Part Five: Scarlet Water
After debriefing Gordon and the others in more detail, Virgil tried to concentrate on a card game, "Twist."
"Virgil, who says twist after they've got a nine a ten and an ace?" Gordon asked, exasperated. Virgil put the cards down.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, Tracy. You stay in love, and you can owe me more money." Virgil glanced at the Captain. Troy grinned.
"Where is she, anyway?" Phones asked.
"Helena had to talk to Hermes. Just as we were leaving." There was a pause. "She warned me to look out for that guy. He's ruthless." He decided against telling them any more, about the poisoning that made his blood boil.
"So, Scott was lucky." Phones murmured.
"Yeah…." Virgil collected the cards, "Let's all hope he stays that way…Guess you were wrong about this being just a peaceful little kingdom." He was getting worried about Helena as well. He wondered just what Hermes had been saying to her since he'd left her in the gardens.
It had ended too abruptly, but Virgil had finally decided he should go back and let the others know what was going on. "…Or Troy might accuse me of keeping big secrets from him."
"Couldn't have that." Helena murmured. Virgil had kissed her, smiling.
"Are you coming back with me now?"
"To the rooms?" she'd kissed him back and felt his arms around her. How was it possible to feel this way twice in one lifetime? He'd nodded, and she'd said, "All we can do now is wait there, until..."
"Ah, Ambassador. I thought I would find you still here with Mr Tracy. I must talk to you."
"Hermes." Virgil suddenly looked angry. Helena kissed his cheek,
"Why don't you go on back? I'll see you in our quarters." Virgil glanced warily at the man. Then he straightened, and smiled tightly, kissing her forehead.
"Okay, honey. Don't be long."
"See you, Virgil." She watched him stride out with his graceful assurance. Her eyes wandered, and then she snapped her attention back to Hermes. "So, what do you want to talk about?" she asked brightly.
"Sit down, my dear." He gestured to the marble bench. Something in his tone made her uneasy. She sat, suddenly wishing Virgil were still there. Hermes walked around Helena. She looked him in the eye.
"What do you want, then?"
"I see you two have grown close…"
"What if we have? It won't affect the final outcome. The Empress changes her mind, his brother goes home and we leave you in peace." She realised that she was being a little defensive, but Hermes was worrying her.
"I cannot allow you to leave, now that I know you have told him everything."
"The Empress will change her mind, Hermes. There is nothing to worry about." Helena flinched as Hermes leant near to her.
"I don't think you understand, girl. Virgil Tracy and his brothers cannot be allowed to jeopardise the plan. I have already decided she will be rescued. I was a fool to agree to this in the first place."
"What about us? What about Scott?" Helena was truly scared now. Hermes gave a serpent's smile.
"You think that the Empress will want him to live when she finds out he has been deceiving her? And as for you…you must be the worst Ambassador the Terrans have ever produced." He glared. "And you have killed a man. All for that stupid fool, Tracy. I am starting to believe that you only want this plan so that you can stay with him."
"You bastard!" Helena snapped. She stood up, her blue eyes blazing, "There is no need for any action so extreme! If I hadn't told them about the plan, Virgil and the others would have taken even more drastic measures to find him. The plan would have been even harder to keep secret!" she was millimetres away from strangling him. Hermes actually looked afraid at the expression on her face. She took a step towards him and continued. "It may not be the most reliable plan in the world, but it's the best way your Kingdom can keep its integrity! You won't get any help from anyone if you insist on executing or poisoning everyone in sight!" She drew her head level with his face. "And trust me, Mr Hermes, I will find a way out of here and I will tell everyone unless you keep to the deal!"
Hermes wrinkled his nose and noticeably shrank back. Helena was too angry to notice, but managed to listen calmly as he said.
"I am still unhappy with the Empress being left out there…."
"You have to trust Scott and Lageau to keep her safe. I was told that you believed in keeping the peace in this Kingdom." She appealed to his better side.
"Which I will go to any lengths to protect, Ambassador."
"And I will do exactly the same to protect my charges." She said. She held his gaze firmly, without shrinking. She sensed she was getting through to the older man. Hermes looked at her with a slightly different expression from before, and Helena silently breathed a sigh of relief. Hermes narrowed his eyes shrewdly, and then nodded, thoughtfully.
"I will arrange for the Empress to be collected from the Eerie Caverns within two days. I will not wait for longer than that. But, you have…convinced me that this may work." Hermes took her shoulder; Helena managed a pleasantly surprised smile. He said to her, "If the Empress returns here without any trouble, then you will all be freed. But if I have any trouble at all from Scott Tracy, the Empress or your new lover…" he brought his face close enough for her to smell his salty breath, "…I will be forced to take extreme action once again." He drew back. "I will allow your party to move freely, but in the visitors quarters only. I will tell them this myself. The deadline is in two days time. I do not want to see you until then, when I also hope that we can end this peacefully."
"I understand. Everything will work out, Mr Hermes."
"I hope so." Hermes tilted his head to look at her, "For your sake, and for the peace of the Kingdom."
