Page 53 of Ace

“No, can’t say that I have.” She laughed. “I was usually up there.”

“It’s almost as good. We talk them through things. You should come on up.”

“Who’s going up?”

“Dex is going to take lead. Ivy backup. The students we’re watching today are the top in the class. They’re competing for top spot in the next three sessions.”

She nodded. “I gotta watch at least one take off.”

“Yeah, me too.” He laughed. “It never gets old.”

“I’m impressed you can still keep your program running in the middle of all this.”

“They’re super motivated. They want to be self-sufficient and even have their own training program when we’re through here.”

“I believe it.” Her eyes searched the area for Dex now that she knew he was out there. It was a curse.

Then she saw him. He was atop his plane looking right at her. Her heart skipped. She couldn’t help it. She placed a hand over her heart. Then he pointed two fingers in her direction and saluted.

“Oh, that’s cute.” Omar snorted.

“Stop.”

“Is that some kind of love message?”

She laughed and shoved him. “I said stop. I’ve known Dex since we were kids. It’s bad luck to go up in a plane without our salute.”

“Even when you don’t want to talk to him?”

“Even then.”

The sound filled her, the roaring. It rumbled through her like she knew it would. And then the air filled with smoke, the smell of fuel, oil, and hot pavement. Her smile stretched across her cheeks. “I can see why you guys do this. You’re still flying. You’re still dealing with pilots, this, all of it.” She ached from a desire to have this in her life. “I get it.”

Omar started heading back to the control tower. “Come on. I’m interested to see what you think of this part.”

She followed him back into the hangar and up the stairs to the control room. The screens on one end that had been showing all the recent news casts now held each of the pilot’s location and their progress.

Omar pointed to headsets. “You can talk to them through these. We can turn up the volume to hear their conversations.” He turned the dial.

Jed joined them. “We’ve got to guide them through this. They’re up against Dex and Ivy.” He laughed. “But they don’t know about Dex yet. They’ve been flying with Ivy this whole time.”

Gianna nodded. “They’re about to see what he’s made of, then. Is there anyone out there that could catch him?”

“No.” Omar shook his head. “But first, he’s going after them.”

“Oh dear.” She moved over to the headsets. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all. In fact, if you have any pointers, feel free to step in.”

She lifted her eyebrows.

“Your reputation precedes you.”

Gi wasn’t sure what part of which reputation had preceded her, but Omar had guessed correctly. She was fascinated by this training procedure and was itching to be involved.

As soon as the headset was on her ears, she was lost. She was immediately in the cockpit of one of the planes. She could see it all. She could almost feel the g-force as they maneuvered. Someone put a chair behind her, and she sat.

One of the pilots, Spike, was running from Ace. “He’s on my tail. I can’t see him. Beaver, I could use some backup.”