The Flyers

by BRANDON WOO

  18

  The Extremist

  Hector:

  We got to the forest.

  I was painting heavily. Rudy was trying to get himself together.

  We flew towards safety while Cassie struggled to get me off.

  “let me go punk!” I kept my grip.

  I’m not gonna let this kid go. Rudy asked “what was that?” still confused. “Hanna is a Sawfly.” I answered.

  “a what?” he cried.

  We got to the beach. The island got silent again.

  Sitting under the shelter.

  I looked at Cassie sitting down on the sand with her legs folded and her arms folded together too while she glared angrily at me.

  “what is up with kid huh?” Rudy said.

  Yeah. What is wrong with this kid?

  She’s just there, watching.

  We didn’t even tie her up.

  “what are we waiting for?” I asked.

  “Tony.” Rudy replied.

  “found it!” Tony called out among the trees.

  Tony took the gun-sword and studied it. “feels good!”

  Tony tried pulling the trigger.

  The gun fired a small bullet at a tree.

  FLUM! The gun let out a sound.

  The bullet hit the tree and the tree instantly melted.

  “whoa!” Rudy exclaimed

  “acid bullet.” Cassie said.

  “that’s for Sawflies idiot!” she yelled.

  “wait! That’s Sawfly tech?” I asked.

  “yes!” Cassie exclaimed.

  “you have an attitude kid.” Tony said.

  “what does it do?” I asked.

  “it is actually pure metal and it has a hole at its edge connected to the handle which is a conductor. The handle has a rare copper seed. You power up and the conductor will grow out.”

  Cassie took the sword and begins to swing it around.

  In a sudden flash, the sword glowed and covered the sword in cedar wood.

  “like so.” Cassie’s face changed from anger to smile.

  “cool.” I muttered. “so who are you guys?”

  “I’m Hector.” I said.

  “I know who you are Dragonfly.” she snapped.

  “and you?” I asked.

  “my name is Cassie Daniels.” she said in confidence.

  “I’m a Sawfly. We have the power to control wood.” she sat back down and started clapping here hands together.

  “we’re going extinct.”

  I was shocked by her honesty, “your going extinct?” I asked.

  “yes. The Lab hunted us all down and brought us to The Sawfly District Lab. To here.”

  “in the middle of a forest?” Rudy asked.

  “yes, natural wood is out of our control. We can only create them in our hands.” It struck me curious why Sawflies are here.

  They can only create wood from their own hands, but they can’t manipulate the wood all around them.

  “so if I ask you to control the tree over there, it won’t move right?” Tony asked.

  “yes.” Daniels replied.

  “you’re awfully young Cassie.” Tony complimented.

  “thanks I think, I’m actually 16.”

  I’m surprised about a sixteen year old girl, in a forest showing no fear at all. Her hair was black and curly.

  Her hair was worn in a big ponytail with a black hair band.

  Her eyes is dark brown.

  Her skin is only slightly brown. Her face shows sweetness but also fearlessness.

  “we gotta free those kids,” Cassie said.

  “but where will you go?” I asked.

  “there’s a big blue ship hidden somewhere on the island.

  “wait, your saying we didn’t almost drown to get here?” Rudy asked, surprised by the fact we didn’t lost the ship.

  “yes.” Cassie was being positive about her statement.

  “you mean we didn’t lose HARDY?” Tony’s eyes widen.

  “yeah, that huge monster must have knocked hard to get here huh?”

  Cassie turned her head down like she just lost something.

  “what’s wrong?”

  “that’s why we can’t go anywhere.”she explained.

  “what?” Rudy asked. “what do you mean?”

  Cassie looked out to the horizon, her face radiated

  That monster is what we Sawflies call ‘Marcus’

  “the what?” Rudy asked.

  “Marcus, he’s a Sand Fly. He can control the earth. His specialty is that he controls gravel. What you saw is just the illusion of him.”

  “but I slashed him.” I said.

  “did you check to make sure it stays dead?” Cassie asked.

  I didn’t, sure I won’t. “no.” I answered.

  “whatever, its only a matter of time before Marcus wakes up.

  We got to get to that ship!.”

  We walked around the shore, hoping to find the ship.

  Tony ran like a crazy wild man to find his dearest ship.

  When we found it, we had to admit it was well hid. Like Cassie said, big and blue. That’s The Hardy.

  It was kept inside a few tree branches and rocks along the shore.the surprising thing was, its still intact. Still functional.