He left quickly. Helena sat down as her legs turned to jelly. That had been far too close for comfort. She drew a hand across her forehead, feeling drained. She wanted to see Virgil again, but she was so tired. Grimly she forced herself to her feet and made her way back to her room, glad that she had bought them a little more time.
The sphere of light gave off a steady glow that made the dull cave seem even starker. Scott leaned back against a rock, trying to get comfortable and listening to the others talking. Shiana complained to him about being hungry, until Scott had reminded her that all people had to eat here were the sea slugs, "we could always go and get some more." She'd made a disgusted face and sat down, bored. At least she had given up on her overtures of…well, Scott was just glad that she seemed to have let it go. She fell asleep beside him. Looking at her fragile features, it was easy to forget how ruthless she could be - nope, not his type at all.
Lageau sat down beside him
"Our little girl has had enough?"
"Tuckered out by the big day." Scott smiled. He stretched; the hard rock digging in his back, even when he shifted. "So what do you think? Think she's convinced yet?" Lageau smiled.
"You're missing home."
"Of course I am. I hate being stuck here." Scott was surprised by his own frankness. "I miss the sun, and my family, and…and chocolate…" He looked over at the sleeping Empress, "But she has to understand. Guess this is the only way she ever will…"
"You're a good man, Scott Tracy. So, tell me, before you returned here, did you and her…"
"No."
Lageau laughed and stretched out beside him. His dark eyes regarded the pilot with more than casual interest,
"That, my friend, makes you worthy of a son of Shiggeru itself. Why ever not?"
"You think I'm an idiot." Scott drawled.
"Yes. Of course. But I am impressed by your…restraint."
"Okay, Lageau, better hold it there before I pour our next meal over you…." They both laughed at this, and Scott actually felt relaxed for the first time since arriving in Aeden. He asked quietly, "So are they really your sisters?"
"Yes. I came from here originally. Fran and Finn are all I have left."
"I'm sorry."
"Our fishing grounds are now empty, and the only places left to get food have become very dangerous. There are sharks around, and they sense our weakness. They killed our mother and father. They were too weak from hunger to swim away in time." Lageau looked at the sleeping Shiana with a pained expression, "The Empress is barely a child. I cannot blame her for this, but I must make her see how to stop it."
"We will, friend." Scott smiled, "You and me both. The sooner she does, the sooner you can get back. Where are we going tomorrow?"
"There is a fishing pool a little way off which we will visit first. Then we will go closer to the main City. It should only take us a few days to get back."
"Good." Scott tried to hide a deep yawn. Lageau leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Get some sleep, Scott Tracy. We have a lot to do tomorrow…"
"I'm still hungry, but…sleeping's the next best thing…." Scott felt his head nod, and despite the stiffness in his back he found a marginally more comfortable position on the rock and dropped off into a deep slumber.
Helena was fast asleep in her room. The door opened quietly, and someone set a plate of food and glass of odd blue liquid by her bed. She could sense his presence but was too sleepy to move from her position, face down on top of the covers.
"Why are you so considerate? How come you're different from all the rest?" she grunted, feeling him move behind her.
"You missed dinner so I asked them to save some." His palm traced down her back. That was it, now she had to move. Helena lifted an arm with effort and propped herself up on the sheets. Virgil pulled up a chair and sat down opposite her. She smiled, unable to help herself.
"You're too nice. Thank you, Virgil." She sipped from the drink, "Aniseed, mmm…" then she nibbled at the elegantly displayed meal, "How late is it?"
"It's about eight o'clock by Gordon's watch. Wondered where you were."
"I'm sorry, I was so tired…" she sat up a little straighter. Virgil watched her from his seat. He didn't look tired but was certainly relaxed.
"You didn't miss much." He smiled, "Just Troy wanting to go home. It's been a long day for everyone."
"It was worth it." Helena put the half-eaten food aside and shuffled over to him. She kissed him on his mouth. "I'm sure that this will be over soon."
"Then what?" He suddenly looked serious. Helena shrugged. She put a hand on his face and leaned into him.
"I wouldn't have believed that International Rescue were allowed relationships." She said thoughtfully. "Everyone at work used to say that…"
"Well, we're not banned from them. Who at work?" he raised an eyebrow. Helena flushed slightly,
"Er, n, no one…Office gossips."
"I see." Virgil was very serious until she caught his eye and hit his shoulder, grinning. He couldn't keep his hands away from her hair; she let it drift over him.
"You don't have to worry. I…" She made a face, "This is what it's going to be like between us, isn't it. Secrets. You're a man of mystery, Virgil. When we leave here what will we do? What's happened before?"
"I don't know." He said, ruefully. "To be honest, since International Rescue started, there just hasn't been the time for anyone else in my life."
"Why don't I believe that?" Helena smiled. Virgil shook his head,
"It's true." He gently took her shoulders and nodded at the half-eaten food on the bed. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Don't change the subject. I don't really want to know about anyone else, but I am curious. And yes, I think I should finish it." She said, before sitting back. He waited until she finished eating the rest of the plate, playing lazily with his foot against her own. Helena washed it down with the blue water, and prodded him with her toes. "I meant it, Virgil, about it being difficult when we leave..."
