Opportunities Taken - Chapter 11
The next day flew by. Everyone sat around the house waiting for Chase and Rhonda to finish their class. The girls, and Doug, had gone down to the beach. Marshall, Rocky and Zuma finally came down and joined them. As the day wore on Chase and Rhonda finally showed up.
"So I think we'll be coming back soon," said Chase.
"Oh really?" said Skye.
"Yeah, the new base commander is one of the SF guys Chase ran with for a while," said Rhonda.
"SF?" asked Doug.
"Sorry, shop talk," laughed Rhonda, "Special Forces."
"I wasn't sure if it meant Stupid f'er," laughed Doug.
"Oh, they are definitely that," laughed Chase.
"Those guys will jump out of anything, into anything," laughed Rhonda.
"Well, I'm so happy you made it before sunset," said Skye.
They all sat down in beach chairs watching the sunset. Later they walked back up to the house and had dinner.
"So what did you want to do tomorrow?" asked Skye.
"Well I need to take Marshall to his surprise in the morning," said Chase, "After that, I don't know, you want to go fly over an active volcano?"
"That would be cool," said Zuma. "What surprise?"
"Yeah Chase," asked Marshall, "Are you going to tell me yet?"
"Nope, not until tomorrow," laughed Chase.
"He really loves doing this," laughed Rhonda.
"So Chase," asked Rocky, "Any ideas where you'll go next?"
"I think we are probably going back to Germany after Adventure Bay," said Chase, "But we still have to stop in Toronto for that class."
"Are you all flying back this weekend?" asked Rhonda.
"Rocky, Zuma, and I are," said Marshall.
"Oh?" said Skye.
"I was going to ask if I could tag along?" said Everest.
"I don't see why not," said Chase. "I don't know Canadian bases as well. I'm not sure what Skye was going to do but I'm sure I'll figure something out. Well I'm beat, I'm going to grab a shower and hit the sack."
"I'll come help scrub your back," laughed Skye.
"Eww," laughed Rhonda. "You two need to get a room."
"We have one," laughed Skye, "I plan on using it."
"TMI dudes," laughed Zuma.
"You want my drone?" laughed Rocky.
"Now that's just creepy," laughed Everest. "Interesting, but a little too weird."
Everyone decided to go to bed and get some rest for tomorrow.
The next morning Marshall was sitting on the front porch watching the sunrise as Chase and Rhonda came running up the path from the beach.
"Morning," said Marshall, "coffee's ready."
"Great," said Chase, panting as he walked up the steps.
He and Rhonda both came and grabbed cups filling them from the carafe.
"So, you going to get your stinky butt ready in time?" asked Rhonda.
"I'll make it," laughed Chase. "So Marshall, are you ready?"
"I'm not sure," said Marshall. "You haven't even given me a hint."
"You'll love it," said Rhonda, "I promise."
"Can't I have a hint?" whined Marshall.
"Hum," Chase thought. "It involves water."
"Great, we're on an island in the middle of the Pacific," laughed Marshall, "That narrows it down a little."
"It's on base," laughed Rhonda.
"Well that narrows it a little more," laughed Marshall. "Fine, I'll just wait."
They all gathered into various vehicles and headed to the base.
They came to the gate and Chase stepped out and spoke with the guards. He then came back and presented temporary passes to everyone.
"Ok follow me," said Chase.
He drove until he came to the base's main fire station. He pulled in and parked. Marshall got out, his mouth almost watering.
"Morning Captain Chase," said a dalmatian walking up.
"Guys," said Chase, "I'd like to introduce you to First Sergeant Lugares. He is one of the Military Firefighters here at Hickam."
"Good Morning Everyone," said Lugares. "Very nice to get to meet you, Captain Marshall. I've read a lot about you and your sister."
"Wow, this is incredible," said Marshall, his tail wagging like a hurricane. "Nice to meet you as well Sgt. Lugares."
Everyone else said their hellos as well.
"So Lugares?" asked Doug.
"Spots," laughed Sgt. Lugares. "My original handler was Latino. You can call me spots if it's easier."
"So Chase," laughed Marshall. "I assume this is the surprise."
"The start of it anyway," laughed Chase.
"If you'd like to start the tour," said Sgt. Lugares, "We can start inside. I have a quick presentation to break down all we do, the stations and locations and the personnel."
"Awesome," said Marshall.
"We can go do something else if you'd like," said Chase to everyone else.
"I'd like to go on the tour," said Zuma and Rocky.
The others agreed it sounded fun.
The group walked into the station and were led to the training room.
Sgt. Lugares began his presentation explaining the operations and the fact that there were a total of 13 staffed stations and 286 personnel made up of 27 enlisted personnel and 259 Civilians. He showed several pictures of various fires and rescues. Then he flipped to a final slide.
Sgt. Lugares explained, "The first military fire station on the island was established in 1924 by the US Army. All we do, we do in memory of those lost over the years, but especially those that died the day of the Pearl Harbor attack, some were lost attempting to free sailors trapped in ships sunk in the harbor."
Skye had tears running down her muzzle and turned to see that Marshall did as well. They all had a moment of silence for those lost.
