The next morning he participated in another run with Team 1 and then joined them for some plinking on the range, getting to know his various guns better and optimizing the Loadouts. Usagi informed him, that training with the Senshi would just commence in the afternoon, beginning with flight training for the girls.
He went to Lunch with them and they were joined by Terra Squadron and Marvin. Rumors circulated that an official space mission was up soon. Nothing official was out yet but there were reports that a delegation from Coruscant was on it's way.
He finished his lunch, not really participating in the conversation, just listening. He left the dining hall and decided to have a cigarette in the royal court before he would head off to the Airbase and get AICA and himself ready for the Flight Training with the Senshi.
He sat down on a bench next to a fountain overlooking the Crystal tower and lit his cigarette.
It was a nice spring day again, with the sun shining and the sun colored the Crystal tower in all colors of the rainbow.
Suddenly he heard steps coming towards him, he looked back and saw the Inner Senshi rushing towards him. Jupiter was holding a newspaper in her hands.
"Lieutenant, you cunning son of a bitch, not even two weeks on earth and you already making headlines." Jupiter mocked him and put the newspaper in his face. On the frontline was the picture of him helping the Neo-Queen out of the A-Wing. Rei grabbed the newspaper.
"Here, this is gold." She began to read. "The Queen made a surprise entrance with a daring maneuver in the Starfighter encircling the Tower. TopGun, if you're stupid actions include the Queen now, we have to protest." She laughed sarcastically.
He sighed and took a deep draw from his cigarette.
Minako chimed in. "I think the King is a little bit jealous too. There was a quite much holding hands involved." Now even she started to mock him. Great
Maybe he was still in the tank on Kamino and this was just a fever dream. So why not try something else for once.
"Maybe, just maybe, my dear Royal Guardians, I take my responsibility as other Guardian of her Majesty so serious that I make sure she doesn't take a dive and blames herself in public. I'm not so sure if it would be the same for some of you." He said with a shrug.
"And what do you exactly mean with that!" An angry Rei responded.
"Nothing particular, Rei. But it's strange that it triggers you, isn't it?" He said and looked further towards the Crystal Tower.
The girls could swear there was a small cloud of smoke rising up from Rei. She had to take a breather to calm herself down after Ami and Jupiter got already ready to hold her in place if she was about to jump over the bench.
"It's nice to see that growing a beard made you a man now. Let's see how much is left of it, when we spare against each other." She said, trying to sound calm.
"Oh don't worry. Before that it's flight training for you with me this afternoon. I hope your lunch was rather light." He said completely calm too.
"Oh and about that. Jupiter, would you come here please for a second?" He said further and motioned to comer over to him.
She got there and leaned over the bench.
"Listen, I know you're not so cool with flying. I'll try to make it as easy as possible for you, okay?" He said so quiet that only she could hear him. They both nodded to the other.
"Alright, I'll see you at the landing strip in a hour. Please be completely kited up for flying." He got up, extinguished his cigarette at a nearby Ashtray and left, giving the girls a small salute with two hands as he walked away.
Phew. He was not sure if he would survive this. Rei was probably close to attacking him physically. But damn, changing the role one time felt great. Oh and it seems that she likes the beard, he thought as he stroked over the beginning Full Beard.
His phone rang and the Caller-ID said that it was Ada. Surprised he took the call.
"Hey SunTzu, how are you? I heard some really good things about you."
"Hi Ada, except that my job should be labeled as a hazard I'm good. What's up?"
"Just wanted to let you know I'm part of a small delegation of GA Personnel visiting the Queen tonight. I was thinking, that maybe we could catch a coffee together."
"I got a training unit in one hour, when do you leave?"
"I was thinking about right now, I'm at the Military Complex. Don't worry I'll hurry."
He stopped walking.
"Sure, I'll get you there." he told her and turned around heading to the HQ.
He walked over the short distance and saw her standing in front of the Military Building, wearing her GAIS Uniform.
He waved at her and she walked over to him. They shook hands and said Hi to each other. While they walked to the Cafeteria, they talked about what happened to him since he left Tatooine. On the way they crossed Hotaru and Chibiusa that came out of the Cafeteria and were on the way to the Crystal Tower. Of course the black haired Woman next to him attracted their curiosity and almost immediately pictures were taken and sent to a certain group.
SunTzu told her to not care about it. Just a quirk of the locals.
