A Faraway Land.

Chapter 1

Routine Training Exercise

It's just another routine training exercise. I ask myself; why do they always say that before we start our training? Of course its routine. No one has done anything yet, but when most look at the unfolding events. Even I'd say it was going smooth. At the time I was stationed on the USS George H.W. Bush. We where sailing about 100 miles off the coast of Cat Island. It's a small island 250 miles off the coast of Florida. Most everywhere you look you see beautiful blue skies. We were heading to the east. Long off in the distance you could see black clouds. Frequently you see amazing spectacle of flashing lights spidering from the clouds.

As we head further east. It was easily noticed that the carrier started to sway gently back and forth. As this black wall of rain and thunder moved in closer. I couldn't seem to shake this odd feeling. The feeling where the air around you is electrically charged. So I head down to the mess hall to try to calm my nerves. On my way to find some snacks. I hear someone yelling at me.

"Hay James!" A voice said. As I turn around.

"Jessica. What's up; I haven't seen you in a while."

"I know!" Said Jessica. "All of the crew seems to be on edge. I think it has to do with us going into a storm like this."

"So I'm not the only crazy person in this boat?" As I rub the standing hairs on the back of my neck. "When I was on the deck. I saw the storm and I got the oddest feeling I have ever had in my life." Jessica interrupted me.

"I just wanted to make sure you aren't going to do anything stupid! They are not going to postpone the exercise this time." As I observed her. It was easy to see the panic and worry she had for me.

"Don't worry." I said with the calmest voice I could muster. "I need to go below the deck now. Do you want to walk with me?"

"No. I need to go scan the deck. It's my job to make sure that you have a safe take off." Jessica turned around as fast as she could and ran off. "I will take you up on that offer of a walk when you get back!" She ran out of sight before I was able to reply.

I made my way to the prepping station below deck to suit up. By this time the swaying was very noticeable. It felt like 50 foot swells. I'd imagine the waves to be smaller and the wind playing more of an effect on the ship. As I made it to the hanger. I was stopped again by someone yelling at me.

"Cross!" Yelled a familiar voice. "James Cross! Turn the fuck around!"

"Jacob!" I said with a suppressed look on my face. It was very rare to hear him curse like that.

"Hay James. What is going on outside? It's been a while since we have been knocked around like this."

"I know. We are sailing into what looked to be a bad storm." As I reach my hand out to shake his. "So is my beast ready to fly? I don't want a multimillion dollar machine falling to pieces while I am flying."

"Yes sir! You got a full tank and some Sidewinders just in case!" Jacob said with a disturbing smile directed to me.

"Are you expecting something Jacob?" As I match his smile.

"Well I am sure you noticed the weird vibe on the ship." As his face turned more to a look of concern. "Something is in the air that is putting most everyone I have seen on edge."

"Jacob... You have no idea how many times I have heard that today." I laughed.

"Look James. All I am telling you is to keep an eye out."

"You got it Jacob." As I was about to say something else, but the megaphone interrupted.

"All pilots prepare your stations for takeoff. You have 5 minutes!"

I waved goodbye as I ran over to my Hornet. I went with all the pre-flight checks I can do myself and waited as the crew drove my plane to the lift. As I was lifted up to the deck. I noticed how bad the storm got in just an hour. It was amazing how they are making us fly in this crappy weather. I was directed by the launch crew for another pre-flight check. As each part of the plane passed inspection. I was eager to get this over with.

I got the thumbs up and the crew cleared the deck. I started to count down in my head. 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... The sheer force of the launch forced me back into my seat. It was the best part of this job. The massive adrenalin rush, the neck breaking speed, but most of all the best was the feeling you get when you are flying. The feeling of being a free man in a world with so many restrictions. The rush was over shortly after it began. Now I had to get this over with. I radioed back to the carrier.

"Red Rocket to Avenger. I have green all across the board. Takeoff was successful and I am now awaiting orders." I waited for a response.

