Hi ya'll. Thanks for still reading my story. I don't own Ace Combat and the other stuff so please don't sue me. I'd also like to thank AT0 for your review. I glad someone is will to share there opinion. From here on the Ustions will be referred to as Ustians, I just made the corrections, but if I missed any let me know. Because this chapter and chapter 11 are already typed up his character will not appear until chapter 12. Sorry. If anyone else would like to share an idea please do it soon or I may not be able to include them.
Chapter 10: Start of Something Beautiful
'Uuhhggg… why does my head hurt so much? What happened last night?' I thought hold my head a hand. I was still in the same clothes I wore last night and in my bed. Slowly I made my way out of bed and grabbed my uniform out of my footlocker. I went to the bathroom and slowly changed. I felt sick and my tongue felt like it was covered in fuzz. (I'm 18 and I've never been drunk before so I'm basing my descriptions from MASH when Hawkeye and Trapper are drunk.)
I wobbled my way to my desk chair and sat down. I heard a door slam, Paul set a cup of coffee, and the entire pot too. He said in a booming voice, "Drink this it will help."
I moaned holding my head, "Please don't shout, your making my head hurt."
He leaned close and said in a softer voice that still made my head hurt, "You have a hangover. I'm not shouting. Just drink the coffee."
'Hangover? What happened?' I wondered as I drank coffee, one after another.
After about 7 or 8 cups I felt well enough to have a conversation.
"What happened?" I groaned.
He smiled and nodded, "You accidentally picked up someone else's drink, which I think was whisky. You started to get a little out of control and I dragged you out of there as fast as I could. Then you… uh… passed out."
"What did I do to those girls?"
"You threw up on one of them and that's when I got you out of there."
Something then occurred to me and nervously asked, "Did I say anything… about you?"
He turned a little pink and said quickly, "You were ranting about me and later you were coming on to me, but I think it was the whisky talking. Anyways, you kind of tried to… um kiss me, but you passed out first."
"I see…" I said slowly and then quickly, "I guess I say strange things when I'm drunk."
He seemed disappointed at that, but managed to smile, "Okay then, you want rest or get some fresh air with von Klein and me? We're gonna go fishing on the river at the end of the base."
'I wish I could tell you it wasn't the alcohol… well I was drunk, but that's not the point' I thought, "Just let me get changed."
I went into the bathroom and changed into my uniform. I exited pulled on my officer's jacket.
"It's cold out today" Paul said tossing me my Wehrmacht issued winter coat, a long flat-grey wool coat fell to my ankles.
"Danke" I said. I also wrapped a scarf around my neck and put on a wool winter cap. He wore the same except instead of a winter cap he wore a grey hat with flaps over his ears.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul and I wear now following von Klien on his motorcycle, unlike Paul's von Klein had no sidecar. We were heading for the far end of Sudenberg AFB.
Blau, Gray, and Braun Squadron along with the 17th night-fighter squadron occupied the tarmac and hangers by runway 02. Runway 02 runs from east to west, the east ending in the middle of the base and the west marking the far west end of the base. At the east end of runway 02 starts runway 01, this goes towards the northwest causing the two to make a sort of V shape. Near where runways 01 and 02 meet is the main buildings; base HQ, control tower, main mess hall, some of the hangers for larger planes like B-52s or C-17s, base medical facility, and various offices. East of runway 02 is runway 03, the largest and longest runway which is used mainly by bombers, transports, and utility planes. 03 runs west to east and mark the far east end of the base. North of 03 is runways 04 and 05; which are the smallest runways used by the base defense fighters. Our quarters were on the south side of runway 02. We were going to the end of runway 03 where a river ran. (AN: If I can I'll make a map.)
The sky today was grey and I figured that snow might fall even though it was April now. BAM! I grabbed onto my seat as Paul had hit a pothole, but aside from the shock I nothing else seemed to be wrong.
"You okay?"
"Just surprised."
I was thinking about what I might have said to Paul last night. 'I'm sure I told him I love him, but now what? There is going to make things in between us awkward, too awkward. He needs to hear it from me, sober, but how do I tell him?'I thought. I felt another jolt that almost sent me flying. The service road that ran along runway 03 was in bad shape. I was glad when we got out at the end of runway 03 and to the river.
A roar came from above as an KC-10 Extender took off. I watched it disappear in the clouds very quickly; the clouds must be low today.
Von Klein, Paul, and I walked down a catwalk meant to service guide lights the wear in the river. Someone had left a stool and a bench out. Von Klein took the stool and we took the bench. Paul and von Klein started to put fishing lures on the rods they had brought with them. They both cast off into the deep dark rapid flowing river. I didn't fish. I shivered a little at the sight of the water.
I said to Paul, "I hope this catwalk is safe because I can't swim."
He looked at me in surprise, "You can't swim either?"
"Either?" I said confuse, "You can't swim?"
"Hoffnung is an industrial city, so I'm sure the water is polluted (AN: Think Pittsburg), plus the barges and cargo ships make some dangerous currents."