They took some coffee and sat down in the dining hall.
"I heard there's rumors that your Taskforce is going on a mission soon." She said, drinking her black coffee.
"Yeah, I heard that. Rumors." He said, drinking his coffee with milk.
"Actually, the delegation is here to proof that Taskforce Sol is mission ready. And if you ask me you guys are."
"If you say so. The last battle could have gone worse I guess tho."
"The statistics speak very clearly for you."
They talked a bit more and drank their coffees.
Ten minutes later they stepped outside and head to the Crystal Tower, where Ada was to link up with the rest of her delegation. After bringing her over they said their goodbyes. SunTzu rushed over to the Car Pool and headed out to the Airbase. He jumped into his flight suit there and headed out into AICA's Hangar.
Only to be greeted by Sailor Saturn, completely transformed and talking with AICA.
"Hi SunTzu." Saturn said.
"Hello Pilot." AICA said.
"Hey Girls."
"Who was that woman? Was it the one you wanted to show space?"
"Wha..what?! No, no, no. She's my assigned Intelligence Officer from the Intelligence Service. Her Name is Ada." SunTzu explained, with a embarrassed look on his face.
"Oh. Well if you say so. Bets in the Senshi Group are high, saying that it's your girlfriend. Haruka is offering money for information." Saturn said and smiled.
Hm, do I get this money If I tell her what I know. SunTzu thought.
He looked at his chrono and saw that it was time to get ready for the exercise.
"AICA, get ready for take off." He ordered his Starship.
"I gotta go too. I was just trying to get some information from AICA. See you later." Hotaru told and left the Hangar.
SunTzu did a preflight check up on the outside of AICA, while she ran a preflight systems check. And as always when passengers were expected another one.
The Hangar Gate was opened and after he did another system check on his own they hovered out to one of the landing spots on the outside, settling down and waiting on what was about to come.
Ten minutes later a van showed up and spilled out seven Sailor Senshi in Flight Suits.
Instead of focusing on training SunTzu found himself in a babbling cluster of women immediately. Only Pluto was standing a bit afar, just observing the scene.
"TopGun, who was that girl?"
"Why didn't you introduce us to your girlfriend?"
"No way a woman like this is with him!"
"She is with the Intelligence too? You got a thing for spies?"
"Ladies! Could you all be quiet for a second? And let me talk?" He shouted. "Jesus! Nice that everyone is caring about my private life so much but can I please explain things to you."
The girls went quiet.
"What's the jackpot? And yes, I know there is one. As I know, that you, Haruka are offering money for info."
"They're at 60 Bucks now. To my Defence I didn't participate." Minako said.
"Because it would be unfair, because your certain advantage." An annoyed Jupiter chimed in.
"Ami and Setsuna didn't participate either."
"I didn't think it's right to be honest." The blue haired Senshi said. "SunTzu has a right for privacy too."
"Thank you Ami. At least someone treats me like a human here." He said with a friendly nod towards the blue haired woman.
"Hey Haruka, how much you're willing to pay for Intel?"
"To you? Nothing." She answered.
"Thanks. Anyways, she's not my girlfriend. She's my assigned Intelligence Officer ever since I left Tatooine. Her Name is Ada Wong." He explained
"Oh this was Ada Wong. I remember that memo." Ami chimed in, nodding knowingly.
"Again, take an example on Ami, Ladies. She made her homework. Ada is just my assigned Intelligence Officer not more. I barley saw her before anyway. We just had a coffee and briefed each other a bit."
"Yeah, right. "Briefed" each other. How come you need an assigned Intelligence Officer anyway." Rei stated.
"Believe it or not. I even have a Jedi assigned to supervise me. I don't know why somebody thinks I'm that important but it's nice, that it's not only to let my die through the hands' of Vong Warriors."
"This means Jupiter and Haruka won the jackpot." Michiru told.
"No guy with a girlfriend would sleep in a barrack's shower, I knew it." Jupiter stated.
"And I'm still not sure if he's even into girls." Haruka mocked SunTzu.
"Shut up. Or I'll ask your girlfriend out to dinner." He mocked her back.
"Oh, I wouldn't mind that to be honest. And now that I know that you don't have a girlfriend…" Michiru replied with a playful smile.
Both then laughed at the sour expression Haruka put on.
