William
“Greeting,” the A.I. in the skycraft greeted William as it came to life with his entrance.
“Set course for Greendowns. Closest parking to 4th and 6th,” William called out as he took his seat in the front drivers seat.
“Course set,” the sjycraft A.I. called back. “Awaiting flight clearance from Central net, please standby,” came the simple toneless voice through the speakers as the main display screen showed the waiting connecting screen.
Will waited for clearance as he tapped more keys, opening the large circle bay door in the roof of the garage. “Computer, turn on the Zed,” Will commanded. Over the speakers music began to play as his favorite station came on.
“Course approved,” rang out the craft’s computer. The screen changed, now showing a logged flight path.
“Computer, set auto pilot, and begin flight,” Will commanded, and buckled himself in.
The craft’s engines roared to life, and Will could hear them through the metals, which was no small feat. As the Craft ascended, the whine of the engines died down, and would be quiet to anyone within range now. “Computer, scenic mode,” he said with an easy command again.
As the craft made it’s way to the center of the garage, and slowly began to climb up, the inside of the craft seemed to melt away as outside cameras and sensors projected the outside world inside, and it was as if Will was floating alone, giving him a 360 view of his surroundings.
The inside of the garage gave way to the outside world as the craft ascended. Lakehall stretched out under him, the main residence higher then the long out strengths wings along the side and out of the back where it met the shoreline of the lake. The sharply sloped roofs hiding the stonework of the walls. It was always a comforting sight.
As the craft continued it’s rise, Will looked out over the large blue green waters. A few small pleasure crafts were out on the water. His father owned most the land surrounding the lake, as the craft were to close to be one of the nearby neighbors. No doubt one of his cousins living off his fathers wealth in one of the many homes which dotted the landscape.
The view under him began to change from the well landscaped grasses, flowers and hedges, to rougher farm lands in clearings of large swaths of forest splitting them up, linked by paths under it’s dense canopy. Will could feel the slight adjustment of speed as the view under him began to pass by quicker, and he raised his head to look at the horizon. Nestled between the large thickly treed mountains, Will could see in the distant small holdings, and towns. Northern Karthmere was lightly populated, but each lord still took pride in their homes.
Will had been to many of the household his Craft quickly zoomed by. He could picture them, and their families. Each of the Lords served under his father, and he believed it important to knew those who served him, and listen to their consul and angers.
It wasn’t long before the spires of Greendowns, the largest city in the north came into view. As the Craft neared, it’s speed and course adjusted as it melted into the flow of traffic. Through tall buildings, and connecting buildings, the Craft weaved and bobbed through traffic and the city landscape.
The sky lanes were normally pretty steady going in and out of Greendowns. It was one of the few large cities on the world of Karthmere which was filled with large estates, farms, and small towns. William had never seen them as busy as it was with the current protests going on.
People had come from far and wide to protest against King Oswald, his advisers, and the most recent round of anti-Furse laws aimed at the northern Commonwealth worlds. Laws and taxes. It was always laws and taxes.
William hated it. Hated the idea of spending a beautiful weekend packed in tight surrounded by morons. He couldn’t think of anything worse than being trapped surrounded by people he didn’t know. There didn’t seem to be any depth he wouldn’t go for Samantha.
“Computer, scenic mode off,” Will said, the sharp turns and twists making him ill.
The cabin of the craft came back to life. Lite up consoles shown as they tracked data. Will leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing.
The dull thud jarred him away, and he Rose in his seat, eyes blinking. Outside the main viewport Will could see they were inside a structure. A beep came from the console, before Will heard the familiar voice of the A.I. “You have arrived.
“Thanks,” Will said to himself, standing with a slight sigh. His idea of a good time wasn’t marching down the hot streets of Greendowns.
Will made his way out of the craft, walking from ramp to dock where he was greeted by the cold voice of another Bot.
“Greetings Sir, and welcome to Park N Pay! Rest assured your craft is in same hands for the low low price of 35 credits.” The Bot said to Will as he neared, raising a metal hand with palm out stretched.
“Yeah Yeah,” Will muttered as he reached into his pocket to grab his pad. He unlocked the pad, before holding it up to the Bot’s hand to be scanned.
“Thank you Mr Stout. Enjoy your stay in Greendowns.” The Bot replied before returning to a neutral position on the dock, and closing what it had for eyes.
William made his way off the dock, and through the glass doors into the main lobby of the Park N Pay. A few vending machines lined the way between rows of chairs. A few people sat and chatted among themselves. Waiting for rides, rentals, or who knew what was anyones guess. He continued on down the lobby, pass a small deli where a few more sat before reaching the main doors to the Park N Pay.
