"If you do not experience anything, it's impossible to gain knowledge."
~Chinese Proverb

____________________________________

Genette

Hamilton was short and to the point about what happened to Bartlett. When the rescue chopper arrived, the Captain was nowhere to be seen. The only thing they found was the retreating enemy intelligence vessel. 

The news dealt a blow to everyone because Bartlett had been the last senior member on base after Baker and Svenson were lost. Blaze, Chopper, and Nagase took the news particularly hard, though. They'd been his wingmen, his backup. I believed they thought his disappearance was somehow their fault, that they could've done something to prevent it. Bartlett wouldn't have let them take the missile for him, but I decided now wasn't the time to convince them of that. The situation was too fresh in their minds.

As Chopper and I walked to his room, and my mind wandered to what the base had become. This island used to be a place of exile from the rest of the world; it then became our first line of defense against the enemy. The truth of us being at war still hadn't fully settled in yet. I couldn't wrap my head around it even though I'd been in two battles for it already and witnessed the third one over the radio. 

Reaching his room, I turned on a lamp while Chopper switched on the stereo, hooking up his iPod. Blurry started playing, a new hit song that'd recently come out. Kirk, Pops' black labrador, nudged Chopper's hand, and my friend gently patted the dog on the head. Kirk had followed us when we came across Pops on the way to my room. I think the dog could sense our silent distress. 

I sat on the edge of his unused bottom bunk and asked, "So, who will be the flight lead tomorrow?"

"Who'll be the flight lead tomorrow?" Chopper repeated, collapsing onto the couch. Kirk lay down at his feet. "I wouldn't waste my energy worrying about that if I were you. We're an auxiliary squadron, you know, so his highness the Lieutenant Colonel will just come down from the mainland and take over, that's all." 

Chopper leaned his head back, declaring, "Whew! I love this sound! Calms me down. I'm gonna sleep well tonight!"

I found myself tapping my foot along with the beat as well. I wanted to talk more about the future of the squadron because, to be honest, I wanted to know if my sister had a shot at becoming captain full time. She'd already proven herself in the last three missions, especially the most recent one. I might be biased about the situation, and I'm not an expert on aerial flights and maneuvers, but I also wasn't blind. I could see how amazing my sister was at her job. However, knowing my best friend wasn't interested in the topic, I moved on. I could always bring it up another time. Instead, I chose another topic of interest for me. "I heard that the one who broke the Captain's heart fifteen years ago was a recon major in the Yuke Army."

"Yeah, I did my history homework. We were allies back then. Man, the Base Commander sure wasn't being subtle 'bout making accusations," he replied. Chopper cleared his throat, and, with a sly smile, mimicked the Base Commander's nasally voice, "'Was there anything suspicious about the Captain's behavior?' he says." Switching to his normal drawl, Chopper said, "Hell, I'm more suspicious 'bout the screw in his damn head!"

His laughter was cut off by a high-pitched alarm blaring through the base, scaring the absolute shit out of me. I'd never heard it before, but I suspected it couldn't bear good news. My instinct was confirmed when Chopper quickly sat up. He looked at the door and groaned. "Ahhh, you're kiddin' me? An air raid! Give me a break, man!" 

Chopper bolted out of the room. I chased after him, not wanting to miss a second of this. It was hell trying to keep up with him, reminding me why he'd been such an incredible running back in high school and college. We dashed outside, practically colliding with Blaze and Nagase. My sister's hair was in disarray, and her normally perfect eyeliner was smudged, but the gleam in her eyes told me she was still at the top of her game, ready to take on this brand new challenge. 

Blaze led the charge to their planes, which were waiting idly on the tarmac. She kept a careful eye on the dusk sky. Enemy fighters flew above us, causing mayhem with the allied pilots that had already taken off. However, before I could even move to follow my sister and friends, someone roughly grabbed my arm. I whirled around to find Hamilton. He said, "You need to get to safety. Be that in the control tower or your room, I don't care, but you're not going up with them."

______________________________________

Blaze

I glanced over my shoulder to ensure everyone was behind me only to find Genette being restrained by Hamilton. Although I could Genette was livid, I was silently grateful for Hamilton's intervention. I didn't want my brother up there with us, not this time. Chances were he was safer on the ground. 

Nagase, Chopper, and I sprinted up to our planes and practically flew up the ladders into our planes. The moment I started up my plane, a frazzled guy from the Control Tower, Mike, ordered, "Scramble the jets! Get all flyable aircraft into the air! Move it!"

"This is Blaze of the Wardog Squadron. Wardog is getting ready to pull onto the runway."

He ignored me. "Air raid warning! Enemy bombers inbound! Scramble and engage!"

An aircraft flying almost directly above us exploded in mid-air. Bullets flew everywhere, and missiles trailed after allies and enemies alike, the white smoke trails a sharp contrast against the rapidly fading sunset. If you weren't able to see the planes, you could almost imagine all the gunfire as fireworks.

Realizing how quickly the sun was setting put me on edge. Night missions were notoriously tricky. I remembered practicing them at the Academy and how much I hated them. You could barely see the runway when you were supposed to land, let alone the targets you were supposed to be taking out. Those had only been practice missions. If we failed those, it'd suck, but it wouldn't end in our deaths. This was entirely different. If we made one wrong move up there, we were done for.

"These turbines won't start up! C'mon! C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" Chopper growled in frustration. As he started to move, I watched a plane fall from the sky and into another aircraft parked not far from him. It exploded, along with the plane next to it. "Whoa!"

"Chopper! Are you all right?" I asked worriedly. 

"I'm good," he said, sounding way too calm. "Ready to do this, Captain?"

"I'm not the captain anymore. I learned they already have someone coming down from the mainland. Lieutenant Colonel Ford, I think."

Chopper groaned. "Fuck..."

"You sound like you know him."

"I- yeah. I do, unfortunately. And he knows me."

"I swear you've told me about him."

"I didn't. Someone else did."

I snapped my fingers as the memory came to me. "That's who Tornado was talking about! Ford's daughter got you in trouble. Who was it? Penny Benjamin?"

Chopper sighed. "Danny Benjamin, and she's his niece. As you learned, she has a knack for twisting the truth and making it seem like someone else's fault other than her own. Danny told Ford, and now Ford hates my guts. If he's our captain, I might as well turn in my wings now and-"

"I recommend you stop talking about the colonel's daughter," Mike interrupted sharply, "and get your asses down that runway!"

"Yes, sir," Chopper and I said simultaneously, more than a little embarrassed. Hopefully, the Lieutenant Colonel couldn't hear us yet. The last thing we needed was for him to have more reason to hate Chopper, and I didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with my new captain first thing. Ford had been halfway to Sand Island last I heard, so if my calculations were right, he would be arriving right in the middle of an air raid.

