Extinguish Doubt
//: V A N G U A R D //:
//: Get in the X-Wing Alex //:
//: Qell Auraeli //: Taysonyl Callenid //: Frea Sheplin //:
//: Enedina Tal //:
It was dark, and light only peered through the vents near the top of the door. The cold metal rested against her back as she hiccuped with each breath taken. This was different. The world of simulations, being the only thing Alexandria Locke faced, was over. Blue eyes blinked away the blurred vision of tears as she looked at the device in her hand. On it, was mission orders, flight orders - the REAL thing.
The door to the locker opened and stood the CO of Vanguard Squadron. "There you are." He reached in and grabbed the Corellian and pulled her, setting her onto her feet. She was young, but she had signed up - volunteered to be a starfighter, there was no reason to be crying. Yet, he understood for the most part. Alex leaned against the row of lockers. She looked at the man and sniffed, trying to hide the tears she had been trying to shed while in the locker.
It was quiet between them, and he sighed. "It's going to be fine, kid." Alex nodded; she never really spoke unless on comms with the CO. Alarms rang, summoning the pilots to the hangers to take off. Alex didn't move, and the CO decided to wait for a moment. "Locke, get in the X-Wing." Alex didn't move, and the man pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you don't do it, we'll be down a fighter -" His speech cut off as the girl pushed herself from her locker door. A hand moved across her face as she exhaled, already knowing what he was going to say, who he was going to use to get her to move.
Dry hiccups escaped her as she waited for the crew to finish her checks. They looked at her, wondering why she was crying. Fighter pilots didn't cry. Most were known to be daredevils seeking the next thrill, yet here Alex was choking back the tears as she waited. "You're going to be fine, Locke." One of the mechanics spoke as he patted her on the shoulder and handed her the helmet. "Just get in the X-Wing."
Alex found herself sitting in the X-Wing; oddly enough, the machine's sanctuary felt comfortable and at home. Whispers of the electromagnetic field that surrounded the fighter echoed in the back of her mind. She knew what this was, remembering fondly the explanation from the only other person she knew that heard the Force like this. It was comforting, and Alex felt oddly at home.
Corellians had rocket fuel for blood, and Alex was no different than the millions of Corellians that came before her. The fighter moved like an extension of herself as she flew into the formation. Comms chattered away, and the fear she had previously was gone, feeling comfortable within the durasteel flying weapon.
They drew closer to their targets, and the fighters shifted into attack formation. Alex held steady until it was time, thumb on the designated red button on the yolk as she grazed over it carefully. The timing was everything here, and then the order was given. "Vanguard 10 delivering." Her voice chimed over the comms, sounding just as confident as the others. The button pressed, and streaks of smoke shot off from the fighter as it twisted, passing over. Missiles fired away, heading towards their intended target.
Something in the back of her mind sent alerts, something wasn't right, and Alex did her best not to panic. There was more to what was happening than met the eye. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to find her composure again. Alarms rang violently, and Alex became very aware of the attack from the ground. The fighter twisted and sped up to avoid the rocket that laced through the air. "We have anti-air." She voiced through the comms, hoping that everyone was able to avoid the attack. There was no visual, and that part scared Alex. Her hands gripped the throttle and the yolk of the fighter tightly as she felt her heart racing.
This was all real.