Inked Wings

/ Angel’s POV /

‘Noel will be under The Doctor’s care from today and so on. Doc’s opted for it.’ Malik decides to drop a bomb on me. News that sounds this cliche, I have barely heard.

‘No.’ I am quick to deny it, gritting my teeth. ‘Dad’s not taking the kid. It’s illogical.’

It’s not something Dad couldn’t handle. He’s raised a whole group of kids for years and years but it’s not his decision or accountability in the first place.

‘Doc’ is not taking the kid, you are. Given your fuck up, Noel is your responsibility now.′

I might mishear that last line. I was careful and made sure none recognized me, there is no way they found their target through me. It’s been a long time coming, the Tackler’s death.

‘How does that-?’ My teeth cling and I bite my tongue in the rush to protest.

‘Why is he here, Angel?! You know you’re the reason. Besides, I think you need this. It’s a new goal.’ Give up on disassembling MEA, it’s useless.

‘Own up to your recklessness.’ He points at me. You’re getting more innocent people killed.

I feel my mouth stretch, the warm air going down my pipes. My eyes wet, my body hot, I don’t know if I should be petty or nod. ‘Hah.’ I manage. ‘Stupid.’

No. The kid’s staying put, he’s been under my wing enough.

‘You’re misunderstanding me. It’s not necessarily permanent. It depends.’ Malik reaches for my hand. I pull it away, wantin’ to hold onto this revolted state. I do not get the right often.

My feet shiver. ‘I got that. I know how we work.’

‘I know you do. You do, better than anyone.’ He reassures me, smiling ironically.

My whole spine is sore. Don’t wanna see the kid’s judging stare so I don’t check to see. This conversation is embarrassing enough already. ‘I’ll be back,’ I say, leaving them be.

The halls are a new model. I pass them, thinking how they need to do it over again. This looks too formal, cold and uninteresting, just like MEA’s satellites.

I pull off my hood, welcoming the cover.

‘Haha! Made it in one piece?’ Martha waits at the last door, led to the room I’m summoned to. She flicks her tail, smirking at me with half-closed eyes. ‘Did you adopt?’

I scoff, almost going for a gag. ‘Are you for real?’

She giggles. ‘The kid’s so cute. What’s their name?’ She must’ve spotted him through the window or one of the cameras.

‘His name’s Noel.’

‘How’s he like?’

‘What is it to you?’

‘I’m just asking.’ Martha shrugs me off. ‘Do you think he’ll like me?’

‘Only naive peeps like you. I can’t figure out why, tho’.’

‘Wow.’ She scratches her ears. ‘Sensitive much? I’m just curious about Noel, little shut-in.’

‘It’s not important. You’ll likely never meet him, hothead.’

‘You’ll likely combust when Morgana assigns him to you.’ She shifts her balance from one hip to another. ‘He’ll become family, it’s normal to wonder about him, Angel. You’ve already gotten an advantage at our new race for favorite sibling.’

‘Stop spewing nonsense. He’ll never be anything other than a random kid I’ve happened to save. End of discussion.’ I turn to the door.

‘Bro, what’s gotten into you lately?’ I hear before the door slides closed.

I’m angry. All signs of my state, both physical and mental, are stronger than before. It’s so hard to chill, I’m being obvious with it, even with Morgana, whose smile drops.

‘Malleus-of-the-Ravens... what inferno did you go through you’re so stressed, boy?’ She stands on the support installed, one hand over the AI controls.

I pull my nose, parting my dry lips. ‘Don’t ask me. You should be talking to the kid.’

‘Noel, is it?’

I nod.

“It might be easier for him to speak up to another normie.” I don’t voice that.

‘Well, not. No, I should not be talking to him. I’m doing this right by questioning why one of my best people has gone this off the rails of my given wisdom.’ She adjusts her hair tie, loosening her cornrows while keeping eye contact strong. So much usually bothers her.

‘Are you trying to speak in riddles?’ I put my hands behind my waist.

‘What you’re trying to do -’ She lowers finger after finger, counting. ‘- Requires resources, puts people’s life at stake and asks for our counter force, which is slim to none.’

‘Most of us being so young is not a problem, because I don’t ask for what I can harvest myself.’ My tone shifts, being formal.

‘Now you’re slipping into random expressions.’ She smiles. ‘Tell me then.’

My head shakes slightly, unsure.

‘Your idea, the risks and their prevention. Again, from over the top.’

I inhale, then exhale, gathering my thoughts.