"Do we have any other planes we can get up in the air?" I asked, trying to tactfully change the subject.

"The captain's spare plane is still in the hangar," Nagase said, pulling onto the runway behind me.

"Forget it," Mike told us firmly. "Once your airborne, get as much altitude as you can, fast! Don't let the enemy bounce you from above... All right, now! The first enemy wave's passed by!"

"Yes, sir," she replied dejectedly. If no one else could take Bartlett's plane, that meant we were the only pilots to go up. No other squadrons returned after the attack on Port St. Hewlett, having stayed to help with the rebuilding process. The three of us weren't near enough for the size and scale of this air raid. Yuktobania wasted no resources trying to take our island, but we had to do our best.

"Blaze, scramble! Emergency launch! Hurry!" Mike commanded as I pulled onto the runway.

"I am scrambling! If I scramble anymore, I'll be in the freakin' ocean!" I snapped. Between my stress and exhaustion, I was running on fumes. The conflicting emotions were not a good combo for me. I needed to keep myself in check. I had no seniority protecting me from being sacked or discharged.

Shaking off any doubts and annoyance, I shot down the runway, full thrust. It wasn't long before I was in the air. I barely had time to assess the situation before an enemy came at me. Thankfully, while Nagase lifted up off the runway, she locked onto them and fired, nailing the bogey. 

Yuktobania's relentless attacks were wearing on me. It had to be a part of their strategy to win this war, to not let us catch a break or our breath. I mean, we'd been semi-attacked this morning, flown to Port St. Hewlett in the afternoon because of the bombings, and now this? It was almost too much in one day for a person to handle, no matter how good or experienced they were. At least our teachers taught us to be prevailing and how to survive on very little sleep and a lot of caffeine.

"Chopper, Nagase, disperse!" I ordered, banking to the right to go after a Yuke fighter. "I think we'll be more effective if we take them one-on-one."

"Roger. Edge, breaking off."

"Roger, Chopper breaking off. Hey, Blaze, if you're not captain, then why are you giving commands?"

I sighed in distaste. "I received orders from Lieutenant Colonel Ford. I'm supposed to lead y'all until he gets here. I'm still not technically the captain, though."

"Sounds like you don't like following his orders," Nagase observed.

"Not really, no. I prefer Bartlett..."

"I can't blame you," Chopper said, going vertical after an enemy plane. "Especially coming from Ford. Then they're even worse."

"Would you be saying that if he didn't hate for Danny?" I teased, unable to help myself. I knew it was a sore subject for Chopper, but we had to laugh about it. It was pitiful that Ford couldn't see through his niece's manipulation. A part of me also felt like I knew Ford from somewhere else, but for the life of me, I couldn't place it.

"Oh, absolutely. Guy's a dick even when he doesn't want to rip out your innards."

"Thank you for that lovely image," Nagase said. "That's just what I needed in an air battle."

Chopper apologized, but I doubted he regretted his words. My wingman took the optimistic route of suggesting, "Maybe he'll forget who I am."

I chuckled and shook my head. If Ford was as terrible as Chopper made him out to be, then there was no way that would happen. "That's doubtful."

"I appreciate the support, Captain," Chopper said sarcastically. 

"Any time."

"Control tower to Wardog, intercept the bombers. Don't let them attack the runway. And stop talking about Danny Benjamin!" Mike commanded, but I could hear his amusement. He was one of the good ones on base and knowing him, he was probably enjoying our conversation as much as we were.

Looking behind me, I saw a MIG on my tail. They had to go. "Hey Chopper, could you please get this bandit off my tail?"

His reply was instant. "On my way!"

While I waited for him to help, I found myself going up, down, left, right, spinning, making a hard left, looping, and diving down in an attempt to get the stupid bogey off my tail. I nearly made myself dizzy in the process and momentarily disoriented myself, unable to distinguish between the sky and the ocean. Thankfully, Chopper came to my rescue in the nick of time, shooting down the fighter. I leveled my plane next to his, and together, we looked for our next target.

"I see you managed to make it up. Is your plane all right?" Pops asked over the mic. It relaxed me a little to hear his voice. I hadn't been on Sand Island long, but I quickly discovered Pops was the guy to go to whenever you needed something: help with your plane, advice for flying, or just someone to talk to. He acted like a grandfather to me and everyone else on base that would let him. Nagase, Chopper, and Genette took a special liking to Pops too. The four of us hung out with him when we weren't busy. He always welcomed us, no matter what he was doing.

"Yes, sir," I said, smiling affectionately at my plane. I was, admittedly, attached to it. It was the first plane I ever flew on Sand Island. I'd upgrade at a later date once the Base Commander decided I could handle the bigger, more powerful planes, but for now, my F-5E got the job done, and I loved it.

"Glad to hear it. Looks like keeping it in good shape has paid off."

"It's all thanks to you."

Then, the voice I dreaded to hear came over the mic. "This is Wardog leader, Lieutenant Colonel Ford. Approaching Sand Island. What's your current status?"

I wanted to ask if he was stupid because anyone with a brain cell could see that Sand Island was very much not okay and very much so in the middle of an air battle. Still, I bit my tongue. I had to respect my superiors.

Chopper, on the other hand, didn't seem to care. I heard him chuckle of the radio. "Heh. Here comes His Highness from the mainland now."

"Oh joy," Nagase said, sounding slightly bitter. I wondered if it was because she didn't want Ford to replace me, if she didn't want Ford to replace Bartlett, or if she just disliked him in general. I guess with Bartlett missing, my second option probably wasn't the correct one, but I had to hold out hope that one day he'd return. It was Bartlett after all. No one could control him but himself. I actually felt bad for the enemy because if they made the mistake of capturing him, then Bartlett was going to make it everyone's problem. He wouldn't go quietly. 

I saw Colonel Ford approaching in the distance, and dread filled my bones. He flew in a straight line. Bartlett's voice popped into my head: what an idiot. What was he thinking flying straight like that? Did he want to get shot down?

Then it hit me why I thought I recognized him. Ford taught a couple of lessons at the Academy, and I'd hated him. It was his way or the highway, and any essay you wrote had better follow his belief because otherwise, you'd fail. It didn't matter how well you wrote your argument. Thankfully, I only ever had multiple-choice tests with him, but a few of my classmates had to write essays for him, and I remembered the bitching like it was yesterday. 

"This is Base Control. We are under air attack. Repeat, we are under air attack."

"I can trust you can hold the runway until we arrive?" Ford inquired, his tone implying that no other answer besides 'yes' would do.

"With the current situation, I can't make any promises, sir," I replied in a carefully controlled voice. I didn't want him to know how much he or his stupidity irritated me. "The sky is swarming with enemy fighters and-"

"That's an order! We'll be in danger if we don't land! You will obey!"

