Only Rivals?

8.

The first to start the exercise were Payback, Noah and Rooster, while we listen to everything on the radio, sitting in the meeting room.

<Hello aviators, your commander is speaking to you, welcome to the basic maneuvers session> Maverick communicates in a very cheerful tone <As per the briefing, today's exercise is the dogfight. Just pointers, no missiles, we won't go below the 5,000 foot altitude limit. Working as a team you will have to take me down or->

<Or what sir?> Payback asks and I can hear a note of amusement in his voice

<Or I'll fire back> Maverick says quietly <If I take down one of you you'll lose both of you>

I lean on the table and cross my arms <It's getting interesting> I smile

Phoenix and Bob look at me as they sit exactly in front of the radio

<I would give him a little ego check> comments Hangman sitting on the sofa while observing the model of a plane he holds in his hands

<Try to look after your ego, which is already big enough on his own.> I snort and concentrate on listening

I can feel his burning gaze settle on my back causing a strange sensation. I can't tell if he irritates me or attracts me, but I don't want to turn around to find out anyway.

<Do we want to bet something sir?> Payback asks with a chuckle

<Doesn't seem like the case> Noah intervenes, her intuitions are always right.

I chuckle imagining her worried expression

<What were you thinking?> Maverick asks curiously

I smile, I hope Payback comes up with something funny, like: who loses offers a drink?

<Whoever gets knocked down first has to do 200 push-ups> he says

But what kind of punishment is this! I swear if I have to do 200 push-ups I'll strangle him for giving this idea. Mine was much prettier.

<No, no, no.> Noah exclaims <Couldn't you have given a different idea?> She scolds him

<Guys ...> Rooster calls them not very happy

<That's a lot of pushups> Maverick says

Fanboy laughs <It's the exercise after the exercise>

I look at it <If we end up doing push-ups I will also put the blame on you who supported this thing>

<You have just been threatened by your pilot Fanboy, if I were you I would worry> Hangman giggles sarcastically

I look at him badly <Shut up!>

He laughs

<Leave him alone> Phoenix intervenes shaking her head

<Okay deal, gentlemen. We fight> Maverick exclaims

<Nurse do you see anything?> Rooster asks

<Nothing on the radar in front, it must be behind us...> she says

If they don't already see him, we're off to a good start. Come on Noah I believe in you, put your magical navigational skills into the practice

<Wait, I can't see it behind, maybe it's under->

Noah does not have time to finish the sentence that we begin to hear swearing

<Rooster where are you?> Payback yells