77 CHAPTER 76-THE PLAN

Jeff groaned and finally sat up from the bed. He couldn't tell how much time had passed from the sudden darkness that enveloped him, but with the corners of his eyes, he could see the clusters stretching the black body of the firmaments. The aircraft must have stopped moving because the motion of the stars and moon were static. It was as if the world was static.

Rubbing his eyes to clear the sleep which never came, he stood up and walked towards the door. With the warm body of the wall, he let himself out of the small room, into a light rich alleyway, from where he made his way to the conference room.

Something rumbled when he opened the first compartment door. For a time, he thought the door or some roaring cloud outside the Air Tripler made the rumble. The rumble came a second time. That was when he realized it was his stomach that was complaining about the food. When was the last time he had a decent food?

The voice of people hit his ears and the random movement struck his eyes as the door—separating the hallway from the conference room—slide into the wall. Nobody sat. The room was a disarray of men, women, and children. Everybody was speaking. Some small groups had also formed at the far end of the hall. They seemed to be arguing about something.

Jeff tucked his hands into the pocket of his jumpsuit and amble toward the other edge of the room where the lights created a shadow. He was not looking. His legs caught one of the wires on the floor and pulled them from the wall socket. The lights in the room suddenly went off and came back on after some seconds. 

Everywhere age with silence and heads turned on their necks, with choirs of eyes rotating on their skull towards his direction.

Crowd. He mumbled, blaming himself for creating the attention which he was trying so hard to avoid. He hated being the nucleus of discussion when a crowd of this number gathers. Bad things tend to happen in the midst of many crowds, which was why he hated staying in a place with so many people clustering together. Their eyes were still on him, and for ones, the thought of running back into the hallway and into his room lingered in his head.

This is so embarrassing. He swallowed as the heat in the people's expression overpowered him. His face was turning red and knowing that he was making a fool of himself also contributed to the tension.

"Our hero is here," A deep voice boomed, taking the attention of the people with it. Jeff blew a silent thanks to the man. He still recognized those broad faces of his. It was Aaron, one of the oldest men in the group. 

The room erupted with an eccentric roar as the people engulfed Jeff, cheering with excitement and gratitude. It percolated the wall into the cold air outside and seemed to stretch for an eternity.

Jeff swallowed again and adjusted his weight to the other foot. His eyes traveled from the wall of the vessel to the ceiling and to his mother, looking to see if she would help. But she had her attention on the screen, totally oblivious of his discomfort. Someone grabbed his hands and shook it, raining heap of praise that could send one's ego to that lofty mountain of pride.

Jeff frowned but quickly recovered with a quick smile. The young boys kept smiling and shouting his name. Some patted his shoulders and thanked him as though their lives depended on it. He just didn't know what to make of them. How long were they kept in that darkness that they held him with so much respect? 

"Now," Aaron said again as the noise died. His emerald green eyes were stuck in his skull, holding the image of everyone and everything at once. "What's our next move?"

Even the noise of a falling pin could be heard from the silence that walked among the confused people. Jeff could see the fear and anxiety written in their eyes. They have nowhere to go, their homes have been destroyed by an evil menace whose penchant was fear and terror. Some of them had lost not only their homes but their family and some part of their body. The strength that he once knew in these people was now replaced with fright. Looking at them now, he could not place the sudden gloom and hopelessness that lingered in their eyes. The mood swing was discouraging, it was as if happiness and laughter have become a veil to conceal what was actually inside?

Jeff rubbed his brow, leaning more on the wall to support his weight. Aaron was talking in a low tone with a younger boy standing next to him. The authority on his posture was similar to the SP-90 selector of the academy, but lacking grace. 

The world was spinning, and Jeff held onto the wall to support his body from falling. He could sense…No, he could feel the sadness and anxiety swerving in the air. The glow was much, but something else was making him dizzy. He could tell what it was even though he had not mastered his powers. It was the glow of anger. That was the only feeling from other people that could give him a lightheaded. But who was radiating so much hate?

"There is nowhere to go," A woman said from the crowd. Jeff studied her carefully. He did not know her, but her glow of sadness was strong.

"There is always somewhere to go," Someone said from behind. The voice was soothing and Jeff was glad to see that the glow of sadness emitting from the first woman seemed to dissolve for a while. It appeared again, but this time, weak.

"I know a place," Joyce, Jeff's aunty said briskly. She was in her jumpsuit now. Though the red on its side had faded, it still portrayed the strength and aerodynamic nature of the Red linage.

"It's a basement," she continued "A big, undetectable basement, underneath the Heroes city. We can stay there for the time being."

"It's a good idea, hiding under the very nose of the people that want us dead. As much as that's a good plan, it's a dangerous one."

"But that's the only choice we have, we can't fly forever" Someone shouted. A boy.

"It's suicide," Another boy argued, and the room divided in two. It became an uproar as each party tries to voice their opinion above the other. 

"We won't get anywhere if we continue like this," Aaron said. The noise died reluctantly as the people turned their attention back to him. 

Jeff couldn't help the smile that broke his lips when he saw Nimrod on the other side of the room, trying to shake off Alec, who was pestering him by pulling out the thread on the cuff of his loosed Jumpsuit. They were walking towards him.

"Let share ideas," Aaron continued, "that will make us stay alive. The death that is on our heel is enough to make us stand with each other. We should not devour ourselves yet, Zack and his Tech have done that to us already. Please,"

The room became quieter when Aaron finished. Nobody moved, it was as if everybody was making a rapid discussion with their thoughts.

"What about Zone-3" Alec shouted when he and Nimrod came close to Jeff. The crowd turned their attention to them again, this time shifting their eyes from Jeff to Nimrod.

"Jess, I am not that small?" Alec waved his hands to get recognition. Some people sighed when they saw him. 

"Poor child," They said, "What does he know?"

"No way, those—"

"Yes, Jeff." Alex smiled "You are the one they want, not these people. The Regent would not object."

"Said the prodigal son" Jeff grumbled and stroke his shaggy hair with his hands. He hated the idea, but that was the only place that was safe for them, at least for now.

"Where is Zone-3" Kyle, Matt's brother asked.

"It's in the city of Balom" Jeff said, He shared an uncomfortable eye with Alex before he continued "They are a resistant group formed by Alec's father and a man called the Regent. You will be safe there. They have the resources to keep you away from harm's way."

"Very well," Aaron said after some time. "those in support said 'hi���. Any objection say, 'nay'.

A few people grumbled 'hi' but there was no objection. Aaron gave other instructions and dismissed the crowd.

"Hello, Jeffred." Joci smiled as her hologram image came to stand next to Jeff and his friends.

"Hello Joci" Jeff smiled back

"I just want you to know that your friend is awake"

"That's good news," Jeff's smile widens as they parted his upper lips "Thank you Joci, you are the best." He said and hurried to the door.