The Fall of the Keepers

Chapter 30 The Malfunction

"We'll be approaching the drop point in sixteen minutes, everyone have their parachutes on and ready?"
I asked.

It had taken us a few hours to clear the border, the open land beyond the Wall, as well as the forest's edge and the foothills before we found ourselves cruising smoothly above the never-ending mountain range. Since I didn't know the terrain we had looped around a particular peak selected at random to find a good drop point, finally settling on an open field in a low snow-covered valley that had no trees nearby to be impaled on. We were taking a chance that the snow wasn't hiding any surprises down below, like a lake or sharp rocks.

The jet was coming back around now and soon it would be time to take the flying leap out of the plane. The autopilot was set to continue flying the jet on a straight path above the mountain's craggy peaks until its fuel ran out.

"All except you."
Idris replied.

"Right, I keep forgetting I need one."

Being a Wind Wielder had its perks, but it wasn't the best idea to rely on my ability right now, with as exhausted as I was. Idris tossed me what looked like an oversized backpack with an excessive amount of leather straps and buckles.

"So, how does this thing work exactly?"

I'd never actually used a parachute before, seeing as no one ever thought that I might have need of one. Maybe that would have come later in my Keeper training, you know if the Citadel and their air force hadn't been blown up.

"I can't believe we covered something in Sentinel training that you as a Keeper haven't done."

I shrugged and held out the pack to her. She grabbed it from me and began unbuckling the leather straps.

"Okay step through here, so these go around your legs, then pull these straps here up onto your shoulders."

With some hopping about and unhappy sound effects, I managed to get it pulled up my legs and onto my wounded arm.

"This is going to be some fun."
I complained.

"Suck it up buttercup, if you survived the Order you can manage a sore shoulder."
Idris replied without sympathy.

"How bad is the sky diving gonna hurt?"
I wondered aloud.

"The free-fall should be alright, but when you pull the ripcord and the parachute engages, there's going to be a good deal of stress on your harness and consequently on your shoulder."

I grumbled under my breath.

"Now we just snug these up around your chest and waist."

She made a few adjustments while I held my right arm straight out from my side, and gingerly lifted the left.

"There you go, you're all set."

"That's it? We're jumping from 20,000 feet."
Suddenly there didn't seem like nearly enough straps to be holding my body.

"What are you worried about? If your parachute doesn't work you have a backup plan, the rest of us just go kasplat."
Ranen joked.

"How do I trigger the parachute opening?"
I asked Idris, ignoring his quip.

"Once you're clear of the plane you pull the ripcord, that'll trigger the pilot chute to open and then the force of the air pulls the larger, main chute out of the container."

"How do we know when we're clear of the plane?"

"I'll make the first jump, the rest of you follow after me and do what I do. It's really not that difficult."
Idris suggested.