But Shannon heard it. For the first time in years, she didn’t feel smaller. Didn’t feel trapped. Didn’t feel fifteen seconds from freezing.
She was flying. And she was better than him.
They ranfour landings in total. Variable terrain, wind shear from the east. Esten let Shannon take the controls on the final leg.
Shannon slid into command. Her hands didn’t shake. Her voice didn’t waver. “2A beginning final descent.”
The bird came down like it had been born for her. Straight. Controlled. Textbook.
The dust blew up in a spiral. Esten grinned. They didn’t even jolt.
Back on the tarmac, engines winding down, Esten pulled her helmet off and nodded once.
“That was clean.”
Shannon just sat there for a second. She let the hum settle out of her bones, then nodded back.
Esten added, quieter, “Don’t let him get behind you. Ever.”
Shannon turned her head. “I don’t plan to.”
In the second bird,Krueger was still in his seat, helmet off. He was watching her, his expression blank but his jaw tight.
Rhodes, his co-pilot, said nothing, but she saw it too.
The barracks werequiet that late morning. The fan turned lazily overhead. Shannon lay back on her bunk, her flight suit rolled halfway down to her waist, undershirt clinging from the sweat of the day. Her phone buzzed once on the blanket beside her.
Dante.
She picked up before the second vibration. “Hey.”
His voice came low, familiar. “You sound tired.”
“I flew today.”
“That why you’re not talking?”
She almost smiled. “I flew clean.” Her throat caught for just a second. “Got the final approach solo.”
“That’s my girl.” Then his voice dropped a little further. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She stared at the ceiling. “Nothing important.”
“You sure?”
“I’m fine, Dante.”
He was quiet long enough to make her stomach twist. “Okay, for what it’s worth, I wish I’d been there.”
“Me too.”
“I’ll be watching soon.”
“I know.”
She didn’t say good night. Neither did he.
Just silence and connection.
