Page 53 of Forever Fascinating

He thought about Jana all night and honestly? Those smiles she gave him, the shy looks, and the way her hand felt in his, filled his every waking moment. Oh, he had it bad for the girl who was supposed to be off-limits, and he knew it.

“Fellas, it’s time for weather debriefing,” Reaper said bluntly, interrupting the chatter. “Prep for take-off.”

Silence fell as everyone obediently listened to make sure they weren’t about to run into any storms, heavy cloud cover, or any other surprises that could affect their trajectory or altitude while surveying the area.

Seeing the first plane waved forward, his preflight check complete, Matthew closed his canopy, checked his coms.

“Vapor, ready for take-off…” he said easily into the mouthpiece, strapping it to the side of his helmet.

We’ve got you, Vapor, hit the skies…Matthew heard crackle in the speakers and smiled.

There was nothing better than having a full throttle launch, bursting into the air, and feeling the world fall away from you. The rush, the power, the incredible weight as you were sucked back into the seat of the plane… it was encompassing.

He could see four planes ahead of him, ascending into the air, and adjusted his throttle, accelerating, causing the plane to surge into motion as he was carried upwards into the sky.

“In position”, Matthew announced in the mic, falling in line, and taking his place just to the left of Caboose, who he was assigned to today as his wingman. The man always stayed towards the back formation and never said much, while in the air, staying focused.

He heard several of the other pilots rattle off their positions, falling in line, as Reaper led the team.

Apparently, Reaper once had Caboose for his wingman and the two always swept the rear of the formation. This surprised him, that he was selected to partner with the man instead. Several of the other pilots looked envious… but frankly?

Matthew was glad.

The pilot was serious, didn’t chit-chat, and he would have rather been paired with Caboose or Handsy… anyone than Houdini.

After the fight a few months ago, getting to know Reaper a little better, Matthew realized that he was right. Houdini had left Hot Cakes wide open a few times – and he was shocked the other man hadn’t said something yet.

Things had gotten a little better, but Houdini definitely favored leaving his position, flying on the right side of the formation instead of staying in line beside his wingman. It made him wonder if the rogue pilot would stay in a steady formation if he was assigned there, on the right… or not.

“I’ve got activity,” Reaper barked in the earpiece. “Can anyone confirm? I’m picking up surface-to-air in the distance and…”

Matthew flinched as several dots of light whizzed past him, much too close, just as his screens turned red indicating that he was taking fire.

“Things are getting awfully warm, Reaper…” Matthew said bluntly.

“Evasive maneuvers…” Caboose barked. “Bank right, Vapor.”

“Handsy, X-Ray, Sparky… ascend to fifteen thousand feet and take your wingmen with you.”

“Copy,” the trio chimed in audibly.

Matthew watched six planes surge upwards in the distance, and shook his head. The line of planes should have tightened up. Stupid Houdini wasn’t paying attention again and…

“I’m painted!”

“Houdini!” Reaper yelled. “COVER YOUR WINGMAN!”

“My panels are not registering…”

“HOUDINI? Houdini! Hey man, I’ve got someone behind me,” Hot Cakes announced, and Matthew could hear the strain in the other man’s eerily calm voice.

“Something’s wrong…” Houdini began speaking again, his voice crackling in the speakers and he could hear the panic in the airman’s voice. Maybe something was wrong with Houdini’s aircraft, and this was an actual second problem they hadn’t expected or anticipated?

Matthew heard Caboose curse loudly.

“I’ve got him,” Matthew announced. “Caboose swing up to cover Reaper and Houdini. I’m coming, Hot Cakes.”

“Affirmative,” Caboose bit out – and Matthew immediately hit the airbrakes, adjusted his wings to draw more drag in the air, and pulled his plane back almost in a wild dance in the skies. For a moment all he could see was the sun as the canopy was flooded with sunlight, before leveling out… and he saw the other plane.

---