Chapter 43

To kill. That was what Walkers needed the most. That priority was straightforward and close to many destructive ways, protection patterns, or ways that were difficult to describe because of their individual properties.

For example, Luke's Cube seemed to float and fly on its own, allowing flight, while its sides seemed non-specific in their purpose. Could it be a weapon? What effects did it have?

Guns, swords, hammers, axes, and all kinds of manners of fleshly powers included Molds. Some Walkers tore Darks apart, unleashing fists made of Arcana or Vectors or using their flesh, or that energy as the main weapon alongside their body. Some would crash them to the bits with strange powers, or with the use of their pure, or partial elements.

William had seen such Walkers close and from a distance before, so he wasn't entirely surprised to see Luke change his Emblem. He was more surprised by the proximity and his words. Luke changed everything a little bit, giving him a view of a world at a much closer distance. In truth, it was more like a drop. Nothing much but a start before a flow that had no finite end.

Beeb!

Suddenly, mechanical noise jolted them up. Zep spoke from a speaker that was in the wall, surprising William and Luke, who winced their heads at the cockpit door.

'Dear teacher. Eh. Sorry. Captain. Excuse me for troubling your performance, but there is something that you would like to see here. Some troubles. Come to the cockpit and don't teach that kid terrible things.'

Luke just ended his Arcalyst and wanted to sit and relax. Too late. He sighed. “I do love some complications above the ocean. Great. Let's see what is that this time around,” Luke walked to the cockpit, leaving William left with still focused Anna.

He glanced at her a few seats away. She ignored him and kept her insane scribbling pace.

Inside the cockpit, there were rows of seats where most of Luke's team rested.

There were three rows of seats, with enough room for some baggage and legs. One could walk between them, while the front had much bigger and broader seats for a pilot and co-pilot. Since this helicopter was huge and quite an ordeal to operate, there were many buttons and displays, including radar and radio. All looking shabby, but functional.

Zep was sitting on the left, right in front of a huge window like a dome that surrounded a bigger angle than his peripheral vision. He was looking downwards with his binoculars, facing a vast ocean below. There were waves and blue sights all across the horizon. There were no big waves or storms.

“What is it?” Luke asked him as he walked to the front.

There was quite a nice view from this cockpit area, which William would have appreciated if he hadn't refused it. Curved windows were clean due to their needs, and even the front of the cockpit had windows facing up and down, so one could see well in most directions. Well, beside the back, of course. The front had multiple sections of windows, providing a great vision to pretty much anyone in this room.

“Seems like some adventurous refugees are betting their lives below, or they might be bastards betting on their luck,” Zep said and tossed his binoculars to Luke.

“Refugees? In this part and distance? What the fuck they would be doing here? Are they out of their minds in the middle of this forsaken place? They don't know what luck or death is like.” Luke cursed out loud, caught the binoculars, and looked from the window where Zep pointed.

“What complete lucky idiots! They have a boat... well, anyway,” Luke cursed once more. “They are likely hoping for the Federation.”

“Good boat though. Motor, cargo, and speed. I wouldn't have noticed them if that was some small raft.” Zep said.

“Good, big, and loud enough for Darks to notice it. Angle is... curious. Curses!”

Below was around a twenty-foot-long boat. There should be no boats this far into this region, and Luke, as well as Zep, knew what was up with that. Seeking unofficial roads to the Federation was hard, but not impossible. Many people were trying to pull any strings to get there, and due the the harshness of the ocean, success couldn't come with some punishment because of its feasibility, and notions.

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Alas, there was a time for that and a place. It wasn't great timing for this at all, which Luke ended up loathing far too much.

“Ignore or not?” Zep bluntly asked, knowing this was up to them to decide. They might be in the military and serving well was close, but their mission was private, and this mess might complicate their position. After all, their fuel was already barely enough.

However, what of those seeking death by hope? Getting to the Federation in this manner was known as having less than one in twenty chance of survival, and that was if their boat and luck were great. This one was decent, despite their timing.

Luke scratched his chin and tossed the binoculars back to Zep, who caught it and curiously looked back.

“Down. They heard us and stopped the engine. There is someone there, isn't that right? Let's say hello.”

