"Ha, not a chance, my craft, my driving seat," Yuki snorted.
[3 minutes to full penetration.] Rury's voice came from the comms.
"Alright, listen up. The moment the sub touches down, I want all the anti-hostile systems online. When all conditions are met, do a full dive to my position," Yuki said, gaining a collective "Aye."
"We will keep the comms on at all times. I want eyes on the unknown signal at all times. Also, keep your masks on; from now on, you are on a mission," Wanda said. "Yuki, catch!" She turned and threw something to Yuki.
Looking at the bird-like mask in his hand, he looked at her in confusion.
"The golden rule of our guild: you are 'Yuki Alexander' only outside missions." With her words, all the personnel put some kind of mask on.
"Not even anyone from the Main House is allowed to use his identity with his personal name." Wanda herself put a skull-like mask on, and her voice changed. "Nice to meet you, Black Feather. Codename: Skull-Rider, Level 6 Exclusive at your service."
Yuki looked at her flatly before smiling warmly. "Black Feather? Let me guess, Mother's choice?" After that, he put the mask on too and started to head to the sub craft.
"Okay, let's get the show going." Yuki took the pilot seat with Wanda in the sub gunner's seat.
"System status, please. Also, confirm the situation of the other team," Wanda asked, fiddling with the panel in front of her.
[All systems are green. Stand by for the release in 30 seconds.] Rury affirmed. [The other side already has 2 diving rescue teams. The first already broke through the Thermic Fog. The other is on her way out.]
"That fast? I thought the accident just happened?" Yuki asked.
[No. When I discovered the situation, they already had a heli picking the rescue team up for landing.] Rury verified.
Nodding, Yuki thought, "I see. Keep an eye for any news." His mind drifted to the events of the movie. From the look of it, he remembered that the lights were what drew the Megs, and he really did want to try and save the guy, What's more, he didn't want to know what kind of creatures will slip out with that sub explosion.
[Release in 3; 2; 1.] Rury's countdown brought him back from his thinking.
Feeling the weightlessness for a second, he engaged the acceleration at full speed, heading straight horizontally with the cloud right below him.
"Ruri, see if you can link us to their group comm," Yuki asked, going full throttle.
"What's wrong?" Wanda asked in confusion.
"Nothing, just want to let them know we're on our way," Yuki said.
[Jonas, you just told her yourself.] A voice came from the comms.
[What?] followed by others who looked somehow confused and pissed at the same time.
[The green light on your internal comms means you're in the common chanel, so...] The first voice repeated in a matter-of-fact tone.
This made both Yuki and Wanda look at each other before sighing. Yuki pointed to Wanda to take the lead. But before she could, another voice cut in.
[Guys, I think our comms got hacked.] A youthful voice surprised Yuki, as he knew the capabilities of Ruri best, and his surprise didn't end there. [Wait, Mac, the whole fu**** system is breached, and from a while ago? What the hell is this?]
[What do you mean, Jaxx?] Mac asked. But before he got the answer, Wanda cut right in as if it were nothing.
"Well, that's surprising, to think Ruri got discovered! You've got some intelligence right there. Interested in a new job?"
As Wanda talked, freezing everything else.
[This is Team Mana-1, the sea research institute. You are in a closed research area and hacking into private servers. Who are you?] Mark asked, not really knowing what to say, with the dangerous situation and the other side's ability, he had nothing to say except that.
"Don't be nervous, man. We were on an exploration mission around here before picking up the signal. We are on our way to you right now," Yuki said, trying to defuse the stress.
"Sorry for the late introduction. This is Exclusive No.6 for the Sky Guild, codename Skull-Rider. We're close by. We should be in your position in... 5 minutes," Wanda said.
Yuki immediately countered, "Make that 2. This Thermic Fog is fascinating—look at the reading."
"Hmm, wow, it's almost 1/100th the density of the place we breached through," Wanda said in admiration. Then it turned into a snicker. "If we had all this reading before, you wouldn't be troubled by all the upgrades."
"Doesn't matter. I'm keeping this sub anyway," Yuki said.
This interaction caused an additional surprise to the already existing one they were having, just from their unity.
But one wasn't surprised that much, as he was actually one of their known members.
[Oh, this is Tochi Sugoha, a scientist under the East Sky Research Bureau. Can I have your code, and the purpose of this trip?] One of the scientists in the damaged submarine asked excitedly.
