From the prompt: "Holding clouds in my hands..."
"Robin Goodfellow"
He slunk into the guardhouse, hood thrown up to keep his
face in shadow. He was nervous because beneath then long sleeves of his sweatshirt his left
wrist was bare, revealing his mark to anyone who chose to see it. And he didn't dare let anyone
see. Words from his years at the Academy came back to haunt him: "Revelation on pain of
death."
"What're you doing here?" the guard demanded. Williams, his pocket said.
"I'm here to see Lieutenant-colonel Mathis," Jade answered quietly.
The guard arched an eyebrow, picking up a clipboard to consult a list of the day's visitors.
"And you are?"
"Captain Rendell of the United States Air Force. I'm based here at Nellis," Jade offered.
Williams guffawed. "Yeah, right. The Captain Rendell? You're kidding. I've seen the man's
flight reviews. He's a legend. Now really, who are you?"
Jade rolled his eyes. "Captain Rendell," he repeated. "Robin Goodfellow and all."
"You're probably one o' them kids just out of flight school wanting to get near a legend. Last
week a couple of your buddies got their hands on Ol' Puck, but they're in the brig now."
Williams smirked.
Fury sparked in Jade. Some kids had gotten the Robin Goodfellow? His jet? He reached out and
caught Williams' wrist in an iron grip. "Call Mathis now."
Williams yanked free, indignant and angry. "Don't touch me!"
Jade groaned inwardly. This guy must have been one of those hates-civilians types. Williams
regarded him for a moment, then suddenly lunged. Jade didn't have time for his eyes to adjust to
the bright desert light as his hood was yanked back. He blinked owlishly, scowling at the guard
who was doubled over with laughter. His howls brought the other two guards from the office who
halted abruptly in the doorway, gaping at him in disbelief.
What I wouldn't give to shear these curls, Jade thought sulkily while all three guards
laughed at him. At least all of them were guys.
"Listen," Jade ground out through clenched teeth. "I just want to see Lt.-Col. Mathis!"
"Sure," one of the other guards gasped at him between hysterical hoots. "I'm sure that he'll
tell us to dump your pretty-boy butt out on the curb with the rest of your fairy little friends."
He reached out and grabbed the phone, dialing quickly.
"Sir, there's a civilian out here claiming to be Captain Rendell..." he half-giggled. Then a
look of shock crossed his face and he stood up straight, casting Jade a wide-eyed glance. "Yes
his hair is curly, sir." His eyes went wider, and he nudged Williams and the other guard so they
'd be quiet. He looked at Jade again. "Yes, sir, right in, sir." He hung up the phone and
cleared his throat. "The Lieutenant-Colonel says to go right in, Captain."
Jade smiled and nodded graciously. "Thank you." He stepped onto the air force base, leaving the
gawking guards behind.
The grounds were quiet, yet full of activity. Jade stopped at his lockers to change into his
flight jumpsuit and grab his helmet before heading to Mathis's office. His receptionist was
nowhere in sight, so he just knocked on the door.
"Come in," a deep voice boomed.
Jade pushed the door open tentatively. The man in air force blues behind the desk lifted his
head, and his face lit up.
"Jade! You're here!"
He smiled shyly. "Yes sir, I made it."
Mathis smiled warmly. "Your Falcon's waiting, son."
"Thank you, sir." Jade jammed the helmet over his curls, snapped of a sharp salute and then made
a beeline for the hangars.
The hum and throb of the F-16 was welcome as Jade taxied his baby down the runway. The Robin
Goodfellow was in perfect form, and somehow Jade knew that all of the officers were gathered in
the control room, watching him.
It was pure bliss when he took to the sky, and his instinct took over, hands guiding the plane
through a series of death-defying stunts, executing each move effortlessly.
He smiled to himself when he heard his squadron leader through the microphone in his hear.
"Hello, sir," he said, then let out a wild whoop as he plunged into a half-stalled spin.
He was Jade Rendell, boy wonder on iron wings, holding in his hands the very clouds, and he loved
it.
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©2004 Agent Duo