"And I'm electing to ignore that order because we're in danger now!" I shot back. "We need to take care of the enemies first if we want to the runway to be there when we're done. Those bombers are coming in fast. If we don't take care of them now, we won't have a base to return to."

"Blaze is right," Mike jumped in before Ford could retort back. "Wardog needs to get rid of the enemies first before we can hold the runway."

"Right. Protect it at all costs," Ford growled, although I could tell he was not happy about the control tower siding with a 'nugget.' I'd be in for it later, but so be it. I would not allow Ford to bully me or my wingmen. We dealt with that enough coming from Perrault.

Switching gears from arguing with Ford back to the air battle, I flew with Nagase after a bomber while Chopper watched our sixes, chasing any fighters that tried to lock onto us. The sky darkened as the battle grew more intense. Yuktobania had sent some of their best fighters to defeat us. I wasn't going to let them. Sand Island was the only thing blocking Yuktobania from getting to Osea's mainland, and no way would I allow them to invade my homeland, over my dead body, which is probably what they meant to do. 

That's a cheery thought.

Still, it made sense they kept attacking Sand Island. We were the westernmost point of Osea, the closest area of land to Yuktobania. Their constant onslaught of attacks challenged us all both mentally and physically. I'd never heard of having three high-caliber missions in one day, let alone by some rookies. I guess there was only one way to get experience though. If we survived this, we had more knowledge in our arsenal to better prepare us for later battles. If we didn't, well, at least we wouldn't have to witness the carnage of the war.

Light from an explosion behind me garnered my attention. Turning around, I saw a fireball falling towards the ground. Chopper flew right above it. I smiled, relieved to have him watching my back. Wanting to ensure he knew I recognized all he was doing for us, I said gratefully, "Thanks for covering us. You're doing a great job!"

"Anytime," he assured. "I've got your backs. Always."

"Enemy bomber shot down!" Nagase informed. I congratulated her on the hit. It meant we had one less enemy to worry about.

"Fire team, stop the fire from spreading to our ammo dump," one of the Osean soldiers barked from down below. I barely had time to register that there was a fire raging on the base because I was too focused on the enemy aircraft I trailed. He kept trying to lose me, but I made sure he didn't succeed. I got a missile lock on him and fired. The enemy plane blew up.

I studied my radar, getting my bearings on the tide of battle. Chopper trailed after another bomber. Nagase was after a fighter determined to get Chopper. I counted about six more bombers, but who knew how many there really were. After all, they were dark in color, either solid black or a deep navy blue. Either way, they were nearly impossible to see without the help of radar. I barely saw the outline of one below me, a shadow upon the black water of the ocean. I went after it. 

"Get anything flammable out of here. The ammo, too," one of the Sand Island personnel ordered. In fact, it sounded like Hamilton. He had this eerie way of keeping calm when we were in the worst situation possible. I wanted to ask him what his secret was and if he'd share it.

"This is Chopper. Kid, have you picked up the targets?"

"Kind of hard not to, considering they're all over the place."

"They've even got bombers. They want to destroy the base itself." Chopper remained silent for a few moments before adding, "You know, I realized my comment about the targets was stupid. I think my brain is a little fried. Sorry about that."

"All of ours are, don't worry, but thank you for the apology."

"Of course. You're always welcome to call me out when I say something stupid."

"She'd be calling you out a lot," Nagase said.

"Hey! You're supposed to be the nice one," Chopper replied.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. It just kind of came out." She sounded sincere, but I could still hear her amusement. Then, like the flip of a switch, she turned the topic of conversation. "The bombers that attacked us are turning around. They're heading back towards Sand Island."

"We gotta stop them here, or it's all over. Even I know that."

"You're not going to call him out on that one?" Nagase asked.

I shrugged, even though no one could see it. "No. He's right. I'll let that one slide."

"Thank you, Blaze. Have I ever told you you're my favorite?" Chopper said. I was surprised by the genuine adoration in his voice, and it made my heart jump. I wanted to dare to believe he shared my feelings, but I'd have to ask him later. We had a battle to win, and an air raid was hardly the best place to have an in-depth conversation about personal issues. Instead, I simply told him, "No, but feel free to say as often as you'd like."

"Attack successful. The enemy's confused and disoriented," A Yuke snarled, but he didn't sound like he believed his own jargon, probably because even with their best pilots after us, they couldn't shoot down three pilots. It had to be infuriating. Maybe the guy had just been attempting to bolster his comrades' morale?

I scanned my radar for the bombers, rage coursing through me when I saw them heading for the runway; if they did, no more pilots would be able to take off or land, and we wouldn't have enough fuel to get to another base either. I certainly didn't want to have to bail out. Sand Island was notorious for its shark-infested waters. Not exactly the best place to hit the eject button.

"I won't let them any closer than our airspace," Nagase declared before adding, "I shot one down!"

"Great, keep it up!" I encouraged

"Good kill, Blaze!" Nagase complimented after witnessing me shoot a fighter from a tricky angle, and following up with another kill on a second plane right next to it. If I kept this up,  we might actually stand a chance of winning this thing.

"We need to create a barrier CAP. Shift our Combat Air Patrol forward in front of the island," Nagase said, but I don't think anyone below listened to her. They were all too wrapped up in whatever they were doing to listen to advice from a rookie, no matter how sound it was.

"Rescue team, help out the wounded. All free hands help the fire control crew! Use the water in the supply tank to put out the fire!" A guy yelled, panicked. I wanted to see what was happening on the ground but decided against going down to take a look. I feared leaving the battle would be a grievous mistake, and I also worried that taking my eyes off the battle for even a second would cause me to be shot down.

In the search for another target, I saw Chopper being followed closely by a fighter. A good enemy fighter, too. I wanted to help him but couldn't; not only was I too far away, but a bomber had ventured dangerously close to our runway. Nagase couldn't help either because an enemy fighter was trailing her. Still, someone had to help him. With a sudden burst of vengeance and accuracy, I shot down the bomber as quickly as I could and raced to help Chopper. The fighter barely saw me coming before I took them out. I don't know how I did it, but I wasn't going to question it. 

With Chopper safe, the two of us then went to help Nagase. She was pulling some impressive maneuvers to evade the enemy when we arrived, and it worked. Before we got within distance to shoot, she lost the plane and headed for a bomber. The enemy fighter, confused by her sudden disappearance, gave me a perfect opportunity. I seized the moment and destroyed the bandit without a moment's hesitation. 

As I circled around and searched for my next attack, I saw black smoke rising up from below. Multiple orange blazes could be seen through the occasional break in the clouds, indicating multiple fires. One was perilously close to the crew rooms. Chopper must've noticed too because he exclaimed in dismay, "Aaah! My Rock 'n' Roll records! They're in my room! It took me forever to collect all those!"

