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Ace McCloud was many things. He was an ace pilot. He had the awards on the walls to prove it. It wasn’t only awards but his experience. He earned it. Every near crash. Every error. Every moment. He made sure to come out of it alive.
Just not this time.
He was a ladies’ man. His little black book in his drawer to prove it. It was a list of numbers, names, and sometimes, a photo or two. Despite what everyone thinks, he does remember the names and the faces. Most of all, he remembered their stories.
Today, he would remember them.
He stared into the space.
He came to the realization that in that moment, he felt utterly alone.
He has been flying solo for years. Yes, it was weird to work with a team again. Suddenly, he had no back up. It felt strange and off in more ways than one. He might actually miss it. No Crystal yelling into his ear. Well, she was yelling in his ear now. He might put her on mute because of the crying that she was trying to hide. It broke his heart a little to hear her voice tremble. No Jake calling him an idiot. No Max grumbling orders or telling him to wait for backup.
Today, there is no back up.
His backup is lying in hospital beds with their own injuries. Sleeping. He made sure on that fact because he would have a feeling that they would try to talk him out of it.
Strange, huh? This team thing.
Still…He checked on them before he left.
They were going to be alright.
That made him feel a little better. It made it a little easier what he had to do.
Going into space to stop the destruction of Earth. He could do that.
The cost wasn’t too high.
It was merely his life.
He knew that it could happen at any time. It was in his contract in big bold letters. He knew the risks. No different than stepping into a plane.
He thought that it wouldn’t be so soon.
Life is life.
He wasn’t going to shy away now. Not when he is needed.
He might be many things. Some good and some bad but….one thing that he doesn’t have is regret. Life is too short for that. No….
Scratch that….he had one regret.
He felt a little bad about leaving them. It was hard to find a good crew. These guys were the best ones that he worked with.
That is why this was so easy and so hard at the same time.
Max would make sure his replacement wouldn’t be some amateur. Max is a pretty good judge of character. Hopefully, the new guy would have a backbone. He would have to deal with Jake.
He pitied his replacement. He would have to deal with Jake’s stubbornness and the stick that is up his ass.
But….
Jake was a good man. He made him stop and pause a few times in battle and in life.
He was kind of sad that he won’t be able to tell him.
Who was he kidding?
He would never tell him.
That thought almost made him smile.
The smile dropped from his face when he arrived at his destiny. He was face to face with his destruction. He didn’t miss the irony of the situation. Live for the sky and now he will die by the sky. He didn’t stop him from hitting the button.
He didn’t think for a moment to watch to make sure that the missile hit its target.
He didn’t think for a moment to turn and fly back. He did promise Crystal that he would try to come back.
He was the man of his word.
He could hear the explosion. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the dark space sky light up like a sun. He could feel the heat. He could feel his body twist through the air. He could feel something hit his back and shoulder. He might have screamed. His body jolted again when something else hit the back of his head.
He knew that he screamed that time.
As he slipped into unconsciousness, it looked like he couldn't keep his promise after all.
End