FIRE ON HIGH
“Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings © Tigermark 2003-2018 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.
The characters of Anatol Altaisokova and Melinda Altaisokova are my names for characters © Max Blackrabbit. They appear in this story with his permission. The characters of Brandy, Maxwell, Tonya and Zig Zag are also © Max Blackrabbit and appear here with his permission. Events and information relating to Tonya, Anatol, and their family are presented here, but are not to be considered canon to those characters or any other story but this one. ZZ Studios, and all characters associated with ZZ Studios, James Sheppard, and Marvin Badger © James Bruner and appear here with his permission. Although characters from and events referring to Zig Zag the Story appear here, this story is not canon to that one, and the author will disavow any knowledge of this story. Wanda Vixen © Chris Yost and appears here with his permission. Sabrina Mustidalae © Eric W. Schwartz and appears here with his permission. This story is not canon to Sabrina Online the comic, or Sabrina Online the Story, either. Matt Barstock, Angie Rockwell, Intermountain Charter, The Bitch, and her crew, and Jerry Kitt © Silver Coyote. See their story HERE. Gail Rutherford © me and is not canon to any other story involving ZZ Studios. Gabrielle Ryder and Jean LeBrun © Aslaug, from her Transitions stories. See them at her site, The Axe Shed, available from the links page. Aramis Dagaz is© his player and appears here with his permission.
Author’s Note: Lewiston, Maine’s airport, identifier KLEW, is actually uncontrolled. That is, it has no control tower. Poetic license was used for this story, so Alex and company talk with a control tower whilst aviating there.
Chapter 105
Back to Life
The day had dawned murky, misty, and cool as Alex and Corrie suited up and got in Stripes One for the flight back to Lexington. On takeoff they’d been into the low overcast at a thousand feet and hadn’t broken into the clear until twelve thousand. Now at twenty two thousand, they had veiled sunshine from a cirrostratus deck just above them.
They’d said their goodbyes last night, so they hadn’t heard from Zig and James before they left. The radio chatter was quite busy with the low ceilings and IMC widespread across the Eastern U.S., so conversation was sparse. Mostly they talked about weekend plans. Corrie was going to come out to Alex’s house and they were going to relax for a change.
It was just after 0800 when they popped out of the overcast at twenty five hundred feet on the ILS for Runway Twenty Two. The winds were slightly across the runway at 230 at 15 gusting to 25. All the murk was preceding a warm front, with thunderstorms forecast with a cold front on Saturday. The runway was damp, and drizzle and rain were expected through the day. Alex smoothly set Stripes One down on the numbers, murmuring a quiet, “Welcome home ‘ol gal.” Corrie smiled into her mask and now teased him over the intercom.
“Should I be jealous? Do you want some time alone with ‘er after we pahk?”
“Ha ha. As I recall you called the Robinson at Old North a couple of pet names, too,” Alex teased back.
“Those were ‘Strine sweah words. No, I won’t translate,” she stated with finality.
Alex just grinned as he talked to ground control and taxied for the spot Stripes One usually occupied on Bluegrass Aviation’s ramp. Allaistor and a team of maintenance furs were there to meet them. As soon as the shutdown was complete and the canopies open, crew ladders slid into place. The bulldog waited for them as they climbed down.
“Colonel, Miss Corrie, how did it go? Any problems?”
“Yeah, Jet Jockey heah talks to her more than he does me,” Corrie mock-groused, grinning the whole time.
Allaistor looked at her, the picture of innocence as he said, “So?”
Both Corrie and Alex burst out laughing. Allaistor just grinned. Finally, Alex waved a paw.
“Okay, I know when to quit. She did great Gunny. You did a fantastic job on her.”
“Yep Colonel, thank you. Now, get your stuff so we can move her inside. The rain’s supposed to pick up, and there’s supposed to be thunderstorms tomorrow. Don’t want her out in that!” the bulldog responded.
“Nope. C’mon Chopper Gal, let’s get our things,” Alex said as he moved to get to the central cargo pod. Within a few minutes, as they walked to their vehicles, Stripes One was well on her way into the hangar, leaving only the fire bottle and a set of chocks in her spot.
# # #
Jefferson Mastifson was actually smiling to himself as he prepared to depart Lunken Field in Cincinnati at about 0900. His review had actually gone well, and despite how boring most of the classes were, he’d gotten good information from them. He’d also managed to collect several contacts with other FAA reps to add to his book. None that he could command or coerce, but contacts nonetheless.
“Piper Five Three Zulu, you are cleared to take the runway. IFR clearance ROCKT Eight Departure. Winds two three zero at twelve gusting eighteen.”
“Bit of a crosswind,” the Rottweiler mused to himself. He quickly reviewed the RNAV radio navigation departure, then edged out onto the runway and replied to the tower.
