Blue Skies

by Ali Vali

  “Fighting my battles for me, Captain?”

  “It’s more like proving myself to you and just how seriously I take your happiness. I’m sure she’ll understand since I’ve seen her eyeing you on your morning runs right along side me.” Aidan moved closer when Berkley’s hand landed on her butt. “You might have it all wrong. Did you consider that? Erika just might have her sights set on you.”

  “It’s more like she’s got a thing for authority figures, and that ain’t me.” Berkley kissed her forehead and slapped her gently on the ass. “Face it, you’re adorable and I’m not the only one who’s noticed.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “How do you want to do this, Cletus?” Vader asked as soon as the team assembled in the situation room.

  Berkley brought up a map on the large screen of the Sea of Japan and North Korea. “When we reach this point,” she used a laser and flashed on a spot south of both places, “I want us in the air.”

  “How do you want to play it?” Killer asked.

  “Tight formation while we’re over water, then I want you and Vader to peel off and fly east.”

  She brought the laser to the point she had in mind only to be interrupted by Blazer. “You want them to head away from the drop?”

  “How much do you know about North Korea, Lieutenant?”

  “Enough to know it’s in the opposite direction?”

  “See? Already I’m regretting bringing you, so tell me why I wouldn’t want to replace you with one of the other pilots onboard?” The others in the room kept quiet. “I asked you a question, Lieutenant.”

  “You many not like me, but you saw what I can do in a plane. That’s why I’m here and why you won’t replace me this late in the game.”

  “That sure of yourself, are you?” Berkley laughed and stared at him long enough to make him turn away first. “Trust me, don’t be. Since Lieutenant Morris needs more information to understand our best strategy, let me explain myself. Junior.” She nodded to Harvey, who brought up the graphics she wanted.

  “The players in the region know we’re coming for a training exercise, so a small formation won’t be immediately suspicious. When we reach the split point, Morris, you’ll be flying at my wing, and I need you close and vigilant. As soon as we see the coast I want a four-thousand-foot deck. Think you can handle that?”

  “Cake walk,” Blazer answered.

  “Uh-huh.” She pointed them to the animated planes heading northwest on the screen. “Vader, you’ll be flying point, and, Killer, same thing as Blazer—tight and vigilant. No radio communication for any reason until Morris and I are two hundred clicks from our target.”

  “Two hundred should give us plenty of time,” Vader said.

  “For what?” Blazer asked.

  Killer laughed and shook his head. “Do you need to take a nap?”

  “It was a legitimate question,” Blazer said as he glared at everyone in the room.

  “Sure it was,” Vader said, “for a rookie pilot. So try thinking before you open your mouth from now on. This isn’t all that complicated.”

  “Rein it, guys,” Berkley cut in. She pointed the laser at the two animated planes at the bottom of the screen. “Two hundred miles from our target will give our second team time to swing it back toward the southern target.” She looked at Blazer and hiked her eyebrows. “Any other questions?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Good. Take it easy from here on out, but be ready to go. We’re hot as soon as we reach our hop point.” She pointed to Harvey to flip the lights back on. “If you have problems, you have until then to stop by my office. I’d rather hear it now than when we’re in the middle of this.”

  “Think you can order up some apple pie for us?” Vader asked.

  “Tonight in the strategy room next to my office at six. Don’t be late or you’re not getting milk,” Berkley said.

  “Apple pie? And there’s no way I’m getting that no matter how much I think about it,” Blazer said.

  “Finish a meal with the thing that’ll make you want to come home, Blazer. For us it’s apple pie, and it’s been lucky so far, so no sense fucking with what works,” Vader said.

  “Till then, dismissed,” Berkley said.

  *

  Off the Northwest Coast of North Korea

  “This is going to get old fast,” Jin said as she pointed her plane back to the airstrip. “With our luck we’ll be stuck here for the next two years flying this shit route for nothing.”

  “Captain, you’re cleared for landing,” the ground crewman cut in.

  “Maybe we can just put one plane up at a time,” Yong said as she scanned the area one more time.

  “Maybe.” Jin lined up and touched down with no difficulty even though the area was covered by a fog bank. “This is too close in for anyone to attempt an attack. They might get close, but then we’ll be free to punch back without diplomatic repercussions. There’s no way they’d make it back to any carrier before we scramble.”

  “If we do that it’ll give us time to explore the hot springs that are supposedly around here.” They continued their talk as they walked to the cinderblock cell they were living in. “You know how much I love adding new places to our list.”

  “We’ll have to trade with Su Yu for afternoon sessions for the next week or so.” Jin winked at her as they closed the door to their room. “What could happen?” she asked before going back to pretending she barely knew Yong and ignored her.

  The showers were empty, but Jin didn’t linger under the surprisingly hot water. She cleaned up and headed for the small rec room that had a small collection of books and a television that caught only the station that constantly expounded on Kim Jong Il’s greatness. Jin wasn’t interested in his exploits or in any reading material, just the lone phone in the corner. After fifteen minutes of trying, she finally got through to the party leader’s home in the small town where her grandparents lived. Luckily, the man with one of the few phones in the area lived only three houses from her grandparents.

