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starset21 · 2 years ago

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Angel |Jake Seresin|

Standard disclaimer: I only own my original characters, I've done some research but there will likely be navy inaccuracies, and I do not consent to the posting, translating, or publishing of my work to any 3rd party site, the only place it may be found is tumblr and Wattpad under @.itswildflower

warnings: N/A

summary: Back in Miramar an aviator with the call sign Artemis is greeted by old and new friends. First day of training.

word count: 3,567

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Fighter Town U.S.A

Evangeline looked up at the Hard Deck sign as she got out of her red 1971 Mach 1, taking a moment to adjust the sleeves of her worn jean jacket before heading inside. The bar was an old yacht club that was converted into a ramshackle shrine to wild nights and Naval history. She greeted her favorite bartender with a smile. "What can I get you, Eve? Blue moon?" Penny asked. Evangeline smiles, "you know it, Penny." Penny hands her the beer and she places a $10 bill on the counter. "The old man is buying for everyone, Eve, he placed his phone on the counter." Evangeline dipped her head at the man in an aviator jacket, recognizing him immediately. "Keep the $10 anyways," she said, glancing around the room. "Penny, my dear, I'll have four more on the old-timer," a voice that she would never forget says from across the bar. Eve allowed the hair that was tucked behind an ear to cover her face from his view as Penny went and served him. Eve watched him walk away.

When Bradley pulled up to the Hard Deck in his old Ford bronco and spotted a familiar red mustang he almost couldn't believe it, she was supposed to be in Florida. He made his way inside, taking his shades off and allowing his eyes to adjust. "Bradshaw! Is that you? This is how I find out you're stateside?" Phoenix calls out. "Yeah, I just thought I'd surprise you," he said as a way of greeting as he scanned the crowd for that familiar blonde hair. Eve watched him walk over to the pool tables where a bunch of pilots in uniform were talking. Phoenix walked around the pool table, lining up a shot before drawing the stick back into Brad's stomach causing him to hunch over and groan. "I guess I surprised you back," she says with a smirk. "It's good to see you," he said as he straightened out, a lopsided smile on his face. "You too, Rooster." Eve made her way through the crowd of service members until she was right behind Bradley. She placed a hand on Brad's shoulder causing him to turn and look down at the shorter woman. "Eve!" The two best friends since childhood took each other in for a moment. Bradley's hand gently reached for the silvery pink scar on her forehead and ran a finger over it before he brought her into a tight hug. "I heard what happened," he murmured. "M' alright Brad, I'm alive, the munchkin is happy and that's all that matters," she told him. "I tried to get leave to come to see you after your dad told me you were stateside, but it never worked out..." he trailed off as Phoenix cleared her throat. Bradley stepped to the side revealing Eve to the others. "Who's your friend Rooster?" Phoenix asked. "Bradshaw. Evangeline. As I live and breathe," that familiar voice from earlier called out. His green eyes met her blue ones as she finally looked at the man she hadn't seen in almost 4 years.

"Hangman. You look..." Bradley trailed off. "Good," he drawled, finally deciding on a word. "Well, I am good, Rooster. I'm very good. In fact, I am too good to be true." Eve rolled her eyes at the man when he winked at her. She turned to Phoenix and held out her hand. "Evangeline, callsign Artemis," she introduced herself. "Natasha, callsign Phoenix." Eve smiled, "I know, Brad's talked about you before. It's nice to finally meet you." Natasha shook her hand. "So, anybody knows what this special detachment is all about?" Reuben 'Payback' Fitch asked. "No, a mission's a mission. What I want to know is who's gonna be the team leader?" Jake 'Hangman' Seresin said as he hit the white pool ball into the others. "And which one of y'all has what it takes to follow me?" he added. Eve downed the rest of her drink as Mickey 'Fanboy' Garcia, another close friend of hers, made his way over to her and gave her a hug. "Hangman, the only place you'll lead anyone is an early grave," Bradley states. Mickey snickered but Eve watched as Coyote's face fell and Jake's throat bobbed before he replied. "Well, anyone who follows you is just gonna run out of fuel. But that's just you, ain't it, Rooster? You're snug on that perch, waiting for just the right moment... that never comes," Jake retorted. "I love this song!" He exclaimed as he strutted away while Slow Ride by Foghat played through the jukebox. "Well, he hasn't changed," Nat mutters. "Nope. Sure hasn't," Brad added. Eve frowned, her eyes following the man back over to the bar. "Check it out. More patches," Mick says, pointing towards the door with his beer. All of them look. "That's Harvard, Yale, Omaha. Shit, that's Fritz. What the hell kind of mission is this?" Payback asks. "That's not the question we should be asking. Everyone here is the best there is. Who the hell are they gonna get to teach us?" Nat asks. Bradley walked over to the jukebox and unplugged it, earning some grumbling from the other patron before he sat down at the piano and began tapping out some Jazz tunes. "Hey, guys. Come on," Nat says nodding her head over in the direction of the piano. Penny's bell rang out again and the crowd clapped, beginning to chant, "Overboard! Overboard! Overboard!" Coyote, Payback, and Hangman threw the man out into the sand just outside of the Hard Deck which was followed by a round of applause. Bradley begins playing an all too familiar song causing Eve to grin as she sat down beside him, bumping his shoulder lightly as the whole bar joined in on singing the song.

