Rooster Top Gun A Love Story

N E W I N S T R U C T O R

In uniform and ready to take on the day. Rooster headed to his class. Today, they were sitting outside in the base hangers. It was warm out, but the flying suit kept him fresh.
After taking a seat on his desk, the rest of his classmates began to arrive.
"Who do you think it is?" Phoenix wondered once more over to Bob as they too took to to their seats.
Bob shook his head slightly. His eyes always held a glimpse of suprise or shock. Rooster couldn't tell.
As for Rooster, he didn't care at this point. Who was going to teach them? Who could teach a couple of fighter pilots? No, the best to be exact what they already didn't know? They owned the skies when they were up there. Rooster wasn't worried.
Hangman walked past him. "Ready to come in second today?"
Rooster sniffed a laugh. "I'll try not to leave you hanging up there, okay?"
Hangman ignored him and took a seat on the front row.
The new Top Gun graduates awaited for class to begin.
As class came together, Vice Adm. Beau Simpson and Adm. Solomon Bates came forward and took a stand in the front where the podium stood. Next to them, Hondo held some papers and the screen behind Adm. Solomon had a PowerPoint presentation.
"Stand on deck!" He ordered.
The aviators got on their feet. "Today, we will speak of the lengths we will have to go to get to this mission and how it should be done," The admiral looked around the class. "I am Admiral Bates, and my callsign name is Warlock," he looked over to Vice Adm. Beau, who simply nodded. "All of you graduates have been known to be the best of the best, and what more can come from such bravery and skilled elite pilots? We are going down the dangerous zone now, far in between the mountains, and for that, all of you will need the best teacher," Admiral Bates stepped away.
"Your instructor is to be known as one of the finest pilots this program has ever seen, produced to be in fact, I am Admiral Beau Simpson and today avaitors you will meet your match...or even worst, prove that not all are meant to be up in the sky," his eyes fell on Rooster, before continuing to speak.
Rooster snorted. Of course he would.
"This is life and death now, but only one will come out on top and become the leader this mission needs," Admiral Beau looked to the end of the class.
The sound of footsteps began to approach coming from behind the class. A short man, well to the men, walked up to the standing podium and looked over at the class.
Hangman sighted. That was the man they had dumped outside hard deck. Half of the fellow pilots grew red around the cheeks with embarrassment.
"Take a seat!" Admiral Bates ordered.
Rooster sat upright, his blood boiling beneath his skin. His hand clenched into a tight fist. Maverick scanned the class slowly and finally rested his gaze on Rooster, who menacingly glared back at him. Maverick responded by looking away. The only one who noticed such behavior was Hangman.
"Hello, class. I am Captain Pete Mitchell, and my callsign is Maverick, and I will be your new flight instructor,"
Everyone stared at him. "I assume everyone here has read this manuel? Remember it?" Maverick lifted the book to show the class. He felt stupid. He didn't know how to be a teacher or instructor, whatever it was they wanted him to do.
"Yes, we have, front and back," Hangman answered proudly. Who was this clown?
"Well, forget what you read," Maverick responded by tossing it into the trash can. "And so does your enemy, I'm your instructor now. Once on the air, you will know your limits, but your enemies will not! This mission is not a drill. We have three weeks to get you guys ready, and we will exceed those limits," He scanned the class. "Let's see who can make it."
As they got on their feet to start the day off, Maverick went over to try and speak with Rooster, but Rooster held no interest in wanting to hear any introductions. He walked past Maverick without a single look and made his way over to the jets. His jaw visibly tightened.
Maverick pressed his lips. This was going to be a long three weeks. He gave a long sight and walked out of the steel warehouse. Maverick made his way over to the jets, and as soon as the pilots started getting their helmets on, he spoke.
"Not today, men and ladies," Maverick said it awkwardly. Everyone stopped what they were doing. "To start the day off we are going for a run, anyone have anything to say about that will do one hundred push-ups, my assistant Hondo will do me the honors of proceeding such orders," Hondo came foward.
"A hundred push-ups," Hangman laughed. "I can do more than that,"
Hondo, who was standing not far from Maverick, responded with a smile. "Drop and give me one hundred and twenty, Hangman, the rest will start with one hundred,"
Phoenix glared over at Hangman. "What is this boot camp for five years olds? Watch yourself, bateman."
Hangman, who was already on the ground, began his push-ups. But not before throwing her a kiss.
"Phoenix, that's one hundred and two for you," Hondo called out. "Want to argue amongst eachother the number simply goes up."
Rooster glared over at Maverick, but not once did he complain he did his push-ups just like everyone else. Day one was not what Rooster or any of his classmates had in mind. Today, they ran five miles, did a hundred push-ups, and went over the F-18 parts and equipment. No one questioned it.
"Rooster," Maverick called out to him. As they finished today's lesson.
Rooster kept at his pace. He could hear him he just didn't want to deal with him.
"Ltd. Bradshaw, a word!"
Rooster stopped on his feet. No one ever dared disrespect a commanding call. He turned around and faced Maverick.
"Sir,"
"Let's not do it like this," Maverick told him.
"You gonna wash me out if I do?"
Maverick didn't have time for this. His job was to get them ready. "That will be simply up to you," Maverick looked up at the kid. He'd forgotten how tall he was. Just like his...dad.
When nothing else was said. Rooster spoke. "Am I dismissed?"
Back at the showers, Rooster looked into the mirror of the steamy room and let out a sight. How was he going to get through this with...? Maverick is his teacher? He stared at his reflection. His skin tan as it ever was. His brown golden hair with a mix of blonde strance that reminded him his parents left something of them behind.
Rooster couldn't help but curse under his breath. He wondered why his mom and father praised Maverick so much. Why did they love him so much? Rooster didn't understand and didn't want to. He had made his mind up a long time ago. Especially after Maverick pulled his papers away from the academy. He hated the man that caused his mother's pain, and all Rooster could remember was hearing his mother get emotional each time she spoke of his father. Rooster wasn't one to talk about his feelings, not to anyone, but he always thought about his mom. He thought about how proud she would be.
That night, Rooster headed to his place. He had a lot on his mind, but more than anything, he thought about Ava.