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Erik Del Orbe is a United States Air Force pilot.
Biography
Early Life
As Erik Del Orbe grew up, he enjoyed his father's sancocho recipe.[1]
United States Air Force
First Beast
On the first day in the United States Air Force training program, Del Orbe had to perform tests. He did sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups along with a mile run. Afterwards, Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau ended up beating Tom Bianchi and Garrett Pierre. Del Orbe overheard Bianchi get into an argument with Danvers. On field day, he was put on a team with Pierre, Bianchi, Danvers, and Rambeau. Danvers and Rambeau approached Del Orbe, Pierre, and Bianchi and got the group to agree to a truce as Bianchi had been antagonist toward Danvers. His team won with the help of Danvers.[1]
Second Beast
As Del Orbe prepred for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training, a zipper in his gear got stuck. Tom Bianchi helped him to get it free, holding up their flight as they rushed into line. He went through the test and later joined Carol Danvers, Maria Rambeau, and Garrett Pierre for lunch, where they introduced each other with first names. Del Orbe participated in the group making fun of Bianchi for not looking like a "Tom," before starting to talk to Rambeau and Pierre about the upcoming Acceptance Parade.[1]
Acceptance Day
Bianchi joined the rest of the graduates on Acceptance Day in marching in an inverted-wedge formation as his flight was awarded with Honor Flight as well as Beast flight. He joined as the cadets sand the National Anthem, and recited the Honor Oath. Del Orbe excitedly rushed to Carol Danvers and Garrett Pierre and hugged them. They were joined by Tom Bianchi, who congratulated them. As Bianchi and Danvers talked, Pierre and Del Orbe left.[1]
First Day of Classes
On the first day of classes at the academy, Del Orbe met on the track to run with Tom Bianchi, Garrett Pierre, Carol Danvers, and Maria Rambeau. They briefly discussed Flickerball, the intramural sport they would be playing together throughout the academic year, and started running. He went to Captain Jenks' Introduction to Soaring class, where he was put in a group led by Cadet Instructor Pilot Cabot along with Rambeau. They listened as Cabot told them about an air show which the students would be attending.
That night, Del Orbe joined his friends in studying at the school library, where they started talking about the air show and the appearance of the Thunderbirds. Zoë Noble chimed in, saying that Captain Jenks used to be a Thunderbird before he got grounded, but that she did not know why. Danvers started wondering why, but Rambeau scolded her in a way that encouraged Del Orbe, Bianchi, and Pierre to return to their studies and allow Danvers and Rambeau a private moment.[1]
Air Show
As winter began, Del Orbe continued studying and had a plan to hit Garrett Pierre with a Flickerball and shout "That's Flickerball!" The plan eventually came to fruition, and they continued playing. When Maria Rambeau scored a point, she gave Del Orbe a high five. They joined Carol Danvers and Tom Bianchi, who were talking about where Danvers and Rambeau had been going. Bianchi revealed that they were taking flying lessons, prompting Del Orbe to claim that he was right to guess that they were watching planes since Rambeau and Danvers were learning at the airport. They went to dinner together, but were approached by Captain Jenks. They stood at attention while Jenks embarrassed Danvers. Once he left, Del Orbe and Pierre paced anxiously while Bianchi and Rambeau helped her calm down. Danvers asked why Jenks hated her, so Del Orbe said it was because she was the best. The rest of the group agreed that the best could not be people different from him.
At the air show, Del Orbe told the group about a meet and greet being held by Senator John Glenn, where he intended to ask a series of questions about becoming an astronaut. After the show, Del Orbe went to wait in line to meet Glenn while Danvers and Rambeau left to touch a plane flown by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.[1]
Continued Studies
Del Orbe continued studying at the academy with his friends. During one conversation in the mess hall, a debate had started about whose family made the best food. Del Orbe talked about his father's sancocho recipe, but stopped as Carol Danvers arrived, awkward about the argument that Danvers had had with Maria Rambeau. However, Rambeau reignited the conversation by praising her grandmother's gumbo. The conversation continued as the group went to the library, but Danvers chose not to join them.
