Welcome to Top Gun
"I can't believe that's how you got into Top Gun," Jake shook his head, amused.
Pete's only response was to smile sadly.
It was with a start, accompanied by heartbreaking silence...that the people in the audience realized...they would be seeing probably the worst moments of Pete's life. They shared tense looks before returned their attention to the screen as the next scene played.
Maverick was riding a motorcycle down a street, words providing the location at the bottom of the screen.
Miramar, Calif. Fightertown U.S.A.
Maverick had a wide smile on his face as he looked beside him to the jet taking off. His grin turned a bit giddy and exhilirated as the jet lifted off the ground, flying off.
"I've got two things to adress," Bernie cut in, "One. Why aren't you wearing a helmet?" Pete merely shrugged with a lax grin, "Two. Were you racing the jet?"
"I don't really remember," Pete admitted, "But probably not, I just...gotta go fast."
"That's..." Natasha trailed off, sharing a look with her teammates.
"Yeah," Jake nodded, "It's a Sonic line."
"Sonic?" Pete voiced, frowning.
"You've never watched or read or played Sonic content?" Bob gasped.
"No?"
"Yeah you have," Bradley cut in, "Remember? The blue guy?"
"Oh!" He nodded, "The porcupine?"
"He's a hedgehog," Mickey gasped in mock offense.
"How did we go from top gun to sonic," Beau pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Right, eyes forward," Pete snorted.
Everyone gathered themselves and continued to watch.
There was an old tv, with bad quality, showing a jet crashing and burning.
Pete couldn't help but flinch.
"During Korea," A voice said as the angle switched to reveal an unfamiliar man to everyone, gesturing to the tv behind him, "The Navy kill ratio was 12-to-1. We shot down 12 of their jets for every one one of ours. During Vietnam," The angle changed to someone fiddling with a pen, the camera rising slowly, "That ratio fell to 3-to-1," The camera finished rising...revealing the face of the person twisting the pen around.
"Admiral Kazansky!" Everyone gasped.
Javy looked to Pete, mouth open to ask what he was like...but faltered and fell silent...as he took in the utter adoration on Pete's face. Oh. Javy softened in comprehension...and then he frowned, heart breaking for the man because...Ice...who he'd clearly been in love with...was gone.
"Our pilots became dependent upon missiles," The lietenant commander continued as the angle switched to a man exhaling smoke, looking on intently.
"Who's that?" Reuben 'whispered' to Pete.
"Chipper," He replied with a small smile.
"They had lost some of their dogfighting skills," The man continued.
The angle switched again, this time showing off Mav and Goose. They were sitting next to each other, looking forward. Chipper was behind them, sititng next to a currently unknown aviator, at least to most of the people in the audience and they could see Ice across the aisle next to Chipper and his partner.
"Top Gun was created to teach A.C.M," The lieutenant commander said, "Air Combat Manuevering. Dogfighting."
The angle switched to a duo.
"Oh no," Pete pinched the bridge of his nose, "He's gonna say something stupid."
One of the aviators leaned over to his partner, "This gives me a hard-on," He whispered.
Pete groaned loudly but was smiling, as the people in the audience let out surprised laughs.
"Who is that?" Jake gawked.
"Mmm, Wolf," Pete said, "Er, Wolfman," He corrected, "We'd just call him 'Wolf' for short and that's Hollywood."
"By the end of Vietnam," Hollywood leaned closer to Wolf as their lietenant commander continued speaking, "That ratio was back up to 12-to-1."
"Don't tease me," Hollywood gazed intently at his partner who smirked.
"Ah?!" Mickey and everyone gaped at the screen, "Are they?" He let his wrist fall limp.
"I have no idea what that means," Pete deadpanned at his hand. Before anyone elaborated the scene continued to unfold.
"Blinds please," The angle switched back to their lietenant commander who stood before the gathered aviators, "I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our commanding officer at Top Gun. The very first man to win the Top Gun trophy."
Everyone leaned forward eagerly. Sure they could've looked this information up themselves but they just hadn't.
"You will not find a finer fighter pilot anywhere in the world. Commander Mike Metcalf. Callsign, Viper."
"Hardcore," Reuben breathed out.
"Gentlemen," Viper said as he walked down the aisle to the front of the room, "You are the top one percent of all naval aviators," He turned to face the group of aviators, "The elite," The angle switched to Mav as he looked on at the man, "The best of the best."
"Foreshadowing," Bob hissed.
"We'll make you better," The angle had shifted back to Viper as he said that.
"He just might be my gay awakening," Jake whispered to himself.
Bradley turned and gave him an unimpressed look.
"I mean, he's not actually 'cause it was actually Jeff Goldblum."
"Lemme guess, Ian Malcolm?" Natasha grinned.
"Hell yeah."
The angle showed the aviators as Viper continued talking.
