Chapter 3- Advantages of controlling shadows

Micheal immediately began to think of how he could put his plan into action. It worked for smaller creatures, but would it work for one so big, and hellbent on killing him. He would just have to find out. . . . and very soon at that. The first step of the plan would be to make the beast stay still it wouldn't work if it was moving and all active.

He needed that cave of yesterday, but he was not sure if he was on the right trail. 'If i had known, i would have memorized the trail' he thought inwardly as the dodged the tree branch that whizzed over his head. He turned back to look at the distance between them and he could see the leopard was not that far away, it also licked its lips as Michael turned back to look at it.

''Urgh. . . . psychopath'' he said out loud and focused on looking in front of him. 

********

Michael ran for a straight ten minutes, with the one-eyed leopard chasing very close behind, it could even swipe at Michael right now and end the chase, but it wanted to tire this hateful human that called it names and insulted its ancestors and generations, but it also wanted to enjoy eating this human. Its spitefulness would end today. 

''Disgrace of a cyclops, your fore-ancestors could do better than you are doing now, but here you are still chasing a weak, frail, kind and defenseless human like me for ten minutes. Tch, trash like you shouldn't even be allowed to be bred, i ought to. . . . '' Michael continued dishing insults to the leopard but it behaved as if it didn't hear him, it even had a smug expression on its face.

'What kind of freak doesn't react to an insult' Michael thought inwardly, he hoped to anger it and make more susceptible to surprises but it acted calm and kept on chasing him, albeit with a smug expression on its face.

Michael was starting to get tired, what he hoped would happen didn't and the leopard was still chasing. Suddenly, he heard a sound. The sound kept getting louder and louder, it was a foreign sound, a sound that was not made by anything in the jungle. It was the sound of a jet.

Michael could not believe it, the sound of a jet, he had not heard the beautiful sound of civilization in how many years now, and it was getting closer. He could not miss this chance. A once in a lifetime opportunity for him. He now to had to figure out how to signal the jet, and with a leopard chasing close behind him.

********

The leopard looked overhead at the sound. It stopped its chase to determine where the sound was coming from. It thought for a moment before continuing its chase with Michael, it could not allow this hateful human to escape from it again.

''You sure you still want to be chasing me, my friends are coming real soon, and you will be quite sorry that you angered me, hehehe'' Michael taunted the leopard in a bid to dissuade it from its chase but his efforts proved useless as the leopard quickened its pace, nearing Michael by mere meters .

'Tch, still chasing me huh'. There was a large clearing ahead, it would make a great area to signal the jet.

He ran into the clearing at full speed and began waving his hands at the now visible jet in the sky.

********

Onboard the ship

A man working the controls for the huge ship.

''Sir, there's somebody running in the clearing below us. . . . . and he seems to be chased by a beast sir. Please wait sir let me confirm the image. 'He said as he zoomed in on Michael who was waving his hands frantically to signal the huge airship 'Got it sir, he is being chased by a one-eyed leopard with wings '' The man working the controls said to a communicator to the man in his room.

''Is he alone?'' the man addressed as sir asked.

''Appears so sir''

''Lock on to the beast and shoot it down'' The man addressed as sir gave the orders.

''After that sir?'' There was silence for a few seconds before he answered.

''Pick up the person''

''Yes sir'' He said and turned the communicator off.

********

Michael was elated with joy when the air ship slowed down and began shooting at the leopard. It jumped in surprise at the sudden open of fire. It gave a loud roar at the airship and turned to face Michael again. 'This ugly creature caused this' it thought.

Michael gave a hypnotic laugh and put all his strength in his legs and ran. They saw him and were firing at the leopard for him. Seeing the airship slow down and begin to shoot the leopard gave him a little boldness. ''I told you, but you wouldn't listen and very soon you will be filled with holes.''

The leopard roared once more and began evading the bullets. Fury was written on its face, but it was mainly preoccupied with dodging the bullets so when Michael gave another mocking laugh, it overlooked it.

********

''Huh, it's a kid'' One of the men behind the controls said to the person next to him.

''Why does he seem to be laughing'' another person asked. His only answer was a shrug.

********

The leopard soon after ran away when it could no longer keep dodging the bullets. Michael panted heavily with a smile on his dirty face. He had bested the leopard once again, and hopefully he wouldn't have to ever.

The giant airship slowly brought itself to land close to Michael and the ramp slowly open revealing an old man in view of Michael. He said no words and just beckoned for Michael to get in.

Michael, not used to human face in a long time took a few seconds to react before nodding his head entering the airship that took off soon after.

''Are you not going to ask me anything?'' Michael asked after several seconds of silence.

''What do you want me to ask you?'' The old man asked him as well. He kept quiet before shaking his head.

''Let me start with this. How long have you been there'' The old man asked him as he surveyed his old clothes that were clearly too small for him and was dirty and torn all over.

Michael looked at himself before answering. ''Four years, i think. Give or take ''.

''Hmmm''

''You want to ask me why that leopard was chasing me''

''Yes, i have wondered about that'' 

''Well, you see, i mistakenly interrupted when it was hunting, and it lost its meal, so it began to chase''

''There was fury written in its eyes, are you sure that's all?''

''I might have insulted it a little while it was chasing me so. . . ''

The old man made no more attempts to talk so they walked in silence until they reached a room. ''Master has allowed me to put you here so this is where you shall stay until we have reached our destination. Do not come out of here, do you understand ''. Michael nodded and entered the room and watched the door close. 

