[]The Craven Ascending
†Chapter One
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Gusvani counted the Geann on the wooden table, three Geann is equal to 21 Fienne, he thought of buying a lemon drink but, it will cost him a single Geann, he canʼt believe that lemon drinks would cost that much, he can still remember using three Fienne back in the day to buy a cup of lemon juice.
"What a millionaire! "
He glanced at Rommun, the man sat beside him and stare at the money on the table. "Did you accept the invitation? "
After placing the money inside his old wallet Gusvani shook his head, itʼs been years since he received a single invitation, the last invitation was accidentally sent, although the one who sent it to him claimed that it was a mistake he still went to the event for the food.
"What invitation? If there is any, it is probably sent because of an error or something similar to that. " He stand up.
Rommun took a paper from his pocket, it looked like it experienced a long journey, almost crumpled to death, he hand it to Gusvani.
"Did you stuck it up your old ass? It looks like itʼs been somewhere else except in your pocket, Rum. "
"Thatʼs rude, just open it, itʼs in my pocket for days. "
Gusvani looked at Rommun. "How many days you've been wearing that pants? "
"Uhm… two… days? "
He shook his head and opened the invitation gently.
"Read it loudly, man, " Rommun said.
"From the Oustanian Airforce. This invitation is for Gusvani Cenflor, we are inviting you to join the Marshall Group under Sir Turman Havino and Jennifer Bedroa. Please come to our main base this Saturday. "
He looked at Rommun. "Where did you get this? "
"A man hand it to me yesterday, I forgot to tell you about it that is why I am here. "
Gusvani looked at the table. He graduated from Mechanical Wings Academy a year ago, he is a licensed pilot for any flying vehicle, it cost him hundred thousands to have that license and still he was inside his house unemployed.
Last month he was fired from his job, in a restaurant in the Murfield, six blocks from his house. All he had to do was to wash the dishes and still Gusvani got fired.
"You are fired! I cannot believe that every time you hold them plates it is impossible for you not to break a one or two! Get outta here! "
He just shook his head every time he remembers that scene.
"You gotta accept that man, Iʼve heard pilots under Oustanian Airforce are getting paid almost the same as the ones working in the Aocon. "
"Impossible, Rum. They might be receiving high salaries but not as high as the royals in Aocon, and we are nearing our war state, they are probably hiring pilots to send us out the borders and shoot other pilots and planes to protect the country. "
The sofa creaked as Rommun lay on it, he is a big man, occupying the whole sofa, his legs dangling on the other side because of his height.
"This is life brother, you need to die for the country, " he said, put his arms on his chest, his left hand on the top of the other forming a bird-like symbol. "For the Oustanian people. "
Gusvani throw the paper on Rommunʼs face. "That is corny. "
Rommun took the paper and fold it nicely. "What? Dying for the people? "
"No. Doing the bird symbol, how old are you? That is not trendy anymore. "
"Bro, I ainʼt doing this for the trend! "
Saturday came fast, Gusvani stood near the gate of the Oustanian Airforceʼs base. He showed the invitation paper to the guard and the man let him in.
The area is wide, cars are parked on the left side near the gate, he glance at his right and had to look twice to confirm if he is seeing real things.
"Shocked? Iʼm Ver, and you are? A new pilot? "
He looked at the man on his left, he don't know when the man get on his side, he is a tall guy, blonde with big eyes and thin lips with tiny mustache.
"I'm Gusvani Cenflor, an invitation was sent for me. "
They shake hands and looked back at the white beautiful jet.
"Stunning isnʼt she? Our pilot Deanna used it to document what is happening on the Roffus River last year. "
"Deanna? As in, Deanna Pittlock?" he asked, that woman is famous, people in the academy are crushing on her real hard, even the professors.
The man nod. "And that jet is—"
"Ulycess. "
Ver looked at him. "What a jet nerd. "
They shared a good laugh, then Ver assisted him inside the base and the building where the interview is going to be made.
"We lack pilots, people now wants to be business owners, we are losing our people in the front lines, especially soldiers and doctors. I've heard back in the days, people used to like frontline jobs, but now… well, being a business owner sounds more tough, I never dreamed of being one. "
"Well, the salary is touching the ground, they do not deserve the tiny amount they are receiving, frontline job is tough and if the job doesn't pay enough there's no point in pursuing it, especially if it cannot feed you the right meals every day. "
Ver looked at him and continued walking, their steps echoing in the gray hallway.
"You are right. "
They stopped in front of a big door. "This is it. Commander Turman is inside, and maybe Jennifer too. Iʼll leave you here, see you soon wearing the same uniform as me. I like you, Cenflor, we'll be best buddies up in the air. Good luck. "
At last they shake each otherʼs hand, Ver left him alone standing in front of the door. He knocked twice, but heard nothing as a response.
He pushed the door opened. "Excuse me… "
He saw three men, one sitting on the chair beside the table, one sitting on the top of the table and the other one behind the table.
