Chapter 7 Captured
The next day, Ahim and I went to school like usual, but for some reason, we weren't in it, and the other kids seemed to either stay as far away from us as possible, or they gave us small words of comfort.
"We've got to find another group," I said finally in the morning as I got to my feet. "This is too depressing for it to just be the two of us."
"I concur," Ahim said, also getting to her feet. "It seemed that with losing our friends, a huge hole has been left. I wish to try and fill some of it, but I'm not sure where to start."
"Why don't we just start with this," I said. I walked up to a group who had just walked by a moment ago to give us a word of comfort. "Hello, I'm Amanda and this is my friend, Ahim. What are your names?"
"I'm Jack, and this is Dawn, Lucy, and James," said Jack, pointing to each one.
"How how you doing?" Ahim asked in her usual polite and prim way.
"We're doing fine," Dawn said.
"Would you two like to join us at lunch?" Lucy said.
"It's the least we can do to help you out," James added.
"Sure," I said. "Don't we have classes with you?"
"You have first and seventh hour with me," Jack said.
"And fourth hour with me," Dawn said.
"And second hour and third hour with me," Lucy said.
"And sixth hour with me," James said.
"So we all can still hang out," Ahim said.
"Yep," Jack said. "What grade are you guys?"
"Juniors," Ahim and I said.
"Us, too," Lucy said.
"I hope you don't mind if we need to leave all of the sudden," Ahim said.
"Hey, if it's going to keep Earth safe, I'd rather have that happen than force you guys to stay here," Dawn said.
"You look familiar," I said. "Were you guys transferred here when the other school fell?"
"Yes, we were in some of your classes, but not all," James said. "We never talked, so we didn't really expect you to remember. After all, if so much on your mind, if I were in your place, I'd feel that way, too."
"I think we should get to first hour," Dawn said, looking at her phone. "The bell rings in five."
"See you at lunch," Jack said.
We went our separate ways to class, but I felt someone watching us.
Turning around, I saw no one.
"Amanda?" Ahim asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Nothing," I said, continuing walking with Ahim and Jack, who had stopped to wait for us. "I just thought I forgot something, that's all."
Ahim also looked back, but didn't see anything. "There's nothing," she said.
"I saw," I replied.
When it was after school, Ahim and I said goodbye to our new group of friends, glad that someone had accepted us so quickly, and went to meet Gai as he waited for us to walk to the Galleon together.
"How was your first day after the incident?" Gai asked hesitantly.
"Good," we replied.
"We have a new group of friends," Ahim added.
"But, no one can replace Jessica and Adriana," I said.
"Of course," Gai said.
"Gai, why aren't you in school?" Ahim asked. "I would've suspected that you would come with Amanda when given the chance, but you backed down, making an excuse to clean to back out."
Gai sighed and looked down. "When I was in school, I was teased and bullied, since I was so proud at showing I was a Super Sentai fanboy, and Super Sentai wasn't really a norm in it," he said. "So, I was pulled out and homeschooled."
"Oh, that's sad," I said. "Maybe you should give it another go. After all, we could always use another person to hang out with. And if anyone tries to tease and bully you this time because of being a fan of Super Sentai, they'll have to answer to real Super Sentai members."
"Amanda, you always hate that type of stuff happening at school!" Ahim protested.
"Yea, but you always stick up for a friend," I said. "That's why when that girl messed with you yesterday I was quick to come to your defense and protect you."
"Thanks," Ahim said. "I guess that's right: you have to stick up for friends, and family."
As we continued our walk, we tried to get Gai to agree with us and join us in classes, but he was still a bit skittish about it.
Finally, Gai said, "Alright, I'll talk to Marvelous about it, but no promises from him."
Ahim and I smiled, glad to get him to try it and see what happens.
Suddenly, I turned around, scanning what was behind us.
"What now?" Ahim asked, also looking.
"What's up?" Gai added.
"There is someone following us," I said. "I know there is!"
"Are you sure?" Ahim said.
"Why would I lie about this?" I said. "I've never been more serious."
"Alright, you found me," Basco said as he walked out from behind a tree. "But what are you going to do about it?"
"I knew that someone was here," I mumbled.
"Are you two ready?" Gai asked.
Ahim and I nodded.
"Gokai Change!" we said.
"Gokiager!" our mobirates screamed.
We morphed and charged at Basco, being able to get the advantage of the first strike, but he had the advantage of strength, and surprise.
"Sally," Basco said, snapping his fingers.
Suddenly, a monkey came out from behind and attacked us, throwing us forward, into Basco's welcoming attacks.
Before we could recover, Sally suddenly bound us and we felt electricity surge through us, causing us to fall to our knees and unmorph.
"Now, how much would Marvey-chan pay to get you guys back, safe and sound?" Basco asked as he walked up to us and examined us.
"They will get us back," Gai said, struggling against his bonds. "I swear by it."
"Ha, ha, don't make me laugh," Basco replied. "Sally, take them to the Free Joker."
While we tried to fight back, there was no use: we were trapped.
Once we were aboard the Free Joker, Sally removed our bonds, but before we could morph and escape, our hands were bound behind our backs.
"Now, to give Marvey-chan a call," Basco said as he sat down and opened his golden mobirates.
XXX
Everyone was pacing, waiting for us to return.
"Where are they?" Marvelous said, looking out the window and searching the ground.
"I'm getting worried," Luka said, twisting her ring on her finger nervously.
"Yea," Don said. "They are never this late."
"They always call if something's up," Joe said.
Marvelous' mobirates went off and he answered it. "Hello?" he asked hesitantly.
"Oi, Marvey-chan," Basco said.
