Artemis 4

Artemis was dressed to the tee in a Navy uniform. Honor... Integrity... Excellence... Those were the words that she treasured most.

"Gentlemen, you are the finest pilots in the world. But there are those who are even finer, finer than the eagles. Let God lift you up to the destiny that is yours to live."

"Commander, we are women."

"You are men."

Steve was our commander or that's what we called him because he gave the orders. After our assignments were finished, we would head off to the officer's bar.

"Vodka, straight up."

I imagined myself in the plane, flying like a hawk in ever enlarged circles.

"And who may you be?"

"Artemis."

"This is the Exterminator..."

Artemis looked at him. He looked like the protypical, handsome pilot.

She went back to her drink.

She again imagined flying a plane that was so sleek and revolutionary that it pierced the sky like a needle and made it cry.

"Gentlemen, if you may excuse me?"

"You are going to fly the DragonFly Magnet."

She looked at Steve.

"You've never flown a plane before, have you?"

Artemis remained quiet.

"How did you get yourself into this program?"

Artemis did not say a word.

The DragonFly Magnet took off like a rocket. It was a magnificent machine... sleek, daring, and even sexy. She touched the plane and she fell in love. Hours and hours she spent with the airplane, almost as though it were a horse.