170. Stardust Glider
Instead of stopping at the main entrance, the luxury car circled around the terminal and halted in front of a barrier gate.
The operator raised the gate arm as the luxury car approached. With a gesture from Mrs. Prince, both cars were let in.
We parked near a back entrance to the terminal, where a uniformed man opened the door from inside. Mrs. Prince moved through the building as if strolling in her backyard, making a few turns before leading us up a stairway.
A female attendant greeted her promptly, noted down the travelers' names, and led us through a corridor that connected to an airlock.
As we approached, the airlock hissed open, revealing not the cramped cabin I'd imagined but a sleek, cathedral-like space bathed in the soft, pulsing glow of overhead light strips.
The walls curved gracefully, a seamless blend of polished metal and translucent panels that hinted at the vastness beyond.
Instead of rows of seats, individual pods, like elegant cocoons, were arranged in a circular pattern around a central, open area.
A slender woman with a calm, professional smile approached us. "Welcome aboard, Mrs. Prince and esteemed guests. Welcome to Stardust Glider. I'm Elara, your flight attendant. Please, this way."
She led us towards four pods, each crafted from brushed titanium and a dark, pliant material that looked like woven starlight.
As I approached, the pod's door shimmered and retracted silently. "Mr. Kane, would you mind removing your armor? It's for your comfort and safety," Elara asked politely.
I didn't see any other option. I removed my chest plate and accessories while Elara helped store them in a cabinet beside the pod. "Please, take a seat," she said in a soothing voice. "The pod will adjust to your measurements."
I settled into the contoured seat. It felt…alive. As Elara secured a series of flexible bands around my torso and limbs, the pod gently molded itself to my body, providing a snug, yet comfortable fit.
"First time, Mr. Kane?" Elara asked, her eyes twinkling. I nodded, suddenly feeling a surge of nervous excitement. The seat moved under me, giving me a startle. It reclined all the way until I was facing the ceiling.
"You're holding up very well," she said encouragingly. "Don't worry—it's just like a rollercoaster ride."
As she spoke, I noticed she was suppressing her aura—she was a Wave Realm Perfection. "Does the aircraft require Wave Realm practitioners to fly?"
Before Elara could respond, Aisha explained with her usual serene voice, "From Seattle, yes. They only restored 10 miles of track in Seattle, so during acceleration, you'll experience over 10G of pressure—anyone below Wave Realm would be crushed."
As Aisha was speaking, the overhead window slid open. The viewport revealed complete darkness at the moment, reminding us that we were underground.
I glanced at my companions. Arnold was visibly excited; despite his previous suborbital flight experience, he seemed somewhat nervous.
Mrs. Prince looked at me with a smile. "There's a button under your right hand—you can take pictures by pressing it. You'll receive them after we land."
I had more questions, but a low hum filled the cabin, growing steadily into a deep, resonant thrum.
A calm, automated voice announced, "Engaging EMALS." A pressure built against my back, not the violent jolt I'd braced for, but a smooth, powerful push.
It was like being pressed into a giant, invisible hand. The G-forces were intense, pushing me deeper into the pod, but the support system distributed the pressure evenly. It was exhilarating, a feeling of immense power combined with surprising comfort.
Suddenly, bright light streamed through the viewport—we had emerged from the underground tunnel.
Then, just as abruptly as it began, the pressure eased. "EMALS release confirmed," the automated voice announced.
My stomach did a little flip. I was weightless. Looking out of the viewport, the Earth was breathtaking, a vibrant blue marble suspended in the inky blackness of space.
Stars, impossibly bright, blazed against the void. I could see the curve of the horizon, the thin, delicate line of the atmosphere separating our world from the vast unknown.
For the next half an hour, we drifted in our pods, mesmerized by the view. Elara pointed out constellations and explained the science behind suborbital flight.
Arnold, having regained his usual energy, was practically bouncing in his pod, while Mrs. Prince was snapping photos with her viewer. Even Aisha seemed impressed, occasionally gazing intently through her viewport at the Earth below.
Too soon, the automated voice announced, "Beginning descent." A gentle pressure returned as the Stardust Glider began its atmospheric reentry. The pod adjusted again, realigning us as the aircraft began its long, graceful glide back to Earth. The view was different now, the blue marble slowly resolving into continents and oceans.
The landing was so smooth it felt almost imperceptible—one moment we were soaring high above the landscape, the next, the glider had touched down effortlessly on the runway. As the pod door shimmered open, Elara greeted us with her warm smile. "Welcome back, everyone. How was your flight?"
Arnold let out an exuberant whoop. Mrs. Prince beamed with delight. Aisha offered a small, almost reluctant smile of approval. Still slightly dazed, I glanced between my companions and Elara.
"Incredible," I managed, though the word felt woefully inadequate to capture what I'd just experienced. It was beyond incredible—it was truly transformative.
… …
Outside the terminal, the luxury car was waiting for us. Mrs. Prince had even arranged for her car to be transported by the Stardust Glider. A female driver emerged from a black sedan parked behind the luxury car and opened the passenger door for us. Arnold and I swiftly climbed in.
The capital's airport was above ground and much larger than Seattle's. A steady stream of cars flowed in and out of its several terminals.
Leaving the airport, the majestic city wall came into view. It towered overhead, vast and imposing, exuding an oppressive sense of ancient grandeur.
The city gates were heavily guarded, and the powerful aura emanating from them was palpable even without using the Aura Observation Technique.
The luxury car slowly merged into traffic on the eight-lane highway packed with vehicles. The drive to the sprawling Prince residence in the west of the city took longer than our flight had.
The mansion's imposing silhouette stood stark against the city skyline, a testament to its grandeur. Its white stone façade featured intricate carvings and towering columns that hinted at the opulence within. Stone gargoyles peered from the eaves, their grotesque features contrasting with the pristine, sprawling gardens below. A wrought-iron fence enclosed the estate, its gleaming edges catching the sunlight—a silent guardian of the power and secrets held within.
Several security guards emerged from the mansion and stood at attention by the gate, awaiting our arrival.
Walking out of the car, Mrs. Prince smiled gently. "Aisha, why don't you stay in the mansion and keep me company?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Prince, but as a member of H.A.R.M., I should stay at the Martial Abbey," Aisha Patani said with a slight shake of her head.
Throughout the journey, her demeanor remained calm and gentle—faultless, yet distinctly reserved rather than warm.
Though Cascadia had initially sought her help, Mrs. Prince paid no attention to such formalities.
Given Aisha's extraordinary martial arts talent and striking beauty that left others in awe, nothing else mattered.
Mrs. Prince maintained her smile. "At least meet my son first. Since you'll be guiding his martial arts training, you should see if he's apt to learn, shouldn't you?"
After a moment's silence, Aisha stepped toward the mansion.
Standing behind them, Arnold Stark grabbed my arm with a vice-like grip as I was walking away, his teeth clenched as he whispered, "General Kane… where are you going…"
When did he get this strong? I can't even pull him back!
"I'm going to get my reward." I stopped and frowned. Though I was unaware of the situation between the Admiral and the Princes, it wasn't my concern. Why should I stay and make tedious small talk?
"Please, just bear with it for a little longer..." Arnold gritted his teeth. "How can you leave at the Prince residence's gate without a word? That would be a slap in Mrs. Prince's face!"
Despite rising from a H.A.R.M. captain in Crown Mountain to a H.A.R.M. General of Vancouver, his social awareness hadn't grown to match his elevated position. Arnold thought ruefully to himself.