"This is him? I thought of a bigger man, like six foot. He is a bit smaller than I expected. "
"Turman told you, Jennifer, he is not that big. I think he is 4'11 or something. "
"Silly, Franken, he looks more like a 5'6."
Gusvani stood there and his 5'9 figure, confused about the talk the man behind the table asked him to sit down, he sit down at the chair in front, the man sitting on the top of the table looked at him, criticizing his whole life. He handed the received invitation and his information printed on a paper.
"Cenflor, I am Turman Havino, nice meeting you, we will start the interview now—"
"And I am Jennifer Bedroa, you must be expecting a tall beautiful woman, but I am no woman. As you see, I am a grown man, this idiot here is Franken Rickson, nice meeting you, " the man on the table said.
"Nice meeting you too, sir. "
"Have you ever handled a jet before? " Turman asked first.
"Yes, sir. Back in the academy, our professor let us try a jet, it is a school jet tho. "
The man nodded. "Have you ever been handled a plane with 20 or more than passengers? "
"I haven't, sir, I have only drove a plane carrying company documents six months ago for a one time job. I was assisted by a professional pilot, sir. "
Jennifer get off the table and looked at him from head to toe. "Youʼve got a wife? A girlfriend? "
"I am unmarried and currently doesn't have any girlfriend or romantic partner. "
Jennifer clapped. "Very well! No one is gonna cry and attack the base and ruin our image if we sent you in the battlefield and come home dismembered. "
"Jennifer! " Turman screamed.
"I'm sorry, mister. Jennifer doesnʼt have any common sense, this is embarrassing, " Franken said and bow his head in front of Gusvani.
He just nod. So, they are gonna sent him to the battlefield? He was correct then, they sent him an invitation to use him as a weapon for the approaching war state.
"You are accepted, mister, under the delivering class. And please do not mind Jennifer. We do not have any plans on sending you out of the border, we really lack pilots, and the next transaction between Fevraun is coming. You can leave your contact information here so we can call you. "
"Thank you, sir. "
Rommun gawked at him. "You rely accepted it? I thought you wonʼt like the job, and delivering class he say? "
Gusvani take a sip from his juice. "If I don't like the offered job, I wonʼt waste my time going to their base. And the commander said delivering class, probably I'll drive an aircraft carrying goods for trading, I trust him. "
The man laughed at him. "And you belive him? " Rommun continued laughing.
"Oh yes, he is the commander! And that is an opportunity, it is high paid! "
Rommun wiped the tiny tears from his eye. "You know, commanders lie too, Gusvani. "
He just ignored Rommun and continued drinking. But, he is still wondering what kind of job heʼll have, especially under Turman and Jennifer, those two are big time.
"That kid. "
Turman take a puff from his cigarette, Jennifer looked at him and put down the cat, the white ball of fur stared at him.
"No treats for now, Madeline. Whatʼs bothering old Turman? " he asked and shove the cat away from his legs, the animal rolled over thinking he is playing.
"Cenflor got some heavy hands, donʼt he? "
"Madeline, stop biting my trousers! I don'ʼ know, sir. Why? "
Turman shook his head. "I just remembered Johnreal in him. I think he wonʼt accept if we'll make him one of our soldiers, " he said and stared at the cat.
"That guy is a coward, Johnreal is not, " Jennifer said while frowning.
"Remembering, Johnreal suddenly, are you alright? Do you want me to call the doctors? " Jennifer asked in a fake worried voice.
They shared a little laugh.
"They are just similar to me, I saw the reviews from his driving history, he is a harsh driver, the way he grips the wheel. "
"If Johnreal was here, we have the advantage in this approaching fight, " Jennifer whispered.
The cat jumped on Turmanʼs lap, he caressed the catʼs head.
"Sheʼs spoiled. "
"Sheʼs beautiful, Jennifer, she should be spoiled. "
Jennifer rolled his eyes on Turman.
"If Cenflor have those hands similar to Johnreal, and if he can drive like him, then one day you might see the 700 breaking through the clouds again. "
Jennifer looked at Turman. He canʼt remember when is the last time he heard that aircraftʼs name, the name is special, an aircraft that flies like an owl, the most difficult aircraft to control. It was last seen flying three years ago, the Marshall 700, the Oustaniansʼ winged assassin, the aircraft that was used by a single person since it was made, Johnreal Zamora.
"Even our most skilled pilot cannot make the Marshall fly, and you think that Gusvani Cenflor can make it, a newbie who had never touched a fighter jet in his lifetime? "
"People develop skills, it is not impossible for Cenflor to make it, and he I already blessed by those hands. "
Jennifer shrugged. "Itʼs up to you, but I donʼt think he will make it, cowards don't make it. "
The cat fell asleep on Turmanʼs lap, she is majestic, with her white thick fur and tiny paws.
"Johnreal was once a coward, " Turman said.