CHAPTER 11

You Will Not Live To Regret It

Maija awoke peacefully, alone in the darkness of her ship's lower deck. The atlas skycore hummed to her. She yawned and stretched, her back screaming at her for falling asleep on nothing but metal. Rubbing the soreness away, Maija got to her feet, surprised at how well she had slept. Despite the soreness through her body from the uncomfortable position, and the grogginess still in her eyes, Maija felt rejuvenated and ready to take on the day. After she got something to eat. Her stomach growled at her.

She peeked up out of the void again, this time, seeing a totally different environment than she had been expecting. Maija looked up, not to see the underside of an island, but to a weather wall stretching almost infinitely upwards into the sky. Dark and grey, the stormwall boomed with thunder and flashed with lighting.

Somehow, her ship had drifted towards the pull of a stormwall. Maija swore and dropped back down to her ship, not caring for the distance. She landed hard, stumbled forwards, caught herself, then grabbed onto the ship's helm, spinning it around while lifting the ship up and out of the void. There was an island nearby and by the looks of it, it was habited by a city made from stone. Maija pushed the throttle forwards and the ship's engines fought to stay away from the stormwall that kept trying to pull it in.

Maija stepped away from the helm, turning to the wall looming behind her. The engines were at full blast, but it looked as if she was barely moving. She tried to think of what she could do but there was nothing. The hopelessness killed her. She could only hope that she had enough fuel to escape the wall's pull.

"Dammit, come on!" she shouted at her ship, pounding her heels against the deck.

The ship jolted, tossing Maija a foot into the air. She caught herself as the ship moved forwards, away from the wall. The engines sputtered to a stop, out of fuel as the ship drifted away from the stormwall and away from danger. Maija sighed and leaned against the helm.

"That's a way to wake up," Maija muttered to herself as she caught sight of the island coming slowly closer to her. Her ship ran out of momentum just as the side of the island came in reach for her grappling hook. After securing the piece of red cloth like a mask around her face, she pulled the hood over her head and attached her grappling hook to the island.

Maija swung over, pushing against the islands side's to stop her momentum. Then, she reeled herself up and over the top of the island and right into the city square. People cluttered and gathered everywhere, buying and selling goods. There were shops and places to eat everywhere.

A refueling station sat at the edge of the island, several ships docking to refuel. Maija walked in, pulling her mask tighter as to not give away her identity. The shop itself was relatively empty, a few wanders like herself buying select goods, most were outside refueling their ships. Maija stepped up to the man waiting behind the stand, he looked bored.

"What can I help you with?" he asked, not bothering to look up from the hunk of metal he was cleaning off, a part of some machine.

Maija pulled the bottle of pigment from her pocket and placed it down on the wooden countertop. The man looked up at the pigment, now looking a whole lot more interested, then stood up straight, eyeing Maija. The man was younger than she was and looked genuine. Kind unlike most of the traders one finds on these islands.

"What is this for? What do you want?"

"Fifteen canisters of fuel and I need them brought to my ship not far from the island," Maija said, her voice soft but still audible through the mask. "And I expect change."

His entire expression turned from amazement at the pigment, to fear. "Hey, wait, aren't you that-"

Maija leaned forwards, shushing him. "Shh, listen to me. I don't want any trouble." She pulled her mask off her face. "These things you hear about me are rumors. I'm trying to find the man responsible for these sunken islands. If he's still out there, no one is safe. Please. Will you help me?"

"I-," the man hesitated. He wouldn't meet her gaze.

"Please," Maija said dropping the pigment into his hands. "If you tell anyone that I'm here, there's no more hope for Foundation."

He finally made eye contact. The man was far younger than Maija, barely a man, more of a boy. Just as she was barely a woman. "You're Maija right?"

She nodded, glancing around her shoulder. Anyone could be eavesdropping, but it didn't look like it. Even if there was, her disguise clearly hadn't been working. "Yes."

"I'm Erik," he said. "I'll help you, but we need to be careful. You're known all the way to the eastern Badlands, and if anyone is caught siding with you, they'll be found just as guilty."