"Dinsmark is just too cold for swimming all year around. In fall you can see icebergs floating by and in winter the water freezes over." We both laughed. I don't know why, but we just did.
"You fish?"
"Nien. Von Klein taught me yesterday when you were doing paper work. We still haven't caught anything." He said annoyed that he still hadn't got a bite.
I smiled, "keep at it."
"Easy for you to… I think I felt a tug."
"Really?" I asked.
"Ja, you got a bite, give a jerk and started to pull him in like I taught you" Von Klein instructed when he noticed Paul got a bite.
"I almost have him… damn it!" Whatever Paul had, it had broken free, "Oh well, at least I didn't lose the lure."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just spending time with Paul was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I was crashing from after all the cups of coffee I had this morning. I was cold and tired and wanted to take a nap. I leaned against something warm and comfortable. It was Paul's arm. I wrapped both my arms around his arm and rested my head on his shoulder. It really was quite comfortable and I felt myself drift off into sleep.
"She's sleeping on me. What do I do?" I asked von Klein desperately.
"She choose you as a pillow, that must mean something, so you both might as well enjoy it and let her sleep" he said sounding slightly amused like he always did when it came to Mieke and me. I let her stay because she was warm, it was cold, and I liked her clutching me, plus I wasn't physically strong enough to pry her off me. This is getting painful, her being this close, but me not telling her and she's holding my arm to tightly. I need to talk to her about… how I feel. Damn that sounds lame, but it's true.
"73rd bomber squadron will be returning soon from Valais Air Base, right?" I asked trying to strike up a different subject.
"Ja, I'm waiting to see if any come back alive" he said cynically.
"It can't be that bad" I reasoned.
"I'm not so optimistic; some really good pilots are defending that base."
"Like this 'Solo Wing Pixy'?"
"Ja… you heard that?"
We heard then the whining roar of planes coming in for a landing. Out of the clouds came a B-52 with a chunk of the tail fin missing. Three F-5Es were coming behind the B-52. The first two looked damage, but not too bad. The third however was trailed smoke and wobbling in the sky.
The B-52 landed and then two of the F-5Es were out of sight because the runway was raised higher than the river. When the third F-5E came in, we lost sight of it like the others, but an explosion came soon after.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mieke, who woke at the explosion, was running ahead of me for the bike. Von Klein was already going to scene of the crash. We both raced for the runway.
Once there we saw that the Tiger that had crash was now a burning heap that emergency crew were trying to put out. We follow von Klein who was now going over to the surviving pilots.
He calmly asked, "What happen?"
One of the pilots took a deep breath and in a shaky voice said, "We were heading to Valais like we were ordered. Some snow, but not too bad. Once we got near the base a group of Ustion F-5s and F-4s tried to stop us, but we took care of them. Everything was going fine when…"
"When what" von Klein asked sharply.
The pilot took another deep breath and continued, "Two F-15C Eagles jumped us. One was grey with one wing painted red. The other was also grey, but with the ends of the wings painted blue… he wasn't like… anything I've ever seen." The pilot was now trembling and appeared to be terrified of the memory of this enemy pilot.
"He was like… he was like…" He tried to say something.
"Like a demon?" von Klein offered. The pilot nodded.
"They both had red demon dog on the insignia."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Von Klein, Mieke, and I were now in von Klein's office. He didn't have to be there, but we both wanted answers about what kind of pilot could inflict such fear and destroy so many of our planes.
"Herr Hauptmann who are these pilots?" Mieke asked, she hadn't been there when we walked about Pixy and Cipher.
"The first plane that man described was a pilot named Larry Foulke, known as Solo Wing Pixy. He's a mercenary born in Belka and now flies for the Ustian 6th Air Division, Galm Squadron. Galm 2 to be exact. According to recorded enemy communications Galm 1 is a pilot known as Cipher." He sighed and put his pipe in his mouth.
"You said you knew this 'Cipher' guy from the Osten Rebellion, right?" I asked wanting to know more.
He gave me a little frown, "I'm not getting rid of you until I tell you more, am I?"
I nodded, he sighed, "Fine. Cipher was a quiet kid in our group of militia fighters. He didn't have a home or family and had no where to go and therefore fought with us. He was kinda like me in ways, not the friendliest person, like to sit in corners and sit quietly, and most people found him scary and intimidating. He kinda looked up to me and I was the only person who took care of him. Basically what you need to know is not to freeze up if you're unlucky enough to fight him or you will die. Also he knows a lot more about fighting wars than you and has much more experience than two battles unlike you… he's also… well that's not important."
We both gulped at that description.
"If you don't need anything else, leave because I have work to do."
Paul and I entered our room. I sat down at my desk and sneezed. I felt a warm hand, which sent a shiver of joy down my spine, on my forehead. Even though Paul was only checking to see if I was sick, it still made me feel warm inside.
"Mmmnn… I guess you're fine" he said as he withdrew his hand while I wanted to grab it, put it against my cheek, and hold it there.
Paul sat down at his desk, which was next to mine, and said, "I think Herr Hauptmann von Klein knows this Cipher a lot better than he is willing to let on."