"The fire hasn't reached the quarters yet," I said, trying to remain optimistic for him.

It didn't work. "Emphasis on yet."

"Pops is taking off," Nagase announced. My eyes drifted to the A-6E pulling onto the runway, loaded with important parts and critical information. I wished he'd been able to take a better plane, but Pops had once been an Ace during his fighter pilot days. If anyone could pull off the impossible, it was him.

"Look at the hangar!" Chopper exclaimed suddenly. My gaze drifted to where my wingmen directed, and I was stunned. Bartlett's spare plane rolled out of the hangar. "Who the hell pulled that out?" 

I shook my head. "Don't ask this blonde because I don't know."

"This is Grimm. I was in the hangar helping out the mechanics. I'm taking off."

I'd met Grimm a few times in the hangar. He was a total sweetheart, and he loved Top Gun almost as much as Chopper and me. Of course, there was one problem with Grimm coming up, which Chopper promptly pointed out. "The hell you are. You're not even out of replacement pilot training yet. Aren't there any other spare pilots around?"

"I didn't see any," Grimm responded innocently.

"There's no time," Nagase said bluntly but not unkindly. "Be careful, Grimm. I'll cover you."

"I'll try."

MISSION UPDATE

"Kid, Grimm's coming up. I'm not sure he can handle this..." Chopper hesitated before adding, "Are we just gonna watch?"

"No, we need to make sure he gets up in the air, and we'll provide as much cover as he needs, both on the ground and in the air. We need all the help we can get, regardless of experience." I hoped Grimm wouldn't be an additional problem in the air. We couldn't be babysitting in the middle of an air raid, but I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I knew he was top of his class, so that had to count for something.

"Roger," Chopper said, diving down to assist Nagase. "Let's give him a hand."

"Control systems are... okay," Grimm said. While my wingmen kept an eye on our new member, I focused on the Yukes. They started to group together and head towards the runway once more, which meant towards Grimm. I'd be damned if I let them shoot him before he even got a chance to make it up. He was my ally and wingman, and I wouldn't let anything happen to him.

"Do not allow them to get any more planes airborne," A Yuke ordered.

"Grimm's a prime target right now for the enemy," Nagase pointed out grimly. "We have to protect him."

"I'm entrusting that to you. I'll keep the enemy at bay, but if any slip through my fingers, they're all yours. Chopper, you stick with Nagase. Getting Grimm up is the most important thing. I can distract the Yukes until you're able to rejoin me."

"Be careful, Blaze," he said, startling me with his concern. "This isn't like the other battles we've been in."

"I will. I'll let you know if I need help."

"Oil pressure... no problems," Grimm said, seemingly talking to himself. The more he checked his systems and declared they were good to go, the more confident he sounded. Hearing this gave me my own surge of newfound confidence, and I found myself zeroing in on a new Yuke squadron. Maybe it was daring or maybe it was stupidity, possibly a little bit of both, but I chose to go head-on with them. I swiftly locked on to each one, firing a missile at them. I didn't intend on hitting any. My goal was to scatter them. It was easier to take them one-on-one. Amazingly, two pilots went down. The other two broke apart. 

"Who was that?" Mike demanded in incredulity. "That guy's nuts!" 

Was he talking about one of us or the enemy? I had to know. "What'd the guy do?"

"They went head-on with a whole squadron of enemy planes and shot down two!"

I grinned and pretended to be offended. "Oh, so you're calling me crazy?"

"That was you?"

"Yes, well, we're not going to win this by playing by the books, are we?"

"I'm not sure if you're brave or stupid."

I shrugged. "Probably a bit of both. They often go hand-in-hand. 

"Another one's taking off," A Yuke said, "and Kvant squadron just lost its last plane."

"Engine sounds great. Thank you, mechanics..." Grimm said.

"Make sure you're prepared to provide cover at any time," Mike warned as Grimm neared the runway. I wanted to ask if he was pulling pages out of Thunderhead's book about saying painfully obvious statements but decided to let it slide given the circumstances. 

I flew low over the white buildings of our base, which had turned black from ash. Debris littered the island. It was an awful sight and only furthered my rage at the Yuktobanians. They weren't getting past here; I would make sure of it.

"Nagase, continue providing cover for Grimm! Chopper, help me with the enemy planes," I ordered.

"Roger that," she answered. Nagase remained near the ground, firing at anyone who came near Grimm. While Chopper hurried to my side, a bandit made the mistake of flying directly in front of me. I fired two missiles at it. Direct hit!

"Nice shot, Captain!" Nagase praised. I wondered if Ford had her. I doubted he'd like her calling me that when he was here. I wasn't going to correct her though. Despite what I said earlier in the day about returning the mantle of captain to Bartlett, now that he wasn't MIA, I found myself warming to the position, if not just because I didn't want anyone else leading me other than Bartlett. 

"Fuel check. This ought to be enough," Grimm continued, going down the take-off list. "Ejection system okay."

"The enemy is taking off. Destroy them before they get airborne," an enemy growled.

"This is Grimm. I'm about to take off. Can you see me from up there?"

"Yes," I told him, flipping my plane upside down so I could see him. "I have you in my sights." 

"Roger. That's a relief."

Chopper groaned. "The enemy just won't stop coming! I'm really getting sick of them!"

"If we keep it up, this will all be over soon and in our favor," I said, trying to be optimistic. "I don't know about you, but I plan on taking a nice, hot shower, and then cuddling up in my own bed."

"I'm definitely with you on that!"

Before I could stop myself, I blurted, "Do you mean you'll be doing the same thing as me, or are you going to be joining me?"

Chopper burst out laughing. "Genette would murder me if I agreed to the second one."

To my surprise, Nagase jumped into the conversation. "I noticed you haven't outright said you wouldn't consider that option."

"Are you trying to get me killed?" Chopper demanded indignantly. "And here I thought we were friends, Nagase."

"Nah, we're like siblings. I can mess with you. No one else can."

I snorted, attempting to ignore the idea that Chopper may see me as more than Genette's little sister. I'd like to say your brother's best friend doesn't joke about what we just did, but then again, I can't always read Chopper. Probably because I like him. Rather than continue hurting my head dwelling on it, I returned my focus to the imperative mission at hand.

"I'm in takeoff position on the runway," Grimm informed. "Engines, full power!" 

"Come back, come back!" Mike shouted. Had he just realized what Grimm was doing?

"Don't stop him. Let him go," one of his teammates said.

"Be careful, Grimm. Enemy radar has a lock on you," Nagase warned him.

Grimm took a deep breath. "Thanks for the heads up."