"Okay, that was fun and stuff. But back to the important points. You heard the rumors about our next trip coming up and it seems like they're true I was told by a bird with the GA Intelligence. Looks like we're heading to space soon and this means we should train, how you get flown around by me." SunTzu stated, trying to make anybody focus.
"Since when he started to be that dutiful?" Jupiter asked.
"Must be the beard. Feeling like an Adult now." Rei answered.
"He's German. Probably he also wants you guys to train insertions into France soon." Haruka answered.
SunTzu sighed, shaking his head.
It was really time to check out how far he could get with just speaking Basic.
"Okay. Enough. I want to see a nice straight line of Senshi right now! May I have to remind you, that some of you are officers! Get into Formation, Ladies!" He barked orders.
Suddenly it got quiet and the Inner Senshi got into a line, next to each other. Setsuna joined them while Michiru and Haruka lined up behind SunTzu.
"See, that wasn't too hard. 1st Lieutant Tenou, I suppose you and your CSO gave them the theoretical part already?"
"Affirmative 2nd Lieutenant." She leaned onto him and whispered. "You do know that I'm higher ranked than you?"
"I know, but if it's the only way to make them focus play along." He whispered back and walked up the line again. Makoto didn't look good, she was pale and shaky.
"Okay, listen. As you probably know, we'll take AICA here and go for a flight with each of you. There will be some maneuvers that will be pretty harsh and it's to accustomate you girls to fly with me or Haruka should the need arise, as we both have the fastest ships in the Taskforce if not the Fleet. What Haruka and Michiru told you was the basics and safety measures, please stick to them." SunTzu told them, having a close look at Makoto.
"Captain Kino, would you come here please?" He said to an even more pale looking Makoto.
The girl had visible problems to walk up to him, so he walked towards her too. She was near to tears, the other girls were looking at her with commiseration.
As they were next to each he gave her a careful hug and started to talk in a quiet, reassuring voice.
"Hey, it's okay. It's all good, you know. Let's check out what we're flying with today, okay? Don't worry we're all here."
The girls chimed in supportive and Ami came and hugged her too.
He spoke in his chrono and ordered AICA to open the Canopy.
"Let's go over there and have a look, okay?" He asked her and she quietly nodded. Ami linked arms with her and they walked over to AICA.
"AICA, say Hi."
"Hi Ami! Hello Captain Kino! Nice that we'll fly together today." AICA greeted them.
"Makoto." Jupiter said "You can call me Makoto. And I'm not getting in!"
"Hi Makoto! My name is AICA. Why you don't want to fly?"
"AICA, Makoto is not to keen to fly. Can you give her a moment please."
He leaned against AICA and looked at Mako, who still linked arms with Ami.
"We don't have any pressure here. Why you don't take a look around or just take a seat and see how it feels inside."
"If I really have too. But promise it's not gonna just fly away with me."
"AICA, shut down, Override Code OSK-13."
Everything in the Starfighter turned off.
"I completely shut her down. I usually don't do that, but nothing will be working now, till I turn her on again."
Jupiter taped Mercury's Hand and slowly walked around the Machine, when she was on the starboard sight she took a look at the Engines.
"This thing is just two rockets with a Cockpit. This is insane to fly in."
"And shields, sensors, safety measures, ejectionable cockpit and foremost a pilot. Cigarette?"
She nodded and he gave her a cigarette and then lighted it for her. He then lighted one for himself.
"Is it even safe to smoke next to it?"
"Yes, there's no way something could leak out that is actually capable of catching fire from a cigarette. After all, she's not a plane." He smiled. "Makoto, you know why I'm on this planet, pretty sure even better than me actually. We know I'm here to make sure you Senshi are good. I flew with Hotaru yesterday and I guess it couldn't have been too bad because otherwise Setsuna would have killed me. Not to speak of that I'm still here in my position and flew the Queen and the Princess."
"Because she was late to the party." Makoto laughed. The color came back into her face.
"She wanted a grand entrance, she got one. I'm just a soldier obeying orders. Just like you."
She thought for a moment.
"I know I was ordered. But still…" she was fighting with herself.
"How about this. We smoke up, get in and I just rise a few meters with the Repulsors. No flying yet, just hovering and we see how do you feel?"
She took a deep draw. After letting out the air she shook her head in disbelief what she was about to say.
"Okay, but we go easy."
