Adaptation and Evolution (Book Two of the EDSOR Military Academy Trilogy)

Chapter 23- Meeting the Airforce

I’ve never been inside the Philippine Airforce Base but I wasn’t expecting it to be so dingy there. When Skye and I got out, we smelled dog poo and whatnot. There were a lot of men in military jackets and pants, patrolling the field, looking at us civilians. I cringed when I saw a couple of men shoot targets opposite of us. The last time I heard gunfire was the gruelling entrance exams.

“You know Skye, I really want to back out right now”

“No, don’t! If you do, then you’re leaving me to my demise. We die together”, Skye muttered as we followed James to the headquarters.

The headquarters were really small, and there were only two people at the center table, waiting for us. One was a very old man, with white hair peeking out of his black locks and the other was a very young man with red hair.

“Skye Dawson and Jamie Stark?”, the man with the red hair asked, emotionless.

We both nodded and then he sighed. “Colonel, are we really taking these wet-behind-the-ears children to the North?”, he asked, slightly irritated. I saw two scars lining his face. He must’ve fought in battle before. That’s why he looks so stiff and prepared….as if something bad were going to happen anytime.

“Seth, you worry too much”, the Colonel chuckled, while taking a sip of coffee in his white porcelain mug.

Seth, the red haired guy, glanced at Skye and circled him. Skye looked down to contain his embarrassment. “So you’re the son of Richard Dawson, I see. You look like him, although he was lankier”, he thought aloud.

Then Seth looked at me. “The only girl in the La Salle Camp. We’ll see what you’re worth once we pit you against those rebels”

I could barely contain my shock. “What??! I’m going to fight those rebels alone?”, I gasped. The Colonel looked at me with sad eyes.

“It’s like that in the industry, child. If you want to succeed in the battlefield, you must be willing to put your life on the line”, he quietly said. Seth just continued sizing me up.

When he finished, he took a deep breath. “I am not so sure about making you handle a plane, Stark. Let’s move on to Plan B, Colonel”

“Your call, Captain Seth. After all, you’re going to take my place someday. You must be able to make your own decisions without me”

Captain Seth just looked and nodded his head. I think in their language, it meant that he was satisfied with the comment.

“Alright. Dawson, you fly the plane. Stark, you keep the morale of our soldiers”

“What will happen to the other jet fighter then?”, I asked.

“I’ll handle that. Dawson, come with me to the cockpit of F-22. I have some instructions for you. Stark, head to the airfield to meet your soldiers. They will be under your command”

This is amazing! I have soldiers “under my command”. Hellyeah, mutiny! No, I am just kidding. I am glad I was spared from the flying but now, I have to act tough. These men must’ve been war veterans too.

I fixed my hair and made sure that it didn’t interfere with my face. As I headed to the place where Captain Seth told me to go, mechanics and engineers were brushing against me, frantically worrying about the jet fighter plane.

“What if the propellers don’t work?”, a petite girl with a greased shirt asked the head mechanic. “You tested it and found that they were okay. I was not there when you evaluated the engines. They should be fine, if your calculations are alright”

I shivered. If that girl made a mistake, that could mean Death for Dawson and me. I heaved a sigh as I realized that there was no way out. As I made it to the airfield, I saw that Skye had already been fitted with a splotched green and white jacket with a helmet. A black lapel was attached to it. My god, he looked like an elite pilot! Damn, I wanted to wear that.

I joined a group of men lined up in front of a jet fighter plane, waiting for instructions to be given.

Captain Seth nodded at me as he gave me a mottled green military jacket and second-hand, bullet-shredded pants. Before I was able to ask him where the changing room was, he shook his head. “Layer those. We don’t have much time”

I awkwardly dressed up as the other men watched me. “Hurry up, slowpoke”, one of the men called out. I glared at him and scoffed. I wish he were in my shoes.

I heard the click of a gun behind my head. I cringed as I looked back. Captain Seth was pointing a semi-automatic machine gun at me. And he was not only holding it with one hand. He was holding it with both. It looked like two tons!

“This will be your weapon”, he said, with a straight-face as he hurled it on my hand. God, that was heavy. He also hurled some ammunition and a black strap to fasten both objects.

“Men, this EMA scholar will be your pilot. May I present, Capt’n Skye Dawson”, he said as he pushed Skye to the middle. He fidgeted awkwardly as he tried to stand straight.

I heard one of the men whisper to his comrade. “Our pilot’s a child. We’ll set up for mutiny later”

“Ahem”, I cleared my throat as Seth glared at me. I just interrupted his speech. I faced the guy and frowned. “Lay a finger on him and you’ll be as good as dart boards for target practice”, I said, sternly as I cocked my semi-automatic rifle.

The guys beside me moved away. Good riddance. Capt’n Seth sighed. “May I also introduce to you this pompous young lady by the name of Jamie Stark”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks Captain. Now let’s get on with the mission, shall we?”