Tom Ace

"Cinstan, my good friend, what do you make of all this?"

"I don't understand," the aging mechanic wiped the sweat and grease from his forehead, "do you think we should stay at the base? The war is totally over. But whatever type of government is set up, I'm sure they will want veterans like us to form the military. Can I tell you something Tom?"

"Yes? What is it?"

Cinstan paused and looked longingly into the trees. "I'm tired. I don't just mean right now. I'm tired of fighting. I'm old now, and I have been working on machines of war, death, and destruction for so many years. I was once in a battle, up in the air, fighting with my comrades. I became lost after that. I came to work on this little base with the greatest ace in history and I haven't seen danger since... but I'm tired of it all. Do you understand me?""

"Yes I do. I am tired of fighting too. I'm tired of killing, and seeing friends and foes alike, pass away. Why do we have to be fighting?" Tom paused and looked into Cinstan's tired, old eyes. "My good friend, what is your most favorite thing to do?"

"Fishing, but why do you ask, you've never asked such a thing before..."

"How would you like to leave this damn air base and go live in my hometown by the water, and fish for a living?"

"But there are so many complications. I'de have to fix up the planes and--"

"Screw the planes, and the air base, screw the war, the cause, the good fight. Just forget all of it. Comeon."

And the two old friendsã, up and left the air base. As Tom walked through the thick walls of green trees, with Cinstan by his side, he could remember everything that he had ever done, and every place he had been to, and every person he had known. After five seconds of walking away from his life as an ace, he could remember everything except for the base he was just on, instead of remembering nothing but the base. The small buildings and short airfield in the middle of nowhere became a blur, a vague memory, a passing dream. And as the two walked off the military grounds, without a care in the world, they were no longer mechanic and pilot, they were father and son.

THE END

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