The sky stretched out in endless blue above the California desert, the horizon rippling with heatwaves as a sleek fighter jet cut through the air like a blade. Inside the cockpit, Ivy Kazansky - gritted her teeth, her hands firm on the throttle as she pushed the aircraft to its limits. The roar of the engine filled her ears, the G-forces pressing against her body like an old, familiar weight.

"Come on, baby" She muttered, eyes locked on the controls.

The digital display flickered with altitude and speed readings. She was just at the edge of the aircraft's safety threshold, but Chaos had never cared much for limits.

"Chaos, you're pushing it" came the voice of her wingman over the radio.

She smirked "Wouldn't be the first time"

With a flick of her wrist, she banked hard to the right, the fighter jet rolling through a perfect manoeuvre. The world spun outside the canopy, desert blurring into sky, sky into desert. The thrill was still there, the same rush she had felt the first time she ever flew.

But it didn't drown out the ghosts.

No matter how fast she flew, she could still hear his voice in the back of her mind. Theo. Bullet.

"Bullet I can't control it! It won't recover, shit!"

The memory came fast, unwanted. Ivy clenched her jaw, steadying her breathing.

"Chaos, you still with me?" Her wingman's voice snapped her back.

"Yeah" She exhaled "Still with you"

She levelled the jet and brought it around for a smoother descent, deciding she'd had enough for today.

The moment she touched down, she barely had time to climb out before a pair of officers were waiting for her. One of them, Admiral Warlock, stood with his arms crossed, watching her carefully.

"Chaos" Warlock greeted "We need to talk"

Ivy pulled off her helmet, running a hand through her sweat-dampened hair "Didn't realise I was in trouble"

"You're not. Yet" Warlock said "But we need you back at Top Gun"

Chaos let out a laugh, shaking her head "Not happening. You know how I feel about that place"

"We do" Warlock said "But this isn't a request"

Ivy exhaled through her nose, already annoyed "You have plenty of pilots. What's so special about this mission that you're dragging me back?"

Warlock exchanged glances with the other officer, then looked her straight in the eye "Maverick is already on his way"

That got her attention.

Her brother. The one person who had always been more reckless than her. If he was being brought in, that meant whatever this was-it was bad.

Chaos crossed her arms "And what's this mission?"

Warlock hesitated, then spoke carefully "A group of elite pilots have been selected for a high-risk operation. One of those pilots is Theodore Rivera Jr"

The name slammed into her like a gut punch.

She blinked "Theo's kid?"

Warlock nodded "Call sign Sniper. He's good. One of the best we have. But this mission...it's dangerous. And we need instructors who understand what's at stake"

Ivy clenched her jaw. It had been years since Theo died, and she'd never reached out to Jessica. Never checked in. She told herself it was because it wasn't her place, but the truth?

She had been cowardly.

She hadn't wanted to face her. Hadn't wanted to look into his kids eyes and see him staring back at her.

And now, that kid was about to get himself killed in the cockpit.

"This is a bad idea" She muttered.

"Maybe" Warlock agreed "But he's going whether you're there or not. Wouldn't you rather be the one to train him? Make sure he gets out of this alive?"

Ivy clenched her fists. She hated how much sense that made.

She sighed "Fine. But I swear, if this is some bullshit excuse to get me back in a cockpit for nostalgia's sake, I'll-"

Warlock smirked "I'll take my chances"

Ivy rolled her eyes, shaking her head "Goddammit"

But as she grabbed her gear and walked off toward the hanger, she already knew there was no turning back.

She was going home.

To Top Gun.

And she had a feeling things were about to get a hell of a lot more complicated.