CHAPTER 11
VIGIL
"Stupid!" Matrix said aloud as he dragged Enzo down the corridor. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
"Matrix?"
"Enzo?" Matrix could barely see through the smoke that burned his lungs.
"What happened?"
"We have to get the hell off this ship, can you stand?"
"Y-yes, I think so," Enzo attempted it and proceeded to collapse.
"Hold on to me," Matrix said, "Some idiot sabotaged the ship's engines!"
"No – wait, maybe I can --,"
The next explosion caused both men to stumble on the stairs.
"There's no time. They're loading the lifeboats. I'm taking you topside and going after Gavin."
"G-gavin?"
The air above never smelled so sweet to the former renegade. Utter mayhem ensued on deck. What was left of Fortune's men fought a losing battle to get at the lifeboats. The rest were overloaded with men trying to escape the inevitable destruction.
"Colonel, over here!"
The familiar voice of Mr. Christopher was like a User-send to Matrix. Bulla stood guard next to one of the lifeboats as the remainder of the crew was loaded on.
"Where captain?" Bulla demanded.
"Down, below!" Matrix helped Enzo on board, "I'm going back after --,"
The massive explosion that spewed fire from below decks drowned out Matrix's words. Sections of the deck blew apart, leaving gaping holes, where chemical smoke billowed out.
"Dear User," Mr. Christopher said.
"Get this crate, moving!" Matrix cried as he and Bulla leapt into the boat.
Mr. Andrew was at the controls and wasted no time wringing every ounce of speed from the boat. Matrix turned as the distance between themselves and the Blood Skull increased.
"Come on, come on!" Matrix yelled.
It came then, tearing through the hull of the massive pirate ship. Matrix could see it happen, via his eye. White-hot flames burst through metal and wood. The ship listed one last time before plummeting from the sky like a fiery comet. All those on board the tiny lifeboat watched its progress until it crashed into the data sea and was swallowed by the waves.
For a time, there was silence. Then Enzo whispered a single name.
"Gavin."
No one else spoke as the boat continued on to shore.
***
There was no cheering or celebrating as the crew of the Saucy Mare II returned home.
Friends and loved ones were reunited. The few remaining men of the Skull who were on the island surrendered when they realized they were grossly outnumbered. These men and those who had been taken prisoner aboard ship were locked away in a basement storeroom belonging to one of the shopkeepers.
The rest of the crew of the Blood Skull had perished with the ship.
No one wanted to admit it, or even speak it, but the general assumption was that The Crimson Binome had perished as well.
Matrix refused to believe it.
Once the prisoners were secure Matrix ordered that bonfires be lit along the beach. Then he separated men and women into groups and they began to search the island. Small boats were sent out to search the sea near the shoreline. The men worked in shifts for most of the night. Verdana and Luna gathered a group of women and along with Bulla and Sally, they kept the search parties supplied with food and warm clothes. An unnatural chill had settled over the island, with a biting wind blowing from the east.
Matrix had Mr. Christopher do continuous scans for the captain's code. So far nothing had come up.
Around 02:00, Matrix returned from yet another sweep of the island. Mr. Christopher was by the fire along with Verdana and Luna.
"Any luck?" Matrix wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
"None, colonel," Mr. Christopher said. "With your permission sir, I'd like to return to the Mare and conduct a long range scan."
"Make it so," Matrix said. "Has Enzo returned?"
"Not yet, sir."
Matrix sighed and looked out over the data sea. His brother hadn't spoken a word since they'd landed on shore and had taken Matrix's orders without so much as a mild protest. Matrix had a feeling that Enzo was blaming himself for Gavin.
Matrix sat down before the fire. "When the last group returns, they can get some downtime and I'll send a new group out."
"Do you think there's any hope?" Verdana asked quietly.
"There has to be," Matrix said a little loudly, "There has to be. Gavin can't be deleted."
A half millisecond later, Enzo and his group returned. His brother approached the fire and by the look on his face, Matrix knew they'd found no sign.
"Get some downtime," Matrix said.
"No," it was the first time Enzo had spoken any protest.
"You're not going to do any good if you drop from exhaustion," Matrix said.
