The Purple Moon
Chapter 13: Aequora's thanks 1
By CrystallicPrincess
This week, I have good news (you've probably already noticed/saw it in your inbox) and bad news (who am I kidding? Are there even people that keep that much up to date with this serie? How do I know? NO ONE reviews! (well, that doesn't matter anyways)). I'm going to start with the bad news: I am not going to update anywhere soon (once per month if you are lucky) because school is starting for me next week, and I have to concentrate really hard on my studies (because I'm a nit-wit, I know). So the good news is: because I'm not going to update soon, I decided to post two chapters this week).
So I hope you'll mostly all enjoy this part. I'd also like to thank (if I have not already done so) the people who have PMed me to tell me what I needed to improve, the people who have faved/added Purple Moon to their Story Alert List at the very least), and the people who have reviewed. (haha, this looks like I'm leaving forever or something, so Imma stop here and let you FINALLY enjoy this chapter).
"Why is it that I have to come back here again?" asked Samuel. "Couldn't Karen go alone?" he asked. "You said so yourself, she can fight. Why bring us along?" he asked.
"Because she can't search on all the ships by herself," answered a cold and hushed voice behind him. "Sera, Leanne, Arashi and she take one ship, we get to share the last one, while Makoto stays on the ship, with Norrington and Jack, they will come here to fetch us later, as soon as we're done incapacitating the ships," she resumed.
Technically, since they had anchored the ships at Port Royal, most of the sailors had gone home, or to the headquarters to spend the night, convinced that no pirate would dare attack them in their own headquarters (evidently, none of them did not know Karen, or had never heard of the Sea Witch's crew). Some of them soldiers had been positioned to keep an eye on each ship, but that was all. They wouldn't have trouble with their tasks.
...Of course, this was 'technically'...
"Karen chose to get the Endeavour, and we're to follow her and help her make a diversion. As the soldiers try to catch her, we make a run on the Erased, and sabotage the ship and its crew while the others do the same thing for their chosen ships. Simple," Aequora commented.
By taking on everyone (theoretically, only the guards that were supposed to be on guard that night) that was going to run towards the Endeavour, the most important ship on the quay, Karen was going to provide them enough time so that they could search and salvage the other ships without being interrupted.
...Again, this was 'theoretically'...
"So we're sabotaging these East India Trading Company ships because they are the most powerful ones that Company has and are dangerous for the purpose of the Pirates?"
Also because Makoto and Karen insisted on getting their revenge on Lord Cutler Beckett for an episode that they had omitted to tell their other mates, but he did not add this to his question.
"Aye. You understood at least that much," his friend said, rolling her eyes.
Why was she so mean with him nowadays? His shipmate even went to seem to dislike the fact that she had to share the sabotage of a ship with him! What had he done to her ever since they had gone to the Amazons? Had she remembered her hatred for men and had realized that he was one of her 'enemies'?
"But it doesn't make sense though, how can Karen take on every single one of them? They are well-trained soldiers, they out-number her, and she's just... Karen," he objected.
"She's the Captain, give her some credit," his shipmate answered. "Shh... we're here," she announced, when they stopped in front of the door of the captain's cabin. "Go in with her," she commanded. "I'll stay here and keep watch," she added to his silent question and pushed him inside.
Beckett's ship; the Endeavour was hard to miss with its 106 cannons. It was around 200 feet long, and it was the type of ship that they called a 'ship of the line'. There were indeed a lot of weight on the ship, because of the cannons, but the ships of the line were specially designed by the navy so it could carry the most powerful and heaviest guns. It was said that the Endeavour, the symbol of Lord Beckett's flagship and of the Crown's power, was the most imposing naval vessel on the sea.
The cabin in which they had entered was indeed amazing. Beckett had expansive quarters on the ship the King had provided him with. In the dark, enlightened by the moon's rays, Samuel could only see the furniture adorning this room vaguely. He thought he could see a large globe next to him, and a map of the world to the wall.