  “Father, I hope you’re well,” Jin said when her grandfather’s voice came on the line. In her opinion, Pak might have fathered her, but it was her mother’s parents who had shared the duty of raising her.

  “Older than the last time we saw each other, but well. It’s been too long, my child.”

  The endearment made her take a deep breath as a way to control the sudden swell of emotion. “It has, but hopefully after this assignment I’ll have time for a visit. How’s Mother?”

  “Mr. Lee and his sons are helping your grandmother bring her over.” Jin could hear voices over the phone, as if something exciting had happened. “She’s been waiting to talk to you,” her grandfather went on, not really answering her question.

  “Jin.” A female voice came through the line before she could ask him anything else.

  “Mom, how do you feel?”

  “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Tell me how you are.”

  “General Lee has sent me away again and I’m not sure how long I’ll be, so you take care so we can walk through Father’s garden when I see you again.”

  “That gives me something to look forward to. What about the other?”

  If anyone was listening in, and if Jin knew her father, there was, the question probably made no sense to them. “It goes well despite everything. I always remember you said that anything can bloom even in the most barren soil if you’re persistent enough,” she said, referring to Yong.

  “Good for you. My greatest wish for you is that you’re a luckier gardener than I’ve been. If you are, then the coming pain will have some outlet, but don’t waste your time worrying about the inevitable. In a way, I welcome it.”

  “I know it isn’t easy, but try to wait for me. I miss you.”

  “I feel bad about making promises I can’t keep, so just remember what we talked about the last time we saw each other. I love you, and my life has been blessed because of you.”

  The tiredness in h
er mother’s voice was as clear, and it made Jin want to bolt from the desolate place and rush to her side. She wanted to spend her mother’s last days in her grandfather’s small garden holding her hand, not doing her father’s bidding.

  “I love you too, Mom,” Jin said even though she wasn’t alone anymore.

  “That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear.”

  “Just hang on a little while longer and I’ll be there for that walk I promised you.”

  “This is all I needed to find peace. You just remember to mind your garden and keep it thriving until you can enjoy your harvest. I may not live to see it, but my spirit will always be with you. I love you and I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

  It was their code for calls like this when Jin knew there was nowhere to hide. Her mother in her own way was telling her to mind her father until her service was done and she could return home to her grandparents to live out her days in peace, however she chose to live them out and with whomever she wanted. For her real family there was never any shame in being who she truly was.

  “Take care,” was all Jin could get out before her grandfather came back on the line.

  “If you can, hurry home, but if you can’t we’ll take care of everything.”

  “Thank you, Father.”

  As she gripped the receiver Jin noticed the soldier who had joined her in the rec room never glanced up from his book. Her mother’s voice rang in her head and she suddenly had an overwhelming urge to hear it again since she knew it would be silenced forever in too little time.

  “Captain, the men are waiting for your briefing,” another soldier informed her.

  “Five minutes.” She would be as brief with them as she planned to be with her father. She would give this mission another week of her time, then she was going to join her mother. Pak would have to learn to accept the consequences of her decision. The revolution would get no more sacrifices from her.

  Chapter Twenty

  Onboard the USS Jefferson

  “Tell the comm room to be extra vigilant tonight. We’re entering dangerous waters, so we need to keep our eyes on the air and the sea.” Aidan was giving direction as she made her way to her room for the night. The weather had cleared considerably, and after another week of sailing full throttle she’d taken their speed down a notch since they were still on schedule to be in their target area on time.

  What was burned into her brain like a big red X was the spot Berkley had pointed to as they went about making plans. By her calculations, they’d hit that point in the morning, and for once in her life, fear was soaking into her bones. The worst of it was that her belief that Berkley would prevail wasn’t making her fear go away.

  “Do you want me to bring you the hourly report?” Erika asked when they stopped at Aidan’s door.

  “Not unless there’s something out of the ordinary. We’ve got a stressful day ahead of us tomorrow, so a quiet night would be good.”

  “I’ll do my best to make it happen, Captain. See you in the morning.”

  Aidan laughed when she stepped through her office door into her private quarters and saw the candle burning next to her bunk. In the chair across from the bed Berkley smiled back at her, sitting in her skivvies.

  “It’s a good thing you didn’t invite your admirer in with you,” Berkley said as she crossed her legs. “That would’ve been uncomfortable.”

  “Where’d you find a candle?”

  “Just a little contraband I snuck into my bag when we boarded. I knew you’re a sucker for candlelight, so I thought it was worth making you happy.”

  To subdue the urge to immediately put her hands on Berkley, Aidan pressed them to the cold metal of the door. “Just so you know for the future, while I do love candlelight, finding you in your underwear in my room goes a long way in making me happy.”

  “Is that the line you give all the sailors who wander in here in their underwear?”

  “And what if I said yes?”

