Arc 3 - Chapter 14: Pacithiests and Dark Angels

“Wait … Elizabeth?!”

“You guys know her?!”

“Sort of … she helped us in the counterattack on Lagefor. She was useful, really useful.”

Christian folded his arms, and still kept his glare on Sean. Meanwhile, Pacifica had a bored expression, as a soft yawn spawned out from her mouth. And as for Chris…

He shrugged, and lit up his eyes even further. Tugging Christian’s shoulder, his weak yet brittle push nudged his body.

“Come on! Sean planned this for months! We have a mole against them, so that means—”

“Don’t care. You’re not going.”

“Hey Christian, can I ask you something?”

Without taking a step forward, Luke’s voice broke through Chris and Christian’s little argument. Both of them turning their eyes on him, Christian softened his eyes, but kept his lips frowned.

“I know you don’t want to go, but if I can … can you ask why?”

“That place is not even a hornet’s nest. A venomous yellowjacket nest would be better described. Standing near the ranch, or even hanging near the border, would get you shot.”

“All the more reason we shouldn’t go.” Said Miles.

“Point exactly. And you guys are branded as criminals. If you guys raid that ranch, all of us would be dragged into whatever mess we have to clean up.”

Raising his hands, Luke rubbed the back of his head with only his palm and fingers. Having his eyes face the ground, he softly nodded, and allowed his brain to connect.

Going to the ranch would be suicide. Even if they are sneaky, the consequences that will follow would rank up to unprecedented levels. Knowing and not knowing what will be of them, Luke didn’t want to raise his blood pressure with the upcoming futures. Slowing his breath, he lifted his head toward the trio of siblings.

“Then how about a vote?”

Christian and many others furrowed their brows. Some of them scratched their heads, or their faces, as curiosity prickled them.

“Who wants to go to the ranch?”

Only two hands were raised, with those being Sean and Chris. Christian did his best to pull down Chris’s hand, but he only got jabbed to his side.

“Who doesn’t care if they go or not?”

Luna, Jack, and Pacifica raised their hands in unison. Jack being Jack, whatever the wind would take him, he would travel along with it. And Luna being Luna, whatever decision Luke took, is fine with her.

Pacifica allowed another loud yawn to break the silence. Smacking her lips back and forth, she scratched the side of her neck, making Luna crinkle her face.

“Now who—”

Christian and Miles raised their hands.

“Doesn’t want to go to the ranch…”

Including the two already raised, five more hands joined in the fray. Being Hope, Fred, Gary, Diego, and Stan, the faction clearly outruled any other. Letting out a wry smile, Luke turned his eyes toward Sean.

Sean folded his arms beneath his chest, and rolled his eyes while the sun blazed his back.

“Then I guess that settles it.”

“Wait hold on … I got a resolution.”

Taking two steps to the right, Sean leaned his back against the wall, avoiding the sunlight. Keeping his arms folded, he placed his right foot above his left, and made a small pose to make himself look laid-back.

“Those that don’t want to go, will not go. Those that don’t care, or do want to go, will come along. I don’t need a big army, just a small group.”

“Sorry Sean, but democracy won.” Said Christian.

“Hold on … I still haven’t made my decision.”

Everyone turned their eyes on Luke. For those who didn’t want to go, held their breaths upon his words. For those who didn’t care, laid back with restful eyes and slouched cheeks.

And for those who do want to go, Sean and Chris froze like deer in headlights. Gathering their full undivided attention, not even a fireworks display would break their focus.

“I’ll go with Sean to the ranch.”

Christian, and especially Miles, crinkled their faces at the conundrum of words. It was like coal was dumped into their stockings. Dumbfounded, bamboozled, the shock that Luke brought was enough for everyone to silently gasp.

“But I’m not forcing any of you to go. I know it’s a stupid idea, and the reason may be dumb, but here’s why…”

Luke couldn’t look at anyone. Moving his eyes toward the window, the view was filled with trees lavished in purple petals.

Pushing his side bang from his right eye, he allowed both eyes to take in the view. Softening his face, the nature that he could see softened the child in him, a goal he longed forgotten ever since becoming a soldier.

“What went down in that courthouse wasn’t our fault. Whoever it was, someone bribed Reed. Someone bribed Briggs. I don’t know why, but someone has it out for us.”

Like a trap forged out of malice, all of it was designed to make them feel easy when they first arrived. From a ceremony, turned into a tribunal, the sudden shift had everyone be placed on a chokehold.

“If what Sean said was true, then that means the richest family is plotting revenge, but all for what? Wrecking their building? Creating excessive damage? I don’t think that’s their main reason…”

If someone did bribe the politicians, and even the agents, why use excessive damage as evidence? Like a student rushing in writing an essay, they pick the most abhorrent uses of the said source. Crazy claims, small minor details, such things are used to make the opponent look bad.

“If there’s a reason, any reason to why we are criminals … then finding out is top priority.”

