Darksun - Volume 1: Neco'ma

Chapter 23: Infiltrating Halo Tech

In the underground bunker – 

 After a whole day scavenging for small change and discarded leftovers from a few local restaurants, Ricky and his daughter Echo were about to eat dinner when suddenly, a cloud of black smoke appeared before them.

 Emerging from this black smoke was none other than Darksun, Jake and Wiccary.

 Ricky took a step back in shock, 'wow that's a cool trick,' he exclaimed in amazement. 'Is it one of yours Darksun mi amigo?'

 'Well actually it's one of her tricks,' Darksun gestured to Wiccary. 'I just needed to come here to access the tunnels further up.'

 Darksun nodded towards the group before making his way for the tunnels ahead.

 Jake approached Echo and asked, 'hey do you remember where you put my badge and radio?' 

 The young girl pointed towards the room Jake had slept in, it only took one glance for Jake to rush over there.

 Echo began to stare at Wiccary and bluntly asked her out of curiosity, 'so are you really a witch?' 

 'Why yes I am, in fact I can show you a small little trick right now,' answered Wiccary.

 A small crackle of black lightning circulated through her hands and with a swift gesture, Wiccary transferred the energy from her hands into a growing sphere flowing with black smoke. The construct grew large and turned bluish.

 Wiccary chanted a few words as if it were a spell, 'Unguardia-Anima-Vitalis-Projectos-Primordia!' The construct took shape and turned into what appeared to be a unique looking Kevlar vest.

 'Wow that was so cool, but what is the vest for?' Echo asked, amazed by what she had seen. 

 Instantly, Jake emerged from the room with his radio and badge in his hands when Wiccary approached him, 'Jake I have something for you.'

 She presented the vest to him, 'uh thanks. But seeing as how I'll be fighting next to both Darksun and you when we raid the tower I don't think I'll need it,' he said.

 The witch asked the police officer, 'isn't there a saying your football coaches would say "The best offence is a good defense" or is it the other way around?'

 'Usually it's the other way around, but if you insist on it I'll wear the vest for my safety,' Jake told her.

 After putting the vest on top of his shirt, he felt something odd, 'you know for a Kevlar vest this seems really comfortable, can I ask why you insisted on me wearing this?'

 'I do believe you Americans have the saying, that's for me to know and for you to find out,' said Wiccary. She gave a quick wink to Echo.

 Jake shrugged ambivalently and went along with it. There wasn't much time to discuss it. He approached Darksun along with Wiccary towards the end of the bunker, 'hey Darksun. We're both ready to go, if you know where to go now is the time to--'

 Both stopped when they noticed Darksun was staring at the corridor.

 'Um Darksun, is everything alright?' Jake asked.

 It appeared that Darksun was in disbelief as he stuttered, 'I... I just saw Phantom right there and I think he's showing me the way to Halo Tech.'

 At first Jake was confused but he then remembered that Darksun and his kind, the Neco'ma could see the spirits of the dead. In Darksun's eyes he saw Phantom as if he were still alive, just like the girl from five years before. But he was silent for the most part as he walked towards the direction of Halo Tower, suggesting that they had to follow him.