The Elementalist

35. Away

AwayEveryone arose before sunup the next morning to get ready for the mission, though Voi was the first awake, since she couldn’t sleep. Alex and Ronny had set up a communications station in an unused closet upstairs. Milia took one of the two trucks that were parked outside to deal with unspecified business, leaving the others to walk Voi to the barn and wish her a safe flight.

Voi hopped into the cockpit after her exterior pre-flight check then stopped, glancing to either side where the others stood. Laura looked worried, and Ronny seemed to be bothered by, well, something. A heavy feeling sat at the pit of Voi’s stomach, and she placed a hand over it.

“Everything looking shipshape?” Andre called out.

Voi nodded, double checking the control panel.

“It’s almost like you’re back to barnstorming again, isn’t it?” he said, trying to lighten the mood. “You’ll be pulling a grand stunt before they even notice!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Andre. This is nothing like barnstorming.” It came out nastier than she intended.

“Is something the matter?”

She blinked at him. “No, of course not.” She attempted a smile.

“Alright,” Andre said skeptically, “well, go ahead and start up the engine. Give it a few minutes to warm up. We just need to make sure everything sounds as it should.”

Tentatively, she reached for the controls.

“And Voi?”

She paused, looking over the edge of the cockpit.

Andre smiled. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” She waited for everyone to leave before turning on the aerocraft.

Voi closed the canopy while the MR-6 started. She tested the radio, establishing communications with Alex. In time, she guided the aerocraft backward out into a light snow. Once she was in a good position for a vertical takeoff, she stopped and looked around.

Her companions waved at her—everyone but Ronny, that is. His face was drawn, his hands firmly on his hips. Shaking this off, Voi increased power to the aether drive until the Manta Ray began to lift. At an altitude of one hundred feet, she increased throttle to the turbine then soared towards her destination: off to the mysterious Fambrach Mountains.

Part III: The Elementalist