Chapter 75: Flight Through the Chaos

Flames spread further outward from the back of the Chimaera Z-X as Clyde and Celes shielded Walter, Ellie, and Oscar, while Casca and Corie protected Mary, Selma, and Irena, and Craig guarded the entire truck alongside every woman and girl inside. The city plunged into absolute chaos with multiple explosions rocking various sectors.

"We need to get out of here right now, Clyde," Celes urged.

"Right, this is our chance while the city is in total disarray," Clyde replied.

The two of them turned toward Walter, Ellie, and Oscar, silently grabbing their wrists before signaling Casca and Corie. The twins nodded, taking Mary, Selma, and Irena by the hand and guiding them toward the truck. Once they reached the vehicle, Craig swung open the wing box and hoisted Walter, Ellie, Oscar, Mary, Selma, and Irena inside. Mary turned back to look at the five siblings standing beneath the truck.

"Are we heading straight back to Safe Haven now?" Mary asked.

"Yes, Sister. Just stay put inside the truck; we’re going to lift the vehicle and fly out," Clyde instructed.

"Hmm... alright, be careful," Mary said.

"Definitely... let’s move, everyone. We need to leave fast while the city is in chaos," Clyde called out to his siblings.

"Got it," Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie chorused.

Celes tossed a glowing light orb inside before Craig pulled the door shut. The interior of the open truck bed beneath its canvas cover grew bright and quiet. Mary, Selma, and Irena sat across from Walter, Ellie, and Oscar. Both factions studied one another in complete silence, while nearby, the numerous traumatized women and girls drew Ellie’s watchful gaze.

Suddenly, the roar of a heavy engine echoed through the air. The truck began to vibrate, and everyone grabbed hold as they felt the vehicle lifting higher and higher. The canvas overhead started to balloon upward, opening gaps in the flaps where they could catch a clear view, leaving Mary, Selma, Irena, Walter, Ellie, and Oscar utterly astonished to see the massive Chimaera Z-X carrying the truck by gripping both its front and rear ends with its hands.

Shortly after, they felt themselves floating weightlessly. Sparks of shimmering light energy from the Chimaera Z-X drifted inside through the canvas gaps, vanishing instantly before reaching them. Mary, Selma, and Ellie tended to the frightened women and girls, trying their best to comfort them. Irena sat in silence, leaning against the truck wall with a blank expression as Walter and Oscar stared straight at her.

"You don’t seem like an ordinary person," Walter remarked to Irena.

"Oho... nice observation. And you don’t look like your average military major either. Are you in espionage? Undercover? Or maybe a hitman?" Irena countered.

"Hmm... impressive. I can’t disclose which division I belong to, but your guess is pretty close. Name’s Walter. And you?" Walter asked, extending a hand.

"Irena. Former colonel from Neo Ark and former major from New Leviathan," Irena answered, shaking Walter’s hand.

Once the handshake concluded, silence settled over them once more. Walter conversed softly with Oscar, who looked deeply somber, continuously glancing backward as if finding it agonizing to leave his home behind. Irena left them undisturbed, merely turning her gaze to watch Mary, Selma, and Ellie comfort the captives.

Meanwhile, inside the cockpit of the Chimaera Z-X, Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie manned their respective stations, piloting the machine with steady caution. Casca and Corie looked out the side screens at the receding city, catching distant glimpses of the sprawling metropolis nestled in the center and surrounded by the sea.

"We didn’t even get a chance to tour the big city," Corie pouted.

"Why on earth are you thinking about sightseeing in a situation like this?" Casca scolded.

"Oh, please... you’re regretting it too, admit it. Why else would you be looking?" Corie retorted.

"Ugh... you really know how to read me. It’s exhausting having a twin like you," Casca sighed.

"We can go back there later... the important thing right now is getting to Safe Haven... though I actually do feel a bit sad I didn’t get to see the city either," Celes chimed in from between them.

"See? Even Sister Celes says so. You’re hopeless, Casca," Corie teased.

"Ugh... whatever," Casca muttered.

They continued flying swiftly yet cautiously. Within just an hour, they had reached the halfway point, catching sight of the massive crater where their former orphanage once stood. Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie gazed at the side monitor displaying the ruins of their childhood home. Their expressions remained emotionless, though a flicker of quiet sorrow crossed their eyes.

"Bye-bye, home," Corie whispered first.

"Yeah... bye, home," Casca added softly.

