Page 54 of Forever Fascinating

“I’ve got him,” Matthew said simply, falling in behind the older plane that didn’t change course. It barely had any markings, making him wonder if it was an Afghani plane – or someone else - over enemy lines.

“You do? He’s still got lock on me,” Hot Cakes said bluntly. “What is it? What kind of plane? I can barely see him behind me.”

“It’s an older…”

“You know what? Actually? I don’t care,” Hot Cakes bit out. “Is he armed? Can you get him off of me?”

“Do you have the shot, Vapor?” Reaper chimed in, interrupting them.

“Do you want me to fire first -above enemy territory, sir?” Matthew said carefully, wanting to be extremely clear.

They had a very tenuous position, and their orders today were to do recon only. Engaging someone could be lighting a stick of dynamite on a powder keg.

“Belay that… no. Hot Cakes, can you shake him?”

“Negative.”

“If he takes the shot, Vapor? I want you to blow him out of the skies,” Reaper said calmly. “Keep him in the crosshairs and Hot Cakes? Prepare to evade, if necessary. We’ve got you covered. Just keep flying like nothing is wrong, we don’t want to let them know we are aware of his presence just yet. If he didn’t see Vapor, then we’ve got the element of surprise.”

“Yes, sir.”

They flew like this for what felt like forever – until the foreign plane swung wide suddenly and Matthew saw the glint of something cascading underneath the airplane.

“Hot Cakes, bank left!” Matthew hollered. “I’ve got active fire headed…”

Matthew watched horrified as he could visibly see the arcs of light directly headed for his teammates… drawing his gaze back to the plane in his sights.

“I’m hit,” Hot Cakes yelled. “I’m hit.”

Matthew adjusted his Falcon to accommodate for the change as the foreign plane suddenly surged upwards, gaining altitude. He couldn’t check on Hot Cakes or anyone else, he needed to keep his focus on the target at hand, as he’d been ordered.

Seconds later, he had G-lock.

“Got him…” he breathed in his mic, firing.

A massive explosion burst in front of him as the other plane blew apart, causing a fireball and massive black cloud that his Falcon shot through. He could hear debris hitting the plane and winced, hoping it didn’t affect him, but he was so close that he couldn’t swerve off fast enough.

He took a few seconds to check his plane, and catch his breath. Sweat rolled down his back and his hands felt almost jittery from the adrenaline that was racing through him, realizing that the team was talking.

“Everyone alright?”

“Yeah.”

“Houdini! What the heck dude? Youlefthim –again?”

Matthew winced.

Houdini was going to be in a mess of trouble – both with the team and with the Air Force if this was reported accurately. There was no covering for their teammate, this time. He’d abandoned his wingman and that was a definitive ‘No-No’ for everyone.

“My gauges aren’t working right. I’ve got nothing on my screens. No altitude, no gyro…”

“Did you do your preflight check?” Reaper snapped.

“You should have said something before now!” Hot Cakes growled angrily, and Matthew completely understood. Jace Sorensen just got married – and he could have made his wife, Karen, a widow by some stupid stunt.

“Yes! It was working then…”

“Can you fly back blind if you’ve got no gyro? Do you have an altimeter?” Handsy asked bluntly.

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