Alpha One - Chris Burton [47]
Top Gun: The Next Round
Jake sat at his tutor’s desk with his head in his hands. He was alone. His tutor left him for a few moments to gather his thoughts. Joanne was dead. How could this happen? I spoke to her on the comm link two days ago! How could anyone be idiotic enough to send a rookie out into battle? Jake continued his reflection. Why did she choose me as next of kin? Maybe she didn’t have time to change it or had not wanted to. Why didn’t she list her parents as next of kin?
Jake suddenly realized that it was his responsibility to tell her parents. Oh, crap. How the hell am I supposed to do that?
Jake’s tutor re-entered the room and took his seat.
“Jake, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. This is terrible news. She was such a promising pilot.”
The tutor’s words didn’t register. Jake’s buried feelings for Joanne were resurfacing. He must be strong for Joanne’s sake. She listed him as next of kin for a reason.
Jake looked up and apologized to his tutor. “I am sorry, Sir. This is a complete shock. You know these things can happen, but you just don’t expect…”
The tutor was used to these conversations. Over the years he learned the best tonic was to try to move things on and give the grieving person something to work towards. He interrupted, “The Academy will help you with your next-of-kin responsibilities. Do you wish me to contact her parents?”
“No. Thank you. Joanne gave me that job for a reason and I need to do this. I will get in touch with them straight away.”
“I know. Now hardly seems the time, but there is the small matter of the Top Gun event this afternoon. I know how important the competition is to you. I can probably arrange for a temporary deferral for you, especially given your placing in the Top Gun table.”
“God, how can I think about the Top Gun at a time like this?” Jake reflected for a moment. “You’re right. I have to participate. Anything you can do with the Top Gun organizers would be appreciated. Joanne’s parents are local; I should be able to speak to them this morning. I will get to it right away.”
“Send me a comm message when you are done, and I will speak to the Top Gun organizers.”
Jake’s Personal Transportation Vessel (PTV) was charging in its allocated bay next to his apartment block. Jake climbed aboard and disconnected the charger. He carried out his pre-flight inspection and entered his destination details into the Automated Flight and Navigation computer (AFN) before firing up the PTV. The ground thrusters roared into life and the PTV took off vertically at first. When it reached the allocated cruising height of 110 meters, it accelerated briskly and turned in the direction of Joanne’s parents’ house.
Jake already checked that Joanne’s parents were in. He made an excuse that he was in the area and thought he would pop into to see them. His three-year relationship with Joanne brought him close to her parents and, to be honest, he did miss them. He didn’t cherish the prospect of seeing them, for the first time in over a year to tell them that their daughter was dead. Ten minutes later, the PTV landed on the spare charging bay on the roof of Admiral William Black’s substantial property.
Jake carried out the ‘official’ task and left the Black’s home ten minutes later. Jake felt awful and had an inclination as to why Joanne never listed her parents as next of kin. Admiral Black disapproved of Joanne’s jump ship specialty, largely because of the danger. It seemed his anxieties proved correct.
The retired Admiral cried out, “Why the hell did she not listen to me?”
Jake comforted them both as best he could, then said his goodbyes and left promptly.
He fired up his PTV and reset the AFN for a return to the Academy. He then opened a comm link to his tutor, who confirmed that his place at the Top Gun event had not been jeopardized. He would not fly until mid-afternoon. Jake headed back to the Academy at half-cruising velocity. The AFN controlling the vessel allowed Jake to make contact via comm link to the other parties on his hastily drafted contact list, including