"First time on the plane?" Charlotte asked as she sat across from me.

Mr. Acott's private jet was a combination of hi tech and luxury. Even though I have a post-doctoral degree on machinery, I couldn't name half the things I saw inside the jet.

I asked one of the servants about it. "Mr. Acott owns all of the 5 hydro jets in the world. Its 50 years ahead of modern technology and uses solar energy when there is sun and runs on greenhouse gases in the air, if there is neither to use. The jet can use the backup battery, when fully charged it can last a month. It can also take off vertically, since its twin hydro magnetic propellers are..." he kept rambling on even when I stopped paying attention. Many of the terms were alien to me and I doubted that Skydorm enterprise belonged to the modern era.

"What's wrong?" she asked again. I turned my attention to her again.

"Nothing's wrong. As for the answer of your first question, no this is not my first time on a plane. But this feels like I'm being conducted by a UFO."

"Do you believe aliens are real?" she asked, which I didn't quite expect.

"Maybe, probably." Like many other human beings, we can't be sure of things until we see it with our own eyes.

"Well I do. I would like to see one." I didn't know what to make of that, it's rather completely childish and it was really cute.

"I am not sure about that." Like all the other humans, when someone says something random, we choose rather not to take side, since most humans are afraid of what they don't know about. But coming from Charlotte was like a child wish...somehow that made me embarrassed so I looked away.

"There is no seatbelt."

"Why?" planes that can vertically take off was heard off many times, but a plane with no seat belts was a first.

"Because daddy told me that everything inside is optimized to maximum protection. Even if a bomb hit this plane, the passengers will still be safe." No wonder she never been on a regular plane, just what she said there could get the S.W.A.T swarming the airport. This was still England after all.

"How long will the flight take?"

"Depending on how fast the jet is going. Daddy said if the jet is going at full speed it will take a little more than 8 hours." I did a little estimation which involved perimeter of the world which is 40,075km (24,901 miles) dividing the time and the results were astonishing.

"This jet can fly at Mach 4?" Mach 1is about 1225 km(761 miles) an hour and I knew for a fact that normal planes fly below 1 Mach, because anywhere above 1 Mach would do damage to a normal person hearing and also causes the plane to vibrate violently.

"Daddy told me the full thrust is still in beta testing so the planes will only fly half that speed."

"Wouldn't that still cause hearing problems?"

"Not that I know of. It's my second time on this plane."

"And when was the first time?"

"That..." she looked down at her dress and lowered her voice.

You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"No it's alright. I was 7 that year, my mother had a heart attack and the doctors informed my father that she wouldn't live to see daylight. Daddy and I were still back in London and my mother was halfway across the globe. The only vehicle that was fast enough to travel was the hydro jet. But back then it was still at beta testing, it was very risky to go at normal speed back then and going full speed that time seemed like suicide. But daddy wouldn't listen, even if it meant not only put himself in danger but others as well, but I agreed to it since I wanted to see my mother one last time no matter what. The whole entire flight was scary but my mind was already taken up mostly by sad things...about what life would be like without mother. Daddy's heart was so heavy the jet seemed to drop from the weight. By the time we go to mother hospital room, she barely had her eyes open. It all happened so suddenly..." tears started forming from the corner of her eyes, so subconsciously I did a quick scan around and found a tissue paper and handed it to her. She took it without question and wiped her eyes several times, but there was still obvious traces as more tears coming. She looked like she was about to continue, but she suddenly stopped herself. A moment of silence later she continued:

"My mom said: "As long we love each other, the connection between us will never be lost. Death is not the end of everything. It's just means that one day we will meet again together in a better place." She said facing me. Except this time her tears were dry and yet she somehow managed to do a little smile, like a rainbow after a storm. It was beautiful. And from the corner of my lips I showed the hint of the smallest smile.

"Oh. We are about take off. Hold on this might feel a little bit shaky."

I was going to say I was never afraid of a plane, but then again, this wasn't an ordinary plane. So I remained quiet. Nothing happened for a moment, then the next moment came a violent surge beneath me as the entire ship lurched backward then forward. Outside I could hear the wing engines rumbling with power and I could tell we were levitating more than a few meters off the ground. After rocking back and forth for about the 4th time, the ship settled at a 45 degree angle pointing the sky. Then it went off like a rocket. I had to push myself forward in order to keep the air from being squished outside me. Charlotte who sat at the top side didn't appear to be sliding or anything, which kinda confused me. I looked at her and saw that beneath her side of the table appeared to be a button pressed in, and there was a same exact button on my side to. Pushing it I felt a gush of wind pushing me from behind, and the pressure was gone. A moment later the engine noise died down and the ship was horizontal again.

"That was..." I said realizing how breathless I was.

"Fun isn't it?" she smiled. If she was a guy I would have punched her already. And if she were I wouldn't be in this whole mess. But I quickly put out that thought out of my mind, because the fire of imaginations can't burn away the facts.

"Well I best start planning."

"For what?"

"Where to find the clues and how to get it. And like always, hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

"And what's the worst?"

"Possibly running into another competitor while with you."

