I Love...

---Lara pov---

I looked at the ship deck full of fighter Jets ready to take off. I then turned around and looked at the sunset to think to myself. I still remembered my talk with Joseph on the helicopter. I sighed in defeat, thinking of what I just went through.

I have been so blind and so naive. What my father and Joseph went through behind my back. I didn't know how much they sacrificed to keep me safe from harm. I even resent and doubt my father like the rest of his colleagues. But now, after seeing everything on that island, my mind is in flux. My father was right about so much that the world is hiding from us.

I just wish that my father was here and admit that I should have supported him and stopped being a whiny kid who wanted to get attention. And after talking with Joseph about the hidden world, he has been keeping from me. There are so many mysteries I once dismissed as mere stories. But all of it might be true, all those myths, and tales might be all true. But one thing is for sure right now. I need to find the answers, and I must understand.

I looked at the sunset, thinking to myself when suddenly I heard someone coming behind me. I looked behind me and saw a man with black military clothing with a fox logo on his shoulders.

???: "Madam boss, I am Fig Conrad, you can call me Fig for short. I am here to get you anything you want, mam." he said while holding a first aid kit to patch me up. I worriedly looked at him and shook my head.

Lara: "No, I don't need anything, and can you stop calling me Madam boss," I said while worriedly looking at him. He looked at me confusedly and asked me a question.

Fig: "Mam, aren't you dating our boss?" he said with a questioning look on his face. I looked at him and guiltily answered his question.

Lara: "No, I am not dating Joseph… I am a bit confused right now, and I need time to think for myself," when I said my words, the soldier looked at me in surprise and hurriedly gave me the medkit and ran away. I was going to ask him why he ran away from me when suddenly I heard sirens.

I looked around and saw one fighter Jet with a wolf biting a dagger logo on its tail wing.

Radio: "Pheonix one prepared for takeoff." I looked at the fighter Jet as the front landing wheel was hooked up to an aircraft catapult. And a jet blast deflector raised behind the plane. "Phenix one, you are clear for takeoff."

There I saw the fighter jet with a wolf logo catapult off the ship and taking off towards the island I was just on. I then saw another plane preparing for takeoff.

Lara: "I wonder what do they need the island for.." I said, questioningly looking at this.

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---Joseph pov---

When we reached the aircraft carrier, I was called to the briefing room to meet the new pilots that are going to their first foray. When I arrived at the briefing room, I was met with four different people plus Himura, who will be commanding the raid on Yamatai.

When I entered the room, they all gave a salute, which I saluted back at them.

Joseph: "at ease, men." I said while walking towards Himura, who was sitting in front of the room. In the center of the room, there was a Holoprojectore showing us the island of Yematai.

Himura: "General is here; we will now begin your first briefing Phenix squad." he said, sternly looking over the four people in front of us.

Joseph: "commander, you may introduce me to your new group of wingmen." I said while curiously looking at the four pilots in front of me.

Himura: "These four are the best pilots on the planet, I can't tell you their names for confidential reasons, but I could tell you their code name and who they previously work for." he said while handing me files of the pilots inside a folder. I looked at their data and saw lots of black lines blocking out private information except for who they previously worked for before joining FoxHound.

Himura: "Let me first introduce you to the blonde fellow code name Count," he said while pointing at a blonde man with messy hair and blue eyes. "He is the top pilot of the Royal Air force, but because he is one of the top pilots, he is way too arrogant."

I then heard snickering from two people who were sitting in front of us. I then coughed out loud to silence the two people who were laughing.

Joseph: "If he is the top pilot, why is he here instead of the RAF," I said while looking at Himura to tell me the answer. Himura just looked at me and sighed.

Himura: "Sorry, sir, but that is private information, don't worry; he is trustworthy." I stared at him for a minute before breaking my gaze on him. "The black man next to Caunt is code name Dugg, and he is one of the best and experienced pilots of the Brazilian Air force. Because he is an experience, he will be squad leader for this group."

I looked at his files and saw no new information I could see, so I let Himura continue introducing me to everyone.

Himura: " The Asian man next to Dugg is code name Blade." he said, pointing to a man who has black hair and small dark eyes. But what I don't like about him is he looked too young and fresh to be an experienced pilot. "Don't let his baby face fool you, General, he is over thirty and still looks like he is in his twenties. This man was part of the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force."

I looked at Blade's files again and saw that his age is really above thirty, which surprised me for a minute.

Himura: "And finally the last man code name Wolf," he said while looking at the man who has black hair and blue eyes. He looked like he wasn't paying attention to us, but instead, he is just starting up the ceiling in a daze. "He is once part of the U.S Air Force but was convicted as a war criminal and was sentenced to death."

When I heard this, I frowned as I was about to question his decision on hiring this man. But Himura talked to me first.

Himura: "Before you question my decision, I need to tell you that there was something wrong with his plane's missile assisted guidance system and was treated unfairly." when I heard this, I just let it go and suspiciously looked at the last man in the squad.

Himura: "Let's continue our briefing," he said while looking over a holograph that is showing us a 3D map of the island. "We already send in ground troops and eliminate threats on the island," he then looked at the pilots and told them their mission. "I want you guys to help the ground troops by bombing on high-value targets."

Count: "What, that is easy what so serious about that just a bunch of cult with their small guns can't be a threat right." he said with a smug look on his face.

Himura: "I am sorry to burst your bubble, but there is one big enemy you need to worry about." he said while changing the projection to an Aircraft Carrier on the other side of the island. "We have intel that the Trinity will be sending its forces to secure the island, I want you guys to prevent that and also to destroy high-value targets."

Dugg: "Are there hidden enemies we need to be worried about?" he said while worriedly looking at Himura. Himura stared at Dugg for a second before nodding.

Himura: "There is, and that is the Dragon Syndicat, though we never know if they are friends or foe but kept yourself on high alert in case they move." he then looked at them and asked them one final question. "Do you have any questions? If not, prepare yourself for takeoff." with his last words, the briefing is complete.

I then leave the room first, followed by Himura. I didn't need to talk to him, so I headed up the deck to meet up with Lara. When I reached the top, I saw Lara standing in front of the ship looking towards the sunset. I was going to head towards her when suddenly someone hurriedly ran towards me.

Fig: "boss before you do anything, don't…" I didn't hear his words because the Jets were preparing to take off. And because of the loud engines, I could not hear Fig's words. So I just gave him a tap on the shoulder and walked away. He gave me a worried look on his face, which I didn't notice. When I reached Lara, she was looking at the last fighter Jets taking off. Lara saw me and turned around to talk to me.

Lara: "Hay, Joseph, I almost didn't notice you sneaking up behind me." I smiled at her and held one of her hands. "Joseph, what are you doing."

Joseph: "So do you forgive me three years ago when we ended our relationship," I said worriedly while looking at Lara's eyes.

Lara: "yes, I forgive you for now; just make sure we need to talk things through before you decide on things." I just happily nodded and longingly looked at her eyes.

Joseph: "Lara, I have something to tell you," I said while gazing at her eyes. I didn't notice that someone was looking at me with a worried look on his eyes. "Lara, I Love….," but before I could say my words, Lara covered my mouth with her hands. I looked at her face correctly and saw that she had a confused look on her face.

Lara: "Joseph, can we just be friends…"