"Ok, enough doom and gloom," said Sgt. Lugares, "Let's go meet the on duty crew and go play with stuff."
The rest of the day was spent touring stations and equipment from regular structure engines to aircraft rescue equipment on to Fire Boats and finally the suppression and rescue helicopters. It took no time for Skye to jump into the cockpit of the nearest MH-65 Dolphin.
"Want to go for a ride?" asked a voice beside her. Skye turned to see a female Black Labrador.
"I have one," laughed Skye, "I love this aircraft. It's so versatile."
"I agree," said the lab. "I'm Lieutenant Cutter. Are you Skye?"
"I am," said Skye, looking curiously at the pup.
"I've read so much about your rescues," said Cutter. "I was born on a Coast Guard Cutter, thus the name. I became a rescue pilot because of following you."
"Wow, I had no idea," said Skye.
"I was so excited when I heard you were here," said Cutter. "I apologize, but I just had to meet you."
"That's quite ok," said Skye, "I'm always up for meeting a fellow pilot."
Cutter walked around and sat in the co-pilot seat. She began going over all the aircraft capabilities and explaining their mission and area of operations.
Zuma had wandered over and was watching Lt. Cutter.
Skye noticed and turned to Cutter. "I'd like to introduce you to…"
"ZUMA!" yelped Lt. Cutter. "Wow, I didn't know you were here also."
Zuma was somewhat startled, "M-me, You've heard of me?"
"I know all the former Paw Patrol Members," laughed Lt. Cutter. "I was telling Skye, I became a pilot because of her. But I was taught about your rescues in water rescue school. You are amazing."
"We'll catch up to you two later," called Chase. The rest of the group continued on the tour.
"That's so awesome," said Zuma.
"So?" asked Cutter, "What are you doing now?"
"I'm a swim team coach for the local high school," said Zuma sheepishly. "I know, not as cool."
"Are you kidding," said Cutter, "that's awesome that you can teach others now. And I bet you have great stories to tell your students."
"Don't let him kid you," said Skye, "He's still amazing and his team has won State for the last few years."
"So, Like I said," said Lt. Cutter, "You want to go up?"
"Yes!" said both Skye and Zuma, they turned and laughed at each other.
"Let me grab a couple helmets for you guys and we'll go," said Cutter.
Cutter took Skye and Zuma up and they flew down the beach low enough you could see the faces of the beach goers. Then she flew out over the water and you could actually see the sharks swimming all over the place.
"If Rocky was with us, We'd never get him in the water again," laughed Zuma.
"I'm not sure if I want to get in the water again," laughed Skye.
"When the guys get bored they fly out here and drop buckets of chum in the water," laughed Cutter. "The sharks lose their minds. It's fun to watch, but reminds you the sea is theirs. But that's ok because the sky is mine."
"I hear you girl," laughed Skye.
"Can we fly over North Shore?" asked Zuma.
"Sure, you going to surf it?" asked Cutter.
"I did yesterday," said Zuma.
"Wow! There was a high surf warning yesterday," said Cutter, "You're not dead. You must be pretty good."
"I can hold my own," laughed Zuma.
Cutter banked and flew over to North Shore. Several surfers were out on the waves. You could see sharks swimming around and between the surfers and the beach.
"Yep, glad Rocky's not with us," said Zuma. "I didn't see this many in his footage of me surfing."
"The sharks steer clear in high surf," said Cutter, "They don't like getting bounced off the rocks and corral anymore than anyone else. Like I said, you must be pretty good."
"You want to come back to the house and see the video?" asked Zuma.
Cutter turned back to look at Zuma, "Is that a date?"
"I, uh, I…" Zuma began stuttering.
Cutter giggled, "Sure I'd love to come back to the house with you."
"O-ok," said Zuma blushing.
Skye just rolled her eyes and laughed, Zuma was done.
They flew back to the base.
Once they got everything turned in Skye called Chase.
"I'm ready to get picked up," laughed Skye.
"Just you?" asked Chase, "Where's Zuma?"
"He and Cutter ran off," laughed Skye, "We may not get him back."
"Well sounds like one of you had fun anyway," laughed Chase, "I'll be right there."
Chase picked up Skye and they drove over to where the others were waiting for their helicopter tour.
They flew around the island and then over to fly over Kilauea. Even from altitude you could feel the heat. It was amazing and Rocky took tons of pictures. Skye explained that Cutter had stolen Zuma.
"Sounds like Zuma might be coming to visit more often," laughed Rocky. "Figures he would find a pup to chase here of all places."
"Actually," laughed Skye, "I think Zuma was being chased this time. They were really cute together."
Later they returned to the cabin and found Zuma and Cutter curled up on the couch watching Zuma surfing videos.
"You guys still watching that?" asked Skye.
"Oh, we just got around to watching the video," said Cutter.
"What have you been doing?" asked Everest.
Zuma turned bright red. "Do you really want to know?" laughed Cutter.
"Nope, I'm good," laughed Chase.
"Yep, we're good," agreed the others.
The pups decided to turn in, it had been a long day.