"And that is bad because?"

"If they see me with you what will they think?"

She point a finger at her chin and looked up, a moment later she replied:

"That we're together."

I expected a hundred possible answers but not that one.

"...well you got half of it correct. Just you alone is an attention magnet, the 2 of us together will be news. The more attention we attract the more interference we will receive. And interference makes everything unpredictable, and I hate surprises."

"Oh, I never thought of that." She answered innocently. And sure again, I lost to her innocence.

"You still remember the promise from before?"

"Yes, but I don't..."

"You don't have to like it. But it's for your own good, because if you get in trouble, who do you think will receive the most trouble in the end?"

She tapped her finger against her chin twice this time before she came up with an answer:

"Is it daddy? I know he cares about me a lot and for all these years all he wanted to do was for my own good. But I guess there is nothing wrong with coming out once in a while to breathe some fresh air right?" the answer was me. But I choose not to correct her again, instead I replied:

"Of course. But in the end you have to be the one making the decision. No matter what your father does, he can't walk your path of life for you. But I don't mean you to completely distich from him, I meant he can still guide you in during and help you, but it's you who makes the decision whether to listen or not."

She didn't reply, she looked like she was about to say something but a yawn stopped her.

"I feel mighty sleepy now, good night." She got up and went into a room with a servant girl quietly closing the door behind her.

"Do you need a blanket sir?" asked a servant.

"It appears that I don't have the luxury of sleeping currently."

"Shall I bring you a coffee?"

I thought for a moment and said:

"Bring me a cool lime refresher with no ice please...and make it 2."

After flying 8251 km (5127 miles) in 4 hours and 3 cool lime refreshers, I felt I had the eyesight of an owl and hawk combined. Charlotte came out of her room in a different set of clothes, though they weren't really different form before, since there was still only one word to describe her, perfect. She sat from across me like last time. Thankfully I learned to press the button to avoid the same fate that occurred to me when the jet took off. Apparently landing was twice as bad. Even with the button pressed I felt like a riding a meteor down to earth. If it weren't for the wind pulling me back I would have went flying around the tight space. Charlotte, fazed this time closed her eyes and was taking some deep breaths. By the time we landed, she opened her eyes and said:

"That was actually a little scary."

"Not so fun now?"

"No, it was thrilling!"

"Truth be told I thought I was going to die." I said half-jokingly.

The door hatch leading outside opened and a stairway appeared from beneath it. I took a few weary step towards the staircase and then I was outside. The sun hit me like a mace spray I turned and closed my eyes. Even thought I was 6:00 am in the morning, the brightness of the sun could kill a vampire before it had the chance to blink. The air was humid and somewhat hot. With 15 hours of jet lag behind me, I would have felt exhausted but the effect of 3 cool lime refresher is like putting nitro in me and I felt like I had infinite energy to use, but still I wanted to conserve energy for the major event later.

"Let's settle for a hotel first." I said walking of the stairway.

"I told my assistance to book a flight..." said Charlotte as she lowered her head.

"Don't worry my lady. We can book a 5 star hotel right now." Spoke up Braun as he steps of the airplane, his baldness blinding me momentarily.

"Thank you." Charlotte said as she clapped her hands together and did one of the sunny smiles. Braun seemed to blush as he pounded one fist against his chest saying:

"It is my duty to serve my lady." He turned and bowed and took out a thin glass phone like Charlotte's, as he started barking orders into it.

A moment later a sleek black limo appeared and the door open sideways and a red carpet rolled and stopped right before Charlotte feet. Godspeed...

"Sorry for the delay my lady" Braun bowed and open the door and stood beside it like a statue.

"No need for apologies." Charlotte smiled and elegantly stepped into the car, I followed right behind her, but not so elegantly. Braun closed the door behind him then sat beside Charlotte. There was no sound of engine of starting but I could sense from the vibration from under my feet that the car had already hit the highway.

"So what's your plan Ling?"

"I was thinking of dropping our stuff at the hotel then I will go look for the relic."

"Did you just say I?"

"Yes I did. It's better if I go alone."

"I am not going to cause you any trouble."

"Hard to say. But you will be more help to me if you stay at the hotel."

"No," a straight forward answer.

"Why do you want to come with me? It's hot and crowded outside, you could stay in the hotel where it's cool and comfortable is."

"No I want to come with you."

"Someone please tell her it's not a good idea to go outside."

"I shall accompany you Lady Charlotte."

"Please don't encourage her." Too late he gave me a look and it clearly states that she was on the same train with Charlotte.

"Alright then. Remember what you promised earlier.

"Is it..."

"Just do as I say." Braun shot me a dirty look.

"For your own safety." I quickly added.

Braun relaxed.

"But don't say I didn't tell you before. I suggest you get a change of clothes, you too Braun."

"Why is that?" asked Charlotte.

"For your own sake."

"So what do you think I should wear?" she asked curiously.

I thought for a moment and said:

"Wear something that would make you feel cool."

Braun and Charlotte looked at each other then gave me a queasy look.

I looked downwards and said: "you must be kidding." But they weren't.