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 115
Give Thanks
Alex shut down his computer and stretched all the way to the tip of his tail. They’d been so busy so far this week that he and Billy had filled in on two flights each since Monday morning. It was now Wednesday late afternoon. They still had eight aircraft on their way back in or just dropping off passengers at their destinations. It would be almost midnight by the time the last aircraft got home to Bluegrass Field.
Billy had gone home at 1600. He and Penny had family coming in and needed to prepare for their arrival. Duncan and Loni left around then as well. They were going to spend tomorrow with their son Dylan, watching the Macy’s parade on TV and then going out for dinner. Kath and Rich had left early that morning to go meet each other’s parents.
Alex stepped out into the admin area and down to the break room for a cup of coffee. He’d have his supper delivered in another hour or so. The office was quiet, and conducive to thinking. He had a seat in the lounge area to do just that. Tomorrow’s gathering as his home promised to be quite an affair. Corrie had told him earlier to add two more to the guest list. She planned to invite Kate and Farrah since they were far from home and family. He’d agreed, curious to meet Helipro’s new hires.
His reverie was interrupted by the sound of an aircraft taxiing in outside. He got up and prepared to sign in another flight and send the crew home. The whole thing started again tomorrow evening, so he hoped everyone enjoyed the holiday and got some rest.
# # #
Corrie was preparing to leave Helipro for the weekend. Since they weren’t flying quite yet, they were going to be out until Monday. Jaqi would be there, with her check ride and orientation coming then. Their first charters were now scheduled on Thursday of the next week, with a steady increase for the next two months. If the demand kept up like that, they’d have to get more aircraft and hire more pilots before the next year was over.
Presently, Kate Bishop walked in. “Hi Corrie, you wanted to see me?”
“Yeah I did. Ouah first chahters are scheduled for Thursday next week. Horse ownahs going from heah to two horse fahms. Must be auctions because we have twelve different round trips to do. Two have a large enough contingent to require the Longrangah. We’re putting Jaqi on those because she’s been flying a biggah chopper more recently. Will you be ready to go?”
Kate grinned. “You bet! I’ve been hoping how soon we’d start flying.”
“Great! I’ll—”
Corrie was interrupted as Farrah came in.
“Hi Corrie, Kate, how’s it going?”
They greeted her in return and then Kate started the conversation again.
“Corrie was just saying we start flying Thursday of next week.”
“Yay! I’m ready!” the puma femme enthused. Corrie grinned.
“Yep. I also wanted to invite you both to Thanksgiving dinnah at Alex’s house. He and I are having some friends and family ovah.”
Both the femmes began to politely decline.
“Oh, no, we couldn’t intrude,” Kate replied.
“No, we couldn’t,” Farrah added. Corrie looked from one to the other.
“Look, Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends. You’re both, as Helipro is becoming a family and you two are friends. You’re both heah, away from home and family, in a new town. Please, we’d love for you to join us.”
The two looked at each other. Finally, Kate shrugged.
“I really didn’t have any other plans.”
“Me neither,” Farrah agreed.
They both looked back at Corrie and nodded yes. Corrie gave them both a bright, reassuring smile.
“Wonderful! Heah, let me write down Alex’s address. It’s a bit out of the way ovah near Winchester.”
She wrote Alex’s address on two post-it notes and gave one to each femme.
“That’s all I wanted. It’ll be great having you join us.”
They both stood up to leave, but then Farrah stepped back.
“Thank you, Corrie. Hug?”
Corrie looked at her as Kate turned back and grinned.
“This gal would hug the world to death if she could. Let’s make it a group hug.”
Corrie smiled as the three embraced and then made to leave.
“Bye Corrie, see you tomorrow.” Farrah flashed her dazzling smile.
“Bye Corrie, thank you,” Kate added at almost the same time. Corrie smiled in return.
“Bye you two.”
The two femmes walked out the door as Corrie finished turning everything off. As she made to lock up, she recalled that Alex was still down at Kentiger. The lioness decided to go keep her tiger company while he waited for their aircraft to come in.