Maija stepped away from him, frowning. How had Kaius managed to spread a rumor so wide and so easily accepted? So much as to condemn anyone related to Maija for something she didn't even do. Had everyone forgotten about the fear they had all felt for New Unity before anyone even knew Maija's name? All the sudden, Maija found herself willing to steal the fuel rather than let this kid be anywhere near her. For his own safety.

Maija opened her mouth to speak but stuttered, not really knowing what to say. She tried again but still couldn't. She had become overwhelmed by an odd sense of guilt at dragging another person into her own problems. As far as Maija could tell, this whole thing was between her and Kaius. She hadn't felt the same guilt with Cliffside because they had made themselves apart of this conflict. But this man would be pulled into a life-threatening mess all because he helped her.

Erik cut her off before saying anything, taking the pigment and pushing it back into Maija's hand. "It's on the house. Take a canister and bring your ship around, I'll have the other fourteen lined up when you get here. But we need to be fast."

"Thank you," Maija said, taking the pigment back once more. She was surprised she had managed to keep it with her for this long. But they had little time to lose. She needed to bring her ship up to be refueled quickly or she might bring another person into her own problems.

Maija grabbed a canister of fuel and left, walking quickly but carefully watching her speed as to not draw attention to herself. She back tracked through the city and to the side where she had left her ship at. As she found out this morning, her ship had an issue with drifting, but she didn't think it would have moved so far.

She stepped up to the edge of the island to see nothing but empty air and stormwall behind it. Maija's ship was completely gone, nowhere to be seen. Footsteps came up behind her, three pairs walking on stone. She froze, heart pounding in her ears, drowning out everything else.

"Looking for your ship ma'am?" a woman called from behind Maija. Her voice was deep and rough. "Unfortunately, any ship left unattended and undocked can lead to it being impounded and unless claimed, eventually scrapped."

The woman paused when Maija turned to face her. She was short but thick, streaks of silver through her bright blonde hair. Age and wisdom painted a pretty face toughened by this world. She was dressed in an old Saborian Uniform fit for a sergeant, dyed a dark brown. Two men dressed in trooper uniforms stood to each side of her, both holding weapons as well. They were clearly island security.

She squinted at Maija, adjusting her grip on a large, two-handed gun in her hands. "What is your name?"

Maija clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. She still had her mask on, so her identity was relatively protected still but her quick thinking needed to kick in soon.

"Rae."

The woman smiled but her eyes reflected none of the kindness. "Have a last name to go with that?"

Maija glared at her, then pursed her lips and shook her head. "Nope, just Rae."

The woman scoffed. "Huh, interesting."

They stared at each other, Maija panicking inside, trying to look as natural as possible outwards. Yes, it wasn't likely that some random woman around the same age and appearance as Maija would carry her last name as her own, but it was possible, right?

"Please," the woman finally said. "Come with me."

She waited as the two men beside her came and stood next to Maija, ushering her forward. Maija balled her fists, then released them. She walked forwards, towards the woman who had turned away from her. The two men followed closely, not hesitating to remind Maija of the weapons both wielded. They had yet to disarm Maija of her bow and spear, but she would need to use them at the right time.

"So, Rae," the woman said in a low, unconvinced tone, "tell me, what plans do you have in Moramini? How long are you planning on staying with us?"

"Not too long," Maija forced the most natural, nonchalant voice she could muster. "Just stopped for some fuel. I ran a little short. That's why I hadn't been able to dock." It was all the truth so far. Maija tried to relax, she couldn't feel her legs, but they still moved.

"I'm sure you've heard of a woman sharing your name. Maija Rae?" The woman got straight to the point. Maija staggered. "You look… a lot like her. Eyes for too green. Distant relative maybe?"

Maija remained silent. Not by choice. She had nothing to say. She was caught in a lie she couldn't keep up.

"What's the point in this?" Maija finally asked, stopping. The two men grabbed to her arms. "If you're going to kill me, do it. I'm not who Kaius says I am."

The woman scoffed. "Ha, and how do you expect me to believe that? I've seen the destruction you've brought. Four islands sank because of you. Thousands of people. I've seen one with my own eyes. It's my duty to this island to insure it never happens to these people."

