Tailspin, page 18
“Shit,” the man on the left said. “Some first day.”
I could only shrug as tears threatened to overflow just like my emotions.
A moment later there were several other men and women in uniform hopping in alongside us. One reported in. “Perimeter’s clear. All targets are indeed dead.”
“Escorting into Rise?” one of the other women asked. I clocked her tag, Lidia.
“I just left there,” I said again. Fuck, I was an idiot.
The lady at my side tried to smile. I stayed sitting in place, felt the helo lift, and wanted to see more.
I craned my neck but couldn’t see anything at all. It was pointless. “If you just left Rise, what gear have you got?” Casey asked, and I tried to keep myself out of the way for any more questions.
I didn’t think it was something we did. Announcing our tech felt like bragging.
“We want to use you,” Casey said. “If you’re in any helo, you need to be comfortable with the team in it. Rise, you’re top tier, what were you doing out here, shit …”
I gave her a look.
The man on her right added, “Rise only has the best tech.”
“I’m not trained yet,” was all I could say.
“Yet,” the man in front of me said. “If you have better tech than any of us—you need to use it.”
Jealous? That wasn’t quite the word. Maybe they actually meant well?
I didn’t know any of them to judge, so I answered instead. “X1 and X24.”
The man whistled. “No wonder we had to double time it to get to you. What were they even thinking of letting you out?”
I didn’t know, but I wanted to.
“Here,” Lidia said. “You’re our eyes in the sky. We should be clear on the way in, but that kill out there and all the screaming will have other predators incoming in minutes.”
“Can’t we outrun them?”
“No, not usually.” Casey added. “They’re very fast in the sky, much faster than us, and they can fly much higher than even these, and we designed these to out-fly them. They adapted.”
“They are horrid,” I said, still covered in their blood. It was awful. I could smell it and taste it.
I pulled into myself. “Here, this will help, I promise you. Put your eye to the sight; the SAR will attune to your tech, then you’ll see much more than we do.”
“Where’s your eyes in the sky?”
“He’s our best medic, too. He’s over in the other helo with your Chief.”
Ahh, that made sense. Best to keep him alive after actually coming for us.
I put my eye to the helo and my eyes were flooded with information, my mind screamed. “This hurts.”
“It will,” Lidia said. “Give it a minute.”
Unknown sender - If you wish to get out of here alive, I suggest you give me control of the sights.
I wanted to scream to ask who the fuck sent that voice message.
Unknown sender - Screaming won’t get you anywhere. Yes or No.
Yes, I answered.
I waited for the pain to subside a little and tried to pull back. But then I saw something.
Unknown sender - Repeat for them everything I tell you. Understood?
Yes, I answered once more. Just get us out of here.
I plan on it. We have incoming.
“We have incoming,” I said aloud. I tracked sideways, saw another two, then another.
“How many?” Casey asked.
“Three females and one male,” I replied.
“A flight. Skellies?”
“Yes, Kuri said they didn’t like noise or guns. Why are they coming in?”
“I don’t know,” Lidia replied.
Two of the other people in the back with us moved then, and I felt the helo rock as other components clunked into place.
“Guns arming,” one said.
“All green, Casey,” Lidia said.
Casey looked at me. “You’re in control. Your X1 can line them up better than anything.”
Was that who was talking to me? The X1?
“I’ve never used it like this,” I said to both of them, I guess.
“Focus, it’s like using the sight of a gun, that’s all. The reticle you see across your eyes. They are split, left gun, right gun. They have a range that spreads almost all around us. We do have one blind spot; the skellies have never gotten in. You can do this. Trust the tech.”
“Okay.” I looked back to what my X1 was already doing, and it was indeed tracking two of the closest skellies. Absolutely fascinating.
Lining up sights, the voice said to me, and it did. The sights lined, two crosshairs connected and focused in on the first of the skellies.
Lidia shouted, “My gun!” Then she opened fire, and the defenders were no use against the ear-splitting roar of the helo’s massive guns.
My cross hairs singled out the next skellie as it spun the other way. I could do nothing but watch, in awe.
The man shouted next, “My gun. Hold.”
The others are after the second helo, the voice said to me.
“The other two are going for the other helo,” I reported.
“Can you target them?” Casey asked.
I froze slightly. If I missed this, their guns would take out the other team. Trust the tech was all everyone said, ever.
I breathed out and put my trust in the tech. It lined up the sight. The woman at my side shouted and fired, but I was already on the next target before she finished. She swung the guns and fired again.
All four skellies were down.
I let out a breath.
“Good job.” A hand patted my back, and my shirt stuck to it, the sweat cooling instantly.
In the next moment, there was a drink in front of me, and the pilot announced, “Noel’s coming into land in three minutes. The kid’s been ordered to OOF with us.”
With the sights of the guns in my view, I could clearly see the hospital coming in below us. “Guns down,” Lidia said. I flicked the monocle off and stared at the drink in my hand. I drank it, realizing how thirsty I was. I gulped it down.
