When All Was Lost...
Chapter Seventeen
17
Blast From The Past!
Part 13:
To Be Born With Wings
Days had passed and no one heard from Kalin since that day.
The swelling had gone down. It wasn't like he hurt me badly. To be honest I don't even think he really meant to...But his words still cut deep.
I had been filled with doubt ever since.
"We don't need ANY wannabe's hanging around, no matter who they are!"
That was what he said. I heaved a heavy sigh and sat up from the rock hard mattress. I felt the place next to me reaching for a comfort that I guess left some time this morning.
It seemed to be afternoon now...
Surely he would have been back, he probably just stayed outside to let me sleep. Still...
I had a good idea on where to look for him...
I was right.
He sat at the edge of the incomplete Daedalas Bridge. Hanging his legs of the edge...looking straight ahead at the city on the other side.
Silently, I went up there and joined him right at his side.
"Hey Akarii..." he said to me,"Wanna hear a story?"
I blinked and tilted my head to him curiously, and he shrugged and gave me a light chuckle.
"Brace yourself...You've heard this one before." he laughed," But it's one I know you like...the story of the stranger who gave hope to Satellite."
I sat quietly and let him continue his story. I did recognize it. He's told it to me many times over the years...and the kids always loved it.
"A Long time ago...a stranger rode into Satellite, on a strange lookin' duel runner..." he began,"He would always come to this exact spot at the water's edge...and just...stare. Off into the distance toward the city." He smiled,"Every single day, without fail, he'd just come and look." he chuckled.
Listening intently I would curl my knees into my chest, hugging them to me while I rested my chin upon them.
"But one day...he stopped coming, and instead found a new purpose in life." he grinned," He started to build a bridge, one to connect Satellite to the city." he patted the wood below where we sat,"This bridge." he grinned,"Daedalus Bridge."he shrugged,"Everyone around him said it couldn't be done. That he was a crazy man of even thinking about it, let alone trying. Still..." he chuckled,"He never gave up."
I would close my eyes as Crow would tell this story.
Every time. Imagining the man that tried.
"Eventually...the people around him stopped laughing and thought...'Damn...he just might do it.' " he said,"Those residents of Satellite who only recycle the trash that comes in...those with no bright future shining ahead of them...this bridge...it became a symbol of hope." he sighed,"But of course there have to be those to crush hope. Those who didn't like the idea of this new bridge being built..."
"Securities..." I said softly. Narrowing my eyes as I think back to the day that Securities took my own hope from me as well.
Kai...
"That's right." said Crow,"Construction for the bridge was stopped, and the man who started it was at the top of the most wanted list." he sighed,"Everyone soon gave up hope...said the idea was doomed for the start and figured he would get arrested...and eventually, securities did catch him." he said,"He was left with two options...turn himself in, and send the rest of his days in a cell...or...turn himself into a legend." Crow beamed,"That man chose to become a legend." he grinned," One not bound by common sense...power...or law...one who was born with wings...and decided to fly."
As Crow's voice softened, the vision I played in my head soon faded away...and I was back in reality once again.
"No body knows what happened to him after that..." Crow sighed and placed a hand onf my shoulder," But I have a stronge respect for that man and what he tried to do." he smiled," He was the reason I picked up a deck...someday...I aspire to fly out of here too..." he said softly,"And when I do...I hope you'll come with me."
"...What?"
Before I could get him to clarify what he said to me, we were interrupted by a panicked young Annie.
"Crow, Akarii...thank goodness!" she squeaked.
"Huh? Hey calm down..." he said,"What's up?"
"Something awful!" she cried,"Kalin is fighting against Securities...all by himself!"
"He's doing what!?" I could feel my heart rate increase rapidly.
No No...
Not him too...
Don't take Kalin too!
"Where is he, Annie!?" Crow asked, he looked rather panicked himself.
"In that old enemy hide out...where he got captured the first time!"
"That idiot, what is he thinking!?" Crow snapped,"Come on Akarii, we have to get everyone together and go help him, I'll go look for Yusei, you should go find Jack!" he said,"Meet up at the hide out...And Hurry!"
With that he was gone like a bullet.
Great.
Facing Jack alone after his confession was something I was hoping to avoid.
But it didn't matter at this point...
Besides...I knew exactly where to find him.
It was an old building, massive in size. Maybe it used to be a mansion. Stepping in there was a heavy smell of dust and old furniture. Light from the boarded windows shined in like silver beams making the dust particlys look like glitter. In the Midd;e of the room sat a lone luxurious chair, We called it Jack's throne.
"What are you doing here...Girlie?" His voice echoed around me and filled me with nervous shivers. This was generally Jack's special hide out and he came here often to be alone so...he didn't take kind to visitors often.
"It's Kalin..." I said softly.
"What about him?"
"I think he needs our help."
"Oh? And why do you think that...?" it was easy to tell Jack didn't want me around at this time, he tried to be cool about it, but his face gave him away. Unfortunately I was in no position to grant him his wishes.
"He's attacking Securities, Jack."
"He's what!?" Jack stood quickly," Yusei said he went out without saying anything earlier...what is he thinking!?"
"I wish I knew..." I said softly,"Crow sent me to fetch you, he's going to get Yusei, we have to help Kalin."
"So..." Jack paused," Is Crow the one then?"
"What?" I looked at him more confused than when I entered and he shook his head.
"Never mind, Girlie." he huffed,"Let's just go."
Once we got to where Kalin was, we split up once inside in search for him.
The place was swarming with securities. Sneaking past them was tough. I managed to rendezvous with Yusei, it seemed he and I had an easier time sneaking by without being spotted than Crow and Jack did.
"Akarii..." he whispered my name softly as he rested slinked against the wall pointing to a door between us. He motioned me to duck down and whispered.
"This has to be it..." he said softly," I can hear Kalin's voice inside."
To validate Yusei's claim I put my ear to the wall and listened.
He was right.
We looked at each other and gave our silent signal.
Taking a deep breath and preparing for the worst, for we had no idea that pending doom that awaited us inside...
To Be Continued