The Sky's The Limit

Part 4

After yesterdays whole event Maverick thought it would be a great idea for "team bonding" to go play dog fight football on the beach. It's basically offense and defense at the same time.

I run forward catching a ball rooster threw as hangman chased me. I ended up scoring and spiked the ball in front of hangman
"I'm too good to be true" I tell him and he just laughs as are teams re-group

Our team ended up scoring again and I watched Rooster's and Coyote celebrate by chest bumping. Then Rooster did his own little victory dance.
"Staring much?" Phoenix asked nudging my side
"Shut up" I laugh shoving her back

While our backs were turned rooster grabbed me and hangman grabbed phoenix throwing us in the water.
"Ahh damn you rooster!" I yell as I splash him with water
"Sorry lady's" hangman laughs as they walk off

Phoenix and I both find a bucket and quickly fill it up with water. We sneak up behind rooster and hangman. I pour my water on rooster as Phoenix pours hers on hangman
"That's cold!!" Rooster yells
"Now you know how we felt" I tell him

We started playing again and how some Bob managed to catch the ball and score.
We all run over and cheer as hangman lifts him up on his shoulders and rooster puts me in his shoulders
"We're on top of the world Bob!!" I cheer as the whole group bursts into laughter

We all start to gather our things and head back
"Don't think I can't see what's gonna in between you two" phoenix tells me
"What ever are you talking about?" I ask her in accent
"Oh my gosh there is!! Spill" she says as we get in her car
"Ok fine the other night we may or may not have almost kissed. That's it" I tell her
"Whatever helps you sleep at night" she laughs as we drive off

Admiral Bates told us that the mission has been moved up a whole week. We all look around at each other wide eyed, only my team has successfully flown through the route and made it on time. But one team isnt going to complete this mission.

"Two groups of two planes will be going on this mission. A leader and their wingman. The first miracle is the first team hitting the target that is less than 3 meters wide, creating a ventilation hatch so the second group can hit it. And if the second group delivers the kill shot, destroying the plant, that's the second miracle. To get out we have to fly a very insanely steep slope out of there. Pulling at least 9 g's. Way more than the accepted limit. It's crazy difficult. You'll be pulling so hard it'll feel like you weigh 2,000 pounds. You have to fight with everything you have to keep from blacking out. The next phase is coffin's corner. We fly straight up into the SAM's radar, at our most vulnerable point." Mav explains to us
"Sir, is this even achievable?" Phoenix asks him
"That will come down to the pilot in the box."
Maverick answers and to me it looks like he glanced at rooster

After a few rounds it was phoenix, Bob, and coyotes turn. I had gone and failed the first one, missed the target by 10cm.

"Talk to me Bob" Phoenix says
"We are twelve seconds late on target, we gotta move!" He says
"Copy, try to stay with me." Coyote tells them
"Wait, who is that?" Bob asks
"Shit. It's Maverick." Phoenix says
"Be ready with that laser bob." Coyote says
"Copy. I'm on it." Bob says
"Popping now!" Coyote tells them
"Talk to me Bob!" He yells
"Deadeye, the laser is not focusing in." Bob tells him
"Okay I'm dropping blind." Coyote says as he drops it, missing the target
"Popping now!" He yells as he pulls up

Maverick locks into phoenix and Bob and they are out. He tells coyote to level out but he doesn't respond
"Shit" I mumble knowing what happened
"He's in G-lock" maverick says
"I'm going after him" he adds
"Coyote!! Coyote!!" Mav yells
"Pull up! Pull up! Come on Coyote!" Mav yells
"Shit!" I hear coyote say as he starts to pull up

"Coyote you good?" Maverick asks him as coyote gets even with him
"Yeah. Yeah I'm good." He answers catching his breath
"Good. That's enough for today." Maverick tells them
"That was close." Phoenix says flying next to maverick
"Too close." He sighs
"Bird strike!" Maverick yells
All chaos broke out as phoenix tried extinguishing the fire.
"Eject! Eject! Eject!" Was the last thing I heard phoenix yell

I sat in a room by myself thinking over the events that just happened.
Someone opens the door and I see Mav standing there
"They're ok. Hospital is going to keep them over night but they are fine" he tells me
I just nod my head. He starts to walk out but I couldn't stop myself from asking
"Why did you pull my papers?" I ask him and he turns around
"The truth Maverick. I want the truth. I deserve to know and so does Rooster" I tell him
"I can't tell you the truth" he tells me
"Yes! Yes you can Maverick! Please" I almost beg him at the end
"Both your parents, they were my best friends along with Goose. Before they went on the training mission they told me-They told me if they ever died in a training or mission to not let you join. They didn't want you to deal with the pressure of trying to carry on their legacy. So when they died I had too. I promised them" he tells me
I take a deep breath regaining my thoughts
"Thank you" I choke out
"And rooster?" I ask him
"His mom didn't want him dying like his father" he answers me honestly
"You need to tell him Maverick" I tell him
"I will, I promise" he nods
I walk over to him, then I pull him into a hug
"Im sorry I didn't tell you sooner" he says
"It's ok, I understand why you didn't" I say giving him a small smile
"Thank you again Maverick" I tell him before walking out the door. As I walk out I get a texted, I stare at it in horror before taking off

I open a door and see him sitting there
"Hi" I choke back tears he points at the chair in front of me and I sit.
He starts to type on his computer
"How's the training going?" It reads
"It's good. So far I'm the only one who has successfully gone through the course but I was 10cm off of the target. I don't know if we can do this, I don't know if I can do this Ice" I tell him
Then he starts to type
"You need to start believing in yourself like I do, like your parents did." He types
I let a single tear fall from my eye
"How long do you have?" I ask him
"Not long" he chokes out
I start to cry as I tackle him in a hug
"I can't lose you too" I cry
After a few minutes of just sitting there we both stand up.

"Thank you Ice. For everything you've done for me" I smile
"No thank you. Now go fly this mission V, do it for your parents, me, and yourself" he chokes out
"I will" I smile giving him one last hug before walking out