Chapter 67: One Week of Recovery

…

~~10/11, Expedition Day 56.

~~We've left Obeeta. Almost a month of living this nightmare, and I'm sure we can't live it anymore.

~~I'm a little rattled by the idea that Janni can't remember her own things from a hundred years ago. She seemed like she clearly knew enough about her and the Dreamweaver's lives. I wish we had brought at least a few of the things we found in the tower; it might help her remember better.

~~With the Sky Line changed, Leynne thinks we're looking at a two-week journey back to Hyrule. It isn't something that this crew hasn't seen before, but I would feel better if we could get back faster than that. Irleen told me that Obeeta might fall out of place since we changed the Sky Line, and no one else seems to show any signs of regret over the possibility. I can't really blame them, but with the Dreamweaver and the Obeetans gone, there really doesn't seem to be much left of the island except for all the empty homes. Maybe that's enough to want it gone. It's just occurred to me that there's still the dead Sorian Mystic in the wall of their meeting hall. I wonder how many others are buried around the island.

…

~~10/12, Expedition Day 57.

~~Still on-course for Hyrule. Everyone seems to be just falling back into routine, but the mood on the ship still feels gloomy. Leynne is going to slowly return everyone to their regular rotation times.

…

"My Captain~, we have a problem~."

Link groaned at the sing-song voice from nearby, pulling his attention away from the instrument panel behind Line. He turned to find Dholit standing behind him, her outfit consisting of an old airman's tunic with the sleeves and neckline cut off to turn it into a loose-fitting vest with her usual transparent sleeves underneath and a pair of white work slacks. Behind her was Biluf, dressed in a tight-fitting purple bodice and harem slacks with her blue poncho draped over her shoulders.

"You know, when you say it like that," Link told her as Line sniggered behind him, "it makes me think that it isn't really that serious."

"Oh, but I assuah you it is," Dholit replied.

Link sighed. Then he looked over his shoulder and said, "Shut up, Line…" Line blew a raspberry in response. Link then returned his attention to Dholit and crossed his arms. "What is it?"

"Well, I was engaging in my usual dialogue toward the… relationships on-boahd, and I may have made a passing remahk about you and youh status as being hahd."

Link groaned again and put a hand over his face. "Dholit…"

"I am not finished," Dholit told him. "My concehn is that Layna was neahby."

"So?" Line asked.

"She giggled."

Link's and Line's faces immediately switched to confusion. "Wha?" was the only sound Line could make.

"I cannot be cehtain what she was giggling at," Dholit continued. "She did not say. She only giggled foh a moment, and then she tahned shy and left the galley."

"Great, now we gotta worry about her giggling when she knocks us out…" Line groaned.

"Then stop stealing their clothes," Link snapped at him. Then he turned back to Dholit to deliver a shrug. "I don't know what to tell you. I don't think it's entirely above her to giggle every now and then. I've at least seen her smile before."

This put a worried look on Dholit's face. "You've… seen haah smile?" she repeated.

"Yeah."

Dholit turned to Biluf and said, "My Captain coy'idhijak kiylwubtya zhadi somath."

Biluf's look was one of irritation as she replied, "Ay'a? 'In'idhijak kiylwubtya Layna somath. Nwaki naddhafinwak."

Dholit gave her a difficult look. "'Itab marix zhidi 'aciyfonit dhafinwak 'inax?"

Biluf nodded. "Ay, nwaki dhafinwak."

However, when Dholit turned to address Link, Biluf reached forward and grabbed his wrist. "What ar—hey, wait!" Link snapped when Biluf suddenly pulled on his arm to make him follow her.

"Let me know if she kills you!" Line hollered as Dholit turned to chase them.

Biluf marched down to the main deck and dragged Link below. Once he realized she was dragging him into the women's side of the berth deck, he decided to put up a bit of a struggle. "No, Biluf, wait," he said as he grounded his feet and tried to pull his wrist free. "Wait, this isn't a good idea!"

"'Inmakufatak!" Biluf declared as she wrenched him into the berth deck. "Nwaki wabin 'ajukt. Kaxwoman!"

