Carefully, he made his way to the cockpit of the helicopter.

"Damn, I knew helicopters are cool, but this cockpit looks sick!" Looking around, he walked forward and tapped on one of the bigger gauges of the flight console. "What is this one for?" He asked the stiffly faced pilot desperate to avoid his smug gaze. Nothing but the wailing of wind and blades outside reigned, and eventually, he clicked his tounge and tried again. "Hey? Man, you listening? What's this? Don't make me find out myself here, the only flying thing I'd ever piloted was myself."

"Tha-that'd be the altitude indicator." Was the hurried stammering whisper of a reply.

His eyes widened, he clapped once. "Hah, guess I got lucky on that one. Say, Mr. Pilot. Do you mind if you... turned this ball a little blacker?"

"You mean you want to land?"

"Nah, I think I'd rather not. Just... fly above the forest over there. Our friends out back would appreciate some nature, I think." He pointed to the forest in question. The pilot gulped, then nodded his head.

"Al-alright. I'll see what I can do."

"Command, the target is changing course. Sending probable route, requesting orders. Over."

"Fang, you are to keep up with them. Keep the drones on their trail. Additional units will arrive fit for terrain in 15 minutes, we just need you to keep our visuals on them. Drone fleet control handover will also commence the. Over."

"Order recieved. Thank you, Command. Over."

"Hm... remember, prioritize the rescue of the hostages. But in the case that you risk losing contact... shoot them down."

"... Command, can you please repeat that?"

"If the risk of losing contact with the criminals is present, I order you to bring the helicopter down. The civilians will be remembered as tragic victims of these reckless scum."

"What?! Bu-!"

"No buts from you, soldier. Do as I say and I will take responsibility. The ground forces and police have shown enough incompetence already. Any more, and we will tarnish the name of our Country. Besides... Files I have here confirm that all known people inside that copter's infected. You'd be doing us a service. Hell, I'd put in a word for you and your team to get you out of the wastelands and give you a raise. What do you say?"

The operator drew a long sigh, and pressed the input button again. "... We'll see what we can do Command... Over."

"See that you do, 12 minutes until your reinforcements arrive. Command out."

Nothing but the engine and the winds outside was heard in the vehicle.

"... so... did we just receive one of those off the record orders or something? Am I going to be a real conspiracy?"

"Shut up Greg..."

"Hey! Pilot! Could you get much lower?!"

"I do-don't think so sir! This is the lowest we can get!"

"I don't think so, those trees don't look quite close enough yet!"

"We're going to crash if we do that! I refuse!"

He sighed, "Man, what's a person like you doing as a helicopter pilot? A news casting one at that." He looked behind him, and let out a small laugh. "Hey, Skadi! Calm down with the drone fishing, you'd make them extinct at that rate!"

Skadi, who stood by the helicopter entrance, drew back a long rescue rope. At the end of it was her oversized sword with two medium sized drones brutally impaled through it and the weight tipping the helicopter to the left a little. With disdain, she kicked the scrap metal off. "... Not fast enough. These things are starting to shoot." She poised to throw the sword-slash-harpoon again.

"Wait, they are?!"

"Mhm. They're missing for now, but I can't say it's unintentional." He nodded, and focused back to the pilot.

"Oh dear. You hear that Mr. Pilot? Look's the bees behind us are getting mad!."

"Well excuse me if I say this is out of my pay grade!"

He chuckled at the response. "Hm... what do you say if we formally employ you? Just for this gig. Taxi fare if you will."

"What do you mean?" The pilot sounded confused.

"Well... we might or might not have some extras inside our dufflebags back there." He pointed his thumb behind him. "We might or might not also be willing to give you and your two friends some if you get us to where we want to go. Sound fair?"

"... damn it..." The pilot slammed his hands on the console. "Fine, if I risk dying then might as well get paid. Where do you want to go?"

"Hm... I don't really know what the place is called, but it's up North. I think."

"... giving me a lot of confidence here sir..."

"Bah, I'll just ask Skadi back there later. Speaking of, can we fly lower now? I don't think a helicopter ride's supposed to be this shaky."

"... your funeral."

Author's note: Had it in mind to rewrite this whole thing all over again for a few months. Stopped me from writng so sorry about that. I decided to just stick with what's already here and just... add in the ideas I got over these past few months when I'm able. Thank you for reading.