“Five Three Zulu, holding for takeoff, Runway Two One Right.”
There was a short wait as an air taxi on a cross runway landed, and then the tower called him.
“Five Three Zulu, cleared for takeoff, Runway Two One Right, contact Departure Control on one two one point zero, good day.”
“Five Three Zulu, rolling,” he replied.
He pushed the throttles forward and made sure his prop pitch and flaps were set for takeoff. He quickly became airborne and raised his gear, punching into the overcast at fifteen hundred feet. He was only going to seven thousand five hundred to cruise to Lexington on a heading of 177° after he cleared the IFR departure, and so expected to be in the muck all the way. Fortunately, the ceiling at Bluegrass was up to 2500 feet.
In between radio contacts with Departure Control and the ARTCC in Indianapolis, Mastifson thought about his week. It had been productive, possibly even fun, as he’d found a couple of nice desserts while there. Best of all, despite the two incidents with striped furs, there had been no sign of O’Whitt. Barry had mentioned him in passing, only in the context of pulling the couple of black marks on the Rottweiler’s record, and that had been that.
The Rottweiler scanned his instruments. He was on course, wings-level, on time, and on flight plan. When he got back to Bluegrass, he planned to go home and spend the weekend resting and getting ready to get back to his normal job on Monday.
The time to Lexington wasn’t long, and soon he was picking up the outer marker and establishing his flight path on the ILS approach for Runway 22. At three miles out, he broke out of the overcast at 2500 feet and found himself in light, drizzly rain. He put down his gear and settled in for a smooth landing, after which he cleared the runway and taxied on to his hangar. As he passed Bluegrass Aviation’s ramp, he noticed chocks and a large fire extinguisher at the spot where the striped T-38 had usually sat. He shrugged that off as not meaning anything.
Mastifson arrived at his hangar and routinely secured the Seminole and locked the doors. From there he walked out, got in his car, and drove home. As he passed, he noted Kentiger’s parking lot was full, and O’Whitt’s truck was still gone.
# # #
Alex was standing, looking out his kitchen window. The clouds were scudding by low and fast. The rain had ended for now, but thunderstorms were forecast by afternoon. It was Saturday morning, and he was working on a cup of coffee as he waited for Corrie to arrive. He smiled to himself, very glad for the moment to put the hectic, and dangerous, last couple of weeks behind him.
Presently, he saw Corrie’s Jeep come up the road and make the turn into his driveway past Jack and Jenna’s. He finished his coffee and walked out to greet her as she pulled up behind his truck. She shut down the vehicle and got out.
G’morning, Luv!” she greeted him cheerfully as she swept into his arms for a lingering hug and kiss.
“Good morning, indeed! Did you sleep well?” Alex asked as they ended the kiss but still held on to each other.
“I did, how about you?” she asked in return.
“Yep, felt good to be home. Hey, look over here.” He replied, indicating a spot below and to the side from the house.
“What…am I looking at?” Corrie inquired.
“See that level spot right there? I was thinking it would be a good spot for the helipad and hangar for the chopper.”
Corrie looked at him a bit sideways. “Er, what chopper?”
Alex looked at her, smiling. “I was thinking ahead. I hope you’ll share this house with me as our home. We both fly rotorcraft. It just makes sense that we get one for here, so we can commute or otherwise have it at paw to use.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Got it all figured, eh?”
Alex shrugged. “As I said, thinking ahead. What do you think of the idea?”
She put her head on his shoulder, looking at the spot. Then she gave a sigh.
“It’s a good spot. No wires, plenty of clearance. I…I guess it’s still kinda a dream. I keep expecting something else to come up and rip us apaht.”
Alex pulled her into a face-to-face embrace again, looking into her eyes.
“Love, there may be. We’ve come through a lot. I don’t doubt that something more will come. I have no idea what, but the future is unknown. When it comes, we’ll take it on. As I told you, I’m not going anywhere. I love you. I will not leave you.”
She smiled up at him and then laid her head on his chest. “I know. I love you too, and I’m believing in us. I just feel like I’ve been through so many changes lately. It just feels…different? To be this happy and not just going through the motions of life.”
They just held each other, content to be in each other’s arms. After a few moments Alex lifted her chin and kissed her, then arched an eyebrow.
“Let’s go in and relax a bit, and then we can have lunch. Hey! Have you gotten together with Patti and Joanne since you’ve gotten moved in?”
Corrie looked up at him inquiringly. “They helped me when the movahs brought me stuff, but otherwise I’ve been a bit busy, why?”
“Invite them out for lunch. I’ve got sandwich makings and iced tea. Heh, I have a feeling they’ll be out here pretty regularly anyway,” Alex answered, smiling.
Corrie smiled broadly. “That’s a bonzer idea! Let me call them.”
