Flight Zone

The night has come. This place is unbearable. I fear it'll be our final hideaway.

What happened to him? I knew this would end up badly. He's probably dead by now.

Why do I feel it all begins and ends with him? 

My life was perfect before meeting Jay.

Yet it started when I first saw him.

It all became... complex.

I'm not quite the same anymore.

I'm feeling so empty.

I'm scared.

I won't give up.

My friends are restless. We all hoped Jay would make it. Did Epos bail on him? Well, after all, we all knew this was extremely risky.

No, I'm not giving up.

"We're not going to give up, right?"

Ananda, Starling and Arende looked at Kizuna, startled. They had remained silent for a couple of hours, listening to every little sound, spying for any light or movement, hidden beneath a pile of old remains, gradually losing hope.

"We're not, but what can we do? Jay hasn't come back. Soon they'll find us."

"That's right. And there's nowhere else we can hide."

"Then, let's get out of this giant pile of crap. Let's steal a Pod and see how far it takes us."

"Star, you know they'll spot us the minute we get out, right?"

"Yes, but by now, Jay should have returned... Let's get as close as we can to the Flight Zone. Who knows? Maybe we'll find him."

"This is crazy!"

"But it's crazy to stay here waiting like hunted beasts. Kizuna's right. We mustn't give up!"

"A hopeless plan, but a plan," admitted Arende.

"We shouldn't! We shouldn't run off like that. Can't we wait a little more?"

"Wait here til we die, or worse? I don't want to be brainwashed. I don't want to stay here!"

"I don't either. Arende, Ananda, please. We need to go!"

"We're gonna get caught, that's what we'll get."

"We won't, babe."

Starling got up and winked at his friends, mechanically brushing his suit. His old self seemed to fight back and although it was a feeble attempt, it was most welcome in this dire situation. The little troop stood up, silently validating the proposition. The four of them knew they had to move slowly, quietly, in the direction of the Landing Zone.

Hardly a minute had elapsed since they had left their cover. They were swiftly progressing, their minds racing and their blood pulsating wildly in their veins, signalling their presence. Kizuna suddenly stopped: Starling was holding up his right hand, bidding them to stand still. Above the horizon, a Retrieving Pod was hovering towards them.

"Oh no!"

"What, already?!"

"We're done for!"

"Shut up!!"

Somewhere on their right, deeper in the Plantations, there was a commotion. Someone panting. Someone running in their direction in a rustle of leaves. They all lied flat on the ground, holding their breath. Seconds later, the Retrievers were already walking toward the source of noise and confusion.

"Get off me... Leave me... motherf..."

They all saw the silhouette of the Retriever who lay his hand on the boy's forehead. They all contemplated the boy, his slender silhouette and his hair catching the Pod's light in a variety of red reflexions. They all gazed as the Retriever, peaceful and patient, waited for this fiery fugitive to collapse. After an instant of wrestling and a profusion of swear words, the fugitive fell down.

Starling looked down, painfully reminded of the time Jay had been taken by the Retrievers. Never again would he take part in this. Never again would he abide by GloCo's law. He would remember. Always. He hated this city, he hated the way they were manipulated. Nothing was real in this existence. While he was lost in his train of thoughts, the Retrievers left with their captive, and they found themselves on their own again, in the dark.

"That little intruder took all the attention. Don't know why they were after him or what they'll do to him, but he bought us some time. We gotta move on."

"Never heard so many rude words in such short time!"

"Yeah, he did put up quite a fight. Poor boy, though..."

"We need to move on guys, now!"

The red-haired outsider had indeed allowed them to pursue their course a little further, sufficiently to reach the Landing Zone and steal into a large, sturdy maintenance Pod. As a rule, it was designed to obey its pilot, which he did. But he also identified them all before his gates were even closed.

Starling Kite - Arende Might - Ananda Lanciarsi - Kizuna Wacan - abnormal activity - please report for immediate bio control.

