000. THE BEGINNING.

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1988

"Three near death experiences. . ." Jester exclaimed as he sat in front of Ashley in his office. She had just returned from a hop with her team she was teaching, ". . .Thunder, maybe it's time you took a break from flying"

"No, sir. Please, I was only trying to help the pilots" Ashley pleaded

"Lieutenant Thompson, you are a valued member of our team, and you are one of our best graduates but if you don't quit now, you're going to kill yourself, and you're still far too young for that" Jester said, "It's time you hang up your helmet and overalls, only for a short while"

Ashley hung her head low.

"Yes sir" She mumbled. Jester handed her her discharge papers and she left his office. She made her way down to the locker room and collected her stuff, and changed out of her overalls; back into her jeans and white tshirt before shutting her locker and slinging her duffle bag on her shoulder, making her way out to her truck.

She threw her bag, jacket and helmet on the back seat and slammed her head on the steering wheel, "Fuck" She breathed. It had only been two years since she graduated from Top Gun and became an instructor, with the help of her late twin brother and her former military captain, and now. . . She was discharged from the service after three near death experiences in the last eighteen months, not to mention the two experiences when she was a student.

She composed herself, turning on the ignition and driving away, back to her small house on the coast of Miramar. She parked in front of her garage and made her way inside the house. She placed her helmet into a box on top of her closet shelf before changing into some sweats and a vest, given the hot summer heat that Miramar was blessed every year.

Ashley flopped down on her brown leather sofa that lay in her living room. Her life was now ground to a complete halt. Since she was eighteen, she had always been in the Navy, following her father's footsteps with her twin brother. . . But in the last three years or so, she had lost her brother and her close friend to the Navy; her best friend Maverick disappeared, Iceman moved to San Diego after he and Ashley broke up, respectfully and maturely. She had nothing left.

• • •

The next few days, Ashley tried to find part time jobs to take the endless time awah from her but she had absolute no luck.

On the kitchen counter, her home telephone rang loudly as Ashley sprinted down the stairs to answer the phone

"Hello, Thompson residence" Ashley spoke, holding the receiver to her ear

"Why hello Ashley Thompson"

"Carole!" Ashley exclaimed, hearing a familiar friend's voice on the other wnd of the call. Following Goose's death and graduation, Ashley had met Carole and they became instant friends. They would often meet for nights out when Carole was able to get a babysitter for her young son Bradley. But recently, Carole decided to move out of the country with her son to start a new life, since Miramar held too many memories.

"I have missed your voice, how are you and Bradley?"

"I'm really well. Bradley is great as well, he's really enjoying the island"

"I'm glad" Ashley smiled

"How's work?"

Ashley hesitated, "I've been discharged for a few weeks"

"Oh, Ash. I'm so sorry. I know the Navy has been your dream for years"

"No, it's all good. I could use this time anyway, I- I just don't know what on"

"Come to Greece? You can turn it into a vacation and Bradley misses his favourite aunt" Carole suggested

"I guess I could" Ashley shrugged.

After spending a few more hours on the phone with Carole, Ashley had booked a plane ticket and she was off to Greece to see her best friend and her nephew.

Maybe this vacation is what I need. . .

W O R D   C O U N T : 674 WORDS
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