“You needed that. Want one more?” Casey asked.
“Yes, please.”
When she passed it to me, I drank this one a lot slower. “Little bit of shock,” Casey said. “It will ease off in a bit. Adrenaline is literally flooding your entire system right now.”
Watching the other helo land, we waited for it to lift again and then we were both forward-facing and speeding to their base.
“Wait. Where is your base?”
“We’re Sector Two, Ocean Oil Fields,” Casey said.
I was heading in early to the place I wanted to be the most. I looked like shit. I knew I did. My heart beat faster and faster.
Casey put a hand on my arm. “Rusty,” she said. “You’re walking in with us. Don’t panic. We’ll get you showered, changed, and to debrief.”
“Understood,” I replied. I steadied my hands, though, by sitting on them.
We landed without any bumps. The pilot turned and looked at Casey. “Everyone out.”
The door slid open, and the others all hopped out one by one. Casey helped me unbuckle first. My hand wasn’t cooperating very well. “Pain?” she asked.
“It was only fitted this week,” I said. “No pain, but there’s a few glitches as some of my nerves heal.”
Casey waited for me to step down, and I saw a man waiting for us. He looked at me. “I got him, Casey. See you inside.”
Casey ran off, and I stood with my eyes roaming his uniform, with all of the insignias and tags on it. What caught my attention more than anything else was the logo on his left arm, the same two blades and the saying, ‘Aim high. Fly fast. Fly home.’ Over to the left of his breast pocket were two bears fighting, with a helo in the background. The words—Black Bears—under it, and his name tag. Papa Bear. I’d seen the bear on Casey’s jacket, too.
“Walk with me, airman. I have a question for you.”
He walked away, and I followed. “Sir,” I called after him. “Ask away.”
“You have extremely high clearance, but no experience.”
I sighed. “You checked my file?”
“Curious, it was a long flight over.”
He wasn’t embarrassed, and he looked me over, just as I had him. “What else did you see?” I asked.
“You’re logged in on the system as a pilot. Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know,” I said. I ran a hand over my face, slick with grime from the day, the stress. All of my thoughts were negative. “Is something wrong?”
“You took to directing our gunners without hesitation. Both gunners. That takes major intelligence. I think you’re destined for another job. I want you to consider it.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Drone pilot,” he stated.
“Drone pilot.” I reiterated the title; I knew I’d always wanted the TAP but hadn’t put it into thought so far into what job I actually wanted. I just liked flying. This was a lot to absorb. I just thought I needed the TAP to pilot one of the top helos, like his. See everything better, be a part of it. Who was I kidding? I’d no clue about the training, the levels, or the tech anyone needed. It was a lot to learn. I straightened up. I would learn it, all of it.
“You need to fly, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “You have to be top of your year. But your intelligence is off the charts. You can do so much more than just pilot, like me.”
“You’ve amazing skill,” I said. I’d just watched him pilot without a co-pilot, like it was second nature, breathing. I smiled then. “You think that’s why they gave me the X1,” I said. “I already had the intelligence and reflexes to match it.”
“More than match it, I’d say. You did extremely well out there, and it will all be going in my report.”
I looked up at him. He was a solidly built man, and his left eye sparkled with tech. Good tech.
His public details flashed up in a moment. And I felt the X1 working. Then there was more information.
I shouldn’t be able to see this, I said internally.
He’s nosey; so am I, came back the voice from earlier.
I read over his stats quickly. He was tapped out, but fuck me, hawt in the mod department.
Identification: Second Lieutenant Trevor Onynx
Call Sign: Papa Bear
Species: Human
Bonus: None
Mod Capacity: 24 *with mods* 81
Mod Capacity in Use: 65
Stat
Current Points
Description
Mods
Quality
Dexterity
11
Governs agility and movement.
Right Arm full Mod: 4
Cost: 4
(+ PER 4)
Elite
Right Hand Mod: 4
Cost: 4
(+ TOU 8)
Elite
Mental Power
12 = *24*
Governs swiftness and fortitude of the mind.
Brain Mod: 4
Cost: 4
(+MP 4)
Elite
Ear Mod: L&R: 4
Cost: 8
(PER ears +8 each side)
Elite
Perception
11 = *19*
Governs senses and connection to surroundings.
AI Mod: 4
Cost: 4
(+PER 4)
Elite
Eye Mod R: 4
Cost: 4
(+ MP 4)
Elite
Eye Mod L: 4
Cost: 4
(+ MP 4)
Elite
Strength
10
Governs physical strength and damage dealt.
Left Arm Mod: 4
Cost: 4
(+TOU 4)
Elite
TAP: 5
Cost: 5
(+TOU 5)
Artisan
Toughness
12 = *57*
Governs the body and internal fortitude.
Organelles: 8
Cost: 24
(+TOU 28)
4x Professional
4x Elite
I had a long, long way to go. This guy, Trevor…he was stronger, more intelligent, more everything. I swallowed.