Maija's heart sank. Four islands. She had only seen one cast into the void by Kaius's hand. And he had managed to convince every single person in this world that she had been the cause. And he somehow managed to equip everyone with enough information to recognize Maija through anything. Her entire identity.

Maija wrapped her foot around the man to her left's ankle and pulled back. He yelped and fell. Before the other guard had time to realize, she pulled her shoulder from his grip and rammed her whole-body forwards into his side. He shouted and fell back.

There was no stopping now. The woman rose her weapon, but Maija was quicker. Relying solely on instinct, Maija's arm shot up towards the woman's gun and she fired her grappling hook. The hook struck against the wooden stock of the woman's gun and punctured through it. Maija tugged at her arm, but the woman's grip was stronger. She still managed to aim the rifle and fire which Maija struggled to pull loose from her hands.

Maija gasped and released the grappling hook, darting to the side. The release sent the woman's aim off and the bullet fell far short. She focused on the man in front of her, just like always. She pressed her foot against his chest and pushed him back down, flipped the spear from her back and twisting its head towards his side.

Maija reared the spear back to strike, but the other guard grabbed to her chest from behind and lifted her back, throwing her hard against the brick ground. She rolled off her side, groaning but jumped back to her feet as the first man grabbed his gun.

She dropped her spear and drew her bow, firing an arrow which knocked the gun from his hands. In the corner of her eye, she saw the woman now with a spear much like her own, pulling it back to stab. Maija spun, dropped her bow, and rose her hands out in front of her.

"Wait!" Surprisingly, the woman stopped just short of Maija's chest, but she kept the spear there. "Please, just give me a chance to explain myself."

"You have nothing to explain," the woman said in a tone that made Maija almost believe her.

"Please, there's a whole lot more to this than you know," Maija said breathlessly, putting as much empathy into her voice; trying to make her face as genuine as possible.

"She's right Julia," someone else spoke. Maija recognized his voice. The woman still held her at spear point, not letting her eyes off her.

"Leave this alone Erik," the woman, Julia, said. "You don't know who this is."

"I do know who she is, and you would be smart to hear her out. She isn't who you think."

Julia glared at her, her lips twisting into a scowl before she lowered her spear. She nodded at the two men who were still gathering themselves. One grabbed Maija's weapons while the other bound her arms tightly behind her back with rope, Maija winced.

Julia looked at Maija with anger in her eyes. "You are going to follow me and tell me everything. And you are going to be thankful that you are still alive to do it, do you understand?"

Maija breathed. She nodded and thanked her, overcome by relief that made her voice quiet. Julia led them through the city, avoiding most of the crowds. She bickered with Erik quietly but aggressively. It was clear that they knew each other. As if there hadn't been enough evidence already. Julia wouldn't have let Maija live if it hadn't been for Erik.

Eventually, they left the city. Grass and shrubbery grew through the cracks between white bricks and the thick roots of tall standing trees uplifted them, allowing for more vegetation to grow. There was a wooden building built along a fence, surprisingly well made. Surrounded by the fence were several shipyards all empty but one. Above the one occupied shipyard was Maija's ship, still and lifeless.

They entered the building, walking into what looked like a barracks. Beds lined the walls of the building, beds built on platforms elevated above each bed on the ground. At the end of the building was a desk with a chair behind it and two in front. There was also a circular table in the corner of the room where three people sat in a circle around, playing a game with pieces of paper shaped like cards.

"Everyone out," Julia ordered as they entered. "Everyone but Maija and Erik."

The three men at the table jumped up and turned towards them, one almost choking on a drink at hearing Maija's name. They all watched her, eyes wide open as they left the building silently, bursting into conversation as the door closed, sealing their voices away.

Julia stepped around the desk and sat down, crossing her legs. She propped her rifle up against the table and took a pistol from her hip and set it down on the flat wood surface. It sounded heavy as it audibly smacked against the tabletop. Her voice was soft and quiet, a stark contrast to her appearance. Maija knew the weapon was a threat, but Majia had no intention of rebelling.

"Please, have a seat," Julia said. She propped her boots up on the desk and waved towards the two chairs in front. "And you are going to tell me what's going on here. What's really going on."

