Chp. 29: An Eye Towards Tomorrow

November 8, 2049

OFS Icarus (CVN-62)

"They said I should be back on flight status the day after tomorrow. Just wanna make sure that I don't have a concussion or something." Yuki commented as she switched from staring at the ceiling to a nearby wall.

"Well how many fingers am I holding up?" Brick offered, lifting an open palm. Yuki lifted one of her middles in response.

"Five. How about me?" She smirked.

"Uh…two?"

Everyone gathered chuckled, very glad that Yuki was well enough to make jokes. She'd managed to get back to the carrier, but stuck landing gear, a blown-off tailhook and three fluid leaks had precluded even the barrier. According to her, the ejection had rocked her pretty good too. She adjusted in her bed with the softest of winces so she could look at Jed and Annie.

"So who's Nomad?" She asked. Jed tilted his head, then realized what she was asking.

"Childhood friend. She flies 35s in the Air Force." He noted, hoping to leave it at that.

"I figured that much. You know she was out here?"

"Yeah, she told me her squadron was deploying to Kharmata a few days after we started flying combat missions. Don't know much more other than that."

She noted his guarded responses, but donned her flight leader's hat and pushed on (like he expected she would).

"One of the reasons you don't go home often?"

"Yeah, though being stuck in a fight with someone has a way of washing away animosity."

"Ex-girlfriend?" Brick asked.

Jed raised the same finger that Yuki had, sans humor. Brick raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright, sorry, bad joke. Bad joke, I know."

"Ah'll live."

"He probably still thinks you're an orphan." Yuki observed.

"Hey Walker's a common enough last name, alright? I never thought his old man or old man's old man would be big names in the realm of naval aviation."

Jed leaned towards Annie and remarked "Reason we call him Brick" before looking back at their injured friend.

"But yeah, Ah'm not gonna leave her hanging in the middle of a fight. Past be damned." He explained.

"Fair enough, tell her thanks for the help. Pretty certain I would've gone swimming much closer to Rupa if she hadn't been there."

"Will do."

Jed mentioned he had something to tend to and made his exit. Yuki thanked him for the visit and looked at Annie.

"You haven't touched any of my stuff, have you? All my Pokemon are still on my team?" She asked with a snicker.

"Oh nothing much, just traded your Flygon to me so a friend of mine would trade me her Shiny Raichu." Annie replied casually. The two girls seemed to get the joke pretty quickly, but not Brick and Glue.

"Did she…just tell a joke?" Glue asked, sounding as genuine as one could be.

"Yes, she's capable of that. I'm a bit surprised myself." Yuki remarked.

"I'm more surprised she plays Pokemon. Always saw her as a…Civilization…kind of girl." Brick added. Glue cocked a brow and leaned back in his seat.

"That was the best you could come up with?" He asked.

"What, she seems like the intellectual kind!" He protested.

"You should quit digging that hole, Brick." Annie advised, slipping some authority into her voice.

Brick also decided to retreat at that point, letting the three senior Lieutenants talk. At least, as long as Yuki could stand; she was still tired from her ordeal. As if by some greater force, Glue left just long enough before Annie did that Yuki could stop her.

"So how're things with you and Bronco? You seem to be in pretty good sync when we're out there." She asked. Annie felt confident in her answer.

"They're good. I think I can call him a friend now. I'm probably going to go make sure he doesn't start moping again."

"Yeah, should probably apologize for pressing him that hard on his family. Always a touchy subject for him."

"Personally, I think he needs to confront that issue...Get well soon, Yuki. I want my battle partner back for when we start on the Hoenn League."

"Won't let ya down, Tsun-Tsun."...

Jed was pleasantly surprised when the message he received was revealed to be from Francince. She hadn't been in his contacts even a minute before he was replying.

Jed (Warpup24): Zippy!
Francine (Zippy_714): Bronco! Lol, nice screen name.

Jed (Warpup24): It's a long story.
Francine (Zippy_714): Got a short version?

