Flying High:
Perhaps it was the red balloon flying high, or maybe the eagle that was flying around the other day, but for some reason Lydecker locked onto the idea of teaching the X5s about flying. He was getting a lot of resistance from TAC leader, who didn't seem to think they were ready, and from some other unknown force behind Manticore -- funders would be my guess.
"Sir, you're three years ahead of schedule, we didn't take X3 or X4 up until they were 9."
"We're not dealing with X3 or X4. This is X5. I want them up in the air. I'm not saying we'll teach them how to fly, but I want them up. Now, get it set up. That's an order."
They went up on their first helicopter ride a week later. Three black
helicopters landed on the roof of Manticore early in the morning. The X5s were split into three groups and loaded up. Lydecker and three TAC leaders accompanied them. I watched them fly off that morning from a window in the west hall. It had to be kinda scary flying for the first time. That wasn't my only concern though; X5 had never even seen the outside world, now they would fly above it. They would know that the 'other world' where the red balloon came from did exist -- and that it certainly didn't look like Manticore.
They went up three times that week, and three more times the next. I don't know what they learned up there; Lydecker and his TAC leaders were probably working in a lesson on surveillance and spying, or maybe transportation over that kind of terrain. After all, what better way to get through mountains then to fly over them! Lydecker must trust them enough, or trust his authority enough, to let those kids see the area around them.
The third week, the X5s were strapped in flying gear. Not only that, they had parachutes strapped to their backs. They hadn't allowed X3 to jump until they were 10, and I wondered why Lydecker was pushing this program. I bumped into Lydecker that morning, before they took off. Even he was strapping on a parachute!
"Jumping with them sir?"
"Yes Jones. I'm starting to get old for this, but I'm not letting those kids out of my sight."
"They've never been outside the perimeter fence, right?"
"No, they haven't. Which is why I'm jumping, and why I'm taking extra guards with me, keep those kids in line just in case. Though, in reality, they don't know any other system except to follow orders. And, they don't know there isn't another fence just a few miles off."
"Well, good luck sir, enjoy the jump." With that, Lydecker strode
purposefully off to the helicopter.
I figured they'd jump out over a small field in a valley nearby. That was the only safe place to jump up here, and the only spot a helicopter could land for miles. I wondered what it would be like to jump and parachute to the group; the feeling of the wind rushing past, your eyes tearing, and your body in free fall.
They all returned safely -- thank god all the parachutes worked! The kids had their same, neutral expressions, though I caught that exhilarated feeling as they marched by. Lydecker looked at them with pride in his eyes. They must've done good.
"Don't you get it Max, there is no other fence, I scanned the horizon on every flight up, there's nothing."
"But Zack, how can we be sure? Besides, they'd find us."
"But, Max, didn't you see it. It was beautiful. The other world. It was... so different."
"I know."
I was watching these two X5s -- they were the only ones awake, sitting
together on a cot. I thought for a moment about telling Lydecker about their conversation, but laughed that thought away. Why not let them dream? It's not like they could get away, even if they tried.
Perhaps it was the red balloon flying high, or maybe the eagle that was flying around the other day, but for some reason Lydecker locked onto the idea of teaching the X5s about flying. He was getting a lot of resistance from TAC leader, who didn't seem to think they were ready, and from some other unknown force behind Manticore -- funders would be my guess.
"Sir, you're three years ahead of schedule, we didn't take X3 or X4 up until they were 9."
"We're not dealing with X3 or X4. This is X5. I want them up in the air. I'm not saying we'll teach them how to fly, but I want them up. Now, get it set up. That's an order."
They went up on their first helicopter ride a week later. Three black
helicopters landed on the roof of Manticore early in the morning. The X5s were split into three groups and loaded up. Lydecker and three TAC leaders accompanied them. I watched them fly off that morning from a window in the west hall. It had to be kinda scary flying for the first time. That wasn't my only concern though; X5 had never even seen the outside world, now they would fly above it. They would know that the 'other world' where the red balloon came from did exist -- and that it certainly didn't look like Manticore.
They went up three times that week, and three more times the next. I don't know what they learned up there; Lydecker and his TAC leaders were probably working in a lesson on surveillance and spying, or maybe transportation over that kind of terrain. After all, what better way to get through mountains then to fly over them! Lydecker must trust them enough, or trust his authority enough, to let those kids see the area around them.
The third week, the X5s were strapped in flying gear. Not only that, they had parachutes strapped to their backs. They hadn't allowed X3 to jump until they were 10, and I wondered why Lydecker was pushing this program. I bumped into Lydecker that morning, before they took off. Even he was strapping on a parachute!
"Jumping with them sir?"
"Yes Jones. I'm starting to get old for this, but I'm not letting those kids out of my sight."
"They've never been outside the perimeter fence, right?"
"No, they haven't. Which is why I'm jumping, and why I'm taking extra guards with me, keep those kids in line just in case. Though, in reality, they don't know any other system except to follow orders. And, they don't know there isn't another fence just a few miles off."
"Well, good luck sir, enjoy the jump." With that, Lydecker strode
purposefully off to the helicopter.
I figured they'd jump out over a small field in a valley nearby. That was the only safe place to jump up here, and the only spot a helicopter could land for miles. I wondered what it would be like to jump and parachute to the group; the feeling of the wind rushing past, your eyes tearing, and your body in free fall.
They all returned safely -- thank god all the parachutes worked! The kids had their same, neutral expressions, though I caught that exhilarated feeling as they marched by. Lydecker looked at them with pride in his eyes. They must've done good.
"Don't you get it Max, there is no other fence, I scanned the horizon on every flight up, there's nothing."
"But Zack, how can we be sure? Besides, they'd find us."
"But, Max, didn't you see it. It was beautiful. The other world. It was... so different."
"I know."
I was watching these two X5s -- they were the only ones awake, sitting
together on a cot. I thought for a moment about telling Lydecker about their conversation, but laughed that thought away. Why not let them dream? It's not like they could get away, even if they tried.