Luke had his hands down to his sides, before he turned his body around. Seeing that some of them softened their glares, or their crinkled faces, Luke began to walk toward where Hope and Luna sat.

Making his way past some of his friends, he stood right in front of Hope.

“Like Sean said, only a handful of people are going. Hope. I know you don’t want to go, and you don’t have to, but if…”

“ … if you really want me to go … then I’ll go.”

Hearing her meek words, Luke couldn’t smile nor grin at her compliance. Feeling icky, feeling like he was slobbered in saliva from a drooling dog, he took a step back and turned his eyes to Luna.

“Luna, if you want, you could—”

“Why would I stay? You’re weak, I’m strong. You’re going to need my help.”

“Ok…”

Luna got up from the floor, leaving Luke to take a couple of steps back. With Hope fiddling with a toy, she continued to sit with her fingers rubbing the small object. Which looked to be a bird, one that took the form of a halcyon.

Keeping her eyes on the toy, Luke pushed his attention onto Jack. Scratching his right arm, his fingers scraped away dry dirt that latched on the leather.

“Hey Jack … you want to let me the van or—”

“I ain’t letting no one drive. After Benn’s horrible turns, I’ll be the sole designated driver.”

Jack scratched his lower chin, his fingers cleaving off dry skin. Having it indulge within his nails, he only pushed his tailbone to rest on the mattress evermore.

Walking right up to Luke’s shoulder, Sean hovered behind him.

“So it’s just the five of us huh?”

“You said it yourself. We only need a small force, nothing big.”

Out from the shadows, or rather from a dark corner, walked out a shark-human. Finally making his presence known, everyone turned their eyes toward Benn. Every one of his friends ignored the burly man, but for the trio of siblings…

“So … guess you want to join the strike force too Benn?”

“It’s not for your reason, but for mine.”

“O-Ok… sounds good.”

Chris widened his eyes at the shark-human, as his feet were glued to the feet. Whether it was a mixture of fear, or curiosity, he didn’t move an ounce from where he stood. Pacifica had both of her hands to her sides, with her right hovering near her hip. Her fingers twitching, some of her nails edged to a certain spray can laced in black.

While Christian glared, his arms folded and firm above his chest.

“Got a problem?” Asked Benn.

“Oh there’s no problem. None at all.”

Without sensing him, Christian had his right shoulder patted twice.

Looking to his right, the tanned man had his eyes on a smug grinned Sean. Once he stopped, he then had his hand on his collarbone.

“Now now Christian, be open-minded.”

“Why? You feel offended on his—”

All of his fingers squeezed.

Squealing his eyes shut, Christian wrinkled his whole face at the stinging pain. Hissing through the center of his lips, a low groan emerged from his throat.

“There was once a woman who hated bigotry. She always treated everyone equally, including this beautiful chunk of meat here. Be nice, or else I’ll reincarnate her into me.”

Sean let go of Christian’s shoulder, and pushed his hand back into his jacket. Receiving a mean look from Pacifica, Chris himself felt conflicted, as he raised one of his hands to the nape of his neck. Whether Sean was right, or Christian was right, he was born and raised in Haxouburg. And yet, progress was thrown in his face …

A clash of worlds; for a teen.

Christian turned toward Luke, his face paled with sweat.

“Remember your promise Luke?”

“Benn is fine. With all due respect, but, don’t be scared that he’s a shark-human. I mean … come on.”

“You think I’m discriminatory?”

Christian moved his right arm back and forth, as he relaxed the muscles that were strained from earlier. With his other arm, he pressured his palm on the bicep, as he began to soften his face.

Hope had a small look in her eyes, because second to Gwen, she cared about him a lot more than people think. Sean being an elf, Jack being laid-back, the entirety of the Dark Angels weren’t raised to hate. But they weren’t raised to fight authority.

“My siblings and I were taught to treat everyone with respect, except for shark-humans. Compared to anyone you’ll meet in this country, I’m a saint.”

Luke scratched his cheek, and softly nodded through shy nods. Knowing that Christian was raised differently, a clash of beliefs bobbled against one another. By Haxouburg standards, the Pacithiests are seen as radical, but to the rest of the world …

They were more or less a mercenary group.

“Anyway, is that all you’re taking, just six people?”

“Yeah. Look, I don’t want to do this either … but …

Luke laid his hands to his sides, and felt his lips quiver by just making eye contact. Seeing his eyebrows crinkle, and his forehead wrinkled, all of his face narrowed.

But he didn’t glare.

“I think this would benefit us more than we think. Believe it or not.”

“And believe it or not, I can’t follow your motives. But if that’s really the choice you want to follow, then by all means.”

Christian sighed, and allowed all the air he accumulated out his throat.

Pushing his hands into his pockets, he swayed his head back and forth, until he reached the door. Standing still, all of his body was mere inches from the wood, before he glanced from behind. And pinned his pupils at both Luke and Sean.

“But don’t get caught… whatever you do, don’t get caught by them.”