« We were human before. And even without that, we're the ones who chose this path. And don't lump all monsters together—I accepted being one, but I aspire to something else. »
Alan takes a long swig, then looks Yumiel straight in the eyes.
« You, something else? Ah, that might well be true. But you know, for me, monsters, humans, or Awakened—it's all the same. The moment someone has power, they do whatever they please, even if they have to leave an ocean of blood behind. »
Jack finishes the bottle and now looks at Alan in turn.
« All these stories have made me hungry—how long until we arrive? »
Alan is about to take another sip, but Yumiel takes the bottle from him, finishing it right in front of him. He waves his hand as if to say "not cool," then slides into the pilot's seat, checking the route.
« We'll arrive in about 8 hours. »
Suddenly, in the distance through the cockpit, the sun can be seen rising. Yumiel immediately retreats deeper into the plane, hiding from the sunlight.
Alan mutters to himself as he watches Yumiel leave at dawn: « A vampire then, hmm. »
Jack comes back to Alan, a food tray in hand, offering it to him. He takes it, thanks Jack, and starts eating with him while watching the sunrise.
Once the tray is finished, Jack asks Alan a multitude of questions about planes, engineering, mechanics. Alan is happy to answer, and they keep talking for several hours.
In the back, Yumiel has closed all the windows, pulled the curtain leading to the cockpit, plunging herself into complete darkness.
Lying on the couch, resting—although she can't sleep—she had pushed her senses to their limit for too long, and wouldn't say no to a bit of blood.
Jack makes a few back-and-forth trips, taking care when lifting the curtain. Alan comes in turn, then lies down, trying to sleep. Jack, for his part, stays in the cockpit.
Hours pass, and the sun begins to set because of the time difference. Alan wakes up; Yumiel watches him wake, turning on the lights. Turning his head, he sees Yumiel looking at him.
« You don't sleep? »
« I wish I could, but unfortunately I'm no longer allowed to. Since I changed, I no longer feel sleep-related fatigue, nor the need to sleep. »
Alan heads toward the restroom, replying quickly.
« Sometimes, that's not so bad. »
Jack leaves the cockpit and approaches Yumiel.
« Feeling better? »
« With a bit of blood, I'd feel better. »
« We're arriving soon, just 2 hours left. By the way, I wanted to tell you—since I got the skinny guy's limbs, I feel like I'm stronger. »
« So, again, you can't recover an Awakened's mental abilities, but physical ones, yes? »
« It seems so. »
Jack goes back to the cockpit. Alan comes out of the restroom and joins Jack in the cockpit. About thirty minutes later, Jack rushes out of the cockpit.
« Yumiel, come quickly! »
She follows him to the cockpit, making sure the sun has fully set before joining them.
Alan is seated in the pilot's seat with a headset, Jack in the copilot's seat also wearing a headset. Yumiel stands behind them. Jack hands her a headset; she takes it and sits in her seat.
Suddenly, as she puts it on, she hears someone speaking Chinese in the headset, then in English, saying:
« This is Chinese air control. Unidentified Falcon aircraft, please state your call sign and your intentions. »
The message repeats in Chinese, then in English, alternately. Yumiel doesn't dare speak. Alan looks at her, then presses the PTT (push to talk).
« Chinese air control, this is Falcon. We are on approach, requesting identification and authorization. »
Yumiel listens to the conversation without speaking. Jack sits in the third seat, also wearing a headset and listening. Neither of them has any idea what to answer, leaving Alan to handle it.
« Falcon, you are not authorized to overfly this airspace. Identify yourself immediately and state your destination. »
Alan hesitates, taking a brief pause. He turns his gaze toward Jack, then Yumiel, finger ready to press.
« Falcon, are you there? »
They can see Alan thinking, then pressing the PTT.
« This is Falcon, destination Qiqihar. Requesting further instructions. »
The control tower takes time to respond, leaving everyone in a heavy silence. Yumiel has absolutely no control over the situation, and she hates that. Jack, seated, doesn't really seem to care. Alan, however, is sweating lightly—he knows what will happen if they're refused outright.
Suddenly, as the tension reaches its peak, the Chinese control tower replies.
« Falcon, maintain current heading and altitude. Do not deviate. Await instructions. »
Alan exhales, and Yumiel follows, sighing in turn and removing her headset. Yumiel then says:
« So? Are we in the clear? »
« In the clear, no—but we've bought some time. I'll tell you how this is going to go. First, not knowing your plans, I gave a false city close to where you actually want to go. »
Alan takes a breath, settling back slightly in his seat.
« Now, they're going to ask where we're coming from and why we're coming. My question is: what do you want to do? I assume you're not going to tell them you're monsters who've come to very likely sow chaos. »
Jack in the back tries to analyze the situation.
« We could say we fled London. »
« If you say that, we'll all die. They won't accept a potential threat landing on their soil like that, especially with what's going on. »
« He's right, Jack. Saying that would be suicide—it's like asking them to accept the Trojan horse. »
Yumiel thinks as fast as she can. Suddenly, a voice comes through the headset. Yumiel and Alan put their headsets back on, followed by Jack.
« Falcon, this is Chinese air control, do you receive me? Respond. »
Alan is about to answer, but Yumiel stops him, offering to speak. Alan lets her, but tells her:
« No more than a few sentences or words. »
Pressing the PTT, she says:
« Air control, this is Falcon. I read you five by five. »
« Falcon, state your intentions and where you are coming from! »
Yumiel keeps her finger on the PTT, hesitant. She thinks as fast as possible, searching for what to say before improvising.
« Air control, we are coming from Central Europe. We are transporting several VIPs en route to Qiqihar. »
A radio silence follows. Then, after a few long seconds, a response comes through.
« Falcon, who are these VIPs? »
Yumiel knows it—this is where everything is decided.
« This is Falcon. The VIPs are wealthy individuals who have requested China's protection. Requesting ground verification in a city near Qiqihar if necessary. »
A brief wait, then finally a response.
« Falcon, this is air control. Land at Mudanjiang for verification. »
« Air control, copy that. »