Enzo merely regarding him with a look of sadness then turned and walked away without another word. Matrix watched him as he walked down the beach and stopped to stand at the water's edge.
"Will he be all right?" Luna asked.
"I hope so," Matrix wasn't certain. He knew his brother's pain. It was a tangible presence in Matrix's core-com. "Let him alone for a few micro's."
At about 03:30 Mr. Christopher returned to the beach to announce that nothing had appeared on the long-range scan, but he had programmed the computer to do continuous sweeps.
Matrix took a brief nap and was awakened by a group returning still with no luck. He had to quiet some villagers who were beginning to talk about Gavin probably being deleted and that the whole search was a big waste of time.
Matrix looked towards the shore and saw that Enzo was still there.
Verdana had gone to bed and Luna had gone to check on Kai. Bulla, Sally, and Andrew were at the fire now.
"Has he moved at all?" Matrix asked Sally.
"No sir," Sally sighed.
Bulla got up and moved away, returning a short time later with a blanket, "Here. Cold." She handed it to Matrix.
"Thank you, Bulla."
Matrix slowly moved down the beach to where Enzo stood. With his cyber-eye, he could see how cold his brother was. Enzo stood with his arms wrapped around his chest. The chilled wind ruffling his hair was the only part of him that moved.
Matrix wasn't certain how Enzo would react to him invading his space, but at that point he didn't care. Matrix moved behind Enzo and unfolded the blanket. He hesitated only a nano before draping it over Enzo's shoulders.
Matrix didn't touch him after that. Yet he stayed near, letting his brother know that he was there if he was needed, but would not invade his space unless he was asked.
Enzo continued to stare out over the sea. Matrix waited.
"My fault."
"Why do you say that?" Matrix asked, although he already knew.
"You know why," Enzo said. "If I hadn't of chased Fortune below Gavin would still be --,"
"What?" Matrix broke in, "He just wouldn't be missing that's all."
Enzo laughed bitterly, "Yeah, right. Missing."
"So you've given up on him? You given him up for deleted?"
"Leave me alone."
"No."
"Damn it, why can't you listen to me for once?" Enzo demanded.
Matrix laid his hands on Enzo's shoulders. They fell underneath the slight pressure.
"He can't be deleted," Enzo's voice broke, "He just can't be --,"
Enzo didn't protest as Matrix drew him against his broad chest, "Dot always told us not to lose faith in someone we care about. We can't lose faith, Enzo."
"User," Enzo whispered.
Matrix expelled a breath as he looked over his brother's shoulder and out into the midnight blue expanse of the sea. And the two of them stood there in silence, lost in their own thoughts, yet as always sensing the shared turmoil within.
***
"Sir, a word?"
"Okay?" Matrix spoke the word to Enzo and he nodded. Matrix turned to the three men who had approached them on the beach. "Yes?"
"Sir --," the man who had spoken was one of the formerly imprisoned sprite males. "We – that is – the search parties would like to stop."
"Fine," Matrix said. "Go and get some downtime. You can start up later on in the second."
"Um – sir, that's not what we mean," the man said, "I mean we want to give up – that is – stop the searching permanently."
"What?" Matrix growled, his voice low.
"Well sir," the second man, a zero binome, piped up, "It's quite obvious it's a hopeless situation."
"Oh is it?" Matrix said.
"He's dead," the third and the boldest of the group, said callously, "You're going to have to accept that!"
"No!" Enzo cried from behind him.
Matrix's hand shot and grabbed a fist full of the sprite's collar, "Now you listen good, bits for brains. We stop searching when I say so, got that? Even if we have to search under every FAQing grain of sand --,"
"Now why would ye want ta go through all that trouble for an old sea dog like me?"
Matrix released the sprite and turned in complete bewilderment towards the sound of the voice.
Captain Gavin Capacitor managed a wan smile, "What kind o' welcome is this?"
"Gavin!" Enzo cried and for a nano, Matrix was sure the captain was in for an Enzo-style tackle.
"Aye – lad --,"
"Gavin?"
The Crimson Binome pitched forward. Enzo managed to catch him, but couldn't stop his fall.
