"Vanto! Vanto!" Eli Vanto heard Tucker yelling for him."Hey, Vanto!" The former Imperial officer looked at him."There's someone out there! You gotta-" He pointed to the ocean."The current!"
"What?" He raised an eyebrow.
"There's someone out there! Look!"
Vanto squinted his eyes and finally saw someone."Help!" He heard a female voice yell.
"I woke up and it's just...well, I don't swim," Tucker said.
Vanto took off his shirt and quickly ran into the water and started swimming as fast as he could. He stopped when he didn't see the woman anymore. He looked around, seeing no one. Vanto held his breath and went underwater to see if he could find her.
He didn't find her. But he did find Jaime Lannister.
"You're okay." He assured him after pulling Jaime out of the water."You're okay. Just breathe."
Jaime coughed."Did you get her?" He asked.
"What?"
"There was a woman. I was trying...did you get her?"
"Help!" He heard again.
"We got to go back." Jaime said.
Vanto then started to swim back to the shore, pulling Jaime. The woman kept screaming.
"Leave me." He said.
He ignored Jaime and kept swimming, he looked behind to see that the woman was gone. He brought Jaime to shore and Luna and Tucker got him. Vanto turned around and went back into the water.
"Vanto!" Luna yelled.
"There's someone else still out there!" He yelled.
The woman had drowned. Vanto had swum back to shore when he couldn't find her.
"Hey." Luna said to him. She had been asking some people who the woman who had drowned was.
"So, what'd they say?" He asked.
"Vanto, maybe you should-"
"Who was she?"
She looked sad."Her name was Joanna. She was a scuba diver."
"She was just swimming this morning, got caught in a riptide. We've been here for six days and I never talked to her. Never said a word to her." Vanto said with regret.
"Vanto, don't." Luna said.
"There are 47 of us here and I never said a single word." He continued.
"You tried."
He shook his head."No, I didn't. I thought maybe I'd-I thought maybe I could bring him back and still have the time. I was there...in the water...I didn't try. I decided not to go after her." He looked at Luna.
He then noticed behind her, far away.
It was him. The man in the black suit that he had seen when he was with Holiday. The man was just standing in the ocean, looking at Vanto.
"Vanto?" She asked as he stared. He walked past her and the man was suddenly gone."Are you okay?" She asked, concerned.
He looked at her."Did you see that?"
"What?"
"Standing there in the water. There was a man." He pointed. Luna was skeptical."You didn't see that?"
"Vanto, when was the last time you slept?" She asked.
He stared at her for a moment."I think I need to be alone."
"Are you alright, Derpy?" Whooves asked the grey pegasus.
"Not really, doc. I'm very thirsty." Derpy said."Doc...do you think anyone is looking for us?" She asked.
Whooves was silent for a moment."I don't know. I mean, we don't even know where we are."
"This is just...so weird," Stuhlinger said. He and Ocellus were sitting on the sand, watching nothing but the ocean.
"What do you mean?" Ocellus looked at him.
"I mean...I haven't seen one zombie, I haven't had to turn the power, I haven't had to repair windows..."
"Wait, zombies?" Ocellus asked, confused."Do you mean...the undead."
"Yeah, pretty much." Stuhlinger nodded."Ever since those missiles hit the earth, I've had to kill zombies."
"What?" She said, even more confused."I'm guessing the place you come from isn't very...nice."
"No, not really. We had to do a lot every day in order to survive."
"We? You mean friends?"
"Friends? Me and Russman were pretty good friends but Marlton is annoying. And don't get me started on that bitch, Misty."
"So, other than Russman, you don't have any other friends?" She asked.
"Well, we're friends," Stuhlinger said.
Ocellus smiled at that."When we get off this Island, maybe you could meet some of my friends. Silverstream loves meeting new creatures."
"Hey, Vanto." Stuhlinger said, walking over to him. After talking to Ocellus for a little while, he went to check on the water bottles and discovered something."Whoa, you look tired." He noted when he saw Vanto.
"I'm fine. What's up?"
"We got a problem."
