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The low morning mist that settled on the city didn’t usually burn off until lunch time, but today it was already bright and sweltering before he was five minutes into the run.
Bolt wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He loved living in San Diego, but it always felt like a temporary home. Since joining the Marine Corps he had lived in four different cities and completed two tours. It was hard to get attached to a place when he knew it was only a stop on the way to the next town. But that’s one of the things he loved about being in the military. He traveled all over the world, met interesting people, and it kept his life fresh. There was never a dull day doing what he did.
He crossed over the first bridge. There weren’t many places more beautiful than this. He stopped at the top of the second bridge that overlooked the bay. He inhaled, filling his lungs with the California air until they felt like they could explode. He looked at his phone tucked in his armband. Thirty minutes wasn’t bad for a warm-up run. He repositioned the earbuds and started the second half of his run. Today felt like it was going to be a good day.
Monday morning came fast. Bolt grabbed his cup of coffee from the ready room and headed to the briefing room. According to the schedule, he and Eagle had an out and in, or a two-part flight today. They would take off in two hours, meet an aggressor squadron from Yuma for tactical dog fighting sets, land for lunch, and then takeoff to do it again. He loved it when they met up with other squadrons. He and Eagle could out maneuver any other jet and every time these events were scheduled was just one more chance to prove it.
“Hey, Bolt. Did you see that we’re with the Renegades again today? I thought after last time they’d want to go up against anybody but us.” Eagle laughed from across the conference table in the briefing room.
“I’m calling them now.” Bolt punched in the number for the Renegades’ briefing room he had been given by the schedule writer. He and the lead pilot would discuss the meeting time and place, along with the logistics of the mission.
“Hey, this is Captain Hardcastle calling in for a briefing with Renegade-one-one.”
The voice on the other end of the phone responded, “Hold please, sir. That’s Major Shipley. I’ll get him for you.”
Bolt put his hand over the receiver and whispered, “We’re flying against Shipley. Shit.”
Eagle shook his head. “Yeah, that’s not good.”
Bolt’s shoulders straightened when he heard the booming voice answer. “Major Shipley here. Ready for briefing, Captain Hardcastle.”
“Good morning, sir.”
Bolt had heard of Major Shipley’s reputation as the premiere dog fighter for the Renegades’ squadron, but he and Eagle had never faced him. The guy was good. He had flown three tours in Iraq, and was fresh off a Blue Angel tour. To top off his resume’ he was a former Top Gun instructor. Bolt shook his head. He was going to get his ass beaten today.
“Looking forward to flying against you and Captain Haywood today. We’re planning on taking off at 0900. If you do the same that should put us at the rendezvous point right on target.”
“Yes, sir.” Bolt listened as the senior officer gave out the instructions. Shipley had obviously planned out the fight for this morning.
“Anything else we need to add before filing our flight plan?” Shipley asked.
“No sir, I think you’ve covered everything. We’ll see you up there, sir.”
There was a click and Bolt turned to Eagle. “This is not good. We are fucked.”
Eagle whistled. “Tell me about it. Well, at least the winning team has to buy us lunch, so we get free tacos.”
Bolt threw his coffee cup in the trash. “You know I don’t care about tacos, right? I don’t want to eat some damn loser tacos today. I want to win. I care about winning.”
“I know you do, but sometimes you have to know when to fold ‘em.” Eagle followed him out of the room.
“We’re not giving up before we’ve even taken off.” Bolt walked into the locker room where their flight gear was stored. It usually took a few minutes to climb into, buckle, and hook into all the gear that they needed in the aircraft.
They walked to the jet, passing Hollywood and Ranger on the way. “Heard you two are going up against Shipley today.” Ranger chuckled.
“Jealous?” Bolt taunted.
“No way. He might be the only one who can de-throne your pompous ass.”
“You won’t be saying that when Eagle and I land with not one, but four victories.” Bolt held up t
wo fingers.
Eagle shook his head. “Do not start making bets, man. We need to walk to the jet for pre-flight. Come on.” He tried to push Bolt out of the hangar.
“Oh wait, did you say a bet?” Hollywood spun on his heels. “I’ll make a little wager with you both right now.”
“Bolt, let’s focus on the flight.” Eagle walked backward until he hit the door with his back. “No bets. Come on.”