‘I don’t have a name for it. It’s not necessary, but like I’ve told you before, in vague terms: MEA heavily relies on two things. Energy and Brute Force. Disabling all energy is out of the question obviously, so all we have left is putting a dent in their main Force.’

‘They confidently construct Force bases in constricted places but open-ended, thinking no one will have the guts to approach them since they are currently “military”. It’s true. There are a lot of people. It’s heavily guarded. They are individually very uptight with their system, especially their fire system. It’s hard to be subtle about conquering them because of it. We can’t face them head-on. We will be shot. Infiltrating is the only way and the hardest way of achieving my goal.’

‘But it’s not impossible. Yeah, I’m not going into detail right now. But if we play our cards right, right? And observe enough and learn their patterns – We can find an in, I had that in. That’s how I ended up with the kid. Like I said, I talked to Doc’ and we can muster our own weapons. And I’ve talked to my family and they’re on my side… at least most of them. And I have the people – we can create the resources, and I, this is a me thing... Only who I allow to take part can take part. It’s not a thing about adopting a World Conqueror style or something like that.′

Morgana stops me, using the palm gesture. ‘Tell me about the kid. What happened?’

‘But I haven’t properly answered -’

‘First, tell me about Noel.’

My hands fall to the sides of my legs.

Changing the subject, is this response obvious? I digress.

‘Well…’ I start, again:

‘Oh, yes - His father was an experienced and highly skilled Tackler. He could break through any System. And he proved to me, he could do that indeed. He had prepared a whole chip to give me, the whole plan ready. That is how I knew, he was serious.’

‘And then?’

‘...Turns out MEA took notice of his past aggressions and decided to track him. They succeeded, demanded for all his work likely and when he refused, they killed him off. That’s how these situations usually go.’

‘Where was Noel during that?’

‘In his room. His father sent me after him. Don’t know why he didn’t do it himself. Maybe because the situation turned time sensitive. I found the kid; he ran away from me because he did not trust a stranger. I managed to stop him from getting himself killed and got him here. Hardly.’ The memories replay in my brain, becoming irritated and tired.

‘Did he eventually realize what happened to his father?’ Morgana turned on the AI in here.

‘He saw.’

She hesitated. ‘I see. That’s unfortunate.’ She presses a few clicks and turns on the screen. ‘What did you observe about him?’

‘Is that necessary?’

She gives me a look.

My eyes roll, beginning a new train of thought. ‘He is…stubborn, I guess.’

Still pressing buttons, loading encrypted information into the AI. ‘Go on.’

I shrug, my head circling. ‘I have nothing to add.’

‘Really now?’

I mean, the kid’s creative, angry, interested in technology, sensitive, difficult, etc.…

‘Really. We didn’t spend much time together.’ I shake my right leg, flinching.

‘That wound is still giving you trouble?’

‘You found out?’

‘You keep Doc’ updated, he keeps me up to date in turn.’ The screen displays a checkmark. She pulls her hands away from the keyboard, burying them in the coat she is wearing. ‘Are your prosthetics still functional?’

‘Mostly.’

‘Are they still giving you pain after being overworked?’

‘Small sting near my veins is all. No big deal.’

Morgana scoffs. ‘Alright then. Go gather your team. For now, you’re dismissed.’

…She is considering it. ‘...Why?’

‘You got your chance, stop prying farther or you’ll lose that chance.’

I nod. ‘Thanks. Thank you.’

‘Sure. Our next meeting is tomorrow, first thing in the early dusk.’

The meeting’s over, things are going smoothly for once, is this what relief feels like?

I find Martha, still waiting at the entrance, balancing against the wall. ‘What’d she say?’

I take a moment. ‘...She agrees.’

‘Cool, you’ve been wanting this since forever. We’ll celebrate with Limon Cider.’ She adjusts her position, standing properly now.

‘Before…’ I trail off. ‘It was uncalled for – my anger.’

‘Definitely but I mean, I’m not angry at your anger but at how you acted on it. You hit and miss with this emotion, bro.’ She raises her shoulders then flips her palms.

‘Hm.’ I do not know how to respond.

‘Let’s go home. But first! Where’s the kid?’ She asks me.

‘Left him with Malik. I’ll go get him.’

Martha snorts. ‘No need, silly. They’re already on the road. If we leave now, we should arrive at…about the same time,’ she tells me, pointing at the ceiling to make a – point.

‘Fine,’ I say, my hand massaging the migraines within my figure. ‘Let’s go. I need the break.’