Now playing from "Riot's in the sky":

𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐊 𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒

0:57 ━━━•──────── 3:59

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

I BARELY SLEPT LAST NIGHT. The anticipation of this mission kept me up all night. I couldn't sleep after what happened with Bradley. We spent the night together and stayed up trying to calm the other down about the mission.

I loved being with him, I love..him.

That's why my nerves are eating me alive. I'm terrified of losing him. Now that we are as close as ever, the fear of never seeing him again is as prominent as ever. I have to bring us both back home.

So this morning, I got up. I fixed my heart, and put on my makeup. I showed up to the carrier with the most confident attitude I could muster. But on the inside, I was a ticking time bomb, just waiting to melt into a puddle.

"It's been an honor flying with you." Maverick greets our class. It scares me to think this might be the last time all of us will be together. Everyone in the room is feeling the same thing, fear.

"Each one of you represents the best of the best. This is a very specific mission. My choices are a reflection of that, and nothing more."

"Choose your two foxtrot teams." Admiral Simpson orders.

There was a pause. "Payback and Fanboy. Phoenix and Bob."

"Your wingman."

I suck in a breath.

"..Rooster."

Rooster looks very surprised, but deep down inside I knew it would be him.

"And, your team leader."

"Riot."

I release a breath and slightly smile to myself. In front of me, I can see Hangman's slight disappointment.

"The rest of you will stand by on the carrier, for any, reserved role that's required." Admiral Bates instructs. "Dismissed."

After a few fistbumps, handshakes, and "goodlucks", the team makes our way out of the room.

As I walk to my jet, I go through every single detail about this mission in my head. Nuclear plant tucked between two mountains. Time to target 2 minutes 30 seconds. With every step I take, the faster my heart pounds.

This is what I've been training for. Now I just need to come home safe.

I met Hangman halfway to my plane. I thought he was going to give me a snarky comment to throw me off my A-game, but instead he puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Give 'em hell, May." He looks worried. This is the first time I've seen Hangman show any other emotion than pride.

"You know I will, Jake." I squeeze his hand and continue walking to Maverick.

"Lieutenant May Austin." he greets.

"Captain Pete Mitchell."

"Listen. When I first saw you fly, I had no doubt in my mind that you would be the one to lead this mission. You're where you belong, Riot. Make us proud."

And with that he left. I walk to my jet with a new found confidence and start to prepare for leaving.

"May!" I turn around to see Bradley running towards me. "May!"

"Bradley, you need to get to your plane-"

"I know, I know. I just need to tell you something."

An announcement saying we need to get to our planes interrupts him.

"Hey, you can tell me when we get back." I grab his hand and try to give him the most calming smile. "Okay?"

He sighs with a worried expression on his face. "Okay."

As he starts to walk away, I yell after him. "You've got this, Bradshaw!"

-¯'★'¯-

"DAGGER ONE, UP AND READY AT CATAPULT ONE." I announce once I'm in position. This is it.

"Dagger spare, standing by." Hangman announces.

"Dagger four, up and ready."

"Dagger three, up and ready."

"Dagger two. Up and ready."

Once we got the okay, it was time to launch. I was the first one in the sky, followed by Rooster.

Here we go. This is it. This is it.

"Comanche, dagger one. Standby check in." I say once we are all in the air. I hope no one can tell how shaky my voice is.

"...recommend daggers continue."

"Copy, daggers descending below the radar."

"Daggers now below radar, switching to E2 picture."

"Here we go." I breathe. "Enemy territory up ahead. Feat drive 60 seconds. Comanche dagger one, picture."

"Comanche. Picture clean, decision is yours."

"Copy." I take a deep breath, leaving all my nerves and negativity outside my plane. I need to feel nothing but focus. "Dagger attack."

"Tomahawks airborne"

No turning back now.

"Daggers, assume attack formation." I order as I see the missiles fly over us.

"Daggers set, proceeding to target. Two minutes and 30 seconds in

3

2

1

Mark."

"Two mark."

"Three mark."

"Four mark."

"Going in." I breathe as I enter the canyon. I breathe heavily as I twist and turn, the gravity starting to set on me. If I wasn't so focused on the mission at hand, I would gawk at the view. It is so beautiful here.

"First SAM sight overhead." I feel my heart drop when I see them.

"Looks like we're clear on radar, Riot." Phoenix reports.

"Let's not take it for granted."

"More SAMS"

"We've got two minutes to target." Bob reminds.

"Copy. We're two seconds behind. Rooster, we've gotta move." Payback urges. I silently pray that Rooster will stop thinking about everything so much.

"Dagger - Comanche. We're picking up two bandits."

"They're heading away from us, they don't know we're here." Rooster thinks out loud.

"The second those tomahawks hit their base, they're gonna move to defend their target. We've got to get there before they do, increase speed." I think it over, and I do not want to risk intercepting those bandits.

"I've got you, Riot. Don't wait for me." Phoenix states.

"Impact. Enemy runway is destroyed."

They know we're coming now.

"Bandits are switching course to defend the target."

"Rooster, where are you?" I ask.

"Come on, Rooster! Bandits inbound, we gotta make up time now!" Payback seems frantic. Shit, Rooster must be farther away than I thought he was.

"Heads up Phoenix." I warn as I come close to a narrow bridge. I rotate 90 degrees and fit perfectly through it.

"Woah!" I stifle a laugh at Bob's surprise.

"sucks I can't play music on missions. I have the perfect playlist" I said to ease the tension.

"Ma'am. Bandits are two minutes from target. Daggers are one minute from target."

"Guys, we're falling behind, we really gotta move!!" Fanboy urges Rooster.

"If we don't increase our speed right now, those bandits are going to be waiting for us when we reach the target."

"Talk to me dad." I hear Rooster whisper. It pulled on my heartstrings to hear him say that.

"Come on kid, you can do it." Maverick's voice comes over comms. "Don't think, just do."

Come on Bradley..

"Jesus Rooster! Not that fast." Thank god he sped up.

That's it Bradley.

"Alright let's go." Rooster got his confidence back.

"30 seconds to target. Bob check your laser." I ordered.

"Laser is a go!"

"Watch your heads!" Rooster says. He made it to the bridge.

"OH shit! Shit!!"

"Payback, you with me?"

"Right behind you!"

"Phoenix stand by for popup strike."

"Dagger three, in position."

"Popping in 3, 2, 1." I pull up and try my best to not let the gravity affect me. I breathe steady as I flip over and under into the mountain.

"Get me eyes on that target, Bob." My anxiety is starting to kick in as much as I don't want it to.

"Dagger three." He gasps. "Stand by, Riot."

Come on come on..

"Stand by!!"

"I've got it, captured!!"

"Target acquired, bombs away." I press the button launching the missiles. I pull up starting the high-g climbout, running on pure adrenaline. I keep my breathing steady to keep from blacking out, just waiting to hear Bob's confirmation.

Just waiting...

A/N

I'm so sorry the flying scenes are so shitty! I know that's mainly what Top Gun is about so i feel like i'm disappointing you guys. (but then again i think your all just here for Rooster) I have no idea what I'm talking about and all those fancy terms, i'm just pretending i'm an expert pilot

It's crazy there are only 4 more chapters left of Lady May. so bittersweet :(

-cj