Sudden Departure

Chapter Thirty-Three

After exactly twenty minutes, all of the Guardians could be found piled back into the Hall. It was a pretty typical sight for the Barracks, minus the fact everyone had bags, pillows, and blankets draped over their arms.

It actually reminded me of cheesy school trips; everyone with their overnight bags, bubbling with excitement to get on the bus. Getting pumped just to spend maybe two days away from their parents and stay in a hotel, go skiing, or go camping.

We were probably all a lot more like middle school-ers, though, definitely not anything more mature. No one had really left the Barracks for anything other than missions, much less going to Paradise for the Millennium Gala.

The only exception to this analogy: this was the scariest group of middle school-ers I've ever seen. Most of the Guardians were buff and muscular, plus a large majority had tattoos and scars from battle. Even the younger looking kids' appearances were damaged. Everyone also had an intimidating look about them, like at any minute a huge fight would break out, and they'd be ready.

"Is everybody here?" Madalyn Belle the First piped up.

"YES!" everybody shouted without a speck of hesitance.

I scanned around the hall, just to make sure.

"Who're yah looking for?" Alex questioned innocently.

"Hmm," I said, not taking my eyes off the crowd, "oh, uh, nobody."

Liar.

Alex cocked an eyebrow skeptically, but blew it off. Sadly, Nebula wasn't that easy to fool.

Nebula narrowed her eyes at me. "Shailene's looking for Nameless."

Terrence chucked, "We're still on that?"

I bit the inside of my cheek nervously, "Um no. No we are not."

Nebula nodded her head suspiciously, "Okay, good."

Death stood on the platform again and held up an open hand. "Alright, everyone, it's time to go. Please form an orderly line into The Gateway. Now, none of the ridiculous jumping business you all do. This isn't a mission, it's a recreation, and so we are going to try our hardest to be calm and relaxed. Think yourself a citizen of Paradise today."

"Yes, sir," everyone muttered, a lot less enthusiastic than past times.

"Now, go," Death ordered.

The part I always hated most about traveling was the waiting in lines before the fact. This line, of course didn't move as slow as it would in life because we had the other-worldly paradise technologies. The waiting was still agony, regardless.

When we finally all boarded the huge hover craft from the Gateway mirror and found our seats, an hour and a half had already passed.

Stopping and marveling at the hover craft is probably what took up most of our time. I mean, everyone had seen inside of the Paradise Militia issues craft, but never had we seen one for luxurious travel. The main level of the craft was a giant, circular room, as most are, but instead of the briefing tables and command centre there were chairs, sofas, and a massive bar in the center.

All the chairs and sofas were made from the softest and cushiest materials. It was strange because they were all arranged like little rooms, with a table and viewing screen in the center.

The mystery of the room-arranged furniture was quickly solved after a group of Guardians got settled. As soon as they were seated and comfortable, their screen started playing and a tube of thick, opaque glass slid up around them.