The Red Line

XIV

The Jibok Crew

"Easy now." Kéle whispered. His grip was firm on Skyler's shoulder as he leaned over the captain. Examining the gaping port beyond the windows. "Don't scratch the ship."

"I'm not gonna scratch the ship."

Kéle let out a yelp. "Be careful!"

"I am being careful!" Skyler roared, matching the pitch of his copilot.

"Your getting to close."

"Would you like to drive?"

"I mean..."

Grounding his jaw, Skyler eased back on the throttle. "Just let me concentrate."

"Your getting to close to the hatch."

"Your not helping." Skyler gritted, tossing his friend a sour frown.

"Sure I am." Kéle beamed.

"Naha."

"Yaha."

"Children, just focus before the ports shift." Jorhay intervened.

Kéle growled. "Your more child than I am."

Whistling out a laugh, Skyler crept the Jibok forward. Slowly-very slowly-as to not scratch her armor. Than, with years of experience, he landed the ship. "Perfect."

"Eh."

Skyler spun his chair round. "Like you could've done better."

"I'm quite hefty behind the wheel."

"I don't think-"

"If I remember correctly, Kéle, you haven't passed a single flight stimulation yet." Heritage commented. For the most part, she had been going about her own business-now drawn into the conversation.

Kéle's smirk dwindled. "You don't gotta remind me."

"It's better that we do." Jorhay chided.

"No worries." Skyler mused, cuffing his friend on the back. "We'll get you behind the wheel. But for now," he gestured to the shaft, glowing a dim green. "Let's enjoy Cygre first."

-------- -----
Vvv

It wasn't reality, yet it felt so real; like maybe a memory-

"7t39."

By default, my spine straightened upon hearing Suvisara's voice.

"Your not paying attention."

"S-sorry." I cast my gaze towards the large one way. The room beyond the window was a small 12 by 12 cell, with a bolted chair and dim lights. In that chair-fastened by the wrist and ankle-was a person. No older than myself.

His spine was bent, head bowed; wet hair hung over his eyes, clinging to the perspiration. His prison scruff was torn from left shoulder all the way to his right hip-revealing the electrical burns littering his abdomen.

"This is prisoner 7t98." Suvisara divulged, lacking emotion. He tapped his finger on the window, than crossed his hands behind his back. "I told you about him. Correct?"

"Y-yes."

I watched, unsettled, as men in required hazmat suits hooked wires to the boy's chest and arms. "What are t-they doing?"

"Prepping him."

"For w-what?"

His gaze flickered to the monitor screens before meeting my awaiting stare. "He broke into the branch of our executive financier last night. I want to know why."