Jed (Warpup24): A girl I dated likened me to a giant puppy. Dog of war? Puppy? Get it?
Francine (Zippy_714): Pfffffft XD

Francine (Zippy_714): Okay, okay now I got something important to ask you, Bronco.

Jed (Warpup24): Hmm?
Francine (Zippy_714): It's about Tsun-Tsun.

Francine (Zippy_714): She's one of my closest mates, alright? I need to make sure you really care about her. She may be prickly on the surface, but she's got a heart.

Jed (Warpup24): What do you mean?

Francine (Zippy_714): I know you two have something. I've got a sixth sense like that. The way she talks about you, the way she acted when I was on the Icarus, the way you'd sneak looks at her. I don't want her to come back to 714 Squadron with her mascara running down her cheeks.

Jed (Warpup24): …I'm still that obvious I guess. _

Francine (Zippy_714): Jed, I'm serious man. I don't wanna bust your bollocks like this, but I gotta for her sake. I like you, and I wanna be sure.

Wouldn't be the first time he'd heard that. Jed was certainly taken aback by the change in subject, but he kept his head. Talking about his family with Yuki had reminded him of his shouting (typing?) match with Naomi. Not in a way that made him mad, either.

Jed (Warpup24): I've been in love before, but with her it feels different. Different in a good way, I mean! I think she's really cool and mature besides being beautiful. She's got a good head on her shoulders.
Francine (Zippy_714): She does.

Jed (Warpup24): When we were on liberty in Isara, I caught her on the beach as she was getting out of the water. That image hasn't left my head since. It makes me feel a certain kind of way.

Jed (Warpup24): What else can I say? I know I'll have to prove myself to her through my actions.

Francine (Zippy_714): Yes, and that you understand that gives me a lot of confidence in you. Also, I promise I won't tell a soul about you two. In fact.

All her messages over the past minutes began to disappear. Jed caught on after a minute and did the same to his. It was just back to talking about his screen name after that.

Francine (Zippy_714): So I never got a chance to ask you if you played vidya, Bronco. Ya like Airforce Delta?

Jed (Warpup24): :D YES
Francine (Zippy_714): :D

Francine (Zippy_714): Then send me your player ID on Virtua! Each second we wait is a second we could've been flying through oversized subway tunnels! IT'S PRACTICALLY A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.

Jed (Warpup24): Same as my handle here.
Francine (Zippy_714): You're lucky you already have a callsign. :3

A knock on his stateroom door drew him away. Annie greeted him with the same soft smile he was very much coming to like.

"Busy?" She asked.

"Ah'm sure Zippy will understand." He explained.

"Tell her it's me. Will Brick be back anytime soon?"

"He went off to get some food before he has to sit alert."

"Good."

She closed the door and wrapped her arms around him. He returned the affectionate gesture and she tugged him towards his chair. Annie leaned over from behind and rested her chin atop his head before she hugged him again.

"You don't have to tell me right now, but I came by because you seemed down after talking with the others. I want to make sure I do my duties as a girlfriend and cheer you up. And lend an ear if you need."

"Thanks Annie. Ah know Curry didn't mean any harm by her question. Ah just don't like to dwell on home."

"She said she was sorry."

"Ah'll tell her not to worry about it. Nobody on the boat really knows about that time of my life."

"Can I ask why? If that's okay; I want to be able to support you the best I can."

"Got tired of being around people who think they know better and that they have the right to try and control my life. And have never shown any remorse for it."

"I can understand that."

"Out here, Ah feel like Ah have my own life. Ah don't live in a world surrounded by a bunch of people who get everything they want and raise hell when they don't. Who look down on everyone around them. Ah don't even have to worry about my dad's rep or my granddad's. Ah'm free. No psychotic merc outfits, no girls Ah like being chased off, nothing. And they can't do a thing about it without me having the means to hit back."

It was all quite a bit to digest at once for Annie. She decided to start with the last part.

