The Zetta Sonic
Drinks

Not until an hour later, Alex has moved to a large aircraft owned by ICPA. This aircraft, according to Jayden, is a type on board ICPA aircraft in general. The size was smaller, it could only fit ten people. No more than that. Radar is more sensitive, more complete weaponry, it also has a plasma protector.

It is different from commercial aircraft. The muzzle is more pointed, the wings are thick. The seats in the cabin are divided into two groups. Each consists of four padded chairs, facing each other, separated by a short table. Jayden sat by the window, holding the laptop in silence. Alex sat down opposite him, also silent.

Besides them, there was Caitlin. He sat in a different group of chairs. He was wearing black clothes. Along the way, he threw his face out the window. Tiger's in the cockpit. He was in charge of making sure their plane landed at its destination. This aircraft has an advanced automatic pilot. Without a pilot though, they could arrive on the spot without an accident. Another is when there is an attack. The attack required them to use weapons manually. It would be very dangerous if the weapons were controlled by artificial intelligence.

Behind the cabin they were sitting in, there was a spacious cabin in the back. There are at least four capsules available for sleeping. Jayden has Alex resting there. But, the boy was too tense. He's not even tired right now.

Their journey will take four hours and twenty minutes. Later, their plane will go down at the military airport. The location is quite close to the canning factory. Twenty extra minutes. A total of four hours and forty minutes if all goes well. A torture for the four of them. It feels twice as long.

After a one and a half hour journey without sound, Tiger broke the tension. He left the cockpit and handed it over to the autopilot feature. He paced back and forth in this sitting cabin, from the cockpit door to the pantry in the middle to the door to the sleeping capsule. His hand held a packet of potato chips. The noise when eating provoked the attention of the other four people.

Caitlin tried not to be distracted even if it looked very difficult. He repeatedly turned to Tiger unconsciously. Tiger himself did not bother to move.

“What's below?” Alex finally made a sound. He knew there was another door to the bottom of the plane. This door is at the end while the door to the sleeping capsule is in the middle. At first, he thought it was a bathroom door until he realized that the bathroom door was on the other side. “Garage and arsenal?”

Tiger sneering. “Little cat and her curiosity.”

“Just curious. At least, my guess is correct ‘kan?”

“Then, don't ask.” Tiger stepped away.

Alex throws his gaze at Jayden. The young man focused on the laptop, not bothering to talk to him again after they discussed the plans at the headquarters. Caitlin herself was also still facing outside, trying to observe the clouds in the clear sky. Tiger leaned against the pantry, spending the chips that stayed a little.

Alex's fingers walk down the Zet-Arm. Two weeks ago, he was still a boy trying to guess what his father was like. Today, he was not a boy he could recognize looking for a mirror. He still wears a shirt and jacket as he often wears when playing with his friends. But, deep inside him there had been many changes.

Alex went across the Tiger. The man squinted at her. Come to think of it, their sizes were vastly different. Tiger was almost twice as much as him. Alex took two soda cans out of the fridge. He thrust one at Tiger right after the man was done with his snack.

“Thank you for taking me down,” Alex said.

Tiger did not accept the can. “I just do my job.”

Alex shakes. “Your job is just to make sure Zetta Sonic stays safe. You can throw me from up there without fear of me dying. Me ... Zetta Sonic, ‘kan?”

“I know. The idea is clearly on your mind.”

Tiger paused for a moment, enjoying Alex's softened gaze on him. The kid is obviously trying to make a friendship here. Tiger reached out his hand. “Mineral water, son. I don't like to drink soda after something spiced.”

Alex returns the soda can, exchanges it for a bottle of mineral water. This time Tiger accepted it. While throwing a smile, he returned to the front cockpit.

Alex has no intention of talking to Caitlin. There are a few reasons. One, she's a girl. Two, after hearing Jayden's story, Alex wasn't sure if the girl was trustworthy. Three, he's carrying soda for Jayden. That soda can't be for him.

Jayden peeked out from behind the laptop as Alex thrust the soda over the table, more precisely a can of root beer. “Why did you get root beer? Not everyone likes that. Still many other flavored sodas.”

“It feels like balsam, but I like it. I often drink it while surfing in cyberspace, if you know what I mean. Mrs. Bellsey always reminded me to drink often. Computers sometimes make you forget time.”

“Agree.” Jayden chuckles. Without saying much, he picked up the can and began to enjoy it. Then, Jayden turned to find that Caitlin was looking at them. “You want to too?”

Caitlin threw away her gaze. He picked up the earphones, tuned the song out loud enough that the two men could hear it in a quiet cabin, and again ignored them.

“I think he wants to talk to you,” whispered Alex.

“I don't. I want to save energy for our mission this time. That signal can mean a lot of things. Real requests for help, challenge letters, or traps. I think, we all agree that the latter is most likely.”

“I can't leave my father.”

“You must remember what the terms of Nadira.” are

Alex nodded. “I can't open my identity in front of dad. Don't worry about that. I'm not even sure my dad remembers having kids.” It sounds painful, but Alex is used to it. That thought turned from a sting into a fact he slowly believed.

“Let's focus on that signal, not your father.” Jayden glanced at the clock on the wall above the door leading to the sleeping capsule. “Maybe you want to rest first. There's still plenty of time to get there. You need a clear mind.”

Alex had no intention of following. In reality, it only took him ten minutes to fall asleep. The boy fell asleep in his chair. Jayden is busy with his laptop. He found some new things related to the fish canning plant they will visit. The closer they get, the stronger the SOS signal becomes and more so. Something very strange. They were scattered at some point. Included in water, under the factory.

Jayden glanced at Caitlin. The girl closed her eyes, asleep. Jayden turned his gaze back on Alex. He began to guess. If it's a trap, they're like deer coming to a lion's den. Alex will be the key to their safety or destruction.