A New Fate
Okay, I know it's been a VERY long time since I last updated and I apologize for that. I never meant to make you guys wait that long. A lot of things have happened between the last update and now.
A big one is that I got a new job with the United States Postal Service, which required me to get a new vehicle that is a RHD and 4WD. Well, I say new but it's actually a 2006 Jeep Wrangler, which has done wonders for me ever starting. But it sadly required that I sell my Prius, which has been saving me a lot of money on gas. But I sacrificed gas savings for a bunch of other things to help with my new job to make a lot more money, so I came out ahead.
Another sacrifice I had to make was waking up early in the morning. I went from a 2pm-11pm job to one that is 7am-UNKNOWN (basically whenever I get done).
So yeah, that was the major one and the other one is that I've been struggling how to write these final two chapters. I actually thought I could do it in one but it's expanded to nearly 12,000 words and I don't want my chapters to be that big. So there will be another chapter, which might be the last one. Though there's a chance I might have to do one more to end things on a bigger note. But rest assured, I am aiming to end this story by next week. Or earlier than that. Who knows!
Anyway, here's Chapter 11! So enjoy!
Chapter Eleven:
A New Plan
"AH!"
The man screamed as he took the hybrid gun and nearly threw it out into the ocean, only to stop as a small part of his mind reminded him that he couldn't afford to lose or damage his only way of travel, despite how little use it seemed to him.
Tears filled his eyes as he panted, breathing heavily as anger radiated off him. His whole body felt numb, like as if he didn't belong in the current plain of existence. He didn't even know what world or timeline he was in. All he knew was that he couldn't get back to the timeline he needed to get to.
All attempts to travel back to the era he truly belonged in resulted being sent somewhere else. It took a good five hours on the first day to realize that he wasn't even in his own universe. Now all attempts to even get back to his universe were being blocked by something called a 'Time-Lock', which apparently was allowing no one to enter. He highly suspected that he may had been the one trigger it or that maybe his attempt to time-travel forced him out due to it being in action.
Leaning against the railing of the bridge, he looked up to the stars in the dead of night.
It seemed no matter how hard he tried; he couldn't get back home. He would never see his family again, let alone his mother. It made his heart feel like it was being squeezed.
"If you're thinking of jumping, I wouldn't recommend it. The fall wouldn't kill you, but it might break something."
The man turned around, hybrid gun in hand.
A mysterious figure stood a good fifteen feet from him, wearing a long coat that reached his ankles. His face was hidden under a hat, concealed by the darkness.
"Who are you?!" the man demanded.
The mysterious figure reached up and took his hat off, revealing his face.
"My name is Klein Reeves. And you are Taylor Jordan Huston, of Earth-Prime 21. Or rather, the now "Time-Locked" Earth 21. I've heard you caused quite the trouble."
Taylor shook his head, "Wha- what are you talking about?"
Reeves smiled, "How about you put that away and talk with me like gentlemen. I have a proposition for you."
"I'm not interested," he slightly lowered the gun.
"Oh, but I think you will be. I understand that a 'Time-Lock' is keeping you from going home. What if I were able to help you find a way to break it?"
Taylor paused, slowly lowering the gun.
"How?"
Reeves' smile grew, "Simple, become part of the Time Division of the Guardians and help us locate the Infinities. Just one of those can easily lift the Time-Lock and you'll be able to return home. No Splits, no Time-Locks, just a simple click and away."
Taylor thought deeply on this before looking back up at him, hope reigniting in his heart, "You guys have dental?"
Fabrizio and Tommy awoke to the shaking of the ship, scrambling out of the bed that they had fallen asleep playing cards on.
"The hell was that?!" Tommy exclaimed.
Fabrizio shrugged, opening the door to the hallway, just as other passengers were doing the same.
Jack and Rose leaned over the railing, making sure not to trip over the ice that had gotten onto the deck.
"How bad is it?" Rose asked.
Jack frowned, "Well, it looks alright. I don't see anything."
She turned to him, "Would it have damaged the ship?"
Jack shrugged, "It was a nasty bump. If it did, it would be on the lower levels."
"What about flooding?"
"Well, I remember Taylor talking about the newer ships having been designed to stop flooring on the lower floors through separating compartments. So, I think we're alright."
As he turned away, looking down the right side of the ship, Rose smiled and reached down, grabbing a piece of ice and carefully placing it under his shirt and dropping it.