"Of course." He pointed onto AICA. "Captain Kino, it would be my honor to welcome you on board."
They walked to the nearest hangar, extinguished their cigarettes there and got back. He then helped her into the backseat and strapped her in, very gently.
"So far all good?"
"So far. It's way more comfortable than I thought."
"Yeah, AICA, apart from being a piece of spacefaring Art and her Artificial Intelligence also had the pleasure to have people work on her that actually had a brain. Not something you find that often in GA R&D."
They both laughed.
He pressed a few switches and the lights in the cockpit got back again.
"AICA, SENTH-14."
"Systems are being booted up"
"Just a moment. While we do this why we don't wave at the cowards that didn't want to get In the plane before you?"
She laughed and then waved at the girls that stood afar and laughed even more.
"Boot up completed." AICA announced.
"Welcome back AICA Darling. Please do another preflight checkup to let our guest know, we are good to go"
"Ugh, work just after a power nap. Mako, he can be the worst." AICA told over the Intercom.
Makoto shook her head, grinning
"Would you please close the canopy."
The canopy closed and AICA announced that the System Check was done and everything was running fine.
"How about some classic music?"
He pulled out his phone and started to music inside the cockpit with it. Classic Music began to play.
"Not bad. If it wouldn't be for flying I would almost feel halfway relaxed" Mako announced.
He radioed to Haruka, she and Michiru were already In the Voyager and ready to take off. They would be cruising above the clouds over the airbase. He gave them the info, that they would hover over the airbase now and then see further.
A few seconds later the Voyager came into sight while climbing up over the Airfield.
"You ready?"
Makoto took a few deep breaths and the said, "Let's get it over with!"
"That's the way!" SunTzu said and slowly put energy into the Repulsors, making AICA softly rise up. One meter, two, four. Ten meters over the ground he stopped.
"Okay?"
"Actually, yeah."
"Okay, I'll go up a bit more."
After 10 meters more. He hovered again.
"Hey, the view actually is nice. Can we go higher?"
He got up to 50 meters.
She was looking out the windows, waving to the girls.
"Nice, I can see our barracks from here!"
"See, it's not that bad. Your call, flying or not?"
She took a moment, glanced out and took another moment.
"Okay, just a small round over the airfield, okay?"
"Affirmative Captain."
He slowly started moving forward and took a small round over the airfield.
"Fly a round like you would normally do."
He flew a loop and cruised over the airfield two times.
"That actually is fun. If you promise me, that we can stop whenever I say so, we can fly a bit more."
"Promise! Enjoy it Mako."
He crossed the Airfield again and descended, giving more thrust on the engine.
Soon they glided through the sky over the Tokyo Bay.
"Enjoying the view?" He asked her
"Have to admit it's beautiful. Okay, so far it's really okay. What kind of flying would you do if I wouldn't be afraid?"
"Some basic maneuvers for evasion and turning. Nothing to fancy for the first time."
"How much more crazy would it be?"
"We'll it's more breaking and speeding up and some sharper turns too. Maybe a looping as Grande Finale." He explained honestly, expecting her to tell him to turn around.
"Is there anything involved where we can harass Haruka?" She asked challenging.
"Well, I could think of something but I guess it would need some more crazy flying."
"Since I'm already up here and this chance maybe never comes again. Hit it!"
"Aye, aye Ma'am!"
He flew a loop and sped up, nose slightly bent to the sky to rise up.
"Wohooo!" came from the Backseat. The A-Wing pierced through the Clouds as they headed for the Voyager, which was flying slightly above the clouds a few kilometers away.
"AICA deactivate all the active sensors. Let's go dark."
He dove down into the clouds and flew a turn that sat him on course above the Invader. He sped up and soon was behind the Invader as he slowly rose out of the clouds. He closed up until AICA was completely under the Voyager and then rose out of the clouds and started a slow roll around the Explorer.
"What the Fuck!? Where did you guys came from?" Haruka came in, cursing over the radio.
"I think Makoto has to tell you something." SunTzu replied as they were headlong above the Voyager, so close that they could make out Haruka on the Pilot's seat.
Makoto pulled off her glove and gave a middle finger to a dumbfounded looking Haruka.
"You owe me a training on the ground. I was In your element." She said and throw Haruka a kiss.
SunTzu gave a brief salut and ended the roll around the Voyager under it's belly, going down the clouds again and activating all sensors again.
