𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 ༄ 𝗷. 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗻

𝚘𝚗𝚎

𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚗𝚎𝚠

"Ren, get that pretty ass of yours into your car. You're already late as it is." Phoenix yelled over the phone.

"What do you think I'm doing Nix?" She stated and turned on the engine to her 2008 Porsche Cayman. "I'll be there in 15, save me a beer."

"I will." Bria hung up the phone and sped a few to many miles over the speed limit. She swerved into the parking lot of the Hard Deck and checked the time on her watch, 10 minutes to get there with speeding. She adjusted her uniform and walked into the bar.

When she pushed open the doors, the party had clearly already started. She smiled at the group of naval aviators gathered around the pool table.

"SIREN!!" Phoenix yelled over the noise and Bria ran over to other woman sitting at the bar.

"Hey Nix. Looks like I got here just in time." She smirked as Penny passed her an ice cold beer.

"Actually you are 39 minutes late but good for you Rooster is later." Phoenix nodded towards the door where a man with auburn hair and a mustache, had just strutted in wearing a Hawaiian shirt and jorts. "He did this last time."

"So how was the uranium mission?" She asked and leaned onto the counter.

"Started a lot like this actually, but now we are all friends and you're here." She explained and looked at the rowdy group of men that surrounded the pool table.

"Hey Trace! Who's this lovely lady sitting next to you." A blonde aviator said and sauntered over to where they had been sitting.

"Lieutenant Bria "Siren" Patel." Bria introduced herself and held out her hand. The man took it and flashed her a smile. "And who are you Malibu Barbie?" Phoenix covered her mouth trying to hold in a laugh.

"Lieutenant Jake "Hangman" Seresin at your service." He greeted and brushed of her cheesy nickname for him. "How come we didn't see you for the uranium mission?"

"I was deployed for six months in Naples, Italy and only got back three days ago. Iceman wanted me for the uranium mission but I was already out on the boat so Warlock kept me for this mission." She explained and looked and his frowning features. He looked like he was formulating how to say something, then her eyes abet wide. "Hangman I know he's gone, Warlock told me when I got back from deployment. Don't worry you aren't the bearer of bad news."

"Okay, umm good." He cleared his throat. "Now on that very depressing note, how 'bout you ladies join us for some pool."

"Let's go." Phoenix grabbed her hand and dragged her over to the pool table. "I'll sit this one out."

"Alright don't blame me if we have more fun." Phoenix raised her hands showing her innocence.

"Boys this is Siren."

"Ren, this is Coyote, Fanboy, Rooster, Payback and my WSO Bob." Phoenix introduced her to all of the group.

"Nice to meet you all." She smiled and sat on the windowsill her beer still in her hand.

They all chatted as they played the round of pool, she listened as they recounted all of the tales on the uranium mission, but couldn't help but feel a little left out. Not too soon after the conversation flipped to her and they showered her with a million questions, which she happily answered.

"So is it true you've had three air to air combat kills?" Coyote asked and her heart dropped. She hated this question. She swallowed deeply and cleared her throat.

"Umm, yeah that's me." She smiled sadly and took another sip of her now lukewarm beer.

"So how'd it happen?" Fanboy asked.

"It's actually classified information, I'm not allowed to share." She laughed nervously.

"Oh, that's too bad."

"Don't worry about it, everyone always asks that question. Go back to playing, I'm going to go talk to Penny." Bria shooed them back to their game. She walked over to the bar.

"Hey Pen, just a water please." She said and sat at the bar.

"No problem. I feel like you just left TOPGUN." Penny slid over a bottle of water.

"The last six months have been so eventful that, my time at TOPGUN feels like 10 years ago." She sighed. "In reality, I left TOPGUN like four or five years ago now."

"I understand, when my father would leave for deployment. The months felt so long, but when he would get home time seemed to slow and it felt normal again." Penny agreed and Bria drank her water.

"They make a great team." Penny said and looked at the group around the pool table. "They had some rough spouts at the beginning, but they all became friends in the end. With the help of some football and Maverick."

"What?" Bria raised an eyebrow and Penny laughed. "They'll tell that story some other time."

There was some cheering from the table as the group finished their game. "I hope they accept me."

"Oh I'm sure they will." Penny assured her.

"Everyone to the piano!" Rooster yelled and he led an ever growing group to the piano.

"Siren, come join us!" Phoenix yelled and waved her over.

She weaved through the crowd and found a spot next to Hangman. "This happen a lot?" She asked.

"Nearly every time we are here." He laughed.

Rooster played his renditions of "Great Balls of Fire.", "Sweet Caroline." and too many other songs that they all lost track of time.

"Hey aviators!" Penny grabbed their attention. "We close in twenty wrap up your song festival."

Bria checked the time on her watch.

11:40 pm.

"God, time flies by quickly. I think it's for me to go, I'll see you guys tomorrow." Bria smiled and grabbed her keys. "You can get my number from Phoenix."

There was a chorus of byes and see ya laters as she exited through the front door.

Now it was time for the hard part.