Chloe moved through the cabin reassuring terrified travelers, though even she kept looking toward Pauline. The woman everyone had dismissed as a confused grandmother was now the calmest person aboard.
Suddenly, the plane dropped several hundred feet.
Warning alarms screamed.
Mark instinctively grabbed for the controls, but Pauline stopped him.
“Don’t fight it,” she said sharply. “Let the aircraft settle.”
Seconds later, the plane stabilized.
Chapter 2
Mark stared at her hands.
“How did you know?”
Pauline finally turned toward him.
“Because I’ve watched prototypes do the same thing when they were trying to kill me.”
For the first time, Mark understood who had been sitting among the passengers.
The silver dart on Pauline’s jacket was no decoration. It represented a chapter of aviation history most people had never known existed.
Outside, Havoc 1 transmitted one final message.
“Widow 6, Nellis has cleared the runway. Bring her home.”
Pauline looked toward the approaching runway lights and quietly replied, “That’s exactly what I intend to do.”
PART 3:
The runway rushed closer as Pauline guided the aircraft into a controlled descent. Nearly every warning light seemed illuminated, yet her expression remained calm.
Beside her, Mark obeyed every instruction without argument. For the first time since the emergency began, he had stopped trying to prove himself. He was simply learning from the woman now commanding the aircraft.
“Gear down,” Pauline ordered.
Mark reached for the controls.
“Three green,” he confirmed after checking the indicators.
Pauline nodded and corrected slightly for the crosswind.
Outside, both F-35s held position until final approach, giving the passengers the strange reassurance that someone was watching over them.
Then the damaged engine began losing power completely.
The aircraft shuddered. Several passengers cried out as oxygen masks dropped overhead.
Chloe moved quickly through the cabin, helping frightened travelers secure them.
Pauline heard every alarm but never took her eyes off the runway.
“We’re still flying,” she said quietly. “That’s what matters.”
Mark checked the remaining instruments.
“We’re losing the port engine.”
Pauline answered immediately.
“Then we fly the airplane we have.”
There was no fear in her voice, only concentration.
She trimmed the aircraft, balanced the remaining thrust, and positioned the nose exactly where she needed it.
The runway drew closer.
One F-35 pilot transmitted, “Widow 6, you’re lined up.”
Pauline smiled faintly.
“Copy that.”
Then the pilot added, “For what it’s worth, my grandfather told me stories about you.”