Karen lit a lantern, which provided them a bit more of light so she could look for whatever she had come to look for. There were books stacked into neat piles a bit everywhere. Samuel touched the golden letters of an Atlas next to him. There was another book next to it. A book that seemed like it had been recently used. He could read its title.
Recordings, by Lord Cutler Beckett.
Was it a book Beckett used to record the pirates he had caught? Samuel made sure that Karen wasn't looking and put it in the pocket of his cloak (fortunately, Karen had lent him one of their cloaks so he could not be recognized by the Blue Coats).
If Beckett had caught Elizabeth Swan and executed her, he might have written it down here... The Pirate Prince had to check it out...!
"Start searching, brainless whelp! You saw how it looked like when that freak took it away from me," the Captain ordered in a hushed whispered tone.
Everything was quiet in the cabin. Beckett's ship was quite tidy and well-furnished, as expected from the man that his mother had so often described to him. Karen was already rummaging through the drawers and looking through the maps and the shelves. She was looking for something whose shape was unknown to him. Suddenly, the curtains next to her moved.
"What are you looking for?" asked the shadow, to whom Karen was already pointing her gun at.
How did the Captain know that the shadow was there already? She had already drawn her pistol and was aiming it at the stranger almost at the same time as he had spoken.
The man didn't look surprised, or panicked when he found pirates in his study at all, and almost smiled as if he wondered what had took them so long. He did not do any movement to unsheathe a weapon or anything to protect himself. Instead, he drew closer to the Captain; as if he knew that it was what Karen wanted. He stopped a few meters from them, enough for the young man to detail him closely.
Lord Cutler Beckett had not changed at all since their last encounter, though he did seem a lot more tired than before. Did he lack sleep over something? Was this due to the fact that Mercer was not by his side anymore? Or was this because he was worried about something? What could worry such an ambitious man that didn't feel guilt whenever he killed innocent people?
"I have questions. You are going to listen and answer," she decided, threateningly as she slowly walked closer to the new-comer.
"I'm listening."
The Insert Name Here's Captain pulled the safety lever down, removing it as she pointed it at the East India Company's Chairman's face. The pistol made a very hostile clicking sound.
"I'm listening intently," insisted Lord Beckett. "What can I do for you, Captain Karen?" he asked.
Samuel couldn't help but grin when seeing this situation. His mother had told him of an event similar to this, when she had been looking for documents that would declare that his parents would be free from the charges of helping Jack Sparrow escape from his death.
Karen's smile was revealed when she un-hood herself, surprising the Pirate Prince. Hadn't Makoto specifically told them not to remove their hoods? How could they go undercover the next time they came to Port Royal? She seemed to ignore his quiet disapproval, and continued.
"You remember, what a good boy," his Captain commented, though she didn't remove the aim she had on their enemy. "You look pale, Beckett. Have a seat, please, make yourself at home, it's your ship after all," she added, pointing his chair.
The man obeyed, sending Karen one of his glares. The Captain motioned Samuel to tie him up with the ropes that had been laid on the chair next to him. As he obeyed, Beckett smiled as well.
"Who's this, the girl that Mercer was not able to catch back on Pelegostos Island?" he asked. "Did you work your miracles again and revive her?" he added.
Samuel decided un-hood himself as well, irritated by the mocking tone of the Governor when he spoke of Lucy's memory.
"Oh, Mister Turner, so you've decided to ally yourself to the all-mighty Captain Karen, of the Sea Witch Ship?"
The Pirate Prince chose not to answer.
"Where is the snake?" the young lady pirate paid no attention to the question, whereas Samuel stopped for a second, looking at the man.
"She had other business to attend to," their prisoner answered.
The gun was suddenly pressed (with exaggerated force, perhaps) to his cheek.
"Don't you fear death after what you 'lived' in the other world, Beckett?" the Pirate Lord asked, smiling when these lines reminded her of Davy Jones' infamous sayings.
