Chapter 56

The black-clothed man raised his brows, curving his mouth into an intrigued smile. “Interesting. Personal deals are fine. Why would they not be, but why take it like that? Like thieves, I mean.”

“It was quicker... and safer,” Anna explained.

“Safer? Why not ask for it?”

“Well... I dunno. Soldiers don't ask questions when a complicated mission comes, right? I went along.”

“Where?”

“Nowhere in particular and everything was safe,” Luke said instead. “Also, we got a group of survivors with a Walker baby out of the ocean. Officer Jackson, I am sure you will be thrilled about it.”

Jackson wasn't. “Baby? Unreasonable. You have sinned!”

“I am guilty like my bike, sir.” Luke nonchalantly said and pointed to Rob to take care of his bike. He refused for the time being and looked at what else would happen.

Then, a black-clothed man clapped and dealt this a finishing touch. “No matter. If someone from the Assembly is involved, I will squint my eyes a tiny little bit. I am sure the Principal will deal with it next because you've missed out on something. That excuses you. You also, Jackson.”

“But!” Jackson argued, his hand behind his back tensed like his voice.

“Something important came over and that precious helicopter is one digit of the pair with enough mileage to work for us. Thus, the next time something like this happens, be graceful and not forceful.”

“Perhaps next time,” Luke said and didn't even question what happened, or why they couldn't take the other helicopter of the highest caliber. It was probably not available.

“What is the reason for the Assembly's involvement?”

“Nothing big. Just a kid who was missing for a while.”

“A kid?” the black-clothed man glanced past Luke and finally noticed William. Anna became unimportant in his eyes immediately. “Just a kid.”

Jackson stepped forward. “A kid?! Sir, this is preposterous. That isn't fine in the slightest. This could've ended so much worse because your machine is priceless and this timing... I mean, this isn't proper.”

“And not unsafe,” Luke added. “We got great pilots familiar with it and we haven't even gotten that far or anywhere dangerous.”

Luke omitted the part of New York City for a good reason and pretty much everything else. If Jackson had a hint of the truth, things would get so much worse. They also had Melia, so perhaps exposing it might have made things even more lovely if she got involved. Luke kind of hoped to see Jackson's speechless face.

The black-clothed man didn't care about this anymore, since answers would come from others. It was normal. Luke was just taking orders from someone else. Someone more important.

In a way, it was sufficient that he even talked, because this stealing might've been terrible if it was done by the wrong people. If the Assembly was involved, it was easy to comply with some complications or assume things appropriately. Thus, the black-clothed man departed, leaving Anna glad and Jackson not one bit less angry. He also left with the rest of the officers.

Luke never took a deep breath in his life as they departed. Then, he glanced at Rob. “I will force a bottle out of you, do you hear me?”

Rob chuckled and didn't know Luke's circumstances. Now, he realized things might have been secretive and dumb for whatever reason someone from the Assembly wanted. “Who do we have here?” Rob changed the subject and looked at William.

“Will you report a kid or what? Oh, we are kidnappers, just so you know.” Anna suggested.

“Why would I do that?” Rob chuckled and took care of Luke's bike. “Is the Examination this close? I didn't know. It is less than two months ahead, so this is one of those odd future Outsider Walkers. He looks of that age.”

Luke chuckled. “I wouldn't recommend dining into it further.”

“Oh, now you make me interested! That's not fair. Jackson and that Acadamy man must've realized it too, but didn't talk about it because of talks about Assembly and Mi-Yung. Curious stuff, Luke. Very curious. I've never seen Jackson this pissed off. This might be important and whatever your Mi-Yung did might've touched something very terrific. Heard that man note some Principal. That is some wild shit.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“True. I had my ammo and used it well, so the rest is not my problem. Also, thanks.” Luke patted Anna's back, who was still sweating and wanted to go home. Not yet. She had a very important suggestion to do.

“Right? So, this lad is the reason for this much uproar? Jackson was almost betting that you've sold that chopper off somewhere. Ha! That face was hilarious. He wanted to bite your head off.”

Luke cracked his fists.

“Alright. Alright. A little small chap it is, but it matters nay against the Darks. Anyway, I do have a watch and have little time to waste. See ya!” Rob waved at them and left, hiding some anxiety in his quick and burly steps.

Then, Luke felt an ache in his abdomen. Anna's kick was like a poke of a Hellgar, which seemed impressive for her figure. “You moron! Our secret mission!”

“Academy got involved. What choice did I have to speak up?” Luke said and brushed her off.

