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

Chapter 24- Trouble on the Jet Fighter

The cockpit was quite small, but it was sufficient for Skye and I to fit in. “Why was I stationed here? Shouldn’t I be stationed at the rear, watching over your back?”

Skye chuckled. “You’re my second-in-command. Seth didn’t tell you?”, he asked as he prepared the controls.

“He never tells me anything”, I glumly said as I watched him prepare the plane.

“Check the fuel tank, Stark”

“What? Where is it??!”

“It’s the panel in front of you. Is it full?”, he asked as he slipped on some black headphones. Must be some communication device for our base.

“Yeah. It’s fully loaded”

“Good. Okay. Captain Seth? Captain Skye here. All systems are fully operating. On your call. Captain Skye signing out”

A few muffled commands reverberate in his headphone as I waited for more action.

“Alright, boss. We’re taking off”. He then pressed another button which linked him to the microphone for the soldiers at our back. I was seated facing the door, just in case there would be a mutiny.

“Crew 609, we’re taking off in five….”

I do the Sign of Cross and murmur a prayer. I should be learning more combat techniques, breaking my back, but I’m here in this stupid rescue mission. Why did God pick me? Why?

“Three….two….”

Oh, well, if this will earn my respect in E.M.A, then I will abide to…

“Sit tight, Jamie”, he said as the plane lurched forward. It took me by surprise and as we were ascending towards the Heavens, I was trying not to puke.

“That was a rough take-off. Do you have an airbag or something?”, I asked, faintly. Skye was laughing. He was enjoying every single second of Hell.

He raised his brows as he pointed to the can next to me. There is one over there. Seriously, you’re not enjoying this?”

I grabbed the can and tore open the perforations of an airbag. As I barfed, Skye looked at me in disgust. “How many more minutes till’ we get back to land?”

“Three more hours”

“Kill me now”, I grunted.

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

“And touchdown in five minutes!”, I heard Skye’s voice inside my head.

“Shut up”, I said as I rubbed my eyes. That was the worst journey I’ve ever made by plane. The undulations were terrible!

Skye was manning the throttle and he smiled as I woke up. “Wake up, sleepy-head. Hey, the communication lines are getting muffled! What’s going on with……Captain Seth? Seth? Seth??! Captain Dawson signing out”

I was jolted by those words. Something wrong was happening. “Skye, you just lost communications with Seth? How’s that possible??! Ughh….those insurgents are smarter than I thought. Do you know the destination?”

Skye looked pale. “N-No, I can’t see Seth’s plane. Oh god! How am I supposed to….”

“Chill, Skye. Try the radio. Is it working?”

“No, all communication lines have been breached. My cellphone is not working”

I gasped as I looked at the fuel tank in front of me. The arrow was pointing to tank EMPTY. What the hell? It was full before!!!

“Umm…Skye? I don’t want to trouble you but we’re out of fuel”

“Shit”, Skye cursed as he shook his head.

“It’s okay, buddy. Come on, let’s make that emergency landing”, I said as I looked at the environment below us. “Over there, there’s a clearing. Pull over, pal”, I said, trying to be encouraging.

“We’re so screwed, Stark. I didn’t see this coming”, he sighed as he pulled down the throttle. We descended quickly. It made my ears tighten.

“Slow down, Skye! If you descend fast, we’ll all be deaf. Remember, the atmospheric pressure changes constantly in the stratosphere to troposphere”

“Really? Where d’you learn that?”

“Honora. Slowly, Dawson! We’re not fully empty yet. Swerve it around”