“Don't know. But there is a cargo. They are lucky to meet us, or they are protected in some way? Is there a Walker on board? It isn't unlikely, you see. Fugitives and Outside is big. Many...” Zep reckoned and saw Luke eying him with annoyance. He shouldn't have mentioned this, so he adjusted their trajectory and remained silent.

Both of them had guesses. No facts.

It will eat up some of their precious fuel if they stall like this. Luke already decided on what to do and had to be quick. “Adjust it well and if things go bad, just fly ahead without me.”

“Man, no mission with Luke is ever normal!” An aged co-pilot complained beside Zep.

“More yapping and less working,” Zep mumbled. “Wait. Backward!” Then he laughed and nearly plummeted helicopters straight down.

Luke went back to the seating area as if the shaking change of direction wasn't a problem for him. There, he reached out to the door on one side.

William wondered what was happening, clutching the seat because of sudden turbulences and shifting pace. He hesitated if Anna was fine, but she was busy screaming on the ground where she stopped her tumbling, trying to hug her masterpiece. Why was Luke glancing from the window and at the door?

“There will be a little turbulence,” Luke said to him and Anna, who shook and glanced at him. Surprises were there as well as meaning.

“What is happening?” She asked.

“A trouble.”

“Darks?”

“People.”

“Oh...” Anna sighed and figured out many things from that single word. People could mean problems.

“Seatbelt, please.”

William didn't know how to take one. For a while, he was without one and barely kept his ass safe. So Anna forced her ass up, pushed herself to him, and secured his seat as well as her seat beside him.

Opening the door outside without hesitation, Luke was indifferent to the turbulence and storming wind. He looked down below. The air messed up his hair and jacket, but he didn't care.

Sudden wind shocked William, who had no idea what was happening, and it shocked his face. It was nothing for this massive machine, or secured cargo, yet for a boy his age, this was like a storm.

The helicopter descended while keeping up with the boat that restarted its engine. Luke saw people on board, no longer hiding. Powered by some engine, it was a precious tool that was either scavenged, re-made, or stolen. It worked great, but why use it for this?

It seemed like a waste or a last resort. And if someone had this, it might be an official business or unofficial or illegal mess.

They moved directly to the Federation, and official boats wouldn't be like this. Most had flags and looked far too different than this one. Luke no longer had to bet what was up with that.

It was either something illegal, unfortunate, or absolutely stupid. There was no in-between.

For Luke, it was a problem either way. He stared down directly from the open door, crouching down and seeing a boat from almost a hundred feet. It moved quickly, with people shouting in the wind and panic.

They didn't like what they were seeing, or they were afraid for one or a couple of reasons. Academy, or military?

William watched Luke's back until he disappeared from the door that shut closed as he left.

“He fell down!?” William exclaimed.

“I wouldn't worry about that...” Anna added, hugging her book.

“Calm down, boi,” Zep suddenly appeared beside them, clutching the handle on the wall. He was calm. “Captain knows what he is doing. Always does.”

“Are you sure about it?” Anna questioned his words.

“A little.” Zep shrugged. “A little little.” He pinched his finger and smiled.

Turbulence eased and the wind calmed, leaving William calm in his seat.

“Is he... fine?”

“Who? Captain? No worries,” Zep waved ahead.

At that moment, from one of the plates on the floor, a sound echoed and banging noises spread.

“Oh,” Zep winced, furrowing his brows in surprise, and figured their little protective charm wanted out.

One plate crashed to the ceiling, almost smacking Zep. From there, shadows and darkness spread like flames and wind. Then, a head revealed a young woman with black hair and an annoyed face. “What the fuck is happening?” She cursed and looked at Zep right above her.

“Hello there,” he waved at her and introduced her to William. “Melia, William. William, Melia. You know Anna, right?”

A Shadow Punch pinched Zep's crouch. He fell to his knees, yet still laughed. Melia jumped from the lower portion of the helicopter which was barely fitting for a person to crawl into. Most of what was below was either some machinery, fuel, or space for landing gear.

For her, it was a place fitting for her job, even if it felt claustrophobic. She revealed herself. Literally. Her whole body was covered with shadows coming from her chest, where there was a black V-shaped Emblem in the middle of her collarbone, but quite thick and letting many tides of shadows wash over herself. It seeped to the ground, darkening the room, looking like a dress.

William wasn't sure if she wore clothes or not, though he noticed her skin and annoyances first.