"You reminded me to enjoy the beauty around here for as long as I could." He said quietly. Nodding, Helena stretched back on the bed, felt him come and sit beside her. She murmured with half closed eyes,
"Although sometimes I do think that you just wake up and let the world hit you in the face."
"When was your last big romance?" he asked suddenly. Helena looked at him.
"Why do you want to know?"
"So I have something to blackmail you with." They sniggered. She sat up and took his hands. Virgil gazed at her with the same look that had made her heart melt. She couldn't tell him now, not when everything was going so perfectly. Instead she slipped her arms tightly around his waist and they both folded together onto the sheets.
Scott was walking down the golden beach on his island home. He shielded his eyes from the glare of the wonderfully hot sun, looking out to sea, at the waves as they rose and fell in gentle white-tipped waves, the water as deep and blue as his own eyes. The hot sand slid across his feet like burning silk. A shadow flew overhead, and Scott looked up, his eyes followed it, it was a massive gull, and it led his view to a person seated at the far end of the beach on some rocks. It was hard to make out who it was, but he knew, and Scott took a step forwards. In a few seconds he was beside the person.
"Virgil! It's been so long since I've seen you."
"Leave me alone. I'm painting." Virgil did not look up. Scott noticed that his brother was, all of a sudden, at an easel, in full painting outfit, brushing at a canvas that he could not see. Scott saw him dip his brush in the sea, and apply the clear salt water to the surface of the picture. The water lapped around their waists even while Scott struggled forwards to see the picture. He splashed to Virgil's side, and asked curiously.
"I don't understand. What is it supposed to be, Virgil?"
"It's not finished yet." Virgil murmured. He calmly twisted around, suddenly stabbing into Scott with the brush, and Scott blinked. Blood oozed from his stomach, but he felt no pain. Virgil coated the damp canvas and the bright red liquid blossomed, creating the finishing touch to his artwork. Virgil finally looked directly at Scott, his brown eyes vacant.
"Well, big brother, do you like it?"
"I, I don't know what it is..." Scott covered the soaking wound with his hand as it smeared his blue shirt, turning it a dark black. Virgil glared at Scott; the water was reaching their shoulders now, and claiming them both. He screeched,
"I've spent so long making it for you and this is how you repay me? Can't you even be bothered to see Death when I paint it for you?"
"Death…?" Scott coughed, trying to keep his head above the water. The painting floated past him. He fought to stay afloat and gripped the painting. Virgil's face disappeared beneath the waves. Scott choked, and ducked his head underneath. Storm crashed above. All was starting to go black. The blood made thick scarlet tentacles in the water. Scott yelled, feeling one wrap around his trouser leg…
"Wake up, Scott Tracy!" Lageau was shaking him violently. Scott was yanked back into reality, and grinned, getting his breath back.
"It was just a nightmare…Jeez, it's been a while since I…what is it, Lageau?"
"Scott Tracy, the Empress, Penelope, is missing!" The others on the room were all still sleeping. Finn stood behind a worried-looking Lageau.
"When did she leave?" Scott asked.
"I think she left with Fran more than an hour ago. Finn can take us to where they might have gone. But I should not let either of you out of my sight, which means that you must come too."
"Sure. She's okay, isn't she?" The memory of the dream chilled Scott. Lageau frowned more deeply.
"The area around here can be dangerous when alone. I think that they may have gone to get more food." Scott brushed the last of the sleep from his eyes. He nodded to the other two.
"Lead the way." Memory of the dream had almost gone, but an image still chilled him. He could still see the scarlet water.
When Helena woke, her arm stretched out instinctively to the place beside her in the bed. It was warm, but Virgil wasn't there. Her sleep-blurred mind took in the chronometer by the bed. Where on earth would he be at half- past three in the morning? She waited for fifteen minutes but he didn't return, and if it were anyone else she would have quietly cursed them and gone back under the sheets, but she was restless now and, pulling on a robe, noticed his clothes were gone too.
Helena padded out of the room; following a hunch, she walked to the end of the corridor where there was a small garden and a large swing chair, loosely carved out of the darker rock. A small waterfall trickled out of the wall into a small pool that was pink with coral. Helena went into it and saw Virgil lying asleep, stretched out on the chair. Helena smiled and smoothed back the hair from his fringe, kissing his forehead. He stirred.
"Wha…?"
"Sssh." She whispered, "What are you doing out here, Virgil?"
"Didn't want to keep you awake." He smiled. He reached out to her and traced her neck. "You were so fast asleep."
"Not anymore." She said.
"Well, as you're awake now, there was something I was going to ask you, before we got so, er, distracted." He brought her face close and Helena tilted it curiously.
"What is it, love?"
"What did you and Hermes talk about?" He was surprised at her suddenly guarded expression, which dropped quickly at his confusion. She kissed away the sweat that collected on his upper lip, and said,
"Well, I managed to persuade him that we should be let out of our rooms."