"Oh, a scientist? Then what are you doing here without your guard? That's not good, you know? Oh, my code is FU45T," Wanda said.
"Yup, that's the code of N.6," Tochi murmured, to the relief of the other team members.
"As for the purpose, we were in a dive test before we got your signal," Wanda continued.
In the end, all of them stared at Tochi, confused, as the Guild in the talk was quite famous, and to think one of their friends was a member, and one to get reprimanded for not having a guard with him was something else.
"We will be breaking through now. All external communication will be severed," Yuki said.
And as his voice cut, he did a nose dive into the Thermic Clouds below.
On the other side, Wall looked at his friend as if saying, "Not cool."
"Before anyone says anything, let me get something clear first," Tochi said with a sigh.
"I am not a member, more like in thier Protection Protocol," he continued.
"You mean the Science Guard Protocol?" Jonas said.
Surprising everyone, as a rescue diver, he was far from the field of science to know this elite secret.
"After what happened 5 years ago, I didn't leave any stone unturned, and that took me to some weird places," Jonas said, not adding anything.
"Well, yeah. I met this lady when I was presenting my doctoral research, which interested her. Later, I got full support on my research, along with a hefty price and full protection," Tochi said with a smirk.
"That's why we didn't find it a problem in founding this institute. With you and me and my daughter in the Science Guard Protocol, it's more than enough credibility," Su Ying's father said.
As a matter of fact, he put his daughter in the program for a completely different reason, so he didn't know the full aspect of that system.
"Oh, so you guys are in it too. No wonder the Main House said you don't need my guard interface," Tochi nodded sagely.
"But why you didn't say anything to me, or for that matter, bring your guard?" the fatty Wall reproached his friend.
"Well, that...," scratching his cheek. "As a matter of fact, this was supposed to be your exam. After this dive, I was intending to drag you with me to the program."
Tochi's words left all of them shocked, and only later they said in unison, "You can do that?" After all, who didn't have the idea to join even once?
"Sigh, again, not the Guild, but join the same program as me," Tochi said, giving up.
"Uncle Tochi, can you tell us about the difference?" Miying asked.
"Well, it's actually simple. Think of it as a way to rank their people," Tochi said in relief, as at least he got the chance to clarify.
"If you know the Sky Guild generally, you know that their base is somewhere in the Misty Sea. Inside, we call it 'The Main House,' standing for the main place the real members and the strongest call home."
"Then there is the 'Ground Houses,' with an unknown number. Their objective is only one: provide talented individuals and smart minds with an environment and resources to advance, along with judging their character and talent," Zhang, Miying's grandfather continued.
"Yup," Tochi nodded, "And the Science Guard Protocol is one of their projects. Sadly, I can't say more."
Absorbing this info, all of them sighed. Then the little Miying pointed at something, "Does that mean Jaxx got an invitation to the Ground House?"
This made all of them remember the invitation, but Tochi burst out laughing. "You little smart thing,"
"No, that's not," he continued with a mysterious air. "Remember her introduction?"
They confirmed.
"Well, 'Exclusive' means she is the top echelon of all the Guild. And literally, number 6. Now, back to the invitation part. Ready?"
"Every personal invitation from a person of the Main House sends you directly there, if accepted, of course," Tochi revealed dramatically.
Everyone looked at Jaxx, surprised.
Back with Yuki and Wanda
Despite the comm cut, they can still hear the discussion going on thanks to Yuki's trick.
"Won't that be a problem," Yuki asked, thinking the invitation before was a joke.
"You think I was joking?" Wanda snorted. "That girl figured she got hacked by Ruri."
She looked at Yuki. "Now knowing Ruri as the one who made her, what do you think?"
"I get it," raising his hand. "I kind of wished you were joking so I can get the chance to have her in my division."
"Huh? I was rescuing her for your division?" Wanda said confusedly.
"What do you mean?" Yuki asked in confusion.
As if remembering something, Wanda looked away. "Now that I think about it, I never told you?"
Looking with a wry smile, Wanda said, "I'm kind of your Vice-Captain from now on."
This surprised Yuki, but he didn't say anything except, "Okay, should I start calling you Nanny Skull?"
"Haha, good one!" Wanda laughed, knowing that he figured out her role was just to keep an eye on him.
As they were penetrating the fog, the sonar alarms on the first sub, holding Doctor Son Miying, flared, as she was about to hook the submarine.