Mech-man: The Mission of Fate

Chapter 16

A white boat with blue stripes awaited them floating on vast blue sea. Since ancient times, sea travel had improved a lot. Now the time consuming travel option was improved in speed and stability, a distance of hundreds of kilometres is only an hour's time.

"How long is the travel?" Max asked as he step aboard the white boat gazing into the distance, no islands could be seen.

"About an hour from here, you'll enjoy the ride a lot." Mark answered casually as he turned on the engines, the electric boat immediately burst with energy, the whole boat shook as it took off. Max felt air rushing by and coolness of drops of sea water splashing on his body. It all disappeared when the top of the boat closed, and the whole thing began to submerge under water. Seeing Max and Lucas' confused faces, Mark started to explain, "What I didn't tell you is that this a submarine too. The view under the sea in fascinating."

"But won't we travel at high speed?" Lucas asked as the submarine sped up, sea life beside them all became a blur, a flash of many different colours passed the submarine.

"I'll slow down when we're near the island if you want to." Mark replied.

"Oh thanks!" Lucas said excited. "Max, don't you like sea life, they're amazing!" He then turned to ask Max beside him who shrugged in response.

"Will we get sea-sick?" Max suddenly asked after a while of silence, he started to feel uncomfortable.

"I feel a bit uncomfortable." Lucas added.

"It's normal, you'll get used to it in a while, it always happens." Mark replied.

"You'll very likely to travel around the planet in a boat like mine." Mark then explained as he controlled the submarine to go even faster, "The Squad have lot of these boats, as far as I know, no Protector has ever had sea-sick."

After hearing Mark's answer, Max felt relieved, he was terrified that he would be sea-sick every time he went on a boat.

"So, what level Mech-man are you two?" Mark asked starting a conversation. Max realised that he had never asked Lucas about his Mech-man level. He knew his was high, but he had no idea about Lucas.

"Before I came here, they gave me test, they said my level was three." Lucas started to say.

"That's not that bad." Mark said, "The average is four but I'm sure you'll improve a lot." After hearing Mark, Lucas couldn't help to feel disappointed, he knew that Max's level was nine and he had been slightly ashamed when he got the result. Lucas wished that three was also good but now he knew that it was bellow average.

"What about you, Max." Mark asked.

"I think my level nine." Max answered with a proud tone.

Mark laughed as if Max was telling a joke, "If you had said something like a seven, I might have believed you. But a nine? Hahaha..."

"But the Squad told me that my level is nine!" Max argued seriously, he was sure that he had not hear it wrong.

"My child, nine is impossible. If it is actually what they told you, there must be a mistake." Mark calmed down and explained. "The highest Mech-man was only a ten. He was only a seven when he arrived at the school!"

Max suddenly felt unsure, a part of him wanted to believe that he was definitely a level nine Mech-man, but another part of him was in doubt.

"Who was the person that scored a level ten?" Max inquired curiously.

"He's called Harrison Parker; I heard rumours that he disappeared two years ago on a secret mission for the Squad." Mark replied, "He was only about fifteen when he disappeared."

"Was he good?" Max continued to ask.

"Yes, I remember him, he could defeat anybody. He's even better than some teachers at some parts." Mark answered thinking back at the time Harry was still in the school learning and training.

"Did anyone know what happened to him after he disappeared?" Lucas suddenly asked.

Mark shook his head, "Nobody knew what happened or what secret mission he went on. Only the important members of the Squad knew."

"My gut tells you that something strange happened to him." Lucas replied pointing at his chest.

Max laughed and replied, "I didn't know that your guts can tell stuff."

Lucas gave Max a stare and replied, "My guts are special."

Through the chatter amongst the three, the submarine had already arrived at the island. As Mark promised they stopped, what Mark did not promise was a attack. Max and Lucas saw what was like a sea monster swim towards them.