Starling, who was definitely gathering more strength and spirits, conducted the Pod with ease while the messages were getting more and more pressing.

Starling Kite - Arende Might - Ananda Lanciarsi - Kizuna Wacan - unauthorized activity detected - excessive BPMs - please report imediately.

"Get us as close as possible to the Flight Zone. I don't think they'll do anything against us while we're aboard."

"Quite right Kizuna. We're getting there, anyway."

Starling Kite - Arende Might - Ananda Lanciarsi - Kizuna Wacan - please report immediately. You're under pending Retrievers' arrest.

"Oh my, what are we gonna do?"

"How about another pod crash?"

"What?"

"Yeah, I mean... we're getting used to 'em, right?"

"Not the best time to crack jokes!"

"I'm not joking, Arende! Think about it: we can't just land and wait to be picked up. Let's crash,  that way we'll force our way into the Flight Zone."

"Pure genius! The Flight Zone's heavily controlled.  We'll just break our way through it!"

"Thanks Kiz. All right now?"

"Break's an understatement," grumbled Arende.

Starling Kite - Arende Might - Ananda Lanciarsi - Kizuna Wacan - please report immediately. Pending Retrievers' arrest. Erratic vitals. Report immediately.

"Oh OK, let's do this. Let's do this, Star!"

Starling winked at Ananda, smiled and pressed both hands on the Command Panel in an imperious gesture.

"We're crashing guys. You know the drill!"

Below them, the huge terrain drew closer, and a million pieces went flying as the Pod thrashed the gigantic rooftop. Flashes of light blinded them, and they were all knocked out by the susbsequent shattering standstill.

Not far away, Jay had found himself pushed to the wall, forced to drop Epos who was now lying on the ground, half unconscious. He had run as fast as he could until he was cornered by GloCo's agents. The three men facing him were not going to leave him a chance.

Oh, they'll see what it is to recondition me. Gonna hurt them bad!

"You've violated all rules of conduct and used a fake indentity. Who are you?"

And they're out there, counting on me!

Jay just glared at the men, clenching his fists.

"I don't think our visitor wants to answer that. But it's okay, we have the means to address that kind of problem" said another man, speaking with a superior air, his eyes barely visible behind a streak of wild dark hair.

"Oh yeah? Says who?"

"Craven Yfel, new head of the Bureau of High Intelligence, at your service. I'm very interested in the relation between you and my predecessor." Saying that, the man looked down at Epos, his lips distorted by a ferocious smile. "Take Mr Meane back to his room, and prepare one for our guest."

Noone had time to move. A deafening sound froze the Retrievers and their chief in their tracks. GloCo's security agents ran by, hurrying towards the Flight Zone. As another explosion echoed, Jay seized the opportunity and threw himself into a fearfully short and efficient battle. Hitting one of the Retrievers hard and straight in the jaws instantly eliminated his adversary, while the other one was projected violently against the wall and fell down, a trickle of blood running from his mouth.

The man named Craven Yfel took a step back and picked something in his chest pocket. He was aiming at Jay, when there was a stampede nearby, and Arende appeared, his suit half scorched, his cheeks scratched and his giant figure blocking the way. An uppercut followed and sent Craven flying before he had time to react.

"Arende, what are you doing here?"

"You're welcome! Now where d'you find these Time-Distorters? They'll get us within seconds."

"The underground level. Why didn't you wait for me?"

"Mhhh, we got sick of waiting. Wait, we need to pick up the others."

"You all came here?"

"Yeah, well, better together than dead, right? Come on, let's hurry."

Jay started following Arende, then stepped back and hurled Epos on his shoulders again.

"You're taking him?"

"Yeah, well, better together than dead, right?"

