The blue moon- the keeper of time retreating, its light on the wane. The illumination of a colossal bluish-white earthly star looming behind an imposing Sky vessel slowly regaining its dominance over the land.
The land, a wide open field of proportions in several kilometers, occupied at its center by numerous structures- tents of otherworldly origin, has at a far corner a couple of this structure where few figures wait.
Now joining this few figures are two other figures, Lingyue taking the lead and Skylar who has a hood on standing behind her.
Lingyue- a beauty that can competes for top spot in the world of humans, as she seems to be spotlighted by the weakening light of the blue moon turned to one of the few figures waiting for them "Old soldier have you confirmed we are not forgetting a thing, or taking with us anything we shouldn't?..."
"Yes Leader, i have cross checked the list and examined the content of each boxes personally." Old soldier wearing a camo long sleeved shirt and a camo trousers that concealed his muscular frame glanced at Skylar after he answered his Leader.
"Okay, let's move. Golden finch won't wait for us" The group at the words of their leader resume their match for the sky vessel in the air, their leader alongside Skylar following behind them.
The group trasversing silently on a path parallel to the length of the numerous other tents belonging to the other faction that is located at the center of the open field unlike their base far behind them, has, occasionally different looking flying vehicle pass beside them and above them, making different sounds as they do.
How much will that thing cost. Skylar has his eyes trained on a flying vehicle its appearance exactly that of a jet ski and like the sky vessels he has seen so far, all with appearances similar to boats from the real world and are all made from wood and a material that looks like a crystal glass.
I have about two hundred thousand gold, maybe it can buy like five. Wistfully his eyes watch has the particular flying vehicle carrying a sweet couple just like most of the flying vessel traveling in the same direction as them head for the golden finch that is looming in the sky
Skylar, who lost sight of the sky vehicle after it disappeared into the far larger vessel above set his eyes on the very big tents far in the distance that lies orderly beside them as they travel.
This ones are by far superior to the one Lingyue and her peaople are using. Skylar looked briefly at the the three dimensional display of a copy of the bright starry heavens but with clouds, displayed by one of the tents, a display similar to what all the other tents have, but thier clouds and starry heavens looking different.
"Lingyue, what are those live images used for?" Skylar broke the silence that has reigned among the group since the beginning of their journey, except for the faint sound of their steps on the crystal sand.
Lingyue walking close beside Skylar, glanced beside her and across Skylar at the tents- square shaped with a curved roof and its exterior coated smoothly with a crystal glass material that displays vividly and brightly. "My lord, they are there to fool most flying predators into believing what they see when they look down is something like a pool of water reflecting the sky. And since most predators are very big they wouldn't be interested in a pool of water that has very little to offer..."
"What about your faction tents?" Skylar glanced at Lingyue. "They don't look like a pool of water when looked at from above?"
This words of Skylar made Lingyue expressed a subtle feeling of uncomfortability. Her presence kind of dimmed momentarily and as she hesitates to answer a hand across her shoulder pats her on the other shoulder.
"Its okay, i understand." Skylar who now walks alongside her very closely, with his body almost pressing against her, emits a reassuring breath she could clearly feel and seems she might get hooked on it.
...
(Multiple engine sounds)
"Deck is 20 silver."
"Okay, we are two. Me and my girlfriend... Your user name and number."
"Anyone please, i need twenty boxes delivered to block 5 Freefall base asap..."
"Ferry man, i have transferred 1 gold to you. Keep the change."
About quarter of an hour after the group's journey from the base that seemed both long and short, they reached a location behind the numerous group of tents- a place like a makeshift dock but involving only flying vehicles and few small vessels of wooden make and earthly origin.
Several beams of lights from the overlord vessel directly beyond here, like they are searching for something increased by several times the illumination here.
Sealed boxes of different dimensions stacked, lying around, and some loaded from or loaded to vehicles; the atmosphere here was vibrant, lively and adventurous. Most people were happy, those who were not- showed satisfaction at the very least.
These people less than a thousand- going to the golden finch and coming from it, here to work or here to join in on the fun includes Skylar's group who are waiting for Old soldiers to return with a transport that will take them and their burden to the sky vessel above.
"Leader, why is Old soldier taking so long." Ari who seats beside Skylar on a ring shaped golden bench- rooted a fair distance from the hustle and bustle of the make-shift port along with everyone in the group stretched her arms over her head while yawning, her sizable bust and cleavage emphatically outlined as they stretch her black short sleeve tie up crop top.
"Maybe he is picking up girls." Koko chimed in.
