Road to Arcadia: the Path East

Chapter Twenty-seven: Set Course

Baz was kind enough to let Kai run and get a shower in one of the INT's facilities while final preparations were made. He couldn't stop his limbs from shaking under the warm water. Tremors caused by the intersection of unknowable anticipation and staved exhaustion.

He was doing it.

He was about to go home for the first time in nearly a year.

He was going to do the thing he promised, that thing he wrote letters to his sister's child about.

He was headed east, after months of running toward the west.

The shower revitalized him, at least to the point that he could jog back to the dome without the ache in his feet calling out to him. The swirling thoughts were settling, leaving his vision clear and ready for travel. He was able to change into a clean set of his under uniform outfit. He didn't think he would need to don the suit for a low key mission like this, but he would at least look ready.

When Kai got back to the departure dome, there was a van in place of where the Baz squad's double-decker bus had been. It was a passenger van, one of those high-ceiling utility vehicles that could hold up to a dozen people with the right alignment. Knowing the general design of all Arcadian vehicles, the last row of seats had likely been removed for storage and supply space.

It had those trademark Arcadian features, a stark white with a chubby exterior, but it felt so much more familiar than the buses the R&R was known for. It felt like something Kai could get behind the wheel and drive with complete confidence. He hadn't had that feeling since--

Well.

He didn't wait for permission, instead rushing over to the van and cracking open the driver's side door.

Except the driver's seat was occupied.

Jey Keo was already seated and in position. His black hair was damp, most likely afforded the same luxury of a shower. His uniform was on, upper half of his white suit tied at the waist, exposing the dark shirt underneath.

"What's up?" Kai greeted, trying to seem casual and not like he awkwardly threw open the door and was about to jump in.

He offered him the subtlest of head nods.

"It looks like Baz was able to convince you."

Jey's expression soured. "She said you actually wanted me to go with you. I'm convinced this is just punishment for something else."

"What, you don't think I would willingly ask to take you on a week-long road trip?"

"I took you for naïve, not stupid. Figured you'd wise up after making a mistake the first time."

Kai bit back a grin. "I'm not pulling you away from any exciting plans back on the Arc, am I?"

"Not at all, let's go."

Kai didn't move. "I'm driving."

Jey didn't budge. "No, you're not."

"This is my trip, though."

Jey was unfazed. "Have you ever done a drop before?"

Kai bit the inside of his cheek. "How hard can it be? The big crane does all the work for you."

"If you want to go try that on your own and flip a bus over, be my guest. But as long as I'm with you we're going to do our best not to die."

Kai let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Alright, fine. You get to stay through the drop. But once we get on the ground, we switch seats." He started to close the door.