Come Back To Me // Top Gun: Maverick

[Rooster] Dogfighting

Now it's time for the real fun to begin. Everyone was in an open area waiting for Maverick and I to walk in. Well, they are waiting for a teacher, they just don't know that it's us yet.

"Attention on deck!" We hear someone say. Luckily, from the spot Mav and I were waiting from, we could hear everything going on.

           

"Morning. Welcome to your special training detachment." Warlock says. "Be seated. I'm admiral Bates, NAWDC commander. You're all top gun graduates. The elite. The best of the best. That was yesterday. 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. The other half will remain in reserve."

     

I watch Mav start walking up to the front and I follow behind him.

         

"Your instructors are top gun graduates with real-world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master." Warlock says as we walk down the middle of the graduates.

            

Mav had a manual in his hand while I had a clipboard and pen. The graduates looked back at us some happy and some not. Hangman, Coyote, and Payback weren't since they were the ones that threw dad out of the bar last night. Rooster wasn't happy either because of dad being here.

          

"Their exploits are legendary. And they are considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced. What they have to teach you may very well mean the difference between life and death. I give you Captain Pete Mitchell. Call sign: 'Maverick.' As well as Lieutenant Commander Hayley Mitchell. Call sign: 'Flash'."

       

Warlock goes to stand with Cyclone and Hondo who we had come and join us. Mav took a spot behind the podium while I stood to the left looking out at the graduates. I look over at where Rooster stood and he glared at Mav. His eyes drifted to look at me but instantly looked away. 

     

"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."

        

"You got it."

       

Payback, Hangman, and Coyote say trying to get on Mav's good side after last night. Mav throws the manual in the bin beside him making me smile a little. This is going to be fun.

          

"So does your enemy."

        

"What the enemy doesn't know is your limits. We intend to find them, test them, push beyond." I then say.

     

"Today we'll start with what you only think you know. You show us what you're made of." Mav finishes saying.

      

🗲 🗲 🗲

      

I was up in the air hiding from the others waiting for Maverick to explain the rules.