LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 239
Chapter 239 – Snake On a Plane
—
“Wow, this aircraft is amazing. I think I was on a plane like this when I went on a school trip to Jeju Island… I never thought I’d be flying to America on one of these now. I couldn’t even imagine it.”
“And in first class, no less.”
As we descended the stairs one by one, Dice checked three times to ensure no one was around before whispering in my ear.
“…Yoo Jin, you’ve been on other planes besides this one, right? Like transport planes or tactical helicopters or something…”
“It seems like you’ve developed a hobby of being curious about things you shouldn’t be.”
“Uh, sorry…”
After making Dice look crestfallen, I finally reached the bottom of the stairs. It was winter, and the sky was incredibly clear. An attendant in a crisp uniform was waiting at the gate connected to the plane.
Entering through the gate and stepping into the somewhat narrow airplane, three flight attendants greeted us warmly. As soon as I entered the first-class section, Ink, Michael, and Gambit, already seated, greeted me.
Just then, a flight attendant approached me separately.
“Ms. Yoo Jin, please come this way.”
She guided me to my first-class seat with a smile.
My name was displayed in English on the seat, but what set it apart from the others was a special compartment designed to accommodate my tail.
They must have customized it after being informed about my physical characteristics.
She kindly explained how to lie down properly. The seat extended over two meters and reclined 180 degrees, offering maximum comfort. I took off the shoes I had been wearing and put on the provided soft slippers.
With my feet now warm, I hung my coat in the wardrobe.
But…
“Is there anything you need help with?”
“My clothes won’t fit in the wardrobe.”
“Oh, we’ll take care of them for you.”
After stripping off the thick winter clothes I had been wearing and changing into a comfortable wool sweater, which took about five minutes, I could finally sit comfortably.
As I tucked my tail into the specially designed space, I relished the feeling of sitting properly in a chair, something others might take for granted.
The scenery unfolded before me. Four windows welcomed me.
Perhaps because of this, memories I’d rather forget flashed by. The heavy gear pressing on my body, the dim cargo plane with barely any lighting aside from the sirens on the ceiling, the lower ramp door opening to drop weapons first, followed by us stepping into pitch-black darkness…
“What are you thinking about?”
“Counting the stars on the ceiling.”
“Liar.”
In the meantime, the welcome drink and nuts were served.
Dice also returned to his seat. But then, a hologram popped up in front of me. Someone expertly manipulated the onboard camera, detailing every move they made, ensuring the wait until departure wasn’t too boring.
We maintained a certain distance from each other.
The soundproof curtains ensured complete silence if desired, yet we could also set up a voice and streaming channel, limited to first-class passengers.
In short, it was the perfect setup for preparing tactics while en route.
The doors closed, and preparations for takeoff began.
Cut off from the outside world, the peculiar silence inside the airplane set in, soon replaced by the roar of the engines as they powered the plane forward.
The aircraft, a testament to human ingenuity and determination to conquer the skies, was ready to soar.
With a resounding roar, the plane lifted off, soaring from Incheon Airport towards the North Pacific. It raised its nose high as if to pierce the sky before adjusting its course.
The screen in front of me displayed the plane’s direction, angle, position, and speed in real-time, along with the remaining flight time to John F. Kennedy International Airport: 14 hours and 33 minutes.
Since we departed at 9:30 AM, we were scheduled to arrive in New York at 9:30 AM if everything went smoothly.
It was a sufficient time for day and night to switch places, and I mused that this was why people always sang about adjusting to jet lag.
-[Notification: The aircraft has reached a stable altitude.]
The ICARUS Gear on my wrist automatically sent the alert. As the aircraft, which had seemed unsettlingly turbulent for a while, stabilized, I looked down to see the endless expanse of Korean land.
According to GPS, we had already passed Namyangju and were heading towards Gangwon-do. I took a small breath and settled deeply into my seat. I had slept fitfully and not for long, so I thought I might as well try to get some proper sleep now-
-Knock, knock.
“Yes, what is it?”
“First in-flight meal service is about to begin. Have you chosen your menu?”
The expansion of first-class passengers through unlimited in-flight meals had begun.
—
-Codename ‘SOAP’ has taken off. Repeat, codename ‘SOAP’ has taken off. Currently passing over eastern Korea. Expected to enter the Third Fleet’s jurisdiction in 1 hour and 22 minutes. Reconnaissance satellite ‘Patmos’ is confirming coordinates and altitude in real-time. Do you copy?
-Copy. Three Columbia-class nuclear submarines are on the flight path of the plane SOAP is on. Even if it crashes into the Bering Sea, we are prepared to rescue all personnel within 5 minutes. The Seventh Fleet will take over the report in 7 hours and 11 minutes.
-Affirmative. Personnel deployment completed under the guise of an emergency rescue drill.
-May I ask something? What was the idea behind the codename SOAP?
-It’s an acronym for Snake On A Plane. There’s a B-grade movie of the same name, have you seen it?
-I sincerely hope this nonsense reaches the higher-ups’ ears and gets you demoted. Will report any anomalies.
-Acknowledged.
—
-Jingle!
“Man, it’s really damn cold because it’s early morning. Don’t you think?”
