This is Jason Bendix, an F-14 Tomcat. He’s a member of the famed VF-84 squadron of the US Navy, otherwise known as the ‘Jolly Wrenches.’ Currently 51 years old, he’s one of the ‘old breed’ as far as F-14’s go and serves as the squadron’s commander, filling in for his retired friend, Logan Alvamel. Although manmade F-14’s were withdrawn from active service, sentient F-14’s still fill the vital role of a carrier based air superiority fighter.

Jason is a father of six and currently married to a nonmilitary F-14, Bree. They’ve known each other since childhood, and love each other very much. Married for over 30 years, they may be older, but they still have plenty of fight and life left in them. Joining the Navy at 18, the minimum age allowed, Jason was first deployed in 1985 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and rose to prominence as a stellar flier, quickly finding his place among the other Tomcats and human pilots of his squadron.

F-14’s are unique in the bonds they forge, which are the strongest among military aircraft. Squadrons function as packs. Unlike other aircraft that pack together, there is no hierarchy. All members are equal and regarded as family; brothers or sisters. In addition, F-14’s are far more in tune with their primal instincts than any other aircraft. Coupled with their massive size, they approach combat like a predatory hunt. By nature, they’re formidable warriors, steadfast allies, and dear friends. A Tomcat will gladly die to defend a member of the pack, regardless if they’re human. F-14 pairs also forge incredible bonds. Intimate contact is very frequent. Like all aircraft, it’s necessary to build trust and maintain a bond. Unlike other aircraft, they mate for life. Should one partner die, the remaining Tomcat will remain single for the remainder of his or her natural life.

Pairs often produce two litters in their lives, of three or four. Gestation lasts 12 months. Litters of five have occurred, but they result in a significant risk of infant mortality. Litters of two are uncommon, and the rarest of all is a single birth; among Tomcats, single births are like unicorns. The unusually large size of the jetling that results from a single birth puts incredible strain on the mother. Jason is an instance of a single birth, and never fit in with his younger siblings when his parents produced a larger litter when he was still very young. They are blind at birth and their frames are quite flexible to withstand being born. Once they’re born, their frames harden and they begin nursing almost immediately. While the mother Tomcat tends to the offspring, the father will guard her, letting no one near his mate or offspring. Not even a doctor.

Especially during the first two years, only family and pack members are allowed anywhere near the young Tomcats. Parents rotate duties, guarding and watching the offspring. The young jets sleep with their parents until they’re 10 years old, and start searching for a partner at age 16. By 18, most find a partner. Primarily, F-14’s pair up with their own kind. Like all aircraft, a pair’s first brush with intimacy seals their bond. After sealing their bond, the young Tomcats are grown enough to live independently of their parents, and usually by their mid-20’s, they’ve started a family of their own.

Jason’s story began in 1987, while on a combat patrol off the coast of Libya with his wingman, Gus. Just 21 at the time, Jason was on his third deployment. Gus was just 19, on his first. Encountering four hostile Mig-23’s, the two young males found themselves in a desperate situation. Rather than fight, Gus, a weak individual to start with, gave into his fear, and fled. Jason destroyed the four Migs himself, but was badly injured by gunfire to save his wingman. Although he survived, Jason required a new right engine and multiple patches to cover his damaged right flank. For his selfless actions, he was awarded a Purple Heart and the Navy Cross. Gus was discharged, barred from ever serving again. Jason’s commanding officer and best friend, Logan Alvamel, was ordered to send him home once repairs were completed.

Returning home to Bree a month before his deployment was scheduled to end, she was very thankful to have him home. After inquiries and questioning related to the incident, Jason was given a standing ovation and praised. He felt he didn’t deserve the medals. He was no hero. All he did was save Gus’s incompetent behind. Not much later, the young pair decided to start a family. 12 months later, after a long pregnancy, Bree delivered a litter of four. Three male, one female. Naming them in the order they were born, Hayden, Aimee, Raymond, and Chance, the new parents were beside themselves. The jetlings grew quickly, developing their own personalities. They all had Bree’s azure eyes, except for Hayden, who had his father’s sky blue eyes.

