Chapter 54

Melia waited for nothing. As part of Luke's team, she knew what they did was funny and a great adventure mission. Some superiors will get pissed off, which is good. She wondered how far it would go, and where Luke would take his stand. She didn't care for any consequences; she was inferior and a small pawn in this game anyway. Some scolding was incoming and that was about it.

Luke glanced around and chose his work before troubles arrived.

“Oy, this group of lunatics will wait for now.” He said to Marcus's group. “I will have to contact higher-ups to get you sorted out. Don't worry, you will be taken care of. Some people are understanding, unlike me.”

“Can we trust you?” the mother of the baby said.

“No. You won't.” Luke said honesty. “But there are normal people around here that are good and will care about it. People like you, I think. Former vagabonds, or... you might trust her instead, maybe?” Luke pointed to Melia who jolted and wanted to flee.

“You will stay and take care of them in my stead. Adjust it to your will and do it some justice. You lost a bet, haven't you?”

She stopped her steps and scowled, taking both hands and scrapping her head and hair. “Ugh... Fine!”

Luke then turned to Marcus again. “Before you will be upset or curious, I trust most will be understanding of your position, so don't slap or point a shotgun at anyone's face.”

In any way, their wish was here and safety was more or less guaranteed. How they would take it from there was up to their luck, and Marcus didn't forget Luke's remark and wondered about his words.

Any accidents, and we go out of here, with or without my son. I need to be calm and take it slowly. This chance won't come twice. Marcus thought.

“As for you,” Luke turned to William, who could not help but rest his hands between his thighs once again, glancing at him. “I will be taking care of you. You will follow me and not leave my sight. Got it?”

He was shaking and feeling a new ground beneath him. It felt big and safe, and... no longer shaky. He loved the ground and promised to not fly in the near future.

The land of the Federation should be the same as the land in the north, but with size, protection, and military, this place might change what he knew about humanity.

William was excited. Then, he remembered what Melia and Luke said in the past. “What is before me? Am I going to visit those looking for me?”

“Something like that,” Luke answered.

“Will I have some time before this... Examination, or whatever you are speaking of?” William wasn't sure if this was something important or minor. For now, he thought his Emblem would be tested by some Walkers and some choices would come out of it later. He often heard of it Outside, but that wasn't about the Examination he was bound to experience.

Luke was still reluctant to talk about it and didn't speak about everything either.

“Yeah. You will have time. Remaining in the helicopter, which is not even yours, isn't a good idea. I suggest you move your ass before I will be back. There are some things I will take care of in a few minutes.” He said sternly, opened the door, and walked away after getting some green military shirt over his wounds and tattered uniform.

William glanced at that party of lucky survivors that remained in the corner. Marcus didn't seek him out over his punches or beating, which either spoke of his understanding, or he swallowed it for the future. In any case, William hoped this foolish adult got a good lesson. If not, it didn't bother William all that much. Their future was theirs, while he had his path ahead. The kind that these people wouldn't guess.

It will be different from the past, though how different? Flashes of destruction, pain, blood, and a painful arm overturned in his mind. William clutched his hand, still seated.

Perhaps, his future won't be so different. Only in the past few years, have things become better in Roshwell. There was no doubt he would have to undergo something massive down the line, and like today, he understood it was futile to escape it.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Saving civilians, vagabonds, and refugees alike, there were some differences between people in his heart. It was a little prejudiced because he had seen people Outside and do shit that was devious, or worse. Some were understanding due to the Madness and rules in place. Lawless things were different. People or Darks, what were their differences?

There was some honesty in struggling against the Madness, and some people were like animals.

Most Walkers served without, with, or with limited freedom, which was equally bothersome from Luke's words, or very understandable.

Walking outside the door, the shine of the sun was still far from receding to the horizon. It will take one more hour or less for it to get away, escaping to the unknown.

“Move,” Anna poked his back.

“Oh, are you coming with me?” William jolted and asked her, making a space for her to walk.

“I might as well. Why not? Also, don't stare at people and these machines. Some of those guys are far too serious about them. I am speaking from experience.”

“I see. You seem to know it.”

“Excuse me?” Anna pinched his cheek and frowned. “I am your senior! You will respect me.”

William scowled and nodded.