  Berkley put her feet on the floor again and pushed herself out of the chair. “Then I see a lot of fistfights in my future.” She picked up a plate covered with a napkin from the footlocker in front of the bed and held it out to her.

  “You saved me a piece?” Aidan asked when Berkley lifted the cover. “I think I’m wearing you down.”

  “Since you baked it, I thought it was prudent to save you some.”

  “I don’t think you have any worries about going pieless.”

  “Sounds promising.” Berkley fed her a piece, then tapped the tip of the fork on Aidan’s nose. “I just thought if I came bearing gifts I might be able to bribe you into spending the night with me.”

  “Again, honey, for future reference, you just have to show up and ask.”

  “That’s good to know too.” Berkley handed her the plate so she could start helping her out of her uniform. She finished the pie while sitting on Berkley’s lap after they moved back to the chair. “You’ve done a good job on the dessert and on getting us this far, Captain.”

  “With talk like that I could use you as a reference.”

  Her teasing made Berkley laugh, but she didn’t stop her hand from roaming up and down her naked legs. “Depends on what job you’re applying for. Tonight I have an opening for someone to hold.”

  The way Berkley said it made Aidan lean back and study her face. She found none of the hesitancy that had plagued her since Berkley had come back into her life. This time she had no problem asking for what she wanted, and it made Aidan ecstatic that it was her that Berkley asked for. “You won’t be gone that long, so I’m hoping it’s more than a one-night assignment.”

  “That island is too close to enemy lines, and I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s no gimme. If something happens—” The rest of what Berkley was going to say stopped when Aidan pressed her hand to her mouth.

  “No talking like you aren’t coming back, Cletus. You’re going in there and you’re coming right back out. No detours, no problems, and no excuses, you hear me?”

  Berkley pulled her hand away and kissed her fingers. “You know my motto, baby—make a work plan, then work your plan.” She stood and carried Aidan to the bed. “Part of covering my bases is making sure I don’t leave anything to chance.” The surface squeaked when they both lay back, Aidan in the circle of Berkley’s arms. “If something happens, all the stuff you’ll need is in the top drawer of my desk.”

  With just the tips of her fingers, Aidan scratched lightly down her chest until she reached the elastic of her underwear. There she stopped. “Would it help if I gave you an incentive?”

  “Does it have anything to do with that hand?”

  “Since you asked so nicely.” She lifted the elastic of the white jockeys and snapped them against Berkley’s skin. “I’m going to stop right here, then when you get back I’ll head down this way.” She snapped the elastic again and laughed.

  “That’s the kind of incentive they should use on the recruitment posters.” Berkley wrapped her hand around Aidan’s wrist and brought her hand up so she could bite down on her fingertips.

  Berkley looked down at Aidan’s face when she didn’t laugh at her joke. The last thing she expected was tears. “Hey now, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Aidan sniffed and pressed her face into Berkley’s T-shirt. “Shit.”

  “I’ve known you for a long time, Aidan Sullivan, and you don’t cry over nothing. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I didn’t want to do this in front of you…not tonight.”

  The bed creaked again when Berkley placed Aidan’s head on the pillow and leaned over her to see her face better. “Don’t be afraid. Tell me.”

  “That’s just it, I’m scared,” Aidan got out softly. The way she forced it out made Berkley think that the answer wasn’t an easy confession.

  “You sail the boat, babe, and I’ll find a way to get back on it.”

  “Sorry that I’m picking now to freak out on you.” Aidan pressed her fingers to Berkley’s mou
th again when she took a breath to say something. “And don’t say it’s all right, because we both know it’s not. The last thing we need is for me to jinx you.”

  “It’s not true, and I’m not going to argue with you about that, so let’s get some sleep.” She kissed Aidan’s forehead and got as comfortable as they were going to get on the bunk. “I don’t want to freak Harvey out by falling asleep in the cockpit tomorrow.”

  Aidan fell asleep to the hum of the powerful engines churning them toward the dangers that needed to be faced to bring about peace and to the steady sound of Berkley’s heartbeat. Even during her time at the Academy, she found it humorous that no matter how hard they tried other options, peace had to be garnered by the most violent means man could devise.

  *

  Pyongyang, North Korea

  “General Lee?” The young woman standing at his door appeared as if she’d rather be teaching cobras to line dance than be in his presence. “I’m sorry to disturb you, sir, but Captain Umeko is on the phone for you.”

  Pak waited until the door to his office was closed before even glancing at the phone. In reality, he hadn’t given Jin much thought after shipping her to a position that was beneath her. It was the only thing he could think of to drive her and Yong apart. Being under the microscope of such a small base was just the stressor his daughter needed to bring her back in line.

  He took a sip of his hot tea then picked up the receiver. “Jin, do you have a progress report?”

  “My mother is dying and I’m leaving tomorrow night to be with her before she does.”

  The china cup on his desk rattled when he pounded his fist on the wooden surface. “You desert your post and I won’t be able to protect you anymore. Do you understand the consequences of that?”