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"Too bad we're not on the same team" Hangman told Swan with a smile "I'm sure we would win"

"This is not a game" Swan rolled her eyes slapping his thigh "And I don't know if I trust you as my wingman"

"You don't have to be mean to me" he dramatized with his hand on his chest.

"I'm going to hit you again, and harder" she warned holding back her own smile.

Maverick was at the back of the room with Hondu, watching the two of them.

"Do you think they last?" Hondu asked

"If he doesn't mess up, yes" he agreed thoughtfully "She's hard to win over. And even harder if she's angry"

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"Time to target, one minute and thirty seconds" said Bob "We're two seconds late. Increases to 480 knots."

"We gotta move Coyote" said Phoenix

"Copy. Increases speep"

"Shit!"

Coyote's plane lost speed almost causing a collision with Phoenix and Bob. Dodging the plane, Phoenix went up past the 300-foot limit.

"He tried to copy Swan" Hangman grumbles, being completely ignored

........

"Why did they die?"  Maverick asked Coyote

"We broke the 300 foot ceiling. And an SEM got us" Phoenix replied with her eyes on the floor.

"No" Maverick denied repeating the question to Coyote "Why did they die?"

"I slowed down and didn't warn them. It was my fault."

"But why didn't you communicate with the team?"

"I was concentrating...."

"Will their family accept this at the funeral?"

"No sir"

Maverick turned to Phoenix.

"Why didn't you start the turn sooner?" Asked "You've been told about the terrain" Phoenix thought of an answer but didn't have time to say "Don't tell me, tell his family"

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"Hangman, slow down" Payback asked "The canyon is narrowing"

"Negative, Payback. Increase speed" Hangman ordered accelerating

"You're too fast!"

"Yeah, it doesn't hurt to be early"

"Dam it, slow down!" Payback exclaimed "I can't keep the course"

"Hei, you're going to crash" Fanboy shouted "Watch out, Watch out, Watch out"

................

"What happened?"  Maverick asked

"Look, I went as fast as I could" Hangman replied in disdain "As if my life depended on it" he said

"And, you put your team in danger and your winger died" Rooster said looking between Hangman and Swan who looked at the blonde next to her with a hand over her mouth and an annoyed expression.

"They couldn't keep up"

Maverick sighed, closing his eyes. Taking advantage of this, Swan raised her hand and slapped the back of Hangman's head.

"What was that?"  Maverick asked raising an eyebrow.

"I sneezed" Swan shrugged

"Bless you"

"Thank you"

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