"Surprising for someone that didn't want to fly ground pounder. I owe you that." Haruka came over the radio again.
"Didn't expect it, huh? I let you know when to join us for ground training. I hope you like backpacking"
"Oh, she will love it, I'm sure. I'm just a bit worried about me, how I will feel when I have to listen for three days how sore she is" Michiru entered the conversation also.
Laughter from everybody except Haruka followed.
"Okay, I'll bring Makoto back to base and get the next one." SunTzu announced.
"No more fucking around like this please." A sour Haruka commented.
"Yes Mum. We'll be nice from now on."
He took a turn over the Pacific and headed back to Crystal Tokio. Over the bay of the Tokio, Makoto pulled out her phone and took some pics. She was completely different to before.
"You know what's missing?" She asked.
"Hum?" He answered.
"Something everybody does in here I guess."
A click followed. Another selfie within AICA. Makoto was way better than before.
They landed and he helped her out.
"Are you really okay? Everything fine?"
"Absolutely, I did enjoy it actually.
I wouldn't get in the same machine as Haruka but if the need arises, I'd fly with you and AICA again." She stated.
"Anytime you want, that was fun!" AICA cheered and SunTzu smiled and nodded.
They fist bumped each other, she got off her helmet, shook her hair out and left with a big, satisfied grin.
Another happy customer.
Ami walked up next and he helped her up in the cockpit, while AICA run a check up. Safety first. He checked her seatbelt while she put on her helmet. Everything was in order.
"We'll be doing a bit more of maneuvering today, so let me know if you don't feel well or we should stop, okay?"
"Sure, but don't worry, it's not my second flight. I'm actually qualified as copilot on a Probe-Y-Wing."
"Really, didn't know that."
"Yeah, Marvin and me trained for this a few weeks ago. We got the Voyager and AICA but you never know."
"True. Not bad. So since you've already flown with Marvin, I guess it won't be to crazy for you anyway."
They left and soon rose over Tokyo, heading for the Pacific, crossing the Voyager in the distance.
"Can we go to the Area you guys always train?" She asked and leaned forward.
"Sure, on our way." He replied and put more energy in the thrusters.
A few moments later he declared that they would be over it now.
"Excellent. Okay, pull down the speed. I have to ask you something."
"Okayyy, what's up?"
"Do you trust me? Like really trust me."
He looked back and needed a moment.
"Well… you've been good to me since I got here and safed my life also. Yeah, yeah I do. Why?" He said a bit worried and confused.
"AICA, CRESH-003, maximum security, all scramblers on!" She ordered and AICA immediately went into Electronic Warfare mode and scrambled every bit of data she was processing.
She knew AICA's Override Codes. Of course, she was a spy. And Ada was on earth, so this was no coincidence.
"Why am I not surprised. Trust a spy I guess, huh?" He asked her.
"Don't worry, I just need your help. Between us and Agent Wong."
"Shoot it, what do you need?" He asked bluntly.
"After the Training, when the Delegation is leaving, you'll be flying escort for their shuttle, this is also arranged. I'll be with you and we'll shortly land in their ship. I have to receive some very important data there, but nobody has to know I actually went in there. Can you get me in there with minimal signature to the outside?"
"Yeah, yeah I think I can do that. But we have to hurry if you don't want anybody to notice our absence."
"Don't worry, it will take less than a minute."
"Okay then. I don't know why you have to do it like that, but I got you."
"Don't worry, if everything will be going as it's planned to go, you'll know soon enough."
"I hope so, I'd hate to having to search for another car share." He told her.
They both laughed.
"You can turn the scramblers out now. And also, we got some more classic music?" Ami asked him.
"Chopin or Litvinovsky?" He answered with a question either.
He flew some evasive and dodging maneuvers with her but she was already used to flying like this because the training she did with Marvin.
The probably most intelligent person In the universe also had a pretty strong stomach. Was there anything these girls couldn't do?
Next one up was Minako, who was a bit more quiet than usual but still seemed excited in a positive way. And that didn't leave her and AICA from a lengthy introduction.
After what seemed like 10 minutes of chatter, he made sure she was strapped in good and everything was running green, when he saw her already pulling out her phone. A few pics of herself followed, even with the helmet on.
When she noticed that he had turned around, she excused herself.