"He told us himself."
"I thought so." She smiled, "And that Scott and the Empress will be rescued in two days. I only hope it works in that time."
"Where are they, anyway?"
"Some place called the Eerie Caverns, I believe he said. Doesn't sound all that good, does it."
"Sounds bloody awful, what?" he replied, gently mocking her light British accent. He looked a little worried and she chuckled and kissed him.
"How much trouble can your brother get into in two days? Or is that a daft question?"
"You just answered it, but I promised myself I wouldn't think of it, and I'm not going to. He can always call us if there's any trouble."
"Really? How?" Helena was curious. Virgil grunted something and she leaned nearer to hear him. She was caught out as he pulled her above him, and after that she didn't bother to hear his reply.
Scott raced after Finn and Lageau as they hurried towards a series of caves nearly a mile from their shelter. Scott was aware of a sense of danger that didn't normally fail him, and the others seemed to run agonisingly slowly. Finn finally shouted,
"This is the place!" as the tunnels opened into a huge cavern. He skidded to a halt and saw a deep pool in the centre, as a thousand tiny pearls reflected the poor light from the few creatures in the area. They ran over to the pool and looked down into the water.
"Shiana…" Scott peered down into it to see the Empress and Fran swimming deep beneath the surface. They were briefly relieved, and then Scott heard Lageau's gasp of horror. Then he saw why. There, under a shelf of rock and silver shells, was a dark bullet-shaped silhouette. The pointed nose was starting to drift closer to where the two girls were swimming.
"Shark…!" Finn cried.
"We have to warn them, now!" Scott yelled. He heard a splash, Finn had dived in and Scott lunged forwards. Lageau shoved him backwards.
"Not you. You stay here! You're only a Terran." He snapped. He quickly turned and dived in too. Scott scrambled over to the edge and peered down. Shiana and Fran had seen the shark and were cowering at the side as the big shark headed for them, its tail flickering purposefully. Scott felt sick fear knead at his stomach wall. Finn had dived quickly under the shark and was heading for Fran; Shiana pushed the little girl towards her. Lageau swam directly at the shark, as the beast grew nearer to her Lageau clung onto its fin. The shark thrashed and veered away, and Finn grabbed Fran and pulled her upwards. Scott sighed with relief.
A trickle of blood sprayed across the water. Lageau let go of the shark as the shark thrashed; it had scraped him with its harsh skin, and the creature went crazy. It charged as Lageau swam upwards quickly. The shark followed, Scott saw it charge upwards, and Lageau barely leaped onto the opposite side of the pool before its teeth whipped around and snapped beneath him.
Shiana, Fran and Finn were also swimming to the surface, but the shark was excited now and was going to get to them first. Scott jumped in, hitting the surface with a splash. He could see the shark change direction, its shadow cutting through the water towards him. Lageau shouted across the water at him, and Scott kicked back while he saw Shiana reach the surface and pull herself out. The shark turned as she lifted herself onto the rock, and headed back down to where Fran and Finn were swimming.
"No!" Scott hit the surface of the water, thrashing wildly, trying anything to distract it, but it carried on. Shiana looked at him once, desperately, and then she dived back in. Scott ducked under to watch, as she dived towards Finn and Fran who were by now pinned against the wall, too terrified to move, unable to escape. Finn saw Shiana moving towards them, as the shark drove closer she lifted her little sister up above the shark's range, and Shiana got in above the beast and lifted Fran away even as it opened its mouth. It went nearer still. Shiana twisted in the water, Fran clearly screaming, and the water clouded with thick blood.
Scott felt something brush past his thigh, and gave a startled gurgle as another shark, attracted by the action and blood, swept against him. Scott swam quickly back to the rocks, clambering up and running around to where Shiana was struggling to the surface with Fran tightly held in her arms. She only just reached the surface, bursting through, and the dark silhouette of the largest shark yet headed towards her, its snout barely four feet away. Shiana shoved Fran into his arms; he grabbed the little girl and put her as gently and quickly as he could on the solid surface beside. He swept round for Shiana. The Empress lifted herself out of the water. He saw the teeth of the beast rising behind her, it was huge, he grabbed her arms, felt her cling to him and they stumbled backwards and her toes barely cleared the final snap as the monster crashed back into the water.
It was a few moments before either of them moved. Scott felt her gradually coming back, sobbing against him, her long greenish hair soaking him. It was easier to wait there for a little while, until faint crying came from further away. She lifted her fragile face; her big grey eyes were regaining their old sharpness, at odds with the tears that poured from them. She kissed his neck, shaking, but let him go and stumbled over to the child who was sitting on the rocks and gathered her up in her slight arms. Scott sat there and got his breath back, feeling the adrenaline rush ease away. His head felt light. He looked across at the water, its ripples disturbed by the rushing of many fins now breaking the surface. Scott forced himself to stand and stumbled to the waters edge. Faint traces of scarlet were visible, but the sharks had made short work of her. He sank to his knees. Finn was dead.
