Tailspin, page 39
“That was my test,” he said and tapped number ten. “You’re studying harder than anyone I’ve ever known. Well, apart from my brother. I was quite surprised you got anything right. You’re a natural, that’s for sure.”
“Your brother? Is everyone related around here?” I asked, then cringed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.”
He laughed. “A lot of us were very competitive as kids. If one of us is here, there are more chances that there’s family around if not above, below, or in similar jobs.”
“He’s a teacher?”
“No,” he said, and puffed his chest out. “He’s a drone pilot. You have already spoken to him.”
My mind worked double time. There was only one person other than Casey I’d spoken to. “Frank?”
“He got curious,” West admitted. “Was asking me odd questions, that in turn made me return a few questions.”
“In a roundabout way. Why not ask me?”
“I’m still trying to work you out. But I wanted to help, and Frank wants me to help you. So I’m asking. What do you need?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t have a spinal TAP, right?”
I shook my head, feeling myself flush. “No, I can’t afford it as yet.”
“Only some of the students here have: those with sponsors or the rich. You’ve been running to farms?”
Rich like Justin, or his DP Silao.
I nodded. It wasn’t paying anywhere near enough. Even if Apex could gamble and earn more, it still wasn’t enough for what I really wanted or needed.
“We’re all in with practice flying for the next few weeks to your final pass. You need over a hundred hours in the air before they’d think about sorting you into any teams and a thousand before they think about any TAP for you.”
“You know I’m nowhere near even that first hundred; I’ve just started out.” I sighed and crossed my arms, annoyed with myself and them.
“You learn fast,” he admitted. “But yeah, even at ten hours a day you’re not getting anywhere near a thousand hours in. You need money, or a rich sponsor.”
“You know there’s no way I can wait for that too.” He continued to stare at me, rather blankly. Didn’t he believe me? He raised an eyebrow at me. “What are you saying?
“There’s other ways you can earn money,” he said. “Dangerous, but I wouldn’t mention it if I didn’t think you could cope.”
“You want me to fly real missions, not just spray the farms?”
“I’ll get you with a fireteam and a copilot I trust, and out to a friend at the new wall build,” he said and was about to move.
“New wall build? Whoa—whoa!” I almost laughed at him, and in fact, that chuckle did escape. “That’s not going to happen.”
He crossed his eyes at me. “What?”
“I’m not flying any other missions out there without people I trust.”
“You don’t get to choose here.”
“Actually, I do.” Fuck, my mouth was running away with itself. I should not talk to a higher up like this.
However, he kept his steely eyes on me, his face stoic. “And who might they be?”
“Pilot’s easy, First Airman Malaki Canlas.”
“I’m not sure I can pull that off, she’s—”
“I know who she is,” I said, and took probably the biggest risk in saying it. “She’s waiting for me. If you tried to put her on any other jobs now without me, she’d refuse.”
“Oh.” He sat back down, ran a hand over his face. “Oh shit, so you’re who she fixed her sights on?”
“Err, yeah.” I nodded.
“She’s been on the hunt for a while for someone to copilot with her since her last one ran off,” he admitted. “She needed to appease the war gods.”
“You mean her parents.”
“Yes.” He blew out a breath. “And that’s really you?”
“Complicated.” I ran a hand down my slacks. “But, yes, if you can get us the clearance. I’ll run any mission you want me to with her. But I have a few other requests.”
“If I can get her out to the wall, it would be a godsend.”
“Sir?”
His entire face changed in a second.
“Lt. General Michaels said you would be trouble. I hadn’t expected you to be giving me the orders.” He raised his eyebrow. “With her, it would mean I could get you even better work.”
“We’re not playing games,” I told him. “You really mean more dangerous work? You obviously have a need for us out there, or you wouldn’t be dangling this carrot in front of me. This isn’t about me; this is about what you need. You’re desperate out there.”
“We’re in need of good pilots,” he said and paused. “This last year…”
You didn’t need to be a genius to know what was going on in his mind. “You’re worried about your brother, aren’t you?” I asked. “How many losses?”
He really frowned then, and I almost saw his cogs ticking. “Even if I didn’t want to tell you, you’d only need to go looking.”
“I’m sorry.” I lowered my head. “For not already knowing the losses and the standing around here, to what you all really do. I’m learning, though, if people will teach me.”
“I am worried,” he admitted. “We lost one of the best teachers and mentors this base has had over the years in—”
“A stupid accident.” I felt immense guilt for what had happened, no matter who said it wasn’t my fault, and that guilt would stay with me for a long, long time.
“Who do you want?” he asked. “I’ll do my utmost best to get them all sanctioned for your missions.”
“You’ll get them sanctioned. Take it to Michaels?”
“You’re asking a lot, expecting to be able to run to him with your requests.”
I tapped the side of my head, and he nodded.
“Trouble,” he added with a laugh. “You know what, though, I like you.”
It was easy for me to reel off the ones I knew were already up for something or another. “Niko Rise, Declan Harbor, and Walter Kestrel.”
