7. Lux

7

LUX

L ux thought the new lieutenant's voice sounded close to panicking over the radio.. For an experienced officer, that was a red flag. But right now, nothing mattered more than getting to her.

The helicopter rotors thundered above, drowning out the chaos below. Smoke and flames swallowed the forest, turning the sky into a murky blend of grays and oranges.

Lux's hands were steady on the controls, her vision razor-sharp. This wasn't just another fire; it was a beast raging with a ferocity that could devour everything in its path.

"Base, this is Valentine. We're approaching the drop zone." There was no room for anything else when she was in the air.

"Copy that, Lux. The ground team is ready for aerial support," the response crackled back.

Lux could see them now, tiny figures moving against the backdrop of burning trees. And there, directing the chaos like an orchestral conductor, was Zoey. Even from up here, Lux could spot her. The way she moved, the way she commanded her team—it was like she was born for this.

"Stay steady," Lux told her co-pilot, Jay, as they prepared for the drop.

She nodded, her face set in concentration. "We've got a lot of wind shear. It's going to be a rough one."

Lux gritted her teeth. "We've handled worse. Let's give them a clean drop."

The fire was unpredictable, and flames licked at the edges of the trees, driven by the wind that was the pilots' worst enemy right now. They made the first pass. The water released hit the fire's edge with a satisfying hiss. But it wasn't enough. The fire was moving too fast, spreading up the hills and threatening to surround Zoey and her team.

Lux circled, keeping an eye on the ground. Zoey was a blur of motion, directing her team with sharp, precise gestures. She was in her element down there, and Lux couldn't help but feel a tightness in her chest as she watched her.

"Lux, we need to go up for another pass," Jay said.

"I see it. Hold on." She was already banking the helicopter for another approach.

"We're low on water," Jay reminded her.

Lux nodded, the tension in her shoulders growing. "We'll make it count."

They swung around again, the helicopter vibrating as they fought against the wind. Lux lined up the shot, and they dropped the last of their load right where it was needed. It bought Zoey's team some time, but it was clear that this fire wasn't going to be easily tamed.

"Valentine, this is Knight. Do you copy?" Zoey's voice sent a jolt through Lux, one that she wasn't sure she liked.

"Copy, Zoey. What's your status?" Lux replied.

"Same as the last time. We're holding, but barely. The fire is moving uphill faster than expected. We need you to survey from above and coordinate with the ground teams."

Lux glanced at Jay. "You take the controls. I'll guide you from the back."

She nodded, taking over as Lux unbuckled and moved to the back of the helicopter. She grabbed the binoculars, scanning the ground below as they approached the fire line.

"Zoey, I'm going to do a flyover and give you a better assessment," Lux said.

"Understood."

They passed over the fire, and Lux saw the full extent of the damage. It was worse than she thought. The flames were climbing the hillside, and there was a thick line of smoke making it hard to see the edges of the fire.

"Looks like the fire is spreading faster on the west side," Lux reported. "You need to shift your team to cover that area or it's going to cut off your exit."

"We're on it," Zoey said, and Lux could hear the determination in her voice.

Lux relayed the information to Jay, and they banked left to get a better view. The fire was relentless, but so was Zoey. Lux could see her moving, directing her team with precision. It was like she was part of the fire itself, bending it to her will.

Only, she couldn't turn it off.

"They're doing a swell job down there," Jay said.

"This looks like a swell job to you?" Lux asked, staring at the flames climbing uphill.

"If they weren't so damn good, we'd be choked for cover up here."

Lux knew she was right, but Jay hadn't grown up with a veteran firefighter for a father. It's everything or nothing. Until the last flame is put out, don't commend yourself.

As they swung around for another pass, Lux couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't doing enough. That she wasn't doing enough. She should be down there on the ground, not up here in the sky, detached from the heat of danger.

It was either that or she was completely losing her head over the new lieutenant.

"Zoey, I'm coming down," Lux said before she could second-guess herself.

