ABS FIESTA REDUX

[blockguy™]

"I'm not too smart."

[Ad Bot]

[Qwepir]

The flight home is almost peaceful, and Geary is able to get a few hours to nap.
You are now finally back at base. Go meet your new friends and whatnot.

[blockguy™]

I walk into the cafeteria, starving from the flight. Ignoring everything but the rack of chips, I munch down on them until the bag is empty.
I look up.
There's a girl in a helmet sitting adjacent to me.

"I guess you're one of the new pilots, huh?"

[Tayasaurus]

"In forgetin planes n' stuff yes. But drop me in a tank and you can kiss your ass goodbye. Are you going to eat your mac n' cheese or you gonna forgetin stare at it."

[blockguy™]

"In forgetin planes n' stuff yes. But drop me in a tank and you can kiss your ass goodbye. Are you going to eat your mac n' cheese or you gonna forgetin stare at it."

I take a look at my empty bag of chips.
"I uh.. don't have mac n cheese."

[Tayasaurus]

"So that tray in front of you isn't yours? Good."

I grab the abandoned food tray near you and dump it in my own.

"So what do you do thats probably not interesting."

[blockguy™]

"So that tray in front of you isn't yours? Good."

I grab the abandoned food tray near you and dump it in my own.

"So what do you do thats probably not interesting."

"I fly planes. But I haven't flown any planes. I haven't been selected for any missions. Boring loving job at the moment."

[Tayasaurus]

"forgetin favorite pilots and stuff probably. Whats there to do thats FUN in stuffty town? You like guns? I like guns, and if i could i'd clean mine almost every 15 minutes on the loving second."

I flip out my notebook and start jotting down little details of things.

[blockguy™]

"I like guns."

[Tayasaurus]

"loving outstanding! You. I like you."

*shovels a massive amount of food into my mouth*

I get up and dump the rest of the contents of my tray into the trashcan.

"I'll be in the park frolicking in the fake-ass lillies if you're bored. I haven't found any TV's that have Gladiator Crashers on channel 6. I wish i could see someone get their head caved in with a sledgehammer damn forget."

I show a little too much force on the door again and hear the wood frame crack a little.

"forget."

I open up the notebook and start writing small details down again as i walk outside.

[blockguy™]

"Gladiator Crashers is a good show."
I watch her close the door.
"God damn, she's awesome."

[NoZoner]

Inhale. Puff.

A feeling of relief washes over as the nicotine kicks in. It's been too damn long. A whole three days without a smoke! Can you believe it? The withdrawls were bad enough to forget with my sleep. At least the flight back home was quiet enough for me to make up some lost rest.

I stand comfortably on a patch of unkempt grass a few dozen meters away from the main complex. Aside from the occasional rumbling of jets and distant tire chirps, things have been pretty quiet for the past thirty minutes here at McNamara.

I take in another drag from the cigarette, hold it in for a second, and release.

Crack.

The door opens, and I make out the silhouette of a person through the plume of smoke leaving my lips. The view clears up a little, and I can see the person taking out a notebook to write something down.

... Is that a flight helmet? Who the hell is this guy?

[Tayasaurus]

The Sun was still way too hot as i left the cafeteria. I look at the multitudes of buildings that were present on base. Each and every one of these will be worth exploring in some way or another. Or they could be a hornets nest waiting to happen. I don't know.

I heard someone shouting my name in the distance.

Kyle Stribek: "Tay! Taylor! Is that you!?"

I stuff away my notebook run over to a suave hunk of a man. I throw my arms around him and bury my face into his shoulder.

"Don't call me that please. My name causes more trouble than its worth. How are you!?"

Kyle: "I'm fine. I really missed you. I didn't think i'd see you for another few months. I see you got your transfer a lot earlier... you din-"

Me: "No i didn't. I swear."

Kyle: "alright. I know you too well but i'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

I unlock my hug and look him in the face.

Me: "You look..."

Kyle: "Different. Yes." His fingers ran down a large scar extending from his eye.

Kyle: "Shrapnel blinded me in one eye. I've been handed a desk job now."

Me: "They took you away from flying!? That's your life though! Can't they-"

Kyle: "No i'm happy. Hush. Don't worry about that now. Want to grab a bite to eat?"

Me: "Oh. I already kind of consumed my fair share i suppose..."

Kyle: "That's not a problem! I'll grab something to go. You wait here."

Kyle is my man. A guy that would never go back on his word. Those are far and few between. My defense mechanisms go down the moment i see him. There are no secrets between us and serving with him since Palestra.

I notice a guy puffing a cigarette giving me the eyeball. I immediately whip out my notebook and start writing details down again.

I cringe. I really don't want to start anything before Kyle gets back.

[blockguy™]

I walk out of the cafeteria and see Richard smoking a cigarette.
"Hey Richard. Have you seen the new pilot yet?"

[NoZoner]

I stand quietly and watch as the two people converse. Seems like the one in the helmet is a girl. The conversation ends, and she's left standing. It doesn't take long for her to notice me.

"What are you looking at?!"

...

I thought about just turning around quietly to mind my own business when I hear someone approaching.

"Hey Richard. Have you seen the new pilot yet?"

I look over to find Tom, apparently in good spirits.

"New pilot? Didn't hear anything about that."

I gesture towards the helmet-wearing and presumably female person standing over there, using my cigarette like a pointer.

"That wouldn't happen to be her, would it?"