Chapter 28

“Oh, crap,” Luke said, touching his chest. “That was my fifth favorite jacket.”

The rest of the guards went alert upon this considerable use of force, but all of them stopped as quickly as it transpired. Weapon halted, some dropped, and most guards were speechless.

They knew what the head guard was doing was unnecessary. He could've let Luke go and do his business. What would be even point in anything else? What was outside wouldn't be an issue to that quick motorcycle, while the Walkers and teams on the walls could deal with much worse.

But after discovering a shimmering azure energy around Luke's chest and eyes, pushing out the jacket aside, and fluttering his hair as if he was in the water, they shut their minds and mouths.

“A... Walker?!”

Due to the burst, Luke's jacket opened up quite well, and even his purple uniform was open, revealing a portion of his chest. A glowing sphere and some little shards were inside his chest, breathing waves of light, looking blue like the water or sunny sky. His chest was full, and even if some scars revealed some nasty past, his muscles and trained body were evident part of his Walker status. They were way too firm, and some muscles were even additional, not part of human anatomy.

Silence spread. All guards were silent as if the Plague Fog spread around them, though seizing only their breath or voice instead of killing them outright. They understood that the one whose face was resting on that wall was barely alive. The head guard was bloody, and wounds needed many stitches like his face. He won't walk for a long time, but he will live.

“Just so you know,” Luke said, speaking lightly as if he hadn't done this for the first time. “I haven't touched a thing. It was self-defense, you see. There is a difference when one touches so close to here, you see.” He patted his chest, and because it was already exposed, he didn't close his clothes.

“A Walker!”

“A bloody Walker came and hid in our camp?”

“What is this?”

“Why hiding?”

“We are sorry.... don't beat us up.”

“You already beat the head guard. No need for theatrics.”

A collection of voices spread, afraid, and confused.

Until another old guard came forward, sighing and shaking his head. Others were backing away, a gaze fixed on those fluttering hair strands, glow, and that Emblem. The one who nearly killed their colleague could do much more. No. He could do so much worse.

It wasn't rare. People often felt insignificant before proper Walkers. It made sense to not care too much about the children with inefficient and slumbering Emblems. But what about the ones with power, reputation, and often crazier minds? Proper Walkers were far too great and better not to be messed with.

Regular people had to bow their heads. It wasn't because of some savior-complex, or inferiority. It was how the current world functioned.

And Walkers, like people around the world, were significant, unique, and often quite terrible when dealing with people or other Walkers. It was also subjective; some could be great teammates, others liked to be solo.

It wasn't all greed and part of the nature of humanity, but more like a cause and effect of everything around the world, various circumstances, and people. There were many times more normal people than Walkers. Their births were simply not sufficient enough and growing them was problematic.

“We... apologize.” the old guard said and bowed. “We didn't see your greatness, and... couldn't, so don't mind us. We have our issues and orders. Frankly, we wouldn't open it up even if we knew you are a Walker.”

“Why?”

“Protocols. Is this your... Sir, is this your first time in Roshwell?”

“Inconsequential,” Luke said bluntly. “I even gave you my military badge when I came here, though I hid my uniform because it has been part of MY protocol. It was a mission from another care, but you planned to get some free meal out of this chip? What sort of stupid decision is this? It is a shame.” He talked with a stern and clear voice, turning his waves into a pushing force that surged out of his chest, or it was just a mere aftereffect of his emotion, breath, and cycling energy.

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William wasn't sure which, but he watched him regardless of others with open and shocked eyes.

Numerous Emblems, he thought as he watched, scratching his right arm. What it would be like If I was losing more of them? His Emblem is pretty, glowing, and flowing like wind and water. But it is strange how it looks. Is it one... or more? Mine is lonely, isn't it? His could be... something else. Better?

Luke put everyone around him into a state of panic, all because of simple pressure. That included William, who was in his range. He realized it wasn't too terrible. It was as if he was carrying numerous butches of hay and sacks of corn up the hill, or a storm was reaching him.

“S-sir?” the old guard said, unsure what Luke meant.

“Open the gate,” Luke demanded.

Guards shivered and did as ordered. Without more troubles coming his way, Luke walked to William, who was speechless and still sitting on his motorcycle.

He tossed a grown man across a whole street without lifting a finger. What sort of effects was it, or was it him, or... how does it work? Isn't it up to control? It felt like he did nothing, William assumed without questioning Luke directly.