“The Academy was important. Have you forgotten what she said? Don't mention too much to superiors or anyone high.” Anna forgot that Luke said very little about William and pointing reasons to Mi-Yung was like minimizing the worst possible outcome. Anna realized it and stopped harassing him.

William endured these few minutes without a word and finally understood that his importance played a huge part in everything.

“Who was that guy?” William asked. “Or that black-clothed man? He sounded important. More than you.”

Luke smiled at him. “Rob is someone you should befriend if you want a nice place around here, or in mission.”

“I didn't ask about that.”

“No? I mean, he is a great Machinist and talented Walker.”

“Him? A Machinist and Walker at the same time?”

“Many have hobbies or needs for machinery, or their talent for it is simply too good to pass as a joke,” Luke explained.

“And that black-clothed man?”

“Nobody important.”

William accepted his lie. “What is this place anyway? Barracks or place for mission? A Division, perhaps? Is it for Walkers as well as people? That old man talked to you as if you are his lackey.”

“Nah. That much is normal. Military has its hierarchy while nobody would hinder a Walker with some accomplishment. My Rank 5 speaks for itself and some punishments are just annoying tasks. I am kind of used to it in the Yondu Division. Not much against Academy, though, but the military has to bow their heads to those at the upper ranks.”

“Didn't seem like that to me,” Anna added, still angry.

“Anyway, this part of the Federation is known as the military half-district. It has many bases and warehouses like this, as well as deep underground facilities. A lot of resources move to this place daily, so don't be surprised to see a whole new world below the earth. I warned you, but the rest of the Districts are something else. Shall we go? I've dealt with worse.” Luke ran past many reasons and walked away.

William and Anna followed because they had no choice after Rob took care of things.

Further away from the hangars, rows of buildings and hangars were incomparable to the regular places in camps, let alone half-destroyed cities. This place was clean, powerful, and influential as it could get. William didn't refute anything. Rather than that, he was expectantly nervous about Luke and where he was leading him.

Just who was he to meet? Who was that Mi-Yung who Anna and Luke repeatedly described?

“This doesn't seem like home at all,” William said to Luke outside, pointing to the military.

“It isn't. Is a job a life? No. Is safety better than no safety? The military is not a home, nor something that someone should even think of as one. It is necessary to give command a reason, and people some strength.”

“Why? Should I take it as a word from a Rank 5 Walker, or a part of this military?”

“Both. Also, you might not like it or be aware of it, but Walkers are pillars for everything to work. Every loss is deep. People need to feel validated to be close, even if they are nothing clever or proper.”

“A false hope?”

“More like a sweet little lie,” Anna suggested. “As a person who Luke described, giving a fake sense of control over the Walkers is a good thing. It controls some doubts, while Walkers do many things behind the scenes, or the exact opposite. Some of it is just fine to keep behind the scenes.”

“What she says. You will learn fast, William. I know it. Think of this as a place where a lot of powerful people are met with people who could shatter their concept of reality. Flooded with many flies and lies, it doesn't sound bad. It isn't a rule just in the Federation. Lots of people and organizations have their ideas like this. Even far away, power maintains truth.”

“Really? Walkers... I thought this was a place where the privileged have a lot to say. I thought Walkers were rulers.”

“Is that how it is perceived Outside?” Anna asked.

“Who says they aren't?” Luke asked.

“You!”

“A false hope or lie, or power, or safety? What is there to doubt? You have a lot to learn, kid. For now, let this doubt rest. I will take you to a place I am supposed to get you. You will figure out everything within a couple of days, or a couple of weeks, or... never. Frankly, it depends on what you want to know. If it is about your parents, it isn't so simple. If we speak about you alone, it is much simpler and also helpful for everyone. You are a Walker, boy. Future and you need to grow and learn something more than ever.”

“How generous of you to speak like this,” Anna remarked.

With more questions and wonders in mind, William followed Luke behind.

Many buildings and people around this place moved with military lives and there were some comparable ideas in camps. Everyone had some task, position, and worth. But everything looked unfamiliar to William, who never looked at such an advanced civilization.

His memories before he was five were blurry, to say the least. He wasn't even sure if it was caused by the destruction ten years ago, or what followed soon afterward, or much later.

Behind the military base were many residential areas for military personnel, who were close to their work and duties. Multiple stories of buildings of great quality created streets, and there were even pavement paths and roads made of neat rocks or bricks of high quality. It was almost like a painting for William, giving him foreign and unnatural feelings. And he was still in the military base, yet it looked like a fine city already.

Nonetheless, he continued turning his head, looking at every nook and cranny of those places, talking to Anna or Luke to pass this walk.