World Filter

Mark felt a hundred times better in the morning. After the incident with Sam’s Corruption, he’d felt like a zombie. He’d probably only slept for around two hours and the rest of the time he spent deep in [Meditation]. He found that while sleeping restored his body and mind, the skill helped to stabilize his mental space and invoke a sense of peace and growth.

Source: Mediation (+2 Prana, +4 exp points)

He spent some time trying to figure out what he had learned from the experience and even though it hurt just to bring the memory up again, he did so to make sure of something.

After spending the night thinking about it, he had a theory he wanted to test but before that, he would have to get a couple of things together and understand fully what he was trying to accomplish. This meant he had some time and to be honest he was happy about that, there was no way he wanted to experience something like that again so soon, not without preparing both mentally and physically for it.

As he stirred he saw Daphne was already moving around her room.

“Are you leaving?” he asked

She turned to him with a sad smile.

“I’ve got to, there are things to be done and the public announcement will probably go out soon. I’ve got to be ready to move when you guys bring back this Prophet”

She finished dressing and leaned down over Mark stealing a kiss.

“You better come back safely or I’m really going to be mad at you,” she said as she jabbed his chest with her index finger.

Mark acknowledged her but neither of them spoke a word. Both of them understood that there would be things that they had to do, even if the other couldn’t join because of their responsibilities.

She walked out of the tent leaving Mark to get ready. Dressing, he wore his system items under his clothes as best he could and left Daphne's tent.

Moving out into the crisp morning, Mark saw that the first light was delayed by a thin cloud cover. It would burn it off soon enough but the morning felt just that little bit colder.

He knew the rendezvous point was at the vehicle depot but at this stage, they may as well call it a junkyard. As a matter of fact, he’d seen some of the engineers gutting the vehicles for spare parts, so the name was apt.

Making his way through the camp Mark noticed simple A4 flyers being put up by people working for the army. As he passed he watched a woman putting one up. It simply read.

!!! Attention !!!

This encampment will begin evacuations within the next 48 hours.

Shuttles will be leaving from this site at 08:00 in the morning, heading to HQ in Manhatten.

Signing up at the main correspondence tent will guarantee your spot for the first departures.

Safe passage will be provided to all.

Please be cordial to your assigned officer and mindful of others during wait times.

Note: Should you provide a necessary asset to daily operation this will be taken into account.

If you are unclear on anything please talk to one of the roaming officers for clarification.

!!! Attention !!!

Mark's eyes glanced around and the poster didn’t lie. Soldiers had been posted all over, at the same time there were Civilians dressed in simple military garb to make up the numbers.

Some people were already up about. Those that caught sight of the flyers moved to them in droves. This then prompted them to dash to the soldiers for confirmation. After which they sprinted off in various directions, either to wake their family and friends or to make a beeline for the admin tent to go sign up.

Mark tried to take in the expressions of everyone as he moved. As a whole nervousness flashed across people's faces along with excitement and relief.

Mark had forgotten, that for some, they lived in constant fear of the next wall breach. A safer holdout meant a better quality of life for them and their loved ones.

It felt like a cruel joke that only one-fifth of them would have this chance. Mark shook himself out of it. That’s why they were doing this. So that everyone could have that chance.

Mark threw out all the useless thoughts and focused on his current situation. Moving toward the junkyard, saw fewer and fewer people around, but as he got to one of the manned gates he paused.

There was a heavy guard presence here. Mark waited just out of sight and felt before he saw Sam arrive, as the winds gently whipped about them. She was getting better at that.

The disturbances in the surrounding air compared to when she’d first started were worlds apart.

“Boo!”

“Nice try, but no.”

“Aw come on,” she grinned evilly.

When he turned to look at her she looked like she had been inspecting him.

“You feeling any better?”

Mark had to reassure her he was fine yesterday before she’d let him leave the tent. But the question was born from worry for his well-being, so he couldn’t be annoyed by it.

Promising her once more that he felt fine.

No sooner had he finished saying this, when Sergeant Davis arrived followed closely by Franklin. The guy followed behind Davis, the last time Mark had seen him was just before charging after the Guardian. Mark had heard that everyone from their group had made it back alright but it was good to see the man standing in front of him. Even more so, Davis, Mark used the time to catch up with the man, he could feel the guy had grown in strength.

They waited for a couple of minutes and Jonathan arrived, landing right next to them, as if falling from the sky.

Brushing aside the flashy entrance the group moved towards the guard house. Davis produced some documents for the sleepy soldier and the four of them were let through the boom gate. After which Sergeant Davis saluted them and made himself scarce.

Making their way through the space Mark came to the conclusion that when the Major said this was an unsanctioned mission, he meant it. Davis got them in with very little fanfare and when Franklin climbed into the cockpit Mark could only assume these two were doing the Major a favor and that they couldn’t actually secure a licensed pilot for the mission.

To test the waters Mark leaned over and asked Franklin.

“You trained as a pilot too?”

Franklin's expression was not reassuring.

“Sure thing boss, the simulations were very in-depth”

Mark looked at Sam. She just shrugged her shoulders. Mark was lucky he could fly or he might be shitting himself right about now.

They’d selected a much smaller craft, well the smallest one available, and because of this Franklin’s pre-flight checks were done in a matter of minutes. The vehicle could hold about six passengers at most, including the pilot.

The sounds of the engine whirring to life caused some disturbance from the guard house, but by then it was too late and they were in the air.

Mark hoped Major Dureal didn’t get in too much trouble for this.

