“Wow, what a day.” Mentos sighed while gazing out the window of the Skyship, watching as the Mile High Depot gradually shrank into the distance. The colossal structure of the depot appeared to merge with the vast sky, its vibrant colours blending into the clouds. As Mentos took in the magnificent sight, he noticed abreast of him, Hao absentmindedly scratching himself, his fingers were digging into his skin, leaving visible red marks.
"What's up with you, mate?" Mentos asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
"I'm itchy," Hao grumbled, clearly uncomfortable. He was eager to take a shower and wash away the grime from the battle at the Mile High Club. Mentos, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered by the sweat and dirt on his body. As a Scrap Diver, he had grown accustomed to working in harsh conditions where the need to take a shower didn’t cross his mind after he was finished working.
“You should stop scratching so roughly, otherwise you risk tearing off your skin.” Saying this, Mentos drifted his gaze to look around.
The atmosphere inside the Skyship was lively, with passengers sharing stories of their experiences at Mile High Depot. Laughter and excited chatter were passed around, creating a sense of camaraderie among the travellers.
"I can't believe the number of Beast Companions we saw there," said one passenger.
"I know, right?" another chimed in. "Did you catch that demonstration they put on in the square? It was unbelievable!"
“Yeah, I saw it.” A lady rubbed the cheek of her 12-year-old son and continued, “My little one here loved the performance. I had to hold onto him while they were doing that round twister thingy so that he didn’t fall over.”
“You’re not the only one who had to secure their little one.” Another person joined the colloquy.
While the passengers continued to engage in animated conversations, a sudden blast shook the Skyship. BOOM! The impact was powerful enough to rattle the vessel's outer framework and make the passengers' smiles fade.
“Huh! What was that explosion just now?”
“Could one of the engines have blown out?”
“Is that the sound they made when that happens?”
“Hold on to something!”
Panic set in as people tried to maintain their balance and grasp at anything they could to stay upright.
“Attention passengers…” The main operator or captain of the Skyship quickly addressed the passengers through the speakers, urging them to remain calm. However, before they could regain their composure, another explosion echoed through the air. BOOM! This time louder and more forceful.
“That is no engine malfunction. Something bad is happening!” The Skyship's crew soon realized they were under siege by a gang of Bastian Bandits!
“You guys, look out the window!” The passengers pressed their faces against the windows, they saw a little bit over twelve masked riders approaching on fearsome flying Bastians. Their faces were hidden behind masks, but their ruthless intent was unmistakable evident in the way they carried themselves.
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“This situation is awful. It looks like they are coming to raid us. I have to get the word out to HQ.” Frantically, the captain scrambled to send out a distress signal to the Optimum Security Division, hoping for reinforcements to arrive swiftly. Meanwhile, one of the engineers attempted to calm the terrified passengers by explaining the situation.
“Attention everyone, we’re currently under attack by a gang of bandits. Since we are short-staffed, anyone onboard who is skilled with a sword, please assist us!" The engineer’s announcement travelled through the entirety of the vessel, audibly impacting the one hundred and fifty-plus passengers. He then went ahead and activated a set of defence gun turrets called Skyward Sentries, which emerged from a hidden compartment on the top of the Skyship. If ever they were to need them, these weapons were designed to protect the vessel from aerial attacks, releasing a barrage of concentrated energy projectiles towards the enemy.
“Incoming gang!” However, the Bastian Bandits were skilled riders, they were easily dodging the blasts from the Skyward Sentries. The passengers watched in horror as the bandits closed in on the Skyship.
"We're being raided? Why now all of a sudden?" Mentos questioned Hao, both of them bewildered by the sudden turn of events. The other passengers whispered nervously amongst themselves, unsure of what to do.
“What do those brutes want with us?” Inquired a mother holding her little one close to her bosom. While most of the passengers were cowering in the corner, the ones who were able to defend themselves drew their swords and joined forces with the Skyship’s workers.
***
Back at the departure terminal at the Mile High Depot, Yoad was strolling along the platform with a big smile on his face, clutching his bag of Blade Tokens tightly. Barkcode, his Bastian, suddenly stopped in its tracks.
“Huh?” Yoad turned back, puzzled by his companion's behaviour.
"Barkcode, what is it, boy?" He asked, concerned.
“Growl!” The Bastian alerted him to faint explosions in the distance. Yoad squinted and saw a Skyship under attack. "Isn't that the vessel Mr. Mentos and the blindy got onto?" he exclaimed, realizing his friends were in danger.
“We have to do something!” Determined to help them, Yoad commanded Barkcode to spread its wings and fly to the Skyship. However, Barkcode was still injured and unable to take flight across such vast distance. Desperate, Yoad scanned the terminal for an alternative mode of transportation. No Skyships were leaving at the moment, and he wasn't proficient enough to operate one, let alone steal one. Thinking quickly, he decided to find a Booster to help Barkcode fly.
“Come on boy!” Yoad sprinted to the nearest store with his Bastian behind him. He stopped at a small establishment called 'Gizmo's Gadgets,' which was run by an old clerk with a long white beard. He engaged in a rushed conversation with the clerk, explaining his urgent need for a Booster.
"I'm sorry, young man, but I'm fresh out of Boosters," the clerk informed him. This information caused Yoad's heart to sink.
Frustration boiled within him, and he cursed loudly, "Dammit, how am I supposed to catch up with that Skyship now?"
“Hmm?” Seeing Yoad's distress, the clerk offered a suggestion. "If you're looking to leave Mile High Depot, you don't have to wait for a Skyship. You could charter a PHC vehicle instead." He proceeded to give Yoad directions to where the portable hovercrafts were parked.
"Thanks, geezer! I’ll be taking this." Yoad tossed him a handful of Blade Tokens and grabbed a sword on his way out. He hopped onto Barkcode and rushed to the terminal where the PHC vehicles were located.
Upon arriving, Yoad quickly chartered a hovercraft and set out with it. The vehicle was a polished design with a light yellow and blue colour scheme. It was autonomous, but there was a small controller for manual operation. In his haste, Yoad left before the renter could instruct him on proper operation.
Now that he had secured transportation to the Skyship under attack by the Bastian Bandits, Yoad's resolve was at an all-time high. But as a ten-and-a-half-year-old, what did he truly hope to accomplish?
With trepidation clinging to his chest, Yoad sped through the sky, he steeled himself for the challenge ahead, ready to face the ruthless adversaries and help his friends, no matter the odds.