Luke didn't care for this commotion, gazes, or people. “Let's not do this anymore,” he complained, sat down, and restarted the engine.

The old guard tossed the worries away and opened the gate when others didn't. He gestured for them to aim weapons at the entrance and opened it just enough for Luke to go through. Hiding some panic and fear, he wasn't looking at it rationally. Who would guess that a Walker would care about concealing their identity? Why? If one came here, regardless of orders, it should be valid to not mess with them.

What is this about? What a terrible luck, the old guard thought. A crazy Walker knocked and caused such a mess. How does it make sense for this camp's rules? Does it involve others or... wait! Yondu Division! It is the Federation's business, yet why conceal it? A secret mission... perhaps. And for him to pick a kid along the way? Is this recruitment? I don't recall every kid in this camp, and that one might be a young Walker.

A fitting plausibility entered his mind. A lot of things could touch some sensitive issues between some Walkers and their organizations. If that were the case, regular soldiers and guards wouldn't care for such things, let alone know their reasons.

“Who checked his badge where he came here?” the old guard asked, pushing the gate close and glancing at the surrounding guards. He did not get any answers. Just unsure glances aiming at the other side of the street, where some people helped a poor head guard who violated some untouchable boundaries.

The one at fault already got his sentence, and the cause was nothing but greed and potential personal profit, extortion, or unfilial business like stealing.

“I see.” The old guard said and returned to his job.

***

Soon, William was bracing for the gust of wind, but this time, it was wilder and not as regular. Luke rode from the camp at full speed and the gate closed straight afterwards. Sun and wind spread to their faces, revealing plains with some trees and one ongoing battle.

There was a relatively open plain, with a road going through it, which didn't seem like it. Around the fortress that was Roshwell, there were large-scale open farms, surrounded by forests and some hills that added protection. Furthermore, there were well-hidden farm settlements with some cattle and animals deeper in the hills, close to some mountains. William worked in those a lot, usually under a good enough perspective from guards all around the forests and further away.

Thankfully, Darks didn't care for farms. They didn't have to, though their Corruption and steps seemed like a miasma, shattering what was alive like the plague. It was an unfortunate aftereffect of their existence. Because of that, and those farms, there was a lot to think about. There were underground tunnels underneath the farms, giving farmers a chance to flee if some Darks arrived.

There were also squads of regular soldiers at all times, part of some hideouts, or watchtowers, and even Walkers were in important positions, maintaining surveillance in shifts. William knew it far too well and felt these farms were genius ideas and worth a lot of resources.

Bracing against the wind, he looked at that distant battle, noticing squads of soldiers aiming riffles and carrying shields and armor.

“Protectors,” William mumbled and looked past them as Luke rode aside from them. They winced in surprise, taking Luke's ride for an unnatural sight, but not as if they could shoot at him.

Further away were Walkers. A small squad battled against a small-scale Horde consisting of numerous Hellgars, Cruisers, and Shriekers. There were nearly a hundred Darks in total, but not one exceeded Rank 4.

There was no Alpha among them either, so this Horde was just an inconvenience caused by some Sniffer, Drone, or Droon who weren't obvious to the naked eye. Those flying pests most likely escaped after sending this Horde forward, or this one was just one wild mess that had nothing crazy behind it.

This Horde had poor leadership and Walkers were killing them at a rapid pace, wielding shiny weapons, flaring up with flame elements, and crazy Skills that looked like magic.

There were just a few of them, yet they swiped the ground with a much greater number of enemies.

William couldn't see it all that well, thanks to Luke's direction and speed which changed and moved further away from them.

“Sorry,” Luke said. “Have you wanted to see their fight?”

“Why?” William asked behind his head, barely audible.

“I would. In your shoes.”

“I've seen worse and better sights,” William answered honestly, causing Luke to chuckle and finally close his uniform and jacket with a couple of motions. The fluttering hair calmed down, eyes lost their luster, and azure shine huffed, hiding under his clothes.

The surrounding plains were a mixture of hills and numerous forests within the farmlands. Irregular mountains were behind them, a couple of miles away. Luke aimed for the more flat lands, there was nothing but a couple of hills unfit for farms.

Roshwell long disappeared behind them, and it was no wonder. It was in a good position, hidden in great lands. In the worst-case scenarios, hiding in the mountains or numerous bunkers made into some hills was an excellent choice.