Sunlight streamed through an open window, past the curtains and into the sleepy little Alaskan hanger, finally coming to rest on the small family.
Epsilon cracked an eye open and murmured quietly, looking around drowsily. She slowly closed her eye again and snuggled deeper in to the padded "nest" she had made in her sleep. She didn't want to wake up, at least not yet.
Finally, after what seemed like hours she opened both eyes and accepted that she wasn't going to fall back asleep again in the near future. Much to her surprise, and delight she saw the smiling face of her little brother looking up at her.
"SHE'S AWAKE!" He yelled, startling both Epsilon and Emma, causing them to leap partly in to the air. Epsilon flinched as the impact sent an unwanted jolt through her frame, while her mother nearly fell over as she tried to balance on her landing gear again once she had reached the ground.
"Orion," She scolded, taxing over to him. "Please don't shout, dear…"
Epsilon shook her head to clear her vison then smiled weakly at her mother. "It's okay Mom, he didn't wake me."
She snorted half heartily, and nuzzled her daughter. "He's still not supposed to shout, and you know that dear." She smiled sadly at her daughter. "How are you feeling?"
Epsilon let out a feeble laugh, "Like I got run over by a bullet train." She lifted herself up on her landing gear as her brother disappeared through a door to her left, shouting something again; much to Emma's disapproval.
The door creaked open and John peeked in, even the young raptor towering over behind him. "Morning, how are you feeling?"
"Like she got run over by a bullet train." Orion answered for her.
John raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as he began inspecting the new welds. He removed the bandages and nodded to himself, scribbling something on a notepad kept in his belt.
"And?" Epsilon asked.
John shushed her, and continued her inspections. Once he was satisfied that everything was in order, he replaced the metal bandages and set down his pad.
He scrawled down notes on another, larger pad before turning to the now silent family of three. "Well, everything seems to be healing nicely, it's pretty well sealed for having been welded only last night. At this rate you should be out of here by next week. But that's yet to be decided. Now, there's one spot we might need to keep an eye on, but I doubt it'll cause too much trouble. Now, it might be a two to three months before you'll be able to use your wings again."
Epsilon nodded quietly, she didn't mind that. It still unnerved her to think about flying so soon. But something made her feel a little more confident that she would again, she wasn't sure what it was, but it was a warm fuzzy feeling in her engine. Still, there was that small point of dark doubt…
"Though, there's something I need to discuss." John said.
Emma, reading the forklifts somber expression turned to her youngest child. "Orion? Could you go get your sister some fuel?" She asked.
He nodded, eager to help.
She gave him some money and ushered him out the door.
Once he was out of sight she turned to the mechanic. Epsilon shifted, she didn't like his tone or his expression, thoughts began racing through her head. Will I be able to fly agi- wait… he just said would be... Will I be fit for combat? Is it something else? What if-
"There's a chance the damage might have some lasting effects, including loss in some aerial capabilities."
There was a short silence as both mother and daughter let the news sink in.
Emma coughed slightly, in the way she did when she was worried. "What kind of loss?"
John shrugged, folding his forks and sighing, to the point where it seemed as if his tires had deflated. "It's impossible to tell, but I image Speed and Maneuverability may be compromised. Not too a point where it will effect everyday life, or surveillance missions, but it may cause problems in air-to-air combat."
Epsilon's heart sunk down to her landing gear. "Can't you fix it? Or replace parts?"
He shook his head. "Not yet."
Emma's stair hardened. "What do you mean not yet?"
"It's a rather difficult and possibly dangerous surgical procedure. She's too young for that kind of surgery. It can't be done legally until she's older, the exact age I'm not sure of yet, though I believe it may be 25 or possibly even 30."
Epsilon swallowed. "So, does that mean if- when I fly again that I'll have to stick to surveillance missions, and things like that? Bombing runs?"
John flinched. "Maybe, though I imagine they might put you on medical leave until it can be fixed."
"MEDICAL LEAVE?! You mean, like early retirement?! I'm 23! I'm not ready to retire!"
He shook his canopy. "Not retirement, medical leave. Once it's time you can have the damage fixed, you'll be right back to work… of course you might need to take some refresher courses…"
"So I have to start all over again?"
He snorted. "No, not really. You won't have to go through basic training again. It's just like refreshing information before a test, or revisiting old material after summer break."
"Except that summer break might last anywhere for 2-7 years."
This time, Emma stepped in instead. "Once you've learned the maneuvers, and information, it will be second nature. I had gotten a little rusty after I went on leave when you were a baby. That was six years dear, I picked my skills right back up. I can still fight just as well as before."
"So, what am I going to do in the time being? Sit around on my shocks and do nothing?"
Emma and John exchanged glances. "There's lots of things you can do; Go to college, become a teacher or a flight instructor, or a scientist, design new weapons, become a recruiter. You've always wanted to become a photographer! You can do that. Or become a meteorologist, or an Astronomer. Stay home and baby sit your little brother…"
"Ha, ha, ha, ha –no."
"I'm back!"
Orion came charging in with some cans of oil balanced on his wings, he pass one out to his mother and sister, and offered one to John, who politely declined.
"So… what I miss?"
"Talking." Epsilon said dully.
"'Bout what?"
"Medications." She lied.
"Oh…"
Emma sighed and smiled weakly, as her son shifted to find a comfortable spot to rest. He asked something in a hushed tone to John than smiled and curled up next to his sister, careful not to hurt her.
He closed his eyes. "'Night."
"It's 12:00…"
"Same difference."
Epsilon chuckled weakly and rested her chin on her brother's head. "Night, little bro."
She let all worried go as she concentrated on the here and now, she was tired, and worried and needed rest and company more than any medication.
Important plot points coming up in the next chapter, until then: Have a cute lil' brother fighter jet, a worried parent and an exhausted doctor.
*Edit* Fixed some wording mistakes.