As Peter begins ordering troopers into their positions, I'm left with Lana and the foundlings to watch as the hanger doors expose fully the mountainside view of the valley's sunrise right below our feet. Not quite a sapphire sunset, but Lana does seem to really enjoy the view of the sun's yellow and orange rays from this height. 

I can't blame her entirely. The sun always looks good in orange from this height. It makes it easier to see the two-winged birds that look as if they flew right out of the sun come towards us. 

Two hanger troopers in bright yellow vest help guide the two jets in right after the other. The air the two jets brings slam down around the hanger shooting our clothes back. Lana has learned to stay behind me when the air is like this, though once the air clears, she always rushes as everyone does to see the flyers. 

The process is never different. Many of the hanger bay soldiers do what they need to make sure the jets are stabilized. No one wants to be that soldier who failed the maintain one of The Resistance Fighters' only three jets. Once the pilots get an all-clear from those troops, they are free to have their glory. 

The Seekers waste no time in this regard. Commander Blie is always the first one to jump out of his seat and position himself right where the light from the hanger makes his red jumpsuit with stickers and winged-shaped fringes at the bottom of his sleeves shine. 

He does it this time while also yelling out to everyone in his new's caster voices 

"Aye-Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi, Make way for the flyers."

Everyone does so as he jumps from his jet's window and lands gracefully in a pose, right before taking off his helmet. His black hair was shiny but not in the way Lincoln's hair shines, but in a greasy manner that makes everyone know it is shiny. No one cares as many of the foundlings and a few of the soldiers begin to crowd him. 

Another seeker named Corvus who I can tell by his black studded armbands, his black vest, and his similar greasy hair does the same thing as his commander, landing a less admittedly show-offy pose but still has crowds of people surrounding him before even getting a few inches away from the jet. 

The three other Seekers who wear water blue, yellow, and pink jumpsuits and vests respectively slowly follow suit and gain similar attention. 

Even from here, I can hear Blie already taking the time to go and in great detail about how successful their mission was. Something about his newscaster voice boosting makes my skin sour. But that doesn't stop Lana from augering me to go with her to hear The Seekers tell about the glory that comes with being an elite. 

Before I even could try and think of an excuse, Blie whistles me over. I have Lana go over to Corvus who has most of the foundlings in-loop with his stories, while I deal with Blie. 

"My if it isn't Commander Joseph of the Ragtags," Blie loudly protrudes. "It's been a while."

 I respond bleakly. "Why yes, it has been. I can't remember the last time our squads shared a mission together."

"Yes yes and may I first say that it's nice to see you still using your nurturing side and playing babysitter." He then smirks over my shoulder at Lana who along with the other foundlings is absorbed by Corvus's storytelling. She seems to notice us looking at her and she gives us a little wave. I wave back with a smile hidden from Blie's view. 

"It's a good thing Blie, especially now."

"Ah yes, yes. I have heard over the channel what happened to Lincoln. It is such a shame he had to die the way he did. He was a true hero, a real public figure. To think he would love to hear how successful our mission was. I can tell we are so close to this war ending, I can feel it in my teeth. He then smiles shooting the shine from his whiting right into my eyes. 

"I bet he would have loved to hear it."

"Oh, I know that. I'll now have to do my best to make sure that his sacrifice to save you wasn't in vain."

"I beg your pardon."

"I mean isn't that how he died, saving you?" I remain silent and for a quick moment tilt my eyes toward the floor. "Though I shouldn't be surprised. He favored you like a brother, in the end, those ties can blind even the greatest of warriors. I mean, of course, he would want to save his own kin, who couldn't even keep his own squadron safe."

"Don't you dare mention their names in that way, I yell out to him quietly. 

"You don't have to worry, I have no grievances with your Ragtags. I heard they all thought valiantly to the bitter end. I would have loved to have any of them be a part of my Seekers. It's the person that's left in charge of them, their commander, that should be blamed for their gruesome deaths."  

The more he talks, the more his flaky mustache coils underneath his mouth, the more my chest starts to rapidly thump against my ribs. That's when the blood starts to flow down to my fleshly fist, balling it up. 

He better wish he stopped talking and went to join Crovus or any of the other Seekers who are talking up a storm. Though by the way, his lips continue smirking as he looks into my blood-raging eyes; I hold my breath. 

"Though on the bright side of things, Joseph. At least you got a metal knocker out of it all." He then proceeds to lightly punch my metal arm, my eyes roll over in red at the disbelief as he continues. "You know, I got some stuff inside the garage that can help keep that thing shiny for you if you would like?" 

That's it. Once he gives me that same smug eyeshot, my fist ball up fully. Then as he winks at me with his teeth, one of my knuckles grazes the bottom of his lip sending him backward. Both Corvus and another one of The Seekers, Sky-Hopper holds me back by my shoulders while Blie gains his balance, puts his finger over his bleeding lip, and rushes towards me, but is stopped by a handful of soldiers including another Seeker, Seibāto. 

"Break it up you two," Peter yells. "What the hell is going on here?"

"Oh, nothing at all General. Me and Joseph here were just having a friendly exchange."

