Epilogue
Obadiah Engle, known as Obi-Wan to his friends, to practically everyone, had a secret.
It was one he’d been keeping from his Night Stalker copilots for a couple of months.
It wasn’t as if he was ashamed of what he was doing; it was more that he knew his friends would tease him mercilessly when they found out.
And they would find out, there was no keeping things a secret around a group as close-knit as the Night Stalkers. But that was fine. Obi-Wan was ready for them to know. He didn’t like keeping secrets, even ones that would earn him some good-natured ribbing from his closest friends.
When he’d checked his messages after returning from their latest mission, he had voicemails from the assistant director, the first AD, the set PA, as well as the script supervisor. All with questions or wanting clarification on one thing or another.
Obi-Wan was still pinching himself that he was involved in Henry Grubbner’s latest war film as a military advisor.
Grubbner’s films had won several academy awards, and he was known for his uber realism and extremely tough shoots.
He was a perfectionist who disliked any kind of criticism, and as a result, went overboard in making sure his movies were as accurate as possible.
His newest movie in the works was about a Night Stalker pilot crashing behind enemy lines in North Korea, and everything he goes through to get to the border and to safety.
It was loosely based on the true story of an Air Force fighter pilot…
who now lived in Maine and refused to have anything to do with the movie.
As a result, Grubbner was forced to change it to a helicopter pilot, and he lost the tag of “based on a true story.”
During the planning stages of the film, Colonel Burgess was contacted and asked if he had any Night Stalkers who’d be willing to consult.
The consultant wouldn’t be in the credits or have a role in the actual movie, to preserve their identity because of the top-secret work they did for the Army and Navy.
One thing led to another, and Obi-Wan had been hired as the guy to come on set and make sure everything was as authentic as it could be. The uniforms, the lingo, the choppers. He’d even read through the script and given suggestions on what should be changed to make it more realistic.
Of course, he was still bound by his top-secret clearance, and he wasn’t allowed to give any details about missions he’d been on or other government secrets, but so far the entire experience had been…
interesting. And now that preproduction had taken place, things were getting more exciting as the entire film crew was in Norfolk to start filming.
Eventually, the entire operation would shift to the other side of Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains, to shoot the scenes with the main character trying to make it undetected to safety.
The scenes with the helicopters Obi-Wan knew so much about.
One of the voicemails also informed him of the shooting schedule, letting him know when he’d be needed on set to observe and advise where necessary.
Obi-Wan was looking forward to seeing how everything worked and meeting Grubbner in person.
Of course, the AD warned him that he wouldn’t actually be talking to the director much, as he’d be very busy.
But he’d definitely get to meet the man playing the downed pilot in the movie, as well as the supporting cast and crew.
It was a fun change in Obi-Wan’s otherwise boring life in Norfolk. He loved being a Night Stalker, loved the missions he went on, but found life as a single military man, in a town full of men just like him, a little unfulfilling.
Now that Casper and Buck had gotten involved with women they were completely devoted to, they spent less time hanging out at Anchor Point and with the rest of the single guys on the team.
Which was fine. Obi-Wan didn’t feel slighted in the least. But he did see a change in his friends’ personalities.
They were happier. More content. And he wanted what they had.
He didn’t want their women, of course. Laryn and Mandy were equally devoted to Casper and Buck, and would never think twice about cheating on them. No, he wanted that closeness his friends had found with another human.
He was close with his fellow pilots, but that was entirely different.
Shrugging off the thoughts, knowing he was feeling particularly melancholy after seeing Mandy exuberantly greet Buck at the base the second they’d arrived on US soil, Obi-Wan headed for the door to the hangar.
“Where’s the fire?” Edge called out. “Thought we were going to meet up at Anchor Point?”
Obi-Wan turned and faced his friends. “Can’t. I’ve got a meeting I need to get to.”
“A meeting?” Chaos asked. “With who? We just got back.”
It was time to let his friends in on the secret he’d been keeping. Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan said, “I’m a consultant on a project in town. About Night Stalkers.”
His friends walked closer, asking questions as they came toward him.
“What project?”
“There’s a project about Night Stalkers? Did the Army sanction it?”
“What are you consulting about, exactly?”
Obi-Wan prepared himself for the ribbing he was about to get.
“It’s a movie. I was asked to be their military advisor.
I’ve been working with the producer, director, and script supervisor on the script, and now it’s time for filming to start.
I have a meeting tonight that includes the lead actor and actress, and then I’ll be spending as much time as I can on set once filming starts. ”
As expected, his friends were quick to start with the taunts.
“Ooooh, fancy pants!”
“Are you gonna leave us to marry a famous actress?”
“He doesn’t need to marry her. He can definitely have a good time while she’s here though.”
“Who’s the director?”
“Screw the director, who’s playing the lead? What’s the movie about?”
Obi-Wan grinned. He loved these guys. They were his best friends, and he was a lucky-son-of-a-bitch to get to work with them every day.
He told them as much as he could, and when he was done, was surprised when everyone took the information in stride.
He figured they’d rib him way more than they had.
But Casper and Buck were too ready to head home with their girlfriends, and the others were probably more interested in having some real food and a beer at Anchor Point.
Their long-held traditions were changing. At one time, no one would’ve missed the post-mission Anchor Point visit, but change wasn’t a bad thing.
“Have fun. But be careful,” Pyro cautioned. “Rumor has it that Carmen St. James is a bitch.”
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. “She’s not going to want anything to do with me. I’m just the military advisor.”
“Whatever, Obi-Wan. You’re hot,” Mandy said with a grin.
“Yeah. If she doesn’t take one look at you and decide you’re her next conquest, she’s stupid,” Laryn agreed.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, ladies,” he said with a chuckle. “But that’s not gonna happen.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Sure it’s not.”
“Stop flirting with my woman,” Buck complained, pulling Mandy tighter against his side.
Mandy elbowed him. “He’s not flirting, Nash. Geez.”
Buck grinned at his copilot and gave him a chin lift. “Have fun. Don’t work too hard.”
“I won’t,” Obi-Wan said. “It’s not that kind of job. Piece of cake after the mission we just completed.”
“Famous last words,” Casper muttered.
For some reason, a shiver went through Obi-Wan at his team leader’s comment. The team had already been through too much with both Laryn and Mandy’s situations. Nobody needed more drama right now. Especially him.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow for the AAR,” he told his friends.
“Later.”
“Bye.”
“Have fun!”
It was a relief to have his secret out in the open. To not be hiding anything from his friends anymore. He fully expected them to continue giving him shit for hanging out with the rich and famous, but the truth was, he was looking forward to this little change in his routine.
Who knew? Maybe he’d meet someone who would shake his life up, much as Laryn and Mandy had done for Casper and Buck. Or maybe he’d have a chance for a hot fling with one of the women who worked on the film.
Either way, change was a good thing. And Obi-Wan was looking forward to it.
Oh, Obi-Wan will meet someone to shake his life up for SURE.
Not only shake it up, but turn it upside down in the best way possible.
But of course you know I would never make things too easy for my hero/heroine.
Obi-Wan finds himself on the receiving end of so not-so-welcome attention and his snub comes back to not only haunt him, but Zita as well.
Find out who, how, and what in Keeping Zita !