  “that’s a hell of a ship Tony!” Rudy admitted. We were able to salvage more food and water but the others are too soaked in water to use.

  With Cassie, we were able to get the ship out in time.

  Cassie’s powers was to me, amazing.

  No only she can be strong but she can very defensive.

  Her powers can create impossible shapes. Because they are not natural, they will appear to be solid on the outside but bends like liquid on the inside.

  Tony and I got into the ship to repair the ship.

  Any sparks of fire, is food for me so that feels good.

  We got into the dark engine room and started working. I lid the room with my powers while Tony went to look for his toolbox and started working. Rudy and Cassie began to set up fires and got us food while Tony gets the ship running in no time.

  We spent the rest of the day fixing some of The Hardy s’ damages. Then a sound ignited our hopes for survival.

  The lights came back.

  The engine is purring normally again!

  “yes!” Rudy screamed from the outside.

  I could still hear him even though I’m inside!

  “that did it Hector! Good job!” Tony patted me on the shoulder and walked to the outside of the ship.

  “YES!” he exclaimed.

  That feeling of joy came back to Tony ever since his mom died.

  Its great to see him smile. Again.

  Cassie joined in and embraced the little victory we had in this moment We’re well on our way to rescue the rest. Everyone was all dirty and sweaty but we didn’t bother.

  Rudy, Tony, Cassie and I had a quick dinner of fish and this time bananas. We also had some water from the ship.

  Tony was able to salvage it from his ship. Cassie drank a lot. She must have grown tired of coconut water.

  We took the ship and anchored it out at bay.

  Rudy went back resting.

  Tony left as well.

  We’re gonna have our big day tomorrow.

  I was standing on the top deck of the ship.

  Cassie was still awake. “can’t sleep?” I asked approaching her.

  “yeah.” her face returned to her angry self.

  She folded her arms around and stared out at sea.I joined in.

  The stars were bright up in the night sky. Like fireflies.

  “Hector,” she began. Turning towards me.

  “thank you. For all this.”

  I turned towards her. “you know I’ve been wanting to ask you, how did you ended up here?” I asked.

  She kept silent for a while and finally spoke.

  “well, I had a parent who worked for The Lab. My dad. When I showed I had powers, The La
b Hunters came. He took me away from home and trained me, more importantly, he taught me how to use it and then Sean appeared and killed my father.” she began to tear up and started sobbing.

  “I tried to run but Sean took me out and brought me here. The Lab for Sawflies on an island out at sea. When we heard of the news from the guards that a Dragonfly Lab was destroyed and that you escaped, we took that chance. You’ve inspired us Hector.”

  She wiped some of her tears off her face and kept talking.

  “but Hanna became crazy, she surrounded the lab with a huge wired looking forest and locked us up again after we rebelled against the guards. I escaped but I couldn't leave the other kids behind. They won’t stand a chance.” she wiped off another tear.

  “she killed anyone that got in her way, she became insane...”

  “stop talking.” I said.

  I gave her a comforting hug and patted her on the back.

  I knew what happened after that.

  She escaped and came to forks.

  She found out about our treasure hunt and contacted Marcus to attack us, bring us here.

  “I’ll make sure that we get out alive.” I whispered to her.

  That was my promise. This is inhuman!

  The actions of the Lab to catch Convicts and forced them to join in like that was too much. Which is why tomorrow, we’re going to end this.

  The next morning came, I told Rudy and Tony about what Cassie told me.“that’s messed up.”Rudy said.

  “Hanna is crazy.” Tony added. “the moment we go for her, we’re going back to hell again. So here’s the plan.” I started.

  “Rudy and Tony will get the ship ready. Cassie and I will go and sneak the kids out.” I turned to Cassie, “deal with Hanna for me. In case if Marcus comes back, I’ll deal with him.”

  We took our moves we got back to the broken wall again.

  “ready?” I asked Cassie.

  “no.” she replied.

  “good.” I powered up and blasted a fireball inside.

  We got into the Lab again, vines and everything. Some damages here and there but that’s about it.

  “oh hey Hector!” Hanna greeted.

  Her grin of just pure evil. Haunted me by the second.

  I got mad. I fired up and leaped towards Hanna grabbing her by her cloths and took her out for a ride.

  “you want me? Well here I am Hanna.” I said.

  I opened my palm and threw out a huge burning ball of green fire to her face.