She pulled out her cell phone and punched a number. After a moment, the line connected and was answered after a couple of rings.
“Patti. Hey, I’m out at Alex’s, how’d you like to come out for lunch? …Yeah, invite Joanne too…Oh, whenevah you want, no hurry…Great! We’ll see you then…Yes, I’ll text you the address. It’s the grey stone and wood house up the driveway neah the top of the hill…’K, bye.”
She punched the address in and sent it as a text. She then looped an arm through Alex’s.
“Let’s go in and relax. Patti said it’ll be a couple of hours before they get heah. She’s calling Joanne.”
They headed inside to spend some time together before her friends arrived.
# # #
Patti had picked up Joanne and headed out of town on I-64, Eastbound to Winchester. The conversation was lively as they drove.
“Yeah, this one’s a real cutie. Almost 35, Dark blonde hair. I’ve never dated an Afghan Hound before. Must be a Southern thing, cause he’s a real gentlefur,” Patti stated, her tail thumping the seat as she talked about her new boyfriend.
“Bet he’s a real wildkaht when you get him alone,” Joanne teased.
“I may find out tonight. We have a dinner date at seven,” Patti said with a wink. Joanne grinned lasciviously.
“I met a good one at the Y. He’s polite, too. Big strapping shepherd, but very gentle. We also have a date tonight, if he doesn’t get called in. He’s an EMT.”
“Kewl!” Patti grinned. “So far we’re both getting pretty lucky. This was a good move.”
Joanne nodded. “It was. And now finally Corrie and Alex are engaged. I was a little leery at first, but he’s a really great guy. Any further word on the wedding plans?”
Patti stuck the tip of her tongue out. “Only that it looks like it’ll be done by committee. Alex has a sister-in-law and a close friend who’ll want in on it. Plus, there’s Terri and Zig Zag.”
“Who?”
Patti glanced over to see if Joanne was kidding. She had a questioning expression on her face. Patti arched an eyebrow.
“You…seriously don’t know who Zig Zag is? Porn star, owns her own studio. She used to be in the tabloids all the time.”
Joanne looked at her askance. “Er, no, I don’t. What has a porn star got to do with Alex and Corrie?”
Patti shook her head. “Oy, I forget sometimes how out of the loop you were in Maine. Zig Zag is a tiger-striped skunk, and Alex’s second cousin. Corrie says she’s actually very nice. She and Alex are close friends as well as related. But, she’s up in Columbus, Ohio, so I think her involvement will mostly be long distance.”
Joanne was trying to process all that when the GPS announced, “Your destination is in one half mile, on the left.”
Patti put on her signal and began to slow down in preparation for the turn. The driveway was easily seen as the fenceline ended and the brush had been cut back. She made the turn between two large trees and there the driveway split, the right going over to a nice brick and siding ranch-style house with a large front porch.
“Corrie said it was up the hill,” Patti commented as they went on past. They both took in a breath at the large, single-story stone, glass, and wood home that sat at the end of the drive. They could see Corrie’s Jeep, so they knew it was the right place.
Patti parked, and they got out.
“This is Alex’s place? I was expecting a run-down bachelor pad, or maybe even a trailer.” Joanne said quietly.
“Ah, yeah, he’s full of surprises,” Patti managed, herself still a bit in awe.
Just then, the two heard distant thunder rumble off to the Southwest. Looking that way, the sky was almost black. They looked at each other and hurried up to the door. They rang the bell and waited. In just a moment, the door opened, and Corrie ushered them in.
“Hey Sheilas! C’mon in, there’s a storm on the way, and the weathah radio just went off with a severe thundahstorm warning.”
“Corrie!” Patti yelped and jumped in to hug her friend. Corrie grinned and patted her back. Joanne took her turn to hug and then Corrie shut the door and led the way into the TV room. The two exchanged looks of wonder as they took in the formal living room. Everything was well appointed without being overdone or gaudy. The hall and TV room had a minimalistic, comfortable feel. They passed the kitchen and saw Alex finishing up making a pitcher of iced tea.
“Geez,” Patti commented. “He’s even domestic, too?”
Corrie giggled at that. “If he’d known how you took your sandwiches, he’d have had them already made, too. Have a seat and we’ll bring a tray out and you can make your own.”
The two sat down and Joanne looked at Patti. “Notice how easily she’s moving around here? Like she already feels at home.”
“Oh yeppers! I think it’s great!” Patti replied.
At that point Alex and Corrie came in with a tray of lunchmeat, cheese, bread, and condiments, and one of glasses and a pitcher of iced tea.
“Hello ladies, good to see you,” Alex greeted them as he sat the tray on the coffee table. Patti and Joanne stood up, and Alex offered them his paw. Patti stepped right by it.