Just a few more left, just a few more left. It turned into a mantra; The more I said it, the more I believed it,  the more motivated I became, and the calmer I felt. I repeated the words over in my head as I got behind an enemy aircraft and fired a missile at it. With a direct hit, it fell towards the ground in flames.

Of course, the mantra kind of lost its ability to help when I encountered any near-death experiences, which had racked up to about six or seven since the battle started. Two were from nearly crashing into a bomber that I couldn't see because they blended in with the sky and/or water. Another two times, I almost plunged into the water because it almost matched the color of the sky exactly, and all the loops and turns disoriented me; and then, the last three, I came scarily close to being shot down, but Chopper was always there to save me. Thanks to him, I was still alive.

"Enemy plane shot down by Blaze," Nagase confirmed. An enemy bomber had stupidly coasted in front of me. With some well-aimed gunfire, the enemy burst into flames. Good riddance.

"Nice kill, Kid!" Chopper praised.

"Thanks! I don't know if I've said this already, but thanks for saving my butt all those times."

"You're welcome. You are my best friend, you know, so I wouldn't like it very much if you got shot down. I'd hate it, actually, so what better way to keep you from getting shot down than by shooting down the people trying to shoot you?"

I took a moment to register his words. I could either focus on the battle or focus on his words. Not both. "While that was a lot of words for my exhausted brain to process right now, I do know I need to say thank you again."

"I don't think Genette would like it very much if we let you get shot down either," Nagase said.

Chopper agreed. "He would have your head and would probably castrate me."

"If my brother ever did that to you, I would haunt him," I declared.

He chuckled. "Good to know. I hope Genette is listening to this I have a feeling that the last thing he'd want is you to be haunting him."

"I would slowly make him go insane and enjoy every second of it."

"Enemy planes climbing up to meet us. Be careful," An enemy cautioned.

"Get up, get up! Climb!" Chopper urged.

"I'm airborne!" Grimm announced much to my relief. He had made it, thank God. With all the enemies flying around, I didn't think he would, even with Nagase's incredible coverage. She couldn't cover him forever, and I know more than a couple of planes slipped past me and Chopper. That being said, a plane-sized burden had been lifted off my shoulders, but it was replaced by a Grimm-sized one. He'd made it past the first hurdle. Now he had an even bigger one to cross: staying alive.

"I'm glad you made it up safely," I told him.

"Grimm! Get over here and cover my six," Chopper snapped. What a welcome... I'd have to speak to him about his interpersonal skills with his new wingman.

Grimm seemed unfazed, though. "Roger! This is Airman First Class Grimm, callsign Archer. Control tower and all aircraft, I will be joining the Wardog Squadron. "

"This is the control tower. Roger that," Mike said, sounding more than a little relieved. "Blaze, take care of them for us."

"I'll do everything in my power," I promised.

"And I have a feeling that's a lot," Mike replied kindly. "Take care of yourself too."

"This is Wardog leader," Ford said. Where the hell had he been this entire time? He hadn't made a  peep since Mike took my side earlier, and he chose now to speak up? When base was asking me to do things instead of him? That was suspect. "Sand Island, I'm out of fuel. Request clearance to land."

"Negative, Lieutenant Colonel Ford, you can't land!" Mike answered angrily. "We're under attack!"

"All friendly aircraft, cover me while I land," Ford directed, completely ignoring Mike's warning. I was too flabbergasted by his lunacy to make a comment.

Chopper, as per usual, wasn't. "What are you, insane?!"

"Second Lieutenant Davenport, is that you?" Judging by Ford's tone, I knew he was about to chew Chopper out.

Chopper must've sensed it too, because, shockingly respectfully, he replied, "Yes, sir." 

"I'll make sure to write you up after I la..." 

Static replaced Ford. Confused I scanned the skies for his plane. The only one I saw was engulfed in flames, rapidly decreasing in altitude. It couldn't-

"He's trailing fire! The Lieutenant Colonel's gone down!" Chopper yelled.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn't like Ford, but I hadn't wanted him to die! And without him, it meant we had no backup, no experienced leadership. We were wholly on our own against the enemy that kept coming. Just the four of us. We were only rookies. I was only a rookie. I wasn't trained to lead people through battles yet. I wasn't ready for this, but I had no other choice. I'd been made interim captain. With Ford down, I had to fill in. I guess I was better than nothing...

"Third wave closing fast," Nagase said.

"Shit..." Grimm mumbled.

"This is the control tower. Another wave of bombers approaching. Close fast and destroy them."

We'd all shot down multiple bogies, but there were still too many remaining to count. Chopper and I teamed up and went after a bomber. Nagase and Grimm were trying to shoot down another one as well.

"Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm..." Grimm murmured repeatedly.

"You'll do fine, Grimm. You have us with you," I said.

"Thanks, Captain."

"I'm not-" I caught myself. I was captain. I was for now, at least, until they brought someone else from the mainland. "You're welcome. Let us know if you need anything."

"You've got this, Blaze. You've gotten us back from battle before. I know you can do it again," Chopper said. His words made me wonder if he could sense my anguish over my newfound position. He'd always been able to read me, even when my other friend deemed me 'unreadable.' His ability to do that always struck a chord with me, and right now, it made me appreciate him all the more.

"That's some crazy flyin'," Mike commented, interrupting our moment. I realized he was talking about me after I pulled a crazy loop to escape a missile. It worked, but only barely. It'd been too close for my comfort. "Grimm, you still alive?"

"Uh, somehow," Grimm said sheepishly.

"We've resorted to launching him into battle?" An Osean sneered. "This base is toast, isn't it?" 

"No, it's not," I snapped, furious that he'd say such a thing over the radio about a guy who had more bravery in his little pinky than most of the men on base. "But you will be if you insult my wingman again."

"You tell 'em, Captain!" Chopper said enthusiastically. I think he enjoyed hearing me tell off the people below more than he did my defending of Grimm, but either way, his jubilation rubbed off on me, and I found myself smiling.

"If enemy missiles are inbound, check your radar. The missiles should be displayed on the search screen," Nagase said. "Grimm, you all right?"

Grimm cleared his throat. "I'm all right. I'll just try to follow the training manual."

"Wing it some, Grimm," I advised. "You don't want to be too predictable."

"Yes, Captain."

I was really going to have to get used to them calling me that.

"The flames are too strong. It's out of control," a Sand Island guy said. I glanced down at the base below me, grimacing at the sight. There was an impressive inferno raging near the briefing room, but overall, most fires had been eliminated, and the smoke had cleared, allowing me to see how much debris and ash littered the ground and buildings. To my relief, the crew's quarters seemed unaffected.

"I can see the damage well from up here... Terrible," Grimm said sadly.