Link grabbed the partition at the head of the row with his free hand. "Biluf, stop!" Biluf kept hold of Link's other wrist as she reached out and jabbed a pair of fingers into Link's elbow. "Yeouch!" Link hollered, losing his grip on the partition as he withdrew his hand.

Wm—Ba-BAM! Before either Biluf or Link knew what was happening, Biluf was suddenly slammed into Link, and both of them tumbled into the partition at the head of the row. Link's head spun, although it was hard to tell if it was because Biluf's forehead smacked into his or because of the partition. He sat against the partition as he waited for his mind to clear.

Biluf let out a yelp as her hair was pulled backwards. "LAYNA!" she quickly screamed before she felt a blade slide near her throat.

"Biluf?!" Link looked up just as Layna released Biluf's hair and backed away, a surprised look on her face. "Waba liyxomotak dhol My Captain zanak?"

Biluf, rubbing her neck, turned and told her, "Huxwmya'ak zhal zangiyth wammu thib."

"Waba mosayhya'ak zhal," Layna said.

Biluf heaved a sigh. "'Inbathifak. Zhi nadfaslwya'ak 'anw kas."

"Kwal waba xalkwya'ak My Captain zangiyth 'immu thib?" Layna asked as she placed the throwing blade in her trouser pocket.

Biluf grabbed Link's arm and hauled him to his feet. "Naygothan zham thib," she told him in a forceful tone, indicating Layna.

"She says to talk to Layna," Dholit offered when he gave Biluf a confused look.

"About what?" Link replied.

"About haah behavioh," Dholit told him. "She'll talk to you if you ohdah haah."

Link stared at Dholit for a moment. Then he straightened his tunic. He heaved a sigh and said, "Layna… I know you don't usually talk about yourself… but Biluf and Dholit are worried about you and want to know if there's something bothering you."

"My Captain yammoytakak max?" Layna replied, her expression neutral.

"Nadda ay'a," Dholit told her. "Coygaholwak."

"'Inu xaylokwak My Captain yizanugith nwaki," Layna said.

However, just as Dholit was about to open her mouth, Link spoke up, "Layna, please? What's wrong?"

Layna looked stunned for a moment. Then she cast the bulkhead next to her a depressed look. "Filwaf midhafonwak. Nway 'anadi nadmithiykwfya'ak, 'idh 'inu nadmimitaykya'ak maddix tab 'inu nayx mimidhoyj sazalxiym. 'Ak halcix tab 'inu mimixwaycya My Captain… 'olwu 'aykwuf."

Biluf turned to share a confused look with Dholit. Dholit turned to Link and asked, "When did she stab you?"

Link heaved a sigh and pointed to his right eye. "She did it in the dream when she… caught me staring at her," he explained.

Dholit quickly showed Biluf a smirk before telling Link, "Ostensibly, not one of youh bettah moments."

"Waba lwia giysolwotak wabin 'aykwufun," Biluf told Layna.

However, Layna gave her head a slow, sad shake. "Na'," she replied. "'Inu nadgaslwya'ak 'imayn 'aykwufun. 'Anadi nadgaslwya'ak. 'Imayn 'aykwufun 'anadi xultya'ak zham dhin."

"'Zham'?" Dholit spoke up. "Wabin xasrik 'abothfi max?"

Layna nodded. "Suxhayndhu… 'ak halcix tab 'inu doyfaysya zabaytkw My Captain… zhidi nwartya'ak 'inoy. Zhidi botaykwya'ak zhadi…" Layna paused as she appeared to choke up about something. "… zazhjiyx 'idu 'inon. Zhidi… Idha zhidi nadfathomak."

Link, not being able to follow the conversation, could only watch as Dholit and Biluf exchanged surprised looks. Biluf then stepped forward, blocking Link from looking at Layna. "'Inu bulnya'ak tab waba nayx taycom," she said to Layna. "Waba yayrudh nigithak 'inoy tab zhidi ankwilb."

Layna sniffled. "Ay'a, moytokak," she told Biluf in a low voice. "'Itab…"

"Zhidi wabin siylwub dha' jiyt," Dholit spoke up. "'Axilt tab iyckwath ib."

