Rooster Top Gun A Love Story

D A N G E R Z O N E PT I

Rooster and the rest of the elite fighter pilots stood on standby as they waited for further instructions.
Outside on the carrier ship, Maverick took a moment for himself. He stared at the ocean waves as they splashed against the ship wall. Rocking the ship swiftly, but even then, the ship was still. Maverick thought about how time seemed to move so slow for him at that very moment. It felt as if he hadn't gone anywhere else.
"It's been a while, buddy," he murmured to himself as a sense of de-ja-vu took over him. So many memories came flooding back, with a mixture of joy and pain. A sense of responsibility took over.
Today, his students would go into a mission he himself didn't know if he would come back from.
But one thing was certain. He would die trying to make sure the pilots came back home.
"Captain Mitchell," Warlock called to him.
Maverick turned to face his tall friend. His mind was in the zone now.
"You're where you belong, make us proud."
Inside, while Maverick honored the best of the best, Rooster was no longer listening. His mind raced with only certainties of wishing those who would be chosen a trumpet mission. Rooster felt he did not deserve such responsibility. He had not proven himself to Maverick. That was until Maverick called out to him.
Rooster looked straight ahead. "Rooster will be my wingman,"
There it was. He gazed up at the man he had so much hated with confusion and approval. Still, his mind raced with so many questions of all days. Rooster was now regretting being an asshole. After the pilots were picked by Maverick, Rooster listened closely as they went over the mission assessment one more time.
"This is what you've all been training for," Admiral Simpson said. He looked to all the pilots that would stand by carrier. Then to the ones who were flying out. "Come home safe,"
With that being said, the main pilots began to step outside. The rest followed to prepare themselves, as well if needed.
Rooster made his way toward his jet.
"Rooster," Admiral Simpson called to him.
"Sir," Rooster could feel the air hit his sweaty face. He faced the admiral.
Admiral Simpson stared at the man his daughter loved.
"My daughter will be waiting for you."
Roosters' hearts reacted to this. "Yes, Sir,"
"Good luck," Admiral turned and took a leave.
Rooster began to walk to his jet when Hangman stopped in front of him. Both men eyed each other before Hangman spoke.
"Give them hell," and as Admiral did, he turned to leave, but instead, he went straight to Phoenix.
This was what he had been training for, Rooster had never wanted nothing more from this mission than to be able to fly for it. He watched as the pilots got ready. Phoenix gave him a simple nod his way and buckled in. Watching as Hangman checked her jet.
Rooster made his way over to see Maverick, who, too, was examining his.
"Sir-Sir, Sir!" Rooster called to Maverick. The jet in the distant was louder now.
Maverick slowly turned to his godson. He could see how nervous the kid was.
"I just want to say..." Before Rooster could finish, the jets began to pull more power. He wanted to thank him, and more importantly, he wanted to apologize for everything he had done. 
Maverick would not be able to hear him. "Well, talk later! When we come back..." he screamed loudly and gave him a reassuring nod, assuring him that it would be alright. "You got this," he encouraged Rooster. "You got this,"
Rooster took a deep breath. He nodded in agreement. Maverick was right. He was ready for this. He wasn't going to let his team down. Today, Rooster would do what he had, too, and that was to keep his head straight.
Once on his jet, Rooster buckled in. He gave the monitor and buttons a quick look over and started his engine.
"Alright," Maverick spoke. "Remember, pilots we go in and come out...noone is left behind,"
In the Civic room in the other room away from the Catcc Ava sat still, well, at least she tried too. She waited patiently.
Jacob turned to Ava as she took a deep breath.
"Daggers are getting ready,"
"Here we go," She whispered.
"Dagger one, up and ready on Catapult one," Maverick spoke through the comms.
It was Hangman turn to speak. "Dagger spare standing by."
He had already jumped in and strapped himself in. Ready for anything.
"Dagger four up and ready," Payback came next he was looking at the radar.
"Dagger three up and ready," Phoenix breathed.
And last but not least came Rooster. "Dagger, two up and ready." He said he placed his helmet eye covers down and looked ahead.
In the Catcc room comms officer one. Began to talk. "Supports assets airbone, stager package ready. Standing by for launch decision."
Warlock turned to Beau, waiting for him to say the words.
"Send them up," he ordered.
"No turning back now," Warlock said.
After Maverick took off. One by one, Officer Sam began to send them off.
"Dagger one away,"
"Dagger two away,"
"Dagger three away,"
"Dagger four away,"
In the Catcc room, all went silent. Everything and everyone could be heard breathing. The sweat dripping from their faces.
"Daggers are now ascending below radar," Maverick spoke.
One by one, they followed Maverick into the danger zone.
"Here we go," Rooster breathed. They did everything they had been training for.
"Dagger attack," Maverick ordered.
In the CCA room cooms, officer two spoke. "Tomahawk airbone."
"Enemy territory up ahead feet dry in sixty seconds," Maverick spoke. "Daggers assume to attack formation," Maverick said. He then went on to order. "Go... two minutes and thirty seconds. In three, two..."
"One mark..." Phoenix flew ahead to her position.
Followed by.
"Two mark," Coyote said.
"Three mark,"
"Four mark,"
"We're going in..." Maverick ordered. He sped up and deepened into the mountain. It was time to speed up. And so he did.
