out.
"True but it might take a while before the other Joint Fighter Wings to accept you and work with you." Fred told her. "The 555th might have to fight alone until you prove you can cut it."
"Well we will have to show them what we can do." Diana declared with a determined look on her face.
Fred smiled at Diana's response. He knew that would make them even more determined to prove themselves.
"I'm sure you will do well." He said.
While the older girls were discussing the revelation that the 555th was larger than they expected the younger girls were helping Tonya pack. They were a bit surprised by the condition of her clothes. While they were not rich they had more clothes that were in better condition. Tracie and Wendy did not say anything to Tonya but they were determined to solve that problem. Once Tonya's belongings were packed the trio came outside to load the cars.
"Okay we're ready to go now." Wendy declared.
"Good let's load her gear in the car." Diana ordered. "General Cabanas just threw me a curve. When we get back to the hanger we are going to have an officers meeting with the four officers down here."
"Four officers?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah those four bi-plane fighters in the hanger are assigned to the 555th they're Gamma Flight." General Cabanas told them. "We will be meeting with Captain Jasper Ross. He's the commander of Gamma flight."
Wendy remembered the fighters in the hanger she had not really paid much attention to them. But she could tell by his name that the other Captain was male.
"They're not witches are they?" she said.
"No they are regular pilots other than being black." Cabanas told her.
"Okay." Wendy replied. "I'm guessing that since we are already training down here that we will be training with them to work together."
"That's right Wendy" he replied.
"They're adults aren't they?" Diana stated. "So who is going to be in charge?"
You are still the commander of the 555th." Cabanas replied. "That is not going to change."
Diana was a bit worried. She was less than comfortable with the idea of having to order adults around she kept silent about that preferring to wait until they had their meeting to see what the men of Gamma Flight had to say. Tonya and Tracie loaded her gear in the cars and Tracie helped Tonya get in and loaded her wheel chair calling up her familiar to have the strength to load it. Diana saw the two Sergeants were in the car.
"I think that we should get going." She said. "I imagine that Captain Ross is getting anxious to meet us. Hopefully he is not going to have problems with a commanding officer that is a lot younger than him and is a girl to boot. "
"I think he'll be okay with it Diana." Cabanas assured her. "You are a pretty remarkable young woman. You have been in charge of the 555th for a couple years now and you have done well. That's why I have not put in somebody else. I'm quite certain that nobody can do as good a job of handling the 555th than you are.
Diana blushed a deep red. She was still a month away from her eighth birthday being told that General Cabanas considered her to be the most qualified to command the 555th was a bit heady for the little girl. But she showed why he had that much faith in her.
"Well I'll do my best to not let you down." She replied.
"I know you will." He said, "That's why you are in charge."
Diana stood thinking about what General Cabanas had told her. In a few hours she had come to the realization that there was going to be a LOT more to commanding a combat unit than there was a civilian test unit. It frightened her a little. She was not quite eight and she realized that her rank and the responsibilities that came with it were real. She sadly shook her head.
"I'm not a child anymore." She said, "My childhood is ended."
General Cabanas looked at the little girl in front of him then at the even younger girls waiting in the car for them. He stood for a while contemplating what Diana had said and thought about the playful antics he had seen a few minutes ago.
"Yes Diana I'm afraid all of you are giving up your childhoods to fight the neuroi." H e told her. "You all are paying a fearful price to help defeat the neuroi."
"Yes." Diana grimly said "but if humanity is to survive we have no choice. Let's get going"
General Cabanas and Diana climbed into the front seat of the car. He started it up and they drove to the airfield. Jasper Ross was standing by his plane when the two cars pulled in with the girls. They stopped at the main door of the hanger and the girls piled out. He watched as they helped the one black girl into her wheelchair then they all came to meet them along with General Cabanas. He quickly saluted as they approached since the general was with them and additionally one of them was wearing a Major's oak leaves. General Cabanas and the girls except Darla returned the salute. General Cabanas introduced everybody. After talking for a few minutes Tracie and Tonya were dismissed to put their gear up and take a shower while the officers and Darla discussed chain of command and the capabilities of the strikers vs. aircraft.
Tonya and Tracie went to the bunkroom for the witches and started to put away their clothes. Tracie could tell that her friend was envious of her nicer clothes. She wished she could share with her but she was much smaller than Tonya so all her clothes would be way too small. All that did was make Tracie all the more determined to correct that problem. She had only known Tonya a short time but already felt like she was her sister. She had huge respect for the girl in the wheelchair. In spite of her handicap Tonya worked hard and as far as Tracie was concerned they were equals. When they finished putting their clothes away Tracie turned to Tonya.
"Come on let's go take a shower." She declared as she opened the door." I want to check out the showers here and see if they are as good as the ones up north."
"Okay." Tonya replied.