Layna nodded. "'Inu taxilak 'asiyt… rayn 'inu tunl garud."

"'Itab wacofaynya'ak," Biluf said. "Taf wasamithya'ak."

"Foltab 'inu taxilak adhiyn," Layna immediately replied, her tone rising. Link saw a smile on her face, but she also looked as if she was about to cry. "'Inu galwinak dhiynuntya… 'itab 'inu dhol?"

"Waba Layna," Biluf told her. "'Imayn nuttaxwab."

"'Itab… 'inu nadlwaynaygidhak wubunik," Layna said as the smile fell from her face. "Tab… My Captain…"

"My Captain ta'ab dhol?" Dholit asked.

Layna looked at Link. Link had been trying his best to follow the conversation, but he had become so lost in the words that he could not tell why she was looking so sad. Then it occurred to him what the conversation was really about. Layna saw the comprehension on his face before she told Dholit, "'Inu nadmoytokak 'al nayx midhij sazalwcoys My Captain."

"'Nayx midhij'?" Dholit asked as she crossed her arms, her tone incredulous. "Banwaym 'athiw'in. Waba lwacisak My Captain max? Nadlwacisak max?"

Layna stared at Link for a moment. Then she carefully lowered herself to her knees and reached her arms out to Link. He was not sure what to do at first, but as Layna leaned closer, he raised his own arms to catch her. He felt her chin rest on his right shoulder, opposite the side Dholit and Biluf were standing on. Link realized this was intentional when he heard her whisper.

"I am sorry, My Captain. I cannot be your assassin."

"I only regret… that your crew will never be the same". Link began to understand that, no matter how the crew behaved, they had been tormented. From Beech's desire to stop pranks before they happened to Dholit's attempt to stave off nightmares by declaring her family dead, each one of them had been hit in a vulnerable spot again and again. Link was probably the only one who had not been so affected.

Layna began to pull away, and Link reflexively grasped tighter. "Layna," he whispered back. "I… don't want an assassin. I want my crew. I want the woman named 'Layna'." Layna stared at the bulkhead stunned for a moment. Then she returned Link's tighter hug.

Dholit heaved a sigh. "'Inu ya'lu laxomak kiycothot nwik kiycthunun," she said.

"Wathohidhotak 'anw xali'," Biluf told her. "Lohakwan."

…

~~Same day, about 1500.

~~For reasons I don't really understand, Layna told me that she can't be an assassin anymore. It just seems to be the first sign of what the Dreamweaver was telling me about the crew not being the same. I think, for Layna, it might be a good thing because she doesn't have to get so wrapped up in, well, whatever it is she keeps doing whenever we don't see her. I can't tell if it makes her any happier, though, because it seemed like she was gonna cry. Knowing she tried to kill herself before just makes me worry more. The whole "I love you" thing still seems to be hanging in the air, and she spoke to me in Hylian again. I don't know anymore, I'm just so confused. And I think she is, too.

…

~~10/13, Expedition Day 58

~~Twali and Lwamm got into a fight. Hunter got sent to the infirmary. I think Leynne said he tried to warn Hunter not to get in the way, but Twali picked him up and slammed him against the deck. I don't know how; Lwamm is bigger, and Hunter easily weighs more than either of them. But, I saw his feet flail in the air, so, yeah, it happened. Hunter was dazed, but I guess he wasn't hurt too bad, so Nester told him to quit messing with the Gelto and get back to work. Dubbl wrangled both of them to apologize, but Hunter was surprisingly friendly about the exchange. Maybe I'm overestimating the damage the Dreamweaver did to my crew.

…

"Hey, bud. Why the long face?"

Beech dropped the bedpan he had just finished cleaning out, startling Nester out of his examination of Geordie's scalp. Nester gave the bedpan an offended look before telling Beech, "Don't go dropping my pans all over the place; we don't have that many."

"He…" Beech tried to say. "Is he…?"

Geordie gave him half of a grin. "Feel pretty awake," he told Beech. Then he winced and turned to Nester. "Watch it, that hurts."