"To Tortuga," Lord Cutler Beckett added quickly, turning his head from the cannon of Karen's weapon. "I don't know what she is up to," he added.
"It's a good thing you told me, I never would have guessed... As for my 'business' here, I believe you took something from me the last time we met, Beckett. I want it back," claimed the Insert Name Here's Captain, very seriously.
"If you are attempting to claim it, then you must have something to trade, Captain Karen," Beckett calmly answered, smiling.
"I have paid my share of trades and payments for today," the Captain mumbled, rather unhappy that he reminded her. "Besides, do you really think you are in any authority to say that? Mercer is not here to threaten us, and that nasty snake of yours also left your side. You are just powerless under our 'spell' aren't you?" the Pirate Lord of the Atlantic Ocean chuckled in her choice of words.
The Governor chose not to answer, and so, the girl continued.
"Send our regards to your Goddess while you're at it, Cutler Beckett," Karen added, backing away. "Of course, this is nothing personal, Beckett," she started.
"...it's just business," agreed the man by completing her sentence.
"I'm glad we've come to a state of understanding," the young female Pirate Lord expressed, as she took out a dirty flag that she had found on the pile of things Beckett had collected from the Pirates he had sentenced to death and gagged their prisoner's mouth with it.
"And this is for the pirates you've murdered," muttered Samuel, knocking the Chairman out with a thick atlas he had taken from the man's desk. "Especially Lucy and Acerbotis," he remembered to add, but Beckett was probably already unconscious.
Karen continued rummaging through their enemy's books and things while Samuel disarmed Beckett from all the things he could use to free himself. The Pirate Prince took away the man's short-barrelled pistol, which the man kept in a special compartment in the inside layer of his frock clothing, and his cutlass.
"Ah-hah! I found it!" announced the Captain, raison the little pouch of lead whose presence she had discovered in Beckett's jacket. Without doubt, it probably contained the unknown treasure they had been sent to find.
"Ring the alarm, Samuel, and you're out of here," she dismissed him as she left the cabin, putting the little pouch into her travelling bag.
Samuel nodded to himself as he followed her out. "INTRUDER! THERE'S AN INTRUDER ON THE ENDEAVOUR!" he shouted, ringing the alarm.
"Come on, we're out of here," whispered Aequora, dragging him over to the docks.
"INTRUDER!" cried other voices from the ship as they silently ran along the port, on the opposite direction, looking for the ship they had been assigned to incapacitate.
From where they were, they could see their hooded Captain. She had decided to show herself to Beckett, but had preferred to obey Makoto's orders when fighting her enemies... Karen was well lit up under the radiance of the torches seldom Blue Coats had brought with them.
The two young pirates could also hear the Pirate Lord scream: "SO THIS IS THE MIGHTY ENDEAVOOUR I'VE HEARD ABOUT! NOT MUCH OF A SHIP, IS SHE? COME 'N GET IT, MATEYS!" she bellowed.
There were about ten vessels on the port. The ones that Makoto had told them to target were the HMS Success, the HMS Phoenix, the HMS Erased, and the HMS Endeavour. All of them, except in the Endeavour's case, were Royal Navy ship of the line that had been transferred to serve the East India Trading Company. Except for that, the only other ships whose existence was known to Samuel was the Dauntless, Norrington's ship before it had been annihilated by a tornado (Norrington had made the foolish decision of following Jack Sparrow into it before) and the HMS Interceptor. He had heard Mr. Gibbs say that the Dauntless, once the power in these waters, could not even match the Interceptor for speed.
Melusina had probably revived both the ships just as she had revived the Endeavour.
The Success was the one painted with pitch black and pure white flooring and where every spot of her hull was covered with chase guns. It was rumoured that the East India Trading Company had never lost to a Pirate in any battle with her. Indeed, a dangerous ship that could be useful to the pirates... and this was why this target was decided to be commandeered by Jack Sparrow when they would rid it from its residing Blue Coats.