Maija felt fear at that moment but the urge to clear her name overpowered it. "I haven't done-"

"Not you." Maija frowned at the rebuke. Julia kept her eyes on Erik, who sat at the chair beside Maija. "How do you know her?"

"I only met her a few minutes ago. I promised to get her fuel."

"Why?"

Erik seemed relaxed while Maija was almost temped to sit on her hands and Julia's focus wasn't even on her. "Because I seem to remember what everyone else has forgotten. Do you remember the first island? The first island to go down? Harborage. Who did that? Thousands dead. Hundreds of witnesses."

Julia remined silent. Maija could see the thought in her eyes hiding behind her mean face. But she didn't say anything.

"Who was it, Julia."

"Kaius. But-"

She sighed, raising a hand to her face, and rubbing it. Finally, she turned her eyes towards Maija. "What's your story? Give me all of it. From the beginning."

Maija squeezed her eyes closed and held her breath. She didn't know where to start but there had always been one distinct start to her story she had always known and had always recognized as the beginning.

"I woke up here," Maija started, her hands starting to shake from nerves. She forced herself to calm, closing her eyes and breathing steadily. "With no memory. I wasn't much younger than I am now. I can't claim to understand it or prove it. To me, I just started existing."

Maija stole a glance at Julia. She was looking intently at Maija now, a thoughtful, but stern expression on her face. Maija continued.

"I woke up on an island in the Badlands with one goal, to survive and I did. Then, maybe a week ago, I found a grappling hook," Maija wove her grappling hook still strapped to her right arm up even though it likely wasn't the same device, "and then met Kaius. He tried to capture me and succeeded, destroying the island probably after I passed out or something."

She paused. Julia didn't comment. She had had yet to react in any way.

"The rest is blurry. He wants me to help him with something. He says it has to do with my memory- at least somehow- and why I don't have one. I've been running for him ever since. I- I don't know. I have to find out why Kaius wants me so badly that he would spread lies about me that would almost certainly get me killed."

Julia craned her neck to the left, then right, Maija heard a few pops. "Because he knows you'll survive it." She took the pistol off the table- Maija flinched- and holstered it against her hip. "I have to be honest, I was taken off guard by your skills in combat, Maija."

She didn't know whether to thank her or not. Maija remained silent.

Erik spoke up again. "Julia, if we don't help her, let us at least give her fuel and let her go."

"Why are you defending her so much?" Julia asked, turning her attitude back at Erik. Maija turned towards him as well, wondering the same thing.

"Because I was there when it happened."

Maija frowned, pulling her head back. He had been there? "You were at Harborage when Kaius attacked it?"

He nodded. "Yes. I watched his people attack you after bombing your ship. I managed to escape as well and find my way back home." He turned towards Julia. "You know this. You were here to welcome me back. I know she's telling the truth because I saw it happen."

Maija felt the tension finally leave her body. Erik and Julia certainly knew each other somehow, Maija wouldn't be here if they didn't. Julia had to believe Erik and- in turn- her. Relief filled her and she breathed.

Julia stood and faced Maija again. Then looked back at Erik. Her face softened. "How have you made it this far? The world will chew you up and spit you out, even more with no memory. How are you here?"

Maija pursed her lips, preparing herself from the answer. She was a vague as possible, for her own sake. "I had help and an in intense will to survive. From what I've been told, stronger than most. I would leave an arm or leg behind if it meant I might get just a little bit farther."

Erik winced. Julia nodded, almost in simi-understanding. Julia rubbed her eyes, gritting her teeth. Then she stood and turned, raising her hands in the air. "Fine. You get just as much fuel as Erik agreed too but you must promise me one thing…"

Julia turned back towards Maija, leaning over the desk towards her. "Do not come close to this island again. I have an island to defend here and you're nothing but trouble. Don't step foot on this island or you won't live to regret it."

Erik scoffed, "Come on, Julia."

Maija sighed in relief despite the clear threat in her tone. She stood with Erik and moved to leave but stopped herself. She slipped the bottle of pigment from her pocket and set it down on the table. "Thank you."

