Kaylin walks up to us as they refuel their hovercraft, "Norbert, right?" I motion him to follow and he does. "I need a way back home." He sighs, "There's too many demons in the airspace still. All ships in the water have gone missing." I scoff, "I know you guys have a means of getting there." He waves a hand, "Ok. Air force has highly experimental VTOL Transports. Every time we move supplies, it's still hell and heavy losses." I glare at him, "Sounds like a challenge. I'm in." Out from Kaylin's radio comes an Irish accent, "Kaylin? Who are you with?" I quickly grab the radio off his vest, "O'Malley!?" "Norbert! I have news. You know who was in England when everything went bad." It takes all my willpower to try not to crush the radio. "Rook should be enroute." "Hell no!"

Rook laughs and Kaylin yanks out his gun, only to be met with a sharp machete already to his neck, "Much sooner than you think, Rey." I grumble as he drops his briefcase, "He's a friend, Rook." He nods to me with a wild stare and yanks the radio away from me. "Hola, Rey del Mundo." O'Malley comes through, "Don't call me that." He finally lowers the machete and Kaylin rubs his neck, "How do you two know O'Malley?" "Amigos."

Kaylin raises a brow, "Sure you are." Let's change the subject, "So you aren't giving that ride for free. The catch?" Kaylin nods and snatches back his radio, "You two help defend our ascent to Liberty." He lifts it up, "The birds are ready?" A garbled voice comes through, "Fueled and ready!" Rose runs up with Mama and friends, "Norbie! We're going to Kinelt Soon!" Ugh. I take a knee and I look into her eyes with pressed lips, then she looks down, "You're leaving me, aren't you?" I lift her head and put her forehead to mine, "I'm doing it to keep everyone safe. Just like always." She hugs me tight as Kaylin motions for everyone to get ready. I get up as the VTOL's show up above the treeline. I glare towards Mama and Kaylin, "Keep her safe or I'm coming for you next." Kaylin crosses his arms, "That mug looks good on you." Rook smiles, "Scary." Mama smiles, "Of course."

The VTOLs touch down and soldiers scatter to load supplies fast. "Liftoff in two!" Jack smiles vaguely towards my face, "I'll protect her with my life." I smile and poke his forehead, he of course can't stop me, "H-hey!" "You should get glasses." Jean walks up, "Th-thanks. For everything." I sigh and shut my eyes, "Hope you find a way to cope." She latches to me and hugs tight with a sob, "I'll never feel safe without you with us!" I peel her off, "Just know I'm trying to keep you safe now." She wipes her face of her tears, badly.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

They shout and wave as Rook laughs, "They miss you already, Rey!" I grumble as the back hatch closes. I slap headphones on and already I'm getting orders. Redcoat! Man the turret! I climb up and grab onto the gun. We have clocked the birds and insects in the air, over 75 thousand feet, most lose air. Be vigilant! Another voice comes through- We have liftoff! The UG Lift, a giant ship that carries supplies to Lady Liberty, crazy O'Malley with his clunky designs and upgrades. Heh, upside to this whole mess, gotta love that I don't have to pay taxes anymore. Birds coming in! Take them down! A flock of birds zoom in- Then again, I gotta do shit like this instead. The gun roars out a hail of bullets, streams of them zoom from our fleet, most of the birds drop like flies in the distance. But I'm used to it by now. A couple birds zoom towards the fleet, "Watch out! Steering!" I grab onto something as we swerve out one's path. I rotate the gun as it swoops in for me, I open fire and the bullets ping off it like they were nothing. We swerve yet again, hard. It clanks against the thick glass and it's talons dig in. The air thins as I yank the gun and he loses his grip. Another reaches a whole talon in, clawing at me. There are too many! I yank the controls, but it's clinging too tight. A beak smashes through, then another. We're going down! I grab the seat and my knife tight as we spin through the air. Giant beaks peck through as it gets so hard to breathe. My hand struggles to keep hold as they finally break through.

Rook runs past and and pops a bulb on his arm, he holds it to them and squeezes it. Green smoke flies out the turret and the birds flee. I nod off- he pushes a mask onto my face and shakes his head. "Focus on your life more, Rey!" We're leveling! Why doesn't he need a mask? Is it that smoke? I take deep breaths as several VTOLs get overwhelmed. I grab the gun's controls. "Wait, Rey!" He leaps out the turret and he wooshes away. I turn the gun and he's about to smash against an overwhelmed VTOL, green smoke engulfs it as I take a moment of silence. The VTOL rises through the cloud of thick poison with him hanging onto the turret. He shouts in the thickest Mexican accent above everyone on the channel, "I'M FUCKING AWESOME!" When the smoke dissipates, there's the birds fleeing from the VTOLs below. How did he not die from that?! He was dangerous before. I shudder at the other things he could probably do now as he laughs wildly, "Big birds merely flying Pollo!" I yank off the headphones as they shout for him to shut up. So childish.