The Phoenix had four masts as well, but what made her special and dangerous were her cannons, forged in London, of the highest quality of steel. It was said that she could almost aim a vessel as soon as she spied it. Somehow, Makoto had decided not to grant Norrington with neither of these ships and had chosen to order its complete destruction. She did not wish cannons likes these on either side of the battle, apparently.
The Diamond's crew had received orders from Beckett to hunt down all pirates in the Caribbean. Apparently, Jack and Norrington had decided to put it on the list of targets because it would slow down Beckett's hunt for pirates and it would buy them some time for the Brethren Court gathering.
As for the Erased, it was a newly branded East India Trading Company ship, and was rumoured to be made especially to be the counterpart of the Sea Witch's ship. Not taking any chance, and not wanting any competitor for her beloved ship, Karen had demanded its complete obliteration as well.
Apparently, as Makoto explained, if they were the ones that ruined the ships (with the exception for the Dauntless and the Endeavour), Melusina would not be able to revive neither of them and they would be safe from the threats.
As they passed the other ships, they noticed the other girls were in the same situation as their Captain.
How could it be? Theoretically, no soldiers other than the guards were supposed to be there. Someone probably ratted them out, or had Beckett planned this a long time ago?
Samuel knew that Leanne was enjoying herself, as she always was when she was in a fight. She had chosen to pick on the Phoenix. He had already seen her fighting style, though it was unfamiliar to him, it didn't bother him, but he was surprised to see Sera and Arashi actually fight (it was one of his first times seeing them in a combat).
"Were you guys okay in there? I heard voices," asked Aequora, suddenly worried.
The Pirate Prince remained silent, debating interiorly whether to tell her or not. Since when did she concern herself about him anymore?
"Yeah, we just met Beckett."
Nothing that would be of concern to her anyways, was it?
As he asked himself this question interiorly, the Prince of Pirates remarked that Arashi's fighting stance slightly differed from standing still. From where he was, the young man was not sure if the Insert Name Here's Lookout was wielding her weapon and was not able to describe it, but he could see that the Watchman only used a single slash from the weapon. At each of her blow, the line of soldiers in front of her fell, dead. Makoto had appointed her to extinguish the 'Blue Coat flies' from the Success so they could steal it afterwards.
'Impressive,' he mentally commented, noting that he would never doubt her presence on the Sea Witch's ship ever again.
Aequora let out an angered sigh when she heard his answer, and kicked a rock that was in her way. "I should have been in there then," she commented, almost in a regretful tone.
The sigh had been enough to catch his attention. For some reason, he could not be angry at his friends for long... "Why? You wanted to see Beckett?"
What business did she have with Beckett anyways?
"Yes. I swore I would kill him when I see him," she answered, bluntly.
"Why?"
He saw her weight the wrong and right words of her answer, biting her inferior lip as she did so, and decided not to disturb her.
From what he could see, the cook's fighting style was far more violent. The Insert Name Here's Cook whirled on herself on the Diamond's deck; not bothering to wait for the others to strike, and either had a 'rally' of clashing blades, with the ones that stood in her way, and wacked the ones around her on the head with what she called a frying pan.
"Because he tricked and killed my mother." Her voice had a little edge to it when she said this, as if she was restraining the tears.
Samuel gasped. This was the first time that Aequora ever mentioned her family background. It seemed too painful for her to talk about it anymore, so he chose not to insist. But how would Beckett trick her mother? Why would he do this? Was she a Pirate as well as her daughter? He seemed to be lost in his maze of thoughts once more when she spoke again, her voice clear as if the tears had faded away.
"This is it, Samuel," Aequora whispered as the soldiers that guarded the Erased's deck were busy staring at the battles on the other ships, letting their guards down for that moment.
This was the Aequora he knew again.
