They had launched for the mission. Arriving at their checkpoint had gone much faster than any of them had anticipated, maybe because of the tension.

But they hit their checkpoint and flew through that canyon like they had been practicing for weeks. Slipping through the cracks with ease, even if they can cut some of those corners close, so to speak.

Phoenix and Bob had been Maverick's team, lining up the laser for the precise shot. And soon after the first missile hit, Rooster managed to hit the second despite the laser from Payback and Fanboy malfunctioning.

“Miracle number 2,” Warlock mumbles from the control room.

But Cyclone brings him back to reality. “Now we're in Coffin Corner.”

And Maverick reminds them of that as well. “We're not out of this yet.”

"Here it comes!" He yells in warning as SAMS start firing. "Smoke in the air, smoke in the air! Break right Phoenix, break right!"

"Emergency maneuvers! Here comes another one," Bob yells out.

"Dagger defending," Maverick deploys flares.

"Rooster, status?!" Maverick calls out. 

"Oh my god," as Rooster pulls out of Coffin  Corner. "Smoke in the air, smoke in the air!"

"Break right Payback, break right!" Fanboy yells out.

"Oh my god, here they come," Fanboy warns.

"On your six, Rooster," Payback warns.

"Deploying counter missiles," Rooster says, hitting his buttons. "Negative contact!"

"Dagger 1 defending," Maverick calls. 

"Talk to me, Bob!" Phoenix calls. "Break right, Phoenix, break right!"  he calls back. "9 o’clock, 9 o’clock!"

"Rooster, 2 more on your six," Payback calls out.

"Dagger 2 defending!"

"Payback! Same on your nose," Maverick calls. 

"Dagger 4 defending!" 
"Oh my god!"
"Talk to me, Bob!"
"Holy shit!"
"Dagger 2 defending!"
"Tally, tally!"
"Break, right!"
"I can't see it!"

"Dagger 2 defending," Rooster calls out. "Shit, I'm out of flares!"

"Rooster evade, evade!" Maverick tells him. "I can't shake ‘em. They're on me! They're on me!"

"Mav!" Rooster yells out as Maverick takes a hit meant for him. "No, no!" he calls out when Maverick goes down.

"Dagger 1 is hit, I repeat dagger 1 is hit!" Phoenix yells. "Maverick is down!"

"Dagger 1 status!" Rooster calls. "Status! Anyone see him? Does anyone see him? Dagger 1! Come in!"

"I didn't see a parachute!" Payback calls out.

"We have to circle back," Rooster insists.

"Comanche, bandits inbound single group hot, recommend dagger fly south."

"Get them back to the carrier now," Cyclone makes the call, looking worried for his pilots and Maverick.

"All daggers fly back to ECP, you have bandits headed for you," an officer radios.

"What about Maverick?" Rooster insists.

"Tell him there's nothing he can do for Maverick, not in a goddamn F-18!" Cyclone commands.

"Dagger spare, requesting to launch and provide air cover," Hangman radios in, wanting to help.

"Negative, spare," someone calls out.

"Launch search and rescue," Warlock tries.

"Negative," Cyclone answers back. "Not with bandits in the air."

"But sir, Maverick is still out there," Hondo tries.

"We are not losing anyone else today," Cyclone defends his decision. "Get them home now!"

"Dagger, you are not to engage, repeat, do not engage."

"Rooster, those bandits are closing. We can't go back," Phoenix tells him.

"Rooster, he's gone. Mavericks gone," Bob says 

Rooster goes back for Maverick, shoots down a helicopter, but gets his plane shot down at the same time, his signal goes out.

"Dagger 2 is hit. Dagger 2 is hit."

Cyclone looks down in despair while Warlock looks worried. "Dagger 2, come in, dagger 2 do you copy?" an officer radios.

There is no answer.

"Dagger 2, come in." Still nothing.

The rest of the team begin their return to the carrier, in utter disbelief.

There was no way they had just lost Maverick and Rooster. No way.

☽☆☾   ☽☆☾   ☽☆☾

Back on land, the mood was much happier.

Emmett's program was a hit! At least for the first day.

His fellow Ninjas had gotten there early, all of them messing around and running the courses for fun. Flip Rodriquez, Adam Rayl, Tiana Webberly, Addy Herman, and Austin Gray were all egging on Emmett to run it.

Obviously, he had run them the day before, but when his brother and Austin lifted him up and tossed him onto the first inflatable, he had no choice.

What Emmett didn't know was that Liam had pulled them all aside and explained that Natasha had just been sent on a dangerous mission, so he was stressing out.

Genevieve had been inside with Penny as they all tested the obstacles, not wanting her on any of them until they were done. But when Emmett gave the all clear, she came sprinting out and practically dove into the inflatable obstacle.

Laughter was heard everywhere you looked, the group adoring the little girl who was just bouncing around all over the place.

Before anyone knew it, the kids and their parents were arriving. After some of the shock had worn off from meeting some of their favorite Ninjas, the kids got down to business.

The parents had fun watching their kids run around at different ages. The older kids had some of the more challenging obstacles, although all were well within safety.

The younger kids would watch as Genevieve would run their chosen obstacles, although she had the edge with having done these before.

Overall, the first day was an overwhelming success that only made Emmett happier.

For a little while, he was able to keep his mind from worrying and just enjoy bringing Ninja to the masses.

Hell, he might have just gotten a lot more students for his gym.

And back on the carrier, the mood was significantly higher as Maverick and Rooster had managed to pull off one of the most daring feats possible.

After stealing an enemy F-14, that was miraculously in working condition, shooting down two enemies and being saved by Hangman shooting down the third, the two rebellious lots had finally made their way back to the carrier.

Natasha had hugged her friend tightly, honestly not wanting to let go but simultaneously wanting to slap him for pulling that stunt.

She even made some sort of peace with Hangman, at least for a little while.

All Natasha knew was that she couldn't wait to get home.

✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈

Word count: 1,045

THE MISSION IS OVER!! THE PROGRAM HAS BEGUN!!

IT IS HAPPINESS FROM HERE ON OUT PEOPLE!!