Every night, Aimee and Hayden would sleep side by side, beneath their father’s wing. Raymond and Chance also slept side by side, beneath their mother’s wing. The first born and largest of the litter, Hayden was fascinated by Jason’s stories and wished to become a Wrench. He was very fond and protective of his sister. Aimee greatly enjoyed her father and brother’s company, and she was fascinated by the sea. She, Raymond, and Chance would watch the ships sail into Norfolk and leave. Being the runt of the litter, Chance grew quickly. He and Raymond were locked in a contest to prove who was dominant. The two brothers would spar and chase each other around, nipping the other’s tail. That is, until Bree broke them up. For her and Jason, they learned quickly that parenthood was hard, but it was also the greatest adventure of their lives. Jason was very happy, and very devoted, dad.

When the jetlings were four years old, Jason decided to take them aboard his ship, to show them where he spent so much time away from home. While moored in Norfolk after another deployment, he and Logan showed the young Tomcats about the flight deck. While showing them the catapults, Hayden wandered off. Aimee stopped him, convincing him to go back so they wouldn’t get into trouble. As they were heading back toward the catapults, the aircraft elevator they happened to be on suddenly lowered. Aimee dangled on the edge precariously, but was saved from falling by a frantic Jason. Hayden, however, fell over 40 feet. The young F-14’s canopy was practically smashed in. His fuselage was bent. Nevertheless, he survived and awakened a week later. The forward half of his canopy had to be replaced with a metal cap, earning him the nickname ‘Coppertop.’ Although he was repaired and recovered, he suffered from terrible, piercing headaches every now and then, and lost all feeling in his wingtips.

Jason wasn’t reprimanded, since what happened was considered an accident by the Navy. All the same, he blamed himself. There were a few things that aroused his suspicions, however. For the elevator to operate, someone had to insert a key and flip the switch. The switch in the hangar bay was activated, and only authorized individuals carried the keys. The retractable barriers, meant to prevent someone from accidentally rolling onto the elevator, weren’t raised. The audible alarm wasn’t sounded. The technicians that were supposed to be on deck observing the elevator weren’t present. At the hangar bay switch, there was a live feed. Any operator could see if someone was on the elevator. Which led Jason to wonder, did someone do it on purpose? Hayden remembered falling, and claiming to have seen a jet staring at him with yellow eyes before he passed out.

Despite voicing his concerns, Bree found it a bit too convoluted. Letting the issue pass out of mind, a year passed. While Aimee and Hayden happened to be sick with a cold, Jason stayed home to watch them while Bree took Raymond and Chance to the local park. Chasing and playing around, the three laughed for several hours. Needing to rest, Bree watched her sons play until Vanessa, Logan’s wife, happened to pass by. A mother herself, the two began talking. Raymond and Chance stood on the centennial stone bridge, spanning the lake occupying the center of the park. Roughhousing on the bridge, they suddenly fell off, into the water. Bree, gripped by terror, saw what appeared to be a jet leaving the bridge. Heedlessly, she jumped into the water after them. The water wasn’t very deep, but she had to submerge her head and search through the murky water.

Hauling Raymond out of the water first, he was soaked but otherwise unharmed. Chance, however, was nowhere to be found. Panicking, Bree couldn’t find him. For almost a minute, she searched until she finally found him, and pulled him from the water. Motionless, he wasn’t breathing. Trying to revive him, the mother feared the worst until Chance coughed the water from his lungs and engines. He too, was unharmed. Chance claimed Raymond pushed him in, while Raymond claimed he pushed him in. Bree realized she wasn’t crazy. She did see someone on the bridge. Her offspring were pushed in. Someone attempted to murder them. Leaving the park quickly, she noticed a shiny light blue Mig-23 with glassy yellow eyes, watching her leave. Telling Jason, he realized it had to be the Libyans or the Iraqis, having flown in Operation Desert Storm. Did he kill someone important, and now someone sought revenge?