They seemed confident that their comrades would be able to hold the intruders off. Samuel couldn't wait to fight either. They heaved themselves on the dark deck, and the sentinels rang the alarm as they unsheathe their swords. Almost immediately, they were surrounded, out-numbered by the Blue Coats, who were smiling when they saw the intruders were merely children.
Aequora placed herself to his back as he readied pistol and sword. "I got your back covered," she added, whispering. "Won't you come and taste the sound of defeat, Blue Coats?" she taunted, smiling.
In a single instant, all of their enemies attacked in unison. Samuel blocked the first one's blade, evaded the second one's blow and fired his pistol to the third one. The Pirate Prince pushed the first one on another attacker's blade (this technique saved him the time to finish off the enemy himself, and used up at least that attacker's time) and engaged into another fight.
Aequora was like his shadow; she didn't lose him for any second and protected herself with great skills as well, fending off her enemies with quick strides, compensating for her lack of strength against her adversaries.
They moved closer to the center mast, avoiding attacks without letting the blows get to their ally.
"Samuel, the crow's nest!" the ally quickly noticed, and, with his nod, they both separated, climbing up the rope ladders that led up to the crow's nest, the highest point of lookout on the mast.
Because they had anchored at the docks, there was no need of a lookout, so when they both arrived, there was no one in the crow's nest to fight. From there, they could fight enemies one by one (since there were only two rope ladders and not enough space on them for all of their enemies) with the advantage of height to balance out the difference between their experiences and their opponents'. The soldiers followed them, eager to finish these twerps up, but fell under the kids' trap and dropped on their partners' swords almost as quickly. Some other soldiers had chosen to stay on deck and prepare to shoot them with their pistols.
When no other Blue Coat dared venture on the ropes to get to them, the ones that were prepared to shoot started.
"Aequora, duck," Samuel warned, dragging her on the floor with him.
"If we make it out of here alive, remind me to thank you," she said, "also remind me for that time in Acerbotis' place's fight," his shipmate added.
What kind of thanks would he receive? Another hit on the head with his own bag (fortunately, he had left it in Karen's cabin; she could not 'thank' him that way now)?
"I don't think now is the right time to think about that, we're not done for just yet," replied the Pirate Prince, taking his pistol. "We still have a mission to fulfill, remember?" he asked, as he emptied the gun's barrel.
"I know, take my pistol -- give it back later though -- and defend the nest, I'll get to the deck and I'll finish them off in a duel. You can come down if you feel brave enough. Keep them busy until I'm ready first," she added.
"How exactly do you plan on doing that?" asked the young man.
The young girl answered with taking one of the ropes that dangled from the nest to the deck. "Just hold them off, and don't worry about me, I think I'm bulletproof or something. No bullet has ever managed to get to me," she added, putting a proud fist on her chest, smiling as she avoided another wave of bullets.
Yep, his Aequora was back...
"All right, I'll keep them busy," he agreed, as he used her gun with his to punish more Blue Coats for coming to ruin his first ship salvage.
"Thanks, Samuel."
His shipmate slid down the pole, invisible in the night from their enemies, and quickly jumped on the dock. The Blue Coats, just as she had predicted, were too concentrated into shooting him down to notice her. From the crow's nest, the young man could see the young female pirate jump back on the ship, but behind the soldiers, unnoticed. He ducked, avoiding another string of bullets. From up there, he could also see that Leanne had already put the ship she was keeping, the Phoenix, into flames already.
His heart paced even faster than it had ever pumped. Was he scared? Was he panicked?
They were running out of times. They were supposed to finish sabotaging this ship at the same time as the others so they could leave at the same time on the Black Pearl's twin sister.
The young man then tried to calm down and spotted the torch that the opponents had used to light their way to the ship placed behind the gathering.
