Evolution

“We appreciate your hospitality,” Samuel said to Mayor Shaw. “I have not eaten like that in…well, ever. But time is short, and we have a mission to carry out. In the coming days, Julian will tell you some very incredible things. Believe every word, Mayor. There is not much time left. Not even for New America.”

The mayor frowned, disturbed by what Samuel said. He looked at Julian, but Julian was now holding out a hand to Samuel.

“Goodbye, Samuel. We will speak again soon.”

Samuel took the hand and shook it. Julian next took mine. He said goodbye to Anna, and went to stand in front of Makara. Even in the darkness, I could see her cheeks redden.

“Take care of yourself,” he said. “I won’t always be there to save you from crawlers.”

Makara gave a small smile. “You have no idea what I am capable of, Jules.”

Julian smiled, and turned back to his family. I was surprised at how sad Makara seemed to see him go.

“Come on,” Ashton said, who had been quiet up until now. “We should get going.”

We turned back for Gilgamesh. After loading up, we lifted off, leaving New America behind. After the warmness of that community, the coldness of the Gilgamesh was a rather strange thing.

Chapter 24

We slept well into the next morning, hovering above the clouds. It was time for the next phase of our mission — going to Raider Bluff, and speaking with Char.

Ashton dropped us off where Odin had been parked. The smaller spaceship was still there, looking as untouched as the day we had left it. It had been sitting there for a week now, even though the sheer amount of events that had happened between now and then made it seem like months.

After bidding goodbye to Ashton and watching Gilgamesh disappear above the clouds, we boarded Odin once more. We had all our provisions and supplies from Skyhome still. All that was left was to set course for Raider Bluff. It was time to meet with Char and tell him about our plan to resurrect the Angels. Samuel had already spoken with Makara about the plan, and he said that she was more than willing to try.

I sat up front with both Makara and Anna as the ship lifted off. Samuel decided to have another nap while he could snag one.

Once we were flying north, I decided to ask Makara a question.

“So, what’s going on between you and Julian?”

From the copilot’s seat, Anna smirked.

“Nothing,” she said, though her reddening face betrayed that answer. “He thinks he’s hot stuff, but he has another thing coming.”

“Right,” I said.

“I think it’s good,” Anna said. “It gives you someone that’s your match.”

“Like I wasn’t?” I asked.

“You better watch yourself, buddy,” Anna said.

“Yeah, what’s going on between you two?” Makara asked. “You were getting kind of cozy on the beach.”

“Look,” Anna said, “we don’t really have to talk about this.”

“Why?” Makara asked. “You’re curious about me, so why can’t I be about you?”

“Point taken,” Anna said.

I decided to change the subject. “So, how do you feel about this Lost Angels thing?”

“I like it,” Makara said. “I actually think it could work. Which is weird, because Sam and I disagree so often.”

“Really?” Anna asked. “I don’t ever see that.”

I smiled. These girls had hated each other’s guts just a couple months ago. Now, they were talking like they were best friends.

“Believe me,” Makara said. “I don’t say anything, but he is always just, mission, mission, mission…”

Anna giggled. “Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

At that moment, Samuel walked onto the bridge. Everyone did their best to look busy.

“What’s our ETA?”

“We’re over northwestern Mexico, so just another hour or so,” Makara said.

“Good. I want everyone suited and ready. We can land south of Bluff, a good distance away from the cliff and the road.”

In a little over an hour, we were going to be back in Raider Bluff. It seemed so strange. Char hadn’t seen any of us for two months. As far as he knew, we were all dead, and our mission had failed. We hadn’t made contact with him the whole time we were in Skyhome. That whole time had been spent recovering and planning our next move.

“It’ll be good to be back,” Anna said.

“Yeah,” Makara said. “This place is kind of like my home, in some strange way.”

When we were close, Makara began to pilot the ship downward.

“This whole ‘New Angels’ thing is a mess,” she said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I don’t even know where to start with it. I need to talk to Char. He’ll know what to do.”

“Well,” I said, “that’s what we’re here for, right? With us, you already have your first four recruits. Five, including Ashton. Six, if you count…”

“Don’t mention that pig’s name.”

“Who, Julian?” I asked, baiting her.

Makara sighed, ignoring my comment. “I just hope Char doesn’t see it as competition, you know?”

“Why would he?”

“I don’t know. It’s complicated.”

“You’ll be great,” Samuel said. “Besides, you’ll have us helping you.”

She sighed. “I guess.”

We burst through the red clouds that made their perpetual home above the Wasteland. It was strange to see that haunting familiarity and be comforted by it. We had come from a land of green, and were descending into a land of red. This was my home, barren as it was. It felt good to be coming back, even if this place tried to kill me at every turn.

Even as we reached five thousand feet, the air remained dusty. Visibility was near zero. A gust of wind blasted the side of the ship, jarring it. Lightning slashed ahead of us.

“Dust storm,” Makara said.

“Can we still land?” I asked.

She nodded. “No reason we shouldn’t. I’ll just have to be careful. Bluff is right in front of us, but I can’t see a damn thing.”

The altimeter now read one thousand feet. Still, I couldn’t see the ground, much less the city ahead. All I could see was swirling, red dust.

“Are you sure it’s there?”

“I’m damn sure,” Makara said.

“The coordinates check out,” Anna said. “We’re definitely in the right spot.”

Five hundred feet. We continued to lower to the ground below. A few minutes later, we landed on the rocky, hard earth.

“Go out, or stay here?” I asked.

“Wait a minute,” Samuel said, looking out the windshield.

“What is it?” Makara asked.

There was nothing out there we hadn’t seen before — just the same tempest that we had flown through.