Preface
Europe is completely run by the Nordic alliance. The United States had broken free after being colonized in the 1500's. The revolution took place beginning on the autumn equinox in 1676. The US broke the yoke of the Nordic King, and has had to wage war with Europe on and off for 400 years.
John McDaniel
It was getting close to graduation, and the pressure was high. I had spent 330 days a year for the last seven years at Brooks Military Academy. It was the last week of senior year, and I was at the top of my class. Next stop: The USAF Academy in Colorado Springs to learn how to be a fighter pilot. Granted Second LT upon entry!
I was so stoked!
My best wing man, Alex was close to the top. He met me for lunch that Monday afternoon.
"So Lieutenant, what are you gonna get for the last week at lunch?" Alex asked smiling.
"Well L.T., I figured I have your pride for lunch all week, cause I am gonna smoke you at finals!" I ribbed.
"You don't have to be an ass about it!" Alex frowned. He had never beaten me on a test score yet, although he had remained competitive. "Sorry Alex...I'm just feeling really good about getting out of this hole and meeting a girl."
"Makes two of us. So when can I meet your mom for wine, perhaps dinner and a motel room?" Alex asked nearly seriously. He had met her twice and had a massive crush.
"I can kill you with a plastic butter knife Alex" I said as we made our way down the cafeteria line.
"Good! Do it! If I don't get laid soon I'm going to do it myself." Alex moaned.
"So says the man who gave himself his flight name already." I teased. "The only way you will kill yourself is if they let you take a plane up...problem is you'll kill all the people you crash into as well.!"
"Fuck yooou Johnny!" He glared at me mockingly, holding up his middle finger. "I think "Popeye" suits me."
"You get your handle during flight training, you can't make up your own" I reminded him for the umpteenth time. "If I got to pick my own...it would be 'Ghost'!"
"Because of how fucking white your hair is?" Jake asked
"It's blonde, you color blind bat!"
"You look like a fucking Viking!" Jake whispered.
"So I am the enemy now? Watch your mouth! Don't say the "V" word on campus, you could get kicked out!" I whispered harshly.
He frowned.
After we picked out what we wanted from the Ala-cart line, we found a place to sit.
"What do you have today, any finals?" Alex asked.
"No, I have my complete physical. I wish I could get an early final this week." I said lowly.
"Ha! I will have you beat for how ever short it may last. I will revel in it! Johnny McDaniel!" Alex joked as he shoved a hard shell taco into his face.
"That you will..."
A week later, I sat waiting in my Commanding Officers office waiting for some news. I was certain I had passed my finals and I should be packing up to spend a summer at home before going to Colorado Springs. Why was I summoned here?
I stewed and let my mind come up with every scenario possible. Some were downright horrid. Death of my sister or mother. They found the wreckage of my dad's plane and his 3 year old rotting bones. I would get accused of cheating...my mind was cruel to me.
So when the Chief Medical Officer came to see me I was very confused.
"Cadet McDaniel, I have some bad news." He sat on the chair in the office next to me. He held a manila folder in his hand that had my name on it.
"Sorry Doc it's Lieutenant McDaniel now." I forced a smile, although my guts were churning.
"John? You are going deaf. The Air Force will not take you."
I asked questions...but I don't remember what they were. I don't remember anything about the conversation at all.
I threw up outside the CO's office and sat next to my acrid smelling puke on the ground dazed...That I did remember
(All of that hard work...total waste of time.)
Chapter One
Going Home
My bedroom looked like a 10 year old lived in it. I realized it was just as I had left it minus dirty clothes and toys laying around. I unpacked my gear and hung my few clothes in the empty closet. I ripped down the models hung by fishing line that hung from the ceiling.
In a fit of rage and regret, I stomped the plastic war planes to tiny bits, not saying a word.
(Knock Knock) "You okay Johnny?" My sister Joan, always nosy, at my door.
"Yeah Joan come in."
"What did you do?" She scanned the floor as my boots ground down the models I spend hours upon hours building as a kid.
"Reality set in Joan. Just like you, I failed and live with mom." I said snarky.
"Johnny be nice. Bachelor degree doesn't get shit anymore, and you didn't know your ears were failing." She touched my right arm as I hung my only pair of jeans on a hanger. Rage boiled inside of me, her sympathy or apathy was making it worse. I barely knew my sister other than her spitting on me as a kid, or tripping me in front of boy she liked when she was 12 and I was 10.
"Joan?"
"Yeah Johnny?"
"Get out of my room before I snap your neck!" I growled through a clenched jaw.
"You need to relax, you sound like dad!"
"JOAAAN!"
(SLAM)
Her slamming the door was a signal to my mother. I knew it. I was just happy to be alone.
I laid down on my bed, and fought the tears that began to run from my eyes.
(Jesus Son? How could you fail?)
"I'm so sorry dad! They robbed me of my wings!"