Samuel watched as she crept behind the men and, using her sword, slid numerous throats before the Blue Coats finally realized that their number had been reduced by both the young pirates. Deciding that the girl's threat was much more important than the young man's (who had run out of bullets anyways), the opponents turned themselves to Aequora, surrounding her.
"Hey! Pick on somebody your own size!" The Pirate Prince quickly grabbed the same rope that his friend had used and smoothly proceeded to landing right in the middle of it all, behind the young woman. "I got your back this time," he added in a whisper.
"It sure took you some time, Samuel Turner," Aequora replied with a smile that she was not able to refrain, as she moved to attack.
"Move towards the cabin," the young man whispered.
The young female pirate nodded quickly, and started to diverge her kill towards the direction he had pointed. Appointed as her shadow this time, he was the one to follow her around, killing and protecting her from the back. For some reason however, Samuel's wielding arm was soar or something, because he felt like he was using too much energy just holding it. The young man however just bit his lip whenever it pained him.
...He was tired, probably. His muscles ached for freedom and rest.
Eventually, they got to the torch, and the young man took it in his hands, and threw it to the corpses that were lying on the floor. Their cloths were soon burned and fed the fire so that the deck was set to flames as well.
"Quick, Aequora!" he called out, kicking the nearest Blue Coat into the flames as well.
The inferno was gaining on them at an amazing speed. Would they make it on time?
"Let's get out of here, follow me," she suggested, taking his hand in hers and starting to run towards the front of the ship.
"Wrong way! The docks are the other way!" he remarked, as the Blue Coats all jumped off board, on the quay.
"Only if we were going to the docks. Do you want to face Beckett and his men?!" she asked, and they reached the only spot that had not been touched by the destructive burning yet.
The Sea Witch's ship was there, waiting for them. There was just enough space between the two vessels so that they could jump, but the distance between the two was stretching as the Insert Name Here left Port Royal. Aequora hopped with an ease that confounded Samuel's fatigued eyes onboard.
"Just jump, Samuel!" she called out, stretching her hand to catch him if he failed to reach the deck.
The young Prince of Pirates hesitated. Would he be able to gain that much distance when his whole body was urging him to stop moving, to lie down and sleep? Would he let the blaze catch up with him and die or jump, risk to drown (he doubted he had enough energy to even swim) and suffer from Karen and her crew?
If he died now, would he find him again? Would he ever see his parents again?
"JUMP ALREADY BRAINLESS KID, YOU DON'T WANT ME TO COME AND FETCH YOU!" screamed Karen.
A command (or warning, however you overlooked it) that was not discussable.
The Pirate Prince did not take the time to wonder why Karen decided that she wanted him on her ship so much, obeyed, and leaped off of the almost burnt down Erased. He was almost going to make it...
Samuel's muscles had probably not provided enough momentum to propel him on the deck... because he started losing altitude and was about to take a grip on the deck's ramp, but Aequora took his hand and pulled him onboard.
They rolled on the deck. He wanted to stay lying there, close his eyes and hibernate until they find another mission.
"Get off of me, Sea-weak brain!" she said, pushing him aside so she could get up.
What had happened to her 'thanks'?
"Sorry about that," he mumbled.
The young lad felt like his face was burning. He was probably red since he discovered that he was on top of her. Aequora must have punched him as she got up, because suddenly, his arm felt really weak, and he had to stay lying there on the deck for a second, before Karen kicked him up.
When the young lad finally straightened up, he saw that Jack, Norrington and Arashi had gone on the Success and were sailing right next to their ship. Aequora automatically hauled herself on the ship's crow's nest, taking over Arashi's responsibility.
"So where are we off to now that this is done, Captain Karen?" shouted Captain Sparrow from the Success's helm.
"Just follow us," answered the Coxwain, on the stern. "Samuel, ready the cannons, just in case they catch up with the Interceptor," she ordered.
Leanne took out a chart of the area and started studying it, lit by a torch. "Let's just get out of their range before we decide to go anywhere," the Navigator decided.
