Chapter 13: Attack

Phoenix had a lump in her throat that just wouldn't go away. No matter how much water she drank; no matter how much gum she chewed; and no matter how may times she swallowed, it wouldn't go away. Ever since Phoenix was born, she has always hated flying.

"You look a bit green, Nixie," Leif chuckled. He shifted his rifle over to his other shoulder, leaning over to Phoenix. "You sure you're okay?"

Phoenix swallowed again, trying not to puke from her fear. Her stomach turned every time she realized they were up 100 feet in the air, or higher.

"I'm fine, Commander Wyrick," Phoenix said. "Just a bit…" Phoenix stopped talking, finding herself about to throw up when she continued.

Leif laughed again, louder this time. Most of the other men from Phoenix's squad and Leif's squad looked over. But most of them didn't pay any attention, finding the interaction between the two quite normal.

"Oh, come on," Leif said, throwing an arm over Phoenix's shoulder and leaning against her. "Just hours ago you were calling me Leif. What happened to that?" Leif knew what happened. The only time Phoenix had ever bothered calling him so affectionately, was just seven hours ago. But after that she realized her mistake and went back to calling him 'Wyrick' or 'Commander'. At some points she even called him worse things than that.

Phoenix grabbed Leif's arm and twisted it back to his side. "Get your hands off me, Commander." She released her killer grip, Leif rubbing the red hand print on his arm. "We're on duty."

Leif pouted and looked at Phoenix. "You're such a kill joy, Nixie."

"Stop calling me that!" Phoenix shouted, jumping to her feet. But she was tugged down by seatbelt. She coughed and glared at the laughing gentlemen beside her. "Stop laughing!"

"I can't!" Leif said. "It's to priceless!"

Phoenix undid the seatbelt and stood to her feet. She stomped past the others, hearing Leif's laughter ring through the ship.

"Sir," Chastel said, leaning over to his Commanding officer, "I think you might have angered Commander Volante."

Leif wiped his eyes, his laughter finally stopping. His smile faded and became a worried expression. "Ya think?"

Chastel nodded with an apologetic smile as Leif sighed. Chastel knew what his Commander was going through; truthfully, he also had his eyes on someone within Phoenix's squad and was having the same problem as Leif. Although, he had to say, Commander Wyrick and Commander Volante's relationship was...interesting to say the least. Everyone around ExaTek knew that Leif had some sort of feelings for Phoenix, but her's were unknown to anyone. Most people believe she hated the man, and Phoenix herself firmly believed that. Chastel knew better.

"Commander," Chastel said, drawing the attention of Leif, "why not try complimenting her once in awhile? Or try talking to her without saying something…" Chastel paused. He couldn't say that to his Commanding officer, it was impolite.

"Unnecessary?" Leif questioned, giving a small smirk. He knew that Chastel was very intuitive with the rules and regulations on how to address a Commanding officer. But Leif didn't want his friend to treat him like his boss. Even if that was the case.

"Yes, Sir…" Chastel said, looking to the ground. "I'm ashamed that I would say such things, or think them for that matter.”

Leif chuckled. "You don't need to be so serious, Chastel."

Chastel looked up with a smile.

Leif sighed and leaned back in his seat. "So, what do you think I should do to fix this problem? Nixie has always had a short fuse for anything I say."

Chastel chuckled and leaned back also. He thought for a moment. He wasn't one to be asking womanly advice from, since he couldn't win the heart of a maiden if he wanted too.

"Just be kinder, Sir," Chastel said. "And maybe stop calling Commander Volante 'Nixie'."

Leif looked hurt from Chastel saying that. "Stop calling her 'Nixie'?" Leif's jaw dropped. "That's like the major rule I can't break. Do you know how long I've called her 'Nixie'?"

"Twelve years, Sir," Chastel said smiling.

"Twelve Years!" Leif shouted. "I've been calling her 'Nixie' for twelve straight years. There is no way I could just break tradition!"

Chastel bit his lip, his Commander was such a child at times. He couldn't believe Leif actually made it to being Commander.

"I couldn't help but over hear…"

Leif and Chastel turned their heads, seeing that a young man with spiky black hair spoke. He looked rather young to be working for GALACTIC, but then again most of the men were.

"But Commander Volante really doesn't hate being called 'Nixie'," the young man said.

"How would you know this?" Leif questioned, leaning forward.

"When she's with other women, they sometimes call her 'Nixie' or 'Nix' and she doesn't seem to mind it." The young man smiled. "Name's Cyne Lockheart, I'm in Commander Volante's squad."

"Well, Lockheart," Leif said, grinning. "How would you deal with her?"