"He might be meeting with old friends." Lingyue who sat between Koko and Skylar looked in the direction of the numerous tent while she adjust the collar of Koko's white shirt.
Star Boy who sat oppositely with his back behind Skylar on the golden bench sighed and leaned backwards. "Big bro, can you see Old soldier?"
"I can't see through things." Skylar replied.
"Big bro what about his spirit."
"Oh..." This time Skylar turned to face the direction of the numerous tents. While everyone else including Lingyue wonder about what the two are talking about, on Skylar's brow, a spiritual pattern like a vertical eye appeared and glow with a spiritual light.
After several seconds of scanning every inch of the place for Old soldier spirit with the help of spiritual vision or the third eye, Skylar reported, "He is not there."
Hearing this, Lingyue turned to look at Skylar and frowned imperceptibly. "My lord what do you mean he is not there."
Before Skylar could elaborate, perpendicular to the direction of the numerous tent, directly towards Lingyue and from the makeshift dock in front of the golden bench, a wooden flying canoe approach the group, its yellow headlight bathing the group as it decelerates towards them.
(Engine sound)
The flying canoe in no time reached the group, and from it Old soldier jumped down and came in front of Lingyue.
He bowed his head deeply. "Leader, please forgive me. I was intercepted by..."
Before Old soldier could conclude his sentence and placate Lingyue who has her frosty eyes squinted at him imperceptibly, Skylar figure who sat beside her, all happening in less than a milisecond, suddenly and quietly stood up and jumped onto the canoe that float some distance in front of them. In the view of the others including Lingyue, all they saw was Skylar figure like a phantom appear on the canoe.
"Can i pet your cat." Skylar who now sits on the canoe stretch his hand towards a figure sitting in front of him and holding a white cat.
"." At Skylar's action and request the cat's master became startled and tongue-tied.
While Lingyue and her people watch the sequence of actions, Lingyue expressionless, Star Boy smiling and grinning, Ari sullen, helmeted Henjue downcast, Koko glaring, Old soldier shocked, One leaf nonchalant, and the other confused; the white cat on the arms of her startled master like it has been waiting to do this for centuries jumped into Skylar's arm.
"Good girl!, its okay now..." Skylar cradled the excited and teary cat closer to his chest.
"." Lingyue kind of exasperated quit watching and turned to Old soldier. "Old soldier, let's move."
"Yes ma." The shocked Old soldier came to and signaled the other four member of the group- males and all wearing an identical camo combat suit.
When old soldier and his people was about cross over the golden bench, a section of it- where Skylar sits crumbled to the ground and merged with it, revealing a passage to several boxes placed in the center encircled by the ring-shaped bench.
"Guys, come this way." Seeing this, Old soldier beckoned the men in combat suit, and through the passage they carry and load the boxes on the canoe that has lowered very close to the ground at one point.
Some minutes later, all the members of the group seated in the flying canoe and Skylar still petting the white cat; the apparent master of the canoe- no longer startled but holding tightly to a poker face, signaled the cloaked and quiet ferryman. And as he received the signal, he drew the oar, and the canoe in turn turned around and head for the enormous sky vessel above- The golden finch.
(Engine sound)
...
(Multiple engine sounds, low pitched humming.)
"Your ticket."
"I don't have one now, but i have money. I can buy one now, right?"
"Get lost! Next?"
On one of the several brows of golden finch, all lined along its port side; the canoe carrying the group landed as directed by a young man in golden armor and a golden head band.
"Welcome to The golden finch." The young man standing in front of the canoe, with a hand across his chest bowed.
From the canoe; Koko who has his flashy makeup on, wearing a baggy jeans and a white shirt came down first, jumping with eyes lit up, "Yay!..." Then followed by Star Boy in his typical newsie outfit and Lingyue leading the others some distance from Skylar who still holds the white cat and still sit in front of the master of the cat and the flying vehicle.
"Here is our pass. Moonlight courtyard." Old soldier who stands in front of the young man in golden armor holds out to him a golden card.
(Human voices, feint engine sounds and low pitched humming.)
The young man seeing this and with a look of realization on his face nodded his head, "As usual, the primary deck." And he excused himself to the next flying vehicle.
(Human voices, feint engine sound and low pitched humming.)
Some minutes after Old soldier and the other four members of the group in camo combat suit have offloaded and transported all their boxes inside; with the four remaining inside, Old soldier returned and came in front of the quiet group, Skylar and the master of the canoe who now stand outside the canoe beside one another included. And to them he said, "We can go in now."