"Ah!" Jack cried out, trying to reach for the ice as it slid down his back. "Oh, that's it! You're going overboard!"
"No-Tah! Put me down!" she slapped him as he picked her up and pretended to throw her over, laughing along with her.
Behind them, men and women of the third class were kicking ice around, while others of the first class looked on, some in their pajamas.
Andrews rubbed his head as he got back up to his feet and sat down in his chair, slowly coming back to his senses as he tried to remember what had happened and what the shaking was from.
He heard a knock at his door a few minutes later and went to answer, still dazed.
One of the men from the control room was there, his face full of worry.
"Captain wishes to speak with you! Immediately!"
Andrews frowned, rubbing his head as if he was going through a hangover, "Um… what?"
"The ship hit an iceberg, sir! Flooding on the lower levels is being reported!"
Though slightly confused and dazed, Andrews became to feel focus come back upon hearing this and nodded, "I'll be right there. Tell the officers to report back on the flooding locations and how fast it's occurring!"
The officer nodded back to him before running off, "Yes, sir!"
Andrews turned away and went to his deck, opening drawers to find blueprints of the ship. As he was about to exit his suite, he stopped upon remembering the warning that the young man from earlier had come to him with. He was trying to remember his name but was struggling to recall with how dazed he was.
Remembering what the officer had told him, he pushed such thoughts and questions to the side, making way to the control room.
Cal exited the room of his luxurious suite, looking around the hallway until he saw a Steward walking towards him.
"You there!"
"Sir, there is no emergency."
"Yes, there is! I have been robbed!"
Lovejoy stepped forward, "Get the Master at Arms!"
The Steward froze.
"Now, you moron!" Cal cried out.
"Yes, sir!"
After the steward ran in the opposite direction to get the Master at Arms, Cal turned to Lovejoy and handed him the large diamond.
"I trust you know which room."
Lovejoy nodded, "Of course."
Jack and Rose made their way to the first-class deck, managing to overhear Captain Smith, Andrews and several officers talking about the damage to the ship as they made it up the steps and got out of their way.
Once the group were down the stairs, the two turned to each other, worrying filling their hearts.
"So much for my analysis earlier."
"What does this mean for the ship?"
Jack shrugged, "I don't know."
Rose nervously nodded, "We should tell Fabrizio, Tommy, and Taylor."
Jack nodded back, "And make sure we don't run into Cal or that Lovejoy guy."
"Jeez, where is Jack?" Fabrizio asked as he paced around the room.
"Probably with Rose. Or Taylor. Speaking of who, where is he?"
"Should we go look for them?"
"Gentlemen!" a voice cried out from the open doorway.
Fabrizio and Tommy turned to the man, frowning at him.
"Who the bloody hell are you?" said Tommy.
Lovejoy glared at him as he began to walk next to the drawers, looking around.
"My name is Mr. Lovejoy, personal valet to Mr. Hockley."
"Ah, well, good for you. Why are you in our room?"
Lovejoy slowly opened the drawer with his hand, looking inside.
"My employer just recently lost something very valuable to him. You wouldn't know anything about it… would you?"
Tommy turned to Fabrizio and shrugged. Both making a face.
"Nah, not really. Don't know this Mr. Hockley."
Lovejoy closed the drawer.
"Ah, well, in that case, I'll leave you be. Good night, sirs."
The two watched as he left the room and closed the door behind him.
"That… was weird," said Fabrizio.
Tommy smiled, "Nah, it just means that our boy has definitely won the war. Got 'em trying to be intimidating. All bark, no bite!"
Fabrizio nodded, "Yeah… I guess."
Cora awoke to her father shaking her awake, yawning as she was picked up and forced to stand on her feet.
"What's going on, papa?" she said, tiredly.
"Something's wrong, sweetheart."
"What is?"
Bert began to dress, putting her clothes on the bed for her to do the same.
"I don't know. Hurry up and dress. We need to head to the deck."
The Hockley suite was being searched by officers for clues, even searching the safe, while Mrs. Bukater was in a nightgown, pacing around the room with a cup of tea.
"Well, I think they're very good, sir. The man has a talent and has captured her beauty to perfection."
Cal sat in his luxurious chair, leg over the other as he sighed in frustration and stood up, grabbing the painting of Rose from the Master at Arms.
"Take this more seriously! My diamond has been stolen! And don't touch anything until the entire room is photographed!"
