I actually wrote this chapter first, looking to make it just a one-shot. Then I decided to make it a story. So, enjoy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3
A Fight of Rage

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What's so different about this mission?" He couldn't shake the thought of the next mission. It was going to be just like all the others, but he felt like there was something different… "Ah, stop it, Eagle!" He shook his head to try and clear his head.

"Commander Eagle" Eagle was startled by the voice coming from the side of the fighter.

"Yes, what is it?" Eagle looked up and saw a soldier standing on a ladder looking at him in his cockpit.

"Sir, all the preparations are complete. You may head out on to the runway," the soldier replied.

"Thank you." The soldier saluted as Eagle closed the cockpit cover after he had put his helmet on. After the soldier had moved the ladder out of the way, Eagle set forth out into the clear day. Thoughts haunted him as he moved the fighter nearer to the runway. "What's the matter with me today?!" Eagle sighed as the fighter moved onto the runway. The jet quickly built up speed as soon Eagle was off into the blue sky. After clearing the airfield he quickly took a turn to the right.

"Fighters, move into attack position alpha, over!" After all the replies of roger and wilco, the fighters moved into a v-shaped formation with Eagle in the center leading the charge. About fifteen minutes later the fighters were over Orange Star airspace. "Prepare for attack! We gotta clear away for the bombers, over!" The fighters spread a little father a part.

"Ah, sir, it's no good. They've gotta anti-air and rockets, over!"

"Everyone, take evasive actions, over!" After giving the order, Eagle looked down at the radar. "Crap!" Two anti-air missiles were headed straight for him. "Ah! They're to close!" There was nothing he could do avoid impact. He looked to his right and moved to press the red button labeled 'Eject'. As soon as he pushed it, he was quickly shot out of his fighter. All he could do was watch as the missiles destroyed the jet. He pulled at the yellow cord over his left shoulder and the parachute came out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ah, Sami, thanks for getting here so fast." Nell was relieved.

"No problem, but why exactly do you need me here? I thought Andy was handling this mission." Sami tilted her head and crossed her arms.

"He is, but, I need you to do a special mission." Nell turned and walked toward a big screen surrounded by many tinier screens in the front of the room. Sami followed. "We've received intel stating that the commander of the Green Earth forces was shot down during the fight. We need you to go find him."

"Right, I'll get my squad ready." Sami put on a big smile and moved to walk out the door.

"Sam, wait, come back." Sami looked back surprised. "Sami, you're going alone."

"What?! Why?" Sami ran her hands through her hair.

"We need the rest of your squad to hang back as back-up," Nell noticed Sami's concerned look, "Now, I don't like this as much as you do, but this order is coming from above me."

"Fine. When do you want me to be ready to go?"

"As soon as possible. Here are some intel about where he was shot down and all the other stuff you need to know."

"Thanks." Sami turned and walk out the door.

Sami sighed as she walked down the hallway. "Commander… I wonder if that's Eagle." She shook her head. "No, couldn't be. He'd never get shot down." She produced a faint smile.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eagle felt like he had been walking for hours in the deep green forest. "Huh?!" He turned around suddenly at the sound of leaves crackling. He stood in silence looking at the direction the sound had come from. "Ah, must have been some stupid animal." He walked forward. Suddenly, he saw a silhouette peering through the forest. The silhouette saw him and went into a dead run for him.

"Crap! It's Orange Star!" He turned to run. He ran, faster and faster, but the silhouette kept getting closer. He turned and took a hard left followed by another. The silhouette turned and slowly stopped running, scanning the forest for its prey.

Eagle had made a hard left and now waited behind a tree several feet in front of the silhouette. He held his breath as the silhouette crept closer. Eagle quietly removed his pistol from its holster and turned it to wield it like a hammer.

"Ah, they're here." Eagle made a slight grin as the silhouette slowly walked past him. He lifted up the pistol and wacked the silhouette on its head. It let out a sharp gasp of pain as it went tumbling down to the ground. Eagle quickly recognized the uniform. "Marine, eh?" The marine slowly rose. Eagle cocked the pistol and pointed the gun right at the marine.

"Don't move!" Eagle ordered. The marine slowly put his hands up. "Hand on top of your head, now!" The marine didn't move. Eagle moved closer. "Do it!"