  FLUMMMMMMM~

  When when I stopped. Her face was covered in gravel protecting her face.

  The worst is about to happen.

  I turned and looked up.

  Its Marcus!

  Back from the sea.

  He grew angry and expanded his right arm in gravel and threw it at me.

  I flew off Hanna but was able to catch myself floating on the air like a humming bird.

  Marcus noticed Cassie is going for the control room, he turned and went after her. Not gonna happen!

  I threw a huge fireball at him. Marcus grunted and turned back to me.

  “I’ll take care of Cassie,darling!” Hanna got to her feet and threw a bamboo from her hands to destroy the controls

  Cassie reacted by throwing a cedar wood against the bamboo.

  The bamboo cracked. Cassie gave a grin at Hanna.

  She threw another cedar wood her, taking her out.

  Cassie pressed a button from the control room, releasing the kids.

  The kids scrambled out of the Lab and to the beach.

  I fired up again and gave a fire breath at Marcus’s face.

  FLUMMMMMM~

  Marcus crouched down from the intense heat.

  Not yet! I kept burning.

  Cassie threw a piece of cedar wood at Marcus and took him out.

  “come on!” Cassie yelled.

  I stood up and fired at the lab ceilings, crashing the place down.

  Cassie thew more cedar wood at the walls, the place is crumbling down.

  “we gotta move!” Cassie said. I gave a final fire and ran out, joining Cassie. We ran to the forest and to the beach.

  The kids got on board and waved. Calling out to us.

  All three hundred of them.

  Some Fair skinned, some Brown skinned, some Chinese but most of them are girls. Rudy was standing with his crossbow ready.

  Cassie grabbed me by the hand and rose her other hand, aiming at the ship.She threw a long piece of cedar wood and pulled.

  I fired my other hand to give us friction.

  We landed at the top deck of The Hardy ship.

  Tony punched the engines and sailed off.

  We were all free.

  Cassie gave each of the kids hugs and kissed some of them on the cheek.

  The worst is now over.

  “well that’s a bummer.” Rudy said.

  “no treasure, no Dragon Eye.”

  “but we saved a bunch of kids though.” Tony smiled.

  “good enough for me.”

  I joined Cassie and the kids as they looked out and see their past left behind them. “thank you again Hector!” Cassie exclaimed.

  Her joyful self has returned.

  “sure thing kid. We make a good team huh?” I asked.

  “yes we do.” Cassie looked at Rudy and Tony up in the control room.

  “you should give them this.” Cassie handed me a crystal ball with a unique color pattern inside. It has blue, red, green, purple, orange and the other colors you could imagine. This is it!

  “Rudy!” I called excitedly.

  I ran to Rudy and showed him the crystal. “look!” I said.

  “oh shit! This is the Dragon Eye.” he exclaimed.

  “no way!” Tony peaked over.

  “she must have found it while she was here.” I said.

  Rudy took the crystal and looked deep inside.

  “you know, we’ve been through hell to get this.” Rudy said.

  “there will be pirates after us.” Tony added.

  “we’ve saved the kids, that’s all that matters.”

  Tony stopped peaking and turned back.

  He knew what Rudy meant.“he’s right.” Tony said

  “give it to the kids, they need it more than we do.” Rudy handed the crystal to me.

  Rudy had a sudden change of heart, greed and mysteries were not his goal for this trip anymore. “bet my old man would be proud.” he said.

  “I’m sure he will Rudy.”

  I handed the crystal over to one of the kids.

  “they need it more than we do.” Rudy’s word echoed in my ear.

  Which is true.

  The kids showed Cassie, she turned over, I smiled.

  These kids had a future ahead of them, and this is only the beginning.

  “so where to next kiddo?” Tony asked me.

  “well, I always wanted to go back to Seattle.” I said.

  I’m done hiding.

  I’m done running.

  “you only become a hero if you start being one.” Mel’s words rang in my ear and I remembered.

  This is what I must do, what I will do.

  “lets move Rudy.” I said. Tony started laughing.

  Rudy followed.

  “Seattle huh?” Tony asked. “I can do that.”

  “what next?” Cassie climbed into the control room and asked.

  “The Lab has a lot to answer for.” I said.

  Tony and Rudy stared at each other then back at me.

  “your going after them.” Rudy said.

  “Amen to that.” Cassie said. “let’s get out of here.”

 

 

 

  19

  The Convergence