After debriefing Gordon and the others in more detail, Virgil tried to concentrate on a card game, "Twist."
"Virgil, who says twist after they've got a nine a ten and an ace?" Gordon asked, exasperated. Virgil put the cards down.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, Tracy. You stay in love, and you can owe me more money." Virgil glanced at the Captain. Troy grinned.
"Where is she, anyway?" Phones asked.
"Helena had to talk to Hermes. Just as we were leaving." There was a pause. "She warned me to look out for that guy. He's ruthless." He decided against telling them any more, about the poisoning that made his blood boil.
"So, Scott was lucky." Phones murmured.
"Yeah…." Virgil collected the cards, "Let's all hope he stays that way…Guess you were wrong about this being just a peaceful little kingdom." He was getting worried about Helena as well. He wondered just what Hermes had been saying to her since he'd left her in the gardens.
It had ended too abruptly, but Virgil had finally decided he should go back and let the others know what was going on. "…Or Troy might accuse me of keeping big secrets from him."
"Couldn't have that." Helena murmured. Virgil had kissed her, smiling.
"Are you coming back with me now?"
"To the rooms?" she'd kissed him back and felt his arms around her. How was it possible to feel this way twice in one lifetime? He'd nodded, and she'd said, "All we can do now is wait there, until..."
"Ah, Ambassador. I thought I would find you still here with Mr Tracy. I must talk to you."
"Hermes." Virgil suddenly looked angry. Helena kissed his cheek,
"Why don't you go on back? I'll see you in our quarters." Virgil glanced warily at the man. Then he straightened, and smiled tightly, kissing her forehead.
"Okay, honey. Don't be long."
"See you, Virgil." She watched him stride out with his graceful assurance. Her eyes wandered, and then she snapped her attention back to Hermes. "So, what do you want to talk about?" she asked brightly.
"Sit down, my dear." He gestured to the marble bench. Something in his tone made her uneasy. She sat, suddenly wishing Virgil were still there. Hermes walked around Helena. She looked him in the eye.
"What do you want, then?"
"I see you two have grown close…"
"What if we have? It won't affect the final outcome. The Empress changes her mind, his brother goes home and we leave you in peace." She realised that she was being a little defensive, but Hermes was worrying her.
"I cannot allow you to leave, now that I know you have told him everything."
"The Empress will change her mind, Hermes. There is nothing to worry about." Helena flinched as Hermes leant near to her.
"I don't think you understand, girl. Virgil Tracy and his brothers cannot be allowed to jeopardise the plan. I have already decided she will be rescued. I was a fool to agree to this in the first place."
"What about us? What about Scott?" Helena was truly scared now. Hermes gave a serpent's smile.
"You think that the Empress will want him to live when she finds out he has been deceiving her? And as for you…you must be the worst Ambassador the Terrans have ever produced." He glared. "And you have killed a man. All for that stupid fool, Tracy. I am starting to believe that you only want this plan so that you can stay with him."
"You bastard!" Helena snapped. She stood up, her blue eyes blazing, "There is no need for any action so extreme! If I hadn't told them about the plan, Virgil and the others would have taken even more drastic measures to find him. The plan would have been even harder to keep secret!" she was millimetres away from strangling him. Hermes actually looked afraid at the expression on her face. She took a step towards him and continued. "It may not be the most reliable plan in the world, but it's the best way your Kingdom can keep its integrity! You won't get any help from anyone if you insist on executing or poisoning everyone in sight!" She drew her head level with his face. "And trust me, Mr Hermes, I will find a way out of here and I will tell everyone unless you keep to the deal!"
Hermes wrinkled his nose and noticeably shrank back. Helena was too angry to notice, but managed to listen calmly as he said.
"I am still unhappy with the Empress being left out there…."
"You have to trust Scott and Lageau to keep her safe. I was told that you believed in keeping the peace in this Kingdom." She appealed to his better side.
"Which I will go to any lengths to protect, Ambassador."
"And I will do exactly the same to protect my charges." She said. She held his gaze firmly, without shrinking. She sensed she was getting through to the older man. Hermes looked at her with a slightly different expression from before, and Helena silently breathed a sigh of relief. Hermes narrowed his eyes shrewdly, and then nodded, thoughtfully.
"I will arrange for the Empress to be collected from the Eerie Caverns within two days. I will not wait for longer than that. But, you have…convinced me that this may work." Hermes took her shoulder; Helena managed a pleasantly surprised smile. He said to her, "If the Empress returns here without any trouble, then you will all be freed. But if I have any trouble at all from Scott Tracy, the Empress or your new lover…" he brought his face close enough for her to smell his salty breath, "…I will be forced to take extreme action once again." He drew back. "I will allow your party to move freely, but in the visitors quarters only. I will tell them this myself. The deadline is in two days time. I do not want to see you until then, when I also hope that we can end this peacefully."
"I understand. Everything will work out, Mr Hermes."
"I hope so." Hermes tilted his head to look at her, "For your sake, and for the peace of the Kingdom."
