Meet Cute 》Natasha Trace

Chapter 4

The next day, training began with some more mission information.

Maverick stood at the front of the room, a clock set to three minutes on the screen behind him.

"Time is your greatest enemy," he begins pointing at the screen. "Phase One of the mission will be a low-level attack with 2 flank teams. You will be flying along the narrow canyon walls to the target. The radar guided surface-to-air missiles defend the area; these SAMS are lethal."

At this, everyone looks around at each other, wondering the same thing. What exactly is this mission?

"But they were designed to protect the skies above, not the canyon below," Maverick continues, pointing to the animated graphic of the course.

Without hesitation, Rooster calls out, "That's because the enemy knows that no one is insane enough to try and fly below them." A point which many of the other pilots agree with if the looks on their faces are anything to go off of.

"That's exactly what I'm going to train you to do,'' Maverick immediately replies. Now, everyone is highly intrigued.

"On the day, your altitude will be 100 feet maximum," he continues. Phoenix and Bob look at each other skeptically and a little worried. This is not something they had ever done before. "You exceed this altitude, the radars spit you, you're dead. Your air speed will be 660 knots minimum."  Fanboy and Payback look at each other, concern written on both their faces.

Maverick continues, looking at the screen. "Time to target, two and a half minutes, that's because fifth generation fighters are waiting at an airbase nearby. And a head-to-head with these planes in your F-18s, you're dead. That's why you need to get in, hit your target, and be gone before these planes have a chance of catching you."

He pauses, looking at each of the aviators to make sure they understand the severity of what he has just said. His goal is to bring everyone home alive, and he can't make that happen if they don't understand.

"This makes time your greatest adversary," Maverick leaves off, everyone getting ready to fly the course.

"You'll fly a route in your nav system that simulates the canyon. The faster you navigate this canyon, the harder it will be to stay under the radar of these SAMS. The tighter the turns, the more intensely the force of gravity your body multiplies. Compressing your lungs, forcing the blood from your brain, impairing your judgment and reaction time."

The tension in the room is palpable. No one was expecting this when they were called back to Top Gun. Regardless of the fact that they are the best of the best, this mission seemed impossible.

Without giving them too much time to think and dwell, Maverick finally gives them that day's assignment. "So for today's exercise, we're gonna take it easy on you. Max ceiling 300 feet, time to target 3 minutes."

Everyone looks at each other, trying to comprehend what they are about to do.

"Good luck."

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Once dismissed, they aviators ran a series of courses, testing the different skills they would need to demonstrate and do for this mission.

Natasha and Bob were doing the best so far, which was impressive since they had just met the night before. Though Fanboy and Payback were right behind them in the doubles.

Hangman was, unfortunately, doing the best but only by a small margin. Rooster and Coyote were close behind him, each showing skill in different areas.

If this continued, the admirals were going to have a hell of a time figuring out a team.

The runs went on for the rest of the day, no one person staying in front for too long. But soon enough, they were dismissed, told they would be combining everything tomorrow.

As if today wasn't nerve-wracking enough.

But Natasha had finally made it back to Emmett's house, unlocking the door with her key. She had just enough time to drop her bag before Genevieve launched into her arms.

Gena was quite attached to her, which was good and bad. She was too young to understand the risks that Natasha takes on a daily basis. She had been too young to actually remember her biological mother, so to Gena, Natasha was her mom.

“Tashi! You're home!”

Natasha smiled, letting the stress of the day wash away. “Yes, sweet girl, I'm home.” She peppered the little girl's cheeks with kisses, listening as Gena let out a series of giggles.

Natasha looked up and noticed Emmett, leaning on the doorway, arms crossed just watching them.

He never got tired of seeing his girls together. Natasha loved Genevieve with her entire heart, and Gena couldn't get enough of Natasha.

He couldn't ask for anything less.

“I've got dinner on the stove, should be ready soon.” He walked over to the two, pressing a kiss to Genevieve's cheek before giving Natasha a proper one.

She put Genevieve down, moving in to give Emmett a hug. She could only bask in his presence, his love, for a few moments before he would get worried.

“Let me go clean up, and I'll be right in.”

Later that night, after dinner and getting Genevieve to bed (which only took one story tonight), Natasha was finally able to tell Emmett about this mission.

He listened to everything before speaking up. “Just how dangerous is this going to be, Nat? Cause what you just told me sounds impossible.”

She could only grab his hand. “I've never seen a mission like this before. It doesn't look good.”

Emmett lets out a sigh. He doesn't quite have the words yet, so he gently pulls Natasha into his side. She goes willingly, curling up next to him, practically melting into his arms.

“I don't like this, Nat. I really don't.”

She nodded. “There is no guarantee I'll be chosen for the mission.”

Emmett looks down at her, prompting Natasha to raise her head. “I have no doubt you will be on this mission. I have the utmost faith in your abilities.”

Despite the worried look on his face, she leaned up to give him a small kiss.

“Just promise me you will come home. Gen and I need you. More than I think any of us know.”

Natasha sits up, forcing Emmett to look at her. “While I can't give you any promises to come home, I can promise you I will do everything in my power to make it back. Even if I have to swim to shore, I will come home to you.”

Emmett took her face in his hands, kissing her with everything he had. The kiss conveyed what they couldn't put into words, what neither had allowed themselves to think about.

A future for their little family.

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Word count: 1,136

It got a bit heavy towards the end there, but I like how it came out.

Natasha does super dangerous things, as did Emmett, so he fully understands. But Genevieve doesn't, so it just adds another layer of caution.

But on a happier note, we get some more of Emmett's outreach plan next chapter, so be ready for that.

Bye guys!!