Rooster Top Gun A Love Story

D O G F I G H T T R A I N I N G

The skies were clear with clouds of white. Beams of yellows and orange shot right through the clouds.
Hangman spoke through the comms. "Bob? Can you tell us what Bob really stands for Robert?"
Bob was about to answer when Phoenix cut in. "Don't take the bate, Bob." she never kept her glare away from Hangman. "You want to know why we call him Hangman?"
"Let me guess?" Hangman interrupted. "Baby on board?" He stared to laugh like an idiot.
Then, in that instant, like the speed of lightning, Maverick bolted through, shaking the jets.
"Good morning, Aviators. This is your captain speaking. Welcome to your basic fighting maneuvers. Today's exercise is only dogfighting. No missiles. Guns only. And no going below the hard deck of five thousand feet, understood? Oh, and work as a team to shoot me down, or else."
"Or else what, sir?" Payback asked through the comms.
"I shoot back."
"Sir, let's say we put some skin in this game?" Payback chuckled.
Maverick was listening. "What did you have in mine?"
"Whoever gets shot down first does two hundred fifty push-ups,"
Maverick chuckled. "That's fifty more push-ups than what we've done,"
"It's just excersie, sir," Fanboy laughed, stating the obvious.
"Well, then, you two gentlemen have got yourselves a deal, light's on and burn," Maverick ordered soaring off through the clear sky, becoming invisible as he flew off. And just like that, they semi panicked.
"Fanboy, you see him?" Rooster spoke through the comms.
"I having nothing through the raider coming up ahead," Fanboy searched.
This is going to be so easy. "Watch and learn men," Hangman spoke calmly through the comms.
Maverick grinned widely. These kids had no idea what was coming.
"Woah!" Rooster gasped. As his jet went sideways with immense pressure.
"We're did he come from!" Fanboy," yelled out to the men.
All three men were taken aback from the force of the F-18 coming straight between them.
Rooster was the first one who chased after Maverick. His mind was a distraction of chaos he could not think straight other than wanting to aim at his target.
Phoenix engaged after them. What was he thinking?
"Phoenix, what are you doing?" Bob asked.
"Trying to beat these men at their own game," she pointed
Bob didn't argue with her. He knew better. "Your over doing it, Rooster," Phoenix told him.
Rooster didn't say anything. He ignored Phoenix and began to shoot at Maverick, but Maverick was too fast for him.
Hangman laughed. "Rooster getting beat at his own game,"
Before Rooster could eliminate Maverick, he disappeared.
Payback went higher than normal he felt it would be easier to spot him. He wasn't the only one, though. Rooster pointed upward and went up behind him to see if Maverick was near.
Nothing. He searched the skies and looked over to payback, who flew by him.
"We can take him," Fanboy said with confidence.
Behind them, the clouds began dispersing into nothing.
"You see him?" Payback asked his co-pilot if Maverick was anywhere to be seen he wasn't going to be easy to fine. "Negative," Fanboy searched.
Rooster and Hangman flew over the other, trying to see around them as Maverick seemed to disappear once again.
"Gentlemen, I believe your time is up," Maverick took Payback and Fanboy down.
"Noooo!" Payback yelled.
Fanboy sighted frustratedly.
"Headback men, those push-ups, and Hondo are waiting,"
All the fun and games had flown out their F-18. If we work as a team, we can aim at him," Bob instructed. Phoenix and Bob twisted about but not before Maverick got to them.
"And you're dead!" Maverick shot him down.
"Damn," they said in union falling back.
Hangman and Rooster decided to fly lower. Hangman averted his jet and spotted Maverick, but not fast enough, where the rooster was ready to tail him. Hangman followed.
Distracted by the clouds around him, Rooster was trying to make out shapes to see if Maverick wasn't hiding. Rooster did not see the jet, but above him, a shadow began to cast overhead. He looked up to see Maverick upside down, looking right at him. Taking Rooster by suprise. "What the hell," he mouthed.
"And you're dead," Maverick repeated.
F**k! Rooster thought.
"You know the rules," Maverick smiled with his eyes.
Rooster had not been able to accept this defeat, but as protocol, he had to turn back.
When Rooster arrived, Rooster joined them. He breathed heavily as he replayed the entire ordeal in his head. Every angle, every distance, and the speed limit of his flying. How had Maverick gotten to him? Dropping next to him, Hangman joined them.
"His a ghost," Hangman told him.
Rooster didn't care. He had to find a way to beat Maverick at his own game. Up and down, they pushed getting their push ups in.
Out of breath and on their feet, the team did as they were told and stood tall.
Maverick and Hondo waited for Admiral Beau Simpson and Admiral Bates as they walked toward them.
"Avaitors the progress these past three days have been known to be weak. Only a mind of clarity and sacrifice will get you there. Strength is needed," Admiral Simpson gazed over at Maverick.
"Time is your worst enemy," Admiral Bates said. He looked to the young pilots. "You must understand this mission, and tomorrow we will go over the basic lines and basic attacks, we must reach our goal by the end of this week. This mission needs a leader."
Phoenix looked over at Rooster, who looked ahead of himself.
"You are dismissed,"
"Rooster, wait up," Phoenix called after him. Rooster stopped on his feet. "What's up, Phoenix?" he looked down at her. But not before seeing Hangman lingering about up ahead.
"What happened up there?" She eyed him with surprising annoyance.
Rooster shook his head. "I don't know," he mouthed.
"You aren't the same," she hissed.
Rooster agreed. "I have a lot on my mind,"
"Yeah, well you need clear that head of yours Bradshaw, all of your teammates lives including your own are at risk here, if you can't keep a clear head Rooster then maybe this mission isn't for you,"
"I know," he said.
"I need to go on this mission," she pressed. "You understand me?" Nat needed him to understand. She eyed him with all seriousness.
Rooster nodded. "He pulled my papers Nat,"
"Who?" She wondered.
"Maverick,"
Confusedly, she eyed him. "What? Why?"
"It doesn't matter." Rooster walked past her.
The next day started like any other day. Except today, the briefing was short and a different topic. Though they knew time was an enemy and had every basic information of the missions dangerous aspects today, they grew aware of the heights. Today, the practice for mission miracle one would begin.
Falling back at the base, Rooster left the lounge where the aviators usually relaxed. He decided to go into their classroom and turned on the radio. He replayed the audio over and over again. His heart racing, each time he heard phoenix engage of the wereabouts of the jet. The alarm in her voice yet steady and ready for anything.
Rooster turned it off he worried for his teammates.
Phoenix was right. He had been slacking off, and he needed to pay more attention now more than ever. They were counting on him.