Celes simply smiled, glancing back over her shoulder to see Clyde smiling gently at her. Craig also briefly turned around with a smile before snapping his attention back front, thrusting his hands forward to accelerate the Chimaera Z-X into a rapid sprint. Roughly an hour later, they re-entered the skies above the ruined, desolate metropolitan wasteland where Neo Ark once stood.

"Craig, fly higher. We need to steer clear of Neo Ark’s radar and cameras in this sector," Clyde instructed.

"You got it, Brother," Craig replied.

The Chimaera Z-X climbed higher, piercing through the cloud cover to avoid detection. A translucent spherical shield enveloped the entire body of the Chimaera Z-X—serving not only as camouflage but also providing an extra layer of protection for the truck they were carrying. Clyde glanced at the right-hand monitor, narrowing his eyes as he spotted milky-white, shimmering semi-circular barriers scattered across several locations in the city, marking the operational zones of various farm facilities.

"Thinking about Monica, Clyde?" Celes asked out of nowhere.

"Huh... how do you know about Monica?" Clyde asked in surprise.

"I’ve been inside your head before, remember? Of course I know about Monica... your mom and dad... your friends Tyler and Kate... I know your whole life inside the simulation," Celes answered.

"Ah... right, you did peek into my mind before... that explains it," Clyde muttered.

"Um... am I not enough?" Celes asked abruptly, her expression turning melancholic.

"Huh... what do you mean?" Clyde asked, completely bewildered.

"I’m your childhood friend too... we’ve been together since birth... and I already told you I love you... is that still not enough?" Celes pressed.

Hearing Celes’s words as she turned to face Clyde, Casca and Corie immediately whipped their heads around to stare at Celes, then back at Clyde. Craig, stationed at the front, also spun around to look back, the three of them eagerly awaiting the impending romantic drama. Meanwhile, Clyde’s face flushed bright red as he floundered for words. But seeing his flustered expression, Celes suddenly broke into a wide grin and stuck out her tongue.

"Hehehe... I was just kidding, you know," Celes laughed.

"Jeez... your jokes are going to give me a heart attack," Clyde said in a wave of relief.

"Oh... just a joke," Casca, Corie, and Craig mumbled in unison as they turned back around with expressions of profound disappointment.

"Hehe... sorry. Alright, let’s drop it, okay?" Celes asked.

"You’re the one who brought it up. Anyway, we need to hurry; those people in the truck have been through enough," Clyde replied.

"Got it," Celes, Casca, Craig, and Corie chorused together.

They focused back ahead and pushed the Chimaera Z-X to travel even faster. Celes’s playful smile faded back into a quiet, wistful expression as she cast one lingering glance at Clyde behind her before turning back to face the front.

***

Meanwhile, inside the truck, Selma, Mary, and Ellie settled down after tending to the women and girls, who had now calmed down and partially fallen asleep. Selma stood up slightly to peek through a gap in the open canvas tarp, then sat back down.

"We’ve made it to the city ruins, Neo Ark territory. We’ll be there soon," Selma said.

"Good. The longer we fly, the colder it gets, even wearing a jacket feels practically useless," Mary remarked, wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing her sleeves.

"Yeah... but at least it’s way faster than taking the train. Now we need to figure out how to park a GEAR this massive at Safe Haven," Selma noted.

"Yeah... you’re right," Mary agreed.

"Um... what kind of place is Safe Haven anyway? I’ve never been there," Ellie asked, raising her hand slightly.

Selma and Mary turned to look at Ellie, both offering warm smiles before explaining Safe Haven to Ellie and some of the women and girls who were able to follow along with their conversation. Meanwhile, at the far end of the truck box, Walter, Oscar, and Irena chatted casually and lightheartedly without a hint of suspicion toward one another; Irena had even taken off her fedora.

Meanwhile, in the governor’s office back in Utopia’s major central city "thud!" the governor set his smartphone down on the desk, his face looking utterly drawn and haggard. Ryker and Janet could only watch him, though a faint smirk crept onto Janet’s lips.

Meanwhile, in the coastal city by the beach, Bradley and Sasha were enjoying seafood at a seaside restaurant, dressed in a bikini and a Hawaiian shirt, looking for all the world like a real married couple.

Not a single one of them had any idea that Clyde, Celes, Craig, Casca, and Corie had already departed from Utopia together with the Chimaera Z-X.