They cleared the base in no time and they headed down towards the designated spot Mark once more looked out at the changing scenery. The speed and machine-like efficiency of the helicopter was hard for either of them to replicate for long periods.

The meet-up point was still in their neck of the wood so an hour into their journey they were almost there.

It was at that point Mark noticed the appearance of a couple dozen Ghasts making their way toward the chopper.

Into the headset, Mark warned.

“Franklin you seeing that man? Ghasts incoming!”

“Fuck! I double-checked the maps there shouldn’t be any nests around here!”

They were closing in on them at terrifying speeds. At this height, the helicopter was a sitting duck. The Corrupted charged the chopper and Mark began to expand his construct to cover the cabin. Just as Mark was about to push it beyond Sam saw what he was doing and screamed.

“Mark, don’t! If you bubble us in the air, we’ll fall straight out of it!”

Mark didn’t understand but stopped anyway, Sam had a better understanding of the physical forces at play here.

Seeing as though he couldn’t do that he brought the Construct just to the outside of the hull. It surrounded the main body of the helicopter, but there was no way Mark was even going to attempt to cover the blades. They were spinning so fast that all he would do was cause more harm than good.

At that point, the Ghasts arrived. Latching onto the outside of the craft. Mark felt them slam into his barrier and just when he thought they would begin attempting to break in they calmed down.

Mark expected them to destroy the helicopter but instead, they just kept piling on, covering their vision of the outside world. As far as Mark understood, pilots didn’t only need physical sight to direct a plane or chopper, they could go by their instruments. Which is why he wasn’t too panicked when more Ghast covered the front windshield too.

There was a sudden lurch and the numerous Ghasts began to flap their wings. The cabin groaned as the helicopter began to change course under their combined power. Throwing them about the cabin.

The engines whined as they strained against the Corrupted’s combined force. They were being pulled away from the meet-up point and towards the East.

“Someone give me some footing!” Jonathan cried over the sound of the blaring alarms.

Mark wrapped a band of force around him, linking it to the cabin so he was standing directly in the center.

Jonathan used that moment to focus, a concentrated Aura covered his whole body. Then in a blink, it snapped outward and expanded beyond the cabin. The sound of Ghasts screeching in pain followed shortly. Suddenly blackish blood covered the outside windows as the sound of flesh being sliced issued forth from the outside. Nicks and cuts appeared on the windows and metal outside. The pull stopped almost immediately and Jonathan panted as slashes bloomed across his skin, causing blood to pool on the floor. Mark diverted some of his Prana to heal the wounds.

“Franklin we good?” Sam shouted.

He just swore under his breath as he looked at the resulting viscera covering the glass. There was barely a place that wasn't covered. Franklin woke with a start and shouted

“She’s not responding boss, the rotor hub is damaged, it going to be an emergency landing!”

The vehicle was not responding to his manipulations, the warning lights and blinking from the control panel screeched of damages.

They were losing altitude at an alarming rate.

Mark turned to Sam and shouted.

“Leave it or save it?”

If they both worked together they might be able to slow or halt its descent entirely.

She looked at the craft remorsefully and screamed back.

“Leave it, save as much energy as we can! Jonathan doors! I’ve got you, Franklin”

Jonathan grabbed onto the metal leaver and ripped it free, the force tried to push it closed but He held it open for them.

Sam grabbed Franklin out of his seat, cutting the seat belt with a blade of wind in the process, and diving straight out of the open door.

Mark pulled his construct in and dove out, making sure to put on an extra burst of speed to clear the blades.

Jonathan was the last out, pushing off the failing craft with enough strength to send it flying in the opposite direction.

Mark held out his hand and caught hold of his arm, arresting his momentum. He might have been able to survive the fall but there was no reason to test that. They all watched as the helicopter lazily fell to the ground and crashed to a grinding halt in the street below.

As they landed Mark heard Franklin say.

“Dammit, this was supposed to look like a routine area surveillance”

“Well you’re with us now so we’ll worry about that later,” Jonathan said as he clapped the guy on the back.

Mark frowned wrecked vehicle, namely what was left of the Corrupted.

“Anyone else thinks those Ghast were acting strange?” he asked.

Jonathan nodded.

“Definitely, but at this stage, if you told me they were trying to capture us to lay eggs in our brains, I probably wouldn't doubt you. Sam how far to the location?”

Sam checked her tablet and said.

“Five minutes in that direction if we push it”

And they did.

Sam continued to carry Franklin and soon enough they arrived at the street marked for the meeting.

Looking around they found no one.

“Are we late?” Jonathan asked.

Mark knew they were dead on time but still couldn’t find anyone. Then as Mark was blocking the morning light from his eyes he spotted the oddest thing yet.

Coming down the road Mark saw a procession of no less than a hundred people, talking lively to one another as if there was no fear in them. Some ate while they chatted comfortably, he even saw one man with a pan flute. A couple of goats and cats roamed around the group, the former led by ropes, and at the front of this whole picnic-like arrangement was a small group leading them.

A familiar face stuck out to him as he felt the Mana in the area pulse and Cara appeared by Sam’s side. The moment she saw her Sam reached down to draw the girl into a hug.

As the group got nearer he recognized yet another face. Maggie the woman Cara had left with. She stood right behind a taller woman who seemed to be leading them all. Mark soon realized that this woman must be Chloe.

A radiant smile touched her lips as she took them in while flowing braids framed her face. Her deep-skin tone shone beautifully in the morning light, but what drew Mark's attention to her was the absolute crystal blue eyes that seemed to draw the world into them.