The Master at Arms rolled his eyes, "Very well, sir. Do you have any suspects in mind?"
Cal smiled before turning back to him, putting on a serious face, "Yes, I do. A man named Jack Dawson and his entourage has been disturbing me and my group for quite some time."
The officer frowned, "The same Dawson who saved your fiancée?"
"The same. Sadly, he has been trying to steal away my fiancée, trick her into his arms. I believe he has been using the rescuing of Rose as way to get into our lives so he could take what is his. Do you know he has a first-class room?"
The man nodded, "I am aware, but he has deemed no suspicious activity."
Cal leaned in, "Have you ever considered how it is that Mr. Dawson and Mr. Huston can afford such luxurious rooms despite their third-class appearance?"
He shook his head.
"Well, I've heard rumors about con-artists who steal from the first-class and use the money to live comfortably. I find it no coincidence that my fiancée has a mishap and one of them is there to save her, getting into our good graces."
"But I am also aware that Mr. Craig was also one of your fiancée's rescuers."
Cal started to become frustrated but remained calm, "Either he's in on it too or was just a good Samaritan! Come on, you're the Master at Arms! Even you can't deny it!"
"I can't argue that it all does seem rather fishy to me, but I cannot arrest a couple of men just because of your accusations alone."
Cal was struggling not to yell at the man.
"But, if I were to find evidence, I will do my duty. Do you know which room Mr. Dawson and his entourage are staying in?"
Cal smiled as he watched Lovejoy walk back into the room, giving him a wink.
"Why, yes, I do."
Andrews went over the report he had managed to get together and was very anxious. It was worse than they thought possible. It was hard for him to think it, let alone say it.
Ismay joined them in the captain's quarters as he told them of the situation. Captain Smith and several of the officers were also there too.
Once Andrews was done, he was breathing heavily, trying to comprehend what he had just said.
"As of this moment, no matter what we do… Titanic will founder."
Smith, Ismay and the officers started at him in shock.
"The ship can't sink!" Ismay exclaimed.
Andrews felt his frustration rise to new levels as he turned to him, "She's made of iron, sir! I assure you, she can! Despite what you and everyone say about not even God being able to sink her!"
Ismay was taken back by his anger.
"She will go down, that is certain. In fact, it's a mathematical certainty."
Smith turned to him, "How much time?"
Fear pierced through Andrews' heart, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"An hour."
Eyes widened, as did Ismay's.
"Two, at the most."
Smith looked away, his face filling with worry and concern, unable to believe what he was hearing.
1st Officer Murdoch swallowed.
"H… how many aboard… Mr. Murdoch?"
The 1st Officer struggled to speak, "Over two thousand, two hundred souls on board, sir."
As another officer stepped into the quarters, Smith turned to the man who he had chosen to listen to, despite his better judgement.
"Well, I believe you will get your headlines, Mr. Ismay."
Jack and Rose reached the room, opening the door to find Tommy and Fabrizio inside.
"Jack!" the two exclaimed.
"The hell were you?!" demanded Tommy.
"Yeah, we've been worried!" said Fabrizio.
Jack ignored them as he walked to Taylor's bed, reaching down to grab the briefcase.
"Where's Taylor?"
The two shrugged.
"Haven't seen 'im," said Fabrizio.
"By the way, what was rumbling earlier, boyo?" Tommy asked.
"The ship hit an iceberg," Rose answered.
Their mouths dropped.
"Wait, what?!"
"And we missed it?!"
Jack placed the briefcase on the bed, "This is serious, guys."
"On that, we agree!"
Everyone turned and became still at the sight of Cal, Ruth, Lovejoy, the Master at Arms and several officers at the entrance of the doorway, walking on in.
Rose backed away, her heart racing as she reached for Jack's hand, who responded by taking her hand and giving her a comforting squeeze.
Cal and Ruth saw this, instantly making them furious.
"Search them!" Cal ordered.
The Master at Arms nodded to his men, who took each man and began to search him, leaving only Rose, who was forced to let go of Jack's hand.
"Hey!" Tommy protested.
"What is this?!" Fabrizio cried out.
"Let it go, guys," said Jack, trying to calm them down as the officers patted them down.
"Nothing on them, sir," said one of the officers.
"Then search the room!" declared Cal.
The Master at Arms nodded to his men, who immediately began tearing up the place. One of the men grabbed the suitcase but couldn't open it. Then one of the men began to open the drawers.