The pilots sped through the air, trying to get to their target.
"First SAM site over head," Maverick told them.
Rooster began to panic. He kept seeing the mountain tops, and what he saw didn't give him much anticipation. He was falling behind. How could he? At this time, how could he let the weakest part of himself win? No, he couldn't do this, he thought. Not now!
"Looks like we're clear on radar, Mav," Phoenix said.
Not yet. Maverick thought. "Let's not take it for granted," Maverick assured them.
"More SAMs three o'clock high!" Fanboy informed them.
"We got two minutes to target," Bill told them. It was as if time had stood still, but they were going much faster. They were invisible.
"Copy," Payback said.
"Come on, Rooster! We're a few seconds behind, Rooster we got to move!" Payback ordered.
"Bandits up ahead," Fanboy hissed.
"What's their correspondence?" Phoenix breathed.
"They aren't near," Rooster breathed. "They won't be able to reach us," Rooster told her.
"The second those Tomahawks hit the air base, this bandits are going to move in and defend the target," Maverick informed Rooster. "Now we need to get there before they do. Increase speed!"
Phoenix was right behind him.
"Phoenix, go," Maverick ordered.
Phoenix aimed, hit her target, and went. Behind the rest followed.
At the carrier in the CCA room, Hando sighted. "Come now, Rooster, move it, or lose it."
"Rooster, where are you?" Maverick asked.
"The bandits are inbound. We got to make up time now. Let's turn and burn!" Payback tried to make Rooster go faster.
"If we don't increase speed, we won't get to target in time,"
Rooster took a deep breath. "Talk to me, dad," he could feel himself losing himself.
"Rooster, we're falling behind!" Fanboy yelled.
"Come on, kid, don't think just do," Maverick whispered.
Listing in was Hangman. "Come on, dude, you got this," he murmmered in a hiss. His patience is wearing thin.
Rooster sped up. He wouldn't be afraid of this. Nothing was more important than finishing this mission. Well, except everyone, one of his teams pilots is coming home.
"Geez, not that fast!" Fanboy yelled.
"Watch your heads," Rooster increased the speed. The amazement of this jet reminded him why he always wanted to do this.
"Damn Rooster, not that fast fanboy breathed. "Take it easy!"
"No," Rooster said. "It's now or never!"
They made their way through. Up ahead, a tall bridge with an arch opening came into view.
"Sir," Sam said. "Daggers are now engaging speed.
A sense of relief swept over Simpson. "Alright, come on, hit your target and come home," He ordered.
Speeding through the sky, the daggers raced through time.
"Rooster, where are you!" Maverick asked.
"I'm almost there. we're almost there!" Rooster looked ahead and then said. "Fanboy, ready your laser!"
Fanboy did as he was told. But his laser was not working. He moved it around only to have it stay in one place. Of all days! "It's not working! Rooster!"
"I'm going in blind," Rooster couldn't take any chances he had to do it.
"Wait, I can do this!" Fanboy yelled.
Time was everything. "There is no time!" Rooster said. "I'm doing it!" He took the shot and aimed at the right angle. "Come on," he breathed.
The bomb exploded as they flew over, leaving behind the wind. The amount of pressure pushing him upwards was enough to suffocate him, but it didn't matter now. Rooster had done it, and below him, he had done it.
Once in the clear, he came to his senses and gasped. "Oh my god!" The missiles began to go off.
They started to get ambushed in the air.
Back at the comms room, Admiral, Hondo, and Warlock could hear the overlapping radios coming from the pilots. They could hear everything.
Rooster breathed heavily. "I can't shake them off! Their on me!" Rooster yelled
Maverick's heart sped up. Panic grew for his godson. He couldn't just not do anything. He would have to sacrifice himself if he had to for his students. He flew upwards and went toward Rooster taking a blow.
"Dagger one is hit!" The words colided through the pilots.
"Does anyone see him!?" Rooster yelled out. "Status!"
"Dagger, one has been hit!" Phenoix breathed hashly. Her heart sank.
"Permission to go, Sir?" Hangman interrupted the Admirals through the comms. His heart was still racing over the entire combat of his teammates.
"You may not," Simpson answered. He turned to the radar. Then he sighted frustration building up. "Get them back!"We are not to lose anyone anymore!"
"Damn it!" Rooster cursed. "I have to go back!"
"Rooster, we can't go back," Phoenix mouthed brokenly.
Rooster wasn't going to stay put. "I have to go back for him! He saved my life!"
"Rooster dont!"
"Return to base Rooster. That's an order!" Admiral Simpson yelled. 
Rooster turned back and bolted through the sky.
An order would have to be ignored for now. He had to. He had to check if he was still...alive. He had to tell him how sorry he was.
It didn't take Rooster long for him to find him.
He could see Maverick trying to hide from the enemy.
"Oh, no!" Rooster breathed. Maverick was being targeted.
He had to do something. Rooster aimed, fired, and took his shot at the helicopter that nearly took Maverick out. Then, without acknowledging the missiles, he got hit. He felt himself get forced harshly toward the glass and reacted quickly.
"Dagger two has been hit!"
Beau closed his eyes.
"Dagger two has been hit, Dagger two, come in!"
Admiral Simpson thought of Ava. Oh, no.