Chapter 15

"You've been grounded, too, just in a different way. If I can do this, maybe you'll believe you can let go of whatever's been holding you back."Vivian realized he was right. Somewhere in the past three weeks, his redemption had become tangled with hers: they were both trying to prove they could be more than their grief had made them."Fly safe," she said."Always."Outside, Lily sat in the VIP section wearing a headset that would let her hear the flight communications. Vivian had arranged it, wanting the girl to witness her father's moment. Next to Lily sat Commander Chen, ready to explain everything that would happen.The prototype aircraft was beautiful: sleek, white, with elegant lines that suggested both speed and precision—the X-47B, designed for high-altitude atmospheric research. It represented three years of development and $50 million in investment.Elias walked to it in his flight suit, helmet under his arm, surrounded by cameras and strangers. But his eyes found Lily in the crowd, and she gave him a thumbs-up that made him smile.Vivian stood in the mobile flight control center, headset on, surrounded by engineers and NASA observers. She'd positioned herself as flight support—the voice Elias would hear during the demonstration.As he climbed into the cockpit, she activated her mic: "Archer Two, this is Flight Control. Radio check."His voice came back, steady and calm: "Flight Control, Archer Two. Loud and clear."The pre-flight checks proceeded flawlessly: systems green across the board. Elias's communications were professional, precise, exactly what they should be. But Vivian could hear something underneath the tactical language: emotion—not fear, but something like joy. He was coming home.The tower cleared him for takeoff. The X-47B's engines spooled up with a sound like controlled thunder. Then he was rolling, accelerating, rotating smoothly into the air.The crowd gasped at the grace of it. This wasn't just competent flying; this was artistry.

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