"Sir!" the officer reached into one of the drawers presented the Heart of the Ocean diamond.
Jack, Tommy, and Fabrizio stared at the diamond in shock.
Cal smiled, "I believe this is the evidence you've been looking for."
The Master at Arms nodded, looking back at the three with a mix of disappointment and anger.
"Take them to my office for holding!"
The officers began to handcuff them.
"What?!" Fabrizio exclaimed.
"We didn't steal it!" cried out Tommy.
"You have the wrong men!" Jack began to panic, feeling the cold steel around his wrists. "We didn't steal anything!"
"Jack!" Rose tried to reach out to him but was held back by one of the officers, while her mother came to her side, glaring at him.
Cal stepped forward and grabbed Jack by the chin, forcing him to look into his eyes.
"Let him go!" cried Rose.
"After all I've done to show my appreciation for what you did, you do this to me?! Like a common criminal?!"
Jack's eyes widened as he realized what was going on.
"You put it there!"
The eyes of Fabrizio and Tommy widened as they looked at Lovejoy.
"He was in here earlier!" Tommy cried out.
"Yeah, he must have planted it to frame us!" added Fabrizio.
"Take 'em away!" shouted the Master at Arms as the three were forced out of the room.
"Rose!"
"Jack!"
Rose was held back, unable to follow.
"ROSE!" he cried out once more before being forced down the hallway. People were watching them being led away. One of the officers brought the suitcase with him.
Cal turned to the Master at Arms, "There's one more. A Mr. Taylor Huston. He may be a part of this too."
The Master at Arms nodded, "I'll put out an order for his capture. I apologize for the trouble, Mr. Hockley. I assure you that justice will be served."
"Please, make sure that it is."
The Master and his officers left the room, leaving only Cal, Lovejoy, and Ruth with Rose.
Lovejoy closed the door and stood guard.
Ruth glared at her daughter with a burning fury. But it was Cal's glare that was the most terrifying to her. It was masked behind a face that was trying to keep calm yet showing its true nature.
"How dare you allow yourself to be defiled by that boy!" her mother spat with venom, begin to shake from the anger.
Rose scoffed and began to laugh, "Oh mother, don't act so surpris-"
She didn't see the slap coming, nor even feel it until the numbness began to fade and felt the heat from the strike. It took her a little longer to realize what had happened. And once she did realize what had happened, she was surprised to see that it wasn't Ruth who had slapped her, but rather Cal.
Then again, she probably shouldn't have been that surprised.
Though Ruth would have been disapproving of such behavior, she was more than willing to make an exception for it this time.
Cal got up close to her face, grabbing her cheeks with his right hand to force her to look him in his eyes.
"So, you're his slut now, are you?!" he growled. "Drawing you wasn't the only thing you allowed him to do."
Ruth's eyes widened, covering her mouth with a fan.
Rose looked into his eyes and smiled, "I would rather be his slut than your wife!"
Ruth gasped.
Cal's eyes widened with fury as he raised his hand and struck her once more, forcing her to the ground. Making sure she was beneath him as he stood over her, his eyes filled with rage.
As she held her cheek, she stared back at him, wanting him to know that his words and actions meant nothing.
"Lovejoy! Take her back to her room and lock the doors! She's not to leave without my say so!"
Lovejoy nodded as he took Rose by the arm and pulled her up, leading her out the door and down the hallway, all the while as she was trying to pull free and make a run for it, only to be stopped by his strength.
Ruth turned to Hockley, worry deep in her eyes.
"Mr. Hockley… I trust that this doesn't ruin the engagement."
Cal turned to her, feeling a desire within to not let his go.
"Of course not. Just a minor setback. She'll know her place once Dawson and the others are dealt with… permanently."
Ruth nodded, "Good."
The two walked out of the room.
Taylor didn't know how long he stayed sitting on the floor, completely lost in the shock of his failure. He had failed them all. Jack, Fabrizio, everyone! And now they were going to die. Over fifteen hundred lives would be lost, because he had failed.
He wondered how his mother would think of him. Or his family.
Tears crawled down his cheeks, trying to find some middle ground, some way out of the pit he was in. But nothing came for his salvation.
His thoughts drifted to Jack, Fabrizio, and Tommy. He could imagine them lying the middle of the Atlantic, their bodies rotting in the freezing cold waters. Or having sunk down with the ship, where the pressure would crush them. Or even sea creatures tearing at their flesh.