Will stepped outside into shade, but even so he could feel the difference from the controlled climate building. A light wind blew between the large towers, which felt nice against him tightly cut hair. The view was rather common to Will. The street was packed with free parking slots which filled the center of the street. Rows of trees, bushes, flowers and benches flanked the Craft, themselves being flanked by a mix of large and small towers.
“4th and 6th,” Will said into his pad, and watched the screen transition to show him a map of the area, his location, and his destination. Four blocks, Will thought as he studied his Pad.
He pushed his Pad into his pocket before starting towards 4th and 6th, where he would find Sam, and even be on time. He walked through shade, followed by rays of light and blue skies, and back into shade, before walking back into sun again, depending on the building and greenery next to him. The sun felt good on his skin, and he wished he could have been one of his cousins enjoying the waters of Silent Lake.
Crowds of people were walking the same way he was. Groups of twos, threes, and more. As he neared his destination crowds lined the sidewalks, and streets alike, themselves free of parked craft for the march. He scanned faces in the crowds, looking for Sam and her deep brown hair.
Will pulled his Pad out again, and looked at the screen. Close to his dot sat a cluster of three dots. Sam, Zoe, and Anders, he knew at once from the colours. He looked up and towards the direction of the cluster of dots, through the crowd of people walking about. Finally he could see the bright red hair of Anders, and bright blue of Zoe, with a tuff of brown towering over them.
Will smiled, and put away his Pad. With her back to him, he quickly, moved through the crowd to close the gap between them as people with signs, or in costumes went about their own business.
As Will reached Sam, he wrapped his arms around her thin waist, and spun her around to a delightful squeal. He set her down, and she turned, and pressed her body into his, and kissed him on the lips.
Sam break free, and Will was forced to open his eyes. She wrapped a arm under his and behind his back, looking at Zoe and Anders.
“Told you he wouldn’t be late,” she said playfully, and looked up at him. “Glad to see you stranger, haven’t see you all week.”
“You too,” he said before breaking his glaze off her, and turning to Zoe and Anders, who stood hand in hand. “Didn’t know you would be here.”
Anders smiled, and brought Zoe in closer. “I’d do anything for her, besides it’s going to be boring as hell, and I couldn’t let you suffer through it alone, what type of friend would I be.”
“Thanks pal,” William said with a smile.
“Well I guess we just walk,” Samantha said, and the four of them began to walk down the street, stepping between the crafts in the public parking lanes. At first the streets were lightly packed, but as they started, it began to get more and more crowded. People came up and offered signs, and other items. Organizers of the march.
They walked down block after block. Small talk between the various groups in crowd kept things lively. People wore hats, held signs, and all other matter of way to show their support of a united people. People started chants, and every once in a while someone would come up and try and ask questions with a Camera Bot in flight.
“So whats eating you?” Sam asked him after a few hours.
“Me?” Will asked, a confused look on his face.
“Yeah you, just seem lost is thought,” she told him as they continued hand in hand. Anders and Zoe in deep conversation next to them.
William thought for a moment, and nodded. “Nothing, nothing important really. Just keep thinking about my father. Never do anything good enough for him. Never had his trust, always has to use words like if.” He told her, and then shook him and let out a laugh. “It’s dumb I know, like I said, not important.”
“You ever figure out what you want to do yet?” Anders called out, clearly overhearing. “Should have picked a major by now.”
“Nothing has changed,” he said, looking pass Sam, and Zoe to Anders on the far side of the four of them. “Business, I’ll enjoy my time in college, and then work for my father at one of his businesses, doesn’t matter which, he has a plan.”
Anders let out a laugh. “Yeah that will work out, you need to figure out your own shit,” he told him.
“Thanks pal,” Will replied back to him, and felt Sam rest her head on his shoulder, as they continued to walk.
It didn’t take too much longer before Anders was complaining of eating, starving in fact. “Come on, lets just find some place to grab some food, and then we will get back on the march.”
“Fine,” Zoe said, clearly giving up in the battle. “Are you guys coming?” she asked Sam with a tilt of her head.
“Of course,” Sam replied and looked back to Will, forcing an easy nod out of him.
“Food would be good,” Will said out loud to one in particular. He was bored, it wasn’t his sort of thing, just something else he needed to push to get through, and any sort of break would be good.
“Thank the Gods,” Anders said, and pulled out his datapad, and told it to locate nearby restaurant. He swiped on it a few times, and then stopped. “Two blocks away, great little place, small, great reviews, this way,” he said pointing, “The Broken Crown,” he said and laughed.
They joked and made small chat as they weaved through the crowd and got to the outside edge where the crowd began to thin.
