80 CHAPTER 79 THE RED FLUID

Matt pushed the button on the wall of the vessel and the door slide open to the outside world. He steadied his feet on the Air Tripler. Waiting. Observing. The wind was harsh and bashed his face, fluttering his blonde hair and bringing tears to his sea-blue eyes. He had only done this once, with his Roller-Board, back in the academy. This was different though, the wind, the cloud, and the feeling in his stomach. There was nothing like it. If there was another way, he was sure he could have taken that road, but those guys were getting away, and the only means to stop them was through this way.

"Matt!, Matt! Don't do this, buddy. Please don't do this." Someone shouted, but Matt paid no mind to him. He would try to talk him out of it. Yes, the boy would try to tell him how insane his plans were. He would advise him to take things nice and slow. 

Nice and slow was for suckers. Matt was not ready to do that. Not now. Not today. He looked back into the plane and caught the eyes of his friend over the red light hanging on the ceiling.

"Matt. This is suicide. Please don't do this," The boy shouted, but Matt had already gotten the signal he was waiting for. He let the air carried his weight as he jumps out of the Air Tripler, plummeting down into the dark stormy clouds.

Lightning struck on every side and he closed his eyes as he soared freely in the hands of gravity. The events of the past moons engulfed him, that scar that has refused to heal, reaping open again. That pain he had kept at bay for three years had surfaced, eating every bit of him and heating his body.

The thunder rumbled and raindrops started tubbing down from the dark sky, blending with his features. He clenched his fist and without even thinking about it this time; her face flashed before his mind's eyes. The way she had hugged him and had kissed him for the first time. He had kissed her back. The prints of her lips ever present in his. He could still feel their softness and the ecstasy that had driven him to that land of forever. 

The image flashed away to darkness, and then he saw himself, holding his dagger, soaked in the blood of the one he had loved and cherished.

Matt opened his eyes, and his stomach tightened. The tears that formed in his eyes this time were not because of the wind. He had been so foolish to think that he could make a change. Every attempt was just failure from his own end.

He bit his lips and steadied his hands on his Candor as gravity continued to carry his weight down towards the earth. He was well equipped and had all the weapons he would need for this mission, at least the defense clerk had made sure of that.

Every part of his body was one with the wind and the rain as he burst out from the cloud. The many lights of the city came into view now. It was like a colored star in an ocean of darkness. Despite the wind and the rain, he thought he heard the voice of the Air Tripler he had been chasing.

Giving thoughts no time to settle in his mind, he pushed down the single button on his Candor and was glad when the laser sword blazed with a blue splendor. With all his might, he drove his light sword into the Air-Shuttle that they have been chasing for over one hour.

Matt's body vibrated as the Candor drew a hotline on the metallic body of the Air shuttle. He was compelled to let go, to let the wind carry his body until he slammed something below and die. But on the other thought, he just didn't want to die yet. He wanted to live a little longer. Just a little longer.

His decent stopped however when he got close to the glass window. He groaned from his arms, which were already burning. The sensation was not intense and gave him the privilege to pick out his dagger from his belt with his free hands. With that, he climbed back up towards the top, where the door was.

"Don't move or you are dead," 

Matt raised his head to the owner of the voice. It was impossible to place a face on him from the Head-plate he wore, but from the deep Candanian ascent, he could tell that the owner of the voice was a man. 

He didn't wait to be told twice. With all his might, he pushed his body to the man's direction, as if flying in the air.

Shock filled the man's eyes as he rained balls of electricity in Matt's direction. But Matt was fast, he had already drawn his wire from his belt. He shot the arrow point of the wire and it buried itself inside the metallic vessel. With that, Matt was able to oscillate like a pendulum bob, going from under the Air shuttle, only to appear at the other end.

He kicked the surprised man from behind and the man flew out into the air until he was lost in nothing.

Matt blew out a relief air and turned on his electromagnetic boots so he would not be swept away by the wind. The man had the opportunity to blast his brain but had hesitated. Well, too bad for him. Its kill or get killed. 

He pulled out the wiring device and replaced them back on his belt. Damn my Candor. He cursed as he suddenly realized that he had lost his Candor. Again. You are so irresponsible. The voice of Rebecca seemed to say in his head. But she can talk all she wants. Weapons were built to be used, sometimes they get destroyed in action. What really matters is the completion of the mission.

Matt held the metallic door of the shuttle and lowered his body into the vessel.

"Who are you?" The only man in the vessel asked, but he narrowed his eyes when they fell upon the white uniform which Matt wore.

"Your worst nightmare," Matt hissed and braced himself. A yellow light flared as he drew out his Candor and charged.

He swerved the sword left and right and then thrusting it. Matt dodged and jumped back as ember sparks flew into the air when the man's Candor sliced one of the cables. The man was on the offensive and Matt knew. He kept jumping back, dodging to the right or left. Waiting for the right moment.

"You are so dead," The man threatened as he charged again. Matt could see his face. He was way older to be his father, from the gray hair trailing his forehead. But he was one of the many corrupt people, who thinks they can pervert justice and get away with it.

There, Matt found the weak spot on his left rib cage. He didn't wait for the man to cover it, instead; he drove his fist into them, feeling the bone-cracking from the impact. 

The man yelled and staggered backward, dropping his sword in the process.

Matt held his heavy coat, feeling the sweat on his breath as the man's black eyes studied him.

"Where is it?" Matt asked

"Go to hell," the man whizzed, but he cried out in pain when Matt slammed the bridge of his flat nose with his head.

"Okay, Okay. I will talk." The man panted, looking at Matt's fist, which was raised towards his face and burning dangerously.

"Your clock is ticking." Matt whispered, "I am not very patient,"

"It's inside that box."

Matt looked behind him and found a box sitting on the driver's seat.

"I have told you the truth," The man yelled and raised his hands to shield his face from Matt's fist.

Matt studied him for a while. It was hard to tell which one was oozing out more, the blood on the man's nose or the sweat.

"You are under arrest," Matt finally grumbled as he handcuffed the man to one of the passenger's seat.

"But on what offense? I am but a merchant sent to deliver goods. How could I have known it was an illegal product?"

"You have the right to remain silent or whatever you say will not be heard by the court of law, when I defenestrate you."

The man got the point and stopped rattling.

Matt held the small box and pushed a little button on the side. Just this? He sighed and looked back at the man who was watching him. He returned his eyes to the content of the box. It was not what he was expecting; he expected something different, something that looks a little magical. Not some reddish fluid dancing inside a bottle.

"Who has the package and where are you delivering it?"

"I don't know the owner, I swear. They just sent one of their men with me and told me to drop him at the east side of Zapper, in a place called Hiatam."

"Hiatam," Matt repeated and close the box. He carried it and sat down on one of the pilot seats.

The screen on the dashboard was green, showing the autopilot. He pushed down the lever and the green scream turned red.

"Welcome on board," Joci said as Matt ceased control.

"But where are we going?" The man asked 

"To the Heroes academy. To the Keeper's headquarters. To your prison forever."