Chopper huffed. "Let's blow this thing and go home."

And we did just that. He and I shot down the bomber we were after. Nagase and Grimm finished the one they'd been trailing.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

"Control tower to all aircraft. All bombers confirmed destroyed. Thanks for protecting our base, everyone!" Mike congratulated.

"Was my flying all right?" Grimm asked hesitantly as we gathered in formation.

"You did wonderfully," I told him sincerely.

"Thank you. It was because of your support."

Nagase merrily responded, "Happy to have helped, and welcome to the team!"

"I had my doubts, but I think you'll be just fine in this squadron with us," Chopper said.

"Well, guess we didn't need to worry about Grimm after all," Mike observed. "Come on, let's get a welcoming party going!"

We headed for the runway, lining up to land. It was nearly pitch black outside now with only a sliver of sunlight coming from the west. The lights on the runway were barely functioning from being hit by stray bullets, but it was enough to help us land. That's all I could ask for after what we just went through.

"Blaze, begin landing checks. You're cleared to land," Mike said. I lowered my landing gear. "Three miles to touchdown."

Three miles closer to taking a nice hot shower.

"Two miles to touchdown."

Two miles until I would be in my own bed.

"You're on the money. One mile to touchdown."

Five... four... three... two... one! My wheels hit the ground, and I slowed down as quickly as possible, driving my plane to the hangar. Parking and shutting it off, I had barely climbed out and onto the ground before Genette drew me into a bone-crushing hug.

"I'm so glad you're all right," he said. Backing away, he winked and added, "Captain."

"I can't believe we did it," Grimm remarked, walking up to us, pale and dazed. Still, the exhilaration in his eyes was unmistakable.

Chopper slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into him. "How's it feel being Captain?"

"Weird. Very weird. It doesn't feel real yet," I confessed.

"You earned it." He squeezed my arm affectionately and smiled down at me, his green eyes sparkling. The sight made my heart flutter in my chest. "I'd say let's celebrate, but I know you want to take a rest."

"Ask me after I shower," I told him. "Then we'll see."

______________________________________

Later that night...

Grimm

Despite running on little to no sleep, all of us were still wired on adrenaline from the battle. After the girls showered, Blaze, Chopper, Nagase, and Genette held a 'Welcome to the Squadron' party in Blaze's room. Chopper and Genette procured some alcohol from someone they refused to name. I prayed Yuktobania didn't attack us anymore because I don't think any of us could handle another attack, drunk or not, especially my wingmen. They'd been through hell today.

The party started out with some drinking games, namely Ring of Fire and Never Have I Ever. Genette was ridiculously good at the latter one, somehow always able to choose a statement that made all but him drink, even me, and he barely knew me!. That game was where most of our buzz came from. 

Afterward, Chopper told us stories, many of which included Genette, that had us all howling from laughter. Genette chimed in to add in his perspective or details his friend missed. By the end of it, we were all in hysterics. Blaze and Nagase were in tears. The alcohol probably made everything ten times funnier, but they would've been entertaining even without it.

Chopper smirked as he watched our reactions, thoroughly proud of himself and the effect he'd had on us. I couldn't help but notice his gaze lingered on Blaze, though. She didn't seem to notice. Hell, I think I was the only person who saw it. It made me wonder if there was anything between them...

"So, Grimm, how did you like flying with us?" asked Chopper, leaning back and stretching his arm against the back of the couch. Blaze, who sat next to him, tilted her head back onto his arm.

"I loved it. Those guys in pilot replacement training were getting on my last nerves," I admitted, thinking back to their terrible jokes and horrible personalities. I got along with them, but only because I had to. I'd rather be on good terms with them than not.

"I only met them once, but I agree. They were way too serious."

"Thank you!"

"How did you like Blaze as captain?" I watched Blaze's cheeks flush a deep crimson at his inquiry.

"She's wonderful! I've never seen such a young pilot fight like that. I'm excited to learn from her," I replied. Chopper seemed satisfied with my answer.

"How was it being in your first battle?"

"Not what I expected. I didn't anticipate it to be so chaotic."

"Most battles are, but even I'll admit that was worse than usual. On the bright side, you have great wingmen and an even better captain, so even if the other missions are batshit crazy, you have us to fall back on." Chopper studied me carefully, and I worried about his next question. "So tell us about yourself. Family? Girlfriend?"

"Uh, my parents live in east Osea, and I have an older brother in the Army," I said casually. "No girlfriend."

"Really? Any girls on base you're interested in?"

"What is this? The Sapinian inquisition?" Blaze interrupted, nudging Chopper playfully. "Stop interrogating the poor guy."

"What can I say? I'm interested in my new wingman."

"I can see that, but let's not scare him off. We need him."

"It's going to take a lot more than those questions to scare me off," I said. Then, with a surprising amount of confidence, I joked, "Besides, if he didn't scare me off by suggesting you guys just watch me come up on my own, then I don't think much of what he says will."

"Hey, I had to see how tough you were," Chopper defended airily. "Considering you're still alive and choosing to hang out with us, I think you gave me my answer."

Nagase yawned. "It's getting late, you guys. I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Same. I'm exhausted," Genette said. Blaze agreed, stretching languidly.

"Chopper seems to be the only one awake," I pointed out, nodding at him.

"Nah, I'm tired too. I'm just better at hiding it than you guys." Chopper stood up and cracked his neck. "Well, I guess this is the end of our little party."

"I'll see you all tomorrow. My bed is calling my name," Nagase said sleepily. "Blaze, you need help cleaning up?"

"No, I'm good. Y'all get going. I've got this."

None of us argued, and Genette, Nagase, and I shuffled out of the room, itching to get to our own beds.

______________________________________

Blaze

Chopper hung back, turning on some soft country music, then helping me picking up the empty cups and plates. I enjoyed his company, happy to have some alone time with him. It was rare it happened being in such close quarters with so many people. We didn't say anything, and cleaning took far too little time. Within a few minutes, we had my room back in order. I waited for Chopper to bade me good night, but instead, he held out his hand. With a questioning look, I took it. He pulled me flush against me and began to dance. A smile spread across my face. I asked, "What's this about?"

"Trying to suck up to my new captain," he said.

"Oh, really? How come?"

"I've heard she's extremely difficult to work with."

"Is that so?"

"Oh, yeah. It's because she's hell to keep up with. I'm taking that as a challenge."

"Of course you are." Chopper spun me out and back in. "What else have you heard about this difficult captain?" 

"Well, no one can deny she's an incredible fighter pilot. I've witnessed her prowess today, and it makes me glad to be on her side. And on top of that, she's related to this super legendary fighter pilot, which I think is awesome!"

I shook my head. "Actually, you're wrong."

He scrunched his face up in confusion. "No, I'm not. You told me that yourself."

