How to Save A Life
Chapter Nine: Best Laid Plans
"Okay, is everyone clear on what they have to do?" Linkara asked his team. They all nodded, and he smiled, hoisting Margaret. "First things first, everyone make sure your contacts are in. Jade, are you ready?"
Jade nodded, gripping Linksano's hand tightly. He squeezed back, trying to reassure her. "Yeah, I am." She released Linksano's hand and walked over to Derval, kneeling in front of him. "Derval?"
He stared at her, fingers in his mouth. "Uhhh?"
"Derval, take us to Master." She turned to the others. "Remember, try to look as placid as possible. Don't smile, don't frown, and most of all, keep your mind blank of any thoughts! I'm going to have a hard enough time convincing him that I've managed to control all of you with just my Voice."
She took Derval's hand, nodding at the others, and they linked hands. Derval pressed a button strapped to his wrist, and the six of them vanished in a flash of light.
When the light faded, they found themselves in a long, low corridor. The walls were coated with a strange substance, and Linkara could swear he saw them moving, almost as if..."Jade, are the walls...breathing?"
Jade nodded, and Linkara made a disgusted face. "The ship is a living organism. We're in...well, you probably don't want to know. But if we want to get to my father, we have to go up. Try not to touch the walls. The stuff on them is a paralytic. Keeps people from feeling anything while they're being..."
"Digested." Linksano interjected, looking ill. "Jade, are you saying we're inside a living ship's digestive system?"
"Yep. Oh, and we might want to hurry, because the acids are starting to eat through your shoes."
There were five startled cries before Jade was nearly bowled over by the mad rush. "Guys. Guys. GUYS!"
They paused for an instant and looked back at her. "You're heading the wrong way."
90s Kid frowned. "But I can see an opening...OH, EEEW." Linkara and Harvey looked positively sick, but Linksano was fascinated.
"Imagine, being inside a living ship! I would dearly love to get some samples." He frowned at the looks everyone else was giving him. "What? I'm a scientist, aren't I?"
Harvey shuddered. "Time and place, Doc. Jade, lead the way."
Jade started forward, and the others followed, trying not to show any signs of distress at the way the floor moved under them. When they reached the end of the corridor/stomach, Jade motioned them forward. "OK, this is it. My father's most likely going to be in the brain. Linksano, remember what I told you. You have to keep your voice as normal as possible. Linkara, keep Margaret out of sight until I give the signal. As for the rest of you, keep your heads down and don't speak!" They nodded, and Jade turned away, following the shuffling Derval down the slimy corridors of the living ship. Half way to their destination, she stopped. "Linksano, come up here for a moment."
"Yes, Jade? What did you...mmmf!" He was cut off when Jade pulled him into a hard, almost desperate kiss. The others watched, slightly off balance, until Linkara cleared his throat.
"Uh, guys?"
Jade pulled away, leaving Linksano panting. "Wh...what was that for?" Jade shook her head, then turned and walked on, the very confused scientist following after.
Linkara pushed forward until he was walking next to Jade. He dropped his voice so Linksano wouldn't be able to overhear their conversation. "That was some kiss."
Jade stared straight ahead. "I know."
Linkara looked over at her, seeing the way she held herself. "You have another plan. One that you haven't told any of us about. Not because it's bad, but because it's one you don't expect to survive." Jade's silence spoke volumes. "Do you realize what will happen to Linksano if you die? He'll go even crazier than he already is! What were you thinking?" he hissed.
"I was thinking that I need to stop my father. I was thinking that I have an ace up my sleeve. I know what I'm doing, hero."
"I really hope so, if only for Linksano's sake."
Jade came to a halt in front of a door. "He's in there. Everyone look placid and empty your minds!" She looked over the team. "Good job." She took a long, slow breath, then grasped the handle and pushed the door open.
Her father was seated in a high backed chair in the center of the room, hands clasped together. He hadn't changed much. Derval hunched next to him, cooing. "Jade. What a pleasant surprise." His voice was genial, the kind that said 'Trust me', and Linkara felt himself drawn to him. He reached into his pocket, running his fingers along Margaret's barrel, relaxing when he felt her comforting presence. Harvey was clenching his fingers, and 90s Kid simply looked bored. "But who are these lovely humans?"
Jade stepped forward. "I have brought them to you as a peace offering. They are a scientist, a wizard, a boy who knows weapons better than any I've ever seen, and one with a very fine voice. I used my Voice on them all to make them into blank slates, willing to do anything to further my father's glorious reign." She turned to Linksano. "Isn't that true, scientist?"
"Yes. We want only to serve you. I am a great scientist. I offer my services."
Jade's father smiled, then turned to her. "That's all good, but what is to stop me from assuming his shape and simply killing the others? I have no use for wizards or boys."
Jade rolled her eyes. "Really, father? You hide behind my brother's gift? Changing shape is easy, yes, but with these five, you could conquer the world in a manner of days. You wouldn't have to go about in disguise as you often do. These earth people are easily impressed. Think of the power that you would wield by having a wizard on your side! The entire planet, yours for the taking. All you have to do is tell them what to do."
"A pretty sentiment, but I am not so easily swayed. Or did you think I've forgotten all the times you've defied me?"
Jade tried not to smile. Her plan was going wonderfully. She hung her head, speaking in a voice filled with shame. "I had not, and I humbly beg for your forgiveness. To prove that I am in earnest, I will ask that you look into the eyes of the wizard. You will see that he is a blank." She looked over at Linkara. "Look at my father."
Linkara stared into the black eyes of Jade's father, shivering inwardly. Luckily, Linksano's contacts seemed to be working.