Stuhlinger, along with Tucker, showed him a suitcase that had some water bottles in it.
"That's it?" He asked, looking at them.
Tucker nodded."That's it."
"How many?"
"18." Tucker answered.
"People just kind of took what they needed because we were supposed to be rescued, but we weren't." Stuhlinger explained.
"Even if we divided it up, split the bottles in half, it wouldn't be enough for 47 people." Tucker said.
"46. There are 46 of us now." Vanto corrected.
"People find out this is all we have left, they're going to freak out," Stuhlinger said.
"The boar's running low until we can catch another one." Tucker said. He looked at Vanto."What should we tell them?"
"I don't know."
"Well, what should we do with the stuff we got?" The armored soldier asked.
"I don't know." He repeated before walking away. Tucker grabbed the suitcase and they followed him.
"We should put it in the tent, yeah?" Tucker continued talking."Probably better if no one knows how little is left. If you tell the others we're running low, that way we could ration it. Then you can decide-"
"I'm not deciding anything." He snapped, looking at them.
...
"Why not?" Stuhlinger asked.
Vanto sighed and walked away from them.
Flashback.
"Those damn Chiss..." His father, Icam Vanto, muttered. His father had grey hair and brown eyes.
Eli Vanto, who was only seven years old, looked at his dad. His father was drinking alcohol again. Ice clinked in his father's glass cup.
"They attacked our shipping lanes...again. I had to leave some ships behind to those Chiss so we could get out of there. I left a lot of good people behind." He said before taking a sip of his alcohol."It was a hard decision. The Republic...they're not gonna do anything." He looked at Vanto."And do you know why?"
Vanto shook his head. He was sitting on a chair at the dinner table. His mother was late for dinner.
"Because the Republic has corrupt leaders who only care about themselves and not the innocent people being attacked in Wild Space. Those politicians don't even care about the Clone Wars that are happening right now." His father said drunkenly."They don't have what it takes to make hard choices. But I do. I have what it takes." He stared at Eli."Let this be a lesson. Don't be a hero, Eli. You just don't have what it takes."
On the Island.
"Why didn't you leave me?" Jaime Lannister asked Eli Vanto. Vanto was just sitting there, remembering what his father had said."Hey, I'm talking to you."
He looked at Jaime. Vanto sighed."Not now."
"I could have made it back." He said. Vanto was silent."What, you're not going to answer me? I told you to leave me."
"You were drowning," Vanto said, trying to stay calm.
"You should have saved her." Jaime said.
He stood up."But I didn't save her. And neither did you." He walked away.
"You think you're all noble and heroic for coming after me?" Jaime said, following him."I was fine. You're not the only one who knows what to do around here, you know that? My father was Hand of the King!" He said, getting in front of Vanto.
"Who appointed you as our leader, huh?" Jaime asked."What gives you the right?"
Vanto was going to say something when he saw him.
The man in the black suit. The man walked into the jungle. Vanto ignored Jaime and ran after him.
He ran into the jungle and saw him. The man was just standing there. Vanto gulped. He slowly walked towards him. He was about to touch the man's shoulder. The man then turned around and Vanto gasped in shock.
He fell to the ground, his eyes widened.
"Dad?"
His father said nothing. He then walked into the jungle while Vanto laid on the ground.
Flashback.
"Your father's gone, Vanto." Eli's mother said as Vanto stared out of the window. Eli was on his home planet, Lystra."Did you hear what I said?" Vanto looked at her."He's gone, Vanto."
"He'll be back," Vanto said.
"This time It's different." His mother said."I want you to bring him back." Vanto scoffed."What?"
"He hasn't talked to me ever since I graduated from the Imperial academy."
"You haven't talked to him in since you graduated."
"He doesn't want me to bring him back," Vanto said."Trust me. Let one of his friends."
"He doesn't have friends anymore. Why do you think that is?" His mother asked. Vanto looked to the ground."He was right about you."
He looked up at his mother."Right about what?"
"You don't understand the pressure that he's under."
"I understand pressure."
