On my way towards the meeting spot, I walk by all the vested shinnies who always hang out deep within the hangar. Laughing it up with a few beers with an oblivious attitude. The only reason I know this is because Hardcase, Heavy, Joltxs, and Silverback told me that this is the spot they would go to before being assigned to the 104th Battalion, just to have a good time.

What I wouldn't do for another drink with my squadmates now. To hear Joltxs and Hardcases's hardy laughter as they struggle to fit one more DB down their throat. And the eye-turning Ethan, Cliff, and I would give as we struggled to finish our third. I doubt I can mentally swallow even one now, after seeing Cliff's struggling throat still smelling of the stuff.

Thinking about it makes my mouth reflective gag.

After passing the shinnies, the reminders fade as I make it toward the darkness of the hanger to finally take a gander at Lisa's machine. Lana's eyes, when I got there were bulging as if she saw in front of her an act of God. Peter's eyes remain stationary. Mine happens to be somewhere in the middle.

If I must compare it to something, a mini rocket ship comes to mind first. However, its bullet-shaped structure is widened, comparable to that of a decorated Easter egg. It has five wings, three in the middle, separated evenly by the mini exhaust that stretches to touch the ground. The other two are more like tail fins resembling a spider's legs. Arched out toward their respective sides, only going back toward the ground to support themselves like the ones in the middle.

The metal has the texture of a painted wall right after it had dried. It's a lot smoother than I thought when my fingers run easily along it. There are only two main exhausts and they look like missiles taped on the side of a car door. For all I know, they're missiles.

On the top is a see-through egg-shaped dome. Being one of the tallest troopers I've seen in this entire force standing at 6.2ft, even I can't see what's inside. Its highest point has me beat, not by much, just enough to be annoying.

My hands sigh gripping the step ladder. Granted I only needed to take two or three steps before towering over it. Not going to lie for its size it looks quite roomy inside. The hatch has a smear of fog, layered upon its outside. The type of fog people know something is going to be on the other side. I should've been more prepared.

My mind practically shit itself, uncovering Lisa's unspectacled face pressed against the glass. My brain left, fleeing from its chains, leaving me to fall downwards from the ladder. The impact is loud enough for even the shines to turn their drunken heads from the smuggled lecture liquid.

My back lays flat on the floor as I watch the hatch open like a coned-shaped security door. The only thing missing is the alarm going off in the process.

Both Peter and Lana laugh but hers is more of a genuine one like a child seeing someone slip on a banana peel for the first time. Peter's laugh, however, has a vibe to it, making it seem like he was in on my demise. To think if this was one of his little gags, it would make me flustered, but I couldn't be mad at him for long.

Especially when he knows he better help Lana get me from the ground.

"So, you like my little joke?" Peter asks, his signet arm wrapped over my neck's backside.

"You know I can't get mad at a joke like that," I say gutturally.

"That's good because this might be the last one for a while."

"I wouldn't be so sure Peter." Lisa's voice grunts from inside the machine. "Where he's going there might be more jokes to be told."

Everything from Lisa's and Peter's words starts sticking to me upon a brick wall. I never imagined we would get this far, just from The Covenant research alone. The same research that made us forgotten by the rest of the world is giving us another chance to prove ourselves. Mostly I thought I wouldn't have survived to see it through.

As my eyes shift to Lisa's ushering hands. I knew I wouldn't be stepping out. Everything from the good to the bad of my life is being gambled.

This is what needs to be done to see Peter's signet keep the legacy of Lincoln burning our souls like a raging fire. Or to see Lana's adorable smile that always seems to melt my heart whenever she mentions her favorite things. I will not have it any other way. Yet I can't forgive myself if I don't at least look back one last time.

The two aren't in tears, though Lana struggles between the two states. Still, she remains strong, knowing it would make me feel better. She has no idea how much it does. Peter then shakes his head at me and points his eyes to Lana, still seeing the worry in mine. I nod to him back in gratitude.

His little Mary would be the same age as Lana if she survived, she'd be safe with him. Each step back up the ladder feels like hundreds of pounds heading to nowhere. I'm doing it from them. I have to remember that

I greet Lisa inside, fitting my body quite easily. Sitting in the main chair, it's all quite roomy. There are even more seats for others to join in behind me. My mind considers it but leaves it at that.

Lisa then explains everything and I make sure to memorize every detail to the smallest movement, even noting how her body moves to navigate and the way she twists her fingers, flicking the switches.

The machine has a GPS, already having the location of where I would be going, implanted by Lisa and Lincoln themselves. At least I didn't have to learn to fly. She then tells me the mission.

All I'll need to do is gather materials for her special Emps and a special hard drive that she designed herself because whatever's left here in materials, she says wouldn't even get her started. She goes on to explain that

"If her designs are correct, they might be able to give us not only an advantage against Devastator's large robot army but a way to turn this war around on its head." She then adds "Once you make contact if anyone asks, say you are there for the local county fair."

"Local county far huh? Are you serious?" Her glasses slide a tad bit from her face with no smile. I try to ask more questions, but she shuts me down.

"Look Joseph, wherever you end up, or whoever you'll meet, trust me. If you can trust Lincoln, then you can with me." I remain silent. "You'll need to gain allies. You'll find it very difficult to do it all on your own and remember, you can only be as strong as the people who will follow you."

The fact that she tells me that last part makes the air even tenser for my lungs. Follow me? She says that as if she wants me to bring back an army. I understand we're stretching our thinnest with the soldiers we have but who would want to follow me if they found out what happened to my friends, to our greatest signet warrior, or what I've done? Does she have that much faith in me? I know Lincoln did; I only wish I could say the same.

On her way out, she tossed me an explorer bag explaining that everything I'd need for my journey and further instructions would be inside. She tells me to refrain from opening it since she insists that I don't need to know every detail now, only the basic objective.

I can only assume that I will put on some new clothes when I arrive. Finally ditching these burnt rags, and letting my jacket have a breather.

Lincoln would want me to trust her, I got to remember that. Still, I must remember, I'm also her volunteer lab rat at the mercy of her machine. To my surprise, the last thing she tosses to me is a journal-like book, black with a cover of silk and a texture of stone. The only thing on the cover is two white bold letters LF, engraved on its cover.

I know it was Lincoln's journal. I would always see him writing in it after a long mission. He would only jokingly tell me it was his diary whenever I asked him about it. I figure it's just Lisa's way of giving me a part of him, however, something else in me thinks there is more to it than that. All I can do now is put it in the glove department.

Hearing that faint final click of the cabinet closing, It is time to exchange our final nods. She smiles, not the clink smirk she always gives, but something that feels pity. Once she left, I flipped every switch and pushed every button that Lisa demonstrated, and with that, I was slowly lifted from the ground.

I can see everyone from this slowly rising height. Peter waves while Lana's bunny-like legs try to jump and catch me from the sky. Even the shinnies, drunken as they are, try to pierce their way through the glass with their husky wahoos. The only one who doesn't wave is Lisa. She just stares at her glorious creation with hands behind her back. I don't expect anything less.

Being almost near the ceiling, every soldier and foundling inside the hangar graces me with their eyes. They all gave me the eyes as if I were a signet warrior, maybe even a Founder. I guess I do have all their futures in my hands.

Maybe I'll find that so-called missing piece along the way that he told me about, though saying that in my head, my heart feels plays a different tune. A tune of my past deep inside my skin, shivering in its winter storm. Everything and everyone starts turning into a background of blue and black.

'There's no turning back now.' I tell myself. 'Everything is about to change. For better or for worse.'