"My User, get a medic down here now!" Enzo was yelling. "Don't just stand there you FAQing idiots, move it!"
Matrix knelt beside Gavin, "You gave us quite a scare. Don't ever do it again!"
Gavin smiled, but he was already slipping into unconsciousness, "I won't lad. Ye have my word."
"He's hurt bad," Enzo said, "How he survived, I'll never know. Looks like he's been in the water for milliseconds."
Bulla was there in a micro. She lifted the captain easily into her arms, and the giantess carried him up the beach.
"Get his room ready, have warm blankets and food, everything, understand?" Matrix allowed himself a smile of relief, "I knew you wouldn't leave us you old salt. You're way too tough for that."
***
Enzo stood as Verdana entered the dining room. Matrix had been leaning against the hearth, staring moodily into the flames. It was still brisk outside and the fire warmed the room rapidly. He straightened away when Verdana entered the room.
"Well?" Matrix demanded.
"He's resting comfortably now," Verdana smiled. "He'll need much time to recover but he should be fine."
"Thank the User," Enzo said. It was a feeling mutually shared by all. "May we see him?"
"I'm sorry Enzo, but he's sound asleep and shouldn't be disturbed," Verdana walked towards him and took his hands. "He woke up for awhile, wanted to know how you all were. Also – she drew in a sharp breath – he said the Skull was dead."
"Good riddance to him," Matrix said.
"Yes," Enzo bowed his head.
"We've got a lot of work to do. The lodge and the village are in need of --,"
"Aunt Verdana!" Kai ran into the room, "Mommy says come outside, quick!"
"Now what?" Verdana asked.
Enzo followed the elder binome outside. Matrix and the rest of the crew were right behind them. Enzo stopped deleted in his tracks at the sight before him.
Dozens of portals were opening up in the morning sky, rivaling the cyber-sun with their light.
"What's going on?" Luna approached them, "Do you think they're reinforcements for The Skull?"
Matrix drew Gun, "If it is, they're going to have one hell of a fight on their hands."
The young men present armed themselves. Luna pulled Kai closer to her. They waited.
The first portal revealed a dozen transport ships and one New Collective battle cruiser. Several other one-man fighters came from the other portals. One fighter, a familiar ship with an equally familiar mouse symbol painted on its side and flying beside it yet another recognizable figure riding a Surf Baud. Still others came on rocket cycles and zip boards and one ship in the form of a great black bird.
Enzo looked at Matrix who was slowly lowering Gun. Both brothers exchanged a confused glance.
The New Collective transport landed a few hundred yards from the group and the side door opened with a hiss of machinery.
A commanding figure stepped out, his silver armor glittering in the morning light.
To Enzo's left, Kai gave a gasp of surprise, "It's him! He finally came!"
"Bob?" Matrix said.
Bob surveyed the scene looking from left to right, then he gave them his familiar half smile, "Hey Matrix, Enzo, what's processing?"
Another figure, clad in her battle armor, came from the transport. "Enzo, Matrix?"
"Dot?" Both brothers said in unison.
"We came as soon as we got your signal, what's happening?" Dot asked.
"Signal?" Matrix said.
Uh oh, Enzo thought.
"The distress signal," Bob said. "The net-wide distress signal you sent?"
"Bob we didn't send any distress signal --," Matrix didn't finish the sentence. He slowly turned to face Enzo, "You wouldn't happen to know what he's talking about, would you, Kid?"
"Um – well, actually --,"
"Aw, User, Kid."
"Well hell, Matrix! I started sending the signal before this whole mess started. They must have been jamming the communications and when the Blood Skull was destroyed, the jamming signal went with it."
"You're slipping, Kid --,"
"Well hell, Matrix --," Enzo said again.
Dot cleared her throat, "Excuse me brother dears. Are you going to tell us what's going on or are you going to stand there arguing all day?"
The brothers exchanged a glance.
"So what'd we miss?" Bob said.
***
The Crimson Binome was flying.
The air was cool and smelled of brine. The sky was impossibly blue and filled with fireworks of every color of the rainbow. The only sound was that of the rushing wind.