"Vanto, please. You know how he is. He doesn't...he won't take care of himself. You have to go after him."
Eli shook his head."I'm sorry. I can't."
His mother stared at him."I can't? You don't get to say "I can't". Not after what you did. Bring your father home, Eli."
Vanto was silent for a moment."Where is he?"
"Nar Kaaga." She answered.
On the Island.
Luna had been staring at the ocean, thinking of Equestria, when she heard Applebloom call her name.
"Princess Luna! Princess Luna!" Applebloom yelled, running to the princess.
"What's the matter?" She asked.
"That pregnant lady fell down!" The filly pointed.
Luna saw Tucker and Stuhlinger carrying the pregnant woman named Jeela Brebtin."What happened?" She asked Tucker.
"She just dropped." He said.
"It must be the heat. Is she breathing?"
"I think," Tucker said.
"Well, let's get her to Nurse Redheart." They brought her to the tent and set her down.
After Luna quickly explained what happened, Nurse Redheart examined Jeela. A few seconds later, the pregnant woman's eyes slowly opened. Redheart looked at Tucker."She needs water."
Tucker nodded and went over to the suitcase...only to find that it was gone."What the...the water's gone." Tucker said."Someone stole it."
"Where is Vanto?" Wilhuff Tarkin asked. Luna had just explained the situation to Tarkin and Zuud.
"I don't know. Nobody can find him." Luna said.
"Was this the last of the camp's water supply?" Zuud asked.
Princess Luna nodded."Yeah."
Zuud sighed."Keeping it all in one place. Foolish."
"I can go into the jungle, try to find some freshwater," Luna suggested.
"You're not going alone," Zuud said.
"When the others find out the water's gone, It's going to get ugly. Then when they find out that someone stole it, it's going to get uglier." Tarkin said."I'll go. Camp needs two here, especially with Vanto gone. And besides, I know where to look."
Vanto had quickly gotten up and ran through the jungle."Where are you?" He whispered."Where are you?!" He yelled this time.
Flashback.
"The maid says he hasn't used the bed in the past three days." The hotel manager said.
Eli Vanto was on the Outer Rim planet Nar Kaaga and was now in his father's hotel room.
"Did he rent a speeder from the concierge?" Vanto asked.
"No, sir." He shook his head."Quite honestly, Mr. Vanto, I don't think your father rented a speeder at all."
"Yeah, why's that?" He looked at the manager.
"There was an incident a few nights ago, here at the hotel bar. I had to get security to escort your father to his room."
"What's that have to do with renting a speeder?" Vanto asked.
"I'm sorry, sir. I shouldn't have said-"
"Come on, what's that have to do with renting a speed?"
"Mr. Vanto, I don't think any rental agency on Nar Kaaga would lease your father a speeder in his condition." The manager said.
"My father operates a shipping business in Wild Space," Vanto said.
The manager nodded."Of course, sir. I apologize."
Vanto looked around the room. He found some bottles of liquor and pills. He noticed his father's wallet on the bedside table."He left his wallet. Who leaves a wallet?"
"Perhaps you should talk to the police, Mr. Vanto." The hotel manager suggested.
"Where are you?" He whispered.
On the Island.
Vanto then ran to a clearing and saw his father. He ran after him but tripped and fell down a hill. He nearly fell off a cliff when he held on to some green vine. He grunted, struggling to hold on.
He was starting to slip when he saw a hand.
"Take my hand." Said Wilhuff Tarkin.
Vanto grabbed it and the Grand Moff pulled him up. The two laid on the dirt ground, panting.
"Are you okay?" Tarkin asked him.
Vanto suddenly laughed. I'm on an Island with Grand Moff Tarkin and talking ponies. And I keep thinking I see my father. I'm not okay.
"Hey." Tucker said to Jeela Brebtin, who was still resting.
"Hey." She said, tiredly."How long have I-"
"A couple of hours." Tucker answered."Here." He gave her a cup of water."It's not much, but it's what we have."
"Thanks for the water, Tucker." She smiled."Is Vanto back yet?"
