Survive - Phoenix X Rooster

1. The Pilotes' Arrival

Phœnix

I'm finally back in North Island.
I feel like a graduated a decade ago, even if it was in was only three years ago.

The sand is clear as heaven, the sky is as blue as the sea, and the sun radiates the landscape to create the perfect painting.

But don't jump to conclusions too fast, I'm not here to enjoy the beach and get a perfect tan.

I'm actually here to defend my country, in my jet.
I let a discreet proud smirk stretch my lips.

Yes baby, we're at Top Gun.

I take a heavy breath, as I enter the enormous Navy building. Several admirals and captains are eying us, all with no-emotion faces.
I don't blame them, I got the same face on.

Eleven other pilotes walk in with me.
I know most of them from my previous missions and trainings, but there are a few faces that I don't recognize.

There's another girl in the group, for once. She would probably be a good friend... ok, forget that, she is currently hitting on Hangman.
Considering the look on her face, his answer must have been cold and haughty.

My attention is refocused on the admirals, as one of them, Admiral Caine, ask for our attention in the micro.

"Your attention please. Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. As you all know, you are here because you are the best pilotes the USA own. We are counting on you to defend our country with everything you have, mind and body, until death. If you are ready for that, then welcome to Top Gun." he says, and I smirk.

Trust me, I won't leave.

Next to me, some guy with blonde hair and blue eyes, a little nerd-looking, nods compulsively.
He got a little bit of excitement in his eyes, which makes me smirk.
This guy seems nice.

Another admiral takes the micro, and begins staring at each one of us in the eyes.
His eyes land on me and I look at him with all the confidence I got.

"Hello everyone. I will go over your call signs. After that, you'll be allowed to move into the residence. You will then have a chance to get to know each other, or rediscover each other," he begins.

Then, he starts reviewing all of us. "Hangman" he saluted the admirals with his typical annoying smirk. "Coyote", and the list goes on until my name. "Phoenix" I salute him. I feel a timid gaze landing on me from the left. "Bob" the guy who was previously staring at me salutes shyly admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson in front of us. I hear Hangman and the guy called Coyote chuckle behind me. Assholes.
"Lastly, Rooster". A tall brunette guy salutes him with a dead serious look on his face. Good attitude. And good mustache, by the way.
"Now that you all know each other, the staff behind me will give you the keys of your apartments in the residence. Take advantage of this short period of time to rest. You will need it in the next weeks," admiral Simpson says.
He gives the micro to a woman, holding a box, and she calls us one by one in the same order as previously, to give us our appartement keys.

She hands me my key, and I subtly wait for Bob who is just behind me. I want to introduce me, so that maybe we could be friends. To be fair I don't really know if I want to make friends already, but this guy seems nice.

"Hey, Bob, right?," he lifts his gaze from the ground to my eyes to look at me shyly. "Hey. It's me, and you're Phoenix, right?," he says with a nice smile. "Right, you have a good memory, " I state and he still smiles. "I guess we all have good memories here, considering how many things we had to learn since the beginning of this all," and I nod. "What is the number of your appartement?," he checks on his key and answers. "12." "I have the number 11. That probably means we are on the first floor, and neighbors." "Let's go there and check, I guess." I nod and we walk to the door and the parking lot.