Jade's father smiled. "Are they all like this?" Jade nodded, and he stood, walking over to her. "You truly have become your father's daughter, my jewel. Together, we will conquer this petty planet and bring these Earthlings under our thumb. They will worship me as a new god, and I will bring about an age of peace and prosperity."
Jade grinned at him. "Actually...no, you won't. Linkara, NOW!" She dove out of the way as Linkara drew Margaret, pointing the Gun straight at her father's head. He blinked, then began to laugh.
"You think an ordinary earth gun is going to stop me?"
Linkara grinned savagely. "This is no ordinary gun." He fired, and a bright beam of light shot out of the barrel, hitting Jade's father square in the chest. He screamed as the light entered him.
"What is this magic?"
Jade laughed. "Just that, Father. Magic. A very powerful form of magic. Loyalty. Love. The one thing you cannot control. You create placidity, not loyalty. The spirit in that gun is loyal to Linkara. This group is loyal to each other. They are family, and in the short time I've known them I've come to see them as true friends. But one of them has more than my loyalty and friendship." She had been nearing her father with each sentence until she stood nose to nose with him. "Did Mother ever tell you that I was born with a very rare ability? She kept it secret from you, only telling you about my Voice, because she knew that you would kill me if you knew of the true gift I was born with. It's something that occurs once in every six generations among our people. I'm a Light Wielder. Do you know what that means, Father? It means that you're about to burn from the inside out." She grabbed onto his wrists and shut her eyes. Jade's father tried to get away, but her grip was like steel.
Suddenly, Jade's eyes shot open. They were glowing white, and as Linkara and the others watched, the glow spread from her face down to her arms. It flowed into her father's hands, and he screamed in pain, struggling like a madman. The light kept coming, growing brighter and brighter, until it was nearly blinding and Linkara realized that the room was starting to grow stiflingly hot. "Guys, come on! We have to get out of here! Get back to Comicron-1!" Harvey and 90s Kid obeyed, running for the corridor, but Linksano didn't move. "Linksano, come on!"
"No! I'm not leaving her!"
Linkara growled in frustration and grabbed the scientist's arm. "Nimue, two to beam out! Now!"
AFFIRMATIVE.
They emerged on the bridge of Comicron-1, and Linkara shouted, "Nimue, lock all transporters!"
'AFFIRMATIVE.'
Linksano made a low keening sound, glaring at Linkara. "NO! We have to go back for her! We cannot just leave her to die!"
"If we go back, we'll all die!"
Linksano grabbed his jacket. "Then just let me go back. I can pull her to safety, I'm certain of it."
Linkara disentangled Linksano's hands. "I can't risk it. You don't know what you'd be going in to."
" I DON'T CARE! Please, let me go back."
Harvey frowned, then his eyes widened. "Umm, guys, you might want to take a look at this."
The others turned towards the view screen and gasped. The light had grown to envelop the entire ship. Slowly, it became brighter and brighter, until they were forced to shield their eyes. There was a brilliant flash that left negative images printed on their retinas, and when they opened their eyes, the ship was gone.
90s Kid blinked. "Dudes, I think...oh man." The others turned to Linksano. The scientist was staring off into space, not moving, barely even breathing.
Linkara grabbed his shoulders, staring into the spiral of his goggles. "Linksano, can you hear me?" There was no answer, and Linkara gently removed Linksano's goggles, his heart catching at the blank eyes behind them. He gulped, then stepped away, pulling out his phone and dialing a number. "Spoony? It's Linkara. This is going to sound very strange, but I need Insano to come up here. I know, I know. Just please ask him to come."
"I'll try. Does it have anything to do with that weird flash in the sky?"
"Sort of."
Ten minutes later, Insano appeared on the bridge. "Spoony said you wanted to see me, Linkara? I must say, I don't usually get an invitation to this lovely ship. Whatever can you want with me?" Linkara glared at him.
"Not me, Linksano. I need your help with him."
Insano cackled. "That is quite rich! What, is he threatening to blow you up with some device that no doubt couldn't put a hole in Swiss cheese?"
"He's catatonic." Linkara replied bluntly.
Insano blinked, startled, and Linkara pointed to where Linksano stood. "He hasn't moved from that spot for ten minutes, and when I speak to him he doesn't answer."
Insano walked over to his counterpart. "Linksano?" The other scientist didn't respond, just kept staring straight ahead. Insano stared into his eyes, frowning. "Linksano, I know you can hear me. This is ridiculous. Whatever is causing you to act like this, I suggest you stop it at once! A scientist of your caliber, letting such petty things control you. Why, you ought to be ashamed of yourself! If my son were here, he'd show you how a true scientist acts! They don't just give up when they hit a snag! They keep going. Now, man the hell up!"
Linksano's entire body began to shake. He opened and closed his mouth several times, his breathing harsh and his eyes darted around the room until they rested on Linkara. Then, much to everyone's shock, he let out an unearthly howl of rage and grief before launching himself at the hero.
Linkara barely had time to react before Linksano was on him, punching and clawing at every bit of him he could reach. Harvey and 90s Kid came forward, and with Insano's help they were able to pull the crazed scientist off Linkara. Linksano howled, fighting like a tiger to get free. "LET ME GO! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU GOD DAMNED ASSES! LET ME GO!"
Harvey tightened his grip. "No way, Doc. Why'd you attack the Kid anyway?"
"IT'S HIS FAULT! HE DIDN'T LET ME GO BACK FOR HER! SHE'S DEAD AND IT'S ALL HIS FAULT!" He lunged forward, and Linkara stepped back, wiping blood from his mouth. 'IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, YOU FUCKING BASTARD! IT'S YOUR FAULT! It's...your...fault." All the fight went out of him, and he slumped to the floor, sobbing. "Jade..."