"Sorry, now that I finally made it to your backseat too, I thought i take pics before you're done with me", followed by a wink.
Goddamn Tease.
If it wasn't for those butterflies he felt every time he saw Rei, someone would have been so due for the Mile High Club.
He sighed and lift off, they took a harmless loop over the airbase and he headed for the bay next. Mina already had her phone out again and took shots. Including a selfie with her and the pilot showing. Six seconds later it was in the Senshi Message Group, with a comment how she finally made it into the cockpit too.
He told her, that they were going to the training area and he'll fly some harsher maneuvers and if it would be okay.
"Lieutenant, you can do with me whatever you want." She answered with a seductive undertone. His eyes widened and he turned around.
"This also goes for if we go down and strand on an remote island. Even more." She continued and bit her lower lip.
His jaw dropped so hard, that AICA's Ground Proximity Alarm almost turned on, his face became the same color as the emergency buttons, the way he blushed.
Then she broke off into a loud laughter.
"I'm sorry. I really am, but I couldn't resist. I know I'm a tease." She apologized, still giggling.
He sighed, shook his head and turned around.
"You are a very attractive man Lieutenant, but I know I'm not the one you're heart beats faster for."
"Aha, and if, and that's a big if, there actually would be someone that would do so, how'd you know of all?"
"Hm, maybe I'm the reincarnation of the goddess of Love and feel such stuff." She said and winked again.
"If you say so. I get so much shit from y'all, that I decided to not care anymore anyway." He said and shrugged.
"Awww, you're cute when you're trying to be angry. Don't worry, I haven't found out whom yet, but I'll stay quiet when i will, anyway."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Believe what you want." He tried to hide himself. "Can we start the training now?"
"Make me scream." She aspirated and laughed again.
He flew a few more crazier maneuvers than with the other girls but Minako enjoyed the whole thing through and through.
They landed and this time the other Innner Senshi, swarmed the Fighter, because they heard from Haruka, that he flew a bit more crazy with Mina than with the rest. Curious as they were they couldn't resist to immediately ask firsthand.
The canopy opened and Minako faned air to herself with an exhausted expression.
"You were quite rough with me Lieutenant. But i really enjoyed our little "ride"". She said so the others could hear it.
He just sat there eyes on the cockpit displays.
Maybe he should have told her, that his heart started to long for Rancor Taming lately. Or that his only Love was Bacta right now. Anyway, another Shitstorm incoming in 3.2.1…
"TopGun, what did you do with Minako?"
"If you fly with me like this I'm not gonna get in there again."
"Minako are you okay?" Ami asked.
"I'm perfect. That was really fun. He really know how to put butterflies in your tummy."
He stood up without a word, helped Minako out the cockpit and then jumped out also.
"Give me a sec, I need a break. And maybe we can finish this whole exercise still today still. he said in harsh tone to the girls.
He went over to the Hangar and lighted a cigarette. He was nervous.
What if? What if Rei would be afraid to fly now? What if Minako knew who it was and that she was right? And what if she told Rei? How would Rei react? Did he even had the hint of a chance?
He smoked up and got back, the Senshi went back to their waiting point, talking prodoundly. Rei was smoking a cigarette, waiting.
Selfcare first, he turned on his Playlist again, maybe this would calm him down.
AICA already run another check and looking over to the Senshi again and saw Rei step out her cigarette. She walked over but looked a bit tense.
"Alright, TopGun. I know you're pissed and Minako just told that maybe she or we all overdid it with the teasing and shittalking today. And unfortunately I learnt from you and found a liking in doing stupid stuff, so I'm willing to give it a try. Now. But I promise, if I have to vomit, I'll make your Beatdown by Setsuna yesterday look like a picnic in the park."
He jumped out of the cockpit and landed next to her.
You wanna play? Let's play.
He looked her straight in the eyes and kept his stare for a moment. He could see she was about to take a step back, but before that he made a welcoming gesture to the A-Wing.
"Please, be our Guest, Moeru Shōjo. AICA, be a good girl and introduce yourself to Rei Hino."
AICA introduced herself and she and Rei talked a bit while he helped her get into the cockpit. He gently made sure she was strapped in right and their eyes met for a moment before he turned away.
He swallowed and turned around, as she put on her helmet. He got into his seat too.
"You okay, feeling good?" He asked her with a calm voice.
"I'm good." She answered with a slight smile.
