BRIAN
I see the enemy plane right in front of me and I know if I move my plane just behind him I will get him. But it is not as easy as it looks. He saw us coming and he is doing all kinds of maneuvers to avoid a lock. I see him swerving to the left and then do a turn. I get on the radio and then I say.
"Tower, this is Bravo Romeo 05, just checking in as requested. We have located our first enemy aircraft. We are engaging. Over"
LISA
I am busy doing some paperwork when I hear his voice on my headset again. I can see on my radar screen that he has encountered another aircraft and then he confirms it. But it is clear in his tone of voice that there is a hint of sarcasm. "He is checking in as requested"
I would not be a very good psychiatrist if I did not know that this is meant to be sarcasm. But I keep my cool and then I say.
"Roger that. Over"
It is clear to me that he does not want to do what I told him to do but he is doing it with great restraint. I watch the screen carefully as I see Captain Smith trying to get behind the enemy aircraft. I want to find out how he would react in the field as I know that he should follow everything that he has learned.
I also know that he might break the rules and so I keep a close eye on him.
BRIAN
I have met a few pilots in my life and I can say with full confidence that this pilot knows what he is doing. He seems to be a very good pilot but I also know that I am a tremendous pilot. I get in contact with my wingman and say.
"You cover him on the right and I will do the left. When I say the word you push him to the left side. Over"
"Roger that"
Then we take our places next to the plane. We fly as fast as he does and in the direction where he wants to go. I want to create the illusion that we will do what he wants us to and that he is in control. Then I will wait until he is confident that he is in control and that is when I will make my move.
He tries to get rid of us but as soon as he realized that he is not going to, he stops doing any kind of crazy maneuvers. There is, of course, a much easier way for me to get a lock on him but because I told myself that I will play by the rules today, I guess I will do it the hard way. I get on the radio again with my wingman and say.
"Now!"
I pull up immediately letting him push me to the side and then I do a flip to get behind him. I open the button for the missile lock and in a second I have him in ranged and locked. I make radio contact with him and say.
"Sorry but you are a dead man. Over"
I can not stop myself from feeling a little bit proud as I realized that I still got it. It feels so good to be back and I have no intention to screw it up. One down many more to go. I get back on the radio and say.
"Tower, this is Bravo Romeo 05. Contact has been made and the target is destroyed. Over"
LISA
I hear his voice again and this time it is not sarcasm that I notice in his voice it is almost something close to achievement. I can hear that he is proud of his achievement and I can not stop as the words automatically come out of my mouth.
"Well done, Captain"
Then I realize that I am not supposed to talk this way over the radio and I quickly correct what I just said.
"Roger"
I find myself with a smile on my face as if it was me that destroyed that enemy. It is amazing what kind of effect this man has on me if I have not even met him yet. I guess he has been intriguing me ever since I found out he got some kind of reaction out of my dad.
I guess, unconsciously he became something of an idol to me. He achieved something that I never could.
BRIAN
As my air controller's voice comes back on the radio again, I swear I heard some excitement when she told me well done. I also know that she probably made a mistake by saying that and she might not have followed the rules today. I take a moment to just smile and appreciate the fact she seems to be proud of me. I do not know why I take this so seriously as I do not even know that woman.
I do not waste any time and start to look for the next enemy. We quickly find our next target and this time I try a different approach. I do not want to rattle any cages today and so I keep the rules that I was taught in mind. Of course, there are so many other ways that I could have done it but I get it done every time.
The day goes by and every time I get my enemy destroyed. The air controller only acknowledges that I have destroyed the enemies. Never again do I hear the words well done and I realize that she must know she made a mistake. Every time when I acquire a target, I make sure to put in some extra flair when I report back. I can not let this air controller not experience me in my true form.
LISA
The more I get to talk to him the more I get to know who he is. He becomes more cocky with each and every radio communication. It is strange how a man with such a beautiful voice can become so irritating. It is almost as if he knows he is good and he wants the world to know it too.
Still, it does not matter what he does, he has not broken one rule today. He also does not show me any sign of mental instability and there is nothing that I can pinpoint that might be wrong with his behavior. Lunch has come and gone and soon they are back in the air.
I thought that maybe when he becomes tired he might slip up but everything he says is according to the rulebook. I start to wonder if yesterday was only a one-time thing or did he conform to his ways.
It is finally five in the afternoon and it is time for me to knock off. But just as I am about to leave, my supervisor walks my way.
"I have to inform you that Captain Smith will be pulled from training early and that you would go with him when he starts to fly in the field. He has a certain mission that needs to get done and you will be his permanent air controller"
"Yes, sir"
"I do not know when that will happen but I know it will be soon. I just thought you might want to know and be ready to move to Tower 1"
"Thank you, sir"
I am not in the least surprised that I am permanently his air controller. I know whose handiwork this is and that would stay between me and my dad. I guess there was a good reason why they wanted him to come back to the base as he is probably the only one that can do the mission that they want.
I then leave the tower and go back to my room. Sally is already there and we start to talk about our day. It seems like she had an easy pilot and I tell her how he did not do anything wrong today. It is clear to me that she is surprised by his attitude and then we go and eat something. Soon it is dark and I realized I need to get in a good gym session after sitting like that the entire day. I get into my gym clothes and quickly make my way to the gym.
BRIAN
As I taxi down the runway, I realized that today has been a hard day. Not only did I need to concentrate a lot to get a lock on the enemy aircrafts but I also did not get enough sleep for these kinds of missions. As I get out of my jet almost my entire squadron comes to congratulate me and my wingman for the great job that we did.
We got the most enemy planes shot down and I guess we are seeing as some kind of heroes even though it was a fake mission. I guess if we were in the field, this would have been a great achievement. I am invited to get some drinks with the guys but I am just too tired to even put my one foot in front of the other.
I excuse myself and then go straight to my bed. I know that it is only six at night but nothing is going to stop me from sleeping right now. I fall asleep almost immediately but then after just a few hours, I am wide awake again. I do not know why I am awake but somehow I know it has to do with the dream that I had last night.
I stare at the ceiling for a few minutes and soon I am irritated to lay down. So, I decided the only thing that I can do is to get in some good gym time. I stand up and get into my gym clothes. Maybe if I gym hard enough I will be able to sleep again. Then I make my way to the gym.