"Ah yeah," I yell towards Blie. "How about you tell your Seekers to back off and I can show how friendly I can be."

"Finally, you said something usefu-"

"Quiet both of you," Peter demands. The sheer volume of his voice loosens The Seeker's grip on both mine and Blie's arms. We both shrug and remain still as he continues. "We all have more important work to do than watch you two throw down. Blie, Left-wing was telling me quite the tale in acquiring the hardware for our hovers and rovers.

"Why yes General, it was quite the tale. Picture this. Once we found the location of the compound, I had both Sky-Hopper and Left-wing run down missiles from above taking out what had to be hundreds of bots. They tried to shoot them down, but they weaved past their attempts and rained more fury down below them. Meanwhile, I, Corvus, and Seibāto snuck in taking down anyone that dared get in our way and loaded the crate with the tech you see before you. By the time their acolytes noticed, we already left them our party favor, which was Seibāto personal thermal detonator. Then Kaboom! Down goes half their compound while we all soar victorious in our jets into the sunset. With no casualties, I might add." 

He let the no casualties part roll from his tongue as he eye-balled me. I can't help but roll my eyes again. 

"I guess Lefty wasn't kidding. Furthermore, I am highly impressed with your squad's grit and determination, you all have done a fantastic job here. With that being said, do take your Seekers down to barracks and rest up. I'll have your team follow up on that lead that Lefty mentioned you found out during your mission in a matter of days." 

"Yes, yes, that sounds like a great idea. Alright, Seekers were moving out!" 

He waves over to them a final time and one by one each leaves the crowds of people they have gathered and they all walk out towards the hanger exit. Corvus especially so as he admittedly looked saddened to be leaving the kids, and they looked equally the same back. But he yells to them all that he'll visit them later to finish. 

As they got halfway, Blie condensedly told me to take care of myself, gave me another wink with his teeth, and laughed at a joke one of the other Seekers told the group.

"Then as for you Joseph," Peter motions towards me in a calm manner. "Lisa said, she'll meet us in the back corner right where light can't reach. Looking into the corner that his blue armored fingers point to there is nothing that my eyes could make as a shape. But he assures me that there is something there for us to continue. Before I could say another word, Lana rushes toward me as she did before in the hallway.

"Are you ok, Joseph," Lana utters as she begins shaking a portion of the fabric from my pants. "Did Commander Blie say something mean to you?" 

"Of course not kiddo. As he said, we were just having a friendly exchange." I bend down to one knee merely approaching her level and manage to throw on a semi-believable smile. 

"Ok because he said anything bad towards you, I would have to show him who not to mess with." 

She then begins puffing up her cheeks and chest. Only does so for a few seconds before her tiny little lungs fall back inward. I chuckle with a faint smile showing that she made her point across. With that faint smile still on my face, I press down on her hat and begin rubbing her head. She laughs with a whole white tooth smile even though she is missing her two front ones. 

I then tell Lana to go with Peter to the other side of the hangar so that we could meet with Lisa, while I go and wash my hands. Peter nods his head as he still can see Blie's blood on my knuckle. 

I exit and turn a few corners before hitting the bathroom. After finishing, making sure to get every inch of Blie off my hand, I start rushing back until a voice behind me starts calling my name. I turn over to see it was Left-Wing approaching me. 

The little wings he has taped below his shoes and water blue jumpsuit sway in the air while he carries I assume was the clipboard he had to give one of the signet warriors regarding his mission. I smile and wave back to him, but he asks me to wait, seeing me start to run off again. 

"I was hoping to run into you again." He remarks struggling to keep his brown bangs from covering his eyes. "Do you have a minute?" 

"I guess so though I'm kind of needed back at the hanger."

"Oh my bad, I didn't kno-"

"It's ok Lefty. What sup?" 

"It's just...I've heard what happened with you and your squad, so I wanted personally to tell you I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how you were like family to one another, especially you and Lincoln. To lose someone close to you, I can't imagine it being any more painful than that. They were all true good soldiers and even better friends. I'm truly sorry."

"Thank you, Lefty. I really do appreciate that."

"Of course. I also want to take the time to apologize for the comments from my commander. Blie just sometimes says things without coming out from his own little world, you know?

"It's all good. I'll make sure to give him what's coming when I get back."

"Get back? Are you about to head off for a mission? If you don't me asking."

"Yeah, It's a mission that I and Lincoln started after the Solis station incident. I figured now, it would be best if I were the one to finish it."

"Well, don't let me hold you now." Lefty begins to turn but then stops and pushes his hand out toward me. "Good luck. Go and make Lincoln proud. I want to hear all about your triumph once you return."

"Will do, Lefty." I go to shake his hand. "Hopefully that lead you guys found out there turns out to be true." 

"I hope so too. We can exchange stories when we meet again."

"Looking forward to it."

We both exchange one more smile between the two of us before going our own ways in separate directions. Lefty got me thinking on the way back to the hangar. If Blie would love to have any of my Ragtags in his Seekers. Then, I would love to have any of his Seekers be a part of my Ragtags. 

I do truly hope they can continue keeping the skies clear. I want Lana to be able to look at something hopeful each day while I'm gone. Luckily, The Seekers are no strangers to that.