"Attention on deck!" A voice calls out, prompting everyone to stand at attention. 

Admirals Warlock and Cyclone walk into the room, looking over the soldiers they recalled for this mission. 

"Morning, welcome to your special training detachment," Warlock starts, "Be seated.

You're all Top Gun graduates, elite, the best of the best." 

Hangman has a toothpick in his mouth, smirking proudly at that. "That was yesterday," Warlock brings them all back to reality. 

Everyone's faces fall in realization of what he just said. 

"The enemy’s new fifth generation fighter has leveled the playing field. Details are few, but you can be sure we no longer possess the technological advantage. Success now more than ever comes down to the man or woman in the box," Warlock continues, making sure they all understand the severity of the situation. 

Hangman looks patronizingly over at Phoenix as he says this. And without missing a beat, she subtly scratches her face, giving him the middle finger. 

"Half of you will make the cut. One of you will be named mission leader." Hangman simply smirks at Rooster when the mission leader is mentioned. "The other half will remain in reserve."

Warlock continues looking out at the twelve pilots, "Your instructor is a Top Gun graduate with real world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master. His exploits are legendary." 

Footsteps are heard as Maverick begins walking toward them from the back of the hanger. 

"He is considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced," Warlock continues his praise of Maverick. 

Everyone looks back at the man walking through the chairs. Hangman, Coyote, and Payback all realize just who Maverick is. They sink in their chairs, finally realizing their instructor is the same man they threw out of the Hard Deck the night previous. 

"What he has to teach you may very well mean the difference between life and death," Warlock states in a serious tone. "I give you Captain Pete Mitchell, callsign Maverick." 

Rooster glances at him before looking back down, jaw clenched in anger. 

Maverick stands at the podium Warlock just left, looking out at his students for the next few weeks. His eyes linger on Rooster before he composes himself and addresses the room. 

"Good morning," he begins. Hangman nodded with an embarrassed smile as Maverick looked forward. Rooster looks away immediately, trying with everything in his power to not look Maverick in the eyes. 

"The F-18 NATOPS," he says, holding up the manual. "Contains everything they want you to know about your aircraft," he indicated to the Admirals. Patting the book, he continues, "I'm assuming you know the book inside and out." He knows, just as he was once a long time ago, that these pilots are the best and they know it. 

And the responses he gets back prove exactly that. 

"Damn right," Payback calls out. 

"Damn straight," Hangman, without hesitation. 

"You got it," another one states. 

Maverick takes the book and throws it right into the trash. Everyone looks slightly shocked, checking around to make sure he just did that. 

"So does your enemy," Maverick says seriously. All he is trying to do is make sure these pilots, no matter how good they are, know that someone with superior technology is out there. 

"And we're off," Hondo whispers from the sidelines. 

"But what the enemy doesn't know is your limits," Maverick informs them all. "I intend to find them, test them, push beyond," he continues. "So today, we'll start with what you only think you know. You show me what you're made of." 

Warlock clears his throat and steps back up to the podium. “There is another person we called to assist in some of the more covert aspects of this mission. She is a previous Top Gun graduate herself, top of her class, in fact. Honorably discharged a few years ago and currently working with NCIS, I give you Special Agent Johanna Kaufmann, formerly known as Nyx.” 

Jo makes her way to the front of the room, head held high and walking with a purpose. Phoenix was admiring her, glad to have another kickass woman in the testosterone filled room. 

Many of the aviators were both intrigued and intimidated, although some were shamelessly checking out her ass as she walked by. 

It was Coyote that stood out. The minute he clocked her face, he paled. His heart started to beat faster, and his hands got sweaty. 

It was her. The woman he had been trying to find for over a year now.

Johanna finally made it to the podium, giving a nod to Maverick as he stepped aside for her to take her place. 

“Morning,” her voice rang out. There was a rasp to it that they weren't expecting, the single word sending shivers down Javy's spine. 

“I'm here to teach you some techniques I hope you never have to use. If all goes well, you will never have to use what I'm going to teach you.” 

That had everyone, even Warlock and Cyclone, straightening their backs. Johanna had a haunted quality to her voice, one that spoke from personal experience. One that told every person in that room to take what she said seriously, because it might just save their lives. 

Lord knows it's saved her life on multiple occasions, not to mention her team. 

Jo made eye contact with everyone in front of her, lingering just a second longer on Javy. “I'm here because there is always a risk something will go wrong. And I can minimize the risks if it does.”

Maverick came up next to her when it was clear she was done. “Time to show us what you've got.” 

And with that, the group was dismissed. 

Coyote tried to catch Jo's eye as she walked out of the room, but she managed to avoid him quite well. It didn't help that what was happening was extremely obvious to one person in particular.  

“Dude, what's going on with you? You need your head clear before getting into your plane.” He gives Javy a little shake before backing up. 

The shakes, oddly enough, do shake Javy awake enough to answer. “It's her.” 

Jake tilts his head. “Her? Her who? Who are you talking about?” 

“Her, her,” Javy is still not making any sense. 

A little head shake and shrug of the shoulders tells him to elaborate. “Johanna. Special Agent Kaufmann. However, you want to address her.” 

Javy looks his best friend in the eyes. “She's the woman from last year.” 

Jake's eyes widen as he puts the pieces together. “You mean…” He doesn't even finish his sentence before Javy is nodding his head. 

And then Jake laughs. He laughs so hard, he doubles over at the waist. “Of course, it's her.” Javy looks less than impressed. 

Jake is still chuckling as he stands up, putting a hand on Javy’s shoulder. “You have shit luck, my friend. And you're going to need all the good luck you can get to make it through this detachment.” 

Javy deadpans at him. “Fuck off, man.” Jake only smirks at him, a small chuckle slipping through before he makes his way out of the doors. 

Looking up to the ceiling, Javy lets out a breath. 

“This is gonna be a long three weeks.” 

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Word count: 1,219

Jo must keep the mystery vibes going. Speaking cryptically is her specialty. 

AND both Jo and Javy know the other is here! Drama to ensure, I assure you. 

Shorter chapter but more to come. See you next time. Bye guys!!