# # #
Alex’s ears perked up as he heard a vehicle pull in. Not a moment later Corrie walked in.
“Hi Jet Jockey, how’s it going?”
“Slow,” he replied, grinning. “How’re you, Chopper Gal?”
“Stoked for tomorrow. Both Kate and Farrah are coming.”
“Great! Oh my, they’ll be meeting Zig Zag, too. She and James just got to my house. I left the spare key under the mat for them.”
Corrie looked askance. “Well, I think they can handle her. They’re both ex-Ahmy, but with theah looks, Zig might really mean it when she tries to recruit them.”
Alex shook his head, smiling. “Think they’d accept?”
Corrie blinked, then blushed. “Oh, I hope not. I can see Zig putting out a video called ‘The Angels of Helipro’ or some such thing.”
Alex laughed as he stood and exchanged a hug and kiss with his lady.
“Be careful what you say. If she thinks it’ll make a good movie, she’ll run with it,” he advised.
“Yeah, I know she will. Hey, when does the snow kick in heah?” Corrie inquired.
“Well, many times not until later in January, sometimes not at all, why?” Alex replied.
“Trying to think of anything that could disrupt our operations. Turbulence, ice, severe weathah, things like that.”
Corrie’s look was thoughtful. Alex nodded.
“All possible. What did Ben do in Maine, where it was a certainty?”
“Plan and work around it. Yeah, I know. Just wondering what the season might hold.” Corrie smiled. They’d been in each other’s arms the whole exchange. Alex gave her a lop-sided grin.
“Kentucky is known as the state where nature says, ‘You can’t have all four seasons in one week’ and Kentucky says, ‘Watch this.’ We seriously get it all. Sometimes all at once.”
“Coo, and they say Maine is bad. Okay, now paht of the orientation flight, all the weathah.”
Alex and Corrie laughed together as they sat down, enjoying each other’s company. The sound of jet engines winding down told them the next Kentiger was home.
# # #
It was just past 1300 on Thanksgiving Day. Corrie, Alex, James, and Zig Zag were sitting in Alex’s formal living room talking while the caterers laid out Thanksgiving dinner. They’d rearranged the furniture to accommodate a long table with enough chairs for all eight guests. As soon as they were done, the two furs would leave and then return to remove everything at 1800.
“Zig, when will the video with the scene we watched be out?” Corrie inquired, curiosity getting the better of her.
“Why. Do you want a copy? I’ll send you one, no charge.” Zig’s grin was far from the innocent tone she tried for. Corrie blushed crimson under her fur to the tips of her ears. Alex came to her rescue.
“Cousin, that’s not what she meant, and you know it. We’re just curious as to how long it takes to finish after a scene is shot.”
Zig wrinkled her nose mischievously. “It’s been out about two weeks. Very popular, and that scene gets mentioned a lot in the comments and reviews we get on it. I told you it was a good scene.”
Corrie simply nodded. Zig sat back as Alex and James began a conversation about Cass Railroad in West Virginia. The skunk femme could see that the lioness was having some thoughts and ideas she was having to deal with. Not in a bad way, but that she wasn’t ready to pursue yet. Zig could help with that, but she wouldn’t presume to intrude unless Corrie asked. Otherwise she wouldn’t press her about it.
Presently the caterers walked in. A beagle femme and a terrier femme, they went by the unlikely name of Two B’s Catering. The beagle was Bethany, and the terrier Brenda. Their husbands did the heavy lifting of tables and chairs, while the two femmes did the cooking and presentation.
“Mr. O’Whitt,” Bethany greeted him. “Everything is ready. Be careful if you get any right now, it’s piping hot. It should be just right at around two thirty. That’ll give a little time if any of your guests are running late.”
Alex stood and shook paws with the femmes. “Bethany, Brenda, thank you. I’ll see you at ei, ah, six.”
The catering duo smiled, nodded and walked out to their van. Alex had parked his truck behind Zig’s Lexus, and Corrie had parked behind him. The caterers got in their van and eased out the driveway past the other vehicles. When their guests arrived, the driveway would be crowded. Alex and Corrie excused themselves and went out to move their two vehicles down in from of the new garage/hangar. They had just gotten back when they heard a vehicle pull up the driveway and stop. Alex went to get the door while Corrie sat down with James and Zig.