"Goodness gracious great balls of fire..."

Before the day's briefing was to start Eve was called into Admiral Simpson's office. "You requested my presence, Admiral?" The Admiral nodded and leaned forward in his seat. "Were you cleared for flight Artemis?" he asked getting to the point straight away. She had a doctor's appointment the other afternoon before she had gone to the Hard Deck, all tests were cleared, and she could get in a jet. "Yes sir," she replied stiffly. Cyclone leaned back in his chair again, "Good, you are one of my top picks for this mission. Your skills will be invaluable." Eve swallowed and nodded before saying, "Thank you, sir." The Admiral waved his hand, "That was all, you're dismissed." Bradley was waiting for her in the hallway. "You're a Lieutenant Commander now Eve?" Bradley asked in a teasing way, a brow raised as he motioned to the updated name patch on her flight suit as they walked out of the office buildings and towards the hangar that would serve as their 'classroom.' Eve smacked his arm lightly, "it happened after the accident ok." Bradley pouted, feigning pain for a moment before straightening up. "In all seriousness, I'm surprised it wasn't more after what you went through," he told her. "I'm glad it wasn't," was all she muttered as they came to their destination. The aviators all lingered around, standing, talking, and laughing. Eve hardly even glanced at Hangman and simply claimed her chair next to Bradley when "Attention on deck!" was called.

All of the aviators stood, their chairs scraping against the ground. The Admirals walked down the center aisle and up to the podium. "Morning. Welcome to your special training detachment. Be seated." They all sat down. "I'm Admiral Bates, NAWDC commander. You're all top gun graduates. The elite. The best of the best." A few of the aviators smirked at that. "You've all spent your careers flying close air support for troops on the ground with little to no air-to-air threat. That was yesterday. The enemy's new fifth-generation fighter has leveled the playing field." Those who had smirked now looked grim as he paused for effect. "Details are few, but you can be sure we no longer possess the technological advantage. Success, now more than ever, comes down to the man or woman in the box." Hangman looked back at Phoenix and Artemis with a smirk. Phoenix just subtly flipped him off and Artemis rolled her eyes. "Half of you will make the cut. One of you will be named mission leader. The other half will remain in reserve. Your instructor is a top gun graduate with real-world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master. His exploits are legendary. And he's considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced. What he has to teach you may very well mean the difference between life and death. I give you captain Pete Mitchell. Call sign: "Maverick." They all looked to the back when they heard boots on the ground. Hangman and Coyote sunk down in their chairs a little when they realized just who they had thrown out of the Hard Deck last night. Bradley's expression turned icy after hearing the name. Eve shoots him a concerned glance. She understands the significance of this moment. He had Bradley's papers pulled from the academy, without explanation, which ended up setting him back 4 years. Maverick steps to the podium. "Good morning," he said holding up a handbook.

"The F-18 natops. It contains everything they want you to know about your aircraft. I'm assuming you know the book inside and out." A chorus of, "Damn right. Damn straight. And You got it," came from the aviators. "So does your enemy." Mav threw the book in the trash. Cyclone glowers and throws a look at Warlock. "And we're off," Eve muttered to herself. "But what the enemy doesn't know is your limits. I intend to find them, test them, and push beyond them. Today we'll start with what you only think you know. You show me what you're made of," Maverick finished. The aviators stood splitting off into their groups for the exercise. "Rooster," Mav called out as they walked down the hallway. "Bradley." Brad ignored the man, glancing sideways at Eve. "Lieutenant Bradshaw!" Bradley's nostrils flared as he stopped nodding his head for Eve to continue on. "Don't say something that could get you in trouble," she warned, hesitating for a moment but continuing on when Bradley had turned to face his superior. "Yes, sir," he replied. "Let's not do it like this," Mav tries. "You gonna wash me out?" Bradley asks. "That'll be up to you, not me," Pete says. Bradley narrows his eyes. "Am I dismissed?" he asks. Mav looks down at the concrete before nodding and Bradley walks away, making his way over to his jet for preflight checks.