"If you feel unwell or it's too much or whatever, let me know immediately okay?" He told her.
"I will." She paused for a moment.
"If Makoto enjoyed it, i can too I guess. You seem calmer anyway."
He turned around. "Who said I wasn't? The others enjoyed the flying by the way."
He lifted off and did his usual turn over the airbase and headed over the bay, he was flying slower than the times before.
At the training area he flew some loops and then turned around to Crystal Tokio again. Rei seemed to enjoy it but seemed to be a bit disappointed that he only flew very basic and no crazy maneuvers.
Five minutes after they passed the Tokyo Bay the first time they were over it again, on the way back. Rei sighed, and stared out the cockpit, slightly bored and unimpressed.
The singer in the player was letting them know that he would take a girl out but he already knew she would hate him. SunTzu started to grin, having another look at a disappointed Rei.
He slowly rose down on the airstrip and AICA very slowly glided forward, almost touching down.
From what she heard and saw Rei was neither impressed nor happy. Actually she was asking herself, what the reason was he didn't gave her a show like the others.
"Okay, I really expected more from this, the girls gushed so much about it. You even did crazier stuff with Makoto on board. I'm disappointed!" She complained as AICA started to hover on the place.
"Rei? That was just the warmup." He said with a grin. "AICA, Danger Zone!"
Danger Zone began to play as SunTzu put full energy into the engines and AICA rocketed into the Sky.
"Toooopppp Guuuunnnnn!" Rei screamed from the Backseat, taken by surprise.
A few seconds later, Haruka and Michiru saw something fast breaking through the clouds a few kilometers away. It took a sharp turn and headed towards them. He shot passed them and flew a looping. Haruka could barely make out a gasping Rei, as SunTzu passed them again and shoot back through the clouds, he raced towards the ocean and catched AICA a few meters above it and racing through the Bay of Tokyo and under flying on of the Bridges before shooting up straight into the sky after it again.
He leveled a few hundred meters up and went to training area.
"Better? Or you need a break?"
"Wow, that sure was something. Now I know what the girls meant! Care for another round? It's amazing!" She said after a moment, grinning from ear to ear.
"Round Number two, coming in!"
He flew a series of Loopings and other maneuvers and after a slow barrel roll to the end the series he started to climb fast and steep, soon reaching the end of the atmosphere.
"Hey Rei, remembered when you said, that the view of space would be amazing in here. Have a look for yourself."
She leaned forward and looked out the front, her face beaming but she needed a moment to be able to speak.
"This is so beautiful."
AICA's engines were off now and they just glided through the vacuum.
"I'm glad you like it. I hope that makes up for playing with you." He said.
"It does. If you don't put on "Take my breath away." She smiled and squeezed his shoulder.
They stayed there a few minutes more in silence enjoying the view, when Haruka came on.
"You coming back or stay up there forever."
Timing my blonde friend. Timing.
SunTzu sighed innerly, looked back at Rei who nodded at him and began to descent.
"Can we at least have some more action on the way down?"
She was enjoying this way too much, he thought as he put on music again.
"Sure, hang on!"
After a few more crazy maneuvers, a circle around Tokyo Tower and a Looping over the Palace the they landed at the airbase.
Rei was just crazily giggling anymore and didn't stop even when she already was standing outside the cockpit basically falling into the other Senshi.
Setsuna jumped into the seat, strapping herself in, commenting AICA's Introduction with just a nod and her Name.
"We can lift off." She stated, as SunTzu turned around to check her seatbelts, but her glance made sure she was good.
He lifted off, as soon as the girls were a few steps away.
Rei was jumping like a schoolgirl because of joy.
"That was so awesome! I was in Space. Oh my good, i wanna do this again!" She let her friends know. She paused for a minute and face expression changed. "I also need new Panties. I'm wet as a Mango."
SunTzu did the last round for today.
"If you feel unwell or need to stop, just tell me." He told his passenger.
"Mhm." Was her answer.
"I hope you don't mind the music?" He asked as the next song began to play.
"No, it's okay." Very talkative again today.
He took a look In the rear mirror. She was sitting in there with a stoic look, unapproachable as always.
He didn't want to stress it more and went straight to the Training Area. He told her which maneuvers he was about to fly and she just answered monosyllabic.
What did i do wrong this time again he thought. Was it because she had to wait?