"...Psychotic merc outfits?"

"Rosenthal."

He said the word like he was spitting something bad from his mouth.

"Do you have a history with them?"

"Y'all know who they are?"

"I've heard the name."

"My dad is friends with the head of their fixed-wing department. He's…yeah he's an okay guy but I'm not a fan of his employers."

"So I've deduced. I've never encountered contractors myself, so I can't form much of an opinion."

"Most people aren't hot on them because they supported Estovakia during the war with Emmeria. Got them in a heap of legal trouble. For many service members, there's a reason why the word "Goldie" may be heard in the circles of the Osean military."

"Goldie?"

"It comes from a story about a contractor pilot who was told he had an attitude like he shit gold bricks. In an attempt to turn it around, he replied with "Yeah and I shit the gold bricks that you use". Thus, through the ingenuity of Osean military slang, Goldie was born. It's sarcastic, always reminding them how full of themselves they are and how little they've done to earn it."

Jed paused and looked up at her while she played with his hair.

"It's a matter of philosophy, for lack of a better term. A serviceman's life is hard, requires sacrifice and discipline, and we don't get much in return. A Goldie sees this and thinks we're all wrong because why should he have to be inconvenienced by those things? After he lands he'll have a steak dinner and get drunk before he fucks his client's wife. All while scoffing at us pions who live a spartan existence. For me, it's just another part of the proverbial can of worms."

"Are your parents part of that can of worms?"

"Thankfully not. My mom is gonna worry herself to death about me, but Ah'm her only son. She's already been through a lifetime worrying over my dad. For his part, he's seen me not only as his son, but as a fellow naval aviator. An equal, and a grown man."

"They both sound like very wonderful people."

"Ah hope someday y'all can meet 'em."

Annie kissed the top of his head.

"If I do, I feel you should have made peace with that part of your life. Rosenthal and your family and friends back home. I won't force you to go back to where you aren't comfortable. At the same time, however, simmering over it isn't worth your time." She said.

It was a bold step, they both thought. Jed expected to be angry, but he felt the same way as when Naomi had apologized. This time, though, it just seemed he didn't have any anger or frustration left. Annie tilted his head back and kissed him before he could find any. It went on for a long minute until Jed nervously parted her lips. She let him and ran a hand down his chest.

"Mmmhn~"

The two stopped, then Annie pulled away and covered her mouth as if it would do anything about her moaning. Her blushing face was met by that deer-in-the-headlights look Jed was kind of known for. Annie cleared her throat as Jed turned pink and straightened out her flight suit.

"Yes, well…I, if you'd please pretend that didn't happen." She muttered.

"Why not? It was sexy." Jed asked. Annie walked by and gently chopped a hand down on his head.

"Quiet." She pouted.

She paused at the doorway, then hurried back and placed one more kiss on his cheek. He took the chance to join their lips again, then raised his lips to her ear.

"Ah love a mature lady who moans like that." He husked to her.

Another three or four kisses later she was finally on her way out the door.

"I love you, Jed." She reminded him.

"Ah love y'all too, Annie." He replied.

She walked off as casually as she could into the depths of the ship, leaving Jed to enjoy the romance. Zero appeared on his screen to inform him he had several unread messages. He'd forgotten about Francine! Jed was typing out an apology, but his eyes caught the last message she sent.

Francine (Zippy_714): Annie's not on either, so I assume you're making out with her? ;3

Jed (Warpup24): _

Jed (Warpup24): I admit to nothing, so less conjecture more Airforce Delta.

Francine (Zippy_714): Hehehehehe

Despite his protests to her friend (and hopefully now one of his), Jed was really feeling glad he'd taken a chance with Annie…

The sprawl of modern buildings that made up Kinglane were starkly contrasted by the chunks taken out of several. The angular dome at the center of Batsal Pokhrel International Airport had hundreds of shattered planes from the shock of low-flying jets and explosions. Sharky sat next to the hangar door, watching the central terminal as an Airbus traded Belkan Panzergrenadiers for expats and tourists. Next to him, his ground crew was busy patching up the damage to his F-72 left by an Archer. Nothing short of another air raid would move him from his spot; he was tired. Tired and feeling his age after relocating and immediately returning to combat missions. He had his phone to his ear to play a voice message from Gale he'd gotten while flying.