Tucker shook his head."No. No one's seen him. But I'm sure that old guy Tarkin will find him."
"I still Tarkin is alive." Jeela said.
"Wait, you know him?" Tucker asked.
She shook her head."No, but...he's supposed to be dead."
"Uh..." Stuhlinger said to Zuud."Those two ponies over there have water." He pointed.
"Where did you get this?" Zuud asked Derpy, holding a water bottle.
"Oh, we got it from Valance. You know, the scary guy." Derpy said.
Luna looked over to see Valance sitting against some of the metal wreckage. She was about to walk over to him when Zuud stopped her."I don't see the water." She said.
"And?"
"You go after him now, he'll give you nothing. But if you wait, a rat will always lead you to its hole." Zuud said and Luna saw her point.
Beilert Valance opened the suitcase. He then saw Princess Luna and the Imperial Officer, Zuud.
"Where's the water?" Luna asked.
Valance pointed his hand at them, about to fire his palm blaster...only for it to do nothing."Damn." He muttered.
"What are you trying to do?" Luna asked, confused.
"He's trying to shoot us with his palm blaster. But it's not working." Zuud said.
"Yeah. My palm blaster hasn't worked since I woke up on this Island." Valance nodded.
"Give us the water now!" Zuud demanded.
"Did you really think I stole your damn water?" Valance asked.
"We know you gave two bottles to the ponies," Zuud said as Luna checked the suitcase.
"I don't give nothing to nobody." The cyborg said.
"It's not here," Luna said.
"I traded Doctor Whooves the last of my water for a fish he caught," Valance said.
"You gave him your last two bottles?" Luna asked.
"Water has no value, moonbutt. It's gonna rain sooner or later." He said.
A drop of water fell off a plant, falling into Tarkin's water bottle."How are they? The others?" Vanto asked the Grand Moff. They were in the jungle, resting. Vanto was sitting on a rock.
"Thirsty. Hungry. Waiting to be rescued. And they need someone to tell them what to do." Tarkin looked at him. He was also sitting on a rock.
"Me? I can't." Vanto said.
"Why can't you?"
"Because I'm not a leader."
"And yet they all treat you like one," Tarkin noted.
"I don't know how to help them. I'll fail. I don't have what it takes."
The Grand Moff studied him for a moment."Why are you out here, Vanto?"
"I think I'm going crazy."
"No. You're not going crazy."
"No?"
Tarkin shook his head."No, crazy people don't know they're going crazy. They think they're getting sane. So, why are you out here?"
Vanto was thinking."I'm chasing something. Someone."
"Someone?"
"Someone who's not here."
"But you see him?" Tarkin asked.
"Yes. But he's not there." Vanto nodded.
"And if I came to you and said the same thing, then what would your explanation be?" The Grand Moff asked.
"I'd call it a hallucination."
"All right, then. Your hallucinating. But what if your not?"
"Then we're all in a lot of trouble," Vanto said.
"I met Jedi during the Clone Wars. I've seen the things they did with the Force. But this place is different. It's special. The others don't want to talk about it because it scares them. But we all know it. We all feel it. Is this person a hallucination? Probably. But what if everything happened here, happened for a reason? What if this person that you're chasing is really here?"
"That's impossible." Vanto said.
"Impossible?" Tarkin said."I know that the Death Star blew up, Vanto. And I know that I...that I died. But I'm here. I'm alive. So, let's say you're not hallucinating."
"Then what happens when I catch him?" Vanto asked.
"I don't know. But I've looked into the eye of this Island. And what I saw was beautiful." Tarkin said. He got up and was about to leave.
"Wait, wait, wait, where are you going?" Vanto asked him.
"To find more water." He answered.
Vanto stood up."I'll come with you."
"No." Tarkin looked at him."You need to finish what you started."
"Why?"
"Because a leader can't lead until he knows where he's going."
When It became night, Vanto lit a little fire.
Flashback.
Vanto and a medical examiner walked down a hallway. He was in a morgue.