Cyne place his hand on his chin and pondered. "Well, considering her personality… Why not a gift?" Leif and Chastel raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe give her a compliment." Cyne smiled. "I gave her one the other day and her face lit up like a firework!"

Leif's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Even I haven't seen that! he thought.

"Cyne." The three men looked up, seeing Phoenix had returned and looked rather ticked. "Will you ever stop spouting useless nonsense?"

Cyne smiled at Phoenix as she took back her seat. "Oh, come on, Commander Volante. Lighten up a bit."

"I would lighten up if you gentlemen were discussing someone else," Phoenix said. "But, instead, the person in question is me. I don't appreciate it."

"Come now, Nixie," Leif said, patting the girl on her shoulder. "We were just discussing your rather bitter attitude, that's all."

Phoenix smacked Leif's hand away and glared. "Touch me with your filthy hands again, Commander Wyrick, and I will tear them off very slowly."

Leif swallowed. Phoenix was serious about the accusation. It seemed that she had heard the whole conversation between the three gentlemen, and she didn't appreciate it one bit. Leif knew he just dug his grave deeper.

A horn sounded through the ship, startling everyone aboard.

"Enemy ship approaching!" the automated voice said.

The ship rattled and knocked everyone around.

"How did they find us?" Phoenix shouted at Leif. "I thought this mission was covert operation!"

"How the hell should I know?" he shouted back.

Phoenix and Leif stood to their feet, both shouting the same orders at their officers. People ran around and tried staying on their feet as the ship rattled. But it was easier said then done.

Phoenix and Leif knew their men had things covered where they were, so they decided to head to see if the pilot was doing alright. But the rattling knocked them around, and they were barely able to get up the steps to the wheel.

"What are we dealing with?" Phoenix shouted as they ran into the room, wobbling on their feet from another hit.

"METASOCIETY Airship," the pilot said. "A rather large one at that. If we continue on this coarse, it'll knock us out of the sky!"

Leif looked to Phoenix, seeing the girl peering out the window, trying to get any glimpse of the ship she could. But it wasn't possible.

"Get us off course!" Leif shouted. "First we get this enemy ship off our tail and then we worry about the mission."

"That might be easier said then done, Commander Wyrick!" Phoenix shouted. She looked back at Leif, looking at him with the same look he was showing. Fear and stress. "We have more then one on our tail!”

"Captain!" the right hand man shouted. "Engine one is down!"

"This is getting out of hand!" Leif shouted. "We can't continue without fighting back!"

"What do you suggest we do?" Phoenix shouted, storming toward him. "We're already using all the weapons we have on the ship and every operative we have is trying to fix the engine! Do you have any other plans? Because I sure as hell don't!"

Phoenix was right, there wasn't much they could do. They didn't have the equipment on the ship to board the enemies ship. Their was too many METASOCIETY soldiers for them to fight. They were sitting ducks.

A rumble was heard, knocking everyone off their feet. Once it was gone, the Captain stood. "What's status on Engine Two?"

"It's been shot, Sir," the right hand man said. "We're crashing!"

"Commander!" the Captain said. Leif slowly stood to his feet, having taken a blow to the head from knocking it on the table. "Tell you're men to brace themselves for impact."

"Got it!" Leif said. "Nixie, you need to-" Leif cut himself off when he turned his head to find Phoenix lying unconscious. Leif cursed under his breath, slinging her over his shoulder. He wasn't going to leave her there.

"Everyone," the Captain shouted, "take evacuative measures!"

That was the last thing Leif heard before he was rushing down the hall with Phoenix over his shoulder. He ran down the steps, regaining his stance after a few more blasts from the enemies rattled the ship.

"Commander Wyrick!"

Leif stopped, panting as he turned around to see Cyne and Chastel running toward him.

"The engine has been-" Cyne began.

"We know!" Leif shouted. "How many of you are left?"

"About one squad, Sir," Chastel said. "Not including those who are injured."

Leif listened as he heard more blasts hit the ship. He didn't know what to do next. They were in a real bind. They were crashing and in a matter of minutes they were going to hit the ground, killing them all.

"Commander," Cyne said, "we don't have time to stand here!"

"I know that!" Leif shouted. He looked at Chastel and Cyne. "Tell everyone to braise themselves for impact! There's not much more we could do from this stand point!"

Chastel and Cyne nodded. They ran past Leif, both heading in different directions.

Leif began heading back to the hanger, hoping he could get there before they either crashed or another blast hit. But it seemed he wasn't so lucky. Another blast had hit, knocking Leif completely off his feet. His head hit the metal railing, making his vision fuzzy. It then went pitch black as he fell into an unconscious state.