The doorbell chimed, and Alex opened the front door to reveal Patti and Joanne.
“Hiee Alex!” Patti enthusiastically greeted him as she jumped into a hug. Joanne again opted for a gentler side arm hug.
“Hi Alex.”
“Hi you two. Come on in. The food is ready, but we’re waiting on a couple more guests.” Alex returned their greeting as he led the way in. Patti and Joanne stopped short when they saw James and Zig Zag rising to meet them.
Patti looked at Joanne and said, “I told you that license plate said Zig Zag 2.”
Alex laughed as Corrie began the introductions. “Patti Delancey, Joanne Ritter, this is James Sheppard and Zig Zag.”
“Hello ladies, nice to meet you,” James replied amiably.
“Well hello, my, love all the spots Patti,” Zig responded, sounding a bit on the sensual side.
Patti actually blushed. “H-hello James, Zig Zag. Wow, what an honor to meet you! I’ve seen sev, er, a few of your videos.”
The dalmatian had shaken paws with James but seemed uncertain as to how to approach the tiger-striped skunk. Zig Zag just smiled.
“Yes, I do take hugs,” she said smoothly. Patti hugged her and stepped back, still blushing.
Joanne held out a paw and shook with James and Zig. “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’m sorry, I didn’t know who you were until Patti told me. You’re really Alex’s cousin?”
Zig smiled brightly. “Yep. Hard to believe, but we are.”
Before the ensuing break in conversation got too long, Zig showed she was indeed still Zig.
“So, Corrie turned me down flat. How about you two? I could definitely use some more spots in my cadre of actors, and I have a male maned wolf. Either of you ever think of working in adult films? We could do some funny gender-swap videos.”
They all looked at each other and began laughing. Patti shook her head.
“Oh Gawd no. I’m pretty free-wheeling with guys, but I couldn’t imagine doing that with that many folks watching!”
“Me either. Thank you for the compliment, and the idea does sound funny, but no thanks,” Joanne added.
“Aww, too bad,” Zig replied, giving a lascivious grin. Just then the doorbell rang. Since Corrie was pretty sure who it was, she headed for the door.
“I’ll get it.”
She opened it to find both Kate and Farrah there.
“Hi you two, Happy Thanksgiving. C’mon in, everyone else is heah and the food is ready.”
They walked in together and Corrie began the introductions.
“Everyone, these are two of Helipro’s new pilots. Kate Bishop and Farrah Townsend. Kate, Farrah, the tall stripy guy is me fiancé Alex O’Whitt. The dalmatian is my friend Patti Delancey. The maned wolf is Joanne Ritter. The coyote-shepherd is James Sheppard, and he’s Zig Zag’s guy. She’s the striped skunk.”
Both Farrah and Kate looked a bit stunned.
“Zig Zag?” Farrah managed, sounding curious. “THE Zig Zag?”
Zig flashed her own dazzling smile. “Yes, that’s me. Corrie, I’m not even gonna lie, I don’t know where you found these two, but if I could steal ‘em away for the studio, I would!”
Kate now found her voice. “What’s this about? I thought we were working for a helicopter service?”
“You are,” Corrie reassured them, looking serious. “Zig is Alex’s second cousin. I said this was for friends and family. You are under no obligation to entertain Zig’s implied offer. She’s asked all of us that at one time or anothah.”
Zig looked only slightly chagrinned. “I’m just being me. Most aren’t cut out for it, but you’d be surprised how many take me up on it. I apologize if you got the wrong impression, ladies. My company and Corrie’s are two completely different things. I’m here to visit Alex and have Thanksgiving with him, and you, that’s all.”
Farrah now spoke again, giving a shrug. “I think it’s cool. I’ve seen a few of your movies. Heck, Kate, we were Army Aviators. I bet you’ve seen her movies, too.”