I wondered what tech he had inside his mind and his eyes to help, but I couldn’t see that. “Thank you,” I said.
“Go shower off. This might take a while, but you’ll be staying here tonight, heading back tomorrow.”
Staying here. On the ocean. Holy crap. On the inside, I grinned from ear to ear. On the outside I let the tiniest smile ever out. “Sir.”
The shower would be wonderful. I needed it. I also wanted to see how this trip out had affected me. My X1 had been trying its best to get my attention for something. I had been ignoring it. I didn’t want to ignore it now.
I wanted—no, needed—to message my mom.
I also wanted to message Niko.
I was on his base!
21
I stripped out of my clothes. The jacket really needed washing. I noted the laundry tube, and while I washed off, it was put in with the cycle of clothes from everyone else. It would come back cleaner than ever; I was sure of it. My boots would too, I hoped. I needed those.
The water was hot, the stalls mostly private. I found dispensers for soap and fresh towels. There was a two-minute limit for the showers, so I didn’t waste any time. I washed fast, the color of blood hitting the plug. A notification flashed up.
Blood Detected - You may choose the following
Call for Medical? - Y/N
I clicked the N. It wasn’t my blood.
Extra wash off - Extra time allowed will be noted in your logs.
Would you like extra time? - Y/N
I clicked the Y.
The extra time was good. I wanted to wash off a second time, which I did without hesitation.
While I dried off, I pulled up my comms. I should have done this sooner, but time and credits had held me back. I needed to be safe before I spent anything on it.
Now that I knew I’d be okay, I could afford to spend the time and the funds. I found the one I needed to send a message to, and then I wished I could call.
Me - Tsomak - I’m safe. I’ve had the opportunity of a lifetime. I need to talk to you. Will arrange something as soon as I can. Hang on down there, please.
I teared up with the words I wrote to him. Wiping my eyes, I also noticed a little blood in the tears. That might not be so great; I’d have to tell someone.
That message sent, I turned to write the next one, knowing I needed this one to be more, but that I couldn’t give any details.
Me - Mom - I love you, I miss you. I’ll see you soon, I promise. You won’t be there long. Come hell or high water. I will send what I can, as soon as I can. Listen to Tsomak, I know it’s hard. Soon. x X x
My emotions washed over me, and I had to sit down. My body was trembling.
Shock. I was still in shock. I knew I was. I listened as my heart still pounded in my ears. Blood was rushing all over.
Then I pulled up Niko’s comms number.
Me - I’m in Sector Two with the Black Bears. Comm me when you can, when you’re alone. I need someone to talk to.
I dressed fast, not wanting to make the others wait. I was last in and probably last out with the extra time.
Clean and out of their uniforms, the men and women looked like normal people, in slacks and shirts. “You scrub up a lot better.” Casey smiled at me.
“So do you,” I mumbled. “You have beautiful hair.”
“Thanks.” She beamed and came to my side. “These guys never say that. I spend a small fortune on gloss to keep the salt off it.”
She smelled nice, too, but I’d leave those compliments for the others. “What happens now?” I asked her.
“Well, we usually go straight to debrief. We waited a little longer than normal for you, though, and the CO’s been called away. So, Trev”—she paused—”Second Lieutenant Onynx and I were actually going to take you on a tour, then dinner. Does that sound good?”
“Sounds great,” I said. “Honestly, my heart is still pounding.”
“I know. We got the doc to tap in and let us know what was going on.”
“The doc from—”
“Rise? Yeah, he’s one of ours. He also told us Chief Warrant Officer Kuri’s in surgery now and should be out by the time we’re eating.”
“You did good,” Trevor said. He held his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Airman Korolyov. This is my team, the Black Bears. We operate that wonderful machine you were in, the SAR 17. Two pilots, two gunners, and a six-man team. The other, the SAR 12, has a pilot, drone pilot and a team of eight.”
I glanced around at the people with me. They all smiled. “Thanks for coming in for us,” I said. “He wouldn’t have survived for long.”
“That’s our job,” Trevor said. “You guys go ahead. We’ll not be too long.”
“You’re really showing me around?” I asked.
“There’s a couple of things I want to show you,” Casey said. “Off Trevor’s recommendation to you.”
“Come on,” he said.
We walked through to another room, and Casey stopped. “Don’t get all goo-goo eyes.” She turned her back to us and with one swift movement, she took her shirt off.
I could only stare.
Trevor slapped my arm lightly. “Don’t get any ideas, she’s way out of your league, and mine.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t interested in her flesh, though from this angle…fuck me, she had curves to die for.
I hesitated. I wanted to step forward. I needed to see the tech closer.
Casey looked over her shoulder at me and smiled. “You can come closer. I won’t bite.”
I ran through what I visually saw in my mind. Her spine was surrounded by a network of muscles, including the erector spinae muscles, which ran along the length of the spine and helped support and maintain proper posture. Was this my memory or the X1 showing me this in more detail than I should be able to see?
