Chapter 31

The military had all kinds of tasks for their respective organizations. They involved normal people and Walkers, though there was a humongous gap between them.

Walkers didn't just exterminate Darks, but maintained humanitarian missions around the world, acting alongside their organizations, or orders from some private cases. It was a rather systematic effort, open to discussions, or part of some great collective efforts or private missions. Even if each Walker had their System and development to clutch, force, or do no matter what, some association of work was better than utter mayhem and disorder.

Luke's task was a private order. Not the military one. In his team, there were only three Walkers, he included, while the rest were normal people who he chose, or his Division did it for him because some people might be suitable for some missions more than others.

Everyone had some duties, followed by their training and knowledge, and they always followed the orders of their leaders. Navigators, translators, medics, and general support were classic jobs. Walkers had them as well, but their case was a tad bit more difficult than that. They were so-called elites if they lived long enough.

Training for years, if not decades, people hold high skills like marksmanship and concentrated knowledge that Walkers wouldn't have due to time constraints, and their sacrifices often mattered less than a Walker perishing.

They weren't ordinary military joes. Harsh training and military schools alike were like campgrounds for hope or death. These were active in all parts of the world, and even many camps assailed these duties to their citizens out of no spite, but for orderly conduct and survival. Everyone should know how to defend themselves, grab a weapon, or shoot.

It wasn't a demand from the Federation, but common human sense to protect and fight back. But it was true that a lot of care was put to those seeking the peak of the military. Ordinary soldiers were important, albeit Walkers were like the sky over them. It went without question why that was the case.

Besides the helicopter, William was unhappy about this so-called test. He was curious about what Anna and Luke mentioned, but Anna grabbed Luke for a couple of minutes to make some sense out of William, who was clueless.

Luke returned with a headache after a private talk with Anna behind the helicopter.

“Was everything alright, Captain? Your Emblem is wheezing.” Zep asked with his thick accent. Luke had an open jacket and uniform, and his emblem was moving ever so slightly.

“Oh, that? That is nothing but stress and disappointment. I overestimated some things.”

“Is that so?” Zap frowned and gave William a meaningful look. “I fear he might underestimate it instead. I mean it sincerely. He could've zapped you around the ground, I fear. No. I...”

“Shut up, Zep. I am glad to hear you being silent,” Luke said and turned to William. “Come inside. Sit and wait. I have to put my toy inside, so no other idiots will steal it. Don't try to dodge it either. We are watching you. Don't mess with us.”

William doubted it was about stealing, or messing with anything. He quenched his unrest, and held onto his treasure, but who would tell him something about stealing, if not Dann who was no longer around? He took a deep breath and stared at the massive door to an even larger machine in front of him. He paid very little attention to the surrounding people.

He decided to focus on other things than his anxiety or hurting stomach. Overlooking and changing his attention was something he learned to do over the years, whether something hurt, or when Dann argued about something.

This big helicopter had two stories, with one big level being quite tall, and the second being quite small, barely fit for a person, or so William thought when he looked at the ceiling. The large blades were as long as the whole helicopter. On the side, there was a huge logo of an entity that he didn't know much about, but would never overlook.

But it shocked him as much as the helicopter itself because of what Zep said before. It was Emblem Academy's logo, consisting of a large circle, a spike building-like structure in the middle, and an Emblem inside of it, looking like a simple gem. From what he understood, the building was representing the hope and marvel of the Academy. The large circle represented the whole world, while the Emblem was security inside everything. The Emblem was inside because the Academy took care of them at the highest level.

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“Are you people from the Emblem Academy?” William asked without thinking. Luke already hinted they weren't.

“That is funny. I would not call it, but it is right, or is it close?” Zep called from the back of the helicopter, sounding as if he could hear him as clearly as before him.

“Don't give him any ideas, Zep!” Luke shouted after he put his motorcycle in the cargo storage.

“Alright, Captain,” Zep reluctantly said, walking toward them, shaking his head, and entering the cockpit area.

“So, you aren't from the Academy. I get it, but it is close to Federation isn't it?”