I smiled and said, "That may be true, but he won't tell us… it kind of sounded like he was someone close, but that won't make him tell us."
He sighed, looked down, frowned, and said, "Mieke I thought you were going to keep better track of your clothes."
"Huh?" I looked and saw I left a sock by his desk. I stood up and slipped on the other sock, which I didn't see. I fell, closed my eyes, braced myself for the crash, but I felt something catch me. I also felt my forehead now resting against something warm. I opened my eyes and I saw bright green eyes wide in shock staring back at me. I'd fallen against Paul and my forehead was resting on his. We were like that for a while breathing on each other and staring. As though magnetized we both started moving closer, he slowly wrapped his arms around my waist and I around his neck. Our lips were moving closer, closer… knock, knock.
Mieke leaped to her feet and tried to slow her breathing. I wheeled around to face my desk, opened a book, and tried to look like I'd been reading for hours. I gave Mieke a nervous nod; she nodded back, and opened tet door. Of course I wasn't surprised to see Krauss, who else could pick such an inconvenient time to call or kill such a moment?
"Hey guys, what are you doing?" he said in his usual happy loud voice.
"What makes you think we were doing something?" Mieke asked suspiciously.
"Huh?" he said confused, after all he usually asked the questions.
"Why are you here? What do you want? Are you following us? Or is it me?! You always seem to pick on me here, well?!" Mieke asked in a voice that sounded very annoyed. As for me, I was still trying to figure out what had almost happened.
"Well…" Krauss started to say clearly not being questioned like he does to other people.
"Forget it!" Mieke yelled and slammed the door in his face. She walk to her desk sat, down, and sighed. She scooted her chair closer to mine and she place a hand on my cheek. I feel me cheek burn on contact, but in a good way.
"Paul I think I need to tell you about how I feel. You see even though I was drunk and probably ranting a bunch of crazy things it doesn't change the fact that I think I lov…" knock, knock. Mieke looked about as angry as I felt at being interrupted at such a moment.
She stood up, walked to the door, and there was Krauss.
"There was a reason I stopped by. I'm suppose to tell you both that all offensive action by the Luftwaffe is to be halted until further notice by order of Air Command in Dinsmark" he said.
"Fine. Got it" she slammed the door in his face and again.
She walked over to me, pulled her hands on both my shoulders, and said, "As I was saying before we were interrupted I may have been drunk, but it doesn't change that fact that I may have been saying things that I really think I feel. You have been a lot nicer to me than most people I've met and you've been more caring and make me feel special…"
I nodded as her voice trailed off and I said to her, "I know, I think I feel the same. I haven't felt this way and I didn't really understand most of what I felt for a while. You've treated me like I was important, like I mattered to you, and like you thought I was somebody. Not just a pilot or just a guy that you have to deal with, but someone that you enjoy being around. I can't picture you not being around me and I think I lov… knock, knock… you stay here I'm going to kill him."
I stood up and walked to the door. I opened it and saw Krauss with a file.
"I almost forgot to tell you guys. There's a filed complaint against Mieke for drunk and disorderly conduct. I think that it's going to be taken care of quickly and without a problem, but I'm supposed to give you this as Mieke's direct superior" he said handing me the file.
"Fine. Anything else?" I asked trying not to show how much he was bothering me today.
"Nein, but you guys wanna…?"
"Nein! Asked someone else and that an order!" I snapped at him. I slammed the door.
I sigh and turned around. Suddenly I was pinned against the wall by Mieke.
"Mieke?! What are you doing?" I asked quite shocked.
"I think we said enough and I want to do something before we are interrupted again" she said with a sweet, but devilish grin.
Dumbly I asked, "What?"
In three words, she kissed me. I probably should have seen this coming since this wasn't the first she was this close to me. She moved her arms from pinning mine to wrapping themselves around my waist while I did the same. She kept her left arm around my waist and rubbed my back with her right hand. I moved my left hand to the small of her back and stroked her hair with my right. Whatever else was going on was unimportant to me. Who care about Krauss, the complaint, the war, Belka, Osea, Ustio, the Fascist Party, the Grey Men, the two mercenary pilots who single-handedly stumped our air offensive, or anything, at this moment Mieke was my entire world and that's all I needed, she was all I needed. 'So this is what love feels like' I thought happily, 'those books I read that had romance in it vastly unstated what this really feels like.'
For all I knew or cared we were like that for days. Finally we broke apart and gasped for breath. I looked at her and never felt so attached to anyone in my life. She looked at me, her face red, gave me a loving smile, and rested her head against my chest. I remembered how death felt so overwhelming, love felt the similar, but it made me feel bigger and freer instead of smaller and trapped.
"Paul" Mieke asked in a warm voice.
"Ja?" I asked stroking her hair again.
"I love you" she said calmly.
I thought about how I felt. No more doubts were in my mind and I said, "I love you too."
To Be Continued
I think that last part came out better then I hoped. Hope you guys like it too. I think I know where my story is going now or at least a good idea. I'm still open to idea though. Please tell me what weather I'm good writer or I stink and need to give up.
Respectfully
J. H. Kamiya