He left quickly. Helena sat down as her legs turned to jelly. That had been far too close for comfort. She drew a hand across her forehead, feeling drained. She wanted to see Virgil again, but she was so tired. Grimly she forced herself to her feet and made her way back to her room, glad that she had bought them a little more time.
The sphere of light gave off a steady glow that made the dull cave seem even starker. Scott leaned back against a rock, trying to get comfortable and listening to the others talking. Shiana complained to him about being hungry, until Scott had reminded her that all people had to eat here were the sea slugs, "we could always go and get some more." She'd made a disgusted face and sat down, bored. At least she had given up on her overtures of…well, Scott was just glad that she seemed to have let it go. She fell asleep beside him. Looking at her fragile features, it was easy to forget how ruthless she could be - nope, not his type at all.
Lageau sat down beside him
"Our little girl has had enough?"
"Tuckered out by the big day." Scott smiled. He stretched; the hard rock digging in his back, even when he shifted. "So what do you think? Think she's convinced yet?" Lageau smiled.
"You're missing home."
"Of course I am. I hate being stuck here." Scott was surprised by his own frankness. "I miss the sun, and my family, and…and chocolate…" He looked over at the sleeping Empress, "But she has to understand. Guess this is the only way she ever will…"
"You're a good man, Scott Tracy. So, tell me, before you returned here, did you and her…"
"No."
Lageau laughed and stretched out beside him. His dark eyes regarded the pilot with more than casual interest,
"That, my friend, makes you worthy of a son of Shiggeru itself. Why ever not?"
"You think I'm an idiot." Scott drawled.
"Yes. Of course. But I am impressed by your…restraint."
"Okay, Lageau, better hold it there before I pour our next meal over you…." They both laughed at this, and Scott actually felt relaxed for the first time since arriving in Aeden. He asked quietly, "So are they really your sisters?"
"Yes. I came from here originally. Fran and Finn are all I have left."
"I'm sorry."
"Our fishing grounds are now empty, and the only places left to get food have become very dangerous. There are sharks around, and they sense our weakness. They killed our mother and father. They were too weak from hunger to swim away in time." Lageau looked at the sleeping Shiana with a pained expression, "The Empress is barely a child. I cannot blame her for this, but I must make her see how to stop it."
"We will, friend." Scott smiled, "You and me both. The sooner she does, the sooner you can get back. Where are we going tomorrow?"
"There is a fishing pool a little way off which we will visit first. Then we will go closer to the main City. It should only take us a few days to get back."
"Good." Scott tried to hide a deep yawn. Lageau leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Get some sleep, Scott Tracy. We have a lot to do tomorrow…"
"I'm still hungry, but…sleeping's the next best thing…." Scott felt his head nod, and despite the stiffness in his back he found a marginally more comfortable position on the rock and dropped off into a deep slumber.
Helena was fast asleep in her room. The door opened quietly, and someone set a plate of food and glass of odd blue liquid by her bed. She could sense his presence but was too sleepy to move from her position, face down on top of the covers.
"Why are you so considerate? How come you're different from all the rest?" she grunted, feeling him move behind her.
"You missed dinner so I asked them to save some." His palm traced down her back. That was it, now she had to move. Helena lifted an arm with effort and propped herself up on the sheets. Virgil pulled up a chair and sat down opposite her. She smiled, unable to help herself.
"You're too nice. Thank you, Virgil." She sipped from the drink, "Aniseed, mmm…" then she nibbled at the elegantly displayed meal, "How late is it?"
"It's about eight o'clock by Gordon's watch. Wondered where you were."
"I'm sorry, I was so tired…" she sat up a little straighter. Virgil watched her from his seat. He didn't look tired but was certainly relaxed.
"You didn't miss much." He smiled, "Just Troy wanting to go home. It's been a long day for everyone."
"It was worth it." Helena put the half-eaten food aside and shuffled over to him. She kissed him on his mouth. "I'm sure that this will be over soon."
"Then what?" He suddenly looked serious. Helena shrugged. She put a hand on his face and leaned into him.
"I wouldn't have believed that International Rescue were allowed relationships." She said thoughtfully. "Everyone at work used to say that…"
"Well, we're not banned from them. Who at work?" he raised an eyebrow. Helena flushed slightly,
"Er, n, no one…Office gossips."
"I see." Virgil was very serious until she caught his eye and hit his shoulder, grinning. He couldn't keep his hands away from her hair; she let it drift over him.
"You don't have to worry. I…" She made a face, "This is what it's going to be like between us, isn't it. Secrets. You're a man of mystery, Virgil. When we leave here what will we do? What's happened before?"
"I don't know." He said, ruefully. "To be honest, since International Rescue started, there just hasn't been the time for anyone else in my life."
"Why don't I believe that?" Helena smiled. Virgil shook his head,
"It's true." He gently took her shoulders and nodded at the half-eaten food on the bed. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Don't change the subject. I don't really want to know about anyone else, but I am curious. And yes, I think I should finish it." She said, before sitting back. He waited until she finished eating the rest of the plate, playing lazily with his foot against her own. Helena washed it down with the blue water, and prodded him with her toes. "I meant it, Virgil, about it being difficult when we leave..."