Pete couldn't help the giddy feeling he felt as he watched Tom's gaze move from Viper to him, watching his younger self intently.
"You'll fly at least two combat missions a day," Viper said, "Attend classes in between and evaluations of your performance."
The angle moved to Mav who was still looking on at the front of the room intently.
"Now, on each combat sequence, you're gonna meet a different challenge. Every encounter is gonna be much more difficult."
Mav turned, looking over his shoulder at Ice who met his gaze.
"We're gonna teach you to fly the F-14 right to the edge of the envelope," Viper continued.
Mav turned away from Ice, grinning to himself.
"Love at first sight?" Bob gasped dramatically.
"Faster than you've ever flown before," Viper continued, "And more dangerous," The angle switched to Chipper's unknown partner.
"Sundown," Pete provided his name to everyone, looking on at his friend tenderly.
"Now, we don't make policy here, gentlemen," The angle switched to Ice and his partner.
"Slider," Pete also provided his name.
"I wonder what he's listening to," Callie hummed, noting his headphones around his neck, "Like, did you guys even have music back then?"
Soloman and Pete gasped in genuine offense.
Viper walked in front of Ice and Slider everyone getting a good view of his-
"Ass shot?" Jake looked impressed.
"Elected officials," Viper elaborated, "Civilians do that."
Mav was once again looking over his shoulder at Ice who's lips stretched into a challening almost smug grin.
"We are the instruments of that policy," Mav turned away from Ice, "And although we're not at war," Mav turned over his other shoulder, studying Chipper and Sundown, "We must always act as though we are at war."
Goose leaned close to Mav.
"What're you doing?" He questioned.
"The tip of the spear," Viper continued.
"I'm just wondering-"
"Best be sharp," Viper concluded.
"Who's the best," Mav grinned.
The angle switched to Viper as he spoke.
"In case some of you wonder who the best is, they're up here on this plaque on the wall. The best driver and his RIO from each class has his name on it," Viper turned back to the front and while they couldn't see exactly who his eyes were on they had a feeling it was Mav, "And they have the option to come back here to be Top Gun instructors," He moved back to the front of the room before turning and looked to Mav, "You think your name's gonna be on that plaque?"
"Yes, sir," Mav replied firmly.
"Ooooh, ballsy," Jake nodded in approval.
The angle showed Slider turn in on himself, leaning closer to Ice, grinning an amused, incredulous grin.
"That's pretty arrogant, considering the company you're in," Viper remarked.
Mav pretended to think about that for a moment.
"Yes, sir."
The angle switched back to Viper who was looking on at Mav with a small grin and something almost...nostalgic in his eyes.
"I like that in a pilot," He praised, the angle switched to the aviators showing most of them eyeing Mav intently while he and Goose grinned, "Just remember, when it's over out there, we're all on the same team," His tone grew more serious, angle showing Viper, "Gentlemen, this school is about combat," The angle showed Ice intently watching Mav, "There are no points," The angle switched to Mav who just grinned wider, "For second place."
"Hah," Beau barked out a laugh.
"...?" The younger aviators turned to him in confusion.
"Y'know...'cause Mav gets second?"
"Wait, I thought you got first," Mickey frowns at him.
"Why'd you think that?" Pete cocked his head to the side.
"Uh, 'cause you're amazing!" He scoffed.
"Yeah, but I still got second," He shrugged.
"Damn," Javy whistled.
"Dismissed," Viper said.
"Nice going," Goose grinned at Mav tapping his arm lightly. The duo stood togeter and made their way down the aisle.
"The plaque for the alternates is down in the ladies' room," Ice remarked casually as Mav and Goose passed him.
Goose let out a hysterical, high pitched, sarcastic laugh.
Several of the aviators jumped in surprise, not at all expecting the noise.
Pete relaxed completely at the noise...it'd been way too long since he'd heard Goose's laugh.
Goose held Pete's shoulder as he threw his head back before leaning forward, resting all his weight on his friend. He pushed himself back up, Pete looking amused and Wolf, behind them was wheezing silently.
"Oh, Jesus!" Goose shrieked with laughter, "Oh, you kill me."
The angle switched momentarily to Ice who grinned as he rose to his feet.
"You really do," Goose remarked with dry amusement as the angle switched back to him.
Goose's laughter died down and he squinted at the plaque.
"No, no, no," He pointed at one of the names, "No. There's two O's in 'Goose,' boys," He held up two fingers, making a peace sign.
Everyone was grinning at the scene before abruptly realising...this man. This brilliant, funny, charismatic, likeable man...would die. He had already died. He'd been dead for decades...and they could all see it. After all this time his death still haunted Pete...they didn't think they'd be able to handle watching him die. Especially since they'd only known him for twenty minutes and fallen in love with him...they couldn't imagine how it was for Pete who'd known him for years.