“Nuh-uh, if you’re marrying Corrie, it’s time for hugs.”
She was promptly engulfed in tiger, and although she let out a squeak, her tail was going like mad. He let her go and turned to Joanne, again offering a paw. Joanne took it to shake and then gave him a side-arm hug as well.
“Oh gal!” Patti enthused to Corrie. “Those arms will definitely comfort you on a cold night. Like velvet over steel!”
Corrie wrinkled her nose mischievously. “I know, I know.”
Alex said a short Grace and they sat down at the table. The storm soon broke overhead, rattling the windows and drumming on the roof. It passed quickly, leaving a gentle rain. Corrie caught them up on their trip to Columbus.
“So…you actually watched a scene from a porno being filmed,” Patti said, her eyes wide.
“Yeah, we did. It wasn’t so bad, but theah was a lot going into the production. Theah must have been fifteen or twenty furs on that set, and neithah the bloke nor the sheila seemed to care at all,” Corrie replied.
“Never realized that,” Joanne said, and then blushed as she realized she had admitted to far more knowledge of the subject than she should have. Patti didn’t miss a beat, though.
“Neat. Which actor and actress?”
“Alexi and Sindee, a Husky male and grey squirrel femme. I don’t know their last names,” Alex chimed in nonchalantly. Now Patti blushed.
“Oh, well, I’ve…seen…him…”
Corrie nearly guffawed. “Yeah, I have too! He’s handsome enough, and strong. He picked that squirrel up and sat her on the countahtop like she didn’t weigh an ounce! Really though, they made the scene very romantic and tendah. And that was only one take! Seems they do every scene several times and edit togethah the best parts.”
Joanne looked disappointed. “I knew they couldn’t be going at it as long as they try to show.”
Patti laughed. “Hey, it’s all about fantasy and illusion. That’s why the real thing is so much better.”
Corrie’s smile dimmed slightly, but she simply nodded. Before she could get melancholy, Alex moved the conversation on.
“I’ll make sure if she comes to visit you get to meet her. She drops by from time to time, and she always likes meeting fans.”
Corrie brightened and grinned mischievously. “But don’t be surprised if she tries to recruit you. She asks just about everybody she meets if they’d like to act for her, even though she knows most aren’t cut out for it.”
Patti and Joanne looked wide-eyed. Joanne finally ventured, “Did she ask you?”
“She asked us both, at different times,” Alex answered.
“But you’re her cousin!” Patti stated.
“Second Cousin, but so? She wasn’t asking me to do scenes with her. She has a boyfriend, a really nice guy named James Sheppard, and as far as everyone says, she’s retired from acting in sex scenes. As far as the other actors, from what I’ve seen being in a relationship doesn’t matter to them. They look at it as work is work and doesn’t affect their personal lives. I don’t agree with it, but it’s their choice.”
Patti and Joanne both nodded, digesting what had been said. The conversation moved on to their new jobs, Patti as a travel agent, Joanne as an office manager for a bank. The rain had stopped, and before long they took their leave to go home and get ready for their dates. Hugs were exchanged and the two left.
Corrie wrapped Alex up in a tight hug.
“Thank you. That was bonzah fun. I’m very glad they came South.”
“Always good to have friends. And speaking of dates, want to go out to dinner?” Alex replied.
“Sweet talkah. Lead on, Luv,” the lioness stated as she kissed him.
# # #
Monday morning dawned clear and cool, a pleasant contrast to the storms and murk of the weekend. Jefferson Mastifson had been true to his word and had spent the time relaxing. Now feeling recharged and ready, he was looking forward to whatever the day held.
He got up, showered, dressed, and had breakfast. It was nearly 0900 and he was in traffic waiting to turn from US-60 onto Man-O-War Boulevard. The light changed, and he made the turn, heading for the Commercial Terminal area. He eased into the employee parking lot, shut down and headed inside. As he went to go in the door, a vehicle turning in to Kentiger’s lot on down the road caught his attention. It was a Jeep, but he couldn’t make out the driver. With a shrug, he made his way upstairs to his office.
Once there, he did a normal sweep of the ramp with binoculars, looking for anything out of place or dangerous. Nothing presented itself. He looked over at Bluegrass Aviation and Kentiger, and they seemed very normal.
He then noted movement in the Kentiger parking lot. Billy Panelli had come out the door, followed by…a blonde lioness! Mastifson nearly dropped his binoculars. That was O’Whitt’s lioness! The Rottweiler now smirked. So, the ol’ tiger was comforting the bereft girlfriend. At least she wasn’t still missing. They got in the Jeep he’d seen and left the parking lot. Trees blocked his view from seeing where they went from there.
He put the binoculars down and settled in at his desk, ready now to check emails and start the week, all thoughts of lionesses, tigers, and affairs gone for the moment.
End of Chapter 105