Unaware of the machinations that Kasumi was implementing to try and get them out of the contest, Ranko and Akane walked into the plane and took their seats, which were conveniently right next to each other. Flashing a smile at one another, they both fell asleep, exhausted from the long wait for seating to begin.
As it turned out, those seats were really comfortable, and allowed the two to sleep through their trip, as they awoke to an announcement over the intercom.
“Now arriving in Jerusalem,” a cheerful woman said. “Please remain calm as we land. We will be touching down in five minutes. Please be aware that, officially, Atarot Airport is closed to civilian air traffic, and is used by the Israeli Defense Forces as a forward outpost. Please exercise extreme caution, and do not stray from designated paths. Failure to adhere to transport rules compromises the security of all contestants and can result in disqualification from DeathWatch. Thank you.”
“Wait,” Akane whispered to Ranko. “We're flying into a closed airport?”
“Seems like it.” Ranko furrowed her eyebrows and looked into her guide book. “Says here they shut it down after a conflict in October 2000 and have been using it as a post against Palestinian aggressors since. Officially taken over by the IDF in 2001, with the only civilian population a group of squatters that moved in around 2007. Apparently the government is letting us in under the guise of a supply transport. Guess the Israeli government doesn't want people knowing about their involvement in the games.”
“I guess that's a good enough idea. Sounds like something that would send protesters in a tizzy.” Akane couldn't help but wonder why even an especially violent tournament like this was going through so much trouble. It was almost as if there was something more going on.
Still, there wasn't much time for contemplating such things; the airplane was coming down slowly, with only the bare minimum of light on the ground to help the pilots. The night seemed to eat the world, as if a portent of things to come.
See other episodes by The Master Chief
(Posted Fri, 08 May 2009 17:38)
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