"The police found him in an alley. Now, a tox screen showed a blood alcohol content, which for a man of his size, probably brought on myocardial infarcation. A sizeable, and fatal heart attack." The examiner said.
They went into a room with a body bag on a gurney. The examiner then unzipped the bag.
Vanto saw him. His father.
Tears fell down his cheek."That's him." He confirmed.
On the Island.
Vanto was crying as he remembered seeing his father's dead body in the bag.
He then the sound of ice clinking in glass. He heard a branch break. He grabbed a log out of the fire and use it as a torch. He followed the sound. He kept going when he saw a huge cave. He then heard the sound of water.
He smiled, seeing it. He also saw metal wreckage that came from the Arquitens-class commander cruiser. Vanto noticed something else, though.
Vanto was looking at a big, brown, wooden coffin.
Flashback.
"What do you mean you won't put it on the ship?" Vanto asked the agent. He was trying to get his father's coffin on a Star Commuter 200.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Vanto, but our policy is that the body must have the proper documentation. There's just no latitude." The agent, a human woman, said.
"No latiude? No latiude?"
"Without proper documents-"
"Look, you can't do this to me. I'm ready to go now." Vanto said.
"Perhaps another ship?" She suggested.
"No!" He yelled. Some people looked at him.
Vanto sighed."I want you to listen to me, okay. Because I'm asking you a favor. I'm standing in front of you in the same suit that I'm wearing to my father's funeral and I'm asking you a favor. I need to get that coffin and go to my home planet, Lysatra. Why can't I really take my time with it? Because...because I need it to be done. I need it to be over." Tears welled in his eyes."I just-I need to bury my father."
On the Island.
Vanto stared at the coffin for a long time. How the hell did this get here?.
He walked over to it and opened the coffin.
There was nobody in there.
Vanto felt anger rise in him. He saw a metal pipe. He grabbed the pipe and smashed the coffin.
"Hey. Hey, Jeela." Jaime said to the pregnant woman as he gave her water to drink.
Jeela opened her eyes and saw the water bottle."How did you get that?" She asked.
"Where'd you get that?" Asked Tucker, who was behind Jaime. Tucker quickly pushed Jaime out of the tent and everyone looked at him."He's the thief!"
"Where'd he hide it?" Asked Applejack.
"I don't know. This guy had three water bottles on him." Tucker looked at Jaime."Why did you take the water?"
"It was just sitting in-it was just sitting in the tent, and Vanto just took off!" Jaime said.
"Jeela could've died!" Tucker yelled at him.
"I tried to give her some sooner, but it just got out of hand. No one could have understood." Jaime explained.
"What is going on?" Luna asked.
"Someone had to take responsibility for it. It would have never lasted!" Jaime continued.
"Dude, fuck you." Tucker said, pushing him again.
"Leave him alone!" They all heard a familiar voice. Everyone looked at Vanto.
"It's been six days and we're all still waiting. Waiting for someone to come. But what if they don't? We have to stop waiting. We need to start figuring things out. A woman died this morning just going for a swim and he tried to save her and now you're about to kill him?" Vanto looked at everybody.
"We can't do this. Every man for himself is not going to work. It's time to start organizing. We need to figure out how we're going to survive here. Now, I found water. Freshwater, up in the valley. I'll take a group in at first light. If you don't wanna come then find another way to contribute. Last week, most of us were strangers from different worlds. But we're all here now. And who knows how long we're going to be here. But if we can't live together, we're going to die alone." Vanto said.
Everyone looked at each other, thinking about what he said.
"Thank you for getting me the water, doc." Derpy smiled at Whooves.
Doctor Whooves smiled."Well, that's what friends do."
Princess Luna handed Vanto a bottle of water."Thanks." He said. He sitting in the sand, looking at the fire.
Luna then sat down next to him."So, where were you today, Vanto?"
"Just had to take care of a few things." He said.
"That's all I'm gonna get, huh?" Luna smiled.
Vanto was silent for a moment."My father died. On a planet called Nar Kaaga."
Luna looked at him, surprised."I'm sorry."
"Yeah." Vanto nodded."Me too."