Chapter 9

 NINE

It was a cool pre-dawn Sunday morning. The apartment was dark, save for the dim lights that shown through the curtains. The residence itself was nothing spectacular, at less than three hundred square feet, with a small living room, bedroom, Kitchen and bathroom. The real-estate agent was adamant about getting Trigger into a much better apartment in a much trendier part of town closer to the base, compared to the only somewhat gentrified old-town Selatapura. Trigger had somewhat fallen in love with the apartment when he saw it and to the chagrin of the agent, moved in almost immediately.

 

“The perks of being a group commander” Trigger had joked to his friends when he moved in.

Osean Command had only recently allowed the Officers of the Selatapura Air Group to move off base, Many of the younger junior officers chose to become housemates in the residential communities close by, Trigger on the other hand went as far out of his way to avoid the airbase as possible. Aside from trying to separate himself from the day-to-day grind he found himself in, he had ulterior motives.  

Trigger shifted uncomfortably in his sleep. He had almost always been a restless sleeper; throughout his life the excuses always changed, School, Work, cadet Life, military life, more school, more work. The exact excuse never really mattered; Trigger could count on one hand how many times he had an uninterrupted night’s sleep since becoming a fighter pilot.

 

At the back of his slumbering mind, he felt like something was off. It had almost become comforting, the dull roar of an afterburning jet engine during takeoff, or the growl of a Humvee’s diesel only a hundred feet away from the tent. Tonight, sans the snoring, it was silent. The silence bothered him at a deep level.

Now those sounds, along with the bases warning klaxons, the deafening belch of C-RAM and other sounds of war-time military life was once again a memory to Trigger and nothing more.

I guess my body isn’t used to peacetime yet Trigger thought as his half-asleep mind wandered.

Slowly awakening, Trigger watched the shadows dance across the ceiling, it was now only becoming dawn, the night sky turning into a muted teal as the sun started peaking its way over the horizon. Through the cracks in the drapes, Trigger could see the upper strands of the Space Elevator almost glowing with a ferocious intensity as it reflected the sun’s rays.

To Trigger, it appeared that another new day was shining over the city of Selatapura.

Trigger rolled over to look at the clock on his nightstand.

0640

Satisfied with his extra hour of sleep, He stood up in the bed and looked over to the other side of the queen mattress.

there, sleeping peacefully with frazzled hair and still holding his hand, was Cossette.

Trigger smiled as he watched her sleeping next to him. A week and a half prior had marked the fourth month of their relationship. In that time, they had gone on a handful of dates, however the amount of time the two had to spend with each other was getting strained more and more from each of their respective jobs.

 

Trigger acting as the Group Commander was now flying a desk more than he had been flying a fighter jet. Now, if it looked like he would get to fly more than once a month, he was doing well for himself.

Cossette on the other hand was now finding herself more and more focused on the running of a still broken country, it had been six months since the Civil War began, and while Cossette didn’t let it show to most people, Trigger could see the stress starting to wear on the mind of the young woman.

 

Trigger sighed at the thought. His part in the conflict was largely over, with most of the Radicals’ leadership being killed or captured at the Space Elevator, the fighting was now in the mountainous regions of the country and in Farbanti with the hold-out guerillas. He wished as her boyfriend that he could do more, but anytime the subject was brought up she avoided the topic.

 

Trigger taking care to not disturb Cossette, crept out of bed, put on a shirt and walked towards the window. Unlike the views from Cossette’s room, or even the airport, the only indication of the Selatapura skyline Trigger could see was the top of the windbreak and the thin strands from the Space elevator reaching to space. He squinted and could see a car moving up one of the strands to the orbital platform above. He chuckled at the thought, that back when he was still a high schooler, the ISEV was all theory and politics, and in only the span of less than a decade it had not only become reality, but a painful reminder of the new world they all were living in. Trigger stood admiring the sunrise for a few moments. I wonder how long this will last? Trigger asked himself

Lost in thought, he failed to notice the creaking of floorboards behind him.

“Gotcha!” Cossette shouted, hugging Trigger’s torso from behind, startling Trigger enough to shout in surprise.

Taking a second, he composed himself and looked over to see Cossette’s mischievous grin.

“Sleep well?” He asked

“Well no thanks to you, Yes.” She replied lovingly. Trigger grinned at hearing that

“I mean it is the first time we were able to stay over together!” Trigger defended himself

“I’m betting you say that to all the ladies” Cossette teased

“What did you expect me to do? Sneaking people on base isn’t unheard of, yes, but our situation is kind of different” he continued.