"Quit being a baby and let me make sure that healed all right," Nester growled back as he stood up to better examine Geordie's head in the light.

Beech glanced backwards. "I-I was just down here," he finally managed to say.

"He just woke up," Nester replied as he tugged the wrap around Geordie's head back in place.

"H-how?"

Geordie shrugged. "Just like waking up any other time," he said. Then he put on a concerned frown as he realized there was something different about Beech. "You look like you've aged a couple of years. How long was I out?" Beech could only stammer in silence.

Nester heaved a sigh and fell back onto his chair. "You've been in a coma for about a week," he said with a grim tone. "And it's been almost three weeks since Beech attacked you." Beech closed his mouth and lowered his gaze to the floor.

Geordie gave Nester a shocked look and placed a hand on his head. "Holy shit, doc, you're kidding!" he replied.

Nester shook his head. "You've been under constant care for three weeks. Do you remember any of it?"

Geordie let his hand fall as he stared at the edge of the bed in thought. "Iiii… I don't know, doc," he admitted. "I… can't seem to remember much after the first couple hits."

"That doesn't surprise me; you were unconscious when they called me in. You were barely responding when you were conscious afterwards, but then you just went into a coma. Beech and I've been taking care of you since."

Geordie gave Beech a flat glare. "No kidding."

"Hold on, Geordie," Nester said, laying a hand on Geordie's fist. "Listen. There's been a lot going on even before he attacked you. Just hear us out for a moment."

"I just wanna know why he did it," Geordie said, his eyes still on Beech.

"Because he wasn't himself," Nester told him. "None of us have been. Some of us still probably aren't."

Geordie's glare broke to give Nester a concerned look. "What do you mean?"

"That island we found? It wasn't empty. There was this… creature there." Nester had to pause a moment to recall what he knew. "It used to be a Sorian. He was what the locals called a 'Dreamweaver'. I-I guess they control people's dreams when they sleep. But… there was something wrong with this one. He started feeding on people's good dreams and left nightmares."

Nester paused, so Geordie nodded and said, "Go on."

"The Dreamweaver used everyone's dreams against them. Chief Cale turned paranoid and nearly attacked the captain because he thought the captain was trying to steal Cookie from him. Ray fell asleep and fell over the side of the ship; the deck crew barely caught her in time. The entire crew was a bundle of nerves on top of being very sleep-deprived. But you can't really hold it against anyone on-board; they wouldn't have been like that if it hadn't been for the Dreamweaver in the first place."

Geordie shook his head. "Is this… is-is this all serious?"

"You can talk to the captain or Leynne for the specifics," Nester replied. "All I know is that you can't hold Beech's attack against him. He was probably the first victim."

Geordie's glance wandered as he tried to absorb all of the information Nester had given him. When he thought he understood, he looked up at Beech. "Well?" he asked. "Is that true?"

Beech nodded. "I never wanted to actually beat the hell outta you," he said, his voice ragged and weak. "Not like that, not trying to kill you. But… those first couple days… I-I was so out of it that I couldn't tell if I was asleep or not. I remember these pranks you and Botu were pulling on me… they were just so horrible, I remember nearly dying. I-I don't remember exactly what they were, but… that day I attacked you, I started thinking about the dreams. It just… it ju—the fear just kept building like there was no stop to it! I don't even know where I found the spare timber. I just thought that I had to stop you, but… I couldn't stop myself. It was just… pure impulse."

Geordie stared stunned at Beech, trying to decide if he believed the story or not. He asked Nester, "And the whole crew has been like this?"

"Dubbl had a meltdown and cussed out Leynne over her pregnancy," Nester said. "And Layna slit her own throat for a reason we really don't understand. It's hard to say why no one died."

"There's more to it than that," Beech spoke up. "Ever since, the Dreamweaver kept giving me nightmares guilting me over attacking you. I even dreamed you woke up and stabbed me to death with a kitchen knife in revenge. I…" He glanced at the bulkhead to his left, away from Geordie. "I even thought of just lying in my berth until I starved to death. It wouldn't have accomplished anything… but I wouldn't have to deal with a guilt trip every evening since then."