"You reminded me to enjoy the beauty around here for as long as I could." He said quietly. Nodding, Helena stretched back on the bed, felt him come and sit beside her. She murmured with half closed eyes,
"Although sometimes I do think that you just wake up and let the world hit you in the face."
"When was your last big romance?" he asked suddenly. Helena looked at him.
"Why do you want to know?"
"So I have something to blackmail you with." They sniggered. She sat up and took his hands. Virgil gazed at her with the same look that had made her heart melt. She couldn't tell him now, not when everything was going so perfectly. Instead she slipped her arms tightly around his waist and they both folded together onto the sheets.
Scott was walking down the golden beach on his island home. He shielded his eyes from the glare of the wonderfully hot sun, looking out to sea, at the waves as they rose and fell in gentle white-tipped waves, the water as deep and blue as his own eyes. The hot sand slid across his feet like burning silk. A shadow flew overhead, and Scott looked up, his eyes followed it, it was a massive gull, and it led his view to a person seated at the far end of the beach on some rocks. It was hard to make out who it was, but he knew, and Scott took a step forwards. In a few seconds he was beside the person.
"Virgil! It's been so long since I've seen you."
"Leave me alone. I'm painting." Virgil did not look up. Scott noticed that his brother was, all of a sudden, at an easel, in full painting outfit, brushing at a canvas that he could not see. Scott saw him dip his brush in the sea, and apply the clear salt water to the surface of the picture. The water lapped around their waists even while Scott struggled forwards to see the picture. He splashed to Virgil's side, and asked curiously.
"I don't understand. What is it supposed to be, Virgil?"
"It's not finished yet." Virgil murmured. He calmly twisted around, suddenly stabbing into Scott with the brush, and Scott blinked. Blood oozed from his stomach, but he felt no pain. Virgil coated the damp canvas and the bright red liquid blossomed, creating the finishing touch to his artwork. Virgil finally looked directly at Scott, his brown eyes vacant.
"Well, big brother, do you like it?"
"I, I don't know what it is..." Scott covered the soaking wound with his hand as it smeared his blue shirt, turning it a dark black. Virgil glared at Scott; the water was reaching their shoulders now, and claiming them both. He screeched,
"I've spent so long making it for you and this is how you repay me? Can't you even be bothered to see Death when I paint it for you?"
"Death…?" Scott coughed, trying to keep his head above the water. The painting floated past him. He fought to stay afloat and gripped the painting. Virgil's face disappeared beneath the waves. Scott choked, and ducked his head underneath. Storm crashed above. All was starting to go black. The blood made thick scarlet tentacles in the water. Scott yelled, feeling one wrap around his trouser leg…
"Wake up, Scott Tracy!" Lageau was shaking him violently. Scott was yanked back into reality, and grinned, getting his breath back.
"It was just a nightmare…Jeez, it's been a while since I…what is it, Lageau?"
"Scott Tracy, the Empress, Penelope, is missing!" The others on the room were all still sleeping. Finn stood behind a worried-looking Lageau.
"When did she leave?" Scott asked.
"I think she left with Fran more than an hour ago. Finn can take us to where they might have gone. But I should not let either of you out of my sight, which means that you must come too."
"Sure. She's okay, isn't she?" The memory of the dream chilled Scott. Lageau frowned more deeply.
"The area around here can be dangerous when alone. I think that they may have gone to get more food." Scott brushed the last of the sleep from his eyes. He nodded to the other two.
"Lead the way." Memory of the dream had almost gone, but an image still chilled him. He could still see the scarlet water.
When Helena woke, her arm stretched out instinctively to the place beside her in the bed. It was warm, but Virgil wasn't there. Her sleep-blurred mind took in the chronometer by the bed. Where on earth would he be at half- past three in the morning? She waited for fifteen minutes but he didn't return, and if it were anyone else she would have quietly cursed them and gone back under the sheets, but she was restless now and, pulling on a robe, noticed his clothes were gone too.
Helena padded out of the room; following a hunch, she walked to the end of the corridor where there was a small garden and a large swing chair, loosely carved out of the darker rock. A small waterfall trickled out of the wall into a small pool that was pink with coral. Helena went into it and saw Virgil lying asleep, stretched out on the chair. Helena smiled and smoothed back the hair from his fringe, kissing his forehead. He stirred.
"Wha…?"
"Sssh." She whispered, "What are you doing out here, Virgil?"
"Didn't want to keep you awake." He smiled. He reached out to her and traced her neck. "You were so fast asleep."
"Not anymore." She said.
"Well, as you're awake now, there was something I was going to ask you, before we got so, er, distracted." He brought her face close and Helena tilted it curiously.
"What is it, love?"
"What did you and Hermes talk about?" He was surprised at her suddenly guarded expression, which dropped quickly at his confusion. She kissed away the sweat that collected on his upper lip, and said,
"Well, I managed to persuade him that we should be let out of our rooms."