"It's not one super legendary fighter pilot, but two."

Chopper blinked, processing my words for a couple of moments before demanding, "Who's the second?!"

"Mobius One. She's my cousin."

"Holy shit! Is everyone in your family a famous fighter pilot?"

"Only the ones in the Air Force. Well, except for me and my other cousin in Emmeria. I have a lot to live up to."

"I have no doubt you'll have no trouble doing so," Chopper said, smiling softly at me. I bit the inside of my cheek, hoping the pain would bring me back to reality. We were drunk and dancing. Chopper wasn't making a move on me!

Forcing myself to not continue down the path of impossible dreams, I said, "So, what else have you heard about this captain? She's enjoying all these compliments and wants to hear more."

Chopper happily complied. "Well, she's smart, witty, and basically this beautiful badass. The list could go on and on, really."

"Beautiful badass, huh? Your captain likes the sound of that."

"Beautiful badass Blaze. Try saying that five times fast." He hadn't been serious, but my tipsy self decided to try it. I succeeded in saying it the first two times, slurred the third, and failed at the fourth with 'bootiful bladass baze.' My attempt had Chopper cracking up, and I blushed from embarrassment.

"I hope you're drunk enough that you'll forget that happened by tomorrow," I said.

"Oh, I'm not near drunk enough to forget that, and I'm so glad I'm not," he replied. I braced my forehead against his chest to hide my flaming cheeks. He kissed the top of my head, which made me look back up at him. Our eyes met, and all I could think of was how much I wanted him to be with him. I found my gaze drift down to his lips, imagining what it would be like to kiss the man I'd been in love with since high school. I'd had other crushes, but they'd all fizzled out not long after they began. But my love for Chopper persisted, even when I wished it didn't. 

Suddenly, Chopper gently pressed his lips to mine. It lasted only for a second, but it knocked the breath right out of me. He pulled away, but I refused to open my eyes, fearing if I did, the ghost of his lips on mine would disappear. I never wanted to forget this moment because I was positive it would never happen again.

"Blaze..." Chopper's husky voice caused my eyes to open. Our faces remained barely half an inch away from each other, and the tension between us could've been cut by a knife. Heart hammering in my chest, I bit my lip while waiting with bated breath to see what Chopper would do next. Our gazes met, and my eyes involuntarily flicked down to his lips for a brief moment before traveling back up his face. I watched something flicker in his emerald eyes before he crashed his lips back onto mine. Unlike before, he held nothing back, nor did I. I slid my arms around his neck as his hands gripped my hips. We couldn't pull each other close enough. We stumbled towards the wall, but I wasn't sure if we were moving forward or backward until my back hit the wall. For those few moments, I thought about nothing but Chopper. I was happily, blissfully lost in the kiss.

It was only when we broke apart to catch our breath, foreheads braced against each other and chests heaving up and down, that the weight of what we'd just done crashed over me. I thought about how I'd just kissed Genette's best friend, a guy he considered a brother. I'd never gone for Chopper because of this, along with believing he only saw me as a little sister because why would he like me as anything else? Why would he like a girl who, if he dated, endangered the brotherhood he'd formed with his best friend? Of course, after this brief makeout session, I had to reconsider my beliefs. 

"Chopper," I said breathlessly, unwillingly dropping my hands from his face, "we shouldn't have- we can't- if Genette-"

My words appeared to jar him to his senses. Chopper practically teleported away from me and to the middle of my room, blinking as if in a daze. "I shouldn't have done that. I don't- I didn't- oh God... I'm sorry, Blaze."

Before I could respond, a knock sounded from my door. We both jumped. Swallowing, I asked as calmly as I could, "Who is it?"

"It's Genette. Can I come in?"

I felt the color drain from my face. Of all people who could've shown up at my door, it had to be him. I hastily moved over to my mirror and checked myself, ensuring there was no evidence of what Chopper and I had just done. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I opened the door and allowed my brother in.

"Thanks," he said, entering. "I didn't want to barge in if you weren't decent."

"Well, morally, that's questionable," I joked lightly, amazing even myself at how nonchalant I was acting after what transpired mere seconds ago. "But clothing-wise, yes, I'm decent."

"I doubted you would've opened the door for me if you weren't." Genette glanced over at Chopper, frowning. "What are you still doing here?"

"He was checking on me to make sure I was doing okay after today, that's all," I said, covering for Chopper before he could say anything. He still looked like a deer in headlights. 

"Yeah, yeah, and I was just about to leave before you got here. I'll take my leave now," Chopper said, shoving his hands into his sweatpants' pockets. "Blaze, if you need anything, you know where to find me. Good night."

"Night," I said weakly, watching him shuffle out of my room with his head down. Genette, oblivious to the tension between me and his best friend, explained he'd left his phone in my room. He grabbed it and bid me good night, leaving me alone and with my thoughts. I stared at my closed door, processing what had happened. What had started out as a dream quickly turned into a nightmare, and I knew that not only was my friendship with Chopper jeopardized but as was Chopper's with Genette if my brother ever discovered what we did. My heart constricted at the idea. I dreaded tomorrow and what the day would bring, for surely it could be nothing good.

______________________________________

Genette

From the sky, the morning after, Pops came back like nothing had happened... as if the open sky had always been his one true home.

Only 17 hours had passed since the war began. Yuktobania's war strategies seem to be minutely timed to avoid giving Osea any chance to launch a counterattack.

I got a notice of assignment as a member of the press corps. I guess Captain Hamilton had pulled a few strings for me. Well, I didn't waste any time going to work. My first stop was the crew room. Rarely were people there in the early hours of the day. Today was no exception save for one person, someone I'd quickly learned loved the peace and quiet of the early morning hours.

I got out my camera, snapping a photo of Nagase lounging on the couch, book in hand. I wrote down in my notebook a caption for the picture: Second Lieutenant Nagase, inside the crew room. She's sitting by herself, writing something in her book. Nobody knew what she was writing.

I shook my head, seeing how stupid that sounded. I flipped my pen over and tried to erase it, huffing in frustration when I realized I had brought my pen instead of my pencil. I'd have to fix the caption later. I glanced back up at Nagase as she looked out the window, her attention captured by something outside. Looking at her, and thinking of my sister and Chopper and Grimm, I realized these people may well be the story I was looking for all this time. In fact, I was sure of it.

Deciding if stood in my spot any longer, I'd be considered a creeper, I opted to go talk to Nagase instead. She smiled at me as I approached, saying, "Hey, Genette."

I sat on the other end of the couch. "Hey, Nagase. How are you?"

"I'm good. What are you doing?"

"Taking photos for my article. I hope you don't mind I took some of you."

"May I see them?"