Ten minutes later he landed at the Airbase and before he even could get up, Setsuna was already unbelted. He gave her a hand that she didn't take, getting out of AICA on her own. Ice Queen as she was, she didn't even look and said goodbye or thanks.
Wow. Good thing I don't have to spare against her today. Better stay out of her way for a while.
He should have been happy because Rei enjoyed it so much but this strange last flight made him thoughtful instead. God, this Senshi could be exhausting
The Senshi left for the Palace again and the Voyager landed. SunTzu was doing an after-flight-check when his wingmen coming over, Helmets underslung. He jumped out of the cockpit and was greeted by a helmet to his shoulder.
"Traitor! Letting me get caught so off guard from Makoto!" Haruka complained, playing to be hurt. SunTzu rubbed his shoulder and laughed. Michiru had to hide her smile too.
"Sorry, I really couldn't resist. And hey, she was not complaining about my flying."
They joked around for another few minutes and then said goodbye to each other.
The two woman left and he finished the checkup.
Just in time for a text from Ami, telling him, to be at the Palace Landing spot in five minutes.
He jumped back into the cockpit and took off, for another time. He touched down next to a shuttle of the GA and a waiting Ami immediately jumped into the Cockpit after he opened the canopy. He closed it again and got into a waiting position near the landing spot.
Ami seemed to be a bit tense and was very quiet.
After his last passenger didn't seem to be too kind to stress cases he stayed quiet too.
A few minutes after the delegation entered the shuttle and it left off too. SunTzu got into a flanking position and they left earth. They flew over the Indian Ocean and space wards where a MC90 Mon Cal Cruiser was waiting. This was not an ordinary Delegation. AICA identified the Cruiser as the Galactic Voyager, the former Flag Ship of the faded Admiral Ackbar. This really wasn't an ordinary delegation. He followed the shuttle and as it entered the Cruisers port hangar, SunTzu veered off right, went into passive mode, turned on all scramblers and flew a sharp turn.
He landed also in the hangar, opening the canopy before he even touched down.
Ami jumped out the cockpit and ran over to Ada who was waiting nearby, next to a elder, noble looking woman with prominent white hair and a man in brown robes. Jedi Robes, SunTzu could feel it in the force. The man pulled down his cloak, probably he could feel SunTzu too. Holy Shit, that was Master Jaden Korr, SunTzu remembered his face from data he learned in training.
Something very big was going on here.
The Jedi looked into his direction and nodded. SunTzu returned the greeting. Ada, Ami and the white haired woman talked for a few moments and Ada gave Ami a data stick. Ami bid farewell to the woman and the Jedi and walked back to the A-Wing, followed by Ada. Ami climbed back in the cockpit and Ada climbed up AICA's steps, looking into the cockpit and said goodbye to Ami, shaking her hand. SunTzu saw that with that move, she led another data stick fall into Ami's hand.
"Goodbye SunTzu, we'll stay in contact. And AICA, don't be so curious and try to hack into every ship you land in." She gave SunTzu a smile and a wink and left again.
SunTzu closed the canopy as soon as she was off the Snub. Ten seconds later they were hovering out the hangar and falling back into a flanking position of the Mon Cal Cruiser.
"Not to be curious, but what's on the second stick, that nobody is allowed to see that you received." He asked her.
"I told you I'll get back to you. War is expensive, that's all you need to know." She answered.
"I wasn't expecting answers anyway. But should it be nudes of my assigned Intelligence Officer I'm willing to support the War Effort with a baronial amount of money." He said as he turned on all systems again and the scramblers off. For Sensors it would have seem that the small starfighter just dove into the bigger sensor profile of the Cruiser.
"SunTzu, shut up." Ami said in an educational voice, shaking her head. "Always the same with you pilots. Haruka is the same."
Ami put the second data Chip into her bra and the one she got first into a datapad she had with her.
"By the way, AICA did you try to hack yourself into another ship again?" SunTzu asked his Starfighter.
"Sorry, i couldn't resist. It's a ship with history. And I'm very interested in History."
Both he and Ami shook their heads and laughed.
They left their position on the back of the port side of the MC90 and flew back to Crystal Tokyo, Night already fell down on this side of earth.
"Give me sixty minutes and we can go home. I'll get you at the flight center then." Ami told him, after studying her datapad for a while.
Finally, closing time. He had way too many things to think about when he could rest.