The Song of the Keepers

Chapter 11 A Difficult Conversation

"Dang, you are good!"
I exclaimed after Kyle set us back down safely on the runway.

He had taken a moment to show off his skills before he landed the jet which had been more than a little impressive. We taxied back to the hanger and were met by a friendly mechanic who was going to do maintenance on the plane and refill the fuel after the flight.

Kyle and I strode across the cement floor, me peppering him with questions for the next time I got to take the jet up.

"Hey Blue!"
Jasper called, waving me over towards where my three friends were standing.

"That simulator was crazy huh?"
Vienna asked me.

"I must have crashed mine at least six times before I figured out how to take off properly."
Kairos added with a shake of her head.

"Simulator?"
I questioned in confusion.

"I did fairly well with mine, Reginald believes I'll be ready to take up an actual jet in another session or two."
Jasper informed us proudly.

"Not me, I'd definitely fly a real plane straight into the ground."
Vienna commented.

I blinked, processing what I was hearing.

"Wait, you all practiced in simulators today?"
I clarified.

"Yes, didn't you?"
Vienna replied looking understandably confused.

I spun on my heel to find my instructor making a bee-line for the exit.

"Kyle!"
I shrieked.

"You know you liked it!"
He called back without turning around.

"Wait, I'm confuzzled."
Kairos stayed, scratching her head.

Shaking my head I turned back around to my friends.

"Well, you see, while your instructors had you safely practicing in simulators, I went up in a fighter jet."

I proceeded to relay the entire story to them, grateful they weren't jealous types.

"Jeepers! That's insane!"
Kairos declared when I was through.

I shrugged.

"That's Kyle for you."

"It's a miracle you've survived this long with him teaching you."
Vienna shook her in disbelief.

"It's little wonder none of his other students have ever survived."
Kairos said.

I didn't make a return comment but I did make a mental note to ask Kyle about that rumor floating around at a later date. I couldn't seriously be his first student to have lived, could I? Or if I was, maybe he just hadn't officiated that many Tournaments.

"Hey look, there's Daaow and the golf cart."
Vienna pointed across the hanger.

"Finally! I'm practically starving here, let's hurry our buns up to the Citadel and get some lunch!"
Kairos suggested.

****

By day three of flying lessons, Jasper was allowed to take up a plane which excited him to no end. Anyone could see he was going to be an excellent pilot, which thrilled me. Maybe at some point the two of us could fly together, it would be a perfect way to get information to the rebels without anyone suspecting a thing.

Kairos and Vienna however, were still in the simulators. Apparently Hannah and Lena, their flight instructors, weren't convinced the survival odds were high enough yet.

At the end of the week, Kyle took me on my first official mission. We were transporting supplies, food, and weapons, to Paleos, which was located in the Kalnaisk Province. There had been a series of horrific wind storms along the border over the past few months that had left meteorologists baffled and devastated supplies. The storms had been worst in Paleos and our Keeper outpost was struggling to keep the peace.