A/N: okay so I realized I've been using the term "Wingman" wrong. So Lottie was Connor's back seater (aka the one who controls the guns and missiles) and Maverick wants her to be Hangman's back seater! Sorry for any wrong terminology I use in this story! <3
We all walk into the hanger the next morning,
"Alright we have two new aviators joining us today, Fritz and Hoffman" Maverick says as we all take our seats, "Today is not a day of training, today you all show me what you have to give. Baywatch and Payback you will fly together with Phoenix as your wingman, Hangman and Vapor you will fly together with Rooster as your wingman, once you all come back the next group will go." Maverick explains and we all nod. I look over at Bob to see his leg is rapidly bouncing up and down so I get up from my seat, that's next to Rooster, and take a seat next to Bob,
"You okay?" I whisper.
"Y-yeah." He stutters slightly.
"You've got this." I gently put my hand on his shoulder and look into his eyes and he nods with a sweet smile.
"Baywatch, Payback, Phoenix, Rooster, Vapor, Hangman, you're up!" Maverick says so we all stand up and salute the flag before walking out.
"Hey hey wait!" Bob says quietly, but loud enough for me to hear him, so I turn around.
"Yeah?" I ask as my heart pounds.
"Be careful and don't let him get to your head." He smiles and I smile back with a slight nod.
"Thank you." I say as I tuck a lose piece of hair behind my ear.
We all go out to the battleship, where all of our plane are, and head for our planes,
"You two, wait." Maverick says running to me and Hangman, "Take that plane." He says pointing to one.
"Why? This is my plane." Hangman says back.
"Because I said so." Maverick says and I smirk slightly as I walk to the plane Maverick told us to go to.
"Good luck out there." Sandra says with a soft smile.
"Thanks, you too!" I smile back.
"You're lucky, you get to go with Hangman!" She says leaning closer to me so nobody else would hear her.
"Oh yes...so lucky." I say sarcastically back with a small laugh.
"But he's hot." She whispers.
"He's all yours,girl." I laugh, "Baywatch....fly safe." I smile and she nods and looks concerned,
"Shoot safe." She laughs slightly.
3..2...1..
"Payback and Baywatch you're clear for take off" Maverick says through our earpieces,that are in our helmets, and their plane goes whipping past ours and takes off safely, "Phoenix, go go go!!" Phoenix quickly takes off behind them. Maverick looks at us, "Ready?" He asks and we both give a thumbs up of approval and put on the masks, that are attached to our helmets so we can communicate. Adrenaline pumps through my body and Hangman and I start up the plane and within seconds we are speeding down the runway,
"And takeoff!" Hangman says as we start flying. Rooster is soon flying close behind us. Hangman quickly accelerates causing my body to press hard against my seat,
"Slow down, Hangman!" I shout and much to my surprise he does.
"Wait what the hell?!" Phoenix yells, "Baywatch, Payback, someone's on your tail!! Pull up pull up!! She shouts and their plane shoot up in front of ours.
"HOLY CRAP!" Hangman quickly turns to avoid them. My heart pounds in my chest as I look frantically around for the other plane when I finally spot it,
"Maverick?!" I say.
"Not today, today I'm your enemy. If I get a lock on you, you go back to base." He says and we all nod.
"First one out does 100 pushups?" Payback says.
"Oh your so on!" Hangman says.
"Alright boys and girls, come get me." Maverick's plane drops below us all.
"He's under us, Hangman!" I yell.
"I think I can figure that out." He says and I roll my eyes.
"Phoenix, he's after you!" Sandra says a little too late as there's a loud beeping.
"Phoenix, you're out. Head back to base. Baywatch, Payback, you've just lost your wingman."
"DANG!" Phoenix shouts and heads back.
"He's onto us, Hangman!" I shout as I see Maverick's plane lower so it's right behind us.
"Not for long he's not." Hangman says and we suddenly shoot straight up, causing a heavy pressure to form in my chest.
"Uh...God..." I say as it gets harder to breathe.
"Your going too high, Hangman!! Go down now!!" Rooster says.
"Hangman! Get down!" Sandra yells with fear in her voice.
We suddenly drop slightly and I put my hands on the windows of the jet. There's a slight bang and engine 1 goes out,
"ENGINE 1 IS DOWN!!" I shout as I try to get it back up, "Cmon, cmon!!" I yell as I hit the button multiple times but nothing is happening, "Crap crap crap!!!" I yell as adrenaline and fear overtake my body.
"Pulling up!!" Hangman yells as he goes up, "Gaining altitude!"
The second engine blows and our plane starts free falling out of the sky uncontrollably,
"VAPOR!! HANGMAN!!!" Payback yells.
"OH MY GOD!!!" I scream as Hangman and I frantically try to get the engines back up and running.
"Vapor, EJECT!!" Hangman yells.
"IM NOT LEAVING YOU!" I yell back.
"On the count of three, 1 2 3 EJECT!!" We both pull down on the ropes above our heads but nothing happens.
"No no no!!!" I yell as I yank on it a few more times but it's unsuccessful. My stomach feels like it's in my chest as we spiral down towards the mountains below. I shut my eyes and take a deep breath, waiting for the pain to hit me. "Hangman....." I say with a shaky voice, "It was a pleasure flying with you..."
"You as well, Vapor." He says as the ground comes closer and closer.
"No......." Sandra says.
"Holy crap...." Rooster whispers.
Just as we are about to crash, the engines come back on and Hangman quickly pulls up, causing us to just barely miss the mountain.
"Everyone back to the base." Maverick says and we all fly back and land safely. I unhook my helmet and stand up, my legs are shaking badly and they are sore from being so tense.
"Take my hand" Hangman says as I take his hand and he helps me out of the plane.
"I'm gonna be sick!" I say running off to the edge of the battle ship and gagging before throwing up. I suddenly feel a hand gently rub up and down my back as I continue to throw up,
"Your okay....." I hear Bob's soft voice say and my eyes grow wide. I look over at him and he smiles slight before pulling me into a tight hug, "I got you." He says as my body shakes in his arms.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Hangman shoves Maverick hard, "TAKE THAT PLANE?! TAKE THAT PLANE?!! YOU WANTED US TO DIE?!" He yells and we all watch them.
"No! I made you two work as a team! I made you two respect each other, to stop acting childish and start being mature and that's exactly what you two did. She wouldn't eject until she made sure you were going to also, and he made sure to let you know when to eject so you would live." He looks at me when he says the last part.
"You...did..this...?" I stutter trying to catch my breath as I hold onto Bob tightly.
"Yes." Maverick says back.
"You were willing to let us DIE in order to get some dumb point across?!" I yell, getting out of Bob's arms and rushing over to Maverick angrily.
"No, they were controlling your plane as soon as engine one went out. We knew exactly what we were doing." He says, "And you guys passed the test."
"VAPOR!!" Baywatch yells running over to me and wrapping me in a hug and I hug her back. "Holy smokes that was INSANE." She says.
"You should go make sure Hangman is okay." I smirk and wink at her and she smiles widely,
"Okay!" She walks over casually to him and I see them talking.
"You alright?" Rooster asks me as he puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close to his side and I nod.
"Remind me to never get into another plane" I joke, causing him to laugh, and we are soon joined by the rest of the crew.
"WHO WANTS SOME DRINKS?!" Rooster shouts and everyone cheers.