"Good morning, aviators. This is your captain speaking. Welcome to basic fighter maneuvers. As briefed, today's exercise is dog fighting. Guns only, no missiles. We do not go below the hard deck of 5,000 feet. Working as a team, you have to shoot me down, or else," Maverick's voice came through the radio loud and clear. "Or else what, sir?" Payback asks. "Or else I shoot back. If I shoot either one of you down, you both lose," Mav replied. "This guy needs an ego check," Hangman mutters as he plays with a model F-18. "Says you," Eve scoffed. "We'll see to it," Omaha and Fritz say as they high-five. Payback's voice comes over the radio, "What say we put some skin in the game?" Eve sat down on the couch across from Hangman with a groan. "What do you have in mind?" he asks. "Whoever gets shot down first has to do 200 push-ups," Fanboy suggests. "Guys. That's a lot of push-ups," Mav replies. "They don't call it an exercise for nothing, sir," Fanboy counters. "You got yourself a deal, gentlemen. The fight's on. Let's turn and burn," Mav kicks his jet into gear before moving to where they couldn't see him. "Fanboy, you see him?" Payback asks. "Nothing on radar up ahead. He must be somewhere behind us." Mav came around. "Tally, tally, tally! Maverick's coming in! Break left!" Fanboy yells. "Breaking left," Payback responds. "Payback, where's your wingman?" Maverick asks. "Rooster, where are you?" Payback calls out. "I got your back. I'm coming. Hang in there. Hang in there!" Rooster responds. "Hurry up, man! Hurry up!" Fanboy yells. "Payback, break right," Rooster calls. "Breaking right." Maverick smirked, "Rooster just saved your life, fellas. But it's gonna cost him." Mav moved in behind Rooster. "Not this time, old man," Rooster replied nose-diving down before Mav could get a lock. "Rooster, you're too low! Pull up! You're hitting the hard deck!" Payback calls. "Oh, shit." Rooster pulls up. "That's a kill," Mav said after getting tone. The class waited in silence. Phoenix stares out the window and Hangman paces. Rooster, Payback, and Fanboy landed, leaving Rooster to begin his pushups. "That should be us down there," Fanboy mutters watching him outside. Eve walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "But it's not. And now you know a little something about Rooster." A voice came over the intercom, "Fritz, Harvard, Yale... You're up." They nod to one another, psyching themselves up for their flight.

"Artemis, Payback, Fanboy," was the next team called out over the intercom. Eve ran through all her preflight checks with ease but as she reached for the control stick to begin taxiing a tremor ran through her hand. She looked at the picture of her daughter she had taped up again and swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. Pushing aside the memories of her last time in a jet she took a few deep breaths and with one small self-pep talk later she was in the air with Payback and Fanboy. "Hey Artemis, how did you get your callsign, Fanboy never told me." She'd been in flight school with him when she got it but it kind of surprised her that he hadn't told his pilot about it, it had been one of his favorite stories to tell. "Artemis is the greek goddess of the hunt. I'm damn good in a dogfight," she told him the simplified version. "Prove it, Artemis," Maverick called out as he flew out from under them to right between them, causing Artemis and Payback to barrel roll out of the way as he flipped around in pursuit of them. "Evasive maneuvers," Artemis called out immediately. "Keep him occupied Payback, I got this!" She slowed down so Maverick shot past her. Maverick caught on to what she was doing and broke from chasing Payback to come after her. "Shit, Payback!" she called out zig-zagging and trying to avoid tone. "I'm coming Artemis!" She headed up into the sun's glare to try and lose him. "Where's he at Fanboy?" Artemis called out. "He followed you," Fanboy confirmed for her. Eve smirked from beneath her mask. "Perfect." She flipped around and dove again, using the sun in Maverick's eyes as cover. "You can't hide from me, Artemis," Mav taunted, even though he could no longer see her. "Wanna bet," she grinned as she got tone on him. "That's a kill." Maverick couldn't help but smile, pride for his friend's daughter shooting through him. "Well done Artemis, let's head back to base, I have some pushups to do."