"Of course," I said, hastily pulling my camera back out. I handed it to her, and she began flipping through, studying each one carefully.

"Has anyone ever told you that your photos are amazing? Because they are," she said, a smile spreading across her face the more she looked at. "Where did you learn to take photos like this?"

I shrugged. "I learned early on that the best photos come when people aren't posing. I've only taken ones of you, Chopper, and Blaze. I'll be taking pictures of Grimm too, now that he's part of the squadron."

"Have they seen these?"

"No. I'm weird about letting people see my photos. I don't mind Blaze since she's my sister, but anyone outside of her and my editor, I'm always hesitant."

"Well, then, thank you for entrusting me to look at them, then." Nagase handed my camera back. "I'd love to see more one day if you'll let me."

"I have a ton on my laptop. If you want, I can go grab it?"

"Only if it's not too much trouble. I don't want to impose and-" she trailed off, head craning to peer over my shoulder. Tilting her head, she asked, "What's wrong with Blaze?"

"What do you mean?" I turned around to find my sister pouring herself a cup of tea. The sight wouldn't be unusual except her eyes were bloodshot, and even with her makeup, I could see the faint traces of dark circles under her eyes. As much as I wanted to hang out with Nagase, my big brother instinct kicked in. "I'm going to go talk to her. Can I get a raincheck on the photo date?"

"Uh, yeah, of course."

"Thank you," I said, jumping up from the couch. It was only when I left the room that I understood what I'd just said. I'd have to talk to Nagase about that 'date' statement later. Clearing my head, I shouted, "Blaze!"

My sister turned around. "Hey, what's up?"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Bullshit." She rolled her eyes, entering her room. I followed her inside, shutting the door for privacy. She took a seat on the couch, and I sat next to her, waiting for her to explain. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Why are you avoiding my question?

"Because I don't want to answer it. It's a... girl thing."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "A girl thing?"

"Yes."

I processed what she was saying for a moment before it dawned on me. "Oh... Oh! Uh, do you want me to get you some chocolate? Or ibuprofen? Or I can-"

Blaze started laughing. "No, no, no, not that kind of girl thing, although I appreciate you offering to help."

I nudged her. "I'm not going to give up poking and prodding, you know."

"It's that investigative journalist in you."

"I'll leave you be for now, but I'm going to figure it out."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you at dinner. I'm going to get some much wanted sleep." 

Reluctantly, I let her be. I walked to my room and grabbed my laptop. I found myself looking forward to spending private time with Nagase. I'd never met a girl who I felt so at ease with sharing my photos. There was something personal about it, even if they were for my job. Maybe it was because I knew she trusted me to help her with her project. It was a mutual thing, perhaps. Regardless, I welcomed her company whenever she offered it, and I walked back to the crew room with a bounce in my step.

______________________________________

Genette

September 29, 2010...

Chopper, Grimm, and I covered our ears as Blaze and Nagase squealed at the sight of their best friend arriving: Cassie Petersen. A blonde bombshell with a highly extroverted personality, she and Blaze had known each other since they were two. When we'd moved away from Cassie's hometown, the girls stayed in touch, reconnecting at the Air Force Academy. That was where Cassie and Nagase became best friends. The rest was history.

"Oh my god, I'm so glad you're here!" Blaze exclaimed, hugging her best friend tightly. "We needed our third musketeer."

"We've had to put up with these three all by ourselves. Now it's even," Nagase said, motioning towards us as we lowered our hands from our ears. "Well, Grimm is nice."

"Hey, we're wonderful!" I protested.

"I can see Genette being good. Chopper, on the other hand..." Cassie trailed off with a smirk.

Chopper rolled his eyes but smiled back at her. "Good to see you too, Cass."

"Come here, you big lug." She pulled him into a hug, then turned to me and did the same. When she faced Grimm, he stuck out his hand, but Cassie simply wrapped her arms around him too. "I don't do handshakes with friends."

"That's fine. You can hug me anytime," Grimm said. His cheeks turned bright red, "I didn't mean- I meant-"

"Would you mind giving me a tour of the base?" she requested, cutting him off. "You're the only one of the group I don't know, and I'd like to change that."

"Yeah, yeah, of course!"

"Awesome." Turning to Blaze and Nagase, she said, "I'll talk with you two later. We have so much catching up to do!"

Before the girls could say anything, Cassie practically dragged Grimm out of the room, effortlessly engaging him in conversation. He looked at her with this star-struck gleam in his eye. Most guys did.

"How does she do it?" Blaze asked in awe once they were out of earshot. "If I tried that with a guy, they would've said they were busy."

"Well then he's an idiot," Chopper said. Blaze looked up at him, causing him to shuffle on his feet. What was that about?

"How long do you'll think they'll be?" Nagase asked.

"At least three hours," I said.

Chopper nodded. "Cassie is definitely a talker."

"Like you?" Blaze quipped, elbowing him playfully.

"I guess Bartlett did have a point when he nicknamed me Motormouth."

"I'm surprised you and Cass didn't last longer," Nagase remarked. "You're so similar."

Unless I was mistaken, I swear my sister's face fell at the comment. "I forgot y'all dated."

If I thought Chopper appeared uncomfortable earlier, he definitely was now, shoving his hands in his pockets. "If you count two dates as dating."

"Why didn't it work out again?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, don't get me wrong, Cassie's great, and we got along really well, but I just didn't feel anything romantically for her. We decided we were better off as friends."

An awkward silence fell over us, and I couldn't take it. I switched the flow of conversation completely by asking, "Does anyone want to watch a movie?"

"I'm in," Blaze said, sounding more than a little relieved at my suggestion.

"Me, too," added Nagase.

"Want to grab some snacks with me?"

"Definitely. Genette, we'll meet you in your room?"

I nodded. "See you in a few." 

The girls strode off. I waited until they were out of the crew room before asking, "What's going on between you and Blaze?"

"What?" Chopper appeared dumbfounded by my question, but not in an 'I-have-no-idea-what-you're-talking-about' kind of way. It was more of an 'oh-shit-how-much-does-he-know.' Sadly, I knew nothing other than there was some weird tension between my sister and best friend today.

"What's going on between you and Blaze? Y'all were acting weird around each other."

"Nothing. I think we're probably just a little hungover from last night is all." Chopper checked his phone. "Listen, I need to go call my sister before I watch the movie with you guys. Melissa will kill me if I miss this again."

"I know how sisters can be. I'll tell the girls. See you soon." The two of us parted ways, and I let my thoughts run wild. Something wrong with Blaze and Chopper. Were their issues correlated or simply coincidental? I'd have to do some more digging to find out. Maybe I could recruit Nagase and Cassie to help. If Blaze and Chopper wouldn't tell me, they would tell one of them. Of that, I was sure.