He could not help but sigh in relief at the sight of humanity once again. He sat down on the soft bed and closed his eyes for a second. He was joyful after all he has connected back to humanity once, but what would he do after this. He had to think of the next step after this.

He decided he would continue with his train of thought after taking a bath. It had been more than four years since he had a bath with clean water and soap.

********

Michael walked out of the room to see the old man stare at him. He had taken a bath and since his old clothes no longer size him and were dirty, he was wearing some clothes he saw in a cabinet in his room. Luckily the clothes were almost his size, albeit a bit bigger.

It had not been less than two hours since they picked him up and they had landed again.

''Where did you see these clothes'' the old man asked him.

''In the cabinet. . .they were. . . . they seemed unused so i . . er'' He started stammering when he was asked but the man shut him up by raising his hand.

''I don't care about that. Master wants to see you''. He immediately began walking and Michael followed after him. The rhythmic thrumming of the airship had stopped.

They had walked for quite a while until they reached a part of the ship, he thought was the captain's quarters. There was a man within the age of forty sitting on what he thought was the captain's chair, showing he was in charge. The chair swiveled to face them and the 'captain' stared at them, more accurately Michael.

''Are you the one the leopard was chasing '' the man asked in a gruff voice.

''There isn't anyone else here is there?''. He asked back with a snap which he instantly regretted when a glint appeared in the man's eyes. Michael nearly fell over. The look the man gave him just now put fear in his heart, he instantly realized something 'this was the captain was this airship, he would obviously be strong'. Michael swallowed, the glint in the man's eyes left and he looked normal again. 

''Have you awakened your ability?''. To that which he nodded. ''So that's what giving you a couple of balls''. He chuckled, Michael instantly regretted doing what he did.

''Alright, what happened to you?''.

Michael started explaining from the top about how his father had sent him down to the large forest to save him from the ambush. He remembered the big explosion and the sleek airship his parents were in exploded into pieces.

He told the captain about he had stayed in the jungle filled with wild beasts for five years alone.

How he had barely been able to survive each night. His body was so thin and small that he still looked almost the same as he did for years ago. Food had really been a hassle for him since he didn't have any powers at that time.

"I see. No wonder you're a lunatic." The captain said even after all the passionate Michael story had told him. A vein popped in his head as he heard that but kept his cool. This was the owner of the ship. He was very powerful and someone he should not even think of offending in his pathetic state. But his next words took him by surprise.

"I'll take you to go get a system. Then if you'll agree, we'd like to put you on this ship as part of the crew". His words were still said in his usual gruff tone but it had an effect on Michael.

"A system. What's that". He was happy about the fact that he could work here. Even after getting onboard. He had no clue what his next moves would be. The fact that the captain had already offered him a job put most of his worries aside.

"Oh yes, I forgot that you were in the jungle for five years. Three years ago. A technology that is said to be pinnacle for a humans and would help them grow infinitely and have even further mastery of their powers came out. It is called the system. It is a technological breakthrough. With the system, you can grow infinitely as I've already said. I am not the best at explaining things so its better you come and see it for yourself. If you'll agree to join the crew of course."

Michael tried not to let the excitement show on his face. He was already thinking of how to get a job after this and here he was being offered one.

The airship had landed in a small city to drop some things and collect more supplies so after a couple of hours, they were good to go.

The airship slowly lifted up from the ground before flying away at breakneck speed. He watched from the window in his room how they flew at great speeds over several cities and passed other ships as well.

They then got to one large city that was floating in the middle of the water away from any piece of land.

The city looked like it was an island. But was very big and modern. Seeing the modernization he had longest for a long time he could not help but he satisfied.

After so long, he was back.

The airship which was flying at an extreme speed slowed down once it got close to the city before stopping completely at the edge of the city.

The airship gave their name, code number and were allowed into the city. Michael saw a shield he did not even know was there slowly withdraw and the turrets that had already locked on to their airship turn their aim away.

The airship landed on the landing dock where other airships were as well. Their size was enough for you to question what the airship was used for.

The captain called Michael back into the command room and they both left the airship after the remaining crew were given instructions to carry out.

"The place where you'll get your system is not too far from here. We can walk". The captain said.

"What do they call the place". Michael asked.

"The place where you'll get your system". The captain replied his face showing no signs of amusement.

'Shesh. This old geezer sure is cranky'.

And in truth then place was not too far off. They took a flying car all the way to a skyscraper and got up at the top.

The entered the elevator and got down in the middle floors. "Why didn't we just get the system from the top. Michael asked.

"Because that's where rich men get theirs and am not going to waste my hard earned salary on a kid who I don't even know". His reply was blunt as well as sensible.

They were admitted and the captain said he wanted to get a system for Michael.

The female clerk asked.

"Name please: Captain wegener".

"Name of the boy: Michael Foxe". Michael answered that.

"Age: 16".

"OK, we'll go and prep the machine for Mr Foxe". The female clerk said and went into the room behind her and coming back a moment later.

After five minutes, Michael was asked to go in and was met with a sight.

He saw a chair with countless wires going and coming through it. He also saw some people waiting for him by the sale of the chair.

"You much be Mr Foxe. Well just strap in and we'll be ready".