He tapped the side of my desk and brought up their character sheets. “You’re only seeing this while I assess them.”
I nodded and read fast. Apex, I asked, keep some notes.
I am watching. I don’t need to keep notes.
He brought up some other names then. I clocked them. “Airman Ren Knight, Airman Fiona Istax. These are some of the most promising students you’ve already named. So, I’m adding to it.”
“How big a helo are we gonna fly?”
“You made the request. I can’t give you anything more than what your ranks are at the moment, despite FA Canlas being much higher level. I think the CSR 99 is going to be about the highest you can push to. Canlas won’t be too happy; she has to come down to your level, but I can’t risk you in anything bigger yet. Helos need two pilots, four units. I’ll make you one squad, so that’s two fireteams, at six units per helo.”
He flicked me the schematic of the helo. “Still Bumbles?” I asked, then smiled.
“A version of, yes. You’ll get to know they’re some of our most reliable machines.”
“I am guessing so, seeing as you have so many.”
“They’re also some of the cheapest to manufacture.”
“Makes a lot of sense.”
My nerves pervaded the room as he stood in front of me, tapping out the two teams who would be with me. I was sure everyone would be eager to prove their worth and contribute to any mission’s success. West moved Justin’s name over to lead the other team as their helo pilot. A sense of fear poured over me. I’d envied Justin’s natural aptitude as a pilot, and the fact that he’d already logged over two hundred hours of training on several helicopter types made me feel even more nervous about my own talents.
I couldn’t help but cringe at the prospect of working alongside him, knowing I might always be in his shadow. But, as West continued to move names about and discuss the mission’s details, I knew I had to put my personal feelings aside and do my best to support my fireteam.
“Wait,” I said and though my stomach churned, I continued, “if you’re bringing in Justin, he will want his own fireteam; sanction this with him first. Don’t decide for him, for us.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. If I don’t want to work with people I don’t know, I doubt very much he would, either.”
“So you’re okay with this?” He brought up the six on my side.
I looked them over. There was only one name I didn’t know. Airman Knight.
“I’m okay with it, get them here for Friday. We’ll be at your service each weekend till the term ends.”
“And over the holidays?”
“If they want the work, I’m willing,” I replied. “That is their choice, though. They don’t have to.”
“Okay, done. I’ll talk to the captain and send out the requests.”
I watched him for a moment. “Sir. If I may speak freely.”
He looked at me. “Go on?”
“Your brother is truly amazing,” I said. “More than smart. He knows his stuff, and he does put in the work. If I can live up to half of his reputation, I’d be very happy.”
“Thank you.” Master Sergeant West beamed at me. “I am very proud of him,” he said, then he seemed to drift off a little. Eventually he looked back at me. “You’re dismissed. I’ll be in touch soon as I know anything.”
I pushed my chair back and stood. “Thank you for the chance to do more. It will help a ton if I can get that TAP sooner.”
“I know.” He motioned to the door. “Go. You likely won’t get too far before you’re shouted at on DMs by your friends.”
47
Master Sergeant West had been right; it wasn’t long at all. I’d just got into my run when Malaki knocked. “Can you talk?” she asked excitedly.
“Jogging,” I answered, my feet steadily slap-slapping the pavement. “I’d make a poor DP if I couldn’t do that and talk.”
“Dick, you’re not even moving your mouth.” She laughed. “Got the request—from Master Sergeant West—that I assist you this weekend. What’s going on?”
“I guess he got permission.”
“What did you agree to?”
“The farm runs aren’t enough,” I said and sighed. “They were never going to be enough to catch up with you and the tech I need. Not in payments, or in-flight time, practice.”
“What did you agree to?” she repeated.
“We’re to go to the new wall build,” I said. “Help out there. They need more people and well, I need money, so what I get you get. Can’t be all bad.”
“I don’t know, my parents agreed to it. There was a note attached from them.”
“That’s good, right?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, and her voice trailed off. “Honestly, I think they’re wanting us to fail.”
“That’s better for them how?”
“Because they’ll assign whoever they want at my side, of course.”
I stopped running to make sure I was still going the right way, crossed over one of the busy side streets, and continued on. “Mal, we’re going to have to prove this is the right match at some point.”
“I know, I was hoping you’d have some more time,” she said. “That we did.”
“It’s been pretty clear despite my injuries that I’m on this downhill ride to wherever I’m going with no handbrakes or brakes at all.”
My HUD pinged with several different tones. I laughed though my stomach churned with excitement and nerves too. “I guess I’m popular tonight.”
“They all want to talk to you,” she said. “Tell them we’ll meet in VR after you’ve finished your run.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
She vanished.
I did exactly as she said and told each of them where to meet us. Only Niko hit me with a million questions before I could get a word in. “I’ll talk to you all in a bit.”
“I’m excited,” he said. His voice was serious, though. “And nervous. This is like taking a step back for some of us.”
“But you’d do it?”
“For you,” he grumped. “Yes.”
That was all I needed to know. “Twenty minutes.”