“Good. Listen to Luke for now. I am curious what will happen too. For now, it is good to be home and out of Outside.”

“I thought you had a job here. Association or something,”

“Life or job, what is the difference? For me, the job is where Walkers are. Close, but not too close.”

“Must be complicated.” Sizing her no longer mattered, so William glanced behind him for one last time, seeing the helicopter up close before walking away. “It sure feels like a different world.”

Helicopters were arguably the best machine for flexible traveling. Many planes would be quicker, but their need for a smooth runway wasn't worth the effort to every place, and planes had high requirements and complicated work.

In that sight, helicopters were far more suitable and carried a majority of the Federation's aviation. Having a thousand gallons of specially built fuel tanks allowed thousands of miles of travel. The one he just left had great range like its size.

And when William took a better look around, he discovered it was much bigger in comparison to other helicopters that were motionless around the military base. People were busy as always, carrying weaponry and walking in groups, jogging, or going by their posts. Close Rifts made this place a little more lively than usual, yet some of them were used to it. William guessed why. This was the norm.

Soldiers or Walkers, William reckoned no difference. Considering the Rifts, who knew how many Walkers were here, or not rushing for their purpose? It was huge, of course. He could not believe how much machinery and space this base contained.

There was no point in looking out for that. At the moment, he couldn't see the ocean, let alone the bridges, but Rifts were different because a lot of them were up in the sky, or closer to the waters thanks to this base closer to the shores. When he glanced up, he could barely see the ongoing battles in the distance, and numerous Rifts around the perimeter were like cracks in the air, visible like wounds.

“Don't worry,” Anna said and noticed his eyesight. “These Rifts won't bother us. None ever did besides passing through this base. They never reached other Districts.”

“That doesn't assure me at all,” William said honestly. “I've seen plenty of it Outside, Miss Anna. Rifts or Darks don't make sense. They don't have to create options for deaths. People are often enough.”

Anna rolled her eyes. “Fine. Don't be serious. I hate honorifics. Call me Anna.”

“Alright, miss,” William said and hurried away, while Melia stayed behind to solve the issue with Marcus and his group. Zep seemed to be the same, and so was the rest of the team of about a dozen people.

The sunlight would go on for about an hour, yet the place was bustling with soldiers. Many vehicles moved around as well. William tried to look for Luke, but he couldn't see him anywhere, and his previous words fell short.

For William, it wasn't an issue to walk around, staying close to the helicopter, and take the sight around him slowly. Of course, many things surprised him. Especially after grasping his courage when he walked around the helicopter's proximity, and further away, observing the machinery and even... planes?

No one around seemed to care for him, so he clutched his bag tightly and pretended to be a tourist. Before the helicopter was a large open hangar that was more than a hundred feet tall. A lot of vehicles were inside and even around it were some smaller hangars made from wood or metal plates.

William identified most vehicles as cars and weird mixtures of black wheels or odd metallic machines. From pictures or destroyed photographs, his imagination and curiosity weren't without its merits. But some vehicles before him were weird. He either watched them on some occasions Outside, but never so clearly, or never at all because of their complexity, experimental stages, or they weren't ready for Outside.

There were even some bizarre jets, and a lot of motorcycles and cars had weird weapons ranging from poles, boxes, or spikes. Regular weaponry was more suitable for hands or lesser vehicles like jeeps or AMVs—which were shortcuts for armored-military-vehicles around these parts. Those weren't tanks, but some were looking similar, with metallic thick plates, cover-like shields, and some cannons, or big machine guns. They looked quite mobile, unlike their weight and size that William almost touched.

He hummed in approval and curiosity. By now, Anna caught up to him and followed him, as if waiting for Luke to move around some corner.

It was quick. From the hangar, Luke hurried away, almost bumping into both of them.

“Crap. I tell motorcycle is nothing, yet here it goes. I forgot my bike!” Luke blurted out and rushed back, leaving Anna sighting and William glad.

He took this opportunity to look around some more, sneaking into the hangar.

Luke's team had their orders and Zep wasn't as good at leadership as Luke. So without him to supervise them, their lax attitude was obvious. Melia was at the epicenter of that ideology and she wondered how to deal with Marcus, or how much she could trouble this vagabond.