The moment the rotors slowed down, she spotted Zoey standing a few feet away in full fire gear, her arms crossed over her chest, eyes narrowed at the approaching machine. Lux took a deep breath, steadying herself. The tension between them had only grown since the last time they'd spoken, and now she had to bring Zoey on board—literally and figuratively.

Jay stepped out and grabbed a hose. That left just enough space for Zoey.

Lux unbuckled her harness, pushed open the door, and hopped down onto the rough ground. Dust and ash swirled around her feet as she approached Zoey and gestured toward the helicopter. "Get in."

Zoey shook her head. "I'm better off staying with my team. We've got ground to cover."

Lux squared her shoulders. "You're wasting time. You need to see this from above to make a real plan. We'll be quicker, more efficient."

Zoey's jaw tightened. "My team is already stretched thin. If I leave now?—"

"You won't be any good to them if you don't have the full picture," Lux interrupted, stepping closer. "You can direct them better from up there."

Zoey glanced at the helicopter then back at Lux. The hesitation was clear. "I'm not sure this is a good idea."

Lux softened her tone, trying to bridge the gap between them. "It's not about whether it's a good idea. It's about what's necessary. Get in. Let's do this."

For a moment, Zoey seemed ready to argue again, but then she nodded, her face set in determination. "Fine. But this better be worth it."

Lux turned and climbed back into the cockpit, feeling Zoey's presence close behind her. As they strapped in, Lux handed Zoey a headset. "You'll need this."

Zoey took it without a word, adjusting it over her ears. Lux powered up the helicopter, the rotors spinning faster, kicking up more dust and debris. They lifted off the ground, the noise of the engine drowning out everything else for a moment.

Once they were airborne, Zoey leaned closer to the window, staring at the burning landscape below. The fire had spread farther than Zoey had anticipated, swallowing acres of forest and inching closer to the small town that lay beyond the hills.

"You see?" Lux said, her voice crackling through the headset. "We need to get ahead of this."

Zoey scanned the ground. "I see it, but we can't just focus on the fire. We have to look for anyone who might be trapped. There are isolated cabins out there."

Lux tightened her grip on the controls. "If we don't stop this thing from spreading, there won't be anything left to save. We need to focus on containment."

Zoey turned her head, her expression hard. "And what if people are out there waiting for help? We can't just leave them to burn."

"I'm not saying we ignore them," Lux said. "But we can't be reckless either. We need to fight this fire, and we need to do it smartly."

Zoey crossed her arms, her gaze locked on the flames below. "We can do both. We need to do both."

Lux's frustration flared. "You're not seeing the bigger picture, Zoey. The fire is unpredictable, and if we don't contain it, we could lose control of the entire situation."

"And if we focus only on the fire, we're risking lives," Zoey shot back. "There are families out there who might be trapped. We can't just prioritize one over the other."

Lux clenched her jaw, her eyes flicking between the horizon and Zoey. Both were beautiful, and neither was on her side. She frowned and stared at the controls instead.

"I didn't say we're prioritizing anything. I'm saying we need to act strategically."

Zoey's hand gripped the edge of her seat. "Strategic doesn't mean ignoring the people who need us."

Lux inhaled sharply, the air in the cockpit thick with the heat of their argument and the intensity of the fire below. She felt the weight of Zoey's words, the concern and urgency they carried. But she also knew the reality of the situation they were in.

"Look," Lux said, we'll scan the area for survivors, but we can't lose sight of the bigger problem. The fire is moving fast. We have to be faster."

Zoey's eyes softened slightly, but her resolve remained. "I get that. But I need you to understand those people are counting on us. We can't fail them."

Lux exhaled, the tension between them crackling like the fire below. "I know that. But you need to trust me on this. I've done this before. We can do both, but we need to be smart about it."

Zoey's gaze met hers, and for a moment, the intensity of the fire below was matched by the heat in Zoey's eyes.

"Fine," Zoey said finally. "But if I see anyone down there, we're going in. No arguments."

Lux nodded, a part of her relieved that they had reached some kind of agreement, even if it was a fragile one. "No arguments."