Tonya rolled down the hallway with Tracie following. They soon arrived and saw that it was newly constructed.
*Giggle* "I think we are the first ones to use this shower" Tracie announced.
Tonya looked around at the shower she had never seen on this big before. The only showers she had ever seen had been either at home or in the hospital. She had never been in a public shower before. There were four showerheads in pairs two on the east wall and two on the south wall.
"Wow this is a BIG shower!" Tonya exclaimed. "I have never seen one with four showers before!"
"The one up north is bigger." Tracie replied, "It has six showers. All nine of us can use it at the same time!"
"You all shower at once?" Tonya asked in surprise.
"Sure it's fun!" Tracie declared as she started to strip her clothes off.
Soon she was naked and collected a couple wash clothes and bars of soap and started to turn on the showers. She looked over at Tonya.
"Come on!" She called out.
Tanya slowly pulled off her clothes then slid off the wheelchair and scooted backwards across the floor dragging her crippled legs behind her. She pulled herself over to one of the sets of water handles and tried to turn them on…but they were just out of her reach. Tracie turned them on for her.
"I'll tell Darla to lower these for you." She said then picked up a bar of soap and a washcloth and knelt down behind Tonya. "I'll wash your back for you."
Tracie started to wash the older girls back and Tonya sadly looked down. After all her talk about how tough she was in the end she was treating her like she was helpless. Tracie soon finished washing Tonya's back. Then she handed her the soap and washcloth and sat down in front of Tonya with her back turned toward her.
"Okay Tonya I washed your back now you do mine." Tracie said.
Puzzled Tonya took the soap and washcloth from Tracie.
"You want me to wash your back?" Tonya asked surprised that Tracie had actually asked her to do that.
"Sure," Tracie replied. "We wash each others back up north all the time. It's easier to have somebody wash it for you. It's hard to reach it all by your self."
Tracie demonstrated what she meant by putting her hands behind her back showing that she could not reach the center. Tonya was caught by surprise by what Tracie said. She looked at the soap and washcloth she held.
"You want me to wash your back now?" Tonya asked a second time.
Tracie half turned to face Tonya.
"You can do it right?" Tracie responded then turned away. "I'm sorry I though you could."
Tonya lathered up the washcloth
"I sure can!" She declared as she started to scrub down Tracie's back. "Nobody ever asked me to wash their back before they always just do mine because they think I'm helpless."
"Because you are in a wheel chair?" Tracie asked. They're stupid then!"
The two girls giggled as they washed each other down. When they finished Tracie turned the water off and they toweled themselves dry.
"I don't think you're helpless at all." Tracie told her. "I've seen you fly that big striker. I wish I were that strong. I can fly the Wildcat good but your Havoc kills me."
"It's not that hard." Tonya replied as she pulled herself in her wheel chair. "I push this around all the time and I can go fast with this."
Tracie looked Tonya in the eye.
"I've flown three different Strikers The Boeing P-26 Peashooter, The Grumman F4F Wildcat and your Douglass A-20 Havoc." Tracie told her. "I can fly the Boeing and the Wildcat for hours I can only last a short time with yours."
Tonya thought for a moment.
"Maybe you are right Tracie." She conceded. Maybe I am strong I could probably out run you with my wheelchair."
Tracie was a fast runner and took Tonya's last statement as a challenge. She stood and looked Tonya in the eye.
"Oh yeah?" she said, "You wanna race? I bet you can't."
"Yeah right now!" Tonya replied.
Tracie looked at the door.
"Yeah we can race right down the hall. Ain't nobody there right now.
"Yeah let's do it!" Tonya said going out the door.
While this was going on the officers were heading for Diana's office to go over paperwork and figure out training schedules The two sergeants in the meantime were lining up at the end of the hall way to race as the officers were getting ready to open the door leading from the hanger down a side hallway to the middle of the main hall way Tracie called the start.
"Ready…set…GO!"
The two naked little girls charged down the hallway as the officers were about to enter from the side a collision was inevitable…
Cliffhanger!
3rd DSD HQ
Agent Kenzie Clio had made a report that had raised a few eyebrows.
"It looks like there has been some activity with the Upper Peninsula Aero Striker research Center and the Conch republic that might be of some concern. There was a flight from the Conch Republic of a CRAF Transport plane that had unloaded a number of crates to the UPASRC hanger. Shortly after that the girls their started to do military style exercises and marching and started to follow military protocols like saluting. They also have greatly increased the weapons training and taken to carrying weapons when flying their strikers on both sides of Lake Superior Then three strikers and three witches along with Darla the head mechanic were transported by rail to the Conch Republic. It looks like they have set-up a second base down there I advise that we take a closer look at their activities. It looks like they are moving up to a higher level.
There are also rumors that the Conchs are converting an old freighter to a CVE class Aircraft carrier. If true this is quite serious.