Luke secured the motorcycle and nodded. “As a whole, the Academy is a separate entity for many good reasons. Neither of which is bad. It is good that it is separate. Federation is the same, but it is wider and more important with politics as a whole. Academy is Walkers, I mean. It is a fort and place veiled for some of us, or those great, or weak., The Federation and its populace care about a lot of people, while the Academy has limits. Thus, business and certain transactions go where they should. This helicopter is their possession, as they pretty much paid for its creation inside the Federation. Why? Business.”

“I see...” William hummed and walked away to see it once more. That symbol was pretty. “Do you know a lot about the Academy?”

“I have some small history with it, but not much of it is great. My home is the Federation. Always. By the way, this helicopter is just part of the arsenal, and many missions go towards it, planes included. Those are special, however. Helicopters are better for military operations and deployments. You will understand why this is the case later on. Many details about it will make up for your future wonders.” Luke explained and hoped to change the subjects. William disagreed.

“How can someone join the Emblem Academy?”

“Maybe by luck or fate? Don't know. Am no judge.” Luke bluntly said.

What a terrible advice. Like always... Walkers don't share much about the Academy. Why Luke doesn't do it? He promised. Miss Anderson is nowhere near. What is stopping him? William frowned and went back inside.

He felt discouraged by Luke's remark; it always rubbed his nerves when someone was withholding information from him. Key information. The kind that should be clear and prominent for the public or young Walkers that should be better knowing about this.

But no. Why did it keep happening? William thought it was something about karma or the way Outside or Walkers acted. He had some secrets himself and left most of them hidden because of Dann, doubts about himself, and his Emblem.

Stories of Corruption were cautious, not really hiding because they were close and coming like nightmares Outside. No one wanted to meet or feel any kind of Corruption, Turn, end in its curses that could eat the souls and minds of people.

Walkers were people. Just stronger ones, with finite fuel and power that might not make them human. But it could take them, kill them, change them. All the while their enemies had massive numbers and considerably deep years as top predators of this new era.

After seeing enough of the helicopter, William took his steps inside and looked at the interiors which were quite impressive. It was more spacious and less cramped than he thought. The smell of steel and military hit his nose. Everything was sturdy, green or metallic in colors, and every corner had some purpose.

He moved through a huge door that opened sidewards, going into the walls of the helicopter. Such details were wonderful. He watched some things in surprise, like the quality of materials and... machinery. All sorts of weapons were open to touch, resting in corners, or some crates, including missiles, boxes of thick ammo the size of his fingers, and rifles to large machine gun cannons that were bigger than himself.

Aren't missiles kind of... rare and redundant? William wondered as he squatted over them, poking them with his finger. They were cold to the touch and felt very heavy. No one stopped his curiosity. Not even Luke.

William was close to destruction, so these weapons that few people could use Outside were a surprise. But things fit for hands were different and some missiles were hard to use and make. Weapons like rifles and handguns were popular Outside and shooting was something even a kid could do. Here? He noticed most of them were heavy for adults and some weapons he couldn't even name.

This is... Academy helicopter. The military is different, so how to name them? Military machine guns? He thought of a name in a heartbeat. Missiles have what kind of purpose? Missile gun? Missile launcher? Missler? Oh, that sounds awful. Guns are neat. Simple.

Cringing, his good feelings subsided even when surrounded by a world that was not as unfamiliar to him as he thought. He saw and used all sorts of weapons in his life. This sort of military sign wasn't there for him and finding their quality was even further away.

True, he had his training due to dedication to survival and the camp's rules, but his young Walker status gave him much more than that. Numerous fighting lessons came to him by luck or misfortune, provided by some people when he became a teenager, or when he fought or looked out for his own life.

William was never this close to the peak of military, or something that real Walkers used. A sense of satisfaction spread and even if this wasn't always meant for them, he found it fun.

Work, train, and grow. It was never something greater for William, who thought the world wasn't like that either. He recalled glances at some helicopters from some rare occasion when they flew above him. These were always overshadowed by Dark Fog, Darks, or Walkers fighting over the sky or ground, making these machines hard to notice.

These were tools, cold steel that was nothing but a token that could ease the minds of ordinary people. It would hardly cut Rank 5 and above Darks, let alone those higher ones that were like natural disasters in smaller or sizable forms.

That was an important point. William acknowledged what mattered and didn't disregard it like some people. Those tools were useful, yet Walkers were better. Did it seem like it was coming towards his fingertips? That was far too far-fetched at the moment.