The Key of Astrea

Flight of the Pepper

The charm of Acacia City faded as they drove away from the plaza. People and buildings looked dull. Advertisements flashed across billboards. Tagged Dumpsters stood out like mile markers. Jenny's body shook from residual fear and adrenaline withdrawal as the Risi attack replayed unbidden in her mind. She still remembered how it had felt when her halberd had pierced the giant's head, how the hot blood had coated her hands. She did her best to wipe it off, but some still remained, dried under her fingernails.

After a few minutes of driving, they reached the Acacia City Airfield. Jack turned the electric car into the main entrance. They passed enormous mushroom-shaped structures that illuminated rows of aircraft, some as small as delivery trucks and others the size of luxury yachts. Stubby concrete lights illuminated the boundaries of the parking zones. They stopped in front of 17D.

Jack carefully lifted the eviscerated coffee shop bag and fingered the cut like a surgeon inspecting a wound. He retrieved the one remaining bag of coffee beans.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Lin touched Jack's shoulder. "But we survived, and you can always get more coffee."

Jack sniffed and nodded. "C'mon. My plane's this way."

Jenny followed Jack to a silver plane with blue and orange highlights. A gaudy painting of a pinup girl with blue skin and red hair adorned the side. The name "Pepper" was written underneath.

Jack unlocked the anterior ramp, and hydraulics lowered it to ground level. One by one, they climbed the slope to the plane's gray interior. It smelled of industrial grease. Blue and orange paint marked various controls and compartments. Eight pressure suits lined the antechamber walls.

Jenny found a seat in the passenger cabin and slid her burstepi underneath. After securing the seat harness, she struggled to find a comfortable position for her aching body. Kensei sat down across from her. After settling into place, he pulled out his sketchbook and set it on his lap. Leon scurried out and perched on his shoulder. Lin sat next to Jack in the copilot's seat.

After some discussion over the radio, they taxied to the runway. The plane's engines roared, pressing Jenny into the molded seat as they picked up speed and lifted off. Once in the air, they made a wide turn and headed east over the Pacific Ocean.

As they were turning, Jenny looked out the plane's window and found Acacia City's historic district and the Waypoint plaza. Vehicles with flashing blue and red lights barricaded streets. A VTOL, or Vertical Takeoff And Landing, airplane landed in front of the Department of Transportation and parked in the street. The plane was too far away for Jenny to see anything but its lights. As the plane finished its turn, they rose above a bank of clouds as they headed out to sea.

Jenny looked through her reflection and studied the topography of the distant clouds lit by moonlight. It was her first view of the moon and stars since she'd left home. This was also the first time she had ever been on a plane. Her mom had always planned to take her on a trip after high school. She still remembered the look of joy in Ruby's eyes as they talked about possible destinations. They never did decide on one.

"It'll be about two and a half hours before we touch down," Lin said over the intercom. "Try to get some rest if you can."

I am feeling a bit tired, Jenny thought. I'll just rest my eyes for a bit.

* * *

Jenny dreamed that she was Astrea. She was back in the fort defending herself from monstrous Risi. This time, Blunderbore was there. She faced the monster with the Riftkey and cut him in half.

When she awoke, she found that Lin had left the cockpit and was fast asleep in the seat in front of Kensei.

"You awake?" Kensei whispered. His sketchbook still rested on his lap.