7 days have passed since the surprise TOU airfield discovered in no mans land. But at Beta-8 Riley is still having troubles living with the loss of his co-pilot/best friend, Mathew, and his former leader Commander Kelsey.

War of the Skies

Chapter 4 Part 1

"Mathew! Mathew!" I yell out as bombs are crashing down around me.

"Math-,"I began to yell again but then I see him, lying on the ground. I run to check on him. I reach him and turn the body over, he's dead. I begin to cry but stop myself; I can't break down now when the base is under attack. I run to the hanger doors.

I reach the doors and a couple of planes have already taken off.

"Riley," I turn to see Chris running towards me, he has blood on the side of his forehead and his jackets a little torn up.

"Chris where's Glovanni . . . is he dead?"

"No, well not when I left him. He went to turn the automatic turrets on," He looks around me "Where's Mathew".

I shake my head in response, he nods understandingly "I'm sorry . . . I got to get going, you know where under attack," he pats my shoulder then runs to his plane. I nod then run to mine. I get in, start it up then i'm outta there.

I immediately get shot at just when I hit the sky. I veer to the left then right, try to shake it off, but somebody already shot him down for me.

"Thought you could use a hand," Joseph says.

"Thanks, do you know where Kaitlyn is?" I ask

"Last time I saw her she was curled in a ball on the ground," Kody says.

I try to see if I can see her but i'm too high up. I flap my wing to Joseph in thanks then go up in pursuit of the bombers.

I reach the bombers and Megan's already taken out one bomber and trying to outmaneuver a fighter that's on her tail. I come in hot and take the fighter out.

"Thanks Riley, I thought I was a goner," Megan says.

"No worries, how many more bombers are there?" I ask.

"There's three left, but the gun ports are making it difficult to destroy them"

"Wait, where's Mathew?" Taylor cuts in.

". . . I found him dead, he must have been running to the hanger but got hit"

I hear Megan gasp and Taylor weep a little. "We can mourn the dead later; we have more pressing matters to attend to," I finish.

"Right," Megan says. Taylor says the same.

We veer off then come back towards the bombers side by side guns blazing from us and the bombers. Just at the last second I veer left and Megan veers right. As Megan gains her balance a Thunderbolt comes tearing through the clouds.

"Where did he come from," Megan says (mainly to herself). She dives down and tries to shake him. I'm about to follow when Megan says "Riley don't, stay with the bombers they're more important".

"Fine just don't get yourself killed," but Megan doesn't reply, she's too busy evading the Thunderbolt on her tail.

I get back on task and try to destroy another bomber with no luck. They're too close to each other which give them a better defence.

"All pilots, all pilots we need immediate assistance with home base, we are taking heavy fire and need back up, I repeat we need backup," Layne's voice rings in my headset.

"Copy that were coming back," Joseph and Megan respond.

"I'm going to try hitting the bombers," I say.

"Copy that Commander will be joining you Riley," Layne responded

I blink with shock and respond in a surprised voice "Umm...did I hear you correctly?"

"I believe you did hear her correctly otherwise you wouldn't be responding," cut in Commanders voice.

"Ok roger that," I say. A few minutes later Commander comes in to help.

"What's the situation Private?"

"The bombers are too close together which makes it harder to take them out"

Commander thinks for a little then says "We need to break them apart, i'll make the distraction while you come in and break them up and take them out separately"

"Commander that's very dangerous you may get shot down" I respond with a worried voice.

"Do you underestimate my skill Riley?"

"No not at all it's just-,"I begin.

"Worry about yourself i'm a very capable pilot,"she cuts in which ends the discussion.

"Yes ma'am," I fly higher into the sky and wait for the signal.

"Go Riley, now!" Commander shouts.

I race down and see her shooting up the bombers and making the distraction. I began to shoot also and take the bombers by surprise. They then realize i'm coming in hot and they peel off but I manage to take one down.

"Yea take that," I shout out in a triumphant voice.

All of a sudden commanders voice comes in "Mayday mayday i'm going down took too much to the back of the plane and i'm smoking, can't...control...her" then an explosion.

I look to my left and see what's left of her plane falling to the ground.

"GOD DAMNIT," I shout then darkness fills my eyes.

I awake to sweat all over my body and bed. I get up and go take a shower. I come out and my voice mail box is blinking red. I click the button. "You have one new message"

"Hey Riley its Chris, I just saw Joseph and he wants to see all of us in the hanger pronto, sooo head over there when you're up, ok bye. Beep. End of message," click, I go to the window and see people walking over to the hanger. I get dressed and as i'm about to head out the door I see a picture frame upside down, I pick it up and my throat clenches.

It's a photo of me and Mathew in front of our plane, an arm over each other's shoulder smiling at the camera. A tear drops on the picture; I wipe my face with my sleeve, put the picture standing up on the dresser then head out the door into another meaningless day.