A fate that would befall everyone.
A buzzing fibrated against the ground, with the shock wave reaching him.
Looking up, he saw the hybrid gun and mustered up the strength to get up and walk over to pick it up. Once it was in his hand, saw the reminder alert going on and pressed the hologram button upon activating it.
Then he saw a list appear before him:
x
Binoculars!
Red Flares!
Californian!
11:35 P.M.
x
Upon reading that list, his eyes widened and began to realize something that he hadn't thought of before. Something that changed his perspective and provided a new way for him to follow. A way to save everyone.
The officers led Jack, Fabrizio, and Tommy down to the Master at Arms officer, where they were handcuffed to a large pipe. One of the officers sat the briefcase down on the table.
Once they were left alone, they immediately began to try and find a way to break free.
Tommy started yanking at the cuffs against the steel of the pipe, but it was too round to get a good leverage.
"Damn it! What do we do?!" he asked.
Jack sighed, feeling frustrated and pissed about their situation.
"I don't know."
"Um, guys?" Fabrizio pointed toward the window. "Does it look like the water is getting closer?"
Jack and Tommy turned to what he was pointing at, and their eyes widened.
"Shit!" exclaimed Jack.
Rose was thrown into her room as Lovejoy closed the door and locked it. It wasn't long before she was up on her feet that she heard the other door to the hallway lock as well. She tried to force the doorknob to turn or even use her body to slam into the door, but it was no use.
She cursed herself for not realizing that Cal would go this far.
Not long later, she heard the door to the hallway unlock and open.
Getting to her feet, heart racing, she prepared for whatever was going to happen next. Only to see Trudy enter and quickly close the door to the hallway, having managed to get a key.
"Trudy?!"
"Oh, thank God, you're alright!" Trudy ran up and hugged her, slightly touching the red spot on her cheek. "Quick, undress and put one of your other dresses on."
"What?"
Trudy was already undressing from her maid outfit.
"Lovejoy is currently in the other room with your mother and Mr. Hockley. We don't have much time."
Nodding, Rose began to undress and quickly dressed into another one of her outfits.
Before they left the room, Rose grabbed a pen and paper, writing something down and putting it on top of the dresser.
Once they were out of the room and heading down the hallway, Rose spoke to her friend.
"Do you know where Jack is?"
Trudy shook her head, "I overheard Cal planning to frame him for the diamond, which I am correct to assume he's already done?"
Rose nodded, "Bastard probably had Lovejoy do it. We need to find Andrews."
Trudy raised an eyebrow as they turned a corner, "Why?"
"Because he's the only other person I know who can help us find Jack."
Cal paced around the room, while Ruth sat down to drink her tea. Lovejoy stood next to the bedroom door, keeping watch. In Cal's hand was the diamond and the painting of Rose, trying to decide what to do with it.
There was a knock at the door.
"Not now!" Cal cried out.
Ignoring him, the steward walked on in.
"Sir, the Captain has ordered all passengers to the deck! Please, dress warmly! It is quite cold out tonight!"
Cal rolled his eyes as he nodded to Lovejoy, "Bring her out and keep her close."
Lovejoy nodded as he opened the door and found no one inside, taking out his pistol as he searched the room.
Cal's eyes widened as he ran in, furious.
Ruth walked on in and saw the note on the stand, picking it up.
x
I've lived with your choices for all my life. Now you must live with mine.
Goodbye, mother!
x
Ruth gasped as she dropped the note, her heart nearly giving out as she sat down on the chair.
Cal walked up and snatched the note, his eyes blazing with anger as he let it fall to the floor once reading it.
"She'll go for Dawson!" said Lovejoy.
"Then that's where we're headed too."
Cal turned around and walked straight to his safe, taking out a gun of his own, while putting all the money and the diamond into a small bag that he put stuffed into his deepest pocket on his coat.
"I make my own luck," he said to Lovejoy.
"As do I," Lovejoy replied, smiling as he presented his custom-made handgun.
"Sirs, there is no need for such things!" the steward protested but was shoved aside as the two walked out of the room, concealing their weapons from those outside.
Waving them off, the steward found Ruth in the bedroom, sobbing.
"Oh, not to worry, miss. I'm sure it's just a precaution."