Some time later, Del Orbe prepared to run with Tom Bianchi and Garrett Pierre when Danvers and Rambeau arrived, visibly nervous. Del Orbe asked what was wrong, and the others got worried that they were fighting again. Rambeau assured them that they were not, and Danvers revealed that they had learned about the results of their private pilot's license tests. Del Orbe and Pierre distracted the group by trying to say "private pilot's license" ten times fast before suggesting they open the letters at the same time. However, Bianchi got tired of the waiting and opened both letters, revealing that they passed. The group celebrated, and Del Orbe and Pierre decided they should celebrate by not running. Del Orbe hugged Danvers and mussed her hair, telling her he was proud. Danvers then told the group to start running while she and Bianchi got water, upsetting Del Orbe and Pierre, who had convinced themselves they would not run. However, Rambeau pushed them to start running. Zoë Noble joined the group, and they started playing freeze tag.[1]
Celebratory Meal
Del Orbe went to Jack and Bonnie Thompson's hangar to celebrate Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau's tryouts for the Flying Falcons. Del Orbe helped bring biscuits to the table while Danvers told them about how Jenks put the engine into idle during the tryout, making Del Orbe question whether Jenks would have let them crash. However, Rambeau clarified that Jenks believed himself to be teaching Danvers a lesson. Del Orbe joined the group at the table and ate, exchanging stories and spending time together as a family. Bonnie and Jack went to get dessert, and Del Orbe accompanied them, returning with cherry pie. Jack and Bonnie then gave each pilot a silver dollar from the year they were born, showing the group their own. Del Orbe noted that they had been rubbed smooth, so Bonnie commented that they needed a lot of luck. The pilots all thanked the Thompsons, and Bonnie reminded them to be themselves. They all ate dessert together.[1]
Recognition
As the United States Air Force Academy started its Recognition ceremony, Del Orbe fell into line with his squadron. Del Orbe participated in a series of physically demanding activities for the first day and the group said goodbye to each other that night, all going to sleep. The next day, he was stretching with Tom Bianchi and Garrett Pierre, when Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau arrived late, saying that they were crying and hugging. This prompted Del Orbe to get excited, believing himself to have accurately guessed what women do in their rooms. As they stretched, Danvers explained that she was going to miss them, prompting the group to become sentimental. Del Orbe and the others looked to Bianchi as he started to sympathize with Danvers, but Bianchi refused to get emotional until after Recognition. After an intense second day of Recognition, Danvers remembered that the names of the people who had made the Flying Falcons had released, but Del Orbe and Pierre complained about being tired. Bianchi told the pair to go to bed while they found out who made the team.
On the final day of Recognition, Del Orbe fell into line with the rest of the cadets and swayed while waiting to start. Cadet Chen commended Del Orbe for his determination. Their squadron then ran to the top, where Del Orbe, Rambeau, Pierre, and Danvers all hugged, and Bianchi begrudgingly joined. They asked Zoë Noble to take five separate group pictures of them, one for each of them, prompting sarcasm from Noble. Danvers jokingly asked how Noble ended up being their only option to take the picture, so Noble said it was because they loved her. Del Orbe said that they did, and Noble took the pictures for them. The group said their goodbyes and parted ways as they got ready for the Recognition dinner, where they received their prop-and-wings pins.[1]
Facilities
- United States Air Force Academy: Del Orbe studied at the United States Air Force Academy, where he trained to fly in hopes of becoming an astronaut.
Relationships
Family
- Father
Allies
- United States Air Force
- Jenks - Superior
- Chen - Superior
- Resendiz - Superior
- Tom Bianchi - Friend
- Garrett Pierre - Friend
- Carol Danvers
- Maria Rambeau †
- Zoë Noble
- Bret Johnson
- Bonnie Thompson
- Jack Thompson