Training gave a new round of information on this mission. Let's just say it seemed impossible to those in the room.

Maverick stood at the front of the room, a clock set to three minutes on the screen behind him.

"Time is your greatest enemy," he begins pointing at the screen. "Phase One of the mission will be a low-level attack with 2 flank teams. You will be flying along the narrow canyon walls to the target. The radar guided surface-to-air missiles defend the area; these SAMS are lethal."

At this, everyone looks around at each other, wondering the same thing. What exactly is this mission?

"But they were designed to protect the skies above, not the canyon below," Maverick continues, pointing to the animated graphic of the course.

Without hesitation, Rooster calls out, "That's because the enemy knows that no one is insane enough to try and fly below them." A point which many of the other pilots agree with if the looks on their faces are anything to go off of.

"That's exactly what I'm going to train you to do,'' Maverick immediately replies. Now, everyone is highly intrigued.

"On the day, your altitude will be 100 feet maximum," he continues. Phoenix and Bob look at each other skeptically and a little worried. This is not something they had ever done before. "You exceed this altitude, the radars spit you, you're dead. Your air speed will be 660 knots minimum."  Fanboy and Payback look at each other, concern written on both their faces.

Jia was going to start panicking the moment she found out how dangerous this mission was.

Maverick continues, looking at the screen. "Time to target, two and a half minutes, that's because fifth generation fighters are waiting at an airbase nearby. And a head-to-head with these planes in your F-18s, you're dead. That's why you need to get in, hit your target, and be gone before these planes have a chance of catching you."

He pauses, looking at each of the aviators to make sure they understand the severity of what he has just said. His goal is to bring everyone home alive, and he can't make that happen if they don't understand.

"This makes time your greatest adversary," Maverick leaves off, everyone getting ready to fly the course.

"You'll fly a route in your nav system that simulates the canyon. The faster you navigate this canyon, the harder it will be to stay under the radar of these SAMS. The tighter the turns, the more intensely the force of gravity your body multiplies. Compressing your lungs, forcing the blood from your brain, impairing your judgment and reaction time."

The tension in the room is palpable. No one was expecting this when they were called back to Top Gun. Regardless of the fact that they are the best of the best, this mission seemed impossible.

Without giving them too much time to think and dwell, Maverick finally gives them that day's assignment. "So for today's exercise, we're gonna take it easy on you. Max ceiling 300 feet, time to target 3 minutes."

Everyone looks at each other, trying to comprehend what they are about to do.

"Good luck."

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Coyote, Phoenix, and Bob have the first run of the day. Everyone else remained in the mission room, watching the monitors that showed their every move.

It was a good learning moment for the people not in the air, as well as the ones running it when they came back. 

"Time to target is a minute and thirty. We are two seconds behind. Increase speed to 490 knots," Bob informs.

"We gotta move Coyote," Phoenix relays through the radio. He was moving too slow for the three minute time frame.

"Copy, increasing speed," Coyote informs, but he hesitates and doesn't move fast enough.

Phoenix has to pull up in order to avoid crashing, causing her to go past the hard deck and be hit by SAMS.

Back in the hanger, Maverick is grilling them. "Why are they dead?" He asks the aviators seriously, looking at the three who just came back.

"We broke the 300 foot ceiling, and a SAM took us out," Phoenix replies.

"No, why are they dead," he asks Coyote specifically this time.

"I slowed down, and I didn’t give her a warning. It’s my fault," Coyote admits.

"Is there a reason you didn’t communicate with your team?" Maverick pushes. He needs them to understand just how serious this is.

"I was focused…" Coyote begins, but he's quickly cut off.

"One that their families will accept at their funerals?" Maverick questions seriously.

"No sir," Coyote replies, realizing the magnitude of the question.

"Why didn’t you anticipate the turn? You were briefed on the terrain," he now questions Phoenix.

Phoenix tries to come up with an answer.

"Don't tell me, tell it to his family," Maverick gestures to Bob.

(Well, this day has gotten off to a fantastic start.)

☽☆☾   ☽☆☾   ☽☆☾

Reuben, having been given a ride from Mickey that morning, was ready to get home.

Mickey was joining them for dinner at Jia's request, so they figured it would be better to just carpool.

What the two men hadn't expected was for Jia to come to base anyway, wanting to at the very least meet the team.

(She had heard some stories but wanted to put faces to names.)

So as the detachment walked out of the building and towards their cars, they were all confused by the woman almost none of them had seen before.

Reuben smiled before jogging over and hugging her tightly. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and walked them over to the rest of the group.

"Everyone, this is..."

But he doesn't get to finish.

Because Mickey runs over and picks Jia up in a spinning hug, both of them laughing like crazy. Reuben can only shake his head at their antics, not the least bit surprised.

"As I was saying, the lovely woman currently being strangled by Fanboy is my fiance, Jia."

It's not that the rest were surprised that Payback had a fiance. He was a good-looking guy and a great person, so of course he had a love. No, what surprised them was Jia herself.

She wasn't what any of them had envisioned. Actually, Hangman, Coyote, and Rooster all had their jaws dropped at the gorgeous woman in front of them.

Mickey had finally released Jia, the woman quick to cuddle back into her fiancé's side. She waved at the group. "Hi, it's nice to meet you all. I've heard a lot."

Phoenix, being the only sane one of the group, rolled her eyes at the men before walking towards the couple. "I'm Natasha, callsign Phoenix. Unfortunately, we can't say the same. Although it seems Fanboy knows you."

The man in question enters the conversation. "I've known Payback for years, so I've known Jia for years. Hell, she's required to be at more of my family events than I am!"

Jia shrugs. "I can't help that they love me more. I'm just that special."

She makes her point final by sticking her tongue out at Mickey.

He can only laugh at her, turning back to the group. “Jia is the favorite aunt even though she isn't actually related to us. She does all the fun stuff.”

Rooster steps forward next. "Well, that answers one question, I guess. I'm Bradley, callsign Rooster."

She shakes his hand, looking towards the others. "I don't want to keep anyone from their home, especially after what I imagine was an exhausting day."

Phoenix smiles at the woman. "It's no problem. So what do you do that gives you the time to join us out here? Not many jobs let you have this much time off."

Reuben smirks, knowing the answer would bring a new round of shock. Mickey and Jia also had smirks on their faces.

"I'm a Stunt Woman, working my way towards Stunt Coordinator."

If they had been drinking something, there would have been a spit take.

Phoenix lets out a whistle. "Badass."

Jia shrugged. This was her everyday life. "We've got a shoot not far from here. It lets me stay close and still make it to work."

Bob chose this moment to speak up. "I guess that's a perk of a different work schedule. Not that we can say any different."

The moment was interrupted by Mickey's stomach growling loud enough for everyone to hear. He turns a bright red, sheepishly looking away. "What?! I'm hungry! Jia's food is to die for!"

She smiles, lightly smacking him in the stomach. "On that note, I think you all should call it a day. Apparently, I've got a hungry man-child to feed."

Laughter followed, only intensifying at Fanboy's "Hey!"

And as the three walked away, finally ready to go home, the others were nothing short of mesmerized.

Jia was not at all what they expected, and she was sure to make the next few weeks interesting.

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Word count: 1,503

So Jia has officially been introduced to the gang and Fanboy has his buddy back!!

Honestly Fanboy and Jia have such a brother/sister relationship, it's adorable.

But next chapter we get a look at Jia in her natural environment, so stay tuned! Bye guys!!

(Gif by me)