The next comm was an actual direct call, it had me stop dead in the street. It was a request from an unknown source.
I answered it. “Hello?”
“Ruslan?” the cold voice asked.
I knew that voice. “Justin.”
“Give me a reason why I should do this?”
I had expected this, kind of, but not for the direct call. “Because you want to see how good I really am?” I said it with a little sarcasm, then regretted it.
“This isn’t a game,” Justin hissed. “You’re asking people to put their lives on the line for you.”
“I know,” I replied, my voice low. “I wouldn’t have asked for it if I didn’t think we could do it.”
“Why me?”
I didn’t need to think of the answer to that. “I’d be an idiot not to want you onboard—you’re top of our class.”
There was a stretch of uncomfortable silence, and I wondered if he’d gone. The little blinking icon told me he hadn’t. He was still there, and I could almost hear the cogs whirring inside his mind. Figuratively speaking.
“You’re not wrong,” he eventually said. “I do want to see what you’ve got. They also offered an upgrade I’m not willing to refuse, so I’m in. I did ask for a few changes to my fireteam, though.”
“I expected that. Can you send me their details?”
“Forwarding them on now,” he said. I felt the knock on my HUD and I accepted the files. I’d look at them later.
“I’d like to meet tomorrow night,” he dared. “Just you and me before I make the final decision to join you.”
“Oh.” I started to jog on again. I needed to get back and shower before meeting the others.
“I’ll send in coordinates for you.”
“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
He cut the call. There was no return number ID. I guess I’d have to wait for him to send the details to me tomorrow.
I was almost out of time, so I ran the rest of the way. My heart rate skyrocketed. I was getting much fitter, but this was hard.
I showered fast and settled in my bunk before I hit for Aug-World. I guessed now, as I was running low on time, that I could use my funds for this instead of gambling. After all, I had another way to get that first TAP.
I wasn’t late. I sat at the park coordinates Malaki sent me, but then couldn’t sit still. I got up and paced up and down, the fake gravel crunching beneath my boots. A few minutes later I spotted Malaki rushing over. Aug-World accentuated her every asset, and her one-size-too-large military uniform was cinched in at her waist by a thick belt.
“Hey,” she called with a casual wave. “You okay?”
I stopped pacing. “Nervous.”
She put a hand on my arm. “Not as much as I was, taking the call off my father.”
“I bet.” I swallowed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m taking it like you said. This is our time to prove we’ve got this, right?”
I nodded, and we turned as the others appeared.
Niko walked over rubbing tired eyes, with Declan and Walter drifting in behind, animatedly chatting.
Another figure appeared. She was tall, slim, and she held herself well, back straight. Her eyes looked over the group, her composure never faltering, as she walked over.
“It looks like you already know each other?” she asked.
She had a thick accent, one I couldn’t place. I’d never heard of it. I also noted she wasn’t human. I just didn’t know what she was either. “You must be—”
“Ren Knight,” she said, and held out her hand for me. “You’ve pulled off quite the impossible here.”
I shook her hand, and she glanced at Malaki. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’ve not seen you in our year, or lectures?”
“No,” Malaki answered, “Ren was in yours.”
“Was?” Declan asked, his face paling.
Ren laughed. “I was excused from the course a few weeks ago.”
I swallowed. “Why?”
“I refused an order,” she simply replied.
“Why have they put you with us?” Walter asked.
Ren looked at him, her eyes trailing up and then down his body. Walter didn’t flinch. When her eyes met his she smiled. “It appears you would be our fireteam command, no?”
Walter straightened up and returned her smile. “You would be correct.”
“That means I get to refuse you, too, then,” she said simply.
Walter’s face flushed. “You’ve not refused anything. You’re here.”
She looked back at Malaki. “Because of her.”
“Me?” Malaki asked.
“Your reputation precedes you. I wanted to meet you and see what all of this—was.” She looked at Walter again then to Niko and Declan. “So, command, medic, and tech?”
“Those are the specialties we’ve been looking at, yes,” Niko confirmed. “I’m year two, should be year three, but I also stayed for Malaki.”
“Two almost three-year students, and four rushed in first termers, almost second termers. Quite the combination. And the other fireteam?”
“I don’t know yet. I haven’t had much time to look.”
“Share, now,” she said.
I opened the file Justin had sent me, and we all crowded around the display.
“All first year or first termers,” Malaki said. “Ethan Tapal is interesting, though.”
“Oh?” I asked.
“My father’s been keeping an eye on him.” She held her hands up, trying her best to placate the others. “All I know, I swear.”
Ren laughed. “What’s the plan, then?”
“That’s why we’re meeting,” I said. “Just to…I don’t know, think, make sure we’re all okay with each other; that you want this.”
I looked at Walter. He was the smartest of us all. He was still studying the other stats. He was, however, shaking his head, nodding to himself. Eventually, he turned to Ren, knocking the 3D image out of his way. “I have no problems with you being on this fireteam at all. If you’ll listen to me, Ren, no discrimination will ever come from me, or those around me, on your misconduct.”