Andrews felt his heart sink upon looking at the people in first-class lounge, knowing well that there were not enough boats for all the passengers on the ship. He knew that the first-class passengers would have the first chance to get on a lifeboat, with status and everything with it that entitled them to such things. While the third-class would be the majority of those who would not survive by morning.
After having seen what it was like outside with the process of getting the boats ready for boarding, it was already looking bleak.
He had passed so many people, including the unsinkable Molly and even Ismay, who looked as pale as a ghost.
"MR. ANDREWS!"
He recognized that voice as he turned around and saw Rose rushing up to him, followed by the maid who served her. Trudy, he believed was her name.
"Rose?"
She took his arm, her eyes pleading, "Where does the Master at Arms take those for holding?"
He frowned, "What? Rose… it's not a good idea to go down there. Not with…"
He paused, realizing that he was speaking too loudly.
Rose saw the fear in his eyes.
"Mr. Andrews… what is it?"
He swallowed, unable to find his voice.
She touched his cheek, making him look into her eyes.
"I see it in your eyes. Please, tell me, what is it?"
Taking a deep breathe, he leaned in, "Titanic will sink."
Rose's breath caught and her heart skipped a beat, "Are you certain?"
Trudy was close enough to hear, her eyes widening.
Andrews nodded, "Within an hour, or two, if we're lucky, all of this will be at the bottom of the Atlantic."
Rose couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was only not so long ago that it seemed like it was just a minor accident that would delay them. It was like reality was settling in.
"Please, tell only those you must. I don't wish to start a mass panic."
Managing to find strength from within, she pushed such shock away, "I understand. But please, tell me where I can find the Master at Arms quarters."
Nodding, he gave her a layout to follow.
Once done, he took her hands into his, tears filling his eyes.
"I'm sorry I couldn't build you a stronger ship, young Rose."
Truly feeling for him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.
"It's not your fault," she whispered. "Best of luck to you."
As they pulled apart, he smiled, "As to you. If you both manage to survive tonight, I wish you and Jack a happy life."
"Thank you," she teared up, touching the side of his cheek. "Goodbye, Mr. Andrews."
"Goodbye, Rose."
Turning away and wiping the tears from her eyes, Rose began to head towards the elevators, with Trudy following.
Mr. Andrews watched as Rose disappeared into the crowd. He only hoped that she would make it out alive and be able to live a happy life with Jack. He wasn't blind to the how things were for her. That her mother wished for this marriage with Mr. Hockley to happen.
But it wasn't his place to interfere, only to provide encouragement. The rest was up to her, and he was proud to see her making the best of it. He knew her father would be proud as well.
Suddenly, people gasped as a loud noise was heard and a red light appeared outside.
Frowning, he made his way to the outside, where flares were being shot into the sky to warn other ships in the area, but it wasn't the white ones as he was told they only had. They were red. The very kind they needed.
Another shot off, lighting up the sky red and reflecting off the surface of the ocean.
Curious, he made his way to the front, wondering who was firing them and how they came across such flares.
Coming around the corner, he was surprised see the man from earlier being the one to send the flares. But he was using something he had never seen before.
"You!"
He suddenly remembered his name and the conversation they had.
Taylor Huston turned to him, shooting another flare.
"Mr. Andrews," he nodded. "I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough."
Andrews approached him, "You knew?"
Taylor stared at him for a long moment before nodding and shooting a red flare, "Yes."
"But… how?"
Taylor paused, thinking hard about his response, "Titanic cannot be saved. It will sink tonight. But fifteen hundred lives do not have to perish along with it. The red flares should be enough to get the California's attention."
"The California?"
He shot another flare.
Andrews stared at him with shock, trying to comprehend what he was saying and how he knew such things.
"But there's no guarantee that any ship will reach us. We have very little time."
"Then I'll buy us time."
He frowned, "How-"
"MR. ANDREWS!" a voice cried out, making him turn.
A young officer ran up to him, "The captain wishes to speak with you!"
Nodding back to the man, he turned around but found that Taylor was gone.
"Sir… is everything alright?"
Shaking his head, he nodded and followed the officer to Captain Smith's office.
Smith looked up at him as he came in.
"We've made contact with the SS California."
Andrews paused, "What?"
"Thanks to the red flares, the California was able to make contact upon seeing them. The problem now is that it'll take them two hours to reach us."
Andrews' reignited hope started to wane again.
"And we have maybe half an hour before she goes down."