Julia reached forwards and picked it up, a smile twitching along the corner of her lips. "Don't mention it."

Maija turned and left, Erik coming with her. She pushed the door open and stepped into one of the guards. He immediately moved to detain her, but Erik stopped him.

"She's good. Hand over her weapons and she'll be on her way."

He looked confused. "But she's-"

"It was just a mistake," Erik said, taking Maija's bow from one of the men and handing it to her. "Rae looks a lot like Maija, that's all."

Everyone looked at them with doubtful expressions, but none moved to stop them. Maija slid her bow back around her torso and strapped her spear to her back before following Erik to her ship. A man and a woman were loading canisters of fuel to a wooden pallet beneath the ship as they approached. Maija's fingers twitched to grab her bow, feeling danger around every corner, but fought it.

"Thanks guys, we've got it from here," Erik called out as they reached the shipyard holding Maija's ship in place.

"No problem, bro," the man said standing straight. He bumped Erik's closed fist with his own before leaving. The woman lingered behind, gave Erik a shy hug before quickly chasing after the man, neither of them questioning Maija's presence.

Loading up fifteen canisters of fuel took some time but after a few minutes, both Maija and Erik were standing on the top deck of a fully refueled and restocked skyship. Maija felt good to be back even though she had only been away for a few hours.

"Well, there you are," Erik said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Fifteen canisters. Should keep you fueled for a good few weeks."

"Thank you," Maija said softly, looking as if she hadn't been working just as hard as Erik. "I don't know how to repay you."

"Go save the world, or, better yet," Erik said, a glint of excitement lighting his face. "Let me come with you."

Maija scoffed, rolling her eyes. His reply hadn't been what she had expected. "No. Absolutely not."

Erik crossed his arms, "Well, I guess I'm going to have to take back fourteen canisters of fuel. And you're going to be the one to syphon the last out your fuel tank. No payment."

"What about Julia?" Maija asked, propping her hands up on her hips, squinting her eyes to see through the sunlight.

"She's tough, she'll be fine."

"And that girl?" Maija asked, tilting her head downwards while keeping eye contact. "What about her?"

His face flushed bright red, and he almost choked on his own breath. Erik coughed into his arm that quickly turned to a laugh. Maija felt the smile on her face before she could prevent it. "Why would she be concerned about me? She'll be fine. No questions asked."

Maija snickered and pushed passed him towards the helm, ready to lift her ship up. She didn't want anyone with her. Maija had already lost one person close to her, she wasn't prepared to lose anyone else. But a little part inside her that had always welcomed had grown exponentially. It refused to let Erik go that easily.

"Fine." Maija succumbed to his request. She turned back to him and pointer her finger. "But don't go dying on me or I swear I will kill you."

He clapped his hands, "Awesome, let's go get this son of a-"

Maija waved him away as she turned back to the helm. "Just go get your things- quickly, before I change my mind."

He hopped off the ship, using his grappling hook to break his fall. "Barrel! I was going to say barrel."

Erik climbed back aboard the ship a few minutes later, this time with two holsters strapped to his hip, both loaded with a pistol. On his back was a spear like Maija's and a shotgun made from dark wood and rusted metal. He wore a leather jacket closed tightly around his chest.

He blew out a breath, "Alright, what's the plan. We're going after Kaius, right?"

Maija sighed, pulling the ship up and away from the island, glad to finally be back in the sky again. "Let's just get out of here for now, I'll tell you in a bit."

She activated the engines flew the ship away from the island, dipping closer to the void but not falling below it. Then she anchored the ship- which she knew now wouldn't be of much help- and turned back to Erik who had taken a position behind her, sitting on the deck. He quickly stood.

He looked excited but his face couldn't help but betray him, showing a glisten of fear behind his eyes. Maija stopped him before he could speak. "Alright, listen to me. What I'm about to tell you will destroy everything I just proved about myself to you and Julia. I cannot express to you how much that it is untrue, do you understand?"

Erik slowly nodded his head, frowning. The fear in him grew stronger. "Okay… what is your plan?"

"I am going to Kaius not to stop him," Maija said, bracing for his reaction. "But to join him."

Erik's eyes widened. "What?"