Cossette let go of him and sighed, putting her hands on her hips. “I guess that’s fair, I mean how does someone explain this relationship?” She sighed.

Trigger turned around and embraced her, “We’ll just have to burn that bridge when we come to it.” He whispered in her ear to reassure her.

“I think the phrase is to ‘Cross that bridge’ Trigger” Cossette giggled.

“Eh, same difference. Also, why are you wearing my shirt?” Trigger asked. Cossette stood wearing one of his button up uniform shirts, oversized enough to modestly cover the young woman.

“You weren’t wearing it, plus I kinda like it” she replied coyly

“Isn’t that like treason or something?” Trigger jokingly asked

“Dunno, You’re the one allowing me to wear it”

“Well we can fix that” He suggested

The two lovers stood in their embrace for the moment, saying nothing.

Trigger spoke up to break the silence

“So, Breakfast?” he asked.

“That would be lovely” She replied, walking over to the small dining table Trigger had set up in the apartments living room.

Trigger walked into the small kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. He rummaged around for a moment before pulling out the ingredients he was looking for.

“Does an omelet work for you your highness?” Trigger asked, searching through his cupboards for a frying pan. He liked to use the proper form of address to tease Cossette anytime they were alone, much to her chagrin.

“Why of course!” She shot back in an overtly proper tone.

As Trigger cooked, he could hear Cossette open the front door and step out for a moment, before returning with a newspaper.

“Are you sure it’s safe and all to be doing that?” Trigger asked concerned, watching the eggs start to set along the edges of the pan.

“What do you mean?” She asked, sneaking behind him to turn on the automatic coffee maker.

“Well I mean, you know how much of a bad-ass I am and all, but I’m just one man with a frying pan. Aren’t you a bit concerned someone might try to hurt you since you’re the princess and all? Don’t you have private security like 24/7?” Trigger asked. He thought back and noted that only a few times during the early dates with Cossette did he ever deal with any security detachment. I would have thought that she would have Secret Service like our President? Trigger thought to himself.

Cossette thought for a moment

“I’m still only the Crown Princess, I don’t expect to receive any major security detail until I return to Farbanti.” She explained “Besides most of my protective detail is already dead, Remember?” She added solemnly.

It pained Trigger to remember the story she shared. He had seen Tyler Island from the sky, and it was an ugly picture. He hated to think what it looked like on the ground.  Every few weeks a new intelligence report crossed his desk at the squadron about the new atrocities they were discovering that occurred to the civilian population caused by the Erusean’s and Osean Penal unit alike. After the first few reports Trigger stopped reading even the synopsis for being too much to handle.

Finishing the omelet, Trigger took care in plating it and put it in front of Cossette, who was focused on reading the newspaper.

“Funny how print media made a comeback with us losing the Satellite network” Trigger noted.

“Yeah, really wish the article quality was better though” Cossette replied dissatisfied. “They make me out to either be some goddess or the devil incarnate” She added, taking a fork and cutting into her food.

“Can’t win them all” Trigger replied, taking a sip from his coffee cup.

As the two shared breakfast, Trigger couldn’t help himself but to be happy.

“So, what do you want to do today?” Trigger asked Cossette

***

Cossette went stomping off ahead of him in frustration. “You know, you could have at least pretended to be a tiny bit scared along with me!” she admonished. Trigger sighed in defeat, Roller coasters really had lost their charm to him once he started flying, just always seemed too safe, not enough thrill of an actual aircraft in a dogfight.

“Yeah I know, sorry” Trigger relented, Sheepishly following Cossette through the ride’s exit line.

Taking advantage of their collective day off, Trigger and Rosa had elected to spend their afternoon at the small amusement park in Selatapura. Cossette stood at the exit waiting for Trigger, hurriedly taking his hand she rushed them back into the main walkway of the park.

“Come on what do you want to do now” She asked bubbly, in stark contrast to her mood moments prior

“Uhh, I don’t really know?” Trigger stammered. Truthfully, he didn’t care, as long as he could spend time with her, that’s all he wanted.

“Well we could stop for lunch, or do you want to do the Ferris wheel?” She asked, pointing at the domineering structure at one end of the park.

“we could do that” Trigger replied.

Taking his hand in hers, Cossette guided the way through the crowd towards the ride.

