//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 - The Calm Before the Storm // Story: Seeds of Redemption // by Pyrefly_91 //------------------------------// It seemed luck was on our side. As we walked through the terminal, we were undisturbed. Even after checking in at the ticket desk, no one checked our bags. We even received an escort from the main desk to the hanger where the plane was waiting for us, completely bypassing the metal detectors and bag checks. As we approached the aircraft, the door opened, and down the stairs stepped a man dress in a black suit. Instinctively I reached to the pistol I still had tucked against the small of my back. However I stopped drawing it when the figure walked down the stairs with his arms in the air. “I mean you no harm sir.” The man as he stepped off the stairs. Now being on solid ground, he did a slow turn, revealing that he was unarmed. “I’m gonna be your pilot for this trip. Am I right to assume that you are Mr. Jason Marston?” “Yeah, and who are you?” I responded, with my hand still wrapped around the grip of the handgun. “And while we’re at it, why don’t you tell me why I’m being chauffeured across the country in a private jet? What's so special about me that I need to find this stash that belonged to an ancestor that has no bearing on my present life?” “Well,” the man began, ”my name is Coulson.” Upon hearing the name, I couldn’t help but blow a slight raspberry, fighting to hold back a burst of laughter. Hearing this, Applejack turned to me and cocked an eyebrow in confusion. “What’s so funny Jay?” She asked. “His name,” I blurted out, no longer able to hold back the onslaught of laughs. “What about it?” Almost as suddenly as I started laughing, I stopped and looked ‘Coulson’ square in the eyes. “Come on guy. Do you think I’m that dumb?” “What in the hay are you talking about?” “You know what,” I say, throwing my hands up into the air, “fuck it. So then, ‘Coulson’, finish answering my question.” “With pleasure. You are special because you are the only one in your family that took us seriously. We found the stash and learned who it belonged to. But instead of turning it over to the government, seeing how it was all stolen notes, we figure why not give it to the living relatives of the one it once belonged to.” “Why do I find that hard to belie-” Before I finished, AJ put her hand on my shoulder, stopping me from finishing my sentence. I looked at her, but her eyes were glued to Coulson, examining him with her piercing emerald eyes. After a few moments, she took her hand off my shoulder, and turned towards me. “He’s telling the truth sugarcube.” She said with a bizarre certainty. “How do you know?” I questioned, stunned by her comment. “I just can. Do you trust me?” My voice caught in my throat. ‘How the hell can she say that?’ I screamed in my head. ‘This guy looks exactly like the guys that just tried to kill us a few hours ago! How the fuck does she expect me to believe this guy isn’t with them. It’s a fucking trap! We’re dead the moment we get on that plane!’ “Jay.” Her voice broke my train of thought, causing me to pause a moment. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and calmed myself. After a few seconds, I looked at her, drawn to those eyes, always her eyes. “With my life.” I replied, the hate and anger disappearing just as suddenly as it came. I then turned to the pilot, finally removing my hand from the pistol grip. “Alright, lets get on with this.” “Good,” Coulson said, clapping his hands together. “Well, with everything sorted out, we can get on the way. Now if it makes you feel comfortable, you can keep your bags with you. The trip is gonna take a few hours. Be mindful that once we land, that the time will be 3 hours earlier than what it is now. With that said, lets get this bird off the ground and into the sky where she belongs.” Now with Coulson in the lead, the three of us boarded the aircraft. The interior was devoid of seats, with the exception of a few along the sides of the wall in the very back. The rest of the space was filled with a big screen TV, a wireless receiver and transmitter, and a fully stocked bar table, complete with bartender. “Make yourselves at home,” Coulson said, walking to the middle of the plane and doing a quick pirouette, his arms outstretched. “You don’t do minimal, do you?” I said, drinking in the area. “This is incredible!” AJ gawked beside me. “And you mean to tell me that this thing can fly?” Hearing this, Coulson looked at Applejack, a quizative look plastered on his face. Noticing this, I quickly walked over to the belle and clasped a hand over her mouth. “She’s never been on a plane before.” I quickly said, hoping he believed me. He casually shrugged and walked over to pilots door. As he reached the door, he turned back towards AJ and I and stretched his arms wide again. “You’re free to use all that you see here as soon as we get airborne and the ‘stay seated’ light turns off. Is there anything you need before take off?” “I don’t mean to be mean but can we lose the bartender? If its alright, and if I’m gonna be drinking I would like to be the one handling the booze.” “No problem. Sorry Lyra. Looks like we won’t be needing you for this flight. Please tell Bonnie I hope she gets better soon. We miss her.” With a nod, the bartender walked out from behind the counter. Though I acknowledged her, I didn’t notice any of the details about her. However, now as I watched her leave, I saw that she was a petite woman with mint green hair and bright yellow eyes. On one of her back pockets a harp shaped patch was sewn on. Applejack grabbed my arm, but decided not to say anything. Instead she merely smiled. Before I could ask, Coulson spoke up. “Now with that taken care of, are we clear for take off?” Shaking off the questions I had for Applejack, I nodded and lead her to one of the seats, and sat down next to her. With us in place, Coulson disappeared into the cockpit. Suddenly the plane began to shake, which started AJ. After reassuring her that we were just getting ready to take off, Coulson came onto the intercom. “Alright lady and gentleman. The trip is gonna take 5 hours to complete. We have a full tank of gas, so there will be no need for us to land anywhere besides our destination, which will be LAX International Airport. Upon landing, you guys will be given a vehicle, and escorted to a hotel. You will receive your room once you check in. Everything has already been paid for and anything you order will be free of charge. Oh, and there will also be a fully stocked mini fridge with booze and food for you to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the flight and I’ll be seeing you again once we land. So kick back, and enjoy the flight. And before I forget, the wifi is password free so enjoy that too. See you in a few hours. Coulson out.” And with that the ‘stay seated’ light flashed on, and the plane began its trip to the runway. Within moments we were in the air, and Applejack was loving every second of it. As time passed, she settled down and eventually fell asleep. As the beauty beside me slept, I linked my phone with the TV and accessed the internet. Once everything booted up, the home screen showed a news story. But before I could change the page, a video caught my eye. The title read “Brockton Man Kidnaps Girl” and the thumbnail had a news woman sitting behind a desk and in a overlay was a sketch of my face, with a sketch of Applejack beside it. Out of pure shock and awe, I open the video. “Breaking news out of Brockton today,” began the anchor, “as a man by the name of Jason Michael Marston has kidnapped a yet  to be identified woman. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen them board a plan that has now taken off. The destination of the flight is unknown, but officials believe that it is a cross country flight. Airport employees have been told to be on the lookout for the suspect and to alert security the moment they recognize him or the women that he is with. It is also believed that he abducted the mystery woman at random while leaving the Braintree Mall earlier in the day. It is also been said that in order to make her complacent, that while taking her to his car in the parking garage, that he shot a handful of parked vehicles. Luckily no one was in the building at the time the shots were fired, resulting in no casualties. More on this story as it develops.” ‘Fuck.’ Is all I could think of.