Fallen

Godspeed

Chapter 3

The process of pooling everything took a few hours. Even though I didn't show it, the work was exhausting on my mind which then trickled to my hungry body. I was slapping water onto my face when my brother came and told me he was going to see what he could find on some terminals with some techs. I bid him leave and rested my head upon the soda bar, quickly and unconsciously falling into sleep...

--------------------

California

Operation Iron Rain

[Cue music]

"Control? Drones ready for interface? Over."

"Yes Sgt. Wilson they're awaiting your W-44 battalions. Over."

"Now c'mon dad," I said smiling behind my helmet, "don't flirt with the Control chick."

He loaded his mini-gun, and whined, his voice filtered by the helmet, "But this one sounds like she might have a figure."

Hope was sitting next to me and shook her head before slipping on her helmet to stifle a laugh. A moment of silence followed before Control said, sounding like she had just finished a fit of laughter,

"I heard that. Over."

"Good," my dad said and I laughed, "you know Eisenstein said that after this we'll be reduced to cavemen and Neanderthals. If that's the case, care to be MY Neanderthal? Over."

Silence followed and she replied, a hint of a smile in her voice, "No comment. Over."

"Ooh!" I said, "Rejection!"

"Pfft," my dad scoffed, "says the one kissing up- or DOWN to that Mexican Pygmy there. She's almost a full foot shorter even in Power Armor."

I blushed and squirmed as he added, "I saw you two last night, don't deny it! Ugh," he playfully whined, "Women nowadays are way more fickle than they were in my day. In my day the woman would've said hell yeah, let's be cavemen."

"I guess times have changed." I said trying to choke down my embarrassment.

The pilot came in on the COMM,

"Drop off in two minutes... and you know she heard that right? Over."

"Good," my dad said and turned to Hope, "the TV guided mini-nukes ready to go?"

The pilot laughed and Control came back, panting from laughter, "Sorry, things have been tense down here. I needed that." She cleared her throat, "Colonel Woody's W-56's are coming into Sacramento via Turtle-Frogs. Over."

Dad and I shared a look, "Well slap Control's butt and say I was dyin'," my dad said, "our pyromaniac friend is a bloody Colonel."

The pilot chimed in, "Drop in 30. Over."

The bay door opened and Control said,

"Oh. My. God." We walked down the plank and I slapped Hope's butt but a metal pang followed since we're both in PowerArmor, she leveled a cool glare before Control said, "You all be careful out there. Godspeed. Out."

Flak explosions and the rising Californian sun shined down onto Hope's Power Armor. Orange AA plasma bolts mixed with the flak as a siren started to sound. Hope, instead of threatening me, hugged me as if it might be our last,

"Godspeed." She said before jumping.

"Godspeed." I said, trying to quell the fluttering butterflies coursing through my body. Jumping, I skydived headfirst and got into formation with the others as flak exploded around us. My dad behind me said,

"Godspeed Control! See you on the other side!"

-------------------------

I woke from the dream with a little jump. Groggily, I realized that a woman's hand was caressing my face. I opened up my eyes and met Hope, I took her hand in both of mine and sighed.

"The Iron Rain?" She asked.

I nodded.

"What part?"

"The jump." I replied.

A distant voice grew closer,

"Nate! Nate! Hey!" Wane asked someone, "Do you know where my brother is?"

I groaned and looked into Hope's eyes, and said,

"Godspeed."

She nodded and struggled on a smile, repeating,

"Godspeed."
---------------------------

I was wanting to go longer but this is two chapters in a night! That and it seemed a fitting end. More may come soon so stay tuned if you're interested!