"Took Dholit and the captain some real effort getting him up and about again," Nester added. "The crew didn't trust him too well; chalk it up to the Dreamweaver fueling their paranoia, I figure. The sick bay was probably the only place he could go without having to wonder if one of his crewmates was going to attack him next."

Geordie gave an exhausted grunt and rested a hand on his bandaged forehead. "Goddesses Above…" he breathed. Then he started as he realized something and turned to Nester. "Wa—don't tell me were still on the damned island!"

"No, no," Nester replied in a calm tone, one hand waving as if to dismiss his concern. "The Dreamweaver is dead, and we're about three days out on a course for home."

"Oh, good," Geordie replied with a relieved breath.

"Look, Geordie…" Beech started. However, he could only sigh and run a hand through his hair as he tried to speak.

Geordie could only watch him stumble for so long, so he told Beech, "I don't know what's been happening. But… maybe, after I get a better idea what's been going on, we can try talking then. But, I gotta say…" He put on a grin. "I'm gonna get you for ruining my adventure." Beech gave him a bewildered look. Then he let out a breath of laughter that was half humor and half genuine relief.

Nester glanced between the two. "Oh, no way in hell is this healthy…" he uttered with a resigned tone.

…

~~Geordie's aliv

~~1014 Expediion Day Whatever

~~Geordie woke from his coma this morning!

~~He's been talking with some of the other crew trying to get a better idea of what was happening since Beech beat him. Nester says he would rather keep Geordie in the sick bay until we can get to Might Island, but Geordie believes that he should at least be able to help man a shift in the engine room since he could easily do it on his ass (his words). I've at least asked him for a few days in the sick bay just to make sure he won't lose consciousness again.

~~Beech has made himself scarce again, although Dholit has at least been able to keep a conversation with him. According to her, Beech is withdrawing until Geordie's had a chance to feel out what's been happening since the attack. Nester let me know that he had been thinking about starving himself to death. I might have to drag out a manual for this one; I'm not entirely sure what I should do if someone is admitting to contemplating suicide. I suppose I can only wait until Might Island before I have any option. It has me concerned; I know he has a pregnant wife to go home to. With any luck, without the Dreamweaver, he might be able to calm down and stop having these thoughts. Still, I've asked Dholit to at least check on him every now and then.

~~It's been another day of quiet. The crew seems like they've settled into a routine, although Gillam and Harley mentioned that the Sorian rations are starting to make them feel ill. I really hope we don't have another outbreak of food poisoning; we can't afford to have any more crew on bedrest.

…

~~10/15, Expedition Day 59

~~Flower reported that Janni was on the poop deck this morning. She didn't really say anything to him, and she's been pretty quiet since we left Obeeta. I guess she still feels depressed leaving. Or maybe because she still can't remember her life before the shield. I checked with Irleen and Dubbl a few moments ago; she's still sitting secluded in her own berth.

~~Irleen suggested that Gillam and Harley might be feeling ill because the Sorian rations contain food that Hylians have never eaten before. It makes sense; I've recently started feeling pretty bad myself, and I have to admit that the fruit inside started tasting strange lately. I'm not looking forward to dealing with this if it gets worse.

…

~~10/16, Expedition Day 60

~~It's worse. Harley and I are dealing with an ugly case of the runs. I've been running to the head at the front of the ship so it doesn't make my cabin nasty. It hasn't been a very exciting day. Nester gave me something for the diarrhea, so I'm hoping this will end soon.

~~On a positive note, Line appears to be taking pleasure in my suffering. Leynne chewed him out for it, but it seems like the argument between them actually caused some of the crew to laugh at it. I suppose it's better than having them wander around miserable the whole trip. I just wish it wasn't because I have to keep running to the head.

…

~~10/17, Expedition Day 61

~~Relatively uneventful day. Harley and I are doing better, and we've decided that we don't need to be eating the fruit from the Sorian rations. I have to say that things at least seem to be getting better. No one's picked a fight, no one's pulled any pranks, nothing's been damaged. I wish the past two years had been as uneventful.

…

~~10/18, Expedition Day 62

~~Sello set part of the engine room on fire. Again.