"Basco!" Marvelous yelled.
Luka, Don, and Joe surrounded Marvelous and listened in.
"Yes, it's me," Basco said. "And I have some friends you should recognize." He got to his feet and walked to us. "Speak."
"Marvelous-san!" Ahim cried.
"Help us!" Gai exclaimed.
"Basco captured us," I said. "We're not hurt, but knowing Basco-" I couldn't continue because Basco had kicked my face.
"Don't hurt her," whispered Joe as he tried to not go to the Free Joker and fight Basco on his own.
"Release them!" Marvelous ordered.
"I don't think so," Basco said. "Unless you give me what I want."
"What do you want?" Marvelous said.
"The Galleon, Navi, and the ranger keys," Basco said.
"Never," Marvelous growled.
"Then you'll never see you're GokaiPink, GokaiSilver, and GokaiPurple again," Basco said. "You know where to call me if you change your mind." He snapped his mobirates shut.
Marvelous slammed his mobirates shut.
"We're got to get them," Joe said.
"How did Basco find out about where they go to school and that we didn't join them walking to and from?" Luka said.
Don slowly inched away from the four.
"Hey!" Marvelous said, seeing the movement. He grabbed the front of Don's shirt and pulled him back. "Did Ahim or Amanda tell you anything that you haven't told us?"
"N-no, Marvelous-san," Don stuttered.
"Don," Marvelous growled.
"Ok, yes, they did tell me something," Don said. "During lunch today, Amanda called me and asked me to look at something. One of the administration personal that was named was Basco, but she didn't want me to tell you because she knew that you would transfer her to the next school suited best for her in a heartbeat."
Marvelous released Don's shirt, causing Don to fall in the process because of how much he was trying to fight getting out, and turned away from his crew, annoyed, but realizing that in the process, Don was right. "We're going to get those three out," he said finally, turning to his crew. "But, we'll need to make sure everything is perfect to the very second, got it?"
"Yes, Captain!" the other three said, going into attention.
"Great," Marvelous said, letting a grin spread out on his face. "We start with…"
XXX
The bruise was already forming on my face from where Basco had kicked me, and by the way I could feel blood running down my face, I knew that my nose was broken.
Behind me, Ahim and Gai were quiet, and with it being nighttime, I guessed that they would be asleep.
I should be, as well, but I couldn't let myself close my eyes, even knowing that Basco was sleeping in his own room. My body just wouldn't let me.
Hearing some movement behind me, I glanced back to see that Ahim had opened her eyes and sat herself up into a sitting position. "Amanda-sama," she whispered, partly because she didn't want to disturb the sound asleep GokaiSilver, and partly because she didn't want to draw Basco to them. "You need to sleep."
"I'm not tired," I replied, looking forward again. "Besides, my body isn't letting me."
"Why?" Ahim asked.
"Basco," I said.
"What about him?" Ahim said, scooting closer to me so that she could look more in my eyes.
"It's what happened with my first confrontation," I said. "Not the hospital, but when I was on the Galleon, you guys getting my soul back."
"What happened?" Ahim questioned, finally getting so that she was sitting in front of me.
I looked down for a moment before whispering, "He knew that I was living without spirit, so he used that to get to me before I could fight." I went onto tell Ahim what had happened, including that he had kissed me, and that was the reason my body wouldn't let myself sleep. "I need to be alert to fight back in case he tries to make another move like before, so, until we can get off of this thing, I don't think I'll be able to sleep."
"That won't do," Ahim said. "You sleep, and I'll keep watch, if you want."
"I'll try, but if I can't sleep, you'll go back to sleep," I said as I moved until my back was against the wall. I closed my eyes as Ahim turned so that her back was to me and surprised myself by sleeping right away.
"Amanda-sama, Gai-san, wake up!" Ahim whispered, using her boot to nudge me and Gai awake the next morning. "It's morning!"
Gai and I snapped awake right away, wanting to return to the Galleon.
Ahim turned as Basco walked by us without a word to even recognize we were there, followed by Sally, who also ignored us.
We looked at each other, worried about what was going to happen to us.
"Marvey-chan abandoned you guys," Basco said as he walked back into the room and sat down in his chair. "Looks like you're on your own. Sucks to be you."
"He'll never abandon us," Ahim said.
"A rule about being a pirate is that the captain never leaves his or her crew behind," Gai added. "And he's our captain."
"He will come for us," I said. "I know it. He won't ever leave us with anyone like you. He doesn't trust you, so therefore, why should we?"
"You're really begging to have something else broken right now," Basco said as he got to his feet and walked to us, Ahim and Gai shrinking away while I stayed the way I was. "Especially you." He grabbed my jacket and pulled me to my feet. "You just love having that big mouth of yours, don't you?"
Knowing the position I was in, I kept quiet, instead finding a quick fascination in some of the metal panels on the ground.
"So, now you keep it shut," Basco said. "That's very wise for someone in your position. Of course, I wasn't expecting someone in your rank to make such huge decisions for yourself."
I kept a growl inside my chest, becoming more and more annoyed with Basco's continuous taunts.
Sensing what I was keeping inside, Basco tilted his head to the side slightly, saying, "Oh, but you're not opening up? Well, here's something that should open you."
Before I could fight back, Basco had captured my lips with his own.
Ahim and Gai gasped slightly, but they knew that I was struggling, knowing that I still loved Joe, and not a privateer like Basco.
I found a quick gap where I could knee Basco and he fell back slightly, giving me the chance to take a step back. I knew this was going where I didn't like it. But, with my hands trapped behind my back, I couldn't do much in fighting.