"He told us himself."
"I thought so." She smiled, "And that Scott and the Empress will be rescued in two days. I only hope it works in that time."
"Where are they, anyway?"
"Some place called the Eerie Caverns, I believe he said. Doesn't sound all that good, does it."
"Sounds bloody awful, what?" he replied, gently mocking her light British accent. He looked a little worried and she chuckled and kissed him.
"How much trouble can your brother get into in two days? Or is that a daft question?"
"You just answered it, but I promised myself I wouldn't think of it, and I'm not going to. He can always call us if there's any trouble."
"Really? How?" Helena was curious. Virgil grunted something and she leaned nearer to hear him. She was caught out as he pulled her above him, and after that she didn't bother to hear his reply.
Scott raced after Finn and Lageau as they hurried towards a series of caves nearly a mile from their shelter. Scott was aware of a sense of danger that didn't normally fail him, and the others seemed to run agonisingly slowly. Finn finally shouted,
"This is the place!" as the tunnels opened into a huge cavern. He skidded to a halt and saw a deep pool in the centre, as a thousand tiny pearls reflected the poor light from the few creatures in the area. They ran over to the pool and looked down into the water.
"Shiana…" Scott peered down into it to see the Empress and Fran swimming deep beneath the surface. They were briefly relieved, and then Scott heard Lageau's gasp of horror. Then he saw why. There, under a shelf of rock and silver shells, was a dark bullet-shaped silhouette. The pointed nose was starting to drift closer to where the two girls were swimming.
"Shark…!" Finn cried.
"We have to warn them, now!" Scott yelled. He heard a splash, Finn had dived in and Scott lunged forwards. Lageau shoved him backwards.
"Not you. You stay here! You're only a Terran." He snapped. He quickly turned and dived in too. Scott scrambled over to the edge and peered down. Shiana and Fran had seen the shark and were cowering at the side as the big shark headed for them, its tail flickering purposefully. Scott felt sick fear knead at his stomach wall. Finn had dived quickly under the shark and was heading for Fran; Shiana pushed the little girl towards her. Lageau swam directly at the shark, as the beast grew nearer to her Lageau clung onto its fin. The shark thrashed and veered away, and Finn grabbed Fran and pulled her upwards. Scott sighed with relief.
A trickle of blood sprayed across the water. Lageau let go of the shark as the shark thrashed; it had scraped him with its harsh skin, and the creature went crazy. It charged as Lageau swam upwards quickly. The shark followed, Scott saw it charge upwards, and Lageau barely leaped onto the opposite side of the pool before its teeth whipped around and snapped beneath him.
Shiana, Fran and Finn were also swimming to the surface, but the shark was excited now and was going to get to them first. Scott jumped in, hitting the surface with a splash. He could see the shark change direction, its shadow cutting through the water towards him. Lageau shouted across the water at him, and Scott kicked back while he saw Shiana reach the surface and pull herself out. The shark turned as she lifted herself onto the rock, and headed back down to where Fran and Finn were swimming.
"No!" Scott hit the surface of the water, thrashing wildly, trying anything to distract it, but it carried on. Shiana looked at him once, desperately, and then she dived back in. Scott ducked under to watch, as she dived towards Finn and Fran who were by now pinned against the wall, too terrified to move, unable to escape. Finn saw Shiana moving towards them, as the shark drove closer she lifted her little sister up above the shark's range, and Shiana got in above the beast and lifted Fran away even as it opened its mouth. It went nearer still. Shiana twisted in the water, Fran clearly screaming, and the water clouded with thick blood.
Scott felt something brush past his thigh, and gave a startled gurgle as another shark, attracted by the action and blood, swept against him. Scott swam quickly back to the rocks, clambering up and running around to where Shiana was struggling to the surface with Fran tightly held in her arms. She only just reached the surface, bursting through, and the dark silhouette of the largest shark yet headed towards her, its snout barely four feet away. Shiana shoved Fran into his arms; he grabbed the little girl and put her as gently and quickly as he could on the solid surface beside. He swept round for Shiana. The Empress lifted herself out of the water. He saw the teeth of the beast rising behind her, it was huge, he grabbed her arms, felt her cling to him and they stumbled backwards and her toes barely cleared the final snap as the monster crashed back into the water.
It was a few moments before either of them moved. Scott felt her gradually coming back, sobbing against him, her long greenish hair soaking him. It was easier to wait there for a little while, until faint crying came from further away. She lifted her fragile face; her big grey eyes were regaining their old sharpness, at odds with the tears that poured from them. She kissed his neck, shaking, but let him go and stumbled over to the child who was sitting on the rocks and gathered her up in her slight arms. Scott sat there and got his breath back, feeling the adrenaline rush ease away. His head felt light. He looked across at the water, its ripples disturbed by the rushing of many fins now breaking the surface. Scott forced himself to stand and stumbled to the waters edge. Faint traces of scarlet were visible, but the sharks had made short work of her. He sank to his knees. Finn was dead.