Kate blushed slightly. “Er, yes, I have. I guess I forgot that actors can have a real life, too. Pleased to meet you all.”
Now Alex eased everyone out of the awkward situation. “Let’s all find a seat at the table in the next room, please. I’ll say grace and then we can get to know each other while we eat.”
After a bit of dancing around, they found their seats. Alex was at the head of the table, Corrie at the foot. Down one side was James, Kate, and Farrah. Down the other was Zig, Patti, and Joanne. They all stood as Alex began.
“Everyone join paws, please.”
After a moment they were all holding paws. Alex looked around and smiled.
“What a wonderful group to be here with. I want to thank you for coming to my home and being my friends. I’m going to say a short grace, and then we’ll eat.”
Alex bowed his head and began. “Dear Father, today is Thanksgiving. A time to remember all the things we’re thankful for. We’re thankful for friends old and new, and family old and new. For safe travel and good food, and the joy and laughter we’ll share today. For all this, we thank you. Amen.”
He looked up to see everyone smiling. “Let’s eat!” he declared enthusiastically.
Everyone sat down and began to pass dishes and platters around. Drinks were sent around, and in short order everyone was eating and conversing merrily. Within fifteen minutes both Corrie’s friends and the two pilots were all conversing with Zig Zag and each other like they’d known each other all their lives. James and Alex started off talking, but as time passed everyone talked with everyone else. After a bit, the plates had held seconds, dessert had been passed around, and then everyone adjourned to the living room with drinks and coffee to talk some more. When the caterers arrived at 1800, everyone was still conversing. The two ladies and their husbands went about cleaning up and putting everything in the TV room back in its place. Finally, around 2000, the Helipro pilots took their leave. Shortly after, Patti and Joanne did also. Alex, Corrie, Zig, and James settled back to talk a bit more.
“That was bonzah great.” Corrie sounded very content.
“I have to agree,” Alex added.
“Quite a group. Hard to believe they just met,” James observed, smiling.
“Yeah,” Zig added. “But it felt like someone was missing.”
Corrie explained about Terri Moggy and Jaqi Hernandez. Zig blinked.
“Wait. Kate, Jaqi, and Farrah?”
Corrie looked askance. “Coo, you too? Billy looked like that right before he called them Billy’s Angels.”
Alex nearly did a spit-take as he fought to swallow his tea before he began laughing. Finally, he sputtered, “I hadn’t thought of that!”
Zig was laughing, too. “Thanks for the idea, Corrie!”
Corrie looked aghast. “Oh no, there is to be no Angels of Helipro video. You can dress it up however you like, but not that specific!”
Zig looked speculative. “Maybe we can hire you for the helicopter and outside shots, change the company name to something else, and go from there.”
James interceded. “Corrie, she’s got that look in her eye. She’ll change it enough not to be your company name, but this idea will be a video by March.”
Corrie looked stubborn for a moment, but then finally just shrugged. “Okay, why not. We could probably use the business.”
“Now you’re talking,” Zig grinned.
Before long, Alex and Corrie kissed and hugged goodnight and the lioness left for home. Alex, James, and Zig settled into the evening content with a wonderful Thanksgiving.
# # #
Kate and Farrah had ridden out together, and now were talking over the afternoon and evening as they drove back to Lexington.
“That was the weirdest Thanksgiving I’ve ever had,” Kate avowed.
“Yeah, I never expected to meet a porn star at my boss’ get together. Still, after the initial shock, she was pretty nice. I was surprised when Alex said grace. He’s her cousin, and I never expected him to be religious. He’s so straight-laced and easy-going, it’s hard to believe they’re related.” Farrah had a contemplative look on her face.
“I like him,” Kate stated. “He and Corrie are good together. I like how he took everyone at face value. He he, and fur, we think we have some war stories.”
“Oh Gosh!” Farrah exclaimed. “He’s really a been-there, done-that kinda guy. Still, he didn’t try to one-up us, either. Corrie’s two friends are a riot! Especially Patti! I hope we get to see all of them again.”
“Me, too.” Kate smiled as they drove on.
End of Chapter 115