Omega’s Shadow

Notes from the author:  this is to explain some of my character’s psychological motives in the squad. This will also explain how my character came to Shadow squad and explain the name “Wave”.  I’ll give closest earth examples in << >> those symbols to make it more understandable. Enjoy  ^ . ^ Symota base in Paradise Star system         “Your move Rick,” Michael Waterflower said sitting back in the chair.         “You fell right into my trap Mike,” Rick Rycshaw said moving one of the pieces on the Daleyg board <<Chess>>. “Castle overtaken! I win.”         “You always do. Are you all set for tonight?”         Rick pulled a small ring box out of his pocket, “You bet’cha. Were you able to get the officer’s lounge clear?”         “I had to pull rank but it’ll be worth it. I’ll serve the dinner, Alexis is cookin’, and I got “Ace”, Pitch, and Vanessa to provide music.”         “What’s the rest of the squad gonna be doing, Commander?”          “Rec. room probably. I’m gonna go spend some time with Alexis. I’ll see you later.”         “Just don’t be late.”         “What? We were gonna discuss the menu.”         “I bet.” *****************************************************************         Commander Waterflower looked around the lounge. It had been specially decorated for the occasion.  I wasn’t every day that one of the pilots under his command proposed to another and he wanted this to be extra special. Mike was the commander of one of the most elite squadrons in the Paradise system, Omega Squad. This allowed him a few special privileges. “Cute suit, Mikey,” Alexis said from behind him. “Oh, hi Moon.” He always called her moon because she had a tattoo of a blue crescent moon around her right eye. “Everything set?” “Yep, the salads are made, the soup’s hot, and I’m working on the main course.” “Where would I be without you?” “Probably in a grave somewhere.” “Thank you for that lovely image.” “You’re welcome,” she said turning around. She went back to work. ************************************************************************ Later that night         Rick sat across the small table from his girlfriend, Tracie. Michael brought out their deserts on a tray and set them down. “Well, Rick, you still haven’t told me what this was all about,” Tracie said looking across the table at him. She poked her fork into the moist cake in front of her. She felt it hit something metallic. She turned the fork sideways and cut part of the cake off. A small round object fell out and she picked it up and whipped it off with her napkin. She looked at it. “Rick, is this a…”         Rick got down on one knee next to her and said, “Tracie, you are the light in my life. You shine brighter than all the stars in the sky. You are the one I want to spend the rest of the days in my life with. I guess what I’m trying to say is; Tracie, will you marry me?” Tracie opened her mouth and started to speak when the siren went off. “Tell me when we get back.” With that he kissed her on the forehead and ran to the ready room.         Michael walked up to the table. “Tracie, I wish I could let you two sit this one out, but…”         “That’s alright Commander.” ************************************************************************         Mike was running to his ship when Alexis caught up with him. “Bad timing, eh, Mikey?”         “Yeah”         “So, when are you going to propose to me?”         “I uhhhh… gotta go!” He took off running to his ship and the squad took off. ************************************************************************         The ships of Omega squadron took off one by one. “Contun star fighters at 9:00 relative.” The two squadrons met head on and separated into dogfights.         After about ten minutes all hell broke lose. “Omega 3 has been hit,” tha radio blared. Oh my God, that’s Rick! Rick’s voice was the next one Michael heard: “Six (Tracie), I’m-I’m sorry *cough*. Remember… I…-ove…yo-…” the voice fizzled off into static.          “RICK!” Tracie screamed over the com. But it was too late the light that was Omega three winked out of existence. After that the lights began disappearing one after another until there were just 3 left. Michael- Omega One, Alexis- Omega Four, and Pitch- Omega Five.         “Four, Five, form up. I’ve called for reinforcements but I think we should get the hell out of here!”         “Roger, One,” The pilots said…then “Five watch it you’ve got one on your tail!”         “Help Me I can’t get him off…”         “Five, come in! Five?”         “Give it up lead it’s just you and me. I got a course, take it and run”         “Get on my wing, Four.”         “Right.”         Then Michael witnessed something that would haunt him for the rest of his life. As if in slow motion he saw a destroyer exit hyperspace right over Moon’s fighter and open fire. The ship careened out of control and drifted. “Four, Four? Are you there?! ALEXIS?!”         His autopilot had taken over when he set the course Moon had given him. And upon reaching the specified point it entered hyperspace. *********************************************************************** 6 Earth months later FROM THE JOURNAL OF COMANDER MICHAEL WATERFLOWER: “I have found a planet that I can live on for now. It is far enough away from the Paradise System and they speak basic. I am never going back. I could never face myself again in charge of another unit. I can’t even bear using this name. I need a new one. I remember back when I was growing up on Ancitia that Moon used to call me “Wave” because of how much I liked swimming. In her honor I’ll use it for my first name. As for a last name I shall use Summers. It was the name of my commanding officer during basic training. He was a real good person. I have secured an apartment and even have a pet. It is a thing called a Cabbit and they are very intelligent. I have named her Rio after a character from a show here. This planet, Earth, is my new home. I was able to get my credits changed into an Earthen currency and it is enough to live on for now. I am even frequenting some local establishments, The Clone Zone and the Lizard Lounge. This is my new life. There is no turning back!” **********************************************************************         Wave walked into the Lizard Lounge and was immediately knocked off his feet as a young girl tackle hugged him. “Ummm hi Gp.”  He got up and brushed himself off as the girl, Gpilot06, let go of him. He and Gp talked for a bit and then he went to the bar for a drink. “Hey Striker1. How’s it going?”         “Not bad, Wave. The Usual?”         “Yep.” Striker set a glass of wine in front of him and he sat back sipping. He looked around the small Karaoke Bar. He knew almost everyone there. Gp, LA, and Zor Alpha were in a heated discussion at a table. They moved their hands through the air simulating Fighters. The three of them were pilots of Shadow Squadron. Wave was friends with all of them. He loved hearing stories of their missions. Moon often used to say, “You can take the jock out of the jet but you can’t take the jet out of the jock.” Wave laughed as the thought floated to the forefront of his mind.         “Wave, Yo, anyone in there?” Gp asked waving her and in front of his face.         “Just thinking that’s all.”         “Did it hurt?”         “>:( “         “Any way… you know some fighter stuff. Have you ever flown?”         La and Zor Alpha approached Wave. “We’ve been curious.”         “I…ummm…” Wave said. Gp grabbed his arm and started pulling him to an arcade game in the corner. Wave sat in it.         “Come on, show us.”         No getting out of this…, he thought as the game started. When it asked for a squadron name and a position he typed in Omega One and the simulator started.