"Which is why I am giving the order for any attempts to give us more time to be made."
Andrews nodded, "Very well. Perhaps we should see to finding anything that can be used as a raft, anything that third passengers will have to use in order to survive for that long."
Taylor began making his way to the lower deck, knowing that while the red flares sped up the time of rescue, it still wouldn't be enough. Now he needed to buy as much time as he could.
His only concern was the attention he was now placing upon himself and the consequences that would follow.
Rose and Trudy used the elevator to get to the lower levels, where a body of water was waiting for them and poured into the elevator.
The operator cursed them and began to have the elevator go back up, forcing them get out into the cold water.
Making it through to the crew hallway, they began to run once they reached the floor that wasn't flooded yet.
Cora could hear water down the corridor as her father lead the way, holding her hand.
Somehow, they had managed to get lost in the maze that was the lower parts of the ship, finding that no one was letting any of the third passengers up past the stairways, being blocked off by gates and stewards. So, her father thought it best to find another way.
And it wasn't looking like the best course of action now.
"Daddy, I'm pretty sure we're lost."
"Nah," he smiled. "We've got to be heading in the right direction."
"But I hear water."
"We'll be fine."
For a second, Cora thought she could hear voices but believed it was her mind playing games on her.
"Will you stop putting your foot on me?!"
Cora stopped, recognizing the voice.
Jack!
"Honey, what's wr-"
"Daddy, come on!" she took off running, nearly dragging him along.
"Whoa, slow down there!"
"Jack!" she called out.
"Cora?!" a voice called back.
"JACK!"
"CORA!"
As they got closer, they could hear water getting slightly louder and began to see the water further down the corridor.
Letting go of her father's hand, she ran to the door, not hearing her father call her name as she opened it, finding Jack, Tommy and the other man she never could remember the name of inside, handcuffed to a wide pipe of some kind.
"JACK!" she screamed, running up to and giving him a bear hug. "Wait, what are you doing here? And why are you chained up? Did you do something bad?"
Jack laughed, "Good to see you too, Cora."
The other two stared at her.
"Cora!" her father came into the room, stopping at seeing the three of them. "Okay… not what I was expecting."
"Please, help us!" Tommy cried out.
Cora's father sighed and reached into his pockets, taking out a lockpick.
"Good thing I know a thing or two about locks and clocks."
Immediately, he began picking the handcuffs, using his key against the steel to listen.
"Jack!"
Jack's head popped up, hope and happiness filling his heart.
"Rose?!"
"Jack!"
"ROSE!" he cried out, making Bert screw up and try again.
"JACK!"
Cora frowned, Isn't that we just did? Kinda annoying.
Rose appeared in the doorway, her face lighting up at seeing him as she ran and threw her arms around him, kissing him with passion.
Jack tried to kiss back, without the use of his hands.
Cora smiled.
"Thank God, I found you! The water is rising at the elevators, we can't go that! Me and Trudy were soaked trying to get here!"
"Who's Trudy?" Cora asked.
"Hi."
Jack, Tommy, Fabrizio, Cora and Rose turned to the woman in the doorway, waving at them.
"Got it!" exclaimed Bert as he freed Fabrizio, moving on to Tommy next, just as the cold water beginning to reach the room and pour in.
Cal and Lovejoy made it to the bottom of the staircase, where a large body of water was waiting for them, making them stop.
"Sir… perhaps it is best that we turn back."
"Not without her!" he growled, stepping into the water as he drew his gun.
Sighing, Lovejoy followed.
Ruth sat in her chair, refusing to listen to the steward who was trying to get out of the room and to the deck area.
"Please, ma'am, you need to leave. Captain's orders are specifically clear."
"Ruth!" a voice called out, making her head pop up and scowl. "Come on, you old grouch! Time's a wasting! No one's telling me what's going on but-"
Molly Brown came around the doorway, eyes wide at seeing Ruth in the chair and the steward next to her.
"What are you doing? Everyone's waiting on the deck area, something about boarding on the lifeboats! Come along, we got first serve! Where's Rose?"
Ruth refused to look at her, replying in a small voice, "Gone… with that boy."
Molly's eyebrows raised, smiling on the inside, "Well, I'm sure we'll run across her in no time. Now, stop moping around and come along."
Though not wishing to go with her of all people, Ruth allowed for the southern woman to pick her up by her elbow and lead the way out of the suite, followed by the steward, who was thankful for the oversize woman to come to his rescue.