Sera was probably in her 'kitchen', preparing them something good to eat. He was unreasonably hungry.
"Salvaging boats sure demands lots of energy. I'll go ask our Cook if she finished supper," decided Karen, as the Captain prepared to descend to the lower level of the deck and join Sera.
"No you don't. You keep an eye on your beloved Jack Sparrow. If he flees with the Success, I kill you," promised the Helmsmate. "And help Samuel with the chase guns," she added.
"Have you e'er seen that before; a captain being ordered around by her first mate?" observed the female Pirate Lord, taking a bottle of rum out of her pocket and starting to do as she was told by the Coxswain nevertheless.
"Nope, but that's because I've never met Makoto," answered the young man.
"What are you, dense? I can hear you, you know?!" Makoto threatened. "Don't make me come over there and shut you both in the brig," she added.
Yes, the Coxswain was indeed in a pretty bad mood, ever since she had not been allowed to take part of the riot they were going to cause at Port Royal. Karen had said it was necessary that she doesn't leave the ship, since she was the only one that could keep an eye on both Jack Sparrow and James Norrington (though James would make no attempt to escape, compared to his fellow Pirate Lord).
When they were finally out of reach, the Helmsmate commanded the Captain, Aequora the new temporary Lookout, and the young lad to un-arm the cannons and to clean them.
"After, you can go back to sleep," the Coxswain added to the three of them.
"Finally!" exclaimed the Captain.
When they finished their final task of the night, Samuel let himself slide on the deck; his back leaned on one of the chase gun's support. The young man's breathing had irrationally gotten faster. He hated to admit it, but somehow, he was tired beyond exhaustion. He closed his eyes for a second.
It took him seconds to open his eyes and notice that Aequora's feet were right next to him, that she had knelt down to face him.
"W-what do you want?" he asked, not even bothering to take a look at her face.
His vision was getting too blurry to even see clearly anyways, and his head was even too heavy to lift up.
Was she going to thank him now? Had she taken his bag out of the Captain's cabin and was about to hit him when he wasn't even able to move a muscle?
"Let him be, if he drools on the cannons or on the floor, he'll have to mope anyways," commented Karen. "I'll be in my cabin if you need me, guys," she added, closing the door behind her.
This was good, if she gave him the permission to sleep on the deck. The others would leave him alone... hopefully... The Pirate Prince's breathing got a little faster as he closed his eyes and tried to calm it down. He drifted into unconsciousness.
"God, Samuel! You are bleeding!" rang Aequora's voice in the darkness.
The young man was not able to lift an eyelid to this.
He was not able to make the sense out of the sentence she had just made.
"There were gun shots on the Erased. It was impossible that neither of you got out of there unhurt unless you are truly part of the Insert Name Here," remarked Leanne's voice.
Samuel tried to mouth them to keep it low. He was trying to sleep.
Was he going to join Lucy and Acerbotis now? In a sense, Samuel kind of hoped so.
"Bugger, the only Healer we had was Lucy, and she's gone," whispered Leanne.
Lucy, a Healer?
"What are we going to do now that the lad's hurt?" asked Makoto.
Did Makoto care? The young man was aware of her shadow move around him. She had left her precious helm to see his wound?
Was he even really wounded?
No... He was just... tired...
"I know," answered Karen's voice.
He felt himself being moved. Had they decided to drop him into the ocean now that he was useless?
'Good,' the young man thought, smiling.
"Samuel, stay with us!" commanded Aequora's far away voice.
But it was too late, Samuel Turner was gone, had drifted into another level of unconsciousness, into another level of reality.
"Samuel, hang in there, I am coming!" Lucy's voice started to echo in his head.
'But you're dead...' he tried to say, attempting to open his eyes to see her.
...and failed...
It would have been a nice cliffhanger right there, would it be? But like... I am going to post another chapter after this, so... too bad for the writer, I guess?
Thanks again for reading all of this till the end!