Seeking out the naval station commanding officer, Jason wasn’t believed. All of his proof was circumstantial. He, like the rest of his family, were on their own. For five months, the Bendix family lived in fear. The mysterious culprit didn’t reemerge. Jason and Bree rarely left home. They kept their offspring close and only ventured onto the tarmac outside their hangar. Fortunately, Logan and Vanessa visited with their children, keeping the young Tomcats entertained. Jason concocted a plan to catch the culprit. Although risky, it had to work. If the culprit thought Jason was gone on his deployment, they’d come to them, on their own terms. With Bree and their children alone, the opportunity was too sweet to pass up. Getting Logan in on the plan, they put it into action during the squadron sendoff ceremony. The Bendix family was at war. The board was set, and the pieces were in motion.

Bree returned home with the jetlings. Jason would fly in circles and be back in an hour. Mysteriously, Logan wasn’t outside the hangar. Bree found the older Tomcat, with his canopy cracked and badly injured. She realized the plan had backfired. The culprit had played them! They expected for Jason to leave, and struck when he was gone. Suddenly, a terrified cry came from the hangar. Rushing inside and in a blind panic, the culprit slammed Bree into the wall, cracking her canopy. Before she passed out, she saw a pair of big yellow eyes. Jason landed an hour later and took the long way home, wanting to draw as little attention to himself as possible. He found Logan staggering around, injured, but alive. Told the culprit was inside, Jason rushed in, only to be slammed into the wall and have his canopy cracked as well. Racked by excruciating pain, he locked eyes with the culprit. Gus!

He blamed Jason for being disowned by his parents and abandoned by his girlfriend upon being discharged. He was forced to beg, scrounge for meals and live outside. Humiliated, stripped of his naval markings, and alone, Gus decided to exact revenge. He killed his parents and girlfriend in separate incidents, making sure the circumstances of their deaths would appear accidental. Getting a job as a contractor, he tested heavy machinery on aircraft carriers, including aircraft elevators. He flipped the switch when Aimee and Hayden were on it. Knowing he had to take a subtler approach, he pushed Raymond and Chance into the water, since a drowning would be more believable and common than a malfunctioning elevator on and aircraft carrier. Gus made it clear he was only out for revenge, and acted on his own accord. Jason was, however, willing to forgive Gus. He knew his former wingman needed professional help.

Refusing, Gus turned toward Aimee. Still unconscious, Bree couldn’t do anything. Nor could Jason. He advanced provocatively toward the young female, only for Chance to bite his elevator. Swatting him away like an insect, Chance received a deep cut on his nose. While Raymond tended to his brother, Gus ran over his wing, crushing it. Crying in pain and trapped, his siblings rushed to his defense, only to be swatted away by Gus. Ultimately, he let Raymond go. Scampering over to his father, Hayden confronted the larger male. He was unafraid of Gus, who admired his courage. Jason managed to stand up, and charged at Gus. The two males fought like primal beasts, ripping into one another. Already weakened, Jason was pinned down beneath Gus. With no choice, he bit whatever he could grab, forcing the younger Tomcat to relent. Unable to fight any further, Jason was powerless to stop Gus from advancing toward his offspring.

When suddenly, Bree leapt atop Gus, having awakened and seeing her children in danger. Quickly gaining the upper hand, she killed Gus by ripping open his vital oil lines, ending the threat once and for all. She and Logan’s cracked canopies were temporarily capped. They’d heal, but it would take time. Raymond’s broken wing was braced, and Chance’s cut was patched, although it would leave a scar. As for Jason, he was gravely injured. Having to be resuscitated, he remained unconscious for three weeks before awakening. Hayden never left his father’s side, just as his father did for him after he fell. Jason sported scars on his wings and fuselage, but he made a full recovery. Returning home with Hayden, the family was together and able to return to normalcy.

13 years later, in 2006, Bree and Jason saw their children off. Having found mates of their own, their little jetlings had grown into mature adults, and future Jolly Wrenches. Heartbroken for a time, Jason found letting his children go to lead their own lives especially hard. He and Bree decided to try for children again, and were blessed with twins. Present during the birth, Hayden, Aimee, Raymond, and Chance welcomed their new brother and sister into the world. The male jetling was an albino. The female was partly albino, sporting splotches of grey and white. Both had amethyst eyes. With Bree and their newest round of offspring by his side, Jason couldn’t have been happier.