Blue Sapphire | Bob Floyd

Chapter four

"Maddie... Maddison. You need to wake up. Training starts soon"

I hear his voice. I listen to his words, and I ignore him. I don't want to wake up. For a bed in a military apartment, it sure is comfortable. I push my head further into my pillow, or more exactly Robbie's pillow. We both have our own apartment on the base, but since his is bigger, it's where we decided to sleep. And I don't want the night to be over yet.

"Maddie, I've let you sleep past the alarm, but you have to get out of bed now and get ready. I'm making breakfast right now. It should be ready in less than 10 minutes. So, you have time to put on your uniform. After that, we eat, you do your hair, and we leave. Deal?"

I slightly rotate my head to the left so I can look at him. He is sited on the bed beside me, a coffee in his hands. Exactly what I need right now...

My god, that man is perfection. What did I do to deserve him?

"Yeah, it's a deal" He offers me his best smile, drops the cup on the bed table, kisses my forehead, and leaves the room to continue to prepare breakfast. Words can't express how much I love this man.

_____

"Attention on deck!"

The twelve of us rise from our chairs as we see the admirals coming our way. My father stops by Hondo's side while Rear Admiral 'Warlock' Bates keeps walking until he stands in from of us. When we get the authorization to rest, we all sit back.

I listen to Warlock as he starts his speech. He says nothing new; we already know that we are the best of the best. What we don't know, however, is who will teach us for the following weeks. Something he says eventually catches my attention. Only half of us will be part of the mission. It probably means two solos pilots and two duos. The competition will be fierce, that's for sure.

"Your instructor is a Top Gun graduate with real-world experience in every aspect you will be expected to master for this mission. His exploits are legendary, and he is considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced" Warlock announces to us.

In unison, we turn our heads behind us as we hear footsteps. I was prepared for a lot of things, but not to see, dressed in a pilot's uniform, the old man from the bar. I thought maybe I was wrong until I see Hangman's face.

Yeah, it's definitely the old man from yesterday. Bet you regret your actions now, Hangman.

"What he has to teach you may very well make the difference between life and death" Warlock adds as the old man joins him at the front. "I give you Captain Pete Mitchell. Callsign: Maverick"

Wait, this is Maverick? Admiral Kazansky's wingman? How the hell this he joined this mission? With my father in charge, there is no way he would have invited him to be an instructor. From what I heard; he hates the dude!

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the F-18 manual being dropped in the trash can. I hear everyone moving on the tip of their chair, wandering, just like me, in what we got ourselves into.

"What your enemy doesn't know, is your limits. I intend to find them. Test them. Push beyond. Today we will start with what you only think you know. And show me what you are made off"

We are so screwed.

_____

Payback, Fanboy, and Rooster (Brad Brad's callsign) are the first ones to go against Maverick. The rest of us wait in a room for our time in the sky. Some start conversations while others play a game of baby foot. Of course, waiting all together in a room also means that we need to support Hangman.