[ON HOLD FOR THE MOMENT] My Fighter Pilot ✈️ Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

3. The Instructor

As I walk into the hanger the next morning, I smile when I yet again see all the familiar faces and new faces from the night before. I walk over to the desk next to Bradley where he is talking to Phoenix and Bob. 

"Hey guys! What are you guys talking about?" I ask setting my stuff down next to the desk.

"Nothing much really," Bradley responds "we're trying to still figure out who the instructor will be.As well as what they have planned for us today.

" I bet it is probably going to be super easy with the instructor," Phoenix says, "The instructor can't be that good, right?"

" You never know Phoenix, we'll just have to wait and see who walks through those doors in the next couple minutes." Bob says before the two of them go take their seats.

Bradley turns to me before saying, "Thanks for letting stay at your place last night."

"It's no problem, Rooster." I respond chuckling, "Besides…"

Before I can finish, a lady yells "Attention on deck!" Making everyone stand up as the chairs scrape across the hanger floor. We all stand at attention as a man comes walking in.

"Morning. Welcome to your special training detachment. Be seated" he says and we all sit waiting for him to continue, " I'm Admiral Bates, NAWDC commander. You're all Top Gun graduates. The elite. The best of the best. That was yesterday." me and Bradley looked at each other confused as to what he meant before looking back at him, "The enemy's new fifth-generation fighter has leveled the playing field. Details are few, but you can be sure we no longer possess the technological advantage. Success, now more than ever, comes down to the man or woman in the box. Half of you will make the cut. One of you will be named mission leader." I slowly reach over to grab Bradley's hand as some anxiety starts to show from what the guy is say, but as soon as he squeezes my hand in confirmation I can feel it slipping away. However, the Admiral still continues as everyone listens, "the other half will remain in reserve. Your instructor is a Top Gun graduate with real-world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master. His exploits are legendary. "the instructor starts to walk down the aisle between the desks and as me and Bradley look over our shoulders I feel him stiffen at who the man is but I don't really recognize him, "And he's considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced. What he has to teach you may very well mean the difference between life and death. I give you Captain Pete Mitchell. Call sign: Maverick." 

I lean slightly over to Bradley quickly once the Admiral had finished, whispering to him, "Are you okay? How do you know him?"

"I'll explain later," he emotionlessly responds, making me a little pervious about who this guy is.

Maverick stands up at the podium drawing my attention away from Bradley as he speaks: "Good morning. The F-18 NATOPS. It contains everything they want you to know about your aircraft. I'm assuming you know the book inside and out."

"Damn right!" "Damn straight!" "Yep!" "You got it!" can be heard through out the hanger from all of us.

One thing we didn't expect however was for him to throw the entire book into the trashcan next to the podium. Causing everyone to side glance at each other wondering what the hell was going on.

"So does your enemy," he says continuing his speech, "But what the enemy doesn't know is your limits. I intend to find them, test them, push beyond. Today we'll start with what you only think you know. You show me what you're made of."

As me and Bradley walk side by side to our planes, I can hear Maverick calling Bradley. 

"Rooster." No response from Bradley.

"Bradley" I turn to Bradley with a questioning look when Maverick says his actual name. Now I'm really confused?.

"Just go Mads, I'll be okay," he says slowing down slightly.

"Good luck," I whisper back continuing to walk at a faster pace but still enough to hear the conversation between the two.

"Lieutenant Bradshaw!" Maverick finally says, making Bradley turn around and look at him.

"Yes, sir." he responds coldly in a way I've never heard him speak before.

"Let's not do it like this." I hear Maverick say.

"You gonna wash me out?" Bradley asks.

"ThaI'll be up to you, not me." he responds, making me continue walking knowing Bradley is probably done with the conversation.

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Sorry it took so long to update and sorry it's so short. I'm working on the plane scenes that come next and incorporalting Mads into them.I will try to get it up as soon as I can but one of my family members is getting married this week so I have to pack and get ready for that. Thank you so much for reading and being patient with me. Enjoy!