Epos grumbled something and lead the way to the crashing site, where Epos was finally able to get to his feet again. Amidst all the ruckus they had created, Ananda, Kizuna and Starling were there, hiding behing a huge row of round-shaped, heavy Scouting Pods. The minute Kizuna set eyes on her friends, she couldn't help running towards them and jumping to Jay's neck, in an irresistible gesture of relief.

"Oh you're alive! You're alive!"

Seconds sometimes feel like they're stretching beyond and above immensity. Although Hera's presence was now permanently in their hearts, Jay and Kizuna stood there, enveloped in a delightful embrace of pure bliss, enjoying each other's warmth, forgetting the dangers and constraints they were running ahead of. Without meaning to do it, Jay found his arms wrapped around Kizuna's waist, holding her tight, feeling as if he had suddenly found his way home...

Starling cleared his throat, hiding a smile.

"So... the Time-Distorter area, Jay?"

As if a curtain was suddenly drawn, revealing the world anew, Jay and Kizuna realized they had given away their secret sympathies. They reluctantly released their embrace, respectively grieving from guilt and shame.

"We've got to head underground. There's no more plan now, just hit hard and run. Follow me!"

"Sounds like a plan to me," joked Starling.

They all raced behind endless rows of Pods, dodging patrolling squads and particularly nervous Retrievers, eventually finding their way to the level below. Everything grew darker and they emerged in another Pod Zone, full of Maintenance Vehicles.

"We've got to go further down, that's where Time-Distorters are kept," said Epos in a low, determined voice. 

This time, noone discussed his words. The troop kept running and hiding, occasionally coming across GloCo agents who were taken care of by Arende, Jay and Starling. They eventually took a Glider that looked different, smaller and shaped like a sphere.

The Time-Distorter Zone finally appeared. The place constrasted with the confusion of the levels above. It was silent, darker and lit by long lines of blue lights. The area was so spacious that they couldn't see the end of it from where they stood. It was also different from what they had seen so far, and they all gasped at the sight, except Epos. The Distorters were huge, slender spaceships, shaped like giant tubes. Apart from the screedows, no item could be seen on their bodyshell. Their lightweight alloy shone with dark navy hues, and they looked extremely smooth as if they were made of shimmering waters.

"Wow!"

"They're... they're beautiful!"

"But can we pilot these? I mean, that's not... that's not a Pod."

At that moment, an alarm rang in the Zone, and they heard a warning message that was more explicit than ever:

Starling Kite - Arende Might - Ananda Lanciarsi - Kizuna Wacan - Jay Fleogan - Epos Meane - you've trespassed the Forbidden Zone. You've violated Constitution Acts and entered a Restricted Area. You are under arrest. Surrender immediately.

"That seals the deal. Let's hop in and think later!" said Jay.

"Which one, which one?"

"The closer the better," shouted Kizuna.

"Ruunnnn!"

As they rushed in the direction of the closest Distorter, a slim silhouette bumped into Ananda. At the same time, a hord of Retrievers emerged from a Glider behind them.

"Ouch!"

"The red-haired boy!"

"I'm comin' with you!"

STOP! SURRENDER NOW OR DIE!

"Whatever!"

"Quick, they're aiming at us!"

IT IS ALL FOR THE BEST. GLOCO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

Chaos ensued, the dissidents running for life. Jay looked back only once to see Retrievers pointing their joined hands in their direction, in a sort of threatening curtsy. But they were almost all in the Distorter now, Arende and the red-haired guy trailing behind.

There was a very weird sound, resembling a gust of wind, and a beam of azure light unfolded like a long string, seemingly travelling in a slow motion.

"Careful, little guy!"

As Arende ushered the fugitive into the ship, protecting him with his massive frame, the lengthy lasso gently reached his back, and Jay saw Arende's face freeze. Catching his companion as he fell, he pushed him into the Distorter. Starling closed the gates against the Retrievers as an array of light blue flames smashed against the ship.

"Oh, nooooo," shouted the red-haired boy as he fell on his knees, desperately shaking the colossal man lying listless on the ground.

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top