"Roger that Red Rocket. We hear you loud and clear. You have a go! Proceed to the coordinance on your screen and radio back for confirmation."

"Understood Avenger. The coordinance where received. I am 5 minutes out."

As I fly north to my destination; I looked off in the distance. I could see a large wall of grey fog. It was hard to miss because the sky was so black. I radio back to the carrier.

"Umm Red Rocket to Avenger. I am 3 minutes into the objective. I have some kind of fog out here. I am going to see if I can go around it." As I was speaking H.Q. interrupted.

"Negative Red Rocket. That will set you back. You are order to fly above it."

"Roger that Avenger. Will inform on changes."

As I increased my altitude. My dash interments started to go haywire. First my compass, then my attitude indicator. At this point I radioed headquarters about the problem.

"Avenger. I am having a prob..." I was interrupted by some massive turbulence. At the same time my heading indicator, radio magnetic indicator and my targeting systems went offline.

"Avenger! I have a major problem. Turning back for emergency landing!"

"Aff...  ... ... w... retur... canc..." I can't make out a single word as static fills my ears. "Do... ... ... re... r... ba... Chshhhhhhh"

As I started to turn my Hornet around in a rush. I was hit with even more turbulence again. As I started to feel the engine lose power. I gunned the engine as hard as I can. As I did so. I saw a strange hole in the clouds. It was easy to see the sunlight glistening through what seemed to be a tunnel in the clouds. I rushed to it as fast as I could while hoping it would bring me above the storm. As I reached the mouth of this cloud tunnel. I heard loud explosion that seemed to come from my engine.

I closed my eyes and put my hands in my lap. I was thinking about ejecting, but with my failing instruments. The chance of being found was zero. I opened my eyes in amazement. At the end of this tunnel type cloud was clear blue sky. As I looked around I was even more amazed. The clouds seemed to swirl around like a whirlpool or a vortex. As the light shined past the clouds. I saw a rainbow of colors. It was like the northern lights, but different. The northern lights had very few colors. This had them all. All the way from deep blue to cyan, hot pinks to deep reds.

With what little found hope I had to live. I got one last strong thrust from my engine before I lost all power. It slung me into a strong white light. As my vision went bright white with colorful spots. I could feel a strong pull upwards. Then I was falling and fast. My aircraft started to spin. It was slow at first but got faster in no time at all. I fell with my plane through the same black clouds I tried to escape. As I was falling; I was able to see some of my surroundings. I was over land.

As I tried to maintain some control of my aircraft. I saw a small clearing in a large forest. I did my best to aim the crash in the clearing. When I felt comfortable my Hornet was going to crash in the clearing; I ejected from the flying coffin. It took about seven seconds before a giant heat wave warmed my body. It looked lime my Hornet crashed in the clearing. As I fall slowly to the ground. I was being pummeled by rain and strong winds on my decent. It took about thirty seconds before I was able to see the trees clearly. I aimed for the smallest tree and hoped I wouldn't get stuck too high up.

As my parachute got stuck in a tree. I looked down and smiled. I had about a 5 foot drop. As I unbuckle my harness I hear a loud roar. From what; I don't know, but as big as it sounded. I had to get down. As I hit the ground. I reached for my pistol on my right leg. I heard another loud roar. This one was much closer. I made sure I had a round chambered and aimed it in the direction I heard it from. When I heard stick breaking. I quickly aimed and fired 3 shots.

Whatever that creature was; it was quick to run off and by the sound of it; it was huge. I put my gun back on safety and in my holster. I turned to face the direction I believed I saw some building. I started to walk, but a knife stabbing pain in my eyes sent me to my knees. As I looked around my vision started to cloud and my head got light. I got on all fours and looked down at the green grass. Darkness started to fill my eyes. As everything started going black. I lost track of every scenes I had. As I laid in the wet grass. Rain falling all around me. I managed to speak my last thoughts before passing out.

"It's just a routine training exercise."