“Expecting much from New York in December, aren’t you?”
24/7 Irish Pub.
In a Brooklyn bar known for being open year-round, an LED clock displayed 6 AM. The door opened, and aside from one customer, the pub was empty. It was a true unmanned pub.
As the thick padding came off, a thick sweater revealing the contours of the body appeared. The slender neckline and a face no bigger than a fist, with ruby-red eyes gleaming under the ceiling lights.
Scrape. She pulled out a chair and sat down. As the trident tattoo on her smooth, white hand became evident, she noticed the half-finished Florida cocktail.
“Want a drink?”
“No, it’ll chill me inside. I didn’t come all the way to New York just to cause trouble.”
“First time hearing a shark catching a cold.”
After some idle chatter, she glanced at the timer showing 3 hours and 30 minutes. Snowflakes were falling outside. It was New York’s first snow.
As dawn broke, New York bathed in a faint blue hue. The thick snowflakes made the pub, devoid of anyone except them, feel like the last bastion of civilization in a world that had ended.
Owen, sipping his drink, spoke first.
“It was like this the day the virus broke out.”
“That’s a shitty thing to say right after arriving.”
“Winter leaves more bitter memories than summer.”
The season when everything falls silent.
There was a time when that statement struck harder than any other.
Thousands, tens of thousands of bodies lay scattered across New York.
Sadly, the greed of the survivors was immense, and the number of corpses only increased.
After witnessing the change of seasons four times, they found winter to be the most nerve-wracking.
Of course, it was all in the past.
As if to wash away the memories, Christopher added,
“I arrived in New York yesterday and visited Times Square. My God, I’ve never seen so many people. It used to be a major kill zone, right?”
“When we were moving the relay?”
“When else would it be?”
The very area where machine gun bullets rained down.
With a bitter laugh, he raised his glass.
The sweet taste swept through his mouth.
That such grim topics were all they had to discuss felt almost apocalyptic.
He popped up a hologram and asked Lorentina,
“It’s early, but shall we have breakfast? Scotch egg?”
“Hmm, order ten, please.”
“Manifestors always have extreme portions.”
“With many blessings come some inconveniences.”
Shameless.
But he smiled and ordered five Scotch eggs. Since each order came with two eggs, five orders were ten eggs.
The payment was deducted automatically, and the cooking equipment behind the counter started moving.
Considering the time to boil the eggs and shape the patties, it would take about 15 minutes. Yoo Jin was still more than three hours away, so the wait wouldn’t be too bothersome.
As the water bubbled and warm steam filled the pub, Lorentina, unable to contain her boredom, spoke first.
“Where’s Logan?”
“He said he’d be here in 20 minutes. His car slipped on the snow.”
“That’s a stupid reason, typical of him.”
After a brief laugh, she roughly estimated Logan’s arrival time.
Given Lorentina’s situation, it was unlikely that the polar bear had eaten breakfast. Deciding to send an invoice later, Owen doubled the Scotch egg order and added a few more breakfast items.
The shark gave him a curious look but quickly understood. Manifestors’ stomachs were like black holes, and Owen preferred to avoid whining later by ordering extra now.
How long had it been?
The smell of frying, which directly stimulated the taste buds, filled the pub.
The Scotch eggs were ready quickly, and Lorentina pulled out her wallet to order a 1.5L bottle of orange juice.
As an impromptu breakfast began, the door opened with a jingle.
A commotion
ensued.
“What a sight.”
“Wearing shorts and a T-shirt in minus 13-degree weather? Insane.”
“What’s with all the fuss over a slightly cool day?”
Logan Blamis, an EM-class polar bear manifestor, entered the pub in a remarkable visual display and sat down.
Dressed as if he were out for a summer workout, in shorts and a T-shirt. Even his training outfit was white to match his white hair.
As Lorentina chuckled, Logan inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of fried food in the pub.
Then, something slid out from behind him.
“Argh…!!!”
“I brought you a special gift from outside, you grumbling bastard.”
As Logan shoved a hefty snowball down Lorentina’s back, an untraceable battle of murder and martial arts ensued.
The clash between two individuals who could dislocate a heavyweight champion’s jaw and skull within three seconds was nothing short of spectacular.
Fortunately, the fierce noises stopped as soon as the Scotch eggs arrived, and the two sat down and resumed their conversation.
“Making me warm up before eating, damn it.”
“Your punches are as refined as always, seals’ style, huh? Ow! Damn, I haven’t had my joints knocked in over three years…!”
“The senior officer ordered for both of you, so sit down. The youngest will probably gorge on in-flight meals, so it’s best to eat breakfast now.”
Clatter.
As the automated serving began, a casual conversation ensued.
“How long does it take to get to the international airport from here?”
“About 30 minutes by car. But considering the worst-case scenario, an hour.”
“We need to find the gate too, so at least an hour in advance… If you drive, does that mean the senior officer and I can drink a bit?”
“If you want to reek of alcohol in front of the youngest, go ahead. I’ll leave both of you behind anyway.”
“Haha, harsh bastard.”
Though Owen’s expression turned slightly peculiar, this was just a glimpse into Task Force Dagger.
The snow was getting heavier.
Winter was approaching.