As Taylor descended the stairs and reached the bottom, he saw the large body of water and immediately reached for his hybrid gun, switching its settings.
Once finding the one he wanted, he selected it and pointed the gun right at the water. Taking a moment to charge, he fired a Time Dilatation bomb that immediately spread cross the water and stopped it from moving.
Switching to another mode, he then fired an Ice Bomb that turned the water into pure ice.
Satisfied, he began to move to other hallways, repeating the same progress.
Just as Tommy was freed, Bert moved on to Jack next but the water already rising to their knees.
"Take my daughter and get to the deck!" Bert cried out.
"I'm not leaving Jack!" Cora protested, despite shivering from the cold water.
Jack turned to her and smiled, "Don't worry… I'll be right behind you."
He turned to Tommy and Fabrizio, "Take her, Rose, and Trudy up to the deck and get them on a lifeboat."
"I'm not leaving you!" Rose took his hand, standing as close to him as possible.
Though Tommy and Fabrizio didn't wish to leave their friend behind, they nodded. Fabrizio picked Cora up and headed out the door.
Rose turned to Trudy and nodded to her, "It's okay… go with them."
Though hesitant to do so, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Tommy nodding to her.
"Let's go."
Nodding back, she followed him.
Just as Bert was about to unlock the handcuffs, the lockpick slipped from his fingers and fell into the water.
Rose gasped as Bert dived under to find it but when he came back up for air, he shook his head.
"I can't find it!"
Dread filled their hearts as it sunk in for them.
Jack and Rose looked at each other, giving one another a look as they squeezed their hands together.
"Go," said Jack. "Get out of here."
Bert stared at them. Torn between what to do, until Rose spoke.
"It's okay. You tried your best. Go be with your daughter."
Taking a moment, he shook his head and dived up the water, searching desperately for the lockpick.
Tears slid down Rose's face, mixing in with the sea salt water.
"Go!" said Jack. "Get out of here!"
Rose shook her head, "Not without you!"
"Rose-"
"NO!" she declared, kissing him on the lips. "You jump, I jump! Remember?!"
Jack was about to protest until he looked into eyes and saw that no words he could think or say would convince her otherwise. She had made her choice.
"You're so stupid!"
She smiled, "Then I guess we're one weird couple."
"You're the weird one."
"Excuse me!" she gasped.
Jack couldn't help but laugh, until she kissed him again.
"Jeez! Get a room, you two!"
Gasping, they turned to see Taylor at the front of the doorway as he made his way through the water, careful not to bump into the man who was searching for something under the freezing surface.
"Might want to cover your eyes for this part. Jack, put your hands up high and the spread the handcuffs against the pipe!"
Jack obeyed, while Rose turned away and covered her eyes.
Pointing his hybrid gun up against the small chain between Jack's hands, he selected a mini–Ice Bomb round and pulled the trigger. The metal chain shattered, with tiny pieces falling into the water.
Jack opened his eyes and began to laugh, as Rose looked at his hands with wide eyes, unable to believe what she just saw. She had so many questions but found a way to push them aside for the moment. She grabbed Jack and kissed him, smiling with joy.
Bert came up for air, "I'm sorry, I can't find- wait, how are you free?! And who are you?!"
"Well, come on, let's go!" Taylor motioned for them to door as the water started to go above their waists.
Listening to him, they partially swam to the door, while Jack immediately hugged him. Bert made it to the hallway and made his way up, while Rose waited.
"Thank you, my friend."
Taylor hugged him back, "You'll have to tell me how all of this happened later."
"Cal," was his only response.
Taylor chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, that about sums it up."
Taylor looked over and saw his briefcase on the floating table, almost untouched by the water. Reaching forward, he grabbed it and made his way to the door with Jack, who took Rose's hand and began to swim run to the dry parts of the floor that was slowly becoming steep.
Taylor waited till they were far enough away before using his gun to fire a Time Dilation and an Ice Bomb at the water.
So, what do you guys think so far?
We are definitely in the final moments of the story, so buckle up and prepare for the end. I want to warn you that this won't be as impactful or epic as the movie because there will be major changes.
Thank you to everyone has been with me for this long and for those who are just now reading this (whatever year it is now). I hope it's delivering what I want it to deliver for all of you.
Alright, I'm off to bed before work tomorrow! I'll see you guys in Chapter 12!