Inked Wings
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - On Track

/ Angel’s POV /

The kid’s been a ghost for a bit. Since this morning, he refuses to let down his screen. Our ship is ready and the checklist is full of marks, things going down smoothly.

The preparation for our departure is going better than many other times, this time everyone is acting like the ideal and organized version of themselves that they need to strive towards. I mean, besides the kid locking himself inside the room assigned to us the moment he arrives there, nothing gives me a strange feeling. In a good way, stuff being out of the ordinary. I hope this performance and luck sticks. We’re in dire need of it. I feel victorious because we’re finally doing my suggestion, but now that I’m getting to the “acting on it″ part and dragging my family after me, plus a random kid…my neck itches. I’m not supposed to let second-thoughts or doubts get to me so late, making me even judge my own resolve, and underestimate both myself and the people I trust the most with this.

It is crazy but it feels amazing in the end. Incredible.

I’m second checking everything. From the garage and everything in between the small ships, all the way to the control panel. At some point, I decide to go in reverse and take another way, reaching the center of the ship. It’s a round room, with a pretty long couch, which also goes in a sort of spiral. This room doesn’t have much to show except the glass in the wall which separates the tank of water from the actual room. Speaking of the tank -

‘Why are you staring at me?’ My head snaps to the right wall, my wings stretching.

Scaramouche is slowly moving in the water. His body is upside down, his tail waving at me. He points at his gills. His claws move up and down around them. I go up to him and face the glass tank. Getting what he means, I put my finger against the glass, sliding left. I activate the codes and control panel, tapping a few buttons then sign him to speak.

‘I wasn’t staring at you,’ he says. ‘I was only looking out for you. Also, I was keeping an eye out for the kid. I still haven’t seen him.’

‘You’ll meet him,’ I say, ‘Eventually.’

‘Where is he?’ Scaramouche’s eyes wander.

‘He is in his room not to be bothered by anything or anybody apparently.’

‘Oh, we’ve got another spoiled one.’

I shrug. ‘Whatever you say.’

‘You don’t seem very excited.’ He crosses his arms, his thin voice continuing. ‘You should act and look like a kid getting thousands of presents in one. You won.’

‘What could I tell you, Scaramouche. Have not slept very well.’

‘You never sleep well.’

I scoff, following with a laugh.

‘Come on. Tell me what’s wrong. I know something’s not right.’ Scaramouche presses on the glass, moving from left to right, his short hairs floating along in the water. He turns his palm to face. Then, he spins around to level me, head-to-head.

‘It’s just some of them gnomes poking the nerves in my brain. You don’t need to worry about it.’ I reassure myself, doing the tone.

His muffled voice persists to ridicule me.

I don’t hear him right though.

‘You deaf son.’ Scaramouche taps onto the glass again, finger after finger. First, the pink claw, followed by the white claw, and lastly, the blue Claw. He likes to have the design painted on his nails. ‘Are you paying attention?’

‘I am.’

‘Good. Let’s start this thing and get to business. No, whatever – you know – Whatever gnomes you have in your head.’

‘You’re more confident in this than you were before.’ I point out.

My wings flutter, puffs falling off the edges. ‘Why the change of mind?’

He lays back. ‘I am not confident in this, man, but I’m not one to want to fucking…abandon my family, when they need it.’

I raise an eyebrow.

’When they need it the most, dude.′

‘Thanks.’ My tone does not match my face.

He sniffs, smiling. ‘That went right through my heart.’ His hands rest on his binder.

‘Keep making jokes, I don’t laugh at.’

‘Martha and Loek are here for that. I’m just here to cheer you up.’

‘Sure.’

‘Did I manage to cheer you up?’

A blink. ‘Sure.’ I insist, blinking faster. Now, I’m hyperaware of my blinking.

‘Spaceships.’ He blurts out.

‘What?’

His face shifts from one expression to another, annoyed expression. ‘All right. Just don’t choke, man. When we’re in the gist -’

‘Surely not.’ I attempt a half-joke, half-truth. ‘You know, I take my Vengeance very seriously.’

‘This conversation is dragging on, just go.’

I raise my eyebrows, my body showing something like surprise.

‘Just go.’

My side – to the side. ‘Nice conversation, I guess.’

Scaramouche purses his lips.

4:15

Inside the Command room, there’s Malik, who insisted on helping with the preparations. He’s watching Alexei install all the codes. He installs all the programs he needs so he can work with the ship’s AI comfortably and efficiently. Alexi announces, clearly happy with himself:

‘And it’s done. Like synopsis.’

I’m surprised Birdie’s not latched onto him by now. She is probably stuck on helping Martha get in her laundry. Alexei presses multiple buttons. ‘Now, it’s time to search for First location.’

I give him a moment. ‘Where do we stand?’

‘Nearest base is north. Tripartite station.’ He chews on something. ‘Fairly close to -’ He presses hard on one of the symbols. ‘TEAR District. Perfect spot to flee.’

‘All right, search and get all the information you can get about the base. Favorably, try and find the layout of it. Alternatively, as many images as possible.’ I remind him.

Malik walks past me, gesturing he is going.

‘Yea, no. I’ve already did. I’ll do it again and let you know if I find anything new, anything important.’ Alexei hisses, his back facing me still.

‘Thanks.’ I mutter.

He scoffs. ‘Make it up to me and reward my work by succeeding and also -’ he pauses.

‘Don’t even think about letting Birdie join in on the terrain.’ He points to whatever, keeping up the cold-hearted facade when he’s saying something like this.

‘That’s not even in question, you know.’

‘Oh – would you look at that… There’s a weak link in their system barrier plan.’

I rush next to him. ‘Really?’

‘Yeah, but I can’t access it until we’re closer. So… We’re starting off from day one?’

‘Of course. Can’t waste this chance. By tomorrow they might fix it.’

Alexei copies the plan. ‘Telling the others now.’ He is turning on the megaphone.

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