StratoFighter Zabrus: Blue Hawk

Ascension

Have you ever looked at the horizon?

Have you ever asked yourself what lies beyond the mirage?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if humanity were to find out?

These questions never fail to reveal the true colors of those I interviewed, there's a clear contrast between opposing views.

But the answers are anything but repetitive, they can come in all kinds of colors and flavours, from mere grunts to grand speeches, from uninterested responses to more philosophical answers.

When asked, some look directly at the horizon in question, as if also struggling to put a finger on what they are talking about, some others don't even bother rolling their eyes, or just look down, as if considering the horizon as a fake ilusion.

But for starters, I would like to begin this documental with the kind of people that I found the most monotonous, yet also inspired and interesting nonetheless.

The ones that looked up to the sky when asked about the horizon.

×××

"C'mon now, jeez, are you two chickening out now?"

A red-haired girl of about 15 years old grunt as she turns around to her 2 friends, they were in an empty corridor with big windows.

"T-This is going too far, Brava" -A brown-haired boy says as he looks back, clearly afraid of being found.- "We'll be in deep trouble if they find us"

"Oh please, you were the one that wanted to come in first place, Verun." -Brava says as she continues, being followed by the 2 boys as the sunlight illuminated them.- "At least Alru stays silent when he's about to pee himself."

"I-I'm not that scared!" -Verun complains as he then turns to the third boy, sporting an afro hairstyle with a yellow visor contrasting his blue eyes.- "...But I think not even our age can justify this, Alru."

"You can still turn back, Verun, nobody is forcing you." -Alru replies, then looking at Brava, serious.- "Now, Brava, I agree that this may get us a black mark in our record."

"Shh..." -Brava stops when they reach a corner, telling the boys to stay shut as a guard passes in front of them, wearing a white uniform.- "...And what?"

"What do you mean 'by what'?" -Verun protests after the guard leaves.- "They won't let us into the Karin Wind Force if we are considered criminals. And we won't be able to help our country reach its fate."

"I know I know, 'as Karinians we are meant to reach new heights and recover our glory', I go to the same academy as you do, Verun..." -Brava keeps advancing through the facility followed by Verun and Alru.- "...But a single black mark won't hinder our hole record, we are the best pilots at the glider's academy, by a mile, they won't waste our skills just for having some fun."

"Well, it sure will be convenient if that's true, since it's too late for you." -Alru comments to Brava as they reach a door leading to a platform outside.- "How many times were you punished already? I imagine you must have quite the record at this point."

"Shut up." -Brava grabs Alru by the neck as he chuckles.- "Are you gonna keep trashtalking my record? Or you prefer to see this?"

"This?" -Alru looks around when they get to the platform, a giant ring shaped construction was on top and bottom of the facilities they just came our from, the rest was clear, blue sky.- "This is... The thruster, right?"

"Right, we're the closest to being 'underground' in this city." -The thruster was so big it would be able to hold a whole town if someone built it, and it was just one of 10 thrusters lifting the gargantuan ship... Or more precisely, floating city, Karin, capital of the country with the same name.- "Don't fall."