The walk was longer than both had expected- it was now mid day, probably 2 hours after Rebel crashed, Hangman speculated. Both had noticed the pipe sticking outside Rebel's right leg, but both decided not to talk about it. Occasionally, Rebel would stop and grasp her wound, and Hangman had offered to carry her multiple times, each time Rebel refused.
They had arrived at the destroyed airfield, surprising no one about it's condition. Fires were everywhere, trucks and people crossed the field in swarms, yelling, and from what Rebel could pick up, swearing.
"Alright, what next?" Hangman asked.
"We walk in acting like we belong and hopefully try to find a plane that hasn't been destroyed. Then we fly home. Easy peasy." Rebel said before walking onto the field.
"Yeah easy peasy." Hangman mumbled walking after her.
---
It took some time, but they found an un-destroyed F-14, heavily coated in dust, in a canopy.
"Score!" Rebel said, before telling Hangman, "Alright open the hatch here and when I say go, I was you to unplug the fuse from this generator."
"Are we sure this works? It looks like this hasn't flown since the 80s. And even if it does work, it's not like we can pilot this out of here."
"Yes this works, and bold of you to assume I don't know how to fly this. I've been flying since I was 14 remember?"
"Of course, how could one forget? Emiliana Mitchell, knows how to fly a bucket of junk." Hangman said sarcastically while rolling his eyes, before helping Rebel into the jet's pilot seat, seeing her wince after moving her leg but getting the "I'm fine" look.
---
"Alright unplug the fuse!" Rebel said.
Hangman pulled the fuse out and hopped in the jet, pulling the canopy down.
"Alright, switch the J-57 switch to turn on navigation- it should be about shoulder-height around your 3 o'clock."
"Alright I see it," Hangman said looking out the window, "Uh Lane? How are we gonna take off?"
"By using the runway of course."
"There is no runway."
Looking out the window, the "runway" was about 30 feet max and covered in debris.
"Cmon mom and dad, don't fail me now," Rebel mumbled, clutching her parents' dog tags around her neck, before flicking on the ignition.
"Welcome to the danger zone." Rebel said before taking off.
---
"Captain, we're getting a signal. It's from, Hangman. He's in a F-14."
"What? That's impossible, you need two people to fly that- Rebel."
---
"Alright Lane we got two enemy fighters coming in 2 o'clock."
"Copy that, moving to offensive position now, we're too close for missiles, switching to guns."
---
"How are they both alive? How is she alive? They crashed and fell from a hard deck of 5,000 feet."
"They have two enemy fighters approaching them 2 o'clock."
"They won't make it."
---
"Lane I'm not sure if we can make it," Hangman said worryingly as Rebel shot down the first jet.
"Relax Jake we only have one more fighter left. They're 200 feet ahead, I say we give them the old "Mitchell surprise." Rebel responded before increasing her altitude.
And it truly was a "Mitchell surprise." Rebel and Hangman had inverted themselves over the enemy fighter, giving him a few seconds to take in what was happening before shooting forward and above, disappearing from radar.
---
"They've disappeared."
"We can't go after them. It's too dangerous."
"We need to save them?"
"And risk more planes and pilots? I don't think so!"
---
"Shit Lane he's gaining. I don't know if we can shake 'em."
"Jake I'm trying to get him off my 6 but he won't budge."
"Will we make it?"
"We'll try."
---
"Someone needs to go save them! They're 3.7 miles away!"
"No."
"Come on! We need to do something!"
---
"I'm sorry Jake." Rebel said, tears in her eyes. She knew they weren't going to make it, but hell, this is one way to go out. And one hell of a ride too.
---
Sounds of an explosion blasted through speakers and the air. Bits of jet flew from the sky into the ground below, spreading over hundreds of feet. There was no way someone could have survived an explosion like that.
"Hey lovebirds! Didn't think someone wouldn't save you before your wedding now huh?" Rooster's words echoed through Hangman and Rebel's headsets. They turned to see him fly through the pitch black smoke, he saved them.
"Footloose am I sure as hell glad to see you." Rebel said, laughing.
"You really do have to be more careful "Rebel", you've almost died on me twice now. I can't be having that. We made a rule you can't die until you're at least 50- and you sure as hell aren't close to that."
"Bradley I will punch you in your egotistic face when we get back to the carrier. Then I'll hug you."
"Can't wait Emi- see you back there."
---
It was like a party had taken place on the carrier. As Hangman, Rebel, and Rooster landed. They had completed their mission, and as Rooster and Hangman helped Rebel out of her seat, they saw the pipe in her leg was missing, and she was bleeding- fast.
"Get a medic! She's bleeding out!" They both yelled, as Rebel started to pass out.
"Cmon Lane- don't die on me. Not after all we've been through. Hold on- for me." Hangman said, before Rebel was carted off to the med bay.
YOU ARE READING
Under My Skin
AdventureBeing Maverick's daughter has always been a challenge, especially when it comes to Iceman's son. Lt. Emiliana "Rebel" Mitchell has always had a problem with Lt. James "Hangman" Kazansky ever since they were young. But when both are called back to To...
