(Untitled)

[angela_edmunds]

Angela Edmunds, aged seventeen, was heading out to a modeling shoot. She was sort of tired of them now and it took away from her surfing too much. And she did not want to do competitions and she didn’t feel like studying

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[lastblackhawk]

It may or may not reassure her when the silence of the dead land is split by a jet roaring overhead, only to vanish into the distance without apparently noticing her.

But Oracle's scanners are always on, and people -- especially alone, especially near LA -- are always being scanned for. It's only a few minutes later that the plane returns, at a much lower altitude, and helps itself to the long bare stretch of the highway for an expert landing.

[angela_edmunds]

After all the silence, the roar of the jet scares the shit out of her.

"Fuck!"

After a few hours of walking, her language hasn't gotten any better.

But she's even more terrified when the plane comes back and lands a short distance away.

Oh, shit...

[lastblackhawk]

Zinda's not used to working on her own, but Babs is hanging with her father at the farm and Dinah's cooped up with the bear-girl for the week. So there's a short pause between the jet finally coming to rest after tearing up the gravel for quite some distance, not very far at all from where Angela stands, and the door hissing open to reveal a tall blonde in a very short skirt.

"Well, hey there."

[angela_edmunds]

OK, tall blonde. Short skirt.

Short skirt? How does she fly in that thing?

"Um...um, hi," she says, her voice sort of trembly and scared sounding.

Well, Angela is trembly and scared, so it fits. She's burning in the sun because her sunblock is wearing off, she's nearly out of water, and she's famished.

[lastblackhawk]

Aw, trembly and scared. Zinda vaults to the ground, ignoring the ladder, and unslings the bag at her hip to bring out a bottle of water.

"You're a new flash? I'm Zinda, pilot. This here's the Aerie One, best bird under the sky. 'Course, we think it might be only one of two're still flying, but it's still the best."

[angela_edmunds]

"Flash?" Angela repeats. "Oh, I guess yeah. You could say that." She manages a weak smile. "I'm Angela. From L.A. but I landed out here in the desert."

She looks at the plane. "Is...is everyone gone? Except Kansas?"

[lastblackhawk]

"Yeah," Zinda confirms, bluntly. "Yeah, this world's pretty much a goner. Metropolis is thrivin', we got a refugee community set up there and we're getting everyone there we can. There's a few other isolated communities scattered around, but the only one's doin' any good is Smallville -- also in Kansas.

"You look like you could use a lift."

[angela_edmunds]

Angela nods, shakily. "Oh, um, yes. Please." She rubs her eyes. "Sorry to be so stupid sounding," she adds, smiling again shakily.

Honestly, she's still in shock, and having her brains baked out over the last few hours hasn't helped that much.

[lastblackhawk]

Zinda nods, and wraps an arm around the girl's shoulders comfortingly to lead her towards the plane. "How long've you been out here? Looks like you could really use a hot bath and a nap, honey."

[angela_edmunds]

She's still shaking. "Um, about four or five hours, and um. It's been so quiet."

It freaked her out a little. She's used to Los Angeles, the bustle of the city and the rush of the ocean.

"And both of those sound good right now," she said, with a shaky laugh.

And then, a really good cry where no one could hear her, maybe.

[lastblackhawk]

"And a drink," Zinda says firmly, at that shake in Angela's voice. She helps her up the ladder and gestures expansively at the inside of the plane. It's obviously a working plane, but the outfittings are luxurious -- as Zinda's about to indicate. There's also more space in the passageways than usual for an aeroplane, and everything, but everything, is wheelchair-accessible.

"Spa's in here. I'll grab you a clean towel, and we've got a handful of clothing around somewhere -- we pick up a lot of refs," she explains. "Don't touch Dinah's icecream or Babs' lobster, help yourself to anything else in the fridge. We got a couple hours' flight, so when you feel better, come siddown and I'll tell you all we know 'bout this place, and get your details, find out if we can locate anyone else you might know."

[angela_edmunds]

"That'd probably be good too."

She blinks. "Wow." It's a bit more than her fried brain can really comprehend, but she is definitely appreciative. "I've...got some clothing in my bag--I was headed somewhere when I...got here." Plus, Angela's sort of gangly herself, and this way she'll know they'll fit.

[lastblackhawk]

"That's definitely a bonus," Zinda says, grinning at her. "Good. Okay, you go get yourself sorted while I take off. Next stop Kansas.

"I'd give ya the safety spiel, but I don't crash."

[angela_edmunds]

She can believe that. She grins back. "Okay...I'll be...out in a little while."

She goes into the spa and feels the hum of the machinery as she takes off. It's comforting. She draws the bath perhaps a little cooler than hot, and slips in. The water helps a lot.

"We pick up a lot of refs." Refugees. I'm a fuckin' refugee. She put her head on her arm, covered her mouth with her hand and sobbed. Better here than where people can see, better now than later.

But eventually, she stops and washes, then gets out, toweling off and putting on her comfortable and well-washed cotton skirt and t-shirt. She actually had been preparing for a date after her shoot. Well. That wouldn't ever happen now. She shoved her feet into flip flops and walked out to get some water from the refrigerator and a slice of bread.

Then, she heads up to the front, her damp hair hanging down her back and her eyes obviously red. But she feels better, and that's something. "Hey," she says.

[lastblackhawk]

"Hey." If Zinda notes the redness, she says nothing of it. "Want a beer? This century's got good booze."

[angela_edmunds]

"Yeah. I do. I'm underage, just so you know." Full disclosure time. "Still want the beer, though." She curls up on a seat, the muscles in her body loose after the long walk and warm bath.