Back on the ground, the other aviators were stunned into silence as Payback and Fanboy cheered for her through the radio. "Who the hell is this woman?" Omaha asked after a moment, clearly never having heard much about the aviator. "She's a Kazanksy," Rooster said as if that was explanation enough. "She's got at least 2 air-to-air kills last time I checked," Hangman spoke up. "It's 4 now," Rooster corrected. Several of the aviator's eyes widened. "How did you guys not know, her name is literally on her flight suit," Hangman asked with a raised brow. They landed and Maverick completed his pushups. The trio walked into the lounge and while Payback went to grab them water from the fridge in the corner the other two collapsed on the couch. The remaining aviators were looking at Eve like she was an anomaly and it was starting to irritate her. "Alright what is it," she asks. "You're the daughter of Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky? A 4-star Admiral, and the commander of the pacific fleet?" Fritz says. "And? What's your point?" she asks, an eyebrow raised. "How are you not a higher rank with 4 kills? That's more than Maverick and he's a captain," he questioned. Eve's brows knit together. Maverick also has like 30 years of experience to her 10, not to mention he's highly decorated for being a captain. "I'm a Lieutenant Commander, which is higher than you. My rank is none of your goddamn business unless you are addressing me directly, do you understand me, Lieutenant," she snapped. She was tired of getting accused of nepotism. "Yes, Ma'am," Fritz responded immediately. Fanboy placed a hand on her shoulder as he glared at them. Eve let out a deep breath before simply leaning back again, staring up at the ceiling, her jaw clenched. "Phoenix, Bob, Hangman. Your turn," was called over the intercom. "With him?" Phoenix groans. Phoenix and Hangman shared a look. Neither one wants to fly with the other. "With her?" Hangman mocks.

"Say, Phoenix. How about we tell everybody 'Bob' stands for something?" Hangman calls out as he flies along her left side. "Other than Robert, I mean," he adds. "Don't take the bait, Bob. Want to know why we call him Hangman?" Phoenix asks. "I got it. 'Baby on board.'" He chuckles to himself. "Shit!" he yells as Maverick flies between them making them veer out of the way. "Greetings, aviators. The fight's on," the captain calls out. "All right, Phoenix, let's take this guy out!" Hangman yells. "Watch your back, Phoenix," Bradley mutters as he leans against the counter listening to them. "Break right!" Bob calls out. "Breaking right," she responds. "Where's he going?" Bob asks. "That's why we call him Hangman. He'll always hang you out to dry," Phoenix replies dryly. "Leaving your wingman. There's a strategy I haven't seen in a while," Mav says, though it's more to himself rather than the other pilots. "He called you a man, Phoenix. You gonna take that?" Hangman asks. "So long as he doesn't call you a man," she replied. Eve held in a laugh at that. "Talk to me, Bob. Where's Maverick?" she asks. "Jesus, his nose is already coming around!" Bob exclaims. "Get him off me, Hangman!" Phoenix yells. "For all you folks at home, this is how you Bury a fossil," Hangman says. "All right, Hangman. Time to teach you a lesson," Mav smirks, "You're out, Phoenix." Phoenix gripped her stick tighter. "Son of a bitch!" she exclaimed. "Let's go, Mav. Let's see what you got," Hangman calls out. "Come get me," Maverick tells him. "Evil be gone. Hangman's coming." Eve rolled her eyes. "Yeah, you're good. I'll give you that," Mav says moving his jet around and behind him. "Shit. Phoenix, I can't see him. How close am I? Phoenix?" Hangman called. "I'm dead, dickhead," she replied. "See you in the afterlife, bag man," Bob adds. "Where is he? Where is he?" Hangman's head was on a swivel looking for the man. The tone sounded before Mav's voice rang out, "That's a kill." Omaha, Halo, and Coyote went next and were also taken out almost immediately.

Last out for the day was Hangman, Rooster, and Artemis all flying side by side. "So, Rooster, mind if I ask you a personal question?" Hangman starts. "Would it matter if I did?" Rooster asked. "What's the story with you and Maverick? It seems like he's got you rattled," Hangman states. "That's none of your business. Now where the hell is he?" Rooster asks. "Been here the whole time," Maverick says as he moves to invert over Rooster. "Holy shit," Hangman says. "You see me now? Come on, let's get it over with," Maverick says. "Fight's on!" Rooster yells. "What is with these two?" Hangman asks. Eve doesn't say anything, just keeps her eyes on them as they spiral around. "All right, you put us here. How are you gonna get yourself out?" Mav asked. "You can bail out anytime," Rooster yells. "How low you want to go, Rooster?" Mav asks. "I can go as low as you, sir! And that's saying something." Eve shook her head at the two idiots. "What's past is past. For both of us," Mav said. "You'd like to believe that, wouldn't you?" Rooster asked. "Hard deck is 5,000 feet, fellas. You are running out of room," Hangman called out. "Your strategy is about to run us into the ground. What's your move?" Mav asks. "Damnit guys pull up!" Artemis called. They listened and Rooster ended up behind Mav, a clear shot if he'd only take it. "Come on, Rooster, you got him! Drop down and take the shot!" Hangman exclaimed. "It's too low," Rooster says. Oh, now it's too low for him. Eve sighed and shook her head. "Too late. You had your chance." Mav hit the brakes and flipped around so he was behind Rooster. "That's a kill. Knock it off," he said. "Damn it!" Rooster yelled. "Same old Rooster," Hangman teased. "Go see Hondo about your push-ups," Mav said before signaling it was time to head in.

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