Trigger was still amazed with how effortlessly she was able to blend in with the crowd. Growing up he had expected royalty to be like what he saw on TV, pomp, ceremony and attitude. Cossette did not meet any of those definitions, to any layman, she was no different in behavior than any other college age girl. Shit, I guess that’s right. She is only that age he thought to himself.

Arriving at the entrance to the ride, Cossette turned to Trigger, grinning “I cant wait, I’m sure we will be able to see the whole city from there!” she said joyfully

“Maybe, I wonder how high it –“ Trigger was cut off with a quick jab to his ribs.

“Don’t rain on this parade too mister fighter pilot” Cossette said in a playfully stern tone.

“I don’t think it warranted the jab to the ribs” Trigger mumbled.

 

Trigger felt the car lurch as the ride went in motion. Cossette excitedly holding his hand and looking out towards the cityscape around them. He nervously looked at the other passengers near them. Tourists, He thought to himself. It had been a paranoia of both of theirs to be recognized, at least everyone here to Triggers inspection seemed to be paying attention to everything but the young couple in the car with them.

“Wow Trigger, you can see almost everything from here!” Cossette whispered

Trigger sat in silence for a moment, taking in the view as the car climbed its way towards the top of the wheel.

He chuckled

“I mean, didn’t you have this view beat though? I thought you were at the top of the Space Elevator not to long ago?” Trigger replied

“Ugh, don’t remind me about that” Cossette groaned

“I mean it was a hell of a view” Trigger said teasingly

“except you were in a fighter jet. I didn’t even get my suit secured properly!” She belabored her volume rising enough to gain a few looks from the other guests.

Trigger smiled sheepishly, noticing his reaction Cossette started to blush and retreated,

“I mean we could just sit and enjoy the view?” Trigger suggested, looking out towards the bay and Elevator.  He was mesmerized how many boats were out on the water, nothing like he had seen from the cockpit.

“Well you know how messed up my hair was after that?” Cossette added bashfully, taking in the view, and squeezing Trigger’s hand.

The couple sat in a comfortable silence. The ride stopped briefly at the top, allowing the tourists to take pictures, Cossette seizing the opportunity had Trigger pose awkwardly while she took a photo of both of them together in front of the Selatapura skyline.

 

Trigger studied the photo on her phone and felt conflicted.

“You know how much hot water we would be in if that leaked right?” Trigger asked.

Cossette pursed her lips and furrowed her brow. Trigger seeing this felt his heart skip a beat

Damn she’s cute he thought.

“Well-“ she started “-As you said before, we’ll just have to burn that bridge together when we get there right?” She said looking to Trigger with adoring eyes.

Trigger took her hand and held it; he felt a range of emotions as his mind played out different scenarios. Pushing the dark thoughts to the back of his mind he faked a smile 

“I’m sure we will” he said reassuringly, he hoped that Cossette believed him.  

***
Trigger and Cossette walked down the main street hand in hand. “You know Trigger, for someone so worried about us getting caught, you do seem to like to stay by my side a lot.” Cossette teased.

Trigger shrugged

“Don’t know what to tell you” he sighed truthfully.

“Well, I’m not saying I dislike it or anything?” Cossette said in a faked bashful tone.

“Are you really going to go full tsundere on me or something?” Trigger teased

Cossette gave him a confused look and stopped

“What’s that?” She asked

“Uhh, never mind” Trigger deflected Dammit Bennett! Trigger cursed internally, one of the few bad habits he had developed while in Heierlark.

“Oh don’t do that to me!” Cossette said, playfully punching Trigger in the arm,

“Its from a darker time in my past. Let’s not get into it if we don’t have to” Trigger replied in a grave tone. The way he had played it up caused Cossette to laugh

“Whatever you big nerd!” She teased, leaning in to kiss him.

Trigger was briefly lost in the moment,

In this moment, nothing mattered to the pilot, God I could get used to this, he thought to himself.

Finishing the kiss, Cossette continued walking towards her hotel. Trigger, brain still reeling from the kiss, took a second before running to catch up.

“Dang Trigger, for a fighter pilot you really do get flustered easily” She observed

“Only when it’s around pretty girls” He shot back, the compliment causing Cossette to blush and grab his arm.

The two continued in silence until they reached the front of the hotel.

“Hey, think I can get one for the road?” Trigger asked, Cossette obliging gave him a quick peck on the cheek, before making a quick about face and retreating into the hotel.

Trigger stood for a moment, grinning like an idiot.

I really could get used to this he thought.