Then icy water, blue-green covering him and he was plunging into the turquoise depths. He struggled, tried to slow his progress but didn't have the strength. He loved the sea, but now she was his enemy.
There was darkness for a time. Then the fireworks seemed trapped under his eyelid. Faces formed in the darkness, Maiandra, the Matrix boys, Dot and Bob. He smiled and felt content. He was floating down, down to blissful peace.
"Gavin Capacitor!"
"Aye I hear yer," The voice that demanded his attention was so familiar. Someone he had wanted to see for one last time.
"You will not give up! Fight, my husband. Fight!"
Maiandra. His lovely bride. She would be so cross with him if he didn't fight. He used the memory of her face and her voice and he struggled up and out of the watery tomb.
Binomes could float. That came as a complete surprise to him. He surfaced into cold air and around him it was dark. How long had he been in the sea? He was seeing things. Golden beacons of light that seemed a million kilometers away. Yet they were all he had, so he reached for them.
They weren't illusions. He was getting closer, then suddenly he was dragging himself ashore. Exhaustion took hold on him, yet he couldn't sleep yet. Cover, he needed cover. He saw a mound of something dredging up what he knew was his last bit of strength he dragged himself to it. It was a pile of decomposing seaweed. It was disgusting and it smelled vile but Gavin burrowed underneath it and fell into a deep sleep.
He didn't know what woke him. Voices? Smells? Perhaps both. An oddly achingly familiar voice called him from his comatose state. Gavin struggled from within his makeshift blanket and dragged himself to his feet; somewhere he found just a little more strength and moved towards the beacons. Yes, he knew the voice. Matrix.
"Now you listen good, bits for brains. We stop searching when I say so, got that? Even if we have to search under every FAQing grain of sand --,"
Gavin said the first thing that popped into his processor. "Now why would ye want ta go through all that trouble for an old sea dog like me?"
Matrix looked at him, but it was Enzo who cried out his name. They had found him, or more accurately he had found them.
He could rest now. The Skull was deleted. His task was done. He made a promise, and then slipped into blissful sleep.
***
"Husband?"
Gavin awoke at the sound of the sweetest voice he knew, "Me lovely bride."
Maiandra kissed him gently, "Go back to sleep love."
"No," Gavin said, "Let me see ye – let me know yer real."
She kissed him again, "I am real. I'll be here. Go to sleep now."
Content, Gavin obeyed.
*
She was there when he woke again, but someone else was in the room with her.
"Hello, Gavin."
"Dot, lass?" Gavin frowned in confusion, "What are ye doing here?"
"Long story," Dot smiled at him, "Gavin, I hereby order you to take a much R&R as you need, understand?"
Gavin managed to chuckle, "Aye last, this old sea dog won't argue."
"Good," Dot leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, "I'll see you later."
When he was alone with his wife, Gavin said, "So how be ye here, me lovely one? Not that I'm complaining mind ye."
The story she told had Gavin chuckling wryly, "I'll Enzo was a mite embarrassed."
"He took it rather well, although he's had to survive no amount of teasing," Maiandra said, "I'm afraid we have quite a few houseguests now."
Gavin struggled to sit up.
"Husband, don't."
"I'm fine lass – tell our guests to prepare a feast. This is a cycle for celebrating," he took her hands. "I've defeated me enemy and I survived. And I'm here with ye now and yer as lovely a sight as ever me lovely one."
"I'll do as you ask, if you promise to rest," Maiandra said, "And I'll have Verdana prepare a feast to end all feasts as soon as you're well enough to enjoy it with us."
"Aye that'll do."
When Maiandra made to leave, Gavin gently grasped onto her wrist, "Love?"
"Yes, husband?"
For a time Gavin looked at her, remembering each nuance of her face. He drank in the color of her eyes and the softness of her lips and sighed, at ease. For a time, uncomfortable memories surfaced. Things he used to think himself as simple truths.
How can you doom a woman to celibacy?
You can't pleasure her like she should be.
"I love ye."
"And I love you," she kissed him, slowly then winked at him, "Now go to sleep."
Gavin lay back down and allowed himself a grim smile, "Game Over, Skull."