Chapter Title: Deathtrap
Chapter Author: Beck2
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The entire ship pitched in agony as the rockets fell upon her hull. Crewmembers, equipment, even walls firmly placed fell about the ship, unable to keep their balance. Water began to shoot through cracks in the hull as crewmembers, both injured and whole, struggled to stop the streaming water.
Captain Nemo gritted his teeth. He too had been thrown by the catastrophic rocking of his beloved ship. Now the Nautilus was groaning and wobbling uncertainly in the water.
"Captain! We cannot take another hit like that!"
"Don't submerge! Get us on the surface, it will drain out some of the water!" He roared back. He had to take the chance. If he surfaced, he risked another attack. If he submerged, sinking would be impossible to avoid. "Hurry!"
"Yes sir!"
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The Aurelius groaned in pain as the missile tore through its hull, following through to the other side. Water rushed in swiftly, tilting the ship to the side. Crewmembers lost their balance and fell sliding against the far wall, unable to keep on their feet. Orick cursed as he saw his ship beginning to sink. There was no way to save his ship. It was, as they say, dead in the water. And rapidly sinking to boot. He cursed again, and turned to leave.
"Captain! Where are you going?"
"Where does it look like I'm going? I'm leaving, you are welcome to join me or go down with the ship."
He left the crewmembers to digest that little piece of information before leaving. He heard them clambering after him. Ignoring them, he set out for the escape hatches. Beside every escape hatch there was a flotation device that could be used. That was what he was aiming for; he could swim to Naples from here. And then there would always be another day.
Always another day.
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He felt someone hold his head up over the water and something pushing him from behind. He choked up water and tried to clear his eyes, but smoke was obscuring his eyesight.
"Come on, man, move your bloody legs, we can't carry you all the way to shore, y'know."
"Kid?" Sawyer lost his grip and his head went below the water. He kicked his legs and came back up.
"Good man, you can swim. Now come along, must get away from the ships intent on destroying each other." The boy grabbed his shirt and yanked him in a direction. Sawyer, blind and barely keeping afloat, followed him with a little bit of nervousness.
"You're not leading me into deeper water, are you?"
"Under different circumstances, maybe. But right now we'll both be in the cooking pot if we don't get to shore right away."
"What's going on?" He spat out some more water.
"The ships are both leaning, they're gonna sink. And if they got that much firepower, they're gonna blow. We're right in the middle of them."
"Oh s—" He immediately kicked out his legs and blindly let Gilly guide him.
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He struggled in the water. Not only was he not an incredibly good swimmer, he was trying to guide a full grown man out of danger.
He never had this problem before he got caught. Was there some sort of horrific punishment he was enduring for some wrong he had committed in the past? Some horrible wrong, not just stealing from the gullible?
"Keep going man, the ships are still close, we haven't got all day." He grumbled. Sawyer didn't answer him.
Clunky kept his teeth firmly on Sawyer's collar, pulling him along. He hadn't even realized there was anyone in the water until Clunky sprinted out into the water and he followed to bring the large dog back. Romping around in a ship's battlefield was no place to be. Then Clunky had dived down and swam back up with the coughing American, and he'd been dragged into helping, the dog wouldn't just leave the man.
The smoke was causing him to cough painfully as he tried to spit water out of his mouth and keep good air going into his lungs. He kept swimming as hard as he could, hoping desperately that if the ships did explode, they didn't do so until he had reached the shore.
The Aurelius groaned loudly and then a deafening explosion rocked the waters, pouring wave over wave of water onto them. Gilly tried to yell but was drowned out when another wave washed over them all.
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Skinner caught Mina's arm as she slid past him. The hall was tipping dangerously, and he gripped the doorframe as he held onto Mina's arm.
This was very annoying. Now all of his scotch and drink were everywhere and he hadn't gotten properly drunk, and it was almost upsetting.
"Hold on Mina…OW! Not so tight, woman, I don't have a vampire's arm you know!" He yelped as her fingers dug painfully into his arm.
She didn't answer but hung on grimly to his arm as the ship began tilting the other way.
"What the 'ell is Nemo doing, can't he keep this bloody ship at one angle?!" Skinner yelled as he fell onto the opposite side of the doorframe.
"He must be trying to get the water out of the ship, though I wish he would do it in a fashion that does not entail me being thrown about like a ragdoll." She grumbled.
The hall slowly but surely leveled out, and crewmen that had been holding onto anything bolted down immediately struggled upright to run to their tasks, Mina following their example.
Skinner looked back into his room. Everything had been turned upside down. He shook his head slowly. This week had just not been a good week.
Not at all.
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Nemo allowed a small breath of relief escape as the Nautilus resettled herself evenly in the water. One of the crewmembers came back with news that the Aurelius had numerous onboard explosions and was sinking rapidly. He felt a swell of pride at the news. He had done it, had cleaned of the smudge on his Lady's good name and triumphed over his enemy in battle.
But it wasn't over just yet. He had no doubts that his worthy adversary may have escaped the deathtrap. There were several boats in the water, and The Nautilus could barely move, let alone chase them. There was also Hyde to think about. Hyde most certainly would have struck out to …amuse himself.
"Fetch the other League members. We will go after the surviving boats, justice will be served." The crewmember he had been addressing nodded and hurried into the general direction of the medical bay.
Mina was not needed there, for now. He had excellent doctors. Besides, he was loath to take chances. It did help to have a few extra pairs of eyes along with his crewmembers.
He smiled grimly. This was the day everyone would realize the price of slandering his reputation and blotching the spirit of his treasure.
It was Orick's last day.
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A/N
Yes, I know, it was a very late update. I'm sorry, I swear! I had this written several days ago, well, mostly, but then I was delayed. I'd tell you a long inventive story, but the truth of it was that it was two essays about Hamlet. Anyway, my homework kept me away from writing, and that's why it took me so long to come back. Like I said, I apologize, and I really do try.
Asteria: I think Jekyll is just plain cute, but that's just me. Anyway, yeah, I like the couple, but coming from me that's not saying a whole lot, I like almost every couple I've ever read. I hope you like the chapter.
Silent Bob 546: Heh, you're welcome. I always liked Hyde. Thank you very much!
Niani: Thank you very much, sorry to keep you waiting!
Steffi-333: Ah, but I did mention Sawyer, in an offhand way. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the chapter; I was hoping that it was action packed enough for Hyde, though I know that that's probably an improbability. But, you're right, I didn't mention Skinner, so I gave him a little spot to his own, hope you like it, short as it is.
Clez: Funny you should mention that whole blowing up thing…Anyway, I'm glad you liked it, and I hope you like this chapter too!
Yvonne Clark: Ah, thank you very much! I'm always glad when people compliment me. Yeah, feel free to e-mail me for any conversation at all.
Fritz Will Get You: I put more, I hope you like it!
Please leave your reviews on the way out!