- Chapter 10 -
Cortes gazed straight ahead of him, his shoulders shaking slightly. He had got Cheng back, but at what cost, he had got Cheng back, but what was the boy's opinion of him now. What was he going to say to him? Grrr! It was all so confusing and frustrating...and then there was Diwan. He leant on the wheel and put his head on his arms and sighed.
"Cortes..." a small voice sounded next to him. Cortes looked down slightly, Cheng was standing there, his tear stained face looking up at him. Cortes lifted his head and dropped his jaw slightly, looking a Cheng with a severe yet soft expression.
"Cheng..." he vaulted over the barrier and knelt down, holding out his arms. Cheng buried himself in Cortes and cried. Cortes buried his head in Chengs' shoulder and hugged him tightly. it was all he could do not to cry.
"Cortes! I'm so sorry; I'll never run off again!"
"Cheng, never, EVER, do that to me again! If I lost you, I'd have lost my will to live!"
"I'm really sorry! I didn't realise I meant that much to you..." sniffed the young boy.
Cortes drew back and looked at him.
"Didn't know? Oh gods, Cheng...you mean the world to me!" he said deeply and softly, even though most of the crew heard him. Cheng smiled tearfully and Cortes pulled him back to him.
"I'm so sorry I'm such a bad father." he almost moaned. Cortes was paralyzed with emotion and he just knelt there, hugging the small crying mass to him, tightly, like he would never let go. Images flashed in his mind of Cheng. When he was happy, playing with Celia, sorting out the computer on the St. Nazaire and finally flashes of him emotionally crushed when he was being told off. Cortes shuddered and hugged him.
"Forgive me..." he whispered.
"Nothing to forgive...Dad." whispered Cheng. Cortes froze and then looked at him and smiled and stood up. He leant back against the barrier and looked at Cheng, he smirked.
"So, Cheng...insult anyone at The Sphere, then?" he asked with a laugh.
Cheng cheered up immediately, wiping the tears and looking up at Cortes, smiling hugely.
"Oh yes! Just for you, Cortes!"
Cortes laughed deeply.
"Tell me all about it then, son." he prompted.
Cheng launched into highly animated story of him insulting Oslo and Diwan with Cortes and most of crew laughing at his antics. Cortes stood and looked at
him proudly with a fatherly smile on his face. He looked up as Sapphire approached Cheng. She was smiling broadly.
"Oh, I bet Oslo was angry! calling him a bald old fart! Risky eh Cheng!"
"Oh yes! But it was fun!" chimed the youngster.
"That's mah boy!" praised Cortes.
Wayan poked his round.
"Cheng has a point, though guys. Oslo is one creepy son of a bitch!"
Laughter exploded all round from that comment. Cheng nodded quickly and Cortes leant over backwards from the effort of laughing. Sapphire smirked and raised an eyebrow. Flicking her hair slightly she gazed around the St. Nazaire and Wayan was congratulated on his comment and the laughter faded down slightly. Cheng bounced up to her.
"Did you miss me though?" he asked, slightly more serious, even though his still had a smile on his face. Sapphire grinned at him and ruffled his hair. She noticed Cortes out of the corner of her eye. His head was up but he was watching her carefully.
"More than anything mate. Where would we all be without you?"
"Dead meat I should say." mused a voice and Mahad appeared, a cool expression on his face, but he was obviously relieved that Cheng was back. Cheng in turn smirked back at Mahad.
"Eeew! A Monster!" he cried, pretending to me scared and running to Cortes and peeping out from his protectors' legs.
Mahad raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"Nice to have you back, Cheng." he said as Cheng ran back to him and they hugged each other. Cortes looked on; he hadn't said much but then again, there wasn't much to say. he had Cheng back, safe and un-harmed. All that there was to do now, was to get back to Puerto Angel without a hitch. He went back to the wheel and then signalled to everyone that the fun was over.
"Right, Wayan, Sapphire, Dahlia...take us home." he ordered.
Mahad swaggered up to Cortes.
"Oh by the way, you completely forgot about the Hyperion, didn't you?"
Cortes looked down at him and raised an eyebrow. Mahad continued swiftly.
"Well, I just got it back!" he proudly looked out with window and Cortes' jaw dropped when he saw the Hyperion flying by the side of the St. Nazaire...with Lena at the controls. Mahad rushed out and boarded with skill and took over the controls. Cortes ducked involuntarily when Mahad did a fast tight turn and sped off. Cortes looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. Dahlia looked at Sapphire and Sapphire returned the happy expression. Yes! Speed!
They adjusted the engines and put the St. Nazaire on full blast. They shot forward and drew level with the Hyperion.
From then on they both eased off the speed and cruised beside one another until they got to Puerto Angel.
Cortes lounged in his chain with Cheng behind him, operating the radar computers with skill and a serious face. The rest of the crew worked in harmony to land the St. Nazaire and there was a general sense of peace and achievement.
As soon as the ship was docked, Sapphire got up and yawned, stretching quickly and filed out with the rest of the crew. Cortes and Cheng stayed behind,
talking to each other whilst everyone departed. Their conversation was private and touching and slightly quick.
Sapphire turned to see Cheng bounding across the bridge and Cortes standing on the end as the bridge retraced and at the last moment jumping onto firm
ground. Sapphire put her head down and turned to go.
All was well on Puerto Angel, Cheng was back and The Sphere had once again been put down. Cortes strode past her, nodding slightly to her. Sapphire smiled and nodded back.