Page 87 of Moonlight Feels Right
"No, sir."
Wong gestured to the simulator. "Let's get started."
Hunter climbed into the cockpit; the familiar environment was both comforting and unsettling. He secured his harness, positioned his headset, and began the pre-flight check sequence. His hands moved over the controls with practiced precision, muscle memory kicking in despite the months away. "Communications check," he said into his headset.
"Communications functional," Wong's voice replied. "Beginning startup sequence. Your first task is a standard patrol along the coast, light winds, clear visibility."
The screens around Hunter came to life, displaying a detailed simulation of Camp Pendleton's coastline. He completed the startup procedure, feeling the simulator rumble to life beneath him. As he lifted off, a sense of rightness settled over him. Whatever else had changed, this hadn't—he belonged in the air.
The first hour progressed smoothly. Hunter executed a series of increasingly challenging maneuvers, navigation exercises, and tactical scenarios. Wong occasionally inserted minor emergencies—instrument failures, weather changes, communication issues—which Hunter handled efficiently. Then came the pivot.
"Captain, new scenario," Wong announced. "Humanitarian mission, mountainous terrain, local intelligence reports area clear of hostiles."
Hunter's heart rate spiked as the simulator screens shifted to display a landscape eerily similar to the one from his final mission with Gary. His palms grew damp against the controls.
"Report status," Wong prompted.
Hunter forced himself to breathe steadily. "Approaching drop zone. All systems normal. Visibility good. Proceeding as planned."
He guided the helicopter toward the designated landing zone, scanning the ridgelines as he had that day. The simulator pitched slightly, mimicking turbulence.
"Incoming fire from ridge position three miles southwest," Wong announced. "Multiple hostiles, heavy weapons detected."
His vision narrowed as memories ran through his head, but he forced himself to stay in the present. "Taking evasive action," he reported, his voice tight but controlled. His hands moved over the controls, banking the helicopter sharply away from the simulated threat.
"Tail rotor failing," Wong announced. "Hydraulic pressure dropping."
Hunter's breathing quickened, but he kept his focus. This wasn't like before. He knew what was coming. He could handle it.
"Implementing emergency protocols," he said, fighting to maintain control of the rapidly destabilizing aircraft.
The simulator bucked and pitched as he guided it toward the clearing, alarms blaring, systems failing one by one. Sweat rolled down his temples, but his hands remained steady. He brought the helicopter down hard but controlled, nothing like the catastrophic crash.
As the simulator settled, Hunter realized he was gripping the controls so tightly his knuckles had gone white. He consciously relaxed his fingers, taking deep, measured breaths.
"Excellent work, Captain. Please exit the simulator."
Hunter disconnected his harness and climbed out.
"How do you feel?" Wong asked.
"Good," he said.
"No flashbacks?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle."
The lieutenant commander nodded. "That's what we needed to see. You're cleared for flight evaluation tomorrow, 0900 hours, with your CO."
"Thank you, sir."
As he left the room, a mix of emotions swirled through him. Relief that he'd passed the simulator test. Pride that he'd maintained control. Anticipation about tomorrow's actual flight.
He pulled out his phone and called Emmalyn. She didn't answer. She was probably still working, so he left her a short message. "I passed. I'm on my way back to Ocean Shores. Hope to see you there."
There was a crowd at the pool when Hunter got home Thursday evening, and he was happy to see Bree and Olivia in the middle of it all. Gabe was cooking up tacos again, reminding him of the first taco night he'd attended two weeks ago. Since then, his life had completely turned upside down, or maybe it was right side up.
As usual, his gaze swept the group for Emmalyn, and he felt a wave of relief when he saw her sitting on a lounger talking to Kaia. He didn't know if her awareness of him was as acute as his for her, but when she turned her head and saw him, their gazes locked together. So much passed between them in that one shared look of remembered intimacy that his body tightened and his nerves tingled.