"No!" came the reply. Eagle moved closer pushing the gun out farther from him. The marine gave a short chuckle.

"What?!" Eagle furrowed his eyebrows in anger. Quickly the marine hit the gun out of his hand and landed a punch on his face. Eagle shifted back bleeding. The marine quickly drew out a knife and lunged for Eagle's throat.

"Darn it!" He knew his attacker was well trained in close combat. Eagle pushed the knife away from him and punched the attacker it the gut. The marine lunged forward pushing Eagle to the ground. After taking a quick breath, the marine plunged toward him wielding the knife.

Eagle held the attacker back with his hand and punched up at the marine's face with his other hand. The assailant was forced backward. Quickly regaining his composure, the marine sprinted toward Eagle, grabbing him by the collar. Eagle got in a good punch and the marine's footing stumble, and they both fell to the ground and went tumbling down a steep hill. They continued attacking each other on the way down, but the marine eventually gain the upper hand just as they landed at the base of the hill.

"Wha-?!" Eagle look up at the face of his attacker which was now completely visible due to the loss of the marine's helmet. The marine look back at him, directly in the eyes.

"S-sami!" Eagle let out a deep breath. Sami furrowed her eyebrows. Blood trickled down her neck from the blow Eagle had given her with his pistol. She slowly pushed herself up, grabbing the collar of his flight jacket on the way. After she had lifted herself up along with Eagle, she pushed him back away from her. Eagle looked back at her. He noticed she had a black eye along with blood slowly trickling down from it.

"D-did I do that?" Eagle felt his stomach fall in guilt. He felt blood slowly trickle down his left ear along with blood coming out of his nose.

"So, you're the one that got shot down." Sami tried to keep herself from laughing. Eagle realized this.

"What's so funny?" He was ticked. What was she laughing at?

"The great pilot of Green Earth was shot down? Amazing!" Sami let out a light chuckle and put on a big grin. "-And shot down by Andy none the less!"

"Andy…" Eagle's voice went low. Sami looked at him, wondering.

"Yeah, so?" She pushed some lose strands of her hair out of her face, and moved her hands down to her hips, setting them there defiantly.

"Idiot! Don't you remember?!" Eagle yelled. Sami shifted back, surprised.

"Remember what?" Sami had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

"When Orange Star sent Andy to attack us!" As he said those word the memories of that day came flooding back into his mind. The blood, the carnage… he shook his head. "That's what I'm asking you to remember!"

"What are you talking about?! We never sent Andy to attack Green Earth!" She grew closer to Eagle with her hands still on her hips. "You're the one who attacked us first!"

"Liar! You attacked us!" Eagle drew his hands into fists and moved as if to hit her, but, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"What?!"

"That's right!" Eagle sighed and lowered his voice, "I remember that day perfectly. Drake and I were out doing basic maneuvers with our troops deep within Green Earth territory when this young lieutenant runs up to us. He starts babbling about some attack from Orange Star, so we both took our troops and headed to the place the lieutenant told us about. And what did we find there? Dead soldier, sailors, and marines everywhere! Fighters crashed into the ground! And yelling back at us using a megaphone….Andy."

Sami let out a slight gasp and backed up.

"You're lying…"

"No, I'm not lying." Eagle grunted. "So there, that's my story. Andy of Orange Star attacked us."

"Hm…but the Andy I know would never do that…" Sami crossed her arms.

"Right," Eagle replied sarcastically.

"No, I'm serious. The Andy I know is too, um, too stupid to do something like that on his own. And if it would have been ordered for him to do it, I would have known, trust me." Sami looked back at him.

"Fine, believe what you want," he replied, "So, now what?"

"We're going to the Orange Star HQ." She turned but continued looking behind her. "Come on."

"So, what am I your prisoner now?"

"No, I'll explain everything to Nell, she'll understand."

"Doubt it, you don't even understand."

"I don't understand everything, but I believe you were attacked, but at least not by the Andy I know."

"What are you talking about?!" Eagle wouldn't hear it.

"Look, I don't know everything, but I think you were tricked by someone into believing it was Andy." She looked back at him showing deep concern in her eyes.

"Fine, looks like we're going to get nowhere with this. Let's get going." Eagle walked up next to her. Sami nodded back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------