Defenestration

- Chapter 1 -

"Lieutenant Langston'' My name is bouncing off the walls. I'm paralyzed, my body tenses up. I can hear his footsteps, as his shoes hit the concrete ground. The footsteps are faster than usual. This isn't going to end well for either of us. I can see in the corner of my eyes that the other pilots have their eyes trained on me. I raise my head a fraction of a centimetre. Just so I can look at the expression on my wing man's face. His eyes are squeezed shut as he shakes his head. The look of pure disappointment is plastered across his porcelain face. It's a look I know all too well. He is always disappointed in me. The metal of the ladder is cool against my left hand. I look at my hand and my knuckles are a bone white color. I give no attempt to loosen my grip. My eyes shift back down, I push my torso forward leaning father over my jet. My eyes rapidly move across the controls. Taking in so much information in a split second. Everything seems to be in place as it always is. My mother used to say that being a good pilot means constantly scanning. I wish she was right, because I am far from a good pilot. Part of being a pilot is that no one ever has any interest in helping one another. This is a game of survival, and some of us are willing to do more. I take a deep breath in, allowing the warm air to fill my lungs. My chest rises before I exhale the air out in a long sigh. A bead of sweat rolls down the side of my face. I shift my weight on my feet and relax my grip a tiny bit. Mainly due to the fact that sweat is dripping from my hand. The footsteps are getting louder. Just another signal that my time of tranquillity is slowly running out. I look back up at Sorren. I can tell that he is mentally telling me to get down from the ladder and face the admiral. I can see it in his eyes that he pities me, and a flash of sorrow appears on his face. He looks away from me and begins to descend from his jet to the ground. His footsteps sound like a booming drum in my ear. I can sense that I have a few meters before the Admiral reaches me. Despite the many protests of my body. I force myself to move my right foot down to the next rung of the ladder.

Once my feet hit the ground, I don't let go of the ladder immediately. I drop my head before straightening my posture. I hold my head high, trying to grab onto a sliver of any dignity that I might have left. I exhale before spinning around on my heel. To face the man who lives in my nightmare. Admiral Camus is standing before me, his skin dark after years in the blistering heat. You could tell the years of hard work had whittled away at his soul. His eyebrows were pushed together in fury, "I want you in my office in five" he hissed the last bit. His voice was barely a whisper. Tone was ice cold, causing my body to shiver. I nod my head, and step to the left. Just before I begin walking, Admiral Camus shoves my shoulder. I want to shove back, but I've learned the hard way to never disrespect the higher ups. I continue walking, moving faster than deemed necessary. As I begin to exit the aircraft hangar. The floor changes from concrete to porcelain tiles. The sounds of my footsteps become less obnoxious. There are people walking throughout the halls. Many of the enlisted are trying to get where they need to go. I watch as a young man's expressions become more and more annoyed due to the fact that he has to stop every few seconds to salute to his higher ups. I walk past him without stopping, but give a salute nonetheless so he doesn't just need to stand there. The walls are a cream color, with portraits of many different platoons. I'm counting the wooden doors I walk past. Making sure I don't forget the one I am headed to. Five, six, seven. My feet pause, the corridor is empty now. I let out a much needed sign. Letting my lungs inhale as much oxygen as I could. I turn to face the cedar wood doors. My hand reaches for the metal doorknob. My hands wrap around it, pushing it down. I step through the threshold, Admiral Camus's office is simple. It has the same cream walls as the rest of the building. There is a medium oak desk centerd perfectly in the middle. Papers hoard the surface, you could tell just by a first glance the Admiral was stressed. Not even 20 seconds later, the door is shoved open, Sorren strut is faster and more aggressive than normal. I can feel my body sink into itself. He turns to face me, eyes ablaze. His lips contort into the most bone chilling smile I have ever seen. I take a small step back. The wall stopped me from going anywhere else. He begins to inch closer to me, his facial features slowly moving back to a resting state. I'm a coward and he knows it. Admiral Camus finally enters his own office. After what felt like years even though it's been a few minutes. He nods in our direction, my posture instinctively straights up. I am fighting against my mind. Giving all the strength I have just to stay standing. I watch as he gets closer to his desk, Sorren's body is discreetly sliding across the wall. I cant see him, but I am capable of feeling the hatred he has for me. Admiral Camus is facing us again in one swift movement. "At ease gentlemen, take a seat." I'm so thankful for those words of his. I gratefully take a seat in front of his desk. I straighten my posture again. My knees are weak and my legs feel all shaky. I watch as the admiral's chest rises and falls with each breath he takes. My own breathing begins to mimic his. In my peripheral vision, I can see that Sorren has his eyes trained on me with a different smile. That is the main skill of Sorren that I wish I possessed. "What were you thinking?" My attention snaps back to Admiral Camus. I clear my throat, hoping it makes my voice sound more controlled. Just as I open my mouth to reply. Sorren beats me to it. "As his wingman, I expect more communication from Kasper. I mean I can barely keep up with what he is doing. Always making rational decisions, never thinking of the consequences. Personally I think Kasper here needs more time at flight school. Learn what it means to work as one unit with his wingman" Sorrens tone is thick, my head snapping in his direction. My mouth is wide open. How could he be near me, and lie. His expression is normal, to the naked eye you would never think he was lying. But after 2 years of flying with him, I can tell. "Sir, with all due respect, I communicate with my wingman. He is the one who never listens. Sorren only does what will benefit him." My voice is rushed, my tone more aggravated than intended. I slam my hand over my mouth. Admiral Camus turns to look at me, surprise is plastered across his face. I'm the silent one of the two of us. Kasper the ghost, and Sorren the strict. That is how it has always been. "Kasper, don't lie to me. We've all seen Sorren fly his drills. Every time he exceeds our expectations. And as for you, well Kasper you end up dead every time." I feel the anger bubbling up in me. My whole body is shaking with rage. "I only end up dead because he refuses to cover me. He is the wingman, not me." I stand up. Looking down at Sorren his face is clearly confused. "If he were a good pilot we both would make it through drills. Not just him." I close my mouth and grit my teeth together. I've never acted like this before, yet I don't seem to care. Sorren stands up next to me. "Are we dismissed sir?" He asks, his tone is full of respect and kindness. It enrages me. Admiral Camus just puts his head in his hands and nods. I spin on my heel, I grab the door with as much power as I can muster. Within seconds I'm out of that god awful office. My pace slows down, there is a harsh tug on my shoulder. I'm facing Sorren, his face back to the terrifying fixture. "If you ever and I mean ever. Disrespect me like that again. I swear you will not make it out alive from the next training session." He snarls in my direction. The adrenaline is still pumping through my veins. I'm not backing down this time. "As if you could catch me" and with that I'm walking back down the hall. I can feel the strength I recently possessed, leaving my body with every step. Then I'm back, back to just Kasper. The kid with no strength. Silent as always.