Flying inside this pod really is much more convenient than flying with my Legacy.
The real flight would last about 11 hours but with this Loric beauty, it only took me three hours.
Then, I realized that I do not know how to land this thing at all. Sure back in the motel room I could just stop steering and it would stop but this is different. I'm like 10,000 feet above the ground.
I start looking for an instruction manual of sorts and the elders were kind enough to place it near my seat.
It said I should find a big black button and I just have to press my hand onto it while simultaneously steering the pod to land safely to the ground.
I start doing it and then the pod touchdowns into the air and off to the ground.
It creaked open and I stepped outside once more. It was weird to get out of something that wasn't even visible
As soon as I got out, I located the little button outside of it to make it go back to normal and put it back inside my Chest.
I didn't really know where to go so I stopped by a McDonalds to have some lunch. McDonalds isn't the cleanest place in the world but I was running low in cash so I didn't really have a choice.
I finished eating and went for yet another crappy motel room for me to stay in.
I found one that just charged seven bucks a night.
I checked in and plopped my backpack down the bed.
I took out my chest and started flipping through the gems again seeing how cool the pod was.
I found a stone about as big as my hand, probably a bit bigger. It was deep red in color.
I started testing out what it would do.
I tried flipping it in my hands, throwing it at a wall, but nothing really worked.
For some reason, I blew onto its surface and suddenly it started emitting a voice.
"No, you might break it! Let me handle it!"
The voice sounded female. Fierce.
I tried talking into it.
"Hello? Can anybody hear me? Is anyone there?" I screamed as loud as I could.
"A voice! Hello? Who are you?"
"Who are you?" I asked. These people might be Mogadorians.
"Should I tell her?" the girl asked and I heard some murmurs.
"I'm Number Six."
Wow. Another Garde. Finally!
"Wow, really? Number Six! Wait, how do I know you're not a Mogadorian?" I asked.
She sighed. "Do you remember Joseph?"
Joseph. The ship's pilot.
"Yes." I say.
"Six! It's really you! Wow! I'm Number Five." I scream excitedly.
"Five?! Five! We've been looking for you! Where are you right now?"
"In a crappy motel room in Chicago. About fifteen minutes away from the John Hancock Tower."
"That's perfect! We're in the John Hancock Tower right now! Do you want us to meet?"
"Yes! I'll be in front of the building in about ten minutes."
"Okay, cool. See you."
"Bye."
I started jumping up and down, making the bed screech in protest.
I packed my bag again and went out.
…
I got to the building. A girl with blonde hair much like mine stood there, patiently waiting.
How do I know it's her?
I couldn't just ask her if she was Six. It would be too weird.
I stand next to her and look her in the eyes as if to say, "It's me. Five."
She looked extremely beautiful. She had high cheekbones and gray eyes. Her body posture was strong.
She stared back at me with gray eyes.
"Who are you?" she asks.
Maybe this isn't her.
"Um, Wendy Carmichael?," I stated, but mostly asked, remembering my recent alias.
"Are you looking for somebody?" she asks.
"Uh, yeah." I say.
She looks me up and down and finally held up her hand for me to shake.
I shook it and asked, "And who are you?" I ask.
"Number Six." She says.
Finally!
"Oh, good, I knew it was you!" I exclaim.
She smiles. "Come on, I'll show you to the gang."
She goes inside and up the elevator. I follow her, of course and she takes us to the very top floor.
We step outside.
She knocks.
"Who is it?!" says a voice from the inside.
"It's me. I've got a visitor for all of you." She says sternly.
The door opens and a tall, muscular guy with long black hair looks at me up and down, a smug look plastered across his face.
They let me in and the introductions were held.
A tall girl with shoulder-length brown hair waves and says, "Hi, I'm Number Seven but I go by Marina."
A girl next to her who seems about five, maybe six says, "Hello, I'm Number Ten. You can call me Ella, if you want." She says shyly.
Wait. Number Ten? Sondra never told me about another one.
"Um, Number Ten? I thought there were only nine!"
"Originally, yes. But Ella came from a second ship that followed ours. She was just a baby back then so she's still really young." Six explains.
I slowly nod. Whoa.
"Hey, I'm Number Eight, but you can call me Naveen." A boy with dark skin comes up to me and shakes my hand.
"I'm Four." Another guy with blond hair says.
"This is Sarah." He says, gesturing towards a girl next to him.
Noticing that she doesn't have the scars on her ankles, which basically means she can wear any shoes she wants, I ask her, "Are you, uh, human?"
She nods timidly.
How did they let a human in on all of this?
"And I'm Nine, m'lady." The tall guy says.
I give all of them a genuine smile but feel sort of out of place in the penthouse.
I mean, it's extremely luxurious! The ceilings were covered in glass chandeliers; some holding candles, some light bulbs. There was a 50" flat-screen TV facing a black leather couch big enough to fit ten people.
The kitchen had an immaculate dining set-up with folded napkins and everything! There were priceless glassware everywhere and the floor was lined with a massive gray carpet.
"Whoa, you guys are…rich." I say, astounded.
Nine smirks. Apparently, this is his house.