"...I'm not good at the feelsy bullshit, you know that. I just wanna hear your voice, though. Texting only does so much for me. I'll be off the next few days; I might go to the Oured Bay Auto Show…"

His favorite part was the inevitable "I love you", delivered in a way that only Gale Sarkar could: I love you, so if you don't come back I'll conjure up your ghost and punch you that way. He started playing it again, finishing it as he heard footsteps approaching. They belonged to his faithful backseater, who had two cans of that fancy vending machine coffee with him.

"Caffeine before you start jerking off to Gale's voice?" He asked, dark features forming into a cheeky grin.

"I'm telling her you said that. Then she'll tell Daci." Sharky snorted. Shamu started to chuckle, but then couldn't tell if his friend was being serious or not.

"Sharky please don't. You can have my can of coffee too if you don't."

"You'd have a better chance if you'd brought me Mountain Dew."

"This was all I could find. So you're not gonna tell Daci, right?"

Sharky just gave his friend a look and held out a hand to accept the can of coffee. Shamu sat down next to him and they knocked the cans together.

"To successfully outrunning an advancing army once again." The WSO proposed.

"And for killing boats." Sharky added.

Shamu took a long chug, then looked up at the sound of approaching engines. Another sign of the growing coalition against Erusea was approaching: Emmerian Hailstorm C fighter jets. Their shape brought back memories of Anea, and dodging Rafales while their escorts tried to keep them covered.

"I ran into Santosh on my way over here. I can understand why you're freaked out about your lives' parallels. I almost called him Sharky by accident."

"I'm starting to look at it in a more positive light. He's grown up, and that means we've done our job. "

"Yeah, which means I can go out on a high note."

Sharky looked at him as he was about to take a drink with genuine surprise.

"You seriously thinking of retiring?" He asked.

"I've done my time and my retirement plan is solid. If I really feel the need to keep myself busy, I could easily put my degree to work part-time. I'm sure the company would be happy to have me do classroom work." Shamu explained with a shrug.

"I'm not young and stupid anymore, and it's not 2015. We all get old, no matter how hard we try to stave it off."

His pilot mumbled something that Shamu chose not to try and understand. Instead he watched the Hailstorms as they taxied towards new shelters by the northern terminal. He looked back at his friend and let him think for a few minutes.

"You seriously don't think you could fly forever, do you?" He asked. He knew it was hyperbole, but hopefully it meant his friend would be truthful.

"I don't know what else I'd do with my life." Sharky admitted.

"Enjoy the golden years with your wife, fixing up your Evo and proudly watching your daughter fully enter adult life. Mending your relationship with Jed, doing some globetrotting that isn't business related."

"I'm in the same boat as Mark."

"And yet he retired, did a term as a senator, and still wakes up every day married with a smile on his face. Sharky we've flown together for, what, 37 years? We have nothing left to prove to anyone, and we never did in my opinion. We've tangled with the most sophisticated weapons systems in the world, and we're the ones who solidified a common tactic used by the Osean military to this day. We have everything we could ever want as combat pilots."

Sharky didn't answer him, and he didn't want to. The man had a point, but Sharky wasn't able to imagine what would be on the other side of handing in his retirement papers. He simply stared at the Hailstorms, hoping he'd have a eureka moment.

"Hey, Sharky."

The man was forced to look Shamu's way eventually. His friend maintained a reassuring smirk.

"You've fought hard for most of your life. You wouldn't be quitting, you'd be reaping the rewards of your efforts."

Shamu had been used to being Sharky's conscious since he'd first seen Gale Sullivan. This was no different to him.